Minnesota STATE HorTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 113 
Pears. 
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As far as I know there are but two bearing trees in the district, both in the 
town of Hokah. They came through the hard winter without injury, have never 
blighted and are bearing good crops. Young trees have been planted in limited 
quantities, and are generally promising well. The variety is Flemish Beauty. 
Plums and Cherries. 
The cultivation of the tame plum has been mostly abandoned and the crop of 
native plums was mostly a failure; whether this should be attributed to insects 
or blight Iam unable to say. Cherries are not much cultivated but bore a crop 
wherever the trees were found. 
Small Fruits. 
The strawberry crop was the best for many years and the season of bearing 
continued longer than usual. The Wilson, Charles Downing and Kramer Seed- 
ling did the best; Green Prolific and Col. Cheeney not of much account. Cur- 
rants were a fair crop, although in some instances injured by spring frosts. 
Raspberries were a short crop. The prospect is that we shall be compelled to 
throw out the Doolittle on account of blight and red rust. The red raspberries 
were plenty for a few days; after which the birds took the whole crop. Among 
blackberries the wild were abundant, and the Snider is promising well. 
Grapes. 
Grapes in some vineyards were an abundant crop and remarkable for their size 
and quality, especially those of Brownsville and La Crescent; in other towns the 
late frosts cut them and mildew and rot has prevailed moreor less. The Concord 
is the most exempt from disease. Salem, Rogers 15, Diana and Isabella are 
among the most affected. Have not noticed the Janesville. All Hybrids suffered 
more or less. 
Nurserymen. 
Our principal nurseries have suspended operations. Their plea is that they 
cannot raise and furnish good trees at prices to allow them to compete with for- 
eign nurseries, therefore this district is an open field for tree peddlers and hum- 
bugs. For our protection against all such we petition the State Horticultural 
Society to devise and perfect some mark to put upon the agent representing a re- 
sponsible nursery, that we may be able to distinguish him from the smoothed- 
tongued frauds who doubly rob us by taking our money and our time in finding 
it out. 
Varieties. 
The following is a list of fruits we recommend for cultivation in this district. 
Apples for general cultivation: Duchess, St. Lawrence, Haas, Fameuse, Red 
Astrachan, Price’s Sweet, Tallman Sweet. For trial: Wallbridge, Wealthy, 
Plumb’s Cider, Sops of Wine. 
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