vice-president's report, eighth congressional dist. 67 



this society should use its influence. While I do not think apples 

 and plums will ever be grown here in a commercial way, I am glad 

 to say that I know, and have proven, that apples, excellent ones,, 

 can and are being grown in a small way, in the home orchards. 



But small fruits — that is where we are going to shine. I 

 sincerely believe that before many years you will see about the head 

 of old Lake Superior, one of the greatest, if not the greatest', sec- 

 tions for strawberries, currants, gooseberries and raspberries in this 

 state, if indeed, not in the United States. This is a strong statement 

 to make, but if you will corrte with me in season I will show you 

 hundred of acres of wild strawberries, gooseberries, currants and 

 raspberries that will make many of your coaxed and petted tame 

 kinds hide tlieir heads in shame. If you will take the trouble to 

 investigate, you will find the grand prize at St. Louis awarded to a 

 Duluth grower of strawberries. Come to this section in season, 

 and I will show you lots of strawberries, eighteen of which will fill 

 a quart box. This section is going to grow big berries and late 

 berries. Late springs, cold nights and damp days make our fruit 

 very late ; cool nights, damp days and plenty of rain make slow 

 growth, and slow growth gives our fruit time to grow very large. 

 A heavy covering of snow affords a good winter protection. Large 

 fruit, late fruit, good markets, with a little enthusiasm, courage and 

 push, will put this section in such a condition that the vice-president 

 of the eighth congressional district a few years hence will have 

 something from which to draw up a report. 



I wish to say in regard to the blanks sent out by Mr. Latham, I 

 had a very unfortunate experience. I sent out eighteen or twenty 

 and succeeded in getting back one. My report therefore is con- 

 fined very largely to m|y own observation. 



VICE-PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT, NINTH CON- 

 GRESSIONAL DISTRICT. 



L. JOHANNESSOHN, BELTRAMI. 



To make a report on fruit conditions of this district is some- 

 what of a difficult matter. There are plenty of good _ conditions 

 but not enough fruit. 



Small fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, currants and 

 gooseberries, are being grown on many a farm and town-lot garden. 

 The same may be said of plums, although a large percentage of these 

 are wild specimens of Prunus Americana taken from copses. 



The apple, the most important of all fruits, is yet scarce. There 



