372 ANNUAL EEPORT. 



REPORT FROM DODGE COUNTY. 

 By W. F. HiLLMAN, Kasson. 



Tn answer to your inquiries, I would say in the first place, that I am not a 

 horticulturist, but was a half-farmer once. 



Years ago I believe there were two nurseries in this county, one located near 

 Kasson, since removed, and one near Concord village. Some five years since I 

 bought the last apple trees from the Concord nursery that the propiietor could sell 

 ([ do not thiuk of his name) before shipping to Dakota, and most of the trees 

 that I bought and took good care of have since died. There is no telling wiien 

 another nursery will be established in Dodge County. 



For a small county — eighteen miles east and west, twenty-four north and south — 

 Dodge County furnishes quite a variation, either in respect to conditions favorable 

 to fruit culture or general farming. The northern portion was largely occupied 

 with heavy timber, and consequently has a dry, rich soil. It was settled at an 

 early date in the history of this State, partly owing no doubt, to its nearness to 

 the Mississippi River markets before the builjing of railroads, and has been and 

 will no doubt continue to be thickly settled. These and other conditions render 

 this portion of the county much preferable to the southern and southwestern 

 portion of the county, which is more level, wet and bleak, and is not so well 

 adapted to fruit raising. 



1 need not inform you that though Minnesota can never rank with California or 

 Michigan ia fruit raising, on account of less favorable climate, yet there are hardy 

 varieties of apples which will succeed well with us, especially crab apples, .some 

 of which almost rival the standard sorts in flavor and other good qualities, together 

 with almost all kinds of small fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, currants, 

 and the like. The early settlers have given too little attention to these things, for 

 it is well known that we can produce both fruits and vegetables here of more 

 delicious qualities than the corresponding sorts caa be grown in a southern climate. 

 The finest fruits can be produced here which the market affords. No doubt 

 horticulture will be developed withia a few years to come to an extent that will 

 Surprise all but the most sanguine. 



Home grown apples have been selling in our local markets at §1 per bushel for 

 Duchess and seventy-five cents for crabs. But when standard winter apples can 

 be brought from Michigan by the carload and retailed at $2.50 per barrel, as is the 

 case in our county this year, our farmers of only average intelligence will con- 

 clude with respect to fruit raising, that they can get such apples cheaper for years 

 to come by purchasing than by raising them. Where one farmer is too lazy to 

 succeed at anything, (and such cases are not rare,) ten farmers try to cultivate too 

 many acres, or they are too negligent or ignorant, in that particular respect, to 

 reasonably expect much success in horticultural oparations. 



John Chirk, Kasson, is a successful raiser of raspberries for the local markets. 

 A. P. Rose, Mantorville, always has a number one garden and is a good authority 

 on strawberries. Hon. E. W. Westcott, West Concord, is also a successful hor- 

 ticulturist. 



