46 ANNUAL REPORT 



ported, the most of them wintered well. They made a good deal better 

 showing when new growth commenced this spring than my Duchess 

 and Wealthy, most of which I had to cut back; more, I think, on ac- 

 count of insufficient growth in our dry season of '86, than from any 

 other fault. I have added about fifty more Russians to my orchard, 

 all from Prot. Budd and, in the fall, will try to give you a statement 

 of their appearance then. They are all making a thrifty growth this 

 year. 



We have had a poor season here to test new varieties of strawber- 

 ries — too dry till picking season was over None of mine have proven 

 satisfactory. Their growth for next year is now well started by heavy 

 rains, and I will give them another trial before reporting on them by 

 name. 



A garden item : Early last fall I emptied my whole barn yard upon 

 the garden, covering the ground out of sight and pretty deep. This 

 spring as soon as dry enough, I burned the manure all off — at least 

 the strawy, fibrous part, before ploughing. Have scarcely seen a cut 

 worm. Things are growing like Jack's bean, and the vegetables are 

 of a tender, succulent quality, quite unusual Peas and potatoes 

 planted April 15th — the William Hurst pea was ready for the table 

 June 10th; the Champion of England, June 30th, and Early Rose 

 potatoes, June 22d. 



Wild fruits abundant with us this season, especially gooseberries, 

 grapes, plums and choke cherries. 



With best wishes for your continued prosperity, 



I am, yours truly, Oliver Gibbs, Jr. 



SUPPLEMENTARY, 



Dec. 3, 1887. 

 Continuing the garden report and completing the season, I find of 

 the four varieties of watermelons planted — Excelsior, Iron Clad, 

 Mountain Sweet and Stokes — the latter, although very sweet as re- 

 ported last year, inclining to toughness, and shall reject it. The 

 Iron Clad I would only plant for variety to exhibit at fairs. It fur- 

 nishes the largest specimens, and is very showy, but its quality is 

 inferior. The Mountain Sweet is always good and averages large. 

 But I would always plant the Excelsior, and if but one sort, it would 

 be this. It is the earliest of the lot with me; yields abundantlj' — no 

 small ones and many that weigh thirty to forty pounds, and is of 

 luscious quality and always tender. Rind thin, flesh of a deep, rich 

 pink. I showed ten of the Excelsior at our county fair, September 22d, 



