18 BULLETIN 1301, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
cent of those in the 1919 planting are alive. The low percentage 
in the first planting is due to poor stands obtained the first 
summer. Some of the newer varieties of crabs in the 1919 planting, 
two Oldenburg (Duchess), and several Patten, have already borne 
fruit. Silvia, Beauty, Jenkins, and Dolgo appear to be among the 
more promising of the crabs, but this test has not gone far enough to 
permit definite conclusions. 
About 30 apple and crab selections from the Minnesota Fruit- 
Breeding Farm were planted in 1921, good stands resulting. 
About 50 seleetions from the South Dakota Agricultural College 
are being tested, but have not yet borne fruit. 
In general, the variety testing of apples here has shown: (1) That 
only the hardiest varieties will survive; (2) that even when the hardi- 
est varieties are selected poor-stands often occur and fruit production 
is uncertain; (3) that some of the newer varieties from Canada and 
South Dakota seem to be promising; (4) that of the older varieties, 
Hibernal and Oldenburg (Duchess) apples and Virginia and Tran- 
scendent crabs have given the best results, but no variety has pro- 
duced good crops of fruit; and (5) that while apples have been unsatis- 
factory to a large extent it is as yet too early to condemn them, 
especially if planted in protected places. : 
PEARS 
Pears have been tested to a limited extent, but have generally shown 
a lack of hardiness and should not be planted except possibly where 
special protection is given. Flemish Beauty is the hardiest variety 
tested. Several varieties of pears have come through the last few 
winters without serious injury when grown in bush form in hedge- 
rows and protected by a mulch. 
PLUMS 
Plums have been by far the most satisfactory of the tree fruits 
tested. Prunus domestica varieties and Japanese plums (P. salicina) 
are not hardy, so it is to the native P. americana or P. nigra selections 
or to hybrids between these hardy native plums and the more tender 
Japanese varieties, that one must look for success. Some crosses 
between the native sand cherry (P. besseyr) and both native and 
Japanese plums have done well. Hybrids between the Japanese 
plums and either native plums or native sand cherries are the finest 
and best in quality that can be grown on the northern Plains, but 
such hybrids are likely to be somewhat lacking in hardiness. 
The first varietal test of plums was started in 1913 with Terry, 
De Soto, Wyant, Wolf, Hanska, Cheresoto, Opata, Sapa, and Sansoto 
varieties. Out of 85 trees planted only 41 were alive in 1916, and 
they were in such poor condition that all were discarded. Wolf, 
Wyant, and Sansoto gave the best results in this preliminary test. 
This first test with some of the hardiest varieties of plums and plum- 
sand cherry hybrids resulted in failure as complete as the preliminary 
test with apples and crab apples. 
The main plum variety-testing orchard was started in 1914, the 
trees being set 13 by 16 feet apart. At that time 20 commercial 
varieties and 8 selections from the Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding 
Farm were included. Out of 260 trees planted in 1914 only 76 were 
