112 ANNUAL REPORT 



My nursery ground extends to the river. I have a deep allu- 

 vial soil and then beyond there is a lower plain. Growing on 

 this lower stratum I found a tree that filled my eye ; to appear- 

 ance it was very symmetrical, and I thought it was valuable and 

 I transplanted it to my nursery grounds, and this last year it 

 bore very prolific. The fruit is of ordinary size, but very juicy 

 and sweet, and largely destitute of that peculiar pucker of the 

 wild plum. I think it will be classed with the first quality. 



I wish others to talk upon this subject, as I want to get some 

 information in regard to it. This is my own experience. I was 

 much surprised in the different qualities of plums. I wish my 

 friend had alluded to the buffalo berry. I think it was not in- 

 cluded in the list of wild fruits of Minnesota. 



Col. Stevens. The buffalo berry is not a native of Minne- 

 sota. It is found in the Upper Missouri Valley. But while it 

 does well it is not a native here. 



Mr. Barrett. I wish to say it grows on the shores of the upper 

 Minnesota river, where I live and I have seen the trees fifteen 

 to twenty feet high. It grows in places as a shrub owing to the 

 character of the soil. 



Col. Stevens. I traveled along the Minnesota river forty years 

 ago from its source to the outlet and they were not there then. 

 But I think it is possible within the past twenty years they may 

 have been brought there. They grow very readily not only 

 from the berry but from the root. 



Mr. Kenney. Speaking about the quantity of berries that 

 were grown in early times I would say that for a few years back 

 I haven't seen a good crop of blackberries in this state; and I 

 would like to inquire whether it is due to climatic influences, 

 or what is the reason they are not bearing now as they used to 

 do? I know thirty years ago, when I came here, I used to find very 

 nice bushes that were loaded down with berries; while in the 

 same places that are still uncleared we find the bushes, but they 

 do not bear well. 



President Elliot. Perhaps friend Kenney' s tastes have been 

 raised up since he has commenced with Amber cane so that the 

 things of his youth are not the same now; his taste has changed, 

 perhaps. 



I want to call attention to one thing that was referred to as to 

 the plum. I don't want it to go on record that you can take a 

 poor plum and change it to a better soil and make a better plum 

 of it; that has been tried. You can not change the quality. 



