SMALL FRUITS. 323 



season. Of course, the plants we set last spring have not 

 fruited yet. I could speak of the relative vigor, or 

 growth, and the production of plants, and I might speak of the 

 fertilizing properties of the different varieties, from my know- 

 ledge of the variety, but not from a test on our soil in Minnesota. 



I met with a little experience that was novel in some respects. 

 I found one or two varieties of our old standards that I sup- 

 posed were gone by, that had made a very vigorous growth 

 and were in very good shape. 



The subject of perfect blossoms and self-fertilization is one 

 that is as yet very poorly understood among our best horticul- 

 turists. While we have plants of the strawberry producing 

 perfect blossoms, we have very few plants in the system of 

 nature that poUenize themselves, even when the blossoms are 

 perfect. I think the result of tests has usually been that 

 pistillate blossoming varieties prove very much hardier as well 

 as more productive. Perhaps, some of you have not seen the 

 account of experiments at the Ohio experiment station. The 

 experiments of Professor Green here, clearly indicate that 

 such varieties of plants are not only very much more productive 

 but very much more hardy in resisting adverse conditions. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SMALL FRUITS. 



J. A. SAMPSON, EXCELSIOR. 



In rendering my report on small fruits, I must say that I was too busy 

 to work up the information as I would wish to, as regards the 

 varieties to be recommended. I will leave that for the committee as a 

 whole. 



The growing of small fruit is becoming an industry of large propor- 

 tions. 1 cannot but notice the tendency to increase in certain lines. 

 Raspberries have been planted quite extensively the past year or two. 

 Attention is being turned to blackberries, and I look for a great increase 

 of acreage in that direction. The market for currants has been over- 

 stocked, especially the early varieties; the late varieties have been more 

 profitable in consequence. Attention will be turned to the late varieties. 

 Gooseberries are neglected. Strawberries have received a fair attention. 

 The rust has bothered a good many the past year. I think the rust is 

 caused in part by poor wintering. The cost and labor of planting so 

 often has caused many to give up strawberry culture. 



The growing of large varieties, according to the best of my informa- 

 tion, has not been so profitable as the medium-sized fruit. 



