84 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
were killed. Plums half a crop—5s00 bushels were sold in the city. 
Choice natives, like Wolf, Hawkeye, Wyant and Rollingstone, were 
not in the market, and inferior wild ones sold as low as 40 cents per 
bushel. Choice natives would readily bring from $1.50 to $2.00. 
Miners were one-third crop and small in size. 
Cherries one-third crop; 350 bushels marketed. Richmonds sold 
at $1.00, later ones at from $1.50 to $2.00. 
There are in Dubuque Co., 1,700 acres of grapes, The crop was 
short, one and one-half tons peracre, total 2,500 tons. One grower ob- 
tained forty-five tons from fifteen acres. There was made600 barrels 
of wine, and 300 barrels from native wild grapes. Wild grapes sold 
at better prices than Concords. Concords lead in quantity, but Del- 
awares and Brightons bring better prices. Moore’s Early in large 
lots sold at six cents, Concords at one and one-half cents. 
Red raspberries were a short crop, and 2,000 cases were sold in the 
city and 3,000 in the country. Blackberries were injured by drouth; 
4,000 cases were sold. Strawberries a poor crop and low prices; 6,000 
cases were sold. Conditions were not favorable to small fruit. 
There is a good opening for commercial orcharding along the river 
bluffs. Tiling, irrigating and subsoiling will pay. The problems 
to solve are, where to plant, how to plant, cultivate and market. The 
man who would succeed must study successes and failures in his 
vicinity, and the man who plants without study and advice is like 
him who conducts his own case in court. He has a fool for aclient. i 
Tuesday evening, address of welcome by the Mayor and response 1 
py Mr. Burnap were felicitous, and well received and appreciated. 
Paper by Mr. Kenyon of McGregor. “A Reminiscence,and a Look ; 
Ahead.” Had forty years experience in fruit raising; compared . 
early trials with those of later years. Success had been attained 4 
with quantity, but quality was lacking. In 1896 prices were too low 
for profit, in 1897 quality not good, many rotting on the ground. ¥ 
Prices did not justify gathering. He was forced to the con- (J 
clusion that in Iowa a mistake had been made in trying 
to raise any of the improved or domesticated fruits, such as apples 
pears, cherries and also plums, except the natives. Better returns 
could be secured in other pursuits; could sella pig and buy sup. 
plies of fruit for the winter. Horticultural products were cheapened 
by late methods of cold storage distribution and centralization of 
labor, and chances were too many against success by the aver- 
age farmer. This paper drew outa storm of criticism, and found 
no one to indorse its statements, and they were flatly contradicted 
on every side by evidences to be seen on many Iowa farms. 
Paper. “The Mission of Horticulture,” by E. M. Sherman, Charles 
City. Itis not confined to apple growing, it includes fruits and 
flowers; it has to combat many prejudices to compare results, to 
_ labor for the future and to hope ever; fifty years hence may see 
present varieties discarded. A close study of nature’s laws advised, 
wild flowers and vines and fruits recommended for trial. 
Its mission is to broaden the mind, to ennoble all the faculties, to 
give pleasure, and profit, and compared with grain raising, is much 
more desirable in securing and perpetuating a love of home life. 
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