STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 143 



pear trees look good. For future planting I shall use largely of 

 the Wealthy with fair sprinkling of Fameuse and other good sorts 

 as they shall appear. 



Am trying seeds of Wealthy and others, and we may yet find 

 the coming long keeper, for general planting. 

 Hoping you may have a good time, I remain 



Fraternally Yours, 



W. K. BATES. 



FBUIT REPORT FROM WABASHA COUNTY. 



MiLLViLLE, Wabasha Co., Minn., ) 

 December 28th, 1882. f 



We have an abundant crop of fruit of all kinds to report from 

 our highlands this year. Hardys and semi-hardys and all the ten- 

 der kinds having life left in them, blossomed out all over and along 

 the summits of the river bluffs, and generally on the highlands, the 

 apple trees carried a very full crop of fruit to maturity. 



In the valleys the frost of May 23 was destructive and little fruit 

 great or small was raised. The Wealthy is said to have shown a 

 greater hardiness in blossom to resist a severe frost like that than 

 any other sort. 



I will not go over the ground as to each variety fruiting this 

 year, but will say that the Early Richmond cherry trees on my 

 place are sound and thrifty and bore this year abundantly. They 

 were planted before the winter of 1873 and haye borne me good 

 crops for several years. I am out on the prairie openings twenty 

 miles back from the Mississippi river. 



And as to pears I am informed that the Flemish Beauties, two 

 trees ol eight or ten years of age, in the garden of Wm. Dustin at 

 Reed's Landing, heretofore reported on by Mr. Gibbs, are in flourish- 

 ing condition, showing no blight at present, and that they bore 

 four bushels of perfect fruit this year. They are on a steep side 

 hill facing the north, and about three hundred above the level of 

 the Mississippi, which at this place, mouth of Lake Pepin and junc- 

 tion with the Chippewa river, never freeze. 



I will give you my experience with Duchess and Wealthy. Have 

 not far from forty Duchess in bearing, planted at different times in 

 sixteen years. Oi all my planting of this variety, say ninety-five per 

 cent, are in thrifty condition. Since they commenced bearing freely 

 I have never failed in any year to have plenty of them. 



