2:26 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



it being much larger and finer looking, being of the same season or a little 

 earlier. It is much easier gathered, a much firmer berry and cane; nearly 

 as hardy and I think more productive, but like most of our raspberries 

 requires rich soil and good cultivation. The Superb is another superb 

 red raspberry, of immense size, firm, and of bright red color; cane a strong 

 grower, and ranks about with the Turner for hardiness. The Brandy wine 

 is my standard late red raspberry. The Cuthbert has not done very well; 

 many of the fruit stems dry up just before the fruit ripens. We think it 

 is caused by some insect. 



Of black caps the Souhegan ranks first. It is early or medium early, 

 and a strong grower, but lacks hardiness. The Ohio is the most reliable 

 black cap with me. It outranks them all in hardiness, but is rather a 

 slow grower while young. The Gregg is fine for late, but like the Souhe- 

 gan it needs an extra covering for winter. 



Of blackberries, I am testing fifteen or more varieties, but they have 

 all done so poorly the past three seasons that I have voted them unprofit- 

 able. To the dry atmosphere that usually prevails here at the time the 

 berries should ripen, may be laid the failure of the blackberry and the 

 dewberry. 



Grapes have done very well, the Concord taking the lead as to hardiness 

 and productiveness, but on our heavy soil it does not ripen well in ordin- 

 ary seasons. Of black grapes I prefer the Champion, Moore's Early and 

 Wordon. Of these the Moore's Early is hardiest. Of red grapes I like 

 the Delaware and Brighton, and of white grapes the Martha gives good 

 satisfaction. 



The present winter up to date, Jan. 10th, has been very mild, with 

 little or no snow on the ground. With us an open winter means a poor, 

 small fruit crop the coming season, as winter protection of canes in many 

 cases is needed, and so is root protection necessary. A good fall of snow 

 in early winter furnishes the latter, and oftener the former. I will now 

 close, hoping for an immediate and heavy fall of snow, and that we may 

 be blest with "The Horn of Plenty" (of small fruit) the coming season. 



DISCUSSION. 



Geo. J. Kellogg: There was one point in regard to covering 

 with hay and mice getting in and doing damage. There is no 

 use in using marsh harsh hay on anything that mice will eat. 

 It is unsafe to cover anything with it if there are mice within 

 eighty rods. 



President Elliot: One dollar's worth of strychnine, rightly 

 handled will protect all the strawberries that one man will 

 raise. 



Geo. J. Kellogg : How would you apply it '? 



President Elliot: If you will just make some little clumps 

 that are thicker than the other covering and put your strych- 

 nine in there, it will catch every mouse on the place. If 



