i72 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Russian Pears. For the first time we have a few of the seedless 

 Russian pears, Bessemianca, that have set fruit. This variety we 

 have several times ^rown to a large size, but it has always blighted 

 without fruiting. The most promising Russian pear we now have 

 is Gakosk, which has not blighted badlj^ in our experience with it. 



Grapes. Our grapes have not fully recovered from the injuries 

 caused by the winter of 1895-6, but there is a very good promise of 

 fruit. 



The Logam-Berry. The Logan-berry has been referred to in our 

 Secretary's Corner as being a fruit of great promise. We have had 

 it in our grounds here for three years, but it has not been especially 

 promising. It has given us some very handsonje, large clusters of 

 fruit, but the plants seem rather tender and even when heavily pro- 

 tected in winter do not always look verj'^ strong in the spring and 

 do not produce much fruit. But it should be remembered that 

 neither the blackberry nor the dewberry do so well on our grounds 

 as in some other sections of the state. To sum up its merits: — I 

 think this fruit plant may do well in the sections of this state that 

 are especially favorable for small fruit but is not adapted for very 

 general planting. We have about 200 very thrifty seedlings of the 

 IvOgan-berr}' that should fruit this year for the first time. 



The strawberry-raspberry killed to the ground last winter, but 

 sprouts have come froin the roots by the thousand, and these are 

 said to fruit the first summer. 



Douglas Spruce. The Douglas spruce ( Pseudotsuga taxifolia) 

 is coming to the front as one of our hardiest and prettiest ever- 

 greens. It is standing drouth very well here and making an enor- 

 mous growth. Its home, however, is evidently on moist land. I 

 regard it as a tree of very great promise. It is fully as easily grown 

 from seed as the Scotch pine, and stock of it ought to be cheap 

 within a few years. 



Ornamental Planting. Considerable ornamental planting has 

 been done on the grounds this spring. The plantings of previous 

 years have made a very satisfactory growth and are now well estab- 

 lished. They make a very pretty appearance and are a feature for 

 which this station is becoming well known. In fact, the grounds of 

 University Farm are being increasingly regarded as the years go 

 by as a very interesting park-like place and are visited by many 

 thousands. 



Crowded Condition of the Horticultural Division. The last 

 legislature failed to make the expected provision for the increased 

 numbers attending the school of agriculture, and inconsequence the 

 horticultural division, in common with the others, will be greatly 

 crowded the coming winter. The case is aggravated by the fact 

 that the new girls' building which was provided for by the legisla- 

 ture will give us greatly increased dormitory room and opportuni- 

 ties for more students, while the facilities for instruction remain 

 the same as for several years, when they have been greatly crowded. 

 The foundation has been laid for the new girls' dormitory,and everj--- 

 thing points to its early completion and its readiness for the open- 

 ing of the school year. 



