On the morning of October 12, 1915, your committee visited the State Fruit-Breeding Farm, was met at the Zumbra Heights Station, on the M. & St. Louis R.R., by Superintendent Haralson and were very soon in the midst of a plat of over 3,000 everbearing strawberry plants all different—­some plants with scores of ripe and green berries as well as blossoms, others with few berries and many runners.  The superintendent had already made selections and marked some 250 plants for propagation.  In another plat of 1,000 varieties it was very apparent that No. 1017, a cross between Pan-American and Dunlap, was the superior, although others were choice, both as plant makers and fruit-bearers.  No doubt many excellent kinds will come from those selected.  It certainly was encouraging to be able, even after the heavy frost of a week before, to pick three quarts of large, well ripened berries, a photo of which we obtained on reaching the city and will appear in the Horticulturist.

[Illustration:  Field of No. 3 June-bearing strawberries at State Fruit-Breeding Farm.]

Of the June-bearing varieties No. 3, a cross between Senator Dunlap and Pocomoke, would seem to surpass anything else we saw as to strength of plant and health of foliage.  As to its fruiting ability, will refer to the display made at the last summer meeting of the society, which was so much admired.  We have no doubt there is a great future for No. 3, as has been for its illustrious parent, the Dunlap.  Next we went over to the raspberry field containing, it seemed, thousands of strong, straight, healthy plants, which would have to be seen to be appreciated and only then when in fruiting.  No. 4 took our special attention.  The canes were especially clean, well branched and healthy—­a cross between Loudon and King.  Many others seem to be very promising.

[Illustration:  Everbearing strawberries, No. 1017.  Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding Farm.  Gathered October 12, 1915.]

Next we were shown a variety of everbearing raspberry from which we indulged in ripe fruit of good size and flavor and which it is hoped will be as valuable as the everbearing strawberry.  Of the thousands of everbearing seedlings selections had been made of about 100 which were fine looking plants, well cultivated and free from disease.

We were then shown some hundreds of wild peach seedlings, seedlings of Burbank plums, thousands of hybrid plums of all ages, and a plat of thousands of plum seedlings which will be disposed of to nurserymen this fall and bring a nice income to the state; also wild pears from Manchuria with good prospects of being hardy and free from blight.