larkspur almost thirty years ago. The old plants persisted several
years, and seedlings have grown up from self-sown seed, and the
plantation is now as attractive as ever.
_Chrysanthemum Uliginosum._--The giant daisy has been here for a long
time and needs but little attention. The clumps should be taken up and
divided occasionally. It is one of our best late fall flowers.
_Philadelphus._--Philadelphus pubescens came through the winter without
injury. Philadelphus zeyheri suffered a little. Philadelphus coronarius
came through in fair condition in a rather protected border, but
Philadelphus Lemoinei was frozen back nearly to the ground.
[Illustration: Giant daisy, or chrysanthemum uliginosum.]
_Physocarpus._--Physocarpus opulifolius came through the winter with no
more than its ordinary injury.
_Lonicera._--The old climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) came
through the winter very much damaged, but our native honeysuckle is in
fine condition. The bush honeysuckles are all hardy. The one known as
Lonicera bella alba does not differ very much from the common white form
of the Tartarian honeysuckle.
_Prunus Triloba._--The double flowering plum has always been hardy with
us, and usually has been a splendid bloomer in the latter part of April,
but last winter was so severe that it did not bloom at all this spring.
_Catalpa._--Another strange feature of the winter was that Catalpa
speciosa came through entirely uninjured.
_Viburnum._--Viburnum pekinensis came through in fine condition as well
as its close relative, the high bush cranberry. The common snowball did
not suffer so much from aphis this year as usual. Viburnum lentago,
which grows in the river valleys here naturally, is doing finely.
_Syringa._--Among the bushy lilacs Syringa ligustrina, Syringa
Chinensis, Syringa josikea and Syringa villosa all bloomed fully. The
varieties of the common lilac, known as Ludwig Spaeth, Charles X,
Senator Vollard and the one that Prof. Budd brought from Russia and
called by him Russian lilac, were all very satisfactory. This last
variety has pink flowers and is a very choice variety of Syringa
vulgaria.
_Amelanchier._--The large Juneberry, probably Amelanchier Canadensis,
was a very attractive object in April, when its purple-colored young
leaves contrasted with its white bloom. The dwarf Juneberry, with their
villous young leaves and white flowers, are very attractive in April and
should receive more attention from our planters.
_Dictamnus._--The gas plant (Dictamnus fraxinilla) becomes more
attractive from year to year. It is one of the hardy plants which needs
scarcely any attention to keep the weeds away. The pink form is very
showy when in flower, and the plant is very attractive after the flower
is gone.
_Iris._--A rather large collection of Siberian iris is very attractive
just now. The city has found it a very desirable, hardy plant to set in
the park.
_Apples._--A very good tree for park planting seems to be the crabapple,
known as Malus seboldii. It is very attractive when in bloom, and the
fruit as it ripens takes on a rich warm color that is very interesting.
Okabena is promising a light crop, which may be advantageous, as when
this variety bears freely the apples are apt to be undersized. A
Thompson seedling is promising a full crop as well as most of the other
common varieties. The Wealthy on Malus baccata is bearing a full crop.
_Hybrid Plums._--The common varieties of plums are promising a very good
crop, except Surprise, which is not bearing at all this year. Minnesota
No. 10 is the only one of the new seedlings bearing a full crop. No. 18
has a light crop. No. 8 is thrifty and promising and so is No. 10. No.
20 suffered from the winter. Plums No. 1 and 2 are both promising. Plum
No. 11 was injured by the rabbits. Hansen's No. 3769, Sansota, is
bearing a light crop.
_Raspberries._--Raspberry No. 8 is promising a full crop. It is a very
late variety. Hansen's Oheta is one of our best berries.
_Gooseberries._--Western Minnesota is not well adapted to the
cultivation of gooseberries, nor do currants do very well. The Carrie
gooseberry is promising a full crop, and some of the older varieties are
doing better than usual, perhaps on account of the unusually cool
season.
Nevis Trial Station.
JAS. ARROWOOD, SUPT.
June 16, 1916.--Apples came through the past winter in fairly good
shape, especially the stock we have grown at this place. There has been
some loss with stock that has been brought from outside nurseries from
top killing, and there have been some sun scalds where trees have been
exposed to the southwest sun, mostly among the limbs and crotches. There
will be a fair crop of apples, as they seem to be setting fairly good.
