MOBILE BA STI SRLS A heer EE ee eo ha le ee cain! re CR 4, ea Sher aK < ) DL ft ore ~ x Jae ql i ite | [LS 5 BZ g ‘i. 44 im oe l U = . weCibson-lnve fla) |S obs. 3 A hy as hey ‘ nr] < « wes a 2 is ‘Sa “i Speke. fi | PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ( For biography, see page 26.) LIBRARY : NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 4 ? ae TE a Nh Week Bene Me eel te es iy Fabeetd ae Ml ee) oi ru Pe PL. ee yea ter, eek eee iy a lo hy ling dealone das SiS al i aia lacie a Chace al ie eed } ay i mon INU ALG REPORT oe 1897. ; EMBRACING THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY FROM DECEMBER 1, 1896, TO DECEM- BER 7, 1897, INCLUDING THE TWELVE NUMBERS OF “THE MINNESOTA HORTICUTURIST” FOR 1897. EDITED BY THE SECRETARY, A. W. LATHAM, OFFICE AND LIBRARY, 207 KASOTA BLOCK, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Official Stenographer, A. G. Long, Excelsior, Minn. L\8RAR> wew YORK ROTANICAL - a Rpew— ~ MINNEAPOLIS: HARRISON & SMITH, STATE PRINTERS. 1897. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO THE GOVERNOR. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE oy MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. | | ¢. ¥ aie 207 KasoTa BLOCK, MINNEAPOLIS. MINN., DEC., 7, 1897, ed To the Hon. D. M. Clough, Governor of Minnesota: : % Sir:—In compliance with the requirements of the law, I have a the honor tosubmit herewith the report of our society from December 1, 1896, to December 7, 1897. Respectfully yours, A. W, LATHAM, Secretary. alae fa bls ssh Mae piptiphtc Remain tal Sedkh 9 THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST. VOL. 25. JANUARY, 1897. NO. 1. . OFFICERS NEW York i” OF THE ef AROE - MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 2 FOR 1897. eS PRESIDENT. SL 7 U NOME WOOD.) sk tielvacc cis sce esis da ares oben See Lake City VICE-PRESIDENTs. #. 4H. S. Dartt, First Congressional District....... Owatonna bb. D. Richardson, Second ae ‘* , Winnebago City _ Mrs. A. A. Kennepy, Third « mi ete Hutchinson _ B.S. Macxkrintosga, Fourth << ‘: §t. Anthony Park Cou. J. H. STEVENS, Fifth 4 ; ...Minneapolis _ Mrs. JENNIE STAGER, Sixth 1 ‘* ....Sauk Rapids _ J. O, BARRETT, Seventh +: ; ..Brown’s Valley SECRETARY (AND LIBRARIAN, Ex-Officio, ) A. W. Laruam, Office and Library, a 207 Kasota Block, Minneapolis, Minn. 2 TREASURER. _ A. 4H. Brackett = = - - Long Lake ae EXECUTIVE BOARD. | (The president and secretary are members es eet ) Wyman ELLiot (Chairman) 1 year - - Minneapolis _J.S. Harris, lyear - - - * La Crescent reg. P. ANDREWS, 2 years” - - - - Faribault L.R. Moyer, 2 years - - - Montevideo - Pror.S. B. GREEN, 3 years - - - ‘St. Anthony Park _ CLARENCE WEDGE, 3 years - E - Albert Lea ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN, Ez A. CUZNER, Hssex and 27th Ave. S. E. - Minneapolis 4 4" (The assistant librarian has charge of the surplus reports of Be the society, which are stored at Pillsbury Hall, State Uni- versity. ) ; Prater. tet eh Ce eat ED Cs ee Y bs Pn 1a 50 pra 2 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. SUPERINTENDENTS OF TRIAL STATIONS. dhe? Pror. S. B. GREEN (Central Station, ee sity Farm School), St. Anthony Park BK. H. 8S. Darrt, . - . - - Owatonna DEWAIN COOK, - : : - - - Windom — CLARENCE WEDGE, - - - - Albert Lea Cuas. W. SAMPSON (grapes), - - - EKureka O. M. Lorp (plums and small fruits), - Minnesota City H. M. LyMan Gppiss) - - Excelsior J. S. HARRIS, - La Crescent L. R. Moyer. - - Montevideo Mrs. JENNIE STAGER, - - - Sauk Rapids WILLIAM SOMERVILLE, “ : . - Viola COMMITTEES FOR 1897. FRUIT LIST. APTA EMICO VCE see ciat s,s bistirs tere one, oie pale mpatamele wre mine Albert Lea SEL ECA TAAL OME |<<) 5/2. Rokk «1's aietahs eiereis Meme eam apete Dharm = Faribault peat ie bbe BE CM veencaig i= s~raicronulan os ermyrecavstalier es" St. Anthony Park SEEDLING FRUITS Be ce WEA CUT) TofS Sh) ‘a's alpaca ones t callie a be heuminrsrabel eet le sii Tosi te) Sere La Crescent ORNAMENTAL LIST. POCORN TLE = da eis eum s oalanerieeroue ey altel Sykes Block, Minneapolis Ms NMI GR sda raratal clin ates ich aieua nrahe SMe a als felnlas Siete Montevideo NOMENCLATURE AND CATALOGUE. Apel: EP aarp cua cN fet eatalts Simla dere te toyabatates cinta aaa werencueecaaes La Crescent PPT. GP OGI A261 i/nit peta derhe rte wiaaice St. Anthony Park LEGISLATURE Ui yeaa eatay ATVI Gye) cases ks ve 2 aye baie ph spate tntntsetehe atc stele Minneapolis SF MTC PR WWIO CLS S/o: xi/ar iG olin b ahen lS thicge aiuaharaleynteyaatet stat eis Lake City 1D SL Sema 1k Cah 05 (0 PR re mR ALY rok bra Sirs yy “fel relat ap Nara St. Paul Se Eleurracin 8 iz aniiarls kame setee to phe ashlar le ateNlS stpeeanletenere La Crescent APTS Wie Mis SIVA 56.5). a esha Bn)'s 1s er gplep era alerts avg St. Anthony Park PR SONY. VAEUEINAUIM sib ie Scteoxt aici le oieeeca lees (eka hr hai os suepedettat eRe Minneapolis PUBLICATION rote toe By GROCI Go Ss oats crc epkcyace Me eres .St. Anthony Park WW yee TUL OG). ci ito 0i'e'5 os signe ateiciet agi sree! pipe caveats Minneapolis UPR oe Me ea GMA EAL 20's: oa tig aheyellstialet wick ealbie bey nveliedz nce at ole «...Minneapolis For Constitution of the Society, see paye 6, Report of 1895. FRUIT LIST.--1897. For the Guidance of Planters in [linnesota. Adopted by the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, December 3, 1896. APPLES. Of the first degree of hardiness for planting in Minnesota: DUCHESS (a) (see foot note), HIBERNAL (b), CHARLAMOFF (c). Of the second degree of hardness: Wealthy (d), Longfield (d) (y), Tetofsky, Malinda (x) (d). Promising varieties for trial: Patten’s Greening, Okabena, Peer- less, Repka Malenka, Anisim, Yellow Sweet (x), Kaump (y), Gilbert, Brett, Christmas (xz), Blushed Calville, Cross 413, White Pigeon (y). CRABS AND HYBRIDS. Best for general cultivation: Virginia, Martha, Whitney, Early Strawberry, Minnesota (x), Sweet Russett, Gideon’s No. 6, Briar Sweet, Tonka. Promising varieties for trial: Dartt, Greenwood, Pride of Minne- apolis, Crampton’s No. 3. PLUMS. Best for general cultivation: Desota, Forest Garden, Weaver, Cheney, Wolf, Rollingstone. Most promising varieties for trial: Rockford, Wyant, Ocheeda, New Ulm, Stoddard, Surprise, Mankato. GRAPES. Concord, Delaware, Moore’s Early, Worden, Agawam, Brighton, Janesville (z), RASPBERRIES. Red varieties: Marlborough, Turner, Cuthbert, Brandywine. Black and purple varieties: Ohio, Palmer, Nemaha, Gregg, Schaffer, Older, Souhegan. BLACKBERRIES. Ancient Briton, Snyder, Badger. CURRANTS. Red Dutch, White Grape, Victoria, Stewart, Long Bunch Hol- land, North Star, GOOSEBERRIES. Houghton, Downing, Varieties for trial: Red Jacket, Triumph. STRAWBERRIES. PISTILLATE: Crescent, Warfield, Haverland. STAMINATE: Beder- wood, Capt. Jack, Wilson, Enhance, Lovett. NATIVE FRUITS. Valuable for trial: Dwarf Juneberry, Sand Cherry. (a) Borovinka and Glass Green resemble the Duchess and are equally safe kinds. (b) Lieby (Recumbent), Juicy Burrand Romna closely resemble the Hibernal and are equally safe kinds. (c) Peterson’s Charlamoff.—There are two distinct kinds under this name; the one here referred to is of spreading growth and bears conical-shaped fruit. (d) Does best top-worked. (x) Tardy bearer. (7) Early bearer. (z) Forsevere situations. 4 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. FRUITS MOST PROFITABLE IN MINNESOTA. A. W. LATHAM, SECY. In November last, at the suggestion of the fruit committee of our society, a circular letter was sent out to all of our mem- bers, containing the following questions: 1. What four varieties of apples are most profitable with you or in your vicinity? 2. Whatthree crabs? 3. What three grapes? 4- What three plums? 5, Whattwored raspberries? 6. What two cap raspberries? 7. What one blackberry? 8. What three pistillate strawberries? 9. What two staminate strawberries? 10. What fruit is most profitably grown in your locality? Up to date, 108 replies have been received to this circular, and these replies have been compiled, showing the number of favorable replies given for each variety of fruit noted. In this compilation the name of no variety has been included which did not receive at least five votes, and the names of the fruit growers are not given. Should it be thought best, in a later number the full list can be tabulated so as to show the names of all the growers and every variety mentioned, though it is believed this brief statement contains the more valuable results of the investigation. APPLES. Duchess, 74; Wealthy, 60; Tetofsky, 25; Hibernal, 11; Haas,8; Long- field, 6. CRABS AND HYBRIDS. Transcendent, 49; Whitneys, 30; Early Strawberry, 27; Hyslop, 23; Minnesota, 16;*Orange, 10; Martha, 10; Virginia, 9; Tonka, 5. GRAPES. Concord, 45; Delaware, 32; Worden, 20; Moore’s Early, 16; Agawam, 12; Brighton, 9. PLUMS. Desota, 43; Forest Garden, 12; Cheney, 12; Rollingstone, 7; Weaver, 7; Wolf, 6. RED RASPBERRIES. Cuthbert, 43; Turner, 41; Marlboro, 20; Philadelphia, 10; Schaffer, 10; Thompson’s Prolific, 5; Brandywine, 5. CAP RASPBERRIES. Gregg, 32: Ohio, 20; Older, 11; Palmer, 11; Nemaha, 10; Souhegan, "i BLACKBERRIES. ds Ancient Briton, 37; Snyder, 14. PROFITABLE FRUITS IN MINNESOTA. 5 PISTILLATE STRAWBERRIES. Crescent, 57; Warfield, 50; Haverland, 15; Bubach, 6. STAMINATE STRAWBERRIES. Bederwood, 37; Wilson, 24; Capt. Jack, 12; Enhance, 12; Lovett, 6; Parker Earle, 6; Michel’s Early, 5. KINDS OF FRUIT MOST PROFITABLE. Apples (including crabs), 35; Raspberries, 30; Strawberries, 23; Currants, 19; Plums, 11; Gooseberries, 10; Blackberries, 8; Grapes, 7; Red Raspberries, 6. This list is not altogether conclusive as showing the prefer- ences of the fruit growers, as many had too few varieties to make a choice, speaking of this fact in their replies. Asa whole, however, the compilation is valuable and undoubtedly tells very nearly the truth as to what varieties of fruit are most profitable to plant in our state. Attention is called to the following statement from the Fruit List Committee in relation to the above: The Committee on Fruit List, being desirous of supplementing their report with evidence received directly from a large number of fruit growers, were authorized by the society to send out the list of questions given above to every member residing in this state and the Dakota’s. The number of replies received is very gratifying and furnishes very trustworthy evidence of the estimation in which the various varieties are popularly held at the present time. It will be noticed that the questions call for answers based upon the results of actual trial or observation, and in considering them allowance must be made for the fact that many varieties of un- doubted value, especially such as the newer Russian and seedling apples, have had a comparatively narrow trial. And it may also be justly remarked that the value of such replies will be greatly en- hanced when they can be had after a test winter instead of after the most uninterrupted series of mild seasons known in the history of the state. CLARENCE WEDGE, J. P. ANDREWS, SAMUEL B. GREEN, Committee on Fruit List. UNFERMENTED WINE.—Weigh the grapes picked from the stems. Mash to break skins. Put in a porcelain kettle, add a very little water, cook till stones and pulp separate; press and strain through a thick cloth, return juice to kettle, and add 3 lbs. sugar to every 10 Ibs. grapes; heat to simmering, bottle hot and seal. This makes one gallon and is good.—-Practical Housekeeping. 6 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS HARDY IN MINNESOTA. Prepared by the Ornamental List Committee, Frank H. Nutter and Lycurgus R. Moyer. In submitting this list, with the very limited time at their dispo- sal your committee wish to say that it is intended to be partial and preliminary only, hoping before the next annual meeting to be able to prepare one that may be more elaborate and so arranged as to give fuller information as to local adaptations. They would also suggest that too often in a sudden zeal for im- provements the planter of ornamental trees and shrubs does his work carelessly and in haste and soon forgets to care for them, over- looking the fact that in this branch of horticulture, as truly as inthe orchard and garden, intelligent cultivation is necessary to secure satisfactory results. In selecting from this list, the planter should use judgment to choose such varieties as may be especially adapted to the soil and climatic peculiarities of the locality in which they are to be used, and also of such size when mature and such habits of growth as to be appropriate to their surroundings. Your committee would also urge all those interested in such mat- ters to carefully observe such trees and shrubs as may grow wild in their neighborhoods, hoping thereby to secure new and novel varieties which may be of value for ornamental planting. In the printing of this list, varieties which are native to the wood- lands of this state are marked with a star *, while those which by successful cultivation at Montevideo, Minn., have proved themselves adapted to withstand the severe climatic conditions of the prairie regions, are printed in italics. A few foot notes are also added for further explanation. DECIDUOUS TREES. *Burr Oak, (Quercus macrocarpa); *Scarlet Oak, (Q. coccinea); *Green Ash, (Fraxinus vividis); *Linden, (Tilia Americana); *Rock, or Slippery, Elm, (Ulmus fulva); * White Elm, (Ulmus Americana); * Kentucky Coffee Tree, (Gymnocladus Canadensis); 1 Siberian Pea Tree, (Caragana arborescens); European Mountain Ash, (Pyrusau- cuparia); *Elder-leafed Mountain Ash, (P. sambucifolia); *White, or Silver, Maple, (Acer saccharinum); 2*Thorn Tree, (Crataegus crus- galli); 3 Willows, (Salix). CONIFERS. *White Spruce, (Picea alba); Norway Spruce, (P. excelsa); Colo- rado Blue Spruce, (P. pungens); Douglas Spruce, (Pseudotsuga taxifolia); Scotch Pine, (Pinus sylvestris), Dwarf, or Mugho, Pine, (P. Montana); *Red Cedar, (Juniperus Virginiana); 4*Savin Juniper, (J. Sabina). WEEPING DECIDUOUS TREES. ~* Wier’s Cut-leafed Maple, Weeping Cut-leafed Birch,Weeping Moun- tain Ash (grafted), Wisconsin Weeping Willow. SS ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS. Y SHRUBS. Common Purple Lilac, (Syringa vulgaris); Common White Lilac, (S. v. alba); Purple Persian Lilac, (S. Persica); White Persian Lilac, (S. P. alba); Japanese Tree Lilac, (S. Japonica); Mock Orange, (Philadelphus,—in several varieties); Golden, or Missouri, Cur- rant, (Ribes aureum); *Native Black Currant, (R. Floridum); Snorw- ball, (Viburnum opulus sterilis); *Bush Cranberry, (V. opulus); *Sheep-berry, (V. lentago); Pink Bush Honeysuckle, (Lonicera Tartarica); White Bush Honeysuckle, (L. T. alba); Albert’s Hon- eysuckle, (L. Alberti); *Common Elder, (Sambucus Canadensis); *Red-berried Eider, (S. racemosa): */uneberry, (Amelanchier Can- adensis); Dwarf Juneberry, (A. C. oblongifolia); Japanese Rose, (Rosa rugosa); Ninebark, or Native Spirea, (Physocarpus opuli- folia); Van MHoutii’s Spirea, (Spirea Van Houtii); St. Peter’s Wreath Spirea, (S. hypericifolia); Bridal-Wreath Spirea, (S. pruni- folia flore pleno); Ash-leafed Spirea, (S. sorbifolia); *Meadow Beauty Spirea, (S. salicifolia), Douglas Spirea, (S. Douglasi); *Choke Cherry, (Prunus Virginiana); Bird Cherry (P. padus); *Sand Cherry, (P. pumila); *Buffalo Berry, (‘Shepherdia argentea); Russian Olive, (Eleagnus hortensis Songorica); Amur Barberry, (Berberis Amur- ensis); Pea Shrub, (Caragana microphylla dnd frutescens);* Smooth Sumach, (Rhus glabra); *Stag-horn Sumach, (R. typhina); Buck- thorn, (Rhamnus cathartica); *Dogwood, or “ Killikinnick,” (Cornus stolonifera, alternifolia, servicea, and paniculata). SHRUBS WITH COLORED FOLIAGE. _ Variegated Elder,(Sambucus var.); Golden Elder, (S. aurea); Golden Spirea, (Spirea opulifolia aurea); Purple Barberry, (Berberis vul- garis purpurea), VINES. *Native Honeysuckle, (Lonicera media);*Yellow Trumpet Hon- eysuckle, (L. Sullivantii); *Bitter-sweet, (Celastrus scandens); * Woodbine, (Ampelopsis quinquefolia);*Wild Grape, (Vitis riparia); *Wild Clematis, or Virgin’s Bower, (Clematis Virginiana). Notes. 1. The Kentucky Coffee Tree is native in the Minnesota River Valley, but much farther north will necessarily be somewhat unreliable. Valuable for its tropical appearing foliage. 2. Besides the species of Crataegus mentioned, there are several other native varieties which will well repay cultivation. 3. Several varieties of native and imported willows and poplars are found to give good satisfaction in plantations, but are locally found to be subject to disease. Care should be taken in selecting their positions if used for ornamental purposes, as they are naturally associated with pools or streams of water. 4. A dwarf, spreading evergreen of much value in suitable locations. 8 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ANNUAL MEETING, DEC. 1-3, 1896. F, H. NUTTER, MINNEAPOLIS. The annual meeting of this society was held in accordance with the announcement in the December Horticulturist, from December Ist to 3rd, in the rooms of the county commissioners at Minneapolis. These rooms are especially adapted for such a purpose, the main room affording ample accommodation for a good sized audience, while in the committee rooms adjoining, the various exhibits are displayed to the public. The attendance at the different sessions was large and the interest shown by those who took part in the discussions proved that horti- culture has many earnest students in this state. Although the program was necessarily long, still, under the guidance of Pres. Underwood, it was dispatched promptly, and almost every session closed with its business disposed of. The first day was devoted mostly to the discussion of small fruits, and the interchange of ideas and experiences was interest- ing and profitable. In the evening the annual address of the president and the reports of other officers were submitted and showed that the society was prospering to a degree never before attained in its history, the num- ber of members now enrolled being 523, while the growth of the library is seriously taxing the accommodations of the office. Wednesday forenoon was spent on the subject of apples, and in the afternoon plums, grapes and peaches had their turn. Every- thing that was brought forward proved that, even in what are con- sidered tender fruits, varieties are being developed which promise much for the experimenter in Minnesota. Wednesday evening the more ornamental branches of “ Floricul— ture and Arboriculture” were considered, and on this occasion more than any other during the meetings, perhaps, the ladies were in evidence in the audience. Many facts of value were educed by the various speakers, but the most interest was aroused by the paper read by Mrs. Mildred M. Barnard, chairman of the Flower Commit- tee of the Minneapolis Improvement League, in which she set forth in enthusiastic words the success which has attended the efforts of her committee in interesting the school children of the city, espec- ially in the poorer sections, in the cultivation of flowering plants by the free distribution of seeds; and showing how from these small beginnings the spirit of improvement has extended to the older members of the families. The principle incident of Thursday afternoon was, of course, the election of officers; and the society expressed its approval of what had been done inthe past by unanimously re-electing those officials whose terms of office had expired. Thursday evening a considerable portion of the time was occupied by students from the Agricultural College, at St. Anthony Park,and their papers were much appreciated. The most interest was appar- ently shown in what was said on “Gardening in the Jersey Islands” by Mr. E. W. Major, whose boyhood days were spent there. The idea of paying an annual rental per acre that would purchase outright ANNUAL MEETING. 9 most any five acres of farming land in Minnesota and the marketing a yearly crop of potatoes to the value of about $2,000,000 from an area about the size of a Western township, calls for methods of intensified farming as novel as they are interesting. An exhibition of stereopticon views of appropriate subjects by Prof. S. B. Green brought to a fitting close a meeting which can be safely denominated “a grand success.” In the exhibition rooms, while there were some exhibits of flower- ing plants, canned fruits, honey, grapes, plums, etc., the chief place was of course given to apples, of which there were over 400 plates upon the tables. Among the individual exhibitors, J.S. Harris of La Crescent, lead with 90 plates, of 70 varieties, while extensive displays were also made by Messrs. Wedge, Parker and Somerville. From the agricultural college at Ames, Ia., was a special exhibit of Russian apples, of about 75 plates. While the tables presented an attractive appearance and the fruit was much admired by the general public, still, there were many, who, perhaps remembering the remarks of a speaker at a previous meeting in regardto some California fruits, that “they were as large as pumpkins and tasted a good deal like one,” expressed a desire to satisfy themselves as to the actual flavor of Minnesota apples. In view of this fact it has been suggested that a sufficient supply of Wealthy and other toothsome varieties be sent by orchardists to the _ next winter meeting so that those truly interested in the matter may test the value of our state’s product for eating out of hand. Not only were the different sections of our own state well repre- sented at the meeting, but from other states many old and some new faces were seen as delegates from sister societies, and they were gladly invited to participate in our discussions and were listen- ed to with interest and profit. Among them may be named Mr. H. M. Dunlap of Illinois; Messrs.G, J. Kellogg, D. C. Converse, A. J. Philips and Chas. Hirschinger, of Wisconsin; Prof. N. E. Hansen of Brookings College, South Dakota; Mr. J. Sexton in charge of the Iowa Exhibit; and Messrs. C. F. Gardner, W. H. Sherman and C,G. Patten from the Northeastern Horticultural Society of Iowa. AWARD OF PREMIUMS. At the Annual Meeting, 1896, of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. APPLES. Article. Exhibitor. Premium. Amount. eapsy Girls ccc.) ov.c.see. WW. .8.. Wiadmoyer, Dresbach:.....<..3-. SECONG ss) avec c'ss's $ .25 Rollin’s Prolific.......... % Sed apasceita UTS UNsek se cheers esac 50 Rollin’s Pippin........... =o Be reece PALER Stat cal Seen caus 50 ULV0) ONS CS ey Aa Se er SE Se MM yuri ens olecoectlae ao ADO re Woks oterieies ese oe 50 White Transparent..... SOM) Bie de SO Yon eee ES tats = eens beet wan .50 Transcendent............ Jaw. Murray, Excelsior. <. 2. i. .ciccesee Ministers stowage ne wee sve s 00 VALU OCG ae a ee es a A ete Ste eee Ute sAcce, bcs orn 1.00 Briars’ Sweet ............ Ca TEE ah ME a RAR Nace ean in Bus cess vcs eke as 1.00 i St a a a rane are te Pe s ha oe , aie tsa) Vette Ai 10 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY — me Article. Exhibitor. Premium, Amount. Whitney..................&. H. Buttermore; Lake City..........Second ......... oon a A MW GCHOSH cate lan toes be a‘ o ovcla/ain'¢ Sg SHIPS Treetit) sc Bareie's als ene Mi nne@sotaccisscsseoeccss ae cin ola a aot RE DES Titi cee Naess sweeney Browny.s..es0-essssacso00..We 8. Widmoyer, Dresbach:... 2.5. c0..seCONG sen,. 6 alsa cele nee SVS LOD deiajatse ieialeivte er 7 rae H. F. Bussee, Minneapolis.............. Birstiisefasicsescsceee 50 Allen’s Choice’........... S. D. Richardson, Minnesota City...... MPSS cates Ailcte ao ait 50 Harry Kaump'.....2.: +. SEs TNs 0 oct Aig teeta ete WMS i toe pushes eteees 1.00 Orampton No.1........-. ON cata LTT LAS ma era Second.) 3. cecanese a eee Crampton No.2.-.... ..-- e ; asa sos MLR SUG atelesieee Satara eee -50 CM BRO sec) acteiaee ssa. Wm: Somerville. os... ca.cesiioeapiescniee MANS, seat. cc erence cnimnEnE Collection, 69 varieties..J. S. Harris, La Crescent............... Birs ts 355) ako cee on 28000 PARTIES et oon ace Bieatascaercars et a dates Osea ae Second ..si te. pete est, a Pewaukee.............++- Be iS Up 2h CA anes ee Wirstisjcestaseeed iaodee ee oy Utter’ s.0.. Ae Rta dee eR eee CO a ae rae Beet WMEit idence sccee eee 50 . Walbridge................ . oii kates dee dee BeCONd Waee en seeeee 25 ANG 11) £41 1) Pe FE ph YTS Maral iat ean IB IPSG. cs cues eae eee ec!) EATS UE ech GGA CAD GCE RSEIEE & eaigteblage cQane se LPS Oi wenn eth aoe ae 50 : MU MUAWEONUCC Nec se.ee scccc'e s S dvarsletaialesaaigieletavcle MS COMO Les ticiet sear eee Nae Roxbury Russet......... ce i panes tnsbalen ee ES CCONGE te. cae pee eee 25 iy Bene avisee ce aearisacess AMS MLSE Ear hn i eth ose Secondhcvitcasecene 25 MOCMIGY”, icictecsnahaas'sea ‘ o sted ainieaidnee tea U's 5 tole bcotgareiaee td 50 PETEY FWUSSOb..<(:/s)c:c.-0%:+ 0s if PPMTON BOGS BTS cs. c0d asiselse Gis -S a EROU GIGGONE Civics sonia culse secs = sSitol alo biMe acre core aE LIS bs came de veletwiewatale OO OKANENA S52 soc cine vest Br! va ccp tol) ali eee eee vars Sa TESG sco ayee Cie maree see OO Giant Swaar............ Cee ET BAST dese eeaeltae e List s\ aes ee ais acs .50 y} \Wieillley 3G fo ASR ESS COnpORle .. Wm. yen LY et 010 then apisampcnc cde! Thes\ennsgen. obIso00} -50 Roxbury Russet......... UIE a toaly Cong eae, Saka Serene 50 " Oxford Orange .......... dal, MMR COS Sate Conosooe BNESG ooo. os cee oes 50 4 PAUTALSTITAN sioteletaa’ela/shelelsis a? ope On DECkKer UTES DAC Men value seine: Setanta bss ioe so eengionh Sac 1.00 ef) HAIMCUSE)/47-).cjneeiess ce we slat MRee We Rasch coddstdce sp Winst./.-<.0s\200- =| sone | Rhodes’ Seedling.... ... a bard's be 06 Seu MIS bY sia wets o ecto roc ae . Collection, 47varieties...J. R. Cummins. Wwashioant: dajcls o1dsiseanes ALINE HEISE ys aoe vsie ae OR OU BY Borowinleai.. ce/eceiae)'sisie fs sieisiateyaisien MCCONG neat cleats 225 Br Decdhin ents camesntaeas s ale 'e|s\ Nelsiejafen OO COMMU sc iters stare) tei 2.00 ‘ Red Lake Winter........ W. S. Widmoyer, Dresbach....... . Second............ 25 iat TUCO, wee tetetontane ce eicniee Ditus Day, Farmington .........:....-. Binsticjedasca sen aces 50 : Mailinidiaiesrceicic s ecleouirae a Pn trom Ay hd Pye ad MYS tics cine eee sae 1.00 a Tallman Sweet .......... os fore) Pomtiovhslavelotoatets Birst ce. .piade dase eee a (Clieeh GBadeoaracc So-ddowanor Pelt at Oy) WEES ABNNE onto Saeeeiternt FRIES Usk ciscaie bent cle econ aOR ae Perry Russet............. a Joke CR eg SCCON el hae ae aie re Meader’s Winter......... i: Saialaleis je coe eer Roe COMM dae cutest $26. * Quaker Beauty.......... rs CO Bh tonya Second.ssc Nis AW een | Minnesota cesses sas css Lake Day, Clinton Malisascmyaeece. PISecond iis coerce 50 pA Quaker Beauty.......... Lae teu ran Shino hanSbedeotios HUT SU eee a solaris eae On a Oranzeeesus. note £5 ah alll Obit tend tae reef Secondics.s4..s. osu ie Hutchinson’ s Sweet . A ode RIM RW CP anmaacdootds NeCOnO Mest vemclerae 25 4 FAG ST OD ton se nccisoaic Mea eae’s SSA ot Os a) Ba ee ere ee Se Second). 5 .ca.6s Je roe : IWieallibhy er chaste waciee Oe ARMA nS aes Cat Mirstec.csi seers 1.00 i St. Lawrence. ............- PROM ane PIAL PE tes ce 4 stine Wirst i... cece cee eeo ‘ ULE ote eS ee ae MAMET Rs ees han Se Second’) tise 25 Saxton Fs avy PUNE RR ei ae ae Hirst} y.cc8 oe 50 HAMLE USE) ne. sees tna eae cate of aie .Second Sefesice 25 RCMP DA VISS ca crsteeacts ates OEE OT SS Aint ("Pate a viel a fe avalon Weer insta. acs Baer 50 Plumb) si@ider <.s\i2... 25 ST amEvCainen nt hoe So 2 CEM cp MPS Uae verte te ceeintee SS MBEROGULIE. s\.cleuiseiciee aasioy 3 «eviews oe secs MAPS tcc Nee costs ache TP 6 : PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 15 is less disposition among farmers to improve their opportunities for surrounding themselves with the comforts and luxuries of life than among any other class. Living off by themselves, there is no incentive to spruce up the place. With everything at hand to do with, many are careless, indifferent and neglectful. They are en- titled to the best the land can produce, and, with a little effort and by becoming active members of the Minnesota Horticultural So- ciety, they would soon have it. They will raise plenty of hogs, but hogs don’t suggest or make necessary any other good thing, while strawberries do; they suggest sugar and cream and health. The only things hogs suggest to me are boils and doctor’s bills. May our society grow until every farmer is a member, and then I shall know that he has plenty of fruit, a fine vegetable garden with the asparagus peeping out in the early spring to furnish a dish for din- ner, with asparagus on toast for supper! Lettuce, radishes, peas, beans, cauliflower, spinach, tomatoes and cucumbers will all follow in their season, with the accompaniment of strawberries, raspber- ries, blackberries, grapes and apples. They are the farmer’s pre- rogatives. They belong to the tillers of the soil, and yet they are mainly vouchsafed to the dwellers in the town. Farmers are find- ing out that they are not getting the best they are entitled to, and, through the influence of our society disseminated by our valuable monthly “Horticulturist” and by the good examples set by their friends in town, they are adopting more modern methods of living. Seeing the improved method of grading the streets in town, they are finding out that it does not pay to let the four rods wide of road grow up to weeds, when only sixteen feet is all that is needed to drive on, and so they cultivate the land up to the wagontrack. Of course, they cannot afford to treat the roads as it is advised for towns, but it looks better and is much better to see a fine crop of grain or potatoes growing beside the roadway than noxious weeds. One example I have seen was a twelve mile drive on the Crystal Spring road out of Lake City, where there were less weeds than could be found across one block in some of the streets in town. In the country the roads are usually laid out on section lines. There are seventy-two miles of section lines in a township. Allow- ing six acres of waste land to the mile, there would be 432 acres to the township. In the county of Wabasha with but 18 townships, there would be nearly 8,000 acres of waste land worth $240,000. There are 1,301,826 sq. miles of land in the state; six acres of waste land to the mile would give us 7,810,956 acres worth, at $10.00, $78,109,560. The interest on this sum would, at four per cent, amount to $3,125,000 annually. But the waste places do not stop here; enter the farms, and around the buildings and fences there is much land that only adds to the roadside production of weeds. I would not like, as is the case on some farms, to have the grain sown up close to the buildings. There should bea good front yard on the farm, not ornamented with a hog-pen beside the road fence but set to cool and inviting shade trees, the ground seeded to grass that can be kept in nice condition with a scythe. Let all the buildings be arranged witha 16 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY view to convenience, not crowding them unnecessarily but without an undue waste of land that is apt to be neglected and become an eyesore. Of course, it will be a great many years before all the poor land in the country will be turned to the best use it is capable of, but we need to urge the importance of seeing how well we can cul- tivate and not how much we can carelessly run over. It has been urged by our society ever since its formation that we should plant orchards on locations most favorable for the growth of trees, and until a few years ago I thought that I had given proper heed to that injunction. In fact, I thought I had exhausted my re- sources in selecting the best available land and so had gazed at the bluffs, some four hundred feet above the level of Lake Pepin, think- ing they were only valuable for the beauty they gave to the scenery: but that for practical purposes they were necessarily useless. But noticing that on the north side of them, though so steep that the ground could not be plowed, there was a luxuriant growth of timber, it occurred to me that there was the best place for an or- chard, and, although it was two and one-half miles from home, I had the ground cleared off and an orchard of 2,000 apple trees planted. To do this, we commenced about half way up the bluff and chopped the trees off close to the ground, Most of them were ash and birch, three to six inches in diameter, although there were some larger trees. After clearing the ground, we commenced on the lower edge and planted trees wherever we could find a favor- able place to dig a hole, first digging out the earth on the upper side and building up the ground on the lower side of where we wanted the tree to stand, making a level spot four or five feet in diameter; but, to use a Hibernianism, with the ground highest on the lowest side, that we might catch and retain the rain that fell. Occasional stones helped to build up the lower side, and, where large ones cropped out by the removal of the earth, they were al- lowed to remain. In planting the trees, we followed the plan of leaning them a little to the south for the better protection of the body from the sun. The first summer there sprang up rapidly a luxurient growth of young trees of various kinds together with tall growing grass. In August we mowed this off and, after spading the ground around the trees, put iton for mulching. We find that by spading around the trees in the spring and again in the summer and mowing the remaining ground, we get a good, healthy growth, and we feel en- couraged to think our scheme will prove a success. This location, no doubt, has its objections, and I had hesitated to take any horticultural friends up to this orchard. First, it is hard to get to it, although there is a good road running diagonally up the bluff. Second, it is dangerous walking when you do get there— something like the roof of a house. But my enthusiastic friends, Harris and Philips, were visiting me,and I ventured to mention this new thing in the orchard line, and, although the day was hot and sultry, the mere mention of something new wes sufficient to ar- rouse the indomitable spirit of friend Harris, and, like a road-horse that holds up his head and springs forward with action when an- we vy, PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. EZ. other horse tries to pass him, heat and fatigue were forgotten, and we must see the orchard. Philips, always gamey, was no less en- thusiastic, and we were soon there. Some of the trees were fruiting and at once suggested to Philips’ inquisitive mind the problem of how we were to harvest when the trees get into full bearing. Well, I hadn’t got that far along, but we have since studied it out. The cold storage and packing house will be located near the spring at the foot of the bluff. A canvas spout is to be put up, extending from the top of the house across the deep ravine to the top of the bluff; shorter ones will be used leading into this from the trees. These will have an easy attachment so as to move them along when necessary. With the upper end at the trees, all that one will have to “do will be to pick the apples and carefully place them on the can- vass, and down they will go into the packing house. In order to overcome, in part, the momentum they would otherwise attain and to prevent their bruising, it is proposed to utilize some of the wind friend Dartt told us about, by blowing it into the lower end of the spoutin just sufficient quantity to hold the fruit in check and to prevent too rapid a transit. At the lower end, the apples will be carried across a Canvass sorter with holes all over it four inches in diameter, so that all the small apples will drop through onto a can- vass below and there be conducted to the cider press, thus allow- ing only the large, first-class fruit to go into the barrels for market. Orders for this fruit will be filled numerically, in the order in which they are received. One advantage in growing an orchard on a side-hill like this is similar to that of a twelve-story building over a one-story; the foot of the tree above is only on a level with the upper story of the tree below, so that the upper tree in no way interferes with the lower one. This plan also admits of planting quite thickly without de- priving any of the trees of plenty of light and sun. As this was to be an experimental orchard, I planted every variety I could get. Seriously, I believe there is enough bluff land in Minnesota that is not in use on which could be grown all the apples that the state could use. In conclusion, let me urge that organizations are the means by which reforms are brought about. We have a pardonable pride in the work that has been accomplished by our society, but not until every man who owns a piece of land has learned to provide his own family with healthful fruits and vegetables and also become a con- tributor to those who must necessarily live in towns and cannot grow them; not until every newsboy on the street and the inmates of every cottage shall be supplied; not until every breeze that fans the brow of toil and care shall carry to them the perfume of our be- loved flowers, will our opportunities cease. An old farmer who had made most of his money by growing grain once said, “ When I get a good apple crop and sell it, the money it brings it always seems as if I had been made a present of.” 18 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ANNUAL REPORT OF EXECUTIVE BOARD. WYMAN ELLIOT, CHAIRMAN, MINNEAPOLIS, Members of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society: Ladies and Gentlemen:—The relative value of horticultural ex- hibits as compared with agricultural exhibits is a subject con- sidered by many persons among the farming classes of very little importance; that they are to a certain extent inter-dependent all will admit; hence, the more need of a wider distribution of horticul- tural knowledge among the rural masses. Astate fair with an in- efficiently conducted horticultural departnient, crippled for want of proper space,appliances and accommodations for making an attract- ive and instructive exhibit of the horticultural products of the state, would not be considered of very much credit to the manage- ment under whose patronage and care it was conducted; ora state fair with the horticultural department and all that pertains to it left out would not be considered by the most intelligent persons very much of a fair. It would be like the play of Hamlet with Ham- let left out. . When we consider the amount of thought and work that it re- quires to put upa good,instructive horticultural exhibition, it seems to be a waste of energy and material if there are not proper facili- ties furnished with which to make a creditable display of the in- creasing horticultural products. To those who have not had im- mediate connection with the preparation of an exhibit in horti- culture, it seems an easy task to gather from every section of the state the best specimens produced; but to those who have hadthe care and management of such an affair it takes on the proportions of no smal} amount of work. It entails a large amount of detail, which those who have never undertaken such an exhibit cannot be- come familiar with at once. To particularize, take,for instance, the exhibition of apples. Each exhibitor, if he would be successful, must give great care to the growing and selecting of the very best specimens to be obtained from his trees. If he would put up an extremely fine exhibit, he must gather many more samples of a single variety than he desires to use, as none but the very best will answer the purpose. One poor specimen on a plate often loses him the coveted prize. Therefore, no grower of fine fruit can afford to make a good exhibit, expecting to spend six to ten days in prepara- tion and attendance upon a fair, unless there is a reasonable pros- pect of getting a sufficient remuneration for the labor and expense. In order that the competition may be large, sharp and interesting, good-sized premiums should be offered, or exhibitors will not make the proper effort. We urge upon the board of managers of our state fair the propriety of offering most liberal sweepstake pre- miums for collections in the fruit and flower departments. In ad- dition to this, there should be better facilities afforded to the horti- cultural department, especially for flowers, for making creditable exhibitions such as will stimulate enthusiasm among superin- tendents and exhibitors. 7 What we very much need upon our fair grounds is a building supplied with all the modern appliances in which to hold attract- REPORT OF EXECUTIVE BOARD. 19 ive and instructive exhibitions of fruits and flowers; and to bring this prominently before the state fair board of managers we would recommend that a committee of three members be appointed to present suitable plans and to urge upon them the propriety of furnishing such a building. At my invitation, our secretary has prepared the plan of a building such as we think would be admir- ably adapted, that will be submitted to the inspection of members present for their approval and friendly criticism. The erection of this building may require the asking of some assistance by way of a smallappropriation from our state legislature, and, if so, we feel assured that the State Agricultural Society will receive the hearty co-operation of all the members?of this organization in working for this much desired object. We wish to call your attention to the beneficent influence exerted upon the minds of the citizens of our state through the dissemi- nation of the published essays and discussions brought out at our annual winterand summer meetings, as published in our monthly “Minnesota Horticulturist,” under the:guiding hand and intelligent direction of our most worthy secretary. The distribution of our published reports through the opportuni- ties offered at our farmers’ institutes is working a wonderful amount of good for their bettermentiin the home and on the farm. The officers of this society are much=pleased with the hearty co- operation received from the institute workers in helping to place before the minds of the people this horticultural knowledge that they so much need. It is the hand to hand work done by our horti- cultural lectures at the institute}that is helping to bring this health- giving industry prominently tothe attention of the farmers and in- dustrial classes of our state. This is not wholly a labor of love without returning compensation, for our membership during the year is materially increased by this kind of missionary work. Along this line of thought we wish to call your attention to the idea of procuring an attractive lithograph life membership certificate | which, neatly framed, which will serve as silent reminders of our educative endeavors when hung inthe parlors and living rooms of our most energetic and progressive farmers. Permit me to make a few suggestions with reference to the prepa- ration of our fruit list for the comingiyear. Wehave made several changes for improvement in the past, trying to aid and assist those who were just beginning in fruit culture, but have not yet made the lists specific enough to be adapted to all sections of our state. We should at this session adopt some system of preparing fruit lists that will in a measure prevent the wholesale swindling of our peo- ple by unworthy and irresponsible tree peddlers in the selling of nursery stock at exorbitantly high prices, wholly unfit for the locality in which it is sold. Would it not be better to make a list of fruits adapted to a certain group of counties; for instance, take a portion in the southeastern part of the state and make a list speci- ally adapted to that section, another list for the southwestern counties, another list for the middle counties and still another for the northern counties. Each list would be modified to the re- 20 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. quirements for hardiness and other qualifications of the section in which it is to be used. Further references to the method of prevention of swindling will be more fully made in the secretary’s report. From experience for seven years past with our long list of stand- ing committees, we are led to believe a change could be made which would result advantageously tous. The interests of horticulture wculd, we think, be much better served if special topics were sub- divided and each part given to members qualified to treat each par- ticular section specifically; this work to be assigned at the begin- ning of the year; and then each writer would have the whole season in which to make observations and note any information that would be desirable to bring before the society in a condensed form; each paper to be followed with discussions. In closing, I wish to call your attention to the preparation of the premium list in the horticultural department ofthe state fair for the year 1897, and would suggest that whoever is designated to take this work in charge should be supplied with premium lists, for reference and comparison, from all ofthe principal state agricultural and hort- icultural societies, as they can be procured by our secretary. SECRETARY’S ANNUAL REPORT. A. W. LATHAM, MINNEAPOLIS. Mr. President and Fellow Members:—I was asked lately “what has the horticultural society done for the state?” It wasa fair question and set me to thinking. It is now thirty years since the society was organized, and in that time it has held thirty annual meetings of two to four days each, besides an equal number of mid-summer ses- sions; it has published, including the present volume, twenty-four annual reports of from one hundred pages in the earlier issues to five hundred and fifty in the latest one, and in editions of from one thousand to three thousand five hundred volumes. Most of these publications have been distributed within the state, though the as- sistant librarian’s report will probably show in the aggregate sev- eral thousand still in storage, comprising more or less in number of every issue. Besides these, during the last three years, cne thousand magazines have been printed monthly, in all twelve thous- and in the year, and these have all been distributed by the members or officers of the society, excepting a few hundred of this year’s issue. The membership roll has risen from its dozen or two pioneer members at the outset to its present dimensions of over five hun- dred, and, probably, from its inception until now several thousand different persons have been enrolled. A large proportion of these members have attended the meetings and been benefited thereby, and given off something of what they have gained in their later contact with others. The society has annually prepared a fruit list,. in which is crystallized the latest knowledge as to the adaptibility of fruits to our climate, and, at least of late years, this list has been. SECRETARY’S ANNUAL REPORT. oY largely given to the people through the medium of the state press. As a factor in the work accomplished, the connection of our society with the state fair must not be forgotten. The display of fruit, an- nually increasing in quantity and variety, for which we should re- ceive largely the credit, is an object lesson of far-reaching effect in stimulating and encouraging effort. The Farmers’ Institute as co- laborer cannot be overlooked in the recital of the forces at work in the dissemination of the gospel of horticulture as set forth by our society, and many of our most useful members have from its plat- form “cried aloud and stayed not.” After all is recited, what have we accomplished? Have we done what we could, and is there more that with our increased facilities and correspondingly enlarged responsibilities we can and ought to do? With the opportunities now offered through the medium of this association, it would seem to us who are a part of the motive force in operation that no resident of the state is excusable for not being in possession of right information on horticultural subjects. But when as individuals’ we come in touch with the people as a whole and realize the actual conditions as they exist and that lack of correct knowledge is the rule, we appreciate that in this, as in other affairs, progress towards improvement or reform is slow and ever fails to keep pace with the impatience of its promoters. But that this society has already accomplished a great and useful work there remains no doubt, and that we have only crossed the thresh- old should be no cause of discouragement and self-reproach. We have another work besides that of disseminating knowledge and one which necessarily precedes it and is primarily of greater importance, and that is the discovery of knowledge. Have we ac- complished well in this field? Yes,and laid broad and deep the groundwork of a successful pomology and general horticulture in . the comparatively uncongenial soil of the Northwest. But are there not other means than those we are using by which the results of our work can be increased in value? Whoever has a new thought on this subject should bring it at once to the store- house and let it be tested, and if found good it should be putin practice. A greater dissemination of the fruit list, with brief direc- tions as to selection of locality, planting, care, etc.,so classified as to be a very certain guide to the planter, would bea very practical way in which to reach the largest number, and it can be done with- out difficulty through the medium of the state press, which has al- ways shown a willingness to aid our work. Such a list, to be of the most value, should be prepared with special reference also to the different sections of the state, considered as to soil and climate. The secretary would be glad to assist in this to the extent of his ability. The society might well do something more than it has yet done in the direction of protecting planters from the swindling propensi- ties of irresponsible nursery agents and in the aggregate save the public annually alarge amount. A practical suggestion has come from Mr. J. P. Andrews, that members in any part of the state where agents of this character are working inform the secretary of the particulars, and on proper verification of the facts the secretary shall furnish to the people the necessary information and caution 22 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. through the local newspapers. That this would correct the wrong and make such operations unprofitable there is no doubt. This plan, successfully carried out, would require the co-operation of our membership, but with our list so generally scattered throughout the state it ought to be practical. If the society sees fit to author- ize some such plan, the machinery of the secretary’s office can easily be put into operation to make it effective. There,are otherjfields open for new effort which I will not take up your time to consider. The membership of the society for the year just closed stands as follows: Dateahand 2) Ky cal ctanll 6217-354 SC AER, WI AEI Os OS Kees aeock A eA 463 PAGE MOM DELS ee eerie cts soc 6 oa: > sbicipie «ails eee tare mee 52 This is only a slight increase over last year. On account of the close times,it has not been deemed best to go to the expense of mak- ing any special effort to increase the roll, and indeed the work of the secretary’s office is developing so rapidly that no special efforts are found to be necessary to profitably employ the time. The post- age bill for the year past, amounting to $105.70, will give an idea of the correspondence of this office, and this does not include the cost of sending out the volumes of reports, which are nearly all for- warded by express at a slight saving of expense over the postage rate. Two large book files of letters have been thought worth sav- ing during the year out of, probably, two thousand letters received. I take pleasure in referring to the valuable service rendered to our cause last winter by Mr. Clarence Wedge in his capacity of in- stitute lecturer, independent of his work on the platform, in distrib- uting fifty and upwards of our magazines and several hundred fruit lists at every appointment, in all some 1,200 magazines and 9,000 circulars. We hope to continue this good work the present winter, through Mr. Wedge’s successor in the institute corps, Mr. K. J. Cutts. The society library is rapidly becoming a very important element in the permanence of our organization. During the year 1897, 121 volumes have been added to our shelves, making in round numbers 600 books in the library, not counting duplicates nor any of the large number of pamphlets and periodicals. Through the courtesy of the state officers, 100 paper covered volumes have lately been bound in black cloth, including a number of horticultural periodi- cals thought worthy of preservation, so that there arenow very few paper-covered books in the library. More than thirty magazines or papers, largely devoted to horticulture, are received regularly in ex- change for our monthly, and reports as issued are received from forty-six experiment stations in this country. Many of these are worthy of preservation and will be bound and find a permanent placein the library, At the current rate of increase the library and office are likely to outgrow the present accommodations in another year and make expansion in some directiona necessity. Theplates used in our magazine are rapidly increasing aswell. Many ofthese have proved of value to us in the demand for their use by publica- tions outside the state. Engravings ofa large number of our mem- bers have already been made and used, and they have been pre- SECRETARY’S ANNUAL REPORT. 23 served with the purpose of utilizing them sometime in publishing a gallery of familiar faces. 4 My relation to the horticultural exhibit at the state fair would render it not appropriate for me to make some statement connected therewith, but as Mr. Wyman Elliot, in his dual relation of officer of both associations, may more properly discuss the subject, I will not consume your time; but I am sure that I voice the wishes of our society when I express a personal desire that one who has served us so long and well, and who has done so much in late years to re- deem the fair name of the State Agricultural Society and place it on a sound financial footing, may consent to forego a natural desire to retire from active participation in so large a measure of public service as has been thrust upon him and continue to give to that institution the benefit of his practical common sense and his sturdy, old-fashioned honesty. No position in that organization is so exalted that Mr. Elliot would fail to do it honor and reflect honor as well upon this association. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. RECEIPTS. Advertisements in magazine. ae Malet: Sa Die aideiechee Se RO LEGO Subscribers to the magazine 4 faa Wikconsid Bialaleterettia siciasatoteieetatelae 4.00 FROG RRY SO] Olesen’ divtescte ole lel oielere Sa ete nisin: Saisie) n158 w miei inven Sacleials c aid. ciaieMratetn 6016 13.00 ALC MAE MIDOTS ALLA Siac cs wetadicels aaa) aalacioclomiersia wttte ala atic elec joa) stejeiotomiarajcii 38.00 PN IPITED LOO Sak OPE SOG gate ila eyecish eile apeaisls:aible Mele sterslahatelate sin ciajsleveisvelaiecle cise 410.50 Amita) fCAS TOMASO 2.26: sce soccer stecne ein ae aiste ted late ateis Sa cele sMicearatons 70.00 MOD e arn pha wraisgoA sae aT eae sen iano sine i Mepeens erastoieyn e's, Sanie wieeg dia aac s $659.70 DISBURSEMENTS ERO SGME OMe eer cen ncite de pce misicve' os clone tac tie statis terse emiste/de cidiele edhe e steels cists as ce \ss ner @LOD ETO HSA DIOS Sayers atece ates cke rove aiela etale bus costal diate Stove ts cperal x Se era) sYaleien aja. wie: Solos else riattrea oinieas ectetask 66.12 OMES SUPPLHESs ANG ATRbULES o:5.. 51} qcloeines hicle cle oe sic eeiaeeer siete: lecciersierstolalsiehethanibia cre 14.62 QOHIGEXTED rose cek aces welds De idecicsh ot Seetes Se oasis ielote als cele cle aN Sta ores he sate 144.00 eT INNS ee Es Ma ere Nee ered eae etic aitha any Actas sulk coker /eUaie aaia's a Mod Veleetere meni aw 70.00 FX PEUSes) Ann WamMEOSbin gs P1GOD' sv. ccisiscinisc clecrcred eyeie es re. ace ds Weeiol atalele si biciciein eSe 51.89 PESPENSES/ ANNUAL MICSSINE 5 TSO rere =,ccatepaicoo los cimwiaroieieiciw wie (Beleleleinlsseleralcle ators seiclecie 12.65 Directing ana malin WAC AANES ee ciicc ccs ole/sjelv deiae’s we'esiondincepeseciveidds "eels 16.70 ET SUIT UIUC ee mah dercod octave sjee! aeiad sare chests nie ateit od ol aw Siieiciaie atefoternlatt Mietors stay eerste a sfaiere a ere 5.60 POOR S LOTMPLOMIIIIM Be oie a's ae ei viciatere:cs divlovejo'eisldasera/oie atelelala’oeuseieie cee aiateles| stare aye.oe 5 23.7 ASIST ANGE TINOM EE asc accede Seti cas ncielr ne side oe ocivelsals cleats voleere cieeains alone e 19.70 ESCO G11 ee APLIRU LET OG LIM Sis 5, oic/eiaccisiose ancl a: elora,ibisiele ols! ate'arale atelayaim ejsie che syed'e elaja'ele etwas 84.05 PUEINIPUPNG Nt tres eae AD SAME Wate crate Jaiate ts taleclalata tle ave Cotesia ewe tee cis a eraae tae 13.34 FIX DOHSES' GELCL ALO TO LO Wai taccos cclesigiacedtcctapeciter civictiodealtrheic ca cdela tee sipaae 12.00 eRe UIC DOME SULTON <.)505. ss dcrdhccecicielt = aides ne ei tetetelslch wwatticate gee Gee = = = S “192g saMoy Ground plan of proposed Horticultural Hall. which two archways are cut. The fruit exhibition room is 80 feet long by 72 feet wide, and contains, besides the World’s Fair Booth (to be removed from its present site), tables which will hold from 2,500 to 3,000 plates, depending on size of plates and distance apart. The tables planned for are the same size as the two wider ones in use ’ in the present building and surrounded by the usual rail. REE are tables of one-half width ranged along the two walls. This room is ventilated and somewhat lighted from above, but is also provided with many windows on its two sides, coming down within three feet of the fruit tables and provided with curtains to keep out the sun. ‘ 36 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. *SIDE-ELEVATION- In each of the four corners are seats, and this feature is extended on a considerable scale in the gallery provided, which is shown in the plan by the dotted lines. This gallery is reached by stairways in the two larger vestibules and opens into the fruit room, although the rear side of itis glazed, so the flower department is also in sight. Behind the World’s Fair Booth is a storage room, and above that is an apartment opening through a wide archway onto the gallery of the booth. The dimensions of the floral department are 66 ft. byS50ft. Itisto be glazed on all sides from within three feet of the floor rising some ten feet, but has no glass in the roof and is on the north side of the fruit room to protect it in a measure from the sun’s heat. It is con- templated using the floor for exhibition purposes, andthe walks, as shown in the plan, are to be margined by tiles, the floor of the whole being covered with concrete or stone. The five entrances to the building all have sliding doors on the inside and outswinging doors on the out- side, intended to prevent undesired drafts through the structure. There are many other minor features, but lack of space pre- vents describing SKETCH FRONT ELEVATION-HORTICUCTURAL HALL: Liveen au Hernan + AVL:DOR R-ARLHIT EET: 700:Lurt Bx: A committee has been appointed in conformity with the action of our society to present the plans to the state fair board and urge the needs of the horticultural department, which are, however, well understood by them. The space we are now occupying is conceded to be quite inadequate even for present needs and not at all com- mensurate with the aspirations of the ambitious horticulturists of the North Star State. NORTH-EASTERN IOWA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 37 ANNUAL MEETING OF NORTH-EASTERN IOWA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1896. F. W. KIMBALL, AUSTIN, DELEGATE, Your delegate to the North-Eastern Iowa Society was hospitably met and entertained free of expense by the good citizens of Osage and found, not a large, but an enthusiastic meeting and three days of very instructive and entertaining papersand discussions. While, as arule, they are studying over the same problems that we are here, there are locations in that district in which many things not hardy in Minnesota can seemingly be recommended, especially in the lower part of the district and along the Mississippi river near Dubuque. Mr. Ivins, of Iowa Falls, in discussing strawberry raising, wants a low, moist land, well drained, and he has what he calls a prairie muck. He says that Haverland, Warfield and Crescent are his best pistillate, but that Parker Earle is his best staminate, shipment be- ing considered, but Bederwood, perhaps, best for home use; would mulch heavily to prevent too early blossoms, and when possible uses decomposed manure and covers so deeply that he cannot see any vines,and does not remove any of the covering in the spring. On all old plantations, after harvesting the crop, he cuts down with a disk harrow to narrow the rows and then thoroughly cultivates to mellow the soil. ‘ Mr. Bixby, of Cedar Falls, recommends old clover ground as of the best for a strawberry bed. For cherries, Mr. Kenyon reports Montgomery, Ostheim and Spate Morello as best for him. Mr. Bix by strongly recommends raising all cherries in the bush form. The killing of birds brought out quite an animated discussion. The killing of the blue jay and cedar bird was generally concurred in- while several contended that the killing of the robin was justifiable —and, indeed, it is quite a problem for those wishing to save their fruit as to what is the proper thing to do. E. M. Sherman, of Charles City, read a very good paper on the duty of nurserymen to horticulture, and discussions followed as to the status and moral standing of the tree agent, and the majority seemed to justify the belief that there was such a thing as a reason- ably honest tree agent. The discussion of awards on apples developed the sentiment that it is not desirable to offer premiums on all apples, but that the question of hardiness should be considered, and, probably, a sepa- rate premium for top-worked varieties should be offered. Mr. Burnap, of Clear Lake, advises planting but few varieties and providing cold storage to carry the crop through any glut in the market. Top-working was talked in earnest and has a firm hold in that section of the country. Mr. Burnap recommends Fameuse and Weal- thy on Duchess; Elmer Reeves, of Waverly, favors home developed, or American, varieties and claims that he can find as many hardy ones asamong the Russians; Mr. Guilford, of Dubuque, advises great care in top-working, in the selection of stock and scions that were congenial; and your delegate was greatly impressed that there was probably a large field of experiment open in this direction, and that it is desirable that all in reporting success or failure in that 38 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. line of work should in all instances report on what stock the scion was put, that we may getarecord to go by. Mr. Guilford was empha- tic in advising the saving of home grown apple seeds, and that the law of “like begets like” holds especially strong here. He himself saves Whitney No. 20 and thinks that it produces the most vigorous roots for grafting and more nearly insures a perfect tree. He uses all his Whitney for cider or vinegar and washes the pomace for the seed. It would seem desirable to have roots from good hardy - stock, then if the scion fails to throw out good roots the root system that you have is sufficient. Mr. Dartt’s paper on girdling provoked much discussion, and Mr. Gaylord and some others seemed to think it would shorten the life of the tree. Discussion on Mr. Patten’s paper favored close plant- ing, Mr. Mitchell favors the Transparent family, even though it blights badly; thinks the Russian more hardy and early bearing than the American; speaks of the Varonish as a fine apple and good tree, and the Romna asa good winter eating apple, somewhat sub- ject to blight. His fifteen best Russian varieties would be: summer— White Queen, Charlotte Thaler, Yellow Transparent, Lubsk Queen; Water-Melon, Yellow Sweet; fall—Burgamont, Large Long White, Browny Pine, Prolific Sweeting; winter—Hibernal, Varonish, Ro- menscoe, Christmasand Grandmother; also recommends Patten’s Greening. The Anisim is also commended, but its season in that section is not considered beyond December first. Mr. Ivins claims that Rosy Aport is not quite as hardy as the Wealthy. Mr. Gaylord read a paper on the “Five Important Requisites to Successful Orcharding in the Northwest.” He thinks that the choice of location is most important and the choice of varieties de- pends on what is successful in the neighborhood. Set all trees leaning to the half-past twelve o’clock sun and trim off all north-east limbs. Top-working is his method of growing half hardy varieties; prefers top-working six to eight inches out onthelimbs. One point ne brought out was worth almost as much as all the others: one chief requisite was a man interested in his orchard. President Ferris gave an excellent paper on the possibility of de- velopment of new and varied fruits from seed production and con- stantly saving seed from the best we have to plantagain. Prof. Budd had an interesting paper on new varieties and brought out an animated discussion on cross variation. Discussion on evergreens was quite general. Mr. Gardner says no evergreen hedge can be successfully grown near buildings or other trees; there should be nothing nearer than twenty to thirty feet. Mr. True favored hemlock, cedar and arbor vitae for a hedge. Mr. Darit recommended dwarf mountain pine, and Mr. Mitchell Black Hills spruce. Mr. O. M. Lord (of our state) gave a paper on his three best plums Cheney, Rollingstone and Desota. Mr. Dunbarton, of Rockford, claims great merit for Black Hawk and that it is the best of all the many varieties named. Mr. Sherman claims the Rockford as one of the best and speaks highly of Knudson’s Peach. NORTH-EASTERN IOWA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 39 Sec’y True, of Edgewood, read a paper on grape culture which brought out considerable discussion as to varieties as well as to cul- tivation, and shallow cultivation was favored; there was some variety in views as to whether the ground should be made very rich. He considers Concord, Moore’s Early and Worden as best. Moore’s Early is one of the best shippers and with him, probably, the most profitable grape. Hethinks the Delaware a no better grape than the Brighton and the Brighton the best bearer. Mr. Ivins regards the Green Mountain as being early, as hardy as the Concord, fine quality but not a large bearer. For a white grape he favors Martha, a good grower, generally liked and a good bearer; for a red, he favors Delaware first and Wyoming Red, which is early and not in danger from frost. Moore’s Diamond is a good grower, with large bunches but not as hardy or productive as the Martha. Pres. Ferris thinks Moore’s Diamond is a coming grape. Mr. Guilford,of Dubuque, says it is the sweetest and best of all white grapes, and the Wyoming Red is among the best of the grapes and hardy. Of Roger’s Hybrids, Mr. Ivins favors Nos. 14, 43, 44, 3 and 9, and speaks highlv of the Mills as being of good quality, a fine keeper but rather late in ripening. In growing the grape, Mr. Bixby recom- mends wire trellis, running the vine to the top and letting a foot or two fall back, claiming that it prevents too fast growth of the term- inal buds and so aids the lower buds. Mr. Trescott favors the Kniffen system of training. Mr. Ivins in putting grapes on the home market puts black, white and red together in the same basket and thinks it aids the sale. Of gooseberries, Mr. Ivins claims merit for Columbus, Golden Prolific, Downing, Houghton, Lancaster Lad and Champion. The two first named he considers the best, but thinks the Watson isthe . coming gooseberry. For an ornamental hedge, Spirea Van Houtii was recommended, while for a hedge to turn boys, one of barberry was recommended. Heclaimed that with good cultivation a hedge of it could be grown in three years that would turn boys. Mr. Gardner gavea full report of the Minnesota meeting. The fact was developed that there isalaw makingit the duty of school direct- ors in every district in Iowa to set and care for trees, though it was not always intelligently performed. Have we any such law, and, if not, is it not a good idea? Forest City, lowa, was selected as the place for the next meeting, and Mr. Eugene Secor, of that place, was elected president; C.F. Gardner, vice-president; C. H. True, of Edgewood, secretary; and G, A. Ivins, of Iowa Falls, treasurer. Altogether it was a very instructive meeting, as well as a pleasant one, and ended on the evening of the third day with a banquet, ten- dered by the citizens of Osage. A First-CLAss OBJECT LESSON fora boy or girl and one calculated to teach them patience, fore thought and business sense, is to letthe boy or girl start now a bed of currant cuttings. The bushes ought to be trimmed, any way, and the trimmings make cuttings. Show your boy howto make acutting bed, how to set the cuttings and give him the future crop of plants. 40 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURIST SOCIETY. MRS. L. M. FORD AND HER FLOWERS. BY L. M. FORD, SAN DIEGO, CAL. After our marriage, June 20th, 1855, we bade adieu to relatives at Sandusky, Ohio, and took passage on a steamer for Sheboyegan, Wisconsin. Before starting she dug some roots of a flower, the name of which I do not recall, and after being wrapped in damp cotton, this first pet of hers was packed away carefully in one of the traveling bags. At the home of her aunt Wilgus, across the lakes, we found a great display of May pinks, yet in bloom. Of these fra- grant favorites our mothers loved so dearly, we laid in a good supply, as I had not met with these among the first settlers of Saint MRS. L. M. FORD. (From a potrait taken in her early married life.) Paul or Saint Anthony. The plants lived, and in a few years many flower lovers in Minnesota had secured a stock from this small be- ginning. From Lake Michigan to Lake Winnebago by stage and a ride ona small steamer brought us further on our bridal trip and among my relatives at Neena, a new town just started, and at Vineland, where in 1849, father and I selected lands for several families that came a little later. After a pleasant visit, we started for Milwaukee by steamer and stage and thence by the lake to Chicago, as Wisconsin had no rail- roads in those days. Trains had just begun to run from Chicago MRS. L. M. FORD. 41 to the Mississippi, so we had a pleasant ride to Dunleith, where we took a boat for Saint Paul, and in a few days reached our future home at the Groveland Nursery, which I started in 1850, and where we lived until November, 1885. My health being very poor, we concluded to try the climate of Cal- ifornia. We rented our greenhouses and nursery, bade adieu to old friends, started on our long journey and in due time landed in southern California. After a years residence at Los Angeles, we came to San Diego, where I again started a nursery, but one quite different from the pioneer establishment of Minnesota. Certain floral pets Mrs. Ford selected from our large collection were brought in a basket, which I now keep as a memento of that long journey, but I have lost her plants, so many other things being found here to engage our attention. Many people in this city only knew Mrs. Ford as the lady who had orchids blooming in her win- dows for those passing on the street to admire. They were the first seen in this part of California. One modest little plant with exquis- itely fragrant flowers had not bloomed for a number of years, but opened its delicate petals on the day of her death, August 4th, 1896. Ferns and begonias had become her favorites, some of which she kept and cared for in the house. In Minnesota there were always certain things in the greenhouses called ‘‘ Mrs. Ford’s plants,” which she would train for the fairs of St. Paul and Minneapolis or for presents to intimate friends. In early days, the tuberose was introduced by us and soon be- came popular. On the 20th of October, 1860, we attended a wedding at Dea. Cavender’s, in St. Paul, when their daughter was presented with the first bridal bouquet ever seen in all that upper country con- taining such flowers. She who now in death reposes. And for whom I would have died, Long ago with fragrant roses First surprised a blushing bride; Placing them in jeweled hand, In the wild Dacota’s land. We had a special invitation to visit one of the [Illinois state fairs, which I think was in 1859. Mrs. Ford made a bouquet, which was car- ried first on the boat, then on the cars from Galena to Freeport, when it was put in hot water for some time and remodeled. We were greatly surprised at being awarded a special premium with a good notice by the committees. At one of the first commencements of the State University, some flowers Mrs. Ford supplied created more of a surprise than any- thing seen, owing toa large red bloom of Phyllocactus Ackermanic, placed in the center of the basket. One of the finest things ata big Minneapolis fair, many years ago, was a specimen of smilax which was just getting in fashion. It was trained in form of across. All the old timers will remember Mrs. Ford and her plants, for she was an attendant with our display at the fairs for many years. For a long time ours was the only place where choice plants and bouquets could be obtained, and we did a large business, Mrs. Ford 42 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. and an expert from Cincinnati having charge especially of the cut flower department. Here in San Diego, after so many years of hard work, we have tried to do but little that would add to her cares, for she was always an invalid from girlhood; still it was a great sur- prise to friends who came here from Minnesota to see her without glasses and with few gray hairs. On,the day of her death, she looked about the same as she did thirty years ago. I could write a thousand things pertaining to her and our jour- ney of more than forty years together among the flowers, but the “ Horticulturist” has only room for a few items that ought to be re- corded permanently, for as the years go by information about the pioneers will increase in value. Many of our old time friends and customers have called to see us in our new home, but O, how many of these have joined the majority! And now she who greeted them all so cheerfully is one of their train. We never had any children, but for the last few years she cared fora little fatherless one whose history is full ofinterest. No mother and child were ever more attached to one another, and her greatest pleasure was in going to visit ‘baby Merritt,” after she went to another home. She learned the names of Mrs, Ford’s plants when less than two years old; and it was a surprise to all visitors to hear how easily she would pronounce the names of my favorite cacti, which she always asked to see when about the nursery. Flowers that bloom in fields elysian Fade not like the ones we grow, Dim is now my earthly vision, And the tears cease not to flow; Birds and blossoms mourn for me, With the pensive pepper tree. Is THE TOMATO POISONOUS?—Nearly everybody will be interested in a new theory which has been advanced and is being insisted upon by Dr. W. T. English, who is one of the best-known physicians of Pittsburgh, Pa. No other country, up to the present, employs it as a food. Because of its low nutritive value it should not be regarded as substantial aliment,as it consists of over 85 percent. water. Writers on dietetics regard itasa diluent. He further assumes that, notwithstanding the general indulgence in this fruit, there is a certain proportion to whom it acts asa poison. This assertion is based upon observa- tions conducted over fifteen years. At least one-half of those who use them suffer more or less without themselves being conscious of the exact cause, while one-fourth are obviously injured. The doctor draws the following conclusions: That the use of tomatoes as an article of diet during the period of heart develop- ment, especially that marking the rapid increase in growth between adolescence and maturity,should be avoided as likely to precipitate evil. Women should not use tomatoes when there is a pre-existing nervous irritability, and under certain other conditions their use would be foolhardy. All who suffer from rheumatism, heart disease or functional derangement of the heart and circulation should care- fully avoid tomatoes. Those who are called upon to endure loss of sleep or mental strain will find them worse than useless. STATE FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 43 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING, MINNESOTA STATE FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. This society will hold its meeting as a part of the exercises of the Congress of Agriculture which convenes in St. Paul, January 13th. (See notice in Secretary’s Corner.) The program of the forestry as- sociation will occupy the morning and afternoon sessions of Thurs- day, the 14th inst, as follows: AT 10 A. M. Reading of record with letters from Colonel John H. Stevens and W. W. Barrett Superintendent of Irrigation and Forestry for North Dakota. Address of welcome, defining the work in hand. S.M. Owen, President of the Forestry Association. “Porestry Needs inthe Red River Valley,” T. A. Hoverstad, Superintendent of the Sub-Station of the State Experiment Station at Crookston. r “’ Prospective Forestry in Northeastern Minnesota,’ W. W. Pendergast, Super- intendent of the Sub-Station at Grand Forks. “ Porestry in South Dakota,” Professor N. E. Hansen, ofthat state. ““Porestry in Wisconsin,” George J. Kellogg, lecturer in Farmers’ Institutes in Wisconsin. ““ Dependence of Agriculture on Forestry,” E. W. Randall, Secretary of the State Agricultural Society. ““ What Forestry has Done for Horticulture,” J. S. Harris. ‘“Some Thoughts on Tree Seedlings,’ Wyman Elliot, of Minneapolis. “The Best Trees for Southern Minnesota,’ William Somerville. “Our Home Trees,” William R. Dobbyn. AT \2 P.M: ““Porest Preservation,’ General C. C. Andrews, Chief Forest Fire Warden of Minnesota. ‘“ The Interests of the Towns and Cities of Minnesota in our Forest Reserves,” Captain J. N. Cross. “The Lumberman’s Plan of Forest Reserve,’ Milton O. Nelson. “ The Natural Re-Foresting of Minnesota’s Pine Lands,” H. B. Ayres. “The Relation of Forests to Business Interests,” D. R. McGinnis. “The Inspection and Supervision of Our State Forests,” R. H. L. Jewett. “What Lands should not be De-Forested,” Professor W. M. Hays, of the State ~ Agricultural College. Report of the forestry committee on a legislative bill for a forest reserve area in Minnesota, Captain Judson N. Cross, of Minneapolis. “The Best Evergreens for the Prairies,’ O. F. Brand. ‘““The Behavior of Some Newly Introduced Conifers in Minnesota,” Professor S. B. Green, of the State Agricultural College. “The Aesthetic Side of Forestry,” F. N. Nutter, Park Engineer, Minneapolis. The report of the secretary, J. O. Barrett, of Brown’s Valley, will then be pre- sented. and the election of officers will follow. THE CRANBERRY.—AII fruits havea medicinal value, and the cran- berry ranks as ananti-scorbutic. Itisa blood cleanser; bruised and heated, not cooked, it hasa healing effect on humors. One cut in half bound on a corn will cureitin one or more applications. It willbe found equally efficacious in the case of pimples. Asan article of food the cranberry istoo little known. Many families know it only inthe form of sauce, but it may be served in many other ways. A cool, re- freshing drink may be made by boiling the berries in water double the measure of berries. Boil untilthe juice has been thoroughly ex- tracted, sweeten with one-half pound of sugar to thepint of juice and bottle hot.—Greengrocer. Your orner. “T get a great deal of pleasure and useful information from the Horticulturist and do not want to do without it. Evansville, Wis., Nov. 18, 1896. C.J. DOOLITEEE;”. “Your magazine is indispensible for any amateur fruit grower in this part of the country, and I would keep it even if it cost $2.00, e Respectfully yours, Portland, Traill Co., N. Dak., Nov. 21, 1896. K. J. LUCKEN.” A NEW HORTICULTURAL BUILDING NEEDED.—“It has seemed to *me that with the standing our agricultural school has among the institutions of the same kind in the United States and the reputa- tion Prof. Green has as authority on horticultural subjects, that the horticultural feature of the experiment farm should have better advantages. The agriculturists have good barns, stock, creamery and seem to be well fixed clear down to the chicken house. Now we should by all means have a horticultural building.” J. P. ANDREWS,” Faribault, Dec. 18, 1896. A CORRECTION.—On page 483 of the December number of the Mag- azine, Iam quoted as saying in regard to the sand cherry, that I grafted several native plums on the sand cherry, which is a mistake. I meant to give as a reason why the sand cherry should be called a plum, that I had top-grafted the plum with, not on the sand cherry and succeeded, and had grafted several Ostheim cherry trees and other cherry trees with the sand cherry, and not one of the grafts grew, showing that the sand cherry, so-called, has a nearer affinity ’ with the plum than with the cherry. : Minnesota City, Dec. 3, 1896. O. M. LORD. “T raised two hundred and gixty-one barrels of Duchess apples and one hundred and seventy-eight barrels of Trans. crabs, besides some Wealthy apples and some Strawberry crabs. My Duchess were all hand picked from the 23d to the 28th of July and shipped in refrigerator cars to Duluth and Minneapolis; we only got from six- ty-five to seventy-five cents per barrel besides commission. Thus a fruit crop carefully picked and handled only paid expemses. I have done but little better with my Trans. C. L. BLAIR.” St. Charles, Minn., Nov. 21, 1896. WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS ORCHARD? .“I hope the cold has not hurt fruit in Minnesota as I fear it has done here. It seems that the frost caught the trees before the sap had gone down. Theinner bark next to the wood has turned a brown and sometimes a dead black. This is more apparent on the south- west side of the trunk. My employer wants to know if the trees are killed and if there is any way of renewing his orchard ex- cept replanting. This is a new experience for this country,and I YOUR CORNER. 45 thought you might have had some experience of this kind and could letusknow. The cherries, peaches, prunes, pears and winter apples are all more orless affected. Early applesare not hurt. The discolor- ation extends from the snow line up eighteen inches more or less. The branches are not much affected. The people here are espe- cially anxious to know what to do with pears and apples. If the apple trees are killed to the snow line,can they be cut off in the spring and the stump grafted, that is, trees six or seven years old? We had a heavy snow here and about a week of cold weather before the leaves had hardly turned. The temperature was 20° or lower. Zillah, Wash., Dec. 22, 1896. H. E. BURNLEY.” Will any one please answer through the Horticulturist? SECRETARY. WHAT CAN BE GROWN ON ONE-TENTH OF AN ACRE—‘This is the sixth year I have cultivated this ‘patch.’ This year I raised thir- teen bushels Early Ohio Potatoes; all ripe in time to sell for fifty cents per bushel; two pie pumpkins, self sown, five cents each; one basket field corn, came up in the manure, value fifty cents; sage, fifty cents; thirty quarts Burpee’s lima beans valued at thirty cents per quart, $9.00; sweet corn, 80 dozen at ten cents per dozen, $8.00, and stalks $1.50; nine dozen hills of Nubia peppers, no fruit; one basket G. Q. pop corn, value fifty cents; one peck pickling onions, twenty-five cents; ten dozen cabbage, $3.00; three bushels peas, Premium Gem, $3.00; carrots, Early Horn and Half Long, five bushels, $2.50; two bushel beets, $1.00; parsnips, Hollow Crown, four bushels, $1.60; fifty bunches turnips, $2.50; six dozen lettuce, ninety cents; sixty bunches radish, $3.00; eight dozen tomato plants, $1.20; three bushel Golden Wax beans, $3.00; twelve bushel tomatoes, $6.00; Egyptian onions, $1.00, in the ground yet, total $55.55. Last year the product was worth about $80.00 and two years ago I realized about $100.00, prices being higher—getting fifteen cents per dozen for corn, and having the piece in corn that year that I had in potatoes this year. Besides the enumeration above, I have saved my seed corn, beans, peas, etc. WM. GIBSON.” New No. 823 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. OSAGE, IA., AND THE N. E. lowa HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.—“To the Minnesota Horticulturist:—I have just returned from the meeting of the North-East lowa Horticultural Society at Osage. The city con- tains three thousand inhabitants and is one of the beauty spots of Iowa. Among the many attractions there are two that seem worthy of special note, her beautiful trees and the character of her people. Evergreen trees of all kinds seem perfectly at home and abound on every hand. Then the hard maple, which in perfect health is the most attractive of all our northern deciduous shade trees, lines near- ly all the streets in the resident portion, and it takes but a little stretch of the imagination to mix the shades of greenand the golden tints in a way to bewitch'the lover of trees and, in fact, all the lov- ers of the truly beautiful. “ At the close of the three days’ meeting a banquet was served, and the last item on the very elaborate bill of fare was ‘‘toast.” This was freely indulged in by the great, the wise and the good, and for the 46 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. sake of variety crumbs were dealt out to those of us belonging to the opposite class. The mayor, inreferring to the prosperity of Osage, saidthat prohibition had been a paying investment finan- cially, morally and intellectually, and he pointed with pride to their empty jails, prosperous churches and schools, beautiful streets and well kept lawns, fine residences and happy homes, as proof of his assertions, “Tam so well pleased with Osage and its surroundings that I feel like giving it a sort of personal parting salute. O, Sage of Iowa! Keep thy girdle well about thee! Fence out hell and enjoy heaven! “T hope I have not intruded much on the province of your repre- sentative, F. W. Kimball, who with pencil in hand wasa very close observer. Owatonna, Dec., 1896. i. ES. Darian? FrRoM THE RED RIVeR VALLEY:— “T have already over three hundred and fifty trees in apples and plums planted,and the last year they made an admirably fine growth in spite of the fact that the rabbits managed a good many of them, especially the small (trees or the lately planted ones; and some of the plum trees would have borne fruit this summer again had we not had the hail-storm, which stripped even the cur- rants. But wild plums were a heavy crop, and ,wild grapes the same, and some nice apples and crabs were raised outside the limit of the hail storm. I had again this fall done up my trees in very good shape, both for winter protection and against the ravages of the rabbits and the hares, or what is called the jack rabbits, that roam on the prairies in this valley; but this snow-storm we had on the 26th ult. raised the snow in among my trees nearly three to four feet in some places. Then these big jack rabbits got in their work; they reached right on the top of them, right after the first lullin the night, and, in the morning when I came out to look after my trees, found nearly every tree eaten up on the top. Not only the top or last year’s growth was eaten or gnawed off, but the two years growth was gone. I wanted to wrap them in newspaper, but as the weather was bitter cold I had other things to look after and had to dig out my traps, which were several feet below in the snow-drifts, and were to be left out for the night with oatstocatch them in. I caught only two the first night, butnow lam getting them. Tonight, just af- ter supper, I went out and got three of these very ones, one weighing fourteen and one-half pounds, and the others nearly as much, they arereally small dogs. They will reach fully three feet and more from the snow upon the tree, and they not only eat so much but cut the limbs off and let them lie down around the tree, not touching them any more, and go along that way for the whole night, and a big raft of them that way soon destroys a big lot. Iwas fully prepared to buy chicken netting and to fence in the three acres already planted, but now I don’t see as this helps any. When a big snow like thiscomes, it would not matter much, as it will drift down and the hares will get over them. “Then we have the small rabbits; they have gotso thick here lately that I don’t see how they could have multiplied in such a number. They seem to have migrated at the same time as the rats came, as they never were here before the last three years. But now it seems that everybody has got them, and plenty of them, too. Hendrum, Minn., Dec. 1, 1896. OLE J. HAGEN.” _ Secretary's ( ‘ oOrner. HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 1897?—A few have not yet done so, and you may be of the number. The time to do a thing is when you think of it, and don’t forget you have friends who would be members also, if they understood the advantages. Mrs. BARNARD’S “FLOWERS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.”’—Secretary Philips says in a letter in regard to the paper read by Mrs. Barnard at our late meeting on the work of the flower committee of the Min- neapolis Ladies Improvement League, “I did want to commend that paper that evening, it was a grand subject and so well carried out.” The Minneapolis ladies are planning for more extensive work in this field the ensuing year. SUBSCRIBE FOR THE WISCONSIN HORTICULTURIST.—_By courtesy of the officers of the Wisconsin society, members of the Minnesota society will receive their magazine for fifty cents per annum. Re- mittances for this purpose can be made to the secretary of either society. There is so much in common between these associations and the territory they cover that the advantage of having both magazines at hand is apparent. Ours go to Wisconsin members at the same rate. DELEGATE TO THE WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS MEETINGS.—Prof. S. B. Green is to represent our society at the annual meeting of the Wisconsin society which convenes at Madison the first Tuesday in February, and J. Cole Doughty, of Lake City, has gone to Spring- field, Ills. for asimilar purpose. It has beena long time since either of these members have been out of the state on such an errand, if, indeed, either of them ever has. We shall look for an interesting report of their “doings” and “sayings.” ANNUAL MEETING OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA HORTICULTURAL Society.—The regular winter meeting of this society is to convene at Albert, Lea, Minn., at 10 A. M., January 20th, 1896, and hold ses- sions until 4 P. M. of the following day. Secretary Clarence Wedge announces that “visiting members will be entertained free.” Horticulturists in that part of the state, especially, should not miss this opportunity to burnish up their armor, as the number of en- thusiasts who are regulars in that association assures a warm greet- ing. INTER-STATE PARK OF THE ST. CROIX.—Our Wisconsin friends who are interested in promoting their share in this park are taking steps to secure proper action in the matter at the coming session of their state legislature,and Mr. F. H. Nutter, landscape architect, of Minneapolis, at their request has spent several days examining the lands on the east side of the river, surrounding the “ Dalles,” in or- der to advise as to the proper boundaries of the park. He reports it to be a remarkably beautiful and picturesque tract, and that there is much local interest shown. It is to be hoped that the two states will not neglect the present opportunity to secure for the future a , 48 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. public reservation at this point, which will be of great value as our population increases. A NEW HORTICULTURAL BUILDING AT THE UNIVERSITY FARM ScHOOL.—The Board of Regents of the State University have decided to recommend the legislature to appropriate $18,000 for a new structure at the “ PFarm School” to be devoted to horticulture and agricultural physics, $3,000 to the latter branch and $15,000 to the former. Our state schoolof agriculture has thereputation of being the most successful and economically conducted of its kind in the country, as well as having been the first to inaugurate a practical plan of operating such a school in educating young men to be farm- ers—and we understand;that those who attend them do, as a rule, re- turn to the farm. Such a result must be far-reaching in its effects, and the institution which fosters successfully education of this character should receive the fullest and heartiest support of the people, as is assuredly done in this cage. A CONGRESS OF AGRICULTURE.—A number of the state associa- tions are to hold a joint session under the auspices of the State Agricultural Society at St. Paul, beginning on Wednesday, the 13th inst., the day after the annual meeting ofthat society. The first day will be occupied by the Stock Breeder’s Association; the next day, Thursday, by the State Forestry Association; Thursday evening will be devoted to the subject of flax fiber and an association organized in its interest; Friday will be taken up in part by the Good Road’s Association. Programs have been prepared for these meetings and reduced railroad rates should insure a large attendance. . This “Congress” is intended to prepare the way for similar meet- ings in the future on a more comprehensive scale, in which it is in- tended the Agricultural Society shall assume the role of instructor of the farmers of the state as well as that it now performs so wellin the management of its annual show. Go, if you can! THE NEXT STATE PAIR BOARD.—There are, as usual, two mem- bers of the executive board of the State Agricultural Society to be filled by election at the annual meeting January, 12.,The name of J. M. Underwood, of our society, has been suggested to fill one of these vacancies. His choice would certainly be a very satisfactory one for all interests, for besides being an expert horticulturist, he is a well-known horse and cattle breeder and a business man of large experience and unquestioned integrity. It would behard to find one better qualified than he for this responsible position. If the high position the fair has taken the last two years is to be maintained and still further advanced, it will be because of the election of such men to occupy the positions of trust in that organization. Those of our fraternity who feel interested in the election of Mr. Underwood to this office can use their influence to advantage by communicating with any life member of the Agricultural Society or with delegates to the meeting, three of whom are sent by each County Agricultu- ral Society, and are probably already appointed. (See biography.) egy a ita vt 4 THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST. VOL. 25. FEBRUARY, 1897. NO. 2. Biography. PHINEAS A. JEWELL. (See Frontispiece.) (This biographical sketch and obituary was originally published in the report of this society for 1879, but as that report is now out of print and inaccessible to our members and no portrait of him has ever before been published by our society, it seemed entirely proper that it should be reproduced here in connection with his portrait, which appears as a frontispiece to this magazine. Dr. Jewell was one of the most prominent and useful horticulturists our state has produced, and the life of such a one may well and with profit be reviewed.—SECc’y.) DieED—At his residence in Lake City,on Saturday, May 25, 1878, PHINEAS ANSON JEWELL, aged 49 years, 4 months and 15 days. The deceased was born in New York, January 10,1829. At the age of twenty-five he entered Oberlin College, but subsequently changed to the medical department of the Michigan State University, where he graduated. During the war he answered the call for physicians in the Army of the Potomac and entered the hospital at Washing- ton, remaining there until disabled by severe illness. His health required him to discontinue the practice of his chosen profession. In 1863 he was united in marriage with Catherine J. Underwood, M. D., and located at Ann Arbor, Mich., where he engaged in the nur- sery business. The subsequent failure of Mrs. Jewell’s health led him to seek a home in Minnesota. He spenta year in looking over the state for a favorable location and in April, 1869, settled in Lake City, establishing, in company with his brother-in-law, J. M. Under- wood, the Lake Pepin Nurseries, that have since become so favora- bly known throughout this and adjoining states. For a year or more his health had been very poor, and for several months he was confined wholly to his room, his recovery being deemed almost hopeless, receiving the best treatment and care that medical attendance and loving friendship could bestow. At his own request, a post mortem examination was made, and the examina- tion disclosed the fact, unknown and unsuspected by either Dr. 50 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Jewell or his physicians, of the existence of a large cancer in the stomach, which was undoubtedly the cause of his long illness and death. Such, in brief, are the main features of biographical interest in the life of a prominent citizen just passed away, who was intimately known and sincerely respected in this community. His business gave him an extended acquaintance, being away from home a great deal in attendance upon pomological and horticultural meetings, in the discussions of which he always sustained an active part. He made a close study of our climate and its adaptibility to certain varieties of fruit and ornamental trees. His experience was espe- cially successful, and will in the future, as in the past, prove highly valuable to all interested in this subject. Recognizing the necessity for new varieties of apples that were more hardy than those being set, with such repeated failures, in this state and Wis- consin, he resolved to goto Russia and, if possible, bring back some- thing that would stand our climate, and to this end was making all his arrangements for the summer of 1868; but in the winter preced- ing, while traveling in the southern part of this state and in northern Iowa, he found, as he thought and has since demonstrated,a most valuable acquisition to the desired end in a large collection of seedling Siberians, and ina letter to a friend he wrote, “I shall defer my proposed trip, as I have found a young Russia here.” He immediately secured the stock and showed his confidence in it by planting and propagating it extensively, and, as a result, we have many valuable varieties, both for their hardiness and improved quality of fruit, as many fine orchards throughout this country and Canada can testify. Perhaps no one act of his life tended more to establish confidence in the minds of many in the ultimate success of fruit growing in this northern climate than the planting for him- self an orchurd of five thousand apple trees, which now stand as a beautiful and lasting monume\t to his indefatigable energy and en- terprise. In the death of Dr. Jewell, the cause of radical temperance in Min- nesota sustains an irreparable loss. Upon the platform he was ‘more than ordinarily gifted as aclear and forcible speaker, while in the ranks, as a temperance advocate and worker, he was active and influential. His heart beat responsively to every cause in the interests of humanity, tending to its educational improvement and moral elevation. Had life and health been granted him, heintended before long to have entered more actively into the work in behalf of some of the many projects for human advancement. In his personal and private life, Dr. Jewell was one of the most lovable of men. His mild, unobtrusive manners, his uniform cour- tesy, shown alike to all, and,at his home or elsewhere during his business leisure, his brilliant and genial conversational powers, will not soon be forgotten. If we were disposed to find fault with him, it would be that he was perhaps too modestly exclusive, al- though adapted by education and every essential quality of practical excellence to adorn the highest public positions in the gift of his fellow men. Itis unnecessary, however, to allude at any length to BIOGRAPHY. 51 these things or bestow any enconium upon the character of a man like Dr. Jewell here where his life was so well known as a compen- dium of generous thought and practical goodness. The words of the funeral address are fittingly eloquent and comprehensive: “ He carried about with him everywhere an atmosphere of spirit- ual dignity which was felt asa reproach to all meanness; of chast- ity whose very presence rebuked vulgarity; of simplicity which made liars ashamed, and of moral enthusiasm which inspired, en- couraged and uplifted all weaker aspiring and all wavering souls with whom he came in contact.” The funeral tribute of love and honor was paid on Monday after- noon. The occasion was respectfully observed by a very large con- course of friends, who were present to mingle their offerings in the last rites that can be shown the dead by the living. The spacious rooms of the residence were filled with sympathizing friends, while many, unable to obtain admission, occupied settees that were placed on the lawn in close proximity to the parlor windows. The exer- cises partook of an unusual but nevertheless pleasing character, in being conducted by an intimate personal friend of the deceased, (not a clergyman) Dr. T. H. Evarts, of Rushford. The remains were followed to their last resting place in the cemetery by a large pro- cession of citizens, who administered the final rites of friendship in depositing the form of their late beloved townsman “ beneath the low green tent Whose curtain never outward swings. ** Peace to the true man’s ashes! Weep for those Whose days in old delusions have grown dim; Such lives as his are triumphs, and their close Animmortality: weep not for him. “A practical rebuker of vain strife; Bolder in deeds than words, from beardless youth To the white hairs of age, he made his life A beautiful consecration to the truth.” APPLES FOR THE COMPLEXION.—“ The secret of a bad complexion,” said a well known physician recently, “is a bad digestion, and we generally trace that to a bad liver. One of the best remedies for a sluggish liver is cheap and pleasaut. Dieting is the secret of the cure. The best liver regulator for persons of sedentary habits—and those are the ones whose complexions are muddy—is to be found in apples, eaten baked if they are not well digested when eaten raw. I attended the pupils at a well known boarding school, and among them was a country girl whose complexion was the envy of all her associates. I found that she was a very light eater at her meals, but she had a peculiar custom of taking a plate of apples to her room at night and eating them slowly as she studied her lessons. This was her regular practice. Some of the other girls in the institution took it up, and I know, asa result of my personal investigation, that the apple eating girls had the best complexions of any in the school.”— Life and Health. > = ‘Trial tations, | Jee. 1, 1896. ic CENTRAL TRIAL STATION, ST. ANTHONY PARK. PROF, S. B, GREEN, SUPT. The season of 1896 has generally been favorable for the growth of crops, and the work of the trial stations of the horticultural society have shown commendable progress. These stations were never in the hands of more capable men than now. I think we shall get our best results by having the larger part of these stations in the hands of specialists and increasing their number, instead of having a few stations in charge of those who grow all kinds of hort- icultural crops. The various representative climatic and geologic conditions obtaining in the settled portions of this state are well represented in our present stations, with the exception of the north- east part of the state, near to Lake Superior. The climate of that section is largely influenced by the great lakes and in consequence naturally grows many kinds of fruit. It promises to develop quite strongly in a horticultural way. It was originally heavily tim- bered, and it is only within a few years that settlement has gone on rapidly within its limits; butitis now fast being settled, and itis very important that the settlers be rightly informed as to what are the best fruits to grow. This is the object of our society, and I recommend that our executive board make a special effort to find some suitable person to take charge of atrial station in that section. The work of the superintendent of the Owatonna Experiment Station is so well known to you that I do not feel called on to mention it here. It has certainly justified the wisdom of the legislature in establishing it. The last legislature made an appropriation that has resulted in the establishing of two sub-experiment farms under the direction of the central station. The one I reported on to you a year ago is located at Crookston, Polk Co., in the valley of the Red River; the other has since then been located at Grand Rapids, eighty miles north-west of Duluth, on land that is typical of the granitic formation of the north-east part of the state. This makes three sub-experiment farms located in widely different and typical sections of the state at which considerable attention is being paid to the development of horticulture as well as the general agricultural possibilities of their respective sections. At the north-west experiment farm, at Crookston, the work of the year was much hindered by the heavy and continuous rains of spring, but in spite of this a successful tree plantation has been made of about four acres, containing about twenty species and va- rieties that are of possible value for that part of this state. A small planting has been made of strawberries, raspberries, Juneberries, ‘MaAVd ANOHLINY ‘LS ‘NOLLV.LS IVALNAO FHL LV NOILVINV Id AMLSANOA AHL JO YANAOO V CENTRAL TRIAL STATION. 33 54 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. native plums and apples. Hotbeds were started and used for forcing vegetable plants. This autumn the forest plantation has been increased by the planting of several thousand cottonwood seedlings and white willow cuttings. It is proposed to increase the forest plantation to about ten acres, which will include representa- tive hedge plants and give us a good windbreak on the north and west of our buildings. Mr.T. A. Hoverstad, a graduate of the School of Agriculture in 1890 and of the State University in 1894, is in charge of this station. He is much interested in horticultural work and is ably seconded in this by his foreman, Mr. F. F. Pratt, a graduate of the School of Agriculture in 1892. At the north-east (Grand Rapids) experiment farm, the horticul- tural work promises to be of more than ordinary interest, for although far north it is a location that is naturally well adapted to the growth of trees and where many native fruits produce abun- dantly. A small beginning has been made in setting out fruit plants and ornamental and timber trees. A fine vegetable garden has also been cultivated. On account of our not securing possess- ion of the farm until this spring and the rough condition of much of the land, little horticultural or general work has been started this year, but a nice piece of land has been well fitted for horticul- tural purposes. Mr. Warren W. Pendergast is in charge of this farm. He is a graduate of the School of Agriculture in the class of 1890 and of the University in 1896. He is thoroughly in earnest in push- ing forward the horticultural possibilities of the north-east portion of the state. He is much interested also in the advancement of forestry. At the Coteau farm, in south-west Minnesota, much advance has been made along horticultural lines. The forest plantation of four acres that was put out there last year has made a most satis- factory growth the past season, and, perhaps, no other feature of the experiment work there has attracted so much attention from visitors. The evergreens planted out last year were very generally killed or seriously injured by the winter except where protected by a covering ofearth. In this I have confirmed my previous experi- ence of the great uncertainty of young evergreens as pioneer trees; they should not be planted in very exposed places but may safely follow the liberal planting of decidous trees. Sand cherries, wild plums and Juneberries were introduced into this forest plantation, and this season the sand cherries fruited heavily and were an object of much interest and very useful. I really think the placing of such fruits among our tree plantings makes them more durable as well as more productive and interest- ing. The strawberry crop at this farm was a great success this year, which was probably entirely due to the covering of about twelve inches of solid straw which lay over the bed and protected it from severe freezing. Anicecollection ofappleand plum trees and of ornamental shrubs is in"excellent condition here and proving ob- jects of much interest and value. Prof. O. C. Gregg, on whose farm is located this experiment work, is deeply interested in the horticul- ‘WaAVaA OVALOO WAL LV NOILVINVId ALLSANOT ~ Sy Phat aio trh MS be “AD dy CENTRAL TRIAL STATION. 55 56 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. tural as wellas the general agricultural work, and he means to show the people of Minnesota the possibilities of that section of the state The attendance of the School of Agriculture during the season just past has been larger than ever before, and its character and scholarship also improved. The summer school for girls has be- come an established feature and is increasing in popularity each season. No buildings have been constructed at the University Farm the past year, but the grading and drives about the building completed in 1895 have been finished, and quite a little ornamental planting done. . At the University Farm the season has been one of much interest and progress. The apple crop was the largest ever known here, and many varieties fruited for the first time. Plums were about half a crop. Raspberries and blackberries did very well, but strawberries and grapes were nearly a failure. The fruit plantations are now in good condition. A new orchard containing about three hundred and fifty seedling apple trees, that was put out last spring, is in ex- cellent condition. A large number of these seedlings are from hand-crossed fruits, and their development will be watched with much interest. Our cherries are very promising and are in excellent condition. A few varieties have already borne good crops. The forest plantation, nurseries and ornamental plantings are in excellent condition, and each year growing in interest and value. The work of growing vegetables is pursued sufficiently to keep the horticultural division in touch with the new varieties that are introduced from time to time. A special point has been made for several years in the line of potatoes, and what is probably the finest collection of potato machinery in the world has been got together here by donations from the manufacturers. It is my intention to publish a bulletin on this subject in the near future. Donations have been received from the following parties: J. L. Normand, Marksville, Ga., one package cassabanna seed; M. Bovee, Northville, Mich., tubers of Bovee seedling potato; A. E. Manum, Bristol, Vt., tubers Enormous potato; E. W. Allen, Wolver- ton, Minn., three varieties of potatoes; Arthur Hastings, South Ber- lin, Mass., asparagus buncher; A. G. Wilcox, Hugo, Minn., two va- rieties of tomatoes; J. W. Kerr, Denton, Md., two Sophie plums; John K. King, Coggeshall, England, several packet vegetable seeds; John R. Cummins, Washburn, Minn., seventeen packages vegetable seeds; W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.,list of vegetable and flower seeds; Georgia Experiment Station, three varieties of potatoes; Geo. J. Kellogg & Sons, Janesville, Wis., scions of Shields & Kellogg’s winter apple; H. C. Graves & Co., St. Joseph, Mo., scions of Longe- vitz apple; F. B. Van Ornam, Lewis, Ia., tubers of Early Walton po- tato; H. Knudson, Springfield, Minn., scions of plums and Compass cherry, also some native shrubs; Greening Bros., Monroe, Mich., three Winter Banna apples; Peter Henderson & Co., New York City, two varieties of potatoes; Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., scions of eight varieties of apples; W. W. Rawson & Co., Bos- Gls Soa a oie xt ALBERT LEA TRIAL STATION. D7 ton, Mass.,two varieties of beans; L. L. Olds, Clinton, Wis., one tuber Vigorosa potato; Bowker Fertilizer Co., Boston, Mass., pail of denrolen; Greenville Implement Co., Greenville, Mich., one potato planter, one garden cultivator; D. H. Knowlton, Farmington, Me., scions of seedling plum; North-Western Seed Co.,Dundas, Minn.,list of melon seeds; Jewell Nursery Co., Lake City, Minn.,two seedling plums, scions of Waif plum; F. Richards, Freeport, N. Y., set of transplanting implements; Theo. Williams, Benson, Neb., sets of sweet potatoes; Ohio Experiment Station, Wooster, Ohio, varieties of seed potatoes; South Dakota Experiment Station, Brookings, two hundred pits of Viadimir cherry; New York Experiment Station, Geneva, N. Y., three varieties currants; G. J. Gjemse, Hader, Minn., two varieties of plums. ALBERT LEA TRIAL STATION. CLARENCE WEDGE, SUP’T. APPLES.—The following varieties have matured good crops the past season, those marked with a star bearing particularly heavily: Duchess*, Vargulec*, Wealthy*, Long Arcade, Tetofsky*, Charlamoff, Hibernal*, Russian Green (Anis), Longfield*, Ostrekoff (4 m.), Repka Malenka, Antonovka, Czar’s Thorn*, Haas, Patten’s Greening*, White Transparent*. The Lowland Raspberry (heretofore reported as Sum- mer Lowland) and Yellow Sweet continue shy bearers, but as both are particularly choice fruits I do not feel inclined to discard them. Of the young trees that have shown a tendency to good bearing, 1 would mention Cross 413, Newell’s Winter, Peter and Price’s Sweet. The Transparent and Wealthy were the only kinds that showed much blight. At the risk of repeating much that we have heretofore reported, we will make a few notes of observations that have particularly im- pressed us the past season: Longfield._This variety holds nearly up to the size of Wealthy the past two seasons and keeps about the same. The best colored specimens of Wealthy are higher in flavor than any of the Long- field, but the latter averages better and retains its flavor longer. Trees set nine years ago produced a little over one barrel per tree, being the third consecutive crop. Patten’s Greening.—The handsomest showing of fruit we have ever had in the orchard was carried by this variety the present sea- son. A large share of the apples were colored yellow with a blush, very perfect in form, of the largest size and hanging extremely well to the tree for so large an apple. Hibernal.—A very fine and perfect crop was harvested from this variety, the fruit being large and of such even size as to scarcely need sorting for market. We have over one thousand trees in orchard, the larger share about four years set and just beginning to bear. A more healthy and thrifty lot of trees it would be difficult to find; not a blighted or sunscalded one in the lot. This variety and Pat- ten’s Greening should never be put in the barrel until they have un- dergone a curing process in a cool, airy shed; and our experience 58 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURIST SOCIETY. also favors the belief that all varieties will be benefited by such a process and by keeping them out of the cellar until the approach of freezing weather. Repka Malenka.—This is by far the best keeper we have fruited among the Russians. In poor soils or when standing in tough sod with little care to keep the trees vigorous, it would very likely run too small for market, but it has never been so with us. The fruit is very perfect in form, of fairly even size and handsomely col- ored. The tree is remarkable in one respect, while bearing a heavy crop of the very largest keeping apples, it ripens its wood early and drops its leaves before the Duchess. Cross (413).—This is behaving very wellin the orchard. The fruit is large, handsomely shaded with red, hanging well to the tree and of good quality. Blue Anis.—This is very much like the other trees and fruits of this family but seems to be a little better keeper. The Anis family should have a careful trial in the far North as it shows every sign of perfect health and great hardiness. Long Arcade.—This variety is one of the favorite fruits at our place, being medium size, running extremely even, hanging well to the tree and resembling in flavor the Red Astrachan. If it does not blight more than it has done with us, it should have a place in the home orchard, as it is a very distinct and pleasing fruit. Vargulec.—This has at last been well identified by Mr. Sexton, of the Ames Agricultural College. Itis one of the earliest and most regular bearers. Thetree is very upright, as much soas the Whit- ney, and somewhat inclined to blight. The fruit is large, smooth, beautifully striped but very firm, corky and tasteless. Its seasonis somewhat later than that of the Duchess. Ostrekoff (4 m).—A yellow apple of good size, very regular and smooth in form and attractive to the eye. When first picked, it gave promise of being a late keeper of the best quality, but within a month it had lost its choice flavor and seemed to have nothing left but a vinegar acid. We hope it may do better another year under different treatment. Russian Green.—This bears a small crop each year. The fruit is small to medium, of excellent quality, dropping easily from the tree- Antonovka.—This tree is quitehealthy. Its fruit is very large, ofa showy yellow and an agreeable, brisk acid. It is very hard when first picked, but keeps not more than a month and cracks badly in cold storage. A good fruit while it lasts. Charlamoff.—This is a variety that grows in our favor each year: The tree is very spreading and recumbent, and never fails to bear a fair crop. It is a large, conical, handsomely striped apple, much like the Duchess but higher flavored and of milder acid. From the fact that it bears annually instead of exhausting its vitality by over- bearing in alternate years, we think it likely to endure average or- chard conditions better than the Duchess. A few notes on varieties that are fruiting as top-worked branches on Hibernal may be of interest. OR ti Rosine "41 EUREKA TRIAL STATION. 59 Zuzoff Winter.—A half bushel of this fruit made a handsome show on the tree and at the fair. Its size is very large, its color a mag- nificent dark red, and it hangs well to the tree for so large an apple. The quality is very poor and it rots down, when kept on a shelf, be- fore Hibernal or Patten’s Greening. Arthur.—A peck of these pretty little apples showed fine keeping qualities but were not very promising in texture or flavor. Iowa Beauty.—A half peck of these large, handsome apples de- lighted all who had a taste of them. They will be in season after the Duchess and keep about a month. Malinda, Haas and Plumb Cider on Hibernal bore their third con- secutive full crop. EUREKA TRIAL STATION. C. W. SAMPSON, SUPT. The past winter was a very hard one for grape vines. The long continued dry weather for the past two years left the soil in a dry and hard condition for several feet deep, then the lack of snow in winter killed a good many surface roots and left the vines in a weak condition for a good fruit crop. The past season was the nearest a failure in the grape crop I haveeverseen. Then the leaf hopper put in an appearance early in the spring and commenced to sap the foliage, but a good application of air-slaked lime applied early in the morning when the dew was on soon drove them away. Moore’s Early was the first grape to ripen, Aug. 20th; Janesville and Dracut Amber ripened about the same time, and Worden and Delaware one week later. I like the Worden grape very much for a home grape; the bunch and berry are large, and the fruit is better than the Concord, also earlier and larger; the vine is vigorous, healthy, hardy and productive. Agawam (Rogers No. 15). This is one of the most reliable hybrid grapes. Its bunches are large, and its berries very large and of a dark redcolor. It ripens with or soon after the Concord and is ofa peculiar aromatic flavor. Brighton.—Dark red; one of the most desirable of the early red grapes; very large and handsome. The clusters under favorable conditions are more uniform than those of any otber grape we know. It ripens soon after the Worden. It should be planted near by other varieties, as its blossoms do not always fertilize when alone. Brilliant.—A beautiful red grape which has been tested in several states, north and south, receiving high commendation. A strong grower, healthy and hardy; color much resembles Delaware, but its bunches and berries are larger; quality very good; medium early. Dracut Amber.—Pale red; very early and productive; bunch and berry large; is quite foxy; valuable in Minnesota. Eaton.—Large, black, ripens rather later than Concord, which it resembles in many respects, but we have seen the fruit much larger than Concord in bunch and berry. 60 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Green Mountain (Winchell).— White, very early; berries drop from the stem, and it is not a good shipper. Herbert (Rogers No. 44).—Black, sweet, tender and delicious; early and productive; one of the best of the Rogers. Iona.—Red; a fine grape of excellent quality. Ripens about with the Concord. It is subject to mildew in many localities and not reliable for general vineyard culture, but very fine for the table, We have no trouble in ripening them at Minnetonka. Mills—Black, very weak grower, ripens about with Concord; bunch and berries large; quality good. Moore’s Diamond.—Color white: bunch and berries large; healthy, strong grower and hardy; quality excellent. Woodruff Red.—Very large and handsome; color red; strong grower; very healthy and hardy; quality fair. Its blossom is a few days later than the Concord. We have several more varieties that have not fruited yet, some of which we think quite ‘promising. All young vines should have some kind of mulch put over the roots besides the dirt the first two or three winters. EXCELSIOR TRIAL STATION. H. M. LYMAN, SUPT. This has been a fruitful year for apples in this vicinity, though most of the smaller trees on trial failed to produce fruit; many of them blossomed, but an insect, a kind of fly, seemed to destroy the blossom. Those trees are now well filled with blossom buds, which looks encouraging for a crop another year, The smaller plum trees also blossomed out full, both Russian and American varieties, but did not produce fruit, while the wild plums bore a fullcrop. I see that the Cheney blights some on the end of the limbs, which is the only variety of plum that I have noticed to blight. My Russian apple trees nearly all look finely and show very little blight among them this year. Among the hardiest I will mention the Charlamoff, Borovinka, Anisim, Red Repka (No. 200) and No. 599. In my last year’s report, I mentioned Hibernal as blighting badly; this year they have not blighted and are looking well. With me the Longfield is subject to blight and is not quite hardy enough for this latitude. The Good Peasant holds its leaves well into the winter, which is rather against it for planting so far north as this. A winter like our last, with no snow, requires a tree upon hardy roots. I lost several thousand in nursery rows from root-killing. _Patton’s Greening has done very well with me, though it has blighted some. I have two trees which have been planted four years; one has produced a few quite large apples. I have also a few Peerless trees; some are top-worked on Siberian stock, and two of them bore a few large apples of fairly good quality. Thetreeis a rapid grower and thus far free from blight, but does not ripen its wood as early in the fall as it should to be perfectly adapted to this fee LA CRESCENT TRIAL STATION. 61 climate, though it is certainly worthy of trial,and I hope it may remain with us as a standard variety. I think we may soon expect to see severely cold winters again; if so, doubtless, some of the varieties now planted will die, as they have in the past. Some hold that if the winter sets in with the ground well saturated with moisture, as it is now in this locality, trees will stand any amount of freezing; but that is not my experience during a residence of most fifty years. I have noticed that continued cold and dry weather for a long time without any let-up, when the circu- lation is completely stopped, will take the life from all trees that are not adapted to such conditions. The Siberians and hybrids and some of the Russians will stand such winters, while many that are less hardy willdie. Past experience will suffice for most, but some who have not had that experience should learn from those who have and plant nothing but hardy trees. LA CRESCENT TRIAL STATION. J. S. HARRIS, SUP’T. The work of this station is assuming such proportions that it now requires more care and attention than my health and other duties during the past season have permitted me to bestow upon it, and should the coming season be favorable for fruit, still greater atten- tion must be given it in order to bring out all the minor details. In the present year more than two hundred grafted and seedling ap- ples and crabs, fully two-thirds of which are new or but little known, have produced some fruit, but often but a little or single specimens- On small fruits, very little addition can be made to the report ren- dered at mid-summer. In the fruiting of the raspberries, the black- caps matured a very fair crop, the Palmer, Older and Ohio proving the best; the reds were very nearly a failure owing to a lack of vigor in the plants, which was probably largely occasioned hy a weakness of the root system, caused by the extreme drouth of the previous season. The Turner was the most fruitful of the old kinds, but the fruit was smaller and more imperfect than usual. Of new varieties, we had two or three plants of the Loudon. They had wintered finely, bore liberally and furnished us several pickings of superb fruit. The Royal Church fruited shyly. This berry looks well butis apt to be crumbly and of rather poor quality, and it should not be recom- mended for general cultivation in this state, Although the outlook for grapes at the time of our last report was not the best, the crop has exceeded our expectations. Some fruit was lost through cracking open of the berries, following the first rains after the dry, hot period early in August. The crop finally harvested was fully up to the average of our best years, both in quality and quantity, even bunches that looked straggling and ragged from apparent imperfectly pollenization developed into large, full clusters. All varieties have ripened their wood well and are in good condition to endure a severe winter withoutinjury. 62 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. We have nothing new to report in native plums; the crop was light and poor and no new varieties fruited. Desotas have done the best. The spring bloom on all varieties was heavy, but the weather conditions prevailing at the time seemed to be unfavorable for pol- lenization. Our older apple orchards matured much more fruit than we antic- ipated, and had it not been a year of general over-production, low prices and limited consumption, would have paid very well. The trees that were so badly affected with spur blight have generally re- cuperated to a considerable extent and were fairly well foliated at the end of the season. The younger trees in the experiment orchard proper carried but little fruit, although we had some specimens of more than two hundred varieties, including Russian seedlings and Siberian hybrids. The trees have generally made a fine growth and present a thrifty appearance and have been comparatively free from blight, except a few varieties of Russians. In the fifty-eight named va- rieties and a few seedlings and unknown varieties set in 1890, a list of most of which is found on page 201, May number of the magazine for 1896, the following have blighted so badly that the trees are not worth preserving or giving further trial, viz: Sweet Pipka, Stepka, Saccharine, Skladanka, all Russians. Other varieties that have blighted about the same asthe Wealthy are Skrout German, Noble Red Streak, Nos. 515, 1056, 2, 3, Ostrohoe and Arabscoe. Trees set later have been virtually free from blight. The twig blight is a great puzzletous, Varieties that inthe past have been very exempt have this year blighted the worst, while the Yellow Transparent, Longfield, Ostrekoff and some others of the worst blighters have been almost exempt from it. There are a few Russian varieties that blight badly and under almost any and all conditions are tardy and shy bearers, producing fruit that is of only medium quality, that had better be discarded as fast as they are found out, but va- rieties that fruit liberally and produce fruit of desirable quality should be given further trial, unless they prove to be very bad blighters or too tender in tree to endure our climate. We have planted a considerable number of trees of the McMahon White apple. In sheltered locations it is a bad blighter. It should only be planted in rather cool situations and where it will not suffer from drouth., Hibernal has also blighted more or less under simi- lar conditions, and the Peerless has shown that it is not blight proof. The new plantation of orchard made last spring (two hundred and fifty or more trees) is so far promising well. Not a single tree has failed to live and make as good a growth as is usually expected the second season after planting, and about all of them appear to have ripened up their wood well. Adjoining this on the same slope we have cleared off the forest and had holes dug for an additional two hundred trees to be planted next spring. Our nursery experiment with plums, using seedling sand cherries as stocks, is proving sat- isfactory with such varieties as will unite on that stock. Waa hese ge ly WINDOM TRIAL STACION. 63 SAUK RAPIDS TRIAL STATION. MRS. JENNIE STAGER, SUPT. All of the plums sent from the central experiment station, both last year and this, have thrived. Of quitean orchard of older plums from which we have had plenty of fruit other years, none bore except Desota, Weaver and one seedling plum, a very fine one. Of the apples you sent two years ago, the Longfields and Lieby died last winter, the others madea good growth this year. The Anto- novka, sents everal years ago,was loaded, also all other healthy trees on my grounds. In fact, apples were fine wherever there were healthy trees in this locality. The seedling apple trees sent me ten years ago by Peter Gideon and passed over to Mr. Cross on account of want of room were a sight to behold. Loaded with apples, some excellent and none extra poor, they encouraged those who had despaired of raising apples to try again. Raspberries were poor, although all vines, including those sent this spring, made a good growth. My grape vines, ten or twelve years old, came through last winter poorly, although well covered and cared for. All of the Moore’s Karly, Pocklington and Niagara died, as did some of the Wordens, Janesvilles and Lindleys. Concords and Brightons came out better but bore poorly; the young vines were just alive in the spring but, notwithstanding care, languished and diedin the summer. Goose- berries had no fruit. Currants did fairly well. All the mulberry trees were loaded with fruit, and the berries canned with rhubarb make fine pies. It is useless to plant blackberries here; I have persevered for ten years and never had fruit of any consequence. WINDOM TRIAL STATION. DEWAIN COOK, SUP’T. The raspberry crop, as usual, was poor. The Brandywine and a small early red-cap seedling did fairly well. The Loudon, although in perfect health, did not winter as well as several other varieties I grow, but some of the lower branches bore some elegant specimens; it is probably the best raspberry, all things considered, that I am acquainted with, but may need winter protection here. The conditions were tolerably good for the rooting of the straw- berry plants; new beds are looking better than last year,two and three year beds looking much better. Bederwood and Crescent hold their own with the weeds better than most others. Of grapes, the Worden fills the bill nicely; about fifty vines were left on top of ground during the winter of ’95 and no protection given. They were but little injured and bore a fairly good crop the season past. The Moore’s Early and Concord under similar condi- tions did nearly as well. Of apples, the Russian 272, Little Hat, Duchovia and 191 prove to be early and heavy bearers and are the largest apples I grew, with no blight. I think Little Hat should be recommended for trial. 