112 ANNUAL EEPOBT 



rious kinds of huckleberriea and blackberries; and it is doubtful if 

 we have a great amount of soil adapted to the culture of the two first 

 named. The only places where our native fruits are indigenous is 

 among the timber, on lands lying contiguous to the streams, and in 

 the groves which are scattered here aud there on the prairies. These 

 lands are of limited extent compared with the area, but we can prob- 

 ably find upon them all the varieties common to Wisconsin, though 

 the quantity is too small to be of great significance. Strawberries 

 were found growing wild when the country was first settled, and where 

 fields were left uncultivated for a year or two they were sometimes 

 very abundant, and in some places still continue to be so; but the cul- 

 tivated kinds have entirely superseded them for market, and also 

 largely for home use. 



One or two varieties of huckleberries are sometimes found upon the 

 sandy table lands along the streams, especially if the soil be formed 

 of disintegrated sand rock. But they do not appear as luxuriant and 

 as productive in fruit as in a more congenial soil. The climatic con- 

 ditions can not be materially different trom those in Wisconsin near 

 by, where they grow in immense quantities. The habit of the plant 

 under cultivation, if it has ever been carefully observed, is not gener- 

 ally known, and as long as the fruit continues to be furnished to the 

 markets in such quantities and at such low prices, no elaborate exper- 

 iments in their cultivation will be made. 



The cranberry, as a commercial fruit, occupies a ve^-y important 

 place. There are a few marshes along the south side of the Minnesota 

 river, but no great attempts have been made to improve them. Ex- 

 perience has shown that under good cultivation they vary somewhat 

 in size and shape, but in quality and in habit of growth their charac- 

 ter has not been changed from those found growing wild. 



The subject of cranberry culture has occupied so prominent a place 

 in horticultural works that it will not be here further discussed. 



Blackberries are indigenous along the Mississippi blufis, and in the 

 groves of brush and timber throughout this part of the State. There 

 are few localities, however, where they have grown in quantities suffi- 

 cient for market, or where they can be relied upon to produce fruit 

 annually; and, indeed, it has been rare in many places where the 

 bushes grow, to find any fruit for several years past. These remarks 

 may also be applied to the dewberry, though the dewberry is adapted 

 to a greater variety of soil. Tt is found equally thriving on the light 

 sandy soil, or heavy clay. 



It is well known that these fruits have long been profitably grown 



