140 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and small. The Rollingstone, one of the best in a series of years, 

 was almost .tasteless. The De Soto was not harvested ; it was late, 

 small and worthless. Why this was so it is difficult to tell. We 

 may say it was a peculiarity of the season, which will come as near 

 the truth as any other reason. 



A few plums of the Miner, Keeper, Wittman's No. 2, Moreman, 

 Viking, Hunt and Brittlewood, did fairly well. The Odegard only 

 bore where grafted on sand cherry stocks, and when nearly mature 

 dried upon the trees. The crop of Ames' Hybrid was moderate, 

 but the trees looked fine. 



In looking over the whole ground, there is as much offered in 

 the cultivation of plums as of any other fruit, and when we contrast 

 those of today with the best we had twenty years ago we may well 

 feel proud of our success. The product of one year is not a sample 

 r)f what the tree may do. It is therefore well to try seedlings for a 

 longer time. There was much discussion a few years ago in regard 

 to having trees on their own roots. The trees on their own roots 

 will live longer, but they will not bear so quickly nor so much as 

 grafted trees. 



Blackberries. — About ten years ago I got 100 blackberry plants 

 of Samuel Avery, of Champaign, 111. They were named the Snyder. 

 I cultivated them for five years without covering and had an abund- 

 ance of fruit. Then they were killed to the ground. Since then 

 I have covered every year. I have also grown the Ancient Briton, 

 which is a little later and on my ground superior to the Snyder. I 

 have also grown the Badger for several years, which I regard fully 

 equal to the Snyder. I met with no success in trying to grow the 

 Lawton. I have also the Rathbun, which is giving good satisfac- 

 tion. It does not sprout but reproduces from the tips, like black 

 raspberries. 



Currants. — Currants have made a good crop every year. I pre- 

 fer the old Red Dutch. I have the White and the North Star, the 

 Long Bunch Holland, the Cherry and two or three others that bear 

 more or less. 



Gooseberries. — I have tried several kinds ; the Pearl does the best 

 and generally gives a good crop. 



Cherries. — I have had thirty kinds, but only three kinds have 

 borne so as to be remunerative. I have some trees now nearly dead 

 with old age that have not borne a quart of fruit. The Double Natta 

 and the Wragg have done very well. 



Red Raspberries. — I have grown them for forty years or more, 

 the old Philadelphia being the first. I did not cover the vines, but 

 was very successful with them for several years. The Caroline and 



