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diff --git a/18183.txt b/18183.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..417340c --- /dev/null +++ b/18183.txt @@ -0,0 +1,29330 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Trees, Fruits and Flowers of Minnesota, 1916, +by Various, Edited by A. W. Latham + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Trees, Fruits and Flowers of Minnesota, 1916 + Embracing the Transactions of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society,Volume 44, from December 1, 1915, to December 1, 1916, Including the Twelve Numbers of "The Minnesota Horticulturist" for 1916 + + +Author: Various + +Editor: A. W. Latham + +Release Date: April 15, 2006 [eBook #18183] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TREES, FRUITS AND FLOWERS OF +MINNESOTA, 1916*** + + +E-text prepared by Brian Sogard, Josephine Paolucci, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 18183-h.htm or 18183-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/8/18183/18183-h/18183-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/8/18183/18183-h.zip) + + + + + +TREES, FRUITS AND FLOWERS OF MINNESOTA + +1916 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: MONUMENT ERECTED IN LOBBY OF WEST HOTEL, +MINNEAPOLIS, + +Place of annual meeting of the society, December 7 to 10. Height of +monument, 10 feet. Number of bushels of apples used, twenty-five. +Enlarged seal of the society on its front.] + + + + +Embracing the Transactions of the +Minnesota State Horticultural Society +from December 1, 1915, to December 1, 1916, Including the Twelve Numbers +of "The Minnesota Horticulturist" for 1916. + +Edited By The Secretary, + +A. W. LATHAM, + +Office and Library, 207 Kasota Block, +Minneapolis, Minn. + + +Vol. XLIV. + + + +[Illustration: MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY "PERSEVERANTIA +VINCIMUS" ORGANIZED 1866.] + + + +Minneapolis +Harrison & Smith Co., Printers +1916 + + + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted in estimating their practical value. + + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + +Vol. 44 JANUARY, 1916 No. 1 + + + + +President's Greeting, Annual Meeting, 1915. + +THOS. E. CASHMAN, PRESIDENT. + + +This is the forty-ninth annual meeting of the Minnesota State +Horticultural Society. Nearly half a century has elapsed since that +little band of pioneers met in Rochester and organized that they might +work out a problem that had proven too difficult for any of them to +handle single handed and alone. Those men were all anxious to raise at +least sufficient fruit for themselves and families. They had tried and +failed. They were not willing to give up. They knew they could +accomplish more by interchanging ideas, and, furthermore, if they were +able to learn anything by experience they wanted to pass it on to their +neighbors. + +Those men built better than they knew. The foundation was properly laid, +and the structure, while not finished, is an imposing one. A great many +people believe that this structure has been completed, that we have +reached our possibilities in fruit raising. This is only half true. We +are still building on this splendid foundation erected by those few +enthusiasts. + +None of those men are left to enjoy the benefits of their labor. The +present generation and the generations to come are and will be the +beneficiaries, and I believe as a tribute to their memory and the good +that they have done that we should fittingly celebrate our fiftieth +anniversary. At this time I can not suggest how this should be done; I +simply make this suggestion in hopes that it may be worked out. + +I was in hopes that a home for this society might have been erected this +year or at least made ready for the 1916 meeting. This would surely have +been an occasion worthy of the anniversary which we hope to celebrate. + +The building committee appointed by the last meeting went before the +legislature and tried with all the eloquence at their command to make +the members of the legislature see the necessity of appropriating +sufficient money to build a permanent home for this organization. The +members saw the force of our argument, but we could not convince a +majority of the appropriation committee that they should deviate from +their plan of retrenchment which seemed to permeate their every act. + +We were disappointed but not disheartened. We were promised better +success in the 1917 session. So we are living in hopes, and I firmly +believe that if our efforts are renewed at that time that this and the +auxiliary societies may have an opportunity of meeting and transacting +business in a home that, while it will belong to the state, will be for +the use of these organizations, and that we may be able to take up our +abode in it not later than the winter meeting of 1917. + +Secretary Latham has prepared an excellent program for you. Many friends +of this society are with us again, full of enthusiasm and vigor, and I +know that we will have one of the most successful meetings ever enjoyed +by this organization. + +Owing to the fullness of the program, I should consider it an imposition +on my part if I should attempt to make an extended address at this time +and will hasten to call on the gentlemen who are to contribute to the +success of this meeting. + +[Illustration: New varieties of strawberries originated at the Minnesota +State Fruit-Breeding Farm.] + + + + +Annual Meeting, 1915, Minnesota State Horticultural Society. + +A. W. LATHAM, SECRETARY. + + +Did you attend the 1915 meeting of this association, held in the West +Hotel, Minneapolis, four days, December 7-10 inclusive? Of course as a +member of the society you will get in cold print the substance of the +papers and discussions that were presented at this meeting, but you will +fail altogether in getting the wonderful inspiration that comes from +contact with hundreds of persons deeply interested in the various phases +of horticultural problems that are constantly passing in review during +the succeeding sessions of the meeting. With such a varied program there +is hardly any problem connected with horticulture that is not directly +or indirectly touched upon at our annual gathering, and the present +meeting was no exception to this. In all there were sixty-nine persons +on the program, and with the exception of Prof. Whitten, whom we +expected with us from the Missouri State University, and whom sickness +kept at home, and one other number, every person on the program was on +hand to perform the part assigned to him. Isn't this really a wonderful +thing where so many are concerned, emphasizing as it does the large +interest felt in the work of the society? + +The meeting was held in the same room in the West Hotel which was used +for the banquet two years ago. It seats comfortably 250, and was +approximately filled at all of the sessions of the meeting. At the first +session there were in attendance about 200 when the meeting opened at +ten o'clock Tuesday morning. Later in the morning the seats were +practically all filled. Making allowance for the change in the personnel +of those in attendance at the various meetings, it is easily within the +limit to say that between 400 and 500 were in attendance at these +meetings. + +Immediately adjoining the audience room on the same floor, and opening +out of the spacious balcony, were the various rooms occupied by the +fruit exhibit and the vegetable exhibit. The plant exhibit was in two +alcoves on this balcony, and the cut flowers were displayed along either +side of the balcony, making altogether a wonderful showing of nature's +floral products. The accommodations for this meeting were almost ideal, +and judging from the expressions of the members we have never been more +happily situated than on this occasion. I have endeavored to draw a +plan of the arrangements at this meeting and submit it to you, not for +criticism, but to assist you in understanding the situation. + +We were greatly disappointed that Prof. Whitten was detained at home by +illness, but others from abroad took up the time so that there was +really no interim as a result of his absence. We were fortunate in +having with us the last day and a part of Thursday afternoon Sen. H.M. +Dunlap and Mrs. Dunlap, and their parts on the program were listened to +with intense interest, and I am sure much good was gained for our +membership from the service they rendered the society, which it must be +understood is a gratuitious one--indeed that applies to all of those +whose names appear upon the program. That is one good thing about the +horticulturist, he is willing to tell what he knows for the benefit of +others. To hold any other view than this would be too narrow and selfish +certainly for the true lover of horticulture. + +The exhibits were in every case in excess of what we anticipated. +Notwithstanding the light crop of apples in the larger portion of the +state, there was really a fine showing, and quality was very high. Of +boxes of apples there were shown eleven, and of barrels of apples six, +for each one of which exhibits some premium was paid, as besides the +first, second and third premiums in each case there was also a sum to be +divided pro rata. There were twenty-nine pecks