290 ANNUAL REPORT. 



native Minnesota groves. Bat the growing of these native sorts I 

 have mentioned is successful and profitable. They are of fair qual- 

 ity for eating out of hand and good for cooking. They are large, 

 handsome and sell well in market. The Forest Garden is earliest 

 but will not bear much handling or transportation, unless with ex- 

 treme care, it is so tender in skin and pulp. The Weaver and De 

 Soto are firm. These two resist the Little Turk, and for some rea- 

 son he does not seem to get hold of the Forest Garden where I have 

 seen it grown. Perhaps he may under other conditions. These 

 varieties are all perfectly hardy. Opinions differ, but I consider the 

 De Soto the most reliable for a crop and the most profitable. There 

 are others highly recommended, but I am not acquainted with 

 them. 



SMALL FRUITS. 



As to small fruits little need be said. From the currant to the 

 grape they are nearly all at home in Minnesota, only that some of 

 them entail more labor on the grower in their needs for winter 

 protection. Aside from this, the manual of §mall fruit culture is 

 the same for Minnesota as elsewhere in the north. We think our 

 climate, or our climate and soil together, produces better outdoor 

 market grapes than can be grown in the East or further down the 

 Mississippi valley. We see of no other growing as handsome 

 Concords or as good Delawares. The river bluff region at St. 

 Paul and below, and the lands around Lake Miunetonka at present 

 produce the finest. Whether our success in grapes is due to soil or 

 air, or to our short, hot summers, or all combined, I cannot say. 

 Our growers have lost but one crop of grapes by frost in twenty 

 3^ears. 



AWARDS TO MINNESOTA IN fe83. 



On the 13th of September last, at Philadelphia, the American 

 Pomological Society awarded to Minnesota the Wilder silver medal 

 on its collection of apple^and grapes, there being but fbur medals 

 awarded on the entire exhibition of fruits. On the same day the 

 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, having all the exhibits of both 

 societies before them, awarded us the second premium on best 

 twenty varieties of grapes in cut bunches. 



