CROOKSTON TRIAL STATION IN 1916. 401 



amounts of soil alkali. However, this plot was tile drained dur- 

 ing the past fall, and it is hoped that the alkali factor will be 

 removed. 



The seedling grapes planted in 1913 have not fruited yet; 

 of the eight varieties planted only four have survived. All of the 

 varieties were severely injured, and some entirely killed by the 

 early fall freeze of 1913 from injury from which some are just 

 recovering. Vines of Minnesota No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8 have 

 made good growth during the past season, while a specimen of 

 No. 3 has made only fair growth. The grapes are given winter 

 protection each year. The Campbell's Early, of the standard 

 varieties, has made the best growth of vine, excelling the Beta in 

 this respect, but to date neither variety has borne sufficient fruit 

 for comparison of varieties. 



Twelve different lots of Malinda apple seedlings were re- 

 ceived the past season from the Fruit-Breeding Farm and planted 

 with good results. Fifteen other lots of numbered apple seed- 

 lings were also planted. During the past six years eleven standard 

 varieties of apples and nine varieties of crabs have been planted 

 on the experimental farm, and from this planting the following 

 results have been noted to date: Hibernal, Charlamoff and 

 Duchess have made the best growth of the apples; Virginia, 

 Transcendent, Florence and Whitney have made the best growth 

 of the crab varieties. Virginia crab and Hibernal apple produce 

 dependable trees for the upper Red River Valley. Young or- 

 chards need windbreak protection from the southwest, west and 

 north. The hard storms of the past summer did considerable 

 damage to many of the fruit trees. 



In addition to the fruits on trial from the Fruit-Breeding 

 Farm, standard hardy varieties of all small, bush, vine and tree 

 fruits are being tested. 



The outlook for the home fruit garden in the Red River 

 Valley is bright. There are enough hardy sorts of fruits on the 

 market to make a good variety to supply home demands if the 

 fruits but receive intelligent care. 



When to Plant Corn. — Corn should be planted early; just as soon 

 as the soil is warm enough to induce germination and the danger of frosts 

 is past, according to Farmers Guide. Where the land is plowed in the fall 

 or during the winter it can be planted much earlier than if plowing is 

 delayed until spring. It is not wise, however, to sow seed on a poorly pre- 

 pared seed bed in order to secure early planting. Later planting preceded 

 by good seed bed preparation is better. By having a good seed bed and 

 by using tested seed, the corn planted late will stand a good chance of 

 maturing before early frosts as well as that planted early on a poorly pre- 

 pared seed bed. 