There has been considerable top-working done this spring with fair
success.
[Illustration: Mr. James Arrowood alongside a seedling of the
Transcendent in early bloom.]
Our native plums have all come through the winter in good shape, with
only a small setting of plums, on account of so much rain. In regard to
the plums we received from the Breeding Station in 1913: the number of
plums was eighteen; all grew except two, and those killed back each
year. They were No. 2. All the rest have grown, but no fruit up to date
except on No. 7. That fruited last year and also is loaded with fruit at
this date. The trees received in 1914 all grew except two. They all made
a fair growth but haven't yet set any fruit. The dozen trees that were
sent me in 1915 have all made a good growth this last year.
Two dozen grapes that were sent to me three years ago have not set fruit
but have made a slow growth. Now in regard to small fruit, such as
strawberries, we wish to say that No. 3 heads everything in the
strawberry line for growth and berries. Its equal is not found in this
section of the country. In regard to the everbearing we cannot say that
they have done as well as we expected them to. The raspberries that we
received three years ago have all done very well. No. 1 and No. 5 have
done the best. Those berries have all stood out without covering through
the winter. We have one acre of them now. They have not killed back at
all and promise a big crop.
We received this spring about one dozen apple trees which we will report
on later. Currants and gooseberries promise a good crop.
In regard to the shade trees and the evergreens they have all done
remarkably well. We have more faith in the seedling fruits, such as
apples and plums, for this section of the country. We believe our only
hope will be through the seedlings. This was the late Prof. Green's
prediction to me just before his death. Every year brings to mind his
saying, that we must plant our own apple and plum seed if we ever expect
any good results in Northern Minnesota.
In regard to the Hansen plums--all seem to be doing well and are set
full of fruit. We would also mention the Hansen sweet alfalfa, which is
a wonder. It grows and spreads equal to quack-grass. Four years ago we
received fifty plants, which were planted according to directions of the
professor to set two feet apart and cultivate the first year. During
these four years it does not appear that there has been a single plant
killed out. It has spread from the seed and roots over two rods wide and
six rods long and as thick as it can stand.
Owatonna Trial Station.
THOS. E. CASHMAN, SUPT.
There is but little to report from the Owatonna Station at this time.
Trees and plants came through the winter in good condition. The apple
trees, Haralson's plum seedlings, No. 1017 everbearing strawberry, No. 4
raspberry and Beta grape seedlings came through the winter without
injury. Trees that are old enough have blossomed well and are carrying a
fair crop of fruit.
A new lot of seedlings originated by Mr. Haralson at the Fruit-Breeding
Station have been planted this year, and the station this year put in
the following: Malinda Nos. 12, 17, 13, 58, 32, 29, 7, 18, 25, 3, 35,
38, W. 82; Malinda seedling, W. 132; Hilbut, Winesap, W. 79, No. 16, No.
269, W. 81, W. 100, W. 184, No. 90, W. 20 G., No. 243; No. 31
everbearing raspberries, Russet Selly, W. 36, W. 135, No. 272. They are
starting off in good shape and will all make a good showing for the
first year.
We have done the usual spraying, first with lime-sulphur and a small
portion of arsenate of lead while the trees were dormant, and just
lately a good dose of arsenate of lead. The foliage of the trees is
perfect, and bugs of all kinds are conspicuous by their absence. People
who have not sprayed find their trees badly stripped of foliage. I am
afraid of severe losses unless they get busy very soon. Spraying costs
but little and must be done if we are to raise fruit.
Paynesville Trial Station.
FRANK BROWN, SUPT.
The plums sent to this station the spring of 1914 wintered very nicely,
blossomed very full and have set considerable fruit. The new growth on
these trees is very satisfactory, and they seem to be healthy in all
ways.
No. 1 plum trees sent here last spring froze back quite badly, but as
many other supposedly hardy trees did the same we are still in hopes
that this was only an incident in a hard winter.
[Illustration: A corner of the home orchard at the Paynesville Station.]
