Part 2

Early Winter--Arnt Johnson, Viroqua, Wis. $1.45 " " --W.S. Widmoyer, La Crescent 2.45 " " --J. Flagstad & Sons, Sacred Heart 2.15 " " --No. 96--Henry Rodenberg, Mindora, Wis. 1.55 " " --No. 32-- " " 1.85 " " --No. 50-- " " 1.55 " " --No. 82-- " " 2.00 " " --No. 52-- " " 2.40 " " --No. 64-- " " 2.20 " " --Dr. O. M. Huestis, Minneapolis 1.55 " " --Jacob Halvorson, Delavan 1.55 " " --No. 102--Henry Rodenberg, Mindora, Wis. 1.15 " " --No. 138-- " " 1.40 " " --No. 137-- " " 2.00 " " --No. 131-- " " 1.70 " " --H. H. Pond, Minneapolis 1.15 " " " 1.30 " " " 1.15 " " " 1.55 " " --Henry Husser, Minneiska 2.10 " " --O. O.--M. Oleson, Montevideo 1.85 " " --O. K.-- " 2.05 " " --G. N.-- " 1.30 " " --G. S.-- " 2.20 " " --E. T.--M. Oleson 1.70 " " --E. A. Gross, La Moille 1.15 " " -- " 1.90 " " -- " 2.25 " " --No. 1--Arnt Johnson, Viroqua, Wis. 1.40 Late Winter--No. 133--Henry Rodenberg, Mindora, Wis. 3.90 " " --No. 134-- " " 2.75 " " --No. 135-- " " 2.55 " " --No. 104-- " " 3.70 " " --No. 49-- " " 3.25 " " --No. 16-- " " 3.80 " " --No. 12-- " " 3.25 " " W. S. Widmoyer, La Crescent 2.30 " " --Chas. Ziseh, Dresbach 2.30 " " --J. A. Howard, Hammond 4.20 " " " 4.15 " " --F. W. Powers, Excelsior 4.00 " " --J. Flagstad & Sons, Sacred Heart 3.25 " " Henry Husser, Minneiska 3.25 " " --No. 23--Henry Rodenberg, Mindora, Wis. 3.35

CLARENCE WEDGE, N. E. HANSEN, Judges.

COLLECTION OF TOP-WORKED APPLES.

Collection of Top-Worked P. H. Peterson, Atwater 4.16 Collection of Top-Worked P. Clausen, Albert Lea 11.45 Collection of Top-Worked Henry Husser, Minneiska 5.23 Collection of Top-Worked W. S. Widmoyer, Dresbach 4.16

DEWAIN COOK, Judge.

PECKS OF APPLES.

N.W. Greenings Aug. Sauter, Excelsior .95 Wealthy H .B. Hawkes, Excelsior 1.10 Wealthy P. H. Peterson, Atwater .90 Fameuse Henry Husser, Minneiska .80 Wolf River " " 1.00 Peerless " " .75 N.W. Greening " " .75 N.W. Greening D. C. Webster, La Crescent 1.10 Wealthy " " .90 Bethel " " 1.00 Scotts' Winter " " 1.00 Wealthy W. P. Burow, La Crescent .85 N.W. Greening " " 1.10 Wealthy E. W. Mayman, Sauk Rapids .80 Hibernal E. W. Mayman, Sauk Rapids .85 Wealthy Francis Willis, Excelsior .90 Duchess " " .55 Okabena " " .55 Milwaukee " " .80 Wealthy P. H. Perry, Excelsior .85 Fameuse " " .80 Seedlings " " .80 Peter " " .85 Wealthy F. I. Harris, La Crescent .85 N.W. Greening " " .95 Seedlings T. E. Perkins, Red Wing .80 N.W. Greenings F. W. Powers, Minneapolis 1.00 Wealthy " " .90 Duchess R. E. Olmstead, Excelsior .55

GEO. W. STRAND, Judge.

BUSHEL BOXES OF APPLES.

