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VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT, SEVENTH CONG. DIST. 91 
Most people like fruit, and it does not require a very good man to sell 
nursery stock, but it does require more than an ordinary man to take care 
of it and make it grow. Although some of the stock sold is not hardy or 
not suitable or fails to receive good care, yet some succeeds to grow with 
good care and favorable conditions or with neglect, and shows to the faithless 
that fruits can be raised on the prairies of western Minnesota. 
Although the number of orchards and fruit gardens make but a poor 
showing, yet the amount of fruit grown is not so very small after all. Every 
now and then is found a garden where more fruit is raised than is needed 
for home use. During the past year fruits of all kinds have done fairly well. 
The severe cold of last winter and the lack of snow made it a trying 
one for fruits; yet when properly cared for they generally came out in good 
condition and fruited full. 
Of most small fruits that make a good crop, strawberries and raspber- 
ries were as good as could be wished for; gooseberries were a full crop, but 
currants were nearly a failure. 
Blackberries are an uncertain crop and do not seem to do well, and there 
were few berries on them this year. 
The apple crop was fair. Cultivated plum trees—especially the late 
varieties—were generally loaded with fruit, while most of the wild plums 
were nearly a failure. 
There has been more blight on the apple trees than usual, which may be 
owing to the severe winter weakening the vitality of the trees. With good 
hardy stock and good care, I do not think there is any reason for discour- 
agement. 
At the present time the ground is full of moisture and in good condition 
for wintering. 
Nearly all small fruits and most of the apples in the fruit list grow and 
do well in western Minnesota, and I know of no good reason why plenty of 
apples and plums and small fruits should not be raised, and I think the time 
is not far distant when they will be. 
FRUIT LIST SEVENTH CONG. DISTRICT. 
Strawberries: Capt. Jack, Bederwood, Parker Earle, are among the best. 
Raspberries: The Turner does the best. 
Gooseberries: Houghton. 
Currants: Red Dutch and White Grape. 
Hybrids and Crabs: Whitney No. 20, Tonka, Early Strawberry, Pow- 
er’s Red, Virginia, Martha and others. 
Apple: Duchess, Hibernal, Patten’s Greening, Wealthy, and Longfield. 
Plum: Forest Garden, Weaver and others doing well . 
Grapes: Concord, Janesville, Worden and Delaware. 
In putting fruit in cold storage, insist upon having the temperature 
lowered gradually. Managers of large cold storage houses are studying this 
question carefully and are becoming informed upon the matter. They first 
submit the fruits of all kinds to a temperature of, say 50 degrees, to begin 
with; then gradually remove it to other compartments, until they get it to the 
compartment and temperature best suited to the particular kind of fruit. 
