een eee See REET UTR HERR DUAR eS ; La ve NS yyy: Ty WAR ASS th HSS YAR SCN uN ASS ate Ash i as: f 4 y * Weg e ant pass BEATEN SAN é ~ Ree f= ae Die = Dz j > : 2 in | ) : 4 JE | : 5 i aa (> / Al : Ae q Sit ) ue “4: a £ tex Y - R Di CUD = NG : 5 ae = <—e Zp 5 4 Neg Me - 7S . PV bee VV FNSZELEN BOTANICAL GARDEN, Cornell University — Agricultural Experiment Station. SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Aoricultural Experiment Station. ITHAGA, N. Y. 1894. TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE FEBRUARY 26, 1895. ALBANY : JAMES B.LYON, STATE PRINTER. 1895, SPATE OF NEW VWoORK, No. 105. IN ASSEMBLY, Frprvuary 26, 1895. SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION OF One UNIVERSITY. STATE OF NEW YORK: Executive CHAMBER, ‘ Aupany, February 26, 1895. j To the Legislature: I have the honor to transmit herewith the seventh annual report of the Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station of Cornell University, together with an appendix of twenty- two printed bulletins. LEVI P. MORTON. | ORGANIZA TI OR Board of Control.—The Trustees of the University. STATION COUNCIL. President — JACOB GOULD SCHURMAN. 2 oe BRAM GO Uf lp Dae Trustee of the University. Hon. JOHN B. DUTCHER.... President State Agricultural Society. MEER Ds cocis ss os. oe nid od 'euse ween ace Professor of Agriculture. Pee OWED, osc. cess vie ccsecnnces Professor of Chemistry. EGAN coi oi) cn os accep ss Professor of Veterinary Science. = Leis Hy be) a aa Professor of Botany. Sree OPES MONI 5s oes aac eas oo, 0 5 8e oe Professor of Entomology. we) JL, LN S01) GE ee er ee Professor of Horticulture. REEVES ois eee as Assistant Professor of Dairy Husbandry. Gr ATKINSON..... Assistant Professor of Cryptogamic Botany. OFFICERS OF THE STATION. 32 005d TH 4 AS saith bce gh MS oe ee Director. RTPA MS 5 wivjaic e's as ve since oo Paeveeae a> eenmewes Treasuren, eS SUNIC MEL 3 3), 5.4.05 > clon vs sid'gidn's oie veces sceds'eenieaen Clerk ASSISTANTS. Py MORINGHRLAND ©. co ce esses econ eee diacucsee .. Entomology eee Ce WATSON (6 ccc cas abe n cc cnese wensels Agriculture. SV CMO AVANAUGH 4.0.6. c occ ccecacesecccncnenes Chemistry. Be LODEMAN 2.2... cc sccsnccdvccedeccveocucesse Horticulture. Office of the Director, No. 20 Morrill Hall, REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR, 20's To the President of Cornell University : Sir.—I have the honor to transmit herewith my seventh annual report, with those of the treasurer, chemist, botanist, cryptogamic botanist, entomologist, agriculturist and the pro- fessor of dairy husbandry, together with a detailed statement of the receipts and expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, and an appendix of 22 bulletins, published during the cal- endar year 184, containing 700 pages and a spray leaflet which has had a wide circulation. The titles and number of the bul- letins are as follows: No. 62. 63: 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. he 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. The Japanese Plums in North America. Co-operative Test of Sugar Beets. On Certain Grass-Eating Insects. Tuberculosis in Relation to Animal Industry and Public Health. Test of Cream Separators. Some Recent Chinese Vegetables. The Cultivated Poplars. Hints on the Planting of Orchards. The Native Dwarf Cherries. Apricot Growing in Western New York. The Cultivation of Orchards. Leaf Curl and Plum Pockets. Impressions of the Peach Industry in Western New York. Peach Yellows. Some Grape Troubles of Western New York. 8 AGRIcULTURAL Experiment Station, Irsaca, N.Y. No. 77. The Grafting of Grapes. 78. The Cabbage Root Maggot, with notes on the Onion Maggot and Allied Insects. 79. Varieties and Leaf-Blight of the Strawberry. 80. The Quince in Western New York. 81. Black-Knot of Plums and Cherries, and Methods of Treatment. 82. Experiments with Tuberculin on Nontuberculous Cows. 83. A Plum Scale in Western New York. The past year has been most fruitful in valuable results and the appreciation of our work has been more marked than ever. The addition to the available funds has made it possible for the Station to cover a wide field in both applied and scientific agriculture. Notwithstanding the numerous publications many valuable results of the year’s work, perhaps the most valuable, are either in manuscript form or are unwritten, and I await the time when funds will permit publication. The usual Omnibus bulletin which served to record the results of the minor investigations of the year of all departments has been omitted since the year’s work has resulted in furnishing abundant material for all the monograph bulletins which could be published. A careful inspection of the 22 bulletins will reveal the activity of the various departments, the commendable character of the work and the great value to all classes of agriculture which these modest publications contain. Nearly all of the divisions of necessity desire that some chem- ical work be done which bears directly upon the particular prob- lem under investigation. This results in so overloading the Chemical Division that it is unable to carry on original research in its own field of operations to the extent desired. These con- ditions should be changed by employing a second assistant for a portion of the year. Report oF THE Director. ) It gives me great satisfaction to report that harmony, efficiency and enthusiasm prevail in all the divisions; the Station though divided into several distinct lines of research is working as a unit toward a common purpose, that of disseminating accurate and valuable information to all farmers so far as our funds will justify. Care is taken to tabulate and summarize the results arrived at inthe briefest possible form but so clearly that they may be easily understood and applied. The Director’s office has become, to some extent, a clearing- house, but as yet there is no official channel through which the numerous questions which reach the office can be answered. Fifty communications daily, during the winter, frequently reach the Director’s table. I trust that the time is not far distant when the information which many of these letters request may be furnished through a monthly bulletin. At present a few of these inquiries are answered through the agricultural press but most of them as personal letters, although the questions and replies may be of public interest. Spending so much effort in this direction results in little good compared with the time expended. I. P. ROBERTS, Director. Report of the Treasurer. Tae AgericuttoraAL Experiment Sration or Cornett University in Account wits THe Unirep States APPROPRIATION. Dr. 1894. To receipts from Treasurer of the United States as per appropriation for year ending June 30, 1894, under act of Congress approved March ¥, 1887...... $15,000 00 Cr. pune, oO: By salaries 0... 