306 ANNUAL REPORT. 



first of September, it will be planted more or less and pay well 

 for the extra care or work of covering with soil. 



But as to apple trees I think it impossible for anyone yet to 

 fully determine the full extent of damage done them the pant 

 winter. But I must say there is no variety of standard, hybrid 

 or crab that I have examined but what the wood is very dark. 

 Of the crabs I think the Whitney No. 20 has come out best, and 

 is really the best crab yet produced, and of the two standard 

 varieties the Duchess are in the best condition. We cannot, under 

 the present condition of things look for much of a fruit crop in 

 the way of apples this year. I have noticed orchards that were 

 located on northern exposure or slope are damaged the least; 

 and trees that were heavily mulched and not cultivated are less 

 colored, facts going to prove that the greatest damage done to 

 fruit trees is usually caused by the sap rising late in the autumn 

 and the weather turning suddenly cold, when with so much 

 moisture in the cells of the wood it bursts them. This is no 

 theory of my own, but is a fact proved by scientific experience; 

 hence we need not be seriously discouraged if our loss is serious, 

 for we can the better meet those conditions in the future, that 

 are so destructive to fruit trees and ward them off. We have no 

 Eussian varieties in this vicinity that I have examined ; hence I 

 could not state in regard to their condition generally. I do not 

 know of any seedlings of promise, but what are seriously affected 

 in this town. 



FEOM E. De bell, SIOUX FALLS, DAKOTA.- 



Under date of April l-lth, Mr. De Bell, president of the Da- 

 kota Horticultural Society, writes: "The wood o.f the Autonoo- 

 ka apple is in perfect condition ; not colored in the least. Salome 

 very badly colored. 



FROM C. H. HOFFNER. 



Litchfield, Minn., April 26, 3885. 



Your kind favor received and noted. I am very busy now, 

 delivering, consequently cannot make a full report. Transcend- 

 ant, Hyslop, Minnesota, Stewart's seedling, and Duchess came 

 through all right; but the Wealthy and a few other varieties are 

 more or less damaged. 



This has been the hardest winter I have ever known since I 



