WEST CONCORD TRIAL STATION. 287 



West Concord Trial Station. 



FRED COWLES, SUPT. 



June 16, 1917. — After a cold and severe winter we see no 

 signs of winter-killing-. The deep snow perhaps protected some 

 things. Small apple trees were broken down badly by the heavy 

 snow. A few trees had branches broken also. 



Trees of all kinds blossomed very full this spring and late 

 enough so that the frost did no damage, and there is promise 

 of a full fruit crop. A few of the plum trees from the Fruit- 

 Breeding Farm have set a little fruit, and the grapes received 

 two years ago are blossoming this year. All the plants received 

 this year are doing well. 



The everbearing raspberry from the Fruit-Breeding Farm 

 lived through the winter well and seems very hardy. No. 4 is 

 also a hardy variety and a valuable berry. 



The everbearing strawberry No. 1017 is not proving profit- 

 able on our soil, but Progressive and Superb are fine. Those set 

 in the spring of 1916 produced a good deal of fruit the same 

 season, and this spring are full- of fruit, two or three weeks 

 earlier than the June-bearing kind. We shall encourage their 

 culture on account of the long season. The Minnesota No. 3 still 

 holds out well. It is a strong plant maker and a good fruit 

 producer. 



Currants and gooseberries are full of fruit, and the worm 

 has not showed up yet. 



All flowering shrubs and plants are doing well, snowballs 

 are better than for a number of years. Spirea arguta is one to 

 be prized on account of its early blooming, coming two weeks 

 earlier than Van Houttii. The iris are full of bloom at this time. 

 Lilacs are about gone, except a few late kinds. Peonies and 

 roses are late this year. 



Careful Attention Is Necessary if an established lawn is to be kept 

 in good condition. Most lawns need an occasional application of some good 

 fertilizer regardless of the kind of soil on which they exist. Thoroughly 

 rotted stable manure is excellent for this purpose. Another good dressing is 

 a mixture of manure well composted with sod and leaf mold and siftejd before 

 using. It is desirable that the material be applied in such condition that 

 there is nothing to rake off. Coarse humus or humus dressing should never 

 be used, as the grass is almost invariably killed in small patches beneath the 

 lumps. The humus dressings should be applied in the autumn or winter 

 and again in the spring. Bone meal is one of the best commercial fertilizers 

 for the lawn. When used it should be applied in the late winter or early 

 spring at a rate of ten to fifteen pounds to the thousand square feet. 



