EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 227 



APPLES AND CRABS. 



Of these I have something over one hundred varieties; my orchard is 

 young and but few varieties have borne any fruit. 



There was less blight at this station than usual, although there was 

 more than usual in this part of the country; we had leaf disease or leaf 

 scab on many varieties during July and August. The Russian varieties 

 were comparatiA'ely free from leaf fungus or curl. The varieties that 

 blighted the most were: Transcendent, Hyslop, Lake Winter, Green 

 Streaked, Whitney's No. 20 and Gipsy Girl. I have about fifteen hundred 

 trees in my apple orchard and the most of them are looking fine. I at- 

 tribute my success to liberal fertilizing and root protection. One of my 

 neighbors practices girdling to induce fruitfulness with good success; 

 this may be a useful field to experiment in. Several parties in this coun- 

 ty were induced to box their trees according to Mr. Brand's plan, but each 

 case heard from was attended with disastrous results. I would say go 

 slow on boxing your apple trees. I expect to fruit some seventy-five va- 

 rieties of apples and crabs this coming season, in which case I hope to 

 be able to make a more complete report on this class of fruit. 



RUSSIAN POPLARS. 



I have been testing some fifteen or twenty varieties of the Russian 

 poplars and willows, and in most cases I have been disappointed in them, 

 especially in the poplars; they seemed to lack hardiness or adaptability. 

 The populus Siberea may be of some value; I would recommend it for 

 trial. 



RUSSIAN WILLOWS. 



As to willows— the willow worms have been so bad here for a few years 

 past that we have about given up the willow; but there are two varieties 

 of these Russian willows that I would call attention of this society to, 

 they are the laurel-leaf willow (salix laurifolia) and salix acentifolia; 

 they are both free growers, are not injured by the willow worm and 

 are ornamental. The Russian golden willow (salix aurea) I consider 

 valuable; it is ornamental in winter and is an upright and rapid grower. 



RUSSIAN OLIVE. 



I am highly pleased with the Russian olive (Elsegnus angustifolia) or 

 as the Mennonltes here call it, the oil-berry; it is hardy and thorny, a rapid 

 grower, ornamental, and I am of the opinion that it will be valuable for 

 hedging. 



CONIFERS. 



The spruce, pine and cedar do very well here; juniper savin is prom- 

 ising. I received last spring from Wisconsin some 12,000 forest-pulled 

 evergreens: they gave good satisfaction. 



ALBERT LEA EXPERIMENT STATION. 



CLARENCE WEDGE, SUPT. 



Apples— For four or five years prior to the past season this station has 

 enjoyed a perfect exemption from fire blight. During that period there 

 has not been a twig touched upon even the varieties known to be most 

 subject to its attack. About the middle of last June, however, the disease 

 made its appearance both at the station and in neighboring orchards in 

 severity about as great as I have ever observed in this section of the state. 



