284 ANNUAL REPORT 



that at 8 cts. or $1.92 per case of 24 quart boxes. Owing to 

 late spring frosts my two acres of currants yielded only about 

 100 bushels. They were set four years ago and consist of the 

 following varieties: Improved Bed Dutch, Victoria, Prince 

 Albert, White Grape, Long Bunch Holland. One-half an acre 

 of White Grape was a marvel of fine fruit; all the above are 

 good. Of raspberries, red, I consider Turner, Cuthbert and 

 Brandy wine the safest and best to i)lant, of which I picked about 

 1000 boxes from a new plantation, and 500 of black, mostly Ty- 

 lers. At some future time if you desire it I will give my views 

 on the different kinds of strawberries and raspberries and most 



practicable modes of culture. 



Eesi)ectfully, 



M. W. Cook." 



REPORT FROM SECOND DISTRICT. 

 By E. H. 8. Dartt, Owatonna. 



Mr. President: I have no written report. If I say anything 

 I think my report had better be confined to Steele County, be- 

 cause you have heard from me before now as rej)orting from that 

 county, and perhaps would understand me better in that way. 



Our county is situated, I suppose, some five hundred feet 

 higher than St. Paul, I think water runs from our county in 

 every direction — south, towards Iowa; east, into the headwaters 

 of the Zumbro; north, into the Strait and Cannon Rivers, thence 

 into the Mississippi. That gives us a high elevation. The bulk 

 of the land in the county descends a little to the north, or is 

 drained by Strait River. There are no elevations that are very 

 much above the general level; valleys are comparatively shallow. 

 It has been found that high lands, in order to be favorable for 

 fruit growing, must be in the vicinity of considerably lower 

 lands. Where there is not much difference in altitude, where 

 lands are all high, it is considered rather detrimental to success- 

 ful fruit growing. That is our situation. 



I will say in regard to small fruits that I believe there has 

 been generally a fair crop produced in our section. We have 

 been troubled considerably by drought, and I have no doubt the 

 crop was diminished; but that not being my hobby, and the 

 apple tree being my hobby, I will report most in regard to that. 



The condition of apple trees previous to 1884-5 was various. 



