144 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT, FOURTH CONG. DIST. 
R. S, MACKINTOSH, ST. ANTHONY PARK. 
The fourth district cannot boast of anything in horticulture out of 
the usual course. The yield of small fruits was not as encouraging 
as we had hoped for early in the season. In this district the drouth 
was very severe, and, in looking back, it seems wonderful how the 
vegetation withstood the dry weather as well asit did. The apple 
crop was very light, due, no doubt, to the injury of the buds in the 
winter and early spring. Insome localities the blight appeared and 
destroyed many young trees. 
The weather during the time the fruits were in bloom was perfect 
for pollenization, and, as a consequence,very few imperfect specimens 
of fruit were observed. The berries,as a general rule, came through 
the winter in good condition. The warm spell at election time made 
many feel that spring was at hand and that it was time to remove 
the winter protection. To those that did uncover their vines, it 
proved a serious mistake, for the cold weather afterwards injured 
them very much. 
The period for planting was very short on account of disagreeable 
weather. Possibly it was as well, for the dry weather afterwards 
made it very hard for newly planted trees and vines to withstand 
the drouth unless watered artificially. 
The strawberries being the first fruit to mature had some advan- 
tage over other small fruits by having quite a supply of moisture in 
the soil. Many beds, however, suffered considerably, and in some 
cases several pickings were lost. During the season when the straw- 
berries were ripening, the weather was very hot and windy, and this 
also caused quite aloss. The St. Paul market has in the past few 
years been largely supplied with nice strawberries from Afton, 
Washington county. The steep bluffs near lake St. Croix are es- 
pecially well adapted for strawberry growing. The soil is light, 
warm and rich, and if a sufficient supply of rain is obtained, a large 
return is realized. This season was a very poor one for these grow- 
ers. One feature of the berry crop which comes from this vicinity 
that needs to be commended, is the way in which they appear in the 
market. Nearly all the growers use small baskets placed in nice 
crates holding thirty-two quarts. The contrast between this way 
and that of the old fasioned tray is very noticable. The trays should 
be discouraged as much as possible, since it necessitates more 
handling. 
Plums, both wild and cultivated, produced good crops. The plum 
pockets must be carefully looked after or else the crop will be ruined. 
In some localities it appeared last spring. The setting out of culti- 
vated plum trees should be encouraged more; all persons that live 
on farms should at least have enough to well supply their families 
of their own raising. A little thought and care will be well repaid 
when the fruit is harvested. 
DISCUSSION. 
Mr. Dartt: You spoke about the plum pockets. Will you 
tell us about them? ‘You told us to look after them when we 
found them. What shall we do when we find them? 
