252” MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
May 2d, the Ostheim cherry just beginning to bloom, but was not full 
till May 7th. 
May 8th, Rollingstone plums were nearly full; the Desota and Miner 
just opening the buds. 
May 9th, Luedloffs, Taylor, Cottrell and Rockford in full bloom. 
May 9th, strawberries blossoming: also a few apple trees. 
May 12th, blackberries and raspberries quite full. 
REPORT ON SEEDLING FRUITS. 
J.S. HARRIS, LA CRESCENT. 
Mr. President and Members of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society: 
The last season was not a favorable one for conducting the observations 
required of this committee, first, for the reason that in those portions of 
the state where the most promising seedling trees are located, it was an 
off year in their fruiting, some trees not bearing a single specimen and 
others producing sparingly. The little fruit grown on a tree in an off year 
is not generally sure index of the value of the variety and is more liable to 
show injury from insects, scab, etc. Second, because the winter of 1890 
and 1891 was so mild and favorable in all respects that even the most 
tender varieties endured it well and no points could be made on their 
relative hardiness and adaptability. 
Taking those circumstances into consideration, I concluded that I would 
not be justified in making any great expense to the society for travel and 
exploration. However, I have kept the work continually in mind and 
endeavored to keep in correspondence with such parties as have seedlings 
of any promise, and on the alert for any others that might be discovered. 
The results of such observations as I have made are respectfully sub- 
mitted for the consideration of this meeting. 
THE PEERLESS. 
The original tree produced no fruit last season. It is reported as hay- 
ing made a good growth and promising a large crop the coming season. 
So far as I can learn, no young trees of the variety have yet borne fruit, 
but all of the young trees I have seen or heard of look promising and 
show no signs of blight upon them. In the nursery it is a prosperous 
grower and has a good root system. 
The Patten Greening or Patten’s Duchess Seedling No. 3, has not 
fruited as heavily at Mr. Patten’s place as it did in 1890, but he informs 
me that both the bearing trees and the nursery stock are looking remark- 
ably well. Such trees as I have seen of the variety have been entirely 
free from blight. It fruited with Andrew Peterson last season and he 
speaks very favorably of it. The specimens of it in his exhibit at the last 
state fair were even finer than I saw at Mr. Patten’s place the year pre- 
vious. Although it has never been given a boom, it appears to be grow- 
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