2... 2 oe a $9,625 O1 By. buildings. 5... 2... 5 3-ee e 73 30 By printing ©... is. ee ee 2,009 96 By office expenses’ - /...:. ine.) 690 04 By equipment, labor and current expenses: Agriculture .\)°o 225) sea be 372 49 Horticulture: .\2.. hove econ ee 1,354 83 Entomology: |... sce) o eae eee St aad ~ 808 51 Botany. ..7:.$i090- 0 ae eee ee 426 11 Chemistry ..))': 3.) eee 139 75 $15,000 00 Receipts for produce sold: Balance from 1892-93 ....-.......+for eating. | nnd Legit Dame Biel hes THE JAPANESE PLUMS. 15 Botankio is a sub-group of this, characterized by round fruit. 2. Beni-Smomo, or red-fleshed plums. Three names are chiefly used, evidently somewhat loosely, for varieties in this group: Honsmomo, Yonemomo, and Uchi-Beni. 3. Smomo proper, comprising fruits ‘‘ either colored ornot in the skin, but never colored inside.”’ This classification is of little service so far as the varieties known in America are concerned, and it shows that we may as well discard entirely the loose group-names of the Japanese. The methods of cultivating fruits in Japan enforces the adoption of local and generic names, and there seems to be little attempt to apply specific names with the certainty and distinctness with which they are used here and in Europe. ‘‘Plum trees,’’ Pro- fessor Georgeson writes, ‘‘are rarely found planted in orchard form, as are the pears, for instance, but they are scattered here and there about the dwelling houses or in the gardens, wherever the situation may appear to be suitable. It is also exceptional to find trees that receive much care or training. The bearing branches are often broken off and carried away bodily. It is not uncommon during midsummer to meet a pedestrian with a plum branch loaded with green fruit, on his shoulder. It may be a present from a friend, or it may be intended for sale, but it shows at all events that the owner has no great regard for his tree.’’ In such conditions of cultivation it is not strange that no specific attention is given to names of the different forms. The earliest attempt made in this country to classify and describe the varieties of Japanese plums, was an excellent essay by L. A. Berckmans in the Proceedings of the Georgia Horticul- tural Society for 1889. ‘This essay, in modified form and with illustrations, appeared in American Agriculturist for January, 1890. Characteristics of the Japanese plums.—About thirty varieties of Japanese plums are now named and more or less disseminated in this country, and others are known by numbers or indefinite appellations. Nearly all of the named sorts, if, in fact not all varieties, are direct importations from Japan ; but unnamed seed- lings are now coming to be known to experimenters and the time must be near at hand when a varied American progeny will come 16 BULLETIN 62. into the market. Judging from Professor Georgeson’s account, there is still abundant material upon which to draw in the mother country, however: ‘‘ The wonder is rather that our enterprising nurserymen and plum-growers have apparently been content with these two or three varieties [many more have now appeared], and that they have not instead gone in search of more and perhaps hardier plums of the same kind; for it might reasonably be sup- posed that a country which could produce those we have would be likely to have others equally worthy of notice. Such, at any rate, is the fact. There are many varieties in Japan which are fully equal to the so-called Kelsey, Ogon and Botan, which are already known here. Let him who doubts this visit the fruit . stands in the Japanese portion of Yokohama during June and July. He will be gratified by the sight of a greater collection of varieties than can be found in any horticultural exhibit in this country. ‘Tokio is also well supplied with plums at this season, and so are other towns throughout the country; but the region about Yokohama and a little southward is especially noted for its plums.’’ These places are near the center of Japan, where the climate is mild; but Japan extends over some fifteen degrees of latitude and it is not strange, therefore, that varieties of various degrees of hardiness should be obtained from the empire. Un- fortunately, the Kelsey was the first Japanese plum to become known in this country, and as it is hardy only upon the Pacific coast and south of Virginia, it became a general impression that the species is not adapted to cultivation in the north. The varieties which are now known to be hardy in the plum regions of New York and Connecticut are Burbank, Abundance, Willard, Ogon, Satsuma, Berger, Chabot, and Yosebe; and most others give promise of hardiness. Dr. Dennis reports Burbank and Ogon to have borne at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last season, after having experienced a temperature 26° below zero. Early bloom- ing will probably prove to be a more serious weakness of these plums than lack of hardiness; and this point is discussed farther on (p. 32). The season of these plums varies considerably. The earliest to mature in central New York is the little Berger, which ripens the middle of July. The earliest of what may be called the market THE JAPANESE PLUMs. 