MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 147 
instances impossible, I have been so driven by my work that I have 
scarcely known the condition of my nearest neighbor’s plants, shrubs, 
fruit trees, &c.; but since the receipt of your note I have taken 
some pains to ascertain the present prospect for a crop of Russian 
apples, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries, also the condi- 
tion they were left in at the beginning of warm weather. The 
“Dutchess of Oldenburg” has stood the past winter in timbered 
land, in many instances very well; ‘‘Ben Davis” killed entirely 
with some, while with others it withstood the severe cold better 
than the ‘“‘ Duchess,” and this without any apparent cause; on the 
open prairie they are both ruined, or nearly so. Transcendent and 
Hyslop Crahs have stood alike on plain and timbered land well, 
none being killed by cold so far asIcanlearn. The borer has, how- 
ever, destroyed many trees. 
Raspberries have been, where not protected, somewhat injured, 
especially the more tender varieties. Philadelphia and Brinckle’s 
Orange badly killed. Except in some instances where ample and 
judicious protection has been given, not more than one-fourth, or 
at most one-half crop can be expected from those varieties. ‘‘ Mam- 
moth Cluster” and ‘‘ Doolittle” will give from three-quarters to a full 
average crop, depending on past care and location. The varieties 
cultivated are generally the Blackcaps; the other varieties but 
sparingly, Philadelphia leading all others except Black Caps. As 
far as diseases, there does not seem to be any as yet developed. In- 
sect enemies, but few and not yet very troublesome. The “ Rasp- 
berry Maggot,’ and a small white worm that sometimes (but sel- 
dom) destroys the roots of new canes, being all worthy of mention. 
Ordinary care and cultivation, together with proper manuring, will 
be almost certain to give fine returns. Blackberries ‘* Nix,” all 
killed ; same way every winter. The past winter killed nearly all 
the wild canes to the ground. The varieties tried here so far have 
been the Kittatinny and Wilson. I have been experimenting with 
a wild variety for the past five years, and supposed my labors 
crowned with success, when the past winter came and destroyed my 
triumph ; still, I think success with us, in the blackberry line, must 
be found, if found at all, among the wild sorts. 
Strawberries: All the varieties where not protected, have suf- 
fered somewhat; Wilsons the least of any—some beds of the Wil- 
son passing through the winter without the least protection, and 
coming out this spring in brilliant style, scarcely a plant injured. 
**Wilson’s Albany” is the variety principally grown, although 
*“* Jucunda,” ‘‘ Triomphe de Gand,” ‘“ Charles Downing,” ‘+ Hovey’s 
Seedling ” and “* Mexican Everbearing,” with many other varieties, 
are grown to some exient. ‘‘ Hovey’s Seedling” has heretofore 
been the standard sort raised for family use, but it is rapidly being 
displaced by the ** Wilson.”” The ‘‘ Triomphe de Gand” and “ Ju- 
cunda,” the former especially, seem to require a heavier soil, and 
more particular attention, than the ‘“‘ Wilson,” and as a conse- 
quence are not so extensively grown by farmers, and others not 
making horticulture a specialty. The prospect is good for a fair 
crop of this most delicate of all small fruits, but scarcely a full 
crop. As far as my own experience goes, and from what information 