64 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. We fruited a good many new varieties of apples the past season for the first time. The fruiting Russians were mostly early sorts, and their quality averages up much better than I expected. 157M is very tender and of large size; Borovinka resembles the Duchess; fruit more highly colored and does not grow as close to the body of the tree. I also fruited four varieties of Thompson’s seedling from the Jewell Nursery. The trees were set the spring of 1891. They all seem to be winter apples and of good quality. I am particularly pleased with the Grundy; the tree was loaded with very large and fine looking apples of best quality. We had some blight in our orchard the latter part of summer; it affected the Yellow Transparent, Early Strawberry, Malinda, Charl- amoff and some sprouts of the Transcendents that had come from trees that had died some three years previous of blight. A row of unknown varieties of crab trees were struck by blight in August, and during September many of the best trees were killed outright, the blight working mostly in the body of the trees. The rather scrubby trees on the low land were not affected. I shall cut down all trees of that variety. It is conceded by most everybody that apples can be grown in this section. The Haas, Walbridge and Tolman Sweet fruited in this neighborhood; also the Flemish Beauty pear. The plum is our hobby, and we fruited several varieties the past season for the first time. The Hawkeye, which I reported in July as bearing heavily, proved to be the Wyant. I am much pleased with this variety and think it should be recommended for general planting by our horticultural society. The Rockford proves to bea fine plum but so far a shy bearer. The New Ulm trees were over- loaded with large plums of fair quality, but the trees are of too sprawling habit to suit my taste. The Ocheeda isa very sweet plum, of medium size, badly stung by curculio and of unattractive color. The Wolf still holds its good reputation; with me the trees show more individuality than do trees of any other variety I am ac- quainted with. The Desota, as usual, bore heavily; I gathered the best of the fruit and sold it early, and after about ten days I gath- ered and sold the culls, which had grown to be much nicer and larger than the Desotas first gathered. Wehad some good rains early in September which caused most varieties of plums to grow very rap- idly, causing many of them to crack badly. We got no perfect Cheney plums; plum pockets and curculio got away with them—I have but little use forthe Cheney plums. The Mankato plum did not fruit. I received samples of what promises to be a plum of extraordinary value; they were sent me by the Jewell Nursery Co. They were of very large size and of good quality; what may prove to be of great value is its exceeding earliness. Trees sent me last spring of this variety, which they call the Itasca, grew vigorously until about July 1st and then ceased to grow, resembling in thisrespect the Manitoba plum, thus indicating that its origin wasin the far north. On ac- count ofits good quality, largesize,earliness and apparent hardiness of tree, I predict forthis variety a large range of usefulness, not only in good plum growing sections but in the far north where most other varieties would fail. MINNESOTA CITY TRIAL STATION. 65 In my opinion, plum orchards will prove a paying investment in this latitude, more so than growing apples. On account of the much better market for the fruit, I set out in orchard this fall for my own fruiting some eight hundred plum trees of the best varieties. They were one year old trees. I shall cover each tree with a fork- ful of coarse manure. MINNESOTA CITY TRIAL STATION. O. M. LORD, SUPT. Strawberries—There were twenty varieties of strawberries for com- parison this year. The Bederwood and Warfield yielded more than any others. Among the newer kinds, the Arrow, Mary and Dayton promise well; Crescent, Parker Earle, Gardner, Timbrel, Princeton Chief, Capt. Jack, Van Deman and others bore no fruit; Lovett, Haverland, Greenville, Jessie and Bubach bore a few berries. The general failure is attributed to unfavorable weather at blossoming. All varieties bloomed freely, and the vines made a fine growth, in- dicating a good condition of plants. Raspberries.—Black-cap Varieties.—Gregg, Nemaha, Kansas Courath and Palmer. The Palmer is the earliest, very hardy and a great yielder, but is not so desirable for distant market as the Gregg or Nemaha. The Courath bore no fruit. Red Varieties.—The Cuthbert and Turner are still in the lead fora full crop after a trial of many kinds. The Loudon, Miller and Golden Queen are on trial but have not fruited. The Loudon made a poor growth; the Miller did much better; the Columbian made a heavy growth; also the Shaffer. There is very little difference in the fruit, but the bushes are readily distinguished by appearance and habits of growth, Blackberries.—The Brighton and Snyder are the most desirable varieties for this vicinity. The Saunders and Badger have been added to the trial list. Gooseberries.—They produced no fruit this year. Varieties on trial, the Pearl, Columbus, Red Jacket and Chatauqua. Currants.—They did not fruit this year. Varieties, Red Dutch, Victoria and North Star. Grapes.—These yielded a fine crop, but Moore’s Early was spoiled at maturity by cracking. Iona, Lindley, Agawam, Worden, Empire State, Concord and Delaware matured nicely. All of the fruits named have been grown upon a scale sufficient to determine their adaptability to market purposes and also some- thing of their value for the common farm garden. Cherries.—Cherries did not bear fruit. The few Russians which are left madea fine growth. The Wragg cherry has been received for trial. Plums.—Native plums are the specialty of this station. Nearly all varieties thrive and bear fruit, but twenty-five or more varieties that have been brought to notice by cultivation have been cast aside as not desirable on this ground, the principal faults being 66 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. quality and size of fruits. The Cheney, Rollingstone, Desota and Weaver have been sufficiently tested to warrant general planting. No full Chickasaws can be recommended to stand our test winters. There are now on the grounds fifty or more varieties which promise to be valuable additions to our plum list; I would name especially the Itasca, Ocheeda, Mankato, Winnebago, New Ulm, Surprise, Stod- dard and Comfort. Some of the Japans also promise well. They have made a fine growth and appear to be better adapted to crossing with the natives than any of the Europeans. The Berger, Gold, Red June and Abundance are on trial; also, some crosses of Japan and Desota. A few seedlings from the German prune appear to be doing well; also seedlings from a blue plum of the Damson type are growing finely but have not been exposed to severe weather. Of the eight varieties of Russian trees set out in 1887, the Early Red, Orel and Moldovka have died; the Veronesh Yellow, Czar Nicholas, Hunga- rian and Richland appear healthy and have made fair growth, but several varieties of natives standing near by and planted at the same time have borne four full crops, while the Russians have had no fruit worth mentioning. Prof. Budd said, several years ago, that all our best varieties of natives had been obtained by selection and that we had probably reached the limit of desirable kinds in that direction, and he recom- mended that, for further improvement, attention be turned to cross- ing or hybridizing with prunus domestica. Since then, several new and very desirable kinds have been found, and it is said that there is as yet no well authenticated case of a cross between the natives and Europeans, though there are several with the Japanese. MONTEVIDEO TRIAL STATION. L. R. MOYER, SUPT. A Dakota Group.—“ Very effective” may be said of an irregular lawn border planted with buffalo-berries, interspersed and sup- ported by sand cherries. The buffalo-berry is atall growing shrub, with beautiful silvery foliage; it holds its leaves well late into the fall. The sand cherry isalow growing shrub, almost prostrate; in early spring,it produces interesting flowers; in mid-summer, its wealth of leaves gives it an almost tropical effect; with the first hint of autumn, it changes to the gorgeous hues of rich maroon and red One might think that the dazzling colors would produce a bizarre effect against the background of silvery buffalo-berries, but it does not. They harmonize perfectly; perhaps, because they have been associated together so long in their Dakota home. A Native Color Scheme.--Behold that blaze of color lighting up the dark green of the bur-oak copse! Howit holds the eye! No artist has painted it; no landscape architect has equalled it; it is nature’s own inimitable planting. That dazzling blaze of color is the wild ampelopsis tcuched with the tints of autumn. The bur-oak and the ampelopsis have been long associated together; they harmonize perfectly; our best gardening art produces nothing so fine. MONTEVIDEO TRIAL STATION. 67 A European and an Asiatic.—Perhaps the original home of the Scotch rose, rose rugosissima,is not known; but it so happened at Montevideo, that in front of a rough hillside, covered with Scotch roses, there were planted a few specimens of the little Manchurian maple (Acer Tartarica ginnala). When autumn came the foliage of the Scotch roses turned to a deeprich brown, whilein front of them the Asiatic maples blazed in autumnal glory. They harmonized per- fectly. Can it be possible that they had met before on the steppes of Siberia and knew each other well? Our native prairie rose (Rosa Arkansana) does not take kindly to cultivation; it does not like to be nursed and petted; but if you un- dertake its extermination it will persist like original sin. It is beautiful, too, in autumn when its leaves have changed to a deep maroon, and is then seen at its best advantage among the brown prairie grasses. No shrub lights up in autumn more gloriously than our native sumac (Rhus glabra), but it is a little difficult to handle in the con- ventional well kept garden. To be seen at its best advantage, it needs for a background a copse of bur-oak, and it needs for a fore- ground clusters of golden rod and horsemint. It looks best when a little neglected, as if the gardener had gone away on a long visit or had forgotten it. In sucha situation, seen against the dark green leaves of the bur-oak, as the summer days begin to lengthen into autumn, the sumac runs the whole gamut of the color scale and blazes forth into the most dazzlingly brilliant oranges and reds. It is simply unapproachable. sai An Experiment That Failed.—Speaking of the bur-oak, it is easy to call it the finest western Minnesota tree. It ought to be planted on the prairies everywhere. The common lilac is, doubtless, every- thing considered, the best prairie shrub—and here it is proper to record an experiment that failed. Ona rough bluff that borders the trial station grounds there grows a thrifty copse of bur-oak trees. On the street side of the bur-oak thicket, there was a tangle of bitter- sweet, wild grape vines and clematis. It was a spot that an artist would delight in, but on an evil day the road-master attacked it with his brush hookand “slickeditup.” The bitter-sweet, the grape vines and the clematis disappeared, and the oak trees were either cut down or trimmed up. Perhaps, we ought not to blame him; he did not have the eye of an artist, and he was unconcious, too, that he had perpetrated a vandalism that could never be repaired. An attempt was made to patch up the charred and mangled bur-oak copse by planting lilac bushes. The lilacs grewand flourished, but the result was inharmonious. In place of the artistic tangle that the street commissioner had destroyed, there is now only jarring discord. The leafy, umbrageous lilac from southeast Europe is a stranger to the native Minnesota bur-oak. They do not harmonize. Two Picturesque Hardy Conifers.—The native red cedar (Junip- erus Virginiana) is a rugged, picturesque tree of varying habit. Of irregular and strong outline, one instinctively associates it with rocky promontories and rugged banks. It grows well on the prai- ries, and a well developed specimen is nevercommonplace. It is al- 68 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ways interesting, and if placed in the back ground little objection can be made to its habit of turning dark brown in the winter. A satisfactory tree to plant with it is Mugho pine (Pinus Montana), a scrub pine from the mountains of Europe. This dwarf pine keeps its green foliage through the most trying winter. An irregular group of red cedars supported by low growing Mugho pines in front will be very satisfactory. Two Fine Spiraeas.—We have already spoken of the great satis- faction with which we have grown two fine spiraeas, spiraea hyper- iofolia and spiraea Van Houtei. These two fine spring blooming shrubs ought to be found in the flower border of every prairie home. When a water supply can be had, the summer blooming spiraea Douglasi may be grown. Its spike-like terminal panicles of pink flowers are very fine. A Fine Summer Apple.—Young trees of Blushed Calville (22M) bore this season a full crop of fine summer apples. The fruit is of good size, light golden in color, very slightly blushed and of excel- lent quality. It reminds one of the old fashioned Early Harvest of Eastern orchards. The fruit ripened about two weeks before the Oldenburg. This is the first of our Russians to come into bearing, and we think highly of it. Two Excellent Raspberries.—The continued failure of our older red raspberries, the Turner and the Cuthbert, through the ravages of the tree cricket, has discouraged us somewhat. But this year the Golden Queen and the Palmer both produced excellent crops. The Palmer is a very early black-cap, and we like it very much. The black-caps appear to be free from the ravages of the tree crickets. OWATONNA TRIAL STATION. E. H, S. DARTT, SUPT. The long succession of mild winters continues, and, as a result, thousands of new seedling apple trees and other half hardy varie- ties are coming into bearing all over our state, and our exhibition tables are fairly loaded down with luscious apples. Dame Nature seems in her happiest mood and is lavishing on us her sweetest and most bewitching smiles, The north pole, instead of being fifty thousand years in twisting us around into torrid climes, has gone on the wobble and has for twelve long years been vibrating between the crab apple and the peach, making its lowest bows to the peach. We cannot trust the pole, and 1 think there is a great deal of sell in the idea that our climate is rapidly changing for the better or that the great number of new seedling and other apples now being boomed for Minnesota are likely to withstand the effects of our next hard winter. I wish these mild winters were sure to continue, for Iam sorry to utter a discouraging word, but the path of duty does not always lead in smooth places or amidst delightful scenery. Our oldest experimenters know that a seedling apple tree may pass through very severe winters unharmed, whilst grafted trees of the same variety are liable to be killed by winters less severe, still OWATONNA TRIAL STATION. 69 leaving the old tree in perfect health. Why is this? Is it because the seedling tree grows more slowly and ripens up its wood more perfectly? If so, a little girdling will retard the growth of the grafted tree. Is our method of propagation defective? If so,we may cure that defect by growing trees from root cuttings. What- ever the cause, the fact remains, and it is not prudent for us to re- commend any variety for general planting untilit has proved profit- able as a grafted tree, having passed unharmed through a very se- vere winter in a trying location AFTER COMING INTO FULL BEARING. A great diversity of opinion exists as to how far apart trees should stand in a Minnesotaorchard. I have always advocated close plant- ing in the belief that trees thus planted would protect one another - tosome extent by shading the ground and holding the snow, thus pre- serving the moisture. We know that apple trees are naturally short lived in Minnesota,are likely to die out before they become crowded, even though closely planted; besides there is nothing so good fora non-blighting apple tree as plenty of manure and good, clean cul- tivation. This they are far more likely to get if they do not cover a large piece of ground. There is a great difference in varieties as to the amount of room they need for full development. The Tetofsky might do well with twelve feet square and the Duchess with sixteen feet square, while the Transcendent crab (if it did not blight) and the Quaker beauty crab and other like growers need at least thirty feet square. In this view of the case, we can not fix an inflexible rule, but by my im- proved method of girdling we have the growth under entire control. We can say to the rampant growth, you just stop producing so much wood and give us more fruit, and it will obey. I have had much experience in orchard planting. I planted 1500 orchard trees in Wisconsin nearly forty years ago and have planted not less than 5000 in Minnesota within the last twenty-five years; and from this experience, coupled with observation, I advise farmers to plant sixteen feet apart each way, and if they have faith in girdling place them eight feet apart in the row north and south and after two or three years girdle alternate trees by way of experiment. I have decided to publish that part of my record showing the be- havior for the last four years of every one of the 800 orchard trees, comprising more than two hundred varieties. Of about seven hun- dred other grafted varieties in nursery, nearly all are doing finely, the exceptions being mostly the blighting kinds. Ben Davis, Haas and many other half hardy kinds are doing well. What we seem now to need more than anything else is an old fashioned Minnesota winter to prove our ways and try the hearts of our apple trees. Blight seems to have been less injurious than usual, probably from lack of cultivation in the orchard and lack of manure in the nursery. I am manuring the older portion of the nursery this win- ter and will cultivate thoroughly with the view of developing or en- couraging blight. I have added to my list the Lincoln pear, the Bismarck apple anda few other new apples and plums. The Longworth pear produced a voy eee a 70 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. few specimens of medium size and good quality. It seems to take kindly to the Dartt and the Greenwood crabs as a top-graft. I have girdled one of the three trees and expect a full crop next season. I have raised one little scabby peach, but have laid down and covy- ered the tree,remembering that small beginnings and patient toil are the forerunners of great results. Six thousand root grafts were planted last spring, of over three hundred varieties, many of which are new seedlings of great prom- ise. I have planted two wagon loads of rotten apples and apple pomace, largely of Duchess and Wealthy varieties. I have been planting evergreen trees and apple trees, expecting to sell to help pay expenses; but on account of scarcity of suitable land and the trouble of selling in very small quantities, I have con- cluded that it is best that I confine my labors strictly to experiment work. We cannot test the size and quality of fruit unless it can ripen on the trees, and this ripening cannot be secured where tramps and hoodlums roam at will. On this account I have fenced the nursery with heavy wire screen three feet wide at the bottom to keep out rabbits, and four hog wires stretched tightly above to keep out the two-legged hogs. The posts should be four and one-half feet high and one rod apart. Strips of board, one inch by three, and four feet long, should be stapled midway between the posts from the ground up to first or second wire. Then similar strips should be placed three or four feet from the posts on each side and stapled from top wire down to the top of the screen. It will be best to sharpen the tops of the posts. Such a fence will be difficult to climb over on ac- count of its instability and will cost about one dollar per rod. (The detailed report of the 800 orchard trees, to which Mr. Dartt refers, can be had free upon application to him. It is a carefully prepared and valuable record, and we regret that lack of space forbids its publication herewith. The list is likely, as he suggests, to be shorter after the next severe winter.—SECY). AMMONIA AS A TREE WASH.—Any one who takes a careless “sniff” at the hartshorn bottle can readily understand how a moderate dose of ammonia will produce fatal results when designedly administered. But in those very qualities (says Colman’s Rural World) is to be found the great value of ammonia in keeping orchard trees clean and vigorous. What insect can possibly live to do damage to trees after having received even a homeopathic dose of ammonia? Trees given a good ammonia wash once or twice a year will show in their clean, shining bark and glossy leaves a high appreciation of such attention, and many orchardists who have used these preparations bear testimony to their substantial value in increasing the vigor of the trees and the size and quality of the crop. It is comparatively cheap, and its timely application to almost any orchard will be found to pay handsome dividends. ANNUAL MEETING, ILLS. STATE HORT. SOCIETY. 71 ANNUAL MEETING, 1896, ILL. STATE HORT. SOCIETY. J. COLE DOUGHTY, LAKE CITY, DELEGATE. The annual meeting of this society was held at Springfield, Dec. 29, 30 and 31, 1896, in the supreme court rooms at the state capitol, a magnificent building,fitted with every appliance for comfort and con- vience, and the quarters assigned to the society were all that could be desired. The attendance averaged from fifty to sixty members though this would probably have been largely increased had the weather been more favorable. It rained more or less during the entire session. The usual order of business was followed, consisting of the reports of the different officers, the president’s annual address, etc. The president’s annual address and the report of Secretary Dunlap were eceptionally able papers, indicating that the administrative department of the Illinois State Horticultural Society is, like our own, in the hands of earnest, intelligent horticulturists whose whole aim is to advance the best interests of the society. The fruit exhibit was excellent in quality, but very limited in variety, consisting entirely of applesand pears. This may beattrib- uted, no doubt, to the fact that the meeting was held so late in the season. The pear exhibit was very attractive, but of course entirely foreign to the horticultural experience in this state. The apple ex- hibit consisted largely of Jonathan, Ben Davis, Minkler, etc., but no crab apples and no varieties of large apples common to Minnesota. In fact, the entire apple exhibit bore a commercial aspect that is unknown to us. By this I mean that the apples shown consisted almost entirely of the large red sorts and were mostly grown and exhibited by planters who make a business of orcharding for mark- et purposes. The enthusiastic amateurish features of our Minne- sota fruit exhibits were lacking. When we reflect that there are five counties in Illinois, near Springfield, in which there are not 500 acres all told that are not devoted to orchards and fruit raising, we may account for the meagre variety andthe commercial appearance of the exhibit asa whole. Wecan, however, learn something from their admirable system of handling the fruit exhibits and awards that may be advantageous. A plain composition book, six by eight inches (eighty pages) is used,on which a printed list of the pre- miums offered (cut from the program) is pastedontheoutside. This book is indexed by numbers (to correspond with the number of entry). On the first page inside are the names, post-office addresses, etc., of the judges, or awarding committee. The name of the exhib- itor is entered on the page indexed with the number of his entry. The books are prepared just as soon as the exhibits are entered and placed, and are then distributed on the proper tables. Cards are attached to each plate of fruit, giving the number of the exhibitor, the name of the fruit, etc., from which to make the awards, attach the ribbons, make the entry in the book, etc. I mention this mat- ter because of the expeditious manner in which the judge’s work was done. I think, by 2:30 p. m. the first day the premiums were all awarded, and by 3 p. m. the books were all in the hands of the sec- retary. 72 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. One of the ablest papers presented to the society was read by Mr. C. E. Tobey, of Sparta, Wisconsin, on the subject of “Small Fruits.” Mr. Tobey treated his subject in a very intelligent manner, showing that he was thoroughly acquainted with his department, having mastered all its details. His article provoked much discussion, and, in fact, but little attention was given the subject of small fruits except in connection with his paper. The subject of “ Potato Growing” occupied almost one whole ses- sion. Mr. L.S. Spencer presented the results of many experiments and comparisons of varieties in a most intelligent manner. The formulated tables of results, together with the accurate descriptions of varieties, their habits, season, etc.,render this paper of great value to the farmer. The diseases of potatoes, their treatment and cure were also thoroughly treated. The paper of Mr. F. D. Voris on “The Cultivation of an Apple Or- chard for Five Years” was closely in line with that of our President Underwood submitted at our last meeting, and evoked considerable commendation. Most of the papers and, in fact, the subjects and discussions were not of a character to interest Minnesota horticulturists greatly. Pears, peaches, apples (in varieties not adapted to this climate) and the marketing of and preservation of fruits, were the principal topics of each session. President R. Morrill of the Michigan State Horticultural Society gavea very instructive lecture on pruning fruit trees. This was given in the evening, and he illustrated his system by means of a stereopticon with views that gave much force to the arguments he advanced. The principle he advocates consists in heading trees low, say eighteen inches above the ground, removing the center or middle branch entirely and encouraging a wide spread of growth. Many of the trees shown measured from two to six feet wider than the height. He claims for this method a largely increased produc- tion of fruit-bearing wood and surface. This lecture was one of the best features of the meeting, and our society should by all means secure President Morrill’s attendance at our next winter meeting. He is an earnest, enthusiastic horticulturist, a thoroughly practical and successful fruit grower, a good talker, a close observer and an all-round sound, practical man. Hislecture was commended by all who heard it. There seems to be a pronounced feeling in favor of securing a permanent abiding place for the society, and it is only a question of time when the Illinois society will take up its permanent abode at the state capitol and possibly secure a building there. This is in line with our work. A permanent buildingis a necessity if we are to preserve our library and important papers that are so rapidly ac- cumulating. Weshould make an earnest, persistent effort in this direction. In closing this report I cannot refrain from calling the attention of this society to a danger that menaces us and threatens to destroy and render abortive all the advance we have made in horticulture in the past twenty-five years. We have an enemy at our door so in- ibe 21d aaNye ANNUAL MEETING, ILLS. STATE HORT. SOCIETY. 73 sidious that only the utmost care and vigilance will avert disaster. I refer to the San Jose scale. Prof. Forbes, the state entomologist of Illinois, made an exhaustive report to the state horticultural society showing that Eastern nurseries infected with this disease had made over one hundred and fifty shipments to parties in Illinois that he could trace, and how many other shipments of infected trees and plants is, of course, unknown. These shipments necessarily covera wide area of the state, and the discovery of this parasite was made so late in the season of 1896 that, as yet, the entomologist has been able to make a superficial and partial examination only. He now reports having discovered the San Jose scale actively at work in ten differ- ent places in the state and expresses the opinion that he will pro- bably find ten or fifteen more points infected and, possibly,a still larger number. He said that “no danger equal to this, no calamity of equal proportion has ever threatened the fruit products of the state.’ The necessity for prompt and energetic action is so mani- fest that a committee was appointed to draft and present to the leg- islature of the state of Illinois “a bill forthe control of injuries to fruits, etc.” The following is a copy of the report of this committee: “To the [Illinois State Horticultural Society: “Your committee appointed at your last meeting to draft and present to the state legislature a bill for the control of injuries to fruits by insect and fungous pests, begs leave to say that, although this committee was not required to report its action to this society, it has seemed best to us that some statement of our progress should be made at this meeting, and to this your own executive board agreed by a resolution passed by them at their meeting in September. ‘Your committee has very carefully considered the whole subject at several succes- ‘Sive meetings; has obtained copies of all laws relating to this matter passed by the various state legislatures and by the provincial legislatures of Canada; has corres- ponded extensively with horticultural officials and with practical horticulturists; «nd has prepared the rough draft of a bill embodying what seems to us the features of the various laws in force best adapted to our situation and most likely to serve a useful purpose in this state and containing also some original features not occurring in any other state or provincial laws. “It has been one of our main objects to put the entire responsibility for initiative and for control upon the regular representatives of this society and of its associated socie- ties in the three horticultural sections of the state. Weconsequently propose to make the executive board of this society, as now constituted, a state board of horticulture, charged with the execution of this law. “ We have further deemed it desirable that the experience and special knowledge of the official! entomologist of this state should be placed at the service of this board in such a manner that, while standing in an advisory relation to it and serving likewise as its executive officer, he shall nevertheless have little or no independent authority in the premises. We have endeavored so to frame the proposed law as to provide for prompt and authentic information concerning the appearance or marked increase of any notably destructive insect or fungous fruit pest; for authoritative action by the horticultural board looking to the prompt and general destruction of any such spe- cially injurious insect or fungous pest; and for the watchful inspection and control of importations of fruit plants or nursery stock capable of introducing injurious insects or fungi into the state. “The main purpose of our bill will be to establish a machinery for the intelligent, prompt and authoritative handling of the subject, which shall be capable of flexible adaptation to local and special conditions. We have particularly tried to avoid a cast-iron system of hard and fast regulations, incapable of being uniformly carried out withont doing frequent harm or working injustice to individuals. We have been especially careful to keep the whole control of the matter in the hands of the horti- culturists themselves, believing that they are, asa body, fully capable of looking af- ter their common interests and much more likely to doso intelligently and judi- ciously than is any independent officer or official body outside their own number. 74 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ‘In proposing this legislation and advocating its enactment we shall hope for and think we have reason to expect the active support and aid of every member of this society and of every other intelligent fruit grower and nurseryman in the state.” Your representative endeavored to secure a copy of the bill to be presented to the legislature, but was informed that it was not as yet complete, as the committee had not agreed on some of the sections of vitalimportance, etc. Your secretary can now doubtless secure a copy of said proposed act, which should be done without delay so the matter can be brought to the attention of the Minnesota legisla- . ture at its present session, and suitable laws enacted to prevent the introduction of this most dangerous and pernicious parasite into our state. Every intelligent person who has tried to secure an or- chard or small fruit plant in this climate will agree that we already have obstacles sufficient to contend with without having to fight this insect. The most severe blight is but a summer dream as com- pared to the San Jose scale. It infests all kinds of vegetation. For- est trees, shrubs and vines and even our most common grasses are subject to its ravages, but the chief danger is to our fruit trees, small fruits, roses and ornamental stock. Itis so smallas toescape observation except by the most careful search; it is so prolific in its increase that it soon spreads over a large area, adhering to anything with which it comes in contact, and, finally, it is so difficult to exter- minate that no effectual method has been found to dispose of it ex- cept to burn the infected wood. Neither heat norcold, sunshine nor storm, have any effect on it so far as discovered, and it will come to us so surely as we live unless prompt and vigorous measures are taken to prevent its introduction. Wecan, however, KEEP IT OUT for a fraction of the expenditure that will be required to eradicate it after it once getsin. Legislation to prevent its entering the state can be secured and enforced a great deal easier and cheaper than we can legislate and enforce laws for the destruction of our farmers’ orchards and gardens, even though we compensate them for their loss. Do not for a moment delude yourselves with the idea that this is a bugaboo ora false note of alarm. Had you heard the re- port and the discussion in the Illinois state horticultural meeting, you would all agree that prevention is far cheaper and surer than any remedy for the cure or extermination of the San Jose scale. I cannot close this report, already too long, without a tribute to the courtesy and kindly treatment the members of the Illinois State Horticultural Society extended me while with them. There was a good fellowship, a sort of horticultural Free Masonry among them that I have never seen excelled, and it is only equalled in the meet- ings of our own society. Judge Wellhouse, the great apple-grower of Kansas, sows red clover in his orchards when they came into bearing and rolls this down twice a season with a large roller on which are several knives, like the knives of a stalk cutter. The clover stand is kept up by the yearly reseeding and the fertility of the land is well cared for so far as nitrogen and good physical condition go. SMALL FRUITS IN 1896. 75 SMALL FRUITS IN 1896. A.M, SHEPHERD, MINNEAPOLIS. The usually very pleasant duty of reporting small fruits is for the season just past alloyed by discouragement to the pecuniarily inter- ested. In the vicinity of Minneapolis, asin the Northwest generally, small fruits were about one-half a crop, strawberries practically a failure. We areata loss toaccount for this inany way except from their going into winter quarters unusually dry, this being followed by a light snowfall,and their vitality being thereby impaired or wholly ex- hausted. We noticed in our plats that where we covered heaviest the plants came through in best shape and that in portions where there was what is genera)ly considered excessive covering there was marked increase of vitality. We believe that we do not cover suffi- ciently and that instead of covering so that the vines may be seen slightly through it,enough coarse litter (say two inches or more) should be used to completely hide them from sight. It has been our experience that al/ fruit covered heaviest came through best. In this connection, we wish to suggest that instead of waiting, as is customary, until ground is sufficiently frozen to bear a team and drive onto the beds, that we try, at least a portion of our beds, by covering lightly as soon as first severe frosts occur, putting on the balance, or heavy covering, after being frozen,as usual. We have not tried it sufficiently to express any decided opinion, but be- lieve that (as in nature, where plants are covered by falling leaves and drooping grass long before our usual time for covering) a cov- ering at this season will, by obviating the alternate freezing and thawing that occurs before settled freezing, be a great factor in success in our cold climate. A peculiarity we noticed this spring in our strawberry beds was that though the foliage was as bright as usual when opened,in a couple of weeks in some varieties (notably pistillates and especially Warfield, which is usually specially hardy),that they were begin- ning to die and inside of a month were entirely dead. Other varie- ties lived with impaired vitality. Staminates made the best show- ing. These beds were all new and should have been most vigorous Is the fact of the greatest propagators having least vitality due to excessive plant production? If so, what would be the remedy? In our own experience and as far as we have learned from some of our largest growers, strawberries were a practical failure, exceptions being in favored and Jow locations—-showing lack of moisture last fall. We picked our first fruit, Michael’s Early, June 5th, showing the season to be nearly two weeks early. The standard sorts ripened from two to five days later. Red raspberries were one-half a crop and of inferior quality, except on some new plantations, the Cuth- bert and the Marlboro giving the best returns. The Loudon is very promising. Black-caps, where covered, were a little better than the red, and quality was better also. Blackberries promised an im- mense crop, but when the season was at its height, rain followed by abnormal heat scalded both the ripe and the green fruit, probably 76 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. decreasing the crop fully one-half. Wesaw atthe fruit farm of Mr. B. C. Yancy three or four acres of blackberries as heavily loaded with fruit as we ever saw in the famous Wisconsin blackberry fields. That Mr. Yancy has great faith in small fruits is evidenced by his large and increasing acreage. Currants were not to exceed two- thirds of a crop, except in isolated plantations and localities, and again was the quality low. We believe most of us are not careful enough about spraying and, especially, after the vines are through fruiting, when many let the worms have full swing, thereby greatly diminishing the following crop. I would also prune and thin more, a great deal more. Grapes bore a good crop, but prices were very low. What can be done to give growers (and especially those owning vineyards at Minnetonka, where it has assumed such proportions) a living profit in competition with Eastern growers? Gooseberries were a good crop and there was a good demand and good prices. In this fruit, we should increase our plantations; they are easily grown, prolific and easily picked by stripping and fanning, and there is an increasing demand. In new fruits, we know of no acquisitions except the Crandall cur- rant and Success Juneberry, both perfectly hardy, very prolific and well worth a place in our gardens. This fall we have had an abundance of rain, and the conditions are very favorable for a splendid crop of small fruits in 1897. We believe that we are on the threshold of an era of copious rainfall and commercial prosperity and that the horticulturists of the Northwest (and we bespeak Minnesota especially) will reap a merited and mu- nificent harvest. Mr. C.L.Smith: One pointin Mr. Shepherd’s paper I want to call particular attention to. Last year we had a discussion in regard to light covering of strawberries, followed by a heavy covering later on. Last year I practiced it to some extent, and the results this year bore out what I promised at that time. The roots were not injured by that dry freezing during the months of October and November when they are usually ex- posed, and I am more than ever in favor of mulching lightly about the first of October, either to cover the plants or to cover the whole surface of the ground, and then putting on a heavier mulch later on. 1 had a very satisfactory yield from vines treated in that way. CURIOUS FREAK OF AN APPLE TREE.—In an orchard near Lake Erie, a Greening tree bore Greening apples on one side and on the other apples of a mixed character, each apple being partly Green- ing and partly Talman Sweet. The different kinds occurred in sec- tions for the most part corresponding to the carpels. A Talman Sweettree stood near. Prof. Bailey writes he considers it an instance of what is very unusual, the immediate effect of cross pollenation.— Canadian Horticulturist. FRUIT GROWING AT LAKE SUPERIOR. fs FRUIT GROWING AT THE HEAD OF LAKE SUPERIOR. R. H. PENDERGAST, DULUTH. Most people have the impression that we are too far north for any thing to grow except crab apples, as they are not aware of the great influence that such a large body of water has upon the temperature and the benefit of the extra moisture in the atmosphere. At the request of Hon. H, M. Rice and Dr. Willry, of St. Paul (who were largely interested at Bayfield, Wis.),in the spring of 1867, I came up to Superior and visited all of the old settlements on the lake, to see what had been the success of the efforts to raise fruit. I found considerable seedling fruit growing also some trees that had come from nurseries in‘New York and Ohio. I found that they had made no allowance for the shortness of the season for growing and ripening the fruit and had set out all kinds of winter fruits, which could not mature. From Bayfield to Marquette, along the south shore of the lake, where they had fifty to seventy-five miles of open water north of them al] winter, I found that the hardy standard ap- ples, pears, plums and cherries were succeeding well, and in size, color and flavor were equal or superior to those grown in Michigan and Ohio. Strawberries, raspberries, currants and gooseberries were doing better here than below, as the cool summers give very large, fine flavored fruit; blackberries and grapes, there is not enough heat to ripen well. I was so well pleased with what I found that the next spring I moved to Bayfield and started a fruit farm on one of the outer Apostle Islands. [remained there several years and then, owing to ill health, was obliged to change my plans and return to Minneapolis, but have continued my interest in the advancement of fruit culture around Lake Superior. When Duluth was started, I furnished several of the first settlers with such trees and shrubs as we used in Minnesota. I think you will find few trees in the state that have been set twenty-five years that are in as good condition and have yielded as much fruit as these trees, though Duluth labors under the disadvantage for tree culture, both fruit and ornamental, of having a very heavy clay soil and sub-soil, so that the trees have to be set near the surface and mounded up or underdrained, or ina few years they will die; also, the location is on a hillside, with a southeast exposure, and trees that are not properly cared for are liable to sun-scald. The last two winters have been very hard on trees and shrubs here on account of so many sudden changes from warm to cold. As we go back over the bluff, we find the conditions for successful fruit raising more favorable, as much of the land has a gravel subsoil; and most of the settlers have hillsides with a northern exposure, where they can set their trees, and usually they have plenty of snow to protect the roots; although some years the snow comes before the ground 78 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. freezes, making it necessary to tramp the snow around the trees, as we had to in New England, so that the ground will freeze. All summer and fall fruits that will stand the winters of Minnea- polis will do well here. The Duchess ripens here about three weeks later than with you, and it keeps longer after picking. At several points along the north shore in Minnesota and as far north as Fort William in Canada, the crab apple is doing well; also at Tower and Ely, on the Iron Range, which I think are the coldest points in the state. We have been troubled with the fire blight on Transcendent and Hislop trees but very little until last summer; the extra growth that trees made last spring and the extreme heat we had, caused trees that were on a southerly exposure to blight some. THOUGHTS ON PLUMS AND CHERRIES. M. E. HINKLEY, MARCUS, IA. That the central North is a natural plum country goes without saying. The thickets scattered by all water courses throughout that vast territory between the two great rivers are a sufficient proof. When we take the broad hint of Dame Nature and plant only the American type,plum culture is an emphatic success. The trees thrive on any rich soil. We sometimes say that they need the moist, alluv- ial river bottoms for their best development, but experience shows that, like all our native timber trees, they only need man’s intelli- gent care and protection to flourish in any good soil. Perfectly hardy in tree, fruitful to an injurious extent, of varying quality for all tastes and purposes, adapted to all soils, generally speaking, to plant is to reap. Any Northern dweller possessed of a few spare rcds of this old world’s surface hardly needs even the rudiments of horticultural knowledge to raise plums. He may have them in abundance with the crudest effort in every season which unites the necessary favor- ing influences; and it is worthy of note that there is always a super- abundance in the good years to average a sufficiency for the bad ones. We greatly need the discovery of a sure method of keeping the fruit in a fresh state for an indefinite time. The number of good native plums with distinct characteristics in this region is conjectured to be fully five hundred. Whether or not we accept Dr. Dennis’ theory of prehistoric cult- ure, certain it is that our plums are marvelously good. This fruit as it comes to us must rank high in any list of our valuable natural resources. Some of the good ones have found their way into the nurseries, but the major part of them have never been “introduced;” they are modestly hiding about private gardens and farm homes. Of twenty varieties—all choice—in fruit, on my own grounds, if asked which is the best, I should hesitate; their value is so variable with the seasons that it is difficult to answer. Butif asked to name the ten best varieties, I could easily do so. The first list of five, be- cause of size, full and regular bearing and good color, I would call: The Market List.—Wyant, Marcus, Wolf, Forest Garden and Rock- ford. Dr lea a yu cae aa we J ~ Ly ire ; . wi a : rj y - | Se pia THOUGHTS ON PLUMS AND CHERRIES. 79 The second five, selected for high quality, I would call: The Home List.—Desota, Hawkeye, Haag, Rollingstone and Pilot It is a pity that the two lists cannot be identical, but that is not the way of the world. “The best is always rarest.” Hawkeye, extra large, is a shy bearer; Pilot, of superior size and quality, is apt to crack and rot on the tree. The others in the home list, all good, are apt to run too small for market incompetition with the first list. Experienced growers would not exactly agree on such lists. Each has his favorites, and some would choose sorts not named here. But it is safe to say that, with the ten varieties named, every family in our entire population might be and should be abundantly supplied with this delicious fruit. Let our enterprising growers plant largely, care for theirorchards intelligently and study the art of marketing, and they will be able in our “good years” to drive out of our markets the blue-green abomination from California. That mocking semblance of some- thing good, which fills our fruit stands and sells under the name and reputation of the plum, is only an alluring pretense. While it is very captivating to the eye, like the apple of Sodom, it is disen- chanting to the palate. In cherries, we are at least ten years behind the present status of plum culture. For that reason, it is not possible to speak de- finitely and confidently; yet there are some experimenters here and there who will bravely assert that enough is now known to prove conclusively that the Northwest may soon be abundantly supplied with home grown cherries. They claim that the introduction of the Russian marks an era in cherry culture and is the beginning of a new age. My own experience and observation inclines me to think that these claims are possibly correct, and “I faintly trust the larger hope.” Just how far north the best of the Russians may be grown remains to be tested. There is reason to believe that the Vladimer variety, which Prof. N. E. Hansen is now testing on a large scale at Brook- ings, S. D., will supply for that section a long felt need. The Shadow Amarelle for a late cherry fillsa vacant place in northwest Iowa. It is an early, regular and abundant bearer of large, good fruit on our black prairie soils. The trees show no tenderness here and will probably prove hardy in central Minne- sota. Cerise de Ostheim, while not so productive, is hardy, and the fruit is very good. The Bessarabian, as good a cherry as can be anywhere grown, succeeds perfectly in central Iowa but needs further trial to demonstrate its range. The Sraus Wischel is an- other great bearer which stands well at Marcus and will be highly prized when more widely introduced. What we chiefly need at this stage of cherry culture is to have some enterprising nurseryman in the Northwest propagate a select list of these hardy sorts and push them in that section. The needy people will soon learn to appreciate and reward the efforts of the man who brings them what they need. Cherries like plums do the best on rather damp soils. Rich soils with good surface drainage and porous subsoil should be chosen rather than high, arid ridges; this, at least, is the teaching of recent experience. Drouth has been the cause of the heaviest losses. 80 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY POSSIBILITIES OF SCIENTIFIC FRUIT GROWING. HON. THOS, HARRISON, BLANCHARD, N. D. For three years I have been quietlyo carrying on experiments with raspberries and feel amply repaid for the time given. In this report I can only give a brief summary of my mode of operation. Commencing with the day I finish the berry gathering season, I remove all canes that have borne fruit. This work I consider essen- tial to be done at this time in order that all nourishment from the roots may go to the young canes to hasten their growth and full de- velopment before the close of our short growing season. In the fall I lay the bushes down in the usual way, covering them entirely with earth; I then cover the entire ground with well rotted barnyard manure to the depth of two inches. In the spring after all danger of frost is past, I remove the earth, raise the bushes and tread the earth firmly around the roots. By the time the raising process is completed, the manure applied the previous fall will be thoroughly incorporated with the soil. My next work is to spread as evenly as possible one bushel of unleached ashes to every forty hills of berries. This should cover the ground for a distance of twelve inches each way from the hill. Ifashes from ash or elm tim- ber is used, less will do,as these contain more potash. Then usea garden rake to mix the ashes with the earth and manure. I confine plants intended for fruiting always to hills. Work then ceases for twenty to thirty days, and during this interval the young canes ap- pear. When the young canes are three to four inches high I go carefully over the entire berry grounds and destroy all young canes except eight in or around each hill,and these grow much faster than if all were allowed to grow and divide the sap from the roots. A ju- dicious selection is very necessary. Save only those with large and perfect shaped leaves. I keep the berry patch carefully looked over once a week until about July first, destroying all weeds with a hoe. I never use a cultivator, for the reason that it destroys many of the small fibrous roots. In some instances I have found small fi- brous roots extending three and four feet from the hill on parent stock. The thrifty gardener who has thoroughly prepared his land for planting berry bushes by cultivating one or two hoed crops will find few weeds to destroy. I have abandoned the practice of pinching off the canes when two or three feet high, and instead of dwarfing the bush I induce the largest possible growth. My bushes for next season’s crop average six feet high, and many of the canes are one-half to three-quarters of an inch in diameter one foot above the ground. When plants are required for setting out a new field, I select them at the same time I select in the hill. These are in the open spaces between the hills or rows. Whenever Ido this Linvariably dig them up in the fall before laying down the bushes for the winter. These bushes I place in a trench two feet wide by eighteen inches deep commencing at one end of the trench and keeping the roots a few inches lower than the tops; these I cover over entirely with earth. If canes thus cared for are carefully planted in the spring, they will give a liberal crop the same season. YS yy Wh Poa a ha aeae ity,! Na PGs Justin ait al at a SCIENTIFIC FRUIT GROWING. 81 When bushes such as I have described are set out, I apply about one-half the quantity of ashes used on old fields or permanent berry patches. A liberal coat of well rotted manure should also be applied. This can be easily incorporated with the earth by the use of a cultivator at this time, as the small fibrous roots have not had time to spread. I never mulch my berry patch; light and heat are essential to the full development of raspberries. My experiment patch of Early Thompson raspberries contains by actual measurement one-fortieth of an acre. This includes a space three feet on each side of the patch. The yield from this patch this year was six bushels of extra large berries. These found a ready sale at the farm at twenty cents per quart, which gave a return at the rate of two hundred and forty bushels per acre or seven thous- and six hundred and eighty quarts at twenty cents—one thousand five hundred and thirty-six dollars per acre. The soil is clay loam made very rich with barnyard manure. The berry grounds are protected from winds and storms by a belt of box elder and cottonwood timber. I am only an amateur in the berry business and expect to raise larger crops of berries when I understand the business better. ANNUAL MEETING, 1897, S. MINN. HORT. SOCIETY. CLARENCE WEDGE, SECY. The fourth annual meeting of this society was convened in the commodious grand jury rooms of the court-house at Albert Lea, at 10 o’clock a. m., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1897, President J. C. Hawkins, of Austin, in the chair. The first topic considered was “Top-Working an Orchard from a Farmer’s Standpoint,” which was ably treated in a paper read by the president. J.S. Harris, of La Crescent, followed with a paper on “The Best Varieties to Top-Work,” and recommended the Wealthy, Utter and Malinda as varieties that might be greatly improved in hardi- ness by top-working, and by using such stocks as Virginia crab or Hibernal apple would no doubt become highly profitable varieties forour section. Inthe paper which followed, Edson Gaylord,of Nora Springs, Ia., made a broad comparison of the value of the newer seed- ling apples with the Russian varieties and the method of top-working on the limbs of the hardiest and best adapted crabs and apples, and concluded by stating his belief that a better quality of fruit anda healthier tree might be grown by the latter process. In the general discussion of top-working which followed, the fact was brought out that in order to secure the best results, top-working should be done at some little distance from the main stem in order to retain the forks of the hardy variety used as a stock, and that if a tree of some size was to be top-worked it would be best tc graft but a half or third of the top in a single season. Mr. Gaylord was of opinion that the newer seedlings, such as Patten’s Greening, Peerless and Oka- bena, were originated in favorable situations, and stated that many varieties known to be tender were flourishing in equally good sur- roundings. He also stated that top-working, being contrary to the 82 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. interests of nurserymen, was not taught or considered as much as the great benefits to be derived from it calls for. The afternoon session began with a most useful paper by F. W. Kimball, formerly president of the society, on “The Farmer’s Fruit and How to Raise It.” The whole list of fruits adapted to our state was gone over and valuable suggestions given as to the easiest methods of growing those that are especially adapted to the farmer. At the close of this paper, a discussion was had in regard to the best methods of protecting apple trees from sun-scald. A wrapping of wire netting, gunny sacking, lath screen and a board tacked on the south side of the tree being each recommended by different persons. A. W. Latham, secretary of the state society was here introduced to the members and expressed his pleasure in having an opportunity to take a hand in the horticultural work of such.a meeting instead of being engrossed in the cares of the secretary’s office. Mr. Pres- cott’s paper on “Irrigating in a Small Way” was listened to with marked attention, especially by the small fruit and vegetable grow- ers present. His system consists in the elevation of water from a tubular well to a moderate sized tank, placed fifteen feet from the ground and, perhaps, twenty.to twenty-five feet above most of the ground watered. The power used is a cheap and simple one-horse sweep power,the same horse which draws the delivery wagon answer- ing the purpose. The water isconveyed to the ground in pipesand is run along the rows from the higher to the lower end of each row, the pipe or hose being changed when the row is well saturated. Attention was here called toa fine plate of seedling russet apples exhibited by R. A. White, of Twin Lakes. They were evidently very perfect keepers and, although somewhat undersized, of excellent quality. “The Plum Orchard,’ by Dewain Cook, of Windom, was very en- couraging to those who are attempting to grow this luscious fruit in ourclimate. The old kinds especially good and profitable are Desota, Wolf and Wyant. The most promising new kinds are Man- kato, Wood, Itasca and Odegaard. The Wolf plum is one of the best to resist curculio, the Cheney one of the easiest victims of that de- structive pest. The evening session was especially arranged to interest citizens, and while the attendance was not all that could be desired, it was larger than at any other similar session held by the society. Music by the Beethoven Choral Association, and a graceful welcome by Mrs. J.A. Fuller, President of the Woman’s Improvement League of Albert Lea, opened the exercises. F. W. Kimball, of Austin, re- sponded in behalf of the society, and Hon Eugene Secor, of Forest City, President of the North-East Iowa Society, read the first paper of the evening. His subject was “Ornamental Trees for the Park and Avenue.” For street planting, the elm was placed at the head, with hard maple and ash following; for the park he recommended the laurel-leafed willow, coffee tree, European and cut-leafed birch; larch, buckeye, pea tree, hackberry, etc., were mentioned, not for- getting the evergreens and shrubs. SOUTHERN MINNESOTA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 83 The paper by Miss Gertrude Ellis, Superintendent of Schools, Mower county, on “Planting the School Grounds,” was especially valuable in a section where the average school ground is, as de- scribed by her, a picture of utter desolation. The aim and work of the Woman’s Improvement League of Albert Lea was well set forth by Mrs. Chas. Brainerd, and it would seem that such an organization might be of great value in every city and village in the land. Much of value was suggested in the five min- ute talks by several citizens of Albert Lea and Austin which fol- lowed, and the session closed with the feeling that a reunion of the improvement forces of acommunity once a year might be made a delightful occasion. At the business meeting of the society at nine o’clock Thursday’ morning, the responsibility of the telegraph and telephone and lighting companies for the mutilation of shade trees was discussed, and D.R. P. Hibbs, Esq., of Albert Lea, was, by a resolution of the society, requested to draw up a law which will give the owners of such trees some reasonable protection from the despoiling hand of these companies. Hon. Eugene Secor, J. B. Mitchell and Edson Gaylord were made honorary members of the society. The following resolution was passed: Resolved: That we ask the legislature of our state to enact a law, similar to the Iowa law, making compulsory the planting, protecting and maintaining ofa certain number of shade and ornamental trees on the school grounds of the dis- trict schools of the state. The secretary’s report showed that there was a membership of twenty-eight in the society up to the beginning of the present meet- ing and that there was an unexpended balance in the treasury of $35.37. Report was referred to an auditing committee. A long and careful discussion here followed on the relation of the auxilliary societies to the state society, the feeling generally pre- vailing that the sum raised by the local societies was all needed at home to promote the growth and usefulness of the several socie- ties. The following resolution was finally passed without a dissenting voice. Resolved: That it is the sentiment of this society that the local horticultural societies of this state should receive financial aid from the state, in order that they may be able to offer premiums for fruit grown in their several sections, pro- vide tliemselves with outside counsel and teaching and in general assist the legitimate work of such societies, and that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to confer with the state society in regard to this matter. The chair appointed Jonathan Freeman, F. W. Kimball and J. C. Hawkins such committee. The election of officers resulted in the following being elected by acclamation: President, J. C. Hawkins, Austin; vice president, Jonathan Free- man, Austin; secretary, Clarence Wedge, Albert Lea; Ex. Com., F. W. Kimball, Austin, Geo. H. Prescott, Albert Lea. The following were constituted a committee on the revision of the constitution: F. W. Kimball, Jens. A. Jenson, J. R. Page. HER ID RES RG! ON Ta Ro Ae a t Dt Ba a a a! 2 fee ie ES | y ar La a) 84 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The sensation of the entire meeting was a paper by Dewain Cook, of Windom, on “ Girdling the Apple and Plum.” Unlike the process recommended by Mr. Dartt, he girdles branches or trees that are al- ready in fruit, about August Ist, with the object of increasing the size of fruit forexhibition purposes. He finds that the size of the plum is especially increased by this method, andthe ripening has- tened some three to six days. The same holds true with the apple, but in a less degree. The limb or tree is killed when girdled com- pletely, but may be left with a slight connection and will then do service for a year or more thereafter. The plums by which Mr. Cook was enabled to receive a special award at the Columbian Exposition were grown in this way. The Thursday afternoon session was called to order by vice-pres- ident Jonathan Preeman, in the absence of the president, and, at the urgent request of many members, Mr. Gaylord displayed the choice tender varieties of apples which are grown by top-working on hardy stocks in north Iowa, among them being the Jonathan, Grimes Golden, Minkler and Fall Orange. A paper of great interest, which Mr. J. B. Mitchell, of Cresco, Ia., had been invited to read before the society,was then announced. He especially commended the home nurseries and asked the more lib- eral patronage of them by the farmers, who are so generally mis- led by the agents of foreign nurseries. Jens A. Jenson has made a good success in raising the Ancient Briton blackberry without winter protection; he trains them low and aims to have them planted where a good amount of snow may collect and cover them. The president then called for an expression of the members on the best three varieties of apples for this section of the state, with responses as follows: Edson Gaylord, Duchess, Hibernal, Malinda. J. B. Mitchell, Duchess, Hibernal, (no third). FP. W. Kimball, Duchess, Hibernal, Yellow Sweet. Mrs. G. H. Prescott, Duchess, Hibernal, Charlamoff. J. S. Harris, Duchess, Hibernal, Anisim. J.C. Walker, Duchess, Hibernal. Longfield. E. D. Ames, Duchess, Hibernal, Ames. Jonathan Freeman, Duchess, Malinda, (no third). C. Rk. Ransom, Duchess, Wealthy, Transparent. Jens A. Jenson, Duchess, Wealthy, Utter. John Smith, Duchess, Wealthy, Whitney. Geo. H. Prescott, Duchess, Hibernal, Wealthy. When the call was made for the best market apple the Wealthy was favored three to one. Thecall for best crabs resulted in such a mixed lot that scarcely anything valuable could be gleaned from it. Best red raspberries brought out the Turner, Marlborough, Cuthbert and Philadelphia. The blue spruce was mentioned as the most ornamental of all evergreens and well adapted to our climate, After the following resolutions were passed, the society adjourned subject to the call of the executive committee: Resolved: That it is the duty of this society to warn the farmers of our state in regard to the lack of hardiness of the Honey Locust, or Acacia, as a tree for the —- TN CARE Var NUT art) Tr He. Au 1 ae A a Aine aes : 4 ip SOUTHERN MINNESOTA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 85 climate of Minnesota; and that we have no faith init as a hedge, in which form it must be far less hardy than as a tree, being certain to disappoint those who de- pend upon it for a hedge fence. And Resolved: That this society extends its hearty thanks to the Beethoven Choral Association, for the excellent music rendered; to the Woman’s Improve- ment League, for their cordial welcome and instructive paper presented; and to the citizens of Albert Lea, for their whole-hearted and generous entertainment extended to the delegates attending this second annual meeting of our society held in this city. LIstT OF 1897 MEMBERS. GMa ACITIS J.) fees) cos sone oeeees WUStim CeIR AA TS ORM). 5) ig'sciamivrctces)p ste Albert Lea Geo. H. Prescott ......... ,.-.-Albert Lea EG RMT so Git sts sic ajalesiele ste Lanesboro Jens A. Jenson. ............. Rose Creek Dewar Cook. .csseserne. y\ ene. Wei Ond: TA) AVY GY eG ei] of2 0 0 ERS eerie RAPS ELEN |) eA MENO US OSAP er ss trcfaisis aim aidinis tals siete eysleieielane Lyle Mrs. A. W. Massee......../... Albert Lea PAC FETCH aad a ieisieie’d elo uis’s soins = Austin Wii Sees G1] oF Cee Comp SEES ores Albert Lea Jonathan Freeman ......... Kee eien Austin NOS DY Vie irscsics vactisr ses em os ALDert,.Wea IBABGSIIK wet cares dielaniee smoeisies, sc nai B. E. Budlong...................Glenville | Clarence Wedge .............. Albert Lea Ree MMES NIVASIEL onic cc cicieieiem sis se) sane Glenville WUSUHEKTEDS).c% siccckieecs hice ss AL Dertuwed RE MATUWY IVILE! veces velda ceviereees Twin Lakes OID Se Aime s orcs ce eueunne rae okie reais Lyle BPR ORs 2c ole wielalelajels 065,00) cin'e's Glenviile IN« SuGordon (so. o coca ks sete cactene ONS GLI 1540 100! 0 eee See Manchester By MCGSGACY Atk ke tanh pieeekake bere llea: ONCOL OS SALG ai. 'crdle o.o\e'=.ciejne ele alaie\e A Brey ofa RMN N Gol [epi Ga hen ah eee Raat AP ee rk Albert Lea itelchobioyerby a 70a Lake Mills, Iowa Herman Blacknier ........... Albert Lea Freemont Snyder............... Freeborn HET CAS ES LONG. Tlie Srp aitre bivaselainipiaherars Brownsdale PROUD Aes. nese csedse et Albert Lea’ ‘ Honorary Members, Nes MatChell..2..4. 0.0. «x... resco, lowa Edson Gaylord..... Nora Springs, Iowa Eugene Secor........ Forest City, lowa THE FRUITS AND FLOWERS OF OREGON. A COMMUNICATION FROM D. R. M’GINNIS, ST. PAUL. PORTLAND, OREGON, Oct., 23, 1896. I have been in Oregon now for three weeks, and in all this time I have seen only summer skies and sunshine. As yet not even the slightest frost, while the temperature day by day ranges from 46° to 50° in the early morning to 70° to 78° in the middle of the day. Two light rains have given vegetation a growth which resembles a sec- ond spring, and I never tire of looking at the wealth of roses, dahl- ias, chrysanthemums and other flowers which grow in every door- yard, and which will continue to bloom until Christmas. I had fresh ripe Oregon strawberries for breakfast this morning, and today it is so warm that I seek the shady side of the street. That a climate like this is favorable to fruit raising goes without argument. I have traveled extensively over the state for the last two weeks, and have taken every opportunity to inspect fruit or- chards, andin addition have seen the horticultural display at the Portland Exposition, gathered under the supervision of Hon. B.S. Pague, of the U.S. Weather Bureau, at this place. Although this is the poorest fruit year ever known in Oregon, one would never know it after seeing the marvelous variety and perfection of the fruits and flowers in the display. I reflected “if this great show represents an off year, what must it be in an average season?” 86 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY I notice that in a climate like this, many of our Eastern vari eties of apples undergo great changes; in general, they become larger, the color is deepened and the shape is smoother. The seed- lings which have originated in Minnesota appear to do especially well here. I have seen Wolf River apples so large and smooth that it was with difficulty four tiers could be got in a standard box, and many specimens are sixteen inches in circumferance. The flesh is juicy and brittle, and the flavor sub-acid; in fact, it was the Wolf River improved in every way. A YOUNG OREGON IRRIGATED ORCHARD. The Wealthy is a favorite variety here, and it is largely planted Its color is a bright red, and it is slightly over medium size, and its smooth and regular form make it a most attractive fruit. In the mat- ter of color, the Ben Davis seems to have proved an exception when transplanted West. It has increased in size here but lost in color. It never has had anything to recommend it except color, and it has the same cottony, tasteless flesh here as in its native East. The Bellflowers and Pippins raised here area glorious sight toa fruit enthusiast. Both are larger and of a more uniform size than at home, and no creation of a fruit tree agent’s sample plates or of wax, Can approach the delicate, transparent, glistening yellow of those apples. It must have been the Oregon apple that tempted Mother Eve. It is impossible for an apple lover to see them and re- sist the temptation to eat. The Bellflower has the reputation in the East of being a shy bearer; I made special inquiry here and found them to be quite as reliable bearers as other kinds. THE FRUITS AND FLOWERS OF OREGON. 87 The pear is equally a glorious success with the apple. Even in what they call an off year, I have seen tree after tree loaded with great pears weighing a pound each. Those most cultivated are the Idaho, Beurre D’Anjou, Beurre Easter, Flemish Beauty, Bartlett, Kieffer’s Hybrid, Pound and Winter Nellis. The last, while rather undersized, is a good keeper, of fine quality and on that accounta favorite. It would hardly be expected that figs and cotton could be sucess- fully raised in a latitude one degree north of St. Paul, but neverthe- less fair samples of each of this year’s growth were in display, from The Dalles, in Wasco county, along with apples, pears, peaches, prunes, plums and other fruits in rare perfection. As I looked over this great display, I could not help thinking what Clarence Wedge, Wyman Elliot, J.S. Harris, E. H. S. Dartt, J.M. Underwood and other enthusiasts of our horticultural society would say if they could have seen them with me. By the way, they raise a melon out here which isa great favorite and sells in quantities, called the Cassaba. It looked to me like a hybrid between the squash and the cantaloupe. They are for sale everywhere in the grocery stores. They have a wrinkled, squashy appearance on the outside, and a thick, high colored meat which is considered a great dainty. I do not remember to have seen them at our horticultural displays or fairs. Fruit raising is advancing with giant strides in this country and it includes everything even to the most tender fruits, except the true semi-tropical ones, like oranges and lemones. Deciduous fruits raised here havea flavor and perfection far superior to the California product, and that is the cause of the rapid transfer of the fruit belt for apples, pears, prunes, plums and that class of fruits, from California to Oregon, Idaho and Washington. I was just talking yesterday with a man at Albany, Linn county, about eighty niles south of here, who sold over two thousand dol- lars worth of Petite prunes from six acres of trees. There is no doubt to my mind that with skilled treatment and careful atten- tion there is big money in fruit raising in this country, but neglect here as elsewhere will only result in failure or at least moderate returns. As I write this, the window is raised, and a balmy breeze flutters the curtains. The grass isa brilliant green, and myriads of flowers sway gently on theirlong stems. Yet as Icast my eyes upward, I see miles of snow fields flashing in the sunshine on the flanks of Mount Hood, over two miles high, where endless winter looks down upon the eternal spring of the Willamette and Columbia river val- leys. And asI look onthis morning’s weather map, I see that it is 18° above zero at Bismarck and 26° at St. Paul. Such are the great climatic and physical contrasts of this grand and glorious country of ours. ecretary’s (Yorner. HAVE YOU RENEWED?—If you have not sent your annual fee for 1897, please give it present attention. WHO HAS CRAB APPLE SEED?—Mr. C. E. Robinson, of Wadena, Minn., wants to purchase a small quantity of crab apple seed to ex- periment with. If any of our members have saved any, he would like to hear from them, STATE EXPERIMENTAL TREE STATION, OWATONNA, MINN.—Nine hundred grafted varieties and a great number of seedlings grown from seed of the hardiest Minnesota apples on trial. Persons hav- ing valuable new seedling apples or plums are invited to send a few scions, which will be tested at public expense for the public good. Nocorner on any stock grown here. Reports mailed free. E. H. S. DARTT, Supt. To FIGHT INSECTS AND DISEASE.—Columbus, Ohio., Jan. 27—A call has been issued by President Cushman, of the Ohio State Hort- icultural Society, for a national horticultural convention to be held at Washington, D. C., March 5, to consider and recommend the most appropriate federal and state legislation for preventing the intro- duction and diffusion of noxious insects and fungi in the United States.—Minneapolis Journal. HORTICULTURE IN THE FARMERS’ INSTITUTES.—It is encouraging to learn that the interest in subjects pertaining to horticulture is steadily increasing in the Farmers’ Institute; the fact that more time is being devoted to them is, under Mr. Gregg’s management, evidence that there is a demand for it. An aroused sense of the need of right information on these subjects is a very hopeful sign. Mr. E. J. Cutts, the horticultural lecturer, reports a very close atten- tion to his part of the work. EDUCATE IN FORESTRY.—Forest preservation will best be pro- moted and forest fires best be prevented by diffusing a knowledge of forestry and creating intelligent interest in the subject. To this end I would recommend that public schools devote half an hour every two weeks to instruction in forestry. Also, that the state ex- pend a resonable amcunt annually in furnishing tree seedlings gra- tuitously to those who will suitably plant and maintain them.— Gen’1 C. C. Andrews, Minn. Fire Warden. VERMONT STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.-This is not,as may seem fitting, a most ancient institution, but is instead the very latest organization of the kind in America,as far as heard from, having come into being at Burlington, December 3d last. Being one of the extreme northern states, where fruit growing encounters many dis- couragements, this society like our own, should be a forceful one. Here’s hoping. Their first president is T. L. Kinney, of Grand Isle county, and Prof. F. A. Waugh, of Burlington is secretary. | | . § 4 SECRETARY'S CORNER. 89 PEACH GROWING.—" The bending down of peach trees and covering them with straw proves a success, by yourreport. It has been prac- ticed here a little. Hon. Marshal P. Wilder used to make a low trel- lis and train his peach treesto it and get fruit, that system made it easier to cover the trees. Reading, Mass. JACOB W. MANNING.” DEATH OF Mrs. JOSHUA ALLYN.—Word has just come of the re- cent death of the wife of the late Joshua Allyn, of Red Wing. The recollection of Mr. Allyn continues fresh in the memory of all our older members; a man of striking personality, of quaint and pecu- liar ways of speech, but, withal,a heart most staunch and true. In a brief acquaintance with Mrs Allyn at the World’s Fair, I came to think very much of her. She leaves two sons and two daughters. It has been the intention for sometime to publish the portrait of Mr. Allyn and I hope to be able to do so soon. A LADY WRITER.—Mrs.S. Irwin has taken up the useful task of telling her sisterhood through the columns of the “Northwestern Agriculturist” how to get health and wealth in practicing the pleas- ing arts of horticulture. Mr. Collins is to be congratulated in se- curing the assistance of this talented and persevering lady to adorn his columns with her graceful pen. And Mrs. Irwin has the advan- tage of knowing what she is talking about; she is not alone a theo- rist, but practices most successfully what sheis teaching. Noone need be too proud to learn from one of her high courage and in- telligent persistence. THE “FOREST RESERVE AREA” LAW.—Ata meeting of the legis- lative committee of the house on forestry with the committee hav- ing the preparation and passage of the proposed law in charge, held Jan. 28th, the claims of the champions of the movement were very fully presented by the members of the committee and its friends, who appeared in force. The legislative committee evidently fully appreciate the importance of this movement and showed themselves in hearty sympathy withit. There is no doubt that, with perhaps slight modification, the bill will be recommended to the house, and we believe no serious opposition is to be expected to its early pas- sage. In taking this step, Minnesota places herselfon very advanced ground on this subject and will have many followers. LEGISLATION VS. THE SAN JOSE SCALE’—You will note in the re- port by Mr. Doughty, in this number, of the annual meeting of the Illinois Horticultural Society, that an effort will be made in that state this winter to secure the passage of a law to keep out this much dreaded pest. Since Mr. Doughty’s return, he has prepared a draft of a law intended to bring under inspection of the state entomo- logist all nursery stock growing in this state and all that may be shipped infrom abroad. Minnesota fruit growers know nothing by home experience of the ravages of this insect, but from what can be learned abroad it is certair we cannot exercise too much caution in excluding it. The matter is now under consideration by the legis- lative committee. 90 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. THE NEW STATE FAIR BOARD —This board remains the same as in 1896, except that J. M. Underwood takes the place of one of the re- tiring members. The election of Mr. Underwood is certainly very satisfactory to the members of this society, who necessarily havea large interest in the general management of the fair. We have not urged his election, however, because our special interests needed more care, as they were already well recognized by the board and looked after by Mr. Elliot, but because from our acquaintence we know him to be well fitted by nature and business experience for this new position. Nevertheless, it may truly be considered a trib- ute to the influence which our society necessarily wields on account of its numbers and disinterestedness, that the two most prominent officers in our organization should be heartily welcomed on the new state fair board. During the ensuing year, Mr. Elliot will, as hereto- fore, have special charge of the horticultural department, and Mr. Underwood will engineer the police and, it is understood, the dairy department. “ VEGETABLE GARDENING,” BY PROF. S. B. GREEN.—Prof. Green has had for some time in preparation a work on vegetable gardening designed especially for use in his classroom at the University Farm Schoolinour state. The first edition has been issued since Jan- uary Ist. Itis a volume of 12 mo size, containing two hundred and twenty-four pages and one hundred and fifteen illustrations, mostly half tones, printed on very heavy enameled paper and neatly bound in green cloth. The first hundred pages is devoted to a general treatment of the subject, in which little of practical value has been overlooked and the latest knowledge and experience appear. We note especially the chapters on manures, seed sowing, tillage, greenhouses, hotbeds and insects, though the other branches of the subject are treated with equal interest. The next one hundred and ten pages contain directions for the cultivation, planting, harvesting, marketing, storing, etc. of the dif- ferent species of vegetables, in alphabetical order, including a des- cription of those varieties now considered of greatest value for the kitchen or market garden. The book closes with a garden calendar especially adapted to the northern states, several necessary or conve- nient tables and a very full index. While prepared especially for use in the classroom, it will be found equally adapted to the needs of every grower of vegetables either for the household or for market, as it is a convenient com- pendium of the latest knowledge on the subject. The peculiar terse style of Prof. Green will be readily noticed by those who are fami- liar with his works; “multum in parvo” would bea correct term to apply to it,a good deal in a concentrated form. The volume is a good running mate to his “Amateur Fruit Growing,” and we pre- dict will keep abreast it in the race. It goes into use at once as a class book in the agricultural colleges in North Dakota and South Dakoia, and other states are likely to follow this example. There has been for some time a demand for such a work, and its issuance is very timely. It can be had at this office for $1.25 post paid. oleae ia SECRETARY’S CORNER. 91 A New HorTICULTURAL BUILDING AT THE STATE FAIR.—The movement to secure a new building at the state fair for our interests has met with a temporary set back from a failure to “connect” with a late meeting of the state fair board. A committee, consisting of C. L. Smith, F. H. Nutter and Secretary Latham, had been appointed to present plans for our proposed building, and it had been ar- ranged to do this at the meeting of the board January 19th. Messrs. Smith and Latham put in appearance at the Ryan at the set time, the former provided with a neat appeal to catch the ear of the board, and the latter with the equally eloquent plans. But, alas, the board was “non est,” and repeated inquiries at the office and trips to people in the neighborhood who were supposed to know something about it, failed to reveal their whereabouts any further than that they had been in parlor (?). To parlor (?) we repaired with other disappointed ones to find evidence of the “had beens” and wait. Had we been endowed with X ray visual organs we should have seen that the board were even then deliberating in an adjoining room, some of them, at least,wondering what had become of our committee. And so, as the shadows deepened into the darkness of an early winter’s night, we sadly turned homeward at the close of a wasted day. But we shall try again, and if the board should again be frozen out of one room into another, may it be our good fortune to have them remember to notify the clerk. This seems much funnier now than it did at the time it was hap- pening. MEETING OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— An inspiration took me to the annual meeting of this society, which was held in Albert Lea, January 20th and 2ist. It took a good many others also, I am sure, for I found there several of the old war horses of both the Minnesota and Iowa societies, for the place of meeting, as you know, is very near the state line. The names of Gaylord, Mitchell, Secor, Harris, Dartt and Cook are a sufficient guarantee of a good time, not counting the officers of the society and many local enthusiasts. Mr. Clarence Wedge, secretary of the society, had prepared a two day’s program, neatly set off in green and red, rich enough for a meeting of the central society;and so we gathered at the feast. The last number of the “Canadian Horticulturist” embellishes a description of the iate meeting of this association at Kingston with many views of the town andits people. Thisisa good precedent which it would be a pleasure to followin the case ofa townso much favored by nature and improved by man as this thrifty little city of south Minnesota, and especially the residence portion on the winding shores of the picturesque lake bordering its northern edge. Hort- iculture in its most ornamental and pleasing aspects has had much to do with the development of this attractive district. The morning train of January 20th brought me into Albert Lea and to the meeting at two p. m.,in time to hear ashort but practical paper by Geo. H. Prescott, of Albert Lea, on “ Irrigating in a Small Way.” His experience in his vegetable and fruit garden with water 92 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. pumped by horse power into a tank and then distributed by iron pipes and rubber hose to the highest points of the garden,to be run along furrows to the limits of the patch, has convinced him of the profitableness of the practice. Small stuff like young radishes, ~ beets, etc., he waters by spraying rather than by flowage. Mr. Dewain Cook talked of his plum orchard in an interesting way. A paper he presented the next afternoon on “Girdling Apple and Plum Trees,” illustrated by many specimens of trees showing gird- ling done one, two and three years before, brought to a head the suggestive references of Mr. Dartt and others about Mr. Dartt’s latest hobby, girdling. Mr. Dartt’s theory will appear later in our magazine in a paper by himself. Aside from his own positive views in its favor, it seemed to be the general opinion that its prac- tical use was limited. : The last on the program for that session was Mr. Dartt, on the “Commercial Orchard.” : The evening session was held in the court room, and it was taken up with ornamental horticulture largely, the two principal features of the session being a paper on “Ornamental Trees for the Street and Park,’ by Eugene Secor, president of the North-East Iowa So- ciety and “ Planting on the School Grounds,” by Miss Gertrude Ellis, superintendent of schools, Mower county. The appeal found in the | latter paper resulted in a resolution introduced the next morning and adopted, asking the legislature to pass the present lowa law obliging school directors to plant and care for not less than twelve shade trees on the school grounds—or something like that. A law like this might be useful in crystallizing public sentiment in many school districts and aid in educating up to the desired point. Another resolution of interest adopted asked for legislation for the protection of village shade trees against the vandalism of tele- phone and similar companies. The Albert Lea people are in a posi- tion just now to appreciate the need of such a law, as both light and telephone wires have lately been strung there. This being the first meeting of horticulturists your secretary has been permitted to enjoy in a number of years, he gave himself up to it thoroughly and pronounces it from his standpoint an enthusias- tic gathering. There are now four such local organizations in the state, and the prospect is that there will soon be more, as a number of other neighborhoods have enough state society members to create easily a center of local interest. Where these societies can be main- tained they serve a very useful purpose in arousing public senti- ment and disseminating correctinformation. Itisthe special work of such organizations to popularize horticulture and interest all within reach in both the useful and beautiful in our art. As these societies increase in number, as they are sure to do from now On in a natural and legitimate way as the state society expands in its work, may it not be wellfor the central society to send them words of encouragement and cheer through the presence of someof the veterans of horticulture in our ranks,who will take equal pleasure in the duty? Late of Red Wing, Minn. For Obituary. see page 157, Report of 1894. — | = eros. THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST. VOL. 25. MARCH, 1897. NO. 3. trawberries. ic BEST THREE VARIETIES OF STRAWBERRIES FOR MARKET. W. S. WIDMOYER, DRESBACH. On the third of November, I received a letter from our secretary asking if I would prepare a five minute paper on the above sub- ject and promptly answered that Iwoulddoso,thinking itwould bea very easy thing to do for one who had been raising strawberries for fourteen years; but after carefully studying it over for two weeks, find it the hardest work I ever undertook in the strawberry business. I had rather pull weeds all day inthe hotsun. Thisis avery difficult question to answer and suit all soils and locations, as well as to do justice to all the worthy varieties, so I will describe my soil and location and tell which varieties do the best with me of all those I have tried. My berry grounds are on a bench of land from thirty to ' fifty feet above the Mississippi river, sloping to the east; the rows run north and south, are about 1,200 feet long, and in that distance the soil varies froma sandy muck at one end, near an old marsh (now drained by a railroad cut), to clayey gravel near the center and to light clay loam at the otherend. This lastis the best soil for straw- berries, and I find the sandy muck to be the poorest for them, In selecting a list of strawberries for market, we must consider the distance they are to be shipped; therefore, I will submit two lists, one for near by and the other for more distant markets. In the first list, I will put Cumberland, Princess and Enhance. The Cumber- land would be my choice for family use if only one variety was to be planted, being so large, perfect in shape and fine flavored (for so large a berry), its only fault being its light color when canned and not being firm enough for shipping long distances. Itis much 94 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. firmer when grown on clay than when grown on lighter soils, I have fruited it the past nine years and only had one crop failure, which was in 1895, caused by a late spring frost and extremely dry weather the previous season. The Princess is an enormous yielder at my place but does not seem to be adapted to all soils and locations. Itis as firm as the Cumberland and of a darker color, which sells it quicker in some markets, but it must be picked before fully ripe in order to get it to market in any kind of shape. I place the Enhance in this list because it is the best fertilizer for the Princess. It isa rather rough shaped berry, with some green ends, of dark red color, and can be picked and crated with the Princess, but is a much firmer berry. It has a large, perfect flower and remains longer in blossom than most other varieties, which is a great advantage in a fertilizer. All these varieties have strong and healthy foliage, especially the last. In the second list, I will put the Warfield,Crescent and Bederwood, These are all old and well tried varieties and need no description in this article. I have not grown the Crescent long, and it does not yield as much with me as it does with some others, may be on account of not having the right fertilizer with it. I have Beder- wood. I will try Enhance another season, I had one row of Enhance next to my Warfields this year, and find they do as well if not better than Bederwood to fertilize the Warfield. Bederwood is the most subject to leaf blight, or rust, of all of these varieties and sometimes will not givea satisfactory second crop on that account. This disease appears just after blossoming and in the spring, and sometimes the whole leaf ‘turns brown and is filled with small, round holes. It also appears again in the fall, but usually very light. The Warfield is subject to this same disease to some extent, and the Cumberland shows a very little some seasons. The other varieties have been entirely free from it so far at my place. I will spray them once or twice next spring and see what effect it will have, if any. Pres. J. M. Underwood: Is there any discussion on this paper? The three best varieties. Who would vary the list? Mr. Wyman Elliot: Everybody. Pres. Underwood: Get up somebody and tell us what your three best varieties are. Mr. A. H. Brackett: Ihad nothing do so well as the Lovett, not even the Bederwood. Pres. Underwood: Every year? Mr. Brackett: Speaking from the standpoint of this year’s success. Pres. Underwood: If you could have only three varieties, what would they be? Mr. Brackett: I would take the Lovett and the Warfield, that is two of them. BEST THREE VARIETIES OF STRAWBERRIES. 95 Mr. J. A. Sampson: I would like to ask if the Warfield is not liable to dry out? Mr. Brackett: It has with me some years. Pres. Underwood: Well, Mr. Brackett, give us another. Mr. Brackett: The Bederwood is the third. Pres. Underwood: Any one else? Mrs. A. A. Kennedy: Mr. Brackett speaks of the Lovett, and that variety does not do anything with me at all. Pres. Underwood: What are your three best varieties? Mrs, Kennedy: The Crescent, the Downing and the Beder- wood; those do the best with me. Pres. Underwood: Any one else? Mr. A. K. Bush: I would rather have the Crescent, the Warfield and the Wilson; they do the best with me. Pres. Underwood: The Crescent and the Wilson for fertil- izers? Mr. J. A. Sampson: I would vote those three, although the Warfield dries out and does not stand the winter so well. Pres. Underwood: Mr. Wedge, let us hear from you. Mr. C. Wedge: I would make the same choice as Mr. Widmo- yer. The Crescent is by far the most reliable berry for our place. The Lovett was the best berry on my place this year. Mr. M. Pearce: If I were to select the best three, I would take the Crescent, the Warfield and the Splendid, or I would take the Enhance. I would take those three varieties; they are the best I ever saw. . Mr. Brackett: I would suggest that the persons who men- tion their best three varieties state what other varieties they have. This is becoming interesting. This is of a good deal of benefit to all of us, to know what varieties to select. Pres. Underwood: ‘To find out from different sections of the State what varieties are doing best, that is the idea. People can plant as many as they want. Mr. C. L. Smith: My soil is clay, and the Wilson, Crescent and the Downing are the best I have tried for years. Pres. Underwood: Mr. Smith has two staminate and one pistillate, and most people prefer one staminate and two pistillate. Mr. C. W. Sampson: My experience has been in growing twenty varieties that the Warfield, Wilson and Bederwood did the best. I think those are the best. Mr. Kellogg: What kind of soil? Mr. C. W. Sampson: Black sandy loam. 96 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mr. R. A. Wright: I would like to ask Mr. Sampson if he has had any success with the Warfield the last two years at Minnetonka? Mr. C. W. Sampson: The year before it was almost a failure, but this year it did very well. I think the Bederwood is better than the Warfield. Something seemed to affect them that I could not understand. Mr. R. H. L. Jewett: Of sixteen varieties raised on black sandy loam, the best varieties were the Crescent, the Haver- land and what is known as the Smith’s Seedling, and it was a favorite berry among my patrons; the fruit is a large red berry and very superior to the Warfield and other varieties. Pres. Underwood: What is it, pistillate or staminate? Mr. Jewett: I could not tell; I was not at home at the time of blossoming. I know every one that tasted it said, ‘‘Give me more of the Smith’s Seedling.” Mr. Brackett: What is the color? Mr. Jewett: A little darker than the Warfield. Pres. Underwood: The Crescent was the best with us. I was not at home when they were growing, but I know the Crescent was considered our best berry. Mr. Smith: Mr. Crandall said the Wilson and the Crescent were the best. Pres. Underwood: Mr. Kellogg, we would like to hear from you. Mr. G. J. Kellogg: Ido not know that Wisconsin has any- thing to do with the case. You have got a list now that is good for the earth. If I could have but one variety of straw- berries, it would be the Splendid; the second would be the Warfield, and the third would be the Enhance. We have been growing fifty kinds and discarding some every year. Mr. J. S. Harris: From thirty years experience, I find the most reliable berries are the Crescent, the Warfield and the Michel’s Early for a fertilizer. Mr. J. A. Sampson: I-would like to bring up a question regarding propagation and regarding winter-killing. I think the Michel’s Early has a tendency to winter-kill and is rather hard to propagate. Mr. C. W. Sampson: I think we have got something else besides the Michel’s Early. Mr. Bush: I have twenty varieties of fifty plants each in a trial bed, and I got more fruit from the Parker Earle than from any other variety. Mr. Brackett: Was it last year? Was it a very wet season? Mr. Bush: I planted it two years ago. Pres. Underwood: It does not make any difference whether it was this year’s experience or last year’s experience, but all the experience any one has had. If you could have but three varieties what would they be, that is the question. Prof. S. B. Green: At the Experiment Station on the open clay soil we have there, it would be rather hard to pick out the a eS a. ‘ : ee Te or, a ’ BEST THREE VARIETIES OF STRAWBRRRIES. 97 best three, but should think they would be the Crescent, War- field and Bederwood; those are the best three I can think of now. That takes in at least five years. The Warfield some years has dried out, but this is the first year we have missed for six or seven years. Pres. Underwood: Any one else three varieties? The three varieties we would choose at Lake City would be the Warfield, the Crescent and the Bederwood. Mr. Spickerman: I had a field twelve rods square last year, and along one side I had two rods wide of Princess and Jessie, and from those two rods wide I got more berries than from all the rest. Mr. L. E. Day: The three best varieties with me were the Warfield, Crescent and Captain Jack. I had a fair crop this year. Mr. Busse: I would like toask Mr. Kellogg on what kind of soil he is raising his strawberries and on what three or four varieties he has realized the most money in the last twenty years? Mr. Kellogg: He goes back too far. We never had any thing better than the Wilson forty years ago. The Wilson is now run out. The Wilson and the Michel’s Early are not worth a cent. I could have answered that question fifteen or twenty years ago. Mr. Busse: Do the kinds you have at present give the same satisfaction and the same money? . Mr. Kellogg: Isat down between two rows of Enhance and Vick’s and picked twenty-two quarts on two and a half rods in one day. Mr. Smith: What kind of soil? Mr. Kellogg: Prairie loam. SOILS ADAPTED TO STRAWBERRIES. O. M. LORD, MINNESOTA CITY. What soils are adapted to growing the strawberry? “Any soil that will produce good corn or potatoes,” has been the standing answer to this question; and it is well known that corn or potatoes will suc ceed on any of our rich prairie or on timber soils if nottoo wet. My experience has been mostly confined to a sandy loam and to an alluvial soil. The sandy loam has been the more productive, as it is naturally the more retentive of moisture and not so liable to be affected by drouth. The strawberry on any soil at blossoming time is peculiarly liable to be injured by frost or by wet weather; but if the soil be well drained naturally or artificially, the plant is rarely hurt by frost or by wet weather at any other period of growth. In my opinion, success with the strawberry does not so much depend upon the composition of the particular soil as upon its condition and upon the varieties adapted to it; one of the mysteries of nature we have not been able to solve, except by trial. 98 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The Jessie does well with me; but my neighbors on heavy or on moderate clay have no success. The Wilson, that old standard everywhere, does well with them but has failed with me for a series of years. The Crescent, Warfield and others of that type, appear to be adapted to all the different soils. I believe, however, that with en- tirely favorable weather, these varieties will produce more vigorous plants and bear more fruit upon a moderate clay loam than upon a sandy soil. The seasons are variable and uncertain, but the great obstacle, drouth, can be more or less overcome by judicious working of whatever soil we have. Pres. J. M. Underwood: The question of soil is now open for discussion. Which is the best soilon which to grow straw- berries? Has any one any suggestions to offer? Mr. C. Wedge: After some observation among those who are succeeding with the strawberry, I believe very few are succeeding who have not a considerable proportion of sand in the soil. On my own place the soil has very little sand; it is a very stiff yellow clay subsoil, rather near the surface, and if I had depended upon strawberries for a living the last three or four years, in spite of the good care they have had, I should be worse off than I am now. Pres. Underwood: Would it not be practicable if you wanted a small strawberry bed, say, for instance, as large as this room, to draw in some sand and put it on the land? Mr. Wedge: I think that might do, perhaps, on a small scale. I think the general: difficulty with our stiff clay soil is that it drys out and cakes so easily, and it isa very difficult matter to maintain it in such tilth that it will retain moisture. I notice that kind of soil becomes dry and hard even where it is mulched. I have even taken great pains to put on hay and chaff for mulch. If any one has any idea of growing straw- berries, he should choose a soil that is sandy. Pres. Underwood: I take it that what we want to do as much as any thing is to instruct the farmers of our state how they can grow fruit for themselves. Of course, the market producer is going to study how to make it a success, if he grows straw- berries for the market, but we represent the strawberry interest in the state of Minnesota, and we want to send out such advice in our publications that farmers and town people can go at it in an intelligent manner to raise some strawberries for them- selves; and while it is all right to discuss this matter from a commercial standpoint, I would like to have that thought kept in mind for the benefit of the home fruit grower as well. ee ee ee a ee a ee et an 2h) - me) as ’ « SOILS ADAPTED TO STRAWBERRIES. 99 Mr. C. L. Smith: I think Mr. Widmoyer made it very clear. He spoke about the slope he had there close to the Mississippi river, running down to this old slough and running into this stiff clay soil which gave him the best berries. I think you will find this true in the experience of planters all over the state. There are years in a wet season when that kind of soil might do all right, but taking it one year with another, that gravelly clay, if it is worked deep enough, if the strawberries receive good cultivation, will produce the best fruit. I know this, that on that kind of soil, taking it one year and another, I get the best growth of plants, they are less likely to frost, and Mr. Lyon will bear me out when I[ say that the bulk of the straw- berries that come to our market are grown on a sandy soil, a sandy subsoil; the largest crops have been grown on that kind of land, and the heavy stiff clay soils, such as Mr. Wedge speaks about, should be avoided. Take the sandy soils, a gravelly clay loam, the more sand mixed with the clay the better, if you wish to grow a good strawberry crop. Mr. M. Pearce: I think the lay of the land has a good deal to do with growing a good crop of strawberries. On my ground I have different lays of land. I have one location on which strawberries always do well; they have never been known to fail on that location. It is a piece of land not over rich, slopes a little to the south; it has a little elevation to the west, and then slopes off gradually. It seems to be protected from the winds, and when snow comes, it comes to stay, and when the rain comes down there it keeps the land moist; and I will say, accord- ing to my mind, if people who want to grow strawberries would just study the matter carefully in regard to location and soil, a location where the wind does not blow everything off, and select good land, I think they would generally succeed in rais- ing strawberries. I have pieces on my land that have the appearance of being much better than the location I am speakk- ing of, but the crop is a failure. JIcan make a success of rais- ing strawberries there every year, and I keep that piece only for berries; I just use it for that purpose. We have such places all over the state, where the snow will lie and the winds will not come and blow off everything. That bed is now nicely covered with snow, while the others are entirely uncovered. I tell you there is a good deal in that. Mr. L. E. Day: Do you recommend a southeast slope? Mr. Pearce: It depends upon what protection it has. This slope of mine is rather to the south than to the southeast. 100 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Mr. Wyman Elliot: Is it protected on the west by a grove? Mr. Pearce: No grove at all; only a small elevation. It is not high or rough, it is all nice land. Mr. Smith: Is there nothing on the north or west to break the force of the wind, no trees or bushes? Mr. Pearce: No; there is nothing to break the wind, but the wind does not get in there. Mr. Smith: There is no clay subsoil there? Mr. Pearce: Yes, there is a clay subsoil. The soil is a sandy loam. Mr. Smith: Well, it is gravel? Mr. Pearce: No gravel about it at all. Pres. Underwood: That is the point we want to bring out here. Of course, location has as much to do with success as - the culture of the strawberry itself. Perhaps we could not get at the exact idea without making the question too long, but I think those are points of the highest importance to take into consideration, the soil and location; if we are going to plant a strawberry bed, to tell the farmers just where to plant it. They are just as apt to plant it in the wrong place as in the right one. Mr. S. D. Richardson: My experience in growing straw- berries for the last four or five years has been that an under- drained slough, a black, heavy clay, from three to four feet deep, is the place to grow strawberries and plenty of them. I have very nice loam on either side of such a location, but it does not compare with the underdrained slough of heavy clay. Mr. C. B. Crandall: I would always take a north slope for strawberries, a sandy loam with clay subsoil. Mr. Smith: I heartily indorse what Mr. Crandall says about a north slope. I would take a north or nor theast slope every time if I wanted to be successful. Mr. C. A. Sargent: My soi! was stiff hard clay; that soil always did best; it never failed yet. Mr. Busse: The best success I ever had was fifteen or eighteen years ago on new soil. It was aclay subsoil. There is something in the new soil in our neighborhood that is good for strawberries. In a good many localities, if they can find a suitable piece of ground, not too low, they will take a new soil every time, and I do not believe any one will have much diffi- culty in raising strawberries on such a soil. My ground is at present not rich enough, but thatis not whatis wanted. There is something in the new soil which we cannot put into the old. The more manure we put on our old soils, the more clover we will get in, and you will have more trouble than it is worth to pull the clover out of your land. I find that new soil is always the best to grow strawberries on. We never use it for any thing but to raise strawberries. One thing we do want is sufficient moisture in the fall of the year. A year ago this fall there was no moisture in the soil, but this year those who have strawberry beds find there is plenty of moisture in the ground, and they will be almost sure to have a good crop next year. A new soil, timber land or scrub oak, is the best soil to grow strawberries. SOILS ADAPTED TO STRAWBERRIES. 101 Mr. Danforth: Our best success has been on the heaviest soil. Itisaclay subsoil, with probably a foot of loam on top, while on our sandy soil, with no clay subsoil, we raise a crop every other year, or at best a very light crop. Mrs. A. A. Kennedy: I planted one strawberry bed on a north slope, and this year I planted one on a south slope, and the one I planted on the south slope was as much nicer than the first one as you can imagine. The first one did not have the moisture, and the other one did. Mr. Crandall: What kind of soil? Mrs. Kennedy: Black, sandy soil, with a clay subsoil in both places. Mr. A. H. Brackett: I wish to ask if any one has had any success with strawberries in the regular peat marsh? Pres. Underwood: Mr. Richardson spoke of a drained slough. ; Mr. Brackett: But I mean regular peat soil. Mr. C. W. Sampson: Iran across a man the other day in my travels who raised berries inamarsh. He said the soil was peat (and lam quite particular about the soil), and he said if all his berries had been Warfield and Bederwood he would have had an enormous crop. He said the Warfield and Bederwood bore splendidly, and he broke a couple of acres more which he intends to plant out to strawberries next spring. Pres. Underwood: Does he have it drained and tiled? Mr. C. W. Sampson: Yes, sir. Mr. Smith: I would like to ask Mr. Sampson if people who planted in marshes would not be troubled with frost in the spring of the year? Mr. C. W. Sampson: That is what I would be afraid of, of the blossoms taking harm by frost. Mr. Pearce: I want to say a few words on that subject. There is a man living near my place by the name of Whitney; some of you knowhim. He has a peat hole out on his place and when I was at his place, it was the latter part of May, about the 25th of May, and he had about an acre of strawberries in that marsh, and the water was only about three feet below the surface. It was a beautiful warm day, and the strawberries were green and looking fine, but all those that had been set out had not borne a bit; there were about an acre of them. I said, ‘‘What is the matter with your strawberries, Mr. Whitney, they are not bearing?” ‘‘ Well,” said he, ‘‘if you will dig down here eight inches you will come to solid frost, solid frozen ground.” Sure enough, four inches below the surface there was frozen ground. That is the idea. They come out in the spring and remain frozen. Other strawberries are all in blossom before those come out. Here there was water three feet below, and . frost eight inches below. So far as frost is concerned they did not take any harm, but they did not begin to blossom until about the middle of June. I examined them carefully; it was a wonderful sight. L\pples. PRODUCTIVENESS OF HARDY VARIETIES OF APPLES COMPARED. D. F. AKIN, FARMINGTON. Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen—This subject was assigned me, and, of course, not being my own choice, you cannot expect the subject to be as well handled as it might have been if I had been at liberty to choose one that suited my fancy. However, I am willing to do my share towards entertaining the crowd of which I am one of the component parts. The list of hardy varieties of apples is small, being composed of only four or five generally known and accepted varieties which are really iron-clad, although we hope that there are many seedlings now bearing which will prove to be as hardy and productive as the very best now admitted to be proven hardy by trial. The story of comparative productiveness is limited to those now tested by years of trial. Of these few, of all varieties yet tried in this latitude, the Duchess is placed at the head of the list by most per- sons, but I have a variety which is ahead of the Duchess for hardi- ness and all ‘other desirable qualities that go to make up an apple tree for everybody to plant, as hardy as a bur oak and as free from blight, will stand grafting or trimming, seeming to recuperate from every wound with renewed vigor, being one of the best stocks for grafting or budding that I have tried—and I have six varieties onone of these trees, viz.: Blushed Colville, Okabena, Russet, Virginia crab a seedling and Peerless, which, when they all bear, will make a fine picture. If have ten of these trees set in 1872, by the name of Hebron» trimmed so the lower limbs are six feet high. Some experts call it a hybrid on account of its size; however, it is an extra good apple and an unusual bearer. The Minnesota is a good bearer of fine size and quite productive, blight in but late in coming into bearing and not subject to my grounds. The Tetofsky, an early Russian variety, is hardy in tree, a semi-annual bearer and blights badly at the spurs. Its pro- ductiveness in the odd years compares favorably with that of any other variety, but it comes late into bearing. For early bearing and great productiveness, the Wealthy, with care, takes the diploma, often showing fruit at six years old from the root graft. With plenty of fertilizing and judicious thinning of the fruit, it will give a good , —— 4 eee ee ee ee PRODUCTIVENESS OF HARDY APPLES. 103 crop every year. Here isthe great danger to the Wealthy, its pro- pensity of destroying itself by over-production. Not kuowing this, we let three trees at ten years old produce ten barrels of fruit in one year; the next spring not one of those trees showed a sign of life, although the winter was not hard on the other apple trees in the same locality. The best way to manage the Wealthy to get the most benefit from them and have them live, is to take off at least half the apples that set each year, give them plenty of fertilizing and keep them well mulched. Hereis another source of productiveness often overlooked or neglected by those who would be suceessful apple growers; that is, the keeping the trees mulched and clean for four or five feet about their trunks. If we were to arrange the varieties of apples that have fruited on our grounds, not including those we have grown from seed, accord- ing to their productiveness, we would put them in the following order, viz.: Wealthy, Duchess, Minnesota, Haas, Virginia crab, Transcendent, with others so nearly alike in productiveness that if we divide them into three classes, calling Wealthy, No.1, Duchess, No. 2 and Minnesota, No. 3, many would be classed in No.2 and No.3. I havea seedling ahead of No.1 for productive- ness, having given fruit at six years old from the seed and annually since, being now eight years. Itis avery early apple, ripening in August, before the Tetofsky; it has never shown any blight, and; being ripe so early, before other varieties, it is called extra good by all who have sampled it. I have noticed that the same variety of apple trees gives more and larger fruit in a wet year thaninadry one and that the trees setting on naturally damp, fertile ground, other things about their location being the same, give larger and more fruit than when set on dry, poor soil. Mr. Clark: I would like to ask the gentleman if he has the Hibernal. | Mr. Akin: I have, and every one blighted. I bought them under that name. PRUNING APPLE TREES,—WHY, WHEN AND HOW? S. D. RICHARDSON, WINNEBAGO CITY. WHY? I prune trees to keep them from growing too tall; to keep them from forming the top mostly on the north-east side; to remove one limb where two limbs crowd each other; to remove dead wood;-and when trees get to bearing it is desirable to remove enough of the lower limbs to enable a person to pick up apples from the ground by getting on their knees. A few years ago Mr. Harris was looking over some of my trees and made the remark that my trees would not bear good unless I pruned them some. I said I would know better ina few years, “that the proof of the pudding wasin theeating.” This year those trees were full of apples, and the lower limbs had the most apples, for the wind could not blow them off. 104 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. WHEN? Early in the spring, so that the wood will have a chance to dry and harden some before the sap starts; and through the summer at almost any time before the first of August, always keeping in mind that heavy summer pruning seriously injures atree. Small trees can be brought into proper shape by judicious and persistent pinching. HOW? With a sharp saw and knife, sawing from the underside of the limb first, when a limb of any size has to be removed, a thing to be avoided if possible. Pres. Underwood: Mr. Dunlap, I think you are interested in this apple discussion. You are a very quiet man for a ‘‘ sucker.” Mr. H. M. Dunlap, (Illinois): Ido not think I can add any thing of value to the apple discussion, but I find in listening to that discussion that quite different conditions surround you here from those that surround us in Illinois. It has impressed itself very much upon my mind since I have been here. While we have hard work in growing apples in Illinois, I think we have an advanced condition from what you have here, judging from what the members have said. It is possibly an actual reality that those members have not got many apples at home, but judging from the discussion I should think those cases were few and far between. Iam much interested in the discussion, although I just came here. We have found out that we have a great many things to learn in [llinois, but we have come to the conclusion that there are few things we can tie to in the way of varieties. Our main discussion is in relation to profits. We have a great many varieties we can grow in some years. Iwas interested this morning in the matter of pruning trees. We have there adopted a little different process from any I have heard suggested here, the cutting back of branches. That has usually been done when we set our trees out from the nursery; we simply cut off all the limbs that are superfluous, cut them back to the leader, leaving only those set branches that we expect to remain on the tree, and we keep them from four to six inches apart, so that when the tree grows there will be no bad places for the weather or any other causes to affect the life of the trees. Cut out half the branches and let them go alto- gether. We find in our state it is necessary to shape the limbs of the trees so they will not spread down with the weight of a heavy crop of fruit, and we accomplish it by this method of PRUNING APPLE TREES. 105 pruning more successfully than in any other way, and when we find our branches diverging we always cut them off. You also — discuss the matter of high headed and low headed trees. With us some advocate the one and some the other. There are many advantages in low headed trees very essential to their cultivation. In a low headed tree the evaporation is not so rapid as if it were headed up four or five feet; in that way we conserve the moisture. It also protects the trunk of the tree and makes it more economical in gathering the fruit; so most growers, perhaps, are in favor of low headed trees. I am glad to accept your invitation to participate in your discussions. Mr. HE. M. Sherman, (Iowa): IfI understood Mr. Richardson right, he advises the early pruning of trees, before the trees start in the spring and also at any time during the summer. Is that the practice here? Mr. Richardson: I make a practice of pruning my orchard trees very little. Where I see two limbs are rubbing each other, I take one off almost at any time, whenI see it. My orchard is young, and there is nothing I cannot cut off with a sharp knife. I have not had any experience with large trees. My life has been spent really just ahead of the apples; nearly all of my life has been just ahead of the apples. When I left Illinois, they had not got to growing apples. Mr. J. S. Harris: I have found that the very worst of all times to prune a tree is at the time the sap begins to circulate, at the time the leaves are nearly full grown. During that time the sap is so thin that the wound does not dry up, but the pro- cess of bleeding takes place and very often discolors the bark, and the effect is a black-hearted tree. Spring pruning I want to do before the frost is out of the ground; then there is no danger of a flow of sap; it gets two or three days to heal up. After the leaf is formed and the process of making wood com- mences, you can continue pruning up to August, but the best time, according to my experience, is from the 15th of June to the 15th of July. A tree then pruned heals over the same day, and it makes no discoloration in the wood and will not affect the tree in any way. Mr. G. J. Kellogg, (Wisconsin): There was one point brought out this morning which should have been dis- cussed more fully, and that is the question of the location of orchards. While I am somewhat of a crank on location, I do not wish any of my farmer friends to feel that they cannot set out an orchard because the conditions are 106 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. not what they should be. It was brought to my attention this morning by Prof. Hausen speaking of the Alderman farm in South Dakota, When Mr. Alderman set out that farm I met him several times; I know he went out on the barren prairie— there was not a bush within five miles of him—and I judge to- day it is the most successful orchard in South Dakota. While that may not be the best thing to do, there might be a choice of selections. I merely bring this point out that people need not feel discouraged evenif they do not have all the conditions that members of this association deem essential to successful orcharding. MY EXPERIENCE WITH RUSSIAN VARIETIES OF APPLES. WM. SOMERVILLE, VIOLA. Having been requested to prepare a short statement, giving my experience with Russian apples, lam glad to comply, although it has been too limited to form a correct opinion as to the merits of a number of varieties which I now have in orchard. Only a small number of the trees in the orchard were set prior to the test winter of 1883-4, while many of those set since that time have borne only a few apples. Some of the fruit is of very fine quality, good size and showy of appearance; while other kinds are inferior in quality, size, flavor and color. It is hardly possible to form a correct estimate of the relative worth of a variety from its first crop of fruit, since a tree frequently improves with age in bearing qualities. For this reason also, I cannot give a positive opinion in many cases with regard to ‘hardiness of tree and the quality of fruit, not yet having had suffi- cient time to make the requisite test. We have not had atest winter for a dozen years or more. I have been setting trees in orchard, in Minnesota, since 1860, most of the old trees, however, dying out from year to year, with the ex- ception of Duchess. Losses were so serious as to be quite discour- aging. In the year 1876 there wasa great call for seedling trees: Mr. A. W. Sias, oF Rochester, had canvassed the country thoroughly for seedlings ana had obtained a good supply of cions and secured also from the Agricultural Department:a quantity of Russian cions- Being a partner with him at the time in the tree business, we grafted quite largely, and in the year 1878 I set in orchard some 250 trees, mostly seedlings, and including also afew of the new Russians Among the latter were such well known varieties as Red and Striped Anis, Red Black, Titus, Pigeon, Sheep Nose, Russian Green, and sonie five other kinds, of which I have been unable as yet to learn the correct names. These trees all grew very thrifty till the hard winter of 1883-4, when most of the seedling trees were destroyed except a few protected on the north and west bya willow hedge. The Russian varieties were not at allinjured and soon came into bearing,and most of these trees have continued to bearannually since MY EXPERIENCE WITH RUSSIAN APPLES. 107 that time. Seeing the destruction of my eastern varieties, as well as seedlings, while the new Russians were entirely unharmed by the test winter, I at once turned my attention to securing cions of other leading Russian varieties from parties who were growing them, Prof. Budd, of Ames, Iowa, A. G. Tuttle, of Baraboo, Wis., and others. I tested some two or three hundred varieties, placing them in rows in the nursery. Ifthe trees showed any liability to blight or other weakness, I displaced them, reducing the number to about 125 varieties, which number, however, is much too large for general cultivation. I have been planting in orchard from year to year since 1880 and have grown fruit from more than fifty varieties, much of the fruit produced comparing favorably with that of any of the best eastern varieties in flavor, size and color. As for blight, the trees are no more subject to it than are seedling trees grown inthe same orchard. ' A few of the best or most prominent varieties now in bearing are the following: Repka Malenka, Hibernal, Longfield, Volga Cross, Roseport, Switzer, Zuzoff Winter, Good Peasant, White Russet and Getman. These varieties would be my first choice at present, although there may be many others of equal if not superior excellence. Longfield is a very prolific bearer; color of fruit green, with red flush on one side; medium size, and will keep with proper care till December. The tree is superior in hardiness to Wealthy, more pro- ductive than Duchess and bears annually. Repka Malenka is my best winter variety. It blossoms fully ten days later than most . other varieties, and the fruit hangs on the tree till the middle of October, a very important item. Fruit of fair quality, medium size, keeps till March Ist, or even longer. Zuzoff Winter is a very large apple, of fine flavor; tree appears to be perfectly hardy and a good grower; an early winter variety. Hibernal, tree hardier than Duchess; a good bearer, but a coarse quality of fruit, much like Duchess; will keep until January. LOCATION OF ORCHARD. A DISCUSSION. Mr. Allen Gerrish: Myr. President—I came here to learn. I intend to set one hundred or more apple trees this spring. The location is a decided slope to the north-west, and the soil is a sandy loam, something like thirty feet deep. I would like to know the best three or four varieties of apples and crabs to plant. I would like to get advice from men that grow apples and not from men who have an ax to grind. Mr. Kellogg: Sell your place and buy clay. Pres. Underwood: Does it hold moisture pretty well? Mr. Gerrish: I have no trouble about that. Where I am going to set those apple trees there were jack oaks. 108 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, Pres. Underwood: Did the native trees seem to thrive? Mr. Gerrish: Yes, sir; I had a plum grove there that held its own. Pres. Underwood: Is there any clay mixed with the subsoil? Mr. Gerrish: No, there is no clay in the subsoil. Mr. Wedge. I just want to state that on our town site at Albert Lea the soil is as distinctly sandy as any you can find. The subsoil is sandy even down to gravel, to a depth of four feet, but there are some good orchards right on that town site. Of course, the clay subsoil is preferable, but I would not discourage a man like our friend from planting on the soil he has. Mr. Philips: How many years have they borne? Mr. Wedge: A good many years, and they are very profitable. Pres. Underwood: The list of fruits recommended by the State Horticultural Society is a very safe list to stick to. Mr. Dartt: Ihave had a little experience with sandy land. I set trees on my land, and I kept them well mulched in the winter, and I manure them well before I set the trees and keep them well manured and keep them well mulched, and I think if the gentleman will follow that plan he will succeed if he takes that precaution. Always mulch your trees in the fall. Never let such a time come upon you like this without mulching, if you do not want the roots killed. So far as that is concerned, it does not make any difference what the variety is, root-killing will take the whole thing clean. If he takes that precaution, he will succeed in growing apples successfully on any ground, but always keep them mulched with manure. Mr. Richardson: I want to ask Mr. Dartt one question. If root killing takes the whole thing clean, why is it that the seedling roots will kill off and the top will come through all right? Mr. Dartt: It is the difference in the degree of cold that kills. Sometimes two or three trees are root-killed, but when it grows so very cold, and when the ground is poor, that will induce general root-killing, and it takes one like the other. I have had some trees root-kill, and the root killing seemed to be in waves; there would be five or six to ten first where there were two or three rows that were killed, then there would be a space that would be left. It killed crabs just as well as any thing else. APPLES. 109 Pres. Underwood: I think if you will turn to page 17 in our last year’s horticultural report, it will give you the sense of our society this year. When the annual fruit list is made up this year, if there is any variation you will get the information you seek for. Of course, individuals might discuss the matter with you here. Mr. Somerville: Mr. Gerrish got my apples for a number of years. If he will come to my place next summer, he will have the privilege of looking over nearly three hundred varieties, and it will pay him to come there, and I will take him to my place and to the neighbors’, and we will have a good, jolly time. Pres. Underwood: If you will come to Lake City, I will show you just such soil as you have. Mr. Gerrish: I have seen that soil. Mr. Dartt: If you will come to Owatonna in the spring I will show you five hundred varieties, and you can take your choice of allof them. (Laughter.) Mr. Philips, (Wisconsin): I want to say a word about this matter. I do not think he can succeed in growing a good orchard on that soil where the sand is thirty feet deep and with the varieties we have in the north-west, unless he goes to work and fixes that soil. I have given this advice to other men: In- stead of setting one hundred trees in that soil, you go to work and dig twenty good sized holes—come over and see me if you want to (laughter), but you go to work and dig twenty good sized holes; then go to the nearest bluff or buy clay and put half a wagon load in each of those holes and plant your trees, and in a few years you will have apples. Ina few years plant twenty more and treat them in the same way. I would rather have a hundred such trees than to have ten thousand in the original soil, even if you mulched them ten times a year. You will have to doctor that soil before you can get apples. Mr. Underwood had an Okabena growing on sandy soil and doing _very well. It has bothered us in getting a variety that will do well on sandy soil, and if we want to be successful we must go to work and doctor the soil. Plant one tree in that way, and it will give you better satisfaction than adozen planted in sand. I think that is good advice, and no ax to grind. Mr. Dartt: Thatis good adviceif Philips says so. (Laughter). Mr. Gerrish: Three hundred feet above this I have a lime- stone soil—-— Chorus of Apple Growers: That's all right. 