17 varieties, in this latitude, seems to be Willard, which colors suf- ficiently for market about the 15th of July in ordinary seasons, and which is fully ripe for eating .a week later. Ogon follows, coming in about the first of August, or sometimes late in July, or about ten days ahead of Wild Goose. Late in August or very early in September, the Abundance is ready. Just before the Abundance, a soft and handsome plum, which is either Berck- man’s or very close to it, has interested me upon the grounds of S. D. Willard, at Geneva, N. Y. Bradshaw, alongside the above varieties, ripens late in August, and Field is about a week earlier : and as these two varieties are the earliest well-known market plums of the Domestica type in New York, it will be seen that the Willard has a great commercial advantage. Burbank ripens here about the first week in September, or sometimes the second week. In central Louisiana, J. L. Normand gives the following as the common succession of varieties: Georgeson, ripening the first days in June or sometimes the last of May; Kerr, about twelve days later; Berckmans; Abundance ; Normand; Burbank; Chabot; Bailey, ripening earlyin July; Satsuma; Kelsey, two weeks later than the last. Kelsey is evidently the latest of all the Japanese plums yet known in this country. I have received specimens not fully ripe from Central Florida as late as the 20th of July, and it has been known to ripen in Georgia as late as the first of October. As a class, the Japanese plums are long keepers. Even when they are fully colored and grown and are fit to eat, some varieties will keep nearly two weeks, and most of them will keep a week; andsome, if not all of the varieties ripen up well if picked rather green, after the manner of a pear, although they may suffer in quality from such treatment. Willard, picked when beginning to color on the exposed side, I have kept nine days in good condi- tion in a warm room and with no attempt to preserve them ; Abundance picked August 24, when well colored, began to decay September 2; Burbank, partly colored and picked August 24th, were placed in a tight box in a warm room, and on September 5th they were nearly allin perfect condition and had colored well, but were not even then fully ripe; a red plum, much like Berck- mans, kept from September 18th to October 1. J. H. Hale, of 18 BULLETIN 62. Connecticut, reports keeping Satsuma two weeks in his office in good condition, and they were fairly ripe when picked. Varieties.—An attempt will now be made to describe the varie- ties of Japanese plums which are known in North America. ‘The nomenclature is so much confused and many of the varieties so imperfectly known, that I cannot hope to have arrived at just conclusions in regard to the proper names and descriptions of all of them; but the attempt will serve to classify and fix our know- ledge of the varieties and I hope that it will lead others to make a more prolonged study of them. It is particularly difficult to determine which is the proper type of any variety in those cases in which two or three fruits pass under the same name, and I presume that some of the following names may be found to be wrongly applied. On the other hand, it is very probable that some of the varieties which are here kept distinct may prove to be identical. Some of the varieties I know only from printed descriptions, but I have added them for the purpose of making the monograph complete. Many growers have given me great aid in the preparation of this descriptive list, amongst whom I should mention P. J. Berckmans, of Augusta, Georgia, and S. D. Willard, Geneva, N. Y., without whose cooperation I could scarcely have attempted this essay. It has seemed best to discard entirely the Japanese class-names, as Botan, Botankio, Hattankio, Sumomo and the like, as they only lead to confusion. I have therefore renamed some of the varie- ties which are passing under indefinite names or numbers. The introduction of the name Abundance for the plum first known as Yellow-Fleshed Botan has been severely criticized in some quar- ters, but I have always felt that the renaming was not only justi- fiable but essential to lucid nomenclature. If the other Japanese generic names had been supplanted several years ago, much of the present confusion would have been avoided. In rating the size of the varieties, Kelsey, of course, must stand 10; and in comparison with this standard even 7 or 8 represents a large plum. It does not seem to be necessary to adopt any classification of these plums, and I have therefore listed them alphabetically. The most serviceable classification would be one founded upon color of skin and flesh. ‘The varieties might be arranged as follows : THE JAPANESE PLuMs. 19 A. Yellow-skinned plums: Georgeson, Kerr, Normand, Ogon. B. Red-skinned plums: 1. Yellow flesh. Abundance, Babcock, Berckmans, Bailey, Burbank, Berger, Kelsey , Chabot, Long Fruit, Maru, Munson, Orient, Perfection, Red Nagate, Strawberry, Willard, Yosebe. 2. hed jfiesh. Delaware, Hale, Heikes, Late Blood, Satsuma, Uchi-Beni. 1. Abundance (Yellow-Fleshed Botan).—Medium in size (or large when thinned) varying from nearly spherical to distinctly sharp-pointed, the point often oblique ; ground color rich yellow overlaid on the sunny side with dots and splashes of red, or in some specimens nearly uniformly blush-red on the exposed side ; flesh deep yellow, juicy and sweet, of good quality when well ‘ripened, cling. A strong-growing upright tree with rather nar- row leaves, and a decided tendency to overbear. ‘This is the best known of all Japanese plums in the north, and its popularity is deserved. Ripe here in early September or late August ; in east- ern middle Georgia late in June. - Imported by Luther Burbank in 1884. Named Abundance and put upon the general market by J. T. Lovett, in 1888. The illus- tration (Plate I) shows average Abundance as grown in New York, without thinning, three-fourths natural size. I have seen the fruit nearly twice as large from trees which were thinned. The fruit is apt to rot badly in wet seasons, unless well thinned. 2. Babcock (Botankio. Botan, of some).—Medium to large (1%-1% in. diam.), round, conical, skin yellow overlaid with purplish red, rather thick ; flesh, deep orange and solid, a little coarse, sweet, of good flavor and quality, cling; rather late, 20 $ BULLETIN 62. ripening about with the Burbank, or about a week earlier than Chabot in the south. Imported in 1885 by Luther Burbank. Now named for Col. E. F. Babcock, a well-known nurseryman of Little Rock, Arkansas, and among the first to grow and recommend the variety. 