426 ANNUAL KEPORT 



conducted on a broad and firm foundation will do more effective work 

 than if we divide our interests. Let that be our State organization, 

 and let us all rally around it and make it more able to carry on the 

 arduous work before us of bringing into being fruit trees that are 

 capable of withstanding our cold and rigorous climate. Pardon me 

 for writing as I have; I may have misconceived the idea of the form- 

 ation of the Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society. 



TXT . * 



We extend to the horticulturists of your section a cordial welcome 

 and free entertainment. Please all come and help make the State 

 Horticultural meeting the best ever held. 



Fraternally yours, 



WtTman Elliot. 



LETTEK FROM MR. POND. 



Kasson, Jan. 6, 1888. 

 Mr. Sias and Friends of the Horticultural Society : 



Agreeable to request I will give you a short report of the condition 

 of the horticultural field in Dodge county. I say, however, that my 

 experience as a fruit grower has not been very fiattering. I have set 

 more apple trees than I have had the privilege of gathering the apples 

 therefrom. This, I have thought, was owing to carelessness on my 

 part, in a great measure, in not taking proper care of the trees. 



For two or three years I have been watching the doings of our State 

 Horticultural Society and have concluded that I was not altogether to 

 blame for my trees not bringing forth fruit. I have taken some pains 

 to learn the facts of the fruit interest here. I find there is a better 

 showing than I expected. The Duchess ai)ple is all right and will 

 pay every man ten fold for its space and time given to it. The 

 Wealthy does fairly well and should have a place in every orchard; 

 also the crab family is doing finely and should be in every garden. 



Small fruits such as strawberries and raspberries have been raised 

 here for the past ten years in bountiful quantities, though only for 

 home use. The Concord and Janesville grape are becoming quite 

 plenty in their season and of very fine quality. We have now such a 

 fine hardy class of small fruits to select from that there is really no 

 excuse why every one should not have his table well supplied with 

 each kind in their season. Small fruit is a staple article in all of our 

 markets, selling by the carloads. This is as it should be, and anyone 

 owning a half acre lot can have all he wants without price. 



