268 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



EUREKA TRIAL STATION. 



C. W, SAMPSON, SUPT. 



The outlook for the fruit crop is a big one. All kinds of small 

 fruits and grapes seem to have come through the winter in excel- 

 lent shape and promise a bountiful crop. Strawberry plants that had 

 no protection whatever came out all right, owing to the deep cover- 

 ing of snow. Raspberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries and 

 grapes all promise a good crop. Apples are fairly well loaded, and 

 plums bid fair to ripen a big crop. 



I have sprayed my apples and plums three times and fought the 

 curculico, so that I expect a fine crop of plums. I find that by going 

 out early in the morning and jarring the trees I can kill a good 

 many of them. 



I have found that a good way to keep apples in perfect condition 

 is to pack them in air-slaked lime. Put in a layer of apples in the 

 barrel and then cover them completely with lime and keep on until 

 the barrel is full. 



I believe the apple industry has only just begun in Minnesota, 

 and in a few years we will see car loads of the finest apples in the 

 world raised here. My Compass cherry trees set out last spring are 

 well loaded with fruit and are not injured with the curculio or other 

 insects. 



EXCELSIOR TRIAL STATION. 



H. M, LYMAN, SUPT. 



Fruit trees at this station are generally looking well. The past 

 winter has not been as hard on them as some thought it would be. 

 The season last fall was favorable for ripening the wood, and they 

 were able to withstand quite a degree of cold for several days or 

 even weeks together. If it were not fo'- that milder spell between 

 those extremely cold days the injury would have been far greater. 

 As it is, only the more tender varieties suffered. 



Most of the Russians came through well. The Lowland Raspberry 

 is discolored some. Other varieties are all looking well. I have a 

 few trees of Northwestern Greening; it is not considered very hardy. 

 The Wealthy came through in good shape, also the Okabena. The 

 McMahon appears to be in good shape; the Utter did not fare as 

 well. The Charlottenthaler is hardy and will, I think, take the 

 place of Yellow Transparent, which blights badly. Apple trees have 

 set for a fair crop, while plums are loaded with fruit. 



LA CRESCENT TRIAL STATION. 



J. S. HARRIS, SUPT. 



The season of 1898 went on record aa an unusually fruitful one, 

 especially for most varieties of strawberries, grapes and apples. 

 Grapes and apples had been allowed to overbear, which, with other 

 unfavorable conditions, taxed the vitality of the trees and plants 

 severely. The rainfall of the season was from six to eight inches 

 below normal, and the end of the season found the growth only 



