256 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



In crossing grapes I have found that the caps and stamens can be re- 

 moved with much facility bj^ using the tips of the fingers, also the pinch- 

 ers. Also, that with the grape pollenizing can be done by taking clusters 

 of bloom just opened and fastening them with string and fine wire in 

 close proximity to the emasculated clusters. This is easier than gather- 

 ing the pollen and applying with a camel's hair brush. Paper sacks are 

 used at first and replaced later by mosquito netting. 



PROMISING LINES OF W^ORK. 



Some of the leading lines of work have already been mentioned. In 

 crossing Russian and American apples the aim has been to secure iron- 

 clad varieties of the highest quality for all seasons. The native wild crab 

 is not as promising as was once thought, because it is much subject to 

 attacks of the fungus diseases, scab and roestelia, from which the Rus- 

 sians are exempt; it is not hardy at the far North; and it sun-scalds when 

 removed from the native thickets and planted on the open prairie. 



In crossing pears our object has been to cross the hardiest of the east 

 European varieties with those of the highest quality of west European 

 parentage. A good beginning in this line was made the past season. 



In crossing cherries the aim lias been to pollenize the hardiest sour 

 cherries from east Europe with the best sweet varieties; also to improve 

 our native sand cherry {2)runus pumila) and wild red cherry {p. penn- 

 sylvanica). In the past cherryless year we failed in. our work with the 

 latter two species, but the experiment is not abandoned. 

 • In improving our native plums the object has been to obtain high qual- 

 ity by using as the male parents the best European and Japan plums. 

 If the cross proves so violent as to affect injuriously the productiveness 

 and hardiness, the same method will be followed as with the grape, viz., 

 to use the pollen of these hybrid varieties on our wild plums, thus secur- 

 ing a smaller infusion of foreign blood. 



Some seedlings on the college grounds of Desota, crossed with a large 

 blue Japan plum grown in Oregon, show important modifications in 

 foliage and fruit and are very promising. 



The Northwest greatly needs a grape of good quality that is early 

 eiiough to ripen even in North Dakota and Minnesota, and is perfectly 

 hardy without winter protection. The past season we have crossed our 

 wild grape with Empire State to determine the effect of using a variety 

 of purely native parentage. Next season we will try to cross it with some 

 of Rogers' Hybrids. 



The gooseberry merits attention. The past season we crossed a hardy 

 gooseberry from the Amur Valley in Asia with the Industry. The object 

 is to obtain a hardy mildew-proof variety with fruit rivaling in size and 

 quality the best English varieties. 



The Northwest needs a good variety of raspberry hardy enough to bear 

 well at the north without winter protection. With this end in view, we 

 have the past season crossed a wild red raspberry from the Black Hills 

 with the Shaeffer raspberry. 



Our native hazel nuts, walnuts, and hickory nuts all merit our careful 

 attention, as they are, no doubt, capable of vast improvements by crossing 

 and selection. Especially promising is our wild hazel nut, as it would 

 probably soon rival the best Alberts. 



Similar work remains to be done with our indigenous currants, June- 

 berries, blackberries,' dewberries, strawberries and other fruits. 



