64 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



to reports read Northeastern Iowa had had a strawberry crop of 

 100 per cent ; raspberries and blackberries, fair ; apple crop, uneven. 

 Orchards bloomed freely, the fruit dropped badly and was much 

 affected by scab ; trees blighted badly. The season had been favor- 

 able to wood growth, and prospects for fruits next year are good 

 at the present. 



In a paper on "Care and Marketing of Small Fruits," by Mr. 

 True, of Edgewood, the reader dwelt upon the necessity of giving 

 better care to the small fruit plantation and not undertaking too 

 much ; of directing the form of plant according to suggestions of na- 

 ture. Clean cultivation was the ideal, but it was at times better to mulch 

 and save labor. A lively and profitable discussion followed this 

 paper. The Concord, Moore's Early and Worden were favored 

 among black varieties of grapes. The Campbell's Early will color 

 as early as Moore's Early but is not really ripe before a good while 

 later. It was agreed that Moore's Early would stand more manure 

 than any others. For favored and southern locations the Ag^wam 

 was spoken of as paying, it being possible to keep it for weeks in 

 cellar. The earlier grapes bring the best price. Moore's Early was 

 generally conceded to be the thing. It should not be pruned as 

 severely as other varieties. The different varieties of grapes should 

 be pruned in a different manner. Delaware should be cut back to 

 the ground every year and allowed to make four or five new vines, 

 to grow in a fan shape; would then bear heavily. The sun should 

 be given a chance to strike the ground all over the vineyard so as 

 to warm it up. 



Mr. Antisdel, of Milford, spoke highly of a new raspberry, dwarf 

 and purple, named "Iowa;" it was said to be well adapted to the 

 prairie soil. 



Mr. Wm. Toole, of Wisconsin, read a paper on "Apples of Wis- 

 consin," and commended the Wealthy, Newell's Winter, Plumb 

 Cider, Fameuse, Seek-No-Further and others. In the discussion 

 the Newell's Winter was condemned as a slow, shy bearer not hardy 

 on the prairie soil. 



Mr. Mitchell, of Cresco, in a paper, spoke well of the Russian 

 varieties and was sustained. It was said that many of the Russian 

 varieties sold well in the market. 



Mr. C. G. Patten read a paper on "A Lesson in Pollination of 

 Fruits." It was said that very often pollen was washed off or de- 

 stroyed by unfavorable weather and a crop lost as a consequence, 

 it was important in growing strawberries that there be two varieties 

 to act as pollenizers, of different seasons, so that if one, on account 

 of weather, failed, another would be there to take the place later. In 

 plxms four or five varieties should be planted together. 



