I48 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I908. 



for reasons stated in Bulletin 82,* viz., that among the varieties 

 of this class none have been found which are superior to well 

 known commercial sorts ; and furthermore that almost without 

 exception these varieties drop badly from the tree and are of 

 relatively inferior quality. Their one merit is that of hardiness. 



There are 3 distinct parts to the Station orchard, and in the 

 following alphabetical list of the leading varieties these orchards 

 are designated I, II, and III respectively; the individual tree 

 numbers being given in numerals : e. g., "Akin, I, 63," indicates 

 that the tree under consideration is number 63 in Orchard I. 

 "Reference" indicates former publications of this Station in 

 which this variety has been mentioned. 



Many of the varieties were obtained in 1890 before the 

 writer's connection with the Station, and were held in nursery 

 rows until transferred to the orchard in 1891 or 1892. During 

 the earlier years of its history, the orchard was used as a vege- 

 table garden; for the last 8 years, clean cultivation has been 

 given until about August 10, when a cover crop has been sown 

 for winter protection. 



No attention is given other fruits in the accompanying notes, 

 but as indicating the severity of the "test-winter" of 1906-1907, 

 when the lowest officially recorded temperature was 40 degrees 

 below zero, it may be said that practically every pear tree at the 

 Station, both dwarf and standard, was destroyed. The same is 

 true of many cherries. The small fruits, however, being pro- 

 tected by the deep snow, wintered in good condition. The 

 notes are given without comment, simply as a matter of record 

 and for general information. 



Aikin, I, 63. — Stark Brothers, Louisiana, Mo., 1899. First fruit, 1902; 

 full crop. 1906. Vigorous and in good condition, 1907. 



Alexander, I, 83 ; II, 9. — Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y., 1890. 

 References: Annual Report, 1898, pp. 69-72; Bulletin 82, pp. 83, 86. 



Permanently set May, 1891. First fruit 1895; 1902, 3 bushels; 1905, 

 3 barrels. Prolific, profitable. Good condition, 1907. 



Arctic, I, 84; II, 3.— Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y., 1890. 

 Reference: Annual Report, 1898, pp. 69, 70; Bulletin 82, p. 89. 



Permanently set, May, 1892. First bloom 1896; first fruit 1898; good 

 crop, 1901. Has borne freely nearly every year since 1901. Badly 

 injured by winter of 1906-07, after a full crop in 1906. 



* Bulletin 82 of this Station, p. 85. 



