HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 321 



REPORT FROM HOUSTON COUNTY. 



By J. C. Kramer, La, Crescent. 



General gardening has not been good as an investment. There 

 is so much small truck raised that prices are very low, and it does 

 not pay to handle it. 



Pickles and cucumbers are very scarce. It being a bad season 

 they did not pay for the time put on them. 



Tomatoes have done better as a general thing. I have delivered 

 at La Crescent Pickle Factory, 250 bushels at 25 cts per bushel. 



Grapes did poorly. The fruit did not ripen at all last autumn, 

 bi*t the wood ripened for next year. 



Asparagus has done very well but at present prices it does not pay 

 to raise it. 



Beets were an entire success. I have at present in my cellar 100 

 bushels of nice table beets, in good condition. 



Strawberries, iu general, were a failure. We had such a heavy 

 frost while the plants were in bloom that most of them were killed. 

 I had one variety which stood the weather, viz: the Early Princess. 

 I started this variety from seed planted in 1881. It grew without 

 cultivation until 1887, when, it having fruited six seasons, I per- 

 ceived some good qualities. I transplanted a few plants in a culti- 

 vated patch of ground and took good care of them. In 1887-8, 

 when all other kinds were killed, Early Princess held its bright 

 green color and came out in excellent condition, yielding such a 

 crop as was never heard of before. I marked out a bed 5 feet wide 

 by 2 rods long and picked 61 quarts first picking, 25 the second and 

 14 the third. By actual count a quart measure contained just 

 eighteen berries. 



Apples. I have no apple trees in full bearing condition except 

 the Duchess But I shall experiment until I find something which 

 will suit me. I have three seedlings of which I will send one speci- 

 men of fruit by Mr. Harris. It is something new and has stood 

 the cold winters first class. A year ago last spring the tree came 

 into bloom but the blossoms fell off. Last spring it bloomed again 

 and last fall bore two apples. I wish the committee would decide 

 as to the quality of the fruit. The tree is a picture of beauty and,, 

 if a success, I will call it "The Picture of Beauty." 



REPORT FROM MEEKER COUNTY. 



By O. W. Fuller, Litchfield. 



The late frosts of last Spring destroyed most of our small fruit. 

 This is the first time within my knowledge that such a thing has 

 occurred here. Strawberries and raspberries were in full blossom 

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