Wealthy--H. B. Hawkes, Excelsior 2.31 Wealthy--P. H. Peterson, Atwater 2.17 Wealthy--Henry Husser, Minneiska 2.43 Wealthy--D. C. Webster, La Crescent First 17.72 N.W. Greening--W. P. Burow, La Crescent 2.48 Wealthy--P. H. Perry, Excelsior 1.86 Wealthy--J. F. Bartlett, Excelsior Third 7.57 Wealthy--F. I. Harris, La Crescent Second 12.63 N.W. Greenings--F. W. Powers, Excelsior 1.98 Wealthy--F. W. Powers, Excelsior 2.08 Wealthy--S. H. Drum, Owatonna 1.77

W. G. BRIERLEY, Judge.

BARRELS OF APPLES.

H. B. Hawkes, Excelsior 8.98 Henry Husser, Minneiska 3.52 D. C. Webster, La Crescent First 25.23 W. P. Burow, La Crescent 3.05 Wealthy--P. H. Perry, Excelsior Third 14.37 F. I. Harris, La Crescent Second 19.85

W. G. BRIERLEY, Judge.

COLLECTION GRAPES.

Collection Grapes--Sil Matzke, So. St. Paul First 8.00

GEORGE W. STRAND, Judge.

NUTS.

Walnuts Henry Husser, Minneiska First 1.00 Butternuts " " First 1.00 Hickory Nuts " " Second .75 Hickory Nuts D. C. Webster, La Crescent First 1.00

H. J. LUDLOW, Judge.

PLANTS.

12 Palms Minneapolis Floral Co. First $10.00 12 Ferns " " Third 4.00 12 Blooming Plants " " Third 6.00 12 Ferns Merriam Park Floral Co. First 10.00 12 Blooming Plants " " First 12.00 12 Palms L. S. Donaldson Co., Mpls. Second 7.00 12 Ferns " " Second 7.00 12 Blooming Plants " " Second 9.00

CUT FLOWERS.

25 Carnations (pink) L. S. Donaldson Co., Mpls. Third 1.00 25 Carnations (white) " " Second 2.00 12 Roses (red) Minneapolis Floral Co. Third 1.00 12 Roses (white) " " Third 1.00 12 Roses (yellow) " " First 3.00 12 Roses (red) N. Neilson, Mankato First 3.00 12 Roses (pink) " " First 3.00 12 Roses (white) " " First 3.00 12 Roses (yellow) " " Second 2.00 12 Roses (pink) Hans Rosacker, Minneapolis Second 2.00 12 Roses (red) " " Second 2.00 12 Roses (white) " " Second 2.00 12 Carnations (white) " " First 3.00 12 Carnations (pink) " " Second 2.00 12 Carnations (red) " " First 3.00 25 Carnations (red) Minneapolis Floral Co. Second 2.00 25 Carnations (pink) " " First 3.00 25 Carnations (white) " " Third 1.00 12 Chrysanthemums (yellow) John E. Sten, Red Wing First 4.00 12 Chrysanthemums (any color) " " First 4.00 12 Chrysanthemums (any color) Minneapolis Floral Co. Second 3.00 12 Chrysanthemums (yellow) L. S. Donaldson Co., Mpls. Second 3.00 12 Chrysanthemums (any color) " " Third 2.00

FLOWERS.

Basket for Effect Minneapolis Floral Co. First $10.00 Bridesmaid Bouquet Minneapolis Floral Co. First Diploma Corsage Bouquet Minneapolis Floral Co. First Diploma Bridal Bouquet Minneapolis Floral Co. First Diploma

O. J. OLSON, Judge.

Judging Contest of Hennepin County High Schools.

(Held at Annual Meeting, December 9, 1915.)

The contest consisted of the judging of three crops, apples, potatoes and corn. Two varieties of each crop were used.

Each school was represented by a team of three men. Each man was allowed 100 as perfect score on each crop or a total perfect team score of 900 points.

Two high schools entered the contest, namely Central High, Minneapolis, and Wayzata High. Central High, of Minneapolis, won first with a total score of 697.8. Wayzata ranked second with a score of 672.

Minneapolis won on apples and potatoes, Wayzata winning on the corn judging.

Chester Groves, of Wayzata, was high man of the contest.

County Adviser K. A. Kirkpatrick, gives a banner to the winning school. Judges of the contest were: Apples, Prof. T. M. McCall, Crookston; potatoes, Prof. R. Wellington, A. W. Aamodt; corn, Prof. R. L. Mackintosh.

Fruit Judging Contest.

(At Annual Meeting, December, 1915.)

