NATIVE PLUMS, THEIR HYBRIDS AND THEIR IMPROVEMENT. 325 



apple will, but in good soil it don't make any difference whether 

 it is high or low, whether on creek bottom or on the hills, it will 

 be all right for plums, and I think the hybrids are the same way. 



Mr. Gardner: I think they require a dry soil, and in our 

 country you don't want to plant them unless you can give them a 

 good dry place, give them plenty of room and give them good sun- 

 ning. 



Mr. Cook : Yes. 



Mr. Gardner : I would like to ask Professor Hansen whether 

 I am right or wrong on that idea? 



Prof. Hansen : You are right on that. 



Annual Report, 1916, Vice-President, Eighth Congressional 



District. 



J. KIMBALL, DULUTH. 



Horticulture in the Eighth Cong. District is largely in the 

 experimental stage. A few persons in different localities have 

 been anxiously testing the soil and climate in order to learn 

 what varieties could best be grown, and after a few years trial 

 have met with varied success. These persons have "blazed the 

 way" for others to follow with doubtless better success. 



The reports received from different parts of the district for 

 the past year show a light crop of apples of different varieties 

 and especially of the crabs. Plums were below medium. The 

 Compass cherry produced a medium crop. The few grapes tried 

 made a good growth and a little fruit in a few localities. Black- 

 berries that had winter protection did fairly well. Raspberries 

 bore well, and the canes are reported to be in good condition. 

 Strawberries bore a large crop, and the plants are looking well. 

 Currants and gooseberries have both done well and are in fine 

 condition. 



In some localities new stock has been planted with ques- 

 tionable results. 



Blight in a few cases is reported, and cutting away the dis- 

 eased wood has been the remedy applied. 



Spraying is not generally practiced. No wormy fruit is 

 found as yet. 



The extremely long and cold winter did considerable dam- 

 age to young apple trees. The Hibernal is mentioned by two 

 persons in their reports. 



Conditions for the coming winter are quite favorable with 

 a medium amount of water in the soil. 



The fruits doing best in this locality are strawberries, rasp- 

 berries, currants, gooseberries, plums, Compass cherry, crab 

 apples, Duchess, Okabena and Hibernal apples. 



Perennial flowers reported are peonies, foxglove, larkspur, 

 gladiolus. 



Ornamental shrubs — barberry, high bush cranberry, dog- 

 wood, elder and sumac. 



