314 ANNUAL EEPORT. 



date to be altogether accurate in our couclusious; but I think 

 the condition of trees and plants indicate the severest winter for 

 years, if ever before. What are known here in Minnesota as 

 standard apple trees are killed or badly damaged, except Duch- 

 ess, Wealthy, and some of the Eussians. and the latter show 

 more or less injury. Those showing the least injury I will des- 

 ignate as belonging to the Hibernal or Lieby family. These lat- 

 ter, so far as can be seen, show but very slight injury, really ap- 

 pearing at better advantage than Transcendent crab, which car- 

 ries some marks of the severe conflict of the winter of 1884 5. 



The snow fell in good season last fall; not in large quantity, 

 but enough to cover the ground sufficiently to give proper pro- 

 tection to the roots of trees and all plants which require protec- 

 tion by covering, including strawberries and grapes. If all 

 other conditions are favorable, good crops of these may be ex- 

 pected, though it may be safe to say that the leaf roller on the 

 strawberry plant, which appeared last year, may be looked for 

 in greater numbers the present season. I find blackberries are 

 badly damaged. The Turner raspberry is generally looking 

 well. Currants and gooseberries promise a good yield. 



The crab apple trees. Duchess and Wealthy begin to show 

 blossom buds, and we may expect some fruit from them : also the 

 Eussians, which are with me but few in number at present. 



FEOM SETH W. KEX:N^EY. 



MORRISTOWN, EiCE CouNTY, MiNN., May 6, 1885. 



Yours of April SOtli is at hand with regard to amber cane 

 prospects. The present prices of sugar are the lowest ever 

 known. This has a corresponding effect on amber cane products, 

 so that in twenty-six years the jirices never have been as low as 

 now. I have several thousand gallons of syrup on hand, and the 

 wholesale prices in Minneapolis and St. Paul for best refined is 

 only thirty-five cents per gallon, delivered. This reduces the 

 profits below some other branches of ftirmiug. I propose to sell 

 my surplus syrup and not xiroduce any cane till another year. 



The present prices will not warrant the large expense of a crop 

 of cane which requires a large cash outlay of at least $2,000. I 

 shall j)lant corn, believing it will pay better than syrup at pres- 

 ent prices. 



I am selling my syrup in a small way at forty-five to fifty 

 cents, and can probably work the i>resent stock off at that price 

 before a year from now. 



