GENERAL FRUITS. 143 
VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT, THIRD CONG. DIST. 
L. E. DAY, FARMINGTON. 
I cannot report any great increased interest in fruit growing in 
this district. Yet while some have become discouraged on account 
of the many hindrances in the way of making it profitable, others 
seem to have become more determined by these very discourage- 
ments to make it a success. Among the latter are those who give 
us reason to expect victory in the end. 
Last spring everything looked favorable for a good crop of fruit. 
Trees and vines were loaded with bloom, and all vegetation was 
growing rapidly, with the new growth of the grape vines from ten 
to twelve inches long and strawberries in bloom, and a part of the 
fruit already set, when the severe frost came and the new growth of 
the grape vines was nearly all killed, and the strawberries were not 
only killed, but many of the fruit stalks were killed to the ground. 
Apples, such as Duchess, Minnesota and other varieties, were re- 
duced to one-third of a crop,and some trees gave none at all, on 
account of the fruit spur blight, frost or the three days of cold 
northeast wind blowing at time of bloom. Perhaps, all three had 
something to do with it but, it appears to me that to the first the 
greater blame can be laid, for the Brier’s Sweet, Beecher’s Sweet, 
Power’s Red, Meader’s Winter and other varieties were not so 
affected. 
The plum crop was so abundant there was not much sale for them— 
even the Harrison’s Peach bore heavily, which was unusual for this 
variety. 
Grapes, where they had not been uncovered before the frost, pro- 
duced a fair crop. Currants and gooseberries bore very sparingly. 
Strawberries produced a good crop where the mulching was kept on 
the vines until after the frost, and where they were well mulched to 
protect from drouth, which at the time of ripening had become se- 
vere. Raspberries were cut short by the drouth and extreme heat 
and produced about one-half a crop. Blackberries nearly all dried 
up on the vines when one-third grown. 
There have been a good many fruit trees planted in this district 
the past year, but on account of the severe drouth and heat, some 
have died. The two past years have not been favorable for tree 
planting, and this year blight has been severe. 
In June, I had the privilege of visiting Owatonna, also Mr. Dartt 
and his orchard and exeriment station. I was very much inter- 
ested in what I saw and feel that it was a half day profitably spent. 
With the careful management of the experiment grounds, as was 
there illustrated, where the trees, plants and seedlings by the stakes 
and numbers could be readily found, and with other stations as 
carefully kept, we certainly have reason in the near future to expect 
great results in developing trees that will stand our climate and at 
the same time give us an abundance of fruit. There must be many 
enemies to our cause, but much labor has always been the cost of 
excellence. 