3. Bailey.—tLarge, nearly globular, with only a slight tendency to become conical; ground color rich orange, overspread with light and bright cherry-red, and showing many minute orange dots; flesh thick and melting, yellow, of excellent quality, cling. Tree strong and upright, productive. Closely related to Burbank, but rounder and mostly larger, and a week or more later. Imported by J. L. Normand, Marksville, Louisiana, and by him named and introduced in 1891. Figured in American Gar- dening, xiii. (1892), p. 700. There appears to be another Bailey plum of the Domestica type. I know it only from a plate made by Dewey of Rochester and which declares that it ‘‘ has not failed to bear for twenty-five successive years.’’ The Rochester Litho- graphing Co., successors to Dewey, write me that this plate was in Dewey’s stock before 1886, but that they know nothing further about it. : 4. Berckmans (True Sweet Botan. Sweet Botan. White-Fleshed Botan. Botan, of some).—Medium (or slightly above if thinned), broadly and obtusely conical and somewhat angular in cross- section ; deep blood red if ripened in the sun; flesh very sweet, moderately juicy, excellent in quality, cling or semi-cling ; ripens with Abundance or just ahead of it. One of the best. Introduced by Luther Burbank in 1887, from imported stock. The variety does not appear to be a true Botan, and its nomen- clature is so confused and indefinite that I have renamed it for Mr. Berckmans, who has done much to popularize it. I am not sure if the true variety has been fruited in the north, but forms which are evidently the same bear well in New York. The illus- tration in Plate II is made from specimens received from Mr. Berckmans. 5. Berger.—Fruit very small and globular, bright uniform red, with a firm, meaty and sweet yellow flesh and a very small free stone, ripening as early as the middle of July in some parts of New York and Connecticut. THE JAPANESE PLuUMs. 21 The picture shown here and upon the title-page is natural size. The fruit is very distinct in appearance and cannot be mistaken for any other Japanese plum which I have seen. Mr. Berckmans sends it to me without a name, saying that it came from H. H. Berger & Co., of San Francisco, as Red Nagate. N. S. Platt sends it from Connecticut as Satsuma, the name under which it was re- ceived from Ber- ger. It comes from the south (also originally == from Berger) as Shiro Smomo. I Berger. Full size. also have it from Western New York, unnamed. T. V. Munson, Texas, sends speci- mens which he calls the Berger, and I have adopted his name, although Ido not know if hehas published it. He writes as follows of it: ‘‘ The Berger plum is an upright, cherry-like tree. It bearsa purple fruit about the size of the Black Tartarian cherry, with meaty flesh, nearly free stone which is as small as the pit of the common Black Morello cherry and much the same shape.”’ Mr. Berckmans says that the ‘‘tree is very vigorous and distinct in growth, but ashy bearer. The fruit is too small to be worthy of being retained.’’ What I have seen of this fruit, however, leads me to believe that it may bea useful sort for the home garden because of its earliness, daintiness and pleasing flavor. Professor Georgeson, to whom I have submitted specimens, pronounces it a Sumomo. Blood: see Satsuma. Botan : see Abundance, Babcock, Berckmans, and Willard. There are evidently other plums in the country passing as Botans which are little known and which have not received distinctive names. Botankio: see Babcock. 6. Burbank.—Medium, to rather large upon thinned trees, roundish conical in form, the point generally blunt ; ground color 22 BULLETIN 62. orange-yellow, mostly rather thinly overlaid with red and show- ing many yellow dots, often more or less marbled, in the sun be- coming rather dense red; flesh firm and meaty, yellow, rich and sugary, cling. Strongly resembles Abundance both in fruit and tree, but the fruit averages larger and of better quality, rather handsomer in its varied markings, and is from two to four weeks later. Hxceedingly productive. One of the best of the Japans. Imported by Luther Burbank, Santa Rosa, California, late in 1885, and named for him by H. KE. Van Deman. See Rept. Dept. Agr. 1891, p. 392, where it is also given a good colored plate. Generally introduced in 1890. The accompanying illustration shows the prevailing form of the Burbank, half-size. 7. Burbank No. r.—Said to resemble Berckmans. I do not know it. Burbank. Half size. 8. Burbank No. 2.—Described as of medium size, regular and globular in shape, yellow overspread with purplish carmine, with a yellow very juicy flesh which is fine-grained and of good qual- ity ; pit nearly free. Very early. This variety is not reported in any recent tests. Burbank No. 3: see Hale. Burbank No. 4: see Hezkes. 9. Chabot.—Medium to large,oblong-conical ; pink-red in color with many very fine gold dots ; flesh yellow and juicy, rather acid, of good quality,cling; medium to late in season ; very productive. Ripe in this latitude early in September. Imported from Japan by Mr. Chabot, of Berkeley, California, but introduced to the trade by Luther Burbank in 1886. ‘‘ Espec- ially valuable for drying.’’—Aurbank. 10. Delaware.—Roundish conical, medium in size, purplish bronze in color with a white bloom ; flesh wine-color, juicy, com- THE JAPANESE PLums. 23 bining many flavors. Trees semi-dwarf, very productive. Cata- logued amongst Luther Burbank’s novelties, 1893. Said to bea cross of Satsuma and Kelsey. 11. Hngre.—Said to be a small round, red fruit, ripening early. ‘Tree very vigorous. Little known. 12. Georgeson (Hattonkin No. 1).—Medium or above in size, oblong and more or less conical, clear golden yellow and some- what translucent in texture, with a good yellow flesh, cling ; very early, probably the earliest of the yellow varieties. Imported by H. H. Berger & Co., of San Francisco,and brought to notice chiefly by J. L. Normand, Marksville, La. It is closely allied to Kerr, but averages somewhat larger, is a week or two weeks earlier,is less pointed, and the tree is apparently less produc- tive. Now named for Professor C. C. Georgeson, Manhattan, Kansas, who has published critical studies of Japanese fruits. 