of apples exhibited, for +which premiums were also paid in the same way. Four collections of +top-worked apples were on the list. Premiums were awarded to forty +seedling apples, an exceedingly good showing for the season. As to the +number of single plates shown the record is not easily available, but +the accompanying list of awards will give information as far as they are +concerned, there being of course many plates to which no awards were +made. + +The vegetable exhibit was an extraordinarily fine one and filled +comfortably the convenient room assigned for its use. It was excellently +managed by Mr. N.H. Reeves, President of the Minneapolis Market +Gardeners' Association. + +As to the flower exhibit under the fine management of W.H. Bofferding, +it was so much better than we anticipated that it is hard to find words +suitably to express our thought in regard to it. Besides the splendid +collections of plants and the large display of cut flowers from the +state, there was shown from several eastern parties rare flowers, many +of them new productions, which had a great deal to do with the +beautiful appearance of the balcony, where all of these flowers were +shown. + +[Illustration: Sketch showing arrangement of hall and adjacent rooms, +&c., used at 1915 Annual Meeting, in West Hotel, Minneapolis.] + +Mention ought to be made of the monument erected in the center of the +lobby on the ground floor of the West Hotel, a structure ten feet high, +containing at its base some dozen or fifteen single layer boxes of +choice apples and on its sides something like twenty bushels of apples +put on in varying shades of red and green with a handsome ornamental +plant crowning the whole. The seal of the society decorated with +national colors appears upon the front. The picture taken of this +monument is shown as a frontispiece of this number. It is incomplete in +that the photographer cut off both ends of it, which is unfortunate in +results obtained. Nevertheless it helped materially to advertise the +meeting and was a distinct ornament in the lobby. + +As to subjects in which there was a special interest on our program, the +only one to which I will here refer is that of "marketing," which +received particular attention from a considerable number of those on the +program or taking impromptu parts at the meeting. The Ladies' Federation +assisted us splendidly on the Woman's Auxiliary program, one number, +that by Mrs. Jennison, being beautifully illustrated by lantern slides. + +Delegates from abroad as usual and visitors were with us in considerable +number. Prof. F. W. Brodrick came from Winnipeg, representing the +Manitoba Society; Prof. N. E. Hansen, as usual, represented the South +Dakota Society; Mr. Earl Ferris, of Hampton, Ia., the Northeastern Iowa +Society; and Mr. A. N. Greaves, from Sturgeon Bay, Wis., the Wisconsin +Society. We were especially favored in having with us also on this +occasion Mr. N. A. Rasmusson, president of the Wisconsin Horticultural +Society, and Secretary Frederick Cranefield of the same society. If all +the members of that society are as wide awake as these three the +Minnesota Society will have to look to its laurels. + +I must not fail to mention Mr. B. G. Street, from Hebron, Ill., who was +present throughout the meeting, an earnest brother, and gave us a +practical talk on "marketing." Our friend, Chas. F. Gardner, of Osage, +Iowa, managed to get here Friday morning after the close of the meeting +of the Iowa Horticultural Society, which he had been attending, and so +spent the last day of the meeting with us. Welcome, Brother Gardner! The +meeting would certainly have been incomplete without the presence of +those old veterans and long time attendants at our annual gatherings, +Geo. J. Kellogg and A. J. Philips, both from the Wisconsin Society. We +need you, dear brothers, and hope you may long foregather with us. + +As to that war horse of horticulture, C. S. Harrison, of York, Nebr., +what would our meeting be without the fireworks in language which he has +provided now for many of these annual occasions. The wonderful life and +sparkle of his message survives with us from year to year, and we look +forward eagerly to his annual coming. + +There were three contestants who spoke from the platform in competition +for the prizes offered from the Gideon Memorial Fund as follows: + +First Prize--G. A. Nelson, University Farm School, St. Paul. +Second--A. W. Aamodt, University Farm School, St. Paul. +Third--P. L. Keene, University Farm School, St. Paul. + +Their addresses were all of a practical character and will appear in our +monthly. + +Prof. Richard