One of the important features of the Wednesday afternoon program of the State Horticultural Society was the apple judging contest. This contest was open to all members of the society and students of the Agricultural College.

The contest consisted of the judging of four plates each of ten standard varieties. The total score of each contestant was considered by allowing 10 per cent for identification of varieties, 40 per cent for oral reasons and 50 per cent for correct placings.

The prizes offered were: First, $5.00; second, $3.00; third, $2.00. D.C. Webster of La Crescent, ranked first; P.L. Keene, University Farm, second; and Marshall Hertig, third.

Score First--D. C. Webster 87-1/2 Second--P. L. Keene 81-1/2 Third--Marshall Hertig 77-1/2 Fourth--Timber Lake 76-1/2

There were twelve men in the contest.

Judges: Prof. T. M. McCall, Crookston; Frederick Cranefield, Wisconsin; Prof. E. C. Magill, Wayzata.

Annual Report, 1915, Collegeville Trial Station.

REV. JOHN B. KATZNER, SUPT.

It is with pleasure and satisfaction that we are able to make a material correction of our estimate of this year's apple crop as noted in our midsummer report. We stated that apples would be about 15 per cent of a normal crop, and now we are happy to say it was fully 30 per cent. We picked twice as many apples as we anticipated. Considering that, as Prof. Le Roy Cady informed us, the apple crop would be rather small farther south and that they would practically get no apples at the State Farm, we may well be satisfied with our crop. In general, the apple crop was not so bad farther north as it was farther south in the state. This may have been due to the blossoms not being so far advanced here when the frost touched them as farther south.

The best bearing varieties this year were the Wealthy, Charlamoff and Duchess, in the order named. These three kinds gave us the bulk of the crop. The Wealthy trees were not overloaded, and the apples were mostly fine, clean and large. The Charlamoffs were bearing a heavy crop of beautiful, large-sized apples and were ahead of the Duchess this year. The Hibernals, too, were fairly good bearers. Most other varieties had some fruit, but it was not perfect; it showed only too well the effect of frost. More than half of the blossoms were destroyed. Many flowers were badly injured and though they were setting fruit the result of frost showed off plainly on the apples. While some had normal size and form, many of them were below size, gnarled, cracked or undeveloped and abnormal. Most all of them had rough blotches or rings about the calix or around the body. Malformed apples were picked not larger than a crab, with rough, cracked, leather-like skin, which looked more like a black walnut than an apple.

Of plums only some young trees gave us a good crop of nice, perfect fruit. The old trees have seen their best days and will have to give place to the new kinds as soon as they are tested. We have quite a variety of the new kinds on trial from the Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding Farm and wish to say that they are very vigorous growers. Many of them made a growth of four feet and more. We expect that some will bear next year and we are only waiting to see what the fruit will be before making a selection for a new plum orchard. We have already selected No. 8 for that purpose, as one tree was bearing most beautiful and excellent plums, of large size and superior quality, this year. They were one and three-fourths inches long by five and one-half inches in circumference and weighed two ounces each. They kept more than week before they got too soft for handling and are better than many a California plum. It seems to us if a man had ten acres of these plum trees, he could make a fortune out of them. We will propagate only the very best kinds for our own use and may have more to say about them another year.

[Illustration: Cluster of Alpha grapes from Collegeville.]

Two or three of the imported pears bloomed again last spring, but the frost was too severe and they set no fruit. We have lost all interest in them and so, too, in our German seedling pears. The latter are now used as stocks and are being grafted with Chinese and hybrid pears. Of those already grafted this way some have made a growth of four and five feet. We have been successful in grafting the six varieties of hybrid pears obtained last spring from Prof. N.E. Hansen, of Brookings, S. Dak., and have trees of every variety growing. These, too, are very good growers, have fine large leaves and are promising. From the manner of growth in stem and leaf we would judge that at least two distinct Asiatic varieties have been used in breeding. We have gathered a little grafting wood and next spring some more German seedlings will lose their tops. It is only from continued efforts that success may be obtained in growing pears in Minnesota.