13. Hale (Burbank No. 3).— Medium in size, globular or slightly flattened, scarcely if at all pointed, rather light bright uniform red; flesh red, firm and sweet, tightly clinging to the pit. Imported by Luther Burbank in 1885, together with Heikes, which see. Mr. Burbank writes me that he disposed of this and No. 4 after they had fruited in the nursery row, and that he now has no knowledge of them. As they have passed entirely out of his hands, I take the liberty to give them names. Both are very much like Satsuma, but are a few days later and appear to bloom earlier; and they are also less pointed, and somewhat different in leaf. Named for J. H. Hale, a well-known nursery- man and fruit grower of Connecticut and Georgia. Hattankio: see Kerr and Munson. Hattonkin No. 1: see Georgeson. Hattonkin No. 2: see Kerr. 14. Hetkes (Burbank No. 4).—Much like Hale, but rather more flattened on the ends or oblate, mostly darker in color, the flesh acid. Named for W. F. Heikes, of the Huntsville Nurseries, Hunts- ville, Ala. See remarks under Hale, above. Hytan-Kayo: see JZunson. 1s. Hoyo Smomo.—A name used by J. L. Normand, Louisi- ana. I do not know the fruit. 24 BULLETIN 62. 16. Kelsey.—Very large ( 2-3 in. diam.) and long-pointed, tapering gradually from a heart-shaped base, usually somewhat lop-sided, with a deep furrow-like suture ; color bright red-purple Kelsey. Three-fourths natural size. on a yellow ground, more or less marked with dots, very showy; flesh light yellow and rather firm, rich and pleasant in flavor, free or only slightly clinging to the small stone, more or less hollow. The first Japanese plum introduced into this country (see page 3), but it did not attract much attention outside of California until about ten years ago. It was figured by Mr. Van Deman in Dept. of Agr. Rept. for 1886, plate X, and again (colored) in Report for 1887, plate I; also in Wickson’s California Fruits, p. 351. Its behavior is not uniform in different years. F. M. Ram- sey, of Lampasas, Texas, writes me that in 1888, his Kelsey ripened in September, in 1889 in July, andin 1890in June. L,. A. Berckmans, Georgia, says* that in 1887 the Kelsey did not mature until October 1st; in 1889 it ripened in July; in.18g0 it ‘‘began to ripen the latter part of July and continued for eight weeks,’’ and on October 1st perfectly green specimens were on the trees. I shall expect to learn that under some conditions the tree * Proc. 14th meeting, Ga. Hort. Soc. (1889) 52. PLATE I. Abundance, grown in New York. angers Willard and Berckmans ( Sweet Botan) Plums, PLATE II THE JAPANESE PLUMS. 25 has a more or less prolonged or continuous habit of bloom. In California the tree is said to be nearly evergreen. The reports as to its hardiness are equally conflicting. I have not yet had good proof that the Kelsey has fruited north of North Carolina. J. Van Lindley says* that last year in North Carolina his Kelsey trees ‘‘were loaded with fruit, large and fine, quality of the very best.’’ It ripened from the first to the last of August. ‘The Kelsey,’’ he continues, ‘“‘stands at the head for canning and pre- serving, and sells in any market at fancy prices, but it comes into competition with other fruits grown north.’’ Kelsey has been killed by cold in northern Texas; on the other hand, the trees are said to have come through the winter with little injury in Iowa. My first experience with the Kelsey was at Lansing, Michigan, where the trees killed to the snow line the first winter. Professor Tamari, of Tokio, says that the variety is too tender for the northern plum sections of Japan. Mr.H. E. VanDeman, formerly pomologist of the Department of Agriculture, wrote me upon the hardiness of Kelsey, in 1892, as follows: ‘‘My present opinion is that it is about as hardy as the fig. All reliable information that has come to this office up to this date is to the effect that it is not suitable to the northern states because of its tenderness. J know from personal observation that between here { Washington] and Baltimore trees have been seriously injured by winter-killing. Occasionally I have heard of Kelsey plum trees withstanding severe cold, but in every case yet followed up, it has been found that the trees were not correctly named.’ I am inclined to think, however, that the Kelsey will sometimes endure a New York winter if the wood has been well ripened; but I doubt if it will ever bear in this State. The accompanying engraving of Kelsey, three-fourths natural size, is made from specimens received from Florida. 17. Kerr (Hattonkin No. 2. Hattonkin of Berckmans and others).—Medium to large, generally very strongly conical with a deep suture ; color orange-yellow, with a creamy bloom ; flesh juicy and sweet, good in quality, cling ; early. An excellent variety, but not tested in the north. It varies considerably in shape, even on the same tree, occasional speci- *Thirteeth Rep. N. Car. Hort. Soc. (1893) 20. 26 BULLETIN 62. mens occurring without the point. Mr. Berckmans writes me that in 1890 the round form seemed to predominate, while in 1892 the pointed or normal form alone was produced. Imported from Japan by Frost & Burgess, Riverside, California. Now named for J. W. Kerr, of Denton, Maryland, one of the most intelligent plum growers of the central states. Kerr. Half size. 18. Late Blood.—Small, round, dark purple, with red flesh, clingstone, fair in quality, late. Imported by Luther Burbank in 1888. 19. Long Frutt.—Very small, roundish in shape, red, early and said to be a shy bearer. Imported by Luther Burbank in 1885, but very little known. : 20. Maru (Masu. Massu).—Medium size, round or somewhat flattened ; orange-red or vermillion ; flesh yellow, of fair quality, free or nearly so; ripens with Berckmans. Imported by Luther Burbank in 1885. Commonly called Masu, but erroneously. Maru means vound. ‘‘Coarse and acid with hard lumps, but good canned—about equal to Lombard. Hardier in bud than any other Japanese plum tested here. Bore in 1891 when Abundance and all other Japs., as well as Kieffer THE JAPANESE PLUuMs. 27 pears, were killed in the bud.’’—C. 17. Stark, Louisiana, Mo. Berckmans says that it is sometimes pointed. 