Wellington conducted a fruit judging contest, in +connection with which there was a large interest, and prizes were +awarded as follows: + +D. C. Webster, La Crescent, First $5.00 +P. L. Keene, University Farm, St. Paul, Second 3.00 +Marshall Hurtig, St. Paul, Third 2.00 + +At the annual election the old officers whose terms had expired were all +re-elected without opposition, and later the secretary was re-elected by +the executive board for the coming year, so that no change whatever was +made in the management of the society. J. M. Underwood, being absent in +the south, was nevertheless re-elected by the board as its chairman for +the coming year. + +A pleasant event of this gathering was the presentation of a handsome +gold watch and chain to the secretary, a memento in connection with the +termination of his twenty-fifth year as secretary of the society, which +expression of appreciation on the part of the members it may well be +believed was fully appreciated by the recipient. + +The hall was brilliantly decorated with the national colors, which had +never been used before at any of our annual gatherings. What can be more +beautiful than the stars and stripes entwined with the colors of foliage +and flower. Never has our place of meeting shown so brightly or been +more enjoyed than in this favorable environment. + +During the meeting upon the recommendation of the executive board there +were five names by the unanimous vote of the society placed upon the +honorary life membership roll of the society, as follows: John Bisbee, +Madelia; J. R. Cummins, Minneapolis; Chas. Haralson, Excelsior; F. W. +Kimball, Waltham, and S. H. Drum, Owatonna. + +The meeting closed with seventy-five members in the hall by actual count +at 4:30, and we certainly hated to say the parting word to those whom we +earnestly hope to gather with again a year hence. + +What can we say about the crowning event of our meeting, the annual +banquet? Two hundred and two members sat down together and fraternized +in a most congenial way. Gov. W. S. Hammond was the speaker of the +evening and greatly enjoyed. All the other numbers on the program were +on hand to perform their parts. Here follows the program and you can +judge for yourself. Why don't you come and enjoy this most entertaining +event of the meeting? + +PROGRAM. + +Prof. N.E. Hansen, Toastmaster. + +Grace Rev. J. Kimball, Duluth +Opening Song Trafford N. Jayne, + Minneapolis +Why Wake Up the Dreamers--Aren't They + Getting Their Share? Prof. E. G. Cheyney, + University Farm, St. Paul +Reading Miss Marie Bon, Minneapolis +What Joy in the Garden, Provided E. E. Park, Minneapolis +Every True Horticulturist Has a Private + Rainbow with a Pot of Gold at the End Mrs. T. A. Hoverstad, + Minneapolis +Song s. Grace Updegraff Bergen, + Minneapolis +The Joy of Service Gov. W. S. Hammond +What Care I While I Live in a Garden A. G. Long, Minneapolis +Song Trafford N. Jayne, + Minneapolis +Never Too Late to Mend--Unless You + Are "80," A. J. Philips, West Salem, Wis. +Reading Miss Marie Bon +Right Living and Happiness--You Can't Have + One Without the Other, T. E. Archer, St. Paul +Closing Song Trafford N. Jayne, Minneapolis + + * * * * * + +"DON'TS" ISSUED TO PREVENT FOREST FIRES.--1. Don't throw your +match away until you are sure it is out. + +2. Don't drop cigarette or cigar butts until the glow is extinguished. + +3. Don't knock out your pipe ashes while hot or where they will fall +into dry leaves or other inflammable material. + +4. Don't build a camp fire any larger than is absolutely necessary. + +5. Don't build a fire against a tree, a log, or a stump, or anywhere but +on bare soil. + +6. Don't leave a fire until you are sure it is out; if necessary smother +it with earth or water. + +7. Don't burn brush or refuse in or near the woods if there is any +chance that the fire may spread beyond your control, or that the wind +may carry sparks where they would start a new fire. + +8. Don't be any more careless with fire in the woods than you are with +fire in your own home. + +9. Don't be idle when you discover a fire in the woods; if you can't put +it out yourself, get help. Where a forest guard, ranger or state fire +warden can be reached, call him up on the nearest telephone you can +find. + +10. Don't forget that human thoughtlessness and negligence are the +causes of more than half of the forest fires in this country, and that +the smallest spark may start a conflagration that will result in loss of +life and destruction of timber and young growth valuable not only for +lumber but for their influence in helping to prevent flood, erosion, and +drought.