Who would have thought it possible that in spite of all the frost and cold rains we would get a pretty good crop of cherries? And yet this is a fact. We have four varieties, and among them is one originated by the late Clem. Schmidt, of Springfield, Minn., which was bearing a good crop of very fine cherries while the three other sorts did not do a thing. To get ahead of the many birds we picked the cherries a few days before they were ripe and put them up in thirty-two half-gallon jars. As the cherries become very soft when dead-ripe, it was of advantage to can them when they were still hard. These canned cherries are meaty and most delicious. We never tasted any better. It is only a pity that this seedling cherry is not quite hardy.

As most everywhere in the state, our grapes were a complete failure. The early growth with its good showing of fruit having been frozen in May, it was well toward the end of June when the vines had recovered from the shock and were able to grow vigorously again. There were a few grapes on some of the vines, but they never got ripe. The Alpha showed the most fruit, and a few bunches were just about getting ripe when the frost spoiled them. This May freeze was more severe than we thought it was. The wood of the old vines was not injured, but the one year old wood of young plants was killed to the ground. The lesson we learned from this is very important. It may be stated that vines full of sap and in growing condition can endure very little cold, but when the wood is ripe and dormant the vines will seldom be injured by sub-zero weather. This injury to vines from frost might have been averted at least in part by precautionary measures. In other countries people start smoldering fires, making much smoke in the vineyard so that the whole is covered with a cloud of smoke. This raises the temperature a few degrees and keeps the frost out. Such preventive means might have been used here very well to save the grapes, but it was not done.

Our currants were not very good; they ripened unevenly and showed that they, too, were touched by frost. A few bushes were also attacked by the currant worm.

We never cultivated any raspberries before. But last year we planted Raspberry No. 8, sent to us from the Fruit-Breeding Farm. This sort is a very vigorous grower; some canes grew over six feet high. It fruited this year; it is very prolific; the fruit is very large and of good quality. It would be quite satisfactory if it were a little hardier. Not being protected more than half of the plants were lost last winter.

But the everbearing strawberry No. 1017 received from the Fruit-Breeding Farm is a complete success. They were properly planted and well taken care of. All flowers were removed up to July 10th and then left alone. In early August the first berries were picked, and we kept right on picking till the frost killed the fruit stalks. The growing of this strawberry will be continued. A new bed will be planted next spring with young plants that were not allowed to bear last season. The fruit was all that could be desired, fine, large and of very good quality. It seems to be of greater advantage to grow the everbearing than the June-bearing sorts. The everbearing planted in spring will grow a large crop in fall and bear again in June next year. From the first we get two crops in fifteen months, from the second two crops in three years. And to fruit any sort oftener than two seasons is not considered very profitable.

Most all trees of apples, pears, plums, evergreens and grafts which were planted last spring, have done very well, and we don't know of any that failed to grow. The hybrid plums received last spring are all alive. The same may be said of the 50 Norway pine obtained from the Minnesota State Forester, W. F. Cox, not one failing to grow. If evergreens are handled right in transplanting they are just as sure to grow as any other trees. This year was especially favorable for transplanting on account of the many rains and cool weather.

This, too, was the kind of weather which pleased our vegetable gardener. He found it scarcely ever necessary throughout the season to apply water to the growing plants for their best development. All grew fine and large. Cabbage heads were grown that weighed thirty-five pounds; carrots, onions, beets, lettuce and in fact all the different varieties were first-class. Yet there was something that did not please the gardener nor ourselves, namely, the tomatoes did not get ripe. We had a few early kinds all right, but the bulk, the large, fine varieties, were hanging on the vines still green when the first heavy frost touched them. It was too cool for them to ripen. The same may be said of the melons. Not once did we have melons at table this year. They were too poor to be served.

Our floral plantings were a great success. The many artistic foliage designs developed wonderfully and were the admiration of all visitors. Our peonies were a mass of exceedingly beautiful flowers, filling the air with fragrance as of roses. We are not surprised that these flowers have gained so much popularity of late, for their great beauty and ease of culture recommend them to all lovers of flowers. The dahlias, too, were very excellent; in fact, we never saw them better. They are quite ornamental in flower and plant. The newer varieties have exceptionally large flowers, but the plants do not show off so well and bend down from the weight of the flowers. For symmetry and uniformity of growth the old varieties are hard to be excelled. Some of the roses were not so good as desired, the buds got too much rain at times and rotted away. The mock oranges, syringas and others were all very good, but the spireas suffered much when in flower from rains. As a whole, however, our lawns and grounds were beautiful and satisfactory and the new greenhouse has done good work.

