STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 241 



BLACKBEEKIES. 



Stone's Hardy fell behind the Snyder and Ancient Briton quite 

 a little this year. Why it was not as good as last year I am not able 

 to say. The Thornless was left uncovered again last winter and froze 

 down to the snow line. Cover everything in the blackberry line, and 

 don't forget that the Windom dewberry is rich and good, and can be 

 covered much quicker than the high bush. 



GRAPES. 



The largest and best grape crop ever grown in the First district 

 was harvested last fall. Everything, even the Pocklington (which is 

 too late for an ordinary season) ripened fairly well. The leaven de- 

 posited in this district Oct. 4, 1866, by such men as Col. D. A. Robert- 

 son, John S. Harris, Wyman Elliot, Chas. Hoag, and a few others, 

 has been slowly working, till it finally resulted in the organization of 

 the "Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society." 



Mr. Dartt presented the following report, as Superintendent of the 

 Experimental Station recently established by act of the legislature at 

 Owatonna : 



STATE EXPERIMENTAL TREE STATION AT OWATONxNTA. 



By Supt. E. H. S. Dartt. 



Mr. President and Members : 



In accordance with the resolution passed by this Society at its last 

 meeting a law has been enacted establishing this station and requir- 

 ing its superintendent to report to you in person at each of your an- 

 nual winter meetings. This clearly recognizes you as the best guard- 

 ian of the horticultural interests of the State, and it empowers you 

 to ask of the Superintendent of this station in an authoritive manner, 

 What are you doing? What do you intend to do, and how do you 

 propose to do it? And since you have the right to nominate his suc- 

 cessor he will be very likely to regard your wishes. It will be my 

 endeavor to answer the above questions as briefly as possible keeping 

 in mind the importance of the subject. 



For causes beyond my control I was unable to commence actual la- 

 bor until the fourth of last May. At that time about three acres of land 

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