--U.S. Dept. Agri., Forest Service. + + + + +Award of Premiums, Annual Meeting, 1915, Minnesota State Horticultural +Society. + + +The list of awards following will give in full detail the awards made in +connection with the fruit exhibit: + + +VEGETABLES. + +Carrots Chas. Krause, Merriam Park Second 2.00 +Celeriac " " Third 1.00 +Cabbage J. T. Olinger, Hopkins Second 2.00 +Carrots " " Third 1.00 +Onions (red) " " Second 2.00 +Onions (yellow) " " Fourth .50 +Celeriac Daniel Gantzer, Merriam Park First 3.50 +Lettuce " " Third 1.00 +Onions (red) " " Third 1.00 +Onions (white) " " Fourth .50 +Onions (yellow) " " Second 2.00 +Onions (pklg) " " Second 2.00 +Beets Karl Kochendorfer, So. Park Third 1.00 +Carrots C. E. Warner, Osseo First 3.50 +Onions (white) " " First 3.50 +Beets Mrs. John Gantzer. St. Paul First 3.50 +Cabbages " " Fourth .50 +Onions (red) " " First 3.50 +Onions (yellow) " " First 3.50 +Beets Mrs. Edw. Haeg, Minneapolis Second 2.00 +Cabbages " " Third 1.00 +Celeriac " " Second 2.00 +Carrots Alfred Perkins, St. Paul Fourth .50 +Lettuce " " First 3.50 +Onions (red) " " Fourth .50 +Onions (white) " " First 3.50 +Onions (yellow) " " Third 1.00 +Onions (white) H. G. Groat, Anoka Second 2.00 +Onions (pickling) " " Fourth .50 +Beets Chas. Krause, Merriam Park Fourth .50 +Cabbages " " First 3.50 +Lettuce Mrs. Edw. Haeg, Minneapolis Second 2.00 +Onions (white pklg) " " Third 1.00 +Onions (white) Aug. Sauter, Excelsior Third 1.00 +Globe Onions (red) P. H. Peterson, Atwater First 3.50 +Salsify Mrs. John Gantzer, St. Paul First 3.50 +Turnips (white) " " First 3.50 +Rutabagas " " Fourth .50 +Parsley Mrs. Edw. Haeg, Minneapolis Fourth .50 +Hubbard Squash " " Third 1.00 +Potatoes C. W. Pudham, Osseo Fourth .50 +Hubbard Squash " " Fourth .50 +Potatoes Frank Dunning, Anoka Second 2.00 +Pie Pumpkins " " First 3.50 +Hubbard Squash " " Second 2.00 +Turnips (white) Alfred Perkins, St. Paul Fourth .50 +Potatoes Fred Scherf, Osseo First 3.50 +Rutabagas " " First 3.50 +Pie Pumpkins " " Fourth .50 +Parsley Chas. Krause. Merriam Park Third 1.00 +Parsnips " " First 3.50 +Salsify Chas. Krause, Merriam Park Second 2.00 +Turnips (white) " " Second 2.00 +Parsnips J. T. Olinger, Hopkins Third 1.00 +Turnips " " Third 1.00 +Rutabagas " " Second 2.00 +Parsley Daniel Gantzer Second 2.00 +Parsnips " " Second 2.00 +Pie Pumpkins " " Second 2.00 +Parsnips Karl K. Kochendorfer, So. Park Fourth .50 +Potatoes Aug. Bueholz, Osseo Third 1.00 +Hubbard Squash " " First 3.50 +Rutabagas " " Third 1.00 +Parsley Frank L. Gerten, So. St. Paul First 3.50 +Pie Pumpkins " " Third 1.00 +Radishes " " First 3.50 + +E. O. BALLARD, Judge. + + +COLLECTION OF APPLES. + +Collection of Apples P. Clausen, Albert Lea $3.30 +Collection of Apples Henry Husser, Minneiska 3.78 +Collection of Apples D. C. Webster, La Crescent 3.96 +Collection of Apples P. H. Perry, Excelsior 2.36 +Collection of Apples F. I. Harris. La Crescent 3.48 +Collection of Apples W. S. Widmoyer, La Crescent 3.12 + + +SINGLE PLATES OF APPLES. + +Yahnke F. I. Harris, La Crescent First $.75 +Utter W. S. Widmoyer, La Crescent First .75 +N.W. Greening " " First .75 +Malinda " " Second .50 +Plumb's Cider " " First .75 +Patten's Greening F. W. Powers, Minneapolis First .75 +Duchess " " First .75 +Malinda F. I. Harris, La Crescent Third .25 +Peerless " " First .75 +Wolf River " " Second .50 +Wealthy " " Second .50 +Antonovka " " Second .50 +Fameuse " " Second .50 +Gilbert " " First .75 +Duchess P. H. Perry, Excelsior Third .25 +Yellow Transparent " " First .75 +Tetofsky " " First .75 +Charlamoff " " Third .25 +Yahnke " " Second .50 +Evelyn " " First .75 +Lowland Raspberry P. Clausen, Albert Lea Second .50 +Hibernal " " First .75 +Okabena Francis Willis, Excelsior First .75 +Milwaukee " " First .75 +Patten's Greening " " Second .50 +Longfield " " Second .50 +University " " First .75 +Longfield P. H. Perry, Excelsior First .75 +Fameuse " " Third .25 +Hibernal E. W. Mayman, Sauk Rapids Second .50 +Wealthy Sil Matzke, So. St. Paul First .75 +Peerless " " Second .50 +N.W. Greening " " Second .50 +McMahon " " First .75 +Yellow Transparent Henry Husser Second .50 +Fameuse " " First .75 +Walbridge " " First .75 +McMahon D. C. Webster, La Crescent Third .25 +N.W. Greening " " Third .25 +Brett " " First .75 +Gideon " " First .75 +Superb " " First .75 +Okabena M. Oleson, Montevideo Second .50 +Peerless " " Third .25 +Hibernal " " Third .25 +Longfield " " Third .25 +University " " Second .50 +Charlamoff Henry Husser, Minneiska Second .50 +McMahon " " Second .50 +Wolf River " " First .75 +Jewell's Winter " " First .75 +Anisim P. Clausen, Albert Lea First .75 +Jewell's Winter " " Second .50 +Antonovka " " First .75 +Iowa Beauty " " First .75 +Yahnke " " Third .25 +Borovinca " " First .75 +Patten's Greening P. H. Peterson, Atwater Third .25 +Malinda " " First .75 +Okabena " " Third .25 +Lord's L. " " First .75 +Lowland Raspberry " " First .75 +Charlamoff " " First .75 +Duchess " " Second .50 +Tetofsky W. J. Tingley, Forest Lake Second .50 +Wealthy H. B. Hawkes, Excelsior Third .25 +Grimes' Golden P. H. Peterson, Atwater First .75 + +JNO. P. ANDREWS, Judge. + + +SEEDLING APPLES. + +Early Winter--Arnt Johnson, Viroqua, Wis. $1.45 +" " --W.S. Widmoyer, La Crescent 2.45 +" " --J. Flagstad & Sons, Sacred Heart 2.15 +" " --No. 96--Henry Rodenberg, Mindora, Wis. 1.55 +" " --No. 32-- " " 1.85 +" " --No. 50-- " " 1.55 +" " --No. 82-- " " 2.00 +" " --No. 52-- " " 2.40 +" " --No. 64-- " " 2.20 +" " --Dr. O. M. Huestis, Minneapolis 1.55 +" " --Jacob Halvorson, Delavan 1.55 +" " --No. 102--Henry Rodenberg, Mindora, Wis. 1.15 +" " --No. 138-- " " 1.40 +" " --No. 137-- " " 2.00 +" " --No. 131-- " " 1.70 +" " --H. H. Pond, Minneapolis 1.15 +" " " 1.30 +" " " 1.15 +" " " 1.55 +" " --Henry Husser, Minneiska 2.10 +" " --O. O.--M. Oleson, Montevideo 1.85 +" " --O. K.-- " 2.05 +" " --G. N.-- " 1.30 +" " --G. S.-- " 2.20 +" " --E. T.--M. Oleson 1.70 +" " --E. A. Gross, La Moille 1.15 +" " -- " 1.90 +" " -- " 2.25 +" " --No. 1--Arnt Johnson, Viroqua, Wis. 1.40 +Late Winter--No. 133--Henry Rodenberg, Mindora, Wis. 3.90 +" " --No. 134-- " " 2.75 +" " --No. 135-- " " 2.55 +" " --No. 104-- " " 3.70 +" " --No. 49-- " " 3.25 +" " --No. 16-- " " 3.80 +" " --No. 12-- " " 3.25 +" " W. S. Widmoyer, La Crescent 2.30 +" " --Chas. Ziseh, Dresbach 2.30 +" " --J. A. Howard, Hammond 4.20 +" " " 4.15 +" " --F. W. Powers, Excelsior 4.00 +" " --J. Flagstad & Sons, Sacred Heart 3.25 +" " Henry Husser, Minneiska 3.25 +" " --No. 23--Henry Rodenberg, Mindora, Wis. 3.35 + +CLARENCE WEDGE, N. E. HANSEN, Judges. + + +COLLECTION OF TOP-WORKED APPLES. + +Collection of Top-Worked P. H. Peterson, Atwater 4.16 +Collection of Top-Worked P. Clausen, Albert Lea 11.45 +Collection of Top-Worked Henry Husser, Minneiska 5.23 +Collection of Top-Worked W. S. Widmoyer, Dresbach 4.16 + +DEWAIN COOK, Judge. + + +PECKS OF APPLES. + +N.W. Greenings Aug. Sauter, Excelsior .95 +Wealthy H .B. Hawkes, Excelsior 1.10 +Wealthy P. H. Peterson, Atwater .90 +Fameuse Henry Husser, Minneiska .80 +Wolf River " " 1.00 +Peerless " " .75 +N.W. Greening " " .75 +N.W. Greening D. C. Webster, La Crescent 1.10 +Wealthy " " .90 +Bethel " " 1.00 +Scotts' Winter " " 1.00 +Wealthy W. P. Burow, La Crescent .85 +N.W. Greening " " 1.10 +Wealthy E. W. Mayman, Sauk Rapids .80 +Hibernal E. W. Mayman, Sauk Rapids .85 +Wealthy Francis Willis, Excelsior .90 +Duchess " " .55 +Okabena " " .55 +Milwaukee " " .80 +Wealthy P. H. Perry, Excelsior .85 +Fameuse " " .80 +Seedlings " " .80 +Peter " " .85 +Wealthy F. I. Harris, La Crescent .85 +N.W. Greening " " .95 +Seedlings T. E. Perkins, Red Wing .80 +N.W. Greenings F. W. Powers, Minneapolis 1.00 +Wealthy " " .90 +Duchess R. E. Olmstead, Excelsior .55 + +GEO. W. STRAND, Judge. + + +BUSHEL BOXES OF APPLES. + +Wealthy--H. B. Hawkes, Excelsior 2.31 +Wealthy--P. H. Peterson, Atwater 2.17 +Wealthy--Henry Husser, Minneiska 2.43 +Wealthy--D. C. Webster, La Crescent First 17.72 +N.W. Greening--W. P. Burow, La Crescent 2.48 +Wealthy--P. H. Perry, Excelsior 1.86 +Wealthy--J. F. Bartlett, Excelsior Third 7.57 +Wealthy--F. I. Harris, La Crescent Second 12.63 +N.W. Greenings--F. W. Powers, Excelsior 1.98 +Wealthy--F. W. Powers, Excelsior 2.08 +Wealthy--S. H. Drum, Owatonna 1.77 + +W. G. BRIERLEY, Judge. + + +BARRELS OF APPLES. + +H. B. Hawkes, Excelsior 8.98 +Henry Husser, Minneiska 3.52 +D. C. Webster, La Crescent First 25.23 +W. P. Burow, La Crescent 3.05 +Wealthy--P. H. Perry, Excelsior Third 14.37 +F. I. Harris, La Crescent Second 19.85 + +W. G. BRIERLEY, Judge. + + +COLLECTION GRAPES. + +Collection Grapes--Sil Matzke, So. St. Paul First 8.00 + +GEORGE W. STRAND, Judge. + + +NUTS. + +Walnuts Henry Husser, Minneiska First 1.00 +Butternuts " " First 1.00 +Hickory Nuts " " Second .75 +Hickory Nuts D. C. Webster, La Crescent First 1.00 + +H. J. LUDLOW, Judge. + + +PLANTS. + +12 Palms Minneapolis Floral Co. First $10.00 +12 Ferns " " Third 4.00 +12 Blooming Plants " " Third 6.00 +12 Ferns Merriam Park Floral Co. First 10.00 +12 Blooming Plants " " First 12.00 +12 Palms L. S. Donaldson Co., Mpls. Second 7.00 +12 Ferns " " Second 7.00 +12 Blooming Plants " " Second 9.00 + + +CUT FLOWERS. + +25 Carnations (pink) L. S. Donaldson Co., Mpls. Third 1.00 +25 Carnations (white) " " Second 2.00 +12 Roses (red) Minneapolis Floral Co. Third 1.00 +12 Roses (white) " " Third 