86 ANNUAL REPOBT. 



as a good entomologist can give us. We want to investigate these 

 matters, and get all the light we can on the subject. 



The resolution of Mr. Underwood was adopted. 



The following communication of Hon. O. M. Lord was then read: 



FEUIT EEPOET FEOM O. M. LOED. 



Minnesota City, Jan. 19, 1885. 



Apples, especially the early kinds, were abundant this year 

 throughout Winona County. The local markets were well sup- 

 plied with Duchess, Tetofsky, Fameuse, Haas, numerous varie- 

 ties of crabs, and some seedling apples. St. Lawrence, English 

 Eusset, Titter's Eed, and Wealthy were also in the market. 

 Strawberries were very abundant, but frequent showers inter- 

 fered with the picking. Eed and black raspberries were plenty 

 and good crops of blackberries. There was also a good supply 

 of native plums. 



The weather in the fall was considered favorable for fruit trees 

 to mature the new growth, and it is believed they were in good 

 condition to withstand severe cold. 



The experiment station here is hardly worthy of a report, as 

 only a small beginning has been made. The plum cions fur- 

 nished by the society were set and have made a fine growth; also 

 cions f]"om seedling apple trees of merit grown in this vicinity. 

 A few trees one year old, and some two years old, of kinds that 

 have not been tried in this vicinity, have been planted as exper- 

 iments. There are also thirteen kinds of native plums, some of 

 them in bearing, which are receiving special attention. 



The following letter was then read from Mr. E. Wilcox, pro- 

 prietor of Mount Hope Nursery, near La Crosse, Wisconsin: 



EEPOET FEOM E. WILCOX. 



Mt. Hope, near La Crosse, Wis., Jan. 18, 1885. 



T. M. Smith, St Paul, 



Dear Sir: We have had two cold winters before, but this gener- 

 ally is colder than the two preceding. With me, however, the ther- 

 mometer has only touched 32° once this winter, while last it 

 went down to 36°. What surprises me is the great difference in 



