138 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
they seem to have been subjected to bad handling, nearly no roots on 
them, broken branches, and often the bark is rubbed off in different 
places. I also believe that the trees, as a rule, are too big when they 
are five or six feet high; I think it would be better if they were only 
three or four feet. 
Every body that I have spoken with claims that Transcendent 
is the kind that will thrive in this country. 
VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT, FIRST CONG. DIST. 
F. W. KIMBALL, AUSTIN. 
I have to report that in our section the high anticipations of the 
early spring for an abundant fruit crop were severely checked by 
the late frosts of spring and the severe drought of the later season. 
The winter had been remarkably favorable, and trees and shrubs, as 
a whole, had gone through in good shape, presaging an abundant 
crop; but the late frost, or rather freeze, about May twentieth, killed 
a good many brilliant prospects, especially on low grounds, while 
orchards on high grounds with good air drainage ina great meas- 
ure escaped and brought a fair crop of good apples. Except with a 
few, the Oldenberg, Wealthy and Transcendent are at present the 
Jeading apples, especially the Oldenberg. The Transcendent are fast 
disappearing, killed by blight. 
The small fruits, excepting currants, gooseberries and grapes, 
were almost an entire failure, owing to the drought. 
Having been so situated that I could make but little personal ex- 
amination, my report isof necessity limited; and having little 
fruit in bearing the past season,I can personally give but little 
information; but in view of the extreme drouth the past season I 
wish to make one suggestion which I think can be successfully car- 
ried out by many having small patches of small fruit, situated 
handy to a good well. Going home one day just as the first straw- 
berries commenced to ripen, I found the vines very sick for want of 
water, and without immediate action no berries for the family. I 
immediately made plans and that day laid a line of pipe from the 
pump—and the children by a few hours work saved the crop, small 
though it was; and,notwithstanding its injured condition,nearly four 
bushels of berries were picked from less than one-twentieth of an 
acre. I propose to extend the pipe and, having various places to 
connect hose, I can with a windmill, ata slight cost, water an area 
of two or three acres; for at the critical time but little water is needed 
to save the crop. 
At this time I wish to refer to the great benefit of mulch. My gar- 
den and small orchard is not on the best of soil to withstand drouth, 
being about three feet of clay on top of a sand hill. I had two 
patches of raspberries in near proximity, one I mulched in the win- 
ter with from six inches to one foot of strawy manure; the other I 
left bare, and during the summer gave it frequent cultivation, keep- 
ing a fine earth mulch. The one mulched with straw probably gave 