No. 4 raspberry is still a favorite here; it winters perfectly, is a
strong grower, and a good all around berry, both as a home berry, and as
a shipper.
Raspberries Nos. 2 and 7 are both good, but No. 2 lacks a little in
hardiness, and we wish to test No. 7 more fully before reporting. The
other raspberries, Nos. 1, 3, 5 and 6, are no good here.
If I knew how to say more in favor of that grand strawberry Minn. No. 3
I should say it; with us it is the best of all the June-bearing berries,
hardy, productive, a good canner and a good shipper.
The spring of 1915 we received from the Central Station fifty plants
labeled Minn. No. 1017. We considered it our duty to test these in all
ways, so kept all berries picked off until July 1st, then allowed fruit
and plants to form as they would, and the result was an immense crop of
dark red fruit, of the finest quality, and over 600 strong, sturdy
plants. These were transplanted this spring without the loss of a single
plant, and at this date are certainly a fine looking bunch.
The apple trees received this spring from the Central Station are all
doing well. The trees and plants from that Station certainly speak
volumes for the work being done by Supt. Haralson.
Some trees and shrubs killed back quite badly the past winter,
especially spirea Van Houtti was badly hurt.
Fruit prospects are good, the cold backward spring held the fruit buds
back until all danger of frost was over.
Strawberries are especially fine this season, and bid fair to be a
record crop. In fact, the horticulturists in this part of our state have
much to be thankful for.
Sauk Rapids Trial Station.
MRS. JENNIE STAGER, SUPT.
June 13--Starting with a late spring, which saved all sorts of blossoms
from the frost, now in June we have promise of an unlimited amount of
fruit. But with heavy rains almost every night, we cannot effect much
with spraying. One spraying eliminated all worms so far from not only
the currants and gooseberries, but the roses also, and once going
through the orchards has done away with the few tent caterpillars that
had started in their work.
So on the whole we have hopes of a full harvest of not only tree but
small fruits. Most vegetables are backward, as also flowers from seeds,
but with so much to be thankful for how can any of us complain.
* * * * *
ALLEGED PEAR BLIGHT CURES ARE WORTHLESS--ORGANISM OF DISEASE LIVES
UNDERNEATH BARK OUT OF REACH OF "CURE."--Fruit growers should not
allow themselves to be induced to purchase and use worthless pear blight
cures. Every year we hear of cures for pear blight being sold to fruit
growers, but to the present time the experiment stations of the country
have hunted in vain for any practical remedy that may be sprayed upon
trees or used in any way for the cure of this typo for disease. The
organism lives underneath the bark entirely out of reach of remedies
that may be applied to the surface of the tree.
I would strongly recommend to fruit growers that they do not spend any
money for pear blight until they are able to learn through experiment
stations, or the Department of Agriculture at Washington, D.C., that
there is a remedy that can be used for the control of this
disease.--C. P. Gillette, Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station.
West Concord Trial Station.
FRED COWLES, SUPT.
June 14.--The past winter was long and severe. Besides the severe cold,
a heavy coat of ice remained a long time on trees of all kinds, causing
much anxiety, but when the time came trees of all kinds were full of
bloom and beauty. Most varieties of apples have set a full crop of
fruit. Some trees which bore a heavy crop last year have little or none
this year, but the general crop of apples will be heavy if it matures.
Our trees top-worked to Jonathan and Northern Spy are bearing good this
year; they show no signs of winter-killing.
[Illustration: Side view of Mr. Cowles' home grounds.]
Plums were full of bloom as usual, but have set little fruit. Some
varieties--Sansota and Wyant--have a few scattering plums. Seedling No.
17 also has a few. The new seedlings from the Station are all growing
good. The native plums in a thicket have more fruit than the named
varieties.
Strawberries have wintered well and give promise of a full crop. Some
garden patches in the vicinity winter-killed badly. Minnesota Seedling
No. 3 promises to be a good berry; the strong fruit stems keep the
berries from the ground. The Progressive and Superb, of the everbearing
type, are no longer an experiment, but are a success, and many farmers
are planting them.
Raspberries winter-killed some. The Herbert seems as hardy as any.
Seedling No. 4 is also hardy. Gooseberries and currants are bearing as
usual. Grapes have started rather late and will have a short season to
mature.
