256 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



FRUIT PROSPECTS. 



The prospects for all kinds of fruit except strawberries are extra 

 good. Farmington, May 30, 1896. D. F. Akin. 



I find that our apple crop is not going- to be very large this season, 

 and there are not manj' currants. Strawberries, raspberries and black- 

 berries are budding well, although there was a considerable failure 

 in strawberries, owing to their going into the winter too dry and 

 there not being any snow to cover them. 



Lake City, May 23, 1896. J. M. UNDERWOOD. 



"Those who have strawberries expect a fair return; currants will 

 not 3'ield over one-third a crop; raspberries of all kinds, also black- 

 berries, promise an enormous yield. I think the apple crop, like my 

 own, wijl be very light, while grapes look very much better than the 

 early spring gave promise, and where the vines were not actually 

 winter-killed will bear well." 



Excelsior, June 1, 1896. Mrs. Sophronia Irwin. 



"The prospect for a good fruit crop in this locality was never bet- 

 ter with the exception of currants; they are a ver}^ light crop. Grapes 

 will not be quite up to the average. Apples are well loaded. Berries 

 of all kinds promise an abundant crop. The "Loudon'' raspberries 

 came through the winter in splendid condition and are loaded with 

 fruit, without anj- protection whatever." 



Eureka, Minn., June 1, 1896. C. W. SAMPSON. 



At present in this locality the prospects are good for an apple 

 crop. The plum crop will be light: the cold nights and light frosts 

 in blossoming time injured thein. Strawberries blossomed well, but 

 a great many are blighted from some caixse. It is too soon to pre- 

 dict about raspberries, as they are beginning to bloom. The pros- 

 pects for a grape crop fair. 

 Lake City, Minn., June 2, 1896. R. H. Buttermore. 



"Last year's planting of strawberries, from total failure to one- 

 fourth crop; old beds average about one-half a crop. Raspberries — 

 reds, one-half crop, blackcaps, a very large crop. Currants, few- 

 Cherries, few. Goosberries, none. Blackberries, bearing well. Plums, 

 much fruit blighted, but enough remains for a good crop. Grapes 

 promise a large crop. Apples uncertain; spur blight has thinned 

 down the Duchess, Tetofsky and McMahon badly in the valleys, 

 and other varieties are beginning to drop; present indications are 

 for about three-fourths of a full crop; said to be better on the ridges. 

 The failure in strawberries is similar to but worse than in 1893." 



La Crescent. June 1, 1896. J. S. Harris. 



The prospect for apples is fair, though man}' trees that bloomed 

 bountifull}' set little fruit, and this is especially true of cultivated 

 plums. Of one hundred or more trees girdled last season to hasten 

 fruitfulness, three or four died, probably from effects of blight, and 

 nearly all the others are carrj^ng fruit. I am girdling rather exten- 

 sively this season— commenced the 20th of May and will continue 

 up to July 1st and to very limited extent later on. In this way I can 