110 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. WISCONSIN’S NEW HORTICULTURAL BUILDING. On account of the move being made to secure the erection at our own Agricultural College of a structure sufficiently large to meet the wants of horticulture in this rapidly growing school, our read- ers will be specially interested in the illustration given herewith of the building devoted to this interest recently erected by our sister ry) ae HORTICULTURAL BUILDING AT WIS. AGRI. COLLEGE. state. Its dimensions are 60x72 feet, and the greenhouses cover a space of 88x150 feet, and its cost has been reported at $40,000. This is a considerably larger sum (more than twice) than that asked for our building, and perhaps we are too modest. But Minnesota is developing rapidly in many directions, and close economy is un- questionably necessary. WISCONSIN STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 111 ANNUAL MEETING, 1897, WISCONSIN STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. PROF. S. B. GREEN, DELEGATE. Your delegate was able to be present at the meeting of the Wis- consin Horticultural Society for two days only. The meetings were well attended and interesting. The papers read were up-to-date, practical and short. One of the most important actions of the soci- ety was the discussion of the San José scale, which it was plainly shown threatens great damage to our fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs. Specimens of branches infested with this pest were - in evidence in a box covered with a glass and were examined with much interest. The society will actively support the passage of bills by congress and the state legislature for the suppression of this insect. In a discussion of the subject of mulching, the general opinion seemed to prevail that a dust blanket is the best mulch for young fruit trees. In the discussion on Russian apples, your delegate spoke on the ten most promising Russian apples for Minnesota. He was followed by that veteran in Russian apples, A. G. Tuttle, of Baraboo, who is now more enthusiastic than ever in endorsing the Russian apple. He urged the planting of the Lowland Raspberry as the best early apple and said it was of wonderful hardiness and earliness. Hewas followed by Prof. F. H. Taylor, of Lincoln, Neb., who has twice vis- ited Russia and who spoke on “ Russian Fruits as Seen in Russia.” He said there were no apples grown as far north as St, Petersburg and that Moscow was on the extreme northern edge of commercial apple growing. He emphasized especially the localization of pom- ology in Russia and that there was very little well defined knowl- edge of Russian fruits. “Every little prevince has its own varieties and the same variety often masks under different names. Russian pomology is in almost hopeless confusion, and in America,” he, said, “we know more about the Russian fruits than the Russians themselves.” He thought the Russians as liable to get good varie- ties from us as we from them. Mr. Taylor did not belittle the value of Russian fruits for the extreme north but thought that many kinds had been recommended on too short trial. There can be no question but what the north-western states of the Mississippi val- ley need these Russian fruits badly. Mr. Taylor thought we should pay more attention to the cultivation of the cherry, which grows abundantly in sections so severely cold and dry that the apple fails entirely. In the evening Professor Taylor discussed the development of the beet root sugar industry in America. He said that in Russia the manufacturers paid $3.75 per ton for the beets, and he thinks the cost of raising them there nearly as expensive as here. At Grand Island, Neb., the sugar factory, which pays $5.00 per ton for beets, was run for 110 days in 1896. The law that gave a bounty of one cent per pound bonus has been knocked out, but they still think they can 112 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. make beet sugar ata profit. This subject is attracting much atten- tion at this time in Wisconsin, and the outcome of experiments in progress there will be watched with much interest. It seems to your delegate that the results of the analyses of sugar beets at the Minnesota Experiment Station should be more generally known. About eleven hundred analyses have been made there, and they show plainly that in per cent of sugar, purity of juice and yield per acre that Minnesota can raise sugar beets against the world in qual- ity and that this question is no longer an experimental one from the scientific side, but purely a business proposition ag to whether it will pay to do so. Professor Goff discussed the pruning of plants ina very entertain- ing manner, treating the subject under the four heads: (1) formative, (2) stimulative, (3) protective and (4) maturative pruning. He touched on the subject of girdling and said it had been practiced in the island of Zante for 2,000 years. Mr. Hoxie read a paper on the forestry question in Wisconsin. He said the law against forest fires in that state had not been a success on account of the very small appropriation available. He quoted at length from the first report of the Minnesota fire warden, In a report from Dorr,county, which is known as the Sturgeon Bay section, I was impressed with the favorable conditions there existing for the.growing of fruits. Cherry trees in good condition, twenty- eight years old,were reported, and the Green Gage plum was referred to as one of the best for planting there. Mr. A. L. Hatch spoke on the fruit prospects of the Sturgeon Bay section. He urged neighborly co-operation in buying and selling and gave an instance where by co-operation with his neighbors he secured lower prices so that in one season his neighbors had saved $400.00, and he had saved $300.00. He referred to the depressed price of horticultural products during the past few years, and yet he felt that they had been as profitable as any class of crops. Mr. Heartwell, the president of the Northern Illinois Horticultural Society, said that the people in his. section were discouraged in raising apples and were watching the Wisconsin experiments along this line with much interest. After much discussion the society decided to issue the “ Wiscon- sin Horticulturist” the coming year, to be charged to members at cost. This publication is issued in addition to the annual report and cost the society about $300.00 Jast year. On Thursday evening, Dr. Lugge’ gave a very instructive talk in the senate chamber on the subject of injurious insects, which was finely illustrated by a stereopticon. Wednesday evening, your delegate was not present but learned that the session was made up of papers by the students in the short course at the university. Your delegate also had the pleasure of looking over the fine horticultural building on the grounds of the State University with Professor Goff and of noting his methods of instruction. A very interesting experiment was in progress in the greenhouse. in the watering of tomatoes, which seemed to show great advantage from sub-watering. THE SAN JOSE SCALE. ; 113 THE SAN JOSE SCALE, A NEW INSECT FATAL TO FRUIT TREES. PROF. OTTO LUGGER, ST. ANTHONY PARK. This insect is as much to be dreaded, almost, as the grasshopper, certainly more to be dreaded than the chinch bug, and you know what that scourge means to Minnesota. It is known as the San José scale, a deadly foe to all manner of fruit trees, and if it were intro- duced into this state the extent of the damage cannot well be esti- mated, for, though very tiny as an individual,taken in the aggregate it becomes a vast devastating power. Fifteen states have already taken legislative action looking to an eradication ora prevention of the pest. It is almost impossible to prevent its spread when once it has gained a foothold. It was first found in California, whence it takes it name of San José. It was carried in fruit or on shrubs of some kind to New Jersey, where it has already done much harm. It was not known in California until about eight years ago, and no one knows where it came from be- fore it reached that land of fruits. This scale is not a fungus growth but a live animal, male and female, capable of vast reproduction, and one scale may be a daugh- ter,a mother, a grandmother anda great grandmother in one season. It derives its name scale from its appearance, a tiny particle not more than an eighth or, generally, not more than a sixteenth of an inch in diameter, and shaped with a crest or covering which makes it look like a scale. Sometimes they are a dull gray in color, some- times darker in hue. They havea very business-like way of going about things, and when they have finished up a tree there isn’t much left but the skeleton. They may be carried from one tree to another by birds, who get the young and active insects on their feet or legs or on their bills: Sometimes they are carried by ants, and if the trees are close to- gether they will pass from one to the other of their own accord, The scale saps the life of the tree, completely destroying it and rendering it unfit for anything but the brush pile. It has a jointed beak which passes down into the wood and takes up the sap. Not only do they infest the trunks and branches of the trees, but they are found on the leaves and fruit as well. When they are abundant on the fruit, it is destroyed or rendered worthless, though the fruit appears sometimes with only a purple discoloration around a singlé scale... They do not usually begin active operations until early in June, and they pass the winter in a practically dormant condition. Apple, pear, plum and cherry trees are the quickest to be attacked, but other fruit trees, currants, gooseberries and rose bushes are sought for when the supply of fruit trees gives out. There are various insecticides recommended, but so destructive is the pest, the best way of getting along with them is not to have them atall. To this end we should havea law, and one is already prepared and is now in the legislature for consideration, providing that no nursery stock afflicted with the San José scale shall be 114 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. allowed to come into or be sold in the state, and requiring certifi- cates of inspection from sellers of nursery stocks showing that their nurseries have been inspected and are free from the pest. A few days ago I attended a meeting of entomologists attached to the various western agricultural colleges, held in Chicago, where the San José pest was considered in detail and concerted action sought for that it be kept from spreading further. Since it reached New Jersey it has passed on to other states and is now doing great damage in a state as far west as Illinois. The Ohio State Horticultural Society, realizing the danger from the spread of this pest and others allied to it, has called a general meeting of the horticultural societies of the United States to as- semble in general conference in Washington on the fifth of the next month to consider means — national as well as state in their scope — to prevent the further spread of these pests. Agricultural societies and experiment stations are expected to be represented as well. National and supplementary uniform state legislation is to be asked for, not only to prevent the spread of all such pests in the United States but to prevent their introduction into this country from for- eign lands. Action should most certainly be taken by the present legislature in order that the pest, which has been slowly working this way,may be kept out of Minnesota. Its introduction here would result in im- mense loss to the state. PROPOSED LAW AGAINST THE SAN JOSE SCALE. A BILL to prevent the introduction or spread of San Jose Scale (Now pending in the legislature. See Secretary’s Corner.) BEIT ENACTED: By the Legislature of the State of Minnesota. SECTION 1. The Governor shall appoint one of the members of the Minnesota State Agricultural Experiment Station staff, who shall be known as the Inspector of Nurseries and Orchards, who shall hold office during the term of two years, and whose duty it shall be to inspect any and all nurseries and orchards in the state of Minnesota as to whether they are infested by the San José Scale, and, if upon such inspection,such nurseries and orchards be found free from said insects, to give to the owner of such nurseries and orchards a certifi- cate to that effect, and he shall file a duplicate certificate with the Minnesota State Agricultural Experiment Station; and in case he shall find present in any such nursery or orchard any such insects, he shall notify the owner thereof in writing and shall direct him to use such means as will exterminate such insects, and the owner of such nursery or orchard shall not ship or deliver any trees, vines, shrubs or plants until he has secured from said inspector a certifi- cate as aforesaid. SEc. 2. The owner of such nursery or orchard, trees, vines, shrubs or plants shall within the time specified in such notice take such steps for the destruction,of such insects as will exterminate the SAN JOSE SCALE LAW. Tt same, and he shall not ship or deliver any such trees, vines, shrubs or plants affected with such insects under the penalty of a fine of one dollar for every tree, vine, plant or shrub so affected when shipped or delivered from such nursery, which fine shall be collected by suit by the prosecuting attorney of the county in which said nursery or orchard is located, one-half thereof to go to the informer and the balance to be paid to said Minnesota State Agricultural Experiment Station. SEc.3. Whenever it shall happen that the State Inspector of Nurseries and Orchards shall give the notice heretofore required to the owner ofa nursery or orchard for the destruction of these insects and the said owner shall fail or neglect to take the measures neces- sary for the destruction thereof within the time mentioned in the notice given him, it shall be the duty of the State Inspector of Nurseries and Orchards to have the proper remedies applied to such nursery or orchard for the destruction of such insects, and he shall employ all necessary assistance and may enter the premises of said owner of such nursery or orchard for the purpose of treating and exterminating such insects; and the owner of such nursery or orchard shall be liable for the cost of such proceeding, for the services of the inspector at a rate per diem to be fixed by the Minnesota State Agricultural Experiment Station, not to exceed five dollars per day, and for such number of days as said State Inspec- tor shall determine, which said charge must be paid before the delivery of the certificate mentioned in section one of this act. Sec. 4. Whenever any trees, plants or vines are shipped into this state from another state, every package thereof shall be plainly labeled on the outside with the name of the consignor, the name of the consignee, the contents and acertificate properly signed by such officer, showing that the contents have been inspected by a compe- tent State Officer or Inspector and that the trees, plants or vines contained therein are apparently free from all San José Scale, anda duplicate of such certificate shall also be attached to and accompany the bill oflading. All agentsof Railway, Express or Transportation Companies within the State of Minnesota are hereby forbidden to deliver any consignment of trees, shrubs, vines, plants or other nursery stock to any consignee unless the same is accompanied by a certificate of inspection as herein before provided. In the absence of said certificate, said agent of the said Rail- way, Express or Transportation Company shall notify the said consignee by depositing a written notice in the United States mail that said consignment is received and held for inspection, and said consignee shall at once secure its inspection by the legally constituted state authority, and upon the presentation of such certificate duly executed by said Inspector or his deputy said consignment may be delivered. Sec. 5. Every person, firm, or corporation growing or offering for sale in this state any trees, vines, shrubs or plants, commonly known as nursery stock, shall on or before the first day of October in each year, apply to the State Inspector of Nurseries and Orchards for the inspection of said stock under the provisions of this act and 116 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ~* a license for its sale, and shall deposit with the said inspector a fee of five dollars asa license for himself as principal and one dollar asa li- cense fee for each and every one of the local or traveling agents or em- ployes who shall engage in selling such stock or soliciting orders for the same; and each of such principals shall execute to the State of Minnesota a bond in the sum of one thousand dollars with two good and sufficient sureties who are residents and freeholders of said state, conditioned that he or they will comply with all the pro- visions of this act and that upon demand he or they will file with the State Inspector of Nurseries and Orchards within thirty days after delivery a list of the persons to whom he has sold or delivered any such nursery stock, giving species and varieties, together with the post-office address of each. Such information shall be preserved and be for the sole use of the Nursery and Orchard Inspector and his deputies. SEC. 6. No person, firm or corporation resident of another state province or country, shall engage or continue in the business of importing any trees, plants, shrubs or vines, commonly known as nursery stock, into this state, or of selling such importations within the state, or of selling such articles within the state for subsequent importations into it, without having first obtained from the State Inspector of Nursery and Orchards a license to do business in this state as provided in section five of this act, and he shall also file with the Inspector of Nurseries and Orchards the bond therein required, together with the certificate of inspection by a legally authorized inspector of the state, province or country were said person, firm, or corporation is located. Src. 7. The Inspector of Nurseries and Orchards upon receipt of the fee required in this act, together with the bond anda satisfactory certificate of inspection, shall issue license to the applicant accord- ing to the provisions of this act; and all such licenses shall expire on the first day of October next following the date of their issue. SEc. 8. It shall be the duty of the State Inspector of Nurseries and Orchards whenever it shall come to his knowledge that the San José Scale exists in any orchard in this state or is supposed to exist, to investigate the case, and if said insects are found he shall have authority to enter upon the premises and proceed according to the provisions of this act in exterminating the same. If the owner of such orchard shall refuse or neglect to comply with the orders of said inspector, the inspector shall employ such aid as may be necessary to carry out his orders and recommendations, the expense of which procedure shall be certified to the proper township, city or county officers, and by them be allowed, who shall cause the same to be assessed as a special tax upon the premises concerned. SEC. 9. The State Inspector of Nurseries and Orchards shall ap- point such number of deputies as may be required, subject to the approval of the Directors of the Minnesota State Agricultural Ex- periment Station, and he shall render a full and complete report of his proceedings, acts and expenditures under this act to the said Directors of the Minnesota State Agricultural Experiment Station, who shall audit his accounts and may publish said report. aes. ee eee eee < a \ A Cue eae ie Bro eee, nt \ K oor }, Y SAN JOSE SCALE LAW. 17 Sec. 10. All expenses incurred under the provisions of this act, not otherwise provided for, shall be paid out of the general fund of the state, and the State Auditor shall draw his warrant for the same, and for this purpose the sum of twenty-five hundred ($2,500) dollars, or so much as may be necessary, is hereby annually appropriated. SrEc. 11. All prosecutions or suits under this act shall be made in the name of the State of Minnesota. Sec. 12. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after June 1, 1897. HASTENING MATURITY IN POTATOES. AN EXTRACT FROM THE R. I. EXPERIMENT BULLETIN, NO. 36. |The results would seem to indicate the profitableness of this method, to say nothing of the advantage to the grower of marketing the crop as “early” pota- toes.—SECY.] “ Budding is a modification of the method in common use in the island of Jersey andin England. The seed tubers for this method of hastening the maturity of the crop when ready for planting ap- pear as represented in the cut. The requisites necessary for bud- ding seed tubers are a moderately warm, light place in a room or basement where the temperature is reasonably uniform, never reaching the freezing point, and sufficient space so that the seed tubers can be exposed in single layers for from four to six weeks to the influence of moderate heat and a fair amount of light. “The most desirable seed tubers for budding are those about the size of hen’s eggs, sound and not mutilated in digging. They may be reserved for the purpose when digging the previous crop, and if allowed to become “ greened” by exposure to sunlight so much the better, or they may be selected from the bin at any time. During stormy days or at any convenient time during the winter,these seed tubers can be placed in the trays and then stacked up anywhere in the cellar secure from rats and frost until wanted. The tray to be filled is placed upon a table or bench and one end elevated about a foot by placing a box or measure underit. Then beginning at the lower side, the potatoes selected as above are packed into the rack stem end down, as closely as possible, one layer deep. Tubers cut or pierced by the tines of a potato digger or fork should not be used, as they are likely to produce sickly or inferior buds. “About six or eight weeks before planting time the rack, should be placed ina warm and light place where there is no danger of frost or damage from rats or mice, and the trays placedin therack. If the temperature is moderate, 60° to 75°, and a fair amount of light reaches all parts of each tray, no further attention is necessary. They do not require watering. After a few days tiny white points will be seen at the “eyes” of the tubers, and a few days later it will be noticed that one and often two buds on each tuber will have made more growth than the others. These buds are far different from the white, watery “sprouts” of potatoes kept in a dark cellar. They are thick, firm and tough. If conditions are right, at the end of six weeks they will be from half an inch to an inch in length and one- 118 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. fourth to three-eighths of aninch in diameter, with many rudiment- ary roots at the base waiting for the moment when contact with mother earth shall enable them to burst forth and go about their work of gathering plant food. At the top of the bud are tiny rudimentary leaves also waiting to do their appointed work as soon as opportunity is offered. It is well to look at the trays each day» as, if the rack stands against a wall, it may be found that the buds at the back side of some of the trays where there is insufficient light have atendency to grow long and white. In that case move the MATURED BUDS READY FOR PLANTING. rack out from the wall and change the trays about so as to reverse their position. In such acase more light is whatis required. If- the buds are not developing rapidly enough, give more heat, and if growing too fast or storms and frosts prolong the planting season beyond the usual time, give less or no heat and plenty of light. When budded ready for planting, they may be held without injury for days or even weeks by keeping the racks in a cool, light place. PLANTING. “The preparation of the soil for planting does not differ from the course usually followed in growing early potatoes. It should be deeply plowed, made mellow and filled with soluble plant food. For marking out the field, a small plow or some implement making an HASTENING MATURITY IN POTATOES. 119 open furrow about six inches deep should be used. Some fertilizer should be thoroughly mixed with the soil at the bottom of the fur- row, which process will fillit up one or two inches. We are now ready to putin thetubers. The trays should be taken from the rack and carried to the field in a spring wagon, so as not to break the buds by rough jolting. At the field the most convenient way is to place a rack on a wheel-barrow and run it along between the rows. Two persons can work together at setting the tubers, one on each side of the barrow. Each should be provided with a thin-bladed knife, and when a tuber has two good buds it is divided as equally as possible without injury to the buds and the pieces immediately and carefully placed in the bottom of the furrow, the buds pointing upward. When there is only a single well-developed bud, the tuber is planted whole. Earth to cover them is drawn into the furrow with a hand hoe. If the weather is cold and frost is likely to appear, cover them evenly with about two inches of earth, but if the weather is mild and all danger of frost is past, the tips of the buds may be left at the surface, when in a few days they will make quite a leaf growth. Potatoes may be protected from frost at any time by simply covering them with fine earth. Some years ago,in a southern state, we saw two acres, averaging three or four inches in height, saved from destruction by frost in the following way: A light furrow was turned directly upon the vines of each row, covering them entirely from sight. Next morning the ground was white with frost, and potato vines unprotected were killed. During the day the temper- ature rose, and the vines were quickly uncovered by the ‘help,’ using the hands only. Very few vines were broken, and the whole operation was the equivalent of one hoeing.” The results in the cultivation of budded and not budded potatoes, under exactly the same conditions, at the end of eighty-nine days (July 29), showed a yield of 151.19 bu. for the former and 118.88 bu. for the latter, and at the end of one hundred and eleven days 190.98 bu. for the former and 136.35 bu. for the latter. “A little more time is consumed in planting the budded tubers, as they require more careful handling in order that the buds may not be broken off. It is best to take them directly from the trays and place them in position in the furrow, cutting them when necessary. In this experiment each budded tuber was cut once in order that the same quantity of ‘seed’ should be used in the same numberof hills asin the case of the dormant seed tubers. In ordinary practice, however, tubers which start but one well-developed bud are not cut but planted whole; hence rather more “seed” per acre is required for budding than for planting in the ordinary way or ‘sprouting’ in cold frames, but as the ‘seed’ for this purpose is of a size hardly salable the expense is in reality less. The time required for placing the tubers in the trays is of some value, but less important because the work can be done in stormy weather or at times when regular work would be impossible. The larger yield obtained this season by budding would amply repay the extra work involved by this method of hastening maturity.” 120 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. RE-FORESTING CUT-OVER TIMBER LANDS IN MINNESOTA. PROF. S. B. GREEN, ST. ANTHONY PARK. (Prof. Green has kindly prepared a resume of a very valuable bulletin on the above subject, now in press, upon which he has devoted considerable time the last eight months, assisted by H. B. Ayres, who, under his direction, has been making personal observations on the ground and gathering many of the details giyen. The purposeto prepare this bulletin is connected largely with the interest aroused as to legislation looking towards a forest reserve areain our state, and the facts gathered shed a flood of light on the subject showing the practicability ofthe plan. The bulletin when published can be had by application to the State Experiment Station, St. Anthony Park, and should be widely studied.—SECyY.) A bulletin now in press by the Experiment Station of the Univer- sity of Minnesota deals with the subject of the possibility of a con- tinued growth on our timber lands. It is really a study of the conditions of the cut-over timber lands of Minnesota and is an estimate of their probable natural increase in value where fire is kept out. It also shows the great curse of forest fires in preventing a continuous return from timber lands. It discusses in a concise way the value of the lumber interests, and estimates that the normal yield of our forest areaif it were in best condition and protected from fire would be about 2,000,000,000 feet, board measure, per annum, which is nearly double the quantity of timber at present annually cutinthestate. It says that at presentour forests are being worked like a mine, that cannot grow. It refers to the large area of land that was once timbered and now abandoned by the owner, and estimates that this area cannot be much less than 2,000,000 acres. It gives an estimate of the amount of land unredeemed in eleven counties in the forest area for the last five years. In four counties the land unredeemed was as follows: 1891 1892 1893 1894 1906 (| Senetae Crow Vint. a lasaie blac cobra NAR SOR UR truAceste ie ie viel pists Spee ED 216,000 Weak eras eh rae Gitar 18,000 | 20,000 | 22,000 | 23,000 | 25,000 |........... Morrison: 238 ose. 22,200 | 28,500 | 30,000 | 34,800 | 36,000 |...... sieoe SET IE OMS H at tere terse 190,324 | 253,724 | 278,926 | 360,648 | 427,089 |........... Another class of lands that are briefly touched upon are those that belong to the state and state institutions. If the practice of individuals in sweeping off all marketable timber to get immediate returns during their own life time and then abandoning the lands seems unwise, what may be said of the state and the state institu- tions, whose lives do not cease, if they, with especial need of a per- manent and increasing income, convert their growing endowment of forest stock imperfectly into money and place that money in banks that pay little or no interest, when by keeping a growing stock of timber they might perpetuate their income? The state has, or will have, when the surveys are completed, 3,127,000 acres in the forest RE-FORESTING IN MINNESOTA. 121 regions of this state. This area is equal to the area of the eight counties consisting of Dakota, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Olm- sted, Steele, Wabasha and Washington, or about the area of the state of Connecticut. If it were properly managed, it could be made to yield a large annual income from the natural increase. The tax payers of the state are directly and deeply concerned in these endowments, for itis important that the state realize as much as possible from these, that as much direct taxation as possible may be avoided. There have been no intentional reproductive cuttings of timber in Minnesota. Economy in getting material to the mills has been the only consideration. In the earliest operations, only the best and most accessible timber was cut, and rarely any trees less than twelve inches in diameter were taken. Prior to 1880 few logs less than ten inches in diameter were taken; in 1885-6 stumpage contracts required the taking of every log not less than eight inches in diameter at the small end, sixteen feet long and scaling two-thirds of a full scale. At present when lumbermen are cutting on their own land, nothing ‘is left that would make a log five inches in diameter at the small end and twelve feet long. Cutting so clean leaves very few seeding trees, and theseare the defective ones. The saplings left are usually small and few on land that has been well stocked with log timber and has been cut by the owner, but more abundant when scattered among hardwood or cut under contract without close supervision. The lumbermen have studied the question of saving young trees for future growth but have found the risk of fire too great. When fires are prevented, more young stock will be left in logging; at present, by far the greater portion ofthe land once logged has merely a growth of brush and stubs among dead trees. Some Jand is left well stocked after logging. The growth of the stock left on one acre of such land that had been cut in the winter of 1893-4 was esti- mated to find out what had been the rate of growth since the surrounding trees had been cut off. It was found that there was still left on the land enough young trees to thoroughly stock the land in a few years. Many of these were tall and had increased considerably faster in vigor since than before the land was logged. It is estimated that in twenty years if this land was protected from fire the timber on it would be worth about $38.00. The present value of this stock on this basis should be about $15.00 per acre, and yet this land is regarded as valueless from the fact that itis so liable to fire. Frequently between the groups of log timber in the forest are areas well stocked with pine not yet large enough to be cut. These are left uncutin logging. One such acre was studied, and it was found that the natural yield on this land in the next twenty years, if protected from fire,would be 34,000 feet, board measure, worth $3.00 per thousand feet on the stump, or $102 per acre. There is something incongruous in the fact that at present this land is worth nothing on account of the danger of fire. The state is invited to consider this fact, for this and many other similar tracts are on school and other state lands, and the question should be de- , £22 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. termined whether efficient fire protection cannot be provided for less than this figure, which is $5.10 per acre per year. This was per- haps an exceptionally promising growth, but many other similar tracts were found which if protected from fire would in twenty years be worth $50 or more per acre and today are considered of no value. The results of the study of the annual increase of individual trees left in logging is given and also the history of typical pine trees as shown by their annual rings. The difference is also shown in the rate of increase of those trees that are crowded and those that are open-grown. The natural re-stocking with trees on unburned land is considered at length and also the re-stocking on burned land, and it isshown that even on burned land if itis subsequently protected from fire a new growth will soon come in, and that a little attention at the right time would result in re-stocking these lands with white pine. The natural increase of Norway pine and the value of a growth of jack pine on the same land with it to producea good upward growth in the Norway is referred to. Jack pine is represented as being of rather more value for lumber than is generally regarded, butits chief value is asa low growth to make the Norway take on its best form. The rate of increase of tamarac is also considered, and it is shown that it is a comparatively simple matter to keep up a good growth of tamarac on lands adapted to it, and that it is one of the easiest trees to continue on the land. A number of instances in support of this are given, The bulletin also discusses some of the principles which should be applied to the original timber land in Minnesota. It puts special emphasis on protection from fire, and says that without this protection there is no use of attempting anything else. In order to get the land re-seeded, it is important while cutting the natural timber that nature should be encouraged by leaving the young stock on the land in a favorable condition for growing and leaving some seed producing trees. It is impossible for fire to run over any forest land without doing great damage. This damage is difficult to estimate, but it is plain that whatever land is kept non- productive is at least being kept from yielding 500 feet, board meas- ure, for each acre per year, which is considered the normal amount of increase on well stocked timber land. The greatest aggregate damage is probably done by light fires that repeatedly run over the land and preventa new growth. The planting of trees is expensive, and it is quite impracticable with a large proportion of the area of the forest lands in this state, as the results will not justify such treatment, and we must look to the natural re-seeding of the land from the trees now growing on it. The bulletin has fourteen large half-tone illustrations and is supplemented by quotations from a large number of prominent lumbermen. OFFICERS OF THE FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 1897. 123 OFFICERS OF MINNESOTA STATE FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 1897. S. M, Owen, president, Minneapolis. J. O. Barrett, secretary, Brown’s Valley. R. S. Mackintosh, treasurer, St. Anthony Park. VICE-PRESIDENTS. First Congressional District—Wm. Somerville, Viola. Second Congressional District—Alfred Terry, Slayton. Third Congressional District —O, F. Brand, Owatonna. Fourth Congressional District —R.S. Mackintosh, St. Anthony Park. Fifth Congressional District—J. N. Cross, Minneapolis. Sixth Congressional District— J. H. Oldenburg. Seventh Congressional District — O. A. Th. Solem, Halstad. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. John H. Stevens, Minneapolis. Prof. S. B. Green, St. Anthony Park. Wim. R. Dobbyn, Minneapolis. J. S. Harris, La Crescent. H. B. Ayres, Carlton. FILLMORE COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. R. PARKHILL, CHATFIELD, SECRETARY. This society held its annual winter meeting at Spring Valley, Dec. 22, 1896. The society was organized one year ago, and has now a membership of twenty-nine members. At this meeting Clarence Wedge, of Albert Lea, was the principal speaker, but C. G. Patten, Charles City, Ia.; C. F. Gardner, Osage, Ia.; E. H. S. Dartt, Owatonna, and several local horticulturists, gave practical addresses on fruit growing. Mr. Wedge gave an address during the afternoon session on “An Apple Orchard in Minnesota,” and his topic in the evening was “A History of Fruit Growing in This State, and Its Possibilities in the Future.” Mr. Patten spoke on improved methods of planting orchards. He favored three rows closely planted, a space of fifty feet, and so on. Mr. Gardner gave some practical suggestions on small fruit, and Mr. Dartt talked in a very interesting manner on girdling young apple trees to encourage early bearing. A pupil of the Spring Valley high school read a fine paper at the evening session entitled “Berrying in the Woods rs. Raising Ber- ries at Home,” and a children’s choir, led by Prof. Stevens, sang several selections very nicely during the evening. The following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That we request our State Horticultural Society to admit to free membership all members of local horticultural societies in the state who pay an annual fee of one dollar to the local society. The attendance at the meeting was good, and the numerous ques- tions from the audience showed much interest. Officers elected for the ensuing year: Pres. Hon. J. Q. Farmer; Sec’y R. Parkhill; Treas. S. F. Leonard. A summer meeting will be held. PR ge tee (4 Jee Gea Aree Rtn, 70S AD IE Re ee ae 124 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. A SNAP SHOT FROM FLORIDA. HEADING CABBAGES IN JANUARY. Two years ago today the orange belt of Florida was experiencing the most delightful stages of a boom; with the advantages of good soil, fine climate and a rapid influx of northerners eager to buy land and plant orange trees, together with the close proximity of the markets of both eastern and central states, central Florida stood in a fair way to supply the whole world with oranges — and millionaires. But, somehow or other, one of those cold, sarcastic northern winds got itself pointed this way, and, presto /—not only future hopes, but also—which was more substantial—the orange groves themselves were chilled out of existence in a single night, and Florida today finds itself in a good deal the same shape that some sections of the wheat belt have been in more than once when wheat wasa failure: no oranges, no other crop, and everything to buy. ; FIELD OF CABBAGES IN FLORIDA. There is but one line of defense to follow, and that is more diversity in the agricultural interests of the state. So, into this line,a good many of the Floridan farmers are turning, and one of the first steps made has been in the raising of garden truck, principally cabbage and celery, which find a ready market in Chicago and New York at this time of the year. The accompanying view, taken on January 1st, shows an erstwhile ten acre orange grove, now converted into a fine field of already heading cabbages. The ravages of the cabbage- worm are so slight that no fight against them is necessary, and the regularity of the fortnightly showers practically make this crop a surety. Roy UNDERWOOD. Ocala, Marion Co., Florida, Jan. 1, 1897. MINNESOTA SEEDLING APPLES. 125 MINNESOTA SEEDLING APPLES. “Forty-three years ago I began the culture of fruit in Minnesota,” says Peter M. Gideon in The Minneapolis Farmers’ Tribune. “At first it was plant and replant, and trees died by thousands. As one died, another was set in its place. Thus on for seventeen years, un- til the Wealthy apple first fruited, having grown it from acrab seed, and that result solved the problem of what to do and how to do. it. So we went to work crossing the common apple with the Siberian crab, the hardiest variety of the apple family,and as a result we have the best collection of ironclads in existence, and in quality of fruit as good as the world can produce; and in succession, through sum- mer, fall and early winter,and one only that generally lasts through the winter. Butthose are not enough. The great north-west wants a good collection of first-class long keepers to run through the entire year, and our past success is a guarantee that it can be done, for by thousands that have fruited the fact is demonstrated that an apple seedling will ripen its fruit at or near the time the parent apple ripened from which the seed was taken. And, therefore, to get long keepers, ironclad in tree, we must plant long keepers in close proximity to our best ironclads, and thus grown, plant the seeds of the long keepers to get the desired results. But the beat of long keepers are too tender to fruit in Minnesota, a fact already demonstrated. Therefore, to get the desired results, the seed-growing orchard must be set further south, the seed brought here and planted to test the hardiness, and after two winters the best selected and sent out toapplicantsto be fruited. But, bear in mind, not all seedlings will produce first-class fruits, though all the vari- eties in seed-growing orchards are all of the best quality, for the reason that our apples are all mongrels of perhaps 1,000 degrees of crossings, and there is no known law by which the progeny of a mongrel can be told until it develops; but in the many mongrels we are sure of something good. “The north-west pays millions annually for winter apples that can in a few years be grown at home, and of a better quality than those shipped here, and could soon be an exporter instead of importer. “Tf an orchard should be set next spring, in five yearsit would be bearing, and in five years more the trees grown from that crop of seed would be fruiting. Then the north-west can be growing a full supply of apples the yearround. As to the cost for developing such a Class of apples,it would not exceed one-fourth of one cent annually to each person in Minnesota. Now that an attainment is a certainty, delay is a crime.” A NEW SEEDLING APPLE.—Mr. Wm. Somerville sent, Feb.9, from his home at Viola, specimens of four apples which he had been keeping in his cellar, viz; Repka Malenka, Malinda, Rollin’s Prolific and a seedling, of which he says: “I want to call your attention especially to that large red apple; itis a seedling from the second crop. The tree appears to be perfectly free from blight, and the fruit hangs on well into the middle of September orto the first of October. I think it fully as good as the Peerless, especially in keeping qualities and flavor—you be the judge.” Prof. Green carried the seedling home to get an outline, so it wasn’t tested except by sense of smell. It was, as he says, large and red, and in excellent condition, neither de- cayed nor withered. Secy. Your orner. A GOOD OUTLOOK.—“ Prospects for a good year in the small fruit business are at the present time very good here; plants and bushes never looked better, and the ground is in fine condition.” Rochester, Minn., Feb. 4, 1897. Louis ANDERSON, A COMPLIMENT.—“ The report I received all right; it is asplendid volume. The January number is also at hand; its columns, as usual, are full of interest and very helpfuland keep the intelligent horticulturist posted right along.” ROBT. H. BUTTERMORE. Lake City, Jan. 11, 1897. Do LESS BETTER.—‘I am convinced of one fact, namely: that the generality of people are putting in too much fruit. My theory is that a little with good care will give better satisfaction than acres that have to be run into market ina heated, damaged condition.” MRS. SOPHRONIA IRWIN. Vinecroft, Excelsior, Minn., Feb. 3, 1897. SMALL FRUITS WILL WINTER WITHOUT PROTECTION. — “ Please mention in Horticulturist two hardy kinds of small fruits that will stand Minnesota winters without covering. I will give you two kinds of reds and would like a list of blacks. The Philadelphia has been growing near St. Cloud on the prairie without windbreak or protection of any kind for years. The Turner and Cuthbert are perfectly hardy in Kandiyohi county.” St. Cloud, Jan. 29, 1897. N. P. ASPINWALL. A MULCH FROM SORGHUM REFUSE.—“I have sent out over 6,000 gallonsof sorghum to this state. I have used 150 loads of begasse to mulch my orchard, 6 feet wide, 12 inch in depth; mulching all the ground between trees, it will take 150 loads more to finish. I got this information from being a member, and it has been of great benefit to me already. I take a lively interest in the work of our society, and think the opinions ofour best fruit men very reliable and the nursery stock grown at home much to be desired by those that would be successful.” Morristown, Jan. 21, 1897. SETH H. KENNEY. YOUR CORNER. D ped WE CANNOT GROW THEM BUT ARE WILLING TO EAT THEM:— “Have you ever eaten Japan Persimmons? You have no idea of their richness. Here our markets in winter are gay with these fiery scarlet fruits, and their consumption is rapidly increasing, for many prefer them to any kind of fruit, tropical or otherwise. They are also very ornamental and should be used in northern homes for decorations. They will keep for weeks and when apparently rotten and worthless are justin the condition to eat. I wanted to send a lot to you for the annual meeting, but kept putting it off,as I have so many things until too late.” San Diego, Cal., Jan. 29, 1897. L. M. FORD. SEVERE FOR FRUIT TREES—“At Windom the thermometer ranged from 35° to 38° below, and [ know that the terminal ends of some fruit trees are now killed. I think our next mid-summer report can be made valuable by reporting on the hardiness (by the knife test) of the various varieties of fruit trees. The sleet storm we had early in the winter destroyed or injured a great many trees here; plums suffered the most; but I am satisfied from previous experience and from present observation that the egg of the tent caterpillar has been nearly or quite destroyed by the ice. I am in hopes that the sleet storm destroyed the plum scale, including the San José scale, provided we were so unfortunate as to have them.” Windom, Feb, 3, 1897. DEWAIN COOK. PLUM POCKETS.—I have been engaged in plum growing for the last twenty-five or thirty years in Brown county, south-west Minne- sota, and my observations are based on several years’ experience with plum pockets. If we have fair,dry weather during blossoming time, and pollenization has its full effects, and we have no frost, I have never seen many plum pockets, but usually a big crop of plums; if the weather is damp and changes to the freezing point soon after blossoming time, we can look for a big crop of plum pockets. Plum pocketsare a blessing to the Desota variety. I have examined plum pockets when they are fully matured, and the whole skin is tough, and no holes in it, though in many I found lice, something similar to the leaf lice. How they come in, in this short time, is a puzzle to me. MARTIN PENNING. Sleepy Eye., Feb. ’97. BROOM HANDLES DON’T GrRow.—“ In the spring of 1895, I took one hundred trees, four to five feet high, cut the limbs all off for scions, covered the wounds with grafting wax and set them out to grow scions from in the future. I took twelve and cut the roots off and shortened the body, made a broom handle after the directions I had seen—and set them in the middle of the row. They were mulched heavily on one side with strawy manure and well cul- tivated on the other side the first summer. The broom handles were set one-half with a crowbar and one-half with a spade. The past summer the trees were not looked after. A few days ago I hunted them out of the weeds and found the broom handles all dead; 128 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY of the others about one-half had made a fine growth, and the bal- ance were dead. If the first summer had not been so very dry, there would probably have been a much larger per cent that would have lived.” S. D. RICHARDSON. Winnebago City, Dec. 29, 1896, A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION.—‘ Please send me a few copies of The Minnesota Horticulturist,’ which I will hand to members of the ‘Farmers’ Fruit Growers Club,’ thathas just been formed in our vil- lage. “We concluded such a ‘club’ would be of more value to this vicinity than a local horticultural society, as it will be better sup- ported and help a much larger number, and still serve those who are growing fruits and trees. | “Tf the members of our society would make a little effort the mem- bership could be made much larger and at the same time place the most valuable information, in the form of reading,in the homes of many who are interested in growing trees, fruits, flowers, etc. “The half dozen subscriptions which I have sent to you were gained by simply showing the ‘combination’ of report, magazine, plant, premiums, etc., to those who are interested in such matters. “Tn most instances they say as they hand me the dollar, ‘that is just what I need. I want them.’ I give the premium ‘Amateur Fruit Growing’ to new subscribers as an inducement, as I have a copy, which to me is worth many times the cost of my membership of one dollar.”’ A. C. BUSH. Dover, Minn., Jan. 18, 1897. FARMERS’ AND FRUIT GROWERS’ CLUB A SUCCESS.—“With regard to the “ Farmers’ and Fruit Growers’ Club, will say: We are meet- ing every Saturday p.m. and spend about two hours very profitably, with growing interest; from present indications shall soon outgrow our place of meeting, which is a large office room in the village. So far we have no expense attached; no constitution nor by-laws. A chairman is chosen at each meeting who conductsitina strictly informal manner, much the same as the ‘old times’ Metho- dist class leader does, calling on each one present for some thought or bit of experience relating to the subject being discussed. The subject is chosen by a vote for the next meeting; also some repre- sentative man who is a recognized authority on the selected subject is asked to prepare a paper or open the discussion and others to pre- pare themselves to follow. ‘The Possibilities of a Farm Life,’ ‘What Shall we do with our Land this Year’ are samples of the subjects we talk over. “Tama member of a literary society whichis conducted on exactly the plan you suggested, and it is a grand success. I think ‘Our Club’ will ‘move out’ into the country homes occasionally on that plan. The work and that manner of getting at it must recommend itself to all as worthy of their time and a big effort.” Dover, Feb. 4, 1897. A, K. BUSH. _ Secretary's ( %orner. Wuy Is THIS NUMBER SO LATE?—The printers say it is on ac- count of the Legislative Manual, which is one of the “indispen- sibles.” It is not, at least, the fault of the secretary, except that, may be, he doesn’t kick hard enough. Such delays are, happily, rare with the “ Horticulturist,’ and on this account, perhaps, just a little more vexatious. The next one will come all the sooner. ILLNESS OF MARTIN W. CooOK.—Our members will be sorry to hear of the serious illness of this veteran Minnesota nurseryman and fruit grower at his home in Rochester, where he has lived over forty years. His has been a busy and useful life, and we hope he may be still long spared to us. At present he is improving somewhat, and hopes are entertained that he will be about again in the spring. A CORRECTION.—By some hocus pocus the index of the Febru- ary No. assigns the report of the Sauk Rapids Trial Station to Mr. O. M. Lord, when every one knows that an enterprising lady, Mrs. Jen- nie Stager, is engineering the horticulture of that part of the state. Mr. Lord is pretty well occupied at Minnesota City, in the extreme south-east corner of the state, where he is engaged in a similar be- neficent work. OUR NEXT DEPARTMENT POMOLOGIST.—A movement is on foot to secure the re-appointment of the Hon. H. E. Van Deman to the posi- tion of pomologist he occupied until displaced by the retiring ad- ministration. It will be heartily endorsed by the horticulturists of Minnesota. He showed himself very friendly to the interests of this section, and we may confidently expect a renewal of such interest if again installed in office. We are aware of no reason why he should not occupy again that position and many why he should. OFFICE HOURS OF THE SECRETARY.—Commencing with the first of this month, March, the regular office hours of the Secretary will be from 9to12 A. M. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. At these times the Secretary will make it a point, except when absence is absolutely necessary, to be in his office, 207 Kasota Block, Minneapolis. Cal- lers, however, are likely to find the Secretary in at any time during any week day, as the increasing work of the society requires the most of his time. Members and visitors are always welcome. FORESTRY NOMENCLATURE.—Geo. B. Sudworth, the dendrologist, or “tree historian,’ of the United States Division of Forestry, has just finished a very complete work on the names of trees growing in the United States, prepared under the direction of Prof. B. E. Fernow. If others have felt the need of such a work as much as “ye editor,” it will be most heartily welcomed. Besides the accepted names, it gives the synonyms, both the technical and common ones, and complete indexes of both classes round out this very handy and useful volume of 418 pages, entitled “Nomenclature of the Arborescent Flora of the United States.” Probably it can be had by application to Prof. Fernow, at Washington. 130 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. PORTRAIT OF THE LATE JOSHUA ALLYN.—The frontispiece of this number will be recognized by all our older members as that of the late Joshua Allyn, of Red Wing. At the time of his decease we were not in a position to make use of it, and it is published now in pursu- ance of a settled plan to eventually place before our members in this enduring way all the faces grown familiar in our mutual work. THE NEW APPOINTEE AS SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.—The fortunate recipient of the appointment of Secretary of Ag- riculture under the new administration, Hon. Thos. B. Wilson, is well and favorably known to the people of our neigh-, bor state, Iowa, from his relation to the experiment station of that state, at Ames, of which he has been for some years director. He is evidently highly appreciated there, as the board of trustees have not accepted his resignation on account of the new position, but in- stead have given him “indefinite” leave of absence, and retain his name ontheirrolls. Mr. Wilson should from his propinquity, at least,beinsympathy with the efforts of north-western horticulturists and their trying experience, and our interests may expect from him fair recognition. CONDEMN FREE SEED DISTRIBUTION.—The New Jersey Horticul- tural Society, at its late meeting, passed resolutions in emphatic disapproval of the practice of giving away seeds by the general government. The original plan, undoubtedly, in this distribution was to introduce for testing purposes new and untried varieties, but in use it has degenerated into a mere bid for interest on the part of the congressmen, amongst whom this form of patronage is divided and by whom the seeds are directly distributed, and the varieties sent are no longer new and untried, but standard varieties of more or less common use. This practice is a relic of the old idea that the government is con- ducted in the interest of the governing classes or in recognition of ano longer accepted right to use the powers of government espe- cially to perpetuate a hold upon office, and should receive the stern disapproval of every citizen who favors purity in politics and the principle that an officer is elected to consider the interests of the public and not his own. A CONVENTION TO Discuss NOxious INSECT AND FUNGI LEGISLA- TION.—The officers of the Ohio State Horticultural Society have in- vited a convention of delegates from “all horticultural and agri- cultural societies, experiment stations and kindred organizations, to meet in Washington, March 5, 1897, to consider the best measures to be taken in securing such national and supplementary uniform state legislation as may be necessary to prevent the dissemination of noxious insects and fungi, and prevent their introduction into the United States from other countries.” This movement to secure the most effective and uniform laws on this very important subject is commendable, and even though Minnesota have no repre- sentative there, the result of the deliberations will be of equal inter- est tous. So far we have escaped some of the worst pests, but they are heading this way and will soon be stealing across the line. (Prof. Otto Lugger, State Entomologist, has gone as our represnta- tive, and areport of the meeting may be expected from him in our next) 7 Te a ee SN a a a Pee oe... TRE 1 eT le 5X = id SECRETARY’S CORNER. 131 INSPECTION OF NURSERY STOCK.—At a late meeting of the legis- lative committee of this society, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: Resolved, That we recommend to the people of our respective states that in purchasing stock from other than home nurseries they require a certificate of inspection from such nursery specify- ing that such stock has been inspected by an official inspector or has been grown on grounds duly inspected, and specifying the re- sult of such inspection. Resolred, That we endorse the call of the Ohio State Horticultural Society for a convention to consider and recommend the most ap- propriate federal and state legislation for preventing the introduc- tion and diffusion of noxious insects and fungiin the United States. In view of the threatened invasion of the north-west by the justly dreaded San Jose scale, the force of these resolutions is apparent. SHALL FARMER’S DAUGHTERS BE EDUCATED AT THE AGRICUL- TURAL SCHOOL?—A bill has been presented to the legislature appro- priating $25,000 to pay for the construction of a suitable building to accomodate the gentler sex at the University Farm School. They are knocking for admission, and none in these days of a “truer” chivalry are so ungallant as to turn them away. It is certainly of importance that the mothers of the next generation should be equally as well as the fathers fitted to impress and develop the plastic mind of childhood with which they come much more closely in contact. A dwarfed and undeveloped motherhood means unde- niably the retardation of the humanrace. Horticulture especially is interested in the fullest education of the farmer’s daughters, for to them, rather than the sons, must it look for the practice of those especial features of its art which so much beautify the world we see and in its highest sense ennoble life. By all means, give them the fullest opportunities. STATUS OF THE FOREST RESERVE AREA LEGISLATION.—The pro- posed law relating to the subject as published in the January num- ber of the HORTICULTURIST was introduced into the house by Hon. H. G. Hicks and referred to the committee on forestry, before which the friends of the measure appeared and explained the purposes of the legislation asked for. The law was amended in the committee by changes in Sec. 10 providing that two-thirds of the proceeds from the sale of timber, etc., from this area should go to some public ed- ucational institution and none of it to the heirs of the donor, and in this form the bill was reported backto the house and recommended for passage. On its appearance before the house very lately, March Ist, the bill was opposed by Hon. I. Donnelly on the ground that it gives the heirs of donors of land a perpetual right to any mining or similar interest that may ever develop on the property, and it was referred back to the committee for examination in this respect and further amendment if thought best. This is the present status of this important measure. Its friends will find it necessary to give it close attention, or it may fail of final passage in the tide of public and private legislation which is absorbing the thoughts of our law makers. In the pressure of present interests, the needs of the dis- tant future are too likely to receive only slight attention. 132 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. A SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION.—A large number of photo- graphs of our members are being collected in the Secretary’s office for the use of the society. We should be glad if members, without personal solicitation, would send in their photographs and also views of their homes, orchards or of otherobjects of interest around them. Such photographs should be suitably inscribed with the name and age of the person, date when taken, or, if a view,its descrip- tion, etc. Mr. M. W. Cook, of Rochester, sent lately three very fine views of his home and fruit gardens, which are highly prized. Re- ceipt of photographs will be promptly acknowledged, and they will be carefully preserved. THE SAN JOSE SCALE LAwW.—Attention is called specially to the proposed law printed in this number for preventing the introduc- tion of the San Jose scale and also to the comments of Prof. O. Lug- ger on the subject. As referred to in the last number, Mr. J. Cole Doughty, of Lake City, had his attention impressively called to the necessity of action in this direction while in attendance at the an- nual meeting of the Illinois Horticultural Society, and at about the same time Prof. Otto Lugger, of our State Experiment Station, was in attendance at a convention of entomologists and others held in Chicago, for the purpose of considering this very subject. Mr. Doughty, with the assistance of other prominent members of our society, prepareda draft of a law on this subject based largely ona similar law in force in the state of Maryland, and Prof. Lugger brought home from the convention one prepared for the same pur- pose by that body. At a meeting of the legislative committee of this society, convened for that purpose, the two bills referred to were considered and one drawn combining as far as possible the good points of both. In this form, after a few minor changes, it was introduced into the senate by Hon. A. J. Greer, of Lake City, and is now before the senate on general orders. This is the law published in this number. Prof. Lugger has interested himself very much in this matter and has lately received letters from many prominent horticulturists and entomologisis of the country, all emphasizing very strongly the necessity of our state enacting and enforcing some drastic law if we are to escape the ravages of this justly dreaded pest. At the present time he is in Washington attending a convention called by the Ohio State Horticultural Society, reference to which has been already made in the “Secretary’s Corner,” for the purpose of considering this very question and formulating suitable national and uniform state legislation. The professor represents both our society and the State Experiment Station at this meeting, and we may expect an interesting report of the result of their pro- ceedings. The passage of this law is of so much importance to the fruit growing interests of our state, that members of our society and all others interested are urged to correspond with their representatives in the legislature and call their attention specially to it. The law proposed is probably somewhat crude and imperfect, as it would be likely to be in dealing with an entirely new situationin an untried field, but experience will soon show the changes required to make it thoroughly effective in operation. = Ae il is . . THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST. VOL. 25. APRIL, 1897. NO. In N{emoriam. MARTIN W. COOK. ROCHESTER, MINN. Died March 6, 1897, aged 70 years. Martin W. Cook was born November 5, 1826 at Rawdon, Canada. A few years later his parents moved to New York state and from thence to Grand Rapids, Mich. Here he spent his youth and young manhood—marrying Miss Mary Barnes of that place September 28, 1847, and settling on a farm near the city. After the death of Mrs. Cook in 1856, he came to Minnesota settling at his late home, Roch- ester. In 1859 at that place he was married to Mary E. Benedict, who survives him. For a number of years he engaged in the dairy business in Roch- ester, but early in the sixty’s started the Rochester Nursery in con- nection with the late P. A. Jewell. After five years, Mr. Jewell with- drew and went to Lake City, Mr. Cook continuing the old business. Mr. Cook leaves five children, viz: Fayette L. Cook, of Spearfish, S. D.; Mrs M. T. Bascomb, of Pleasant Grove; and Mrs. W. S. Elkins, E. F. Cook and Miss Bessie M. Cook of Rochester. One son,Clarence, died a number of years ago. 134 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. A local paper in speaking of his death says: “In the death of Martin W. Cook, this city has lost an upright citizenand one held in high esteem by all with whom he had been associated inany way. Even those unacquainted with him have unconsciously felt the influence which a good man exerts in acommunity, and in this way are moved by his death.” Mr. Cook first became a member of this society twenty years ago. He has not been a regular attendant at its gatherings, but his sympathies were always with us in a very hearty and practical way, and no favor was ever asked of him for the so- ciety or for any of its kindred interests that he did not make haste to grant most willingly. Others in our organization have known him better than the writer, who remembers meeting him on only one occasion, but with one whose generous and kindly soul showed through the face as did his, there was no mistaking the fibre of the man within. What higher tribute can we pay to the departed than to say that ‘‘a good man has gone home,” whose virtues we may well strive to emulate. (SEC’y). When the announcement comes to us that a friend has passed away, naturally the best thoughts come to us of the departed, and how fortunate it is if there is nothing tomar the memory— and thus it is with the demise of our friend, Martin W. Cook. For thirty years he has been to us the warm hearted, generous, hospitable, constant friend that has made the lives of all around him better for his living. Our first thought of him in the years to come will be of his genial smile illumined by a most kindly eye, and our next will be of the expression they found in the soft speech that was al- ways a pleasure to listen to. His life has been that of a representative horticulturist of Minnesota. More practical than theoretical, retiring and mod- est as to his abilities, but intensely thorough in doing well all that he undertook, heroic and persistent in overcoming ob- stacles to success in growing fruit in Minnesota. The lessons he has left us will prove invaluable not only to the individual fruit grower but in the general advancement and development of our state. J. M. UNDERWOOD. ee. Se 9 eae ") aes Fae iy ey \ RESIDENCE OF THE LATE MARTIN W. COOK, IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF ROCHESTER, MINN. TAKEN AT BERRY PICKING TIME. 136 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. THE CAMPBELL METHOD OF OVERCOMING DROUTH. A REVOLUTION IN FARMING IN THE SEMI-ARID STATES. (Extract from an article by J. Herbert Quick in the Salt Lake Herald.) With an annual precipitation of not far from twenty inches of water, crops ought to be successfully grown every year unless the water is used up in some way aside from the growth of plants. An inch of water weighs in excess of 100 tons an acre, and twenty inches more than 2,000 tons. A’ growing plant does not need, during its period of growth, more than 300 times its dry weight. Itis a very good crop, indeed, which, dried, weighs more than thirty tons to the acre. Therefore, 900 tons ought to be enough for the actual use of any crop. The reader sees, as Mr. Campbell saw, that even after growing a good crop, 1,100 tons of water ought to be left over, un- less somehow the water had slipped away and played truant. In the spring the “ semi-arid belt” blossoms as the rose under the influence of the vernal rains; but June, July and August bring hot winds which lick up the moisture, sap the vitals of the growing plant and cause the evil effects of drouth. How to carry crops over this period was the problem to which he addressed himself. The Campbell method is a reform in tillage. It rests on three foundation stones—deep plowing, sub-surface packing, frequent shallow surface cultivation. The objects of these operations are to form an ample reservoir in the root-bed for moisture, to promote capillary attraction, to draw up moisture from beneath and to pre- vent the escape of moisture by evaporation from the surface. The prairie soils have lain for centuries in the same position, and are filled with channels washed out by the downward flowing rains which prevent the lateral movement of moisture by capillar- ity. This old structure is broken up by deep plowing—not sub- soiling, the ordinary plowing from seven to nine inches deep. But any sort of plowing leaves cavities in the ground. The furrow slice is loosened up as it turns,and some treatment is necessary to give the soil that homogeneous firmness necessary to the retention ofa large quantity of moisture. Mr. Campbell tried the roller. It would not do. It packed the surface, but unless enormously heavy, it left the bottom cavities unaffected. So he invented a sub-surface pack- ing, the one new thing he has given to agriculture. Heinventeda tool which firmly packs the sub-surfaces and leaves the upper four inches loose. He gives his audiences directions for doing this work with the ordinary tools of the farm, but, no doubt, special tools will always be used where large fields are to be economically packed. This packing is done only once a year and costs only 20 cents per acre for labor. The ground is subjected to frequent shallow cultivation to pre- vent the evaporation of moisture. Every farmer knows that a layer of straw overa garden bed will keep the ground beneath moist. Mulching around the roots of trees does the same thing. Thisis done by checking evaporation. Almost every farmer knows that =e oop ee hae ia at A eee a rey P Adee’ - THE CAMPBELL METHOD OF OVERCOMING DROUTH. 137 his corn is enabled to stand the dry weather longer if frequently cultivated or hoed. The blanket of dust, or loose dry earth, keeps the moisture from coming to the surface where the winds can suck it up. The Campbell method requires the cultivation to be done with some fine-toothed cultivator or harrow set to run not more than two inches deep, and to be repeated once in from five to seven days throughout the growing season. Should the season be hot or dry, the stirring of this dust mulch must be pushed more vigor- ously. This cultivation is not a very expensive operation, as one man with ateam is able to cultivate from 20 to 30 acres of wheat, oats, corn or any other crop per day. Two-row and three-row culti- vators are used in corn, and cultivators 12 feet wide in small grain. The entire cost per acre for labor in excess of the cost of the old method, including the sub-surface packing, amounted, on the Soldiers’ Home farm at Lisbon, N. D., in 1896, to 97 cents per acre, a large part of which was offset by saving of seed in the fields of small grain. All the work was in this case paid for in cash and exact accounts kept. The yield was estimated to be double that by the old method on all crops. Some astounding figures are given as to the results of this method. It has never failed to bring a crop when fairly tried. No field tilled according to its rules has ever suffered from drought. Last July the writer visited the North Dakota fields and found by digging that in the Campbell fields, from the surface down as far as the spade would reach, the ground was wet enough for the making of mud balls, while in other fields, as soon as the spade went below the effects of a recent shower, the soil was dry as dust. In 1894 test tubes of dirt were taken from a Campbell field at Hast- ings, Neb., and from adjoining fields, and sent to the department of agriculture at Washington for analysis. In that July only one- sixteenth of an inch of rainfall occurred on these fields. The aver- age percentage of moisture in the ‘upper 12 inches of soil during this month was, in the Campbeli fields about 18 per cent,in the other fields about 8 per cent. The observations were taken at 6 o’clock every evening and furnished a most striking proof of the efficacy of this method of conserving moisture. Eighteen per cent of moisture is enough to insure rapid and flourishing growth; 8 per cent is, to all appearances, absolutely dry. In 1896 about a dozen model farms were operated by the North- ern Pacific and the Soo Line railway, in North Dakota. The results were such as to impel these roads to prepare for more farms next year, and the Northern Pacific has made an offer of premiums for the best fields tilled by this method by farmers of sixteen coun- ties in North Dakota. For cold storage of fruits, ice is not used, the building being so constructed as to use air by opening the building to cool outside air nights, and closing during the day. Cold storage is used only to bridge over the keeping of fruits for a time and to thereby exclude frost. The price per barrel on apples will be increased from fifty cents to $1.50 each season, and the advanced price more than pays forthe buildingseach year. The marketing season could be extended from October to June. 1388 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. OUR NATIVE ELMS. (A Correction.) LYCURGUS R. MOYER, MONTEVIDEO. Through inadvertence an error was made in the list of elms pub- lished in the January number of the HORTICULTURIST. The cork, or rock, elm and the slippery elm should have been listed as en- tirely distinct trees. Our white elm (Ulmus Americana) is known to every one. It flourishes throughout the state except where the soil is very dry. Where there is plenty of moisture, it is the finest of American shade trees. The slippery elm (Ulmus pubescens) is frequently called red elm in Minnesota and in other states. It is native to deep rich woods, and the boys know it for its mucilaginous bark. The slippery elm is a fine tree to introduce into a wooded border, as its large leaves give it almost a tropical appearance. Then we have the cork elm (Ulmus racemosa). This tree has received a variety of common names, such as rock elm, hickory elm, white elm, Thomas elm, northern cork-barked elm, cork-bark elm, northern cork elm, wahoo, cliff elm and corky whiteelm. It was first described by Thomas in 1831. It does not seem to bea very common tree in Minnesota. When Prof. MacMillan published his “Metaspermae of the Minnesota Valley” in 1892, the only specimen in the University Herbarium had been sent in by the writer from Montevideo. On referring to Upham’s “Flora of Minnesota,” one finds that Leiberg had collected it in Blue Earth county, that Prof. Aiten reported it from Nicollet county, that Juni found it common at New Ulm and that Garrison reported it from the upper Missis- sippi. At Montevideo the cork elm appears to be common where ledges of granitic rocks extend through timbered land. It is frequently found, too, in rich woods where the land is high and roiling. It does not seem to grow on low bottom land, where the common white elm flourishes. As found here, the trees do not seem to attain a very great size. The cork wings on the branches give the tree a very peculiar appearance. The cork elm appears to be better adapted to cultivation on high, dry, rolling ground than either of the other elms. We look upon it as one of the most promising trees in our plantations. ROSES IN WINDOW GARDENS.—To have healthy roses in the house the plants should be washed and syringed frequently, and they must have plenty of light and sun. They have to be watered when- ever the soil becomes dry. Then they should have enough water to saturate the entire ball of soil, but not so much that the water stands around their roots in the saucers beneath them, which is a rule to be observed with all house plants except aquatics. Fading flowers have to be removed at once. Straggling branches should be cut off. Few plants bear pruning better than the rose. Keepa constant look-out for insects. PREPARATION OF SOIL FOR PLANTING STRAWBERRIES, 139 PREPARATION OF SOIL FOR PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. J. A. SAMPSON, EXCELSIOR. Strawberries are a luscious fruit, Which in growing we sometimes fail, And do not be discouraged If like me you oft must wail. After having tried to grow strawberries for the last ten or fifteen years, I find that I have much to learn yet, but will give the best advice I can as to preparing the ground for planting. Strawberries need good moist, medium rich and mellow land, as free from weeds as possible. Be sure that the ground is not wet and sticky when you plow it; then plow deep and have a subsoil plow follow the surface plow to loosen the ground as deep as you can, so as to hold moisture, for time of need. As soonas possible after plowing drag and smooth the ground, and you are ready to put on the line and goto planting. Mr. Clarance Wedge: I would like to ask Mr. Sampson if he has given the subsoil pretty thorough preparation? Mr. J. A. Sampson: J have given that matter considerable study, but I have not put it into practice because I have not been prepared to followit up I have seen it demonstrated thoroughly, so that I.am convinced that that is the way to irrigate strawberries. I might say I know a party who has a little patch of strawberries that are grown in what used to be a sink hole, but he filled it up and grew strawberries on that land year after year where others failed. Pres. Underwood: Would it make any difference about the soil whether it was subsoiled or not? Mr. J. A. Sampson: Yes, where there is clay sub-soil you get more benefit than where the soil is sandy. The sand will loosen up the soil, and it will maintain its looseness. Pres. Underwood: Would you think it necessary to subsoil a light and sandy soil the same as a clay soil? Mr. J. A. Sampson: Icannot say that it would be necessary in sandy clay, unless there was a hard subsoil. Sand will loosen the soil to some extent, but not sufficient to give it the required looseness. Pres. Underwood: Years ago we got subsoil plows for our land at Lake City, and used subsoil plows in all our work, but in later years we have discarded them, and I do not think our soil needs to be subsoiled. That is the reason I bring out that point that subsoiling is necessary on some soils and not on others. There is another thing I would like to have 140 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. brought out. I know of one of the largest’ growers of straw- berries in the state who gave a great deal of time and labor to preparation of the soil, so much so that he failed to get any strawberries. I want to know if any here have prepared their soil so well that they did not get any strawberries? Mrs. Annie Bonniwell: I tried that. Our ground is very rich and loose, so much so that anywhere you can kick it up with your feet just like ashes, and it is a foot deep in many places. I thought that was not good enough, so I took a lot of fine manure, may be three tons to the acre, and I thought I was going to have a grand strawberry bed. I set out my plants and they grew and covered the ground, but I never saw a strawberry. I asked a good many why I did not get any berries, and they told me I had made my ground too rich—and they have never fruited. I took up my plants and set them further away and put ashes in; I fertilized them with ashes, and there I gathered the fruit, sometimes two or three hund- red quarts in a morning. Where I had the soil better prepared, I got nothing. Mr. C. L. Smith: That is the point; they used wood ashes on this other land. My experience is that I have never found anything in the way of a fertilizer for strawberries that is equal to wood ashes; no matter what the soil is, wood ashes is the best thing you can put on your strawberry bed. You should put it between the rows, sow the ashes in between the row. Ihave done that, and it was a grand discovery. Ido not know whether any one else has tried it; scatter them right in the middle of the row. Mr. A. H. Brackett: I would like to emphasize Mr. Smith’s idea about putting on ashes. I have my men go out with cans gathering up ashes, and I put them on my strawberry beds. Mrs. Annie Bonniwell: I keep my teams at work hauling ashes, and I have drawn a good many loads of ashes on all my fruit, apples, raspberries and all other kinds. Where Isow ashes, I get the best crop. Pres. Underwood: Is your soil a black loam with a clay sub- soil? . Mrs. Bonniwell: Yes, it is a clay subsoil. Pres. Underwood: What amount of ashes do you put on? Mrs. Bonniwell: I have two or three acres in fruit, and I put on four or five tons. When I do not need the ashes in the garden, I put them in the grain field. PREPARATION OF SOIL FOR PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. 141 Mr. Perry: When should those ashes be spread on the strawberry beds? Mr. Bonniwell: Early in the spring. Pres. Underwood: Do you use unleached or leached ashes? Mrs. Bonniwell: Sometimes they are leached and some- times they are unleached. Pres. Underwood: Isuppose you prefer to have them un- leached ? Mrs. Bonniwell: Yes, I prefer them unleached; of course, they get leached on the ground. Mr. Danforth: Father has been in the habit of putting about a pint of ashes at each plant about a week or two after setting out the plants. I think heretofore great injury has been done to the strawberry crop by puttihg on too much manure. Mrs. Bonniwell: Ashes are good for currant bushes too. Mrs. Kennedy: Mrs. Bonniwell will beat any one in our part of the country farming. ‘That is one thing in favor of the aShes. (Laughter). Dr. M. M. Frisselle: I can testify to Mrs. Bonniwell’s good farm- ing. She has a good farm and good land. I wish to emphasize her idea in regard to the use of ashes. I think, of all the fertilizers we are able to secure nothing is better than wood ashes, unleached at that, and when my friend, Mr. Busse, spoke of new land produ- cing the best strawberries I thought it could be explained by the fact that new land possesses more potash than land that has borne crops. That is really the cause, that new land contains more potash, and he gets a good crop. I think another point that should be brought out, and probably will be, is that we need moisture; we cannot raise strawberries very well without moisture. We cannot get fruit, even if the blossoms have set fruit, unless we have pienty of moisture. For that reason I think a cool north slope for plant- ing the strawberry bed is the best, because it is less likely to dry out, and I subscribe to Mr. Pearce’s idea that a good place for the strawberry bed is where the snow lies all the winter and where the wind does not blow off the mulch and dry out the soil. I think any land that will raise a good corp of corn will raise a good crop of strawberries, and, as I said before, I think the best fertilizer is wood ashes. I secure all the wood ashesIcan find. I[ have about ten loads of wood ashes piled up now ready to put on. Mr. Smith: I would like to have Mr. Kellogg tell us something about new land for strawberries. Mr. G. J. Kellogg: Gentlemen, I had twenty-one acres of new forest land that had never been planted since Adam was there. After clearing one and three-fourths acres of it, I planted nineteen varieties of strawberries after the first breaking. The next year was a very fine strawberry year, and those nineteen varieties were not worth a cent, while across the street land that had been worked 142 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. twenty-five years gave me 210 bushels to the acre. You can prove anything in horticulture. (Laughter). Mrs. Bonniwell: [ picked several hundred quarts off of a quarter of an acre, Mr. H. F. Busse: I would like to ask Mr. Kellogg if the timber land was the same kind of land as that across the road? Mr. Kellogg: Yes, sir. I would say that we plowed in leached ashes by the load, and we found very little benefit in using leached ashes; unleached ashes should be used. Pres. Underwood: I think I have told you of a little experience I am familiar with that happened to Mr. Martin Cook, of Rochester. He is a good cultivator, does things well, a man who cannot bear to do a thing unless he does it well. He prepared five acres of ground in the best possible way, as he thought, for growing strawberries. My wife and I were at his place when he told me about his experi- ence. Being very conveniently situated for obtaining manure at Rochester, he put on lots of it. I think his land isa sandy loam and, I presume likely, a clay subsoil. I think there is gravel in the soil. Mr. J. S. Harris: Gravel and sand. Pres. Underwood: He putona great many loads of manure to the acre and fitted that land up in such shape that he had the finest five acre patch for a strawberry bed he ever prepared. In another patch across the road he had three acres all grown up to grass and weeds, and he started a man in to plow it up. There were strawberry plants running around among the weeds, but he did not like to see so many weeds so he started to plow it up, but after the man had plowed a quarter of a day he stopped him. The result of that sea- son’s crop was that on the five acres he did not get anything, while on the old patch that was grown up with weeds he got a good crop, about all the crop he had that year. We were trying to bring out between us the proper way to prepare the ground, and his experi- ence demonstrated clearly to his mind that he had put on too much manure, and [am of the opinion that the condition of that new soil Mr. Kellogg speaks of was similar to that of Martin Cook’s after he gotit prepared. New soil is different in locations. There are different kinds of new soil as well as different kinds of old soil, and in growing strawberries it is the condition of the soil, the kind of soil we must take into consideration, whether new or old. Mr. Kellogg: This piece I planted, this new land, was full of little roots and big roots, and the leaf mold had been accumulating for a thousand years to my own knowledge. (Laughter and applause). Mr.Wyman Elliot: Are youabrother of Methusalah? (Laughter). I have been listening to this discussion with a great deal of pleas- ure. I believe that is the proper idea in preparing the soil, as Mr. Sampson states. I want to relate a little experience I had some twenty odd years ago. I had some prairie soil that had been crop- ped with wheat, corn, vegetables, etc., for ten or fifteen years. It was prairie soil, what you would call a light, sandy loam, with hard-pan under it, the yellow, sandy hard-pan andclay. The soil was about ten or twelve inches deep, and then you came on to this yellow hard- PREPARATION OF SOIL FOR PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. 143 pan. I prepared about a half acre, plowed it as deepas I could, and ran one of those subsoilers after it, breaking up the soil about eighteen inches deep. I had manured the ground at about the rate of thirty loads to the acre, old, well pulverized manure. I set out the Wilson strawberry and gave it the same cultivation that I gave other strawberry beds since then, but I have never raised or grown a bed of strawberries that yielded as that did. I never prepared a piece of ground specially since, but whether it was the subsoiling, the manure, the season, or what it was I cannot tell, but I know I got the bestcrop of strawberries from that piece of ground I ever ' raised. Mr. F. W. Kimball: I want to ask Mr. Elliot if it was a dry season when he had that experience. I would like to ask Mr. Kellogg what the condition of the season was in the experience he speaksof. Mr. Cook had applied a great deal of manure which tended to loosen the soil and made it liable to dry outif the season was anything but a wet one. Mr. Kellogg: The season was very favorable, but I attribute the failure to the fact that the ground was so loose thatthe plants could not take hold. There was so much of that humus and leaf mold present that Icould not tame it down until about five crops were taken off, then it made a good strawberry patch. Pres. Underwood: I have no doubt that was the cause of the failure on Mr. Cook’s place. Mr. Smith: Would it not be well to sum upin this way, that the soil be manured only heavy enough so the soil will pack and not be- come too loose. On this same soil Mr. Elliot speaks of, I put about twenty loads of manure to the acre, and it did well, but right along- side of that where I put one hundred loads of manure to the acre I gota splendid growth of vines but did not get any berries. I got the ground too loose. I think we should not put on too much manure so as to make the ground too loose and light so that the plant cannot become rooted. I think this must have been the trouble with Mr. Cook’s land. EARLY PICKING OF APPLES.—Nature always indicates the right time to gather her fruits, and in apples that is when the stem of the fruit will cleave from the branch where it has grown without break- ing. If stems adhere and break, the fruit will not be good, but will wilt if picked, for it is not sufficiently matured. The best keeping quality is obtained by picking apples as early as possible. The fin- est flavor is obtained by allowing them to reach the fullest maturity on the tree. In holding apples, put them in tight barrels or boxes and keep in the coolest place that can be provided. Ventilation is not wise. The entire exclusion of air will give the smallest percent- age of loss from decay.—Geo. T. Powell. 144 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. TOP-WORKING—PURPOSE, METHODS AND RESULTS. J. P. ANDREWS, FARIBAULT, MINN. One purpose of top-working is to secure earlier fruiting than we could get from root grafting, which is often very desirable with seedling apples and other new varieties. Another is to multiply scions and buds more rapidly for propagating new and scarce var- ieties and for converting worthless, unproductive trees into choice productive ones. But in this climate the principal purpose of top- working is to secure fruit of some of the more desirable varieties that are too tender to grow as root-grafted trees. Of our half-hardy trees, the bodies and large limbs are the first to suffer damage, and by the use of a hardy stock like the Virginia crab. whose limbs come out at right angles and form very strong forks and trunk, we can successfully top-work these limbs with many choice varieties that would be entirely too tender in body and forks to withstand our severe climate as root-grafted trees. The methods employed in top working are grafting and budding, and the more common one is by grafting, which should be done ia early spring. There are several different styles of grafting, but for small limbs up to three-quarters of an inch in diameter, whip or tongue graft- ing is probably best and in general use and for larger limbs cleft- grafting is employed. In whip-grafting take the limbs off a short distance from the body of the tree by a smooth, even, sloping cut from one to one anda half inches long, and in the middle of this cut a slit or tongue is made; then a scion three or four inches long is cut obliquely downward, making the same kind of cut and tongue as was made on the limb of the tree. They are then neatly fitted together; so the tongue of one is under the other and the inner barks of both are in perfect contact, at least on one side. Then the whole splice is covered with grafting wax, to protect the cut surfaces from drying or excessive wet. Where cleft-grafting is to be done, the large limb is sawed off, the stump made smooth with a sharp knife and split down about an inch or so, the scion smoothly cut at the lower end in shape of a wedge with one edge slightly thicker than the other and a bud sit- uated on the thick edge at the shoulder. This scion isinserted into the split with the thick edge outward, so that the inner barks of stock and scion are closely matched. The splice must be well pro- tected with wax. Where large limbs are to be changed, we can cut them back and make them throw out new growth, and the next year either: whip- graft or bud these new limbs and make a smoother and better job than to cleft-graft such large limbs. It is hardly advisable to top- work large Transcendents, because they blight so badly, but there are many old trees of other varieties that would be greatly improved by top-working with choice varieties. PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. 145 PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. A. M. SHEPHERD, MINNEAPOLIS. Plant strawberries liberally, for they belong distinctively to us of a northern climate, and,if planted properly, we may reasonably look for an abundant crop and enjoy without stint, according to a northern bard, ‘a dish of luscious strawberries smothered in cream.” The soil being thoroughly prepared, asin foregoing paper, our secretary has given us no difficult task. On our soil,a light black loam, we use a line and dibble. Forthe matted row system, plant- in the rows four feet apart and the plants one foot apart in the row for staminates (except perhaps Bederwood and Michaei’s Early); and from one and one-half to two feet for all pistillates (including Be- derwood and Michael’s Early). Wedinsist on not exposing the roots to the wind or sun, and to carry the plants use a milk pan partly full of water (preferably muddy), placing plants in the pan so that the roots will be covered with water and the foliage out; over all placing a damp cloth or gunny sack. Each planter has his pan and dibble, makes the hole and sets the plant at one going over the ground. Never drop the plants ahead of the planter. We believe the great points in successful planting are: first, thorough preparation of the soil; second, keeping the roots from the wind and the sun; third, thoroughly firming about the plants. The mechanical form of planting we believe secondary to any of these. We have tried many ways of planting and find those set with the dibble do equally as well as those set by methods requiring much more time. If you haven’t a dibble handy, use the spade much as you do the dibble. Insert in soil and press forward, place the plant in the opening with the roots spread, withdraw the spade and firm. Light soils require especial attention to firming. If ex- tra large and choice fruit is required, plant in rows two feet apart and one to one and one-half in the row, keeping in hills. It is un- doubtedly an advantage to plant in the evening,a cloudy day or just before or after a rain. After conforming with foregoing spe- cial points, however, we set at once without waiting for any condi- tion of weather. We do not believe in artificial watering, unless it can be kept up and copiously, when great benefit results. Mr. J. A.Sampson: [I have tried the dibble and I have also tried planting by hand. Where I have planted with the dibble I have had nearly one-half of the plants die, and where I have planted by hand I have not lost more than one plant in fifty. Thus where the ground is marked and thoroughly prepared, in planting by hand, at the place where I want to set the plant, I draw the earth towards me with the hand and then take a plant and set it in and then shove the earth right back again and give it a little pressure, and it will be almost sure to grow; whereas, in planting with the dibble you pry the ground open, put your plant in, and then set the dibble on one side and push the earth ! | val bea! wie ws iad Le P 3 ws 146 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY against the plant, but after you close up the hole there is left a vacancy at the root of the plant, so that the roots lie in an open space and, consequently, do not do so well. Mr. C. L. Smith: Iam surprised to hear Mr. Sampson say that. For more than fifteen years we have emphasized the fact that the dirt should be firmed about the plant the full length of the root. Ifthe dibble is shoved down the second time to the same depth as it was the first time, the hole should be filled full and the plant firmly set its fulllength. Ilike Mr. Shepherd’s suggestion about the spade. It makes a wide hole, and if your plant has many roots it will give you.a chance to spread them out. In regard to the point Mr. Sampson brings out about a hole being left at the bottom, the spade should be set back after putting in the plant and shoved as low the sec- ond time as it was the first; it will make the plant firm the whole length of the root, and the whole length of the plant will be filled up against solid. : Mr. C. W. Sampson: That is the only way we can get a good healthy growth. Mr.M. Pearce: I think there is a good deal in setting out straw- berry plants. In the first place, you must recollect what kind they are in putting them out; if they are strong growers, they must be put further apart. For a number of years, I have used the spadeal- together in setting out plants. My ground is prepared level, smooth and nice. There is a line drawn across, and I put out my plants not less than two feet apart in the row and sometimes three; I think three is about right with Crescent and Warfield. I use a spade, and a man follows right on with the plants, and I cover with the spade again. My plants are made up into bunches of fifty each, and then one man takes a spade and makes a hole, and another man puts the plant in, and the spade is set back of the plant and the dirt pressed over, and we go on in that way very rapidly. There is no way of planting so quickly as with the spade. When we come to cultivate, we go in with our hoes and draw the dirt out away from the plants, and this leaves the plants two inches below the surface, and you would think they would be buried; but after the dirt is pulled away the plant is two inches lower than the middle of the row. My plants are always kept a little lower than the middle of the row. They stand the drouth better. Just as soon as they commence running about, those runners are put in between and they are rooted; every one is rooted about six inches apart. I think that is near enough. They all make good roots, and in three weeks I can not tell the new plants from the old ones. I go over those plants, and after I have them arranged in that matted row everything that comes out after that I cut off; and I think if you go to work androot your plants, and see that they are well rooted the fore part of the season, you will have no difficulty in getting strawberries. PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. 147 Pres. Underwood: Mr. Gardner, if I were to ship youone hundred strawberry plants, and you were to receive them on a hot, dry day, will you please tell us how you would go to work to set them out, how you would fit them for planting,and how you would plant them. This is on the supposition that Mr. Gardner is a farmer and I were to ship him a hundred plants, and we want to know what he would do under the conditions named. Mr. C. F. Gardner (Iowa): If I should receive the plants in a dry time, one hundred strawberry plants, I should take them as soon as I could get my hands on them into the cellar, open them and put some wet moss on the roots, and along towards night, about four or five o’clock, perhaps later, I should take them to the ground that I had already prepared before I ordered them, and plant them out, and if there were no signs of rain I should have some—well, if I were a farmer, I do not know of anything better than a wisp of hay, a little handful, as big as I could graspin my hand,I should put a handful over each plant at the least, and letit remain there until it rained. I should keep that straw or hay there until it rained or they were watered by hand. I seldom water plants by hand, and until it rained, if I wanted to make a sure, certain thing to make every one of those plants grow, every night before dark I would take an iron rake and lift the hay off from those vines and rake the ground care- fully just as close to the plant as possible, and the whole ground that was occupied, rake it over very carefully every night, and after they had commenced running I should continue that raking, or something equal to it, immediately after every rain, as soon as the the ground had dried enough. Pres. Underwood: That point will come up under cultivation; we will take that up a little later. Mr. C. L. Smith: Mr. Gardner did not say how he would plant them. Mr. Gardner: Roots down andtopsup. (Laughter). Mr. Dewain Cook: I would like to know what he would do if there were five thousand instead of one hundred. Mr. Gardner: Ina dry time I should be very sorry that I ordered them. Pres. Underwood: I would like to answer that question. I would put them in a cellar and keep them there until it rained. You can keep them for a month as well asa minute. Mr. Kellogg: Would it notbe better to loosen them first? Pres. Underwood: Yes, it would be betterin my estimation. Iam surprised that some of you do not take some of those tops off. I be- lieve there are more strawberries killed by not taking the tops off than in any cther way, and if I were buying strawberries and the tops were taken off before shipping I should think they were worth more. This gentleman who wants to know about planting five thousand plants, I would say they are planting now with machin- ery, but I think the dibble or spade are better. Mr. Gardner: In this “suppose” we have been speaking about, I would suppose the tops to have been removed before the plants were shipped. 148 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mrs. E. B. Crooker: I havea different way of planting strawberries, away of my own. I think the plan is original with myself, as it has not been brought out here. I have the plants in water, the same as has been spoken of, muddy water. I take a trowel and make holes as far as I can reach; then I put in the plant and press it firmly with the trowel, and then I have some water in a vessel opposite to me from which I fill the place where I have set my plant nearly full of water, and then put the dirt right over it, and I have no trouble in making them grow. I believe I could set one thousand a day my- self, but I did set eight hundred a day and did my work and had a rest of two hours. Sec’y Latham: Did you do a washing that day? (Laughter). Mrs.Crooker. No, I did not do a washing, but I did my housework. Mr.Smith: I hada variety that I wanted to save all I could of, so I dug up the plants, trimmed off all of the leaves and about one- third of the length of the roots, and I took some flat boxes, putting in about a halfinch of dirt on the side of the shallow boxes, and laid a row of plants along so they would nearly touch each other, and then put on some soil, and then some more plants until I had the boxes filled. I then set them on the cellar bottom, and they stood there ten days until they had begun to grow a little, then I put them in a pan of water and set them out, and I did not lose a plant out of three thousand. The ground was all ready at the time, but I am satisfied that if the leaves were off and the roots trimmed and the plants put on the cellar bottom for a time they would be more likely to grow than they would be if planted the same day they are received. Mr. G.I. Kellogg: The president spoke of machine planters. We are cursed with tobacco growing in our country, and we have used the tobacco planter for planting strawberries. If the soil is in proper condition, they will plant as fast as the team will walk, but if the season is dry they are not good for anything. THE MEXICAN STRAWBERRY.—We are now cultivating about 300 kinds of strawberries, and out of alarge collection we give the prefer- ance to the Mexican strawberry, as the greatest yielder that we have ever tested; also, it is our largest berry, being considerably larger than the Marshall. In flavor, it is first class, but not superior to sev- eral other sorts. The plants attain a height of from 14 to 18 inches, with large, beautiful, dark green leaves; the blossom is large and perfect-flowering. A strange peculiarity of this plant is that it yields heavier and better crops at three and four years of age than it does at two years. A single plant of the Mexican strawberry will yield three boxes of fruit when it is three years of age. In September and October here we always get a big second crop from the Mexican strawberry. The young plants when set out always give a good picking the first season.—S. L. Watkins, Grizzly Flats, Cal., in Canadian Horticult- urist. AN IMPROVED PLAN OF ORCHARDING. 149 AN IMPROVED PLAN OF ORCHARDING. C. G. PATTEN, CHARLES CITY, IOWA. To the grower of the large fruits the subject of orcharding is without doubt an important one, but after listening to and reading the writings of thoughtful and practical men, I have not heretofore thought that I could add anything of real value to the subject; within a year or two, however, partly through chance in my work and partly by observation, it appears to me that I have acquired some new ideas that will tend to promote the cause for which we labor. My plan isas follows: Plant the orchard in blocks, three rows in a block, rows twelve feet apart, and trees fourteen feet apart in the row; plant so that the trees in the outside rows will stand opposite the spaces on the inside row. They will then stand practically fourteen feet apart, and each tree will afford shade and protection to othertrees. I would, however, where there is no protection on the south or where not convenient or desirable to plant a grove, begin by planting the first three trees in the outside rows eight feet apart and two trees on the inside row, so as to form a wind- break to the block as early as it could be done, closing the block on the north end by planting two rows across the block eight feet apart. This plan will put on a plat of land eighteen rods long by nine rods wide, two rods over an acre, 144 trees, or eight trees more than can be planted on an acre sixteen by twenty feet apart, and has many advantages over trees so planted. Upon this plat of land two blocks can be planted occupying only three rods of land, leav- ing six rods to be cultivated in some hoed crop. By this plan the best of air drainage is afforded through the wide spaces, fifty feet, between the blocks, and the chances of blight considerably lessened. Thick planting in the manner stated soon makes every tree pro- tect other trees from the hot suns of summer and early spring, pre- vents the fruit from being blown so readily from the trees, catches the snow and holds it better than in the old way of planting and gives better protection against the fierce, drying winter winds. It gets more trees on anacre and saves more than half of the land for other crops. Thecultivation of the spaces between the blocks pre- vents the drying out of the soil immediately adjoining the or- chard, which is so essential in seasons of drought; it affords an opportunity for growing clover, a most valuable fertilizer, just where it is needed and at the season when it is needed most; it per- mits its easy application in a perfectly green stage, when it will soonest decay and return its abundant plant food to the soil, and at the same time it will serve as a mulch to prevent the evaporation of moisture that is so much needed for the perfect development of the growing fruit. Where only a small orchard is desired, when the rows become so large that they can no longer be cultivated, barnyard manure can be readily applied; but when the orchard is on a large scale, it will be seen ata glance that clover is the best and most practical fertilizer that can be had. When it becomes necessary to spray the orchard, it affords the best opportunity to 150 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. use the sled or wagon sprayer. It also affords a better chance for gathering and hauling the fruit. There is still another reason why this system is superior to the old one. Many times the remark is made when the subject of plant- ing a new orchard is being considered, “I have no other good place for an orchard,” and this is often true. In some places there is no other good site on the farm, or if there is another good location itis so far away from the buildings, or it is so situated in other respects, that it cannot be used. But you will readily see in the “improved plan” that this difficulty is entirely obviated, for the wide spaces that have been cultivated to hoed crops or sown to clover furnish an excellent place for planting the new orchard, and the old one will give protection to the new while it is getting started and also fur- nish fruit for the family or market while the new orchard is coming into bearing; then the old one can be removed, and the land renov- ated and renewed by the rotation of crops, and in due time become again the site for a new orchard. Considered from any point of view,it is so superior to the old method of planting orchards that it should be immediately adopted; as it will without doubt add from twenty-five to forty per cent over the old way to all of the new orchards so planted throughout the entire portion of the north and west wherever clover can be grown. Mr. E. H. S. Dartt: I can tell my friend Philips and the nurserymen over in Wisconsin something that I think will change their minds in regard to this matter of girdling. This contemplates the planting of trees very closely in the orchard, and instead of selling one hundred trees to set out an acre of orchard, he will sell perhaps five hundred, so you see it will be money in his pocket. (Laughter). Mr. J. S. Harris: They will die off so quick he can replace them every year. (Laughter). Mr. H. M. Dunlap. (Illinois): What is the average life of an orchard such as this where he recommends close planting, and I would also like to know if this society recommends close planting? Mr. C. G. Patten: I would say about twenty-five years would be the limit of an orchard under cultivation with the varieties we have here to plant. The Duchess would probably live for thirty or forty years, and trees of like hardihood, I think, would do as well. Mr. Wm. Somerville: I have trees of Duchess that were set out in 1862, and they were set out in the form described. The limbs are getting so interwoven that the sun can hardly get through. Mr. Dunlap: How far apart are they? AN IMPROVED PLAN OF ORCHARDING. 151 Mr. Somerville: They were set eighteen feet apart and then the joints were broken, and they are so close together now that the sun hardly ever gets through the foliage to the ground ex- cept in some places. You remember it was in 1862 that those trees were set out, and they are very large now, and the limbs are interworked to such a degree that the sun can hardly get through. Mr. Harris: A good many years agoI took some stock in the State Horticultural Society, and there was an idea sprung here that close planting was just the thing. I bought some Duchess and other trees of my friend Jewett and set them out on that plan. They were planted from fifteen to eighteen feet apart, and for a while they bore first rate, but for five or ten years past they have not averaged their first cost, and a few days ago I told the boys to cut them down and saw them up into stove wood. I have one Duchess that stood twenty-four or twenty-five rods away from the others, and for the last four years it has borne more and better fruit than all the rest; and I believe if a man wants to have a good orchard and plenty of fruit he had better set his trees far enough apart in the first place. If aman would plant trees a little further apart than Mr. Patten recommended I think it would be a paying thing. Mr. Dartt: I think friend Harris is just a little bit off as usual. The trees should be a good deal closer together and then girdled. (Laughter). Mr. Dunlap: If any one in Illinois should endeavor to follow the recommendations as laid down in the paper just read, we would have a commission appointed to inquire into his sanity. (Laughter). We would think the nurseryman who would make such a recommendation now was undertaking to sell trees by misrepresentation and endeavoring to get the confidence of people in order to sell his nursery stock. I think the condi- tions here are different. We think we must plant trees far enough apart so as to have sufficient room for cultivation and allow the trees room enough for growth, and we do not do as our friend on the left here does, have the ground entirely shaded by the trees and no chance to pick the fruit. We have trees that were planted in 1860 when this close planting was in vogue, and it is almost impossible to reach the fruit with a twenty-four foot ladder, and the lower limbs are all dead, and the fruit is just beyond reach. We consider that the man who sets his trees 30x30 or 33 feet apart is the most sen- 152 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. sible man. I suppose from what I hear that it is different up here in Minnesota: that a man is expected to set his trees half that distance apart and then expects to cut them out when the proper time arrives, but I think a man who follows that idea is a victim of misplaced confidence. If he promises him- self that, he is like a politician before election. I speak from experience along this line. I have been through the mill. Mr. J. P. Andrews: Politically speaking? (Laughter). Mr. Dunlap: No. Now, a man says to himself that those trees are very thrifty and he will leave them for one more crop; and he does this year after year, and when he does cut them out the trees that are left are damaged more than if he had left them all. I am planting my orchards thirty-three feet apart and the trees thirty feet apart in the row, according to ’ the growth of the tree—some trees require more space than others; and instead of cultivating under the tree I cultivate around the tree. and how this gentleman cultivates crops among those trees is more than I can see. Mr. Patten: What is the average life of any orchard planted and treated in that way? Mr. Dunlap: I live in the central portion of the state, and the place I live on— Mr. Patten: Iam not asking about that. I am asking what is the profitable life of an orchard? Mr. Dunlap: The profitable life of an orchard, if the trees are set far enough apart so trees can live their natural lives, ’ would depend altogether upon the variety. Such trees as the Duchess can be forty years old and still be profitable, but we usually consider twenty to twenty-five years the profitable life of an orchard, but such an one as Mr. Patten recommends planting would not exceed a limit of more than ten to fifteen years. Mr. Patten: I want to ask Mr. Dunlap if he has ever seen an orchard planted in that way in Illinois? Mr. Dunlap: I have, on my own place; the trees were planted ten feet apart in the row and the rows sixteen feet apart, that is pretty nearly the same distance you recommend plant- ing. We went in there when the trees were ten years old and cut out every other one, leaving them 16x 20, and we have gone in since then and cut out every other tree, but I have al- ways done ita little too late to be of service to the other trees. Mr. Patten: I want to say that I think I can offset the lack AN IMPROVED PLAN OF ORCHARDING. 153 of sanity on my part by the gentleman’s lack of growth on his part. He is simply advocating the plan of planting an orchard that was in vogue fifty to one hundred years ago, and we in this country have learned that we cannot successfully use that wide system of planting in the colder sections of the country in the west and north-west, and we have alse learned that the system of planting he advocates is not practicable. Every man knows that if he plants an orchard of any extent, plants it over an area of five, six or ten acres, he knows that in the course of fifteen years he has no time to cut out any part of that orchard. He cannot cultivate it successfully; he cannot go through the orchard to pick his fruit, and it is not profitable in any manner to plant in that way, and we all know here that cultivation in some form is absolutely essential to orcharding. I concede that the method of planting I have presented to you is entirely different from any system [ have ever seen used, and it affords an opportunity to give that cultivation which is so necessary to the successful growth of an orchard, and the cultivation can be carried on with trees twelve feet apart. For a number of years that orchard can be kept clean, and when we can no longer cul- tivate between the rows, and have kept that space thoroughly cultivated and thoroughly enriched, that strip of trees can be irrigated with success. The gentleman has said that twenty- five years is the extent of the life of a profitable orchard in Illinois, and we can in this country grow on that strip of land from twenty-five to fifty per cent more fruit on the same land, and on half the land in twenty years than we can under the old system of orcharding. Mr. Dunlap: How high would you trim? Mr. Patten: From two and one-half to three feet. I would state for the benefit of your society that this method of plant- ing an orchard was suggested to my mind by my experience as a nurseryman in growing trees by having a block of trees left standing; it was suggested to my mind in the first place in this manner, and, as before stated, any one can see at a glance that when the trees come to bear and it becomes necessary to ferti- lize, that there is the best opportunity to drive along on east side of that strip a rod wide, and the driver can throw the man- ure to the center of that orchard with very little work. I would say that on a strip of less than half an acre in extent planted in this way I obtained 175 bushels of apples. Of course, the trees were too thick, and I have an orchard 16 x 20 feet apart, 154 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. — and they will soon be too thick so I cannot get into that orchard to do anything. Mr. Dartt: The average life of the Duchess in this state is not so long as represented. I planted trees 10x 20 feet and took good care of that orchard, and the trees died out fast enough so a big part of that orchard was never crowded. I think close planting is better than very wide planting. TOP-WORKING VS. SEEDLINGS. READ AT THE RECENT MEETING OF THE SOUTH MINNESOTA HORTI- CULTURAL SOCIETY, AT ALBERT LEA, BY EDSON GAYLORD, OF NORA SPRINGS, IOWA. My object in taking up the investigation of this subject is to help advance the cause of horticulture, and while this investigation may reveal nothing new to our fraternity, it may add some small gleam of light to aid those who are anxious to know the truth but have not time to investigate. First, I have little confidence in any seedling or Russian variety that has come to us since 1885,and I have no more confidence in any single individual tree that may have passed ’85 comparatively uninjured. We have single trees now scattered all over our north- west that came out all right, even among our half-hardy kinds. Further than this, we have a number of whole orchards that passed ’85 with scarce any injury, one at Clear Lake, one at Cedar Falls. Then, what good reason have we to trust any seedling because it escaped serious injury in’85? In these times when so much is said urging everybody to plant seed all the time and everywhere, I have thought it not out of place to give a few notes of warning to those who cannot take the time necessary to investigate. The conditions necessary to success along this line of work are more difficult than may at first imagine. Charles Downing, our greatest and most reliable American author said, “Our fruits when reared from seed always show a tendency to return to a wilder form, and it is only by chance that a new seedling is equal to or surpasses its parent. Raising new varieties is always slow and most uncertain. The new beginner, after much planting of choice seed finds the results of his efforts too much of a lottery, with far too many blanks,” to which he further adds, “ He therefore wisely resorts to the more.certain mode of grafting from the well known and esteemed sorts.” It appears all fruits and flowers have a tendency to show improve-’ ment while under high culture, but under neglect they have a stronger tendency to return to a natural or wild state. Dr. Lindley says, “If our annual garden plants were left abandoned a few years, they would all soon disappear and be replaced by a few original wild forms.” Downing adds, “ When we desire to raise new varieties of fruit, the common practice is to select seed from the finest table fruits. In doing this the chances are generally a hundred to one ie) £8 : 3 ® & la a ; TOP-WORKING VS. SEEDLINGS. 155 against obtaining any variety of great excellence.’ Van Moons says, ‘The tendency of all our fruit seeds is to return to a wild state, more so in seed gathered from oldtrees. The older the tree, the more sure will be the tendency to return to a wild state. The chances are much better if the seeds are taken from a young, thrifty seedling. Seed from old seedlings or from grafted fruit should be rejected.” If Downing saw the necessity of urging such caution to those not thoroughly versed as to the uncertainty of securing any- thing valuable from planting seed in one of the most favored locali- ties, how much more should we urge caution as to our chances of success here in this much more uncongenial climate? This warn- ing was given long before he could have had any real knowledge from any experience here in the northwest, even before an apple tree had been set, to say nothing of their being tested here where hardiness forms the chief requisite to success. There, no efforts were found necessary to secure hardiness; Here, the efforts in this line tower high above all else, making the chances for success ten to one against those on the banks of the Hudson, where the chief purpose was to secure quality. Here, we must secure hardiness, or all our efforts are failures. We have hoped and still continue to, that a surer plan may be brought out by our wise pomologists, viz., by properly crossing choice varieties with their pollen when in blossom. But the lack of pedigreed pollen on either side bids fair to make this plan of work much more difficult and uncertain than it was first thought. Theories often give us fime pictures in the near future that practice fails to demonstrate. Judging the future by the past, what have we to encourage us by growing seedlings? Let us briefly investigate by running over the history of our new seedlings. Every new seedling from Springer’s down has been grown under unusually favorable conditions and surroundings, except the Wealthy. This has come up through adverse conditions and has been contending for an existence in our uncongenial climate over one-fourth of a century. Suffice to say this has itsserious faults. We are told by the friends of these varieties that they have stood the most severe tests without serious injury. I would not attempt to deny that some of these seedlings can show at least one single specimen that has passed the winter of 1885 without serious injury. But on the other hand I hold myself ready to show single speci- mens of nearly all our old and half hardy kinds, that are as old, as large and as sound as any of the seedlings. You may ask why these few trees have survived and outlived so many of theirkin. I answer simply from the facts, that these individual seedlings that have outlived their kin have had more favorable conditions and surroundings. In this we see the key that unlocks much of the mystery that has so long befogged the real condition of our seed- lings. It has always been a wonder to all horticulturists in the northwest why so many seedlings here endured our severe changes, while those root-grafted from the same stock and removed to other grounds so often fail. I attribute this to the simple fact that these original trees have been grown under much more favorable condi- f va buds. ry ir te | eee ee ee J ‘ a ig Oe He oy Piha 156 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. tions than those taken from them. Had any of these original seed- lings been started in almost any place else than where they have been found, they too would have gone up long years ago and now been without a friend to recall their memories. Such is the power of location that I am confident I can select a location in various places over the northwest where with proper care can be grown nearly every variety ever attempted to be grown here. Then isit anything strange, that in this vast territory and among the millions of new seedings there should be here and there one seedling, that to the common observer would appear to be worthy of the propagation. These occasional successes prove nothing unless we know their real conditions and surroundings. To illustrate, let me add one more suggestion. Take two trees, one hardy, one half-hardy; set the hardy one on the south side of a high board fence and the half- hardy on the north side. The hardy tree will perish in nine cases out of ten, while the half-hardy one will live on and flourish. In this you see the great difference caused simply by one inch of space, or a board fence. Give these noted seedlings the same show, sur- round them with the same environments that a great majority of orchards have, and they will be just as liable to fail as are our Wealthy or Plumb Cider trees. ‘ These and similar facts have been thoroughly proved not only on my own grounds but in a multitude of cases all over the northwest. Now what of the Russians? The time was when we needed them, and those who do not intend top-working in the north of Iowa and in Minnesota will need at least half a dozen varieties of the best Russians; those who do intend top-working need none but Hibernal and Duchess. These two varieties will be largely in demand, both on their own stems and for top-working. Time will sift out and consign to oblivion not only the greater share of the Russians but nearly, if not all, our present seedlings, except such as may be re- tained by top-working. This is just as sure as that electricity will take the place of kerosene. Lest any should think we have made more assertions than the facts will warrant, I will state a few demonstrated facts which I hold myself pledged to show to the full satisfaction of any fair minded person who will call on me and in- vestigate the accumulated evidences now to be seen in our neigh- borhood. Seeing is believing. If interested, come and see and know every tree and every variety to which I have or may refer. We have nearly two hundred varieties, all choice top-worked kinds, but the great majority of these are in much the same conditions in which are nearly all our applauded seedlings; they have come to us since ’85; if older, they have been grown under unusually favorable conditions. So far asI have been able to learn there is not the first seedling man that can show more than the one single original tree that had ever borne an apple before ’86. If there are such trees in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, I challenge my seedling friends to show them to be now in good condition. It is a wide and well-known fact that one tree coming through a severe winter proves nothing. Then I again ask, where are our seedlings that are worthy of propagation? Echo answers where. We would not trust the first one, except they were top-worked on extremely hardy stock. TOP-WORKING VS. SEEDLINGS. 