VICE-PRESIDENT S REPORT, FIRST CONG. DISTRICT. 45 



fruits and plums." "Strawberry prospects not good, too many plants 

 and rusting-." "I do not consider prospects best. Many trees are 

 growing up to date, Nov. 14." 



General Remarks: "There are many hindrances and reasons 

 that tend to keep the general farmer from becoming a successful 

 fruit raiser; his many other cares and duties, his non-appreciation 

 of the actual income from a fruit and vegetable garden." "Farming 

 is one trade, and gardening is another, as different as carpentering 

 and brick-laying." "Our orchard has paid quite one hundred dollars 

 per acre, and we expect to do even better as it grows older ; but 

 going to market often and selling by retail is different from the 

 farmer's way of selling." "The fruit crop in southeast Minnesota 

 is surer than ivheat, and about as sure as corn." "The people of 

 the Northwest should grow more vegetables for Eastern and South- 

 ern markets." "Apple trees which bore heavily have also made a 

 good growth:" "Great big Nelson apples, ten inches in circum- 

 ference and fine eating, have made more than one of our farmers 

 happy." "A remarkable season has passed, great expectations and 

 smaller realizations." "The Wealthy easily stands at the head of 

 the list for size, color, quality and productiveness." "The black- 

 berry — dead, dead, dead and ought to be dead." 



Mr. Wyman Elliot : "I have been connected with this society 

 ever since it was organized, and I want to say that that is the best 

 vice president's report I have ever heard. I want to congratulate 

 Mr. Freeman. There is just one suggestion I want to make, and 

 that is, do not include the Compass in the cherry list. That is a 

 plum. 



VICE-PRESIDENT'S REPORT, SECOND CONG. DIST. 



C. E. OLDER, LUVERNE. 



In making this report I will call your attention to the fact that 

 those fruit growers who properly care for their trees or vines are 

 the ones who have the fruit. Although no one can control the 

 elements, he can take advantage of everything favorable to him. 

 Hailstorms and frosts cannot be prevented, but its effects can be 

 lessened somewhat by extra care. 



The fruit crop in southwestern Minnesota this season has been 

 very uneven, running all the way from a good crop of exceptionally 

 fine fruit to an utter failure. Where proper care has been taken and 

 extra precautions used against drouth last season, the fruit crop in 

 some parts is good, but on the whole over the district the yield of 

 fruit has been light. 



In Rock county, in the extreme southwest corner of the state, 

 the apple crop was good, plums a failure, strawberries where prop- 

 erly cared for during the drouth of 1901 a splendid crop — those 

 not cared for a total failure. Other small fruits were generally light. 



