STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 37 L 



I am now experimenting with the Cutlibert, which promises to be a very good 

 berry, in many respects equal if not superior to the Turner. 



I have adopted a process of irrigation which I find very valuable; the water is 

 handy and can be utilized with little trouble and expense. 



FRUIT IN WABASHA COUNTY. 



Mr. Herman Dietrele, of Wabasha, informs us that he has been experimenting 

 with fruit for several years past with considerable success, more especially with 

 grapes and strawberries. 



Mr. Dietrele has resided in Wabasha some twenty-four years and about six years 

 ago began the cultivation of grapes, purchasing a quantity of the Concord, Dela- 

 ware and a new variety, said to be a seedling of the Concord, called Pocklington. 

 This variety was recommended as being hardy, and the vines have made a good 

 growth; but as it has not yet fruited he does not recommend it. He experimented 

 with Janesville three years, but discarded it as worthless, as being of poor quality, 

 and on account of its dropping its fruit. Martha, a white variety, has succeeded well 

 and seems to be very hardy. He says he has had the greatest success with the 

 Champion and Hartford, the former being fully two weeks earlier than the Concord, 

 not so large and attractive, but producing good, solid bunches and fine table fruit; 

 the vines were obtained in Missouri. The Hartford is very productive and early. 

 The first crop from a single vine yielded eleven pounds of fruit. In 1883 he raised 

 a fine crop but it was destroyed by an early frost. The past season the crop ripened 

 well with the exception of the Delaware and the yield was very satisfactory. He 

 obtained from Los Angelos, California, a number of plants of the Black Hamburg 

 and a fine white grape, but found them entirely worthless in this climate. 



Mr. Dietrele's experience with the Clinton is of interest. Soonafter setting these 

 vines he noticed the leaves were affected by a peculiar disease, which upon close 

 examination he decided to be a malady known as Phylloxeria. The leaves are 

 covered with white spots which change to a flesh color and soon drop to the ground. 

 Examination with a glass shows the cause of the disease to be that of an insect 

 which, after destroying the leaves attacks the roots of the plants. He applied 

 Napthaline freely to the vines and succeeded effectually in eradicating the malady. 

 He says he has found the culture of grapes quite remunerative. 



He has been growing strawberries to some extent, the Sharpless being his favorite 

 variety; also has Charles Downing and Miner's Prolific. The Crescent require fer- 

 tilization and goon become mixed with other varieties. He favors mulching heavily 

 with well-rotted manure; planting in rows, cultivating well, and renewing the beds 

 once in four years. 



Of raspberries he raises Philadelphia, Turner, Purple Cane and Cuthbert, the 

 first mentioned being hardiest and best. His exposure is to the north and he does 

 not cover the canes. 



He has also grown apples to some extent, succeeding best with Duchess and 

 Wealthy, for standard fruit and the Orange Crab, as a hybrid variety. Other vari- 

 ■eties of crabs he considers of little value on account of blight. He has a large grove 

 -of native plums which bear bountiful crops of fruit. 



