192 ANNtJAL REPORT. 



One year ago last fall I had as fine a strawberry bed as I ever saw, about one and 

 one-half acres, located on the west side of willow trees. I covered them nicely 

 with marsh hay and hoped for a good crop. But alas my fond hopes were doomed 

 to disappointment, the snow blew off the highest part of the bed, and where it sloped 

 to the Southwest the ground thawed out to the depth of four or five inches during 

 the first days of March, then froze up solid so that most of the plants were killed. 

 Where the slope was to the Northwest and on the low land. Crescents and Glen- 

 dales were ia fair condition, but Old Iron-clad, Bidwell and Pipers were nearly ex- 

 tinct. Manchester, James Vick and Jumbo were about half killed. Manchester 

 and Jumbo produced some large berries, and James Vick a few small ones. 



Crescents proved as usual with us, the boss of all, for wherever a plant had life 

 enough to live, we found nice berries whether in weeds four feet high, or where 

 the ground was clean. Some have said they were too soft for a market berry, I 

 shipped them to Fargo and Aberdeen, Dak., and although some were dead ripe when 

 picked, they were reported to be in fine condition, and were sold at good prices. 



I copy the following from Rural New Yorker, from a Michigan correspondent. 

 "Sharpless sold in the Chicago market for $1.75 to $2.75 per 16 qt. case ; Crescents 

 90 cts, to SI. 75, while Wilsons sold for 25 to 40 cts. Total expense of picking, 

 crates, etc., 45 cents per case." You can easily figure out which paid a profit. 

 The same writer states that the Crescents yielded much the largest crop. 



I gathered 2,300 quarts, 500 being from my old bed, which sold for 12)^ cts. per 

 quart. The crop would have been better but for drought and hot weather in 

 June, which nearly cooked vines and berries. As far as I have been able to learn, 

 berries grown on the east side of trees where covered with snow, came out in good 

 condition. 



Turner raspberries came out all right and bore a good crop. Cuthbert in fair 

 condition for newly set plants. I have come to the conclusion that to get a crop 

 of blackberries they must be cevered, and that those most productive and of the 

 best quality should be set. 



Grapes do fairly well where properly cared for, but on account of frost none but 

 the earliest kinds should be set on the prairie. One of our members, Mr. Nobles, 

 had some verj^ fine Concord grapes which he exhibited at our County fair. 



The display of fruits and vegetables at our County fair was not very extensive^ 

 not because they are not grown, but because horse-racing and gambling games are 

 made such a prominent feature that few respectable farmers will exhibit their pro- 

 ducts. When they see fifty cents offered for the best plate of grapes, and $100 of- 

 fered to the owner of the fastest trotting horse, their exhibition ardor gets so cold 

 that it never thaws out. When the people see their hard earned dollars spent in 

 fixing up ccstly race tracks, great amphitheaters, and elegant barns for the accomo- 

 dation of a few horse jockeys and gamblers, and the great agricultural staples of 

 the State shoved off into a temporary shed, it is time to cry a halt. We have often 

 been told that a fair could not succeed without horse-racing, but the Dakota County 

 farmers have proved the contrary, and I hope other fair associations will follow 

 their example. Mr. Ditus Day, of Farmington, writes me as follows : "We hid no 

 racing at our fair last fall, and all that I have spoken to admit that it was the best 

 fair we ever held, and we had plenty of money to pay premiums, for the fast horses 

 did not carry it all off, as has been the case sometimes before." 



