The breeding of hardy fruits has been the leading work of the Department of Horticulture of South Dakota State College ever since the fall of 1895. Many requests have been received for bulletins containing the record of this work. Many of these are out of print and are no longer available. This bulletin contains a complete record of plant introductions from the beginning of the work up to 1927.

May Day Tree: From the 1922 list.    May Day Tree was the name given by Professor J. L. Budd to trees of Prunus Padus commutata originally received from the Imperial Botanical Gardens of Russia as a mixture in an importation of Prunus maackii. Prunus Padus commutata is quite distinct from Prunus maackii. The May Day Tree is a bird cherry from eastern Siberia worthy of a place on every lawn in the prairie Northwest. It is remarkable for being the first tree to come into full leaf here on the College grounds. The large green leaves and wealth of white blossoms early in the spring make the tree decidedly ornamental. In fruit the tree is no special improvement over our own native chokecherry, but is decidedly superior in habit because it does not send up sprouts or suckers. I am using these seedlings as a budding stock for the Boughen Manitoba Chokecherry and the Spearfish. Yellow Chokecherry because of its vigorous growth and freedom from suckers. These seedlings are all descended from the stock imported from Russia by Professor J. L. Budd, at that time Head of the Department of Horticulture of Iowa State College, Ames.

Boughen Sweet Chokecherry.—From the 1923 list: W. J. Boughen, Valley River, Manitoba, found a tree of the native chokecherry on his farm, with fruit so much milder in flavor than usual that it may be fairly called a sweet or chokeless chokecherry. Offered for the first time. Mr. Boughen has the first right to name this fruit so we will await developments.

Spearfish Yellow Chokecherry.—Introduced 1924. A yellow-fruited wild chokecherry from Spearfish, South Dakota. An interesting novelty. Of value mainly from the ornamental standpoint but the fruit has some culinary value. The main objection to our native chokecherry is that the trees send up so many suckers or sprouts from the roots. One- year buds on May Day Tree stock were distributed.

Lake Baikal Siberian Bird Cherry.—Introduced 1912. This is Prunus Padus as found wild in the Lake Baikal region of Eastern Siberia. An interesting ornamental tree with large leaves; the fruit is used very extensively by the peasants for culinary purposes, but is not much of an improvement on our western choke cherry, although less astringent. A few three-year-old seedling trees, once transplanted, grown from fruit, were sent out in 1912.

Sorbus aucuparia edulis—From the 1910 list: Edible Russian Mountain Ash. While in Russia in 1906 I secured 100 trees of a mountain ash (Sorbus edulis) said to bear large edible fruit, used in Russia for culinary purposes. Some of these fruited true to name the past season so it is very probable that they are all true to name. The fruit is much larger than that of the common mountain ash, but must need some special cooking to make it acceptable, although it has much less bitterness than that of the common mountain ash. Certainly an interesting tree and valuable at least for ornament. From the 1917 list: The fruit is sour rather than bitter.

Tartarian Maple.—From the 1923 list. Acer tataricum. Really a good dwarf round-topped Maple tree that has proven hardy many years at this station. A desirable lawn tree.

Niobe Weeping Willow.—This graceful yellow-barked weeping willow is Salix alba vitellina pendula nova, which was imported from Europe over twenty years ago. The Niobe Weeping Willow has become very popular in many states. It is hardier on upland where it makes a fair growth than on low rich land where the growth is excessive. In “Standardized Plant Names,” 1923, Niobe Weeping Willow is listed as being a hybrid (alba x fragilis). The name Niobe was given by N. E. Hansen in the introduction circular sent out by this Department.

Russian Silver-Leaved Willow.—Introduced 1921. Brought some years ago from Russia. A silver-leaved willow under the name Salix regalis. The botanical status of this tree, according to Bailey, appears to be Salix alba, var. splendens or Salix alba, var. argentea, hence a form of the white willow. These trees have made a strong growth, are perfectly hardy, and are noteworthy for the silvery foliage. A rich silver satin on both sides. In “Standardized Plant Names,” 1923, this is given the name Royal Willow, but it is not certain that this is the Russian form.