The early flowering shrubs bloomed very full this spring. Lilacs did
extra well. The Persian lilac was very full and lasted a long time.
Chas. X, Madam Chereau and Alphonse la Valle were fine. Villosa is just
coming out; this is a beautiful variety. The tree lilac received from
China a few years ago is going to bloom for the first time. The iris is
just in full bloom, and the delicate colorings always please. Peonies
are late this year, none being out at this time. A few Rugosas are the
only roses out at this time, but they look promising for a little later.
Orcharding in Minnesota.
DISCUSSION LED BY PROF. RICHARD WELLINGTON, UNIVERSITY FARM.
Mr. Sauter: I want to set out 500 trees; what kind shall I set out? I
live at Zumbra Heights.
Mr. Wellington: I would prefer some of the more experienced growers to
speak on that question, but going over the recommendations of over 160
growers the Wealthy is recommended in practically all cases in
preference to the other varieties. We know, however, that the Wealthy
needs pollen from other varieties for fertilization of the blossom, so
it would be foolish to put out 500 Wealthys. It is better to mix in some
of the other varieties. If I was planting an orchard, probably
seventy-five per cent. of the apples would be Wealthys.
Mr. Sauter: And what next?
Mr. Wellington: Well, that depends altogether on your market. If you can
handle the Duchess apple, work the Duchess in; or if you wanted a few
late apples, work in some of the other varieties.
Mr. Sauter: Isn't the Okabena better than the Duchess?
Mr. Wellington: It is a little later.
Mr. Richardson: Four days later.
Mr. Wellington: That would be my recommendation. I would put in the
majority of the trees Wealthys and then work in some other varieties
according to your market.
Mr. Sauter: Isn't the Malinda and the Northwest Greening all right?
Mr. Wellington: The Northwest Greening seems to be especially valuable
in certain parts of the state. In some parts they winter injure, but it
is a good late variety.
Mr. Sauter: How is the Malinda?
Mr. Wellington: Malinda is all right excepting in quality. It is lacking
in quality.
Mr. Sauter: Is it a good seller?
Mr. Wellington: I couldn't tell you about that. Some of these other
gentlemen could give you information on that point. It tastes more like
cork than anything else, but after the other apples are gone we are not
so particular about it.
Mr. Dunlap: The speaker brought out one point that we tested out a great
many years ago in Illinois, and I suppose it is really an important one
here, and that is the protection against the winds with shelter-belts.
Now, at the University of Illinois they planted out some forty acres to
test that with all the varieties they could get together, and they
planted spruce trees not only on the outside of the orchard but they
planted them in through the orchard, dividing the orchards up into ten
acre plots. Quite a number of the early planters of apples in Illinois
also put windbreaks around their orchards with considerable detriment to
their orchards.
We find that we need air drainage there just as much as we need
protection against the wind. If I were in Minnesota I might change my
mind after studying the conditions, but if I was going to plant in
Minnesota and I should plant evergreens I certainly would trim them up
from the bottom so as to get air drainage. I have known of instances
where orchards were protected and where there was air drainage they were
all right, but where they were closely protected by the trees they were
injured by the frosts by their starting too early in the spring. If you
get a warm atmosphere around the trees you start your buds pretty early,
several days earlier than they would if they had the right kind of air
drainage, and it does seem to me that the experience we have had would
be against close planting around an orchard for protection from frost,
though you do want to protect them against winds, but air drainage, it
seems, is not a detriment to orchards. (Applause.)
Mr. Richardson: I wish to say that in my observation and my experience
if I was putting in a windbreak I would put it on the south and west
sides; I wouldn't have any on the north and east.
Mr. Brackett: Our prevailing winds are from the south and west during
the summer, and the Wealthy is an apple that is bad for falling off when
it gets to a certain stage, and I think it is very necessary for us to
have a windbreak on the south and west if we are going to protect our
orchards here.
Mr. Ludlow: The wind comes from the northwest generally in the winter,
when we have storms, and if snow falls and it comes from the northwest,
and the orchard is protected on that side by a windbreak, the windbreak
will catch the snow and it will pile on top of the orchard, and I have
known at least a dozen trees to be broken down by the storms of winter
getting in that way.