157 We need the Duchess and Hibernal, and perhaps others that testing may bring out as desirable for stock trees, on which to grow our choice varieties. Many long years of experience and extensive observation have convinced me thoroughly that our best results will come from using a good vigorous standard tree for top- working. For quick returns and uncertain results, I would top- work on crabs and hybrids (if I had them), but should advise much caution in purchasing either, especially the former, except for some special purpose. For evidence to further demonstrate our success in top-working,I will note a few facts and tests made by friend Heiss and myself in ourimmediate vicinity; 6 Wealthy on Duchess, 26 years set; Fall Orange, three trees; Conn. Seek-no-Further, one; Jonathan, one; Grimes Golden, one; Northwest Greening, one; Willow Twig, two; Minkler, one; Walbridge, three; Rawlin’s Jannet, one; Ben Davis, three; Wolf River, one. The above were all top- worked seventeen or twenty years ago, except the Northwest Green- ing and Wolf River, which were set thirteen years ago, and two St. Lawrence set seventeen years. The above are now all as sound as any Duchess set out on their own stems at the same time, except the Minkler and Willow Twig. These were set on crab stock seven- teen years ago, and have recently gone out, root and top, but these bore before ’84 well and since (over ten years). I think they died of exhaustion. In conclusion let me add that hadI only presented to you but one single tree or but one variety, and this one having been grown in ' some unusually favored location, then I might have thought to have been on equal grounds with my seedling friends. But I have not only shown a larger variety, I have shown you what is of more far reaching importance: viz: that these have been tested, not only bearing before but since ’85, not only by one or two single vari- eties but on a large number of trees, and a good number of well known tender varieties. And what is by far more significant in point of real proof is the fact that most of these evidences referred to are on trees grown miles apart and under different conditions, soils and surroundings, and on third and fourth rate sites; none reaching higher than grade number three, and the majority of all mentioned here running as low orlower than number three. While our noted seedlings, so far as lam able to ascertain, are on sites that drop no lower than grade number two, not lower than two and one- half, on a scale ofone to seven. When we fully weigh the advant- ages to be derived from these most favorable environments that now surround our most noted seedlings, we cannot but see a marked contrast that now places top-working so much in the lead. As we leave this subject, let me drop a thought or two for reflect- ing minds to pick up and consider. ‘The Duchess is, without doubt, the mother of all or nearly all of our now most noted seedlings. This lacks much in quality and keeping and is not perfect in tree as we hope to find. On the maternal side we have nothing above half- hardy varieties. Now, what can we expect in mating or crossing such, especially so when we consider the fact that all our apple trees, except our natives, have been crossed and re-crossed and crossed again for the last three thousand years, in every conceive- 158 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. able way, making them one homogeneous compound that no man living could separate by any known science sufficiently to form any definite idea as to their origin or make up. While we can most easily dispense with any and all of our native seedlings, we can illy afford to give up a few of our iron-clad Russians, which we now have made to be our most obedient to distribute our choice varieties over the northwest. If our new seedlings so much boomed and sold at extravagent prices are only a trifle more than half-hardy, who can show us a base from which we can work with any assurance of success in the near future? If there is a person present, now is an opportune moment to take the floor and give us light. For my part, the more I investigate the less confidence I have in reaching success in the near future by seedling production. If we ever reach per- fection in hardiness with our native apples and suit them to the northwest, it will come through three distinct lines of work: first, by judicious crossing; second, by the most intent cultivation; third, by the long and tedious route of growing seed, first along the north line of successful apple growing, and by planting each successive generation a few miles farther north. But why continue this long and tedious work when we have presented you a plan to reach success by fifty years sooner than the one now persisted in by our seedling friends? Our plan can be reached in three years: and so direct and plain that every child may follow it successfully. These choice, tender varieties we have here on exhibition should be prima facie evidence, grown as they have been so near you and on sites that grade no higherthan No.3 (ona scale from one to seven). Bearing in mind every one of these varieties by their sides went out in ’85 on their own stems, while those top-worked bore both before and since and are as sound today as the Duchess are stand- ing by their sides, set at the same time and cared for by the same hands. [At the recent meeting of the South Minnesota Horticultural Society, at Albert Lea, I had the pleasure of examining exhibits of choice apples grown by Edson Gaylord and Edwin R. Heiss, of Nora Springs, Iowa. The display was especially interesting from the fact that the varieties shown were nearly all quite tender, and, as stated by Mr. Gaylord, they were all grown top-worked on hardy stock and under different conditions and miles apart, the varieties most tender as wellas most superior in quality on sites not specially favored. The following kinds were shown: Fall Orange, Seek-no-Further Grime’s Golden, Jonathan, Minkler, Willow Twig, Ben Davis, Rawlin’s Jannet, Wrightman’s Russett, N. W. Greenings, Benton Co. Seedling. SEC’y]. The Germans prune all fruit trees except the peach in order to check wood-growth. One-third of the season’s growth is clipped with the pruning shears between buds. The circulation of sap is slower, the tree is forming buds for next year’s growth. This causes a stronger flow of sap, which is distributed to the remaining buds, which are strengthened and sometimes changed to fruit buds. na “ry FLOWER CULTURE AMONG THE CHILDREN. 159 FLOWER CULTURE AMONG THE CHILDREN. MRS. MILDRED M. BARNARD, CHAIRMAN FLOWER COMMITTEE, MINNEAPOLIS WOMEN’S IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE. From time immemorial poets have sung of communion with na- ture and its uplifting, spiritual helpfulness. Philosophers, espe- cially psycologists, have acknowledged the debt which human na- ture, of whatever race or religion, owes to this instinctive love of the beautiful. The tales of travellers, the presence of the blooming plants in pictures depicting scenes from domestic life in foreign lands, suggest that to many in the humbler walks of life the love of flowers is a part of the love of home; a part, too, which many try to retain after they have left the dear fatherland or mother country, but which in too many cases is crowded out by a few year’s residence in our busy cities, depriving the next generation of an influence whose potency for good needs only to be named to be acknowledged. It is not strange, then, that from time to time within the pages of our periodicals notices appear of the efforts of associations of various kinds to create in our American people a more general in- terest in the culture of flowers. We all admit that through the silent beauty of a perfect flower a refining influence may be intro- duced into the most humble home. It only remains to find the will and the way. To those who are searching in this direction the ex- perience of others along the same line is of more than passing local interest. Five years ago this coming spring of 1897, our Minneapolis [m- provement League adopted the method of distribution of flower seeds among. the children of the public schools. The thought was suggested by Mrs. T. B. Walker, president of the Woman’s Council. We have never heard of the same method having been pursued else- where, consequently our work has been of necessity experimental. Notwithstanding the many difficulties arising from the inexperience of all concerned, the results have proved so satisfactory, the benefit to our city and our children so great, that we look upon the experi- ment as an assured success and worthy of a trial in any city. Under the judicious management of Mrs. D. F. Simpson, chairman of the flower committee, and with the hearty co-operation of Prof. Marion L. Sanford, president of the league, the work was begun in 1893 in two schools differing as widely as possible in location, in na- tionality and social condition of pupils and in natural conditions in the way of soil and water supply. In each school the experiment proved a complete success. Greater development of muscle and powers of endurance on the one hand offsetting the advantages in richer soil and city water supply on the other. Social or worldly condition as a factor in the success or failure of the pupil proved to be of no consequence whatever. The most genuine comradship ex- isted and has continued to exist. By giving to all alike, the child of poverty is not humiliated by the thought that he is an object of charity; nor is the child of wealth puffed up because of an opposite impression. All alike are loyal citizens helping to beautify their city, and a value is attached to the “schoo! seeds” which belongs to 160 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. no other seeds, however choice. In many cases, too, the flower — work has proved to be the long desired link between the school and the home, most helpful to all concerned. The growth of the work has been gradual,as befits our northern latitude. In 1894,twenty-eight schools were supplied with seeds, representing 4,416 children; in 1895, 7,105 children, in thirty-three schools; in 1896, 8,500 children, in thirty-four schools. These figures represent, not tbe total number of pupils in these schools, but the number who really wanted the flowers badly enough to work for them, promising to cultivate their gardens themselves. Eight thousand five hundred is nota large percentage of the pupils en- rolled in our public schools, which,claim a total of nearly 40,000; but even so the amount of work accomplished by over 8,000 little gar- deners, most of them enthusiastic in their efforts toward the im- provement of nearly as many homes, means a great deal to a city and still more to its children. Long before the seeds are ready for distribution or the season far enough advanced to safely entrust them to the children, these expectant little gardeners are busy with their preparations, carrying in their arms rich earth long distances and spending hours and sometimes weeks in the construction of elaborate designs in the formation of flower beds, of fences when chickens are at large or of window or roof gardens when they are not so fortunate as to have a door-yard. As a means of determining results and of keeping in touch with the children, the league offers prizes in the form of framed pictures to hang on the school-room walls. These prizes are awarded with- out competition to any school-room showing a certain percentage of successful gardens. Fifty-two such prizes were awarded by the league in 1896. They are carefully selected reproductions of cele- brated works of art, which are of aesthetic as well as educational value to the schools, thus serving adoublepurpose. When the seeds are distributed in the spring, the children are told to whom they are to report their gardens, if they are successful. (Remember we have nothing to do with failures—an individual failure one year often means complete success the next). The gardens have then to be examined by members of the league or their representatives, who are often teachers inthe schools. This is the most interesting part of the work; the most indifferent worker can be converted into an enthusiast by sending her upon such an expedition. To see the children in their homes, to hear from the parents what the flowers are doing for them is all the argument one needs to become con- vinced as far as the children are concerned that the movement is successful. Let us take such a tour. That it may be a thorough test, let us visit the children of a school where the principal and teachers have been too busy to give their attention and the children have been left to their own devices. With carefully arranged lists we start On our journey. All seems clear until we try to find some of these places; then the difficulty begins; every number except the one you are looking for becomes painfully conspicuous. At length some one seized with a fit of inspiration remarks, ‘“‘ Perhaps it is a side door or upstairs, or somewhere else.” This throws a flood of light aA er Pea Pee eee Sg ko Valea Gat FLOWER CULTURE AMONG THE CHILDREN. 161 on the situation, and we are on the point of following out the sug- gestion when we suddenly become conscious that the inhabitants for blocks around have become interested in our quest, and all re- member at once that Ole Oleson or Peter Peterson lives in the ell to an obscure building. Wehasten tothe place pointed out. Repeated raps are unanswered. The place seems deserted. We depart, but are suddenly recalled by a child with a face suspiciously clean and hair plastered to his poor little scalp, from which rivulets of damp- ness course their way downward over the freshly renovated victim. He answers to the required name and is soon joined by the other members of his devoted and admiring family, who gather in a ra- diant group about the little garden, and we listen to the history of its fortunesand misfortunes. ‘Its not the prizes [ think of,” says the patient overworked mother, “its doing something to make the world more beautiful and to make people happier. Before the chil- dren had these flowers, we were too poor to do anything for our friends; now if any one is sick we can send them flowers, and it does them good. A little baby died a few days ago; the father and mother are very poor; the children picked every blossom they had. You can see where they picked them.” At parting we are proud to clasp the hand of this patient sister, realizing in more senses than one the truth of those immortal words, ‘One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” The next name on our list is quickly located, but the place has an uncanny appearance; we insist upon having the protection of the entire party, and four people are forced to alight from the vehicle and approach the house, swearing fealty to one another; if the worst comes, at least we will die together. So we await developments, after having ventured to rap. Slowly the door opens, revealing a group who stare at us with horror and amazement. Like Cesario and Sir Andrew Aguecheek in the duel scene, we face each other in quaking suspense. The announcement of our errand is ans- wered by asmile of relief. The children loosen their convulsive grasp of their mother’s skirts, the door swings back, and we pass through the one room of the home to the little patch of garden, sur- rounded by its high board fence, to find here the most beautiful gar- den we have yet seen. 'The frightened mother forgets her self con- sciousness as she tells us how every morning the entire family gathers here by the light of the rising sun to read this chapter of revelation. Kach morning a new verse is added, and what an education it has been to them to watch this development in the handwriting of the Creator, as before their wondering eyes each tiny seed fulfills the law of its being. Thelittle ones gathering courage from their mother’s smile call us hither and thither to see their respective favorites; to tell us the story of certain plants which have a more marked individuality than others; to point out the forming fruit-cells and whisper their hopes for the future; to call our atten- tion to their wonderful discovery, “No two of their pansies are alike.” Were there ever such fragrant sweet peas,such large-mouthed, ferocious snap dragons? ‘See them open their mouths!” And the astors and verbenas and morning-glories, which could become such 162 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. beautiful dolls in lovely silk dresses, and a thousand and one de- lights, each leading to. innumerable other resources. Tearing ourselves away, we hasten on from house to house; up rickety flights of stairs to the tops of unsteady sheds to admire the contents of precious boxes or baskets; through by-ways to collec- tions of gardens where some kind hearted neighbor has gathered together the possessions of those whose homes are unfavorably situated. Here one boy points out his garden,a heart-shaped bed; another, a crescent; another, a star; while triangles, circles and all sorts of geometrical designs vie in splendor with the astronomical ventures. At some of the homes, the fathers come forth with their versions of the story. They tell us how the children came home from school with packets of flower seed, each explaining how abso- lutely incumbent upon him as head of the house to remove cer- tain ancient landmarks; how, having succeeded in clearing space enough for the planting of the seeds, like Dinahat “clarin’ up time,” he was forced to keep on until all was clean and orderly. Some of them are disposed to apologise for having so far departed from the traditional customs of their neighborhood, but they evidently enjoy the experiment and mean to give it further trial in future. But time is flying, and we must hurry on. The procession con- stantly increases as each child visited volunteers to act as escort to the next and having volunteered continues to serve to the end of the journey. Here comes the poor deaf grandma, so happy to see us—unable to speak a word of English; but we understand her,as with eyes and hands she tells the story of her wonderful grand-chil- dren and their almost equally wonderful gardens, pointing out the human and floral blossoms that go together; and the poor father, stricken with paralysis, who watches the flowers from morning un- til night; and Christine, the eldest of six, no taller than her tallest plant, she comes to meet us carrying in her arms the youngest of six, an infant almost as large as herself, and followed by the other four whom she takes care of while their mother earns their bread by washing. A bevy of large and industrious chickens, with curiosity depicted in every feature, gather near and are pointed out as ma- rauders of the deepest dye, who in league with neighboring dogs and the round-eyed infant alluded to, succeed at least once a day in uprooting Christine’s entire garden, which consists of six plants of as many varieties in a little garden whose boundary line marked with clam shells divides in circular form the sandy soil without from the sandy soil within. Despite all vexations, Christine loves her plants and would not be without them. One beautiful pansy blos- som, a tiny cluster of sweet alyssum and a spray of mignonette are her treasures, bright jewels set in the dreary routine of her young life. Then there is the miniature horticulturist who has eclipsed his associates in size of plants, economy of space, uniformity of color and originality of arrangement. Ina bed two feet in diameter, he has a tall and stately sunflower, a short and excessively stout mari- gold, an overgrown yellow “summer chrysanthemum,” all strug- gling to burst the bonds of the wire fence with which he has con- fined them. But this is not all. He points with pride to the two iy wie ee i As een sd oe or, rs ‘ ‘ Pie FLOWER CULTURE AMONG THE CHILDREN. 163 tall stalks of indian corn standing side by side on the edge of the enclosure, holding their golden treasures close as they proudly toss their topknots in the autumn breeze, rising in their useful majesty above the petty quarrels of their lowly associates. “Ts this the first corn you ever raised?” we ask. “Yes’m; but see what a lot I’ll raise next year.” In the shining eyes that look up to us, we see broad acres of grain fields stretching far into the future. Success to you and your hopes, little man. Of such material is the bone and sinew of our North Star state. Standing beside this little lad is a very small and very silent indi- vidual, whom one discovers to be the child we have long been searching for. Heisa brilliant example of a certain type of Min- neapolitan. The street given in the address sent us bears the name of one of the departed presidents of the United States. In our search we have found heroes of revolutionary interest, republicans and democrats of rival fame, represented on lamp post and else- where, but neither lamp post, directory nor other source of inform- ation can be found to furnish any clue in this case, so it is not strange that we have found the boy before finding his home, as he appears to be the sole possessor of the secret of his place of resi- dence. Following him along a winding foot path we reach a place on the open prairie where two houses face each other in antagon- istic attitude, as if ready fora fray. Thisis the street which bears the name of the lamented hero who has been until now neglected in this patriotic neighborhood. Leading us to his little garden, he shows us a flower bed containing but two varieties of plants, in color and arrangement so beautiful that for the moment we lose ourselves in the pure aesthetic impression, giving expression to. our feelings in exclamations of admiration. Only a few clusters of ex- quisite pink asters, surrounded by a wide border of sweet alyssum, but it is beautiful, and we do not hesitate to say so. Reluctantly leaving the pink asters, their owner acting as our guide, we cross over to the opposite house, wherea rough box con- taining a profusion of dark single petunias, some dark zinnias and other coarse flowers are pointed out by their owner, the little girl whose name is on our list. Not wishing to discourage the child,we remark that her plants look strong and vigorous; then bidding her good bye, take our leave. “Oh, but you ought to have heard what she said about my garden,” burst from the hitherto silent lips—a parting blast from a genuine Minneapolis trumpet which sends us home in reflective mood, resolved never again to express an “emo- tional bias” in our judgment of the merits of rival gardens. We are home again, and it only remains to add that in its work kind friends have helped the league with money, time and seed. They are even now holding up our hands. With the continuance of this support, and with the earnest co-operation of the officers and teachers of the public schools the greater sutcess of the movement is fully assured. In portions of the city where dirt and disorder prevailed, much has been done not only in a negative way by their removal but in a positive way by the substitution of objects of act- ual beauty. Hundreds of homes have been made cleaner, brighter, j Ppyee ae ‘ ; ' ‘ yh ‘7 164 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. purer and more worthy of the sacred name they bear; hundreds of children have been made better and happier, Our most extrava- gant hopes have been more than realized, and yet we are not satis- fied. Not until every child in Minneapolis who wants a garden has that want supplied shall we be satisfied in our local effort. But even now our ideal has advanced until it has passed the city limits and even the boundary line of the state, and we wish that in every part of our country this help might be offered; for we know from experience that ethical as well as aesthetic lessons of great value to the community willas surely grow out of those little packets of seed as will the pansies and sweet peas. Whenever the beautiful triumphs over the ugly in life, let us hope to find also the good and the true. We are all sowers of seeds, whether we know it or not. The work which has been described in this paper is something all can do. A little experience will prove how typical it is of the high- est form of human endeavor; how, while striving to sow good seeds in other lives, the seeds of love and sympathy are growing strong in the hearts of the sowers. The childrenare not the only ones who are learning lessons of helpfulness through the flower work of the Improvement League. PLANTING AN ORCHARD. J. A. HOWARD, HAMMOND. One way to succeed in planting an orchard is to plant good, strong, healthy trees; and the way to get them is to go to the nur- sery that grows the trees they sell,and do your own selecting, re- jecting any and all trees that are not strong and first-class and with plenty of good roots. The trees should be heeled in till ready to plant. I think the best time to plant in Wabasha county is from the first to the middle of April. When ready to plant, hitch the team to the trucks or stone boat with what barrels they will carry, part of them filled with water and the rest partly filled with fine top soil with water enough to make a porridge. Place the trees in the porridge as they are taken from where they are heeled in, drive along the rows of holes that have al- ready been dug—and they should be dug deep enough so the plow will not disturb the roots when cultivating. Trim all bruised roots, spread them out, work in some fine top soil about the roots, use a little water, incline the trees a little to the southwest, fill the hole within two inches of the top with fine top soil, well packed with the foot. Mulch as soon as possible to hold the moisture, and the job is done. : I set three hundred trees last spring, and every tree grew. I set five hundred in the same way two years ago, and they all grew but three,and [I have, 450 of them in bearing now, and have 3 picked from those trees in the last two years, from 800 to 900 bushels of apples. I canseeno reason why every one in southern Minnesota cannot raise more apples than they know what to do with if they only go at it in the right way. . a Te Peer MM PR CS ea ae Shard PL Sn ps a di Reale, THE ANTI-PEST CONVENTION. 165 THE ANTI-PEST CONVENTION. HELD IN WASHINGTON, D. C. MARCH 5, 1897. PROR. OTTO LUGGER, STATE AGRI. COLLEGE, ST. ANTHONY PARK. About ninety delegates were present, besides a number of others not exactly delegates or entitled as such to vote. The chairman, Mr. E. H. Cushman, called the meeting to order. In the beginning the most conflicting opinions were expressed, and it appeared as if order could not come outof sucha chaos. At lasta bill, drawn up by Dr. L. O. Howard, entomologist of the Agricultural Depart- ment, and based upon some laws passed against the introduction, etc., of diseased cattle, was utilized asa base of operation. Seven delegates were selected as a committee to draft a law; these dele- gates were selected in such a manner that all interests were repre- sented; that, is the fruit-growers and nurserymen were equally well represented. Care was also taken that the members of this commit- tee had had some experience with the San Jose scale. The chairman of this committee was Prof.Wm.E. Alwood, of Va.,and no better choice could have been made,as he had very conservative views about these things and had had also considerable experience with the scale, and best of all he had good tact. Under his guidance the conflict- ing ideas were mollified and modified, and after a long session— nearly twenty hours—the committee agreed upona bill and reported the same to the convention. In this convention, every paragraph of the proposed law was fully discussed, and the whole report was adopted with but slight modifications. The meeting wasa very successful and harmonious one. The above committee was made a permanent one, so that it could have the law put in legal form and introduce it. A small fee of $1.00 was collected from the delegates to pay fee expenses. Copies of the laws and a report of the proceedings will be printed and mailed to the various societies interested in such laws. The nurserymen, who were present in large numbers, acted with remarkable fairness, and all insisted that such a law was very im- portant and that it would cost but little to have it well enforced. The details of the execution had to be left largely with the secretary of agriculture, a very proper thing. (Prof. Lugger attended this convention as a representative of our society and the experiment station. This subject is of so much importance and so much interest is being taken in it at the present juncture in Minnesota that it seems wise to publish the proposed national law referred to above. Clauses relating to penalty are ex- cluded.—SEc’y.) BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED. SECTION 1. That the secretary of agriculture be and he is hereby authorized at the expense of the owner or owners to place and retain in quarantine all trees, plants, buds, cuttings, grafts,scions, nursery stock and fruits, imported into the United States at such ports as 166 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. he may designate for such purposes and under such conditions ashe may by regulation prescribe, and to appoint inspectors for the purpose of examining such trees, plants, buds, cuttings, grafts, scions, nursery stock and fruit for the purpose of ascertain- ing whether they are affected by any dangerously injurious insect or disease the importation of which would be prejudicial to the hor- ticultural interests of the United States, and to provide for the treat- ment of such when found necessary. SEc.2Z. That when such trees, plants, buds, cuttings, grafts, scions, nursery stock and fruit shall be determined to be infested with any dangerously injurious insect or disease, they shall be treated at the expense of the owner or owners in accordance with the regulations of the secretary of agriculture, or they shall be destroyed in case their condition is such as to warrant such destruction; but an ap- peal may be taken from the decision of the inspector to the secre- tary of agriculture if such appeal be taken within three days after such inspection, and the decision of the secretary of agriculture shall be final. SEc, 3. That when such inspection shall show that such trees, plants, buds, cuttings, grafts, scions, nursery stock and fruit are ap- parently free from dangerously injurious insects or diseases, a cer- tificate to this effect made in accordance with the regulations of the secretary of agriculture shall be issued to the owner or owners thereof by the said inspector, and this certificate shall operate to release all the objects above specified, when duly stamped or labelled with the same, from further quarantine or restriction, either at the said port of entry or in interstate commerce. SEc. 4. That whenever it shall appear to the secretary of agricul- ture that any foreign country shall have provided proper and com- petent inspection and treatment in accordance with the provisions of this act for the objects above specified as being subject to in- spection and treatment, he may, by proclamation or otherwise, accept such inspection and treatment in lieu of inspection pre- formed by officers appointed by himself, which acceptation or pro- clamation by the secretary of agriculture shall relieve all such articles specified in the foregoing sections of this act, when pro- perly stamped or labelled, from further quarantine or restrictions. SEc. 5, That the secretary of agriculture shall cause to be in- spected and properly treated, at the expense of the owner or owners, prior to their shipment all trees, plants, buds, cuttings, grafts, scions and nursery stock which are subjects of interstate com- merce and which are about to be transported from one state or territory or the District of Columbia into another state or territory or the District of Columbia. Src. 6. That the said examination shall be made in the manner provided for by the rules and regulations prescribed by the sec- retary of agriculture, and that after such examination the trees, plants, buds, cuttings, grafts, scions or nursery stock found to be apparently free from dangerously injurious insects or diseases shall be marked, stamped or labelled for identification, as may be provided for by said rules and regulations of the secretary of agri- THE ANTI-PEST CONVENTION. 167 culture, and when so stamped or labelled they shall not be subjected to further quarantine or restriction in interstate commerce. SEC. 7. Thatit shall be unlawful for any person, persons or cor- poration to transport from one state or territory or the District of Columbia into any other state or territory or the District of Columbia, or for any person, persons or corporation to deliver to any person, persons or corporation for transportation from one state or territory or the District of Columbia into any other state or territory or the District of Columbia, any trees, plants, buds, cut- tings, grafts, scions, or nursery stock, which have not been ex- amined in accordance with the provisions in sections 5 and 6 of this act or which on said examination have been declared by the in- spector to the dangerously infested with any injurious insects or diseases. SkEc. 8. That whenever it shall appear to the secretary of agricul- ture that any state, territory, corporation, firm or person shall have provided proper and competent inspection and treatment in accord- ance with the proper provisions of this act for the objects above specitied as being subject to inspection and treatment, he may by proclamation or otherwise accept such inspection and treatment in lieu of inspection performed by officers appointed by himself, which acceptation or proclamation by the said secretary or agricul- ture shall relieve all such articles specified in section 5,6 and 7 of this act, when properly stamped or labelled, from further quaran- tine er restriction in interstate commerce. WHAT OTHERS THINK OF TOP-WORKING. “T would sooner pay one dollar for one tree of Grimes’ Golden or Baldwin top-worked on the Virginia crab than to accept of one hundred of the best root-grafted American apple trees as a gift.”— R, P. Speers, Ia. Hort. Rep., 1895, P. 135, for years director of the lowa Agricultural College. “Top-working is the royal road to success.”—W. H. Gilford, Ia. Hort. Rept., 1896. One of the best and most venerable horticultur- ists now in the northwest. “Top-working will carry our choice half-hardy varieties 300 miles farther north than by any other present known process.’—J. C. Plumb, Milton, Wis. The oldest nurseryman now living in the northwest. : “From my practical experience during the past forty years in northern Iowa, I deem top-working (when properly done)a sure suc- cess. It will aid usin growing our most desirable apples as much as 25 per cent.”—Edwin R. Heisz, Iowa. One of the oldest and most reliable and intelligent orchardists of the northwest. Your orner. GRAFTING SEEDLINGS.—‘Will graft over 100 new seedlings, so that next season I will have 1,000 grafted varieties on trial.” Owatonna, Feb. 26, 1897. By HS) DARTT: QUESTION.—“Referring to the fruit list for 1897, I would like to ask which kinds of pistillate strawberries should be planted with the staminates in order to get the best results? I suppose the kinds ought to blossom together.” A. H. ROSEBOOM. Rosemary Farm, March 18, 1897. ANSWER.—The Bederwood is the safest pollenizer to use for the Crescent, and does very well for the earliest bloom of the Warfield, but we think the Lovett is more reliable for the whole season. The Lovett and Enhance are the best for the Haverland. Do not think the Capt. Jack and Wilson were recommended so much because of their value as pollenizers of other varieties as for the fact that they generally self-pollenize and bring a fair crop of fruit. Bederwood and Crescent; Bederwood, Enhance and Haverland, and alternate the pollenizers, is the way I should plant to get the best results. J. S. HARRIS, La Crescent. A PLEA FOR THE HONEY BEE.—“I have found every number of the “Horticulturist” the past year very interesting, and after reading them have given them to some neighbors, accompanied with a note to read and then give to another. “IT wish to emphasize some statements made by John Turnbull in his article on apiculture in the December number, by giving my ex- perience. I came to this county, Stevens, in the fall of 1880. I found the soil rich and productive, and I made preparations for planting fruit trees, shrubs and seed of the vines. I had no trouble in rais- ing fruit from the garden, such as currants, gooseberries:and the like, but the fruit of the vines, squash, pumpkin and melon, were a total failure. I tried three years with the same result, and on in- quiry I found they were a general failure in the county. In conversa- tion with an old man I was telling him of my disappointment in not being able to grow my favorite fruits of the vine—I had squash and pumpkin vines thirty or forty feet long and no fruitonthem. He told me if I would get a swarm of honey bees I would have no more trouble of this kind. But thecountry was sparingly settled, treeless, and nothing but wild flowers for bees to work on, and I thought bees could not live here. I knew that bees would fertilize fruit, but I had never given the subject muchthought. After considering the subject, I resorted to artificial fertilizing with good success, so much so that my exhibits at the county fair were a surprise and the admiration of all. I followed this method for three years. YOUR CORNER. 169 About this time, a man near me got a colony of bees and was very successful with them, so I bought a colony, and I have never failed of having a good crop of fruit from my vines since, and besides having a good crop of squash, pumpkins and the like, I have never failed of having a good yield of honey. “The honey bee industry is no new thing for me, as I have either y kept bees or had charge of an apiary for nearly fifty years. Itis not 4 every one that can handle bees, but I think every farmer that can ‘ handle them ought to keep a few colonies, for they are very benefi- : - cial as fertilizers of fruit, and honey is one of the most healthful i‘ and delicious sweets that we have. I cannot agree with Mr. Turn- te bull as to the outlook not being encouraging. Stevens county is a cz treeless country, and we have long, severe winters, yet the bee in- a dustry is on the increase. That there are failures I do not deny, but 4 when we investigate, we often find the cause of failure in the man i. instead of in the country. I am somewhat posted in the bee in- industry in this country, and I see there are failures in other states as well as Minnesota. Bee-keeping may not be a paying business if we only figure the amount of honey produced; so we might say that stock raising is not a paying business if we estimate only what we get from the dairy; but when we estimate the value of stock as fer- y tilizers of the farm, we see they are of great value. The same is true j of the honey bee when we estimate the great benefit they are to the garden and orchards. I think the bee industry ought to be en- couraged.” Keeville, Minn. S. B. SMITH. GROWTH OF OUR LIBRARY. A. W. LATHAM. Forty’ volumes have been added to our shelves since the last list was published. One hundred nineteen volumes in all were added during the year 1896. The following are the unpublished additions: Ontario Experimental Farms, Annual Report. 1895. Be Mass. Horticultural Society, Annual Report, 1893, Part IT. Mass. Horticultural Society, Annual Report, 1894, Part I. Mass. Horticultural Society, Annual Report, 1894. Part II. Mass Horticultural Society, Annual Report, 1895. Part I. Mass. Horticulturai Society, Annual Report, 1896, Part II. ( Rk. I. Agri. Exp. Station, Annual Report, 1895. The New Horticulture. by H. M. Stringfellow. Maine Board of Agri., Annual Report, 1863. Maine Pomological Society, Annual Report, 1895. Ontario Farmers’ Institute, Annual Report, 1895-6. Br Vermont Exp. Station, Annual Report, 1895. Household Insects, U.S. Dept. of Agri., 1896. Colorado Board of Agri., Annual Report, 1896. Minn. State Agri. Society, Annual Report, 1896. Georgia State Hort. Society, Annual Report, 1896. ; Minn. State Exp. Station, Annual Report, 1895. Vegetable Gardening, by Prof. S. B. Green. Minn. Forest Tree Planter’s Manuel, 1894. Minn. Forest Tree Planter’s Manuel, 1896. Cali. State Board of Hort.. Biennial Report, 1895-6. N.C. Agri. Exp. Station Report, 1895. Minn. State Exp. Station, Annual Report, 1893. t Minn. State Exp. Station, Annual Report, 1894. Forest Trees of North America, Tenth Census, U. S.and portfolio of charts. Ind. State Hort. Society, Annual Report, 1896. ; Bibliography of American Economic Entomology, U.S. Dept. of Agri., 1896. Nova Scotia Fruit Grower’s Assn. Annual Report, 1895. Nova Scotia Fruit Grower’s Assn. Annual Report, 1896. Nomenclature of Arborescent Flora of U. S., Dept. of Agri. 1897. British Columbia Hort. Society and Fruit Growers’ Assn., Annual Report, 1594. British Columbia Hort. Society and Fruit Growers’ Assn., Annual Report, 1895, British Columbia Hort. Society and Fruit Growers’ Assn., Annual Report, 1895-6. Minn. State Agri. Society, Annual Report, 1895. Minn. State Agri. Society, Annual Report, 1896. Division of Entomology of Minn., Annual Report, 1895. Wisc, State Hort. Society, Annual Report, 1895-6. * Gee ee eel ba a ss te aes BT _ Decretary’s ( Yorner. STILL A Boy.—Our old fellow member, Truman M. Smith, al- though over seventy, still speaks of himself as “a boy.’ We rejoice in his good health in his California home. THE MEMBERSHIP ROLL FOR 1897.—A ticket issued today, March 27, numbered 444, shows a membership of eighty nine more than a year ago at the same date. Are’nt there some of your neighbors who ought to be on ourroll? Try then. WISCONSIN SOCIETY REPORT FOR 1895-6.—This report has just been received and a limited number are held for distribution to our mem- bers on receipt of eight cents postage. Itis paper bound, 279 pages, and full of good things for the horticulturist. COMMEND MINNESOTA FORESTRY LEGISLATION.—At its late meet- ing the American Forestry Association took occasion to speak in a very commendatory way of the Minnesota law for prevention of forest fires and of the movement to establish a forest reserve. Others take nearly as much interest in these efforts as we do ourselves. ILLNESS OF L. M. ForD.—Our old friend and life member, we are sorry to learn, is suffering from a light stroke of paralysis. It will be remembered that Mrs. Ford passed away last year from this same disease. He is assured of our sympathy in this personal affliction, and of our hope that in spite of his “three score years and ten” he may long be spared. TWENTY-FIVE CENTS WILL Buy IT.—Information is at hand that the work on Nomenclature of American Trees referred to in secre- tary’s corner in the March number, can be had by sending twenty- five cents in postal order (our uncle: doesn’t take either stamps or check) to Supt. of Documents, Union Building, Washington, D. C. If interested in the subject, the investment will be found a profitable one. THE FORESTRY LEGISLATION.—Both the forestry bills, the one making the annual appropriation for the forestry association and the other creating a ‘‘ forest reserve area,’ have passed the house by good majorities, the latter especially so, having only six opposing votes, and are now on the calendar in the senate. We hope to see them both enacted, but there are hundreds of bills pressing for at- tention alongside, and the session is rapidly drawing to a close. Hon. H.G. Hicks, of Minneapolis, was their special champion in the house and deserves our warmest thanks for his zeal in this service. SECRETARY’S CORNER. WA PREMIUMS ON FRUIT AT THE STATE FPAIR.—The exact figures are not.at hand, but the revised list for the current year shows an in- crease of about $100. on fruit and some $40. on flowers. There will be separate lists of single plates of apples for amateurs and profes- sionals, and most of the other suggestions offered looking to the im- provement of the list have been carried out, at Jeast as far as could be done within the limits of the amount allowed this department. The new rules require stricter compliance with necessary regu- lations to make the exhibit a more thorough success. They will probably be published in full in the next number. ARBOR DAy, APRIL 30, 1897.—Prof. W. W. Pendergast, State Supt. of Public Instruction, has issued a circular calling attention to this now generally observed holiday and suggesting methods of in- creasing its helpfulness. There are other places than school grounds, however, where the results of an observance of this anniversary may be made to appear, though the most pleasing and improving feature of this occasion is without doubt the interest aroused in the chil- drenin the planting and adornment of the school grounds. Butwe can all help celebrate and ought to by planting somewhere at least one anniversary tree on Arbor Day. LOCAL FRUIT GROWER’S ASSOCIATION.—The card of the ‘Crescent Fruit Grower’s Association,” lies before the writer, with the name of W.S. Widmoyer, one of our well known members, as its secretary. There are some forty fruit growers connected with this organization, and through this agency they supply themselves with berry box material and sell their fruit, the secretary doing easily at slight ex- pense what otherwise must be done by each grower separately in the disposal of his crop, to say nothing of the saving in prices to them in every direction on account of the largeness of the deal. - The growers, whenever at all practicable, should band together in this way, and such an act will go iar to solve the problem of the present low profits of fruit culture. THE ARIZONA EVERBEARING STRAWBERRY.—Our old fellow mem- ber, W. E. Brimhall, now of San Diego, California, speaks in the following interesting way of this novel fruit: “T planted out on the 27th day of January, 1896, 150 strawberry plants of the Arizona Everbearing variety. They all grew and com- mencedto fruit, and in April I picked five quarts, May fourteen quarts, June nine quarts, July twenty-five quarts, August thirty- two quarts, September nine quarts. Total ninety-four quarts. Some of the largest berries measured four and five inches around, and One measured seven inches. The plants were set eighteen inches apart, both ways. ; “In July, the plants sentout miany runners, which were given plenty of room on the two outside rows. I have sold 2,500 plants at $1 per 100,and have a good set of fruit on plants set in September. This satisfies me that we can have good, fresh, ripe strawberries grown at home, and full measure.” 172 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. THE SAN JOSE SCALE BILL.—This bill passed the senate by a large majority, 29 to 9,a few days since and is now in the possession of the judiciary committee of the house. An effort is being made to defeat it by nurserymen outside the state, who evidently fail to un- derstand the purpose of the bill, reinforced by dealers in nur- sery stock in the state who do not wish to be hampered in their operations by any quarantine regulations. The principal objec- tions of these two classes to the bill seem to be based on the require- ments of a bond and license and the power given the inspector to require a copy of the orders filled. Those features were in the bill formulated at Chicago by the convention of entomologists and was brought from there by Prof. Lugger. In their judgment it was necessary to require this bond to insure compliance with the in- spection law and the lists to know where stock that might have been infested had gone. Certainly if any law is to be passed to keep out the pest, it should be thorough enough to be effective. The law as it passed the senate was modified in several minor par- iculars from what was printed in the March number; the bond fee was reduced to $1.00; provision made for accepting the certificate of a state entomologist where there was no state inspector; a penalty clause attached; and several other slight changes. In the judgment of those best qualified to decide, this legislation as a reasonable preventative is very much needed and none too stringent to accomplish its work. It will protect the planter as well as the grower of nursery stock in the state and aside from the slight inconvenience of giving a bond and attending to the inspection of stock to be delivered, will not in any way hamper any dealer or out- side nurseryman doing a business which will stand having the light turned on. Our extra-state friends are certainly unnecessarily concerned about this law, which places no restriction on them which is unnecessary or differing in any respect from that required of those residing within the state. Members of the society and all other friends of the measure are requested to correspond with their representatives in the legislature from their districts without delay. You may be sure the oppo- nents of it are working the field very thoroughly. Similar legisla- tion is now before the legislatures of Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Even if you have written once, write again; it will bea wholesome reminder, and perhaps a necessary one. Mr. M. Crawford, of Cuyahoga Falls, O, has become a convert to the Stringfellow theory and practice that trees, when planted, should be pruned toa straight root, cutting close all side roots. Mr. Crawford tried it this summer with good results, although some would rather wait until a dryer season before they become entirely converted to this new way. It has been the custom of nurserymen ever since whip-grafting of roots came into practice to cut off all side branches, and the grafts have grown without trouble, so there is really nothing new in Mr. Stringfellow’s way, at least as far as one-year trees are concerned.—_Texas Farm and Ranch. LATE DEAN OF COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, COLUMBIA, Mo. Na THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST. VOL. 25. MAY, 1897. NO. 5. In Memoriam, EDWARD D. PORTER, PH. D. COLUMBIA, MO. Died January 5, 1895. Early on Saturday morning, Jan. 5,1895, at hishomein the suburbs of Columbia, died Dr. Edward D. Porter, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director ofthe Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Missouri, surrounded by his family and mourned by a large circle of friends. His genial nature, his positive and ad- mirable character, his wide knowledge and his vigorous mental and physical activity in the direction of his duty leavesa gap in the university. community which it will be difficult to fill. Stricken with a fatal malady on October 20, he yet persisted in attending to many of the duties of his office to the very last, and kept the hopes of his daughters and of his friends alive by the determination not to yield. The end came suddenly, as his physicians expected. Dr. Porter was born Aug, 12,1829,in Tinmouth, Rutland Co., Ver- mont, but removed in early life to Michigan and later on to Phila- delphia, Pa. His primary education was received in the schools of New England, Michigan and Pennsylvania; he was graduated in 1851, with the highest honors, from the University of Pennsylvania, and received before his graduation an appointment as Professor of 174 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Natural Philosophy and Civil Engineering in Delaware College, Newark, Delaware. He remained with this institution for thirty years, holding successively the chairs of mathematics, astronomy and agriculture, and was for thirteen years the principal of its pre- paratory department. This college suspended during the Civil War, but was re-organized by him in 1867 as an Agricultural College, receiving the benefits of the Morrill act. Here he remained until 1880, when he resigned his chair to accept that of theoretical and practical agriculture in the University of Minnesota, which he held until August, 1889, when he was called to his present position. In Minnesota, Dr. Porter inaugurated the system of Farmers’ Lecture Courses and Farmer’s Institutes, which have since become recognized as most important factors in aid of the farmer in all the states of the Union. Healso established there as part of the Col- lege of Agriculture a “School of Agriculture,” which is now doing much in solving the vexed problem of agricultural education. His authorship is attested to by numerous and valuable bulletins and treatises which he published in his official capacities, a number of which he had nearly finished for the Experiment Station of Mis- souri and which will be a last monument to his industry, his skill as an experimenter and his knowledge. Prof. Porter allied himself at once with this society as soon as he come to our state, and his name appears upon our rolls thereafter until two years after his removal to his last field of work, at Columbia, Mo. His relation to the society was of a most helpful character, as he was a constant attendant at all its meetings and gave us freely the benefit of his extensive knowledge. His name will be found to occupy a very promi- nent place in the reports of the nine years he labored with us. It was the privilege of the writer to renew and strengthen a friendship with him during the months of the World’s Fair, in 1893, as he evidently felt most at home at the headquarters of horticulture from the state to which he had given so many of the best years of his life. His was a most genial and kindly nature, and to many of us his death came as a great personal loss. We shall ever hold him in tender remembrance. It is a pleasure to add so good a portrait as the one.accom- panying this sketch to the archives of our society. SECY. There is a better way to water house plants than with a hand watering pot, which must be held up at arms length. Havea shelf higher than the benches. A pail of water placed on this shelf, with along rubber tube running from it, constitutes a syphon that will save much labor. A cut-off and a nozzle can be put on the end of the tube, so that the water can be controlled at will. Of course, there must be some elevation to secure force enough to make a spray, but the water will run in a stream if the pail is just above the height of the benches. GROWING SHADE TREES. 175 PRACTICAL THOUGHTS ON GROWING SHADE TREES. WYMAN ELLIOT, MINNEAPOLIS. It is said that, “As the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined.’ Never was there in horticultural art or forest culture a truer maxim than this expressed. Experience, that great teacher and delineator of demonstrated truths, speaks with smarting impressions, as my mind goes back to my boyhood days, when any deflection or incli- nation from the straight and perpendicular rules laid down by a loving and exacting father gave me proof impressions of this adage sf of the “bending twig” never to be forgotten. Those were the days a when the transgression of his law of upright growth meant trouble, and he being a good disciplinarian and believing that all young - sprouts should be inclined in the right direction never lost an op- ie, portunity where he could be instrumental in giving lessons in prun- ; ing by lopping off some of the extraneous growths that were not needful to make me an erect, upright and useful member of society. Trees, like children, if you would have them develop their good oe qualities and rectify their defective growths, need a guiding hand 2a in their youthful years to give them proper direction in form, symmetry and graceful outline; and they who would grow trees preserving all the best qualifications for shade, ornamentation and usefulness, must give constant care and attention during their first years in the forest, field or nursery. a I wish to state that this paper is not written with the idea of giv- ‘ ing instruction to those experienced in tree growth, but more par- te, ticularly to aid the farmers and amateurs in their first efforts in the growth and cultivation of trees from seed. Perhaps, there may be others who have better ways and methods of doing this work, which I shall only partially outline; if so, I hope they will kindly criticise in the discussion that may follow the reading of this paper. What thoughts are here expressed come from experience gained in the propagation of several generations of shade trees while in the nursery business, in this climate, and more lately as an amateur. In the cultivation of shade trees by modern methods, we do not foliow nature’s slow process of uncertain propagation, where it is the survival of the strongest in vital force, but our aim should al- ways be by aiding processes to assist each individual tree to develop as rapidly in size and height as possible. There is little variation in the propagation of all varieties of trees from seed, with perhaps a few exceptions in methods of planting and after cultivation. The main point is to have the natural condi- a _ tions for germination and aftergrowth as complete as may be, and to | insure the largest success, whether with trees maturing their seeds in the spring or fall, they should be sown very soon after ripening; that is nature’s method of planting. With proper care, most seeds ripening in the fall can be held until the following spring, but, as a rule, those maturing in the spring ought to be planted as soon as ripe. The foundation for the successful production of all varieties of trees consists chiefly in having a congenial soil, adapted to their tim tu fF Pe ss ae een hdl en hh ©. el it Ps ty Baba Na re ® fie} “A : af wn ~ 176 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY habits of growth, very thoroughly prepared for receiving the seeds, not made too rich by the use of manure, but with just the right con- sistency, strength and humidity to sustain a vigorous growth through the whole season. Any land upon which a good crop of potatoes or other vegetables were grown the previous year, if kept free from weeds, will make a good seed bed. Soils that are too rich and porous incline the trees to grow a few long fibrous roots, while a loamy soil of a medium strength will produce trees with shorter roots which have more fiber, thus laying the foundation for a good root system. Trees witha good development of roots are much more valuable than those without and very much better fitted to overcome the shock of transplanting when the time comes for final removal to the street orlawn. The number of times a tree has been transplanted in the nursery, when properly done, gives added value to it, and this most important feature in selecting and purchasing trees is generally overlooked. I had much rather have a treeof - ordinary form, even crooked, with a good root system, than havea straight, nicely formed tree with a few straggling, fiberless roots; the unshapely tree can be made into a good form by judicious prun- ing, while the shapely tree with a deficiency of roots lacks vigor, which can never be overcome; also, it is more liable to be affected by drouth, disease and the attack of injurious insects, and never will make the strong, vigorous growth of a tree with a good root system. In selecting seed fora plantation of trees great care should be exercised in securing it from trees of good natural form and vigor- ous, upright growth. One of the most popular trees for street planting in this locality istheelm. It propagates readily from seed and transplants with- out difficulty. We have three varieties, with several sub-varieties, native of this state. The Ulmus Americana, white elm, Ulmus fulva, slippery, or red, elm, and Ulmus racemosa, corky white elm. The first named is the largest of the native elms,often growing toa very large size. The last two named varieties are not often used for street planting, but the habitual practice is to plant them in making up collections for parks, arboretums and large estates where a number of varieties are desired. The time of ripening of the seed of all these varieties is in the spring soon after the leaves expand. In this latitude it varies with the earliness or lateness of the season, usually from May 15th to Juneist. The seed should be sown at once after falling to the ground,’ and can be gathered at very little cost on our paved streets, or along the margin ofany body of water where the trees overhang its surface. In 1895 I secured seed by requesting our street commis- sioner to haul a load of street sweeping from under a row of large elms onto some ground near where I wished to make a seedling plantation. I planted them at once in shallow furrows, made with the back of the rake, two inches deep and fifteen inches wide, j strewing the sweepings and soil evenly in the rows one inch thick, and covering with one inch of soil, pressing it firmly on the seed with the head of the rake. A shower ofrain the next day caused . yeerle e Wee Ne an 5 a: ry evi Cee wary WR pa he shia 28 Ne ne a rah TR A ie ot lle aaa rad " Te ip Mt de tlh Cn ee A \ GROWING SHADE TREES. “7? the seed to germinate quickly, and I hada fine stand of seedlings. As soon as they appeared above ground, I immediately gave atten- tion by stirring the surface of the soil with a fine-toothed rake to kill the small weeds. And let me state to those contemplating growing trees from the seed, the first three or four weeks after they # appear is the most critical period, and good care must be given et them that they are not smothered in the weeds, for if once weeds * take possession of the plantation it adds very materially to the ex- a } pense ofcultivation. If a good growth is expected, they must be F kept thoroughly clean all through the season. Careful and con- “en stant attention tells here as well as in any other line of business. e, Fifteen per cent of my seedling elms last year made a growth of se sixteen to twenty-four inches; fifty per cent., ten to sixteen inches; and the remainder, four to ten inches. : or At the end of the first season’s growth, either one of twg methods ye can be pursued. First. Take up the seedling, about October 20th, in this latitude, and sort into three sizes, trimming away all side shoots and cutting back the tap roots to three or four inches in EP: length, and heel in each size separately in thin layers with clean <> soil finely worked in among the roots, and never fear injuring them by treading the soil down firm and hard, thus expelling all the air. yi ERT IS ee ee EMER AND! Lem ee wey Srp ee \ Se Le ae eS, GROWING SHADE TREES. 179 easily cured with proper attention, should be rejected. Before planting, the main roots should be cut back to within four to six inches of the collar of the tree and the fibrous roots pruned in to two inches in length, with a sharp knife, the cut or scarf to be made on the under side of the root and outwards rather than from the top and inwards. The new idea in horticulture is that a better root system is pro- $ cured by shortening the roots to young trees very close to the collar of the tree at the time of transplanting. If the roots are pruned Ber very short, there must be a proportionate amount cut from the tops. a: I think the short pruning of roots can be overdone and am led by By. past experience to doubt the wisdom of this method in our dry oe climate on open expanses where the wind has full sweep, and es- et < pecially on lands subject to severe drouths, unless some kind of at irrigation can be supplied. The sustaining vitality of the trees ie comes from its roots, and every inch of root cut away beyond the iw proper amount lessens the chances of the tree making a robust ; growth. Bt The following rule, I think, will hold good in the transplanting ae of all deciduous trees in this section of country: if the roots of a y tree to be transplanted are pruned very short, the tops should be cut back in a corresponding manner. There should always be a relative proportion maintained between root and top. ce An important thing to be considered with reference to the growth of these trees for the next two years is the nature of the soilin rag which they are to be planted. The ground should be strong, ofa - ity loamy, moist nature and plowed very fine and deep. If the soil to : _be used is a tenacious clay, it should have been prepared the previ- ous fall; if a lighter texture, the preparation can be deferred until = - spring, but even with light soils I consider it time gained to prepare the ground in the fall; then there will be no delay when the proper time comes in the spring for planting. In planting® this sized tree, : 7 , use a 12 or 14 inch plow to mark off the ground by going twice ina +, place and only making the rows as fast as wanted. Thetreescan be Mg planted at just the right depth very expeditiously by putting only sufficient soil on the roots to protect them from the sun and wind; then plow a furrow on each side of the row, straighten up the tops ae of the trees and tread the soil firmly around their roots—after which A comes one of the most important acts to be performed in the trans- ; planting of trees into nursery rows, one which is very often too long neglected. It consists in pulverizing the surface of the ground . by the use of a fine-toothed cultivator as soon as the trees are ‘eas planted. Nowthis cultivation should not be done ina neglectful, slovenly manner, but should be thorough and repeated at least a once inevery week or ten days at farthest through the whole season. After the trees begin to make a new growth, there will be some pinching and pruning that must be done in shortening limbs that are inclined to grow too fast, also in trimming the tops to a single “¥ leader. Clean, thorough cultivation and caring for all irregular tt growth is all that is needed for the next two years, when the trees will ; be five years old, and many of them should be of sufficient size for 180 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. park and street planting. All such should be selected, but not after the manner usually followed, that of taking a tree here and there because they are the straightest and best; instead, the whole block of trees should be carefully dug, preserving as many roots as possible, the trees of marketable size put into one group and those remaining sorted into two sizes and prepared for transplanting by having the tops shortened very close and the roots properly cut back, making the scarf on the under side of the root, and then planted in five-foot rows, with the trees two feet apart. These trees are to be grown two years longer, and by giving proper care and attention they will then be of suitable size to be disposed of. The great fault with most personsin growing shade trees for sale is that they try to grow too many upon a given spaceof groundand do not transplant often enough. Trees that are to be marketed at one to three years of age will bear crowding; trees requiring from five to eight years of growth must have not only careful attention but plenty of room in which to develop root and top. I have been in nurseries where they could grow the finest kind of apple or plum trees, but when they undertook to grow shade trees they practiced the neglectful, over-crowded system, and their trees showed very marked effects from such a practice. Many of their trees never could be made salable in the sense of furnishing straight, thrifty stock, and the only remedy I could see without digging the whole block and transplanting would be to cut out all trees of an inferior, crooked, stunted growth, thereby giving the remaining ones a chance to develop—not into first-class stock, for many of those re- maining, do what you may, would never become thrifty and salable. As to the last statement, I won’t say that, for it has often been said no matter how poor or stunted the trees are, there are always some unsuspecting,ignorant individuals who cannot tella good tree from a bad one; and I have heard there are men roaming this state over who have'their cheek always with them who will sell and de- liver anything having the semblance or form of a tree, but I hope there are none such who belong to the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, where we try to teach better principles. I cannot bring this paper, already too long,to a close without calling your attention especially to this one fact, that a tree which has been properly grown from the seed bed and which has been transplanted every two years for three successive terms is worth much more to purchasers and planter than one which has been grown in the seed bed under the plan of the survival of the strongest. One other point I want to emphasize is, that no matter how straight and good looking a tree is that was grown and dug from the forest it will never make the splendid form and growth of the nurs- ery tree that has been properly cared for. Better pay three prices for sucb trees as I have here described than take forest trees as a gift. In shade tree growing, there is always room for the energetic, painstaking, successful men on the top round of the ladder, just the same as in every other kind of business. Papas Paes ANOS cau kee ’NINETY-SIX AS A SCHOOL MASTER. 181 ’NINETY-SIX AS A SCHOOL MASTER. F. W. KIMBALL, AUSTIN. To those who can read the secrets of nature, and have been inter- ested and kept their eyes in close touch, the year 1896 has yielded many lessons, and especially so to the trained horticulturist. Even the amateurs in the A B C classes have not failed to gather a few of the lessons. Yet of what good to mankind in general except im- parted to all interested?—and to this end is our yearly meeting, that all may participate in the knowledge garnered. The years 1894 and 1895 were trying ones for the horticulturist in many parts of our state. The fall of 1895 found the ground dry and the trees, bushes and vines in poor shape to stand the winter. Our first disappointment of the season was the short strawberry crop, aiter fine promise of rich, luxuriant vines and a full bloom. Many claim that the vines were injured by the drought of 1895 and so failedtomatureacrop. I have no doubt that it was in part the rea- son, butI think only in part. In addition to this was therust, which seemed to be pretty general, though in some sections worse than in others; but I can hardly believe that a vine that could grow so vigorously as did mine and many of my neighbor’s could be badly injured by the drought. I think I am right in believing that the short crop was mostly caused by excessive rains at the time of flowering, thus washing off the pollen and preventing perfect pollenation. One reason I can advance for this belief is that the staminate varieties yielded the best, staminate rows yielding, I think, fully twice as many as the pistillate varieties side by side. Thestain- inate, having an excess of polien, did not suffer fromthe washings as badly as did the pistillate. Another thing that helped to confirm this conviction was that Mr. O. Gregg, of Windom township, this county, had a large patch that he covered heavily with straw in the fall of N 1895, and did not remove any part of itin spring. I was at his place when my berries had passed the prime—he had made his first pick- ing that day. I examined his vines, and while they were rather thin on the ground, they were filled with an abundance of berries and those of good size and perfect form, few or none with the hard, woody point. These vines he reports as giving him a good crop, and they must have been in bloom ata time after our excessive rains had passed, as shown by the time of the first picking. The lesson I would learn in this connection would be to search for the best staminate varieties and plant them more generally, especially amateurs and farmers; again, when setting staminates and pistil- lates, to set in every row alternately staminates and pistillates that they may intermingle as much as possible, setting special beds for vines to transplant. One experience we have had this year which is hard for the average fs amateur to garner facts or gather experience from which will aid a him in the future, is the apple tree blight. Itis so erratic in its % effect that it seems as though the lesson learned in one neighbor- % SOO) Sete ee NT RS a Oe ee I Ty Re et ae YO ee eS - "4 / ; i “a a ‘4 l ; . i‘ \ 182 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. hood was confounded in the next. Why it should kill one tree and leave another of the same variety, age and condition, only fourteen feet away, uninjured, is beyond my comprehension; yet there is undoubtedly good and sufficient cause, could we only read it aright. It is all subject to the inexorable laws of nature, and when we have fully learned these laws in this respect, then can we successfully combat this disease. In traveling this year in Iowa, I noticed three different orchards on the north slope of quite a steep bluff and not far above the bottom lands of a creek near by, the height varying from fifteen to forty feet above the valley, with a heavy growth of timber above them to the top of the bluff, probably some 100 feet or more. In none of these orchards could a trace of blight be seen, though when we got on the prairie, the orchards were streaked black with blight. I know not of what varieties, but it was fair to assume that the orchards probably in that section varied not greatly in their varieties, at least those of about the same age, from what I have seen at other points. Iam confident that there are locations that can be planted with comparative safety from blight, but I would advise all planting to fight shy of blighting varieties. One of the lessons of 1896 was in attending the horticultural show at the state fair. There, the number of varieties raised in this state was a surprise and to an amateur like myself, confusing—being too large to comprehend—and needed a study of days instead of hours. Any state in the Union might well be proud of the exhibit. I think one of the chief elements of interest was the large number of seed- lings exhibited, and I trust it has tended to give confidence that out of these and similar seedlings may reasonably be expected the Minnesota apple of the future. If the crosses originated by Mr. Gideon, using the crab for one parent, have produced such results, may not we expect much more from crosses with some of the hardy Russians, that seem to possess all the power of the crabs to withstand our climate and many of the better qualities of the standard apple? With the intelligent cross fertilization now going on, may not our mouths water in anticipation of the delicious apples yet to be the portion of the goodly people occupying this por- tion of God's footstool. . In summing up thelessons learned, I would suggest that amateurs confine themselves to planting staminate strawberries only, as there are many failures owing to not knowing how to set when two vari- eties are used, thus in the grand result obtaining more berries than when staminate and pistillates are used. In planting an orchard, plant one at all events, but if you have it, plant on the north or northeast side of a steep hill, no matter how steep, if you can climb up it. Take chances on being able to get the apples down, for if you have the proper varieties you will have apples and lots of them. However, in selecting your varieties shun blighting kinds, no matter what virtues they possess, for in the end they will cause you trouble, Find out from your neighbors the kinds they have not prone to blighting and get all other evidence you can. Shuna Transcendent crab as you would a pest-house, and if you have any on your piace you cannot do your treesa kinder act than tocutthemout. Another +4 Fe PP on! aA SADA NC Se ites a Se ae rl die i Ra Ug ihiders Rat ae ioe tt eal etka Me ie Pe a ea tay, he Rags aR ee ee SOUS od BE ee He Aer! a : 1 *’NINETY-SIX AS A SCHOOL MASTER. 183 thought suggested atthe state fair, amid all the display ofapples,was whether it was well to offer premiums for apples that possess neither merit for hardiness, quality or keeping, or any collection of such apples, no matter how large in numbers the exhibit might be, as it is confusing to the inexperienced and misleading and liable to cause the planting of many worthless varieties. Rather, offer large prem- iums for the best of such varieties as this society will recommend for planting or for trial, also good premiums for seedlings, the trees of which are over fifteen years or date back past 1884-5 and seem to have desirable qualities. Our list of apples not yet proven as to hardiness is getting so large and confusing that a good hard winter to weed out the unhardy may prove a blessing, and from the way the present winter is starting in we may know a good deal more next spring (1897) as to what is hardy than we now dream of; but if it leaves us twenty to thirty varieties of good hardy apples it may not be an unneeded evil; though many of us would think of the days of labor and of affections bestowed on unworthy varieties and mourn their loss. SECOND YEAR’S TREATMENT OF STRAWBERRY VINES. E. J. CUTTS, HOWARD LAKE. I have always practiced and have long been an advocate of the matted row system, but'have been considering what is called the hill system for some time and hope to give ita trial next season. It certainly presents some advantages that are well worth consider- ing. Iam aware that some of our large commercial growers re- commend taking only onecrop of berries and then plowing the bed under. That may be advisable in the east or on very poor soil, but On our rich soil it seems to mea waste of time and too expensive. We always insist on clean and thorough cultivation the first season. Covering—well, that is another subject—we use straw and use it liberally. The second season—and, by the way, I believe that is what I was asked to write about. As late inthe season as possible, without leaving it on long enough to injure the plants, we uncover, leaving the straw between the rows; while doing so, we aim to leave enough fine straw and chaff on the row, around the plants, to keep the berries clean and act as a mulch. We do not likerye straw; itis too coarse. After fruiting, we mow the beds quite close to the ground, and after drying afew days, when the wind is right, set fire to it, and burn the bed over. It is a good plan, we think, to shake up the mulching between the rows, scatiering it over the plants, so as to get a good clean burn. It will look as though your bed had gone up in smoke. Set the cultivator to work narrow- ing up the rows to about a foot in width, and if we are blessed with a few showers your eyes will be greeted with as fine a prospect as ever gladdened the heart of a strawberry grower. We follow the Same course that we did the first season, keep the weeds down and the soil frequently stirred between the rows. 184 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. MULCHING STRAWBERRY PLANTS. M. PEARCE, CHOWEN. Mulching is one of the essentials in this climate to assistin grow- ing a good crop of strawberries,and providing all the essentials have been carefully looked after and attended to at the proper time, the plants will be well grown and heavily rooted, just as they must be to give the best results, and such a plantation is the kind to mulch, But in case the plants are thick and small, on account of drouth or some other cause,and no roots are formed till the last of September or October and those few, short and smalJ—it is useless to mulch such a plantation. In no case will it be profitable. The most of my strawberry plants are grown in matted rows forty rods long. The mulching is done the last of October, just sufficient to cover the plants not over an inch and a half or two inches thick. We use various articles, such as wheat straw, marsh hay, litter from the stable, bean straw, leaves and other articles. Leaves we con- sider the best of all, spread lightly over the plants and those covered with bean straw or some coarse material. Covered in this way, the plants come out perfect in the spring. We think strawberry plants should be covered as soon as growth ceases, which will greatly pro- tect them from freezing and thawing, which greatly weakens the roots of the plants. To prevent the wind from blowing the covering off there must be something to hold it down, and that something is not always at hand. Weusea No. 12 wire over the mulching of each row attached to a stake at each end of the row, about fifteen inches long, driven in the ground. If the ground is level and the wire drawn tight, it will hold the mulching; when the ground is not level,there will be places where the wire does not come in contact with the mulch,and in such cases we use a few stakes about fifteen inches long. One end of each stake is sharpened, and in the upper end, about an inch from the top, an eight-penny nail is driven about two-thirds in and the head part bent down making a hook; these stakes are driven in along the rows where the wire does not rest on the mulching. The hook catches the wire and brings it down. ° Some delay mulching their strawberries until the ground is frozen and a fall of snow, and then mulch on top of the snow. Sometimes it does very well, but often the roots of the plants are badly injured before the ground is permanently frozen and there is a fallof snow. At the same time, if plants are covered too deep be- fore the ground is frozen the plants are very apt to be smothered, whereas if the covering is light,as previously stated, there is no danger and the roots of the plants are protected. For mulching an old bed,we use litter and horse manure from the stable spread over the plants after the ground is well frozen or, what is better, after a fall of snow. Mr. C. B. Crandall: I would like to have Mr. Kellogg say something about those cultivators. Mr. G. J. Kellogg: I think the one with curved teeth is better than the one with straight teeth. I find no difficulty in y ‘ Bay tte MULCHING STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 185 going over a field until the runners begin to take root. It will take a stretch about eight feet wide. You cannot let the ground bake before using it. Itis the nicest thing I know of for that purpose. It should be run through about once a week; later on we follow with the cultivator. Pres. Underwood: Mr. Crandall, what do you use for a cul- tivator? Mr. Crandall: I use aspring tooth cultivator. It is a light cultivator, with very small teeth; a riding cultivator. IRRIGATION OF STRAWBERRIES. A DISCUSSION. Pres. Underwood: Has any one else anything to say on these subjects? We also include the subject of irrigation of strawberry beds. You can just as well include that in your discussion. Mr. Danforth can, perhaps, tell us something about irrigation. Mr. Danforth: We irrigated some this last year. I think it may have done some good, but the season was not so dry that we got much benefit. Our new bed seemed to be more vigorous where we put on water than where we did not. Pres. Underwood: Did you irrigate your beds last year. Mr. Danforth: Yes, we did, but we did not get started early enough to do much good. Pres. Underwood: You had a good growth last year, did you not? Mr. Danforth: Yes, we hada good growth; the best growth we ever had. Pres. Underwood: Did you have any root-killing? Mr. Danforth: No, we did not; we never had better roots that we had this spring. Pres. Underwood: The vines were very vigorous? Mr. Danforth: Yes, the vines were very vigorous. We did not get a good crop of berries, but I lay that to other causes. Pres. Underwood: What were the causes? Mr. Danforth: I think it'was owing tothe heavy rains at the time of blossoming. Mr. Clarence Wedge: Did you have much rust? Mr. Danforth: Father thinks that was the trouble, but there were plants that were not troubled at all. ; Mr. J. A.Sampson: My blossoms were very small. Mr. C. W. Sampson: I would like to ask Mr. Danforth how he applied the water. Mr. Danforth: We have an artesian well with pipes running from it, and about every twenty-five feet we havea connection to which we attach a short piece of hose, and let the water run from the pipe right through the rows. This pipe runs at right angles with the rows, and we water from twenty totwenty-five rowsatatime. We fix our troughs in the morning and let the water run all day. Prof. S. B. Green: Where do you get your water? ‘ 185 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mr. Danforth: We have an artesian well. Prof. Green: How long are your rows? Mr. Danforth: The rows are about 400 feet long, but there was one end on which we could not get the water. Prof. Green: Did you notice any great difference in the growth of the plants watered? Mr. Danforth: I think there was a good deal more vigorous growth of plants, but so far as the fruit was concerned I did not see much difference. I think it was some better, but nothing remark- able. Pres. Underwood: As I understand it, Mr. Danforth, you had plenty of rain any way? Mr. Danforth: Yes, we had enough rain the fore part of the season any way. Prof. Green: Whatkind of soil are you growing your strawber- ries on? Mr. Danforth: Itisaclay subsoil. Mr. G. J. Kellogg: You spoke of the rains injuring your plants when in blossom; were they cold rains? Mr. Danforth: Yes, we had very heavy rains when our strawber- ries were in blossom. Prof. Green: What is the slope of your ground? Mr. Danforth: It slopes about one foot in a hundred feet on one side, and about four feet in a hundred on the other. Mr. Kellogg: What did you expend on your irrigation plant? Mr. Danforth: About $450. Mr. Kellogg: About how many acres can you irrigate? Mr. Danforth: About fifteen acres. We can put it across the road, however, and irrigate thirty. Mr. Kellogg: Would it pay? Mr. Danforth: As the seasons were two years ago, I think it wee a Prof. Green: Where are you located? Mr. Danforth: Forty miles below, at Red Wing. One thing in regard to watering. Mr. Gardner spoke as though he never watered plants; we water our plants right along. We startin right after we set them out; we cannot wait for a favorable day. Pres. Underwood: You mean you water when you plant? Mr. Danforth: Yes, we haul with wagons when we are setting out plants. Mr. C. W.Sampson: How many acres have you in strawberries? Mr. Danforth: About five acres. Mr. Wedge: When do you begin to irrigate? Mr. Danforth: We usually start as early as wecan. Sometimes we have plenty of rain. Mr. Clarence Wedge: Judge Moyer asked some time ago where we would advise him to set a strawberry bed on the prairie, about one hundred miles west. I think the point Mr. Pearce brought out is of very great importance; some place where the winds do not have a great sweep, and where the snow is inclined to stay; andl also think the bed should be planted somewhere where it can re- ceive artificial irrigation when it is needed. I used to\think a few i ne tf ah i 3 a ~", (% fast i ‘ 4 és pr % “ M ; eee ee ae a eee a ee : k ; ” re ee: . aly t Bra Mesa deo we * ey teas Tiwe ys sy ae y at, tr b Pot. ne i9 oy neg 1 vs ¢ he IRRIGATION OF STRAWBERRIES. 187 years ago that irrigation was a big affair at best, and that it would not pay to enter into it unless one had considerable capital and ex- perience, but I think it would be well to make an experiment. A neighbor of mine, Mr. Prescott, has been making some experiments, and he makes the best use of the water, using itunderamulch. He does not use it overa large area; I do not think it exceeds an acre. Mr. Kimball and I visited him this summer, and I was surprised at the good results he got. Mr.J.A.Sampson: Mr. C. W.Spickerman, who is present, is doing a little irrigating, and I would like to hear from him, whether it is profitable. Mr. Spickerman: My attempts at irrigation have been directed more to raspberries than to strawberries. I watered one bed of strawberries while the plants were young, and they made a very fine growth of plants by fall. The rows were thickly matted and the plants vigorous. MORE FRUITS FROM NORTHERN SIBERIA.—As you read this, N. E. Hanson, professor of horticulture in the South Dakota Agricultural College is on his way toasummer tour through northern Russia and Siberia, where he confidently expects to find much of value to the horticulturist that will endure transplanting into the Northwest: The professor is young, active and enthusiastic and has an abund- ance of that faith which is ever a harbinger of success. We shall await with great interest the outcome of this hopeful quest and stand ready to “divide” with him whatever of value he may secure, Meanwhile our very best wishes go with him on his long and oftime wearisome journey. Ina recent letter,he says: “I have been ap- pointed a special agent by the Secretary of Agriculture, Prof. James Wilson, to visit eastern Russia, Siberia and the plateaus of central Asia to gather farm, tree, garden, shrub and fruit seeds. I will +e 4 a ee a SECRETARY’S CORNER. 251 leave in a very few days and expect to be gone all the summer and fall. Thefew plants we already have from this dry inland region are hardy here and hardy far up into Manitoba and N. W. Territory. Hence, we hope to get many plants of value for the prairie North- west, and we will try to get as complete a collection as possible. I hope to tell you more about it when I get back to Brookings.” THE LOGANBERRY IN RHODE ISLAND.—The Rhode Island State Experiment Station have just issued a bulletin devoted entirely to this new fruit, supposed to be a cross with a European red rasp- berry and a California blackberry. In appearance of vine, manner of growth and, in fact, nearly everything except color and flavor of the fruit, it is like the parent blackberry, but the fruit is red and has a “slight but distinct” raspberry flavor. The bulletin says it “is the most promising new type of small fruit that has been grown at this station.” When Covered with earth over winter, they have been found entirely hardy, and as the canes make a long, flexible growth and lie naturally along the ground it is a very easy matter so to pro- tect them. This curious variety propagates itself from tips, like the black raspberry, and that rather sparingly, and to supply the de- mand for it, some unscrupulous dealers are said to be sending out under this name plants grown from its seed, which germinate read- ily but almost always produce fruit of an inferior quality. It orig- inated with Judge J. H. Logan, in Santa Cruz, Cal., in 1881. NEW RULES GOVERNING FRUIT AND FLOWERS AT THE STATE FAIR.—Your attention is called to the new rules in our department at the fair, and do not fail to go over them all carefully and become conversant with them if you expect to be an exhibitor. It isthe purpose of the management to enforce these Strictly, and especially Rule 12, requiring all entries to be made before the opening of fair week. The lax enforcement of this at times in the past has caused an endless amount of annoyance and vexation in the department. Please note that the word “POSITIVELY” is printed in caps also in the premium list, and that it means absolutely that no entries will be made after the fair opens. The management is very desirous no one should “get left” and will take every means of giving fair warning. Of course, there is no danger that YOU will be barred, as you have seen the warning and will make the necessary entries in time. Enter and bring everything you can, and “don’t carry all your eggs in one basket.” THE NEW STATE FAIR PREMIUM LIsT.—Secretary E. W. Randall sends information that the 1897 premium list has been sent to all the members of our society, and if any have failed to receive it, will you please address him at Hamline, Minn., and he will correct the oversight? That portion of the list in which as horticulturists you will be specially interested, Division G, Fruits and Flowers, will be found on pages 40 to 48, and early opportunity should be taken to go over them carefully and select such entries as you can make. Those who are not accustomed to exhibiting at fairs make the mis- take of showing only a few articles, under the impression that oth- 252 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ers must have better articles and they have no chance for success. In making up a list of entries, put in everything you have that is really good, and you will be agreeably surprised at the re- sults. Of course, if you are especially careful to produce fine ar- ticles, gather and pack them carefully and set them up, with the same care at the fair, you will be specially rewarded. At the state fair as elsewhere, remember “there is plenty of room on the top floor.’ There will be plenty of space this year for all without crowding, and we want you to help fill it. PRESIDENT MCKINLEY AND THE FORESTRY MOVEMENT. — “The president has sent to the senate the detailed report on forestry made by the committee of the National Academy of Science at the request of the secretary of the interior. The general conclusions of the com- mittee were announced in an abstract nee by the committee some weeks ago. “This general scheme of administration of forest reserves is sub- mitted: A forestry bureau under a director who is to be president of an advisory board consisting of himself, an assistant director and four forestinspectors. It also provides that the bureau should have a disbursing officer, clerks and legal advisers; 26 head foresters, 26 assistants to constitute a permanent corps; 200 rangers and various assistant rangers, the salary roll calling for an annual appropria- tion of $250,000,with appointive preference given to West Point grad- uates. To provide for the survey of all lands reserved or to be re- served, a board of forest lands is recommended. Holders, corporate or individual, of lands in the reserves are to exchange them for equitable holdings outside. “As to the unreserved forest lands, the report urges withdrawing rom sale and entry lands more valuable for timber and for other purposes, and suygests that after survey those tracts less valuable for forests be opened to sale and entry and the remainder held per- manently for the government.” DESTROYING THE CODLIN MotTH.—Prof. Slingerland has been in- vestigating the habits of the codlin moth. He finds that the egg is deposited upon the side of the fruit, and not in the calyx. Itisa little smaller than a pinhead, flattened and transparent, so that the color of the apple shows through it. Under the microscope the sur- face is marked with lines and looks likea fish scale. At first they were difficult to make out, but afterwards easy. After careful investigations, he found hundreds of eggs in the orchard, scattered over the fruits. The young worm is hatched out in about ten days, and at first is little larger than a hair. It re- mains on the surface several hours, then crawls about tillit reaches the calyx, where it works its way between the lobes and enters the cavity. The practice of spraying as soon as blossoms fall is effective, because the calyx lobes are then open and the Paris green is readily deposited within the eye, andas the worm does not eat till it enters the eye its first dose wil) be its destruction. The closing of the calyx and lobes soon after spraying is an ad- vantage, because it keeps the poison from being washed away by rains; butif the spraying is delayed till after the calyx closes it will not be so effective. The second brood does not always enter the calyx but eats in the side of the fruit, especially if protected by an overhanging leaf.— The Canadian Horticulturist, = “a ee lay ees ae SAN DIEGO, CAL. [See autobiography on opposite page ] THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST. VOL, 25. JULY, 1897. NO. 7. A\utobiography. WILLIAM E. BRIMHALL, SAN DIEGO, CAL. (By special request, Mr. Brimhall has kindly prepared the following sketch of his life to accompany his portrait which appears as frontispiecé in this number. He is well remembered by all the older members of the society as one of the prominent pioneer horticulturists of Ramsey Co.—SECY.) I was born February 4th, 1825, at Hardwick, Worcester county, Mass. At six years of age, I learned to braid palm leaf hats while not atschool. At ten years of age, Iwas put out ona farm to work for my board and clothes with Thos. Gorham, of Barre, for one year, and continued working at farming on the rocky farms of Barre and Hard- wick until I was eighteen years ofage. Atthat age,I went to the city of Worcester and engaged to learn the plowmaker’s trade for three years with Ruggles, Nourse & Mason. After learning the trade, I found that inside work and the dust from the machinery were injuring my health; therefore, decided to change my occupa- tion. Being in rather poor health, I went to clerking in a whole- sale and retail grocery store, but it soon became too hard for me, and I had to giveit up. My older brother, Joseph, was at Springfield working at carpenter- ing and offered me a chance to work with him, and later on we went to South Hadley Falls and engaged work on a frame dam that was to be constructed across the Connecticut river to the newly laid out town of Holyoke. The first dam was a frame one and too shorton thebottom. After being completed,except closing the gates, the day was set, and thousands of people came from abroad to wit- ness the closing of the gates. A leak was discovered which soon drove the people from seeing the curiosities in the rocks of the falls, and I with other workmen was instructed to build rafts to sink to Tne 2 Ae Cere Ce pe Ty 4 254 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, | stop the leak; but it could not be done, The waters got within about four feet of the top, when it gave away, and I narrowly es- caped going with it. I remained with the company and the next year helped build a lock dam in its place, which is eleven hundred feet across, twenty-nine feet high, floods up stream two and one-half miles and furnishes the power for the now large manufacturing city of Holyoke. In the spring of 1851,,I decided to go to Minnesota territory to get some land fora home. I hada rough time staging it to Galena, and there met people from St Paul. They fold sad stories about St. Paul. I said to them I am going to see St. Paul for myself. I landed there on the 27th, I think, of April, 1851, and took board with Uncle Lot Moffett. I had a good trunk of clothing and a chest of tools, and af- ter visiting St. Anthony Falls, White Bear Lake and Stillwater, I got work with Mr, Prentiss, who was building a store for Mr. Spicer near the corner of Cedar and 3d streets. I finally jobbed around as best I could until I took a claim on the Fort Snelling reservation, in the timber and brush. I built a small house, dug a well and com- menced to clear the land and finally got me a yoke of oxen, two cows,a plow and wagon and commenced farming in that small way. After the reservation was reduced and my land bid in at the pub- lic sale, I was much encouraged about having me a home which I had come so far into the wilderness to obtain. In 1853, December 20th, I married Miss Sarah Pratt. She died May 5th, 1854,and on October 23d, 1855, I married Miss Mary EK. Lawson, of Danville, Mo. I was married both times by Rey. J. G. Rheildafer. We raised a family of seven children, all Minnesotans, viz: Mrs. Eliza A. Hurd, Auburn, Washington; Wm. H. and Walter E. Brimhall, Ramsey, county, Minn.; Dr. John B. Brimhall, St. Paul, Minn.; Charles I.., San Diego, Cal.; Mrs. Gertrude M. Fosdick, Pinole, Cal., and Silas J. Brimhall, at Pomona College, Cal. I helped form the first district in Reserve town, superintended the building of the present Webster school house, corner of Randolph and Snelling avenue, and was school clerk for fifteen years. I was also a town supervisor, and was justice of the peace for two years. During the Rebellion I was a recruiting officer and paid my quota every call made for recruits, and at the last call furnished a substi- tute rather than leave my wife and three children. I hauled gov- ernment supplies to the forts during the war and took a load of soldiers to La Crosse and a load of supplies back. I also belonged to the state militia and held a commission as 2d lieutenant from Gov. Alex Ramsey. Finding the soil so productive, I soon began the growing of small fruits and vegetables for market, after which I planted five acres to standard apples, such as Fameuse, Perry Russett, PlumbCider,Sax- ton, Gray Pippin and Alexander, They produced such bountiful crops that I was induced to plant out, later on,twenty acres more. I was a member of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society while living in the stats. Iam a life member of the State Agricultural Society and was a large exhibitor at its fairs while living there. I . have grown both fruit and vegetables that would be a credit to any WM. E. BRIMHALL. 255 state in the Union. I was proprietor of the Reserve nursery and planted trees for many citizens, for instance: Govs. Ramsey, Mar- shall, Messrs. Forepaugh, Breede, Bass, Upham, Gov. Merriam and many others, of which are now many living monuments. Il was proprietor of Sylvan Park, which was said to be the handsomest ad- dition to St. Paul that was ever platted, on which is to be seen the fruits of some of my labor. Having outlived the climate, and upon the advice of our family physician to seek a warmer climate, in 1886 I moved to San Diego, Cal., where I have since lived an easy and retired life. CARE OF STRAWBERRY BEDS AFTER FRUITING. D. C. CONVERSE, FORT ATKINSON, WIS. The treatment accorded fruiting beds will vary according to the ageand condition of the same. . Many growers now plan to set a new bed each spring, to have one to fruit the first time and another one to pick the second season, thus having a new bed coming on each year and an oldone to plow up. Occasionally a bed seems thrifty enough to leave even after the second picking, but as there is less probability of securing a large crop from such a bed, one feels like putting in as little expense as possible. If mowed at once after picking and the mulch is light and loose, a dry, windy day can be selected and the bed burned off, com- mencing on the windward side. This method of treatment disposes of the old strawberry leaves and the bulk of the weeds and puts the plants in condition to at once throw up new, thrifty leaves. Another strong advantage in favor of burning beds is the destruction of the leaf curler and any other insects that may haveinfested the ground. Nothing further is necessary until covering for winter, unless one has plenty of composted manure,when it can beapplied here to good advantage. For this bed, I should favor a very light mulch, so as to get berries in the spring as early as possible, if the bed comes through in good shape, and, if not, ample time is afforded to plow for any othercrop. Sometimes, such a bed turns a fine crop, and, as is seen by the above, at a very small cost. Should it be considered best to plow after picking,the work should be done as soon as possible, the ground well pulverized and some catch crop like fodder corn, millet or buckwheat sown, not only to subdue the foul weeds but to get the most out of the land; for it is well for even the fruit grower to consider the question of not how many acres, but how large crops. After picking the crop ona bed the first season, the bed should: also be mowed at once, the mulching cleared off either by burning or raking and cleaned out as soon as possible, Care must be taken in burning thatthe mulch is loose and dry, so that it will burn quickly and not damage the plants. Now arises the question how to loosen up the spaces and how much “to cut the rows down. Having tried both plowing and cultivating the 256 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. spaces, [am satisfied that the latter method gives far better results as the ground is kept more nearly level and in condition to hold moisture. How much to narrow the rows depends upon the condi- tion of the plants and also uponthe weather. If plants are vigorous and the weather is wet, the chances are thatif the rows are made narrow, they will run and make a good growth for the following year. Ifthe weather is dry and plants weak,I should favor culti- vating out just enough to make a good working space. After culti- vating, the rows should be cleaned out leaving no weeds or grass, and, if the growth is very strong, some of the plants cut out. Now comes the most important factor of all, to so treat the bed as to get the most vigorous growth possible, for as we all know the crop next season depends upon the growth now. The best way yet known to hasten this growth is to make a heavy application of well rotted barnyard manure and then to keep the cultivator running every few days till fall. I believe there is no place on a fruit farm where better, quicker and more profitable results will follow than righthere. On the part of a bed so treated last season after picking, the growth was much stronger and this season there was fully three times as much fruit as on that not fertilized. A few suggestions and hints have been here given in a general way, but no one can give rules for all to follow, and each grower must work according to his own surroundings and condition, using his best thought to bring about the desired results. Mr. Brayton: I would like to ask Mr. Converse if he is in the same latitude in Wisconsin that we are here? , Mr. Converse: Ido not know what itis here. We live in the second tier of counties in Wisconsin; not as far north as this. Pres. Underwood: I want to emphasize the importance and the advantage, in my estimation, of burning over a strawberry bed. If you are not going to plow up the bed or renew it or plant anew bed, I am quite sure from the several years I have tried it that nothing will give you such good results. Even this year, on a part of our beds—some of our friends will re- member the fine five acre bed we had, and it wasinjured, root- killed by last winter’s drouth. As an experiment, on the south side of that bed we had some Bederwood, and I put some straw on and burned it over. When you want to burn over a bed put on plenty of straw, shake it up and get it thoroughly prepared; put on a nice covering of loose, dry straw—and we could get it at our place, because we did not have any rain for ten weeks, and it was perfectly dry. Those plants were all somewhat weakened by last winter’s drouth so the roots were killed. Their vitality seemed to be exhausted, and it was a question of whether we should burn over the bed or 0 TET Malas, Moo pe Pale ee o Wp! Saas 2 Coe » pal se ‘ het axe E abil 4, a a Py f “ elted Bin SCS ES 2S os 2 a tA te al a arco oe . CARE OF STRAWBERRY BEDS AFTER FRUITING. 257 plow it up. We finally left only a strip of last year’s plants on the south side, and we treated only about a quarter of an acre ' with fire. That quarter acre was from fifty to seventy-five per cent better than any other part of the field, notwithstanding the very severe drouth we, had there for weeks when we did not have a drop of rain, and when everybody else got plenty of it. You had plenty of rain up here, and we did not have any. Our ground did not get wet until these recent rains we have had. We have given the subject a good deal of attention the last three years, and every year it has been a perfect success. I do not know of any other way that is so good for treating an old bed. Dr. Leonard: Is there no danger in burning over the whole bed? Pres. Underwood: I do not think there is. We generally put on a very heavy mulching of straw. Our bed is situated where there is plenty of wind, and we put on plenty of straw. We put on the hay tedder and shake it up well, and we have on enough to cover the bed well; if there is not enough to cover the bed, we draw on some more and then setiton fire. After the fire had gone over it, it looked as though there was nothing alive there; we could not even see a weed, and for weeks we could see nothing green, not asign of life, and probably six to eight weeks passed before we could see a green thing on the bed. It was just as black almost as the day it was burned, because we did not have any rain. The wind would take off a little, but not enough but what the whole bed would look black—and you would be surprised at the way those plants grew. Mr. C. A. Sargent: How would it do to mulch with flax straw? Pres. Underwood: I think, perhaps, it would do as well as any other straw. Mr. Danforth: We tried it for eight or nine years and it did very well with us. Pres. Underwood: Itis very much cheaper than anything else youcando. If wehad plenty of rains and the ground was moist so we could cultivate all of it, the advantage might not be so great,but our ground is so dry after fruiting that it would be impossible to do anything with itanyway. There is no weeding, but just as soon as they commence to grow a little, and you geta little rain so you can start a horse in the rows) then go at it, and you will have as fine plants as you ever saw, and you willhavefruitevery year. Mr. Dan- forth’s father was the first one to tell me about that plan of treating the beds. I tried it, but I was afraid to start in very strong, but the next time I burned over the whole bed. This year I did not have the courage to burn them over, because many of the roots were as black as they could be and their vitality was largely wasted, but I 258 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. believe now that if I had burned them over thorgughly this fall they would have come out fifty per cent better. Mr. Kellogg: How did that five acre bed prove this year? Pres. Underwood: We did not have more than halfacrop. They blossomed perfectly, but I soon saw that the blossoms began to fade away. Some of them would form little berries, and then they would commence to get gnarly,and when I came to examine them I found the roots were black. I thinkit was caused by winter drouth. Mr. D. F. Akin: Is it not the ashes that were left from the burning straw that fertilizes them? Pres. Underwood: I imagine that had a good effect on them. Mr. Akin: I think it is that which produced the effect, besides killing the weeds, Just put on the ashes and your strawberry bed will be good. Pres. Underwood: Perhaps that is all there is to it,and youcould get a good bed cheap. Mr. C.L.Smith: That is not all there is to it by along ways. Itis sixteen years since I began doing that. I think Ilabored with Mr. Danforth a good many days before he could get his courage up to try it, although I knew what it was worth. Iam willing to admit— I am lazy enough to admit—that it was the easiest way to take care of the strawberry bed. Mr. Danforth is one of a hundred, 1 might say, whom I have talked into trying this method of treating the strawberry beds, and I do not know of anybody ever trying it who has regretted it. The only failure I ever knew was where a heavy mulching of flax straw had been puton the bed. It would kill out the plants wherever one of those thick bunches came. The using of the hay tedder and stirring up this mulchiugis the main point to consider. If the straw is light and dry so it will not make a long and strong fire it is allright, and is by far the easiest way to get rid of foul stuff. There is an advantage of having ashes there, there is no mistake about that, and I am gladto hear what Mr. Converse said about top-dressing with well rotted manure. That is all right, but it does not want to be a manure mixed with red top, blue grass and timothy seed, because if itis you are liable to have your strawberry beds seeded with grass seed that will bother you next summer, [ would recommend a top dressing of stable manure, not too heavy, eight to ten loads to the acre, and if you have got some ashes in ad- dition to the mulch put them on. It is the easiest way and the cheapest to take care of a strawberry bed. Mr. Sargent: I had a little experience last year with flax straw. I put it over the rows and then left"a heavy mulching between the rows and burned it over. Pres. Underwood: It burned all the plants up? Mr. Sargent: It burned over all the rows, but it would not burn it up clean. Flax makes too hota fire to put over plants. Mr. W.H. Putnam: I would like to ask if he ever burned it over in the spring. A neighbor of mine burned his bed over in the spring one year, and it was the best bed he ever had. Pres. Underwood: If you burn the bed over in the fall you geta good crop, and if you burn the same bed over in the spring it should be good. If one burning is good,two ought tobe better. (Laughter.) Mr. Kellogg: Why not burn it over in the winter and save mulch- ing? (Laughter.) ve LANG “ pies sane Hit ea eet =t weeny OR CEA ie 2 2 his tage eels | on “o Kray Va ~ (Oh ¥ SUMMER MEETING, 1897: 259 SUMMER MEETING, 1897, OF THE MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, MISS EMMA Vv. WHITE. The society was fortunate as usual in the choice of a day for iis annual summer outing. The temperature was comfortable, and athin veil of clouds protected the strollers from the heat of the sun, while the Jate rains had laid the dust, usually so dis- agreeable at this season of the year. The members and friends of the society, to a number estimated at from two to three hun- dred, gathered together to enjoy the festivities of the occasion: Quite a number came from points at some distance from the twin cities, although most of the attendance was from the neighbor- _hood of Minneapolis and St. Paul. It was an unexpected pleasure to have with us Col. John H. Stevens, who has not been out in a public way since the day the old Stevens house was moved to Minnnhaha Park, which was sometime last fall. His feebleness prevented his speaking, but a short communication was read from him, and we were all glad to see his enthusiastic face again. Mr. D. A. J. Baker, of St. Paul, one of the oldest members of our society, was also present. A quarter of a century ago he was very prom- inent at our meetings and did very muchin laying the foundations of our organization. It would take too much space to undertake to name all those prominent in horticulture who werethere. During the forenoon the experimental fields of the station were visited by nearly every one of the guests, and the time passed en- tertainingly in this way until the noon hour, when all were gath- ered at the generous dinner tables, which filled two-thirds of the drill hall and represented the bill of tare of a host of families whose members were present. The tables were beautifully decorated with the competitive exhibits of roses and other flowers, both greenhouse and of outdoor growth, and a great abundauce of strawberries supplied every guest to his heart’s desire. The exhibition of fruit was unexpectedly fine’ and in quality has probably never been surpassed at any previous summer meeting. The season being so backward, it was feared there would not be sufficient ripe berries to make a good showing, but in this we were happily disappointed. Premiums were offered only ona limited number of varieties, so that the award of premiums, found later, will hardly convey an idea of the extent and character of the exhibit. The afternoon hour was occupied with an impromptu program, a partial report of which follows. It had been the intention to de- vote some time to a discussion of the varieties of strawberries on exhibition, but with the great number of attractions on the grounds and the evident wish of those present to further investigate them, it was thought best to omit this part of the program. We have every reason to feel satisfied with the success of this gathering, it indicates well the interest taken in the work of our society, and the steady increase in the attendance at these annual summer meetings is fairly typical of the growth of the society, its increasing influence and usefulness. A partial report of the afternoon’s session follows. s “ ay : ve 70 i a et ee Piao sha a nt Dab bg eS CL : .. : ae 7 3 Sei Tee esa is = 1, | et 260 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AFTERNOON SESSION. At 1:30 p. m. Presfdent Underwood called the members and guests together to listen to an informal program of brief speeches and addresses. In introducing the speakers, the president spoke of the pleasure it gave him to welcome the friends of horticulture to the annual summer meeting, of the special value of gathering . at the state farm and watching from year to year the develop- ments which come from the thoughtful care, energy, and spirit which prompts all interests there fostered, not the least of which are the horticultural arts. At the winter meeting it is possible only to place a few plates of fruit or vegetables on the tables for exhibition, but meeting in the summer where everything that per- tains to the special interests of horticulture may be seen in all of nature’s bounty, where we can gooutamong the trees and flowers, into the orchards and berry patches, there is no better or more practical way of getting others interested in our work. COL. W. M. LIGGETT. The first speaker was Col. W. M. Liggett, Dean of the Agricult- ural College, who as a representative of that department of the State University, presented greetings to the society, extending a hearty welcome as well as the freedom of the grounds. Congra- tulating the society on the truth of the secretary’s prediction re- garding the good weather that uniformly attends its gatherings he spoke of the auspicious outlook for the society and expressed the hope that everything would continue so, and of the special pleasure afforded in meeting such pioneers as Col. Stevens, Mr. Harris, Mr. Grimes and others present. The speaker spoke of his former lack of faith in the development of the horticultural in- terests of the state, but having seen the forests growing up on our prairies and having studied the reports of this society he began to appreciate more and more the value of its work, and now, although they had given welcome to over four thousand farmers at the state farm school during the past year, he did not know of any organization entitled to a more cordial welcome than this society. And although all their guests had expressed ap- proval of the work accomplished, yet before him were those who had stood by the institution in all its vicissitudes, who would always be held in grateful remembrance, and he hoped that all the summer meetings might be held at the farm school grounds. PROF. W. W. PENDERGAST. Prof. W. W. Pendergast, an old member of the society, res- ponded to this greeting in his usual genial way. He said: “It gives me great pleasure to be here today, as it is always a source of delight to meet the brothers and sisters of the great horticult- ural society of Minnesota, and I want to thank Col. Liggett for his cordial greeting and words of appreciation. From his re- marks he has shown that, whatever in the past he has thought of the horticultural prospects of the state, he sees now that there is some use in trying over and over again. Our strawberries have died out, trees blighted and many misfortunes been undergone rams. = SUMMER MEETING, 1897. 261 in placing Minnesota where it is today. Wherever we go now, in whatever part of the state, we find that we have hosts of friends all doing their utmost to make our meetings pleasant. In look- ing back to the places where we have held our meetings winter or summer, everybody has tried to make it pleasant for us. We are not guestshere. Wecomeheretoour home. This farm belongs to us. Thisschoolisourschool. Wehaveashareinit. It is ade- light to go around through the state and hear the farmers talking about our experiment station,our agricultural school. So while the people here do their best to make our stay pleasant, still we are not guests. This is our place and the people belong to our family, and it isa delight tocome here. I see my old friend Merrick is here to talk peace. Wherever horticulture goes peace goes in her footsteps. We do not have any such quarrelsome times as they have in the United States senate, but there is an aroma of quiet energy wher- ever we go, wherever we meet, Iam glad that we are seeing year by year our little band increase. When I came here forty years ago and saw the country everywhere stretched out wild and wooly,I could notlook forward into the future and see what has come from itall. A good many are here to-day that have been here from territorial times. When I came first we went by Minneapolis. There was not enough of it to pay us to look to see it. Sunrise City and Watab were the prominent places then. I rernember well when I first came on the hill where Cheever’s Tower was situated. This legend confronted me. ‘Pay your dime and climb.’ Everything was dear in the state then, and this was the only cheap thing in the country. I paid my dime and climbed to the top, where I looked over a beautiful country, although it was wild and deso- late compared with what we see now. Here, then, I saw nothing but a wild wilderness, but now there is a great population with all the attendant changes in its train. Fruits have come forward with just as great strides as the population has. We first thought a few wild prickly gooseberries a great thing. We can now go out into our gardens and pick gooseberries and currants by the bushel. So with raspberries, blackberries, etc. So with the trees. I have four hundred in my orchard, and every tree has promise of something better farther on. I think we have reason to thank God and take courage for what we have and for what we expect in the future. Itis no time now, no matter what there may have been in the past, no time now for discouragement. The sky has cleared. Good times about us. Peace and plenty and prosperity are to be around us now on forevermore.” REV. J. S. MERRICK. Rey. John S. Merrick, of New York, representative of the American Peace Society, was called upon to say a few words about his old ac- quaintance, Mr. A. J. Downing, the famous horticulturist. Mr. Mer- rick had often been at Mr. Downing’s home at Newburgh on the Hudson, one of the most beautiful spots in the whole country. Mr Downing laid out the grounds of the Smithsonian Institute, and much of the development of the beautiful in horticulture is owing to his writings. He accomplished a great work in the short space 262 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. of thirty-seven years, losing his life in a steamboat accident on the Hudson in 1853, while helping to save the lives of others; but his work lives after him. His brother, Charles Downing, followed in his footsteps. He was not a genius like his brother, but one of these careful, plodding men who accomplish quite as much often as the men of genius. The Downing strawberry comes from him, and he is noted also in the cultivation of other fruits. Mr. Merrick’s ideal in life was to have a small house and a large garden. Man was originally placed in a garden to dress and keep it, but he thought we were getting away from it. He paid a high compliment to the directors of the experiment farm, and expressed great pleasure in meeting with the society, saying he should bear good reports of the great state of Minnesota to his eastern home. MR. A. G. WILCOX. Mr. A. G. Wilcox, of the “Northwestern Farmer,” being called upon. responded to,the sentiment, “What we owe to our Pioneers in Horti- culture,” as follows: “A few years ago, a congressman from Texas electrified the coun- try by asking the question, where are we at? The form of the ques- tion was unique, but it was pertinent. On this occasion, it is perti- nent to not only ask where weare at horticulturally, but how we got there? Marvelous progress has been made. Fruit growing within reasonable limits is aa assured success. A wise choice of varieties and knowing how are the two requisites. It is true that there are still many doubters, but the facts are the same. There are not only great possibilities in fruit growing for the Northwest, but there are great certainties. “To learn where we are involves taking an inventory of what has been achieved. To learn how we reached the present stage of progress calls for a review of history, and I believe that history will credit the triumphs of the present to the plucky, persistent and un- selfish efforts of the pioneers, who for long years groped their way through the dark to some of the most remarkable successes the his- tory of horticulture records. The good things of the garden, the orchard have been slow in coming, but when we think it over we re- alize that the fruits and vegetables of the present represent the toil and thought of past generations. What years of patient experi- ment lie between the wild potato and a ‘Carmen.’ What disap- pointments have befallen those who transformed the wild rose into the marvelous bloom of a Jacqueminot or the brilliant profusion of a Crimson Rambler. How the way from the bitter crab apple to the ‘Duchess’ or ‘Wealthy’ was strewn with dead apple trees and blighted hopes. The best work of many lives is wrapped upina Marshall strawberry or a Parker Earle. All these wonders of mod- ern horticulture are the heritage of the present, but they cost the past dear in patient labor and study and trial. “The early situation in Minnesota was peculiar and the difficulties apparently insurmountable. Nobody had blazed the way. Every- body came from somewhere else. Those who tried the first experi- ments in horticulture brought preconceived notions with them, and the notions did not fit new conditions. They brought seeds of ten SUMMER MEETING, 1897. 263 ? der plants which did not thrive. They sent east for the fruits and flowers that jewelled their old homes, and when these died young ” the conviction was solid thatit was of no use to try again. With the majority, there was only one ‘can’ and that was wheat. Every man who has won a place in the front rank of experts in the garden and orchard, has reached it through a storm of ‘can’ts.’ It was admit- ted that wheat would grow. It was denied that anything else would grow. Strawberries could not be produced; raspberries would freeze out; blackberries would die the first winter; plums and cher- ries were impossibilities; as for apples,.hadn’t they been tried? _ Corn, clover and cattle were black listed, pigs could not live with- out corn, and so on through a long and appalling list of “can’ts. “A man must have plenty of the stuff heroes are made of to follow an idea to its conclusion, surrounded by incredulous neighbors, doubting friends and carping relatives, down to cousins and cous- ins-in-law, and probably a mother-in-law, all of whom agree that he is going to the dogs and taking his family with him by the shortest . possible cut; and to keep right on, year after year, amid discourage- ments and failures that give neighbors, friends and the mother-in- law the best excuse for saying, ‘I told you so.’ “But among the pioneer horticulturists of Minnesota there were a few men of this very heroic stuff, who never lost faith, and never ceased to preach and practice the gospel of ourart. The long road to success was strewn with failures, but they marched over it with courage aud persistence, sufficient to equip an army for the con- quest ofa kingdom. In the face of ridicule, in the face of failure, many of them in poverty, they have won recognition and success. They are not rich nor widely famous; they can not endow universi- _ ties like a Rockefellow or found libraries like a Carnegie, but they have left us an heritage of inestimable value. “Tt was one of the philosophers who said that he who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before is a benefactor to mankind. Grass is good, good for cows and sheep and pigs, and when they have worked it over in their marvelous mills, we do not refuse the golden butter, the juicy chop or the fragrant sausage. But if the blade of grass counts for so much when good acts are weighed, what shall we place to the credit of the man who creates a new and luscious fruit, the best of God’s material gifts to man? The doctors are good fellows; we all like them; they are with us at both ends of our earthly course; but give us plenty of fruit, and between times we could get along without them, throw physic to the dogs and let them die of it, and die of old age ourselves. They say no lover of fruit ever can have the drink habit, and I believeit. Plenty offruit means health, sound digestion, a level head, a clear con- science and a warm heart. “We are shy of giving due credit to men who are alive, but let us not be too slow in acknowledging the debt we owe to the few heroic spirits whose patient work for thirty years has made it possible for any farmer to grow strawberries, raspberries, currants, delicious plums and choice apples under the conditions that prevail on the ordinary farm in the Northwest. When one of these pioneers of the ee 4 oe : , Tene iia bee il 264 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. garden and orchard drops in the harness, we are quick enough to recall what he did. We give hima big funeral, pronounce eulogies, and write glowing obituaries, but a little more appreciation of his work while he is on earth would often brace him up and make him feel that he had not lived in vain, “ We owe them alla debt we can notrepay. Let us say so in the best words of appreciation and honor we can command while they are yet with us, and as we eat our strawberries and cream now, and munch our apples and drink our cider in the long evenings of the coming winter, let us remember what we owe to the fathers of fruit growing in the Northwest!” COL. J. H. STEVENS. Paying a high compliment to the pioneers of horticulture, Presi- dent Underwood called upon Col. J. H. Stevens, who, notwithstand- ing his affliction of the past year, rose to say that he could hardly be expected to say anything, but as the secretary had told him he would be called on he had prepared a few words which he asked the secretary to read, as follows: “The infirmities of age, with the serious illness for the past year, makes it an effort for me to speak. I am admonished that the days of my usefulness as an active member of your society are past. It is hard for me to realize it. Iam so fond of the work. I enjoyed it so much. It was sucha pleasure to participate in your delibera- tions. “Only think what a noble work you have accomplished! Your lab- ors have been so successful. You had to contend against the heat of summer and the frost of winter; you had to contend against pub- lic opinion, almost against nature; but you perservered. Repeated failures caused you to redouble your efforts. If defeated once, twice or thrice, you experimented again and again. At first the crab, then the pyrus malus; the plum, the cherry,the small fruits; at last the grape, with countless varieties of flowers, climbing roses: shrubbery and shade trees. Without your efforts Minnesota would have to be contented with the wild cranberry of the marsh and the wild fruit of the forest. “T have but a word more to say; in the interest of humanity, as well as the orchard, garden and farmer, be sure to save the birds. Finally, may you flourish and grow, and may your efforts be appre- ciated by the people, the whole people of the state, and especially by the legislature.” Cc. L. SMITH. “Some Little Things in Horticulture,” was responded to in a prac- tical talk by Mr.C. L. Smith. “Both in my work and in observation I have been impressed with the idea that failure nearly always comes from the neglect of some little thing, and the most marked success has come from the doing of what seemed but very small things, though in the final result they were large things. To illus- trate, I will call attention to one of my own mistakes this spring. I think others perhaps have made the same mistake. I had a new SUMMER MEETING, 1897. 265 hired man to set out strawberry plants. When I began to instruct him, he said he knew thoroughly how to do it. So I went my way. I had already set out fifty plants. ,When I went to inspect his work he had completed about 750. Dry weather came on, and of this lot only fifty lived, all but ten of these being of the lot I set out. On in- vestigation I found the plants had been set about three-fourths of an inch too high, and am satisfied that was the only difficulty. He afterwards set out a thousand more according to my instructions, nearly all of which lived. There was not more than an inch differ- ence at the most, only a little thing, but it was the difference be- tween success and failure. “T spoke to this society some time ago about my method of cover- ing strawberries and was criticised by some of the members. I cover as soon as the plants have attained their growth, as deep as they can be without smothering. I believe that it will add fifty per cent to thecrop. I have tried this plan now more than three years and am satisfied that the little matter of covering all the bare ground and working the covering in between the rows deep enough to positively prevent any freezing and heaving or cracking of the soil saves the roots of the plants, and I think it will pay. “Here is another thing, and I suspect it will draw criticismialso. Where the wind blows as it does at my place, I have made the mis- take of letting my raspberry canes grow too tall before pinching them. I find that where I pinch the canes early, I get my tips ear- lier than I otherwise could, and that those earlier rooted tips were the surest to grow. One of the reasons of the failures which so many of us have is the fact that the tips are rooted too late and too green. “Another thing I consider all important, and that is watching the conditions when we do our work as to weather. I have found, par- ticularly this year, that a day cr two’s difference in time, even when the work was done with the same care, madea great difference in results. I raise a good many box elders. Much depends on keep- ing them free from weeds when quite young. By sowing the seeds in the fall, or early in the spring, as I used to do, the weeds get up before the elders do,and to keep them clean requires a great deal of work. Accidentally I soaked some séeds in a gunny sack this spring for about eight days, and thinking they would not be good for anything was going to throw them away, but finally thought I would plant them. Intwodays they were up and in two weeks were (7?) inches high, growing much faster than the weeds. I have con- cluded this is a little thing worth noting, “One other point. In handling our deciduous trees here in this climate after a long, dry winter, I cut away all the growth that has new buds on it, all the developed buds in sight, when [I set them out. I get a healthier growth than if I leave any of these branches on. Asan experiment this spring, in setting out 400 apple trees, I cut them every one down to two buds of last year’s growth. Every one is growing, and I never saw nicer, larger growth than these trees show. They were quite severely root-pruned also. I advise you to experimenta littlein this climate and see if this is not a good thing here. I have practiced this on elders, on flowering shrubs ‘and other things, and thus far with good results.” 