HISTORY OP HORTICULTURE IN MINNESOTA. 149 



He primed in June aud the first part of July. He plowed deep in cultivating 

 vegetables. Of raspberries, he had, of seedlings, the Reserve. The rasp- 

 berry needs a moist soil. He considered the black the most profitable for 

 the market. Of strawberries, he considered the Wilson the most profitable 

 for market. 



Mr. Ford called for reports from committees. 



The Chairman said that reports were first in order this morning, but it had 

 been decided to return to the current debates which we had fallen into. As 

 to reports, that of the Corresponding Secretary was really first in order. 



Mr. J. F. True, of Ramsey county, was called upon for a verbal report, Init 

 declined as having had no time for preparation. 



The Chairman called for reports from committees. 



Mr. Harris presented his report as Corresponding Secretary. 



Judge Baker moved that the report be laid upon the table for future 

 consideration. 



Carried. 



Col. Stevens said that a few weeks since. Col. Sweet, of the Northern 

 Pacific Railroad, handed him a specimen of fruit, and as Col. Sweet was here 

 present, he should like to hear from him. The fruit was to him entirely new. 



Col. Sweet said it was a shrub that grew upon the Missouri river, in great 

 profusion and in clusters. The berry, resembling red currants, remained on 

 the twigs until Fel)ruary. The tree, or bush, was thorny. It grows mostly 

 on the bottoms, but to some extent on the bluffs. It is called the bull berry. 

 It is hardy, evidently. The berry has been used for jellies and pies, and makes 

 very good ones. The shrub would make an excellent hedge plant. They — 

 his wife and others — used it regularly for pies, and it is sub-acid in taste. 

 The Indians use them to a considerable extent also, and travelers along that 

 route used them sometimes. Some of the jelly was on the table, and could 

 speak for itself as to quality. He was satisfied that it was a valuable plant. 

 He believed that from a single quarter section, 2,000 bushels might have been 

 gathered. They commence ripening the 1st of August, and stay on the tree 

 until the 1st of February. The soil was of various kinds where they grew. 



Mr. Grimes said that the plant was known to horticulturalists as the Buffalo 

 berry. 



Col. Stevens said it was a mistake that it had been pronounced upon by 

 eastern horticulturalists, who could not place it as yet. One-half of the 

 shnibs produced alternate years. 



Judge Baker suggested that a committee be appointed to look into this 

 matter. 



Judge Baker then said that if more members had been here yesterday, it 

 would have been his pleasure and his duty to have welcomed them, but the 

 weather had interfered, and it was the pleasure of the people of St. Paul s,tiU, 

 to welcome all connected with the Society. He hoped now those not here 

 yesterday would report themselves, that they might be assigned quarters. 



A motion was then made and carried to adjourn to 2 o'clock. 



