238 ANNUAL REPORT 



the result was a yield of over a hundred bushels to the acre. In an- 

 other patch adjoining there was no mulching used and the potatoes 

 died and produced no crop. 



Col. Stevens. The secret, I presume, was the moisture caused by 

 the use of the mulching. That is no doubt quite important in a dry 

 season like the last one. 



President Elliot stated that a covering of straw was often benefi- 

 cial in retaining moisture, especially with light and sandy soil. When 

 the heat is too intense the vines become cooked and blight results. 



Mr. Herzog was called upon to give his experience with potatoes, 

 and stated that he had planted two acres of Beauty of Hebron and an 

 acre and a half of Burbank Seedling; planted side by side on sandy 

 soil. The former variety yielded two hundred and twenty-five bush- 

 els per acre and the latter but seventy-two bushels, and were compar- 

 atively worthless. He could not understand the cause of the fail- 

 ure. 



President Elliot said the Burbank would not thrive on sandy soil, 

 whereas the Beauty of Hebron was at home on sandy soil. 



Mr. Smith. I planted two bushels of Burbank on sandy soil and 

 didn't get my seed back. 



Mr. Harris, from the committee on award of premiums, presented a 

 report, which was, on motion, adopted: 



AWARD OF PREMIUMS. 



We, the members of the committee on awards, have discharged our 

 duty to the best of our ability, and report the following: 



APPLES. 



Pretnlam. Amoaut. 

 Best collection Minnesota apples, Ditiis Day, F'armington ... ...First. $.") OD 



Best display Wealthy, Ditus Day, Farmington First. 3 00 



Plate seedliag apples, J. S. B. Thoinps m, Gruady Centre, [owa .Hoaorable mention 



GRAPES. 



Best display Brighton, A. W. Latham, Excelsior First. 5 00 



CRANBERRIES. 



Display cultivated cranberries, A. B Lone, Pine Ridge First. 5 00 