266 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. WYMAN ELLIOT. Mr. Wyman Elliot was then called upon to say a few words about “The San Jose Scale versus the Minnesota Legislature,” responding somewhat as follows: ‘“Inspeaking ofthis very scaly topic I hardly know what to say. Last winter we undertook to get some legisla- tion that would be a protection from the scale in this state, but through the opposition of outside tree men, who thought they knew more about the scale than we did, we failed to succeed. They have the scale in Illinois, in Iowa, New Jersey and in nearly all the East- ern states, and I think we will haveit here beforelong. Every hor- ticulturist ought to be on his guard. If any one sees anything that looks like the scale, send it to the state farm school to be investi- gated and inform the secretary about it. We must be watchful in this matter.” / ‘J. S. HARRIS. “The Honey Locust in Minnesota,” received notice at the hands of Mr. J.S. Harris. “The honey locust is a native of central and south- ern Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and the southwest. It is a pretty tree at certain times, but a pretty ugly tree to run against when one robs his neighbor’s peach trees on a summer’s night. As a hedge plant I have no faith init. A few years ago they got up some in- terest in Ohio for this purpose, but I do not think any of the hedges are in existence now. It takes up a great deal of room and soon becomes unsightly by getting another kind of a hedge on each side of it. It also breeds insects that are very injurious to other trees. It soon went out of fashion and into disrepute as a hedge plant. In Minnesota I don’t know what we want a hedge for anyhow, unless for a little protection about the premises, and this is not at all adapted for that purpose. The main question is, is it hardy? It is very doubtful if the honey locust will endure our climate during our test winters. Some years ago I planted a fewtrees. They lived along until 1875 and then died a natural death. As it is native so much farther south and has not been very largely introduced here, I think it is not safe for a hedge plant. Some discussion followed Mr. Harris’ talk, bringing out a few points as follows: . Mr. J. T. Grimes: I have noticed that it is those that have the heavy thorns that are not hardy. Prof. Haecker: I know of thornless honey locust trees that are fifty years old and perfectly hardy, while in the same spot two or three thorny ones have died. I know of a hedge in Hebron, Wis., also without thorns, where not a single tree is missing. These do not have a fragrant blossom. Mr. Underwood: Is that tree valuable as a fence? Would it turn stock? Prof. Haecker: I think it would. Mr. Underwood: Would it not needa barbed wire along side of it? Prof. Haecker: Yes, I think perhaps it would. Mr. Underwood: Well,Ithoughtso. Thathas been my experience and observation. SUMMER MEETING, 1897. 267 L. R. MOYER. Judge L. R. Moyer was called upon to speak of “Special Draw- backs to Horticulture in Western Minnesota.’ He succeeded in ‘drawing a somewhat gloomy picture, but it did not prove discour- aging in the least to such veterans as were before him. He said: “Weare all optimists here, and it seems rather ungracious to speak of difficulties. A lack of faith is a great difficulty that most of us meet in ourundertakings. Theaverage western Minnesota farmer has no faith whatever that fruit can be raised in our state, so he does not attemptit. Another difficulty is the demoralization that has fallen upon the western farmer through wheat raising. It has been profi- table, is profitable now, and there are stored up inthe soil elements that will bring forth crops for many years to come. They can put in a little plowing in the spring, a little seed sowing, harvesting a little later their bountiful crops, and then rest the remainder of the year. The farmer gets used to this and doesn’t try anything else. Another difficulty is the lack of education. Many in our locality have come from a country where they raise no fruit and don’t even have agarden. They have not been educated up to it. Then there is the climate, very cold in winter, hot in summer and quite drouthy. Drouth injures trees more often perhaps than cold, our latitude is too far north, longitude too far west, state line alto- gether too far west. Perhaps many of us madea mistake in going out there at all. Another thing, we have not had good stock. The first fruit trees we planted came from Mr. Dartt’s place, one of the best nurseries in the state. They were large, nice looking trees and seemed to be doing splendidly for a time, but they all died. Oncut- ting them open, they were found to have black hearts. They were too nice and too large when we set them out. We have found it better to start small trees that cost perhaps ten cents, such a size as the nurseries send out in the mails. They do better there than the larger trees. Then at first we did not mulch our trees right; we find we need mulching and cultivating. These are our climatic diffi- culties, which can be met in these two ways. We have had blight and don’t know yet whether there is any remedy forit. And another trouble is the village small boy. If you raise any fruit, the small boy at least appreciates it. He is very numerous and very active, and is sure to gather it all, if we do raise any fruit. Then there is the jack rabbit. He is two feet high and jumps half a rod and far- ther when excited and takes the bark off from a tree in two bites. The common rabbit is also very numerous. The field mouse, too, is fond of the trees. We might go on multiplying these difficulties. The tent caterpillar has been very numerous; mildew attacks our grapes and our gooseberries also; the currant worm enters our cur- rant bushes, and the tree cricket is there to bother us. Our wind- breaks even have been a source of trouble. We were cautioned to plant windbreaks. We planted them too close to our orchards, so that they exhaust the moisture from the soil.” SEC’Y E. W. RANDALL. Mr. E. W. Randall, secretary of the State Agricultural Society, was called upon to answer the question, “Should not Agricultural Hall 268 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, ' be Re-christened Horticultural Hall?’ Hesaid: Iwas much pleased to hear Supt. Pendergast say that this is your institution. Iwantto remind you that you have another institution near this that belongs to you in the same sense that this does. Those that have this other institution in charge are trying to take good care of it. It is work- ing in harmony with this and other institutions of the state, doing practical educationa] work. I refer to the State Fair. This year we expect to havea larger exhibition than usual. Applications for space are already coming in, a very unusual thing at this season of the year, and we anticipate a very large exhibition this fall. Here- tofore the agricultural and horticultural displays have occupied the same building, but we have found that this will be no longer possible. The agricultural exhibitors have consented to occupy the space under the amphitheatre, and now you will have Agricult- ural Hall to be occupied wholly by the horticultural exhibit. This will make it possible for you to have a larger exhibit than you have ever had before. Agricultural Hall has already been re-christened “ Horticultural Hall,” and its future belongs to you. Pres. Underwood: We can safely rely upon the Horticultural Society not allowing the occasion of the coming fair to pass by without doing justice to the horticultural interests of the state. HON. CHAS. H. WOODS. Hon. Charles H. Woods, a representative of the Minneapolis Park Board, and a guest of the occasion, was called out. He said he did not expect to be called upon to make a speech, but he nevertheless entertained the society ina few pleasantremarks: “Theone thought that has been uppermost in my mind as I have driven over the state farm and enjoyed myself in this social way with you is, Why was I nota farmer? Why, instead of fretting through thirty-five years of a lawyer’s life I did not go to work like a man and try to earn an honest living. I do not mean to imply that a man cannot earn an honest living as a lawyer, notwithstanding the suggestion that some one once made. A stranger passing by a cemetery saw a per- son apparently much agitated over a certain grave. Supposing, of course, he was mourning the loss of some dear friend, the stranger paused. On the headstone was inscribed this legend: ‘An able lawyer and an honest man.’ The stranger remarked, ‘This man must have been a relative of yours.’ ‘No,’ he said, ‘I was only won- dering why they put those two men into one grave.’ (Laughter). Until the gentleman spoke on ‘Drawbacks,’ I thought I made a mis- take in choosing the lawyer’s profession. When I wasa young man the foundation was laid to make me a farmer. My father was a clergyman ina New Hampshire town where he could not make a living for his family. Just on the edge of the village there was a pasture on a side hill which he purchased. He plowed it up as much as it could be and turned us boys. into it to pick stones. There I cultivated an acquaintance with the soil under those ad- verse circumstances for a number of years. If I could have had the advantages which the young men in Minnesota have today, I think I should never have been a lawyer. When I see all these attractive - things, it seems to me that between the two courses of life, notwith- / SUMMER MEETING, 1897. 269 standing the jack rabbit and other disadvantages mentioned, the farmer has the most advantageous position. I am sorry there are not more members of the Park Board present. We are trying to beautify our city. A great city without parks is a dismal sort of a place. In behalf of the board of which I am a member, we do re- cognize the obligation which we are under to you. We realize the enthusiasm you are putting into the people in reference to this whole subject. Without you I don’t know how aboriculture, horti- culture or any of these arts could prosper, and it is the work that you have done that hascalled park boards into existence. Out of it all there will come a growth anda development and a beautifying of our cities that will make them to bud and blossom as the rose and will give the people those beneficent breathing places we call parks.” JACOB W. MANNING. Jacob W. Manning, a veteran horticulturist from Reading, Mas- sachusetts, was opportunely present, and greeted the society ina few pleasant words. “I was in your state, he said,” in 1866, in Roch- ester, where I saw your first agricultural fair. Mr, Harris was there with about the first apples the state had produced. I have been here at different times since. The greatest changes I see are in the growth of your forests. I think the forests are increasing here, as they arein the Kast. I wasin your city in 1866 when you had 9,000 population here. In Massachusetts we havea society dating back to 1829. Wecarry on our society at a cost of some $15,000 or $20,000 per annum. Its officers are all paid, and even some of its commit- tees. We haveanice hall, but want and need a larger one. We have a property thatis worth about a million dollars, and are prob- ably the only horticultural society in the country that possess much wealth. I have been a member of our society more than forty years, so far back that Minnesota was scarcely then heard of. I think that nothing has changed the face of your state so much in these years as the growth of the trees.” Mr. J.S. Harris, begging the privilege to add a few words, said, “I hoped to live long enough to see our horticultural society on such a basis that it could not be shaken by any storm. We already have about as many in numbers as any other society in the Union, but I want to see itthe largest, most influential society in the country. This winter we had some damper put upon our work. They did not mean us any harm, but when they heard we had 400 or 500 members they thought we were strong enough to take care of ourselves. I hope that by the time of the annual meeting we will all work so faithfully that we will number 1,000, and if we can go on doubling up the next few years we can have such a hall as Mr, Manning tells us of and have something to hand down to our children.” The exercises of the afternoon closed with a recitation, “ The First Minnesota at Gettysburg,” by Miss Dixie Smith. Miss Smith has many times favored the society in this way and added greatly to the pleasure of its exercises, but her theme appealed especially to the hearts of the people this time, and it seemed as though she had never before spoken so eloquently or so stirred her audience. 270 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. AWARD OF PREMIUMS. At the Summer Meeting of 1897 of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. FLOWERS. Article. Exhibitor. Prem. Amt, Collection greenhouse roses.........-.H. Nagel. .......---sesees see Birstocapscs $2.00 Collection greenhouse roses...........Jewell Nursery Co......... Second..... 1.00 Bouquet greenhouse flowers....... trees INADE! siccccecei seeders sa IPItSsts eee na 1.00 Bouquet greenhouse flowers........... Jewell Nursery Co......... Second..... .15 Bouquet out-door flowers.........-...-- Jewell Nursery Co......... Pirst,.2cbe¢ 1.00 Collection out-door roses.............-- Jewell Nursery Co.........First........ 2.00 Collection out-door roses.............. J. R. Cummins..............Second..... 1.00 Mrs. F. C. PARKER, Mrs. THOS. SHAW, MRS. J. W. RAy, Committee. STRAWBERRIES. Article. Exhibitor. Prem, Amt, Wathieldicd hints csc jdees hoe alec bilad ce siemens ere eis Sang SO Lee or Utes ares Birstiicks $1.00 Watsons) Ae. eS een. etlasesettelcis nasa ne Caw watpsoge, peleisieee ccc IESE shite 1.00 WREGET WOOK: ca meeGn cote nsieeee Oded re nenc er Wis SAtEIDSO Ms 1daicreactisne arsine sme 1.00 IBederwood shes 25k tie acs cee ebeaeee ey ciel yewettonn eee bcd tac .50 Wiatheldle) fen eels coaster niclewlcanteecuios IPED 2, JICMWetbe nec tasee cas Second..... avi May erlatid tse iectrmsiceacecticias daatidelsices Bes EL Wie wett: -tctesasscan db tpepecses 1.00 Maichelsghiarlyave cus dcciiaceeiarcts scesiee es IRE SIT SW Otte choices. nick SUNLES Basi toe vale 1.00 TESCO Be osc cid oeua aaa Coles cisjelaade sla Anna B. Underwood...... IPTG. eetion 1.00 PCGEL WOO sora cect eerie ta oucen enajdanete Anna B. Underwood...... Second..... .75 BeUeGWOOG sic. sa. don se cclon clersten niece. A. H. Brackett..-..,......-. Mbhirds cece 50 Grescen tte Ai ehaece eta epereleres AS EE Bracketesy a.) ace ce us Second.... An Haverlantde ky. on. cissene fie SSS aie ee ME ta CRE tb: acmeN- eee meee Second..... -75 SU DACHEK A eee eee eee c ccjetasielstole ASE Brackett: snc tec sasceas Birst. cca 1.00 WOVGter bes sci ee pica Ae es AL H. Brackett. s.nes acest Birstiscc- 1.00 Michel srBarlyie ce ccs teen suss.ueisle cep sioese IA SE, Brackett 26 oy ot 'cans 40) sh 0 Wear .50 CoOllE CHO s. Ce iol. coed iy Mocs Volseie cleeich esl Cet WAI AUN PSO oan shoes oceans eet 3.00 J. T. GRIMES, WM. SOMERVVILLE, H. M. LYMAN, Committee. PEACHES. G, F. FLATIN, SPRING GROVE. The past season has not been a fair one for peaches. My trees were overloaded the season of 1895, and on account of the continu- ous drought we had the trees made a small growth and were not in good condition for fruiting. My seedling trees produced a small crop of peaches of good quality. I have four varieties of budded peach trees, planted three years, that set a large number of fruit buds, but the buds dropped off before blossoming. Ithas generally been the case that young trees do not fruit well with me. I have been in the habit of laying down the trees without using poison for. mice, and they have been more or less girdled by mice; the last year (1896) two of the trees were seriously injured by mice. The varieties fruited by me are mostly seedlings of a late variety ripening the latter part of September, except in the season of 1892 when they did not ripen till October 14th. Trial tations, MIDSUMMER REPORTS. HORTICULTURAL DIVISION OF UNIVERSITY FARM.— CENTRAL STATION. PROF. S. B. GREEN, SUPT. Our nursery stock and fruit plants never came through a winter in better shape than they did through last winter, and the prospect for a good, normal growth was never more promising than this spring, but owing to the cold, wet weather of the latter part of May and first of June ourcrops are not nearly as forward as usual at the time this is written, and warm weather is greatly needed. INJURY FROM RABBITS. The most injury which we received last winter was from rabbits girdling our smallertrees.. Thiscomplaint is a very general one, and I think it must have resulted from the fact that the natural food of the rabbits was covered deeply with snow. In our case, we found that the rabbits in our vicinity had their homes in some large piles of tree trunks and by surrounding these with wire hen house netting, we harvested the whole crop of rabbits, and their nuisance ceased. LATE Frosts. We escaped serious damage from the June frosts which killed the new growth on the oaks in low spots in this vicin- ity. A few of ourstrawberry blossoms were killed, but the loss from this cause was very small, owing to the fact that we covered the plants with the mulch from between the rows on the night of May 29. The outlook is now for a very good crop of strawberries, but they will be late in ripening. OUTLOOK FOR SMALL FRUITS. The outlook for raspberries, cur- rants, gooseberries, blackberries, Juneberries, buffalo-berries and mulberries is unusually good. OUTLOOK FOR APPLES AND PLUMS. Considering that this is the off year for apples, we have the promise for an unusually large amount of fruit. Plums have set heavily and look well. Cherries will be a very light crop. 372 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. RUSSIAN PEARS. For the first time we have a few of the seedless Russian pears, Bessemianca, that have set fruit. This variety we have several times grown to a large size, but it has always blighted without fruiting. The most promising Russian pear we now have is Gakosk, which has not blighted badly in our experience with it. GRAPES. Our grapes have not fully recovered from the injuries caused by the winter of 1895-6, but there is a very good promise of fruit. THE LOGAN-BERRY. The Logan-berry has been referred to in our Secretary’s Corner as being a fruit of great promise. We have had it in our grounds here for three years, but it has not been especially promising. It has given us some very handsome, large clusters of fruit, but the plants seem rather tender and even when heavily pro- tected in winter do not always look very strong in the spring and do not produce much fruit. But it should be remembered that neither the blackberry nor the dewberry do so well on our grounds as in some other sections of the state. To sum upits merits:—I think this fruit plant may do well in the sections of this state that ‘are especially favorable for small fruit but is not adapted for very general planting. We have about 200 very thrifty seedlings of the Logan-berry that should fruit this year for the first time. The strawberry-raspberry killed to the ground last winter, but sprouts have come from the roots by the thousand, and these are said to fruit the first summer. DOUGLAS SPRUCE. The Douglas spruce (Pseudotsuga taxifolia) is coming to the front as one of our hardiest and prettiest ever- greens. Itis standing drouth very well here and making an enor- mous growth. Its home, however, is evidently on moist land. I regard it as a tree of very great promise. It is fully as easily grown from seed as the Scotch pine, and stock of it ought to be cheap within a few years. ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. Considerable ornamental planting has been done on the grounds this spring. The plantings of previous years have made a very satisfactory growth and are now wellestab- lished. They makea very pretty appearance and area feature for which this station is becoming wellknown. In fact, the grounds of University Farm are being increasingly regarded as the years go by as avery interesting park-like place and are visited by many thousands. CROWDED CONDITION OF THE HORTICULTURAL DIVISION. The last legislature failed to make the expected provision for the increased numbers attending the school of agriculture, and in consequence the horticultural division, in common with the others, will be greatly crowded the coming winter. The case is aggravated by the fact that the new girls’ building which was provided for by the legisla- ture will give us greatly increased dormitory room and opportuni- ties for more students, while the facilities for instruction remain the same as for several years, when they have been greatly crowded. The foundation has been laid for the new girls’ dormitory,and every- thing points to its early completion and its readiness for the open- ing of the school year. TRIAL STATIONS. 273 MINNESOTA CITY TRIAL STATION. O. M. LORD, SUPT. Additions of stock to the trial grounds this spring are as follows: Eight apple trees, from J. S. Harris, La Crescent. Scions, from H. Knudson, Springfield, Minn.,of the sand and Com- pass cherries. Four varieties of plums, Scions from Theo. Williams, Omaha; Neb. Twenty-eight trees from the University Farm (Prof. Green), apple, pear, plum and cherry; also gooseberries, Douglas spruce and ponderosa. From J. W. Kellogg, Wis., Marshall, Wm. Belt and Brandywine strawberries. The season, though backward, has been favorable to newly set trees and plants. Fruit promised well until the frost of June Ist, which ruined early small fruits. Apple trees that did not bear last year are wellset. Plums, cherries, gooseberries and currants were not materially injured from the frost, while grapes were killed back. WINDOM TRIAL STATION. DEWAIN COOK, SUPT. . Fruit trees came through the winter of 96-7 in good condition. - Raspberries, strawberries and most other small fruits, owing to the large amount of snow that covered the ground, wintered in excel- lent shape. The following varieties of apples set for a large crop: Duchess, Tetofsky, Okabena, Whitney, Minnesota and Grandmother; but the frosts of May 29th and other dates destroyed at this station all prospects for apples. No blight has yet appeared, but we have the leaf scab, which I think is the cause of so many varieties being non-productive. This will apply especially to the Wealthy. I can say but little about plums,as they went the way of the apple crop, except a few specimens that had not shed their hulls. None of the trees have more thana few scattering plums. The freeze destroyed most of the fruit buds of the cap varieties of raspberries, as also the blackberries and dewberries, but the suckering varieties, like the Turner and Brandywine, were comparatively uninj ured Currants promise about one-half a crop or less. Juneberries are dropping their fruit, and I think there will be no crop. Strawber- ries set in for an extraordinary crop, and we can’t tell yet just how much the frosts have reduced it, but itis considerable. We shall not begin to market them until about July 4th. Our last hard frosts at date of writing was June 7th. 274 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. MONTEVIDEO TRIAL STATION. L. R. MOYER, SUPT. THE SHRUB BORDER. A member of the society criticises quite freely a statement made in the report of this station for 1895 to the effect that it is safe to plant the buffalo-berry only where a silver-leaf tree is desired. The member appears to think that it is safe to plant buffalo-berries anywhere. No greater mistake could be made. The buffalo-berry is hardy enough, of course, for any situation; but unless we wish to reproduce the desolate gray effect of a western sage bush plain we want something beside buffalo-berries in the shrub plantation that borders the lawn. The bright silvery foliage of the buffalo-berry is appropriate where the shrubbery already has a dark background, such as a cluster of evergreens, a plantation of burr oaks or a screen of common lilacs; but it is a shrub that should be used with care even in those locations. Shrubbery on the prairie should carry a suggestion of coolness, an invitation to rest after a weary day under the blazing sun of summer. Nothing gives this effect better than the liberal use of dark foliaged trees and shrubs, such as burr oaks, lilacs, bush honeysuckles, Russian cherries and Amur barberries. Silver- leaf and “golden” shrubs must be used as an artist uses his bright colors, with great discrimination. Most prairie planting isa failure from an artistic point of view, largely because so many light-foliage trees are used. The leaves of the box elder, for example, are almost yellow, and while box elders are better than no tree they lamentably fail to give the highest satisfaction. Green ash is far better. All the lilacs are good, especially the varieties of Syringa vulgaris. Charles the XII seems to be better than the type; the flower clusters are larger and darker colored. The white variety should be in every collection. The more recently introduced Chinese, Japanese and Russian varieties are all full of promise and seem to be at home on the prairies The bush honeysuckle, Lonicera Tartarica, white and pink, and the even more beautiful lonicera splendens are all at home on the prairies and ought to stand by every farmer’s door and in the shrub border of every village lot. The Amur barberry has already been spoken of as a green shrub. It has very graceful drooping flower clusters. From the stand- point of the lawn planter, it is the best of the barberries. The purple-leaf variety of the common barberry does well on the prai- ries, but it must be planted with the same caution as the silver- leaf and golden trees. Lonicera flava, as sent out by Prof. Budd, proves to be an Ameri- can species, the lonicera Sullivantii of Gray. It is a very desirable honeysuckle but not a very successful climber. Tied up toa stake, it is a very interesting glaucous shrub. It produces greenish yellow flowers in June and bright scarlet berries later on. It be- comes ever more glaucous as the season advances, and when itis covered with red berries in the fall itis a striking object. TRIAL STATIONS. 275 It seems likely that lonicera media, as imported by Prof. Budd from Russia, will prove to be only a garden variety of the native lonicera glauca of Gray’s Manuel. It has crossed the ocean from America and has now been re-imported to stand in the shrub bor- der alongside its ancestor from the rocky ledges near Montevideo. But that is nothing to its discredit. In the long run we find the best things nearest home. No shrub on our grounds is more strik- ingly beautiful than a well cultivated specimen of our Minnesota lonicera glauca. No lawn planter can afford to neglect the little lonicera Alberti. It is a beautiful trailing shrub and ought to have a position in the front part of the border, where it will serve to connect the lawn with the larger shrubbery beyond. Prunus tomentosa has bloomed with us for the first time this spring and appears to be perfectly hardy. Pyrus tortingo is doing well but has not yet bloomed with us. The Siberian nut-bearing almond, sent out by Prof. Budd, is do- ing better year by year. This spring it was covered with a mass of pink flowers. Lonicera elegans, from Prof. Budd, has rather larger flowers and more showy and larger fruit than the common Tartarian honey- suckle. es ALBERT LEA TRIAL STATION. CLARENCE WEDGE, SUPT. The past winter and spring seem to have been perfect from a hor- ticultural standpoint, so that at the present time every tree and plant is seen at its best development, and small fruits seem particu- larly in their highest degree of fruitfulness. In the absence of any test of hardiness since our last report, and having little new material upon which to base observations, we will simply jot down in irregular order a few new and old facts that have impressed the writer within the past few weeks. APPLES. The ease with which rabbits injure the lower branches of low-headed trees is a point in favor of a three foot stem and a protected trunk, and the fact that poultry netting three feet high can be bought at less than 20cts. per rod is an argument in favor of placing such a durable and efficient fence about every fruit garden and orchard, as we witnessed at Mr. Mitchell’s place last winter, where not a hen or rabbit track desecrates the ground which pro- duces his famous Russian apples. At the point where drifts are likely to occur, the fence may be reinforced by another width. The old Duchess tree which for four years we have been attempt- ing to train to annual bearing is carrying a good crop on the third of the tree from which we removed al/ the fruit last year. The rest of the tree is barren. Our conclusion is that by removing all the fruit from one-half of each tree ina bearing year, a Duchess orchard may be made to produce a fair crop of fruit annually. This would be better than dividing the orchard into halves, as the strain of 276 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. bearing a double cropin alternate years is very great upon a tree, and when combined with a severely dry soil or hard winter, likely to prove fatal. Our Wealthy trees are barren this year, although thinned to the extent of three-fourths of their fruit a year ago, but the Longfield is again heavily loaded, although they produced more than the Wealthy last year and are several years younger. Char- lamoff is so far an excellent annual bearer. Hibernal and Repka Malenka are inclined to follow the Duchess in overdoing one year and resting the next. Yellow Sweet blooms profusely but drops nearly all its fruit before it is larger than a hickory nut; the Martha crab does the same as a young tree but later on is very prolific. PEARS. Pear on apple has borne fruit three seasons and still clings throughits knotty union to the supporting apple branch: Specimen pears can thus be easily grown, bnt it does not by any means solve the problem of pear growing in our state. PuLumMs. All kinds of plums of bearing age are well loaded. The Itasca, or Aitkin, plum has already developed fruit as large as an average ripe Desota, and the end is not yet. Itis the most promis- ing variety of stone fruit on our place. It was interesting to note the difference in the susceptibility of a number of varieties to the plum pocket fungus. Desota, Wolf, Rockford, Hawkeye and Black Hawk were almost free from it; Cheney, Forest Garden and Itasca . more or less subject to it. The Compass cherry is again showing lots of fruit on yearling trees and shows inclination to make a good, shapely tree. CHERRIES. The only really fruitful variety we have is the Wragg, and the quantity of cherries little three year orchard trees are bear- ing istruly pleasant to see. Large trees of the Osthiem that ought to be bearing bushels of fruit are barren as usual. If wecan geta few such crops from the Wragg, we can afford to see the trees diein an occasional hard winter. EVERGREENS. The Black Hills form of the white spruce appears to be of a richer, deeper green than the common white, and has proved very tenacious of life when transplanted. The Colorado blue spruce is king of evergreens and has not shown a weak point during the past five years. A specimen on our lawn has made a growth of sixteen inches already the present season. Many of the spruces in the nursery were seriously injured by the freeze in May but are recovering and will, no doubt, make the finer trees for their early shearing. The ponderosa and Austrian pines are proving among the best, if not the most reliable, of pines at our place, al- though nothing will displace the mountain pine for good and regu- lar behavior under the most trying circumstaces. The jack pine is making an astonishing growth in the nursery, and as a windbreak evergreens may besuperior to the Scotch pine. Weshall try growing it from seed next season. The white pine, Norway spruce and arbor vitae have long ago been discarded from our list of valuable trees for our section; indeed, there is no place in the west where the white spruce would not make a better tree than the Norway for any purpose whatever. * ‘ee. TRIAL STATIONS. 277 LA CRESCENT TRIAL STATION. J. S. HARRIS, SUPT. The winter of 1896-7 was not one of unusual severity as regards ex. tremes of temperature, but proved a rather trying one to nursery root grafts and to some varieties of fruit plants, owing to the scant snowfall and a coating of ice they received early in January. This ice coating was not so heavy as to break down trees or strip them of their branches, as was done in some portions of the state, but it did have an injurious effect upon fruit buds and the new growth of nursery stock, as considerable numbers of root grafts were killed nearly to the surface of the ground. Orchard trees generally win- tered well, but a few Duchess, Early Glass and some unknown Rus- sians that bloomed heavily last year, were stricken with spur blight and made a late fall growth, are dying or dead. The bloom in the orchard this spring was not nearly as heavy as last year, and from that cause, late frosts and blight, we do not anticipate a very heavy crop of apples and crabs. The Flemish Beauty pears that fruited last season are about all used up with blight, and the Russian varieties are showing some blight. Native plums bloomed very heavily but are carrying only a moderate crop, especially in frosty locations. Grapes wintered well, even where not given protection, but the frosts of May 31 and Junel did great injury to most of the vineyards. Our own is not seriously injured, but it is very favorably located, and we kept a number of fires burning through the latter part of the night, which may have helped towards saving them to some extent. About 200 apple trees were set this spring in the trial orchard. Varieties not heretofore reported are Aiken’s Winter, Forestburg, © Hutchinson’s seedling, Red Wine, Ole K. seedlings, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, Juicy White and Greenwood crab and some others. For the nursery we have put in root grafts of twelve of the most promising varieties of the Lightly seedlings, the Babbett, Burley’s seedling, Bode, N. Y. Vandevere, Springdale, Shakleford, Eberhard, Milwaukee, Loughren seedling and others. The reason for putting in the Babbett, Spring- dale and Shakleford is not because there is any likelihood of their succeeding here, but because the varieties are being offered and rec- ommended here by traveling agents, and we wish as soon as possi- ble to ascertain their degree of hardiness when produced under the most favorable conditions, for it is not likely varieties procured from the south will do well. As before stated, the yearlings of many varieties suffered injury in the nursery. Of the nineteen varieties of Duchess seedlings orig- inated by Joseph Zettel, of Wisconsin, all stood the winter’s test as well asthe Wealthy, and about one-half of them as well as the Duchess, while a few were not in the least injured. The Utter is a variety that has not been considered as entirely hardy, but it came through the last winter without the slightest injury. Anisim is holding its own both in the nursery and orchard, and did not show the slightest injury. The Wealthy seems with me to be improving as a nursery tree through long propagation. A few scions fur- nished me by Mr. Wyman Elliot from trees on their own roots from 278 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY the original stock killed back much worse than grafts cut from nursery trees,and they show a marked difference in habit of growth. Many nursery trees of the Grimes’ Golden and the Roxbury Russet killed to the ground, and few of them are vigorous and healthy. STRAWBERRIES. This is the only crop upon which we are able to give a full report at this date. At this station the plants wintered well. The crop prospect was somewhat damaged by the frosts of May 31 and June 1, and again by the extreme heat between June 13 and 16, but the final outcome is the largest and best crop produced in many years. The experience this year is that the pistillate varie- ties are not as susceptible to injury from frost as the bi-sexual, and that the best and most perfect pollenization takes place where two or more varieties are used, and that one-half, or not more than three- fifths, of the plantation should be pistillate. For convenience of keeping fruit separate in picking, I would recommend starting the patch, first, one row of bi-sexual, next two, or at most three, rows of pistillate; then two rows of bi-sexual, each of a different variety;and so on through, finishing with a row of bi-sexual on the outside. Of bi-sexual varieties the Bederwood stands at the head for productive- ness and is equal to any other as a strong pollenizer. The Rio has this season proved very satisfactory, but I think is not equal to the Brandywine. The Brandywine hascome in with the Warfield. The plant is thrifty, vigorous and healthy. It is productive, and the fruit is large, of good quality and appearance. The Van Deman gave us some fine early fruit, but is not productive enough for a market berry. The Enhance is a good pollenizer but not a good fruiter. Gandy would bea good late berry if it were twice as pro- ductive. The Lovett has been next to the Bederwood in fruitful- ness, and a perfect pollenizer for the Warfield. The berries are large,dark red and of good quality,but hardly equal to Rio and Bran- dywine inappearance. I have planted the Splendid for trial. A few plants allowed to carry fruit would indicate that it is a valuable variety. Of pistillate varieties, I have not found anything that promises to be more valuable than the Warfield, Crescent and Hav- erland. The Marshall is large and looks well, but it is not product- ive enough or a good keeper. The Greenville and Eureka were too soft for market. The Timbrel is a good home berry but not fit for market. Blackcap raspberries promise hardly a half crop, owing to injury by frost. The Palmer was the most seriously injured, and the Nemaha the least. The red varieties so far do not show any serious injury. Currants are not doing well. Some kind of a blight has struck them, causing the leaves to turn brown and drop off. The old Red Dutch is most seriously affected, and the Long Bunch Holland and Prince Albert the least. A little experience with southern grown trees is proving unsatis- factory. When planted, three years since, they were large, fine look- ing, said to be two-year old trees, from 5 to 7 feet high. They have not increased very muchin size since,and are a lousy, wormy, black- hearted lot and, from appearance, not true to name. 3 HORTICULTURE AT THE STATE FAIR. 279 HORTICULTURE AT THE STATE FAIR. SECY. E. W. RANDALL, HAMLINE. I do not purpose to describe in detail the horticultural exhibit at the recent state fair, nor do I understand thatit was intended I should do so when this topic was assigned to me. Many of those here present helped to make the exhibit and have personal knowl- edge of its character; others,no doubt, have read the careful ac- ‘count of it which appeared in the October number of the “Horticulturist” and in that way have gained a knowledge of its extent, excellence and beauty. The fruit and flower exhibit com- prised as many varieties as were ever seen in any exhibition in the Northwest and was one of the features which most visitors took pains to find. There were seven hundred and forty entries in this department and seven hundred and sixty-six dollars and seventy- five cents was paid in premiums by the fair management. But rather than continue this description, I wish to speak briefly of the value of horticulture in a genera] way, that Imaythe more clearly show the value of a horticultural exhibit at the state fair, not only to the exhibitors and the fair, but to the state at large. The products of horticulture are important from a commercial standpoint, and the total income to the people of the state from this source is not only large butis continually growing. Itis truethere have been severe winters which have wrought sad havoc with fruit interests; but, on the whole, there has beena steady advance. Ifthe figures of our state statistician can be relied upon, there were more apple trees growing in 1874 than now, though the number of bushels produced has been’much greater in 1896 than in any other year of the state’s history. The grape product is also important, and the _ value of the small fruits of the state in the aggregate is very large. That horticulturists, by their progressive efforts, are adding materially to the annual income and wealth of the state cannot be denied. It may be properly urged, also, that the extension of horticultural interests tends to the betterment of public health. The products of any latitude are the ones best adapted to the health and well being of the people living in that particular climate. A kind creator has not only placed within our reach all the bounties needed for lifeand comfort, but has apparently made it necessary for us to use them. Facilities for transportation are now so perfect that sub-tropical and tropical fruits are brought to our doors at very reasonable prices. While we enjoy these fruits and find them palatable, we know that, unlike the fruits of our own locality, they are luxuries and not nec- essary articles of food. In the latitudes in which they are grown, no doubt these fruits are extensively used with beneficial results, but if people here should attempt the use of any of them to the extent that our apples, for instance, are used the result would be positively injurious. That horticultural products contain elements needed in animal economy is proved by the growth and strength of animals fed upon fruits largely for long periods. I was reminded in a recent conversation with a well known local physician, that since the art of canning, preserving and drying fruits has been so far perfected as to make them possible articles of diet for sailors and men in bar- 280 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. racks, that numerous ailments peculiar to their isolated condition have practically disappeared from the list of human maladies. Grapes alone are sufficient to maintain life,and anexclusively grape diet is now frequently prescribed as a cure for certain diseases. It is well to remember that the more fruit grown and eaten the better will be the health of the people, and it should be remembered also that the fruits of our own climate are better for us than any other. In home adornment and in the cultivation of a love for the pure and beautiful,the influence of horticulture cannot be over-estimated. The cultivation of trees, shrubs, vines, fruits and flowers is an elevat- ing occupation. It has its place in true home-making everywhere. Permit fancy to picture an ideal home, and the spacious house will be in the midst of ample grounds carefully laid out; walks and drives will be bordered by fragrant flowers; great trees will furnish refreshing shade; there will be trellised bowers and rustic settees; fruits of all kinds will be grown in abundance, and all nature will be made to contribute to the comfort and pleasure of the place. Without horticulture, allthe wealth of the world cannot make such ahome. Even if we have given up expecting great things and have made up our minds to be content with a small house and grounds, we still wish a combination of trees, shrubs and flowers, knowing that it will prove “a thing of beauty and a joy forever.” We do not like to contemplate the slip-shod home, with the wood- pile in front, the fences out of repair and a forest of weeds where flowers should gladden the hearts of the inmates, nor do we need to be told of the influence of such surroundings upon the wife, sons and daughters in such an unhomelike home. The picture of the inside life usually corresponds with the outside view of the place where people stay. It is much more pleasant to think of a neat, tidy, pleasant home, beautifully surrounded by lawns ornamented with trees, shrubs and flowers, where the spirit of improvement permeates the whole home system. There refinement and intelli- gence is sure to be found. Everything will denote a better order of things. The buildings will be painted, fences will be well kept, and farm machinery will be put away in its proper place. This, in turn, affects the whcle community. If one family surrounds itself with a neat lawn, flowers, shrubs and trees, others will follow their exam- ple,and you will soon find great improvement throughout the whole village or township, until, instead of one fine place, you will find throughout a whole neighborhood many beautiful homes. While in substantial results fruit raising probably ranks first, the cultivation of flowers is of greatimportance. Rural homes in Amer- ica, as a rule, are better than those of other countries, largely be- cause of the effort spent in beautifying them. Flowers give pleasure both summer and winter and enable those who have them to enjoy the luxury of giving. All are not able to make costly presents, but flowers are something any one can freely give or accept. Flowers may be used to express the most delicate sentiments and have a. place upon all occasions, public or social. With them the home of God is decorated, as well as our homes; with them the bride is adorned and the mourner comforted; and when loved ones are laid away to await the resurrection morn, with what love and tenderness flowers are strewn upon their graves. HORTICULTURE AT THE STATE FAIR. 281 My subject is “ Horticulture at the State Fair.” I hope what I have said upon horticulture is appropriate and to the point, but it will not be strange if you are beginning to wonder where there is any reference to the fair. Let metell you. Each time the horticultur- ists of the state have made acreditable exhibit at the fair—and all of their exhibits are creditable—all horticultural interests have been materially advanced and a new impetus is given to the prosperity, health and happiness of the people of the state. Horticulturists have benefited themselves, for each has studied the points of excellence in his neighbor’s exhibit, thus gaining greater knowledge of his occupation and having his ambition to excel materially strengthened. You have also benefited those less thrifty people who so far have taken no interest in fruits and flowers, When you have placed before them this valuable object lesson upon what you have produced, you have said to them plainly, “Go thou and do likewise.” Some will surely heed the injunction. There are many homes in the newer prairie regions without shade and where not so much as a strawberry bed or a row of currant bushes can be found, and when into these you have introduced either fruits or flowers, even to a small extent, you have just so far added to the total of human happiness, and the common weal is again promoted. Those exhibitors, like J. S. Harris, Wm. Somerville, Clarence Wedge, M. Pearce, Ditus Day and others who might be mentioned, who stay with their exhibits during the fair for the purpose of making explanations to interested visitors,deserve much credit. When these men tell visitors how they have accomplished good results in the various branches of their work, the varieties that have proved most hardy, how to care for trees, shrubs and plants during severe sea- sons, and explain in a plain, matter-of-fact way the many details of their chosen occupation, they are doing educational work, the value of which is very great. Among the public benefactors of today, these aggressive pioneers in successful horticulture should be placed in the front rank. A special service was performed for the state by the exhibit at this year’s fair. The attendance at the fair was unusually large. Many of them came from older and more thickly settled portions of the country and, it is believed, not only to see the many attractions in the cities and upon the fair grounds at the same time but for the purpose of learning the opportunities offered by Minnesota to those seeking new homes in the west. The greatest prejudice, so far as Minnesota is concerned, existing in the minds of these visitors has. been produced by exaggerated stories of the severity of our climate, and this was largely dispelled by that exhibit. Where sucha wealth and variety of fruits and flowers are grown, it is certain that the elements are not inhospitable to human kind. I think it may be fairly claimed that that horticultural exhibit will have an important influence in attracting new settlers to the state during the next few years. In closing I wish to say that the officers and members of the State Agricultural Society not only feel a deep interest in the work of this, the State Horticultural Society, but appreciate the active and valuable assistance of its members at their great annual exhibitions. May this spirit of interest and helpfulness, each for the other, continue through the years to the mutual advantage of both organ- izations. 282 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. THE FARMER’S PLUM GROVE. O. C. GREGG, LYND, LYON CO. The time has been when it was considered that fruit of any de- scription was out of the question upon the ordinary Minnesota farm. A close observer, however, in the early days would have seen signs in nature’s growth that would have led him to have doubted such aconclusion. The Red River carts, in their annual trips from the buffalo ranges to St. Paul, frequently had their tires dyed red with the crushed wild strawberries over which they passed. The timbered sections of our state almost always gave shelter to the native plum that in its native growth would excel in flavor the best plum ever produced under garden cultivation, at least so we think; indeed, the improved plum, so called today, re- tains the flavor from the wild condition, and we have but improved its growth and size by cultivation. I have become much interested in this matter of fruit for the Min- nesota farmer. Many years of frontier experience, and years of work upon the farm under more favorable conditions, give me to understand quite plainly what is a practical thing for a farmer to undertake and what would be beyond his reach and too difficult to be carried out under farm conditions. Very naturally I study the economy of labor in the growing of those fruits. This will be the strong point in this article which I now write upon the growing of plums upon the farms in Minnesota. We first began our grove by going to the native woods at the time the plums were ripe and selecting the best of those that we found, marking them by tying a string to the branches, and then upon the following spring we took them up and transplanted them to where they now stand. We put out rows about eight feet apart, and they were placed quite thickly in the row, but not so thickly but that we could readily pass between the trunks of the trees. I thought then, and now think, that the plum needs to grow in quite a compact mass. This grove was cultivated during the first year or two and kept free from weeds. I am free to say that at this part of the growth of our plum grove I was doing this much to please my father, who then lived with me, and I did not take as much interest in it as I now do. é I will here stop to say that if I were to do this work again, I would not go to the woods for the native plum in its wild state, because I have suffered very much from plum pocket in the destruction of our fruit, and I am informed that the Desota, Forest Garden and other improved plums are not so liable to this sweeping blight. I have been very recently told that we could use this foundation stock of the native plum and top-graft to a great advantage, and I may so do in the immediate future. After those trees had been growing a short time, I conceived the idea of taking the old straw from the straw pile in the spring and thoroughly mulching the ground beneath the trees, covering the ground to something like a foot deep with straw. We have done this every year since, and with a degree of success that even has surprised me. The trees have put on a wonderful growth, and they look luxuriant as they stand now in that long hedge, throwing out THE FARMER’S PLUM GROVE. 283 a branch at every possible place to catch the sunlight. We have persistently kept the young shoots down that came up from the roots, by cutting them either with a sharp hoe or a small hatchet, and in that way we can readily get under the branches in a stoop- ing position, and even can kneel upon the ground without any in- convenience, as the straw makes a nice clean covering for the ground as well as acting as a mulch to the trees. We have not suffered any inconvenience from the straw bringing weed seeds to the grove and so causing the wild morning glory and similar vines to climb up on the trees. The straw during the sum- mer gradually breaks down and becomes finer. We have now planted on either side of this original hedge, one row of the Desota and Forest Garden plums, These are making a fine growth, and so far this year are not showing any of the evil effects of the plum pocket. If I thought there was any danger of this blight, to which I have referred, infecting my improved plums, I should at once set out another plum grove and leave the native entirely out of the list. This is a matter upon which I want information and shall be guided according to the knowledge which I may receive. But if I should fail entirely in obtaining fruit from this grove, still I shall feel amply repaid for the labor which we have expended in growing it, by its furnishing to the chickens upon the farm the best shade for the summer that Ihaveever seen. Not far from the grove is our chicken house, and during the summer the hens with their broods seek shelter in mid-day beneath the trees, and in case there is the cry of the hawk they at once seek its shelter and are safe from his depredations. The chickens seem to thoroughly understand that this plum grove is a sort of fortress forthem; and I after having learned from Prof. Lugger that hawks are great enemies of gophers am not now so much inclined to go for the gun if I see one of them sailing about, for the chickens will take care of themselves, and the hawk will probably help us take care of the gophers. The chickens also not only get help from the trees, but they also help the trees wonderfully well. They tear the straw into bits and help to work it into the soil. Now and then I throw under the trees some coarse manure, and that, of course, is worked up by the hens in their scratching. Mrs. Tilson, who represents the poultry depart- ment in our institute work, often lays great stress upon the neces- sity of having a scratching hen if you wish alaying hen, This straw certainly excites the hens to great activity. They have got to scratch pretty lively before they get to the ground, and then they seem to enjoy the ground all the more after such a scratching. Some tidy reader may think that this plum grove of ours must be very untidy with the scattering of straw underneath the branches, as I have explained, But if they think so, they are mistaken. We have a little trench, or small ditch, as it might be called, which separates the mulch portion of the garden where the plum trees are from the adjoining grass plot, and it is very rarely that any straw is scratch- ed across this line ofseparation. In case it does, we always throw it immediately back, so that instead of having an unsightly thing about the place, it really is pleasant to look upon; and the grove 284 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. certainly has a very tidy look, as it apparently grows up out of the brown base, made so by this deep covering of straw,and the dark green of the leaves, lightened very frequently by the lighter green of the new shoots in the top branches. : There is no more pleasant sight upon the place during the grow- ing season than this plum grove in the time of blossom. It then is a perfect bank of bloom, and if there is a breeze blowing and you are on the leeward side of it you will perceive the abundance of perfume that passes from it. I had occasion one spring day to work upon that side of the grove, and I shall not forget very soon the pleasure of that day’s labor. Any farmer who reads this article can readily understand how cheaply and how easily such a grove as this can be maintained on the farm. If the trees are once set, this annual mulching with the straw completes the labor of the year. The cutting of the shoots is such a small affair that it can be done at odds and ends of time without any burdensome tax of labor. The shoots do not come up so quickly through this heavy mulching of straw as they would if there was nothing upon the ground. This mulching is done in the early spring at intervals during the spring’s work when you cannot go upon the field on account of rain or inclement weather. So the plum grove in this way helps save some of the odds and ends of time that otherwise might be wasted. Iam fully persuaded that the farmer who will take hold of this matter can make a nice little revenue from this fruit. There are few, if any, citiesin this state which have as much of this fruit as they would consume, provided they could get it. There are many people in Minnesota who do not know how luscious the native plum oftheir own State is. It is far superior to any of the imported fruits of that kind. We rarely find it in the markets of the cities. Mr. Clarence Wedge, who has been with us in institute work dur- ing the past year, has very wisely laid much stress upon this fruit in his institute talks and has, beyond doubt, impressed many of our farmers so strongly that they will take hold of this matter, and we shall see-many more plum groves in the future than we now have. It was very evident that there was much interest in this subject, as it was customary with us at most institutes to havea very early morning session at which Mr. Wedge explained to the farmers who were present how they could start and also how they could improve which they might have by grafting, etc.,and the attendance at those early sessions was very good. I will close this article by saying that while we have upon our place many things which excite the interest of those who visit us, there is not one thing that seems to interest farmers more than this simple matter of fact grove, so largely composed of the native plums from our adjoining woods. They are surprised at its luxu- riant growth, pleased with the beauty of its appearance, more than surprised when they look upon it at the time of bloom, and until this blight of the plum pocket came upon us they were delighted with its abundance of fruit. (OI — F AN IDEAL FARMER’S HOME. 285 AN IDEAL FARMER’S HOME. MRS. O. C. GREGG, LYND. In considering this subject, our mind is crowded with memories of many homes made sacred by associations, all of which had some- thing of the ideal inthem. Besides, we recall Longfellow’s home picture in “The Hanging of the Crane,” Whittier’s fireside scene in “Snow Bound,’ Holland’s delineations of home life in “Bitter Sweet” and Burns’ “Saturday Night.” A halo of glory shines around all these, yet still in our minds is ever something better. There is more expressed in the word “home” than can be put into a few words. It is one of the indefinable words—too full of signifi- cance to be framed in one sentence or, indeed, in many sentences. To give an outline of a home truly ideal in every respect may not be as easy a task as one might think. Again, what might seem ideal to one would seem commonplace to another. One person would lay great stress on situation, and another on architectural and artistic points, while another would say, “Give me simplicity as to appointments, with nature’s beauty and glory alone as adorn- ments.” One would ask to have in the background New England’s mountains, Green or White, others would claim such surroundings to be bleak and austere and demand as a requisite a sunny spot on the fair slopes of the Pacific. We see by this that situation does not make the home. With Americans the home idea is not wanting, and our love of locality is large. Our home associations are dear to us, and the thought of giving them up isa grief. Many nations live in houses merely and move from one to another without dread or seeming annoyance, yet surely he is to be pitied who has not closely associ- ated with the house in which he lives the tender thought of home, Home! The place where true character has birth and education! The nursery of the best life this earth affords! I think it is an American who has said, “The homes of a nation are its strongest forts.” This accepted, the founding and maintain- ing of ideal homes is of great importance to the nation’s strength and becomes the highest aim of every patriotic citizen. As farm- ers, we are to discuss today an ideal farmer’s home, and this brings us to the task of defining in as few words as possible the word “home.” Itis a place where loving natures find opportunity for activity and development, for rest and comfort when troubled and weary and for sympathy when sorrowing or rejoicing. A home on the farm affords conditions where all these may be realized and, perhaps, better than elsewhere. Away from the rush of city life, with its interruptions and vexations, there is opportun- ity for activity and development which is healthful and normal. Here there is, also, time for rest in peaceful seclusion when bur- dened or weary, as well as for that sympathy which is the true ex- pression of sincere hearts. In the country, near to nature’s great heart, we drink in of her fullness and harmony. Who has not felt the effect which rural surroundings have upon the senses? As one breathes in the purity of the free air and takes in the grand sweep of the horizon, as he beholds the sublimity of the unclouded sky or that sky again clad in its varied cloud robes or its spangled even- 286 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ing glory, or as he delights in the wealth of the waving forests and the beauty of the flowering fields with their accompaniment of bird song, he steps with lighter tread upon the velvety green of the turf beneath his feet because of the beauty and glory encompassing him. Each gives an exhilaration to body and soul which is in- spiring. Inthe more ruggged countries of Scotland, Scandinavia and Switzerland this exhilaration is enhanced by the grandeur of the scenery, and man absorbs, as it were, the strength and sublim- ity around him and, as a result, becomes ennobled by them. To have an ideal home in the country we must have healthful, vigorous life; we must have as requisites ideal natures for inmates of the home, and not only those naturally endowed but well trained and educated. This we ask, far above the beautiful situation and artistic surroundings outside or the perfect appointments inside the dwelling. These may vary indefinitely, but the upward, onward trend of those who make the home life should be unquestioned. In- telligence, industry, economy, perseverence, judicious management and a willingness to do anything and everything on the farm are necessary in order to succeed. Young people should start with these, though much else be wanting. Too many young people de- sire to commence life with everything at hand in the way of furnish- ings, inside and out, and while this is naturally desirable it often results in their ceasing to think that life consists in reaching out and going on, and so cease to attempt and achieve, as they would have done had they been under the necessity at the start of provid- ing for themselves. Holland tells us: * Life is not reached at a single bound, But we build the ladder by which we rise From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies, And we reach the summit round by round.’’ So a home is not made by willing it or by the Jabors of a day or year, but by continuous effort year Wter year to accomplish that most nearly perfect thing this side of heaven, which is indeed the type of heaven itself. Young people need object lessons. If they can have a sight ofthe possibilities of attainment, it nerves them to endeavor. For this reason, the man and woman who are to make this home should have had experience in life to some extent before they attempt the grand ideal. Let them start slowly and moderately and work up gradually. Intelligence is a good beginning, but industry, experi- ence and perseverence must be added to intelligence in order to accomplish a success from year to year which will give a zest to life. As soon as a home is begun, beautifying the grounds should be thought of, and preparations made for trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers of every kind that can be grown in the locality, for this adds variety, and variety adds pleasure. One is too apt to lose interest in that which is not attractive. If this is not done early, procrastina- tion grows into a habit, and many years are lost which might have been put to good use in, at least, growing belts of trees for protec- tion, in order to future development in the way of horticulture. If there is one thing that Minnesota needs,it is shelter so that fruits and nuts may be grown to bring cheer to the fireside. If this is not done, one loses much experience, for experience comes with the + nat AN IDEAL FARMER’S HOME. 287 years and by continuous repetition. In a few years one can have distributed about his house vines, shrubs, hardy perennials and evergreens enough to make the landscape a thing of beauty, while easily grown annuals and bulbs of many kinds may make the lawn brilliant with color. The mother who loves flowers, loves them so she will cultivate them, will soon find help in those who admire them, and willing hands will aid her in doing the necessary work of spading, trans- planting and watering. She who thus leads her household forth into realms of beauty and perfection is doing more for them than she may think. I often recail a reply my mother made when a friend wondered how she could find time for the cultivation of flow- ers with so many children about her. She answered, “I cultivate them for my children.” I think she might truly have added “for my own good,” as well, for there is no other pleasure so gratifying and refining. Let me stop for a moment, just here, as my mind turns to the veg- etable garden, and give a list of vegetables which should come crowding upon the farmer’s table. There are asparagus, radishes, lettuce, greens of many kinds, peas, beans, beets, carrots, cauli- flower, cabbage, turnips, corn, celery, onions, squashes, tomatoes and pumpkins, besides the omnipresent and, it may be, too much used potato. These, well prepared, together with the fruits which should come from field and orchards and the viands which are the result of mixed husbandry, as well as the delicious dishes resulting from compounding milk and eggs, make a well furnished table. The farmer may have them in abundance and three times a day sit down to meals a king might covet. Let us not for a moment think of denying ourselves these comforts in the mad rush to make money! Let us make home instead of money! In this and other things many mightrealize “The Sweet By and By” in the present if they would only calculate for it. Too many try to get away from the farm—not the boys and girls alone, but those of larger growth, because they seem to see fewer privations in town orcity. Many farmers do not live for home-life first. Christ’s “Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness” as regards home-life might be given as an exhortation to them, and the exhortation re- peated many times, for they seem to have come to think that “mak- ing money” or “getting on,” which means to them the same, is the aim of man. Some one has said that “no employment can drag a true man to any lower level, but he may lift any honest, honorable employment to a higher level.” By this we see it is the farmer who is to do this; no one else will or can doit forhim. Farming need not be degrading. Let farmers elevate it by their wit and bravery» and it need not be so. As the family becomes rounded out, and those who gather round the fireside come to number six or ten the family has developed in- to a kind of school, and much thought must be given to training in order to maintain an ideal home forthe children. School education is not enough in order to prepare a boy or girl for practical living. Indeed, many boys and girls are to be pitied who get no other train- ing than that which they get at school. Some parents say “John and Mary are attending school, and I ask nothing more of them,” others expect that all the time out of school should be given to 288 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. work, sometimes even encroaching upon the school months, regard- less of the good of the children; while the most judicious parents ever make duty of paramount importance and teach the children to do the work, either in the school or on the farm, which circum- stances make it best for them to do, giving them, of course, as large liberty as possible in pursuing their studies at home and at school. But never let a child think it has no home obligations. Make it in- dustrious while young. Indeed, industry, economy, perseverence and judicious management must be acquired then. In making use of this method, the mother and father are not made to bear the whole burden, and the children are made strong grad- ually to accomplish and endure. It is delightful to be in a home where the children are helpful. If so, they seem to belong to their surroundiugs, andit appears as though the home could not go on without them. As time passes, these children will need further de- velopment and experience, a higher education and an intimation of possibilities that will be inspiring, a finishing of the boys and girls before they come to make an ideal farm home for themselves. They must be made to feel that their souls and spirits must develop, as well as their bodies, to be conscious of the fulness of existence. Va- riety must be given in the way of art, music and literature, and each one invited to exercise himself in whatever department his inclina- tions may lead him. Papers, books, magazines, pictures and music keep the mind active and the spirit in tune, if so be that they belong to an elevating class. But a home to be ideal must be Christian in aim and practice. To be truly Christian, it must be social and hospitable. The warmth of the altar fire must radiate beyond the limits of the family circle out to as many asit may reach. In order to have the home life filled out to beautiful completeness as old age draws the curtains of night around us and we are shut in to that which is our own, we must live our days as best we can, striving to make them better as each day goes by. Tothe young this seems the opposite of freedom, but some one has said that the secret of sweet and happy Christian life is learning to live by the day; it is the long stretches that tire us. Otherwise there would loom up in the distance the “three score years and ten,” rising like thé hill Difficulty to poor Pilgrim, and the thought of bearing burdens for all these years would be over- powering. But life does not come to us in one day, but a day ata time, and all that we have to do is to meet the duties and trials of each day as it comes. So doing, there are few of us who cannot bear our trials and duties until “the sun goes down.” The best of all is that the days, months and years so spent give promise of a better life when time shall end. The present is the seed of the future. As one has said—‘The now makes the then. The here makes the hereafter.” We need not feel that we are living for time but living to make our eternity, and we may sing with Celia Thaxter: “The wound of time may devastate our lives, The frosts of age may check our failing breath; ' They shall not touch the spirit that survives Triumphant over doubt and pain and death.” In summing up what we have said, the conclusion is easily arrived at that a farmer’s ideal home is not possible without a long look ahead and a sturdy purpose to obtain the aim in view. It is like everything else pertaining to humanity, it must be accomplished by persistent endeavor and continued repetition. alender for _ J uly. J. S HARRIS. Ordinarily, from the beginning of the strawberry season until the last basket of grapes is gathered, the commercial fruit grower isin the midst of a busy time; insects and diseases must be watched for and headed off; the trees, shrubs and vines that are to bring fruit the next and following years must be carefully and skillfully at- tended to, while the crops of the season from their very perishable nature must be gathered and marketed as fast as they mature, or loss is sure to follow. In all this season it looks difficult for them to get away from their work for a single day, and yet there is no class of men that stands in greater need of recreation than they. They need to get away from their work for the double reason of se- curing rest and to get new ideas in regard toit. Thehorticulturists of neighborhoods should be orgarized into clubs and get together as often as once a week during the fruit season. An occasional picnic held upon the grounds of neighbor horticulturists is always beneficial. Every one engaged in the business should, if possible, and they generally can by proper planning, take a run away from home and visit a few of the leading fruit growers who are engaged in the same branches as themselves and see what they are doing and how they do it, exchange ideas and keep no secrets, and they will return home refreshed and better fitted for the extra work that will have accumulated. ORCHARD AND NURSERY. The season has been such that it is only in rare cases that the thinning of the fruit will be necessary, but in every case where a tree is over-bearing a portion of the fruit should be removed. It would be better economy to thin too much than to tax the tree to mature an excessive crop. Much of the cal- ender for the last month is stillin order for this, and need not be repeated here. Grafts that are growing too vigorously and throw- ing up long, slender shoots, will need to be checked by pinching out the tips; and this will also cause them to form side branches. Suckers and surrounding shoots upon the stocks must be kept out of the way, as the grafts are of the mostimportance. This and light pruning can safely be done all through this month, but better in the first half ofit. Some varieties are inclined to make thick, bushy heads. These should be trained to grow somewhat open by remov- ing the surplus limbs while young. They will fruit earlier for it 290 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. and produce better fruit, and the tree will be healthier than if large branches are removed later. It should be remembered that air and sunlight are essential factors in the production of good fruit. To look out for and head off injurious insects by every known de- vice is always in order, and as belated borers continue to deposit their eggs another application of strong soap suds or soft soap thinned to the consistency of paint, will prove beneficial. If any young, newly set trees are not growing vigorously, see that they are well mulched, and their trunks should be wrapped with paper or cloth, or shaded in some way to prevent sun-scald. Budding can be done through this and the next month at any ‘time when the bark on the stocks can beraised readily and the buds are mature enough. Nursery rows should be kept clear of weeds. Continue the prun- ing, watch closely for blight and cut out and burn affected branches as soon as they appear. It is better to remove and destroy bad blighting varieties. This is the season when agents are abroad in the land, taking or- ders for fall delivery. Probably many of them are good honest men, but some are sharpers of the vilest type and represent dishon- est and unscrupulous firms. Before placing an order ascertain the standing of the nursery and the character of the agent; post your- selves on the varieties you want and their commercial value, and then,if possible, deal directly with some responsible home nursery. Do not allow yourselves to be victimized in unknown novelties that have been produced by mysterious processes. You may get more wisdom by it, but the times at present do not warrant this method of getting an education. The strawberry season is about over. The printer made us say in the calender for last year, page 306, report for 1896: “The two last sea- sons have shown the ‘weakness’ of holding strawberry beds more than one year.” It should read “wisdom” instead of “weakness.” The experience of many growers this and past seasons is that it pays to keep a large bed over for fruiting the second and often the third year, especially if the soi! isrich and the plants have not been smothered in grass and weeds or exhausted by producing too heavy a crop. For this purpose mow the vines as soon as the picking is done, burn over as soon as dry enough, reduce rows to 8 or 10 inches in width, weed out, clean and cultivate thoroughly. Keep new beds clean by cultivating, hoeing and hand weeding, get a suf- ficient stand of plants as early as possible and prevent the surplus runners from taking root. Raspberry and blackberry plantations must not be neglected, or they will soon run out. Keep out all weeds, grass and surplus sprouts. Ourexperience is that the canes of red raspberries should not be pinched or cut back during the growing season, and that blackberries are better not to be pinched under a height of four to six feet. _ Secretary's ( Porner. PEARS AND PEACHES FOR EXHIBITION.—If you have a plate of either, be sure to send them to cold storage for exhibition at the next annual meeting. PLUMS FOR THE WINTER MEETING —We have never had a good plum exhibit at our annual meetings, but there is no reason why we shou'd not. Senda collection to cold storage for this purpose. Ir WAS WorTH IT.—D. F. Akin and his wife drove from their home in Farmington, some twenty-five miles, and back, on the day of our summer meeting, to be present. Such is the ardor of the aver- age Minnesota horticulturist. Two FRUIT EXHIBITS.—Lay your plans now for a good show of fruit at both the state fair and the next winter meeting. If your crop is light, what specimens are grown will be all the finer for it. Be sure and send what you have. GONE WEsT.—Mrs. P. A. Thayer, late of Sauk Rapids, has changed her residence to Riverside, Cal., and is now growing oranges. We are sorry to part with so able and faithful a member as Mrs. Thayer, and wish her all happiness in her new home. WHy WE ARE LATE.—Changes in the manner of issuing our mag- azine this month have become necessary on account of the new printing law passed last winter, and a little delay comes to the July number thereby. Hereafter we expect to be prompt, as usual. HORTICULTURE AT THE OMAHA EXPOSITION.—F. W. Taylor, late secretary of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society, and well known for his later investigations of fruit growing in Russia and other portions of the eastern hemisphere, is ‘‘SSuperintendent of Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry and Irrigation” at the Inter- national Exposition to be held in Omaha from June to November, 1898. Will Minnesota send down a show of its handsome apples to help out their exhibit and glorify itself? HORTICULTURE AND A HEALTHY OLD AGE.—Truman M. Smith, of San Diego, writes that he was 72 years old June 19, 1897, and still calls himself a “boy,” able to work all the time and go to market regular- ly every day the year around. He is evidently in love with the cli- mate and productions of his new home, and enjoying the hale and hearty old age which his busy and wholsome life has rightfully brought him. It is pleasant to hear good tidings from our old friends in the “far away.” He hopes to return and fraternize again with the Minnesota horticulturists. Wecould promise him a most hearty greeting. 292 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. SEND YOUR FRUIT TO COLD STORAGE FOR THE WINTER MEETING.— Cold storage will be provided gratis, as the past two years, for fruit intended for exhibition at the next annual meeting of this society, Dec. 7th. A liberal premium list will be prepared which will furnish adequate compensation for all the trouble involved. Any variety that can not be kept safely in the cellar till that date may be sent to this cold storage for preservation. Early summer varieties of apples, if gathered while still firm, can be kept easily, and even plums will retain their firmness if gathered before they begin to soften atall. Labels to be used in sending this fruit can be had on application of the secretary. Send forward whatever you have, ap- ples, plums, pears, peaches or grapes, and help make this the best show of our society. : STORE EARLY APPLES AND PLUMS FOR THE STATE FAIR.—Arrange- ments similar to those of last year have been made for placing in cold storage specimens of apples, plums, etc., ripening so early that they will not keep for exhibition at the state fair with the ordinary conveniences at home. Fruit intended to be stored for this purpose should be gathered while still firm, each specimen wrapped care- fully in paper and packed to prevent bruising and sent by ex- press at once. There will be no charge for storage, and all fruit so stored and properly marked will be delivered at the fair grounds without expense early the first morning of the fair. Labels to be used for this purpose, to fasten on the packages, will be furnished on application to Secretary A. W. Latham, 207 Kasota Block, Minne- apolis. There should be an extra full exhibit of fruit this fall, as the whole hall is to be used for horticulture, and it is a pretty large space. Send for labels at once and forward the fruit as it matures. SPECIMEN INSECTS RECEIVED FROM MRs. J. W. RAY, MINNEAPOLIS. —The little moths inclosed in the bottle are usually known as the eight-spotted forester, the specific name being Alypia octo-macu- lata. This moth is common throughout eastern and central United States, both on wild and cultivated vines, and is known principally through its injury to Virginia creeper and grape vines in city or village gardens. The caterpillar of this moth is brown, marked with black dots, and it is sometimes so abundant as to completely defoliate the grape vines. They become nearly an inch anda half in length when full grown; then they bore into any soft or rotten wood and pupate there, emerging eventually as very active little moths. The caterpillars may be easily killed by any of the arsen- ites, Paris green, for instance,or by pyrethrum, the so-called Persian insect powder, which has the advantage of being harmless to man. Pyrethrum should be mixed with water, two ounces to the gallon and sprayed on the vines. It is most effective while the caterpillars are young. E. B. FORBES, Assistant to Dr. Lugger. ‘(ased 931s0ddo 999)—‘sVIOdVANNIW ‘MAVd ONTAO’T SO MOIMALNI Pah ilar i TS i ed er) J * . . ‘ ont Pores ‘ Pet « THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST. WO. 25." AUGUST, 1897. NO. 8. LORING PARK, MINNEAPOLIS. (See frontispiece.) F. H. NUTTER, CITY PARK ENGINEER. To many of the old-time residents of Minneapolis ‘“ Yale’s Forty ” furnished the nearest approach to a pleasure ground, and when a park system for the city was inaugurated it was unanimously se- lected as the starting point for such system, and first as “Central Park” and later as “Loring Park,’ in honor of the one whose inter- est in parks has inspired so many of his fellow citizens, has been the pride of the people and a center of attraction, not only in sum- mer but also in winter, for then we find the lake thronged with hun- dreds of merry skaters. As first set apart as a park it included a spring-fed pool,known as Johnson’s Lake, with the surrounding bog and quite a tract of oak- shaded knolls; but time showed that its boundaries were not as well- chosen as they might be, and subsequent additions have increased its size to iis present area of thirty-six acres. Even now it is not as large as was at first proposed by some, for the preliminary survey originally submitted included a tract of considerable area lying to the south of the present park, to be con- nected therewith by a short parkway, and embracing a wooded ridge, the highest groundin the city, from which a magnificent out- look was obtained. Financial considerations prevented the carrying out of the full scheme, and the ridge has long since disappeared, and in its place we find many attractive residences. The first work of improvement was the enlarging of the lake. Much of this was done in mid-winter, and the methods of the ice cutters were adopted, the frozen surface of the bog being sawed into large blocks and dragged away to raise the surface of the lawns. The peat and marl formed arich soil for planting, and, looking at our frontispiece, one would scarcely believe that fourteen years since the spot there pictured was a naked and almost impassable bog. Being located so near the center of the city more attention has been paid to gardening and foliage bedding in this park than in 294 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. most of the other parks of the city, and very attractive results have been attained, while at the same time the public taste has not been vitiated by gazing upon abnormal constructions of so-called “floral art.” In this park stands the bronze statue of Ole Bull, recently pre- sented to the city by his fellow countrymen who have here estab- lished their homes. Two lessons may be learned from the history of Loring Park: first, that tracts of land which ina state of nature may be classed as useless, if not worse, may be transformed into places of beauty thus adding greatly to the value of the surrounding property; and secondly, that with care and intelligent planning such a change may be wrought in a very few years, and no community need hesi- tate to enter upon sucha task for fear that future generations only will reap the benefit. PLUMS AND CHERRIES IN 1896. W. S. WIDMOYER, DRESBACH. Cherries blossomed very full and were a sight to make the owner proud and passer-by envious, but the result in fruit was anything but satisfactory to the horticulturist, there being none to speak of. Most of my trees have only been set out two years, and have borne no fruit as yet, but they made a splendid growth the past year, especially the Early Richmond and Kentish Red cherries. It is very essential to success that cherries be planted as early in spring as the ground can be put in proper condition, as they start to grow very early; of a lot planted late in the spring of 1892 which were delayed at the nursery, for some cause or other only twenty per cent lived, while out of seventy-five planted early in 1894 only one died, and that was nearly dead when planted. I have had no experience in raising cherries for market as yet, so cannot tell what the profits would be, but am informed by one of the oldest growers in this county that it pays quite well for the labor expended. This man plants very close, eight by ten feet, and plants two rows of red raspberries between the rows of trees. He claims they protect the young trees,and he gets two or three crops of berries before they have to be taken out. Then the ground is seeded to grass of some kind, preferably clover. He has mostly English Morellos, but has planted quite largely,of Early Richmond the last year or two, claiming if he could get one good crop, he would be well paid for his trees and trouble. Plums served us about the same as cherries, except the Desota and one tree we have of Decker’s seedling (which took first premium at the state fair as the best new plum), I picked four bushels of plums from one tree of Desota, set in 1892. All wild plumsas well as the Rollingstone and a new seedling of the Desota were covered with bloom but set no fruit. One tree of the Abundance had a few very fine looking plums, but they are rather insipid in flavor compared with our best natives. Remarks about planting cherries also apply to the Japan plums.. ite oer A aheeeh oe a an ey ye t Vice - Presidents Reports, 1896. (Made at the Annual Meeting, December, 1896.) VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT, SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. S. D, RICHARDSON, WINNEBAGO CITY. The past season was peculiar in one respect: we had extremely hot weather in April, the hottest I ever saw, without any frost in May. Evergreens apparently came through the winter in excellent con- dition but began to fail soon after a strong south wind, and very many diedin May. All kinds of fruit but raspberries, strawberries and blackberries blossomed very full. The strawberries seemed to have been injured by the dry weather of the previous summer, and in some places bore but little, in others a fair crop; but raspber- ries and blackberries were a failure, black raspberries a partial crop. The strong winds of spring thinned out the apple blossoms so that but few trees overbore, and the strong winds of summer blew off much of the fruit before it was fully matured. I do not re- member ever seeing so many windfalls as there were this year. Cherries were a failure. Plums, both tame and wild, were almost a failure in many places, in others a good crop. Currants and gooseberries bore a very light crop and grapes a fair crop, but they were very slow in ripening. The wood of the vine ripened better than usual. The warm, wet weather of spring gave the weeds a nice start, and they stood the drouth later nicely and were simply immense all - summer. VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT, THIRD CONG. DIST. MRS. A, A, KENNEDY, HUTCHINSON. Fruits of all kinds were almost an entire failure. There were some that raised a few raspberries, and there were a few strawberries. Grapes were a little better. It seemed impossible to make plants live. I received some strawberry plants from Prof. S. B. Green and just one survived. Of those that came from Faribault, out of about three hundred, we saved only half a dozen. Raspberry plants did better. It was very hot weather when the plants were shipped, but o 296 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. whether it was owing to that or to going into winter quarters so dry I do not know. Perhaps both had something to do withit. We set out quite a number of red raspberries and some blackcaps. The latter did nicely, but something ate into the red raspberry canes, and when there came a little gust of wind down they went. I have not been able to find out what did the mischief. We set out quite a lot of strawberries from our own propagating bed, and they made a fine growth. We have a flowing well con- veniently located, so that they had plenty of water, and they were the admiration of the town. The prune tree, from which we sent prunes to the World’s Fair in 1893, and which killed down to the ground the following winter, has made a new growth from the root and is now about six feet high. I went up as far north as Bertram, Todd county, just before har- vest. Isaw but one strawberry bed, and that was in the village of Bertram. The vines looked very nice, but they said they had never borne. I heard of a fruit ranch about two miles out oftown. I drove out and found a Mr. Martin, an old correspondent of the Farm, Stock and Home. He had about half a crop this year. There had been poor crops of berries so long that he had become discouraged and turned his patch of red raspberries over to his fourteen-year-old daughter. I found the same blue flies there that bothered our yard last year. Mr. Martin said he had become con- vinced that they could not make a success of fruit raising without irrigation. VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT, FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. JOHN H. STEVENS, MINNEAPOLIS. Owing to climatic influences, the product of the small varieties of fruits in this district the past season was below the general aver- age. The apple crop was satisfactory; wild fruits were abundant. It is a source of pleasure to say that much attention is being be- stowed on flowers. Surrounding the home with fruit and flowers makes everything attractive and adds much to the happiness and comfort of the fireside. VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT, SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. MRS. JENNIE STAGER, SAUK RAPIDS. Last season was an exceptional one here, as we had no fruit of any consequence that we had reason to expect, and the fruit (apples) we had in many cases given up we had in abundance. I need not take up any time with this report, as all I have to say on the subject of fruit has been said in my report of experiment station, ‘ an MINNESOTA SEEDLING APPLES. 297 MINNESOTA SEEDLING APPLES. J. S. HARRIS, LA CRESCENT. Mr. President and Friends: The Harris mill is a little out of order this morning, but the seedling apple business in this state is on a ‘‘ boom,” and the boom will not subside until we have a pomology of our own, full and complete, composed of varieties equal to any that have ever been known, beautiful and pleasing to the eye, filling every season from midsummer until midsum- mer appears again. It needs no seer to prophecy that within one decade, with the present stage of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, that of the apples raised in Minnesota and the northwest the majority will be varieties originating upon our own soil. It needs no prophet to foretell that before this society reaches its fiftieth, or semi-centennial, anniversary, our pomology will be composed of lists of varieties the names of which are not yet known, but they will be varieties of the most beautiful shape, of the brightest color and in flavor rival- ling the wine of'the gods. (Applause.) At no time in the history of our country and in no state of the Union has there ever been sodeep an interest felt or such perserver- ing efforts made to originate new varieties of apples by the process of planting of seeds, not only the promiscuous seeds from the most northern matured fruit but carefully selected seed of both thorough- bred and crossbred species of the pyrus family, as within the last five years. Increasing knowledge of the laws of nature, the skill ot the professors of horticulture at our experiment stations and the zeal of our fruit lovers everywhere is being concentrated on the work of originating new varieties of apples and will not cease until the extreme limit of improvement is reached and we have secured a pomology of our own embracing an ample number of varieties of the highest quality to suit all tastes, cover all seasons and fitted for every use to which this king of fruits is adapted. New varieties are springing up by thousands, and it needs no “seer to foretell what the outcome will be or to prophecy that before this society has added another decade to its age more than half of the apples pro- duced in this state will be of the seedling variety originated on our own soil, and that before it celebrates its semi-centennial anniver- sary the Duchess, most of the new Russians and all of the older Americans will be dropped from our lists or only a fond memory of their past good offices cherished, and their places will have been filled with varieties as hardy and reliable as the bur oak, as rich in quality as the Seek-No-Further and Nonsuch, full of exquisite juices, perfect in form and arrayed in colors rivaling the rainbow in purity.” Our seedlings, what are they? Some are descendents of true native Americans, some are the offspring of that hardy race long inured to the cold, drouthy winters of far off Russia, some the de- 298 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. scendents of the little crab of Siberia, others are crosses between Americans, Russians and Siberians. The foreigners are becoming naturalized and marrying and intermarrying with one another and our Americans, and no man liveth who will be able to trace the pomology of the coming generation. Those now on the board are the Wealthy, Okabena, Peerless, Gideon and a few others, together with a hundred or more of the newer creations that are being put on trial in various localities throughout the state. The Wealthy is well known to youall. Itis being very generally planted and enjoys an enviable reputation for its sterling quality. Its advent was a boon of Providence to the people of the northwest. Itappeared suddenly when the land was filled with croakers and the hope of the stoutest hearted began to fail; it came almost direct to the people before a greedy corporation could make a corner onit; it was propagated and scattered broadcast more rapidly than any other variety ever known and sold at prices so reasonable that every one could afford _to give itatrial. Its greatest fault is that the tree is not quite hardy enough to endure some of our most severe winters without serious injury. I believe the Okabena to be more hardy and in other re- spects as valuable as the Wealthy. And now what shall I say of the Peerless? It originated only a few years later than the Wealthy. The original tree has endured far better than the Wealthy and, to the present time, equal to most of the hardy Russians, Of its fruit the public yet know but little. Few growers have seen and fewer tasted it, but it has been so extensively planted within the last four or five years that we must soon know its worth. Few have seen more of it than the writer, and I must say thatI have great confi- dence in its future. The McMahon White, of Wisconsin, and the Patten’s Greening, of Iowa, have never been cornered or sold at fabu- lous prices and thus have proved valuable aids in bringing about present conditions. What is the value of these seedlings? While its season lasts we can get along very well with the old Duchess; then we have to fall back upon our seedlings and the Russian and American varieties produced here and importations from other states, our home grown apples being available asa part supply for about three months—and for the last few years the seedlings have produced about one-fifth of that supply and, therefore, have saved the state at least $75,000 per year at a very low estimate; and the convenience of having them at home and fresher and better than imported fruit, should count for something. Counting the time since the venerable Peter M. Gideon, the forerunner of Minnesota seedlings, cried “Eureka” in the wil- derness of Minnetonka, because he foresaw the results of the fruiting of the Wealthy, the advance has been slow and sure and at the pres- ent rate of increase will save to our state before the end of the century annually a half million of dollars. Pres. J. M. Underwood: Has any one else anything to com- municate in regard to seedling apples? I think we might also include seedling apples in northern Iowa and Wisconsin. We do not want to bar out the consideration of new seedling varie - MINNESOTA SEEDLING APPLES. 299 ties that are adapted to Minnesota, perhaps, even if they did not originate here. Mr. C..L. Smith: Gen. Le Duc was showing me some nice apples some time ago. He has a bunch of seedlings that have been grow- ° ing thirty years, at Hastings; one tree was especially fine, very hardy and free from blight. He was showing me some apples last fall; they were very fine apples, about the size and color of the Wealthy andalonger keeper. The tree was a long time coming into bearing, but it has come through some very severe seasons. It is free from blight, perfectly hardy. It has never been tried any- where else. It is certainly worth investigating and may prove of value as a late keeper. Itisa fine apple in size, color, shape, flavor and everything. Pres. Underwood: I will ask Mr. Harris to bring in some samples of seedlings. We have samples of numbers of interesting seed- lings, and I will ask him to bring them in and show them to you and call particular attention to them. You might not notice them unless your attention was particularly called to them. Mr. F. W. Kimball: Mr. Akin has several fine seedlings on his table, and I think he should exhibit them here. Mr. A. D. Leach: I would like to say a few words in favor of the Patten’s Greening. I have had some trees on my place for several years, and they are just coming into bearing. I have been watch- ing the Patten’s Greening on Mr. Peterson’s place, near Waconia, and it has borne for five or six years, and it seems to be one of the hardiest and best varieties in the state. Of course, it has not had one of our hard winters to test it. It has not blighted with me neither has it with Mr. Peterson. I have a half bushel of them in the cellar now, and they are still in fine condition, no sign of rot, and they will be safe to keep fortwo months. Itis an apple of good flavor, a little coarse grained, a good skin and rather of a yellowish green color after itis thoroughly ripe, with a very little blush on one side. I had some young trees this year; the stock was about, the size of a hoe handle, and three of them bore 49, 50 and 51 apples respectively, of good size, the largest measuring 1214 inches in circumference. I think it is going to be a grand apple for our section of country. Those trees made over two feet of growth the past season. Our trees do not generally make much growth when bearing apples; my Wealthy did not make any growth, while the Patten’s Greening made a fine growth. Mr. G. J. Kellogg, (Wisconsin): Iam glad to hear so favorablea report of Patten’s Greening. Some years ago I commenced graft- ing it at our place, and while it is not the finest nursery tree itis hardy. We have a good many seedlings coming tothe front in Wisconsin. If our friend Philips were here, he could tell you all about them. He is about as crazy as Harris on seedlings; he could tell you more than Ican. He wrote me of one red seedling that was just brought to his notice, and we expect something very fine. Mr. E. H.S. Dartt: I believe I have a hard reputation for some- times throwing cold water. I have no doubt there are thousands of 800 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. promising seedlings in Wisconsin, Minnesota, northern lowa and South Dakota, thousands of them that are remarkably promising, and we might reasonably expect them to be all right, but they have not stood, as the gentleman has said, one of our test winters in Minnesota. Now it seems to mein lauding these unknown quanti- ties, these things we know so little about, we are wasting much time, time that could be more profitably employed. Our time is not profitably employed in that direction. We should take a few varie- ties of them that are best known and best tried and tie to them for the time being, and wait for the advent of that severe winter which we hope is on us now, (Laughter) something that will try the hearts of apple trees. After that we will then hail the “survival of the fittest,’ and we will get from that list something that will stay with us and stay with our children. Pres. Underwood: Weare familiar with the disposition of friend Dartt to climb hills and throw cold water, but we always appreciate hearing from him nevertheless. I do not know why we should look for that hard winter. My idea is that hard summers have as much to do with success or failure in apple growing as hard winters. I think we lose more trees by hard summers than we ever doon account of bard winters. I knowof about six thousand fine orchard trees that went to their death on account of the hard summers. You cannot make me believe that if the temperature goes down to 30° or 40° below and the tree is frozen up that the cold is going to hurt itifit goes down to 60° below; that will not make much difference. The success of the tree depends upon the moisture it has got, and that amount of moisture has got to be put in the ground before it freezes up. Itis all right to sit still and wait for that cold winter, but Mr. Dartt is not doing that; he talks it, but he is not doing it, for heis branching out in experimentation more than any other man in the state; still he says we must not say anything inits favor. I donot feel that way. An old German came to our place last spring: to get a few trees, and my son said to me, “I guess there isan apple outhere you would like to see.” I went out and found a German man who could not talk plain English, and he had a peck of nice apples there that he said he had kept in the cellar, a seedling that he said was growing on his place, and he said they kept the year round. I felt like taking my hat off to such an apple, and the pro- duction of that apple was brought about by a German farmer. That is the way the Wealthy and other varieties were brought out, and we are not fooling away our time, as friend Dartt says, when we are considering this question of seedling apples. We cannot take much time, but Mr. Harris will show you what he has. Mr. Harris then briefly described the various seedling apples, which description, as the varieties were not named, would not be of much value in this report. Mr. Dartt: I would like to reply that it is the severer cold that kills the trees and explain why, if you will hear me a minute. Pres. Underwood: Fire away; I can hear you. Mr. Dartt: I think you will. (Laughter), The theory is advanced that itis not the hard winters that kill our apple trees. If it is eee ee 77a, oe DAS rs pom ee gS ‘ye ; : / ati *s . eae MINNESOTA SEEDLING APPLES. 301 not the hard winter that kills our apple trees, why in the world do we need a special list? A little south of us, they do not get those severe winters, and they raise everything. Here we get an oc- casional hard winter, and there are very few varieties that we can grow successfully. The winter of 1884-5 was a hard winter, but everything since then has boomed; our tree men have got out hundreds of nice seedlings, given them nice names, and the next hard winter that comes along will wipe them all off the face of the earth. It is the extreme cold that killsthe apple trees. They freeze dry. Itis the winter drouth that kills them. The summer drouth kills a good many, but the winter drouth kills a great many of our hardy apple trees; they freeze dry. The old lady washes her gar- ments and hangs them out on the line, and if it is extremely cold they freeze dry. The freezing of an apple tree one time might not kill it, but it is the freezing dry repeatedly that killsit. We havehad extremely cold weather lately, and our apple trees are pretty well started toward freezing dry. If the next month gives us a good many cold days, extremely cold days,30° below, and then a thaw after- ward brings out the frost, the moisture, and then another extreme cold spell takes out all the moisture there is in them, when spring comes they will never start a bud. Of course, you can laud all those new and untried things you want to; it will not do any harm, and it will not do any good. Pres. Underwood: We have in the statea great many men who are planting seeds and producing seedlings. Mr. Akin, of Farm- ington, has some here which he will show you. Mr. Akin: (Exhibiting seedling apples). These seeds were planted in 1872. Here isa seedling from the Haas. You can pick it and putitin fora Haas. Itisa little better keeper and of a finer grain. The Haas bore at eight years old from the seed, producing a peck of apples that year; the next year it did not bear;itisa biennial bearer. Pres. Underwood: Are they perfectly hardy? Mr, Akin: Apparently; they came up in 1872 and have stood there ever since. Pres. Underwood: Are they prolific? Mr. Akin: Some of them seem very much so. Two of the seed- lings, that are not represented here, stand within twenty feet ofeach other, and one of them bore at ten years old from the seed. The tree is perfectly hardy without any protection whatever except some willows on the west side, and some of them have borne as much as twelve to fourteen bushels. This year they had from five to seven bushels. Mr. Gardner: Do the trees stand where they came up from the seed? Mr. Akin: They were all transplanted. That is where I think a majority of horticulturists miss it. I think if they waited until the trees fruited and then grafted them they would do better. I have thirty-six or thirty-eight seedlings, and every one of them has borne apples. I have never kept the seed separate, so I do not know what seed an apple is from, except this Haas. I have come to 802 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY the conclusion that a person is destroying a good many apples by cutting these seedlings off and grafting on them hardy varieties. These seedling apples have never been in cold storage, and they apparently will keep. Here is a sweet apple apparently sound and solid fora year. This is a very productive apple. Mr. J.S. Harris: In my search after seedling apples I find a great many seedlings that are from the Utter. They have the character- istic of the Utter in that they are free from blight. There we have an apple that nearly reproduces itself. We can scarcely tell there is a difference by the looks, and, therefore, if we havea variety that nearly reproduces itself, I believe by selection we can nearly bring the varieties up to the original. Mr. C. G. Patten, (lowa). I concur mainly in the remarks made by Mr. Harris when he first began his talk on the subject of seed- ling apples. I thought, however, while he was giving us to under- stand that he was considerably contracted, that he was rather more limited inthe area than I would like to confine myself to, strictly to Minnesota. Mr. Harris: They only gave me five minutes. Mr. Patten: I do notsee why we should have to go to Minnesota to get our hardy varieties for Iowa, from this fact: I find some of your varieties, the Wealthy, for instance, is doing better in south- west Minnesota, all along from Albert Lea to the west portion of the state, itis doing better by fifteen per cent than it is doing in Floyd county, Iowa, and clear down to the Illinois Central railroad. So you have sections in your state that are fully as favorable, and even more soin some instances, as north Iowa, so far as develop- ment of fruit and growth is concerned. I have here two plates of apples that represent more than the apples do themselves. There is more in it than the apples would show of themselves. This one is a seedling of the Duchess of Oldenburg; it was tour years old when the winter of 1884-5 came on,—and I want to remark here that the storm of the year 1876-7 proved more disastrous than the winter of 1884-5. It has been remarked here that the hot summers prove more disastrous to our trees than the winters. I believe with Mr. Dartt that the winters do kill our trees. The winter of 1884-5 and 1876-7 killed most of our trees. I had a great many varieties; I had the Duchess, the Wealthy, the Kaump and many other varieties. Those varieties were all treated exactly alike. I also had the Longfield, and that winter left marks on allofthem. The Kaump was completely obliterated; the Longfield was hurt a great deal. Iam very positive that the hard winters will kill, and the next hard winter we have will give us many serious lessons to learn. Pres. Underwood: May I ask you a question, Mr. Patten? If the trees had a sufficient quantity of moisture through the summer— let us take this winter for instance. The trees this summer had all the moisture they needed and madea good, strong, healthy growth; they have gone into winter quarters with plenty of moisture in the ground. Do you think under these circumstances a severe winter would kill the trees. The point I want to make is that the vitality MINNESOTA SEEDLING APPLES. 803 is exhausted during the summer, there is no moisturein the ground, or not sufficient to sustain the tree during the winter, and a severe winter finishes the killing of the tree; hence, I believe that the prin- cipal injury has been done before the winter sets in; and I want to know if an apple tree that has been supplied with plenty of mois- ture during the summer will be likely to kill during a severe winter. Mr. Patten: That is, pre-supposing that all of the varieties have had equal advantages as to moisture and cultivation. I do most positively. I think if the coming winter should mark down to any- thing like 40° below, and we should have that temperature two, three or four times in succession, you would see that those varie- ties like the Kaump, Longfield and others would be pretty nearly obliterated, while the Duchess of Oldenburg and the Greening—I did not want to talk about it, Ionly mention it in connection with hardy trees; next spring you would find but few hardy trees that have come out in good strong condition; and while they may be injured, as in 1884-5, they will be the trees that will bear the apples for sev- eral years to come, while many of those varieties that we call per- fectly hardy will be wiped out. Pres. Underwood: Idid not suppose we were considering the value of such varieties as the Fameuse or such as we do not in- clude in our list, but only those that we have been growing for twenty-five years. I am-talking about the hardy Russians and other varieties. Mr. Dartt says they are worth nothing until they have gone through a hard winter. I want to know whether under favorable conditions the hard winter will kill those seedlings. Mr. Patten: Iam glad you have called my attention to the effect of drouth on trees. After a summer’s experience I am convinced that we have known but little as to the causes of our trees being killed. I will relate a little experience. I have a long row of seed- lings that were planted in about 1882 or 1883. They have all received equal cultivation, for each was a different variety; there might have been eight or ten trees from the seedlings of one apple, but some of those trees this last year have died. They have been failing for the last two years, and this year they died completely, while the very next seedling to them has seemed to flourish in all those dry years. From every appearance you would say that tree was under the most favorable circumstances. So we have pretty much to learn as to the effects of drouth on the trees. This was a fact I was very glad to learn in connection with experiments I was making—that one tree would, after growing for eight or ten years, with no drouth or any severe winters at all, would absolutely die, while another seedling standing right beside it would be as perfect as anything I ever saw. Pres. Underwood: Did you say that was a seedling? Mr. Patten: Yes, that wasa seedling of the Duchess of Oldenburg. Mr. Dartt: No. 8. Mr. Patten: No, sir. Mr. Dartt: How do you designate it? Mr. Patten: I designate it by the locality in which it grows. As I said before, this plate is from the Duchess of Oldenburg and this 304 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. plate in my right hand represent two distinct lines of apples, one is Russian and one is American. This in my right hand is from the Perry Russet; the tree was four or five years old when the winter of 1884-5 came on, I think you can learn something of a tree when it is five or six years oldif you will examine the tree after a severe winter. If the tree shows bright wood after a severe winter, you can safely propagate the tree, and it will endure. Pres. Underwood: Do you think you could tell anything satis- factory to yourself as to the hardiness of the tree by the looks of the tree and the growth of the wood? Mr. Patten: No, sir; I do not. Pres. Underwood: If it resembled the wood of the Duchess would it be more hardy than if it resembled the wood of the Haas? Mr, Patten: I have examined into that point very particularly. My first experience commenced with the Pewaukee, and they seemed as hardy as anything I ever saw, but when the hard winters came along the Pewaukee were entirely wiped out. To show you another tree that represents the other side, [ will mention a treeas a good example, and thatis the Anisim. You know it has lightish limbs and rather soft wood. Itis one of the most hardy trees we have. Itis the most profitable of all of the Russian varieties. I gather now that that is his idea, that it will affect hardy trees. It will affect forest trees. I am entirely surprised at my experience this year; for instance, limbs growing two or three feet, where last year and year before one tree would be cut nearly to the ground, while the other tree would be perfect almost to the tip. It was the same with the Russians. So,as I say, there isa variation in the con- stitution of the trees, whether they are forest trees or fruit trees—and that is another feature about trees that we have to comprehend, the vigor of the trees. We have not made a proper distinction between the hardiness of trees and the vigor of trees. The Duchess isa hardy tree, but it has not sufficient vigor, whereas, if the Duchess had vigor so itwould make a growth of eight to ten inches more than it does, it would stand 48 degrees where it now stands 40 de- grees, and that very fact should be a lesson to us that in our exper- iments in propagation we should take the seeds from those trees that have endured all those conditions, the drouth of summer and the extreme coid of winter. For instance, I have one of these seed- lings that is ten years old. It has stood all those conditions in the most perfect manner. It has shown great vigor. That is the tree I would select seeds from for the future trees of this country. Ifyou begin with that tree,you make sure that tree will stand equal to the Duchess. Mr. Dartt: You speak of a tree ten years old that has never borne acrop thatis perfectly hardy and all right. Now,if that tree should bear a heavy crop of apples and then a hard winter should succeed: would you not consider it more likely to winter-kill? Mr. Patten: Yes, sir, I would. Give me a tree that can beara good crop of apples; without saying anything of its other merits I know nothing beyond the Greening I originated in that respect. I wish to speak of this Perry Russet seedling. When I began with gai ae oe MINNESOTA SEEDLING APPLES. 305 the cultivation of these varieties, I discovered we were not likely to get long keeping apples from the Russian apples, because I found that those varieties of the Russian apples were not hardy enough to endure the climate of north Iowa, and if they did they would not bear, and I made up my mind in the study of pomology that the Russet variety of American apples represented the most hardy variety of apples we had. I commenced planting the seeds from this Perry Russet, and I have tested it, and Il am just as confident— Mr. Dartt, I will address myself to you—I am just as confident that this tree will stand the latitude of St. Paul as I am thatI stand here. Mr. Darit: Is that what you let me have as Patten’s Russet? Mr. Patten: No, sir. Mr. Dartt: What is it? Mr. Patten: It is what I send out as No. 102. Mr. Dartt: Have I got it? Mr. Patten: No, sir. I want to say further in reference to this tree that it grows under ordinary nursery culture, those three years old now standing from five to fully eight feet high, strongly branched and does not blight. Now, in this tree the wood was fully as bright and sound after a hard winter as the Duchess, and I fully believe that both these apples will stand as well as the Duchess. Mr. Kellogg, (Wisconsin): What is the age of that Russet seed- ling? Mr. Patten: The seed was planted in the spring of 1884. Pres. Underwood: Does the wood of that Russet resemble the Russet wood? Mr. Patten: No, sir; it does not, and neither does it resemble that tree. The tree looks more like an ironwood than like a common apple tree. 4 Mr. Brackett: How does it bear, and how does it keep? Mr. Patten: Both of these apples I have shown were kept ina common cellar. Mr. Brackett: Are they a mellow apple? Mr. Patten: They are not a long keeping apple. Here is oneI call the Duchess No. 8, and the tree I regard as extremely hardy. Here is an apple which is a seedling of the Fameuse. I am aware that you do not take much stock in the Fameuse in this country, but I believe the tree that bears this apple is from ten to fifteen per cent more hardy than the Fameuse; it is a vigorous tree and stood drouth to perfection, and it is the first apple introduced which, I believe, in our climate will produce the highest quality of fruit. Mr. Kellogg: Is it the Fameuse No. 1? Mr. Patten: No, Icallit the Brilliant. I was about to remark that I am happy to say that I have fully demonstrated this year by these three seedlings I have produced that we can produce in this country the highest quality of apples. [havetwosweet apples than which Iam sure [ never tasted better in my life,from any source whatever, and as compared with the Russian sweet apple, there is no comparison whatever. Russian sweet apples, as a whole, are 806 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. not worth mentioning the same day. This apple was awarded the first premium, and it is one of the finest grained apples I ever saw. Pres. Underwood: Is it sub-acid? Mr. Patten: Yes, it is sub-acid. Pres. Underwood: Do you consider that you fooled away your time on those seedling apples? (Laughter). Mr. Dartt: I did not say he fooled away his time on such apples, Pres. Underwood: “A hit bird always flutters.” (Laughter). Mr. Dartt: Yes, and thatis the reason why he flutters. (Laughter). Mr. Patten: I want to call your attention to these apples here, just to show you the difference in the method of growing new apples. Now then,I will plant the seeds of large apples, of fine looking apples and hardy apples—and a very large number of these apples I know just where the seed came from—and while the seeds of different apples we are talking about came from scrub trees, cider mills and the like, of about thirty-nine varieties I exhibited at the state fair this fall (I think the gentlemen who saw them will bear me out in my statement) at least fifteen of the thirty-nine would compare with almost any quality of the older list of our American apples. So you see we need not be fooling away our time in growing inferior sized fruit. (Applause). Pres. Underwood: Do you think it would be time well spent for all parties who have time to do so to select seeds from our hardiest varieties of apples and grow from them with a view to developing new varieties? Mr. Patten: I know of no other way of obtaining varieties that are adapted to this country. Pres. Underwood: I want to call your attention for a moment to this apple. This is a seedling apple grown by Gen. Le Duc of Hastings. Itis just about in its prime now. It isa long keeper and of a good flavor. It is a seedling. Here is a seedling of the Duchess, a valuable fine growing apple, and it has one of the char- acteristics Mr. Patten speaks of, of being a vigorous tree. I indorse what he says in regard to having a vigorous tree. Some varieties not so hardy as this will stand a more severe summer because of their vigor. This is the seedling to which your attention was called last winter. It is an accidental seedling, growing five miles from our place, on the boundary line between two farms. I do not know who it belongs to. The tree is vigorous, probably eighteen to to twenty years old, and the grafts set last spring made a growth of from three to four feet—it is a very vigorous tree. It is a long keep- ing appie, of fair quality. The man living nearest it says there are apples on it now. Mr. Harris: Hecallsit the Waif. Pres. Underwood: You do not think it has any special name? Mr. Harris: That is the name by which the committee on nomen- clature call it. Mr. Pearce: I want to speak just half a minute on seedlings. Mr. Cummins got some roots from mea few years ago and then grafted all of them and planted them out. Those are just as good apples as you can find in Minnesota. You can sample them after you get PERENNIAL HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 307 through here, and you will say so. Here is a special seedling; the tree is not less than twenty years old; it was planted about the same time the Wealthy apple came out; the tree came from the root on which the Wealthy was grafted. I thought it was some standard variety, and the next fall I discovered a little Wealthy tree come up with two Wealthy apples on. That tree has borne for years and years. I had a Jot of the apples, and I— Mr. Dartt: Did you send it out as Pearce’s Unknown? Mr. Pearce: It belongs to a man on the other side of the lake. . This tree has borne for years and years. You see it isa solid apple. That has been there ever since the origination of the Wealthy apple. THREE HARDY PERENNIAL HERBACEOUS PLANTS. MRS. ANNA B. UNDERWOOD, LAKE CITY. In the first place, it may be well before naming any varieties to describe what is meant by “perennials,” an apparently useless or unnecessary effort when directed toward old, tried members of the horticultural society, but there are many well informed along other lines where you and I would exhibit gross ignorance who would be able only to say, “annual” means ove year and “perennial” continu- ing longer than two years, knowing nothing of the nature of peren- nial plants, or, to adopt a term more fully descriptive, perennial herbaceous plants. These are plants that after flowering and ma- turing the leaf-growth die down to the ground and after a period of rest through the winter are ready to start up from the roots with renewed vigor and with added size each spring. Given a good loca- tion, good soil and care enough to keep down grass and weeds, there are countless varieties of the hardy herbaceous plants that would keep the flower garden an attractive resort for the flower lover from early spring until after hard frosts in the fall. Only two or three of the late blooming varieties will be enumer- ated. Aster Novae Angliae.—This plant grows to the height of four or five feet. During the summer it presents an attractive appearance, the rich, dark green foliage and vigorous growth forming a fine background to earlier blooming varieties. The lastof August it be- gins.to branch out and in September assumes a stout, shrubby appearance, every branch covered with buds that are harbingers of a delight in store when Jack Frost has nipped the foliage beds and the annuals that have been so brilliant and attractive. And then when the first buds open into flowers the heart rejoices in the thought that there is still a friend left in the garden to welcome with cheerful countenance, though surrounded by many signs of sorrow and misery. A well grown flower is nearly the size of a sil- ver dollar, the average size like a 50-cent piece, of a rich, rosy color that, with the sunlight upon it and the whole plant in bloom, is really a beautiful sight. ty —————— ' ‘ ‘ - - an . - ~ ® - +" . ‘ ‘ * ' ‘ . ‘ ‘ - . - ‘ = : ‘puels] 9poyy ‘U01,e49 JUSTMTIed xy 10JDIIIG ‘SSeTy *O ‘SPUD ‘ET ‘OW ‘9ANA[NOWIOP jJo*jorg "uosunly ‘WM ‘Zr ‘OIQG ‘91N}[ NOUS VY PUB 9IN}[NOVAOF JO Jorg ‘Aquezey ‘9 *SBSUBYIV ‘91N}][NTzIOY JO "Jorg ‘uosurys ‘yf ‘IT ‘ON ‘0013849 oUTg ‘91IN}{NOTVAOF JO *jOIg ‘}SINM °C "ARN ‘BAOUOY '9IN}[NOTVIOF jo ‘Jorg ‘qovoqg’y ‘S ‘or “‘SBPSUBY ‘91N}[NOIVIOP jo ‘joig ‘uosey ‘O'S ‘fF ‘HISUOOST AM ‘91IN}[NOIZIOP{ JO "JOIg ‘yoo 'S aH ‘6 ‘ByOSoOUUTY ‘91N}[NI41IOF Jo 'jolg ‘usva1HN ‘q's ‘g ‘URSIQOI ‘AUBIOg JO ‘JOIg ‘ABPIOUM ‘HO ‘8 “BA 'M ‘OIN}[NOLGY pue 91N}][NI1}zIOF JO ‘JO ‘F39GI0DN "Ol « ‘yuOMIa A ‘AuvzOg JO ‘jog ‘souof yy "T ‘Lb ‘ned "49 ‘StuUrpHVoW Ad 'T ‘yseB] A[N( Ul Stjodeouul_y Ul ploy SUOIZE}S JUSMITIOdx |] puke SAFaI[OD UBITIOIMY JO UOTJBIOOSSY 9} 438 YUVSoId ‘Ojo ‘AUB}O, ‘91N}[NS14ZIOF JO SIOSSajorid IY} JO VUIOG &1 GI It or 6 8 THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST. VOL. 25. SEPTEMBER, 1897. NO. 9. In N(emoriam, WILLIAM E. BRIMHALL, SAN DIEGO, CAL. Died June 29th, 1897, aged 72 years. (For portrait and auto-biographical sketch, see ‘‘Horticulturist” for July, 1897.) “Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the north wind’s breath, And stars to set—but all— Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death!” —MrRs. HEMANS. During the summer of 1885, after a continuous residence in Minne- sota since the autumn of 1850, the writer determined to leave for California, having become very much broken down in health. My nursery, in the mean time, had been laid out in lots, as an addition to St. Paul. The greenhouses were rented,and ona bleak November day Mrs. Ford and I bade adieu forever to the fond spot that had been our home for nearly one-third of a century. It was indeed a sad parting with old friends and neighbors, whom we never ex- pected to see again; but some told us they were quite sure to fol- low later. Among these were our now departed friends, Wm. B. Quinn and W.E. Brimhall, also Truman M. Smith, so long the president of our State Horticultural Society, all of whom came out in the fall of 1886. Our first point for stopping was at Los Angeles, but not liking the climate of that place as well as the more uniform temperature of San Diego, which I had visited during the summer, in December we came to this great sanitarium, and were much surprised to find so many of our dear old neighbors here before us. 334 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mr. Brimhall had platted his farm and garden of eighty acres, near Macalester College, St. Paul, while our friend Quinn had rented his place, north of Hamline, and they had come with their families to make San Diego their future home. On our arrival here we found these two old neighbors building houses on adjoining lots in a new addition to the city, but our friend Smith, in spite of his years, had a longing for his old business, so he bought an orange grove and fruit ranch some two miles from the post office. For many years our four families were the center of a St. Paul colony, where many old timers visited us. But alas, what a great number have, with our own dear ones, joined the ranks of the ma- jority! Among these I now sadly recal! the names of D. D. Merrill, E. F. Drake, Amherst Wilder, J. F. Williams and Ex-Gov. Marshall, of St. Paul, while those who called on us from the Falls City, but will never do so again, were Rev. W. A. James, Richard Chute, H. G. Harrison and Mrs. Dr. A. E.Johnson. We send back now a sad requiem for all these with whom we associated in the long ago, mid scenes we loved so well. The angel of death had for years passed over our dwelling, and we were having pleasant times in this goodly land. At length the tall form of our once stalwart elder brother, William B. Quinn, was called to,ieave us, and the first ties were broken. Next to obey the dread summons was my dear companion of more than forty years, who died August 4th, 1896. And now in less than twelve short months we have to record the demise of another member of our fraternal colony, in the person of our beloved W. E. Brimhall, whose fine likeness and auto-biograph- ical sketch appeared in the magazine of July last. He died of heart failure, June 29th, after several attacks of the same trouble, though he had not been very well for some time. A telegram to our secre- tary would have added an important and sad postscript to the sketch of his very busy life which he had prepared only a few days before. Only a short time before his end came, he drove up to my nursery looking almost as young as he did twenty yearsago. He kindly entreated me to spend one evening at his home to assist in prepar- ing something for the secretary, as he was given up by the doctors. I was too unwell to go and begged him to make no delay in writing out the main facts in regard to his life of three score years and ten. By referring to the July number of the Horticulturist, our readers will see how well his last work was done. Did space permit I would like to write many things in regard to this one of our old pioneers. He had been very successful in a pe- cuniary point of view, but what cheered him most in his last inter- view with me, was the fact that the large family of boys and girls that Mrs. Brimhall and he had reared and settled in life were an honor to their parents. L. M. ForpD. San Diego, Cal., Aug. 18th, 1897. 7% \ ef ey. ‘ APPLE SEEDLINGS. 