Siberian Basket Willow.—Introduced 1921. In the fall of 1913 in the dry steppes region of Semipalatinsk, Siberia, I walked along a small creek which had almost dried up. Stumbling, I seized hold of a willow and found that the branches simply would not break. So I brought home a few cuttings. You may tie bow knots in these pliable shoots, but it appears practically impossible to break them. They ought to be good as a tie willow for nursery work or for basketry.

Ural Willow.—Introduced 1906. An ornamental purple-branched basket willow (Salix Uralensis) from the Ural Mountains, Siberia. Useful for basket work, and for a very low dense snow-catcher. Also for tying nursery stock, for which it is excellent, especially for small bundles. It makes a dense dwarf hedge eight or ten feet in height of neat habit without pruning, or can be kept at any desired height by pruning; it now appears very promising as an ornamental hedge for the lawn. Some nurseries in Minnesota and elsewhere are now propagating this willow under the name Siberian Hedgewood.

Salix viminalis Regelis——From South Dakota Bulletin No. 72: Imported from Russia in 1897 for the United States Department of Agriculture. A hardy, strong-growing willow noteworthy for its bright yellow bark in winter. Cuttings were sent out soon after importation.

The severe losses experienced from winter-killing of most standard roses indicate that the prairie Northwest needs hardier varieties. During many years I have labored with the roses of North America, Europe and Asia, hoping to originate double fragrant roses that will be hardy without winter protection and will bloom all summer. Of the thousands of seedlings, only two have been named previous to 1927. These two are Tetonkaha, introduced in 1912, now becoming very popular at the far North, and Tegala, introduced in 1926. The difficulty of propagation and the rush of other work has prevented an earlier introduction of the new roses offered in 1927. These plants are all on own roots. On the difficult question of rose stocks for budding and grafting, I hope to have something new soon to report. In the long run, however, it may be best with these hardy roses to plant them far enough apart so they will sprout freely and thus keep them on their own roots. Then there will be no difficulty which so many people experience when they neglect the wild shoots coming from below the bud. After two or three years the wild sprouts have choked out the budded portion. The question of hardy rose stocks is also under investigation as the Federal Horticultural Board has given notice that the importation of rose stocks will soon be discontinued. A hardy rose stock that will be more suitable for budding than those now in use, is greatly needed.

Amdo Rose.—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Tetonkaha x La Melusine. A heavy bloomer through July and into August. The pink flowers appear seven to ten in a cluster; about 16 petals and 8 petaloids. Its late blooming makes it of interest.

Ekta Rose—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Rosa gallica grandiflora x American Beauty. Of tall upright habit; very hardy and vigorous. Flowers, single, pink; blooming freely throughout June and a few days in July. Since the flowers are single, this plant may not be a hybrid. However, the flowers are pink, while the flowers of the Rosa gallica parent are dark crimson. Also, it blooms earlier than Rosa gallica. This plant sprouts freely. May be useful for screens, hedges, or as an ornamental shrub. Rosa gallica is a native of central Europe extending east to the Caucausus Mountains, has been cultivated “from time immemorial”, and is regarded as one of the parents of the Hybrid Perpetuals. In the Island of Bourbon, France, it is customary to make hedges and palisades with the Bengal rose and Rosa gallica.

Kitana Rose.—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Tetonkaha x Rose Apples, a Rugosa hybrid from England. A vigorous, hardy, semi-double pink rose, blooming very freely in June and into July. Flowers, 3 inches in diameter; intense fragrance; petals, about 36; petaloids, 25. Red fruit sets freely. Flowers are somewhat globular with little pollen; deep lavender pink.

Koza Rose.—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Seed parent, our seedling of Rosa rugosa, Siberian form x La France; pollen parent, La Melusine, a rugosa hybrid. Vigorous plant, over 7 feet in height; a profuse bloomer. Flowers semi-double; deep pink; blooms freely through July and into August.

Minisa Rose.—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Rosa rugosa, Siberian form x Prince Camille de Rohan, a well known Hybrid Perpetual, one of the darkest red of all roses. Minisa is not very double, having only about 17 petals and petaloids. Color, very deep crimson, rich fragrance; a free bloomer.

