VICE-PRESIDENTS* REPORTS. 317 



The season of 189") has hardly produced an averag-e crop of fruit 

 in this district. The early part was favorable, but subsequently 

 the want of humidity, last and this year, damaged our strawberry, 

 raspberry and blackberry products at least '^ per cent. While 

 currants and g'ooseberries were not a failure, the crop was small. 

 The yield of grapes was more satisfactorj', but hardly as large as 

 indicated earlier in the season. The harvest of plums, both tame 

 and wild, was the best in years — thus showing that the yield of that 

 fruit is not, as many have said, "a thing of the past." And apples, 

 a fair yield, in favorable localities a large one. The more dis- 

 couragement in the propagation of the apple, the more perseverance 

 is observed hy those engaged in its cultivation. No one for a 

 moment doubts but what in the near future several varieties can 

 be grown with profit— for that matter they are now. 



No cherries of moment are in cultivation; neither is there a 

 probability that there will be for some time to come, though we 

 may expect good results from some of the Russian varieties to a 

 greater or less extent. 



Large quantities of fruit of every variety have been shipped into 

 this district the past season from the four corners of the Union> 

 which has been sold at moderate prices. The introduction of so 

 much fruit from other states has a depressing effect on our home 

 products. For instance: strawberries were sold in our market dur- 

 ing the months of April and May and the early part of June, from 

 ten to fifteen cents per quart. Of course, the quality was not so good 

 as those of Minnesota growth, but the tendency was the same: it 

 reduced the price of the Minnesota berry; it brought us in competi- 

 tion with those outside of the state. 



A great and growing industry in this neighborhood is the "market 

 garden;" the price of the product from this industry the past year 

 has, I regret to saj', ruled low. Minneapolis is now a city of near 

 200,000; of the county, 218,000; hence, large quantities of vegetables as 

 well as fruit are necessary for the people. The yield of the garden, 

 as to every variety of vegetables grown, was fully up to the 

 average. 



All in all, the horticulturists of this district are far from being 

 discouraged; on the other hand, their prospects are bright. 



SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. 



J. O HAKKETT, VICE-PRESIDE.VT, HKOU'N'S VALLEY. 



The district I represent is probably the moat difficult in the state 

 for raising fruit plants. It comprises the northwestern division of the 

 state, mostly prairie and treeless and, therefore, exposed to our des- 

 tructive winds. The facts gleaned from various environments show 

 that the late frosts of last May, extending over a large portion of our 

 entire countrj', greatly injured the fruit plants. I know of no better 

 antidote for such fatality than the liberal use of the smudge, chok- 

 ing "jack frost" with smoke. 



Owing to early and late frosts, plum raising with us is precarious. 

 Where such trees are on high ground, protected against winds, we 



