64 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Greening trees are doing well but have not fruited long enough to 

 test them yet. 



Of crabs I think there is none better than the Whitney, l)Oth 

 in tree and fiuit.. The Martha and Virginia, especially the jMartha, 

 were badly affected witli some kind of leaf rust. The fruit was 

 also spotted, which made it almost worthless. From years of ex- 

 perience I consider the Martha worthless for planting. 



There was considerable blight on apple trees this last summer, 

 the Wealthy, I think, suffering the most, some young trees being 

 almost destroyed. As a rule young trees set three or four years 

 were aft'ected most, while old trees of Wealthy had scarcely a trace 

 of blight. This in my experience seems to be the reverse of former 

 years. I -am of the opinion tbat the cultivation had something to 

 do with it, the young orchard having been thoroughly cultivated 

 since planted, while the old orchard has been in sod and mulched 

 for the last twelve or fifteen years. I think that in our rich prairie 

 soil, .such as we have in Renville county, we shall have to guard 

 against too much cultivation, as we get too heavy growth, which, 

 I tliink, is more subject to blight. I have trees in the cultivated 

 orchard that this sununer made a growth of from three to four feet. 



The native plums are doing well, but this year's crop was only 

 fair in most sections. 



Cherries wherever tried are reported as worthless. It' appears 

 we cannot raise enough to satisfy the birds. 



Grapes and blackberries are not as yet planted to any great ex- 

 tent, but where tried are doing well. 



Raspberries were a good crop. Varieties doing well are Turner, 

 Cuthbert and Loudon. 



With very few exceptions strawberries throughout the district 

 were a very good crop, especially on new beds, old beds not doing 

 as well as in former years. The market being good for them, re- 

 turns were satisfactory. Varieties doing well are Warfield, Lovett, 

 Splendid and Bederwood. I fruited the Johnson's Early, Dornan 

 and Aroma this year, but they were worthless with me, at least this 

 year. I was disappointed with the Seator Dunlap, the yield 

 being light. Strawberry plants set this year have made a good 

 growth and are in good condition for a crop next year. 



Somie report the Compass cherry as doing well. 



One reports the strawberry-raspberry growing good but thinks 

 it will be worse to eradicate than Canada thistle. 



Reports indicate that there has been much nursery stock planted 

 throughout this district and with good result's. In my county apple 

 orchards of from too to 500 trees are now quite common, so we 