21. Munson (Hattankio, of Munson, at least in part. Hytan- Kayo of Whitaker, probably).—A large broad-conical fruit,’ purple or purple-red, with a yellow flesh of excellent quality ; freestone or nearly so ; medium early and prolific. J. T. Whitaker, of Tyler, Texas, introduced his Hytan-Kayo in 1886. ‘There seems to be a mixture in this purple Hattankio, for our fruit this year (trees from Munson) was yellow. This is not strange, however, when one considers the utter confusion in which the Japanese plums, and especially the Hattans, have lain. I know of only one purple variety, however, which is com- monly called a Hattan or Hattankio, and this is the one which I have here named for Mr. Munson. The Rochester Lithograph- ing Co. has a plate of this plum. 22. Normand (Normand Yellow. Normand’s Japan).—Medium to large, obtusely conical with a heart- like base and short stem; color clear golden yellow; flesh firm and meaty, yellow, of high quality, free from the small pit. Very = prolific, and ripens = aes “just after Berck- Normand. One-third size. mans and Abund- ance. Allied to Georgeson and Kerr, but later, and less conical than the latter. Imported by J. L. Normand, Marksville, La., and by him dis- seminated under the name of Normand’s Japan in 1891. The cut is from specimens grown by Mr. Normand. 23. Ogon (Ogan).—Fruits medium in size, flattened at the ends or tomato-shaped, not at all conical, the suture prominent ; color clear lemon yellow with a light creamy bloom giving the fruit a whitish appearance; flesh thick and very meaty, not juicy, firm and keeping long, of second or third quality, entirely free from the stone. ‘Tree only moderately productive, or in some’ 28 BuLLETIN 62. An early yellow freestone plum. 4 Full st Ogon. regions even shy. Early, ripening in New York from late July to the middle of August. Ex- cellent for canning. Imported by) alae Berger & Co., San Fran- cisco. One of the best known varieties. The illustration shows good specimens natural size. 24. Orient. — Large, broadly conical ; red, very highly colored ; flesh yel- low, of high quality. Ripens soon after Bur- bank. Introduced in the fall of 1893 by Stark Bros., Louisiana, Mo. Figured in American Gardening xiv. (1893), Pp. 363: 25. Perfection,—Fruit rather large, oblong-con- ical, bright carmine with white bloom; flesh fine, firm and sugary, excel- lent; pit very small; good keeper and very productive. One of Luther Burbank’s novel- ties,'93. Said to be cross of Kelsey with Burbank. Red June: see Red Nagate. 26. Red Nagate (Red June. Shiro-Smomo, of some).—Fruits medium, THE JAPANESE PLUMS. .29 prominently elongated and conical with a well marked suture; color deep red-purple, nearly uniformly distributed; flesh very firm and meaty, yellow, of good quality, cling; very early, ripen- ing with Ogon, and extremely productive, handsome and good. Imported by H. H. Berger & Co., San Francisco. Stark Bros., Missouri, say that this is the most valuable early Japanese plum they know, being comparatively free from rot and much earlier than Abundance. The nomenclature of the variety here de- scribed is much confused. H. H. Berger & Co., write me that the true Japanese Red Nagate has red flesh, which this has not. This is the variety to which the name Shiro Smomo is oftenest applied, but it is neither a Sumomo plum nor is it white (Shiro means whzte), thus affording a curious instance of the utter con- fusion of the American application of the names of the Japanese plums. Professor Georgeson tells me that the Shiro Sumomo of the Japanese is a small white early plum with yellow flesh, some- what cling and of medium season. I do not know if it occurs in this country; and it is probably not worth while to endeavor to fit the name to any variety. The Ogon is probably the nearest to it of any variety in this list. 27. Satsuma (Blood. Yonemomo).—Size medium to rather large, broadly conical with a blunt, short point, suture very deep; color very dark and dull red all over, with greenish dots and an under-color of brown-red ; flesh blood-red, rather coarse and acid, fair to good in quality, tightly clinging to the pit; midseason, productive. Imported by Luther Burbank in 1886. Figured in Pomol- ogist’s Report, Rept. Dept. Agr. 1887, Plate I (colored), and also in Wickson’s California Fruits, 351, the latter copied from the former. I have never seen a Satsuma with such a small pit as represented in these cuts, nor of the same shape. The fruit appears to be uniform in shape and markings, and varies little from that shown, nearly natural size, in the engraving on page 30. The Satsuma is hardy in the northern states. Stark Bros., Lou- isiana, Mo., write that it blooms too early with them and is not so hardy. as some others. ‘This belongs to the Beni-Smomo gromp of the Japanese, which is characterized by red flesh. One of 30 PIYSAY-PaA ‘9218 JQNf “uinyd PUOJSIUNI JAD. ?/ ‘VULNS PDS ‘ THE JAPANESE PLUMS. 31 these plums is known in Japan as Yonemomo, and Mr. Berck- mans has used the name for this variety ; but there is no proof that this particular Satsuma is the Yonemomo of Japan. Shiro Smomo: see Red Nagate and Berger. 28. Shipper.—Fruit oval, light red with a white bloom ; flesh very firm (red?), sweet and juicy; long keeper. ‘Tree sturdy, but a moderate grower. Described with Burbank’s Novelties, 1893. Seedling of Satsuma. 29. Strawberry.—‘‘ Small, round-oblate, red-purple, with a firm, yellow flesh, cling, very early, moderately productive. Earliest sort fruited here,—ripe with the last of the strawberries.”’ C. M. Stark, Louisiana, Mo. There is another and older Strawberry plum, one of the Chick- asaws (see p. 31, Bull. 38). Sweet Botan: see Berckmans. True Sweet Botan: see Berckmans. 30. Uchi-Bent (Ura-Beni. Honsmomo).—Medium in size, heart-shaped and somewhat pointed, bright carmine-red; flesh red and fine-grained, somewhat acid, rather poor in quality, cling; rather early. Little known. Uchi-Beni means zuszde red. White-Fleshed Botan: see Bervckmans. 31. Willard (Botan No. 26).