354 ANNUAL REPORT 



more rain and dew. The timber breaks the wind — makes the summer 

 cool and the winter warmer. 



Everybody must admit that our timber is fast disappearing, and we 

 must take care that we do not reach the point that some countries of 

 Europe and Asia have. There the timber was ruined, the climate 

 changed, the rainfall decreased, cereal products became less, and farm 

 industry was at a stand. We should make application to our legisla- 

 ture and to Congress to pass laws to protect our timber and replant 

 our forests. Then the time will come when our climate will be im- 

 proved, and agriculture and horticulture will flourish. 



REPORT FROM WINONA COUNTY. 

 By 0. M. Lord, Minnesota City. 



The yield of small fruits for the past season was considerably below 

 the average owing to the drouth. Beginning with strawberries the 

 quick sandy soils produced a fair crop of the early kinds, but very 

 few of the late ones matured. The main market supply of Winona is 

 produced upon clayey soils, which being naturally later produced a 

 very light crop. 



Red raspberries blossomed abundantly, but continued dry weather 

 injured them beyond recovery. The kinds principally in the market 

 were Turner and Cuthbert; the retail price was quite uniform at 15 

 cents. Blackcaps were shriveled in appearance and of poor quality. 



Currants may be put down as an entire failure. Blackberries bid 

 fair for a full crop in the early part of the season. The bushes were 

 loaded with fruit which literally dried up on them without ripening. 



Grapes were considered a fair crop, both in yield and quality. The 

 market was at all times well supplied, and the prices lower than usual. 



APPLES. 



The Duchess in some few places produced fairly, sufficient to nearly 

 supply the market, and different kinds of crab apples were abundant. 



Wild plums were not offered for sale in plenty as usual. The trees 

 in some localities did well, but from the failure of other fruit more 

 than common were kept for home use. Prices ranged from one to 

 iwo dollars per bushel, though the fruit was not of average quality. 



What effect the excessive drouth may have on the next crop it is 

 difficult to determine. Some predict a failure from the supposition 



