302 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and the Rolling-stone fairly well. The Cheney is carrying- some 

 fruit and matured an immense crop of plum pockets. We have two 

 trees of the Townsend seedling- of the Lombard; they endured the 

 winter well and are carrying some fruit. 



Grapes: — Our g-rape vines made a lighter g-rowth of wood last 

 season than usual, but have come out vigorous and healthy. The 

 promotion of clusters and bloom gave promise of a large crop, but 

 heavy showers and cloudy weather has interfered with perfect pol- 

 lenization and considerably lowered the prospects for more than an 

 averag-e crop. Our experience demonstrates that the most profitable 

 varieties for southeastern Minnesota for market are Concord, 

 Worden,Moores Earlj', Brighton and Delaware.with Moore's Diamond 

 very promising. For home use the Early Victor is very desirable. 



Apples: — With many varieties of the apple there is soinething 

 wrong-. Never before at the blooming- period had we so encourag-- 

 ing a prospect of a bountiful crop, but first comea a spur blight 

 which cut off three-fourths of the spurs that bloomed and set fruit, 

 and this is being followed with twig or fire blight. The varieties 

 worst affected by the spur blight are Tetofsky, McMahon, Autumn 

 Streaked, Duchess of Oldenburg-, Wealthy, Talmon Sweet and Tran- 

 scendent and some other crabs. The fire blight is the worst on the 

 Russian, Autumn Streaked, Arabian, Talnlon Sweet, Wealthy and 

 some of the Siberian species, but there is hardly a variety that has 

 reached a bearing- age that is entirely exempt. I have theories on 

 the subject, but to present them now will make this report too long-, 

 and before airing- thein I wish to make farther observations. 



Additions to the lists on trial made this season: — A number 

 of the newer varieties of strawberries were purchased and planted 

 this spring-, but unfortunately scarcely a plant has lived. Later we 

 set 200 plants of the Sparta, losing but a single plant. The Rio and 

 Gandy are also on trial. Also put out 200 plants of the Loodon and 

 a dozen of the Miller red raspberry. Four varieties of cherries have 

 been planted. The Superior plum, from the Jewell Nurser}'^, is also 

 on trial, also Alundane and Burbank (Japanese). A new plot of 

 apple orchard containing- about 250 trees in fifty varieties has been 

 planted expresslj' for experimental purposes. This plot is on a 

 rather steep side hill with northern aspect and was originally 

 covered with a heavy growth of young timber, chiefly red and white 

 oak, birch and hickory. As before reported, the timber was cleared 

 off and the holes dug- last fall, but the trees were planted this spring. 

 About thirty more new or unknown varieties have also been placed 

 in the nursery. 



The pear trees are carrying- some fruit, but not as much as last 

 year, and some of the trees are showing- blight. The crop of nuts 

 will be very light. Chestnut trees do not show injur}'. Some of the 

 hickory were injured by last season's drouth on southern exposures. 



Summary: — Some things that we think we are learning. 



First. That a home grown tree or plant or one from a near-by 

 nursery that is carefully dug with plenty of roots and set at once is 

 worth as much to the planter as a half dozen grown a long distance 

 awa3', dug-, boxed or bundled and exposed in transit and delivery, 

 and that but very few men will make a success of fruit growing- as 



