l-fS MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the Faj-'s Prolific and found it a profitable variety to plant, also, the 

 Industry g-ooseberry, and whether it mildews. 



Raspberries and strawberries suffered severelj^ from the extremely 

 dry season. New beds of strawberries made runners very slowly 

 Where the}^ were well cultivated they stood the drought better. In 

 regard to planting- raspberries, I would make the distance between 

 the rows seven feet at least and four feet in the rows. Keep them 

 in hills. After picking the fruit cut out the dead canes, leaving 

 from five to six canes in the hill. If you want to be sure of a crop, 

 laj' the canes down by removing a spadeful of earth from one side 

 of the root, bend to the ground and cover with earth for winter pro- 

 tection. Uncover about the last of April. Give them thorough cul- 

 tivation and mulch well with straw, and the grower will be well 

 remunerated for his time and trouble. The principal varieties 

 planted are Cuthbert, Turner, Philadelphia, and some Brandywine 

 for red, and Gregg and >Iammoth Cluster for black. 



The cultivation of blackberries still continues to receive more 

 attention bj^ small fruit growers in Minnesota, prices in St. Paul 

 market ranging from ten cents to twelve and one-half cents per quart. 

 Stone's Hardy and Ancient Briton are the principal varieties planted. 

 I have seen the Wachusetts Thornless growing in Ramsey county; 

 the Snyder is planted by some. My mode of cultivation would be 

 about the same as for raspberries. 



As to the culture of the dewberry, it is ver}^ limited in Washington 

 county, and I would like to know whether there is any one among 

 our members that has made them a profitable crop. 



In conclusion, I would say that I think the farmers and gardeners 

 still keep up an interest in buying the hardy fruit trees, and it is 

 encouraging to know that they are willing to try our newer varieties, 

 such as Okobena and the Peerless, and some of the Russians. What 

 they want is a winter apple that will stand our Minnesota winters. 

 Let them give the orchard the same care that thej' do their farm 

 crops, and there is no doubt in my mind they will be well compen- 

 sated for time and money expended. 



GENERAL FRUITS. 

 FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. 



J. H. STEVENS, VICE-PRESIDENT. 



While Hennepin county is generally one of the most successful 

 fruit growing portions of the state, the past season there has been a 

 partial failure in that industry. Apples and most of the small fruits 

 were a light crop. Grapes were a fair yield and of excellent quality. 

 In the more southwesterly part of the county, raspberries were also 

 a pretty good 3'ield. Climatic influences were the causes of the fail- 

 ure, or rather partial failure, of the fruit crop in this congressional 

 district, which comprises Hennepin county. 



