370 ANNUAL REPORT. 



The Hartford Prolific is productive and ripens earJy, but the bunch is loose and 

 the berries fall off very soon after ripening. 



The Brighton, Clinton, Diana, Alvira, lona and Martha need no special mention 

 as none of them have proved to be vsrhat was at first claimed for them. 



The Moore's Early is a rank grower, yielding a very large berry of excellent 

 flavor, ripening rather early ; light bearer. 



The Janesville is very good for the early market, being a strong grower, a heavy 

 bearer, small and compact bunches though not of rich flavor. 



The Champion, the earliest grape I have, is in every respect equal to the Janes- 

 ville but of a richer flavor, and will supplant the Janesville in a few ynars. 



The standard varieties, the Delaware and Concord, are too well known to need 

 further mention here. The Delaware have yielded poorly for the last three or four 

 years, probably on account of the vines being too old, and the conditions being 

 otherwise unfavorable. 



For the last few years the cut-worm has done much damage on the sandy soils, 

 destroying at least half the crop. They seem to do their work in the night, re- 

 maining carefully hidden during the daytime. Will try several experiments during 

 the year in which I hope to destroy or stop the depredations of the worm. 



The birds are also very destructive to the sweetest varieties, the robin, thrush, 

 oriole and other small species being particularly destructive to the Delaware and 

 the jay to the Concord. They do more damage some years than others, and one 

 must watch them with a gun. These birds are also injurious to the red raspberries, 

 sometimes doing considerable damage and requiring careful watching. 



As to my experience with raspberries, can say that I have raised red raspberries 

 many years with good success ; have experimented with several kinds of black 

 raspberries, and though yielding a fair crop, found it unprofitable to keep them 

 and have not had any for several years. In all my experience with different varie- 

 ties of raspberi ies I find that they do better with me by covering them in the winter 

 and always feel amply repaid for my trouble. 



I plant them early in the spring in a rich soil and cultivate, hoe and trim them 

 carefully for two or three 3'ears until the bush has attained its full vigor and 

 strength, when I cut out all superfluous canes leaving but six or eight to the bush, 

 pinning them down and covering them with earth for the winter. Now is the best 

 time to fertilize them which also serves as an additional covering. 



I find that the Philadelphia, though yielding abundantly, ripens its fruit during 

 a very short period, and after one or two pickings will all be gone. 



The Herstine aho yields quite abundanth' — a very large and beautiful berry, but 

 the crop is too uncertain as they are not hardy enough to resist our severe Minnesota 

 winters. 



Have also for years cultivated several of the common varieties, although none of 

 them possess any great merit, they will do to supply the early market until the 

 larger and better varieties, which ripen later, supplant them. 



I have for many years cultivated the Turner and am yearly setting out additional 

 plants at the expen.se of other varieties. The Turner is a rank grower, hardy and 

 productive, the berry is lirge and one of the best market ben ies we have, though 

 a few days later than the other varieties. 



