144 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



road almost constantly for nearly a week with no particular results, 

 and we conclvided that one must have a lake or river to draw from 

 constantly to irrigate with any degree of success. 



The crop was so poor that we could not intelligently compare the 

 different varieties. Warfield No. 2 seemed to take the lead among 

 the pistillate varieties and Chas. Downing among the staminate. 

 We were disappointed in Bederwood, but, as before remarked, it was 

 not a good season to make comparisons. 



Currants were a fair crop, the Stewart excelling everything else on 

 our grounds. Fay's Prolific is a failure with us; the Cherry only 

 does moderately well; the White Grape is an abundant bearer, large 

 berry and excellent quality. Our North Star bushes are young, and 

 have not fruited with us yet. We were agreeably surprised with 

 some Crandall black currants. We set out a few bushes three years 

 ago, and they bore such a strong resemblance in foliage and blos- 

 soin to the common flowering currant that we caine near g'rubbing 

 them out the second year; but last season they were a sight to be- 

 hold, the bushes fairly bending to the ground with the weight of 

 the fruit, varj-ing considerably' in size, but a large proportion of 

 them nearly as large as Concord grapes. The quality was excellent, 

 the only serious objection being their unevenness in ripening, mak- 

 ing it undesirable as a market fruit but a nice acquisition to any 

 home garden. 



Gooseberries were an average crop, the Houghton and Downing 

 being perfectly hardy with us and free from mildew. Raspberries 

 and blackberries, like the strawberry, were almost a total failure. 

 We are pleased to note that Shaffer's Colossal stood the drought' 

 better than any other variety. We would emphasize the importance 

 of heavy mulching for all small fruits. 



Plums— The Forest Garden and Desota are very hard3% bear well, 

 and are of excellent quality. There was an immense crop of native 

 plums, some very good. I think there should be an effort made to 

 select some of the best varieties of native plums for general propa- 

 gation. 



Grapes— When most all other kinds of fruit have failed, we have 

 always had an abundance of grapes. The most extreme drought 

 has never seriously affected our vinej' ards, and it was a cheering 

 prospect this summer to turn from the strawberry bed with its 

 shriveled leaves and dried-up fruit, or, later on, from the raspberries 

 and blackberries, from which we received such meagre returns, to 

 the well laden grape vines with their luxuriant foliage. We have 

 never had any mildew to sjjeak of in our vine5'ards. Nearly all va- 

 rieties yielded well, Agawam and Brighton were, perhaps, the most 

 heavily loaded; I don't think the fruit was quite as large as some 

 seasons, but the quality was very good. Even the much abused 

 Champion was quite palatable. Moore's Early, as usual with us 

 was a shj' bearer; Delawares were very fine, and Concords ripened 

 up well. 



To show the effect of clean culture and frequent cultivation, I don't 

 think there was a time the past dry summer that there was not moist 



