injured by the winter were: Clapp's Favorite, Flemish Beauty, Howell, Lawrence, Sheldon, and Winter Nellis. Of plums, the most hardy appear to be: Bradshaw, Duane Purple, German Prune, Moore's Arctic, Quackenbos, Washington, and Yellow Egg. The injury to Lombard, one of our hardiest, varieties, is in accordance with the statement before made, that hardiness is only a relative condition. This variety, because of its vigorous, watery growth, failed to mature the wood and suffered accordingly.

During the past year the orchard has been largely extended and the trees have made a vigorous growth. Several of the newer varieties of apples and pears, as well as some older ones not common in this region, have been added to the collection. Several varieties of plums, cherries and quinces have also been added. Small fruits are also receiving due attention. The climate of the state is such that cultivators may take advantage of the natural conditions of the markets, and with suitable varieties, make the culture of small fruits a very profitable industry. The fruit may be put upon the market at a season when there is little competition from other sources, and when the best fruit will command high prices. We are endeavoring to determine the best of the hardy varieties now before the public, and to secure by means of selection and crossing, new varieties specially adapted to the climate, and to the demands of the natural markets of the state.

During the year, the following varieties have been added to the collection of small fruits. (The list of varieties before planted was published in the annual reports for 1889 and 1890.)

Blackberries: Agawam, Ancient Briton, Early Cluster, Stone (Stone's Hardy).

Raspberries: Hansell, Marlboro, Turner, Tyler, Johnston (Johnston's Sweet).

Currant: Prince Albert, La Versaillais.

Gooseberries: Whitesmith, Downing.

No part of the state is better adapted for the general operations of agriculture than is Aroostook County. The winters are so severe, however, that fruit culture has heretofore received little attention. Until the advent of the Duchess and the Wealthy, all attempts at apple culture resulted in disappointment. It is but few years since the positive assertion was made, that fruit culture is impossible north of the latitude of Houlton, (46° 10`).

By steady perseverance on the part of a few enterprising planters, however, there are now thriving orchards in the latitude of Presque Isle and Caribou, and even as far north as Fort Kent, on the extreme northern boundary of the state.

The range of varieties is very limited in this northern region, however; the standard of hardiness being the Duchess and the Wealthy. Some valuable seedlings of these varieties have been produced and the number is gradually being increased. Dudley's Winter, a seedling of Duchess, is of much promise and is being extensively propagated. The variety originated with Mr. J. W. Dudley of Castle Hill Plantation.

In the hope of extending the list of apples and other fruits which may be grown in the more rigorous portions of the state, arrangements have been made with Mr. James Nutting of Perham, who has perhaps the largest orchard in northern Aroostook, to test certain varieties sent him and report to this department from time to time.

In April of the present year, cions of the following varieties of apples were sent to Mr. Nutting: Severs, Iowa Blush, McMahon, and Harry Kaump, from the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Peach of Montreal, Prolific Sweeting, Longfield, Titus, Bethel of Vermont, Yellow Transparent, and Shiawassee Beauty, from Dr. T. H. Hoskins of Newport, Vermont.

"Sally" and Sweet Seedling, two seedlings of promise, from D. H. Knowlton, of Farmington, Me.

A few cions of Shiawassee Beauty were also sent from the college orchard for comparison with those from northern Vermont.

In addition to the apples, cions of the Hawkeye plum were sent, and grafted in the native Canada plum, (Prunus Americana). Part of the apple cions were set in bearing trees, Duchess, and part in Duchess seedlings, one year stock.

The following is Mr. Nutting's report concerning the first year's growth:

Cions set in bearing trees: The trees are about twelve years old and being set 12x12 feet, are somewhat crowded. The cions, except those from Vermont, and the seedlings, were not in good condition, growth having commenced in most instances.

Cions set on seedling stock: Saddle or splice grafts were made on one year seedling stocks, and they were planted out the same

The season was very dry and bad for nursery stock. All of the young trees were taken up November 12, and healed in for the winter.

The above report is given, not as indicating valuable results obtained, but as showing in a general way the work commenced in the "cold northeast." The deep snows constitute a serious obstacle to successful nursery culture during the first year or so. It is for this reason that the trees were taken up the first winter. During the coming year the list of varieties under trial will be

materially increased, and the culture of certain small fruits undertaken. The conditions of soil and climate seem specially adapted to the growth of currants and gooseberries. The only plum which has as yet proved satisfactory in northern Aroostook, is Moore's Arctic, which originated at Ashland in that section. Even this variety requires laying down each fall.

The native "Canada plum," Prunus Americana, is very variable in its character, and the region in question is specially rich in promising types of this species. Several selections of the more promising forms have been made, and it is hoped by careful selec tion and culture, valuable “iron-clad" varieties may be obtained. Trees and cions of Rollingstone and Hawkeye plums were procured last spring, and others of the hardy native varieties from the northwest, as well as some of the better Russian sorts, will be introduced next season.

EXPERIMENTS IN SPRAYING.

The great and increasing importance of the fruit interests of the state seem to demand special attention on the part of the Experiment Station, and as as the depredations of the insect and fungous enemies of the orchard are becoming more and more severe year by year, it has been decided best to do all in our power to combat these pests.

In other states it has been shown, apparently beyond question, that at least some of these orchard pests may easily be held in check. While it is not to be supposed that conditions of soil or climate would render the work of other experiment stations of no value in Maine, it has been thought best to prove for ourselves, and to the satisfaction of the people of the state, the effectiveness of certain remedies, if they are effective. In the reports of this Station for 1889 and 1890, Professor Harvey urged the use of certain insecticides and fungicides and gave full directions for applying, with descriptions and cuts of various kinds of spraying apparatus. Heretofore, however, no field work has been undertaken by the Experiment Station. By mutual understanding this work has been placed in the hands of the writer.

Owing to the fact that the orchard belonging to the Experiment Station is not of bearing age, and that there are no large orchards in the vicinity of the college, the work has necessarily been at a