68 ANNUAL REPORT. 



tree" is not wholly worthless. Providing the Duchess matures any- 

 considerable amount of fruit this season, then we are all forced into 

 the knowledge that a "black hearted tree" is sometimes valuable, and 

 also into the old dotrine that "a tree is known by its fruit," 



During the last two or three years the fruit grower of our part of 

 the State has had many trying obstacles to contend with. July 21st, 

 and then again August 21st 1883, we were visited by the two most 

 destructive tornadoes ever known since the first settlement of the 

 State^ which killed many trees outright and badly injured many others. 

 Anything that lessens the vitality of our trees appears to increase the 

 number of insects. The same as in the animal kingdom, before life 

 is fairly extinct, insects assert their claim, and take full possession 

 immediately after. I am of the opinion that in the wake of these 

 tornadoes over one-half of the fruit has been literally destroyed up to 

 this date, by insects of various kinds. The need of a competent State 

 Entomologist is imperatively demanded. 



Now for the bright side of this subject. We are told that every 

 family upon the face of the earth were drowned, at one time, except 

 one. An innumerable host is the result of this one family. In like 

 manner, it the past winter had killed all the fruit trees but one family, 

 from that we would soon replenish the earth, but thanks to a kind 

 providence we are driven to no such straits as this. We find among 

 the Russians, the Anis, Transparent and some other families that came 

 through last winter almost unscathed. Also many native seedlings 

 just as sound — I refer here more particularly to the seedling h}' brids. 

 Many Wealthy trees were killed in some locations, still I continue 

 my faith in it for good locations, and on tlie whole I see no good 

 reason for discouragement. The De Sota, Minnesota, Quaker, Wild 

 Rose and Weaver Plums, never looked better. Small fruits are look- 

 ing splendid. 



Mr. Smith inquired if Mr. Sias had seen the Brett seedlings this 

 spring. 



Mr. Sias. I have not; I have seen the owner of the trees and he 

 stated that they were apparently uninjured. 



REPORT OF J. S. HARRIS, OF LA CRESCENT. 



I have no written report, but I merely wish to state that 

 in the last twenty-nine years, that I have spent in Minnesota, the last 

 one was the most disastrous of any to fruit trees. The St. Lawrence 

 trees that I set out twenty -nine years ago are badly whipped; also the 



