35S ANNUAL REPOET 



sota. In the first place patronize those agents who can show you a 

 certificate from a responsible company, and give you honest informa- 

 tion regarding the hardiest varieties, and most farmers do prefer to 

 buy from one who can give them information as to varieties, planting 

 and care of trees. 



For apples, select a northern slope, if you can get it convenient to 

 your buildings. Then obtain the Duchess and Wealthy with a sprink" 

 ling of hybrids, viz., Whitney's, Early Strawberry, Orange, Trans- 

 cendent, and Hyslop. It might be well perhaps to try some of the 

 New Russian varieties. Clay soil or a rocky soil is preferable to any 

 other. Dig good sized holes, planting the trees two or three inches 

 deeper than they were before being taken up out of the nursery. See 

 that your earth is put in well around the fibrous roots and packed 

 firmly. After planting mulch well and keep your stock away from 

 the trees. Plant plums in groups, as they bear much better in clus- 

 ters, selecting DeSota, Weaver and Forest Garden. 



For grapes, select a south or southeast slope, fertilizing with a 

 rich compost. Old bones are beneficial if put around the roots when 

 planted. Plant six to eight feet apart. For trellis use posts with 

 three wires. Prune and lay down in the fall about the first of No- 

 vember, and uncover about the first of May the following spring, put- 

 ting them upon trellis. You will be amply rewarded for your time 

 and expense. 



SMALL FRUITS. 



For raspberries select Gregg's Mammoth Cluster for black; Cuth- 

 bert. Turner and Philadelphia for red. Plant them in rows six feet 

 apart and four feet between hills; cultivate well and keep suckers 

 from spreading. Mulch well. Of the red, after they are through 

 bearing, cut out all dead canes, leaving about half a dozen new canes 

 in the hill to be laid down in the fall for winter protection. In the 

 spring take them up cutting them back to 3i or 4 feet. I think if you 

 adopt this plan you will be sure to get a good crop almost every year. 



For strawberries select good soil and cultivate well the first j'ear; 

 putting the plants 3^ feet between the rows and 18 inches to two feet 

 in the row. Fertilize the pistillate varieties every third row with a 

 staminate variety. Wilson, Crescent, Manchester, Chas. Downing, 

 and Windsor Chief do well in Minnesota. 



Currants, planted on good soil, can be raised very readily. Give 

 them plenty of manure. Select such as Red Dutch, some Cherry, 



