330 ANNUAL REPORT. 



will not be considered as a wild exaggeration of our horticul- 

 tural enthusiasts. The recent Poniological Congress, in which 

 your secretary was the only represent.!itive of this society and 

 state, will be the date of a memorable epoch in the history of 

 Minnesota Horticulture. Your secretary has made his comprehen- 

 sive report, so I need not further dwell upon this most interesting 

 and suggestive topic. I cannot, however, close it, without adding 

 that this society, and the people of this state owe to him their 

 hearty acknowledgments for the completeness of his preparatory 

 labors, and tor the fidelity and ability with which he performed his 

 representative trust, which was essential to the achievement of 

 this, our grand poniological triumph. 



I again thank you for the honors you have conferred upon me, 

 and for the opportunity to make these remarks. 



IMMEDIATE INFLUENCE OF POLLEN. 



At the recent meeting of the American Pomological Society 

 there was an interesting discussion upon facts presented by J, .H 

 Hale, J. B. Rogers, J. T. Lovect, and others, indicating tint in 

 planting staminate strawberries to fertilize the pistillate varieties, 

 the latter are not only made fruitful, as all well posted strawberry 

 growers know, but the color, texture, size, and perhaps even the fla- 

 vor will sometimes vary according to the character of the staminate 

 variety used in the process. Many facts were given to support this 

 theory, which if true, gives us more power in the improvement ot 

 our small fruits than has heretofore been thought possible. Upon 

 this basis we may possibly correct faults even in the staminates 

 themselves. The Sharpless, for instance, by having some neighbor 

 more prepotent than itself in the influence of its pollen, may be 

 given an outside finish that will resist the rot in hot and rainy 

 weather, that so often spoils the largest specimens of the berries 

 before the pickers can '' get there." On my own grounds in a 

 small experimental bed last summer, I found a row of Crescents 

 having throughout the season the color and firmness of the Wilson. 

 I was puzzled with it then, but now, under the new theory, can 

 account for it by referring the change to the benefit from the row 

 of Wilsons that grew next to it; and my Glendales growing along- 

 side of Wilsons were very bright in color, although said by others 

 to be often of a dull, dirty hue. And why may not some of the 



