VICE-PRESIDENT S REPORT, SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 95 



The past year has been favorable for tree growing — almost any 

 thing that was alive grew. Blight was quite common, and some 

 varieties were badly affected. Blight seems to be the greatest dif- 

 ficulty to contend with in raising apples. Some report that it is 

 useless to try to grow grafted trees for a successful orchard — too 

 short lived. One writes "Set out no grafted stock unless you ex- 

 pect them to die when they get large enough to be useful." "Out 

 of one hundred bearing trees over half and by far the best part are 

 seedlings." From one seedling tree fourteen years old he had fif- 

 teen bushels of apples. Out of sixty seedling trees only three have 

 ever blighted, and they not seriously ; while of grafted trees he 

 lost over 25c by blight. He firmly believes that the principal 

 cause of blight is root-grafting. 



The apple crop was good generally — for some orchards it was 

 the off year. The three leading varieties are the Duchess, Wealthv 

 and Hibernal. More trees of these varieties have been set out, and 

 they are the oldest trees. Patten's Greening shows up well, is a 

 good tree, hardy, free from blight and prolific. The Longfield 

 is worthy of a place on account of being an early and constant 

 bearer. The Peerless is holding for the promises of its intro- 

 ducer — no blight and hardy so far, thrifty but tardy coming into 

 bearing, but that may be all for the best. Many other varieties 

 are doing well. 



The plum crop was light generally. Raspberries a good crop. 

 Gooseberries light yield. Currants not very good. Strawberries 

 were fine and a good showing for the coming year. Grapes : Dela- 

 ware ripened, others not half ripened. 



Fruit list recommended : 



Apples. — Duchess, Wealthy, Hibernal. Patten's Greening, Long- 

 field and Peerless ; Malinda and University for trial. 



Crabs. — Florence, Whitney No. 20, Early Strawberry, Minne- 

 sota and Shield's. 



Plums. — De Soto, Forest Garden, Wolff and Rollingstone. 



For Cherries. — Including the Compass, leave them alone. 



Currants. — Red Dutch and White Grape. 



Raspberries. — Turner and Loudon. 



Black Caps. — Older and Kansas. 



Blackberries and Dewberries. — Do not try them. 



Grapes. — Worden, Delaware and Janesvilk. 



Gooseberries. — Houghton. 



Strazvberries. — Bederwood, Senator Dunlap. 



