240 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



SMALL FRUITS. 



JOHN EKLOF, COKATO. 



In this section of the country, the fruit growers are few and far be- 

 tween. Apple growing has been almost abandoned, as the blight- 

 ing kinds were largely planted and are now killed out, excepting 

 those having a very favorable location. The farmers have now 

 turned their attention more towards the growing of small fruits. 



The past season was not a very favorable one. Owing to the late 

 spring frosts, where the strawberries were uncovered early, they 

 bore but half a crop. The Crescent heads the list for productive- 

 ness, hardiness and healthiness. 



The Warfield is also a good bearer; for pollenizers the Wilson and 

 Jessie are mainly planted. The Jessie is a rather weak grower and 

 is not a good propagator, but it is fairly productive, the berries be- 

 ing large and of good qualit3^ 



I have on trial the Robinson, Captain Jack, Bederwood, Lovett, 

 Haverland and Woolverton. All I know about them yet is that thej' 

 seem to be vigorous growers, as they set a lot of plants, although 

 the drought prevailed all summer. 



Of raspberries I have found but one variet}^ of the red that has 

 gained my confidence, and that is the Philadelphia. For hardiness 

 and productiveness it is unexcelled here. Last winter was a severe 

 one for raspberries that were unprotected. My Philadelphias killed 

 back about a foot, the Turners to within eighteen inches from the 

 ground and, consequently, did not bear half a crop. The Cuthberts 

 were a total failure; they have never been profitable here; to be pay- 

 ing they should bring double the price that raspberries are sold for. 



In neglected plantations of raspberries of several varieties, the 

 only ones surviving, I have found to be the Philadelphia. They 

 will stand more adverse treatment than any other variety and still 

 bear. It is a slow propagating variet}', and the fruit is not of the 

 highest quality, though for home consumption and a near market it 

 equals any. 



The blackcap varieties are not grown to any extent here. Mr. Fa}'- 

 ette Lee, of this place, grows the Nemaha, which he says does better 

 on his soil than the red varieties. The patch is a fine one to look at. 



My experience with blackberries is not a long one. I have three- 

 quarters of an acre of Ancient Briton, Snyder and Stone's Hardy. 

 The location is a very sheltered one. Last winter thej^ were left 

 uncovered, and still they were not injured as much as the raspber- 

 ries. Of the three varieties the Briton has done best so far; it has 

 been equally hardy with the Snyder and a more certain cropper. The 

 Snyders have produced little fruit; the berries dry up when about 

 half grown, and there are few berries perfect when ripe. I wish some 

 light would be given on this subject, what the cause is and how it 

 can be prevented. If I have the true Stone's Hardj^ it does not dif- 

 fer much from the Briton. The only difference I find is in the shape 

 of the bush. Stone's Hardy being more spreading. 



I agree with those claiming that blackberries do better in partial 

 shade. On the south side of my plantation is a row of cottonwoods, 



