VICE-PR EaiDENT S REPORT, FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 59 



VICE-PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT, FIFTH 

 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. 



J. O. WELD, MOUND, 



In summing up the answers from fhe different blanks which 

 I sent out, I make the following condensed report for my dis- 

 trict : 



Apples. — Fair • crop. Plums, very few. Cherries, none. 

 Grapes, scarcely any. Blackberries, good crop. Raspberries, 

 good crop. Strawberries, poor crop. Currants, good. 



There have been a good many young trees set out, and they 

 look well. There is considerable blight, and no remedy. Some 

 spraying is done, but not generally done. All trees and vines 

 wintered well. Fruits are going into the present winter in good 

 shape, and the soil is abundantly n.oist. 



From my experience and observation, I wish to emphasize the 

 idea of my friend, S. H. Kenny, of V/aterville, in regard to vigorous 

 pruning before the apple trees get too old and the limbs too large 

 so that the cutting would injure the free. This should be done 

 about the first of June, and I will give some reasons why this should 

 be done : 



Orchard of fifty University apple trees eight years set, on fruit farm of 

 H. I,. F. Witte, near Minneapolis. 



First. If too many branches are left on the tree there will not 

 be sap enough to support the fruit, the leaves and the new growth 

 and to ripen the fruit buds for the next season, so that it will 

 take one season for the tree to recover its vitality. 



Second. If properly trimmed tnere will be strength enough 

 to do all the work of the tree spoken of above and the result will be 

 a crop every year. 



Third. The fruit will be verv much larger and better. 



