EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 175 
evidently hardy enough for this section. As yet, they have pro- 
duced little fruit, although they are thrifty growers and make nice 
trees. It does not seem to me desirable to encourage growing them, 
until they shall have had a more extended trial. 
Potatoes. The experiment work with potatoes has consisted of 
the trial of forty varieties at the university farm, and a repetition 
of the tests at Bethel, on some of the best potato land in Anoka 
county. Experiments have also been made in the use of various 
materials for preventing the blight and scab on potatoes. The de- 
tails ot this work will be found reported in a special bulletin on the 
subject. The results of the trial of substances for preventing scab 
have been very satisfactory and are of special interest. It is plainly 
shown that slightly scabby potatoes may be planted in new soil 
without any danger of having the crop from them scabby, provid- 
ing they are soaked before planting for one-half hour in a solution 
containing one part of corrosive sublimate to one thousand parts of 
water. 
Onions. Several varieties of onions have been grown from seed 
planted in the open ground and several kinds from seed sown early 
in hotbed and transplanted. Thecrop was considerably lessened 
by the dry weather of the past summer, yet the bulbs matured well 
and were hard and well capped, but of small size. 
Tomatoes. Seventeen varieties of tomatoes have been grown and 
a large amount of excellent fruit produced. Experiments have 
been made in different methods of pruning and training and in the 
use of Bordeaux mixture to prevent rust. 
Nursery and Grounds. The nursery at the university farm is in 
excellent condition and contains many ornamental and fruit trees 
and shrubs for planting on the grounds of the university and for 
supplying the outlying experiment stations. It has suffered little 
from the drouth of the past summer Considerable nursery stock 
was planted on the grounds about the drill hall and other school 
buildings last spring and has added very much to the appearance 
ofthe campus. The earlier plantations along the drives and build- 
ings are, generally, developing into fine ornamental specimens that 
attract much attention. 
The labelling of the plants with their common and botanical 
names and the place from which they were introduced is a measure 
that meets with universal comniendation from students and visitors. 
It should be the aim of future plantings to add,as muchas possible, 
varieties of interesting kinds on the school grounds. A plant of 
much beauty from the Rocky Mountains flowered with us for the 
first timethis year. (See Minnesota Horticulturist for August, 1894, 
page 243.) 
The grounds have been improved by the grading and seeding 
down of the land adjacent to the drill hall. The grass and clover seed 
sown was made to grow by extended waterings, so that a very good 
lawn now surrounds the building. A large number of trees and 
shrubs have also been planted near by, and stone walks have been 
laid, so that now these groundsare in excellent condition,when it is 
considered that a little more than a year ago, they were but the re- 
mains of an unsightly gravel bank. 
