342 ANNUAL REPORT 



Mr. Thompson. If we only have faith we shall reap. 



Mr. Dartt. Faith without works is dead. 



Mr. Thompson. If it wasn't for faith we could accomplish but lit- 

 tle. We are commanded to make use of the talent placed in our hands 

 and we must do it if we are to make our farms pleasant, beautify the 

 country and produce healthful food. 



Reports were then called for from experimental stations. 



EXPERIMENT STATION AT MINNESOTA CITY. 

 By 0. M. Lord, Superintendent. 



The season has not been favorable in experimenting with seeds, 

 plants and trees at this station. 



Some apple trees that were transplanted and set carefully at the 

 usual depth perished with drouth. Others that were set at the least 

 two feet deep, made a good growth 



NATIVE PLUMS. 



Of plum scions that were set in good season and with more than 

 usual care, not more than one per cent grew; probably owing to a 

 violent storm of rain, sleet and snow that immediately followed the 

 fine weather when they were set. 



A quantity of seed also failed to germinate that had been exposed 

 to frost and planted in the usual manner. The ground has not been 

 disturbed, and they may grow next spring, but a year's time has been 

 lost. 



Ten varieties of plums were received from the Iowa Agricultural 

 College; two from Mr. Pond, of Kasson; two from Mr. Brand, of 

 Faribault, and a few others from localities near by, which has in- 

 creased the collection here to over thirty kinds. Some of these will 

 prove to be valuable for general cultivation; and others, particularly 

 the Chickisaws, will be abandoned; also Prunus Simoni. 



I would like to call attention here to the remarks of " The Farmer" 

 upon the statement of Mr. Harris, published last spring, in regard to 

 the hardiness of Chickisaw plums at this station. "The Farmer'* 

 assumed that the failure of one nursery to carry trees through the 

 winter was no test of their adaptibility to this climate. Mr. Harris 

 was acquainted with all the conditions, while " The Farmer " was 

 not. I would say that this station is not a commercial nursery, and 



