Vice ~ Presidents” JXeports, 
1899. 
VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT, FIRST CONGRESSIONAL 
DISTRICT. 
F. W. KIMBALL, AUSTIN. 
In reporting on the fruit prospects for another season, as well as the 
results of the past, I am under a disadvantage, having been out of the dis- 
trict much of the time during the season, and having had little opportunity 
to enquire or examine. The winter of 1898-9 was not altogether without 
good: it tended to weed out many varieties of apple, and plums as well, in 
many places individual trees that we thought hardy; and, probably, it has 
taught all some lessons worth remembering. 
So iar as I have observed the crop of small fruit in this district was 
rather small. The strawberries were very good where the vines were not 
killed, but the red and black raspberries were most all injured, so the crop, 
as a rule, was light. The Loudon, however, showed scarcely any injury 
and fruited well, and any one desiring to raise raspberries can hardly afford 
to be without it. Asa rule, I think the Columbian did well and is going to 
prove a valuable berry, especially for canning. Gooseberries and currants 
did well. Apples were a light crop, as a rule, though many individual trees 
and even orchards did fairly well. Plums, as a rule, were light, and in 
many places badly affected by the gouger as well as by the scab. 
The season has been quite favorable, and with a favorable winter I think 
that the prospect for fruit another year is favorabl® 
Blight prevailed in many localities, and good air drainage did not in 
all cases, at least, prove a panacea. And here let me say, if any member 
has trouble with the blight and has growing in his orchards blighting kinds, 
such as the Transcendent, Yellow Transparent, etc., cut them out root and 
branch, as he would small pex from among his household. 
VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT, SECOND CONG. DIST. 
S. D. RICHARDSON WINNEBAGO, CITY. 
The year 1899 was what we call an off year for fruit. The year previous 
apples, plums and cherries bore heavily, as a general rule, and where they did 
so, did not bear much this year, with very few exceptions; while trees that 
did not bear last year bore a fair crop this year but not heavily. 
The heavy rains in the spring seemed to hinder pollenization. The 
winter was hard on some varieties, like the Malinda, Haas, Utter, etc., 
while our standard varieties recommended by our society were not injured. 
The Wealthy stood the winter apparently just as well as the Duchess, and 
is the apple that is planted in larger quantities than any other variety in our 