Mrs. Mina Lindell Rose.—Introduced 1927. A beautiful dwarf semi- double, light pink, wild rose found by Mrs. Mina Lindell in Butte, County, South Dakota. Mrs. Lindell, under date of March 4, 1924, wrote: “These roses grow on the west side of a hill, and have noticed that there was a clump of single roses and then a clump of double ones near them. The roses grow about a mile from the Butte called Castle Rock in Butte County.” Mrs Lindell died in February, 1925. This rose is named in her memory by the surviving family. To find a double wild rose on the prairies of South Dakota is indeed noteworthy. The plant sprouts freely so it will not be necessary to bud, graft, or grow from cuttings.

Okaga Rose.—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Rosa gallica grandiflora x Tetonkaha. A very fine semi-double rose. Flowers, deep pink; low bush; blooming very freely in June and first half of July.

Rosa Rugosa, Siberian Form.—From the 1907 list: Single Siberian Rose. A beautiful shrub with large, bright crimson, fragrant single flowers; dark green shining, rugosa (wrinkled) leaves; and large bright red fruits. Valuable for clumps on the lawn, or in front of larger shrubs. The present stock is grown from seed of plants secured in Russia in 1897- 8, and is originally from the importation of St. Petersburg Botanic Gar- dens from Siberia. This Siberian form of Rosa rugosa is superior in every respect to the Japanese form of the species.
From the 1919 list: “Rosa rugosa, Siberian form. The well known beautiful hardy rose with dark crimson single flowers up to four inches in diameter. An attractive ornamental in autumn and early winter, with large bright red fruits, which are used, with seeds removed, for food in its native home.”
Dr. M. T. Masters, an eminent botanist, writes: “The Rosa rugosa is one of the few roses with esculent fruit, and the best of them all,”
This Siberian form of Rosa rugosa was used in producing many of the new roses in this list.

Semi Rose.—Introduced 1927. A tall growing upright shrub, fully eight feet in height, with hooked prickles in pairs. Flowers, small, white, blooming all summer, followed by bright red fruits. This is Rosa laxa, Retz., grown from seed collected in 1913 on the dry steppes of Semipalatinsk, Siberia. The plant may prove useful as a budding stock for other roses or for hedges and screens, An occasional bush has light pink flowers. This interesting wild rose has been described under many synonyms. The present name is given it to distinguish it from other importations. Native of the Altai region. It should not be con- fused with Rosa laxa, Lindl., which is a variety of Rosa blanda, Ait. The name, Semi, is an abbreviation of Semipalatinsk, where the seed was collected by N. E. Hansen in 1913.

Sioux Beauty Rose.—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Tetonkaha x American Beauty. A real triumph in rose-breeding. Delightful fragrance; plant hardy; very profuse late bloomer; blooms through July and into August. Flowers bright rose deepening into fine dark crimson in the center petals; very double, with nearly or quite 100 petals and petaloids.

Tegala Rose.—Introduced 1926. This attractive deep pink rose blossoms very freely in June, and is semi-double much like the Tetonkaha Rose, but more dwarf in habit, The plants sent out are all sprouts from one original plant. Growth up to about four feet in height without pruning. Pedigree: Tetonkaha x Rosa gallica grandiflora pollen. The name Tegala is made up from these two names. The accent is on the second syllable.

Teton Beauty Rose.—Introduced 1927, Pedigree: Tetonkaha x American Beauty. A sister variety to Sioux Beauty. Flowers, bright crimson, somewhat cup-shaped. Resembles American Beauty. A heavy bloomer; blooms all season through July and August, with 65 or more petals and petaloids. Delightful fragrance; color ranging from rich deep pink to crimson; foliage of a modified rugosa.

