32 ANNUAL REPORT, 



Mr. Gideon. bVuit often fails from hard beating rains while in 

 the bloom. 



Prof. Porter. The germ is formed the preceding year, but the 

 fertilization which produces development occurs after the blossoms 

 are opened in the spring, and storms may then blight or impair the 

 vigor of the pollen. 



What is the prospect for the fruit crop the present year in 

 Minnesota? 



Mr. Gideon. Apples injured in blossoms by driving rain. Small 

 fruits never better. 



President Harris. Strawberries a fair crop, but season will be 

 short. Apples in the river district where I live only a fair crop. 

 At Rochester the prospect seems to be good for all fruits. 



Prof. Porter. I would like to ask Mr. Phillips how the Whitney 

 No. 20 stood the winter? 



Mr. Phillips. All sound to the terminal bud, except some that 

 were broken down by snow drifts. If a man cannot grow the 

 Duchess and the Whitney No. 20, I would not advise him to set 

 anything. Trees that last year bore a heavy crop of winter apples, 

 went into the winter in an exhausted condition, and showed signs 

 of weakness early this spring, but will mostly recover. Duchess 

 and others that matured their fruit early, went in strong and have 

 come out strong. 



SECKEL PEAR. 



The Secretary, [ am interested in a small experiment with 

 Seckel Pear grafted on Whitney No. 20 and Beecher Sweet, as this 

 is said in Western New York to be the only pear that is a perma- 

 nent success on the apple. My cions were grafted last spring. 

 They took vigorously and are growing well. I will report them 

 hereafter. 



STATE ORCHARD. 



Mr. Gideon, in reply to a question by Prof. Porter. The trees in 

 the State Orchard were not permanently injured by the hail storm 

 last spring. 



WHITNEY NO. 20. 



Mr. Phillips. I will repeat what I have before recommended 

 about the Whitney No. 20. Set them out along roadsides and 



