GENERAL FRUITS. 179 



in May we had a hard frost that killed all the blossoms and the fruit that 

 was set, and nearly destroyed the whole crop. 



Raspberries were a little better and in some places very good, especially 

 the black caps. The Ohio did the best. 



Blackberries were generally a very good crop. I have a white black" 

 berry that is hardy, and is so thorny that women and girls cannot pick 

 them. 



Apples with me were a poor crop except the Tetofsky. The Duchess 

 bore pretty well but they were not worth picking; all the apples were ill- 

 shaped and knotty with hard spots in them. In some parts of this county 

 the apple crop was large and good, and a great many Duchess apples were 

 shipped to market. I have some Seedlings that I think of great value. 

 One of them is a seedling of the Transcendent. It is a sweet, winter 

 apple, color white and yellow with red cheeks; good to eat and cook. The 

 seedlings received from the experiment station at Excelsior are doing well. 



Seedling strawberries did not bear well last year but they look very 

 promising for next summer. I would like to say to the members that the 

 Princess strawberry plants are doing excellently and I am able to supply 

 all who want them with good, healthy, strong plants. 



I should like to be with you but I do my own work daily and find that I 

 am growing old (am 73 yearsj; but I cannot sit still, it would be harder 

 than work. If you have any other burdens you wish me to bear I will try 

 to do your will, and will keep on the watch for your interests. Please 

 keep my name on the roll of members. 



Yours truly, J. C. KRAMER. 



REPORT ON FRUITS. 



BY SIDNEY CORP, HAMMOND. 



Last season was a total failure for strawberries in this section, caused 

 by late frost in the spring, and red raspberries were a short crop. Black 

 caps and other small fruit were good. Apple blossoms were killed on low 

 ground, and there was a light crop generally. There were some places on 

 high ground where the crop was good. My small orchard enabled me to 

 supply the local demand and ship seventy-two barrels to other markets. 

 My standard apples were Duchess of Oldenburg, Wealthy, McMahon, 

 White and Yellow Annis, and of hybrids, Beechers Sweet, Hyslop, 

 Meaders Winter and Whitneys No. 20. There was more blight this year 

 on the apple trees than ever before, and I look for a light crop of fruit 

 next year on account of so much of the young wood being killed by the 

 blight. 



VICE PRESIDENT'S REPORT. 



M. PEAKCE, CHOWEN, MINN. 



The first part of the season was unusually wet, and more than three- 

 fourths of the strawberry blossoms were destroyed. The raspberries and 

 blackberries were also injured by the wet, and again by the drought 

 which followed, so that only 75 per cent, of a good crop was obtained. 

 There was a full crop of currants and grapes. The apple and crab crops 