Tetonkaha Rose.—Introduced 1912. Tetonkaha is the west lake of the chain of lakes known as Lake Oakwood, about eighteen miles northwest of this station. Tetonkaha was an Indian maiden who lost her life many years ago in this vicinity as the penalty for saving her white lover and his people from an Indian massacre. The Tetonkaha Rose is a seedling of the wild prairie rose from the banks of this lake, crossed with pollen of a hybrid of the Siberian Rosa rugosa, so that it is a combination of at least three species. In the 100 seedlings obtained from this cross, 74 are double and 26 single. All identical in color, a deep pink, and all fragrant. These plants formed many root sprouts. The blossoms on the 74 double-flowered plants are practically identical and the stock distributed consisted of sprouts from the original seedlings. The flowers are fully three inches in diameter; the bush is perfectly hardy, flowering abundantly in June; about 18 to 25 petals, deep rich pink; very fragrant; appears desirable for dwarf hedges or as an ornamental shrub. The habit is more upright and the flowers are less concealed by the foliage than in the pure Rosa rugosa.
From the 1918 list: Tetonkaha rose proves absolutely hardy and very desirable in many places. It is a very free bloomer. Plants of strong growth and as they sprout freely it should not be necessary to propagate on tender commercial stocks or from cuttings.

Yanka Rose.—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Tetonkaha x Le Melusine, a rugosa hybrid. Plant, three to four feet; flowers, semi-double, pink, blooming in clusters; blooming freely through July and into August.

Yatkan Rose.—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Somewhat uncertain but very likely Gruss an Teplitz x La Melusine. Flowers semi-double, two and one-half inches across; color, pure pink; blooms through July.

Yuhla Rose.—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Wild rose from Lake Oakwood. South Dakota x General Jacqueminot. Flowers semi-double, crimson, blooming through July and August; leaves of rugosa type. About 20 petals and 26 petaloids.

Zani Rose.—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Seed parent, Rosa rugosa, Siberian form x Anna de Diesbach; pollen parent, Tetonkaha. Of this pedigree we have a number of hardy, strong growing seedlings, six to eight feet in height, blooming very freely from June until the middle of July. Flowers, semi-double; color, a fine dark crimson with a white streak through the center petals. This is a very marked characteristic.

Zika Rose.—Introduced 1927. Pedigree: Seed parent, Rosa rugosa, Siberian form x Anna de Diesbach; pollen parent, Tetonkaha. Flowers, semi-double; color, fine shell pink; fragrant.

Roses for Mass Planting in Parks.—From the 1922 list. In the work of crossing the wild roses of Siberia and the prairie Northwest with the choicest cultivated varieties thousands of seedlings have been grown from which I have selected the best with double or semi-double flowers for further work. The remainder are strong bushes, nearly all from three to six feet in height, with fragrant single red or pink flowers. They will be valuable for mass planting in parks.

Siberian Almond.—Introduced 1916. Amygdalus nana L. A beautiful lawn shrub destined to great popularity. All visitors to the college grounds in early spring are attracted by the remarkable color display of this beautiful shrub, which should be planted in every garden in the Northwest and far north into Canada. A dwarf ornamental with abundant, bright rose pink flowers, the very first of all shrubs to bloom in the spring. Splendid to plant in front of other shrubs on the lawn. Brought from the dry steppes of the Semipalatinsk region of Siberia, where the temperature ranges from 50 degrees below zero in winter to 106 degrees above in summer, and only eight inches of total annual rainfall, including snow.

Siberian Buckthorn.—From the 1922 list. Brought in 1913 from the dry steppe Semipalatinsk region of Siberia. The plant is hardier than the common Buckthorn; the foliage is of a brighter green and appears earlier. The Siberian Buckthorn will, I believe, supersede the common Buckthorn as soon as it can be propagated in quantity. The glowing green foliage and neat habit makes this a very attractive ornamental shrub for the lawn, either for hedges or as single specimens. Flowers, small, white; berries, black. Botanical name undetermined.

Caragana.—Caragana arborescens, also called the Siberian Pea Tree, is the best plant for hedges, low windbreaks and snow-catchers for the entire prairie Northwest, extending far north into Canada. It is also one of the best ornamentals for the lawn. In 1897, as Agricultural Explorer for the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., I imported about 350 pounds of Caragana seed from Russia. This was not the first importation but perhaps the largest ever made. At any rate this seed served a good purpose in introducing the plant very extensively.
Norman M. Ross, Chief of the Government Tree Station at Indian Head, Saskatchewan, writes under date of April 6, 1922, as follows: “Without doubt the Caragana arborescens is one of the most generally useful plants for hedge purposes and low windbreaks that can be used on the prairies. So far as I know this shrub was first introduced into Western Canada by the Mennonites who settled in Manitoba in the early eighties. It is hardy in every section of the prairie regions. There is nothing which can beat the Caragana for a hedge or low windbreak to protect vegetable gardens. It is particularly useful as a trimmed hedge and can be kept at any height from four feet up.”