1.00 +12 Roses (yellow) " " First 3.00 +12 Roses (red) N. Neilson, Mankato First 3.00 +12 Roses (pink) " " First 3.00 +12 Roses (white) " " First 3.00 +12 Roses (yellow) " " Second 2.00 +12 Roses (pink) Hans Rosacker, Minneapolis Second 2.00 +12 Roses (red) " " Second 2.00 +12 Roses (white) " " Second 2.00 +12 Carnations (white) " " First 3.00 +12 Carnations (pink) " " Second 2.00 +12 Carnations (red) " " First 3.00 +25 Carnations (red) Minneapolis Floral Co. Second 2.00 +25 Carnations (pink) " " First 3.00 +25 Carnations (white) " " Third 1.00 +12 Chrysanthemums (yellow) John E. Sten, Red Wing First 4.00 +12 Chrysanthemums (any color) " " First 4.00 +12 Chrysanthemums (any color) Minneapolis Floral Co. Second 3.00 +12 Chrysanthemums (yellow) L. S. Donaldson Co., Mpls. Second 3.00 +12 Chrysanthemums (any color) " " Third 2.00 + + +FLOWERS. + +Basket for Effect Minneapolis Floral Co. First $10.00 +Bridesmaid Bouquet Minneapolis Floral Co. First Diploma +Corsage Bouquet Minneapolis Floral Co. First Diploma +Bridal Bouquet Minneapolis Floral Co. First Diploma + +O. J. OLSON, Judge. + + + + +Judging Contest of Hennepin County High Schools. + +(Held at Annual Meeting, December 9, 1915.) + + +The contest consisted of the judging of three crops, apples, potatoes +and corn. Two varieties of each crop were used. + +Each school was represented by a team of three men. Each man was allowed +100 as perfect score on each crop or a total perfect team score of 900 +points. + +Two high schools entered the contest, namely Central High, Minneapolis, +and Wayzata High. Central High, of Minneapolis, won first with a total +score of 697.8. Wayzata ranked second with a score of 672. + +Minneapolis won on apples and potatoes, Wayzata winning on the corn +judging. + +Chester Groves, of Wayzata, was high man of the contest. + +County Adviser K. A. Kirkpatrick, gives a banner to the winning school. +Judges of the contest were: Apples, Prof. T. M. McCall, Crookston; +potatoes, Prof. R. Wellington, A. W. Aamodt; corn, Prof. R. L. Mackintosh. + + + + +Fruit Judging Contest. + +(At Annual Meeting, December, 1915.) + + +One of the important features of the Wednesday afternoon program of the +State Horticultural Society was the apple judging contest. This contest +was open to all members of the society and students of the Agricultural +College. + +The contest consisted of the judging of four plates each of ten standard +varieties. The total score of each contestant was considered by allowing +10 per cent for identification of varieties, 40 per cent for oral +reasons and 50 per cent for correct placings. + +The prizes offered were: First, $5.00; second, $3.00; third, $2.00. D.C. +Webster of La Crescent, ranked first; P.L. Keene, University Farm, +second; and Marshall Hertig, third. + + Score +First--D. C. Webster 87-1/2 +Second--P. L. Keene 81-1/2 +Third--Marshall Hertig 77-1/2 +Fourth--Timber Lake 76-1/2 + +There were twelve men in the contest. + +Judges: Prof. T. M. McCall, Crookston; Frederick Cranefield, Wisconsin; +Prof. E. C. Magill, Wayzata. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Collegeville Trial Station. + +REV. JOHN B. KATZNER, SUPT. + + +It is with pleasure and satisfaction that we are able to make a material +correction of our estimate of this year's apple crop as noted in our +midsummer report. We stated that apples would be about 15 per cent of a +normal crop, and now we are happy to say it was fully 30 per cent. We +picked twice as many apples as we anticipated. Considering that, as +Prof. Le Roy Cady informed us, the apple crop would be rather small +farther south and that they would practically get no apples at the State +Farm, we may well be satisfied with our crop. In general, the apple crop +was not so bad farther north as it was farther south in the state. This +may have been due to the blossoms not being so far advanced here when +the frost touched them as farther south. + +The best bearing varieties this year were the Wealthy, Charlamoff and +Duchess, in the order named. These three kinds gave us the bulk of the +crop. The Wealthy trees were not overloaded, and the apples were mostly +fine, clean and large. The Charlamoffs were bearing a heavy crop of +beautiful, large-sized apples and were ahead of the Duchess this year. +The Hibernals, too, were fairly good bearers. Most other varieties had +some fruit, but it was not perfect; it showed only too well the effect +of frost. More than half of the blossoms were destroyed. Many flowers +were badly injured and though they were setting fruit the result of +frost showed off plainly on the apples. While some had normal size and +form, many