170 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



— these and the hazelnut are found along all the rivers and in the region 

 of Devils Lake and the Turtle Mountains. 



The gooseberry, Riles oxycanthoides, and the currant, Ribes prostratum, 

 are not very abundant and hence not very important. The gooseberry is 

 very fruitful, and could perhaps be grown to advantage in certain locali- 

 ties; it is gathered by the bushel. The currant is nearly valueless. 



Of the thorn apple, I found only the Crataegu9 coccinea, though from de- 

 scriptions that I received I think that the variety mollis of this species is 

 to be found in the eastern part of the state. The fruit is very free from 

 insect pests, and is highly esteemed by many as a dessert fruit. The fruit 

 of the variety mollis is an inch in diameter. 



The roses that grow the most abundant and fruitful are the Rosa 

 blanda and the Rosa JEngelmanni. The latter has a large fruit about two 

 and one-half times long as broad, is rather juicy and of a flavor much like 

 the thorn apple. The rose hips of both species are eaten readily by the 

 prairie chicken, grouse, antelope and rabbit, the indian also comes in for 

 his share. I have seen this fruit in such quantities over large areas that 

 it would have furnished food for hundreds of sheep. 



The juneberry, Amerlanchier alinfolia, is probably well known to all 

 that are present. So far south as this, it has a straggling habit, and is 

 such a shy bearer as to attract but little attention. In the northern part 

 of Dakota, especially in the Turtle Mountains, it is small and bushy, and 

 produces fruit in such quantities as to be of considerable importance. 

 Its chief value is as a dessert fruit. Cooking makes it taste like the 

 cherry. 



The cherries of the state are represented by the Prunus pumila, Prunus 

 Virginia and Prunus demissa. 



The first, Prunus pumila, or sand cherry, does not vary much from the 

 same fruit found further south and east. The fruit is large and tart, and 

 has about the same use that the tame cherry would have, except that it 

 is used largely in making jellies. Its greatest value by far is its use as a 

 stock on which to graft the tame sorts. From experiment already made, 

 it promises to stand very high in this respect. 



The Prunus Virginia, or choke-cherry, dwarfs rapidly as we approach 

 the north, at the same time becoming much more fruitful. The fruit 

 changes greatly in quality toward the north, being larger, juicier, and less 

 astringent, so as to closely resemble the Prunus demissa with which it is 

 associated. The Prunits dessima fruits very abundantly, when fully ripe 

 it is but slightly astringent and is really a valuable fruit. Its height in 

 the northern part of the state corresponds with the choke-cherry, being 

 about six feet. 



The plum, Prunus Americana, is represented by two well marked sorts, 

 one being large and yellowish and the other small and red. The first is 

 by far the most valuable, being sweeter and having a less acerb skin. The 

 quality of the fruit does not differ from the same species found in other 

 states. It is used for making marmalades and jellies, but for stewing and 

 cooking it is nearly valueless. It is valuable as a dessert fruit in some 

 localities, especially the yellow variety. 



The high bush cranberry, or Viburnum opulus, grows very abundantly in 

 some localities. The fruit is of no better quality than when found fur- 

 ther south. It is used extensively by some people, but with the unin- 