A Member: I think crab apple trees make a good windbreak, if they are
set twice as close together as trees in the orchard.
A Member: I think location has more to do with it than anything else. I
have two or three orchards in mind where five years ago, when we had
that hard frost, they had an abundance of apples, and it was protected
from the northwest. I have another orchard in mind that was protected
from the north and northwest, and this year they had over 1,400 bushels
of Wealthy apples. Mine wasn't protected particularly from the north,
and I had no apples, but back of the buildings, there is where I had my
apples. I tell you location has more to do with it than a windbreak in
such a case.
Mr. Drum: You all remember some ten or more years ago when the apple
trees were in blossom, and we had a terrible snow storm and blizzard and
freeze. My orchard was protected both from the southwest and the
northwest and the north, and following that freeze my trees had the only
apples that were left in that country. I think that protection from the
north and northwest is just as essential, especially in a position where
the winds have a wide sweep. My house and my orchard slope off to the
northwest, and I have a full sweep of the northwest wind there for
miles. The house was set as it were on a pinnacle. I think the
protection from the northwest is fully as essential in such a position
as any other.
Mr. Whiting: This windbreak proposition is a question of locality. In
the western part of the state, as well as in South Dakota--especially in
South Dakota--we say that the south windbreak is decidedly the most
important of any we can put in. We have more hot winds than you do here
in the eastern part of Minnesota. You don't have that trouble, but in
western Minnesota you are very much like we are in South Dakota. Mr.
Ludlow knows the conditions, and I say you must take that into
consideration. If you are in that locality the south windbreak is
decidedly the most important of any. Then I would say the windbreak on
the south, west and north are all of considerable importance. Of course,
you can overdo it, you can smother your orchard. You must guard against
that, but we have too much air drainage.
In regard to the variety proposition, isn't it true that you are growing
too many perishable apples in Minnesota? I know it is so in South
Dakota. We are growing too many of these early varieties; we ought to
grow more winter varieties. If you want to build up a large commercial
apple business you have got to raise more keepers. You are planting too
many early varieties.
Mr. Dowds: I have been setting out apple trees more or less in different
states for sixty years. If I was going to set out another orchard I
would put windbreaks all around it, north, south, east and west, and
the windbreak that I would use would be the yellow willow. It grows
quick, it gives you a circulation of air, and it protects your trees. My
experience in the last fifteen years has been that the yellow willow was
the best windbreak that you can have around the house.
Mr. Brackett: Mr. Whiting says, grow winter apples. I want to know what
winter apples will bring the money that Wealthy bring.
Mr. Whiting: That is a hard question, but isn't it a fact that you grow
too many Wealthys? Don't you glut the market unless you have cold
storage? You ought to work to that end just as much as possible; you
ought to have more good keepers, better winter varieties.
The Society Library.
Books may be taken from the Library of the Minnesota State Horticultural
Society by any member of the society on the following terms:
1. Only one book can be taken at a time.
2. Books with a star (*) before the title, as found in the published
library list, are reference books and not to be taken from the library.
3. In ordering books give besides the name also the case and book
numbers, to be found in the same line as the title.
4. Books will be sent by parcel post when requested.
5. When taking out, or sending for a book, a charge of ten cents is made
to cover expense of recording, transmission, etc.
6. Books are mailed to members only in Minnesota and states immediately
adjoining. When sent to points outside the state a charge of fifteen
cents is made.
7. A book can be kept two weeks: If kept longer a charge of two cents
per day will be made.
8. The library list, to December 1, 1915, is published in the 1915
annual volume of the society. Additions to this list will be published
year by year in the succeeding annual volumes.
GARDEN HELPS
Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society
Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So.
Minneapolis.
Mr. H. H. Whetzel, of the plant disease survey, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, stationed at Cornell University, where the American Peony
Society has its test grounds, has made a study of the stem-rot disease
of the peony and has set forth the results in an address before the
Massachusetts Horticultural Society, from which the following has been
culled:
"The botrytis blight is by far the most common and destructive disease
of the peony so far as known at present. This disease is frequently
epidemic, especially during wet springs. It occurs wherever peonies are
grown, apparently the world over.