—Medium in size, spherical in general outline but prominently cornered or angled, never pointed, the sinus very slight but stem cavity deep ; color dark clear red with many minute yellow dots; flesh rather firm, yellow, sweet and of fair quality; freestone. A strong vigorous and hardy tree, productive, and the earliest market Japan plum yet tested in the north, ripening in central New York late in July. In appearance the fruit is remarkably like some of the improved types of Prunus Americana. Fruits ripened upon the tree are of pretty good quality, but some which I ripened in-doors were poor. Cions procured from California six or seven years ago by 5S. D. Willard, Geneva, N. Y., and named for him by W. F. Heikes in Practical Nurseryman, June, 1893. It was probably imported from Japan, but the history of it islost. The illustration in Plate II shows average specimens, full size. Yellow-Fleshed Botan: see Abundance . 32 BULLETIN 62. 32. Yellow Japan.—This name occasionally appears, but I do not know the fruit. Burbank and another red plum have been sold under this name. 33. Yellow Nagate.—Unknown to me. Yonemomo: see Satsuma. 34. Yosebe (Yosobe).—Small, conical, with a distinct suture, reddish purple in color, the yellow flesh soft and good; pit free or very nearly so; very early, ripening before the Ogon. Tree rather dwarf, with leaves comparatively small and rugose and very prominently serrate, yellowish green in color, and condupli- cate or trough-shaped as they hang uponthe tree. Twigs reddish. Imported by H. H. Berger & Co. Too small to be very valu- able, unless for its earliness. Luther Burbank catalogues amongst his novelties of 1893, an unnamed purple-leaved seedling of Kelsey; Golden, said to be a cross of Robinson (Chickasaw) and Sweet Botan; Juicy, of same parentage; an unnamed variety, said to bea cross of Botan by Robinson ; and an unnamed cross of Kelsey by Satsuma. Weaknesses and Diseases.—Undoubtedly one of the most serious weaknesses of the Japanese plums is their very early season of bloom. Thisis particularly noticeable in the middle and southern states, where the buds are ready to burst with the very first warm days of spring. In the north, where the soil is colder and the unseasonable ‘‘ warm spells’ are of comparatively short duration, this tendency to early bloom is less marked. Yet some of the Japanese varieties seem to be especially given to early awakening in the spring. I have not heard of serious trouble in this respect in New York, but many of the varieties are not yet bearing in this state. The following records of habitual injury from spring frosts have been received from correspondents : VARIETIES LIABLE TO INJURY BY SPRING FROSTS. Observer. Varieties injured. J. T. Lovett, Little Silver, Monmouth Co.,N.J. Abundance, Burbank, Kel- sey, Ogon,Satsuma. J. W. Kerr, Denton, Carolina Co., Md., Botankio (Babcock?), Bur- bank, Chabot, Kelsey. J.S. Breece, Fayetteville, Cumberland Co.,N.C. Kelsey, Satsuma. J. L. Normand, Marksville, Avoyelles Co., La. Satsuma. Stark Bros., Louisiana, Pike Co., Mo.,, Kelsey, Satsuma. THE JAPANESE PLumMs. 3 T. V. Munson, Denison, Grayson Co., Tex., Botankio (Babcock?) Mun- : ; son, Kelsey, Red Nagate. J. T. Whitaker, Tyler, Smith Co., Tex., Kelsey. F. M. Ramsey, Lampasas, Lampasas Co.,Tex., Kelsey. A.M.Ramsey-& Son, Mahonet,BurnetCo.,Tex., Kelsey. H. M. Stringfellow. Hitchcock, Polk Co.,Tex., Kelsey. G. Onderdonk, Nursery, Victoria Co., Tex., Kelsey, Satsuma. Od The following record of the actual dates of blooming of the Japanese plums has been prepared for me by J. W. Kerr, of the Chesapeake peninsula. It will be seen that some of them bloom as early as Pissardii and Simonii, which are known as very early bloomers. RECORD OF DATES AT WHICH ORIENTAL PLUMS BLOOMED AT EASTERN SHORE NURSERIES, DENTON, CAROLINE CO., MD., 1892. ' . Tal ‘ Date when first | Date when half |Date when all, or Variety. open blossom | of buds were | nearly all were appeared. | open. out. | NRCISCY pan. sosessackact reessces ese JNjoyes Y/ Apr. 15 ho Apr Ze WBOtany ee hac: accissse sets: sos 6, oo er2 Debs = ifs} ROR OUMN asec ces sea taavesas ruse seses tS ats) = LS US ey PAT retscetige: sclw ances eescccees Hy es) | O16 im De MA OE ia 72-L i soos Sensdiecte. ts Suara | og OLA KI OW seen e anne case sass “SA so 8 Le TO EMA LLATICIO! See uh teen sessoreesee Elo Os Siatg WRMIOSE DEE eo rccn taal cnnindsese cerns Fee ea i(6) OE ts) POLY (ESS 6) i eae One eee ee sy PLO A Paice) Seo Shiro Smomo ......... eter pies) 25) ans: SO) MROUOPE CMs asuceeese sheers sees SU Gifs) tins fo! si 20 Mellow iapatlt..ccnc.cssde.oeeee Sl LO Beas) “20 ISHED AMG ce tcs ances cme's scistseces eT, oor ht or SUG AISI Gs odzie (es cdecy Stachoes sos Ee) << STO aaa JOSTRS) Mezacce sto BeO een a ceee eS early e220 PUSSATAMN. «22020 .200--seerecanees: Sen oe OG) send SSUULONED: ive tiste se aeesas acensen ee a 9 STA! Some, at least, of the Japanese plums are much subject to fruit- rot, and this appears to be specially true of the Abundance, particularly when it is not well thinned. Mr. Kerr writes me under date of July 5, 1892, that ‘‘there is not a single variety of the Japanese plums that is holding its fruit, except Botan, and even they are rotting very rapidly and I doubt if a perfect speci- men will go through. Bordeaux mixture seems to avail nothing. 34 BULLETIN 62. as a remedy forthe rot. Notwithstanding failures in general this year, I have begun shipping Chickasaws, of which I havea good crop.’’ These plums are evidently not more subject to rot than many varieties of Domesticas, however, and I doubt if they are so much injured, as a rule, as the Lombard. It has been said that these plums, or some of them, are curcu- lio proof; but this is an error. Yet they often appear to escape much of the excessive injury which falls to the Domestica varie- ties. The following note from the Rural New- Yorker bears upon this point. I saw the tree here described, upon the editor’s grounds, just before the fruit was ripe, and it appeared to be free from curculio injury : “The Abundance plum (August 4) at the Rural grounds is a sight to behold. The branches are wreaths of fruit, and they, as well as the tree itself, are held up by props and ropes. Some of the plums are beginning to color; all are of good size, and, though the old marks of the curculio sting are engraved upon most of them, no injury seems as yet tohave resulted. For twenty years, off and on, the Rural New- Yorker has tried so-called curculio proof plums. We have never used insecticides nor jarred the trees to destroy them, and we have never before had a crop of plums. Plums are not raised in the vicinity simply because the people are not willing to put themselves to the trouble of jarring the trees, and they know from experience that they cannot raise plums without doing so. Now here we have the Abundance loaded down with beautiful fruit, while not a precaution has been taken to destroy the curculio. Blessed be the Abundance! It is well named.’’ So far as I have been able to learn, none of the varieties are ser- iously attacked by black-knot, although the disease occurs on them. This circumstance, however, should not be dwelt upon too strongly, for it is possible that the exemption is largely accidental. Yet I have seen perfectly healthy trees on the Hudson River where allthe common plums in the neighborhood were seriously injured. The varieties appear to be nearly exempt from leaf-blight, also. The Japanese plums are commonly budded upon the peach, and so far very few complaints have reached me from failure of the union; but I shall be surprised if as strong and permanent results THE JAPANESE PLUMS. 35 come from the use of this stock as from the use of their own seedlings or Domestica stocks, ° REVIEW. 1. Twenty-four years ago a plum was introduced into Cali- fornia from Japan which proved to belong to a species heretofore unknown in America. It was first fruited by the late John Kelsey, of Berkeley, California, and for him it was named. It began to attract wide attention about ten years ago. 2. This plum belongs to the species Prunus triflora, which is ‘supposed to be native to China, but which is unknown in a wild state. Subsequent importations have been made from Japan, and at the present time about thirty varieties are more or less known and disseminated. 3. These Japanese plums are distinguished from the common Domestica plums by their generally more pointed or heart-shaped fruit which has a deep groove or suture upon one side, by a long- er-keeping flesh and generally a less winged pit. In other botan- ical features they differ in commonly bearing three or more winter buds at a joint, instead of one, in the light colored rough bark, flowers usually in twos or threes, leaves long-obovate or elliptic and finely serrate. They are closely allied in botanical characters to some types of native plums. 4. The nomenclature of the varieties is much confused, large- ly because the Japanese names are used for groups or classes and not for specific varieties ; and there is no uniformity even in the generic application of these names. It is essential to an exact understanding of this fruit, therefore, that the Japanese class- names be discarded in this country. 5. While importations from Japan have been made freely, there are probably many more good varieties in that country which have not reached America; but we must look for most permanent progress in the future from American offspring. 6. ‘The Japanese plums differ amongst themselves greatly in hardiness. The Kelsey is adapted only to the states south of Virginia and to the warmer parts of the Pacific Coast, but other varieties are fully hardy in parts of Connecticut, Ontario, New York and Iowa. 36 BULLETIN 62. 7. The varieties now known to be hardy in the plum regions of New York are Burbank, Abundance, Willard, Ogon, Satsuma, Chabot, Yosebe and Berger ; and others give promise of being as hardy as these. 8. The period of ripening of the various kinds extends over a long season, running, in New York, from the middle of July to the middle of September. The same variety does not always appear to ripen at the same period in successive years. ‘This is especially true of the Kelsey, which sometimes varies through a period of three months. In New York, the earliest market variety which has been tested appears to be Willard, followed closely by Ogon, then Abundance and Berckmans, and Burbank still later. Kelsey is generally the latest of all the varieties. 9. Most of the Japanese plums keep for several days, and some of them even for two weeks, after they are ripe. Satsuma is one of the best keepers known in the north. 10. The larger part of the varieties are red with deep yellow flesh, and the Satsuma, and a few varieties less known, have deep red flesh. There are only four well known yellow varieties. There are eight freestones, as follows: Ogon, Willard, Kelsey, Berger, Maru, Munson, Normand, Yosebe. 11. The varieties which can be most confidently recommended at the present time are Abundance, Burbank, Willard, Kerr, Berckmans, Maru, Red Nagate, Chabot, Satsuma and perhaps Ogon. Kelsey is recommended for the south. 12. The chief weaknesses of the Japanese plums are too early bloom of some varieties and liability to the fruit-rot fungus. Amongst their advantages are partial immunity from black-knot, and leaf-blight and often a partial freedom from curculio injury. 13. Altogether, the Japanese plums constitute the most impor- tant type of fruit introduced into North America during the last quarter of a century, and they should receive careful tests in all parts of the country. L. H. BATE, Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station. AGRICULTURAL DIVISION. BULLETIN 63—March, 189A. CO-OPERATIVE TEST OF SUGAR BEETS. By I. P. Roserts. ORGANIZATION. Board of Control.—Trustees of the University. STATION COUNCIL. President, JACOB GOULD SCHURMAN. ELON MARU WATACH, 5 22:sems, sc ahs cetemne Trustee of the University . Hon. JOHN B. DUTCHER... Poet State Agricultural Society . TP ROB BE. (.).'. . 02. tchsemene cee Professor of Agriculture. GeCjC AED WAREL: jo. heres aeeen kee Professor of Chemistry . SANE S ae es 2h 2 IE ee Professor of Veterinary Science. ANP ROMER ISS ¢ ociek' od LOG aE EE ee Professor of Botany. J A ACOMSMOGK |... : cP RSM eee Professor of Entomology . 1 EB ATHeIYee eo oe..'s . ss Se ee Professor of Horticulture. Ie fs chan", '6 Lh So ae daniaiape Professor of Dairy Husbandry. G. F. ATKINSON ... Assistant Professor of Cryptogamic Botany . OFFICERS OF THE STATION. L. PABOB MTS ns is’. 5 ste. tee ee