The growing of fruit this year has been a disappointment to many horticulturists. Indeed, some got quite a showing of fruit in favored localities, but the majority got not much of a crop to be proud of. Well, we cannot regulate the weather conditions, but we are pleased with the thought that such abnormal conditions are not of frequent occurrence in Minnesota. Yet there is one redeeming feature of the season and that is, the wonderful growth of plants and trees which gives promise that with the usual normal conditions our expectations for a better fruit crop will be realized.

* * * * *

STORING CABBAGE IN THE FIELD.--In choosing a site for a storage pit, select a ridge, well drained and as gravelly a soil as possible. The pit should be 6 to 10 inches deep, the length and width depending upon the amount to be stored. It is well to have it wide enough to accommodate 3 to 5 heads on the bottom row.

In harvesting the heads, pull up by the roots. Break off only the dead or diseased leaves, and fold the remaining leaves over the head as much as possible to protect them. Overripe or cracked heads should not be stored. The heads are placed in the pit with their heads down and roots up. The second layer is also placed heads down between the roots of the first layer. It is well not to have more than two layers, on account of the weight having a tendency to crush the lower layer.

When the cabbages are put in place they are covered with a layer of earth. When cold weather comes, straw or manure can be added.

Cabbages can often be kept better in pits than in common cellars.--E. F. McKune, Colorado Agricultural College, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Wintering of Bees.

FRANCIS JAGER, APIARIST, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL.

The winter losses of bees in Minnesota are great every year. Bee keepers can reduce these losses by preparing bees for their winter-quarters.

The chief known cause for winter losses are: Queenlessness, smallness of number of bees in colonies, insufficient food, improper food, dampness, bad air, the breaking of the clusters, and low temperature.

More colonies die from lack of food and from cold than from all other causes. In fact, most of the other causes can be traced to lack of food and cold.

Queenless colonies will certainly die in a few months.

If the number of bees in a colony is small the clusters cannot generate enough heat or keep it generated and the bees will perish. To avoid this, small colonies should be united in the fall into one big colony.

Bees must have food in the winter in order to generate heat. About forty pounds of honey to the colony should be provided when the bees are put into winter-quarters. Should the colony be short of honey of its own, finished frames may be supplied early in the fall or sugar syrup may be fed. Bee keepers should keep about one well filled extracting frame out of every seven for feeding purposes.

Dark (not amber) honey is poor food for bees in winter. All black honey should be removed and combs of white honey should be substituted. Experiments made by Dr. Phillips, in Washington, D. C., have shown that bees consume least honey and winter best when the temperature inside the hive is 57 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dampness in a cellar causes the comb and frames of the hive walls and cover to get damp and mouldy, and the bees perish from wet and cold after exhausting their vitality in generating heat.

Bees need fresh air. Foul air will cause excitement, causing an overheated condition; and the bees will scatter and die. Any excitement among bees in winter is fatal. Cellars on high ground, covered with straw over timbers, are best for wintering bees.

If the bee cluster divides or splits up during the winter, the smaller clusters will perish from cold. The present style of Hoffman frames divides the bee cluster into eleven divisions separated from each other by a sheet of wax comb, with no direct communication between different divisions except over, below or around the frames. If the bee cluster contracts during the winter on account of cold the divisions of the outside frames are sometimes left behind and die. Some bee keepers perforate their frames to keep an easy passage for bees from one compartment to another. If kept warm, even weak colonies may pass over or around the frames without much difficulty. When cold, only the strongest will be able to accomplish this difficult task. Wintering bees in division hives or in two story hives, which give them a horizontal bee space through the middle between the two divisions, is highly recommended for successful wintering.

[Illustration: Francis Jager, Professor of Apiculture, University Farm, St. Paul.]

In long-continued severe cold the bee clusters will contract into a very small, compact mass. The tendency of this cluster is to move upward where the air is warmer. If enough honey is stored above them they will keep in contact with it. If the honey is stored at the side, the bees sometimes lose their contact with it and die of starvation and cold. This is another argument in favor of wintering in two story hives. Often they will move towards one corner and die there, leaving the other corners filled with honey. If you must winter in one story hives give bees plenty of honey in the fall and place the cluster at one side of the hive so that they move necessarily toward the honey supply.