EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. FRUIT-TESTING AT THE SOUTH HAVEN SUB-STATION. By T. T. LYON-Bulletin No. 67, Horticultural Department. In the spring of 1888 the Board of Agriculture authorized an arrangement with T. T. LYON, by which the station secured a report upon the fruits growing on his extensive experimental plantation at South Haven. The report was issued as Bulletin No. 55, and was so well received that at the urgent solicitation of the fruitgrowers of the "fruit belt" it was determined to place the work on a more permanent basis. The people of South Haven donated a tract of land adjoining that of President LYON, and future plantings of trial fruits will be made on it. As some time must elapse before results can be obtained from the station trees, the use of the Lyon tract was secured, and from the plants growing thereon the following report was prepared by President LYON, whose services we were fortunate enough to secure to carry on the work. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, MICH., October 16, 1890. L. R. TAFT, To Prof. L. R. Taft, Horticulturist, Experiment Station: SIR-The fruiting season of the strawberry, at this place, for the current year, being now past, the following report is submitted: The plat from which the following particulars have been deduced, was planted, in the spring of 1889, with primary reference to the growth of plants and fruit for sale, it being at the time deemed improbable that occasion would occur for their employment for experimental purposes. Arrangements having been subsequently effected for such purpose, ten feet in length were measured off upon a matted row of each variety prior to the digging of plants for the spring sale. These several reserved plats were reduced to a common width of eight inches; and, in case of a light stand of plants, the lack was supplied by increasing the length. On each "picking day" these several plats were each picked separately, and the date and weight, in ounces, of each picking recorded, the sum of the weights of these several pickings from each plat expressing the relative productiveness of the variety for the year. The past winter and spring have tested the comparative hardiness of varieties more severely than usual. Many of those usually thought to be lacking in this particular, such as Anna Forest, Henderson, Jewell and a few others were nearly or quite ruined, while others not usually considered deficient in hardiness, have so far suffered as, in a greater or less degree, to affect the quality or quantity of their yield of fruit. Among such we may mention Cornelia, Crimson Cluster, Gold, Goldsmith, Hoffman, Longfellow, Prince of Berries, Sucker State and perhaps others. This fact, will have, doubtless, in some degree affected the results given, but to what extent seems only determinable from the results of repeated trials. For several weeks prior to the picking season, the conditions had been favorable to the development of size and quantity of fruit, while the advent of excessively hot, drying weather hastened and shortened the ripening season, deteriorating the size and probably occasioning the abortion of many of the later specimens, which, with the prevalence of more favorable weather, would probably have matured. The following tabulation is extended across two opposite pages, the connection being indicated by the use of numbers. The form and color of the fruit, together with the prevalence of fungi, are given by means of abbreviations placed at the head of the table. Insects have not, so far, proved troublesome. Several years since the leaf-roller (Phoxopteris fragaria, W. & R.) became very abundant. As the larva invariably draws the opposite halves of the leaflet closely together, its presence is readily observable. Advantage was taken of this circumstance to crush the larvæ in these hiding places, which was so thoroughly done that very few appeared the following season. The same process was applied to these, since which they have almost wholly disappeared. The dates of origination or introduction are, in most cases, to be considered as mere approximations, many of them having been inferred from the dates of introduction, or from recollection of our first acquaintance with the variety. The column headed "Hardiness” indicates the condition in which the plants came through the past winter, which, in a few cases, may have been in some degree affected by local peculiarities of soil, and possibly in a few instances by their previous condition. For the reasons stated, the results given under the head of "Productiveness" to some extent need a repetition of the trial, in other seasons and soils, before being accepted as conclusive. 7 9 8 10 10 11 12 13 15 12849 5-6 10 $10 52 58 54 Not valuable as compared with many others. Like most late varieties, lacks productiveness. A rather light stand of plants. Perfect in form, even sized, profitable. Scarcely productive enough for market. Has not realized its early promise. Does not stand as high as had been anticipated. We add brief notes of such varieties in the foregoing list as have produced forty or more ounces of fruit upon the plat heretofore designated. The picking was done on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. Arnold's Pride, B. (bisexual) yet maintains its position as a desirable variety for the family garden, although too dull in color for the market. Belmont, B. On strong soils, with good cultivation, its superior quality and good size should commend it for the family plat. Although a popular market berry, with Boston growers, it seems not likely to reach such position elsewhere. Bomba, B. has done fairly well, here, this season; but it must continue to improve to insure general popularity. Its fault is the deficient size of the later fruits. Rich soil and high cultivation would doubtless improve it in this particular. Bright Ida, B. like the three other Arnold seedlings, only brighter |