Annual Report, 1915, Duluth Trial Station.

C. E. ROWE, SUPT., DULUTH.

[Illustration:  A rosa rugosa hybrid rose grown by C. E. Rowe, Duluth.]

Although this was an off year for apples, results were probably as good here as in other sections of the state.  The spring gave promise of an unusual crop, but the constant dropping of fruit during the summer months left us with about two-thirds as many apples as were harvested in 1914.  The quality was much poorer, owing to extremely cool weather and the presence of scab in many localities.

The plum crop failed almost completely, and many trees were injured from aphis attacks.  I have never known the aphis so hard to control as they were last summer.

Nearly all fruit trees made an excellent growth this season, and the new wood was well ripened when the freeze-up came.  The fall rains provided plenty of moisture, and our trees should come through the winter in excellent shape.

Raspberries and currants produced about one-half the usual crop this year, probably owing to our May freeze.

Strawberries were almost a failure, largely due to winter-killing.  Last winter did more damage to perennial plants than any other winter within the recollection of the writer.  The fall was rather dry, and our snow covering did not come until January.

We received from Supt.  Haralson for trial four plum trees, variety No. 1; and fifty everbearing strawberry plants, variety No. 1017.  Both plum trees and strawberry plants made a good growth.  Although the strawberries were set heavily with fruit, but little of it ripened before the heavy frosts came.  The plant is very vigorous, and the berry is large and of excellent quality.

Annual Report, 1915, Vice-President, Tenth Congressional District.

M. H. HEGERLE, SUPT., ST. BONIFACIUS.

On May 18th we had several inches of snow accompanied by a fierce northwest wind, and orchards without any shelter suffered seriously, and both apples and plums in such orchards were scarce and of a rather inferior quality.  A few orchards had a fair crop, while a couple of others with a natural windbreak had a fairly good crop, but on an average it was the lightest apple and plum crop we have had for some time.

Mr. Beiersdorf and Mr. Swichtenberg report a good crop of Wealthy and Peter.  Their orchards are close to a lake and are well protected on the north and west by a natural grove.

Of the twenty-four report blanks sent out, eleven were returned properly filled in, and they all report conditions about as above outlined.

Cherries and grapes suffered even more from the cold than the apples, and that crop was very light.  My Homer cherry trees look healthy and are growing fine, but the past two years had not enough fruit to supply the birds.

Raspberries and strawberries were a good crop and of exceptional fine quality, but the currants and gooseberries were a total failure in my garden as well as elsewhere, according to all reports received.