SMALL FRUITS IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA. 349 



tiers find time to set out a few strawberries or raspberries, for the 

 sake of their superior size and quahty. It will only be a question of 

 time when northeastern ^linnesota will be known as a good fruit 

 growing section. The comparative certainty of a heavy snowfall, 

 and the protection from sweeping winds furnished by the timber, 

 which insures a more even distribution of the snow over the surface, 

 extends the range of hardy varieties muchi further north than would 

 be the case in a prairie section. A somewhat heavier and better 

 distributed summer rainfall, due to the vicinity of Lake Superior 

 and, possibly, in part to the timber, is another encouraging factor. 

 Locally, such large bodies of water as Mille Lacs, Leech Lake and 

 others, modify climatic extremes and make conditions very favor- 

 able for fruit growing. Such conditions are well illustrated on the 

 west shore of Rainy Lake, where a Duchess apple tree has bonie 

 fruit for six consecutive seasons. The region about Mille Lacs has 

 already a reputation for its fruit. 



The experiment station at Grand Rapids is well to the north of 

 the bulk of settlement and not particularly favored by natural fea- 

 tures. It is therefore well suited to the work of testing varieties 

 for hardiness. The limitations of the means and working force of 

 the station, have prevented us from engaging extensively in the test- 

 ing of new varieties, and it was thought better to thoroughly test 

 a few of the standard sorts for their adaptability to this region and 

 extend the work as opportunity offered. In strawberries, the Cres- 

 cent, Warfield, Haverland and Bederwood have given us good 

 crops and proved perfectly hardy. The Splendid, Lovett, Ruby, 

 Muskingum, Bissell and others give good promise but have not as 

 yet had a fair trial. It has at least been shown that strawberries 

 can be successfully grown in this soil and climate. The residents 

 of Grand Rapids and vicinity have previously not had great success, 

 the trouble being due probably to lack of proper mulching during 

 the bearing season and failure to properly mix the staminate and 

 pistillate varieties in planting. 



Of the red raspberries tried, the Turner has stood the best, with 

 Marlboro a close second. Columbian was more or less injured by 

 winter-killing, and Logan did not prove hardy. The black caps 

 have stood well but were more severely injured last winter than the 

 reds. Older has proved hardiest, and Nemaha a little less so, while 

 the Ohio appears to be unable to hold its own. The Snyder black- 

 berry has borne fairly well and is hardy, and Ancient Briton, while 

 later, seems to be hardy and bears well. 