Littleleaf Pea Shrub.—This is Caragana microphylla, a shrub four to six feet in height, with small leaves and yellow flowers. The grayish green leaves are divided into 12 to 18 leaflets and the yellow flowers make this a desirable ornamental shrub. It is a native of Siberia and China. A few plants grown from imported plants were distributed some twenty years ago. In 1924 I gathered seed of this species on sandy soil near the station Manchuli on the Siberian Russo-Manchurian boundary on the Siberian railway in Northwest Manchuria.

Russian Artemisia——The genus Artemisia contains about 150 distinct species, mostly natives of the Northern Hemisphere. The genus includes the Sage Brush of the western plains of the United States. The common wormwood or Old Man is a native in South Europe and is a favorite in old English gardens and in West Europe for the sweet aromatic odor and finely divided leaves. A strong growing variety is the Russian Artemisia, six to eight feet, which was introduced many years ago. If kept trimmed closely it makes a neat appearance but not if left untrimmed. Brother Bernard Hinderhofer of the St. Francis Mission in the Rosebud Reservation at St. Francis, in southwestern South Dakota, writes (June 28, 1923): “About 18 years ago I received through your kindness some Russian Artemisia, “Old Man”. These have been thriving from the beginning and I have given some to hundreds of families in the neighborhood.”
The Russian Artemisia may be Artemisia Abrotanum tobolskianum (Tobolskianum) mentioned in Nicholson’s Dictionary of Gardening. This is a much more vigorous growing variety than the typical Old Man.

Semipalatinsk Bush Honeysuckle.—Note in the 1921 list: In 1913 on the dry steppes at Semipalatinsk, Siberia, I found a choice Bush Honeysuckle of tall growth with yellow or red berries. This will be hardy far north. Good for hedges, screens, or as single specimens.

Honeysuckle Hedges.—From the 1923 list. From seed of our large imported collection of Honeysuckles, especially select varieties of the Tartarian Bush Honeysuckles. We have grown some nice stocky plants. They will vary somewhat in color of blossom and will be desirable for hedges, screens and single specimens on the lawn. Perfectly hardy far north.

Siberian Larkspur.—From the 1907 list. (Delphinium grandiflorum Sibericum). A hardy perennial with beautiful intensely blue flowers which appear in large numbers. This promises to be a decided acquisition to Dakota flower gardens. Imported from Russia.

Blue Larkspur from Semipalatinsk, Siberia—From the 1914 list. A hardy perennial, Delphinium sp. Height up to seven feet, with beautiful dark blue flowers. Seed collected by N. E. Hansen in 1913 from plants growing on the dry steppes at Semipalatinsk, Siberia.

Lathyrus tuberosus, Siberian Form.— Introduced 1914. Siberian Perennial Pea (Lathyrus tuberosus), is a perennial climber native of Europe, west Asia and North Africa. In 1913 this was found growing wild in the Semipalatinsk region of Siberia. The flowers are rose pink. The tubers are somewhat cylindrical. The original stock has persisted in the perennial bed and taken up for individual transplanting in the fall of 1925 with a view to further introduction, also to separate it from the bright yellow flowered form that was mixed in with this original stock which also forms a tuber. Both these perennial peas with pink and yellow flowers are interesting climbers worthy of a place in the South Dakota flower garden. The genus, Lathyrus contains about one hundred species. The yellow flowered form may be Lathyrus pratensis mentioned in Nicholson’s Dictionary of Gardening as being native of Europe.

Lavatera Thuringiaca.—Introduced 1914. A tall growing perennial flower brought by N. E. Hansen in 1913 from the dry steppes of Semipalatinsk, Siberia. Height, six to seven feet. Branching habit. Flowers, large, pink, somewhat like single Mallows or Hollyhock. F. L. Skinner at Dropmore in northwestern Manitoba reports this hardy and that it blooms all season.