42 ANNUAL REPORT, 



Mr. Harris. They would be darker in color also would they not? 



Mr. Smith. Yes. [n regard to this question of manuring the Cres- 

 cent; if plants are close together, by manuring you will spoil the fruit. 

 You can manure heavily by giving plants plenty of room. If you 

 manure heavily enough and cultivate well enough to cause the plants 

 to grow a foot high there should be a space of three feet for the plants 

 to grow in. If the soil is poor they do not need so much space. But 

 if the plants are a long ways apart you can manure heavily and culti- 

 vate. As to this matter of the Countess which we have discussed so 

 often, the question of its identity is continually coming up. We have 

 the fruit here and you will notice the pink shade at the stem which is 

 more distinct than on the Downer, which always has a smooth stem. 

 Is not that color an indication of foreign blood in this Countess? I 

 think jt would be well to settle the question as to whether they are 

 identical. For farmers who have sandy soil it is the best variety we 

 have, because it needs no fertilization and is good enough for anybody 

 to eat, and as Mr. Harris says, it is good for years without any atten- 

 tion. 



President Smith. If there is nothing further I would suggest that 

 we hear from our former secretary, the commissioner for Minnesota at 

 New Orleans, Mr. Gibbs. I presume the members would be pleased 

 to hear from him. 



REMARKS BY MR. GIBBS. 



Mr. Oliver Gibbs, Jr. Mr. President and Fellow Members: It af- 

 fords me pleasure to meet with you again, the old Horticultural Soci- 

 ety, and to sa}^ a few words to you although I have nothing si)ecial to 

 •offer upon any matter under discussion. I wish to congratulate 3'OU, 

 however, upon the thought that occurs to my mind, which I have 

 found in the last six months to be well supported by facts, that 

 although your Society is not large in numbers you have a reputation 

 al)road in horticultural work that places you in the very front rank. 

 Wherever I go I find the reports of the Minnesota Horticultural Soci- 

 ety well spoken of; I find the labors of its older members well appreci- 

 ated; and I find all the most advanced horticulturists who are looking 

 to the interest of experimental lines in the development of new and 

 hardy varieties of fruits, directing their attention to Minnesota and 

 expecting to gain the most valuable information in those lines from 

 the experiments that are going on under the auspices of this Society. 



