currants and gooseberries, together with a limited quantity of blackberries and raspberries.  Twelve varieties of strawberries were set out, each including 100 plants.  All made a splendid growth this season.  An interesting test is under way in the dynamiting work.  Alternate trees have been set in blasted holes, a stick about one and one-half inches long being sufficient to make a hole three feet in diameter and perhaps twenty inches in depth.  It is yet too early to measure the results of this work, but owing to the nature of the subsoil in this region, we are looking for splendid results.  With regard to the stock secured from the Fruit Farm, we have not been uniformly successful.  Much of the stock seems to be weak and dies readily from some cause unknown to us.  Next season we should be able to render a more complete report, as our work will then be fairly started.

Annual Report, 1915, West Concord Trial Station.

FRED COWLES, SUPT., WEST CONCORD.

[Illustration:  Fred Cowles at home.]

Of the new varieties of plums that I received from the Fruit-Breeding Farm most all have done well.  The only one that has borne is No. 21.  This one had two plums on last season, and several this.  They were a medium size red plum, very good flavor, and seem to come into bearing very young.  No. 17 is a very thrifty grower, but when it bears that will tell what it is worth.  Hansen’s plums are doing well, but we believe they are more adapted to a better drained soil than we have here, as we are on a heavy prairie soil.  But these varieties are very thrifty and bear so young.

The grapes have all stood the winter with no protection and have not killed back any.  We expect some fruit next season.

The raspberries that we received have all done well.  No. 4 seems to take the lead for flavor and is a good grower.

Notwithstanding the cold season our strawberry crop was very good, and we are much impressed with No. 3, it is so strong and healthy; it is just the plant for the farmer, as it will thrive under most any condition.  I believe it will fight its way with the weeds and come out ahead.

We reported very favorably on the Heritage when it was in bloom, but it does not set enough fruit to pay for its space.  The berries are large but very few on my grounds.  I will discard it.

Our apple crop was very good, especially Duchess, Wealthy and Northwestern Greening.  We have been trying some of the tender varieties top-worked.  Northern Spy gave us five nice apples on a two year graft.  We also have Jonathan, Talman Sweet and King David doing well.  Delicious grafted three years ago has not fruited yet.

This has been a splendid summer for flowers, and they seemed to enjoy the damp, cool season, especially the dahlia.  If you have not tried the Countess of Lonsdale you should; it is a cactus dahlia and a very free bloomer.  Everblooming roses did well—­we had them in October.