122 ANNUAL REPORT 



always produce fruit true to kind, while , grafts are sometimes 

 modified. 



Much has been said to prove the theory that proper fertiliza- 

 tion is the main thing necessary to produce abundant fruit, and 

 the claim has been made that some kinds are better adapted to 

 fertilize than others from the larger amount of pollen they pro- 

 duce or from their inherent prepotency. A careful examination 

 of the blossoms at the proper time will show very little difference 

 in the amount of pollen in any of the varieties. 



As to prepotency, there is a wide field for observation and ex- 

 periment before definite conclusions can be made. The De Soto, 

 Eollingstone, Weaver and some others will fertilize themselves, 

 whether planted singly or in groups, and the blossoms of these 

 will show that the style-bearing stigmas are much shorter than 

 the pollen bearing anthers, the petals being cup-shaped and cor- 

 rugated, while of other kinds the stigmas protrude one-third 

 their length, or more, beyond the pollen. The petals being 

 larger and entirely flat or smooth, it is possible that the form of 

 the blossom, giving it the power to withstand more severe cold, 

 is what enables these trees to mature fruit when others can not 

 do so. For these reasons, and many others that might be 

 given, much more stress is placed upon planting these varieties 

 than upon the particular soil or manner of cultivation. 



The following paper was read by Mr. Harris: 



NATIVE FRUITS IN MINNESOTA. 



By J. S. Harris, La Crescent. 



How many of the edible fruits now growing wild in Minnesota 

 and other portions of the Northwest have grown there from time 

 immemorial, I have no means of knowing. The first white men 

 who settled in this region found the American crab apple (Fyrus 

 coronaria), Canada plum (Prtmi^s Canadensis), red and black rasp- 

 berries, high bush blackberry and trailing or dewberry, straw- 

 berries, grapes, currants, gooseberry, June or service berry, 

 cranberry, and some others flourishing in a great variety of lo- 

 cations. The first settler not only found them here, but he found 

 some of them of a better quality than the same species were 



