10 BULLETIX 
Stock experiment. — Compass cherries on piums yielded decidedly 
more than Compass cherries on sand cherries in the old stock experi- 
ment. There was little difference in the grade of the fruit. Emerald 
plums in this experiment yielded about the same on both stocks, 
but the grade was a little better on the plum roots. 
A new stock experiment was started in 1923. plums being tested 
on plum, sand cherry, and Prunus armeniaca roots. Stands were 
poor on the P. armeniaca, which does not seem to make a good union 
with either plums or sand cherries. A few pears on Juneberry and 
on Pyrus haccata roots were planted, but poor stands resulted, espe- 
cially on the P. haccata roots. 
Comhination fruit patcJies. — The combination plantings made in 
1918 and 1919 passed through a fairly successful year, but the trees 
are now too close for best results. Plums and crabs did well in both 
combinations, and a few of the apple and cherry trees are starting 
to bear. The combination planted in 1918 also produced some 
grapes, currants, and raspberries. The quality or grade of the 
raspberries was very poor. This fruit does not seem to have 
sufficient moisture when planted between the rows of tree fruits. 
Coulee orchards. — The trees in the coulee orchards planted in 1920 
continued to make a vigorous growth in 1923. They are planted 12 
feet apart. There is evidence that this is too close, as it is already 
difficult to cultivate between them without breaking branches. 
The grade or quality of the plmns grown in the coulee was good for 
some varieties, but for others not so good as in the plum varietal 
orchard, where the trees are set farther apart. The growth of all 
varieties in the coulee was much greater than that of the same 
varieties grown on the upland benches. 
Hillside orchard. — The hillside orchard, where trees are planted in 
plowed strips between strips of sod south of the main field, presents 
a poorer appearance from year to year as more of the trees die or 
hranches are broken. Individual trees here and there are doing very 
well, and some of the crabs bore good crops of fruit. A few of the 
Hibernal apple trees began to bear in 1923. In general, the trees 
appear weak and unthrifty in comparison with trees of the same 
v^ariety and age planted in less exposed places. There does not 
appear to be any special benefit from the particular system of planting 
used in the hillside orchard. 
FRUIT BREEDING 
TTork in fruit breeding continued along the same lines as in previous 
years. The crossing work in the greenhouse was confined to apples, 
crabs, plums, cherries, and gooseberries. A few grapes were grown in 
pots, but no crosses were made. The crossing work with apples and 
crabs was more successful than in any previous year, over 5.000 seeds 
being produced. More than 400 gooseberry seeds, 340 plum seeds, 
and 82 cherry seeds resulted from crosses between kno\^Ti parents. 
In the crossing work 81 combinations of varieties were used. 
Seeds from crosses made in 1922 germinated fairly well in flats, and 
the seedlings will be grown in nursery rows in 1924. 
Many seedlings in the south field bore fruit for the first time and 
considerable time was spent in making selections. Some promising 
crabs and apples were selecteii from the Wealthy seedling block, but 
