8 bulleti:n' 1337, jj. s. department of agkiculture 
Two combinations of conifers were planted in 1918, each mth three 
spacings, as follows: 2 by 4, 4 by 4, and 4 by 8 feet. The length of 
the rows in each block is 100 feet. Table 7 shows the average height 
of the trees in each block at the end of the sixth season. 
It appears that the close spacing has stimulated height growth in 
most of the species. The plantings are too young, however, to 
show any marked differences. 
HORTICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS 
By W. P. Baird, Associate Agronomist, and T. K. Killand, Scientific Aid 
The year 1923 was more successful from a horticultural standpoint 
than any previous year. More fruit was produced, the vegetables 
yielded well, and the appearance of ornamentals was satisfactory 
throughout the growing season. Thus the year's results as a whole 
are encouraging to those interested in horticultural development on 
the northern Great Plains. 
As has been the case for several winters, there was but little injury 
to fruit or ornamental trees or shrubs during the winter of 1922-23. 
Where killing back occurred it was generally found in connection with 
a weakened condition of the plant from drought, mechanical injury, 
or some other cause. Practically all healthy and vigorous plants, 
even including such tender trees as sour cherries and pears, came 
through the winter without visible damage except that caused by 
rabbits. 
POMOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS 
Varietal tests, cultural experiments, fruit breeding, and cooperative 
tests with selected farmers constituted the pomological investigations 
for 1923. 
VARIETAL TESTS 
Varietal tests of apples, crabs, plums, currants, gooseberries, 
raspberries, strawberries, Juneberries, and sand cherries were in 
progress. 
Apples and crabs. — A considerable quantity of apples and crabs was 
produced for the first time in 1923. A large loss was caused by the 
fruit being blown off the trees, and in most cases the crop was light. 
Hibernal, Oldenburg {Duchess), and Wealthy apples all started to 
bear. Transcendent, Virginia, Florence, Dolgo, and Silvia crabs 
produced fair crops. 
Plums. — Late or midseason varieties of plums generally excelled 
the earlier varieties in }TLeld and in the size and quality of the fruit, as 
they did in 1921. Varieties that did especialh^ well in 1923, named in 
the order of ripening, were Opata, Compass, Sapa, Red Wing, 
''George," '^ Training School Special," Terry, Wolf, Sm'prise, Teton, 
and Emerald. Compass cherries yielded at the rate of more than 13 
tons of fresh fruit to the acre and Teton plums almost as much. A 
number of new Minnesota selections were added to the variety orchard 
in 1923. 
Currants. — Currants again demonstrated their reliability by vield- 
ing well. London Market, Red Cross, Pomona, and Red l!)utch 
were the best yielders of the red varieties. The fu'st-named variety 
yielded at the rate of about 2 quarts to the bush. 
Gooseberries. — Low yields of gooseberries were the rule for 1923. 
Even the Carrie, which is generally prolific, made only a light crop. 
