194 • ANNUAL REPORT. 



dites, but not quite as fine tlavor. The plants ware nearly all stronoj growers with 

 thick, heavy foliage resembling the Sharpless while the berries had the peculiar 

 yellow seeds of the Captain Jack. I can't give a particular description of auy one 

 as my memorandum has been mislaid. I have a large number to come into bearing 

 next summer that did not fruit this year. Not one of the large number of seedlings 

 from the Great American bore any resemblance to their parents. One seedling 

 from the Cinderilla was of fair size and flavor, but in neither quality equal to the 

 parent stock. 



(4.) "What do you consider the best raspberries for prairie cultivation; give ex- 

 perience ?" 



Ans. After six years experience I find Turners red decidedly the best on the 

 prairies. Philadelphia winter-kills more, is softer, smaller and less productive. 

 Brandywine is hardy, but is small and yields but little. I have not tested any good 

 Black-caps yet. Purple-cane and its seedlings are hardy but too small. Gregg 

 freezes down every fall. I am now trying Tyler and another Blackcap; have some 

 hope of them. 



(5.) "What kinds of grapes do the best with you ?" 



Ans. As yet the Salem ; but the Worden, Moore's Early, Concord and Brighton 

 may do as well after a full trial. Clinton does not pay for the trouble of covering 

 it in winter. Worden is sweeter and thinner skinned than Salem, and Brighton is 

 a ranker grower. Salem is the best of these and the best keeper. It has always 

 ripened here except in 1884, when we had practically nine months winter, and 

 nothing got ripe that season. 



(6.) "What can you say about blackberries?" 



Ans. I have had no success with them j^et. They all freeze down to snow line. 

 Snyder and Taylor's are not worth bothering with any more. Will try two other 

 kinds that 1 have and one or two kinds of Dewberries, and perhaps some seedlings. 



Yours with respect, 



E. Crandall. 



Sumter, Minn., Dec. 1885. 



REPORT FROM FOURTH DISTRICT. 



By Vice-President, F. G. Gould. Excelsior. 



The experiments of the early_ settlers of Minnesota in growing fruit resulted usu- 

 allj^ in utter failure. The day of small fruits had not yet fully arrived, and it came 

 to be a common saying that fruit could not be grown in Minnesota. This supposed 

 fact was considered the greatest drawback to the settlement. While the healthful- 

 ness of the climate, and productiveness of the soil were satisfactory, it would do to 

 to endure but was not good enough to live in. 



About twenty years ago the Duchess apple and Transcendent crab came into 

 notice and soon after the Wealthy apple. About tins time the Delaware and Con- 

 cord grapes began to attract attention all over the country, and we may as well 

 make the year 1866 or thereabouts the date from which we started on a more hope 

 ful prospect in fruit growing. To be sure a few fine strawberries had been grown, 

 a few grapes had Vieen tried. Those of the htter, of most value, were the Isabella 



