38 Bn ANNUAL REPORT. 
annual fee; also any lady or ladies who may contribute articles or 
papers for the annual transactions of the Society, 
In article 5 the words “by ballot” be inserted after the word 
“ elected.” . ea 
OBITUARIES. 
The Secretary stated that several of the pioneers of our Minneso- 
ta horticulture had died during the past year. It would seem as 
though some action ought to be had by the Society on the subject. 
On motion the Secretary was instructed to prepare obituary no- 
tices for the Transactions, of such persons as have died during the 
year. 
REPORT FROM HENNEPIN COUNTY, BY WYMAN ELLIOT, OF MINNEAPOLIS. 
The past year can hardly be called a success by the fruit cultur- 
ist. Frost, drouth, and insects have given him much to contend 
with, and except in few cases, where extra care and situation has in- 
sured him a fair yield and good prices for fruit sold, has shortened 
the crop of all varieties of fruit. Our first summer fruit is the 
Strawberry, 
and I think none of us can deny a failing in that direction, especially 
when served with good, rich cream and sugar. The vines wintered 
as well as usual. Notwithstanding the poor prospect for fruit in the 
early part of the season, caused by drouth blighting the blossoms, a 
few light showers helped materially to increase our anticipation, al- 
though on an average it proved not half a crop, many of the berries 
being shriveled and tasteless, lacking the delicious flavor usual im 
more favorable seasons. Some complained that their vines had not 
their usual healthy appearance, the leaves being full of holes and 
appearing ragged and worm-eaten. Some patches were almost en- 
tirely. destroyed by the larvee of the June or Dor bug. 
Perhaps a word or two of what I heard and saw while in southern 
California, may not be out of place here. There strawberries are 
grown in forty, eighty, or one hundred acre patches. The land used 
is interval valley land, rich, deep soil, inclined level, falling one foot 
to three or four hundred feet. When not as level as desired, it is 
graded so that waters from the upper side will flow gently over the 
whole area. The water is obtained from a zanja (water ditch) or 
artesian well. -When the grading is completed, the land is divided 
into beds three feet wide or laid off into rooms for receiving plants ; 
plants set and a quantity of water sufficient to saturate the surface 
turned on. When dry enough it is well raked over and loosened 
leaving it in acondition to withstand drouth and prevent baking and 
cracking. After from three to six weeks it is again irrigated and 
raked as before—not a weed to be seen, nothing but clean, healthy 
vines that yield abundantly. Nearly all the work is done by China- 
men. Many lease their grounds to the Chinese for a certain share 
of the receipts from the sale of crops, deducting freight and com- . 
