26 ANNUAL REPORT. : 
which is a little surprising, as the buds started the previous fall. They blos- 
somed unusually full and gave promise of a heavy crop of fruit, but the promise: 
was not fully realized. Hail storms, high winds, and unfavorable weather 
gave thema severe thinning, the Duchess suffering about the worst. Besides 
untoward circumstances, the apple worm made an assessment for a large share. 
Nothwithstanding all these unfavorable circumstances the crop was consider- 
able. Of Duchess of Oldenburg enough were raised to supply the home market 
during their season. We also had about enough of the Fall Stripe and Haas 
but of winter varieties not nearly enough for home consumption, Siberians 
were so plenty that no market could be found for them. The Transcendant still 
remains the most profitable variety for market. We do not think it economy to 
plant very largely of Siberians. 
The Walbridge continues to promise well. 
Joun S. Harris. 
J. M. Norquist reported from Goodhue county that he had good 
success with grapes and crabs, but that strawberries were not more 
than half a crop. Of grapes he grew principally Concord and 
Delaware. Reported Worden’s Seedling doing well with him, 
though it dropped a little from the stem. 
Of his strawberries the green Prolific and Chas. Downing did 
best. His Wilson’s had winter killed badly. 
In answer to questions, he replied that he planted his grapes 
8x8 feet tand trained to trellises five feet high. Grew twenty 
pounds of Concord to the vine. Covers in winter with earth. Re- 
ported the Tetofski and Duchess apples doing well with him; said 
the Worden grape was a week earlier than the Concord; has 800 
vines in bearing, young and old, that averaged 7 pounds to the 
vine. Has the Janesville; thinks it very hardy and as early as the 
Worden or Champion; has tested twenty-one sorts of grapes and 
only retains for general cultivation the Concord, Delawares, Janes- 
ville and Worden. Location high and dry; soil, sand and clay. 
Reports the Brighton as mildewing on his grounds. 
Q. Gibbs, Jr., of Lake City, reports for Wabasha county: 
The past year has been somewhat anomalous in its influence on fruit culture. 
It opened with one of the most trying spells of weather ever known in the 
Northwest. From Christinas to New Years there was a range of temperature 
of over 30° from cold to heat, with violent alternations, beginning at 40° be- 
low and running to 46° above zero. There was no root-killing of trees, but the 
strain upon the parts above ground was most severe. Its effects in discolored 
wood, stunted growth and imperfect fruiting have shown themselves plainly 
every where—far worse in the valleys than on the high lands. 
It is a pleasure however, to be able to report that some of the varieties of ap- 
ples recommended by our society for general cultivation have stood the test re- 
markably well, and that others, on the experimental list, have come through the 
