SMALL FRUITS. 229 



thy and vigorous, more so than the rest, and was the only one that made 

 runners. 



This was at Perham, here at Fergus Falls we had more rain, and what 

 plants I took with me, when I came here this spring, have grown very well. 



RASPBERRIES. 



I have had more success with the raspberry than any other fruit except 

 the currant. I grow them on rather dry land; but the past season was too 

 dry for them, and most of them did not bear much. All raspberries must 

 be covered in winter here in Otter Tail county. I often hear of hardy and 

 tender varieties. Here all are tender, and I can grow the most tender 

 sorts better, with protection, than the most so-called hardy, without it- 

 Rotton wood makes the best manure for raspberries. 



Of the red, I grow Cuthbert, Turner and Philadelphia. I like the Cuth- 

 bert the best for market; and the Philadelphia for home use. Of the 

 black caps, the Gregg does best with me. 



The Caroline is a good yellow variety. It stands dry weather better 

 than any other on the list. It was the only variety that got its crop all 

 ripened the past season without the berries drying up. The Golden Cap 

 seems to do well but I have not had it long enough to say anything about 

 its good or bad points. 



BLACKBERRIES. 



Somehow I have never made any progress in blackberry culture. I 

 think the soil at Perham is too dry for the blackberry, too much sand I 

 suppose. 



I have tried the Snyder and Ancient Briton. I also received from the 

 state experiment station, St. Anthony Park, some Stone's Hardy, but 

 have only two left. I think I uncovered them too early last spring. They 

 looked well when uncovered, but only two grew. 



I have also some fifteen plants of the Lucretia Dewberry, which I have 

 had growing now for three years. They stand the winter well, if covered 

 up with six inches of ground; but I have not seen one berry on all of them 

 yet. I have often read they want poor soil. Now, if that at Perham is 

 not poor enough, I think I had better give them up as a failure. Well, I 

 will give them another trial. 



CURRANTS. 



Of currants I grow, or have grown at some time, the Cherry, Fays Seed- 

 ling, White Grape, Victoria, La Versailles, Red and White Dutch, and 

 Lee's Prolific. 



I think the Cherry and Victoria are the best of the red varieties. The 

 Fays Seedling has very large berries, but not enough of them. The White 

 Grape I would take for the white, or yellow varieties. The Lee's Prolific 

 is good for jelly, or preserving, only. It cannot be used on the table 

 fresh, like other currants, on account of an unpleasant taste, peculiar to 

 some of the native currants 



All the currants, except the Lee's Prolific, are perfectly hardy here. 

 The Lee's sometimes kills back some 6 or 8 inches, and should be pro- 

 tected in winter. 



GOOSEBERRIES. 



My experience with gooseberries is limited. I planted the Cluster, 

 Downing and Houghton. I only fruited the Cluster. All gooseberries 

 need protection here. 



