128 ANNUAL REPORT 



quality as trees become older. We noticed two varieties of Sibe 

 riaii, the Cherry Red, and Florence, that ought to supersede some 

 varieties that are now being extensively planted. 



In a younger seedling orchard we saw some very fine trees, and 

 a few of them were carrying specimens of fruit; one of them 

 we would like to know more about. It had a striking resem- 

 blance to the Rhode Island Greening. 



IN m'leod county. 



August 9th and 10th we visited Glencoe, Sumter and other 

 points in McLeod County. In reaching this region we pass 

 over the Hastings & Dakota Railroad from Minneapolis. The 

 country along the road is rolling and much of it has been heavily 

 timbered, showing a deep, rich soil, with a more or less tena- 

 cious subsoil, and from its striking similarity to some of the best 

 fruit districts in America, we are led to entertain the opinion 

 that it will yet enjoy notoriety, as a good apple and grape-pro- 

 ducing district. 



Siberians, Duchess, and some trees of the Wealthy are 

 looking fairly well and bearing a good crop of fruit. Most 

 of the farms have an abundance of timber. Most conspicu- 

 ous among the varieties we notice sugar maple, American elm, 

 black and white ash, three or four species of oak, bitternut, 

 hickory, butternut, basswood and iron wood. In underbrush the 

 l^redominating species are hazel, prickly ash, wild grapes and 

 wild rose. About Glencoe considerable attention is being paid 

 to growing small fruits and vegetables. In the village gardens, 

 strawberries, red raspberries and currants are doing well; vege- 

 tables are remarkable for size and superior quality. The great 

 drought of the season has not proved as damaging here as in 

 many other sections of the State. 



Mr. Cutler, of Sumter, joined us and we visited a farm about 

 five miles south of Glencoe for the i^urpose of examining some 

 seedling apple trees that had been reported as promising. 

 A number of trees upon this farm had fruited in previous 

 years but all save one had succumbed to the Frost King in 

 1884; this one the owner says was the poorest in the lot, is 

 carrying some fruit. It may be hardy but the trunk has been 

 badly injured by borers. There is upon the place a younger 

 lot of seedlings that will soon commence fruiting. As the 

 seeds were procured from the state of New York we have very- 

 little hopes of any good results from them. 