835 APPLE SEEDLINGS. Supplemental Report. J. S. HARRIS, LA CRESCENT. Believing that none of our newer seedlings that show any great promise of value to any portion of the northwest should be lost sight of, and in order that they may be located and placed on record to be watched and followed up in the future, I herewith submit a supplement to the report of the seedling committee, giving brief descriptions of a number of the newer varieties that have been re- cently brought to my notice. “The Oakland Seedlings,” by F. J. Lightly. Of these I have ex- amined ten varieties and have them numbered so that I can locate each variety. Oakland No. 6. Size 5; form smooth, round; color, yellow ground with vermillion cheek; stem long and slender; cavity medium rus- seted: calyx open; basin medium; flesh yellow, fine grained; flavor sub-acid; season, October. Oakland No. 9. Size 3; form smooth, round oblate; color crimson red over a yellow ground, faintly striped; stem long; calyx closed; flesh yellowish, fine, juicy; flavor brisk, pleasant acid, good; season, October. Is undoubtedly of crab origin. Oakland No. 11. Size 5; form round, slightly angular; color, yellow ground nearly covered with crimson in stripes and splashes; stem short; cavity narrow; calyx partly open; basin narrow and shallow; flesh light yellow, nearly fine, tender; flavor sub-acid, good; season, middle of September; tree very good. Oakland No. 14. Size 4; weight 4 ounces; form round, ovate, slightly angular; color pale yellow ground marbled and splashed with vermillion on sun side; stem medium, slender; cavity small; calyx open in narrow, shallow basin; flesh fine grained, white, tender, juicy; flavor a pleasant acid or sub-acid. The core is rather large and open; season, October. Oakland No. 16. Size 5; form rounded; color bright red, darkest on sun side; stem medium, slender; cavity regular, medium; calyx small, closed in a rather deep, abrupt basin; flesh pale yellow stained red, fine grained, solid, juicy; flavor sprightly sub-acid, good; season, October. This appleis unrivaled for beauty and at- tracted more attention than any of the others at the late state fair. Oakland No. 20. Size about 3; form roundish, tapering towards the eye; color yellow, marbled with light crimson on sun side; stem long and slender in a rather broad cavity; calyx small, closed; flesh rich yellow; flavor sweet; season, early October. Itis undoubtedly of crab origin. Oakland No. 23. This is the largest of these seedlings in tree and fruit, but the tree showed considerable blight. Size 6; form round, cylindrical; color yellow, mostly covered with dull crimson in stripes and splashes; stem rather short and stout in a deep, nar- row cavity; calyx large and open in a broad, ribbed basin; the flesh is yellow, hard and coarse at this date (October 1st); flavor a pleas- ant sub-acid., 336 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Oakland No. 29. Size 6; weight 64% ounces; form smooth, round; color yellowish white, mostly covered with red in stripes, splashes and marblings; stem short, medium, slender, in a medium cavity; calyx closed, in a medium plaited basin; flesh white, sometimes stained with red, fine, firm, juicy; flavor a pleasant acid; season, early winter. Oakland No. 30. Size 5; weight 5 ounces; form smooth, oblate; color a bright crimson red over a yellow ground; stem medium, long, slender, in a broad, medium deep cavity; calyx closed in a deep basin; flesh yellow, stained red next to the skin, fine grained, firm, juicy; flavor delicious sub-acid; season, October and later. Oakland No. 41. Size 4; weight 4% ounces; form long, cylindrical, slightly angular; color yellow, mostly covered with red in stripes and marblings; stem medium; cavity narrow; calyx rather large, in broad shallow basin; flesh light yellow, nearly fine, tender but solid, juicy; flavor a brisk sub-acid, good; season, early winter. Eberhard Seedling. Size 6, weight644 ounces; form round conical; color greenish yellow marbled and striped or splashed with car- mine and crimson red; stem long, medium, in a rough, medium deep green russeted cavity; calyx small, closed; basin narrow, wrinkled; flesh greenish yellow, nearly fine, firm, crisp, juicy; flavor sprightly sub-acid, good; season, November to March. Philip’s seedling sweet, “Eureka.’’ Size 6 to7; weight 61% ounces; form oblate, tapering towards the eye; color yellowish green, striped with purplish red; stem medium long in a broad, deep green rus- seted cavity; calyx large, in a broad regular, nearly smooth basin; flesh white, fine grained; flavor sweet or slightly sub-acid; quality very good; season, winter. Milwaukee. Size 6 to 7; weight 734 ounces; form smooth,roundish oblate; color yellowish green, striped and splashed with purplish red; stalk short, in a broad, deep brown russeted cavity; calyx large, half open in an abrupt, deep cavity; flesh greenish yellow, nearly fine, tender and juicy; flavor pleasant acid; season, November and later. The coreis small anda little open, Origin.—This variety orig- inated at Milwaukee, Wis., and is said to show great promise. Gen. Le Duc’s Seedling. Size 6; form roundish, somewhat flat- tened at the ends; color, when ripe, a yellowish ground, mostly cov- ered with red in stripes and splashes; stem medium long in a deep funnel-shaped, russeted cavity; calyx rather large, in a deep, med- ium narrow basin; flesh yellow, stained with red; flavor sub-acid, very good; season, winter. This fruit bears a strong resemblance to the Wealthy, but, from the single specimens I have examined, I should judge it to bea better keeper. I have not seen the tree, but Mr. Le Duc writes that the tree appears to be entirely hardy, shows no signs of blight or sun-scald and the fruit hangs on well. Its parentage is unknown. Itis one of a lot of three or four thousand seedlings, only two of which have grown to bear fruit. The other one bears fruit no larger than a hickory nut. Townsend Seedling. Size 5 to6; weight 6 ounces; form round ob- late; color greenish yellow, mostly covered witha deep carmine red; stem short, medium; cavity regular, medium deep, russeted; calyx ie * Dh i al ee od oe at. Pe ial APPLE SEEDLINGS. 337 closed; basin broad, shallow, wavy; flesh white, slightly stained with red,fine grained, firm, juicy; flavor sub-acid, very good; season, December to February. It originated at Baraboo, Wis., and has been awarded at a Wisconsin state fair the first premium as the best winter seedling apple on exhibition. I have not examined the tree, but Mr. Tuttle speaks of it as being hardy and a most valuable va- riety. I have during the season received dozens of other varieties than those reported above, and those who have sent or furnished them have my thanks for the interest they manifest in the seedling apple question and the aid they are giving me. All varieties that show promise of value are carefully examined, noted and briefly de- scribed, and notices of them will appear in our reports from time to time. EVERGREENS. A. K. BUSH, DOVER. I must admit lama crank on evergreens. Their usefulness as windbreaks, their beauty as ornamental trees, their determined and rapid growth, recommend them to all as the tree for general plant- ing on our Minnesota prairies. It is said “Men who plant trees set monuments to their memory.” Why not make them evergreens? Ihave nothing to report that would in any way discourage the planting of our evergreens, but on the contrary my experience and observation unite in proving that with very few exceptions, they will stand drought, extremes of temperature, neglect, abuse and thrive on poor soils better than any other trees we plant. Who does not admire the beauty, utility and stately appearance of a well kept evergreen hedge—especially when it stands in con- trast with an unsightly row of willows, which rob the soil of plant food for rods on either side, strewing the ground with dead branches and making a home and harbor for troublesome weeds and insects! The evergreen with its dense foliage makes a perfect windbreak in winter, when most needed, also destroys all growth of weeds under its branches, but allow grass and trees to thrive within a few feet of them. The planting of evergreens is an accepted evidence of refinement and intelligence. “Hang out the sign” by liberal planting of them. The native white pine is the best all-purpose evergreen we can use for general planting on our prairies. We find it growing on almost barren ledges, where it has stood and battled with the elements, possibly for centuries; still under the most discouraging surround- ings it grows. If placed on the low lands in competition with other native trees, it soon crowds through and above them, demanding its position as “king of the forest.” Men might learn many valuable lessons from this tree, with its determination to succeed regardless of surroundings, also from its “live and let live” principle. I have growing on one of my farms a double row of white pines, about ten rods long, set four feet each way; I intended to move one- half of them, but did not, and now they are twenty to twenty-five feet high. Four feet on the north of them standsa row of Wealthy OU Mp A, > BOM eng SnAg se Syn ee 338 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. apple trees; the same distance on the south is a row of Duchess. The apple trees were planted just where I wanted the pine hedge. I thought I had sacrificed the fruit trees for the evergreens, but to my surprise those apple trees are the most productive and, to all appearance, the most healthy of all on the farm, yielding annually about a barrel of fruit per tree. Many people visit this hedge, ad- miring its beauty, especially when the fruit trees are in bloom—also when the apples are ripe—and are taught a valuable lesson concern- ing evergreens. The Scotch pine deserves second position as a windbreak and evergreen for general planting, being with usa rapid and strong grower, safely transplanted, standing extreme drought without inju- ry. Itisespecially valuable where stock are allowed to ran amongst them, for the limbs are large and strong, not easily broken and will remain thrifty without branches on the lower trunk, an exception in that respect to most evergreens. Thearbor vite, or white cedar and hemlock have suffered badly with drought and are only valuable for ornamental hedges and lawns and should not be planted too near other gross feeding deciduous trees, which rob them of moist- ure. They are at home in moist, rich soil, but under favorable con- ditions will thrive on most lands where other trees will grow. The white and black spruce make beautiful trees, enduring the drought fairly well, but will not stand close planting, as in a hedge; and should not be recommended for that purpose, because the pines are much their superior for practical hedges. The native red cedar and trailing juniper make handsome lawn trees when properly trimmed and trained, much better than many of the high priced novelties sold by the unknown, nomadic “tree shark,” who guarantees them to grow just as perfect as the picture he shows. I saw several such delivered (to my neighbors, of course,) which cost $5.00 per pair and worth aboutSicents. If the fellows who bought these thorough-bred, pedigreed trees under an assumed name, had invested their $5.00 with some reliable grower of ever- green seedlings or even forest stock, they could have bought 1,000 assorted trees twelve inches high, which if planted in some moist and shady place, closely set and transplanted in two years into nursery rows would soon have given an abundance of evergreens to plant and some to “ turn off.” Many make a mistake in setting hedges too near their buildings and orchards on our prairies without a snow-break, which should be a double row of pines set eight feet each way and twenty or thirty rods beyond the windbreak. The two make an ideal combination, securing almost perfect protection from snow drifts and winds. Don’t forget to plant evergreens early next spring, selecting a damp, cloudy day to move them, buying trees from your neighbor who has some to sell. Leave as much earth as possible on the roots when taken up, not allowing the sun to shine on them at all, remember- ing that an evergreen with dry roots is as dead asan Egyptian mummy, and that circulation cannot be restored, because the sap becomes a thick resin by exposure to the sun for a very short time. Keep them well mulched. If future generations forget the planter, they will not forget the planting as they enjoy the trees. a ae EVERGREENS. 339 DISCUSSION. Mr. E. M. Sherman, (Iowa): I noticed in Mr. Bush’s paper that he recommends the white pine for general planting throughout the state. It has been our experience that it is subject to a great deal of searing, and as we go west in Iowa, and as I have observed through southern Minnesota, I find the same thing holds good. Mr. Wedge tells me that at Albert Lea the tree was badly seared, and I believe as you go west of, perhaps, Winnebago City, that the white pine is entirely worthless as a windbreak tree. I believe if it is plauted in exposed localities it will kill out. Another thing in the paper that surprised me is that he did not include the Norway spruce, although I do not consider it as valuable as the white spruce: I do not think it is as hardy generally; I think it is atree that has a great deal of value for certain places, especially for eastern Minnesota—and the white spruce he objects to as a wind- break tree because it will not stand drouth. I have seen some very fine windbreaks of white spruce. Mr. Wyman Elliot: I would like to ask Mr. Sherman if he has had any experience with the Norway pine? Mr. Sherman: I have had a little experience with the Norway pine. I think well of the Norway pine in the few places where I have seen it. Mr. A. J. Philips (Wisconsin): There is one thing in Mr. Bush’s paper I noticed that might, perhaps, be a little misleading, and it was contrary to my experience, and that is that the best row of Duchess and the best row of Wealthys are within a few feet of that row of white pine. Now, with me an apple tree within ten or twelve or fifteen feet of an evergreen is a failure; it is fatal to the apple tree after awhile. They try to get away from the evergeen—and I had to cut out some of my finest Norway spruce. I was very much surprised at that statement that those trees were doing so well within a few feet of the evergreens,and some people might be tempted to plant apple trees close to evergreens. Judge L. R. Moyer: Does he mean the Norway pine, the pine growing in Norway or the red pine of Minnesota? Mr. Wyman Elliot: The red pine. Judge Moyer: In western Minnesota itis an entirefailure. The Rev. Solem says it is a very successful tree in his part of the country. The Norway is an entire failure in western Minnesota: The white spruce with us is doing well. The black spruce is an entire failure. Mr.Sherman: Where is the gentleman from, if I may ask? Judge Moyer: Montevideo. Mr. Philips: Have you had any experience with the red pine? Judge Moyer: To some extent, but they all died. Mr. G. J. Kellogg (Wisconsin): In regard to planting ornamental trees: If they are planted near shade trees, like the elm, they will wipe out those ornamental trees. So far as the Norway spruce is concerned, it does very well with us, but it will not stand every- thing. Itis nota handsome tree after it gets to be forty years old. —,. 2 é. *' 2. Sete , yer aa. a wey shes ‘ in “ayer 840 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. On our prairie soil they have died during the last three years very badly. Pres. Underwood: What is your best evergreen? Mr. Kellogg: Wehav’ntgotany. (Laughter). Prof. N. E. Hansen, (South Dakota): With us,in South Dakota, the Scotch pine and white spruce are the best. Mr. M. Pearce: I want to report my experience for the last fifteen year with the red pine. At first I thought the red pine was to be really a wonderful success; it seemed to be a perfect success winter and summer; but during the last two years I have changed my mind. My finest trees have entirely died out. I regard them in our very dry seasons in the western portion of our country an entire failure. Iam sorry to report it as a fact. I want to say a wordin reference to the growth of apple trees close by evergreens. My earliest planting of Wealthy apple trees, top-worked on the crab, were planted right under white pine, and every other year those trees are literally loaded with apples, and I remember seeing on Mr. Peffer’s ground just such anexample where they were bearing very finely, and Mr. Peffer said that was their history. So I believe apple trees may be planted very close to evergreens without any bad results. Mr. Philips: Those apple trees of Mr. Peffer’s have given up the ghost and the evergreens are in possession. Mr. C. G. Patten (Iowa): In regard to putting fruit trees near ever green and other trees: I have tried that with evergreens, and it does very well. Thefirst thing I did, I put out a row of appletrees, anda few years later I put out a hedgeof Russian mulberry trees and made quite a hedge around the apple trees. Those have been out four- teen or fifteen years, and the mulberry trees and apple trees have kept pace with each other, and those apple trees have been loaded every year. Theyare the Wealthy and Whitney. My observation from that little experience is that if I were going to put out an orchard on the prairie, I would put in something like the Russian mulberry. They do not sap the ground, and they are not going to be avery big tree, and it has a wonderful influence on the apple trees. I believe if I were to set out an orchard I would set every other tree a mulberry. The tops kill easily, but they come right upagain. It is something worth trying. In regard to evergreens: I set out ten years ago a thousand evergreens not more than nine or ten inches high. I had no difficulty with them, I did not lose one of them. I had the Norway spruce, the white spruce and balsam fir, and they all did remarkably well. I began when they were a couple of feet high, and I kept right on until they were fifteen feet high, and then they would come from around the lake and get them to plant; and one man tooktwenty and transplanted them, and he never lost one ofthem. If I had put out two thousand of those evergreens and cultivated them as I did that thousand, it would have been worth ten thousand dollars right to the lake. Those trees that gave the best satisfaction were the Norway spruce and the blue spruce. One man took twenty of them and never lost one. I think the white spruce for general planting is very hardy; at the same time the Norway spruce, as a general rule, seems to be a wonderful tree. - EVERGREENS. 841 Mr. Kellogg: For a windbreak there is nothing equal to the white and Scotch pine, but for a windbreak for an orchard I want nothing higher than a mature apple tree. I want nothing on the south to keep away the wind. There is nothing equal to the hemlock on low ground for an ornamental tree. Mr. Wm. Somerville: I have set out evergreens all over this state, in as many orchards as any one in this house, and around my own place I have all varieties, but so far as my own farm is concerned almost everything in the shape of evergreens will do well. I have some that were set out in 1864. I have Norway spruce and fir that are sixty to seventy feet high. The best variety we have in the western part of this state, as a rule, is the Scotch pine—it will live where others will die out; the next is the spruce, and the arbor vite; the native white pine is a failure, andfor that reason I would recom- mend for any portion of the west the Scotch pine, first, and then the white spruce, and outside of those the chances for evergreens, so far as I know, are not very flattering. My friend here never saw a pretty balsam fir forty years old; if he comes to my place I will show him some very fine ones. The arbor vite will not stand the drouth. They are usually a low-topped tree. The drouth two years ago killed out nearly all the small arbor vite in the western part of the state, and they are not a safe thing to set out. I[havegota hedge around my orchard;I cannot agree with the majority of men on that point. My orchard is surrounded with a thick hedge of evergreens, and I raise apples right around those evergreens, and my hedge is not less than forty to fifty feet high. It isa thick hedge; an animal could scarcely get through. Many a man who has seen my place wonders why I should have success with ever- greens growing so close together. Itis not generally recommended to have a windbreak around the orchard, but I cannot raise apples and let the wind blow all over. It may be different elsewhere, but on my place I cannot do otherwise. So far as blight is concerned, I know there is no orchard in the state so free from blight as mine. Even this past year my trees did not blight. It may be different with other people. I am only speaking for myself. Dr. M. M. Frisselle: How near is your hedge or windbreak to your apple trees? Mr. Somerville: Within four feet. The limbs are all interlaced with the evergreens, and they bear a great deal of fruit. This is a fact. Mr. H. F. Busse: I would like to ask the gentleman whether he mulches them or not. Mr. Somerville: O, I always do that; I do that every year. My mulching is uniform every year; I never miss that. Mr. Philips: I learned how to mulch by going to your place. Mr. Somerville: I set out the first apple and evergreen trees in Olmstead county. I paid $2.50 apiece for them when they were not more than two feet high, coming from New York, and they are good trees today. : Mr. Busse: As far as I can see, it is the dry season that kills them. I had two pine trees in front of my house; they were just aa e me be. Pi & - “Ts alike and eighteen years old. Two years ago I lost one, and last year I lost the other. If I had mulched them, they would have lived. One of my neighbors had some over twenty years old, but the place they were in was used for a pasture by the cattle, and the horses were in it, and the drouth has killed the trees. So I can see that the dry seasons will kill almost any kind. We had a variety of them; we had all kinds and most of them died. I see that the common oak has died at Como Park, more than fifty of them, the last two years. Pres. Underwood: How about the Scotch pine? Mr. Busse: Mr. Hendrickson had a good number of them, and more than two-thirds are dead. Pres. Underwood: How about the bur oak? Mr. Busse: The drouth does not seem to affect the bur oak so much. The black oak is pretty much dying out in that vicinity, and I see a good deal of the same thing all over the state, and it is no wonder that fruit trees should die the same way. Mr. Somerville: I would say to those who grow trees in Minne- sota, either fruit or evergreen, we must take care of them. That is the great secret of success with any kind of a tree. Many ignorant people set out more than they can take care of, and others think they are going to get fruit by digging a hole in the sod and sticking in a tree. That is all a mistake. I think the vitality of our trees can be kept up by keeping the ground cool with mulch? There is no grass around my trees; the grass and weeds do not come up. The ground two years ago, dry as the season was then, the ground was always perfectly moist. You could go in there at any time and take away the mulch from the trees, and you would find the ground perfectly cool and moist. The great secret of success is to keep the ground cool and retain the moisture. Mr. Allyn: Over twenty years ago I got some Scotch fir, Nor- way spruce and other evergreens. I raised them in a bed first— were seedlings—and after a year or two I set them out in a bed eight feet apart. The spruce are all dead but two; the white pine are all dead; the Austrian pine are nearly all alive, and the Scotch pine are all alive but two, that is,about an equal number of each one. The Scotch pine are now about thirty feet high, and with the severe drouth we had the last two years only two of them died. They are eight feet apart, too close together to do their best. The soil is sandy, and they have never been mulched. They were cultivated clean two or three years after we set them out, but they have never had any attention paid to them since, either as to cultivating or trimming, and they are all alive and doing well, both the Austrian and Scotch, and of the white pine that are alive only two are doing well. Mr. Clarence.Wedge: I am very glad the gentleman mentioned the Austrian pine. I had thought the question of the Austrian pine pretty well settled a few years ago. I think about the time we had our hard winters, about 1884, we had planted out trees that were perhaps six feet high at that time, Austrian and Scotch 342 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. EVERGREENS. 343 pine and quite a variety of pines. Pines were always a hobby with me. About that time the Austrian seemed to be very poor. I did not know whether it was on account of the severe winters or just what the matter was, but they looked so poor that I threatened to cut them out, and did cut some out. The Austrian has grown very little more than the Scotch. The last year was a very hard year on our Scotch pines; in fact, it was a hard year on all our evergreens. The Scotch looks poor, but the Austrian stands today very handsome indeed. They did not sear at all, and they have every appearance now, and have had for the last six or eight years, of being our best pine. I was quite interested in the Austrian pire. Mr. Somerville: I want to ask a question about that. I have some Austrian pine that the winter will kill, and others that are not affected at all, and I would like to know if the different locations where the seeds come from does not make a difference with the Austrian pine. What causesitI don’t know. Some are tender and will not stand our climate, and others seem to stand it perfectly well. Judge L. R. Moyer: There are two evergreens I would like to say a good word for; one is the red cedar and the other is the mountain pine of Europe, known as the Pinus Montana. The latter seems to be one of the hardiest pines we have tried on the prairies, and you all know that the red cedar grows wild in many places. If you will plant in the northwest corner of your door yard an irregular clump of red cedar trees and then plant around it, in a way to support it, an irregular row of this dwarf pine, you will have an extremely ornamental group of evergreens, a group of trees that you can de- pend onto live. The red cedar is accustomed to dry climates. The red cedar will turn brown in winter, but it never dies, while the mountain pine will stay green all winter. Mr. Wedge: How are your Austrian pines? Judge Moyer: They are doing very well. Mr. Wedge: Do they look any better than the Scotch? Judge Moyer: No, I don’t think they look better than the Scotch. Pres. Underwood: How close would you plant the red cedar in the group you referred to? Judge Moyer: I would not plantit too close. I would plant the group six to eight feet apart, three or four of them, and then a half dozen of those mountain pines around it. Mr. E. M. Sherman, (Iowa): I would like to say a little in regard to the red cedar. Some thirty years ago in Iowa my father made quite a screen of red cedar. The trees were kept clipped, and for a few years they did nicely, but soon the trees began to dry up, and perhaps the limbs on one side of the tree would die off, and the up- shot of the matter was they were finally grubbed out. The finest windbreak I ever saw was a hedge of red cedar. The owner kept up the hedge in the finest condition, but he had to fill in continually, and finally he became disgusted and put it on the brush pile. Judge Moyer: I would not advise any one to plant it for a hedge. ie Oe OY ee 344 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Pres. Underwood: Is it not true that the arguments you have listened to all tend to show that it makes a difference whether you plant in lllinois, lowa or the southern part of Minnesota, or whether you plant in this section of the country. It seems to me that is the drift of the arguments I have listened to. Mr. Sherman, (lowa): My experience with red cedar has been that it will stand where it is partially protected. Judge Moyer: The red cedar stands from Alaska to the Gulf, and extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific. If you take sets from southern trees they will be tender, but they are hardy if taken from northern trees. Mr. G. J. Kellogg, (Wisconsin): I know of hedges that are killed out, as Mr. Sherman says, that came from the south. Avoid red cedar from the south if you want them to live. Dr. M. M. Frisselle: There is one objection to the red cedar; it is avery slow grower. In order to enjoy them aman wants to live until he is very old and plant them when he is young. Mr. M. Pearce: I think the red cedar is a very valuable tree to plant. There is nothing equal to it for timber. There are localities where itis a great success, and it is not such a slow grower either. There are thousands of red cedar around Lake Minnetonka. Again itis said that the arbor vite is tender. We have some kinds of arbor vite that are unsurpassed by any plant. Mr. Gibson, of St. Louis, has a very fine place at Lake Minnetonka, and I have done an immense lot of work for him; I have done work that I thought was going to be an entire failure. I planted those arbor vite in clusters so as to hide some parts of the grounds that were unsightly, and there were banks that were rough, so it gave me a chance to planta good many trees close together, and those trees, today,are twenty- five feet high. Itis the most beautiful ground I have ever worked over. Neither the temperature or drought have killed any of his pine or red cedar. They are growing beautifully, and even if they are slow growers they seem to be an everlasting tree, and there is no timber more valuable than the red cedar. I think, from my ex- perience,where you want to plant trees close together I would recom- mend as a very hardy tree the mountain dwarf pine. That mountain pine is an excellent tree. So far as my knowledge goes it is a rapid grower and very ornamental and atree that will cover any unsightly ground. Mr. Allyn: I want to say a word about the red cedar not being hardy in exposed places. Over forty years ago a man in our town lost his child, and it was nearly the first burial in our cemetery. The cemetery is in a very exposed locality, no tree within halfa mile, hardly within a mile ofit; and he planted some red cedar around on his lot, and those cedars are the finest trees in the ceme- tery today. They are thirty or more feet high. Mr. Bush: I am thoroughly interested in evergreens. The white pine, the native white pine, those that I got by going into the woods and digging the young trees, are standing without any pro- tection whatever from trees on either side of them. Those trees remained there and made an excellent growth. EVERGREENS. 345 Pres. Underwood: How did they stand the drought? Mr. Bush: They were the trees that stood the drought best; they stood the drought better than anything else I had. Dr. Frisselle: What varieties have you, Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush: I havethe white pine, the Austrian pine, the red cedar, the Scotch and a number of others on the farm. Pres. Underwood: What is the root system of the white pine? Mr. Bush: Itis very deep. Mr. Philips: Howaboutthe apple trees that were planted close to the white pine? Mr. Bush: Regarding the row of white pine that stood between the rows of apple trees, they did not seem to rob the apple trees of their vigor or food, and still the white pine madea good growth. While the arbor vite and some of those trees have tap roots, the © Scotch pine draws its support from level roots. Pres. Underwood: Are you not mistaken about the Scotch pine not having tap roots? Mr. Bush: It has not as deep roots as the white pine. There is another thing we must not lose sight of in planting evergreens, and the same principle holds good with apple trees. Our evergreens are much more valuable if we can obtain the stock near where we intend to do our planting, and this is equally true of the apple. If we can get our stock on the ground where we intend to plant we are sure of getting trees that will stand all extremes. Pres. Underwood: Is it not true that the white pine growing in the timber sections of our state are on soils that would entirely ex- pose them to the effects of drouth, and that they stand well there? Mr. Bush: I thinkitis. Those little pines that I got in my search were dug from an exposed and barren ridge, where they had stood those extremes before I got them out. Mr. Somerville: I want to indorse what Mr. Bush has said in this way: Where he and I live they are a beautiful tree, and where his farm is it is almost their native home, but it will not do to put them all over the state. Mr. Bush has on his farm some of the finest trees I ever saw, but they are on their native soil. Mr.S. D. Richardson: I want to state that in Faribault county white pines from the woods north of St. Paul occasionally lose their vitality and killout. Eleven years ago I got some white pine from the woods, but I have none left, and I have seen red cedar scattered all around over the prairie, and they made a fair growth. I think they are nearly as large as the other evergreens of the same age. Pres. Underwood: How does the Scotch pine do? Mr. Richardson: It kills, sometimes. I had one that was pretty nice in front of the house that I chopped down last spring because it spring-killed. Pres. Underwood: Was it the effect of drought? Mr. Richardson: I don’t know what it was. Mr. Philips: In regard to the red cedar: I think Judge Moyer struck the keynote on the first question when he said the red cedar grows from the Gulf to the British Possessions and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and there is just as much difference between the red 346 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. cedar that is a native of western Iowa and Dakota and western Min- nesota and the native cedar growing in Illinois, as there is between the peach tree and the Duchess apple. AtonetimelI received from a man in southern Illinois a thousand trees of red cedar. I planted them, nursed them as best I could, and to my surprise not one in fifty amounted to anything. They gradually died out and were total failures; whereas, I have taken trees from the Cedar river in Iowa and have never lost one of them; and as you go further west in Iowa and Dakota you find them perfect trees. The whole matter resolves itself into the question as to where the seeds grew, where they were native at the time they were grown, Mr. Wedge: I would like to have our president say a word or two in regard to the hedge we have heard considerable about. I think he knows considerable abouta hedge that is a substitute for the arbor vite. Pres. Underwood: I presume you mean the juniper. We have been seriously affected with the drought withallof ourtrees. Ever- greens, fruit trees and all native trees I know of, such as the bur oak, seem to be seriously affected by the drought, and our arbor vite hedges have proved a failure there on that account, much to our an- noyance and sorrow. We have this juniper savin (Juniperus sabina) for a low growing hedge that seems to be quite hardy and seems to stand the drought perfectly. Whether it will prove a success in all parts of the state I cannot say. It does not require very much moisture to make a success of growing it, and it is avery handsome variety of a low growing hedge plant. Mrs. Anna Bonniwell: Is it anything like the Osage orange? Pres. Underwood: Oh,no; itis an evergreen. It belongs to the juniper family. Mr. C. G. Patten, (Iowa): How high does it grow? Pres. Underwood: It does not grow over five feet,and it can easily be sheared down to one foot. Mr. Wedge: Is it the same variety that was reported on by Mr. Ayers, of Carleton? I think he calls it by the same name. He rep- resented it as growing native over the sand hillsin the severest situations in Dakota and Minnesota. Pres. Underwood: Perhaps itis. We havea great many varieties of juniper, but I have never seen anything like this. Iam satisfied, however, that there are many wild junipers that are very beautiful and desirable. I have some under cultivation, and they are different from this variety. Mr. G. J. Kellogg, (Wisconsin): This variety isadeeper green than anything I have seen in the juniper line. Mrs. Kennedy: How do you propagate it? Pres. Underwood: We propagate by layers. Dr. Frisselle: Is it a native of this state? Pres. Underwood: Yes, the juniper is found all over the North- west. Mr. C.L. Smith: Does it stand drought better than the red cedar? Pres. Underwood: I am speaking of the prostrate juniper. Mr. Smith: Does this dwarf yariety stand drouth any better than the red cedar? EVERGREENS. 347 Pres. Underwood: It does not stand drouth any better than the ; red cedar at our place. It grows like the red cedar, growing in the y drifting sand, and certainly seems capable of sustaining itself i through our driest seasons. Mr. Smith: Is it not of more advantage to plant the red cedar for a hedge or windbreak? Pres. Underwood: It would not make a windbreak; it is simply : used for an ornamental hedge. There is a fine hedge of red cedar | on Mr. Emery’s place. It is not as handsome as the others. We ; have a fine hedge of white pine that is very beautiful, but we keep : it closely pruned, and we have done the same thing with our white spruce. The soil is so dry that it affects the spruce. Mr.Sherman: Do you find that the white spruce stands clipping | and crowding? | Pres. Underwood: I think so. Any evergreen will stand clip- ping. Mr. Sherman: It was crowding I had more reference to. Pres. Underwood: They are about eight feet apart; they are crowded, and the branches are close together. We have quite a nice windbreak of Scotch pine and white pine, one row ofeach. I think the white pine does as well as the Scotch. Mr. Pearce: Where did you get your white pine? Pres. Underwood: They were seedlings. Mr. Pearce: You go to Elgin and you will see some very fine white pine. When I was there fifteen years ago I noticed white pine set outthere. I noticed those in particular, they were so fine, and I think if you get the white pine around your home you are all right. ' Mr. Bush: It will only take a moment to get the expression of . the people in regard to the trees. I should like a showof hands in | favor of the pine, either the Scotch, white pine or red cedar, so that those who are anxious to plant may know what our choice is in that regard. Mr. Smith: Do you mean that we should designate those that are doing best with us? Mr. Bush: What I want is a show of hands as to the evergreen best adapted for windbreaks with the experience we had with F drouth on the prairie, and all over this state and Dakota. To my mind the pine stands ahead of everything else. Pres. Underwood: All in favor of the white pine raise their hands. Hands up being counted, nine were in favor of the Scotch pine and eight in favor of the white pine. Pres. Underwood: Mr. Bush’s proposition was made to find out which was the best evergeen for prairies, Mr. Somerville: That we could not determine because locations differ. Mr. Elliot: What would be your preference? Mr. Somerville: The Scotch pine. But it depends upon the situation. Pres. Underwood: Mr. Somerville says neither one would be the best all over the state. Ce ae oe 348 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mr. Somerville: I think, Mr. Elliot, the Scotch pine will grow more universally over the northwest than any other kind, except it be the red cedar, and that is of too slow growth. The Scotch pine is the best and hardiest of all the evergreens, within my experience over the state, and I have planted trees in a great portion of the state, that is,in certain locations in the west and northwest, and the Scotch pine has stood and outgrown every- thing else. Pres. Underwood: How fast does the red cedar grow? Judge Moyer: It grows as fast as the Scotch pine. Pres. Underwood: You start that tree at two feet high and it grows a foot a year. Mr. Wedge: There is this distinction to be made in the red cedar: If it is not under cultivation it is slow growing, but un- der cultivation it is as fast a grower as any I have on the place. Dr. Frisselle: I have a red cedar on my little place; I noticed it when I first came on the place. I think that was eighteen years ago, and after eight years it was two feet high. Mr. Kimball: Did you give it any cultivation? Dr. Frisselle: No, it received no cultivation. Mr. Kellogg, (Wisconsin): Well, there must be some reason for that. I set some outa few years ago and I think they have grown two feet. Dr. Frisselle: I think it is because it is pretty near another tree. Mr. Kellogg: Let us have that vote on the red cedar. Pres. Underwood: A show of hands is called for on red cedar. Hands being counted, it was found that eight were in favor of the red cedar. Mr. Wedge: I would just like to get the expression of those who favor the Austrian pine in Minnesota, those who are pleased with the behavior of the Austrian pine. A vote was taken,and eight hands were counted as favoring the Austrian pine. Mr. Wedge: Now I would like to know how many are opposed to planting the Austrian pine. The opposing votes being counted, numbered two. Mr. D. C. Converse, (Wisconsin): You have been discussing the planting of evergreens: Now what is the best method of treat- ment after planting, to trim the top back or not? The results with us have been very disastrous in handling evergreens. Pres. Underwood: - Prune them in severely would be my answer. Mr. Smith: I just came in so I did not hear the first part of the discussion. That is a very important item. I want to indorse what Mr. Somerville says in regard to the Scotch pine. I voted in favor of the Scotch pine. I believe that the white spruce makes the best tree and the most enduring tree, and the best looking tree of anything we can plant, but a farmer can get a windbreak of any given dimension with Scotch pine in half the time he could get it with the white spruce. I think the white spruce is the most beautiful evergreen we can grow. Now,in regard to the EVERGREENS. 349 red cedar. A friend of mine living near the river went across the Mississippi and pulled out of the sand a lot of little red cedars, four hundred of them. He set them out six feet apart, and they are nearly twenty-five feet high now. I want to answer the question Mr. Converse asked. I think we make a mistake with our evergreens; we get in too much ofa hurry. Mr. Elliot and others know it is quite a task to plant and care for our native Minnesota evergreens. I would like to show you a bed of forest seedlings transplanted in nursery rows, and where I have saved during those dry seasons of last year and year before over eighty per cent of them, The way I treat them is this: As fast as they are pulled I puddle them, not just in water, but in water mixed with clay, a clay mush, so the roots are coated all over. Then I keep them cool. I do not pack them in large bunches, and cut away two-thirds of the tops of the trees, and trim off the long fine roots. I do not plant them out as soon as I can get them into the ground, but I put them away where they will not heat until some favorable time to plant. Firm the earth closely around the roots and shade them the first year, and then let them stand one or two years before they are planted out. I can show you whole rows transplanted from that bed, and there was not one tree in a hundred that failed. I have a lot of those white spruce that grew over two feet the year they were transplanted. Mr: Converse: How much do you trim back a three or four foot spruce? Mr. Smith: I am not prepared to answer that question, because I have not been handling any of that size, and I would not re- commend any one to handle trees of that size. Mr. Converse: My question might apply to any size, as to how much should be left. Mr. Smith: I would trim back all but two inches of last year’s growth of every branch. Pres. Underwood: Cut off one-third of the top of the trees. APPLE PICKING AND PACKING.—As now generally practiced— picking each apple separately—it is necessarily slow, laborious and expensive. But, thanks to Yankee ingenuity, the needs of this emergency, like many others, seem to be successfully met. ! aca carbine lane cots g otica cee esheltinGlola a aaiet els usccsisetotion 164 BREINER eae ta Pet ates Sect eicteia! otal cio ania (o inie nisin of sao Ssiemyaret otters wan afeceaielaietvine wiarewiels) clotawias,a sts vie sale ulatoree 669 Crabs and hybrid apples, by both classes... Etah dip ts ali s-alets «Cue Loe Seedling apples, including crabs and hybrids, by both classes.......2.......s.s., 322 Eiares.otapples by State Bxperiment Station: 2...) loan ce celcctacop cscclscseccecsessce 90 Shown by the management on the World’s Fair booth..................... ccc cece 88 Pest Wea PIES CX MEO ILE en ieials ciOaey ane, Ute betee te oom aaa nee ode clcnie winnalaboeed are egsisien z 2,183 Grapes exhibited Para ah cheda ets pe tenia alan eah wines wha ntle Are rmiePiacnim mctron ein ace sevies otctemiotaae 324 SWEETS BRMEN ES slay at Pes oe has traidle hd § Siuin ates iclors ok ade Cars apetslene eer mele or clotat ia cletciete saree Sandee cates 198 Pears SMa sek ovens ae ait ane caee paid oan aolemae d slate aeldle epacint une ao taaat tenkee tee 3 Peaches Be OR aa REHOME EACH Cer ERTL ICIE BER SORGE TCH AOC RIN Stee ee See rae Lane rapt ar 3 SCE eal ll CLASSES rnc ericiste oe as chs cice aavedis cia siete ecrnicleista AG a cleo ck cece ace suk acum eee ce 2,721 Of the three plates of pears shown two were grown by Mr. J.S. Harris, and one by Mr. Clarence Wedge. The peaches were from Mr. M. Pearce. Two plates of the latter were fully ripe when gathered in the middle of Augustand had not, apparently, changed a particle in the excellent cold storage where the state fair fruit is kept. Evi- dently a much larger exhibit of this fruit is practicable if these facilities are taken advantage of, as many Minnesotans are now trying a few peach trees. Although this handsome showing of fruits received only words of commendation, yet those who are conversant with the situation are aware that generally it lacked the size and high color which usually characterizes Minnesota fruit. A glance at the tables in the light of remembrance of previous exhibits showed too plainly the greens and light blush where in other years appeared the delicate yellow and brilliant red belonging to the fully ripened apple under the stimulus of the clear Minnesota airand the brilliant sunshine. That the season was two weeks late detracted necessarily from the beauty of the display, though not from the credit of the exhibitor. This was even more noticeable in the grape exhibit, and the exhibitors in this class are to be specially commended for their efforts in making a creditable showing under these discouraging conditions. No special notes were taken by the writer of the plum exhibit, but the number of plates shown indicatesalargeone. It filled the space under the four glass frames in the World’s Fair booth. Besides a full array of the cultivated natives, several varieties of blue plums were shown, one of which, the Shipper’s Pride, from the farm of Nils Anderson, of Lake City, a fruit of extraordinary size, attracted much attention. Mr. E. A. Cuzner sent two of his English frame cucumbers, just the size and shape for ‘‘Paddy’s” shillelah. They were regarded os a great novelty. The display of ninety plates of apples from the Experiment Sta- tion as against fifty shown last year may be considered indicative of the development of pomology under the care of our horticulturist there, Prof. S. B. Green. 378 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The fact that 322 plates of seedling apples were shown should not be overlooked. Each plate presumably represented a separate variety raised from the seed in our state. Many of these are apples of real merit and undoubtedly some are hardy enough to endure the most rigorous condittons. This exhibit can be made still more interest- ing by further classification, which will be easily practicable with additional space. It was this year very much crowded. A plate of Duchess shown by Mr. J. S. Harris was especially note- worthy on account of the age and fruitfulness of the tree which bore them, Planted in 1855, it has now borne thirty-seven crops, often in alternate years producing twenty-five bushels. An accur- ate record of the doings of such a tree would be interesting reading. This is said to be the oldest Duchess in the state. Is it so? The innovation this year in placing the different varieties of apples shown as Single plates, each kind by itself, proved in practice to be an easy success. The exhibitors appreciated its great advantages: and the judge was saved thereby a few gray hairs The principle involved can be easily extended over all classes of exhibits, as the exhibitors become acquainted with its working and appreciate its usefulness. A fair criticism to make is upon the carelessness of some of the exhibitors in regard to labeling their fruit. The regulations require the use of printed or written labels attached to pins on every plate of fruit shown. The increased value, to say nothing of the improved appearance, of uniform compliance with this rule is easily apparent: and another year should show improvement in this direction. The exhibitors in the floral department were all familiar names. Their willingness to assist in adjusting their exhibits to the varying conditions of the allotted spaces and in decorating the tables, foun- tain, &c.,is most commendable. Without the frame work of verdure they bank up along the sides of the hall and gracefully intersperse about the interior, the efforts of our pomological friends would be comparatively cold and barren. The two together work out most harmonious results. The experiment was tried this season of allow- ing the florists to place a portion of their exhibits on the floor. The general concensus of opinion after trying this plan appears to favor a low platform instead with, perhaps, a series of rising steps in the rear. A few commercial exhibits were made in this hall and merit no- tice. The nurserymen of the state were offered space for this pur- pose, all of which it was then feared we could well fill. The Jewell Nursery Company was the only one to take advantage of the offer, and their display was one of the very attractive ornamental features in the hall. Northrup, King & Co. put up a show of their seeds and what grow from them, and in the corner of their space Minnehaha Falls did the deluge act, while Mr. and Mrs. “Hiawatha,” in the or- iginal, distributed suitable literature. Miss K. V. White, on one of the center tables, made an interesting display of annual cut flowers. The exhibit of cut flowers in bouquets by the school children of Minneapolis certainly deserves special mention. It was pre- pared under the auspices of the flower committee of the Ladies’ 1) ie TA ae as cous é Loy | HORTICULTURE AT THE STATE FAIR, 1897. 379 Improvement League of that city, of whom Mrs. Geo. B. Aiton is chairman. The work of this committee was well recited in a paper read before our last annual meeting by Mrs. M. M. Barnard, the former chairman and still a member of the committee. This display of over 100 bouquets represented a large amount of work, as they were secured largely by solicitation and from nearly all the schools of the city. These ladies are doing a noble work in interesting the children in flower culture and should and will receive from our society the fullest support. Seven of the chil- dren received premiums in competition with other amateur exhib- itors, most of whom were adults. This kind of exhibits would be encouraged by making a class for amateurs under fourteen years of age, or possibly premiums might be offered for exhibits of cut flowers by schools with satisfactory results. We were fortunate in having with us again Mr. J. B. Rogers, of Newark, N. J., who again consented to act as judge of grapes. Mr. D. K, Michenor, a successful orchardist of Etna, in southern Minne- sota, acted in a similar capacity on amateur apples. The other judges, Prof. S. B. Green on professional apples and seedlings, A. S- Swanson on professional flowers, E. Nagel on amateur flowers, and J. S. Harris on plums, we have always with us, but their assistance is none the less fully appreciated. The one judge plan seems to work well and give uniform satisfaction, with us, at least. This article could be continued indefinitely, but instead—come to the fair next year and see for yourself. THE FUTURE OF VINEYARDING IN MINNESOTA. A. A. BOST, EXCELSIOR. I will say a few words only with regard to marketing grape crops, as I think the future depends largely on this part of the work. We have the advantage of being near the consuming market of the west; we have less disease, insects, etc., to contend with than in other localities. We have additional expense to be sure, in the way of winter protection, but trimming, covering, etc., is done so much more quickly and easily than formerly, and isso well understood by you all that I won’t take your time in that line. Our grapes have quite a reputation, and if all use full weight baskets, pack nothing but sound, well ripened grapes, our commission men would soon have a demand for more than they could supply. I have shipped to a good many western towns and heard many complaints that our baskets were not full weight. Merchants are accustomed to handling full weight baskets from other states and expect the same from us. It is a great mistake and an injury to our market to pack poor bunches and unripe grapes. There is a demand for them for jelly, and they bring almost as much in bulk as good grapes in baskets. I have shipped them successfully into Dakota in barrels, but bushel baskets are more suitable. 3880 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, SOLID COMFORT IN A MINNESOTA ORCHARD. CLARENCE WEDGE, ALBERT LEA. Those who have from their childhood enjoyed to the full the pro- ducts of the best fruit regions of this or other lands can have little appreciation of the value in home comfort of a good orchard. To such and to the few monstrosities who were born without that natural craving for fruit which seems to descend to all Eve’s sons and daughters, we have nothing to say in this paper. We believe, however, that but few of either of these classes find their way into our society and that most of you can sympathize with the feelings, appetites and ambitions of one who came to our state as a“small boy” away back in the fifties and will, perhaps, pardon the recital of a little personal history that will go far to explain the enthusiasm that year after year inflicts so much of orcharding upon your patient hearing. Having stated that your “small boy” was one of the emigrants of 1859, it will be unnecessary to add that he came of “poor but honest” parentage; not that any of us felt poor, but it was before the days of plutocrats hereabouts, and those well supplied with worldly goods very wisely chose to stay where they could enjoy them to the best advantage. But if we were not rich we had an abundance of all that the healthy boy cared for, with one exception, there was an almost complete dearth of fruit. And there were the best of reasons for that dearth. It was before fruitin all its forms had become commercial, as we see it today, and,even had it been, a hundred miles of teaming over the most rudimentary roads lay between us and the nearest artery of commerce, the Mississippi river. Well do I remember the makeshifts resorted to by the good wives and mothers to give their families a taste of something like fruit. The wild crab was held in considerable repute, also the wild grape,and long and tedious quests were made after that queen of delicacies, the wild strawberry. You would scarcely think it now, but my dignified mother who lives in the midst of electric lights, city wateranda table supplied with many of the choicest tropical fruits, in those days rode five miles in a lumber wagon to spend the day gathering wild gooseberries on “The Island”; and in memory I can see her now returning, well torn both in flesh and clothing, but with triumph in her face as she dis- played a tin pail full of prickly berries to put down for winter sauce _ for her family. It is about this time that I distinctly remember an older boy who had lately come from Vermont astonishing me with _the story that away back in that state the boys used to pelt each other with apples, as we Minnesota boys sometimes did with snow- balls. Apples so plenty as that! It was like the story of the cave full of gold and diamonds that I read of in the Arabian Nights. From the midst of such a frontier life as this, it was my happy fate to be sent ona visit of one year to my grandparents, living on a good old fashioned eastern farm, Little did my kind parents know as they saw me leaving with my aunt how much of the poetry of my life would be crowded into that delightful year. Many important events that have come into my life since then are tangled and con- SOLID COMFORT IN A MINNESOTA ORCHARD. 381 fused in memory, but that one bright year with the dear old folks stands forth as clearin mind as yesterday. The well in the hollow with its “old oaken bucket,’ that was drawn up from mysterious depths dripping with the coolest waters; the barn with its great bays of scented hay and clover and such glorious places to climb and jump; the sweet, loving face of the dear oJd lady; and my grand- father with the bible on his knee. Butoh, the orchard! Just think of a boy who had scarcely known the taste of apples turned loose in an old fashioned farm orchard. The garden of Eden held not more joy. How eagerly I watched the fruit grow and ripen! It is thirty- five years since I plucked that first ripe apple, but were the tree stand- ing today I could go and point it out to youat once,a broad,recumb- ent tree with round fruit ofrichestred. Then there followed a great variety of all sizes, shapes and colors; the spicy red apples,that were borne on tall trees in the centre of the orchard, and my favorites, the sweets, that grew next the house. And then when winter’s cold and snow have shut us up indoors, what a luxury to take my pan down into that aromatic cellar and fill it from the bins of reds and yellows, Pippins and Greenings,stored up for winteruse! But the year rolled round, and I was back again at home spending the days wrestling with Robinson’s practical arithmetic and the nights dreaming of the time when I might again visit at grandfather’s. Very soon after my return home to Minnesota, about 1864, my father planted out an orchard of moderate size. That there was not the fullest faith in this venture was shown by his planting a row of wild crabs at the sametime. An incident in the setting of that orchard is most clearin memory. One tree of the lot was very inferior and gave small promise of living; my father looked it over critically and then handing it to me said, “There, Clarence, if you can make that tree live, you can have it for your own.” A place was selected for it, and there, with such gentle, earnest care as children’s hours can give, I planted my first appletree. It lived; but those who began their orcharding in our state at that time need not be told the fate of that tree or of that orchard, or the general discour- agement that set in when all failed and one by one were gathered to the wood pile. Years passed, railroads came nearer, fruit from the east began to be used, ard it became current among our wise- acres that we could buy our apples cheaper than we could raise them; and as we look back upon it now we shall have to agree that it was and is far better to buy our Spys and Baldwins and Greenings than it is to attempt to grow them in this uncongenial climate. But this plan, with apples at $5.00 to $8.00 per barrel, did not give us boys much satisfaction. I remember that my allowance was one apple per day and an extra one for special good behaviour, Still my father kept on planting in a desultory way. Siberian crabs, the very little, very crabbed ones, were the first trees that bore any fruit of any consequence with us; then the Hyslop and Trans- cendent, with abundant crops of something more like apples, and, finally, some traveling tree man, for whom father had done a favor left with us as a present, a very high-priced and wonderful tree, which, as an old Tetofsky,is standing today, the sole survivor of my father’s orchard. 382 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. And now the boy has grown to manhood, and casting in my lot with the tillers of the soil one of the first improvements put up on the farm where I began life for myself was a small orchard. For- tune favored in the selection of one Duchess, the only tree of that planting alive today, but so perfectly healthy and productive that it has paid good interest on the cost of all the trees that died. Then followed a planting of Wealthy to fill the many vacant places. About this time I well remember receiving the most substantial encouragement in orchard planting by a visit to the state fair. The show of fruit surprised me, and the thought came strong and force- ful, “if others can grow apples in Minnesota, I certainly can and will” And best of all, our good horticultural angel, Mr. Harris, was there to minister to my necessities and point me to congenial fellowship in this society. With increased confidence and know- ledge there gained, I also became interested in the Russian varie- ties and added to my orchard selections from Mr. Tuttle’s and Prof. Budd’s importations, and with the health and abundant fruitful- ness of these trees and the advent of appreciative young hearts and hands and appetites into our household, begins the “solid comfort” of which I write. Our home orchard which contains about eighty trees is situated, as all such orchards should be, near the house. Our large sitting- room window looks out upon a group of Wealthy, planted sixteen years ago, that are producing a barrel or more eacn of that queen of Minnesota fruits. They are not as perfect trees as many in our orchard, but had we understood some years ago the need of protect- ing their tender trunks from our clear, hot sunlight, we might have saved them to us in far better health. Close by them stand that grand old Duchess, the patriarch of the orchard, turning a quarter of a century. It has braved all the vicissitudes of cold and drouth, of storm and heat, that are included in our climate, and shows it not by any sign of weakness or decay. Many the generous bushel it has filled from its burdened branches, many the pie and dump- ling that has drawn its juicy inspiration from the rich current that flows through its rough and shaggy trunk. Next we pass the younger Duchess, emulating in sturdy health and generous habit their older sister. Here we see the Yellow Sweet, the prime favorite of the orchard, symmetrical in tree, perfect in every way of health, one of the first to show ripe fruit, and bearing the most tender, rich and juicy apple that could be desired. Its only fault, and that age may correct, is scanty fruitage. Next stand in row five trees of Summer Lowland, a bread and butter apple, one that suits all tastes and leaves a vacancy when it is gone. And now we pass some trees of uncouth form that show in every outline the stern and rugged nature of an orchard pioneer, the Hibernal, fitted by nature and descent, by form and habit, to carry the good gospel of the comfortable home orchard from Iowa to Manitoba and from Wisconsin to the Dakotas. Nota choice apple as eaten from the tree, not as handsome to the eye as the rich, red Wealthy, but bountiful in fruitage, large and regular in size, and almost without a peer for every form of household use. The Repka SOLID COMFORT IN A MINNESOTA ORCHARD. 383 stands next, a good, safe tree, growing tall and upright,and bearing in profusion the soundest, firmest, longest keeping apple in our cellar. The kind that bears the grandest apples in the orchard are young trees of Patten’s Greening—great round globes of yellow blushed with pink. One tree, but six years set, filled a barrel with such beauties as would make an old New Yorker envious. The Longfield never knows a barren year, but almost from the time it takes its place among its fellows in the orchard it begins to pay, in large and generous measure, the labor of the planter. And in this fruit our Wealthy meets its greatest rival; not so rich in color or so fine in flavor as that of our old-time favorite, but of more uniform and long-lived excellence. These are but a portion of the trees that have for many seasons past promoted our pleasure and added to the family store. But the trees alone are not the only source of comfort from the orchard, for the ground contains a portion of the vegetable garden, nearly all the perennial flowers and shrubs and roses that we pluck for home adornment and some little flower gardens nine feet square, carefully staked out, the cherished possession of each young mem- ber of the household. The apple is a large-hearted tree, willing to “live and let live,’ as the merchant’s motto runs, and, unlike the willow, cottonwood and maple, the ground beneath its branches is a most congenial soil for everything that does not, like the grape, require the fullest sunlight; and the plants and shrubs in turn nestling beneath the apple boughs cover the rich soil and shelter it from drying winds and, shading the open spaces, keep the ground cool and moist and grove-like, the most congenial soil a tree can have. And so our Minnesota orchard has become the happy spot where, as the day is done, we turn to enjoy the fruits and flowers, to watch the unfolding bud and growth of tree and plant, their miracles that never cease, and think upon these mysteries of life that lie just hid- den from our wondering eyes. And then we have the joyful sight of children running to pick the choicest apple from the favorite tree,returning soon with mouth and hands and pockets full and, per- haps, some special beauty for their mother—a sight that ever calls to mind that one short year spent with the kind and patient faces “that I have loved long since and lost awhile.” And when Septem- ber’s sun has brought to every autumn fruitits last peculiar beauty, what a merry harvest is begun as pails and baskets, ladders and barrels are brought out, and the burdened trees are lightened for winter’s cheerful store! My friends, I have given you these simple pictures of the quiet life about our home, not from any boastful spirit but to encourage the thought that each one of you may have that best loved and best remembered spot about your homes, the orchard garden. It may not be that all our favorite fruits will endure the trials of your own location, but other and better ones are sure to come if you will make the start, keep the rows full and give them hopeful attention. 384 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. SATISFACTORY PLANTS. MRS. WM. LYONS, MINNEAPOLIS. One thing you would notice if you were to “walk into my garden” is the absence of novelties. There are no tropical but many “satis- factory plants.” There is the beautiful and showy phlox. Some varieties are early, others late; by making a careful selection of early, medium and late varieties, one can extend the season of flowering over at least three months, I prefer to sow the seed in a hotbed and transplant in the open ground as soon as all danger of frost is over. Poppies are today occupying a place in popularity beside the chrysanthemum, and surprise us with their many new and beauti- ful flowers and gay, gaudy colors. Sow the seedin the open ground, for early flowers, the earlier the better. It is advisable to make two or three sowings to assure flowers all summer. The peony is as great a favorite today as it was fifty years ago. Every one will agree with me that for striking beauty peonies have scarcely an equal. They makea fine show when planted in groups and are very hardy. Spring planting has proved the most success- ful for me, and in quite rich soil. The old bleeding heart is as lovely as ever, although not so com- mon. The sweet pea is the present favorite flower. They are not hard to grow if given the proper start and care. I have grown them in my own garden very successfully for several years. Theground should be prepared in the fall with a good coating of manure, spading it in in the spring untilitismellow. Put the seeds into the ground early in April, in fact, sooner if the frost is out of the ground. A flurry of snow or a light freeze will not harm them in the least. The rule is to plant as early as you can get the ground soft, and if you wish to have some later wait two weeks and plant another row, and so on. I dig a trench eight or ten inches deep, put in a layer of manure, then another of dirt, filling within one inch of the top. In dropping the seed let them lie quite close together, as they protect themselves by their close clinging. Cover to the depth of oneinch. As the plants grow, gradually hill them up on either side, and when they are up ten or twelve inches high a support should be made for them to run upon. Some growers prefer to have two rows of plants and a support of wire netting run between them, I find one row more satisfactory with a support of fine wires on either side fasten- ed to a framework at the ends and in the middle. This allows of frequent stirring up of the soil on both sides, and if properly cared for they will make a beautiful hedge. Sweet peas need plenty of water,and when they begin to blossom pick them all once a day so asto keep them from going to seed. This will encourage a fresh supply of late fall flowers. If the summer proves too hot and dry, nothing will feel it sooner than the sweet pea. Water heavily in the evening, and they will repay this care with numberless fragrant flowers. In speaking of picking the sweet pea blossoms, this rule SATISFACTORY PLANTS. 885 may be applied to all flowers, to keep them from going to seed, for as soon as the seed begins to form, the plant will cease to blossom. If fond of rich shades of yellow and maroon, be sure and havea bed of nasturtiums. I know of no other flower that combines these colors in such richness. This flower is peculiarly adapted to the needs of the amateur gardener. It stands drought and heat as no other annual can, it needs little or no care, and it blooms in profu- sion when other plants give but two or three blossoms ata time. It needs only light, sandy soil. No garden is complete without mignonette. It is not showy but is sweet and beautiful. Raising mignonette is very simple when rightly done. It requires a good soil, deep and cool and not too rich, and a clear, dry atmosphere. Sow the seed thinly, keep the temperature cool and water when necessary. To give beauty toa garden, have a pansy bed. In transplanting do not set them too near together, and they will spread into large, thrifty plants and bear more flowers. The pansy plants must be kept wet about the roots if you would have fine flowers all summer. For late flowering, nothing can be found superior to the aster. It is the rival of the chrysanthemum among the annuals. It has not yet given us the rich and glowing yellows which characterizes that popular flower, but it furnishes us with crimsons and blues, and pale, delicate rosy tints that the chrysanthemum cannot lay claim to. I prefer to sow the seed in a hotbed and to transplant when healthy and strong enough. If not convenient to do this, sow in the open ground very thinly. Asters should be hoed and liquid fertilizers given to increase the beauty and abundance of the fall blooming. No flower gives finer results with next to nocare than the gladiolus. Plant the bulbs in a rich, light soil in May. They will then take care of themselves, if you will pull the weeds from among them. Among other plants which deserve mention and are easily grown are the petunia, marigold, verbena, sweetalyssum, tulip, candytuft, caliopsis and mourning bride. The best of all flowers for the winter flowering pot is the gera- nium. It is called common, but no other flower will endure dry warmth and dust so well, and can always be so depended on for flowers. Havea variety but not too many. Then there are the begonias. Metallica has plush pink buds in large sprays, and large, crapey, red-veined leaves of bronzy green. These are still the best of all begonias for winter flowers. Sunlight and air are necessities for plants; for this reason very few varieties will do well at a north window, and unless you havea small conservatory it is better to confine yourself to a few plants. Among the decorative plants the Jerusalem cherry is worthy of mention. It should be given liquid manure freely early in the fall to prevent the berries from dropping. The umbrella plant will grow quickly if kept well watered and given plenty of sunshine. The cacti must have their share of room. One commonly called the inch, or lobster, grows with very little care because heat and drouth are necessary for their growth. Tn Or ae f - al rane a 3886 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. A few hanging baskets are also an addition to a window in the winter. Oxalis is a continual bloomer. The ivy geranium is also to be recommended, as is also the English ivy. In regard to watering house plants, I should advise the washing of the plants quite often to remove the dust. Better give thema soaking twice a week than a mere moistening of the surface every day. Don’t complain of “poor luck” with flowers and, thinking of the past failures, decide that winter plants are “more trouble than they are worth.” Remember that “we gain more knowledge by a loss than by a victory, if we turn it to advantage,” and the failures of past years may mean the successes of this. SMALL FRUITS IN FREEBORN COUNTY, IN 1896. G. H. PRESCOTT. Small fruits of all kinds made a good growth in 1895, and were covered in the usual way in the fall and promised a good crop for the next year. Strawberries looked well when uncovered in the spring. We had no frost to injure the blossoms, but the harvest ‘was not satisfactory. I am unable to say why the old beds gave better results than the new vigorous plants in thenew beds. Black and red raspberries were covered with earth, came out in the spring in good condition and bore good crops, but not any better than others left uncovered. Blackberries were covered with earth and let lay as long as we dared, on account of breaking off the buds. We had a splendid crop, especially the Ancient Briton, which had no hard core in them. As in drier seasons, we had a dry spell just in ripening time, but by irrigating freely the berries ripened until the last ones were fine, plump berries. The blackcap bushes we sprayed with water every evening thoroughly. For the blackberries, we dug a shallow trench near the row and let the water run along the trench, and when it had run to the lowest place, we considered it enough for thattime. This we repeated once a week. We prefer letting the water run; spraying is not enough and costs more. Prices for fruit were better this year, (1896). Strawberries, 15c. at first, and 121éc. later; raspberries, 20c. to 15c.; blackberries, 20c. to ilfater AN EFFECTIVE MODE OF WATERING PLANTS.—Sink an ordinary flower pot two or three inches in the ground near the plant to be watered, first putting in the bottom of the hole a handful of trash to enlarge the surface for absorption. Then pour the pot full of water, and it will be gradually absorbed through the hole in the bottom of the pot and without wetting at all the surface of the ground. The size of the pot will have to be governed by the size and requirements of the plant to be watered. A gallon pot between each couple of tomato plants in a row serves the purpose well. 7a ABOUT MY APPLES. 387 ABOUT MY APPLES. W. L. PARKER, FARMINGTON, How thankful we should be that nature has provided for us our beautiful trees, some that are pleasing to the eye as well as others good for fruits, and it seems to be the mission of man to plant and care for them and make home beautifnl and pleasant. I have often thought what dreary places our homes would be without them, for the cooling shade they give us from summer’s heat and the protec- tion from winter’s cold. What can there be more pleasing to man than a pleasant home surrounded by beautiful trees and fruits of all kinds in abundance? My trees came through the winter of 1895-6 in good condition so far as my observation went. When the blooming time came, the trees blossomed profusely, it seemed there was nota place fora single blossom more. What is there more beautiful in nature than an apple tree in full bloom? The fruit set so thickly, the trees were overloaded, and in consequence the most of our apples were under- sized—or that was the case in my orchard and in this section of Da- kota county. I have a good many trees that I set in 1893, that were full of apples, so much so I picked off all but a few specimens of each. Let me now give you a little of my observation and experience in the work of apple growing. I have been for nearly twenty years trying to learn how to grow apples, and I do not think I have made much progress, but I have learned that two of the first and most im- portant things is to select a good location on a soil that will retain plenty of moisture to sustain the trees, and varieties that are adap- ted to the location and soil. I find these are very important to suc- cess. I prefer an elevated site with a northeast or east slope, asa protection against frost and giving better air circulation. A soil of rich loam with clay subsoil mixed with lime, I think, is one of the best of soils for apple growing. The soil, of course, should be well prepared before planting; it should be in as good condition as would be proper fora corncrop. Toorich land will grow too much wood, so it can not properly ripen up to withstand our cold win- ters, and the trees take longer to fruit. I do not advise the planting of trees over two years old, for they have better roots, are more easily transplanted and cost less, and at five or six years old if properly cared for you have a better tree than if you had planted a four or five year old—or that is my experience. As to varieties, apples are so local in their habits that it is impos- sible to recommend many varieties with safety,and the only way seems to be to find out the kinds that do the best in your locality and plant principally of them anda few other kinds for trial, and when they get to bearing change by grafting such as do not prove good. This is easily done by attending to it while the trees are yet young. The selection of varieties is the most perplexing of all questions in apple culture, judging from my own experience, but I do not know of any way to determine this but by actual experiment, and unfortunately it takes time to do this. ag 7 388 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. I plant my trees 16x16 feet, but [am inclined to think that is too near for some varieties; perhaps 16x24 would be better, sixteen feet between trees north and south, and twenty-four feet between rows. As soon as my trees are set, I at once mulch with some coarse mulching, leaves, old hay or coarse manure. I do not use any water in setting. Then keep the ground well cultivated. I grow two rows of raspberries between each two rows of apple trees for four or five years, then dig the bushes out and seed down. I mulch the trees early each spring to get the benefit of the spring rains, which car- ry the fertilizing material into the soil. Here are a few of the varieties that do well at my place: Tetofsky, first early, an abundant bearer; the past season I sold them-for eighty cents per bushel. This is followed by Duchess, one of our best early apples; also Early Strawberry craband Whitney’s No. 20, which last is a very handsome grower and a very desirable variety. It takes the place of all others in its season and is a good bearer and sells well with me. Also the Minnesota bears well and gives us avery good apple; we think it cannot be beaten for preserving. The Wealthy is one of the best apples on the list. It is not quite as hardy as the Duchess, though I do not see much difference at my place. The only fault, if we may call it such, is that they are in- clined to overbear while young, and that soon destroys the vitality of the tree, and it dies. I think we lose more Wealthy trees from this cause than from any other. I think by better care and a judi- cious thinning of the fruit, we would prolong the lives of our Weal- thy trees much, The fruit is very desirable as a fall and early winter variety. Coming into bearing young as it does, with its large, beau- tiful red apples, no handsomer apple grows. It is fine for cooking and to eat out of hand. Who ever saw a poor, ill shaped or gnarly Wealthy apple. We cannot grow too many of them. Patten’s Greening is also a very promising variety. The Hibernal is hardier than the Duchess and fully equal in bearing; fruit large and even sized; it will, I think, prove a good market apple for cul- inary use for fall and early winter, but is not of much value for dessert use. I have a number of other varieties, Russian and seed- lings, that I think will prove valuable in the near future. I havein all some sixty odd varieties. I call it my little experimental farm. We have quite a number of orchards in this section, bearing the past season from twenty-five to three hundred bushels each. There seems to be a marked improvement in the interest of fruit growing, especially for home use, in this part of the country for the past year ortwo. Ifwe do not want to grow fruit for market, it will always pay us to grow all kinds of fruit for home use. In conclusion, I would say to the farmer in particular, let it be your aim to provide for yourself and family a comfortable and happy home, and surely nothing will more contribute to this than the planting and growing of fruits. THE HOMES OF SOME OF OUR FRIENDS. 389 THE HOMES OF SOME OF OUR FRIENDS. A. W. LATHAM, SEC’Y. It had long been my wish to visit the homes of our horticultural friends in fruiting time, but no favorable opportunity had occurred ' until this one Iam about to describe. I shall not be tiresomely sta- y tistical nor, I fear, uncomfortably accurate in any efforts I may E make to give figures, but I hope to set before my readers something . like pen pictures of the surroundings of some of these friends which j will give you pleasure. It is to me always an added joy when think- ; ing of a friend to have in my mind a picture of his home and home , surroundings, and after that [always know him better and enjoy ‘ him more. A disagreeably gloomy morning in mid-August last witnessed the departure from Minneapolis, southward bound by rail along the picturesque way which skirts the Mississippi river. Beyond St. Paul the skies brightened a little and began to give promise of a more cheerful day, but they were still lowering when our friends, Wyman Elliot and J. M. Underwood, climbed aboard at Lake City and we were fairly under way to carry out our previously arranged plan. Early noon found us at Minnesota City, a little village six miles the other side of Winona. Here lives our veteran friend and horticultur- ist, O. M. Lord, to whom we gave the hand of greeting and profound fraternal sympathy in the recent loss of the companion of this life during a half century. The iron road always seeks the valleys and follows the wa- ter courses, and so here it has followed the usual way, and the track appears and disappears among the bluffy hills and ridges which in this region indicate nearness to the great river. Here in this secluded valley, where the sun rises earlier and sets later than ; where you live, our friend many years ago made his home. Forty rods east of the railway and a few rods further from the little , stream that meanders through this valley, and facing to the south, stands this home, a typical story-and-a-half white farm house with the usual straggling array of barns and outhouses that natur- ally group themselves about an older farm. From the west porch ; the view at a hundred rods away is limited by a wooded bluff, run- { ning up rapidly 200 odd feet. Just across the door yard, ina picket . enclosure, is the famous plum grove of many kinds, tenanted then | by a solitary but familiar calf which has a liking for strangers, Very few of these trees were in bearing at the time of our visit, and, { indeed, this was true of nearly all his fruit trees, as the warm soil of this narrow valley matures everything at a very early date. While this is mainly a small fruit farm, yet a large variety of apples, in_ . cluding some valuable seedlings, in the grove back of the house, at- test the interest taken and successful results attained in the culti- vation of orchard fruits. Wewere all interested, and friend Elliot enthusiastic, over a cabinet of plum pits arranged by Mr. Lord, which demonstrates that there is such uniformity in their charac- teristics that different varieties can be told absolutely by this method. He has also in preparation a portfolio showing the leaves, aq Q Lal a Hw 4H Lan q Q a H Z ° n ie 3 = 3) = fy be m if a aa) n oon q a AZ a 2) <4 te) 4 A fe) 4 A THE HOMES OF SOME OF OUR FRIENDS. 391 blossoms, stone, etc., of native kinds of plums. Mr. Lord is evi- dently an earnest and perseveringly patient student in the pomo- logical scLool of the Northwest, and the future will find itself much indebted to him. The neighboring creek furnishes facilities for ir- rigating a portion at least of his grounds, and Mr. Lord and.a son who has elected to follow in his father’s footsteps are considering the advantages of its use. Mid-afternoon found our party tailing along towards Winona at the rear end of a freight train, which we hoped would land us duly at La Crescent, the home of our redoubtable Mr. Harris. To this extent our plans were upset—the freight wouldn’t stop for us there, and we wouldn’t jump, and so we delayed in Winona for the regular passenger—and we are glad we did. At the outset we saved $3.00 by not hiring a rig to drive about and see the sights; then we saw an architect’s dream in a church of dazzling white stone, of which our new state capitol is not to be made, for the reason that there is not enough in sight to insure a finished job—and that ought to be the only reason; we saw the foundations of a classical model of a build- ing we rightly guessed was to be a public library; we went down to the river bank to admire the fragile iron work that spans for pub- lic way this beautiful stream: and guess the height of the lofty and graceful water tower-—and time slipped by very easily this lovely August afternoon. Fortune favored us at last, horticulturally, in our saunterings, and we ran up against C. W. Merritt, of Homer,a member of our society, who makes fruit growing on a considerable scale his sole business. Fortunately for my readers I have forgotten most of the tiresome figures he gave us, but I was surprised into remembering that a relative of his,a Mr. Alling, of the same place, sold this season 225 bushels of cherries, and he himself had gathered also a good many bushels of the English Morello, Ostheim, Dyehouse, Montmorency and other kinds. Isthis then a new world, I thought, or have not we given this fruit a fair trial in other parts of the state? As we shall leave Winona very soon on the passenger, I will stop to say that Homer is a little village and station a few, perhaps six, miles (figures in this article, as you will remember, are not to be ac- curate) below Winona. As we slow through the village in the gath- ering twilight we can see the rows of fruit trees on either hand, though mostly on the side away from the river, which is only ten or fifteen rods distant and thirty feet below. Many of these are evi- dently cherry trees. Are these then the conditions under which cherries most thrive?—but they are doing equally well, we are told, on Mr. Merritt’s place, which is high up on the top of the bluffs. And so, ought we not to try these fruits further along the water sides or on the high lands, which seem to offer the best conditions? Early dusk found us at La Crescent station, and we climbed hastily out of the cars and up the bank to the highway which skirts the bluff just above the track for a mile, till it turns to the rightinto this village of the “bye and bye,” while the train speeds on across the river into La Crosse, whose lights glitter in the distance. Darkness is well upon us asa mile beyond the village we go down a hill and 392 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. turn to the left through a gateway into the domain of our friend. We see lights ahead far up in the darkness. Mr. Harris sayshe lives in a pocket of the bluffs, and that describes the location well. But we saw nothing of it that night as through the deep darkness we pushed along and upwards till we were stayed by a cheery beam of light across the roadway, showing the hospitable and welcome in- terior of friend Harris’ home—doubly welcome just then to a tired and hungry trio. A hearty reception from his better half ushered us into the large and comfortably homelike sitting room where the writing desk, library and inviting easy chairs stamp the owner the ease-loving literary horticulturist we all know him for. A hearty supper, which in memory I am enjoying yet, put us in a mood to overhaul a satchel full of apples which Mr. Elliot, the indefatigible, had brought down from the two cities, Lake and Minnesota, to coun- sel upon. I cannot tell you now what they were nor what they did’nt know about them, but we soon talked ourselves tired, and the simple habits that are keeping our horticulturists young, and the necessity of being up at daylight to take a survey of the orchard before a necessarily early departure, sent us to bed betimes, and while the lightning played without and the thunder reverberated somewhere far up the bluff sides I dropped into a dreamless slumber. This proved to be a very short night and made shorter by the voices which came through the open window with the first dawning ot light. The early risers in our crowd (that is, all but me) were already astir and pushing around in the fog and dark, such is the enthusiasm born of horticulture. A fewmoments later I was on the doorstep. In the east was the brightness of early day, but the mist hung thickly around. Following the sound of voices and climb- ing the hill to the westward among the older orchard trees and through a sea of wet grass, I presently came into an open pasture, and emerging at the same time from the fog, a wonderful sight lay spread before me. And this is the home of friend Harris! Behind and to the right and left, almost within touch in this clear light, and towering upwards two hundred feet, are the bluffs that enclose this “pocket,” their sides to a long distance down clothed in woody verdure; in front is the sloping valley, at the left the homestead showing white among the trees with vineyards mounting the slope in the rear; in the near front and at the right the orchards, and lower down the fruit and vegetable gardens. There may be thirty acres along this sloping valley before it touches the highway, but this is guesswork. At the left a mile away are other wooded bluffs and in the distance some miles off, revealed through the thinning mist and under the glow of the rising light, the city of La Crosse. Mr. Harris has told you often what he has growing here, and I will not tire you with the list. Far up the hillside on the south, he has recently planted a young orchard of some acres, from which he hopes much and we hope much, too. Gravitation will bring his crop down from there with a rush. An early breakfast, and we are off by carriage road for La Crosse, where we are to take the train for New Salem, Wis., the home of A. elit! % THE HOMES OF SOME OF OUR FRIENDS. 393 J. Philips, the Wisconsin secretary. We had just time to clasp hands with that contagiously enthusiastic horticulturist, J. C. Kra- mer,as we pass, but our plans were so badly put out of joint by that freight conductor yesterday we could not spare a few moments even to look at his fine apple seedlings. A charming drive of an hour over the high causeway across the river bottom, and then the high bridge, both built at great expense by the city we are approaching, brings us hastily tothe Milwaukee depot, where we mount and speed away a dozen miles to our new destination. So smoothly do our plans work from now on,that we find our friend Philips with his faithful “Tom” and mate to carry us up and along a beautiful and fertile valley six miles to his well known “bluff” orchard and summer home. The way seems short under the spell of Mr. Philips’ genial enthusiasm, and we are soon climbing the bluff. We “guess” we are nearly up, but find we are only half way. Later we stop to admire some soft-eyed Ayrshire cows belonging to our host, and all alight and struggle through a barb wire fence except myself, who is said “not to be interested in cows,”a proposition I did not chose then to discuss. At last the summitis attained, and we stop just there and take a breath. If we go aheada rod, we begin at once our descent on the the other side. They do notcall this the “hog’s back,” but it is, anda very sharp one, too. The way into the opposite valley is in plain sight, and the valley itself at the depth of some hundreds of feet stretches away into the distance and is lost among the far off for- ested bluffs. Here then is the secret of the success of Mr. Philip’s selection for his orchard farm. By leaving the highway either to the right or left, the ridge widens out until in several places you can safely walk around for a little without danger of falling off. At this elevation the spring comes later and fall frosts are long held off. The soil is not dry, as might be supposed, but moist and sufficiently fertile. Here Mr. Philips is carrying on his experiments in top- working, his recital of which has interested us so much. I will not tell you how many acres of trees he has growing here; I don’t know myself, and besides I have promised not to tire you in this way; but he has acres and acres of them scattered over this hilltop, and he is going to plant more. As to varieties, there is everything worth trying, though when brought to bay he agreed with us that the most valuable variety for commercial planting is our own Wealthy. I like his way of planting evergreens and Whit- ney crabs—which do wonderfully well here—alternately ina single row along the field lines and stringing wire to them for a fence, but I don’t like his resolve to cut out the evergreens to give the crabs a betterchance. Friend Philips, don’t spoil your beautiful evergreen rows, they so brighten the landscape and temper the winter winds! You have plenty of room for crabs elsewhere. A wholesome dinner (Philips has some goed cooks among his boys, who are camping on the “ridge” this season) and further explorations, then we follow the shadows adown this long eastern slope and into the valley. We would be glad if they were longer and might keep up with us aw 394 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. during the mid-afternoon, for this isa clear August day, and the sun is working faithfully at his contract to ripen the wonderfully fine corn growing in the valley. Besides, “Tom” isn’t used to umbrellas and won’t let us carry them high enough to give him a peep at them over the blinders. A timely arrival at West Salem gave opportunity to drive about this very pretty and evidently prosperous typical village of a thous- and souls—another guess. Their lives and those of the dwellers in the rich valleys hereabouts have fallen, verily, in pleasant places. Late afternoon found us beyond La Crosse, and over the river speeding northward along this waterside way to our night’s des- tination, the home of Pres. Underwood, at Lake City. I should delight to picture that twilight ride in and out along the great river, the wonderful lights upon the water ever changing and shifting as our train changes direction in its rapid flight, and the shadows deepening and widening, until only the sum- mits of the eastern bluffs catch the glow of the declining sun and the reflection on sky and water repeated back and forth in varying shade aloneremains, At length the veil of night settles about us, and we are glad to alight at the home of our host, verily satiated with the pleasures of the day. Six-thirty the next morning, and we are rolling along up the valley behind Lake City and longing for the coming climb up the bluffs just ahead, that we may get out of the chilly fog which hangs around the early morning near the river. Our party of three is in- creased to four by the addition of J. Cole Doughty, who, you will re- member, told us last winter ‘‘How torun a Nursery.” By perusing that article, which you will find in an earlier number of our maga- zine, you will see that he has some curious ideas on the subject, but he knows more about the business than he saw fit to tell, judging from the nursery he has something to do with running. We are riding fast today, as Mr. Underwood has the lines, and these are his “reliables.” The bluffs are soon surmounted, and mile after mile slips rapidly by as we cover this high but rich farming country. No wild land here, every foot is in use, and judging by the “improvements” in sight the results are eminently satisfactory. Up hill and down, a steady pull brings us at early noon to Ham- mond, a way station on the narrow gauge in the narrower valley of the Zumbro, where the bluffs come so close and wobble so badly there is not room for a track of more imposing dimensions. We in- tend here to inquire the whereabouts of Sidney Corp, when lo, he appears riding a load of apples from the very orchard we have come so many miles to see. A mile anda half west of Hammond and one hundred and fifty feet above it (more guessing) lies the homestead of Mr. Corp. Com- ing here in an early day when neighbors were scarce and land was plenty, this pioneer couple made their home in this favored spot and by industry and careful management have gained themselves acompetence. In this respect, however,he is not unlike many other worthy Minnesotans in his neighborhood, but in the fact that at an early day he planted and reared successfully an apple orchard, he a ie PN ae eee ae ee eee “ "he v . S 8) nig se wont - THE HOMES OF SOME OF OUR FRIENDS. 395 differs from them widely. It does not seem as though it could be the location, as many of the surroundings are theoretically unfav- orable to apple culture in this trying ciimate, for instance, being enclosed on three sides by higher lands and heavy belts of timber, but the hard fact remains that here is located one of the most suc- cessful old orchards in southern Minnesota. Trees planted over thirty years ago (not a guess) stand in almost unbroken row, and even in this off year many of them are well loaded with fruit. To the owner they are evidently endeared and are tenderly cared for, and to this thoughtfulness may be ascribed in large part his phenome- nal success. Some of his trees were yet hanging full, a beautiful sight, of which I noted especially the Rollin’s Prolific, Elgin Beauty and Anisim, the last named variety loaded down like an overloaded Transcendent crab at its best. MR. AND MRS. SIDNEY CORP. The dinner hour founda hungry crowd gathered about Mrs. Corps hospitable table, but as to clearing it off,even we could only make a few little notches around itsedge. The accompanying sketch shows a corner of the residence and the figures of this worthy couple, of whom we hope to publish a fuller sketch at another time. They gave us a very generous, and especially the kindly wife, a very warm re- ception. There was a refreshing frankness about her emphatic way of saying: “I told Sid that I didn’t want you to come,” though the sentiment seemed to be in glaring contrast with her lavish hospi- tality; but when we saw the hearty but silent laugh of her husband in response, we understood the situation. We hope to visit again with this interesting and genial pair. From this thrifty home, mid-afternoon found us on a by-road where the weeds grew as high as the buggy top, but which pres- - 396 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ently brought us to the home of J. A. Howard, one of the younger members of our society. Mr. Howard has profited by the experience of others and built his home upon a hill and planted his orchard adjoining alongitscrest. Here several acres of mainly Duchess and Wealthy, perhaps ten years set,attest by their thriftiness and health the intelligent care give them. His hogs in large part do the culti- vating, which,I may say,is also the case at Mr. Corp’s. The dan- gers of mulching were apparent in a black patch in the side of the orchard, the result of a fire amongst the mulching around them where some scores of trees hold out their gaunt limbs beseechingly, a significant warning. These have been left temporarily for a pur- pose, and it must not be inferred that the owner is nota thorough manager, as everything about the place attested. The closing hours of this eventful day repeated the scenes of the morning, and sundown found us descending into Lake City amid the picturesque scenery of the bluff sides as seen through the gather- ing shadows. At an early breakfast table Thursday morning, I was grateful to know that the others of our party had been out some miles (guess- ing again) looking up a site for an irrigating dam and had permit- ted me to enjoy a normal rest. Thanks for this thoughtfulness, which was fully appreciated. This morning we were to visit the bluff orchard of friend Under- wood and go-north on the noon train, but we were all to loth to ter- minate this delightful excursion and prolonged our ride to Nils An- derson’s farm on the bluff, three hundred feet above Lake City, to get back to a late dinner and an afternoon siesta till the time of the evening train. ‘ The bluff orchard referred to has been spoken of before in these columns. It is still young and this side the bearing age, but it is coming on famously, making a fair growth, and in appearance is hardy and healthy. In that elevated spot pear trees look as well as apple, and some of their fruit might have graced the state fair ex- hibit but for the ubiquitous boys who has found out even this “or- chard in the air.’ Being too steep in large part for cultivation, mulching has been tried,and,as a natural result, the mice have done a little harm the past year, but a greater danger threatens from this mulch, and that is, fire. Suggestions as to safeguards in this direc- tion will be gratefully received. From there another winding bluff road, fully steep enough to al- low first-class passengers to get out and walk, brought us to the top and end of the bluff and to the home of Mr. Anderson. He hasa young and healthy orchard and other fruits in variety, but what attracted our attention and brought out a chorus of “Oh! Oh! Oh!” was a tree of the Shipper’s Pride, a tame blue plum of very large size, loaded with its purple fruit. My memory says its age was four- teen years, but my notes say nine. I believe my memory is right this time, as the size of the trees would indicate that age. The own- er is propagating this extensively for his own planting, and why shouldn’t he? This is an ideal place for growing fruit and should be taken advantage of to the utmost. That the bluffs along this THE HOMES OF SOME OF OUR FRIENDS. 397 stream will in time grow the commercial orchards for the northwest who can doubt? Returning down the bluffs by another route, we - come across the accompanying view, which discloses at an eleva- tion of one hundred and fifty feet (no guessing) the city by Lake Pepin and the lake itself in the distance, only one of the thousand similar pictures stored away in our minds from this trip. q j 4 j E 4 ; . x 5 ‘HONV.LSIGC FHL NI Niddd AMV AGNV ALIO AMV’T . I have not yet spoken of the orchards at Mr. Underwood’s home, from which he writes me lately they have harvested a thousand ‘bushels. Two years’ cultivation has transformed a hide bound, com- 4 paratively barren orchard into one ideally thrifty and fruitful, and cultivation with them is no longer looked upon as an experiment. Rip up the sod, friends, and let the air blow through, then cultivate ~~ es, SS ee is ; 398 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. it down and keep the moisture within if you want your trees to bear much fruit and laugh at the hard winters. A ride through the grounds of the Jewell Nursery showed the close and really unusual care given to all kinds of growing stock. If any of my readers are inclined to be a little slovenly in their methods, a visit to this nursery and a study of the thoroughness of its methods will send them away wiser and more successful horticulturists. Of the thousand interesting things there, I will only speak of the Aiken plum. My attention was called to this particu- larly by the startling array of handsome fruit I ran across on the © inside of some of the trees when the dense foliage was parted. When the crop was gathered, those within shut out from the light, being still green, were left and had just reached a brilliant matur- ity. It was a pleasing surprise to see them. A visit later in the af- ternoon with Mr. Doughty to the herbaceous perennial block showed many varieties new to a novice in flowers like myself, and I noted down for future use a long list of trying names with which you are not to be burdened. Just before sunset the same guide took me up the bluff side to a convenient vantage ground overlooking this lovely valley and offered me the whole outlook on such terms I dare not accept, and so reluctantly withdrew myself from this scene of enchantment. At dark, bidding adieu to our kind friends, we left a place where we would gladly remain without limit. Friend Elliot consumed the hours of the journey in storing and labeling the treasures gathered from every tree, vine and hillside, which overflowed his very liberal accommodations. As for the writer, his treasures were limited to those of the head and heart, both of which were crammed to overflowing and refused at that time to be labeled and sorted out in an orderly manner—and you may judge by this that the opportunity for this useful work has not yet arrived. Ata later time I may try and draw some lessons from this to us eventful journey, but in the meantime I have hoped only to please you with glimpses of some of the things which pleased and inter- terested us in passing. CARBON BISULPHIDE.—It is now pretty well known that the fumes of bisulphide of carbon are poisonous to all animal life. This sub- stance is very successfully used for killing insects in stored grain or any animal that can be confined amid the fumes. Prof. J. B. Smith, in Bulletin 121 of the New Jersey Station, tells us that melon growers are using the bisulphide to destroy the melon louse. By keeping close watch of the field, they are able to detect the hills on which the lice begin their work. A light, tight cover of cloth or paper is put over the hill, and under it is placed in a clam shell or small dish a teaspoonful or more of the bisulphide. In aboutan hour this will kill every louse under the cover. By taking the in- fested hills in time, the lice may be kept out of the field. Itis known, too, that the bisulphide may be injected into the soil to kill the cab- bage root maggot. It is a useful insecticide, but should be handled as carefully as gunpowder.—Texas Farm aud Ranch. * hy Ce a ee ee eed y — Se i) Se, BLIGHT, ETC. 399 BLIGHT, ETC. (A DISCUSSION.) G. J. Kellogg, of Wisconsin: Another thing I want to hear talked about is the question of apple blight. It has been more interesting to me, perhaps, than anything that has come up in connection with apples and, perhaps, more discouraging. If there is any successful way to combat it, I think it is a very important feature to discuss. Pres. Underwood: We have with us now our friends from Wiscon- sin, Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota, and we would like to have them join in the consideration of thistopic. Mr. Philips, of Wis- consin,is with us. We have lost Mr. Hirschinger, but I presume Mr. Philips can interest us on this subject. Mr. J.S. Harris: Before Mr. Philips gets up to talk, I want to tell you a true story. (Laughter). The McMahon blights very badly sometimes. I have some McMahons on level and very rich ground, and, then, I have a row of them ona north slope on higher ground. The trees on that level and open ground blighted so badly I thought I was going to lose them, and in the row nearest to the woods there was scarcely any blight. I attribute the freedom of blight of those trees to the fact that they did not get dried out so much in the last two or three years, and they had vigor enough in them to resist the fungous growth that causes blight. Mr. Pearce: I want to speak a few minutes on this subject of blight. I think an injustice has been done to some subjects, and I believe it should be corrected. Iam very well aware that there is such a thing as trees being killed by freezing. We all know that a fruit tree grows and is full of sap, and sometimes before the wood is fully ripe in the fall we have a hard freeze, the bark is ruptured and the tree is injured in that way, Thousands of trees were injured this fall in exactly that way. The same thing will occur againin the spring when the sap starts, the bark will rupture and the tree will kill. I had trees killed in Olmstead county all through June. They were very fine trees, apples and cherries. The bark was entirely bursted from the trees. That was the second day of June. I tell you a fruit tree is of this nature: there is no difference between ani- mal and plant life, except plant life is not as high as animal life. The tree grows, and before the terminal bud torms it begins to ripen. The process is to fill the cells full of starch. The cells are in the bark, the bud and everywhere else, and if they are full of starch they will break like a pipe stem. If the wood is thoroughly cured and no evaporation passes up through the bud and bark, the tree is in perfectly normal condition, it is so dry it cannot freeze much now. It works on the same principle as the mercury in the themometer. It willcontract. It will not burst out, but it is on the same principle as a themometer, it contracts, and it does not make any difference how hard it freezes, nothing will be injured; but if the hard freeze comes before all the surplus sap is exhausted by evaporation, the tree is sure to be killed or injured. There is no question about that. I have got trees set on experiment in Manito- ba; I have sold them at Grand Forks, and I have set them at Holden, where the temperature has gone down to 60 degrees below zero. We 400 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. never have it that cold here, Now, the idea of trees freezing or be- ing killed by hard freezing when the wood is ina perfectly normal condition is contrary to all the laws of nature. You may put that down as a fixed fact. Excuse me for taking up so much time, but I never expect to speak before you again. My health is very bad, and I have got to go home tomorrow. I have studied this matter since I was twelve years old. Fruit was the joy of my life. No person went deeper into investigation than I did on the subject of apples in Minnesota. It seems to me if I could get down to bed rock I would doit. I have not got there yet, but Iam trying to get there. Speak- ing of deep setting, I think it is contrary to all laws of nature, con- trary to all the laws of vegetation. Every part of the soil that con- tains the food that produces growth is within from three to five feet of the surface of the ground; nearly every particle of plant food is there. Those roots will run forty feet into the surface of the earth to gather moisture to produce growth in that tree, and they supply the tree with food. Here is another class of roots that go down deep after moisture. They go six to eight feet into the earth. They will go right through sand or anything else. Those roots do not care what kind of soil it is; there is no plant food where they go. They are put there to hold the tree; they are there in cases of ex- treme drouth to supply the tree with moisture when these other feeding roots are entirely inactive. There is not a bit of growth in them, but they supply the tree with moisture to sustain life. There are two principles laid down here. Here is another class of roots, of a later process when the tree is three or four years old. They are called feeding roots. They seldom grow more than two or three feet in length. Those are the ones that produce the fruit. If you want fine fruit, all you have got to do is to spade around your tree, keep it in nice condition, and your fruit will grow rightalong. Put nice plant food around it. The idea I want to bring out is this: the moment you destroy that system of roots you destroy the fruitful- ness of the tree. If I put that tree down ten or twelve inches, I get those roots entirely below the plant food. There is scarcely any plant food ten or twelve inches below the surface, and in setting a tree that deep you get them way below. The result is that in time you are going to get a lot of roots started where the plant food is; those roots in time are going to die; there is nothing there to sustain life, because those roots are calculated to draw the plant food, and are not calculated to be fed by the tree at all; they are so far above that the tree does not supply them at all, but they must be where the plant foodis. I have two trees on my place. One tree is of that class precisely, and one is of the other class. One of those trees is twelve years old, and has borne fruit since five years old, and the other tree bears once in two years one or two little, scaly apples, from the fact that ithas no feeding roots. The growth is abnormal, and the tree hasa nice, symmetrical look, In all my experience I look to nature and her ways, and it is well for you to study them, and I think it is the greatest error to suppose that youcan geta tree to produce fruit that has a lot of roots that are mongrels, the whole of them. BLIGHT, ETC. 401 Mr. F. W. Kimball: We would like to hear from Mr. Philips on tree blight. Mr. Philips, (Wisconsin): Mr. Chairman, I have heard the drift of your discussion but very little, and I know very little about blight. I believe Mr. Harris comes as near striking the key note in regard to preventing blight as anything I have yet heard. I believe just as he does. I believe the more vigor we have in a tree the less blight we will have, and in pruning a tree we should aim to have as vigor- ous a tree as possible. I did some irrigating this year, and the editor of the ‘Madison Democrat” gave me his experience yesterday. The more vigor and the more water, the better the tree will be and the less tendency it will have to drop fruit.’ I do not think there is any preventative of blight more than to give your trees the best care youcan. Whenever I find a tree on which the blight appears, it has got to leave the orchard. [ believe it is contagious. In re- gard to the location of an orchard—I will say right here I have some specimens of apples here that were grown on their own roots, not on top-worked stock. There are too many to talk about. The Trans- cendent I do not call a vigorous grower. I top-worked on the Transcendent, and the other will grow twice as much top. I do not call the Transcendent a vigorous apple. Mr. BE. H.S. Dartt: It seemsa little singular how much doctors disagree. (Laughter). I have always thought-—and I have not changed my mind—that the higher we go with our orchards the more likely we would be to get blight. Of course, vigorous trees are good things to have, and some of them do not blight, and some of them do blight. I think the gentleman was right when he said, discard the blighting kinds. Some of them will blight, and some of them will not blight to do any harm, so throw out the blighters. Mr. Dunlap, Ills.: I was just going to remark that this matter of blighting is a never ending source of argument, but my observation in this matter is this, that blight is always attended by some atmos- pherical conditions, and when we do not have the blight when those conditions exist, it may depend on other circumstances; and I agree with the last gentleman who spoke, it is almost impossible to pre- vent blight. We have come to the conclusion so far as pears are concerned, that pears that are not over-stimulated in cultivationare not subject to blight, and yet we have come to the conclusion this past year that we are not so certain about it as we were, and we have come to believe that when certain atmospherical conditions exist—and I might mention that by this I mean, forinstance, a heavy rain in summer and then intense heat following—it will have -a tendency to produce blight. I call attention to this, as we had those heavy rains last spring followed by extremely warm days,and I think that was the cause of the tendency to blight. Prof. Bunnell, of the State University of Illinois, is, perhaps, the man who discov- ered the true origin of blight, that it is a bacteria, and when the conditions are right for the propagation of those bacteria we have blight. The Yellow Transparent you have here, we would find a very unprofitable variety in Illinois, for we would fear blight, and it seems to be much more subject to that than the Duchess. I can- 402 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, not say that the Duchess are much affected with blight, that they are badly affected, but the Yellow Transparent is among the worst. When it comes to the question of blight, there is no settle- ment of that question except to cut the tree out and plant those varieties that are least subject to blight. Mr. Philips: I was going to answer my friend, that he did not un- derstand me; I do not recommend planting an orchard on ground too rich. There is a great deal of our ground too rich, if we wanta vigorous tree. Mr. Pearce: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: The blight has been discussed in this society for a great many years and has been madea study. From all the information I can gather from scientific men on the subject, in an extended research in the United States, I am fully of the opinion that blight never affects any growth except in epidemic form, unless there is diseased tissue, You apply the principle to animals and vegetables. Whenevera tree is abnormal in growth—and the Transcendent is defective—this bacteria must get in contact with the sap in the tree before there is any bad result. It may affect some trees without, but you take the Duchess—the Duchess never blights. Mr. Philips: O, yes it does. Mr, Pearce: Let me goa little further; it does not blight except in extreme epidemic, and then it only extends a little ways; it has the power of resisting. So it is in every healthy tree, it has the power of resisting, because the blight has no chance to get hold. Take every disease of all the human family, and it is all due to bacteria. You can grow trees that are perfectly healthy. I have no doubt the Transcendent can be grown so healthy that it will never blight. I have not had a bit of it for five years. The only proper thing to dois to avoid everything that will produce the least de- formity in the tree. It must not be injured in the least. When I was a boy, in Ohio, and until I was thirty years old, I never saw blight. I sawa great many large orchards. Wehad perfect trees; they were altogether different from what we have now. If you have got a lot of mongrel trees, they must blight; they can’t help it. Grow a strong and healthy and vigorous tree, and you will not be troubled with blight. Mr. Dartt: Don’t seedlings blight badly? Mr. Kellogg, (Wisconsin): I don’t know nearly as much as I thought I did, but I know more than I did. I have an idea like friend Dartt that with ordinary cultivation we will escape blight to some extent, but I believe this, that in air drainage we have the only per- fect salvation for blight. I have the McMahon top-worked on the Yellow Transparent, and they all went on the brush pile this year. I have a hundred varieties in one block in the nursery, and they all blighted this year, the Russians worst of all; occasionally a twig on a Duchess, and I saw a little on the Pewaukee; I think that variety is the freest of anything of the one hundred varieties in the nursery. Prof. N. E. Hansen, (South Dakota): There has been some talk about seedling apples this morning, and it seems to me that for the BLIGHT, ETC. 403 past thirty or forty years we have heard of hundreds of seedling apples in the northwest, and people will begin to propagate them and get up a boom on them only to find that they will not stand well. Hundreds of seedlings have had a great popularity fora few years and then passed out of sight, and I fear some of the seedlings we heard about this forenoon will not be able to stand the test. There must be something about the system of propagation that is at fault. I am beginning to think there is something in Mr. Pearce’s idea that the cultivation is not the best. I am not prepared to say, be- cause I have not experimented in that way enough. I am inclined to think we can prevent the frequent root-killing in the nursery by adopting the Russian method. Two years ago Dr. Shroeder, who has been connected with Russian horticulture for the past fifty years, told me that at the northern boundary of fruit culture they have abandoned any attempt to work on the original seedling. They do it in the southern part, at Kief, where they can bud an orig- inal seedling, but at the northern limits of apple culture they find they winter-kill too badly, so they have adopted another method, and they have used it for a generation; they bud the seedlings of the cherry crab, both the Pyrus baccata and the Pyrus prunifolia. The doctor said the seedling was slightly dwarfed in habit, but were fully two years earlier than the original apple seedlings. I have had so far no opportunity to test it. They have not had enough time to say what is in it. Within the next fifty years we will be using the Russian method of budding and grafting on Russian seedlings in the far north. Mr. Clarence Wedge: Professor, I would like to ask you if the seedlings you refer to are the very small Siberian crab? Prof. Hansen: Yes, they use both of them; the Pyrus baccataand the Pyrus prunifolia; they use both of them indiscriminately. Mr. Philips: Did the baccata dwarf the variety much? Prof. Hansen: Not more than the other. Mr. Wedge: Is the union perfect? Prof. Hansen: The union if perfect. Mr. Kellogg: I had twenty-six varieties grafted on that little cherry crab, but the Hyslop was a failure on that little crab. Prof. Hansen: Were they top-worked? Mr. Kellogg: Yes, sir; they were top-worked. A STORAGE CELLAR.—One of the experiment stations has been trying a cellar designed for the storage of fruits and vegetables, winter and summer, constructed with a novel method of air supply. A pipe six inches in diameter is buried eight feet deep and covered several hundred feet under ground andthen brought to the surface Through this long pipe the air supply of the cellar comes, and a ventilating pipe of the same size comes out through the roof and secure a free circulation. The air supply becomes warm in passiny through this long underground pipe, which the earth keeps at its own temperature, and the temperature of the cellar is thus uniform both winter and summer. There is no reason why the same system should not be applied to the side hill or other barns or to country houses, reducing the cost of heating in winter and keeping them cool in summer.—The Northwestern Farmer. 404 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. TREE PLANTING IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA. ALFRED TERRY, SLAYTON. A great deal of tree planting has been done in the course of the last two or three years in southwest Minnesota, and with the young forest trees delivered at the farms for $2.00 per thousand, there is no doubt that forestry is but in its infancy on these prairies, for to plant trees costing but $2.25 per acre should encourage the people to go ahead with forestry; and, that being the case, we look for a great modification of the climate. The planting of cottonwood trees is nearly at an end, for the higher they grow the Jess shelter they give, and, unless planted on low, moist ground, they generally die when about ten to twenty years old, but, on the contrary, other forest trees make fine shelter at six years old and continue to increase in value and beauty all their lives. The box elder, the soft maple and elm are the three principal forest trees grown, but to these we can add the black walnut, the butternut, the catalpa and ash, and if planted in a grove four feet apart in the row and the rows eight feet apart, running east and west, cultivated as long as it can be done with horse power, a fine, healthy shelter grove is obtained. This kind of planting is being done more and more, and as the groves need thinning out, land owners are transplanting and putting fine rows of trees along their fences. In consequence of the very dry seasons of the last few years, many young trees of about ten years old, generally of the soft maple variety, have died. No other cause than drouth has been thought of here. They die limb by limb. The box elder is certainly the best nurse tree, and in a grove should be planted at about the ratio of three to one of all the other trees. Alongside it the ash and elm grow luxuriantly. We find that the elm is slow of growth at first, but after about the fourth year it begins to grow as rapidly as any other tree and seems, to be as free from disease as any of the above named. With the amount of moisture that has fallen, we strongly recommend our land owners to plant out shelter groves, not for the house only but for their cattle. Those who have handled cattle and shipped them, all testify that the cattle that are raised and wintered in sheltered groves are a finer, cleaner lotto take to market than are those that are wintered on the open prairie without shelter. And to those who would go more extensively into forestry for the sake of the beauty it adds to their homes, we would advise them to surround their trees, or rather groves, with such shrubs as the Japan privet, the syringa, the lilac, the snow ball and many others. These can be bought cheaply if bought in quantities. Why not doit atonce? Ifitis true “there is no place like home,” then make it like a home! Since making the foregoing report, a great calamity has befallen our artificial groves and street trees. A genuine “Scotch” mist fell on the night of the 24th of November, 1896, and increased into a rain, freezing on the trees all the time until on this Thanksgiving morn (26th) they are covered with a heavier coat of ice than I have ever TREE PLANTING IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA. 405 seen before. The cottonwood, balm of gilead and willow are the most injured. All but the lower branches are broken off—limbs sometimes six or eight inches in diameter are snapped off, and the trees look like giant bean poles. The soft maples suffered very badly, the branches splitting at the butt, carrying with them, very often, the bark from the trunk of the tree. Many of these trees are 50 or 60 feet high. Elms have measured their length on the ground, lanes and sidewalks have been made impassable. The apple trees, young or old, have suffered the least as yet. At this writing the rain has turned to snow and is drifting,and I fear almost every tree will be held down by the drifts ere nature releases them of their burden. Some lessons can be learned by this calamity. Those of us who have planted by thousands will find the trees helping to support one another, and what we do lose will be little missed, and they will make room for the spreading of the branches of the rest; but to those who only plant a few street or ornamental trees I would say, shorten them in and trim the branches, and you will not only avert this calamity, but they will make handsomer, healthier and better shade trees. City and village councils should place the care of the street trees in the hands of a competent person. CIRCUMVENTING DROUTH. (The truth contained in this article cannot be too often repeated.—Sec’y.) It is impossible to overestimate the importance of thorough, fre- quent but shallow culture as a means of obviating to a great extent the ill-effects of drouth. In the garden, the field or the orchard, it is equally efficacious. Mulching with some coarse material, as straw, chaff, leaves, etc., isin most cases really superior to the earth-mulch but for lack of the necessary material is impracticable on a very ex- tensive scale; while, on the contrary, the earth-mulch can be prac- ticed everywhere and by everybody, as well as on as extensive a scale as heart could wish. The feasibility of the earth-mulch at all times and in all places, constitutes, it the more valuable of the two methods for accomplishing the same object, viz., the retention of moisture. According to the exhaustive experiments of Prof. F. H. King, of the Wisconsin experiment station, three inches is the best depth for the loose dirt, or blanket, on the surface. In either the garden, or- chard or field, in long continued spells of dry, hot weather, the use of the earth-mulch means the difference between profit and loss, success and failure. The dryer and hotter the weather, the greater and more imperative the necessity for a frequent stirring of the surface. We do not advocate deep culture for any single cultivated plant of our acquaintance. In any and all cases where it is desired to deepen the soil, the deepening process should be put in practice at the time of preparing the soil for the reception of the seed, and not at the time of cultivating the growing crop. In very hot, dry weather, the soil will dry out just as deep as plowed.—_ Western Farmer. 406 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. PREMIUMS AWARDED AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR, 1897. APPLES. (Professional.) COLLECTIONS. COLLECTION OF NAMED VARIETIES, HYBRIDS AND ORABS EXCEPTED.—Jewell Nursery Co,, Lake City, first, $25.00; Wm. Somerville. Viola, second, $20.00; J. S. Harris, LaCres- cent, third, $15.00; Clarence Wedge, Albert Lea, fourth, $10.00; W. L. Parker, Farming- ton, fifth, $5.00. COLLECTION OF HYBRIDS AND CRABS.——Jewell Nursery Co., first, $5.00; H. C. Decker, Dresbach, second, $4.00; J. S. Harris, third, $3.00; R. C. Keel, Rochester, fourth, $2. 00; W. 1. Parker. fifth, $1.00. TEN VARIETIBS OF FALL APPLES.—Wm. Somerville, first, $5.00; J, S. Harris, second, $4.00; Jewell Nursery Co., third, $3.00. FIve VARIETIES OF WINTER APPLES.—Clarence Wedge, first, $5.00; Wm. Somerville, second, $4.00; J, S. Harris, third, $3.00. SINGLE PLATES. ANTINOVKA —Clarence Wedge, first, $1.00; J. S. Harris, second, $.75; W. L. Parker, third, $.50. ANISIM.—Wm. Somerville, first; Jewell Nursery Co., second; W. L. Parker, third. ARCADE.—Wm. Somerville, first; Clarence Wedge, second. BoROvinKA,—Otto Wasserziecher, Bay Lake, first; W. L. Parker, second; Wm. Som- erville, third. BRETT.—_Wm. Somerville, first. CHARLAMOFF, PETERSON’S.—W. L. Parker, first; Clarence Wedge, second. CHRISTMAS.—Clarence Wedge, first. Cross (413),—Clarence Wedge, first; W. L. Parker, second; Jewell Nursery Co., third. FamMEUsE.—W. L. Parker, first; H. C. Decker, second; J. S. Harris, third. GIANT SwAAR.—Wm. Somerville, first; J.S. Harris, second. GILBERT.—Wm. Somerville, first; R. C. Keel, second, Goop PRASANT (true).—R. C. Keel, second. Haas.—H.C. Decker, first; W. L. Parker, second, Clarence Wedge, third. LONGFIELD.—R. C. Keel, first; Clarence Wedge, second; J. 8S. Harris, third. MacMauon Wuitr.—Jewell Nursery Co., first; W. L. Parker, second; Clarence Wedge, third. : MALINDA.—Clarence Wedge, first; R. C. Keel, second; Wm. Somerville, third. OkaBENA.—W. L. Parker, first; Jewell Nursery Co., second. OSTREKOEFF (true).—Clarence Wedge, first; A. A. Bost, Excelsior, second; J, S. Harris third. PArTEN’s GREENING.—Clarence Wedge, first; W. L. Parker, second; Wm. Somerville, third. PEeAcH.—R. OC. Keel, first; Wm. Somerville, second; W. L. Parker, third. PEERLESS.—Clarence Wedge, first; Otto Wasserziecher, second; Jewell Nursery Co., third. RePKA MALENKA.—Clarence Wedge, first; R. C. Keel, second; Wm. Somerville, third. ROLLIN’s PipPIN.—Wm. Somerville, first; W. L. Parker, second; M. Pearce, Chowen, third. ' ROLLIN’s PROLIFIC.—Wm. Somerville, first; R, C. Keel, second; J. 5. Harris, third. TEtToOFsKky.—Jewell Nursery Co,, first; W. L. Parker, second. Urrer.—J.S. Harris, first; Clarence Wedge, second; H. C. Decker, third. WoLF RIVER.—Wm. Somerville, first. WHITE PIGEON.—Wm. Somerville, first; M. Pearce, second. YELLOW TRANSPARENT.—Jewell Nursery Co., first; Wm. Somerville, second; M. Pearce, third. DUCHESS OF OLDENBURG.—R. ©. Keel, first, $1.75; Jewell Nursery Co., second, $1.50; W. L. Parker, third, $1.25; M. Pearce, fourth, $1.00; Gust Johnson, Excelsior, fifth, $.75; A. H. Brackett, Long Lake, sixth, $.50. id HiBerRNAL.—W. L. Parker, first, $1.75; Wm. Somerville, second, $1, 50; Jewell Nursery Co., third, $1.25; Clarence Wedge, fourth, $1.00; J.S. Harris, fifth, §.75. ~~ PREMIUMS AWARDED AT STATE FAIR. 407 WEALTHY.—Jewell Nursery Co., first, $1.75; W. L. Parker, second, $1.50; J.S. Harris, third, $1.25; C. H. Engen, Norway Lake, fourth, $1.00; A.A. Bost, fifth, $.75; Clarence Wedge, sixth, $ .50. (Amateur. ) COLLECTIONS. COLLECTION OF APPLES, HYBRIDS AND SIBERIANS EXCEPTED.—Andrew Peterson, Waconia, first, $15.00; J. A. Howard, Hammond, second, $10.00; Ditus Day, Farmington, third, $8.00; J. Wyman Lane, Long Lake, fourth, $4.00; D. F. Akin, farmington, fifth. $2.00. COLLECTION OF HYBRIDS AND SIBERIANS.—Ditus Day, first, $5.00; J. A. Howard, second, $4.00; J. Wyman Lane, third, $3.00; Lee B. Davenport, Excelsior, fourth, $2.00; H. M, Ludlow, Worthington. fifth. $1.00. Stx VARIETIES OF FALL APPLES.—Wm. Oxford, Freeburg, first, $3.00; Ditus Day, second, $2.00; August Wittmann, St. Paui, third, $1.00. THREE VARIETIES OF WINTER APPLES.—Andrew Peterson, first, $3.00; D. F. Akin, second, $2. 00; Wm. Oxford, third, $1.00. SINGLE PLATES. ANTINOVKA.—Andrew Peterson, second, $.75. BOROVINKA.