62 ANNUAL REPORT 



The report of Peter M. Gideon, Superintendent ol the State Ex- 

 perimental Fruit Farm, as made to the Regents of the State University, 

 was read as follows : 



RXCELSIOR, 3IlNN., Oct. 30, 1881. 

 Win. W. Folwell, President Minnesota State University. 



Dear Sir:— Below, I give a brief report of the doings and success on the State 

 Fruit Farm the present year: 



The last winter, though hard, was less ruinous than anticipated. Only lost ten or 

 twelve varieties, out of fifty varieties, oflong keepers, not one of which are on their 

 own or tender roots. Such as are generally used in nursery stock, could have not sur- 

 vived the winter, but grafted on our hardy seedling stocks, that mature early, and 

 thus stop their flow of sap, and in due time prepare for winter, is what saved them 

 and gives assurance of ultimate success in growing long keeping varieties through 

 fertilization; the commingling the pollen of our most hardy, though early varieties 

 with that of the long keepers, thus giving hardiness to the forthcoming seedling, 

 grown from the seed of the long keepers, a result very desii-able, as there is no long 

 keeper yet tested that will make a long lived tree, though grafted on the most hardy 

 of stocks; a few crops and they are gone, but in those lew crops we will secure the 

 long hoped for prize, a fact developments clearly demonstrate. But as yet no long 

 keeper has fruited, but hope another year may produce a few specimens, as the 

 trees are doing quite well in health and vigor. 



As anticipated, every year we lose trees, but each spring fill up again, and when 

 full the orchard holds 768 trees. 



As to pear culture, I must say the prospects are not flattering. The last winter 

 cleaned all out, except those on the American ^lountain Ash, and even some of them 

 are hurt more or less, enough at least to make success dDubtful. A few more 

 year's trial will tell definitely — success or failure. 



We have about six hundred grape vines on the State Farm, consisting of nearly 

 every variety of note in the United States, the most of which will probably fruit 

 next year. 



No variety of blackberry will stand cultivation here, not even the natives. 



The raspberry and strawberry culture we find a paying success, and what is Ijest 

 better able to tell another year. 



That part of our State Farm cleared and plowed, by order from the University, 

 and by the same paid for, comprises five acres, two of which is set in our best seed- 

 ling apple trees, done without charge on our part, and will fill up the balance if not 

 otherwise ordered. 



Important experiments on our own grounds, in the meantime, have not been ne- 

 glected. 



Through the last two years, grafting has been almost a failure, owing to the 

 diimaged condition of the trees, the effects of the two last hard winters Some fine 

 samples of new seedlings have borne the first crop this season, but further trial will 

 test^he real value, and keeping qualities and productiveness. Trees are hardy. 



AVe have a fair prospect of making peach culture a success. Some fine fruit this 

 year for the first, but it requires care and skill, as the trees have to be laid down and 

 covered, same as the grape vine. It will take another year or more, to tell whether 



