244 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
it has plenty to look after without horticulture. Establish a horticultural 
school at each institute, the same as the cooking school last winter. 
Have those to teach that understand Minnesota horticulture. Let one 
take trees of all descriptions, one small fruits and flowers. In this way 
an immense amount of good can be accomplished. 
If any one makes objection to the suggestions we have made, please an- 
swer the following questions: In this railroad age. how long would 
a church live without a Sabbath school? How long would the churches 
hold their influence over the human race without the aid of the Sabbath 
schools and the Young Men’s Christian Association? We occupy the 
same position as do the churches. To accomplish our ends we must keep 
up with the times. A school of horticulture would greatly increase the 
attendance at the institutes. 
Now the small fruit report. Strawberries that were not mulched and 
taken care of, as a general rule were a failure on account of late frost and 
unusual drouth. Some careful growers had good crops of fine fruit. On 
my own ground out of twenty or more varieties for standing the drouth 
and producing a very large crop of fine large fruit, the Warfield beats all 
other varieties badly. The Warfield, Crescent and Bubach I consider 
three of the most valuable varieties for Minnesota; for fertilizess, Michels 
Early and Wilson. 
The raspberry crop was good. Plenty of rain before the fruit was in- 
jured. Of the reds, we think the Hansel the best for very early and me- 
dium; Cuthbert for late. The Hansel is far ahead of the Turner in every 
particular. Black caps—Souhegan for early, Ohio for medium, Gregg for 
late. 
The blackberry crop was good. The Snyder and Ancient Briton take 
the leaa. The Ancient Briton has not been doing as well as usual. It is 
becoming very subject to fungi. On my own ground two-thirds of the 
fruit did not ripen. The foliage of the Snyder is perfect and fruit fully 
up to the Snyder. 
GRAPES. 
The crop was the largest and finest that was ever grown around lake 
Minnetonka. Owing to the dryness of the season the leaves were compa- 
ratively free of disease. Nearly every variety is grown. All have some 
good qualities. The Concord has the most and takes the lead by far in 
market. The Delaware is a fine grape for eating and meets a ready sale. 
Fruit trees of all kinds are doing well with the exception of the blight 
among thecrabs. But {little fruit the past season. Trees did not blos- 
som. 
bie 
