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.

Orchardi