—J. Wyman Lane, first, $1.00; J. R. Cummings, Washburn, second, $.75; J. A. Howard, third, $.50. CHARLAMOFE, PETERSON’S.—Andrew Peterson, first; H. M. Lyman, Excelsior, second, CHRIsTMAS.—Andrew Peterson, first. Cross (418).—Andrew Peterson, first. FAMEUSE.—Ditus Day, first; Nils Anderson, Lake City, second. Goop PRASANT (true).—H. M. Lyman, first. HaAAS.—Nils Anderson, first; Ditus Day, second; J. A. Howard, third. LONGFIELD.—Wnm. Oxford, first; J. Wyman Lane, second; J. A. Howard, third. MAcCMAHON WHITE.—.J. A. Howard, first; Wm. Oxford, second. MALINDA.—Ditus Day, first; J. A. Howard, second OKABENA.—Ditus Day, first; H. M. Ludlow, second. OSTREKOFF (true.)—Andrew Peterson, first. PATTEN’S GREENING.—C. W. Sampson, Eureka, first; H. M. Lyman, second; Ditus Day, third. PEACH.—Ditus Day, first. PEER vESS.—H. M, Lyman, first; Andrew Peterson, second; D. F. Akin, third. TALMAN SWEET.—Ditus Day, first. Urrer.—J R. Cummins, first. YELLOW TRANSPARENT.—J. R, Cummins, first; J. Wyman Lane, second. DUCHESS oF OLDENBURG.--J. A. Howard, first, $1.75; Lee B. Davenport, second. $1.50; Mrs. D. F. Akin, third, $1 25; J. Wyman Lane, fourth, $1.00; H. M. Lyman, fifth, $.75; Niles Anderson, sixth, $.50. HIBERNAL.—C. W. Sampson, first, $1.75; J. A. Howard, second. $1.50; H. M. Lyman, third, $1.25; Wm. Oxford, fourth, $1.00; Andrew Peterson, fifth, $.75; Lee B. Daven- port, sixth. $.50. WEALTHY.—J. A. Howard, first, $1.75; Nils Anderson, second, $1.50; J. Wyman Lane, third, $1.25; J. R. Cummins, fourth, $1.00; D. F. Akin, fifth, $.75; ©. W. Sampson, sixth, $.50. (Open to all.) HYBRIDS AND SIBERIANS. BRIAR’S SWEET.—J. Wyman Lane, first, $1.00; J. @. Bass, Hamline, second, $.75; Lee B. Davenport, third, $.50. DartT.—J.S. Harris, first. EARLY STRAWBERRY.—W. L. Parker, first; J. R. Cummins, second; H. ©. Decker, third. FLORENCE.—W. L. Parker, first; Mrs. D. A. Gordon, Long Lake, second; ©. W. Sampson, third. GIDEON’s No. 6.—W. L. Parker, first; J. A. Howard. second; R. C. Keel, third. GREENWOOD.— W. L. Parker, first; H. M. Lyman, second; J. S. Harris, third. Hys.op.—A. A. Bost, first; J. Wyman Lane, second; W. L. Parker, third. MARTHA.—Olarence Wedge, first; W. L. Parker, second; Wm. Somerville, third. MINNESOTA.—W. L. Parker, first; H. C. Decker, second; ©. H. Engen, third, 408 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Powers.—W. L. Parker, first; M. Pearce, second; Lee B. Davenport, third. PRIDE OF MINNEAPOLIS.—J. S. Harris, first; A. H. Brackett, second; Mrs. D. A. Gordon, third. SwEEtT RussET.—Wm. Somerville, first; W. L. Parker, second; Ditus Day, third. Tonka.—M. Pearce, first; D. T. Wheaton, Morris, second; Mrs. Isabella Barton, Excelsior, third. TRANSCENDENT.—W. L. Parker, first; Lee B. Davenport, second; D. F. Akin, third. VIRGINIA.—W. L. Parker, first; H. F. Busse, Minneapolis, second; B. T. Hoyt, St. Paul, third. WHITNEY.—Jewell Nursery Co., first; W. L. Parker, second; H. C. Decker, third. SEEDLINGS APPLES. COLLECTION, EXCLUDING CRABS AND Hysrips.—D_ F. Akin, first, $8.00; J. S. Harris, second, $6.00; H. M. Lyman, third, $4.00. COLLECTION OF CRABS AND Hysrips.—John O. ‘Kramer, LaCrescent, first, $6.00; Ditus Day, second, $4.00; J R. Cummins, third, $2.00. FALL VARIETY NEVER HAVING RECEIVED A PREMIUM AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR. —H. M. Lyman, first, $6.00; A. H. Brackett, second, $4.00; J. S. Harris, third, $2.00. WINTER VARIETY NEVER HAVING RECEIVED A PREMIUM AT THE MINNESOTA STATE Farr.—J. A. Howard, first, $15.00; M. Pearce, second, $8.00; H. C. Decker, third, $4.00. GRAPES. COLLECTION. —Lee B. Davenport, first, $20.00; Gust Johnson, second, $15.00; Mrs. Isa- bella Barton, third, $10.00; A.A. Bost, fourth, $8.00; Rudolph Knapheide, St. Paul, fifth, $6.00. SINGLE PLATES. AGAWAM (Roger’s No. 15).—Gust Johnson, first, $1.50; Lee B. Davenport, second, $1.00; M. M. Frisselle, Eureka, third, $ .50. AMINIA (Roger’s No. 39).--Lee B. Davenport, first. BRIGHTON.—Lee B. Davenport, first; Gust Johnson, second; M. M. Frisselle, third. Concorp.—Gust Johnson, first; C. W.Sampson, second; Lee B. Davenport, third. CorraGE.—Gust Johnson, first; Lee B. Davenport, second; Rudolph Knapheide: third. DELAWARE.—C. W. Sampson, first; Gust. Johnson, second; Lee B. Davenport. third. DucueEss.—Lee B. Davenport, first. EARLY Victor.—Mrs. Isabella Barton, first. ELpORADO.—Rudolph Knapheide, first. EMPIRE STATE.—Mrs. Isabella Barton, first; Lee B. Davenport, second. GREEN MountAIn.—Lee B. Davenport, first. HERBERT (Roger’s No. 44).—Lee B. Davenport, first. Tona.—Lee B. Davenport, first; C. W. Sampson, second. JANESVILLE.—C. W. Sampson. first; Rudolph Knapheide, second. LInptey (Roger’s No. 9).—Lee B. Davenport, first; Gust Johnson, second. LApy.—Lee B. Davenport, first; Mrs. Isabella Barton, second. MaArTHA.—Lee B. Davenport, first; O. W. Sampson, second. MAssasort (Roger’s No. 3).—Lee B. Davenport, first. Moore’s DrAMOND.—Lee B. Davenport, first; H. C. Decker, second. - Moore’s EARLY.—Mrs. Isabella Barton, first; Gust Johnson, second; Lee B. Daven- port, third. NIAGARA.—Mrs. Isabella Barton. first; Gust Johnson, second. POCKLINGTON.—Gust Johnson, first; Lee B. Davenport, second; Mrs Isabella Barton, third, POKEEPSIE REpD.—Mrs. Isabella Barton, first. TELEGRAPH.—Lee B. Davenport, first. WILDER (Roger’s No. 4).—Lee B. Davenport, first; Gust Johnson, second. Wooprvurr Rep.—Lee B. Davenport, first. WorpEN.—Gust Johnson, first; Lee B. Davenport, second; Mrs. Isabella Barton third. Wromina Rep.—Gust Johnson, first; Lee B. Davenport, third. os hea aes « aS a rage pees a Sood ea” PREMIUMS AWARDED AT STATE FAIR. 409 PLUMS. CoLLEcTIoN.—W. L. Parker, first, $5.00; Jewell Nursery Co., second, $4.00; A. H. Brackett, third, $3.00; Clarence Wedge, fourth, $2.00. CHENEY.—W. F. Coffin, Hamline, first, $1.00; A. H. Brackett, eeeanae $ .75; C. W. Sampson, third,$ .50. DrsotTa.—Jewell Nursery Co., first; Martin Penning, Sleepy Eye, second; W. L. Parker, third. Forest GARDEN.—M. Pearce, first; Jewell Nursery Co., second; A, A. Bost, third. NEw Utm.—Clarence Wedge, first. OcHEEDA.—A. H. Brackett, first. ROCKFORD.—J. G. Bass, first; W. L. Parker, seed A.H. Brackett, third. ROLLINGSTONE.—A. H. Brackett, first; W.L Parker, second; J.G. Bass. third. STODDARD.—Martin Penning, first; W. L. Parker, second; Clarence Wedge, third. SuRPRISE.—Martin Penning, first. WEAVER,—A. H. Brackett, first; Martin Penning, second; W. L. Parker, third. Wo.ur.—Jewell Nursery Co., first; W. L. Parker, second; Clarence Wedge, third. WyaAnt.—Martin Penning, first; A. H. Brackett, second; Clarence Wedge, third. NEw SEEDLING PLuMS—Never having received a premium at the Minnesota State Fair.—Martin Penning, second; W. L. Parker, third. PEARS.—J.S. Harris, first; Clarence Wedge, second. PEACHES.—M. Pearce, first. SUNDRIES. ANCIENT BRITON BLACKBERRIES.—A. H. Brackett, first. SAND CHERRIES OR SAND CHERRY HyBRIDS.—Clarence Wedge, first. FLOWERS. (Professional.) COILECTION OF GREENHOUSE AND HOTHOUSE PLANTS.—E. Nagel & Co., Minneapolis, first, $30.00; Jacob Hartmann, Minneapolis, second, $25.00; John C. Fleischer, St. Paul, third, $20.00; Mendenhall Greenhouses, Minneapolis, fourth, $10.00. COLLECTION OF FOLIAGE AND DECORATIVE PLANTS. —Jacob Hartmann, first, $15.00; Mendenhall Greenhouses, second, $10.00; John C. Fleischer, third, $5.00 COLLECTION OF CLIMBING VINES—Five Varieties —John C. Fleischer, first, $2.00 Jacob Hartmann, second, $1.00; E. Nagel & Co., third. $ .50. COLLECTION OF FIVE HANGING BASKETS—One of a Kind.—Jacob Hartmann, first, $5.00; E. Nagel & Co., second, $3.00; John O. Fleischer, third, $2.00. COLLECTION OF COLEUS—Six or More Varieties—E. Nagel & Co., first, $2.00; John C. Fleischer, second, $1.00; John Vasatka, Minneapolis, third, $ .50. CCLLECTION OF TUBEROUS-ROOTED BEGONIAS.—John C. Fleischer, first, $4.00; Men- denhall Greenhouses, second, $3.00; John Vasatka, third, $2.00. SINGLE SPECIMEN PALM.—Mendenhall Greenhouses, first, $8.00; Jacob Hartmann, second, $2.00; E. Nagel & Co., third, $1.00. COLLECTION OF GERANIUMS IN BLOOM.—Joha C. Fleischer, first, $4.00; E. Nagel & Co., second, $2 00; Jacob Hartman, third, $1.00. COLLECTION OF GLOXINIAS IN BLOOM.—John Vasatka, first, $3.00. TWELVE CARNATIONS IN BLOOM, not iess than five varieties.—John C. Fleischer, first: $3.00; E. Nagel] & Co., second, $2.00 VASE FILLED WITH PLANTS—at the fountain in Horticultural Hall._John Vasatka, first, $4.00; John C. Fleischer, second, $3.00; E. Nagel & Co., third, $2.00; Jocob Hart- man, fourth, $1.00. CUT FLOWERS. Asters. assorted colors, not less than ten kinds.—Jacob Hartmann, first, $3.00; E. Nagel & Co., second, $2.00; John Vasatka, third. $1.00. CARNATIONS, six varieties.—E. Nagel & Co., first, $3.00, John C. Fleischer, second, $2.00; John Vasatka, third, $1.00. DAHLIAS, assorted colors, not less than ten kinds._Jacob Hartmann, first, $3.00; John C. Fleischer, second, $2.00; John Vasatka, third, $1.00. GLADIOLI, twelve distinct colors.—Mendenhall Greenhouses, first, $3.00; Mrs. Isabella Barton, second, $2.00; E. Nagel & Co., third, $1.00. PansiEs.—Jobn C. Fleischer, first, $3.00; Jacob Hartmann, second, $2.00; Mendenhall Greenhouses, third, $1.00, 410 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. PrerunrAs.—Jacob Hartmann, first, $3.00; John Vasatka, second, $2.00. Rosgs, six varieties.—Mendenhall Greenhouses, first, $3.09; E. Nagel & Oo., second, $2.00; John Vasatka, third, $1.00. BASKETS AND BOUQUETS. FLorAu Desian.—John C. Fleischer, first, $10.00; John Vasatka, second, $8.00; E. Na- gel & Co., third, 86.00; Otto Hiersekorn, St. Paul, fourth, $4.00. TwrELVE-INCH BASKET OF FLOwWERS.—Mendenhall Greenhouses, first, $5.00; E. Nagel & Co., second, $3.00; Jacob Hartmann, third, $2.00. Pyramip Bouguet.—BE. Nagel & Co,, first, $3.00; Jacob Hartmann, second, $2.00; Men- denhall Greenhouses. third, $1.00. HAND BouguvEt, not over nine inches across.—E. Nagel & Co., first, $3 00; Jacob Hart- mann, second, $2 00; John Vasatka, third, $1.00. BRIDAL BovuQuUET, white flowers.—Mendenhall Greenhouses, first, $3.00; E. Nagel & Co., second, $2.00; Jacob Hartmann, third, $1.00. CUT FLOWERS. (Amateurs.) COLLECTION OF ANNUALS.—Mrs. F. A. Rogers, Minneapolis, first, $3.00; Mrs. Geo. B. Aiton, Minneapolis, second, $2.00; Carrie A. Swift, Minneapolis, third, $1.00. COLLECTION OF BIENNIALS OR PERENNIALS.—Carry A. Swift, first, $3.00. COLLECTION OF ASTERS.—Mrs. Geo. B. Aiton, first, $2.00; Mrs. F. A. Rogers, second, $1.00; Carrie A. Swift, third, $ .50. COLLECTION OF DAHLIAS.—Mrs. Isabella Barton, first, $2.00; Mrs. F. A. Rogers, sec- ond, $1.00. COLLECTION OF EVERLASTING FLOWwERS.—Mrs. Geo. B. Aiton, first, $2.00. COLLECTION OF NASTURTIUMS.—Mrs. I. M. B. Cooper. St. Paul, first, $2.00; Miss Sadie A. Vittum, St. Anthony Park, second, $1.00; Mrs, H. W. Cummings, St. Anthony Park. third, $ .50. COLLECTION OF PANsIES.—Mrs. I. M B. Cooper, first, $2.00; Mrs. Chas. Axtell, Min- neapolis, second, $1.00; Mrs, Geo. B. Atton, third, $ 50. COLLECTION OF PETUNIAS.—Mrs. Geo. B. Aiton, first, $2.00; Mrs. Charles Axtell, second, $1.00. COLLECTION OF Poppies.—Mrs. M. McCannon, St. Anthony Park, first, $2.00. COLLECTION OF Sweet PEAS.—Mrs. D. A. MacArthur, Minneapolis, first, $2.00; Mrs. Alice G. Parker, Farmington, second, $1.00; Daniel Gantzer, St. Paul, third, $ .50. COLLECTION OF VERBENAS.—Daniel Gantzer, first, $2.00; Mrs. Geo. B. Aiton, second, $1.00. COLLECTION OF ZINNIAS.—Daniel Gantzer, first, $2.00; Mrs. F. A. Rogers, second, $1.00; N. CO. Axtell. Minneapolis, third, $ .50. AUTUMN SUBSOILING BEST.—In no case should heavy, compact clay soils be subsoiled in the spring. A few years ago, when farm- ing in southern Ohio, some subsoiling was done with the view of increasing the yield of corn. One-third of the center of the field was subsoiled, leaving and unsubsoiled strip on each side. The subsoil plow was set to run toa depth of seven inches in the bottom of the furrow made by the common plow, making a total depth of about 14inches. The remaining portion of the field was plowed to the ordinary depth, and the entire field was then harrowed, rolled and planted tocorn. The result was an unexpected one, for on the subsoiled part the crop was one of short, imperfect ears, in fact, not more than a halfacrop. On the unsubsoiled part the yield was ful- ly 60 to 70 bushels per acre, the ears being large and fully developed. This experiment confirmed me in the opinion that subsoiling should invariably be done in fall, so that the subsequent action of the rain and frost during the winter would fine the soil, restore its normal degree of capillarity, and at the same time absorb and hold an abundant supply of moisture for the use of the crop to be grown. _ Secretary's ( %orner. NECESSARY BREVITY.—The Secretary’s Corner is necessarily short on account of the prolixity of the secretary elsewhere in this num- ber. FREE READING MATTER.—Remember, there is reading matter in ’ this office for free distribution to our members, they to pay the ex- press charges. Apply to the secretary. THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.—This society held its annual session at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22nd. No program of the meeting has been received, but the press reports speak of an impor- tant gathering. VIEW OF THE STATE FAIR.—Mr. H. W. Crosby, of Hastings, son of our old member, Judge F. M. Crosby,thoughtfully sent to this office a good photographic view of a section of the fruit tables at the late fair, which we may be able to use later. We wish others would bear us in mind in this way as well. THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION CONGRESS.—The sixth annual session of this body convened at Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 28 and 29. Our society was invited to send a delegate and later the city of Minneapolis appointed your secretary one to represent her but forgot to enclose a draft forexpenses. Our sympathies are certainly heartily with the work of this body, and we should keep in touch with itas faras practicable. MANITOBA FOREST PRESERVES.—More than a million acres, divi- ded in four tracts, have been lately set apart in that province for per- manent forest preserves. The blocks are to be gridironed with fire guards and every precaution taken to protect them from this dreaded enemy of the forest. Weare nottoo enlightened to learn much from the ways of our neighbors—and in fact they do a few things very well, which we all admit. LIBRARY OF MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.—Six hun- dred and fifty volumes have been added to this library the past year. With its large endowment and great prestige, this is becom- ing the most extensive repository of horticultural knowledge in America, probably is already so. We can at least emulate the ex- ample of this sturdy association and wait and work for the larger things we are sure the future has in store for us. A NATIONAL BIRD Day.—The U. S. Dept. of Agriculture has issued acircular on this subject and in it says briefly, “The object of Bird Day is to diffuse knowledge concerning our native birds and to arouse a more general interest in bird protection. The day would be specially observed in our public schools with appropriate exercises. It might be made very enjoyable and instructive.” The horticulturists would say amen to any move looking to the protec- tion of their natural allies, the birds. 412 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. NEW OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—At the late meeting of this society held in Columbus early in this month, the following officers were elected: president, C. L. Wa- trous, Des Moines, Ia.; vice-president, G. W. Campbell, Delaware, O.; secretary, W. A. Taylor, Washington, D. C.; treasurer, L. R. Taft, Ag- ricultural College, Mich. The membership fee was reduced from $4.00 to $2.00. The attendance is reported as very light, partly, it is thought, on account of the late issuance of the program, The one to this office came in good season, however. A PROSPECTIVE HORTICULTURAL TEXT BOOK.—The educational committee of the Missouri Horticultural Society is evidently thor- oughly in earnest in its campaign to secure information on horti- cultural subjects to be used in preparing a text book for the use of the public schools. The fourth annual list of one hundred ques- tions asking for promiscuous replies is now out, from question 1, “What is science?” to question 100, “Give brief description of a fruit canning factory.” Whoever engineers the scheme must be an in- dustrious man to sift out and put into methodical shape the truths contained in the mass of replies. I am invited to send in replies— much better for him if [don’t comply. All honorto such.pluck! It ought to win. OUR FRUIT EXHIBIT AS SEEN BY OTHERS.—Speaking of the horti- cultural exhibit at the late state fair, the Orange Judd Farmer” says: “The horticultural display has outgrown all previous conditions and this year had full possession of this building for the first time. The fruit crop of Minnesota was not large this year but the exhibits entered, coming from all parts of the state, show that fruit growing is yearly receiving more and more attention. The showing of apples made by amateur growers deserves especial attention and despite the fact that the state only has about one-third crop this year the quality and quantity of the entries was the best ever made. The Russian varieties were largely in evidence, but it is apparent that there is a tendency to develop native varieties sufficiently hardy to withstand the severe winter.” DEATH OF E. J. CUTTS.—As we go to press, news is received of the sudden death of'E. J. Cutts, of Howard Lake. Hewas stricken down at his home without a moment’s notice and expired in a few minutes. For the last year he had been in unusually good health and his appearance indicated many useful years. A warm personal friend to the writer, this comes as very sad news. Hewill be missed much, too, in our association. For the last year he had filled very accept- ably the position of lecturer on horticulture in the institute corps. A suitable obituary will appear in the November number. LATE OF HOWARD LAKE, MINN. [For biography see opposite page.] THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST. VOL. 25. NOVEMBER, 1807. NO. 11. In N{emoriam, E. J. CUTTS, HOWARD LAKE, MINN. Died September 22, 1897, Aged 53 Years. The sudden death of Mr. E. J. Cutts, of Howard Lake, on the 22d of September last, deserves more than a passing notice. In the three- fold capacity of lecturer for the horticultural branch of the state in- stitute and editor of the horticultural departments of the North- western Agriculturist and Farmers’ Institute Annual, he became closely identified with the horticultural interests of the state. He was beginning to assume a position for which he was eminently fitted, a position in which he could impart to others the practical information that he had acquired through years of persevering work. A brief sketch of his life will be of timely interest to our readers. Mr. E. J. Cutts was born in Kennebec county, Maine, on the 17th of August, 1844. His father, William Cutts, was a sea captain, and a brother of his, following the same vocation, died at sea a few years ago. The family moved to New York in 1853, and young Cutts com- menced his business career when fourteen years old as clerk in a city store. In 1862, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the 22d New York Militia, serving in New York and Virginia. In 1869, after a visit to the West Indies f. c his health, he came to Minnesota and resided in Minneapolis and vicinity for four years 414 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. In 1874, he opened a general store at Buffalo, Wright county, in co- partnership with his brother-in-law, C. E. Oakley, and in 1877 came to Howard Lake and engaged in the mercantile business. Ten years ago Mr. Cutts started the Howard Lake Nursery, and under difficulties which those who have engaged in similar enter- prises will understand well. Perhaps the most formidable of recent years has been the dry seasons. But during the past two years the outlook had greatly improved. After years of discouragement, the returns became ever more satisfactory. Labor,incessant labor, was still necessary, but Mr. Cutts found his chief happiness in unceas- ing work, and his industry seemed untiring. There was no sharp practice in anything that he undertook, and, as a consequence, he was respected everywhere. His selection last year as one of the staff of farmer’s institute lecturers was hailed with universal satisfaction wherever he was known. Mr. O. C. Gregg recently eulogized warmly the practical knowledge shown by him in connection with horticultural matters and the progressive spirit with which he received new ideas and applied them. To this may be added, a patience in explaining what he desired his hearers to understand and a kindliness of man- ner that won the confidence of all who were brought in contact with him. The deceased served for two terms in the state legislature, being first elected in the fall of 1880, but during the political canvass pre- ceding his election he never stooped to the methods of campaign- ing which were so common in those days. He never solicited the support of any voter, and when elected he proved by his general fairness that Republicanism is not incompatible with independence of judgment and that a man can be true to his principles without becoming a party hack. Mr. Cutts was married in New York in 1863 to Miss Jennie M. Oak- ley, who, with their two children, Eva and Ruth, survive him. He leaves also a brother and two sisters living in New York state. Mr. Cutts was blessed with a very sunny and cheerful disposition. He had a happy and sanguine temperament and always looked on the bright side of life. He had a good word for every one anda ready smile. He did not change much outwardly during the twenty years we knew him. He received fortune’s buffets and rewards with equal thanks, and no matter what his cares and troubles might be he put the best side forward. He was never heard to condemn others or speak an ill word of anyone. The charity that was the mainspring of his conduct not only made him the friend of those who were needy and in distress, but he gave everybody credit for the best of motives. It would hardly be just to say this much without adding that Providence gave him a wife whose industry and intelligent co-operation were a source of happiness and comfort to him in every difficulty. The inspiration he received was from his own family, who shared in his toils as well as in his success. The death of Mr. Cutts was almost instantaneous. While feeding chickens in his barn yard at eventide, he was taken ill and fell to the ground. After being carried into the house, he expired in a few moments, doubtless heart failure being the immediate cause. tos gee IN MEMORIAM, E. J. CUTTS. 415 It would be impossible to give any notice of the deceased that professed to accord with the facts without alluding to his firm be- lief in the Bible as the word of God and his earnest wish to conform his life to its teachings. Its truths were to him more than a mere belief; they were a practical experience. He regarded this life as a season of preparation for a higher and better. He had a presenti- ment that his time had nearly come, and his one wish was so to live and act that the suddenness of the stroke would find him prepared. He felt assured beyond doubt that “when our earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.” H. TANNER, Howard Lake. My first acquaintance with the late Mr. Cutts began by meeting him in an institute audience. I was told that he was a successful grape grower, and was also told that he was apt as a teacher and could readily tell to others what he knew himself; so I asked him to take a partin our institute sessions and suggested that he use our black-board and give us a short talk upon his method of grow- ing grapes. Mr. Cutts very modestly acquiesced in my request and in an impromptu manner gave us a very interesting talk, using the black-board to make plain to us his system of grape growing. I well remember how nicely he caught the attention of that audi- ence and held it until the close of the discourse. I observed at that time that he had the ability to impress what he had to say upon his hearers and that his general manner was such as to create con- fidence on the part of all who heard him that he was talking about things with which he was well acquainted and in which he had madea positive success. I then made a minute of him as a prob- able future member of our institute corps. When the appropriate time came I sent a letter to him asking him to unite with us in our institute work and received a very prompt reply, very modestly disavowing any claim to ability as a speaker or teacher upon the public platform but expressing his readiness to do the best that he could, and asked that I should be very frank with him in pointing out his defects so thathe might remedy them if he could and if not that he should be quietly dropped out of the institute force. This letter of itself only added to my confidence in the man, and, as he began his work, I soon saw that what he had written me was but an honest expression of his thought and was not actuated by false modesty. We had the pleasure and satisfaction of having Mr. Cutts with us during one institute year. That year’s work in horticulture upon our institute platform has produced an effect that will be lasting. In my opinion the horticultural society has always been fortunate in the men who have represented their interests. That work has engaged the efforts of practical, thoughtful and influential men, and not the least among them was Mr. Cutts. We found him an exceedingly agreeable companion in institute travel and intervals. He was always loyal to the institute and to 416 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. its management. He was ever ready to take any place and to do anything that was suggested to him as the thing to do to promote the institute interests and the interests of horticulture. He repre- sented a high type of Christian character in that in a quiet but firm manner it was made manifest that his conversation and his work in life was governed by strong principles. He was generous in his thoughts and charitable in his interpretation of the acts of others; he was always courteous in his intercourse with the members of the corps and with the people that he was among from time to time. He used every opportunity to assist those who be- came interested in horticulture. He was willing to visit farms and gardens with those who wished his assistance and never hesitated to spend time outside of the institute sessions in giving such infor- mation as people wanted from time to time upon any department of the work which he represented. I do not write these things because Mr. Cutts is gone so that some might construe them asa fulsome eulogy, but they are plain, simple statements of fact which describe his life as we came to know it in connection with our work. Already arrangements had been made for him to continue with us during the coming winter and year No small part of the task which we now have on hand to equip our- selves for the coming year’s work is found in the fact that we must find an efficient man to take up the work that Mr. Cutts has laid down. I speak not only for myself but for every member of the in- stitute corps, when I say that we all shall hold him in respected memory and that the remembrance of our intercourse with him will always have an elevating effect upon our thoughts and future ac- tion. O. C. GREGG, Supt. Minn. Farmers Institute. Mr. Cutts became enrolled as a member of our society in 1891, and retained his membership thereafter continuously. While he could hardly be called an old member, referring to the years of his union with us, yet he has long held our love and esteem. Modest and unassuming, ever ready to take up any duty as- signed and acquitting himself in a manly way in his service, he held an assured place in our hearts. It was with our ful est acquiesence that he was selected to represent our interests in the farmers’ institute and we had every reason to be satisfied with the result. Mr. Cutts has been removed from our midst in the very height of his usefulness, and we shall miss his help sadly. In such a loss it is hard to say ‘‘It is well,” Though not ripe in years, he was fully so in a well developed christian character, and in his death he may truly be said only to have been ‘‘called home,” though in very truth he still lives in the shining example of his upright life. SEC’Y. ; b v . : . hal nm ene Oe Se Se te ee = SEEDLING WINTER APPLES. 417 SEEDLING WINTER APPLES. J. S. HARRIS, SEEDLING COMMITTEE. The greatest want in apples at the present time for this state is a few hardy varieties of good quality that will keep well in the ordin- ary way through the winter and spring months. Whenevera good long keeper is found, it should as soon as possible be put on trial to ascertain its hardiness and adaptation. In order to get such on record I herewith report three varieties. Jansen’s Seedling.—Re- ceived from George W. Prescott, Albert Lea, May 13th, 1897. Size small, med- ium (214); form roundish; color greenish yellow with a deep blush cheek; stalk slender and medium long, set in a broad medium cav- ity; calyx closed in a me- dium, considerably wrink- led basin; flesh pale yellow, fine grained; flavor sweet and good. The specimen was in fine condition and said to have been keptin a common cellar tor storing Game wn e vegetables. Dree,.wetent J. Jansen’s Seedling. years old, has never shown any signs of blighting and appears to be all right. By the usual methods of propagation, the fruit will doubtless increase in size. Turnbull's Seedling No. 1,— Size medium; form round; color a yellowish ground, mostly covered with a purplish red in stripes and showing dots and spatters of brownish } russet on the stem, most # Numerous on the sun side; } Stalk medium, slender; cav- ity regular, narrow and medium deep, russetted; calyx closed, set in a broad, shallow, wrinkled basin; core medium and closed; flesh fine grained, tender, pale yellow; flavor mild Turnbull’s Seedling No. 1. sub-acid; season, late win ter and spring. Specimen received from John Turnbull, La Crescent, Minn., May 27th. 1897. ateote ~~, e at 418 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Turnbull’s Seedling No. 2. Turnbull’s Seedling No. 2.—Size six, or large medium; form flat conical, slightly angular; color yellow and light red, striped on the sun side; stalk long and slender, set in a broad, deep, russetted cavity; calyx closed, set in a medium deep ribbed basin; flesh rich yellow, fine grained; flavor sweet or slightly sub-acid, very good; season, late winter. Specimen secured from John Turnbull, May 27th, 1897, in good condition. ORIGINATING NEW VARIBTIES OF GRAPES.—‘A splendid example and most valuable lesson is given in the results obtained in grape culture by hybridizing native wild grapes with cultivated sorts by Prof. T. V. Munson. Very few, perhaps, are aware of the extent of Mr. Munson’s experiments. He tells usina recent catalogue: Out of about seventy-five thousand hybrid seedling grapes, he selected about one thousand of the most vigorous, healthy and promising, planted them ina vineyard from time to time, and put them through a series of careful, rigid experiments, along with leading standard varieties and under the same conditions. After fruiting from six to eight years on his own and numerous other grounds in different parts of the country, he has up to the present time offered plants for sale of forty of the seventy-five thousand that have given great- est promise of value. As we remarked, very few people have any conception of the tremendous amount of patient toil involved in the production and testing of so many thousand seedlings to procure less than forty that are believed worthy of extended trial.”— Dr. A. M. Ragland. ee ee ee ae ee Se Ee Figg ee ee hee Le eee ee ee Oe ee ee WINDBREAKS FOR ORCHARDS, 419 WINDBREAKS FOR ORCHARDS. S. D. RICHARDSON, WINNEBAGO CITY. On the windy prairies of southwest Minnesota, a windbreak on the south and west of an orchard seems to be a necessity if one would have many apples left on his treesin the fall. Mr. Wm. Som- erville is satisfied that a windbreak of evergreens all aroundisa good thing, but the question with us is not what we would have, but what wecan have. In certain localities the Russian mulberry is a success. I do not knowanything that will drift under with the snow and not break down better than they will. Cottonwood, soft maple, box elder, ash and elm make good windbreaks. In planting, the inside row of trees should not be less than two rods from the outside row of apple trees. I would set the wind- break in three rows, mulberries in rows eight feet apart and eight feet apart in the row, and other trees sixteen feet apart each way. Set the middle row so that the trees will come opposite the centre of the spaces in the outside rows. Do not set trees any closer than this if you want a good windbreak and do not prune, but let the trees bush as much as possible. While in theory evergreens make the ideal windbreak, the past few dry years have been such as to discourage the planting of any large quantity of evergreens on the prairies of southwest Minnesota. We do not need windbreaks for protection from the cold, but from the strong winds of spring and summer. Mr. C. L. Smith: In the thirty years I have been interested in tree planting in Minnesota I have never seen a success made where trees were planted so far apart. I would not put them more than four feet apart in the rows. Mr. Richardson: If Mr. Smith will come down into our section of the country, I will show him plenty of groves in the poorest condition because they were set close together. The handsomest grove of soft maple I ever saw were set sixteen feet apart each way. They make a handsome, splendid grove. I can show him any quantity of soft maple groves in excellent condition because they were not planted too thick. Mr. Smith: There would be an advantage in thinning out after the first three, four or five years, when they needed thin- ning, but I still reiterate the statement I made, that I have not found one successful plantation where the trees were planted so far apart. Prof. S. B. Green: In planting a windbreak four rods wide, or, we will suppose, two acres in extent, how far apart, sup- posing you were planting the box elder, elm and others, how far apart would you recommend setting those trees in order to get the best results? 420 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mr. Smith: I would make my rows eight feet apart, and would put my trees four feet apart and thin out when needed. Mr. Richardson: If you will come with me and go twenty- five miles west of my place, I willshow you a windbreak that I set thirty years ago. I can show you where the trees were set, the rows sixteen feet apart and the trees twelve feet apart in the row, and they have had to trim them out in order to drive a buggy through between the rows, and they have been a suc- cess all through. Mr.Smith: I can show Mr. Richardson one of the best plant- ations of larches that were set four feet apart— Mr. Richardson: If they had been put eight feet apart each way they would have been four times as valuable. Mr. Smith: If you plant them thin in the first place, they willnever amount to anything. Mr. Richardson: We have got them planted thick and they do not amount to anything. Prof. N. E, Hansen (South Dakota): If you will just think a mo- ment, you will find it very easy to harmonize those different opin- ions. Take cottonwood, for instance; it is too close to plant them four feet apart; it takes all the moisture within a radius of four feet. In forestry we have what are called shade enduring and light de- manding trees. In plantations in South Dakota we find that the green ash, the birch, black wild cherry and white elm planted four feet apart each way form the most perfect plantations, and for such varieties close planting is essential simply for the sake of the shade and to avoid the necessity of too long cultivation. If you plant them too far apart each way you will have to cultivate too long. I just want to say a word about what Mr. Patten said in regard to where you obtain your seed. I was up in Manitoba three hundred miles west of Winnipeg, where I[ found that they had the box elder, the elm and the ash from southern Minnesota, and they killed out. They had the native elm, of the same species, which was perfectly hardy. We also found in Iowa that the red cedar of Tennessee is tender, while the same species in Iowa is hardy. A few years ago at Moscow I heard the same thing. The Scotch pine of western Eu- rope is killed back year by year. So in all of our timber planting» we should follow the law of getting our seed as near home as pos- sible, or to buy north of us. Never send south for seed. Mr. H. F. Busse: In traveling over the state, I found where they had planted cottonwood mostly in tree claims they had planted them four feet apart each way, and their groves were entirely killed and the wood used for fuel. But I ran across a place once where they were planted six feet apart one way and eight feet the other, and the trees were perfectly good and sound. The cottonwood is not a very profitable tree to plant on those prairies, but where they planted box elder and white ash they were all good trees. The wil- low also were nearly all killed by close planting. . a> WINDBREAKS FOR ORCHARDS. 421 Prof. Green: I would like to ask Prof. Hansen a question, If he were to set out a grove for a windbreak, how far apart would he plantthem. Would he put the rows eight feet apart and the trees two feet apart in the row? Prof. Hansen: That would depend whether you wanted them for a windbreak or for fire wood. Prof. Green: And what varieties would you plant? Prof. Hansen: The white elm and the ash are among the best. Prof. Green: How far apart would you plant those deciduous trees on the prairie for protection? Prof. Hansen: I would plant them four feet apart each way and thin afterwards. Prof. Green: I would not put them closer. You can cultivate them one way for a good while, and it is necessary to cultivate them in order to keep out the blue grass. Mr. Wedge: Four feet apart each way would be your way, Prof. Green? : Prof. Green: Yes, sir. & Mr. Somerville: The most successful plantation we had was set 4x 6 feet and then cultivated and then thinned out until they were 5 ten or fifteen feet apart. by Pres. Underwood: Mr. Barrett, how far apart would you plant ; them? Mr. J. O. Barrett: I would plant them four feet apart. | Mr. Wyman Elliot: For fuel and also for a windbreak? , Mr. Barrett: I would plant them like Prof. Green. If the inten- ‘ tion is to have a wood lot I would plant them close. It seems to me we should make a distinction in regard to the species of trees for a windbreak with reference to planting thema certain distance apart. : If I wanted to plant white willows I would plant them two feet ) apart. IfI were to plant ash I would have them not less than three | feet apart, but the box elder is a light shading tree and does not re- . quire as many trees as the green ash to produce a light shade. In the region where Mr. Richardson lives, as I understand his locality, ; it is not necessary to plant them so thickly, as they would not live. We have got to get our trees very close together to break the wind. , Mr. Busse: I donot think we should set them so close in such dry seasons as we have had lately. There is no moisture retained in close planting like that. The people have found it so themselves, L and they said they would not set any more trees that distance. Pres Underwood: How far apart would you plant them? Mr. Busse: 6x 8 feet each way. Mr. Elliot: I have always had a theory about windbreaks. If I were going to put out a windbreak on the prairie, I would not be too particular to plant them, as I would ona town lot. If I had plenty of land, I would have my rows six feet apart, so they would be in quincunx form, You plant your trees four feet apart in the rows and then put the next row six feet away and have the tree come in the space between, and so continue throughout. Pres. Underwood: How would you plant a windbreak of ever- greens? = vee 422 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mr. Elliot: Not less than four feet apart, and I do not know but 6 x 8 feet would be better. Mr. Richardson: I have had thirty years experience in planting windbreaks, and I have noticed just this, that those who planted their groves thick have got small miserable trees, and there are no trees down our way that amount to anything except those that have plenty of room. Mr. Clarence Wedge: I want to say a word in regard to what Mr, Richardson has said. I have seen groves west of us in the central portion of the state that were planted four feet apart each way They were not planted with cottonwood, but with good ash and elm and they were a perfect success. Mr. Richardson: How tall were they? Mr. Wedge: Astallasthisroom. (About 14 feet). Mr. Richardson: They will have to put the axe to them. Mr. Wedge: Ofcourse, that is the expectation. RELATION OF BIRDS TO HORTICULTURE. PROF. OTTO LUGGER, MINN. STATE EXPERIMENT STATION. When we read books that treat of birds, we usually see it stated that some are insectivorous while others are granivorous. The former are claimed to be decidedly beneficial, while the latter are considered more or less injurious. These statements have been made by ornithologists who have studied most carefully the structure and life history of their pets, and, con- sequently, their verdict ought to have some weight. If, how- ever, the botanists and entomologists are consulted, or scientists who have studied the relation of insects to plants or the relation of plants to man, we soon discover that doctors disagree and that the claimed superiority of insectivorous birds over othersis far from being true. Theonly and true way of studying the value of insecti- vorous birds as destroyers of insects is with the aid of the knife; in other words, we have to study the contents of the crop and stomach ofa bird, separate out the different insects and seeds, hand them over to the entomologist and botanist and let them decide the ques- tion of their relation to horticulturists and farmers. It will then be found that some birds which eat nothing but insects may be injuri- ous to our interests, while birds feeding upon seeds may be decid- edly beneficial, it all depending upon the character of the food consumed. Let us make a rough estimate of the insects found in the United States. Supposing we have 50,000 different kinds of insects, we know from sad experience that among these insects are a number of very destructive ones, but even if we count the less injurious ones we have all told not more than 500 really injurious kinds of insects in the United States. This means that out of every hundred insects consumed by birds only one is an injurious one. Of course, this proportion is true only when birds are uniformly distributed over the country, as they usually are during the summer, and not con- gregated together in vast numbers, as they may be if food is es Se sO ee eae E ‘ ee RELATION OF BIRDS TO HORTICULTURE. 493 abundant, as during grasshopper invasions, and they have no longer to take care of their young. This, however, can take place only early in spring and late in fall, when the bulk of the insects have not yet come or have already disappeared. But, is it not very possible that a bird, like a human biped, may be fond of a certain kind of food, may, perhaps, prefer noxious insects to beneficial or indifferent ones. All the dissections, however, have not shown any such preference, and we find in the crop of insectivorous birds not alone injurious insects but beneficial and indifferent ones as well. The fact is this, birds are neither trained entomologists nor botan- ists and do not care for the interests of horticulturists nor farmers, being simply interested in obtaining food with the least amount of labor. I do not wish to say that insectivorous birds are not beneficial, be- cause at the present time we know too little aboutit. Many dissec- tions have to be made, and have to be made at all times of the summer, to give us a true insight in the food habits of the birds. We know already that a bird may be beneficial in the spring and destructive in the fall. Wealso know that a bird may be of great benefit to horticulturists in one locality and bethe opposite in another one. Until we know more about such things, it is wise to give all birds the benefit of the doubt, especially as birds are the zsthetic features of our fields and forests and well deserve our pro- tection on account of their songs and pleasing forms and habits. THE HOUSE WREN. During the last two summers, it has been my aim to study the house wren, a bird fairly common in many parts of the state, but one we should invite toour homes. Atpresent itis most commonly found in woods, especially in thickets near the borders. We have the house wren with us in two forms; the one is the typical form, Troglodytes aedon, aud the other its variety, 7. Parkmanii, but both are so similar in general appearance that only a person fond of grinding out species can perceive much of a difference. Both appear about the 25th of April and do not leave the state until late in September. They commence building their nests as early as the 10th of May. Nests built near houses can be found in all sorts of odd places. I found one in the tattered dress of a scare-crow and another in an old hat suspended from a tree. Asa general rule, however, house wrens prefer such places as boxes, holes in posts, chinks, crevices under rafters and cornices of buildings and hollow branches of trees. All such places are well out of reach of maraud- ing cats. The birds when building their nests assail without fear all beasts and birds that venture near, and even pussy herself must be upon the defensive while meditating an attack,and while she raises her paw to strike she is forced to shut hereyes. The nestis usually composed of leaves, cotton, feathers, hairand other material. In case they have selected a Jarge cavity for the nest, they not un- frequently fill it with very numerous twigs, the thickness of a pencil and three or more inches in length. Upon and in this bulky foun- dation they build their small nest, which contains later from seven 424 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. to nine eggs, nearly spherical in form, and so densely covered with small, reddish-brown spots as to almost hide the white ground- color. The character of the house wren can be described in a few words: noisy, active, inquisitive and combative. Its song is hard to de- scribe, yet once heard is not easily forgotten. It consists of a sharp chatter of wavering notes so quickly uttered as almost to seem a prolonged and highly modulated, sometimes squeaky, trill, now soft and now piercing. Early in the season the male executes not unfrequently a pleasing fantasia on the wing. To attract these useful birds to the vicinity of my house,I con- structed last year some small boxes, which were fastened to neigh- boring oak trees. These were occupied by two pairs of wrens, but they left without raising a family, very likely too much disturbed by the English sparrows and by the cat. This summer I had made in a pottery a number of bird houses. These houses, made of burned clay, prevent any moisture from reaching the inside, and as the entrance is quite small larger birds cannot force their way in. This caused quite a disturbance among the resident sparrows, and for many days they helda sort of indignation meeting, in which they complained about the absurd architecture of such small houses, and not unfrequently a more imprudent gentleman spar- row tried to force his way into one of the houses but failed, and showed his displeasure by using the most profane sparrow-expres- sions we know of. Of the twelve bird houses fastened to the house, barn and trees, eleven were occupied by wrens, which produced at least two broods of five birds each; in other words, the eleven pairs of wrens had to provide for themselves and for a hundred and ten hungry birds. Now this means the death of a large number of in- sects. The first brood had to be fed in the nest from about June Ist to the 15th, and the second brood from July Ist to the 14th. The young birds refused all food but insects, and a piece of soft bread carried to the nest by the male was refused and thrown out of thenest. The food consimed by the first brood consisted mainly of small beetles, young grasshoppers, crickets and the caterpillars half an inch and more in length so common among grass. The second brood was fed almost entirely with small caterpillars and the larve of saw-flies. The old birds are most active in providing food for their young from five to nine in the morning and from four to seven in the af- ternoon, at which time each one makes at least one trip every five minutes. A calculation based upon these facts shows that at least 1,875 insects are required for the five young birds of each genera- tion, or the amazing number of 41,250 insects had to be brought to the nests of the young birds raised in these bird houses. This does not include, however, the food consumed by the twenty-two adults nor that consumed by the young after they had left the nest but were still found in its vicinity. Now, the question arises, what was the relation of this large num- ber of insects to the cultivated plants grown inthe vicinity of the house? As I did not wish to kill my pets I could only study the in- er on As RELATION OF BIRDS TO HORTICULTURE 495 sects brought to the nest by means of a powerful field-glass and also watch the birds while searching for insects in the garden. The - numerous small and black insects consumed by the first brood of wrens were mainly ground-beetles and small bugs. None of them can be said to be injurious, though some of the ground-beetles are suspected of eating the pollen and immature seed of grasses. Of course, the grasshoppers, crickets and green caterpillars are all in- jurious insects; hence, the first brood of wrens was certainly much more beneficial than injurious. The second brood, consuming noth- ing but caterpillars and the larve of saw-flies, was decidedly bene- ficial. My sixrows of currants and gooseberries were badly infested with the destructive saw-flies, and it became necessary early in the season to spray with hellebore. Later, however, I noticed that the wrens were very active among the bushes, and, carefully watching their actions, I soon discovered that they were searching for the larve of the saw-flies that had hatched since the application of the hellebore. Their good work was shown by the fact that all the larve were carried off as soon as they hatched from the egg and be- came large enough to be seen. In finishing this report I would draw the attention of the horti- cultural society to the usefulness of these birds and to the fact that large numbers of them can be attracted to the gardens, where they will prove of great benefit. Bird houses, as the one described, can be easily made and with proper care will last for many years. They can also be made much more ornamental, but should always be small and should be separately suspended on trees and houses, as the inhabitants are very pugnacious. MUSHROOMS AND BEEFSTEAK,--A Few years ago, a passenger on a temporarily delayed train just outside of Chicago, got off his car and found thousands of edible mushrooms. Insight were the great Armour slaughter houses,from which the beef supply of the country mainly comes, and yet the mushrooms, equal in nutritive value pound for pound with beef, were going to waste because people did not know their value. Mushroomsare easily grown, but most people are afraid to use them, because some varieties are poisonous. These are easily distinguished from the edible varieties,and the differences are so great that in Europe, where they are highly valued as an article of food, children gather them without danger of getting the poisonous sorts. The edible mushrooms are found growing wild in many portions of the northwest, and those who are fond of them will be interested in Farmers’ Bulletin No 53, which fully describes them. It may be had by addressing the Secretary of Agriculture, _Washington, D. C.—Northwestern Farmer. PLANT MULBERRIES FOR BIRDS.—Since mulberries have begun to ripen, the trees have been visited by all sorts of birds, which select this fruit in preference to cherries. Orchardists ought to plant mulberry trees to encourage the visits of the birds, which thus serve as a protection to cherries, raspberries, peas, etc. The trees are easily propagated, the fruit ripens early and in large quantities. 426 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. WINTER PROTECTION OF THE STRAWBERRY ON THE PRAIRIE. O. C. GREGG, LYND. The old adage “ What is food for one is another man’s poison” suggests what may be equally true in horticulture, namely, “ What is good for the prairie may be evil in the timbered section of the state.” This article is written strictly from a short prairie experi- ence in strawberry culture but with a quarter of a century of experience upon the prairies of Minnesota as a pioneer farmer. It has been truthfully said that if you want to rear a good man, you must begin with him before heis born. Asa parallel statement, we will say thatif you wish to grow strawberries successfully on the prairies of western Minnesota you must begin with a shelter belt before you have a thought or do a thing towards the strawberry bed itself. Before the strawberries should go the willow. The gray willow is the greatest aid that horticulture has upon our prairiesin the establishment of her kingdom of fruit. We hope for still better things from two varieties of Russian willows, namely, the laurel- leaf willow and the golden willow, but they are yet to be more fully tried. Our experience in establishing dairy work in Minnesota is that before you give much consideration to creameries you must begin to give much instruction concerning the cow and then the man who cares for the cow. So in horticulture in western Minnesota, you must first talk protection, not political, but real protection to the farmer, which is found in trees, and by the best of all trees now known to us, the willows to which we have referred. We need the willow to check the sweep of the winds over the plat, for they rob us of the moisture that we must have, and they also destroy the winter covering that we almost as badly need. The willowis sturdy and pliant. Twenty years of wind will not destroy it,for with yielding branches it returns to its place after the blast and extends its roots still further, so that each year it protects with increasing success. The mulching of the willow will greatly add to its growth and value as a protector. Put the strawberries sufficiently far away from the willow, so that they will not receive the banks of snow that would otherwise be piled upon them. Plant the strawberry rows six feet or more apart. We expect in future to plant the staminate and pistillate varieties in the same row, so as to be sure of perfect fertilization. Cultivate for the first summer thoroughly and be sure that the weeds are thoroughly destroyed—make no mistake here. When the fall comes, pile up straw or prairie hay,as in a windrow, between the rows. The wide spacing of six feet enables you to do this without difficulty. Pile it high. Remember the willow will prevent an undue scattering of this mulch. As winter appears rake enough of this straw or hay over the plants so as to sufficiently cover. Wecan cover abouttwo | inches in depth. In the spring, rake off late enough so that if you left it a little longer the plants would injure. Some of the leaves will be destroyed, but the root and crown will be in good condition. WINTER PROTECTION OF THE STRAWBERRY. 427 This late uncovering will prevent that early start that may bring | y the flowering period and late frosts together. The probabil- ig ities are that this late uncovering will bring the flowering period 4 after the latest frosts of spring. In case frost threatens, take a fork R and throw over the plants then in flower of the ample straw which lies between the rows. Thisis rapidly done. When morning comes, and the danger is past, then with a rakeuncover. By this means we have two checks upon the destruction of the plants by spring frosts, ; In case the plat is not protected by the willow belt as itshould be, then this mulching may be held in place by cornstalks that will prevent the scattering of the mulching by the wind. Every experienced horticulturist will recognize the value of this mulching to the bed during the second summer. Moisture is kept down; weeds are absolutely unable to grow through it; it makes a clean bed forthe pickers to sit and rest upon; it adds to the beauty of the plat. When fall comes, we take this abundant mulching and putit under the willows to continue its good work of preserving moisture for the willows instead of forthe strawberries. We take the scythe and cut the tops of the strawberry plants close to the ground, rake everything clean, cultivate with the horse hoe, add fertilizers in the shape of hen manure and ashes, putting ashes upon the plants and hen manure upon the ground; then again we add the abundant mulching as before. Futureexperience may improve this method, but at the present writing we have found that it has given } us abundant success. ates et hel St Seen Pres. Underwood: I consider this a very valuable contribu- tion to the subject we have under consideration. I wish very i. much Judge Moyer was with us this evening, I think that pretty nearly helps us out. : Judge L. R. Moyer: I would not care very much for the q laurel-leaf willow, because it is afailure up our way. It has blighted and died. The gray willow is allright. There is one important thing Mr. Gregg has brought out, and that is to get a protection out there on the prairies of some kind by planting some kind of tree, and he suggests the willow as being the best for that purpose; and you will also notice that he has planted his strawberries six feet apart, and perhaps he has planted them further apart so as to have heavy rows of mulching be- tween. If thisis going to give the farmers on the western prairies strawberries, it is certainly a very valuable thing to know. I would like to know how to keep those perennial prairie weeds from coming up. Pres. Underwood: If you leave enough of that mulching on the row to make a good burning you will have no trouble with weeds, for nothing will grow there except the strawberries. You will have no trouble with weeds. 428 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Mrs. O. C. Gregg: We have not had any trouble so far. Pres. Underwood: Did you have any strawberries this year? Mrs. Gregg: We have a couple of rows and we had several hundred quarts of berries. Pres. Underwood: I understood Mr. Gregg had considerable strawberries, and they did better out there with that treatment than they did here with the treatment we gave them. Dr. M. M. Frisselle: In what part of the state, I would like to ask Mrs. Gregg, are they growing strawberries? Mrs. Gregg: In Lyon county, in the southwest part of the state. Mr. C. L. Smith: It is the highest, driest and roughest part of the state, and where the wind blows oftenest, longest and strongest. (Laughter). Pres. Underwood: That is the most severe trial we can give the strawberry, and if they can make them succeed there they ought to be made to succeed in more favorable situations. Judge Moyer: Before we close this disussion on the straw- berry I would like to hear from Mr. Dewain Cook. Mr. Cook: There is one point brought out in the paper read by Mrs. Gregg I was glad to hear, and that is the setting of staminate and pistillate varieties in the same row. I think be- cause that is not done is one cause of failure. I think that nurserymen when they sellstrawberry plants should send them in such a way that they cannot be set in any other way. Mr. S. J. Kellogg: Some of them are mixed badly enough now. There is one particular thought in regard to the location of the strawberry bed I did not hear brought out this afternoon. Go on the highest ground you can find on good soil, and you will not be troubled with spring frosts. FRUITS AND HEALTH.—There is an increasing demand for fruit of a good quality. This is now supplied by the home market. It was formerly considered a luxury to be used only on rare occasions. Fruit and health are well known associates. I regard the apple as staple food. Many a person has observed an increase of weight during the autumn months when apples are plentiful. No one ever suffered from apple dyspepsia. In fact, I believe such a condition impossible. Its influence is to increase digestion. It acts ener- getically upon all the digestive organs and promotes assimilation. The grape is now in every yard, easy of culture, and may be ranked with the milk and honey in the land of plenty. Atthe bedside of the weak, aged and feeble, wine and grape juice are welcome agents to restoration and strength. Fruit is the best food we possess, and the more eaten the better we are in health asa people. My patients do better when they eat plenty of ripe apples, peaches, plums, cherries and apricots. O. J. FARMER. i ite oe ad NATIVE DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 429 NATIVE DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. F. H. NUTTER, MINNEAPOLIS, When accepting my appointment on this special committee, I did it with the hope that during the summer season I would be able to - make some personal observations which might prove of interest, but circumstances have combined to prevent this; therefore, I will for a few moments call your attention to a point which is too often overlooked by those who are engaged in the ornamental planting of home grounds, parks, cemeteries, etc., that is,the number of species of shrubs and small trees which are native to our woods and thick- ets and, therefore, are “ironclad,” as we say in regard to fruit trees, but which for their varying beauties are well worthy of a place in decorative work. An examination of the catalogues of leading nurserymen has given me a list of about thirty varieties of shrubs recommended by them, all of which our state botanist records as native with us, and which with one or two exceptions have all been collected in Henne- pin county and within a very few miles of our present place of meet- ing. My principal object in enlarging upon this fact is to encour- age observation on the part of those interested in such matters, for a twofold reason. First, it cannot be doubted that specimens pro- pagated from plants that have for generations survived the vicissi- tudes of our climate will prove much more hardy than those ob- tained from southern or eastern nurseries; and, second, as many of our most valued ornamental varieties, especially in the way of dwarf, weeping, cut-leafed or variegated shrubs, have been propa- gated from natural “sports” from the typical form of the plant, so, doubtless other valuable forms may be awaiting us, as yet undis- covered, in our woods and swamps. With this introduction let me briefly notice some of our native species which may repay care and cultivation. Among our maples, two dwarf varieties rarely seen in cultivation are in no way lacking in attractiveness where the soil may be pro- pitous, preferring, as they do, moist, rocky hillsides and, a rare vir- tue among shrubs, flourishing in the shade of larger growths. These are the mountain maple (Acer spicatum), with its upright spikes of flowers and drooping clusters of red-brown seeds, and the moose wood, or striped maple, (Acer Pennsylvanicum), beautiful at all seasons with its striped bark, bright colored twigs in winter and brilliant yellow leaves in autumn. The Juneberry (Amelanchier Canadensis) adds much to the cheer- fulness of our woodland thickets in spring, and selected specimens in our gardens and shrubberies would yield a satisfying crop of beauty, even if the birds did harvest all the berries. Not at all to be classed as a shrub, though when growing in groups often branching so close to the ground as to give all the effects of shrubberies, is the tree commonly known as the rum cherry (Cera- sus serotina). Its virtues are many; of rapid growth, flourishing in most soils and climates, attractive in appearance, carrying in its bark and roots healing virtues and, last but not least in the minds 430 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. of some, furnishing in its peculiarly flavored fruit an opportunity to those who have a weakness that way of indulging their appetites and at the same time appeasing their consciences with the excuse that it is done strictly “for the stomach’s sake.” Not only is it of value to the planter of ornamental trees, but to the forester it has the recommendation when mature of furnishing the most valuable of native lumber with but one or two exceptions. In our six varieties of dogwoods (Cornus), we have most valuable shrubs, and although they may be commonly referred to by the country boy as only “killikinick,” still they are about the most gen- erally used species in extensive plantings for parks and large grounds. In moderately wet lands they form large clumps, and their panicles of white flowers in spring, luxuriant foliage in sum- mer, vari-colored berries in fall and brilliant bark in winter, make them ornamental the year around. A golden-barked variety of the Cornus stolonifera has been discovered which promises to be a rival in beauty to the golden willow. Any one whoin early summer has journeyed along the river val- leys of the south-eastern Minnesota and admired the many thickets of “thorn-apples” transformed into bouquets of white and pink must have had some slight idea of the inspiration which the poets of England have breathed for many centuries past ‘‘when the haw- thorn was in bloom.” The four varieties credited to this state fur- nish abundant material for the propagator. We can only pause to name as other interesting shrubs, the leath- erwood (Dirca palustris), with its yellow flowers, light colored foli- age and exceedingly tough bark; the winter berry (Ilex verticillata), whose scarlet fruits decorated the swampy thickets in winter, storms and birds permitting; the shrubby trefoil (Potentilla fruti- cosa), bidding defiance to drought and summer’s heat with its bright golden blossoms, and the prickly ash (Zanthoxylum Americana). Any one who, like myself, has frequent occasion to work a passage through a thicket of the last can appreciate the force of the sug- gestion of Prof. S. B. Green, that doubtless it would make an in- penetrable hedge. The sand cherry (Prunus pumila) has often been discussed as a prospective fruit bearer; it may be of interest to know that grafted into the top of a wild plum tree it will speedily give a weeping tree fit to ornament any lawn. Theimported flowering plums can also be top-worked on our native wild plums and have been known to produce heads of bloom even up to twenty feet in height and di- ameter. One of our native mountain ashes (Pyrus sambucifolia), is found growing wild almost to the northern timber line. Of it, Prof. C. S. Sargent, the highest authority on the subject, says: “The most beau- tiful of all mountain ashes; requires a long cold winter to develop all its beauties.” Such being the case, it must be just the tree for Minnesota. It has recently been noted that in north-eastern Europe a variety of this tree has been discovered and cultivated for the edi- ble qualities of its berries, which are unusually large and palatable NATIVE DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 431 It has the advantage of maturing its fruit farther north than any other fruit-bearing tree, its extreme northern limit coinciding with that of the oat. Three varieties of sumach (Rhus) are well known to us all as adorning our sandy hillsides with their foliage, tropical in appear- ance in summer, and dyed in crimson in the fall. The fourth spe- cies, growing in the swamps, shows still more brilliant autumn col- ors, but, alas, is an almost deadly poison to many, and must be carefully shunned. These shrubs sometimes abandon their dwarf habit of growth. A specimen of the staghorn sumach (Rhus typh- ina) which I saw near Lake Minnetonka a few years since, fifteen to eighteen feet in height and with a trunk six inches in diameter, was truly a beautiful tree. The flowering currant (Ribes Floridum), with its drooping habit is well placed on the borders of a group of more erect shrubs. The various willows (Salix) are of vigorous growth and often de- velop individual forms of interest, and the dwarf sage-colored vari- ety found in some of our swamps may prove of value and top-worked on larger species give us something quite ornamental. The elders (Sambucus), especially the red berried species (S. pub- ens), are both luxuriant and ornamental in growth and may in time furnish us with cut-leafed and variegated forms better adapted to our climate than those now cultivated. If any one wishes to attract the birds around his house, let him plant a few of the last named species in the vicinity. Our native spireas, with the indian currant (Symphoricarpus glo- meratus) and the snowberry (S. recemosus) should not be neglected. Last upon our list of shrubs, we find the Viburnums. The im- ported variety known-as the snowball is very common in cultiva- tion, while many forget that in our bush cranberry (V. opulus), we have a shrub with much more attractive flowers, to the eye of the artist, at least, while its clusters of rich red berries add new beau- ties to the season of the falling leaf. This species sometimes may develop or be trained into standard form, and one of the first spec- imens I ever saw, years ago in northern New Hampshire, was not to be despised from the standpoint of a tree. A dwarf variety has also been introduced which is said to be of value for garden edgings and low borders. Other native species of Viburnum are not the least valuable for ornamental planting among the inhabitants of our woodlands. Much might be said on this subject, and if time permitted we might refer to our native vines, as the woodbine, wild grape, cle- matis and bittersweet, ever at hand to drape and conceal when we so desire; but if what has been offered shall serve to rouse fresh interest in the riches we have right around usits purpose will have been accomplished. 432 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. NOMENCLATURE AND CATALOGUE. J. S. HARRIS. At the state fair of 1896 an excellent opportunity was afforded the exhibitors and others to learn the true names of many Russians and correct them on the varieties they were growing and exhibiting, by making comparisons with the great number of new Russians com. prising the splendid exhibit made by Prof. J. L. Budd, of the Iowa Agricultural College, at Ames, lowa. I only note that a variety shown by W.S. Widmoyer as unknown and described as follows, viz: size, large; form roundish oblate; color, creamy white with many irregular white dots showing in the smooth skin; stem, short and set in a broad, shallow, greenish, russetted cavity; calyx closed in a broad, shallow,wrinkled basin; flesh, white, tender and juicy; flavor pleasant acid, good; season, late August—is undoubtedly the Russian No. 385, named “Bode’s Apple.’’ Itisfurther believed the Charlamoff of Peterson, recommended for cultivation in the list of our society, is the Russian No. 262 (Champanoske) and not the 105m, which is an apple nearer allied to the Duchess and not as desirable. The following addition to our catalogue is proposed: Russian Gravenstine.—Size 6; form oblate; skin not smooth but showing slight depressions on the surface; color, yellow, shaded green with sometimes faint blush on sun side; stem short and stout, in a medium, irregular, greenish cavity; calyx open; basin abrupt, rather narrow, deep, corrugated; flesh yellow, a little coarse; flavor rather sprightly, agreeable, sub-acid; season, late August; tree not over productive; origin, Russia. Zusott’s Winter.—Size 744; weight, 8% oz; form oblate inclining to conical; color deep crimson red, quite thickly sprinkled with rus- set dots and covered with a bluish bloom; stalk short, set in a broad, © rather deep cavity; calyx small, closed in a narrow, medium deep, slightly wrinkled basin; flesh greenish white, nearly fine, tender, juicy; flavor pleasant acid; season, early winter; origin, Russia. The hardiness of the tree is not yet fully tested. Golden White.—Size 5; form smooth, round; color light yellow, striped and splashed with orange and crimson red; stalk medium long, set in a narrow, regular cavity russetted atthe bottom; calyx large in a broad, plaited basin; core open; flesh white, stained with red, nearly fine, tender and juicy; flavor sub-acid, good; season, October; origin, Russia. A very beautiful fruit in which the name is misleading. Russian No. 322.--“Brownyp.’—Size 5; weight, 5 oz; form flattish round; color greenish yellow striped and splashed with carmine on the sun side; stem medium long, in a medium, yellow russetted cavity; calyx closed; basin broad, medium shallow; flesh light yel- low; flavor mild acid with good after-taste. A littlelater apple than Duchess and not as acid. Anisette.—This is another apple of the Duchess family that fruit- ed with us for the first time this year. The description of Duchess will answer for it, except it is a little smaller and duller in color and about a week earlier in ripening. For descriptions of new seedlings, see supplementary report of committee on seedlings. 4 PANTRY STORES. 433 | PANTRY STORES. MRS. J. W. KENNEDY, LAKE CITY. You have called upon me for a report on cooking and pantry stores. It seems to me that this is a very wide subject to think or talk about. I think I can cook a dinner much better than to tell some one else how; but if the pantry is full of canned fruit and jellies we certainly have a good storehouse to draw from— and,as to canning fruit and making jellies, Il.can only give you some of my own experiences. I always try to can fruit when I can get the first that is perfectly ripe, as I think it keeps better,and the first that ripens is always the most perfect. I never have tried canning pie plant, but some think it very fine. Next comes strawberries, which are good, whatever way we get them. I never can succeed in having them hold their color, but they taste good anyway. I always like the raspberries best, both the black and the red. The best way I have ever found for canning them is to fill Mason jars before cooking, shaking them until you can get about three pints of berries in a quart jar. I then put on a wash boiler, filling it with just enough water to come up to about two-thirds the height of the jar, with a layer of broken berry boxes in the bottom of the boiler to keep the jars from coming in contact with the bottom of it. I place in this boiler as many jars as will stand and fill each of the jars about two-thirds full of syrup, having enough syrup in a porcelain kettle to fill up the remainder of the jars after taking them out. I place the tops on, not screwing them, as the water around the jars being two-thirds up there is danger of its boiling over into the jars if not covered. I let them remain in the boiler for about two hours, then take them out and cover with the remain- der of the syrup, screw the tops on and set aside to cool. I think this holds good for all berries,as their shape is retained much ‘ better. | And now as to jellies. As I ama Pennsylvania woman, and they are noted for putting up fruit, I have for our family of six made from one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty glasses of jelly. I begin with pie plant and keep on till the end of the season. I havea great hobby of putting apples in with a great many of my jellies, as I find so many kinds of fruit are hard to jelly, especially pie plant, elderberry and grape; and even pJum jelly is much better to my taste with apple. As a general thing,I put about one-third apple juice to two-thirds of what other I wish. I prefer the Siberian crab to any other I have tried. Even in mak- ing preserves, you will find that a little apple juice improves, as so many fruits in preserves are too sweet, and the apple juice helps to make the juice thicker and keep better. Tomatoes are always good when they keep, and I never have any trouble; laim to can when I can gathera bushel at one picking from my vines, and as early as possible. I cookthem quite a while, skim - ming them well, as I think the scum helps to sourthem. I always use Mason jars, but I want good tops and new rubbers, as I think > 64 - . 9 L 4 a 434 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. old tops and old rubbers oftener cause fruit to spoil than anything else, and asrubbers are so cheap it does not pay to use old ones. I would much rather have home put up fruit than what we can buy at the stores, as I think it is healthier. I make my own vinegar, even if I am not living where they are making cider, but I call it cider vinegar. After I make jellies, espe- cially apple, I always save the pomace, and as apples are generally plentiful and cheap,and I don’t bother to press them very hard;I put it in two or three gallon jars,as I happen to have,and let it stand two or three days, putting on water enough to thin it. I then drain off,and to every two gallons of juice I put one pint of molasses, letting it stand in jars until it ferments: then I strain it into stone jugs and keepin a warm place. I have bought but one gallon of vinegar in the twenty-five years I have kept house, and I almost always have from five to ten gallons on hand. Some say it is too much trouble, but we cannot have anything without work, and I find home-made vinegar much better, as we are apt to get acids in what we buy. As for spiced fruit, you can spice almost all kinds of fruit, and as most people spice much the same way, exceptthat some prefer more of one spice than of another to suit the taste, I will not discuss that subject, as my way is like all others. For spicing, I prefer the Orange crab, as it retains its shape best. As for pickles, [have tried a great many receipts. I prefer cucum- bers put up in jars from the vines than to put them in salt and soak them afterwards, as they are always ready for use. With all these fruits, spices, jellies and pickles as pantry stores, I think that almost any one could get a good meal in a short time and with very litile trouble, or at least that has been my experience in housekeeping, and I think it will pay every housekeeper to spend the time and work to have such things ever at hand. THE CROZY CANNA.—I received a small growing plant of it two summers ago. It was too early to set it in the open ground, so I potted it,and when the season was sufficiently advanced it was bedded out and grew—how it did grow!—and bloomed all summer. Just before the cold weather came on, I took it up very carefully, gave ita paint keg for a home, with rich soil to live in, and after a short interval it bloomed again, continuing to do so all winter. In the spring, I took it from the keg, cut it all to pieces, gave away sev- eral and kept two large clumps myself. Owing to the dry weather it did not do so well as before, though it was not entirely without bloom at any time during thesummer. In the fall, I put one of the clumps in the cellar, where it lay all winter, apparently a lump of dry earth. About the first of May, I divided it again, this time in three parts, two of which I gave away, and the third piece I placed in the center of a circular geranium bed, where it now promises to do great things; the other I potted in the autumn and have enjoyed the beauty of its rich bloom in the house when other flowers were not very plentiful._Western Garden. 5 £ i NUT BEARING TREES. 435 NUT BEARING TREES THAT CAN BE GROWN IN MINNESOTA. H. S. FAIRCHILD, ST. PAUL. Some years ago having bought a farm near St. Paul and believing that many kinds of trees and shrubs could be raised in our state that were generally thought unsuited to our latitude, if soil, exposure and other requirements of them were properly considered, I began a series of experiments in this line,some of which resulted in failure, but most of them in success; a brief, simple account of which, I give here in the hope it may stimulate others to plant more largely of nut bearing trees. In general terms, these can be successfully cultivated, in my judg- ment, viz: butternut and black walnut (both indigenous), hickories, chestnuts, pecans and beech, As to the first two, being native to the state and being grown by many, nothing need be said further than that it is better to plant the nuts where the trees will be wanted to stand and that a valley soil is best suited to their nature; that fresh nuts should be planted in the fall that they may freeze and the nut crack open in the spring. In this way the top roots are saved, which in nursery cultivation are lost. Of chestnuts I twice planted trees obtained at a nursery and lost all. I then selected a place on the east side of a high picket fence to the west of which was a rise of ground and where I had observed the snow to drift to considerable depth, and planted the nuts in the valley and on the hill side, sloping greatly to the north. Quitea number came up and grew well; of these a few have their tips winter- killed each year, but continue to grew, but give some signs of early decay. There are, however, perhaps eight or ten perfectly healthy, fine trees that gave me a few nuts this year and the preceding, and from which I confidently expect a good crop soon. What will perhaps surprise you is that the pecans planted do not winter-kill in the slightest degree now. The first two years they did a little. I then wrapped them in cloth for two winters, and then hav- ing a growth of well ripened wood I left them thereafter to theirown vital resources, and they have since proved as hardy as the native oak. They are very slow growers, and thoughthey are now twelve years old, I shall not expect nuts for several years yet; but I have no doubtof the practicability of raising pecans in Minnesota, though several hundred miles north of their habitat. Pignuts—of the hickory family—grow in West St. Paul and else- where in the state, and as pecans are of the same family it raises a SupposSition in their favor. I planted the small shellbark and the large swamp hickory nuts, both of which are growing and promise well but, singularly enough, do not look as well as the pecans, though like them planted in valley soil which is not wet. Lastly—the beech. Being an Ohioan and having pleasant (in school days some unpleasant) recollections of the beech trees on whose smooth bark we used to cut our sweethearts initials, and re- 436 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. membering their fine forms, abundant foliage and toothsome nuts, I was very desirous of succeeding with them. Out of eight planted but one lives. Itisa slow growing but healthy looking tree, and I expect yet to get beechnuts from it, the first crop of which I shall plant and give out for that purpose. We are achieving success in fruit raising, and we can in nut rais- ing. Both will do much to make Minnesota attractive to home seekers and add much to our comfort and pleasure. Every farmer has the ground to spare, and it is so little trouble to plant the nuts that I hope many will experiment, and I believe they will succeed. Our climate is healthful, our scenery beautiful, our soil fertile; we only need fruits and nuts to make our state the most delightful of all for a home. PROTECTING THE ORCHARD FROM WIND, COLD AND HEAT. W. L. PARKER, FARMINGTON. Protection of the orchard from wind, from winter’s cold and sum- mer’s heat, is the subject the secretary has given me to workon. I think proper protection and good care are very necessary in the success ofapple growing, and what we want are the best methods to do the work. There seem to be widely diversified opinions on this subject. I think one of the first things to be considered is a suit- able location and soil; second, varieties that are adapted to your locality; third, good and better care than we usually give our orch- ards. We should exercise more care in obtaining our trees to get only good healthy stock and then see that they are properly set. I would incline them a few degrees toward the one or two o’clock sun in order to break its direct rays, and keep them in that position, for that is some protection from sun-scald; though I think sun-scald is caused more by neglect than by anything else. I have never seen ~ it on trees in good healthy condition that had proper care and that were kept growing in good shape, with well balancedtops. Iwould branch them low, for they then grow straighter trunks and will withstand our windstorms much better than if they have long bodies. For a tarther protection I would wrap the trees or use some other protector from winter’s cold and summer’s heat--also to protect from rabbits and mice. I have used the common newspapers for the past few years with good success. We should have a good windbreak of some kind a proper distance from our trees, say ten rods or more, I think if we took the care of our orchards as we do of our horses, we would have fewer diseased and dead trees in the future. I hope this subject will be freely discussed, as Iam anxious to hear what others have to say as to methods and remedies on the above sub- ject. I do not feel that [have had experience enough in this line to handle the subject with interest, for nature has done much for me in the way of location, soil and protection. ee % ne’ HORTILULTURE AT THE ST. CLOUD REFORMATORY. 437 HORTICULTURE AND INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT AT THE ST. CLOUD REFORMATORY. S. R. HOULTON, MINN. SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE. To deprive the inmates of any penal institution of employment is recognized in all civilized countries as really cruel. Inan institu- tion like the state reformatory, it should serve not merely to keep the mind and body occupied, as a matter of economy to the state, but also as an industrial training for the inmates. This is emphasized by the fact that out of the 130 convicts now in the re- formatory 80 per cent are between sixteen and twenty-one years of age, and very few of them have any trade. Some of the various lines of work carried on there are the tinwork, plumbing, blacksmithing and carpentry for the institution and the making of shoes and clothing for the inmates. These things are done in separate shops and by different boys. Then there isa granite quarry in connection with the institution. The stone is quarried; cut and dressed by the boys, and when a new building is being erected the stone is laid by them. An effort is made to select boys for these places who seem most adapted to them. Thus they all get practical training in one or more of these several trades. The reformatory also has about 700 acres of land, much of which is wild at present. It is used to furnish supplies for the institution as well as employment and industrial training for the inmates. The present superintendent is improving the farm by making new fields, meadows and tame grass pastures for the raising of corn and fodder to support a stock of cattle, hogs and horses. He is also putting up new out-buildings for their greater accommodation, This will obviate the necessity of buying so much of the dairy and meat sup- plies from outside, which should be produced on the farm. As regards horticulture at the reformatory, the supplies of gar- den produce, and more especially vegetables, are quite largely raised on the farm. It is now planned to make this branch more ex- tensive by canning fruit and vegetables for the winter use of the in- mates and the fifteen or twenty employes who are boarded by the institution. There is now an area of twenty or twenty-five acres de- voted to the growing of small fruit, mostly strawberries, currants and red raspberries. A few grape vines and a small orchard of ap- ples and plums have been started, butit is necessarily only a begin- ing, as the institution itself is but seven or eight years old. They are, however, all doing well, and both orchard and vineyard will un- doubtedly be increased in the near future. Flowers, too, are not neg- lected. The reformatory has quite a large greenhouse, and during summer the walks and drives are lined and the grounds decorated by a profusion of flowers. The extension of horticulture at the reformatory, it is hoped, will be advantageous in several ways: First. It will furnish valuable food supplies to be used in the boarding of both officers and inmates. Incase of a surplus, there is a good market near by where it can be profitably disposed of. Second. It will supply the boys with light, pleasant and interest- ing employment having a reformatory influence. 438 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Third, As the work will be conducted on the best methods avail- able, it will act asa valuable educational influence to the inmates, and incidentally through them to outside farmers as the boys are scattered on farms throughout the state, and the farm itself will serve as a sort of object lesson. For these and other reasons horticulture will undoubtedly become an important industry at the state reformatory. Pres. Underwood: Is it customary for the boys to get a lib- eral supply of the fruits and flowers that are grown on the grounds? Mr. Houlton: Yes, sir. Perhaps not the fruits; they usu- ally go to the officers’ table first. Dr. Frisselle: Did I understand you to say that they. taught plumbing there? Mr. Houlton: Yes, sir; what plumbing is done there is done by the inmates of the institution. Dr. Frisselle: What I wanted to know was whether plumb- ing is reformatory. They usually charge plumbers with being a bad set of fellows in the city. (Laughter. ) Pres. Underwood: The intention is to turn out good plumb- ers. (Laughter. ) GOVERNMENT SEED DISTRIBUTION.—Over 20,000,000 packages of vegetable, flower and field seed have been distributed by the depart- ment of agriculture during the past spring. This distribution has given to each member of congress 40,000 packages of seed, at a total cost of $130,000. Over a million of these packages were flower seed, and nearly 300,000 field seed, the balance being a great variety of vegetables. In the entire distribution nearly every variety of vege- table known to the agriculturists was distributed. There were thirty-two varieties of beans, ten varieties of beets, twenty-three varieties of cabbages, eleven varieties of carrots, nineteen varieties of sweet corn, eighteen kinds of cucumbers, thirty kinds of lettuce, nineteen varieties of muskmelons, seventeen kinds of watermelons and fifteen varieties of onions. The entire amount of seed distri- buted was sufficient to plant an area of 355 square miles, or about six times the size of the District of Columbia. This is the largest distribution of seed ever attempted by the department of agriculture, and it is said that seedmen all over the country are complaining that they do not make sales to farmers and others, because they are getting all the seed they want free from the department of agriculture. The distribution of seed in 1893 amounted to 8,800 packages for each member of congress, at a total cost of $66,548; in 1894, each con- gressman got 16,000 packages, the entire cost to the government be- ing $57,000; in 1895,the number of packages of seeds distributed was the same as in the previous year, but the total cost was reduced to $47,000. In 1896, congressmen got 15,000 packages each, and the gov- ernment paid $80,500 for the whole lot. During the past spring each member of congress has received 40,000 packages of seed, for which the government has paid $130,000.—Exchange. YY a a ROOT-GRAFTING THE APPLE. 439 ROOT-GRAFTING THE APPLE. C. H. ANDREWS, MINN. SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE. The object of root-grafting the apple is to propagate varieties true to name, and to get the union of the cion and the stock under the ground, where it will be somewhat protected. The stocks used for root-grafting are seedlings, either one or two years old, the age depending on the size required for thecions. The seedlings for this purpose are best grown on a rich, moist, sandy soil, so as to geta straight, vigorous growth. In autumn, the seed- lings are dug and packed in sawdust in a cold cellar, where they remain until wanted for grafting. The cions must be wood of the previous season’s growth and should be cut late in autumn when thé temperature is above freez- ing and,after being labeled, packed in sawdust in a cool place. Grafting may be done any time during the winter. A cion five or six inches long is cut off at one end in an oblique direction making the cut surface about an inch or so long, then a tongue is made by splitting down across the face of the cut about one-third of its length, beginning at a point about that far from the end of the cion. A piece of root four or five inches long is treated the same way as the cion was, and the two are then united, care being taken that the inner, or cambium, layer of the bark of the cion and the root coin- cides on at least one side of the union. The graft is now wrapped with waxed twine, or wax may be spread upon cloth or paper, which is then cut into strips and firmly wrapped around the union, also above and below it, so as toexcludeallair. Thelatter method keeps the graft from drying out and does not cutinto the bark after the plant grows. The grafts are packed in boxes ina mixture of sand and sawdust, and are kept until planting timein a cold cellar to cal- lous over and grow together. ‘The land where they are to be set should be finely pulverized and rolled or planked to level the surface. As soonas there is no danger of a severe frost, the grafts may be planted. They are usually put six or eight inches apartin rows three or three and one-half feet apart, runniny the rows north and south. All sprouts that may have started from the root should be rubbed off. In planting, the earth must be packed very firmly around the graft, which ought to be set deep enough so that only one or two buds will show after the ground has settled. Cultivation should be frequent in order to kill the weeds and to keep a dust blanket on the soil, but it should not be continued later than the tenth or the middle of July, as itis likely to induce a late fall growth that cannot be ripened up. The grafts require no pruning the first year. Early in the spring of the second season, they are cut back to one ortwo buds, and a strong, straight shoot is sent up, which is pruned later to make it head properly. The third season, the pruning done is merely enough to keep the tree in proper shape. The growth the trees make depends a good deal on the soil, the season and the variety. Yearlings run from one foot or less to two 440 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. feet in height; two year olds, from three to five feet, and three year old trees, from five to six feet. These trees after the first year de- velop some roots of their own, and they are thus better able than they otherwise would be to withstand a rigorous climate. A WOMAN IN THE CASE. MRS. A. KENNEDY, HUTCHINSON. Now, I do not understand what the secretary meant by“A Woman in the Case,” whether he meant a show case or some other kind ofa case, but one thing I know,there are some of our women who are fit for nothing but a showcase. All their thoughts and their highest aims seem to be to dress and look fine to be admired by their male friends. They seem to forget that they were created for a higher anda holier purpose. They ignore the fact that under the shadow of their own homes and all around them, children hover with pinch- ed faces telling of slow starvation, which the money they pay out for show might relieve. They seem to forget that there are broken hearts to bind up and souls to be gathered for the heavenly garner. They seem to have eyes only for the foolish—what shall I call them? they are not worthy to be called men—so I will simply say the ones that are always ready to fall down and worship the beautiful doll that calls herself woman, forgetting that the beauty they are wor- shiping is only skin deep and that beyond that there is nothing to admire. But, thank the Lord, there are other cases. There are women who do not live in cases made of glass, but the world is her field of labor, and her thoughts and aims are as pure as the air she breathes, and her aspirations after a pure and holy life are as high as heaven, and it seems as youtry to understand her works of love and comprehend her influence for good and the magnitude of her labors you are overwhelmed. Why, it seems as though all of the intervening space between heaven and the abode of the lost is filled with her influence. There are cases where women love horticulture, and Iam glad to see that their numbers are increasing. Onecan scarcely realize what areal blessing fruit raising is until you take a load of fine fruit to market and see the little ones as they hover around you and ask “What kind of berries have you to-day?” or watch them as a load of apples arrives; I always feel as though if I was only rich, I would buy the whole outfit and send them whirling through the air, to see them scramble for them. And then there is something bewitching in working in the soil, and it seems to me that this is more partic- ularly true of the horticulturist. Perhaps we comprehend the rela- tionship that exists between it and ourselves. I love to work in and with thesoil. Inthe bosom ofthe earth lies many aloved one; from it I came forth and toit I shall soonreturn; and there she will hold us in her kind embrace until the Master calls. Then she will bring us forth beautiful as the flowers and fruit she sends to us in their season. HOW TO RUN A NURSERY. 441 HOW TO RUN A NURSERY. J. COLE DOUGHTY, LAKE CITY. ; Take a fool’s advice and don’t doit. You will never even make a ) fourth rate nurseryman unless you are content to get up at4a.m., ‘ put in sixteen hours’ hard work and after supper just run down to the office and put in five or six hours, and then, if you have forgot- ten anything or can’t find any other little job, take a nap and be ready for breakfast. As to what to grow, that is the easiest part of the business. Don’t trouble yourself about that. Just look over the state horticultural society reports and plant what isrecommended there. I don’t think you can name many varieties that stand a ghost of a show of living in this climate that don’t find a friend in the society, some oue to say a good word forthem. This, of course, only goes to show that jolly good feeling that animates those horticultural fellows. When they get together up there at Minneapolis and get to swapping stories, they have a mellow spot in their hearts for everybody unless it is the guileless “tree peddler.” For him they always havea marble heart and the stony glare of the eye that means a shot gun and bull dog reception. But to return to the subject of planting. Byall means keep “up date.” If John Smith discovers a new strawberry that does not runner but grows upright just like a bush, get the exclusive control ofit. It may bea grand, good thing, and you would hate awfully to have some other nurseryman walkoff with a “bonanza.” Keep your eye open for all the new things. Hop onto every new seedling apple you see. It may be another Wealthy—the grandestapple of the last decade—waiting for some one to “to bring it out.” Itis true there are some failures and disappointments in “fathering” new things. Itis wonderful, the infant mortality of seedling apples! Like the “Ships That Passin the Night,’ they gently fade away, and “the places that knew them know them no more.” But “there are others.” The Tree Blackberry, the Everlasting Everbearing Raspberry, the Japan Wineberry, etc., etc. Until you have had something to do with all of these, your education as a nurseryman is incomplete. It is much like the measles, if you fol- low the business, you have got to have them some time; hence, I would recommend that you take them in allopathic doses, and, bet- ter still, if you can, take them all at once. If you survive and the above does not spoil a right good fellow, it is liable to make a fairly decent nurseryman out of you. Aboveall, you must be public spirited. To do this, you may beg» borrow (but never steal), all the money you can get and pay it out for labor, freights, printing, etc., and thus build up your town. True, your fellow townsmen may not buy trees or plants enough to enable you to pay your taxes—and they generally don’t—but that doesn’t count. Before you get through, you will command their sympathy if you don’t see their dollars. By all means, you must entertain. When the “advanced horticul- turist” visits you, take him in and give him the best there is in the 449 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. larder. He deserves it for several reasons: first, he is something of a martyr himself, working for glory, just like you, and as such he does not live any too high at home. Of course, you do not expect to sell him anything, nor do you expect him to give you any great big puff in the newspapers. In fact, you are most anxious about what he doesn’t say. He is generally a pretty good fellow and not given to shying stones at glass houses, so give him the warm hand anda kindly greeting. Show him all the good things you have and cover your weak spots as best you can. It won’t take you long to learn what to hide. He will tell you before you lose him, and you will be loaded for the “ other fellow.” Be a little shy of the tree dealer, the man who buys your best trees at the price of culls, who borrows your money to conduct his business, who uses your name to give you a shady reputation,and whose balance is almost sure to be on the wrong side of the ledger. He is generally a smooth duck with a vivid imagination, an ada- mantine cheek and very fertile in resources. He is designed by Providence to hold the progressive nurseryman in check and pre- vent his getting rich too fast. The regular salesman who handles your goods under your direction, and who is sometimes known as the “tree peddler,’ isa blessing, sometimes faintly disguised, ’tis true, but still a blessing to the nurseryman and also to the farmer. Without him,there would be but one tree growing in this state today where there are now fifty. Kick him, to be sure, and lay the blame of unsatisfactory deals upon him; he is generally irresponsible and always away,so it is safe to abuse him—besides he expects it. Every- body, from the most honored member of the horticultural society to the humblest tree puller on the Mississippi sand bars, hasa whack at him, and yet he survives and goes bravely on with the good work. There ought to be a sunny corner for him somewhere in heaven, “Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.” There are some drawbacks to the business, and you will meet with some queer people and many funny experiences, that will have a tendency to expand your mind and make a broad gauge man of you. You will realize how little real force there is in an iron-clad tree contract and how “No countermands will be accepted” simply invites countermands. You will also be surprised how your little notice of the delivery of your nursery stock will stimulate the real estate business. I have known of a dozen farmers selling their places within ten days of the date for delivering their orders. At least, that is what they write, and,ofcourse, itis gospel truth. True, the register of deeds knows nothing of these transfers nor do the man’s neighbors, and, if you ship the goods, he is generally the first man to pay cash and no complaints. Then again, once ina while a man dies, and his wife or daughter will write you that he is dead and cannot pay. Well, sometimes he will fool you and die sure enough, but if you ship the goods with a second notice, he gen- erally sends his son with thecash and no comments. The men who have “sold out” or who have “died” are almost always on hand to get their goods early in the morning and invariably pay cash. If a man writes that he is “hailed out,” it is always well to investi- SCIENTIFIC STRAWBERRY GROWING. ; 443 gate, but if he simply sells his farm or dies, don’t worry; nine times in ten they will be there early with money to pay and generally with plenty of blankets to protect their trees. They are always careful, prudent men. We have known a “tree delivery” to produce, well-—not a famine— but a terrible failure of crops in that locality. After a time, you will view these little peculiarities with charity. They are but blemishes on the human character, which, once understood, can be easily forgiven. In conclusion, when you can make 98 per cent. of your grafts “catch” and make the slow growers keep up with the faster ones; when you can dig nothing but straight, smooth trees, all six feet high without scar or blemish; when you can give every man the pick of your stock and have enough of that to go around; when you can pack each man’s goods first; in fact, when you can obtain per- fect control of the laborer, the salesman, the transportation com- panies and the elements, and can command a favorable dispensa- tion of Providence occasionally as to the seasons, etc., then you will know “how to run a nursery” and not before. SCIENTIFIC STRAWBERRY GROWING. C. D. CARTER, MICHIGAN. More frequent dry seasons call for a change of method in straw- berry growing. In order to fight the drouth successfully and do the cultivating with horses, set the plants 30 or 32 inches apart in the row, and plow both ways. The rows must be straight, so that the cultivator may be run close to the plants. Keep the entire sur- face covered with adust mulch. Growth will then continue through a drought. In the winter, cover the whole space witha mulch. Inspring make a small opening over the crown of the plant with a pointed stick. The leaves will grow up through this opening. The mulch can then remain to prevent evaporation and to keep the berries clean. In the hill the fruit will be larger, better colored and sweeter than if grown in the matted row. Varieties like Haverland will have as high a color‘as Parker Earle. I have followed this plan for three years, and would no more think of going back to the matted row than I would cut my hay with a scythe. This system is made easily possible by the invention of the automatic running cutter, which gathers up and cuts the runners, leaving them about a footin length. A new fruit stem will result from every runner which is cut. I have counted as many as 82 fruit stems on a hill from which the runners were cut the year before. Less labor is required to get the patch in condition for succeeding crops than by any other system. If ground is limited, set the rows 33 inches apart, and the plants 1614 inches apart in the row, and cultivate one way. This plan will require more hoeing, but the yield per acre will be 25 per cent greater. Select varieties which send out runners freely. Keep these cut off. Crowns from four to six inches across will result. Two quarts to the hill is not an excessive yield, and the quality will be first class.—American Agriculturist. 444 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Question “Box. ‘¢Can chestnuts be grown in Minnesota?” Mr. William Somerville: I have got chestnuts, a neighbor has got chestnut trees, and they were loaded as much as any apple tree I have on my farm. Mr. C. J. Kellogg, (Wisconsin): I understand there is a tree peddler traveling about selling horse chestnuts which he war- rants to grow a full fledged livery stable in ninety days. (Laughter). Mr. J. S. Harris: I understand there isa man in Houston county who has raised chestnuts for years. I have seen the trees loaded as heavily as apple trees. Chesnuts can be grown in this state where the land slopes alittle to the north. I think the chestnut can be grown in two or three counties in the state, and from seedlings grown from them. I also raised chestnuts several years. Mr. Somerville: Ido not think it would do to encourage the planting of chestnuts unless there was good protection on the north and west. Those that I have, I have protected. I have known a great many others that were set out, but they could not endure the wind. ‘‘Can blueberries be made to grow in the prairie soil of Minnesota? ” Mr. J. S. Harris: It is a pretty hard job to raise them. Mr. A. J. Philips, (Wisconsin): And a pretty hard job to destroy them. ‘What is the best crab apple tree for Minnesota for the north-west market?” Pres, Underwood: I think the party asking that question meant the best crab apple for market. Mr. M. C. Bunnell: I think the Hyslop. Pres..Underwood: I say the Martha. ‘‘Ts the Blushed Calville adapted to our prairie soils? ” Judge L. R. Moyer: They are doing very nicely at Monte- video. Mr. J. S. Harris: They fall off pretty early in sheltered locations. I thought perhaps they would not do it in the open. ie it nek te = ey ep aaa Lee Ey ee eae NT PP ey ee ee - - - e ¢ ..> « « } Pe re ae et ee es a ee QUESTION BOX. 445 ‘‘What is known as the spineless gooseberry offered by C. H. Hunter, New York?” Mr. Philips, (Wisconsin): Better let it alone. ~* ‘‘Who has a remedy for the currant borer?” Mr. J. S. Harris: Do not have any bushes for him to live in, and he will soon disappear. (Laughter). Mr. Elliot: The question is what to do with the new growth he gets into. When Mr. Peffer was here a few years ago, I put that question to him, and his remedy was to grow willows next to the bushes. Judge Moyer: It is the saw-fly that lays the egg and devel- ops the worm, and the way is to cut them off. ‘* What are the best five varieties of Russian apples?” Pres. Underwood: Ithink Mr. Somerville has answered that. Can you tell in a minute, Mr. Somerville? Mr. Wm. Somerville: As far as my experience has gone with Russian apples, I would say the Longfield, the Juicy Bur, the Rosy Aport, and Iam at a loss to know the other one; I think the Repka, and I have good hopes for the Anisim—I would make that the fifth. Mr. G. J. Kellogg: Is the Anisim the same as Patten’s Greening? Mr. Somerville: No, it is not. Mr. Harris: It is the same as Mr. Tuttle’s Zuzoff. Mrs. A. A. Kennedy: I set out some raspberry plants this spring, and something cut them right off square as though they were cut with a knife. I want to know if any one knows what it is. Mr. Kellogg: Is it a worm? Mrs. Kennedy: Ido not know whether it is a worm or what it is. Mr. Harris: At what stage of growth was it done? Mrs. Kennedy: It was done all along during the summer. Mr. Harris: A lady in Lyon county wrote to me asking what ailed her plants, and before I had time to answer her letter she wrote me that she had found the fellow. It was the climbing cut worm, and they had come up in the night and cut the bushes off in the growing season, and they came up on the apple trees and cut every leaf off. 446 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mrs. Ray: At what time did you discover it? Mrs. Kennedy: I would go out in the garden in the morning and find a lot of bushes cut off. Judge Moyer: Was it done in the fall? Mrs. Kennedy: No, it was done when they were about half grown. Last year I lost a good many on account of an insect working in the stem. Mrs. Ray: I wonder if it was not the dor-bug. Sometimes it is very destructive. Mr. Brayton: Whatis the dor-bug? Mr. Harris: It is the common beetle or June bug that is so thick in May and June. Sometimes they are so thick they cut off all the foliage from the trees. I should not be surprised if it was the dor-bug or the cut worm. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON OBITUARY. J. S. HARRIS AND A. K. BUSH. [Made at the last Annual Meeting.] No report of this committee was handed in at the annual meeting of this society held in December, 1895. Since the annual meeting held at Lake City, in January, 1895, we have received notices of the decease of members as follows: Rev. George Rogers, died on the 11th of Decesiner 1884, at his home in Money Creek, Minn., aged about seventy-one years. He was born in England in 1823, Aa came to America in 1873, settling in Houston Co. He was a minister of the gospel and preached to the Baptist church of Money Creek. He took a lively interest in horticulture and devoted his leisure hours to the cultivation of small fruits, and was for a number of years a member of our soci- ety. Prof. C. V. Riley, died at Washington, D, C., on September 14th, 1895, from injuries received by being thrown from a bicycle. He was in the high prime of manhood, being within four days of the fifty-second year of his age. Although not a member of this soci- ety or a professional horticulturist, he wasan eminent entomologist, and that science is very closely identified with pomology. He was English by birth, but came to this country before he had reached the age of twenty years. He had studied natural history from boy- hood. He was made state entomologist of Missouri in 1868, and in 1878 chief of the Bureau of Entomology in the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, which place he occupied about a year before his death. His services were of inestimable value to fruit growers everywhere. Ephram W. Bull died at Concord, Mass., September 20th, 1894, in the nintieth year of his age. He was born in Boston, on March 4th, 1806, and some ten years later settled in the town of Concord. The Concord grape, which has proved the grape for the million; and has a OE Pn bp \ Tees Biri? Sree ‘ss : REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON OBITUARY. 447 probably made a competence for more men in a brief length of time than any other variety ever before brought out, was originated by him and first exhibited before the Massachusetts Society in 1855, or over forty years before his death. He was an enthusiastic horticul- turist and turned his attention to the improvement of the native grape full fifty years ago. He deserved and has the gratitude of millions of the common people of America, the poor, who by reason of his services have been enabled to enjoy the delicious grape fruit. Unfortunately, this man like many another who has deserved well of his compatriots by adding wealth and enjoyment to the people, never profited materially by his discovery, and the later years of his life were passed in comparative poverty. Hedied in a home for the aged. Since the last meeting of the society held in this place, the angel of death has visited us and removed some of our valuable associates and brought sorrow to us. We have learned of the death of Mr Pond, of Kasson, but have not learned any other particulars. Our magazine has already conveyed to you the intelligence of the death of F. G. Gould, at his home in Excelsior, also of Barnett Taylor, at Forestville, Fillmore county. Both were earnest and useful mem- bers of the society from the days when it was a weak and struggling institution, and did much towards developing the horticulture of this state and bringing the society to its present position of useful- ness and prosperity. Our sister society of Iowa has lost a valued member in the death of John Wragg, which occurred during the first week of September, 1896. He was one of the pioneer horticulturists of the northwest, and a man of extensive experience in fruit growing. His demise re- minds us that the pioneers are fast moving on towards the promised land, ORCHARD PLANTING BY THE WAYSIDE.—This is receiving more attention in some parts of our older states and deserves much more than it gets anywhere. Our public lands are so nearly exhausted for homesteads, that the superabundance of land in the United States will not allow us to be wasteful in its use. In Germany the planting of forest trees by the roadside is no longera practice. Thehighways are a continuous garden, The owner of adjacent land has charge of the roadway fruit; but the roadway officials assume charge of the care and protection of the trees. The railways are now following the growing custom and planting apples and pears along the sides of their tracks. There are a few sections in the United States where apple and cherries have for some years been the common road trees. The fruit, so far as I can see. is no more subject to molestation than that which grows inside the lines of strictly private ownership. I found near Ithaca, N. Y., choice cherries by the side of the road; and the trees were loaded with undisturbed fruit. Possibly, most of us would consent that even half of such fruit should refresh the way- farers, if we could utilize the streets and have half the product as compensation for the planting. In this section of the state, apple trees line some of the roadways, but more attention is given to orna- mental shrubbery, extending the lawns to the street ditch. E. P. POWELL, g . @ ) @ salen Bap alender for _ November. J. S. HARRIS. Many horticulturists, as well as farmers, are always behindhand. They begin the spring with week pressing that could and ought to have been done in the fall before; they do not make provision for tools, implements, seeds, plants and trees until the hour they are needed; hence, they often meet with vexations, delays and losses, and being always driven there is no pleasure in the business for them. November is peculiarly a month for finishing up the labors of the year and making preparations that will lighten the labors of the coming year and ensure better crops. First, everything should be made snug for winter. The fences and gates of the orchard and fruit garden need to be cattle proof. If there are any places where water is liable to stand, surface drains should be opened before the ground is frozen, Trees that have been received for next spring’s planting or that may yet arrive should be carefully put away for winter, either by burying them in a cool cellar or in light soil out- side where water will not stand—or even heeling them in will gen- erally ensure safety if there are no spaces left among the roots un- filled with earth. The bundles should be opened up at the time of the operation and the roots pruned back beyond bruises and then dipped in water so that fine soil will adhere to them. Last winter thousands of valuable trees were destroyed or greatly injured by mice gnawing that might have been saved if grass and weeds had been cleaned away from about them and a little mound of earth thrown up against the trunk. This had better be attended to early inthe month. All suckers and sprouts should be removed this fall, lest they be allowed to grow another year and sap the life of the tree. Rabbits are becoming a great pest. Itis well to begin feeding them early and hunting and trapping them. A mixture of corn and oats put outin shallow boxes or little piles will soon attract their attention and receive visits early every pleasant evening, where they may be caught in traps or hunted with the gun. Many insect pests may now be nipped in the bud by destroying clusters of eggs and cocoons, that can now be readily seen on the naked trees, and the time used in searching for andremoving them will be profitably employed. For borers, give the trees one more examination near the roots, and if any holes are visible kill the grub with a wire probe, CALENDER FOR NOVEMBER. 449 All trees planted in the orchard should be correctly named and kept labeled until the place is platted or the owner becomes per- fectly familiar with the name and place of every tree. See that all labels are in condition to pass the winter without becoming ef- faced, and in some cases wires will need to be loosened to prevent the girdling of the trees. To produce best results, bearing trees need annual manuring, which is best applied in late fall and early winter. Spread as hauled, and it may be plowed or cultivated in very late in the fall to good advantage. Seedling stocks for root grafting should be secured early in the month and buried in the cellar, and scions may be cut at any time after the trees are at rest and when not frozen and kept in the same manner. The orchard site that is to be planted next spring should be se- lected and fitted up this fall with a strong team and plow. The deeper it is plowed the better, and if the soil is a tenacious clay subsoiling and under-draining will prove of great advantage. Laying off the ground and digging the holes before the ground be- comes too hard frozen will also greatly facilitate the spring planting: Small fruits properly cared for are a great success in Minnesota. The plantations of raspberries and blackberries should be cleaned of all weeds, grass and dead canes, and the rubbish removed promptly burned, that thereby seeds, fungi and insects may be de- stroyed; and all tender kinds should be laid down and covered with earth, and even hardy kinds are better for being served in the same way. A light covering of the strawberry beds is generally advan- tageous this early in the season, adding more later if the winter brings only light snows, Grape pruning is in order as soon as the leaves have fallen, and our experience is in favor of early pruning. The pruned canes should be bent down to the ground and fastened in place with pegs or hooks, and later, or just as winter is setting in, it is well to cover them out of sight with earth. BEST WINDOWS FOR PLANTS.—There are many aspects to the southerly side of a house. The sun does not rise in the precise east nor set in the exact west, nor does it rise or set in the same place more than two days in the year. A house may have the windows; one facing due east, another due south and another due west, and during the day each may be a sunny window. Which is best for window plants? If there isa choice, take the south window. The next best is the east window. The least valuable is the west window. The best aspect is really southeast, for the best time of the day for plants is the morning. The southeast window combines the early morning sunlight, which seems to be the most advantageous for plants, with the greatest amount of heat, which comes between eleven o’clock and three o’clock, The ideal bay window for plants is a half circle facing south. _ Secretary's ( Porner. PROGRAM FOR ANNUAL MEETING.—The next annual meeting of our society convenes December 7th. The program is now in prepa- ration and will be found in the December Horticulturist, which will be issued about November 20th, ten days earlier than usual on that account. ARE YOUR DUES PAID FOR 1897?— A few on our roll have over- looked this interesting part of our work, and should be reminded that another annual fee, that for 1898, will become due December 7th, and not be caught with a double charge against them. Remit- tances for either or both fees are now in order. ANNUAL MEETING OF NORTHEASTERN IOWA HORTICULTURAL SO- CIETY.—The regular yearly gathering of our sister society will be held at Forest City, Ia., November 30th, and December 1st and 2d. Mr. O. M. Lord, of Minnesota City, will represent our society on that occasion. Program not yet received. AHEAD OF TIME.--The editor was a little previous in his statement last month that J. Cole Doughty’s ‘“‘How to Runa Nursery” had been published in an earlier number of our magazine. It had been published earlier, but in ‘‘ The American Nurseryman,” to whom it was loaned by request some months since. It appears in this num- ber and will be found “spicy.” PROF. OTTO LUGGER BACK FROM EUROPE.—Since early summer Prof. Lugger has been in Europe, but the last of October finds him back to his familiar field at the Minnesota Experiment Station. In his absence he has visited many of the European countries, and has much to tell us of the new and old in the entomology of the east. He comes back with renewed vigor and is already finding new in- sects at home, some of which we don’t need but may hear more about later. HoME AGAIN.—Mr. J. S. Harris is at home again, October 19th, after an absence of some weeks at Eureka Springs, Ark., where he has been in seach of the fountain of perpetual youth. We hope he has found it and drank deeply therefrom. Hisabsence is the excuse for the non-appearance of the Calendar in our last two issues. Mr. Har- ris found great delight in looking over the wonderful orchard de- velopments in the Ozark region and eating “possum.” He came back full of new ideas and experience,which, as usual, he will divide with his friends. SECRETARY’S CORNER. 451 EX-SECRETARY GIBBS A MINNESOTAN AGAIN.—Oliver Gibbs, Jr., secretary of this society during the years 1882, 1883 and 1884, and till called away to take charge of the Minnesota exhibit at the New Or- leans Exposition in 1885-6, is likely again to be a Minnesotan, and we are glad of it. He has leased his farm in South Dakota and is at present living with his children in Minneapolis. We tender him our heartiest fraternal greeting. FRUIT FROM MANITOBA.—Thos. Frankland, of Stonewall, Man., has placed in cold storage here for exhibition at our annual meeting twenty-seven varieties of plums, the Rocky Mountain cherry, be- sides a number of varieties of apples and crabs, including some seedling apples of his own, which he prizes much. This will be an interesting exhibit. It would be doubly so if he could be here, but as he says that is impossible, he has sent his photograph to stand in his place. It is a speaking likeness but hardly equal to the orig- inal, PROF. HANSEN STILL ABROAD.—Word comes from the South Da- kota Agricultural College that Prof. N. E. Hansen, who went to northern Russia in June last, in search of hardy fruits, is still away and not expected till January. He is making a very thorough sur- vey of those very northern fruit districts of the old world, and equally sanguine of finding something of value to this latitude. We shall miss him at our annual meeting, where we have learned to prize him. We shall give, however, an equally cordial welcome to Mr. Walter S. Thornber, who, we understand, is to represent the Ex- periment Station in Prof. Hansen’s absence, THE SURPRISE PLUM AS A KEEPBR.—On September 16th a few specimens of the Surprise plum were received in a wooden box from the originator, Mr. Martin Penning, of Sleepy Eye. The large size and fine quality of this fruit are well known to the attendants at our state fair, where it has been exhibited now several years, but its peculiar keeping qualities were not known, at least to the writer. Two specimens which have been left in the closed box till now, Oc- tober 15th, are dried very nearly to the consistency of an ordinary dried prune; one of them is of a very nice flavor and fragrance, but the other was injured a little in the curing process. Under proper conditions it is probable that this variety of plums could be cured into an excellent substitute for the common prune, as there is no astringency about it. This is undoubtedly one of the most valuable of the selected varieties of our native plums. THE CAMPBELL’S EARLY GRAPE.—A basket of specimen bunches of this new seedling grape came to this office late in September. This variety originated with Mr. Geo. Campbell of Delaware, O., some years since. The fruit has much to recommend it. The bun- ches received are medium sized, of cylindrical shape and not shoul- dered. The berry is jet black and one-half larger than the Concord. It adheres well to the stem, even when, as in the case of those re- ceived, the stem is withered. The skin is tough and will evi- dently bear much handling. The pulp is sweet and rich to the very 452 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. core. To my taste the flavor is much like that of Rogers No. 44, strongly marked with the nutty flavor of Moore’s Early, anda leaf accompanying also bears a marked resemblance in color and tex- ture to those of the latter variety. This grape has much to commend it, and if it proves as early and productive as is claimed for it it will be a very valuable acquisition to the list of fruits for the northwest. It would at once take the place of the Moore’s Early, which is of little value because of its sterility. A SOCIETY RELIC.—In the winter of 1882 our society held its an- nual meeting in the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce of the city. of Minneapolis, though the record speaks of them as the “Board of Trade” rooms. Soon after the building in which these rooms are situated was occupied by Johnson, Smith & Harrison, and the old “Chamber” became their composing room. The successors of this firm, Harrison & Smith, occupying the same premises, have printed our reports and magazines now for five years, but it was only a few days since that Mr. Smith called my attention to the evergreen de- corations placed over the windows in the composing room fifteen years ago by the horticulturists. They do not often clean house, but the necessity of enlargement to meet the demand of “ better times” has also suggested the farther advantages of painting and kalso- mining, and so these old and deeply dusty relics must at length come down. They have brightened the old room a little for a long time. If any one has the curiosity to see how a sprig of evergreen looks after that many years of neglect, call at the secretary’s office where one is pickled. DEATH OF MR. M. PEARCE.—Aftera very short illness from typhoid pneumonia, this old member of our society passed quietly away on the 12th day of October, and was buried from his home, on the east shore of Minnetonka, Thursday, the 14th inst. A sad feature of his death was the fact that his wife was away from home at the time on a short visit to a daughter in Montana, the first time they had been separated in their married life of forty-one years. Mr. Pearce was in this office some two weeks before his death and in his usual health, though He has been failing much the last year or two and anticipated and often spoke of his speedy death. Members will re- call that he referred to this at our last meeting, the report of his re- marks in this connection appearing on page 400 of the October mag- azine. Mr. Pearce was a striking character in our field and will be sorely missed. A suitable obituary will appear in the December number. Sf fh (kts, LATE OF CHOWEN, MINN. [For biography see opposite page.] THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST. VOL. 25. DECEMBER, 1897. NO. 12. In N{emoriam, MICHAEL PEARCE. CHOWEN, MINN. Died October 6, 1897, aged 70 years. The death of the subject of this sketch removes from our midst one of the most rugged and striking characters. Born and brought up on an Ohio farm, in a fine fruit growing country, he brought to the northwest a love for horticulture, which was ever a strong guiding principle of action in his after life. Failure had no other result with him than to incite to further effort. His was a cour- ageous and persevering nature. In speaking of him, one who knew him well said: “I think the reverses he met with in his first experi- ence in fruit growing only stimulated him to keep on, and he was finally rewarded. His faith in growing fruit in Minnesota never wavered.” He was, indeed, one of the hardiest pioneers in north- western fruit growing, and as such his name will be remembered and honored in the annals of our association. Mr. M. Pearce was born at Trenton, Butler county, Ohio, May 2, 1827, and had at the time of his death just rounded out the full allot- ment of years of three score andten. In 1854 he came to Minnesota with his brother-in-law, the late Col. George, of the 2nd Minn. Vol. Inf,, and located at first at Orinoco, where he engaged in farming and sheep raising. At that early day his love for horticulture showed itself in an investment of $12.00 in currants and apple trees, bought of the late L. B. Hodges, at that time an agent fora New York nursery. The outcome of this early trial was, in the words of his wife, “The trees could not stand our old fashioned winters and just froze to death. The currants, the sheep madea breakfast of. He found that sheep and cattle did not agree well together.” In 1866 he removed to Rochester, where under the influence of the late Dr. P. A. Jewell, founder of the Jewell Nursery, he soon em- barked in the nursery business. In 1886, he started the nursery and fruit garden at Chowen, in the Lake Minnetonka region, where he continued to reside during the closing years of life, and where he passed quietly away at the last. SSN 454 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mr. Pearce left a beloved wife, the companion of forty-one years of wedded life, without, as she writes, a single separation, except at the time of his death, when she had gone to Montana, to take tc its home alittle grandchild. Three children also survive him: Mrs. D. F. Smith, of Monarch, Montana, a younger daughter, Rhoda, teaching there, and an only son, Victor, whose home is at Herman, Minn. The society records show that Mr. Pearce first became a member in 1876, and his name appears upon the roll continu- ously thereafter till, in recogaition of his valuable services, he was made an honorary life member in 1884. He wasa member of the executive committee in the years 1879, 1883, 1885 and 1886 and vice-president during 1839 and 1890. The years of his connection with the association were those of continual and most loyal service. From the first he was a ‘‘worker,” always ready to bear a hand. I think his end was not unexpected, as during the past year he often spoke of its nearness. Thus the pioneers of our society are passing off the stage. We shall see them no more in flesh; but their works live after them, and by them they shall ever be known. SEcY. It is with profound sorrow that I have learned of the decease of our friend and fellow member, M. Pearce. My acquaintance with him covers a period of more than twenty years. I have al- ways looked upon him as one of nature’s noblemen, an earnest, conscientious and honest man, anda friend who could always be relied upon. His membership in the Minnesota State Horticultural Society began in 1876, and from that time since he has proved him- self one of our mostenthusiastic, active and useful members, taking a deep interest in the welfare of the society and the development of the fruit interest of this state. He wasalways found in his place at all meetings and gatherings where horticultural matter was to be discussed, ready and willing to work and impart information that would lead to the successful growing of more and better fruit. In the earlier days of the Farmer’s Institute work he devoted much time to giving instruction on the growing of fruits by farmers. He had had an extensive experience in the propagation of trees, plant- ing of orchards and the growing and marketing of small fruits- We shall miss him and his willing work and encouraging words. JOHN S. HARRIS. Michael Pearce, who was so fully identified with the horticultural interests of Minnesota, was born in 1827, near Trenton, Ohio, some twenty miles westerly from Cincinnati. His grandfather, Michael Pearce, was a devoted patriot of the revolution, and as such served in the Continental army. Iu the beginning of this century, he sold his possessions at Morristown, New Jersey, and with his large family IN MEMORIAM, MICHAEL PEARCE. 