194 ANNUAL REPORT. 



The strawberry crop for 1884 was all that could be asked for. 

 It is estimated that the crop marketed by growers in the vicinity 

 of Eochester alone would not fall short of 3,000 bushels. 



The varieties best adapted to this locality, so far as tested, are 

 Crescent Seedling, Downer's Prolific, Boy den, Green Prolific, 

 Old Iron Clad, and Piper's Seedling. 



Raspberries. — A magnificent crop. From 2,500 to 3,000 quarts 

 of this fruit were the daily shipments from this market during 

 the best part of the season, principally of the Blackcap variety. 

 Best varieties, so far as tested : Blackcaps : Ohio, Doolittle and 

 Tyler. Eeds : Turner, Cuthbert, and Brandywine. 



Grapes. — Crop good. Our choice for this locality : Worden, 

 Concord, Janesville, Moore's Early and Champion. 



M. J. HOAG. 



FRUIT REPORT FOR McLEOD COUNTY. 



The culture of small fruits in this county has received con- 

 siderable attention the past two years, and those giving them 

 the neccvssary care have received their reward. 



Our markets were pretty well supplied with strawberries the 

 past season, and some currants and wild raspberries were in the 

 markets. Wild plums were plenty. 



Plenty of crab apples were in market. Perhaps half a crop 

 was produced. There is generally a surplus of crab apples here 

 which find a ready market in Dakota. 



But few standard apples are grown here. What few find their 

 way to market are mostly Wealthy and Duchess. 



Most of the farmers have been swindled so many times that 

 they will buy but few apple trees at present. • They want some- 

 thing that is almost literally iron clad, trees that will stand 

 the coldest of winters, the hottest and longest of droughts, brows- 

 ing of cattle and rabbits at the top and gnawing of gophers at 

 the bottom. 



I think it a waste of time and money for the majority of our 

 farmers to buy standard fruit trees. 



If our farmers wish to have plenty of nice fruit they should 

 invest a few dollars in the hardiest kinds of small fruit plants. 

 Currants, gooseberries, grapes and strawberries hardly ever fail 

 to produce a good crop if given proper care. The market de- 

 mand for fruit seems to increase as fast as the supply, and I 

 think the future will show a rapidly increasing interest in horti- 

 ulture in this county. M. Cutler. 



