350 A"N"NTJAL REPORT. 



A paper on strawberry culture by J. H. Hale, of South Glaston- 

 burry, Connecticut, attracted much attention, especially for its 

 treatment of the subject of the blossoms. 



"The Trunks of Apple Trees," a paper by Prof. T. J. Burrill, of 

 Champaign, Illinois, took the ground, from the form and position 

 of sap cells, that if the wood was ripe no fear need be entertained 

 of the cold killing the trees; further that drouth and bacteria were 

 the principal causes of the failure of orchards.* 



Prof. S. A. Forbes, in his paper on insects affecting the straw- 

 berries, continued his valuable report in this line of research, so 

 ably begun at the meeting of this society last year. 



About forty papers were read on various and important subjects, 

 and those that wish to read them can procure a printed copy of 

 the proceedings of the society in full by sending $2 to the secre- 

 tary. Prof. W. H. Ragan, LaFayette Indiana, It will be money 

 well invested. The fruit exhibition was very fine. When my 

 eyes rested on the long tables of fruit, the thought came to me, is 

 it possible that Minnesota took the Wilder medal, with such a 

 display of fruit as this to contend with — for here were the same men 

 and fruit that represented Missouri at Philadelphia? But when 

 the meeting was over and I had the privilege of sampling all the 

 fruit the matter was plain. Missouri and Kansas can grow 

 apples, pears, peaches, cherries and grapes in almost endless 

 quantities, but Minnesota in quality and beauty of her fruit will 

 come out ahead. Kansas and Missouri are natural fruit belts, but 

 from some cause unknown to me, they do not grow the best varie- 

 ties of apples, and I might add small fruits. Ben Davis, Greniton 

 and Willow Twig are the leading varieties. The Baldwin, Green- 

 ing and Bellflower are failures. The Thwack and Mammoth 

 Cluster raspberries are the two leading varieties. The Cuthbert, 

 our best in Minnesota, with them is a failure. 



The best apple I found on the tables for long keeping, beauty 

 and quality, was the York Imperial. 



1 procured cions of about twenty-five varieties of apples, new to 

 Minnesota, for trial. 



M. PEARCE. 



* Note on Foregoing Report.— Our delegate neglects to state that he got ia his 

 speech about lipe wood never winter killing, and about drouth In fall doing more 

 mischief 10 fruit trees than cold winters, ahead of Prof. Burrill, and provoked the 

 professor to inquire what should be done with a man who steals another's thuuder. 

 The inquiry was a high compliment to Mr. Pearce. 



Secretaby. 