455 journeyed westward to the wilderness of Ohio. In 1802, he and his family disembarked from the then familiar flat boat which had borne them from Pittsburg down the Ohio to Cincinnati. From that point, he made his way up the Big Miami to the large tract of land he had secured before leaving Morristown. There he laid out the town of Trenton, in the dense forest, and with his family and fellow imigrants commenced opening up the country. The place was only seven miles from Fort Hamilton, now Hamilton, in Butler county. Helived toaripe old age, enjoying the confidence of the community that had grown up at Trenton, revered and loved as only people who have in common left the comforts of civilization and isolated themselves in the wilderness to find new homes, can esteem and revere the leaders whom they followed into the prom- ised land. And well they might revere the old patriarch, for he had led the way into the best part of the state, and lived to see it developed and his numerous family provided with comfortable homes, one of the family being John Pearce, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch. Named for his grandfather, Michael spent his early life in the companionship of the pioneers of Ohio and learned from them very much of the early history of the west and imbibed their fond- ness for pioneer life and pioneer enjoyments, chief of which was hunting and practice in markmanship with their long rifles. . Having acquired a common school and afterwards an academic education,Michael was employed asa teacher inthe common schools of his native state, and found enjoyment not only in teaching the young ideas how to shoot, but such was his natural enthusiasm in whatever he undertook, that he succeeded in enlisting the parents of his pupils in the investigation of the mysteries of arithmetic and kindred subjects. In 1854, he visited the territory of Minnesota, and in the succeeding year led a colony, formed in his native state, to the then almost unknown territory of the northwest, and located at Oronoco, in Olmsted county. A couple of years afterwards he made another visit to his native state and returned with one of the teachers with whom he became acquainted while engaged in the same vocation, Miss Mary A. Johnson, who now mourns his loss as his widow. The issue of the marriage was three daughters and ason. Theeldest daughter died young, but the othertwo are now residents of Montana. One of them, Mrs.Helen L.Smith is a graduate from the State University and was for a number of years a teacher in the public schools of Minneapolis. Owing to the location of the chief territorial road (stage route) from the east to the west through Rochester instead of Oronoco, the latter place failed to become anything more than an obscure village. This lead Mr. Pearce to abandon that place and make Rochester his residence, where for a number of years he was engaged in buying wheat, southern Minnesota at that time being noted for its immense wheat production, and Rochester after the completion of the Winona & St. Peter railroad being the chief inland wheat emporium. Later he engaged in the nursery business at Rochester, but eventually he concluded the shores of Lake Minnetonka was 456 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY the place above all others in the state for his business, and he there- fore removed to that place, where for some fifteen years he lived, devoting all his time to his horticultural pursuits. S. L. PIERCE, ST. PAUL, MINN. The writer of the above in a letter accompanying the sketch, says: “‘The subject of this paper was my elder brother, although through a childish freak I got into the habit of spelling my name as you see. ‘Mike was to me in my early youth a prodigy of wisdom, and it was his assiduity in procuring books, when books were hard to get, that enabled me to make a start in the acquire- ment of a taste for such things. As I review his early career, and remember the wonderful readiness with which he grappled the most difficult subjects, Iam confident that had he entered a profession, he would have been a leader in it.” Sec’y. HINTS ON COOKING. MRS. WM. DANFORTH, RED WING, Cooking is an art to be acquired by those who take an interest in it and are willing to study the best methods. Although we know that our mothers were all the best of cooks, we do not think now of going to work inthe haphazard way of olden time, when it was a sign ofa poor housekeeper ever to consult a cookbook. Progress is still being made, and I am sure the next generation of women, by having availed themselves of the cooking schools which are in all ' the large cities, will understand much more about the principles of cooking and the chemistry of food, as regards health, thanis at present known. Every housewife is interested in having a goodly amount of canned fruit and jellies, sweet pickles and sour pickles, to last through the year. The cans for fruit should be sterilized before being filled, the rubbers and covers perfect, and when putting them away two pound paper bags may be drawn over them to exclude the light. It is a good planto prepare grape juice and raspberry shrub, to be added tocold water forasummer drink. In preparing grape juice or unfermented wine, wild grapes are the best, if they can beob- tained. To ten pounds of grapes use three pounds of sugar. After picking from the stems and washing the grapes, put them in a por- celain kettle with just enough water to keep them from burning. Bring them slowly to the boiling point, stirring occasionally. Strain through a muslin bag. Put the juice over the fire with the sugar and bring to a boil and skim. Seal while hot in glass jars. Raspberry shrub is made by covering the berries with vinegar and letting them stand twenty-four hours. Then strain and add a pint of sugar to each pint of liquid, boil ten minutes and bottle while hot. I will add a well tested recipe for spice cake: One scant cup of butter, one cup of sugar and one-half cup of molasses, one cup of sour cream, one cup of currants, one cup of raisins seeded and chopped, two cups of flour,one even teaspoon of soda, spice to taste—cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. GARDENING IN THE ISLAND OF JERSEY. 457. GARDENING IN THE ISLAND OF JERSEY. E. W. MAJOR, MINNESOTA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Before we consider the subject of gardening in the Island of Jer- sey, we might, perhaps, take a bird’s eye view of the island itself. It rises abruptly from the sea toa height of 300 to 400 feet on the north- west side, then slopes gradually towards the south and southeast to where the land is ona level with the sea,and at very high tides when the wind is from the south the water often washes over part of the coast. The chief town, St. Helier, lies on the southern border, and at a short distance from the town we see Elizabeth Castile, which has been the scene of stirring times since it was built,in the reign of good Queen Bess. To the right of the town is Fort Regent, which with its grass clad ramparts presents a somewhat attractive appear- ance. If we look off to the southeast coast of the island, we see the village of Gouray, and high above it Mount Orgeuil Castle, part of which was built by Cesar. The island we see at once is small, being about fourteen miles Jong and five or six miles wide, containing about 28,700 acres, not all of which can be cultivated, and upon this must be supported a population of a little over 60,000 persons. If we now come down and take a walk through the country, visit- _ing some of our gardener friends, we notice here some woodland which as yet the axe has spared, there a fertile valley well watered by streams that wander lazily along and eventually find their way to the sea; then an orchard will come into view, and we notice that the farmer also uses this for a pasture for his cows, which are teth- ered there and moved once or twice a day. AS we come around a bend in the road, a house is brought into view, a solid, substantial looking dwelling,its heavy stone walls looking as though they were intended to withstand a siege. The roof is either thatch or tile. Gloire de Dijon roses, clematis and jessamine twine around the doorway and clamber to the moss-covered roof. In the garden, acacias, oleanders and magnolias bloom to perfection, and the fuchsia almost attains the size of a tree, the largest specimens ris- ing to a height of fifteen to eighteen feet. Back of the house you might notice a patch of something, it would probably puzzle you to say just what, Visitors seeing these objects for the first time have thought they were stunted palms, but not so, they are nothing more nor less than the big cow cabbage, or Jersey cabbage. The stalks vary in length from six to twenty-five feet, and the cabbage, which makes good food for the cows, is at the top. The stalks serve for a variety of purposes; the short ones are used for making fences, whilst the long ones are mounted and sold to tour- ists as curiosities. The owner of the garden is usually a man of substantial appear- ance, as befits the proprietor of a farm that has been handed down from father to son, almost since the Norman conquest. If it is the latter part of May or the beginning of June when our visit is made, almost the first subject of conversation would be the potato crop. Thisisthe most important crop the Jersey gardener has; even the Jersey cow sinks into insignificance beside the potato, The best animal in the herd might die of milk fever, and there would 458 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. not be half the consternation that is caused by a frost coming when the potatoes are about an inch or two above ground. And when we consider that there are about $2,000,000 worth of potatoes exported an- nually, and that, if good prices are to be obtained, these must be put on the market before the French and English potatoes are ready, we can see what harm a frost does. The ground that is to be planted to potatoes is generally manured and the manure plowed under in the winter. Planting takes place early in January, and a Minnesota gardener who is used to the potato planter would be surprised if he could seea Jersey man planting. The potatoes are planted at intervals of nine inches, in rows that are about fourteen inches apart. The farmer marks off the rows with a line and then proceeds to dig atrench with his spade; a boy goes along and sprinkles a small amount of guano in the trench and is followed by another boy who places the potatoes in their proper position, which is rather a delicate operation, as the potatoes are always sprouted in a cellar, and care must be taken not to break these sprouts. The line is now moved back fourteen inches, and a new trench dug, the first being filled from the soil of the second, and so on throughout the whole field. The land is kept carefully cultivated, and weeds are seldom seen. The potatoes are hilled up in the rows. The latter part of May, the harvesting of this important crop begins. If you were to go down to the harbor some evening about that time, you would notice many boats coming in—sailing boats mostly—and by theirrigging you would know that they were French trading boats, but their cargo isa human one. They are bringing French laborers over to help in the harvest, and as they come ashore you might wonder how it was possible to stow them all away in so small a space, but they manage it somehow, and Breton peasants are not particular. Most of the laborers carry forks,a few of them scythes, and the women have several long rolls of French bread. As a rule, they are good workers, and as the number of those who come over lowers the price of labor, the gardener can afford to have quite a few helpers. Digging now commences; the men dig, and the women and chil- dren pick up and sort the potatoes, which are then carefully packed in barrels and taken totown. Six hundred to seven hundred bush- els an acre isa good yield. If we followa load to market, a busy scene meets our eye; every road that leads to the harbor is full of vans heavily laden with barrels of potatoes. Around the harbors everything is in a bustle, and in the height of the season you may see aS many as thirty large steamers into whose holds the potatoes are being stowed with as much speed as possible. They are then carried to London, Liverpool, Hull or Southampton. After the potatoes are dug, some cereal such as wheat is planted, and this is followed by roots, among which the parsnip, a favorite food for cattle, is conspicuous. Thus the landis sometimes made to yield three crops in one year. Vegetables of all kinds, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, beans, aspara- gus and small fruits,strawberries, gooseberries, currants, all grow GARDENING IN THE ISLAND OF JERSEY. 459 well, and plums, peaches and apricots when grown against the sunny side of a wall bear profusely. In addition to these, apples and pears grow plentifully, and the Jersey pears, especially the Chaumontelle and Louise Bonne,are famed in England, All over the island you would notice glass houses. One company alone has over thirteen acres under glass, and from here enormous quantities of the choicest grapes are shipped annually. This is a profitable crop, for early in the season grapes will bring from 75 cents to $1.00 a poundin London. Besides the grapes, this company has shipped in a single season one hundred tons of tomatoes, fifty tons of potatoes and twelve tons of peas and beans. In recent years the Jersey gardener has awakened to the importance of his calling, and there are two societies there, the Jersey Horticultural Society, and the Jersey Gardeners’ Society, both of which by offering prizes at the different shows for choice and new specimens and by means of papers on subjects relating to horticulture do much to help him. Dr. M. M. Frisselle: I would like to ask the young man (it has been several months since I have been to school) how far the Islands are from the French coast? Mr. Major: The nearest point is about seventeen miles. Dr. Frisselle: How tar are they from the British coast? Mr. Major: Straight south about thirty miles. Dr. Frisselle: What is the climate? Mr. Major: The mean temperature is about 21 degrees; it is very mild. Pres. J. M. Underwood: What is the area of the Islands? Mr. Major: About 28,000 acres, more or less. Mr. Wyman Elliot: What is the price of labor there? Mr. Major: About 22 or 23 cents per day. Mr. Kellogg (Wisconsin): The practical point seems to be in planting potatoes 9x14 inches apart. If we have got land that will produce anything like that, the point is close culture, close cultivation, big crop and big pay. The practical point is to raise that big crop. Mr. Elliot: And no pay. Mr. Kellogg: Well, we work for nothing and our wives board us. (Laughter). Dr. Frisselle: I understood you to say that the potatoes were hilled up. How is that done? Mr. Major: They generally just bank themup. They have a hoe something like a double plow, with one man ahead and another one behind. Dr. Frisselle: Any bugs there? Mr. Major: Well, there are no potato bugs, but there are others. (Laughter and applause). 460 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Dr. Frisselle: What is the language of the Islands? Mr. Major: French and English. Mr. Elliot: What is land worth? Mr. Major: About $2,000 an acre. ORNITHOLOGY. J.S. HARRIS, LA CRESCENT. (Report made to last annual meeting.) Owing to my very numerous duties and my greater interest in the study of our fruits, [ have not for a few years past given much time to the observation and study of our birds. But I have noticed that with a few exceptions in a few species in southern Minnesota, dur- ing the last twenty years there has been a gradual but marked decrease, not only of winter residents, but of the migratory species that stop with usa short time in their annual flights between the south and the north, and also of those that remain and breed and rear their young with us during the summer months. The exact cause of this decrease, I will not attempt to name at this time, but I do not believe that because our beautiful wives and our daughters have loved to adorn their head gear with plumage of wings and feathers and, sometimes, whole birds, they should be required to .bear the whole responsibility in the case, for the reason that few, if any of them, use the plumage of the hawk, owl or crow and many other plain but useful birds in their adornments, and the decrease in the numbers of such keeps pace with that of most of the others. It cannot arise from a scarcity of insect food, for our entomologists tell us that injurious insects at least are on the increase. The only one of our winter residents that fully holds its own is the festive blue jay. He is a somewhat noisy and quarrelsome fellow, robbing corn cribs in winter, and is accused of sucking the eggs of other birds and tearing their young to pieces, but he feeds largely on nuts, worms and insects, and his mischievous habits have made him a public benefactor as a tree planter. The summer of 1895 with us'was noted for the great scarcity of the migratory species of birds, especially the summer residents. At the appointed time a few robins, meadow larks, brown thrushes, catbirds, etc., put in their appearance, but at no period was there any considerable numbers of the old birds seen. As they were not so numerous as to prove very destructive to small fruits, they were allowed to breed and rear their young unmolested, and many of them nested the second time, so that by autumn they were reasona- bly numerous. But during that year not a single pair of blue birds were seen or heard of in this section. The present year (1896) has shown a very marked increase in the numbers of this class of birds. Seemingly all of those that went south in the autumn were so well pleased with their summer’s sojourn here that they returned promptly and brought others with them. The catbird and Baltimore oriole were the most numerous, according to their numbers usually ORNITHOLOGY. 461 seen here, but the robins, thrushes and cheewinks were in no wise scattering, as the loss of a considerable many of the raspberries, about all of the cherries, hundreds of bushels of apples pecked into and moreor less ruined and grapes, will bear testimony, more no- ticeable in the cherries and berries, because they were generally a meager crop. I believe that nearly all of our birds are more beneficial than inju- rious to the farmer, but some of them are very much more so than others, and a better knowledge of them and their habits ought to be possessed by our people. Nature left to herself keeps up an equi- librium between beast, bird, reptile, insect and the vegetable world, but man is continually breaking up this equilibrium. Sometimes through ignorance, but oftener through cupidity, he is waging a warfare against the best friends of the horticulturist, sacrificing them alike with the foes. Had the coyote, fox, raccoon, lynx, skunk; weasel and striped gopher been spared, it would have been a little more difficult to raise sheep and poultry, but it would toa great extent have done away with the necessity of protecting our young forests, orchards and gardens against rabbits and mice, greatly diminished the numbers of the white grub and cut worm, and saved more grain than it would have cost to protect the sheep and poultry. Observations and investigations made by the ornithologist ofthe U. S. Department of Agriculture, C. Hart Merriam, and his assistant, go to prove what [ have long believed, thata class of birds—hawks and owls—commonly looked upon as enemies to the farmer, and indiscriminately destroyed whenever occasion required and their destruction often encouraged by the offering of bounties, really rank among his best friends and should be protected and encour- aged to take up their abode nearour homes. An examination of the actual contents of 2,700 stomachs, by scientific experts, showed that only six of the seventy-three species and sub-species of the hawks and owls of the United States are injurious by feeding upon poultry and game. Omitting these six (and most of them are ex- tremely rare) 56 per cent of the contents of the others proved to be mice and other small animals, 27 per cent. insects, and only 3% per cent poultry and game birds. There is not a doubt that owls are even more beneficial than the hawks and inflict less damage on the poulterer, because they hunt by night,when the poultry can easily be made secure from them: The long eared owl is one of the most common, and if the chickens are allowed to roost in trees and open sheds, they sometimes carry off considerable numbers of them. I one season lost a considerable number of chickens by their entering the door, which was left open, and carrying them off at night, but since taking the precaution to provide a screen door and closing it at night, and placing wire net- ting over the windows, none have been disturbed. They nest and hatch their young in the latter part of winter or early spring, and during that period are great hunters,destroying great numbers of rabbits, rats and mice, as we know by an examination of their nests. Although their food consists largely of the smaller rodents, later in the season they destroy many beetles and other insects, and seldom molest insectivorous birds. 462 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. I will close by mentioning one other class of birds that do not appear to be much in favor with the farmers, but are of the greatest importance to the horticulturist, the woodpeckers. They are climb- ing birds with chisel-like bills and bearded tongues, and peck holes in wood in their search for insects. Some of the species are winter residents of this state, but of late years they are becoming compara- tively scarce. The ones of most importanceto the pomologist are the downy and hairy woodpeckers. During the winter and spring months, they destroy great numbers of the larve and pupz of the codling moth, that are secreted in the crevices of bark and other hiding places about our orchards. I have sometimes used paper bands for catching these insects, and when neglected and left on the trees through the winter have seen them completely riddled by these birds, to get at the pupz beneath. They also feed on leaf rollers and the larve of all kinds of tree borers, both those foundin decaying wood and those living in the bark and sap wood of sound trees, and are inveterate hunters after the large headed borerin our appletrees. They should be protected and encouraged to feel at home with us. They should not be confounded with the yellow bellied woodpecker, which visits our orchards and groves in the spring and the fall, and pecks round holes in rows around the trunks and branches of trees for the sap and inner bark. It isthe duty ofall horticulturists and foresttree planters to study these birds and become so familiar with them that they can dis- tinguish them, and wage a war of extermination on the sap sucker, They are on the increase, and unless they are headed off we may never hope to raise valuable forests of pines and other evergreens in southeastern Minnesota. PINCHING HOUSE PLANTS.—Many people think if their house plants have water, air and heat, their duty to the plants is done. Plants are like children, they need watching or they get into bad habits. A geranium, if left alone, will grow up loose, straggling and perhaps misshapen. Properly trained,itmight grow up intoa round, handsome, well balanced plant. The secret of a good shape ina plant lies in “pinching.” Pinching a plant means to squeeze or pinch off between thumb and finger the tender growing tip of a grow- ing stem on the plant. The immediate effect seems to be an injury. The plant appears to stop growing. It is checked for a day or two, but the ultimate result isa great gain to the plant. The single stem becomes a double or quadruple. The plant becomes many branched. Finching is a fine art. It enables the plant lover to train and guide his plants into fineshapes. It makesstronger aud better plants and increases the crop of flowers and fruits. THE ELECTRIC LIGHT is used for forcing a quick growth of veg- etables in greenhouses by a few market gardeners near Boston and New York. They run the light from sundown until ten or eleven and find it pays. Whether electricity will have a larger use in crop grow- ing remains to be geen. HORTICULTURE IN THE DISTRICT SCHOOL. 463 HORTICULTURE IN THE DISTRICT SCHOOL. PROF WM. ROBERTSON, MINN. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. Near the beginning of the present term in the School of Agricul- ture, an enterprising journal of Minneapolis sent a reporter out to take a straw vote of the students for president. The headline argu- ment the next morning was, that as the father in politics and in religion so the son. The conclusions drawn were not far from actual results. But why limit the list to politics and religion? If the father thinks that hens will do for the old woman to fool with, and lets them roost in the corner of some old shed or on the harvester, you will generally find that the son will kick at a chicken if it comes in reach of him, If the father has no time for the garden, the son will feel that his mother makes a great fuss about nothing when the pigs get out and root the garden up. The very fact that a hog always heads for the garden when he gets loose ought to be a suggestion to some men. If the father thinks that two instead of seven is the right number of times to plow the corn in a season, that will most likely be the sentiment of the son. If the father thinks the cow ought to be kicked and the horse jerked to make them understand, the son will be of a like opinion. The son not only thinks these things because the father thinks them, but because the father acts them the boy acts them,and they become the habits that fill up the space of his life. You may tell him better, and he may agree with you, but when it comes to action, there is on one side conviction, on the other habit. When that cow gets into the wrong stall, there is the kick repeated one thousand times, and the better way told to him once; when it comes spring there are back of this man the year after year in which the garden did not figure, and before him the state- ment that the garden isa good thing; later in the season there is before him the little paragraph in his farm paper, saying how much better the mowed lawn looks, and back of him years and years when the grass and weeds have grown up, flourished and died together. Which will lead him? Oh, how we sometimes wish that we could get all the people in range of our voice or pen, could get their close attention for a brief space and then have them go off and follow exactly our advice! What an eiysium we would make of this old world of ours! But they don’t do it, so we get discouraged and think that reforms and improvements will never come. But did you ever think that if people would be so easily led by the advice of one individual, they must be as easily led probably in the opposite direction by the next individual? And if we have not made a success of one life, how shall we direct that of everybody else? No, it is not so great a discredit to a people as is sometimes heralded to say that “they think the same thoughts that their fathers have thought, and tread the same paths that their fathers tread,” although it throws on the fathers a responsibility that is not always appreciated by them. It indicates that there must be a training and ingraining into the life from the frst, and gives the 464 | MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY assurance that when they have been trained in right ways they will cling to them just as tenaciously. Among those exhibiting this conservatism in a high degree is the farmer, some politicians and newspapers of the past campaign to the contrary notwithstanding. If the Kansas farmer is trying to get the start of somebody in the manipulation of money, go back and see if heis not trying to apply principles practiced on him in the earlier history of his state. The spread of the co-operative creamery in Freeborn county is an example. Some seven years ago the first one was established. The plan was right, the management good, the venturea success. With their milk, the farmers drove to this creamery day after day, saw its work, and felt the cash at the end of the month. They talked to their neighbors about it. Sofrom this nucleus and on this basis the creamery became a habit, the county now having twenty-nine organ- izations and being the leading dairy county of the state. In a similar way Freeborn county hasa nucleus from which the fruit tree is spreading, and the apple tree becoming an essential part of the home life on each of its farms. At first only an “Echo,” it has expanded till it takes in the whole “ Northwest.” What has all this to do with the State Horticultural Society and the district school? It has much. It suggests an opportunity. Grow horticulture into the child life of the state; make ita part of his early existence,and he will never think of being withoutit. A force is already at work in the gardens, orchards and nurseries of the enthusiastic members of this society. The next place to strike is in the district school, and the society to make that strike is the State Horticultural Society. We seek to make patriotism a part of the child’s life by patriotic songs and selections, and by floating the flag every day of the term. I am not sure that a more patriotic and a more useful citizen would not be produced by devoting the same energy to giving the child some knowledge of and, hence, a love for plant life, and by teaching him the elements of horticulture. Who ever heard of a tramp horticulturist? A little landscape gardening might come in. The civilizing effects of a cleanly mowed and neatly kept school yard can not be over estimated. The comparison day by day with the home yard must reach to the improvement of the latter. We have our arbor day, let us begin lower and have our grass cropping season. If each member of this society will single out his own school district on which to begin operations, astonishing results may be accomplished. Before systematic work can be taken up satisfactorily in the daily school program, the elements of botany ought to be made one of the requirements of teachers’ first, second and third grade certifi- cates. I know of no organization better equipped to push this matter or that would do it with more vigor, than the State Horticul- tural Society. Meantime some good books on vegetable gardening and fruit growing should be selected and recommended for supple- mentary reading and for the libraries of these schools. Who could | HORTICULTURE IN THE DISTRICT SCHOOL. 465 better make such selection, or beget more confidence in such selec- tion than a committee appointed by this society? It might not be so elocutionary in its effect to readin school about the cultivationand propagation of the black-cap as to saw the air and shout “the Greek! the Greek! they come! they come!” but it would have its use. Give Marco Bazzaris his place but not to the exclusion of the black-cap. I am here, however, not so much to argue just what shall be done at present in the teaching, as to urge the necessity, the opportunity of working into the life of the child. If the people will vote for, pay for and swear by the little red school house when it teaches so many problems found only in arithmetics, false syntax that occurs only in grammars, and a style and selection of reading intended to make elocutionists of us all, what would they not do if it trained us in the actualities of life? Let us then cross some of the vigorous ideas of this society with the young idea of the district, rather than graft all of our shoots on the old farmer, and we will get a seedling whose fruit will put even the farmers’ sand cherry and plum cross in the shade. APPLE GROWING. Cc. L. BLAIR, ST. CHARLES. Having been requested to makea report on the growing of apples in the state of Minnesota, we ask leave to present the following, as saidreport: First,from actual experience since 1855, I am convinced that some of the most hardy varieties can be grown successfully. To the beginner I would say that the first thing is the selection of as good a site as you have for setting out an orchard. We think land sufficiently high not to be frosty is preferable, with a clayey loam or a clayey subsoil. Every one that has a natural grove should make the best use of itas a shelter grove. A grovea few rods wide on three sides, the north, west and south, willdo. Ido not think that it is necessary to have a windbreak on the east side of an orchard. Twenty-one feet apart is about the right distance apart for apple trees. Set such varieties as succeed best in your vicinity. If you have nurserymen near enough, go and buy of them such varieties as they will warrant as to hardiness. Be careful and trim off all the broken roots or dead wood from the roots, and then set them two or three inches deeper than they grew in the nursery. Be careful to trim off some of the limbs and don’t be afraid of trimming them too much, as they will do better for being well trimmed. Then mulch them with old straw, so as to hold the moisture around the roots. If the rabbits and mice are likely to eat the bark off the trees, you can wrap them with tar paper, or make tree protectors for them out of laths and number 18 galvanized wire. They can be made either two or four feet long, as will fit your trees. Then with good care for a few years, you may expect to grow some apples. 466 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. THE STATE PRESS ANDITS RELATION TO HORTICULTURE. E. A. WEBB, NORTHWESTERN FARMER, ST. PAUL. This subject, assigned to me by your secretary, I find is some- thing of a negation. If there is a relation between the state press and horticulture, it is of such a general character that it loses its distinctive feature by association in the general fund of information, which is stock in trade with every well informed editor. I do not find, then, that there exists any well defined relation be- tween Minnesota newspapers and horticulture; but that is no reason why there should not be one. So faras the state press is concerned, apart from the daily papers of the Twin Cities, that are interested in making this gathering a success, I have yet to learn that it has taken more than a passing notice of the achievements of the members of this society. During the past week, I have scanned the weekly press of the state in vain for any original announcement of this gathering, or any presentation of its aim, scope or influence for good to the state, while frequently items appear referring to the great fruit crops of our sister states. There has been no intentional slight in this, but the fact remains that, notwithstanding your very encouraging suc- cess this year,very few and scattering have been the paragraphs that gave the slightest hint of the possibilities open to the fruit culturist in Minnesota. Do you wonder then when [ tell you that the relation of the state press to horticulture in this state-up to date—does not approxi- mate the kinship of a forty-second cousin? But we do feel that it can be established if the work of the members of this society could be brought home to the attention of the gentlemen of the press. There are many ways by which this can be accomplished, and favorable mention of our fruit products secured in the daily and weekly press, but I will call attention to but three that have occurred to me. First of all, I would place the admirably edited monthly periodical of the society, the Minnesota Horticulturist, a journal published at $1.00 a year, which includes the society’s annual membership fee of $1.00, so that, to members, it practically costs nothing. Such a journal as this is makes a most effective agent, familiarizing its readers with the progress made in horticulture in the state and bearing enthusiastic testimony as to its success. Personally, I should like to see the publishing fund large enough to pay the cost of placing it in the hands of eastern and southern editors as well as those of our own state. Nothing would serve a better purpose in dispelling the false notions people seem to have of our climate, or more successfully refute the charge against fruit growing—or corn. growing—in Minnesota. “The Minnesota Horticulturist” is not only well edited, but it is handsomely printed and illustrated; it gives facts, borne out by photographic reproductions, true to life, and would prove a revela- tion to credulous Eastern editors—a capital field for good mission- ary work in behalf of ourstate. BT ey AN PON er al Phe) ecm THE STATE PRESS. 467 Another way to secure attention to the work of the members of this society by our home papers is to get our fruit productions par- agraphed in newspapers out of the state. “Go from home to hear the news” is an old, familiar and tritesaying. Nothing pinks the pride of a Minnesota editor more than to see his state products favorably mentioned in papers out of the state. It is then that he will be sure to adjust himself to a convenient pair of shears, and the clipping, with comments, will appear in an early issue of his paper; and this act also arouses his own personal interest. The third suggested pointto bring into closer fraternal touch the bond that should exist between the state press and state horticulture is by aiding and encouraging the formation of local auxiliary soci- eties throughout the state, the members of which will not only be expected to keep alive by work and experimentation an interestin fruit culture here, but whose business it will be to see that repre- sentative exhibits are made at all county fairs. These will not only be instructive object Jessons to visitors but should be attractive enough to draw out liberal press notices. I am a firm believer in printer’s ink and feel sure that the apathy sometimes shown to horticulture by the press is largely due to the want of accurate information, which should be supplied. There is a state pride, previously alluded to, that is shared in by every loyal editor and publisher which will assert itself in behalf of any sub- ject which proves a worthy one, thatis supported by something more than half-hearted enthusiasm by its promoters. There is a work to be done to relieve the state from the stigma of an unfounded suspicion against fruit culture, which undeniably has taken root, and, if the friends of horticulture will appeal sensi- bly to the press, backed up as they are by the flattering success already achieved, the appeal will not be made in vain. Throughout the length and breadth of Minnesota, rich rewards have returned to the lap of the fruit culturist who, having studied the peculiar char- acter of his soil and climate, has met the conditions and achieved success. The needs of the occasion remind me of the story of the good old Baptist preacher in Chicago, when that municipality was in knee pants. It wasin the early days out west, and the preacher had to divide his labors between two parishes, one of which was in the north end and the other in the east end of the town. One Sabbath had been arranged in which to baptize new converts and babies and in announcing the event the good brother gave it to his people in these words: “Brethren and sisters, I wish to give notice, so that there shall be no misunderstanding. Inthe morning, we will bap- tize men at the north end, and in the evening, we will baptize the women in the east end, but we will baptize the babies at both ends.” Like the babies, Minnesota horticulture will stand baptism at both ends. If this brief review of the relation of the state press to horticulture has demonstrated anything, it is a situation that places the press in the position most ready and eager to be convinced that horticul- ture should be encouraged. It remains, then, for the society io 468 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. more earnestly press its claims, and a union may be joined of value to each; a relation that would result in special advantage to the state at large in advertising one of the diversified products of Min nesota that, having long passed the stage of uncertainty, is now ready to be developed on a wide and, we believe, a most profitable scale. REPORT ON ENTOMOLOGY, MADE DEC. 3, 1896. DEWAIN COOK, WINDOM. BORERS. We found the past spring one four year old apple tree that was leaning badly. It had been set in orchard one year. Upon examination it was found that a large borer had made a spiral girdle around the tree, and under the ground it had eat its way into the heart and was working there. It had caused the tree to fall over. As we occasion- ally find these borers in our prairie soil rods away from any trees, itis probable that they do more damage to fruit trees than they are charged with. We also find in places on heavy manured soil, large numbers of smaller sized borers. As yet we have not noticed any harm done by them, except that they destroyed a good many strawberry plants by eating into the crowns in the early spring. Still I do not think that they are what is know as the strawberry crown borer. We uncovered our strawberry plantation quite late lastspring, and something at once began to eat the foliage. There were a myriad of wasp-like flies about. We wereof the opinion that they were the ones that were doing the damage, but later on we found the damage was being done by a small, light green worm. I have no doubt that they were what is known as the strawberry slug. They worked mostly on the under side of the leaves. We killed a good many of them by hand. Some of our hens assisted materially inthe good work by living largely on a diet of worms. We also found a few spotsin our strawberry fields that were en- tirely defoliated by what appeared to be a strawberry caterpillar, which worked in colonies and on the outside of the foliage. They were picked by hand, and one picking did the job. As ourstrawberry plants were never troubled by worms to any extent before, I attribute their increase the past season to the early mulching I gave the plants the autumn before, which protected the insects as well as the plants. The plum gouger, or the curculio, we had the past season as usual. I know of no remedy for them except to let the pigs and hens have access to the plum orchard, and to grow the thick skinned varieties, as they are less injured by these pests than are those of the thin skin. REPORT ON ENTOMOLOGY. 469 The tent caterpillar has done little damage the past season. One of the best ways to combat this pest is to gather the rings of eggs that encircle the small twigs of the plum—and sometimes the ap- ple trees-—from early fall to early summer. We also had some trou- ble with what we call the appletree caterpillar. They came in early summer. They donot haveany tent,and when not feeding are usually in masses near the ground on the body and on the larger limbs of the trees. They work rapidly and sometimes defoliate a tree en- tirely before they are noticed. There are evidently two broods of these in a season, as they sometimes duplicate their early summer work in September. I resort to hand picking to check their increase. A sharp knock upon the tree, and they all come to the ground, spin- ning a single thread. They can be quickly killed with a stick or by stepping upon them. They are nearly black and are larger than the tent caterpillar. We also had a variety of caterpillar not noticed until the past season. Its color was black, and it was largerthan those mentioned above, with habits the same as those mentioned last but working more upon the wild willows, but some uponthe plum and apple trees. Their season was about mid-summer. I noticed in October something upon my plum trees that might have been plum scale, but, perhaps, they might be the remnants of a late brood of plum lice. While the late storm of sleet has been very destructive to fruit trees by breaking many of them down, it is believed that we will receive a partial recompense by the wholesale destruction of many of our orchard pests. FORESTRY AS AN EMPLOYMENT. A. E. STENE, MINN. AGRI. COLLEGE. It has been suggested to me, being a student in the Agricultural College, that I should treat this subject from the standpoint of a young man casting about among the different vocations of life for some line of work into which to direct his principal efforts. To such a young man there arises three questions which he can apply as criterions on the various occupations which come up for his consideration: First and most important, is he physically and men- ‘tally adapted to the work required by the vocation, and is the work of such a nature as to appeal to and tax his powers to their full ex- tent; second, is there sufficient demand for the work in the field considered to insure to him reasonable pecuniary returns for the time and effort expended; and, third, are there opportunities for public service through which he can pay some of the debt which by virtue of his education he owes to his fellow men? I shall not attempt to make any statement as to the physical and mental qualities required for the pursuit of forestry; first, because it does not lie within the scope of this short essay and, second, be- cause it is a question which must be largely settled by each person for himself after he has become acquainted with the demands which such a pursuit is likely to make upon him. 470 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY In its nature, forestry is a very broad and comprehensive science. As defined by Dr Hough,itis: “That branch of knowledge which treats of woodlands, their formation, maintenance and renewal, the influences that may effect their welfare, the methods employed in their management, the removal, preparation and use of their pro- ducts and the economies that may be gained by skillful operation.” It resembles agriculture and horticulture in that it deals with the production of a soil crop but differs from them in the great number of years which it takes for the maturing of the crop. Forestry involves directly nearly all the natural sciences, such as botany, zoology, entomology, geology, mineralogy and chemistry, and indirectly it involves a knowledge of history, political science and physics, me- chanics,physical geography and meteorology. It should be evident from this that a college education is a foundation none too broad for ittorest upon. Having this foundation, the student of forestry must go to work and make himself thoroughly familiar with each separate species of trees, their geographic distribution, their struct- ure,habits of growth,how to propagate them,how and where to plant them, and their value in the industries. Having mastered what is known of these things, the student is confronted with the fact that forestry is a comparatively new and undeveloped science,and thata vast field of experiment and research is spread out before him. With this in view, itis easy to see that it would give a person of average intelligence all he could do to master the essentials of this voca- tion and keep abreast with the advances which it must of necessity make. In the line of pecuniary results, the field is not very promising in this country. In European countries, with their elaborate forestry system, forestry takes its place in importance by the side of horti- culture and agriculture, and the demand for men in the regular ser- vice and as teachers in the forestry schools is sufficient to warranta great number of students taking up the workeach year. In Austo- Hungary, for instance, there are over 30,000 men connected with the forestry service, and Germany, with 25 per cent of her area devoted to forestry, employs a like number. Besides this public service there are numerous private land holders who devote part of their domains to forestry and employ one or more foresters. In this country, the people are not awake to the necessity for sci- entific forestry for the public welfare, and as for individual under takings along this line they are entirely out of the question with the genuine Americans, on account of their slow returns, It is true that we have a number of extensive forest reserves, with a prospect of more in the near future, which might seem to de- mand the services of foresters. But these reserves have been estab- lished with a view only of preserving them in their original condition for the protection of water sheds or the preservation of natural beauty spots, and with no idea of rendering them profitable to the country by a system of forestry. Only a few men are em- ployed in them, and these only for patroling to prevent stealing of timber or setting of fires. A few states have established forestry commissions, which have charge of the state forest reserves and general supervision over FORESTRY AS AN EMPLOYMENT. 471 state forest lands. It is probable that other states will follow, and this will demand a limited number of trained men. The chief of the forestry department at Washington has been agi- tating for the establishment ofa national forestry service, but it all hinges on congressional action, and this will not come until the peo- ple are educated to see the need of it. Forestry work by private individuals is at present confined chiefly to the lumbermen, and they require men skilled only in the estima- tion and cutting of timber and the production of timberin the cheapest possible manner without regard to the continuation of the supply. As for teachers in forestry, there will be no demand for these until a demand for foresters creates a demand for forestry schools. What little demand there is for forestry education at the present time is met by the instructors in the kindred sciences of horticulture and botany, and this expedient will no doubt be sufficient for a number of years. If the question of opportunities for services for public welfare be applied as a criterion to “ Forestry as an Employment,” it will by no means suffer. There are few fields in which the public weal can be so materially benefited as by work in forestry, and if a person is so situated that he can afford to work gratuitously for a number of years he can find a great opportunity for good work in this line, The magnificent system of forestry management in Europe is due to the warnings of a few far seeing men uttered for the first timeless than acentury ago. The average European of the latter part of last century was possessed of about the same ideas as the average Amer- ican is to day, viz., that the forest supply is practically inexhaus- tible, that forests are of but little benefit except for fuel and lumber and that the fire and the ax are two of the greatest aids in render- ing the country habitable. The European countries lived to pay dearly for these ideas,and it behooves the American people to profit by their experience and institute a system of forest management be- fore their principal forests are destroyed. To make the general public see the necessity for this requires a great amount of educa- tional agitation, and here lies the field of the forester of today. After some time of such educational agitation the people will be- conie alive to the necessity of scientitic forestry, a demand for trained men will be created, and forestry will take its place as an employment beside those of horticulture and agriculture. Mr. G. J. Kellogg: I would like to ask the last gentlemana question in regard to forestry. Have you given the question any study as to how best to protect and replant our denuded forests? Mr. Stene: No, I have not. I have been reading some of the way they carry out the work in Germany, but. of course, with our high labor and undeveloped country it would be diffi- cult to carry out any such plan. It would probably have to be done by protecting from fires and letting the forests grow up naturally. 472 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. STRAWBERRIES IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA. A. W. LATHAM, SEC’Y. E. G. Bovee, of Carlton, Minn., has the honor of being the pioneer commercial strawberry grower on a large scale in the northwest, or Lake Superior, region of our state. (Carlton is about twenty miles southwest of Duluth). Notwithstanding the rigor of the winter season so much farther north, the berry seems very much at home there, and stimulated by the damp breezes from the lake it grows to an unusual size, without injury in any perceptible degree toits flavor. The accompanying plats, showing Warfield and Beder- wood of the natural size, and the comparative size of the berries, as seen in the crates in the view of his berry field, convey a good idea of the unusual size of this fruit. BEDERWOOD. (Exact size.) Of this particular field of which the view is given, Mr. Bovee writes that, “It contains about three acres and yielded last season about 300 cases of 24 quarts each. The varieties were Warfield and Bederwood. This was not a large yield, as the frost hurt them some, and I do not think they were fertilized enough. I had other fields that did better, containing Warfield fertilized with Bederwood, Jessie, Wilson and Lovett.” Mr. Bovee at other times has spoken of this subject of fertilizing and is evidently much impressed with the necessity of using some- thing besides the Bederwood for that purpose,and he asks whether “any one else is complaining of Bederwood not being a good ferti- lizer for Warfield.” In another place he says: “The Bederwood is 473 NESOTA. MIN STRAWBERRIES IN NORTHEAST Strawberry Field of E. G, Bovee. Carlton, Minn., Twenty Miles Southwest of Duluth, in the Pine Region. (Note the extraordinary vigor of the vines as well as size of fruit. 474 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. the most productive staminate I know of and of large size, good quality and arapid plant maker, but as a pollenizer to be used alone with the pistillate varieties, I am afraid of it.” Since this is the result of Mr. Bovee’s large experience, it is a point well worth noting. WARFIELD. (Exact size.) It seems probable that that section will ultimately grow berries on a large scale for the Minneapolis and St. Paul markets, as they ripen there at a time when the beds in the vicinity of the Twin Cities have entirely ceased bearing, that locality being at least two weeks behind any other farther south and away from the retarding influ- ences of the great lakes. The soil there is light but good and is the natural home of the strawberry. At some future time we may get Mr. Bovee to give us the details of the methods by which he has made such a success of this ven- ture in a new region. NOVELTIES AND STANDARDS.—Every really valuable new plant’ fruit or flower goes through three stages. It appears as a brand new ‘‘novelty” in some one seedman’s or plant man’s catalogue. In about two years, it may appear in two or more catalogues. This is a good guide for the buyer, becauseif it has no merit it seldom gets beyond the first man’s catalogue. If it has real merit and is a valu- able addition to the garden or field, it is rapidly multiplied and becomes more common and, consequently, cheaper every year, and in about five years, it ceases to be a “novelty” and becomes a stand- ard kind of variety. In afew more years, if it has real solid merit, it becomes what might be called an old established standard. The history of new plants is very interesting and can be easily traced through the seedsman’s catalogues. Now isthe time to study these things, during the winter leisure. FORESTRY AND THE WATER PROBLEM. 475 FORESTRY AND THE WATER PROBLEM. J. O. BARRETT, SEC’Y MINN. FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. Without water there is nolife. Without water adequate to natural needs, life lingers in sickly and unfruitful conditions. The de- creased flow of water now-a-days has aroused a wide-spread alarm, and people begin to inquire with a view to remedy the difficulty: What is the reason that we do not have our usual flow of water inlake and river? The opinion prevails that our precipitation is decreas- ing, intensifying the alarm. This opinion may be a mistake. Ac- cording to meterological records, the average precipitation, taking in a series of years, is about the same during the period of its usual descent in Mirnesota, giving us 25 inches, water enough for all practical purposes if judiciously conserved. In our attempts, feeble at the best, tofind the cause of an apparent unbalance somewhere in our water system, we should modestly consider our inability by any interference to change cosmic laws. What belongs in agency to sun and moon and stars, for aught we know, to continental environments, oceans, electric forcesinlaid in frictional matter, cyclonic winds, polar temperatures affecting all climates, are things of power beyond human control; things that govern meterological phenomena despite aJl our assumptions of mastery. Summer and winter, sunshine and storm, water synthesis and water transformations into living organisms have always been and always will be; hence, there is no room for unfaith in chances for us to live and let live if we conform our energies to the divine order of nature. But a serious responsibility is ours as to the uses we make of our natural blessings. Nature repairs our inroads upon her orders as best she can, but this by no means pardons our guilt. As most of our lakes are drying up and rivers diminishing, our seasons more fortuitous, our drouths generally intensifying in rigor to the peril of our crops, it is certain that, while we change no natural laws, we have by our self-aggrandizing arts changed the channels and dis- tributive direction of precipitation and its flow. The problem, then, isa simple one. To say, as some would-be wise gentlemen do say, that the decrease in the water flow and pre- vailing dryness, changable locally, is the result of certain elemental or climatic conditions in space through which our planet is passing, is an apologetic hypothesis which explains nothing. Such assump- tion aside, plain facts and common sense ought to guide us in solv- ing the problem in hand. To placeit in a more lucid light, notethe circulatory system of our bodies. It is enough for our purpose simply to say, that by various electro-chemical and muscular activ- ities the food we eat is manufactured into blood for body structure; that the blood in the veins, like water in rivers, is a mixture of pure and impure elements flowing into the heart; from the heart to the lungs, that remove the impurities in the form of breath and vitalize the oxygenated pure blood that is sent back into the heart; thence, by innumerable arteries to change and rebuild every impaired parti- cle of our bodies, till every organ and function is quickened into new 476 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. life to perform its work; thence, through the capillary nets into the veins again: and so round and round till the system caves in and the angel of death lets out the new born spirit of eternal years. Suppose the lungs are clogged, hurt or some way rendered incapable of performing their functional duty, what now? Is the blood dimin- ished in quantity? No,the simpletrouble is that it cannot distribute itself in normal circulation, and the poor man or woman suffers by congestion, fever or some other ill. Remove obstructions and re- store healthy action to the lungs, and all is right again. What the lungs are to our bodies, the forests are to the water cir- culation of the earth. If they are raided by ax and fire, if the state be destitute of forests, though there may be cloudbursts, cyclones, and floods incident to the congestion of water in the air, the flow of water is intermittent, attended by sudden rise and fall into drought sequences which we can avert, for itis in our power to build up forestry. Am I correct, that forests answer as lungs to a country? Let us inquire here with unprejudiced care. The limbs and leaves of the forest shelter the ground from the excessive heat of the sun, thereby lessening the evaporation of water that is inthe ground and preventing excessive dryness in the air thatis so dangerous to our crops. The dead leaves and sticks on the forest floor constitute the best mulch in the world, protecting the tree roots. Their decay furnish the roots with sustenance to develop the trunks, limbs, leaves, flow- ers and fruit of the trees. The dead leaves and sticks together with the mosses growing upon their decay, absorb the water and clog the way of floods, thus economizing water for future needs. By virtue of this forest carpet,constantly wasting and reconstructing,the pelting rains are checked,also by the leaves and limbs, and the wind - beaten snows are prevented from packing and hardening the ground, leaving it, comparatively, in a loosened-up condition for the water to infiltrate into the gravel and other water-bearing strata, constituting underground reservoirs, feeding our springs that make the living lakes, rivers and wells of the country. The vast network of tree-roots, dipping their innumerable tiny mouths into these reservoirs and through the mulched soil for nutriment, carries the alimental liquid by the capillary action of woody fibre up, up to the leaves, that by electric force of the sun’s rays tear the oxygen and carbon apart, giving the oxygen to the air for animal and plant respiration again, and appropriating the carbon for woody structure, ring after ring, as the years of growth revolve. As noticed in our parallel figure, the lungs of the human system are prime factors in making blood tit for body structure with all its organs and functions that support immortal mind; so the forests make pure water by the process before described. But for the forests, that enable mixed and impure water from the dust-burdened air and decay on the ground surfaces to filter through sand and gravel, there would be no water fit to sustain sentient life. Surely the forests are the lungs of a country, and from their aro- matic bowers, where man and beast can better breathe, come the eae ae yi: st yas \ ie v i FORESTRY AND THE WATER PROBLEM. 477 healthful breezes and the purified waters that drive away the pesti- lence and supply all the people with the very “elixir of life.” Contrast with the forest the natural condition of the treeless prairie. The terrible hot and cold winds blow there unchecked and untamed, beating the ground harder and harder at every merciless touch, oft rolling up sand waves, oft stripping off the covering on millions of acres of grain, wilting down our tender plants, depleting the very juices of life under the inflamed skins of our exposed stock, making farmers nervous, angular and profanely mad while buffet- ing against these aerial fiends; and yet not over ten per cent of them are doing anything practical and worth a mention of credit to build up forest walls for a paying agriculture. Without the necessary forestal areas on the prairie,what is the effect of our hard-struggling agriculture upon our lake and river systems? In their wild state our prairie sods are grass-matted and hard, pre- venting much of the water from the clouds to sink underground and allowing it to run off into great lakes that overflow and cut the country into river channels, Henceit was, that when the prairie was unsettled and the forests unraided by ax and fire, our lakes and rivers, generally speaking, were filled tothe brim, The subduing of the sods by the plow and pulverizing them by the harrow, thus tearing off the sod-shell, have let the rainfall down into the lower strata, mainly retained on the surface of the clay hard-pan under the soil, largely taking it away from the lake and river and giving it to the plants of our culture, so that all lakes fed by surface water and not by deep underground springs mustinevitably dry up. Are we therefore toinfer that eventually we must to a great extent lose our lake and river systems because of the increasing demands of agriculture? This calamity follows unless we save and build enough forestry to counter-balance the unlimited draft upon our precipitation. A compensative law here should be considered. The more densely we cover our prairie lands and waste places with the rank vegetation of our culture, the more evaporation accrues for air humidity, inductive to rainfall; but such vegetation cannot per- form the full function of the forest. Our farm and horticultural plants have no natural mulch to economize moisture like the forest, nor have they a leafy roof, lifted high for air circulation to shade the ground and keep the air cooler to precipitate humid winds, like the forest. Itis obvious that forestry building must accompany agriculture in all its horticultural and other relations; that where the plow takes an acre, another or atleast halfan acre somewhere should and must be given to forestry to preserve the precipitational balance. The for- estry and water problem reduced to its primal base of operation is mathematically this: 1. That at least one-third of our remaining native forests of the state, located mainly on non-agricultural lands and the spring headlands of our water systems, should be reserved as a forest area, kept intact for alltime for water preservation, game and lumber profit without invasion upon new growth. 2. That at least one-third of the unforested prairie portion of the 478 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. state, comprising mainly rocky, sandy, bluffy, deep-gullied and other poorer sections, should, under the authority and supervision of the state, be consecrated to tree growing. We cannot reasonably anticipate that sucha forest area will be built up and secured for perpetuity until our legislature shall le- galize this pressing demand. Let us work together for these ends, and the victory will be for and to the people. HOW TO MAKE A MINNESOTA VINEYARD PAY. W. P. ROGERS, EXCELSIOR, In this paper I will simply state what I know can bedone. The results have been obtained mostly from experimenting ina small vineyard. Grapes, like everything else that has life, need feeding; they, there- fore, need to be fertilized. Several years ago I heard that bones were good forgrapes. Having plenty of them, I buried them among the roots of the grape vines. I re-boned the same vineyard this year: Bones are rich in lime, animal matter and phosphates. About two years ago, I manured the vineyard. I would have done this before,» only I was foolish enough to believe that manure would cause mil- dew on the grapes. This treatment just about doubled the crop of grapes on that vineyard. Every two years is often enough to man- ure. The yield of grapes depends largely on the pruning. No fixed rule can be given for pruning. The way to prune depends on the age of the vine, the kind of grape, the richness of the soil and the thriftiness of the vine. I have obtained the best results from Delaware and Concord grape vines by short spur pruning. Two or three upright canes may be left to advantage on most varieties of grapes, how- ever. In short spur pruning, these points should be kept in mind: cut away the dead wood; leave three buds besides the base bud on each spur; select the best canes for pruning and cut away all others; where canes are bunched, scatter the spurs; fill up all vacancies with longer spurs and if in any vacancy on the old vineasprout has started leave it for next year’s pruning. Aim to have an ideal vine with spurs growing from it every few inches apart. In pruning, I leave two or three times as many buds as are needed for next year’s growth. Some of these buds are liable to be winter killed. In the spring, soon after the grape buds have set, when the sproutsare six inches to a foot high, I carefully thin out everything that I do not want for fruit or for fall pruning. I have observed that the first bud from the base of the spur bears the most fruit. In pruning and thinning, there isa universal law that may be followed, namely, the law of the survival of the fitest. I do not know whether spraying pays or not. The way I look at it is, that you might as well feed a well man on medicine to keep him from getting sick as to spray a healthy grape vine in order to ward off disease. Mildew is about the only disease that seems to bother our grapes. When it does come on the grapes, it is almost always caused by the weather. In hot, sultry weather, with frequent show- ers, look out for mildew. Such weather may not be the primary HOW TO MAKE A MINNESOTA VINEYARD PAY. 479 cause of disease, but it certainly helps to develop it. As the weather changes, the grapes seem to recover from the disease of themselves. A little air slaked lime sprinkled on the leaves will help them. I know of several vineyards that have never been sprayed; and they seem to bear as much fruit as those that are sprayed. Spraying may help the growth of the canes. As to that I am not prepared to gay. Save work. Cultivate only often enough to keep down the weeds. Use a plow in covering the vines in the fall. Wait until nearly all the canes get above the second wire before tying in the spring. This saves tying,as many of them will catch and tie themselves Then do not tie ayain until they get above the third wire. If worked right only two tyings are necessary. I do not believe in pinching off the laterals. A little later in the season, a few hour’s work with a sharp knife or sickle will accomp- lish the same as a week’s work would in lateral pinching. The vines should be trimmed in oval shape; leaving plenty of foliage around the fruit and trim close at the top. Cut the canes off about six inches above the third wire. The canes should not grow more than three tothree and a half feet long. Plant between the rows and plant close. This has not much to do with grape culture; but it has a good deal to do with the profits of the vineyard. I have raised potatoes between grape vines for several years. By spraying,potatoes may be forced. Last year I had eating potatoes by the 22d of June. This year about the lst of July. Last year I got 90c per bushel, this year, 50c to 60c. Next year I hope to get them in the market, if the season is favorable, by the 20th of June. This year I hada part of my garden between the grapes, raising spinach, radishes, peas, beans, tomatoes, cabbages, cucumbers, mel- ons, potatoes, Hubbard squash and sweetcorn, I would hardly ad- vise, however, planting Hubbard squash and sweet corn between grape vines. The squashes like to grow on the grape vinestoo well. I managed the sweet corn all right. I planted it between the melon hills. The corn grew in the air, the melons on the ground and the grapes all around, You may say that planting between the grapes will injure the vines. Did youevertry it? On the contrary, I believe it is a benefit to the grapes. Growing plants help to keep the mois- ture in the ground. They also decompose the manure and turn it into plant food. In raising grapes, the aim should be to have choice grapes anda large yield without injury to the vines. This year most of my Del- awares averaged two small baskets to the vine, while some of the Concords averaged nearly three. I believe that with proper care and culture in two year’s time most of our vineyards could be brought up to an average yield of two small baskets of grapes to the vine. If I were to set out a grape vineyard for myself I would set the vines seven feet apart in the row and five feet between the rows. An acre of land set out to grapes in this way would coutain over twelve hun- dred vines, and after it came into full bearing ought to yield about twenty-five hundred small baskets of grapes. With last year’s (1895) prices, it would net $250.00 and with this year’s (1896), $200.00. It ought to pay, had it not? 480 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. GREENHOUSE PLANTS. AUG. S. SWANSON. (A report read at the last annual meeting.) Being called upon for a report on greenhouse plants, I take it for granted that what is expected is more particularly a sort of annual review of what we have got in the way of new or improved plants. Under that heading I certainly must mention the new rose, Belle Siebrecht, as being the one most likely to prove the most valuable addition to our list of greenhouse plants,or, rather, more strictly speaking, florist’s plants, as I will look at new plants from a florist standpoint. While this is too early in the season to speak of the value of a rose disseminated last summer, most of the young plants not arriving here till July, and in most cases in a very weak and sick condition arising from a too high state of culture, which they had been subjected to for the sake of getting the largest number of plants in the shortest possible time. This rose has,in foot ball language, been weakened through over training. This is something I believe it will in a year or two overcome, and I am very much mis- taken if those who now are condemning the rose as “no good” will not be obliged to change their opinion. The pedigree of the Belle Siebrecht, La France and Lady Mary Fitzwilliams I think is all right and should insure a good, free bloomer and fairly though not over robust growers, Of course, we know the rose will not exactly take kindly to the pure tea rose treatment, as it has too much of the hybrid remontant blood in its veins for that, but with treatment similar to that which will bring out tbe best there is in the La France, we will, I think, receive fully as good results. Its color is in many respects a great improvement. It is more decided than the La France, a deeper, warmer pink which does not fade quickly, and thus will insure a better colored flower. During the dark winter months the shape of the bud is all right for a winter rose, being — long, pointed and made up of only a very few broad, shell-shaped petals. Another new rose, and if [remember correctly a sprout from Mme. Cuzin, Mrs. J. Pierrepont Morgan, has also been disseminated the last season, of which I cannot speak, not having seen very much of it, but from report from other parts it is likely to prove itself a val- uable addition to the florist’s roses. It isin every respect a great improvement over the parent plant, very strong and robust, with much larger and better colored flowers. Another much praised and heralded novelty was the California violet. From the glowing descriptions of this plant by the dissemin- ators we were afraid they would overgrow everything here; we im- agined they would make plants the size of rhubarb, with flowers like good sized chrysanthemums. If we should have taken them at their word, we certainly would have discarded everything known here in violets for the California, but I think the florists in business today are not so apt to be taken in with glowing descriptions over novelties any more. Weare, as a lot, very conservative and do not ‘a ear ey ae eh ee gh yi GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 481 invest too heavily before we know “it is a good thing,” and in this case I think we were safe in making haste slowly. _ To judge from appearances, the new. favorite is not apt to crowd out the old single violet which has been grown here for many years under the name of Victoria. In my opinion it can not be compared to that one in either size, color or fragrance, but it may give a few more flowers possibly, though, so far, I do not believe it has those either; so for this climate I do not feel justified in recommending it as a florist’s flower likely to prove of great value. . Chrysanthemums we have annually such large additions to,that I do not know if loughtto mention them at all,as it will be impossible for me to dothe subject justice; stills being the most conspicuous of last season’s disseminations, I think I may say a few words in favor of the Philadelphia,produced and disseminated by H. Graham, of Philadelphia. This is a chrysanthemum that will undoubtedly take a place in the front rank for some time to come. It has all the good qualities that go to make up a first-class chrysanthemum for a florist’s purpose, while the color is quite unique, being a sort of straw color, very pale yellow, still lively and decided enough not to look faded or washed, and it has remarkable keeping and last- ing qualities. Being rather an early sort, it may be had in perfection about the 20th of October, and it will last almost to the end of the chrysanthemum season. Carnations. Of this now so universally esteemed and almost in- dispensable florist’s flower, Iam not able to report any decided im- provement, not having given any of last season’s novelties any extensive trial, and from what I do know, there is much lacking in all of them. Weare still waiting for the perfect carnation, though it must be admitted that some improvement in certain respects has been made. If we take the best varieties of fifteen years ago, such as La Purity and Peter Henderson,to compare with,it will certainly take a carnation specialist to be able to see the improvements. I for my part am not able to see much. Carnations have the last two years become a rather uncertain and precarious crop for a grower to de- pend upon, on account of the new disease imported from Europe, known by the name of “rust.” This terribly destructive fungous pest, for which there does not seem to be any very effective preventative or remedy, has caused great losses the last two years, losses that right here in this neighborhood may be counted by several thous- ands of dollars. One feature of the flower growing here is the successful produc- tion of first-classvioletsin quantity to pay for giving them first-class houses and the best attention. I remember only a few years ago how there was no one in the trade here who thought it would pay to grow violets in houses all winter; only five years ago I had to go as far as Boston for my supply of violets, very few first-class violets being produced in the West, while today, I think, it may be placed among the best paying crops the grower has to depend upon. Enough is now produced right here to meet all demands. I cannot abstain from mentioning the most prominent feature in the florist’s business—in this city especially itis more markedand 482 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. pronounced than anywhere else, I believe. I refer to the practice of the department stores which have inaugurated “ Cut Flower Sales” by having the commission houses in Chicago and other large cities ship the unsalable surplus, which ina large market will sometimes accumulate, to them to be disposed of at any price. There is no question in my mind but this isa great injury and detriment tothe legitimate trade, which may be very plainly seen right here in Min- neapolis, a city with one-fifth more inhabitants than St. Paul, not able to sustain one-half the number of florists. St. Paul has the last two years supported ten to twelve stores devoted exclusively to the selling of flowers and plants, while four or five seems to be the limit of those able to exist in this city. NATIVE PLUMS AND SAND CHERRIES. J. S. HARRIS. (A report made at the last annual meeting ) August Ist,1896,a box of samples of seedling sand cherries from H. Knudson, Springfield, Minnesota. The fruit is eleven-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, nearly roundinform and hasadistinct suture mark on one side; color,yellowish green; stalk,three-eighths to one- half inch long, setin a round, medium cavity. The flesh is green in color, juicy and mild acid in flavor and only slightly acrid—very good for the class of fruit. August 4th, received from H. Knudson, samples of a new native plum. Size, medium large; diameter, one and one-sixteenth inch; length, one and seven-sixteenths of an inch; color, yellow overspread with dark wine red; stalk, nine-sixteenths of an inch, set in narrow cavity; distinct suture mark on oneside; flesh, orange yellow, good consistency; flavor, fairly good; stems, long, thin, flat;acling. May prove valuable on account of early ripening. August 4th,from Wm. Toole, Baraboo,Wis.,a native plum. Size,me- dium large;diameter,one and one-fourth inch; length, one and three- eighths inch; form, round oval; color, yellow ground, mostly cov- ered with red; flesh, orange yellow, juicy: flavor, good. The skin is rather thick. Stone, medium thick, round. It will probably stand shipping well, and it is said to bea good cooker and a sure cropper. Season, AugustIst to 10th, being a few days earlier than the Cheney. August 10th, from Mr. Wittman, Merriam Park, through courtesy of R.S. Mackintosh, samples of a native seedling plum. Size,large, one and one-fourth inch in diameter; form, round ovate; color, very dark red, overspread with a bluish bloom. Suture mark, very dis- tinct; flesh, green orange, good consistency; flavor, good; stone, medium size, round, plump; cling; season, 5th to 15th of August. August 13th, from J. P. Gaspard, Caledonia, Minn., samples of a seedling native plum. Size, large, one and three-eighths inch in diameter; form, round; color, purplish red over a yellow ground; flesh, orange yellow, meaty; flavor, good; stone, rather thick and parts easily from the flesh when fully ripe, leaving it shapely; stone, plump round; cling; not acrid. This plum is of fine appear- ance and keeps several days after ripe. . he* 2 Ua rsy ak a Uy SAS 5 > Yy - NATIVE PLUMS AND SAND CHERRIES. 483 August 20th, from Jewell Nursery Company, Lake City, Minn.,a liberal quantity of a large plum of fine appearance, named “Super- ior.”’ Diameter, one and one-half inches; length, one and three- fourths inches; form, round ovate; color, deep bright red over a yellow ground; flesh, orange; quality, good; skin, medium thick and slightly acrid before fully ripe, and parts easily from the flesh. The stone is thin or flat, and broad oval in shape and very nearly free. The tree is a healthy, vigorous grower and has large, heavy foliage. August 24th, received from Mrs. A. S. Grant, of Wolcott, Minn., three varieties that had been picked on the sixteenth inst. The fruit was of good size, but so injured in transportation that we could not judge the quality or make a description. (Note—Plums sent me for examination should be carefully picked from the tree as soon as fully matured and forwarded at once. We should also like to have the stems or stalks with a portion of them.) September 7th, from Martin Penning,a fine box of his seedling plum “Surprise.” It is a large plum of very fine appearance, one and three-eighths by one and one-half inches in diameter. Form, round ovate; color, a deep red, thickly speckled with fine yellowish dots; flesh, orange yellow, firm; flavor, peachy alittle and next the stone. The stem is rather thick and tough but is easily peeled from the flesh when fully ripe, and is not acrid. The stone is medium size and cling; season, first to middle of September. The fruit bears a striking resemblance to some of the Wild Goose varieties, but the fruit is not as near round or the stone as thick. I think it will keep and bear shipment fully as well. Some of the specimens were kept ten days after picking without showing signs of decay or losing in flavor. From J.E. Criss, Ramona, S. D., about 10th of September, samples of native plum. Large size; form, long oval, somewhat flattened; diameter,one and one- fomrths inch; length,one and three-fourth inch, color, yellowish or orange red; flesh, orange, good consistency: flavor, good; stone rather large, Gal, medium thick, nearly free;skin thick, parts easily from the flesh when fully ripe, leaving it shapely season, middle of September. I have mislaid the notes and description of the late seedling vari- eties produced by H. Decker, of Dresbach, Minn. It is a fruit of fine appearance and excellent quality, much like Penning’s Surprise and was awarded first premium as being the best new seedling plum on exhibition at the late state fair. HORTICULTURAL FUN.—A man in the vicinity of Newburyport, Mass., was taken ill, and his wife,in her search for remedies, came across a box of little black pills, which she thought were liver pills. These she gave faithfully to her husband, who improved under hercare. In about a week, when he had taken all but one or two of the pills, the husband happened to turn the box over. He gave a yell that startled the whole neighborhood. Hig wife ran to him, thinking that he was dying. “Look,” he cried, “read what it says on the bottom!” She did as he bade her, And this is what she read: “ Prime Crown Morning Glory seeds.” MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 484 “‘sTjodeouuln “Al_ B}0sey 10¢ ‘A1B}9199S ‘WVHLVT ‘M “VW "AYIQ ONB'T ‘yuopiIsaig ‘GOOMUMAGNND ‘W ‘Ef Ssoippe ‘sie[nojied 19y4yINj 107 *991}0U SIT} 0} WOT}BTNIAID OPIM SAIS osea]d 9384s 94} JO sisded 9} TTIM ‘ABMB ABYS NOA JISSO[IMOA SIAY | 91N4[NS1W10q4 jO qouBbIq AUB UI pajsoi90}Ul 4poqg 41949 ‘am0g ‘SHULVOIMILAMO LYS OL TIVA LON Od ‘91B} PIONpPII Sq} Jao ‘SABATIVI OYIOVg UI9qVION PUB UIIYVON }B9I4H) 9} OS]e ‘s1jode -ouulyy JO Y}NOS 9784S 94} Ul SpBOI[IeI 94} I1V ‘2000 3B Wie YyeT A1B}9199G 0} I9AO S9}BOUT} -199 9894} U1N} STjodveudi_y Suryovel uQO—’| *N ,{ Peipany 30,, pa1inbol oy} UT poy}uNno0s aq TITA 3893 940 4yUO 94} pues jue JIOd MI ysOoW 9} SI sljodeouni_y Sulyoser s10joq 2ZYGNOWG 22991} 78S] 94} W}IM P9INdas 9}JBOI}IVO aU, “suljseut 294} 02 ABM 9} UO 39H91} B OSBYOING 07 DAeY NOA e194 M JO1Od JaJsuets) YI 7& 9}BOYIRAIO IB[IWIIS B yoS 0} OSTS [IVF JON OG *39491} 94} Suiseyo -Ind JO 9MIT} 94} 3B UAE PBOI[IBI OY} WIOIZ 338d -YI}199 B YONS SsulB}qo Sarpusajz7e uosiead yqoeo Jl porndeas oq UBD DOT}IN PII SIq} }BY} ULeIVO ST }I ‘stjodeouutly 38 yaese peolTle1 9} 0} pozues -a1d 918 ‘SatjIeUI S14} 0} Suturos pred useq sey e1By 94} 3eY} Surmoys ‘soze9YI2199 posapany ao JBY} UOL}IPUOD UO peaindess useq sey diay usiny -31 91} IOJ OABF PBOA[TEI P1IIY}-9U0 03 UOTJONpol W ‘ATINATAVO AVIA ‘SULVA GVOATIVA GYONGHA ‘g0} BI peonpst 94} 19S 0} Surysem AyaI90Gg [BINzND -1}10]] 94} 0349491} VSeVYOING ‘*A}91D0G [BINZ[NITy -10F{ 9} YIM SBulpling smes oy} UI ABpsingy pue AepsoupaM IBIUIATOD [IM AjOINOS Je} JO Surjoom jenuue 94} 38Y} IJIUNOUUe UOT}eIDOS Sy Sisdvoy-20q BJOSIUUT_Y 9} JO SIVIYFO oy, ‘SMaUdHUN AAT AHL OL “ewoy ze duifeys uey} sodeoyo pues ‘9sno}F{-j1NO0D 94} WMOIy SHOOTG Inoj pue ‘HOOT, ByOSeY VY} Ul ‘AeIqI] pue sdyFO §,A18}91998 INO WMO1J YOOTQ JL[PY-9uU0 AT UO ‘s9duUat -WU9AU0D UlOpowW IIB YIM [9}OY JUeSeO!d pue 9[q -BJ1OJUIOD AIBA YW ‘po}eb9T} []eM oq []IM NOA pue .(8}STINY[N1j}10Y,, SBIIISTISIY *“HOOTG STYq JO 100g punois 94} UO Pd}BOO] 91IB AIO OY} UL S}UeINe} -s01 poorid-1ejndod 4seq 94} Jo OMY, *(WOBd'Sz9 tye) ‘Awp iod ‘s}0 cy 10J WIOOI B UL OM} ‘M001 B UT au0 jo Aep sad ‘539 0g JO P9INII8 S9}eI [BIDedsS pue ‘SPUOII] PUP SIOQMIII SUT}ISIA JO SIJJIBNDpeesy se pe}eJes UVeq sey (‘9AY UIdsuUay pUe ya [OOIN u990M40q) '39913S 4p WyNOG Tz ‘euMopUuDA [9,077 ‘nod 1I0OJ poiedoid useq sey YoIyM SSUIY} Poos jo ysvay oy} AOlua pue ‘oo}4 ‘9u109 02 91nS 9q 1SNuUI NOs pueb‘yussaid Sutaq Jo M01} U9} UI Ila} POYlUSIs VALY S$9}b}Ss Suloqyusiou WoOIF S}SIIN}[NOW10G UMOUY [J9IM Jo Joquinu wv ‘Spre0q 3} ploy ITEM ,, MOUS U19}UB’'T,, [PNAUB SIY YIM UIIIH ‘jolg pue [OOYIS wey Aj}ISIIJAIUL 9} JO S}UEepNys 9G} ueYyM ‘ABpsingy, ‘surusaA9 900 jdsvoxs ‘SUOIsSseS SUIMIAD JO UOISSIMIO JY} ST UOTPBAOUUT IoyyoUW ‘S}9q Je}y[9US PUB SUDIISIVAY ‘SIOMOTY ‘sodeig ‘smnjiq ‘selddy ‘soliieqdsey pey 218 Pe21apIsuod 9q 0} Ss}Jelqns [e19UeT oy, “ABA SITY UL potdnsd90 3q 0} SI UOTSSesS JUVSO1d 9} [[B A[1BeU EY} A[110FOLJSI}BS OS POYIOM pue mie1Is0Id 9} jo z1ed & Y}IM poliy SYM UPTd SIy}IveA YSeT ‘Sz! -qns [819A9S JO SUOISTAIp-qns uo sioded oynuUTor -dAy jo Ajesrey dn opem st meisoid oy, :pajyou 9q 0} IB9A SI} SUOTJEAOUUL [RIBAS 918 BIO, ‘ZU S11 OY} OF UINY pue 4451p 9u0 dn 10}BADI[O 94} BYR} ‘VOUBI}UO 3921}9 W}ANOY 94} Woy W9Yy} YOvoI OF, ‘s1veh OM} Sed 3} JUSIUIAMOD OS PUNO;J VARY OM YOM ‘asnoy-yANOD MIU 94} UI Ssmoo1 snoTpourMmos AIVA I194} AAND90 ULBSBI[BYS 9M SIDUOISSIMMOY Ajunog jo pivog oy} jo Asoz1N0D ay} YSnNoIYY, * LNAINAONNONNV *8US}22U [enuue 24} pua}je pure pue 2}v4 pa -Np2s JY} JO VSvJULAPL IAL} O} SpUITAT INOA WAU] *SIIPL] 24} Sug “pay “UZ 23e TW “L681 “YIOI PUY 6 ‘8 “L 42g -waaq ‘Aepiay pue Avpsiny y ‘Avpsou -pan, ‘Avpsany “uur ‘syodvauuryy ye ‘ASNOPI-}ANO07) BY} UF SJIUOJSS}WIUIOT, AyUNor) 2Y} JO SIIfJO 24} UE Pj2y 2q OT *“AIDIIOG JRUNYNIIIOH BiIRIS RIOSIUUIW OY} Jo Suyoow JenUNY ySJI-AJAYT. 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ATO POMTIN uni ters ict emociete sade ste oa’ Donneily TRESS 05.7605 JE & RPE RAR AED A atyt 8 aie ee Alexandria AMON Seas ss oe ae setae Kaen Portland, N. D. Lindesmith, Oh eae es...) One TERE Lyman) HM... es Re eet elelele sis oh wa aie Excelsior CAC N PACD ce adetiteies< vs secienee Excelsior TOTO Typ ctenienis vis eatele pum eve sle =o sie's Owatonna PS UZ MVE Wea nict iaistcistcietelarernin = eslsinve\ein'ral eleiete Dover Leonard. Dr. ah De Sale pyndicas Blk.. Mpls. Lord. O. M.. AAA . Minnesota City Lind, Herman. Pe 2-005 eae ee Hawley Luke, Ke. Sica Hazen st., Ithaca. N. Y. Long, A. G.. ertiantaeiels « sisserats Excelsior Lindquist, BOS a Aa ’ Fergus Falls aan has On vee 2 siete Be sles “419 B. 3a st., Winona Leiz, Rei acehnra vida tle whale We steer tearaete Dover La Framboise, Wm. R.. . West Newton Little, E. C........ 31 Exchange Bidg. Duluth VETS AW). IO cod victor nesses oetcleceeas Lake City pn gefevlows., As. Beciet kis se cxle dee nee Mon'icello La Fleur. BR. R........ New Amsterdam. Wis Miron GSOk isso a caccele ace wee cee Morris NO DU Bans alee arian ame Neweastle, Wyo. ALC AS INOS wees sine se auuesientee Cambria, Wyo. Tons, (Wimilss oe 8..ees 2924 Clinton ave., Mi Is, JEN Cem 0 a eee fe Pune River Falls, Wis. Mohl. Fred.. MGemtavise sees .Adrian Massee. A. W.. Weatemee Albert Lea Mackintosh, Win ee Valet is ore . Langdon Mainz, Simon. Sec d eteelas seitenes cas TINS VOY Ey OLE ws bee Soe eee polanne yaanqetes 35 ‘Lake City Morrison. Mrs. Dorillus..... Villa Rosa, Mpls. Moeser, Frank....... 1230 Western ave.. Mpls. AVE PG HO. CNV ee cic lneatarslave.s aitearstad is. SAGmer Moyer. L R . Montevideo WECM Z1C 5) Ges, E. ose vvelcine'e cisicien a ioe wie ee Duluth Mesenburg, Reales hs ee oa St. Cloud Mackintosh, R.8.. St. Anthony Park Murray, J. ea a Rm Oe rie Excelsior Mueller, H.C... bya Soni New Ulm Melgaard. O. L...... ....Argyle Mesenbring. Otto .... Ss Cologne Mills. Mrs, Anna os Got Le eee ‘Elk River Morgan, RPAR HOSS. ean aie Elk River ULI H WD ie mieten ieta cise iete/eniste 432 Baton Blk, Mpls. Mills, W, E. aban ae eae uae qui Parle Melinat, M .. nr ckihinckiedbtnesecce aOUSHer Melgaard, 15 (ae IEP AE So ARR -Argyle May. L. b. time else% St. Paul Matheson, R. M...... - Brandon, Manitoba Mian Ata Ges Uizcemuememsteaere -Chatfield Wassees Mrs. Al W. .. Jc.cn. ens Albert Lea Magnusson, Sven.......... Stark TASS Ta nals (6 eh eer ete ene :) West Newton Wilbore P iB: «ccusacoob onesie ese cee Warren Malberg, John....................-Cannon Falls MOOtAAS DT: jocceaee aed aie dso) Mate ates oe Harriet Molitor Rev. Te s.cicsccncns . West Union Miathiesong (EL. 2 oss)! scact as “Watertown, Ss. D. IVER TICS, (IMG, DS elakiviure donee samelcaan ose erenee Dover VEC OMT ROS ievatteis Sais cee Brscieaevelon sicoretela Austin Macaulay. T. — Sars deisede, sara Montredh Canada Maloney. M. winthiachets vcloae mateates "Hopkins Mal sr Bk: Wis tuu motes Cdilcconecs tec aty@reeniear apace Oe ER esas eH deca ...-Forest Mills Mb Satan eWWisciste mesa wertelaesietont ele ake’ ee Rapids MOVIE V5 MG ID ce Soices cs ce ceies set Benson MifCHEN ND IMs. saciuasosicetiset eee _ Owatonna Morrison, Grey Als se cietre bie ich South Shor ,&8. D. Mitchells DroiG. Lodo. cece. Good Thunder Map DOW... ccics sprees cs ccevicnss os DUESCHWALS SS SSS ss Muirhead, R. B An sc nh aa ...Neepana, Man : 3 McClintock, Mrs. J. Leosseccces ss LWKOHOKGt McGinnis, D.R.. McKinstry, L. H.. McPherson. A..... McLaughlin, ng McKinney, MM TBS cpa ace fee eats :.. Washio ton McUauley, Ecos Bovictease rise neneme Ae 4 M-CoolaJohn’. 2 sects. cs tee ee ate .Barry — Nupter) sBesbltcesttae sates 701 Sykes Blk, Mpls. sone tabs 've deus ce MRCS 8. D. Nelson, P. M. Nordberg. O. A... Norum, Sivert.. Nevens, EF. W Northrup, Ha Otterness, E. Pee Oxford. Wm.. Opjordan. O. Ke Overgaard, P. H.. Ovied) Ped) nse. Otis I Sie! Opheim, Knut... O’ Rourke. M. E Prichett. John.. Pennell, Prof. C. ‘- Peterson, ye Pel Wm. *Pondergust, WW Wasnt ‘Grand Rapid .134 yee Life. St. Pa NII. Bereusitallaa North, Eben....... ; “ - : a Cedar ave., City” Ei. sins) cieeen eee Blair, Neb. SHES AOE ror Box 466, St. Pauw dase eek wees .......Morris — Ene St. Anthony Park — nodee es tee Court House, Mpls. 618 E. 15th st.. Mp St. Bont Manitoba: — 4 Mantorville — Soa ‘Pleasant Grove | _Marine Mills — 4 Stordentam oe “106 ist ave. N.. M pls. ot lalue iekale ate einem a Was edo — pvcae Freeburg cree RyAa aes hoe Bete g dives -blesiee ess ha OnE ee Hee meee meee eee eee O’Shanghnessy<. W...se0sss one see Ollermann, H. O. Ostergren, E.A Olson. Ole J...... eo ceecccecce ceccee ACR aGnIEM Pond. Boa I locmingtom Pye! Mss oa eet ower .. Faribault Peterson, TPs. nod. cae Freeborn — Penning, Martin: Page, John. Putnam, W. J Ponds We Resse. IPerny. Gem season rere Sicilia arminto Patton, C.G.. ..Charles City, la Pendergast. Prot. Wi We oo Hutchinson | Pickle; BOs vs cles ceewe teh elas Montevideo ~ Parsons, Lyman. Palmer, S.G.. Parkhill, Robt.. Parker, W. L. Prescott, Geo. H oa Page. Piper C.H Peterson. J. a : Patterson, Wm. Pond, Lewis.. Penny, John... 25 Paddock, Geo. A Peterson, P- H Pahl, Boas. Pagaphopf. John wo Sigal wenteus .. River Falls. Wis. “ ser cessice aeepanee Bloomington | see asia Beshemie oat pa Plain — Sleepy Eye — iT W, 2nd St., Pianta Bed iaineeae pring fields ween ee oe pp ene en City don Ce ; cee 3! Gaourech’s Ferry, N. D WOE We was Peete. teeeye ‘ort Snelling Pfaencer. Jr., Wm.. sia eratale ..New Ulm © Perry, P. WO Sis. si soe ‘Champlin — — IPOOLHI ME to. hecce teed aecn aoeese ‘Fergus all sine Radusch. Otto J...681 Oakland ave., St. Pau Randa Wick wes soca view cols seraeiers Rice. E. M... rates Ric ardson, ‘SD... Rykken, O. T.. Robinson, Marshall......640 E. 19th st., Mpls. Robertson, Prof. Wm. . ..St. Anthony Park Ray. Mrs. J. W..... ee Portland ave, Mpls Roseboom, A. H Ritter, O. H.. Ransom, C. RC: Rolph wR AS oe Rice, Rev. 0. F Robinson, G. R.. +Deceased. Ringsrud, Ole.....----+s------Elk Point. S, D. Ramuaker, G. W.......---+ ......Cherry Grove re Richardson. G. ae ceive EES “Winneleen City. / Wilmar eee ee Pine. Islan .Cannon Fal 647 Elwood ave., M idtepackbiceas DPE eee te ay ee id Po ies ce ; LIST OF MEMBERS. 523 h Wisk ncs eee ne Llaeveville. Wis: SITS, WIS oss. s nosinde ces Dee Umatilla, Man. chardson, A.J pny NE eae Bird Island | Shuman. H.W... Excelsior UP itiewaarees coe e FOrtle Schell, Otto.. New Ulm eaee en Sen's 2. cl MICS VELLLS Tillotson, Dr. H. B. 919 Guaranty ‘Loan, Mpls. Ree eee etram takai nie'elacie'< = Willmar | Tillotson,Mrs. H. 8B. 919Guaranty Loan, Mpls. , Ee 2. cacbeees tenale vem bisstone City MODACV ACN .... sce ee. Watertown. 3 D. erocers,, W. P........... UK COLMON) |b eM EIOV, Ws. «cece ccunandcher sees. Stillwater ; ae 5) eR Se -Deloraine, Manitoba Thompson, 'Thos.......:.; Grand Forks, N. D Robinson. Wm.. Dawe ewe eae blainen ja hrenbhams N.S... ...csceccececsezess Alexandria Sb Sem eaten es crcaisn me bios « dais Waverly Tmey, B M6 a eee Pee toc mabe tes Long Lake MheilmannyO .... 60... 0556 - Theilmanton WS de ata slcalee masts White Rock, 8S. D Thomas, A. A., ABR See Ho ae Egan, S. DP. 2489 ie ave., Chicago, Ill. pits saree cakes Wayzata Turnbull. John ..... .......-La Crescent Leet ueduite, ateeos Champlin Treleven, Mrs. Jos. D.. -...--..Omro, Wis. sities ‘ee Wing ae eS Ne Yelatacis sib watstclet ices ee Center ys area Benedict...) t. Josep ayer, Bacon eee enville BES Byron..710 Phoenix aac a Thompson, O. H............ .-New London Smith, Oaleb....................... Farmington ANY greys UL Ses Se SE ee Shakopee MME See ck cated Uaecie slo's eres Torgrimson, eee Shen aeis genes . Eureka VOR Mdece tras pateas teense as, Austin Bee oes Ada Minin, HOS fy ees coe Silver Lake Bos ae ct te .. Box 55, Minneapolis Tool, Rees. BoA ages Obatfield a Aatenl aoaintain kre cceres Sprin. field Thayer, Mrs. vAGe .. Riverside, Cal. mene Weise! Casaibalentse, Wau Weel Lek Town, Mrs. Frances L.. . Excelsior aa Ss Pte esate wins Was eas Belle Plaine Urie, Wm...........2520. Bryant | ave. N.. Mpls _ Sherman, ©. M... : ..Charles City. Ia | Upton, Chas. R.. --Clinton Pulls S$Spickerman, C. A Cg 8 ON eer ate Excelsior VanValkiogburg, Re W.. . Springfield ecymour, Reon echoes Seek wee Wis. | Van Hoesen, F.B . Sia tees aera nein ' Spandee, T. R.. ae _Mabel | Von Baumbach, Fred......2. 27°77" Alexandria ‘Sundberg, 0. A.. ~)tvsstesseo Worthington |. Verniilyea, J. 0...........000 0 .... Dover mesecor, Daniel...............- ~ Winnehago City Vomvald, Chris.. ae ee -Nersirand estellar, G.F ...........................xcelsior | Valstead, A. J. Se ‘'Gran‘te Falls — Smith. Shaq Be ‘Ort Foreston Veiht, Theodore......... Pe tae Shakopee lem, Rev. O. A. Th.. .Ha stad MOL ery ME Hind tani can. | mas Marystown nyder. Prof. Harry ...... . St. Anthony Park VanNess, Garrett....... cieeiaseceee Bioomfield Spewenson,-A. P.. .......... Nelson, Manitoba Wasserziehr. ObtOR er ee ee Bay Lake MaAnGWwold, Ole... 2.0.02... cecces Try sil, N..D: WiHlicerl Sipe rts co) ee. Ruse Creek 5 hey Riearetstatarateaehy st ores Cushing, Wis. White, Chas. O.. St. James, Man. Dies cre BaBee Seon New Ulm Wee Ble) Sisacarod 5 '.45 Globe Bldg, St. Paul - Spicer, J - : PWauluatet) (2) WicOG., MG. ot veto «kee noir Waseca Semsaott, W. G.........0.0.. Winnipeg, Manitoba | Wood. E.G ...., Seneca ese Waseca a Sidsewassbevse Albert ben Warwick, James.. aides esha eres .- Money Creek SMIETY a Me), oc co's cicta wve swaninaee does Albert Lea Wiomoyer, Whe ee cae heed -Dresoach i Sh BO sancane POSS as ake oe Alera Bodn | Warren, Wy. T'.ic.0...os. 22 eee oc, -- Woodstock Seeeeiaith, JOHN... ..........0) 2... hits Mills. la Wright, R. A.. OPO aes eee ..Eureka _ Snvder. Fremont............. soktheabemn}, } hWitterd: H:.-c....c6:0.c, aerate a Crystal 2 aR -Champlin | Wallner, B.... --804 8. Wabasha st. St Paul aw eee AS Se RECO eee oa 1 OMe Worthington | Witte. H. L. F.... -.629 5th sc. N., Mpls. & D Bivwe BOG ata ae he ars So eae wes Cooley ville | West, J. P............. Salsa Atty e oie y . wate .216 W. Superior st,. Duluth Whetstone, Dr. Mary...506 Nicollet ave., Mpls. ~w, O. W..... Mee Gena te eR ee. Bhieis a's Sie Austin Wedea Clarenes ie... sa... dee. Albert Lea ee SIERO 2 sk done s. ces... Austin WCHMNS WWI : hacen gcetsise ee Faribault MeSDOPren. BH ... .5.. 222. 25 oes... REA Wing WDFOra UNV: 28258 ons .Canton ‘Stammer, Peter...........-..-....... Shakopee Watt, John. .. aos .. Watson N. D. Mememitien. G. Wo. so... cece ee eens St. Cloud Wilson. Willard H | eee .. Watertown, S. D. % - Stevens. Richard. ape: pep unenalle. Wis. WiiowMugene” it eo.n Sse _...Clinton Falls i Bistone, LD aa ae e odEe Center! | Walrathiy Dis ee en oS Piteriow ne S. D. ‘Stone, Thorstein. Ribose (en vcd ORSON | iy WA HOES Don) aan or oie: Winthrop Shaughnessy, Mrs. “Mary... s “Rosemount WIRE ARS ooo gcctenegce such oPe, Twin Lakes Strickland. J aes edesioe exon .-Zumbro Falls | Wi-e. Ed. werheecens Brown’s Valley * ae Sirois: < jae... .. Storddn Wicklund, John... ; Kandiyohi S Beeaeer, or aoe Hugo | Wise, John O.. De ..-.Mankato oT a Rochester Wedge, DESAY? Ose sic “Albert Lea Be sade weer arde claws Albert Lea Weise. Ed.. Daa ..New Richland Bi ‘Sullivan, es: ae nicee Le eee Graceville | Welhenger. Justin. Beenie Wa eet aa eae Sbakopee meemiith, TT. T. ........... ..Box 2337, St. Paul Wescoti. ae ae re .. Farmington re. Sprague, D.W.. . Minneapolis Wiison. W. “Summit. SeD: Sprague. Mrs. D. W. cl Union st. S. B.. Mpls. Wiederholt, Mr rank.. Miesville _ Sandrovk.Wm.. -eseee-. Money. Oreck WMInOdhuWe'.s.ccee »..-.Markville Strunk, 73 |S Re le a ....Jordan | Wilson, Mrs. G. A. 5 Waseca " Smith, J. Ww... eo ceescecesssseceeee-oe- Morris | Wittman. Aug...... .. .....Merriam Park : Seamans, tire Bote sisters o's saath bide oh tanh a oe A Morris Wilson, A. Ay ae ae Worris Scott, Carl.. Perey CenGya. Ses Wech, Thos. _. eee e ;Plattville, Wis. Stoll. Chas. . FS eves New Ulm Zimmerman, Milbert donee. 8s bo. Arlington | Sherman, Chas... Se oe ..Maple Island OUD Ad GH ra eou crc om a New Ulm . * Re 524 Life Members. ‘Boxell, J.) W....-.. 85 W. Congress st., St. Paul OOMBUGS Sc Eccscseceevatg is aceeee Washburn Dedon, W.S. .-..-Taylor’s Falls Doughty, J. Oole.: ccs ee. Lake City Evans, Sheldon .La Goent Gardner. Chas, F... ...-Osage, I GVOmMSS MT Ia bias ss cc coietteumeere es cru nae ander PATS is Micees e/a .. La Crescent EV ArTIS: SEM o obec cote essen mente. La Crescent Manda Wistar sate viesrceee Short Hills, N. J. Nagel, Eggert ........ Te Lake st., Mpls. Nassbaumer, Fred....... Rat St. Paul Stager, Mrs. Jennie. .. Sauk Rapids Swanson, ENTERS RS AE OIE Synch acne t. Paul Thompson, Mrs. ida. Ueeem Duluth Terry, Alfred.. ae AEE -. Slayton Underwood, J. M.. es .. Lake City Underwood, Mrs Anna I Bares Lake City Underwood, Roy.. oe ..Lake City Wie Aton NTs ee ce. a he Oe Morris HONORARY MEMBERS. Life Members. EUG AUP rote Licem eee cies saat een Ames, Ia. owen, Mrs, Jas.... ....Minneapolis SVAN ORs eon ee aes .-..e. Faribault Coleman, Hon. N. J -. St, ‘Louis, Mo. Cleveland, evar HI. w.S. Corp, Sidney.. .. Hammond Dartt. E. H: S.. ..Owatonna Day, Ditus.. Farmington Elliot, Wyman ..Minneapolis Ford, L. M ee Diego. Cal. Gaylord. Edson.. ra Springs. La. Grimes! JOD. 2625 “73209 i Nicollet ave., Mpls. Gideon, (Po Mises : Excelsior Gibbs. Oliver, Jr .. Minneapolis aris iN Sar eos eee mak oie es . La Crescent Taceys Chas cee. ue csc Fort Benton, Mont. Luedloff, Chas.. iat a5 Carver Dethiapee AAG se eed sas ghee ‘; Minneapolis Manning, J. W.. eee .Reading, Mass. Manning, Mrs. J. W....-.- Peuaag Reading, Mass. Mendenhall wang vssce. ans age sees Minneapolis Manning, Miss Sara M.............-. Lake City Legh gel eppe I Og yet Wire trae Cee rane Fy? Milton, Wis. PHOSTIE HW ne eatmbenteecee Delavan, Wis MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. he ay = 2 xy Paist, MrayWint:).¢2 22 nesenanaee eee Hersey : Peterson, Andrew..............-..-... Waconia % Stevens! Ooi J PA vise screens aoe Minne speiam Smith, Truman M...... .San Diego, Cal. Sirsa Wout. cehese “Harbor View, Pia refeept dupe O]50 LA PAIN ae wee inneapolis Sargeant, Mrs. FH. B.. Is hashes ele pet sje ree Lake City Somerville, Wm.. Br - Viola — nee rae sean Datars | Lamarque, Texia= Tuttle, A.C. ae ofevtan . Baraboo, Wis. Tilson. Mrs. GE Ge “West S:lem. Wis. Van Cleve, Mrs. C. O....603 5th st. S. E., Mpls. | 4 One Year Members. G. J. Kellogg. Janesville, Wis. — Fp Je Philips. West Salem, Wis. H. M. Dunlap ....Savoy, J1l. C.G, Patten Charles City, tae <8 C. F. Gardner veecee +e Osage, Ta, Jerry eee .Ames. Ta. Prof. N. E. Hansen.. ’.. Brookings, $s D. D. GC. Converse......... +... Ft. Atkinson, Wis. Chas. Hirschinger.............. Baraboo, Wis. DECEASED. Life Members. P. A. Jewell, Lake City Dr. John A. "Warder, South Beng, O a B. Hodges, St. Paul. TD. W. Humphrey, Faribault... 5...:2cos5 Marshall P. Wil er. Bos on, Mass.. Chas. Hoag, Minneapolis..... Ue Se eres Mrs. Wenulthy Gideon. Excelsior........... Chas. Gibb, Abbottsford, Quebece..... ALR R. L. Cotterell, Dover Center E. Wilcox, Trempeleau, Wis. s A Herzog. Minneapolis...............- . M. Smith, Green Bay). Wis)s<2.5 0 eo seen Gen, P P. Peffer. Pewaukee, hides eC D. A. Robertson. St. Eau. F. G. Gould. Excelsior.. M. Pearce; Ohowen.cios scien wees been eee ya OS ed RT ri Wi costs, , a INDEX. A Page A ‘in. D, F.. Productiveness of Hardy Varieties of Apples Compared... ......... .. 102 A \lbert Lea Trial Station, Report of, Clarence Wedge, Supt.. Licefoe Mee thera ae Albert Lea Trial Station, Midsummer Report, Clarence Wedge, eke Racine pee 275 drews, C. H.. The Root-Grafting of Apples. OY ctu eee ee SUG i\drews, J. P., Annual Meeting, Iowa State Arial ooletes: ene res ta te pee 28 drews, J. P,, Medicine for Tree Sharks.. rie Bee 351 drews. J. P., Purpose, Methods and Reanlig of f Top- Worse! 144 Ideal Farmer’s Home, Mrs. O. C. Gregg.. REE IES IRE ee at PROMEEE ER LEM Ie os nual Meeting, 1896. F. H. Nutter.. See Se i aiawis die eisle ete la oats net lake nine Oreo 8 tnnual Meeting, Dec. 1-3, 1896. J carat one SE late aioe Siete 2 oie ein ae Ieee ae is MAI Ocoee 493 Pes ODN VEN DION, Erol, Ox TMG GOr ss iis ss cales swcieicesssueldis'e calsaletoueic we uise meee slates 165 yple Growing, C. L. Blair.. 465 ple, L. E. Day’s Seedling Winter, J. Ss. Harris. eB roins fo Spey Cavs thy a Foe aisles BOUL ple (2 CCE ES ieee) Met 20 ae ee Sty a oS NAR ear oN mec aie eared tast oes 349 ple, Root-Grafting the, C. H. Andrews.......... .......4- 439 ples, About My, W. L. Parker. . Ppt tee 387 _ Apples Compared, Productiveness of andy Variotios of, D. FR. ‘Rhin. SVen See antn sce 102 i REE ISS alin a ERUPT S 5 203 si ae vicina he inte s hela diniorele kia sbie wiv simeniniawie seem ee manatee 335 Apples in the Home, Uses of, Mrs. Clarence Wedge.. Bs DES ens sere eat apts 1! SEMELES MMI NTMIOS OAS OCU UNE, ae anlee les se aa eleiselam as once rans on ndindinn sis od edpe acne Secielee sere ene 125 ples, Minnesota Seedling, J.S. Harris.. Ble cinta Ue ea sar cea se al) herent eee ace noe D ples, My Experience in Storing, R. ©. Keel WE ASAEE sad teuhvtetl aoe Mawr alot tue melee meine 310 ples, My Experience with Russian Varieties of, Wm. Somerville. . 3 106 Pe PEL LTRE ENG CISCUSSIONS OM 2. 2s PI As NY caus a) bales amass cmap be beinais Sateae 102 ples, Seedling Winter, J.S. Harris NUE cetera tomers olne Oarisdetae nec eina etiam ets ys 417 Mie.the Orabiand, the Hybrid; The, Prof. Si B. Green :)i.6. 0. se. ok. ccc eeltaccss os Re fea Apple Trees, Why, When and How?. Pruning, 8. D. Richardson............ ......... 103 Ree LOLPAD EY OLAV riety ESTA oa) a ae ainlo'ainie «ales sicle in siatolse'e aivitin'e ni6 sia'sle' ain cn's'e ow ens 253 _A Woman in the Case, Mrs. A. A. Kennedy ie so Sogo et 440 B liley, J. V., Marketing Vegetables and Small Fruits..................026 cceeeeeeee 230 - Barnard, Mrs. M. M., Flower Culture among the Children........................--- 159 Barrett, J.O., Forestry and the Water Problem..................cceeeeee Tie so da edt ak 475 Herapny OL Joseph Merritt Underwood... esse. cejeeiecicewscingc dueeeae) Ses Ce ER ES 26 ography of P. A. Jewell. .... ae ak THREE, ox Glen cine edema). AO rds to Horticulture, Relation of, ‘Prof. Otto Tugeon Waa paints Six BY cas toe ais tee Un clare e 422 air, C. L., Apple Growing.. BR/ ane ania teralctabt rae acts tise abet pels MaRS EE bat cibateaeranie’wapelan e's AGO CER eRe? AMCLAS GRINS Old atte REN «cafe ae add canons Eis ate oh o sie oe gy wiaiel opaslvers He,cl wid ys « 399 ‘Bost, A.A., The Future of Vineyarding in Minnesota. ............... 200 cote cece eens 379 PRT TETA ON HB) OTTO DIOL RAPHY: Ofte os nis oleic vo senmice ates ceil Ce cal Secvenecsee duced 253 Peace aw, fu. Lo Memoriam Of Li: My MOLG) 352... ve eesceeccdemscit sceeewlssuy cc ceietucds, (BBB i&B iding, Plan for Horticultural, A.W. Wiatham,...cs..c0 ese cces ccadecws seeeceee cose 35 Bush, A. K., Evergreens............ ard blanttatelats o/h Sia ane B Bush, A. K., Orchard Setting in Mianedabe, he When anid Whore: BP OaR. PAP eT Te 204 - Bush, A. K., Report of Committee on Obituary... PRO As i os ean te 446 irnley, H. E., Orchard Practice in Washington.. 365 attermore, R. H., Observations on Fruit Growing ‘the Past Season. stevie Se RE, 323 sy DEL ht see Me PUAN hig Hcl ay or nig Sn ReneS One h | ane ge ee ee rata: Bi wee ’ - 4 Pas 526 INDEX. : Cites Calender, J.S. Harris.. : a tbellseivces eug Genee tien Cony Boh atetes Central Trial Station, Miidhinniar Be pors, ‘pants Ss. B. ‘Green, Supt.. Central Trial Station, Report of, Prof. S. B. Green, Supt Committees for 1897.. Converse, D. C., Care of Siri beiee Beds after Fraiting.. Cbia’e've Siscele ine deiee/et iowa Cook, Dewain, Midsummer Report Windom Trial Station.. AA GOook; Dewain; Reporton Entomology. .2:...2 cs screw eel islen 1+ sere weipnee ae Cook, Dewain, Report Windom Trial Station Cooking, Hints on, Mrs, Wm. Danforth Cook: Martin W;.,Opitwany Of 2.2250 sso ie ofc cleiee eh omtpteiagelet soe otras (e/a ol teeta ae Crandall, C. B., Cultivation of the Strawberry......... MSE A Lye Rbalsie tae eae eee Crandall, C. B., Report on Small Fruits, 1896.................... Gutts i, Tn Mencia: 5/3552 ae een & ul tetera csi nimtareliolel bite lee anata la eens eee tere Cutts, E. J,, Second Year’s Treatment of Strawberry Vines Teer ee eee eee ee ee ee Danforth, Mrs. Wm., Hints on Cooking Dartt, E. H. 8., Report Owatonna Trial Station Doughty, J. Cole, Annual Meeting, Illinois State Hort. Society Doughty, J. Cole. How to Run a Nursery.......... wis ise gbiels bnteeis be ecla bide opeees els pre eeen , Drouth, CircumVventings A SCLECHIOM sa. 0.2.10 2 teleost reife 0) ois ail pio idie’e Aste alee ieee Drouth, The Campbell Method of Overcoming E Elliot, Wyman, Annual Report of Executive Board.. we detass Elliot, Wyman, Practical Thoughts on Growing Shade reese Elms, Our Native, L. R. Moyer Entomology, Report on; Dewain Cook). 2.4.22 ..isccnss saccace a: pecan bana ela nce ieee H BS VGLELECMSs Aa GIS ens «cial -isys me scia sn ster siaisve ee yasoreyeiale ale olatatatelotstainlat areal ea etait ee c Executive Board, Annual Report of, Wyman Blliot..........-.....-. 2.20502 eee ee a Executive: Board, 1897, ReCOLGS'OLs...4- be as-' ono yoaienlosleista a)bsetiolel> eleicle/oiete lata Pie eeiseiea mate Excelsior Trial Station, Report of, H. M. Lyman, Supt...................... BR he oats Kairchild, H:S., Nut Bearing Trees; etc. : 5)... hicddacen ses dvaew ers dlacen eewite dolsetbie eee latin, Gans Peaches. oicc< ceiscee ace eee accents hi eB biteb ees nieteen s nice ae daneiuseedeeets des Florida, A Snap Shot at, Roy Underwood.. wlasaclere' e's de piste.aicts.o's)a\steelelelegelataerae Flower Culture Among the Children, Mrs. M. M. Barend : Ford, L. M., In Memoriam of W.E. Brimhall........ alae cots O2 a setehepewiots oo bec eee Ford, L. M., Mrs. L. M. Ford and Her Flowers Ford) Mrs... M:) and‘ Her Wlowers yi. MM. Word 2.2.2. otcecek. «scene no <8 wee ae eee * Forest Reserve Area,” Proposal for Oreating @.».........2..2.-s0csecwceccneneoscsss Forestry and the. Water Problem, J. O. Barrett. :.2... 005.2 5.2.cc050:ceeceress Seer Forestry as an Employment, A. E. Stene Forestry Association, Minnesota State, Notice of Annual eva of. Forestry Association, Minnesota State, Officers for 1897 of . sibad wise Weyer aepeiee . Forestry, From the Committee on; ©. L. Smith yc. sce) on oe cncr cree. anne nsenincelesee Krankland; Thos.,; Manitoba, Prait Notes... c.-cvesies s-sce) rem hem «eee anteaters Reeroeea Fruit in Sleepy Eye, Martin Penning........... Fruit Blossoms in 1896, Report on, L. R. Moyers, Rectdasntd seats sty moeetereen Fruit Growing at the Head of Lake Superior, R. H. Pantorenan: Fruit Growing, Possibilities of Scientific, Hon. Thos. Harrison. . Fruit Growing the Past Season, Observations on, R. H. Butéeemoreh =o Bruit Gist; 1897 325 sete ce eta tapes nebelew ean einem ats pubselmmctae bios s tts oe ee ce ate ees nate eran E Fruits Most Profitable in Minnesota, A. W. Latham.. ao dele tu aewseooeied Fruit, Success vs. Failure in Growing Heavy Crops of, Chas. F. i@aniner Fungicides and Insecticides, Formulas for... .......... ee ee ee ey i ee cd RPP MRE Te RNAi Ree te ene ipa ‘ be INDEX. 527 r brags G » Gardening in the Island of Jersey, E. W. Major...... 2.0 22... cece eee teen eee cece eens 457 . Gardner, Chas. F., Success vs. Failure in Growing Heavy Orops of Fruit......... .. 190 meeeGaviord, Edson, Top-Working versus SeediingS. -..-..........0.c0esceeeccenescee seeee 154 4 4 Pane 11) ees DESLLOM PE LOL. 1. TOOD: «scctice cd osccauins s-\s0e sna cldielnales viene dacns ess 359 x ie Greenhouse Plants, A. S.Swanson......... EoD key Tien te) AB) _ Green. Prof. S. B., Annual Meeting S Wisconsin’ State Hort. ‘Society... Ector ecm a S| iGreen, Prof. s. B., Midsummer Hapart of Central: TrialisStation. :...5 2, dase, essen ae 271 Green, Prof. S. B., Reforesting Cut-over Timber Lands in Minnesota.... .......... 120 Penn eeror, Sls. kenort Gentral Trial StatiOn..:. 0 leccas ve de octecceceactccdvesceeteecs De Green, Prof. S. B., The Apple, the Crab and the e Hybrid. ara othe: wi mialoln Oe Ree aK ofelay ate es 222 Bi. Gregg, Mrs. O. C., An Ideal Farmer’s Home.. Be ac Ss SOOPER ch. Saree ep earn aoa) Sees On O,, Dhe.Harmer’s Plum Groves... 2. eecee Scejsa dees sede aderaencacedios sosese 282 ‘ ie Gregg, O. C., Winter Protection of Strawberries on the Prairie....................... 426 : a H _ Harrrison, Hon. Thos., Possibilities of Scientific Fruit Growing.....................- 80 SSRs ATA DPIC) DORON Sak acne Fe Some cetera eee Sa coeine on va ce dora eats sa) #weecainure fee 335 Seetiarris, J. S., Calendars..:........ rele bes eles nia sls se St aaesr BOON Orly SAGs eee Harris, J. S., L. E. Daye soedline Wiriter Apple. BEND os ieotier at vsiste al aeeed teem Lee _ Harris, J. S.. Midsummer Report La Crescent Trial ‘Siation.. , SEs Soha tee ake oer ea Reis 756, NInNneSOta SCCGlING APPLES. . 2. cs ccccsec ce back eisces cae suede eteccevesegens 297 oa MeELenisg.)..9-, Nomenclature and Catalogue... 5... sete. coed ee se cecdecscecceecscsces J 402 . MRIS OT TUULNO| OG.) 5 anasiesis oni -loesion 201- sles meind Seacrest nieetaeas eo) Bh epee ees 460 Harris, J. S., Report La Crescent Trial Station.. 1 EEE AT ROI SA NAA OL omer tcl Harris, J. s., Heport of Committee on Obituary... epee ea SO eee ot. SA eee ea oe BERRIES ECOL TOMA COMIN ES. et casa sac a Seb sneles vodonceciodeces solsscdoedes 482 L Perarris, J. S., Seedlings and New Hruits in 1896 ............ccecc cc. vcee coccceececcrerce 2294 MERE ISINS Wilteriecedling ADDICS: =. <0... ccsecccsets bcnicdscivcuscss ce cedveh esacensors 417 PI NLOL Wis MEPl SAGO 1) MINN GSObA ss «of alent-ticieysare a 0) den nade neice vn weyelh cleranrarers 311 Hinkley, M. E., Thoughts on Plums and Cherries... 78 Horticulture and Industrial Employment at the ‘St. ‘Cloud apetomnatony. ey R. ae’ “HISTOR aeloeh Ue Ree? ee een Ores aie Be eh ae PRO at Cahn sate Mies iia ae 437 _ Horticulture in the District School, Prof. Wm. Robertson................. 0.0. cece cues 463 ‘Hort. Society, Fillmore Co., R. Parkhill... Reaee oes adi Nctas yon mente eles Horticulture, The State Press and Its Relation to, E. ‘x Webb... a 466 Houlton, 8. R., Horticulture and Industrial Employment at the ‘St. Cloud ‘Re Bemiatary Bes A BORE Ut PSE CAE UNCP TCO E ES Ce EE CGR ALIS ACTRESS ee 437 MPR ere en ANDi aly OOH ATG 2 occ sce ac falelci els c40.cn cece ence vas cciwsrs ovulecieh cosas, LO I Illinois State Horticultural Society, Annual Meeting, 1896, J. Cole Doughty........ 71 Iowa State Horticultural Society. Annual Meeting, 1896, J. P. Andrews.............. 28 Pre eanoOn in Minn esotarerot: We Mu EaQySi? . t.cae as cece caslccwatttucincatice omcescasees 311 * J MERU 7A. lograpig Osi ivy an or ckcs0e sand gebscesddeucuc se costed loses Shs SU 49 ; K Seiccel, R.'C., My Experience in Storing Apples. ..... 0.0.0... sccsseeecesedecnceeseeceees. 310 Suemmennedy, Mrs. A. A.; A Woman in the Cage. ... 2... ..cccseceeceedscoe scusatenees cneees 440 aaa Kennedy, Mrs. A. A., Vice-President’s Report, 1896, Third Cong. Dist............... 295 EGS NT PSS VV is AOE VIN OD OS,, 0 > 2 baelec an ea seis denis cdicw/s ole elcaiele os bu drretwe cs aceeeets 435 3 Kimball, F. W., Annual Meeting, Northeastern Hort. Society ........................ 33 Peicimball, i. W., Ninety-six as'a Schoolmaster:... 0... 0... ccc cc ccc c tees caw cece ee cece ce 181 epi ball, W. W., Small Wruits in 1806,.2. 000 2.06s.cc.cec ecco seep ob sens eer ct eneececnceesee OF | L La Crescent Trial Station, Midsummer Report, J. S. Harris, Supt..............0..02. 27 : La Orescent Trial Station, Report of. J. 8. Harris, Supt..............2. cece cece eceesces 61 Latham, A. W., Fruits Most Profitable in Minnesota.............. Rat Sy niatnts Basco aehane 4 ew FR ee ee RELI Ta sah UTS E TN fete Cee Rt ON hte LE ISR G DTHCO A Ty, : ¢ vane . RST ee eee HY wie tah Ane GR AEA BS Rye oh ay : 528 INDEX. | : a Latham, A. W., Growth of our Library......... ve ssca'n Pe Salve & ahiie eo Sie eal Latham, A. W., Horticulture at Minnesota State Fair in 1897. Edie cine siaalsiplaieiarstotls Senne Latham, A. W., Plan for Horticultural Building at State Fair.......... ila'n'e ple clotgteh st eeaes Latham, A. W.; Secretary’s Annual Report. ios) 3). Sok ieaees setts Get encane vosuee Latham, A. W., Secretary’s Corner, pp...47, 88, 129, 170, 211, 247, “Sot, 329, 370, 411, 450, Latham, A, W , Strawberries in Northeast Minnesotais:.2 +). cara iiaaees tet ape aes Latham, A. W., The Homes of Some of Our Friends.............. ...secceeccsccceccess hibrary, Growth of OaraA Ww, Latham. f..od.cs en secs cake eee Lord, O. M., Midsummer Report Mihnesote City Trial Station: ..jesvee ene se oe Lord, O. M., Report Minnesota City TrialStation......0. 000.000. cece cece ccc ccccccccee Lord,'O. M., ‘Soils Adapted to Strawberries... %.22.02-400 ee. dea oun oe ee eee aot Loring Park, Minneapolis. . pee), A sees'a natalia ons’ SNC Se eee Lugger, Prof. Otto, Relation of Birds to Hen ticulture. | Ba ip heaps sees costa eee Lugger, Prof, Otto, Report of Anti-Pest Convention. ..-..........0..ececeec. cece cece ce ) hugger, Prof. Otto), Che San:Jose Scales ascot. cea eee eee ae eee ee Lyman, EH. M.; Report Excelsior Drial Station... *.--.ce2sek cee eee eee Lyons, Mrs. Win, Satistactory Plants;..00. 2052's ss) «lester ees eae eee neta: ae Mi Major, h.W., Gardening in the Islandiof Jersey... -.-ssces --0e) sete eee ee ee Manitoba Fruit Notes; Dabranklands i seesansece eras Pe el 4 Lis Seistg Manures for Horticultural Purposes. The Preparation and Use of, Prof. ‘Harry SOY Ger es itvine s Neaeerciacly soe me bette bie able ae tee toes ess Retr te a eae Peer CL! Marketing Vegetables and Small Fruits, J. V. Bailey.............cecece «}oecececrcoccne 230 McGinnis, D. R., Mulching and Irrigation of the Orchard..............-2----.se+eeeee , McGinnis, D. R., The Fruits and Flowers of Oregon.........2....:-vse+ loeece seca seanes ae a Medicine for DMree Sharks; J.P uAMArewSwaccatcen score eh Paes oe tee eee eee eee } t Members for 1897-7 Listiotier sce sane Sate ie cis uc oat See nicer a ee ey ee ae Minnesota City Trial Station, Midsummer Report, O. M. Lord, Supt................ Minnesota City Trial Station, Report of, O. M. Lord, Supt....................e-0-e-- Montevideo Trial Station, Report of, L. R. Moyer, Supt............. ..cecceeeceevcee Montevideo Trial Station, Midsummer Report, L. R. Moyer, Supt...........-....... Moyer, L. R., Midsummer Report Montevideo Trial Station .................-..cs0ee Moyorsty. J. Our INQ bLV@ UE Sie shea senate ten Sarena tne Risen eg eae en oo anche catelaeaes Moyer, OU: R., Report: Moutevideo Trial Stabion...0%,....s. se eeudseeauencceeue tees Moyer, 1, 7; “Report on Pruit Blossoms, 18060. Lc. on cee echt ces ve oaeee eye eae N wNinety-sixas'aiSchoolmaster, EW. Kimball aus. ceeese een oc ce ante ie sae eee Nomenclature and Catalogue, J.S. Harris.. wotletiee aos es tee Northeastern Iowa Hort. Society, Aneel ‘Meeting of, B. W. “Kimball . < behenas Nursery, How to Runa, J. Cole Doughty.. wale ticles ojala Seelam e eetaiteitic eats of Searte een NutBearing Drees) ete. sELUS. Bairchild 20) ose eee ee eee Nutter, lb, Annual Meeting 1896 70s. 5: ie. Wues.ateinnnenes sei cccaeine selec tema ae ieee Nutter; BH.) Native Deciduons:Shrubsiisccc sere cnsc date etigne eset eee eee a eneee Oo Obituary oP Eid. Oubt0s 105 Bu bis ateale. blsicercwa dete amen ented sacle se tae eae Obituary of Martin W. Cook.. Obituary of M. Pearce . aa eta hefalea Aa ee ee pela east apeoa le eA ae oh toe ef! a MPRA te eee te Obituary of Prof. Ba ward D. Phair Sno etahabata Noite pom irieies slots we Seta ama 7Obituary) of Warren iW .\Pendermastulc upuhicc cache sacee a cinete ole ty Aeterna Opituary of W Bit. Brim ballon: shiek wine een eee otra a et en ea Obituary, Report of Committee on, J.S. Harris, A. K. Bush......................- OMCars for 1B 2. cist saa pay ates Camtasia ahha sedis SSS Ra ete e e ee Se a Orchard) Oultivatinevan, J. M1. hUnderwoodsuaeoratene sateen eee te ie eee eta Orchard from Wind, Cold and Heat, Protecting the, W. L. Parker............... .. Orcharding,;An Improved) Plan: of) 0,'G. Patton.) menses see. e nee cae ee eee eee Orchard, Location of,\(A\ discussion/so..ccneasue. ce etaee ne oe ane a eee ee ee Orchard, Mulching and Irrigation of the, D. R. McGinnis..... Orchard, Planting an. J. A. Howard.. A Wait ahd yciia stalbene ee eae oe eatete Orchard Practice in Washington, H. E. neniag et are XA Ty lalaiat tacos emarate Orchard, Setting a Minnesota, How, When and Where! A. K. Baebes PETROS Mea py Ce 2 Orchards of Southern Minnesota, Five Days among the, Clarence Wedge. irchard, Solid Comfort in a Minnesota, Clarence Wedge..............ccccceeececeeece regon, ihe riits ang) hlowers of, Des MeGinnis: oo... 0. ccdeeeidlee cdcsce be cecece MEMEMEEAATU TI ua ISOs ragera as sheets Seem eich Meee ciao Sale Maio icles soos cba acleeuere othe aatad mrniohology, J. S. Harris...... ...... HOH ei OS RENE Up,).> GERPIM ROE AS if eds ae Ney Se ie Ornithology, Report on, Wm. T. Shaw" 3 BREA SLOLES, | MUKS oii Wis CNMECAY nea, vein cigne st cic e's coin neippen alc sean! eamasesosgeeate vests ISSR INV eas A DOG NUY TA DD LOS ees.c n!a\<.ngaleemet sc «3 /a) chal twetslale nie,arus oa)pteiathee bles eves taco te Parker, W. L., Protecting the Orchard from Wind, Cold and Heat................... Parkhill, R., Fillmore County Horticultural Society.......... 0... cc cee cece cece cease minmnton,,OnG..,,An Improved Plan/of Orcharding....70s2 S65. feisseelsoseccs es eeues meearce, M., Growing Peaches in Minnesota..cod. 2 cs selec oc eo esc cde catswtecivcceesacnd Sereanens lie NU LOn ing, SLEAWOCELY> ELENDS 92). odes cclcacddlesicciocesccohjpobcsve dress welsbiceee SBESMECe DL OUILU EVOL crt alba fle daneeiscie ean az.e siete s acacia seise acts se ac oclae 6" ohana Pendergast, Prof. W. W., Teaching Horticulture in the Public Schools ......... ... z _ Pendergast, R. H., Fruit Growing at the Head of Lake Superior... _ Pendergast, Warren W., Obituary of.. Bee vale tenes. Pe a SEE Ae 4 _ Penning. Martin, Best Three Warleties of trawiertics for Howe ea! wobctoce aha ace Bening w\iartins Rraiin SlGepy HYG) lcccn.s lias ce seas cece nsns eects one dees eelnebeoee SaMS SAUSLACCOLY, Mrs: Wink. TuyOns 2.4... 6... as. ceeca net seicnape sss wece seen, oases _ Plants, Three Hardy Herbaceous, Mrs. Anna B, Underwood. ...................0:- ne PUEeroOves Lhe Harmer ss, O2 ©. Greve. .cocccssecccccise sheen tbalece, docvlensueteeutea ts _ Plums PAP OHOLries, Clarence: WEAR) s..28 oe sc Jo bwawlsaanee abit Ldlnoonrsh an cedetoscecud Plums BBALOHOPMIG win Leah. Wiis VV ACINOYV OL. caches =. coce coe anceccd on habeducca eOuccueeene - Plums and Cherries uD nouUcntson.le. Fy) Eine yi... 2s) see satan de oe ele aoeee coe et a eM erOL eMC Wise: 1). OOLITANY OL. sce - is cece toate clad oums meltviteesce bo bue a aee ase Lue 5 . Potatoes, LASSEN NUR LUPTO MO ae te accle les ok fot certite ete Societe cit nc tye seme eae mee eeeremiums Awarded at State’ Pair. 1897.2... 1.2.52. ceancecesdecenebecscecesce svccuceuses We Premiums, Award of, at Annual Meeting, Dec., 1896...... 2.6.0... .2ceeeeeeoscce es seen a Prescott, G. H., Small Fruits in Freeborn County in 1896........ 0.5... ccccwece seceee ___ President’s Address, Report of Committee on................. 0.22 eee ee RO ees ee PEPuaongs Annial Adgress:. J. M. Underwood 2.2. vaeccsc cckeci ce teccceccesus chet tues Be ranonmannial Meeting, Dec, 7-11, 189712 2.6 cca cen sek deh ccnasauc case conbess ; 45g MUMMIES OM VSO sos seas caer colo o Fer ssiape deasaoase ncae ee DM SPICE. Aetetl seis sehen x Sane slonde Randall, Sec. E. W., Horticulture at the State Fair...........000 ccccece ceccececceces Reforesting Cut-over Lands in Minnesota, Prof. S. B. Green .. .........2... 0 cesses Registration? Shall We Have a Bureau of Plant...............cececceee cvcceccccceccs aeESUSCRPLLEA WAUTEED ER Ls) AMMAN «cs aialg' is Gnals SeeORSGN oe a ool otta'e Sea Vee te eka eden hehoee Dedoles Richardson. 8. D., Pruning of Apple Trees, Why, Wien Rm HOW ss gens eseeu ces _ Richardson, §. D., Vice-President’s Report, 1896, Second Cong. Dist ................. Richardson. S. D., Windbreaks for Orchards........0...0.. eeeeseeee saficeen &skiteoneca ne Robertson, Prof. Wm., Horticulture in the District School ............... cscs ceeeeee _ Rogers, W. P., How to Make a Minnesota Vineyard Pay..........cceccecece seceuceees Ss SETENaHOTP Ys “Vines Alamo meson... 14 Sd Soya ee ca lek Sots cekicadles tows den oticceoecewms hare _ Sampson, C. W., Gathering and Selltng the Strawberry Crop.............0.seeeeeee oe Sampson. J. A., Preparation of Soil for ee ineas SErawPerrics es: s\ii/5 ch). 2da.s wa twas eee San José Scale, Proposed Law against . YE net 2 ERE OEY SRE OS SO San José Scale, The, Prof. Otto Lugger.. A ee a API Soaaamaktes waaay Sank Rapids Trial Station, Report of, Mik. Weunte ‘Stager, Supt... Balaetnicts'< Sabah acinar seks - Secretary’s Annual Report, A. W. Latham. .......cc.cc0.0 cece ceccceccesseeua ceececee __ Secretary’s Corner, A. W. Latham.......... 47, 88, 129, 170, 211, 247, 291, 329, 370, 411, 450, p) _ Seedlings and New Fruits in 1896, J. S. Harris............. DMR Giw pars Ste aMeirs tess sees es 444 Ere, i eee MB, Roe Ee PNET a fie | * 4 pe 530 INDEX. Seedlings, Report on, Jj:'S. Harris. £2. ct. fas vtpaess pe os%n caacen ee ea'en «he aie eee meee Shaw, Wm." T.,.Reporé onjOrnithology.s se s223i, Ueces ies pete se oe eet wi ekne it ents Shepherd,.A. M., Planting Stra wDerries cof... 2:1: saow cas slo Sisnlouls «ivals's osleyivalel eee eee Shepherds A. M.; Small /Prnitsin 1896 2. 5.20... as esseese seieaee See eee ee Seen ee Shrubs in’ Winter, ProteGring, «<< vii some skis» vic\ooline Werota evita ninbtte's emi e Denne ore tie nce Shrubs, Native Deciduous, F. H. Nutter..................... aeed, shh abead sopra seat Small Pruits, 1896, Reportion.’'O.. B.. Crandall. vy. eos cceweact ene beh eee ae ee eee Small Pruits,In 1806; Acme Shepherd.'o vac oc a aces clean e eiemiaooa cate onin clots RoR Smallirulisin, 1866) Bs We Wm ball hohe aco ences deus atts eee tines vide ane ee oie: ieee ee Small Fruits in Freeborn County in 1896, G. H. Prescote Bios ve eens iat ieee eet eee Smith, C. L.. Report from the Committee on Forestry................. 2c ee een eeee cee Snyder, Prof. Harry, The Preparation and Use of Manures for Horticultural Pur- MOBOS ih criec lecwtje ee eee cits orb coitdn Sele Sie'ds hetovwe, tysia liars S/> erate a SLs ovata Mee ls tae ream Somerville, Wm., My Experience with Russian Varieties of Apples...........-.-.2.. Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society, Annual Meeting of, Glarouce Wedge... Sprays, How a Successful Fruit Grower, T. G. Yeomans............... ...cs0+-++ sce Stager, Mrs. Jennie, Report Sauk Rapids Trial Station ................. | Renee om Stager, Mrs. Jennie, Vice-President’s Report, 1896, Sixth Cong. Dist................. State Fair, Horticulture at the, Secy. B. W. Randall... 1... cc. ccc .c Geese cecees State Fair in 1897, Horticulture at Minnesota, A. W. Latham........ ..............- Stene;,A; bs Horestry asian’ Employment. 2.0 .4..)aics sue nacenais atest fo sia died sia eis Stevens, John H , Vice-President’s Report, 1896, Fifth Cong. Dist .................. ice Strawberries for Home Use, Best Three Varieties of, Martin Penning............... Strawberries for Market, Best Three Varieties of, W. 8S. Widmoyer............ .... Strawberries in Northeast Minnesota, A. W. Latham................0-.ee cece ce ceeees Strawberries, Irrigation of, ‘A:\GiSCUSSION.. 12... oo scetr cies twisisie nescence cecidee ofa seen Strawberries on the Prairie, Winter Protection of, O. C. Gregg................. .. «- Strawberries, Papers:and discussionSiOn 2%. ..4.2 2 cea ooo vice cnsenlsiess nuncienteaieseeeres Strawberries. (Planting, A: Mi Shepherd): 2: 2.2.04 Jove... stone codsatoteeeasee eae Strawberries, Preparation of the Soil for Planting, J. A. Sampson.................. Strawberries, Soils Adapted to, O. M. Lord.. duidie'seiee bashisais vie auictestes peli s eee Strawberry Beds after Fruiting, Care of, D. C. “Oduveres ASE i hc. de Secret eve eee mete Strawberry Crop, Gathering and Selling the, C. W. Sampson. ................. 00.005 Strawberry, Cultivation of the; C. B::-Orandall. <2 otiscun wae meine omenoursey ae aicter ese Strawberry, Growing, scientific, C.D) OArten oo. o.3as-ioa oe eitetactnce sora ae ial eerste Strawberry Plants. Mulching, M. Pearce.. Fale a tole oe Wleal beers Nate oe win be Gia e lomanat ole oleh Steere Strawberry Vines, Second Year’s Prcaiient. of, E. eye Cutts. Robe o 3 a aialeletan ste creche See Summer Meeting, 1897; Miss Bh V9 White 2 eo 0.52 oe fe he eeeice cin) Sec eae eens er eRe Summer Meeting, Novice Ole 2.2 hows as act ion sea tineeieyee peleni eos ai sites aa cee eae Sera Superintendents of Trial Stations, 1807 02 yj occurs < sce. eee oh become ancing eree N'Ste ee Underwood, J. M., President’s Annual Address........... ..... al sileech hie ooees Ser es Underwood, Mrs. Anna B., Three Hardy Herbaceous Plants................ ....-200- Underwood. Roy, A Snap Shot at Florida..................... 5 kamen PREP gS Bee Be ioni's Report, 1896, Second Cong. Dist., §. D. Richardson _ Vice-President’s Report, 1896, Third Cong. Dist., Mrs. A. A. Kennedy. eta Report, 1896, Fifth Cong. Dist., John H. Stevens. . ; 4 Vice-President’s Report, 1896, Sixth Cong. Dist., Mrs. Jennie Stager .. : _ Vineyarding in Minnesota, The Future of, A. A. Bost................ Vineyard Pay, How to Make a Minnesota, W. P. Rogers........ ........4. Ww f - Webb, E. A., The State Press and its Relation to Horticulture Wedge, Clarence, Annual Meeting, Southern Minn. Hort. Society Pa Wedge, Clarence, Five Days among the Orchards of Southern Minnesota........... ae Wedge, Clarence, Midsummer Report Albert Lea Trial Station Wedge, Clarence, Report Albert Lea Trial Station _ Wedge, Clarence, Plums and Cherries Wedge, Clarence, Solid Comfort in a Minnesota Orcharda.. 4 y Wedge, Mrs. Clarence, Uses of Apples in the Home - White, Miss E. V., Report of Summer Meeting, 1897. ~Widmoyer, W.S., Best Three Varieties of Strawberries for Market ) ee W.S., Plums and Cherries in 1896.........0....0.:.cc00s Watt Nino dae @ thes Hh Re cais for Orchards. S. D. Richardson _ Windom Trial Station, Midsummer Pehaen Dewain Cook, § _ Windom Trial Station, Dewain Cook, Supt.. assole dads. (ss Sealy eens Wisconsin’s New Horticultural Building ¥. BY - Yeomans, T. G., How a Successful Fruit Grower Sprays........ .... ty _ Your Corner = cog t : , > _ : 1 a nA iar? ‘ ‘ ae WALNUT 00289 387 —— —— —————— ‘2 — —— 4 —Sjle) — — =———— repose CRP gp ns I Ne ng he ee Nw SELENE me