of them were below size, gnarled, cracked or undeveloped and +abnormal. Most all of them had rough blotches or rings about the calix +or around the body. Malformed apples were picked not larger than a crab, +with rough, cracked, leather-like skin, which looked more like a black +walnut than an apple. + +Of plums only some young trees gave us a good crop of nice, perfect +fruit. The old trees have seen their best days and will have to give +place to the new kinds as soon as they are tested. We have quite a +variety of the new kinds on trial from the Minnesota State +Fruit-Breeding Farm and wish to say that they are very vigorous growers. +Many of them made a growth of four feet and more. We expect that some +will bear next year and we are only waiting to see what the fruit will +be before making a selection for a new plum orchard. We have already +selected No. 8 for that purpose, as one tree was bearing most beautiful +and excellent plums, of large size and superior quality, this year. They +were one and three-fourths inches long by five and one-half inches in +circumference and weighed two ounces each. They kept more than week +before they got too soft for handling and are better than many a +California plum. It seems to us if a man had ten acres of these plum +trees, he could make a fortune out of them. We will propagate only the +very best kinds for our own use and may have more to say about them +another year. + +[Illustration: Cluster of Alpha grapes from Collegeville.] + +Two or three of the imported pears bloomed again last spring, but the +frost was too severe and they set no fruit. We have lost all interest in +them and so, too, in our German seedling pears. The latter are now used +as stocks and are being grafted with Chinese and hybrid pears. Of those +already grafted this way some have made a growth of four and five feet. +We have been successful in grafting the six varieties of hybrid pears +obtained last spring from Prof. N.E. Hansen, of Brookings, S. Dak., and +have trees of every variety growing. These, too, are very good growers, +have fine large leaves and are promising. From the manner of growth in +stem and leaf we would judge that at least two distinct Asiatic +varieties have been used in breeding. We have gathered a little grafting +wood and next spring some more German seedlings will lose their tops. It +is only from continued efforts that success may be obtained in growing +pears in Minnesota. + +Who would have thought it possible that in spite of all the frost and +cold rains we would get a pretty good crop of cherries? And yet this is +a fact. We have four varieties, and among them is one originated by the +late Clem. Schmidt, of Springfield, Minn., which was bearing a good crop +of very fine cherries while the three other sorts did not do a thing. To +get ahead of the many birds we picked the cherries a few days before +they were ripe and put them up in thirty-two half-gallon jars. As the +cherries become very soft when dead-ripe, it was of advantage to can +them when they were still hard. These canned cherries are meaty and most +delicious. We never tasted any better. It is only a pity that this +seedling cherry is not quite hardy. + +As most everywhere in the state, our grapes were a complete failure. The +early growth with its good showing of fruit having been frozen in May, +it was well toward the end of June when the vines had recovered from the +shock and were able to grow vigorously again. There were a few grapes on +some of the vines, but they never got ripe. The Alpha showed the most +fruit, and a few bunches were just about getting ripe when the frost +spoiled them. This May freeze was more severe than we thought it was. +The wood of the old vines was not injured, but the one year old wood of +young plants was killed to the ground. The lesson we learned from this +is very important. It may be stated that vines full of sap and in +growing condition can endure very little cold, but when the wood is ripe +and dormant the vines will seldom be injured by sub-zero weather. This +injury to vines from frost might have been averted at least in part by +precautionary measures. In other countries people start smoldering +fires, making much smoke in the vineyard so that the whole is covered +with a cloud of smoke. This raises the temperature a few degrees and +keeps the frost out. Such preventive means might have been used here +very well to save the grapes, but it was not done. + +Our currants were not very good; they ripened unevenly and showed that +they, too, were touched by frost. A few bushes were also attacked by the +currant worm. + +We never cultivated any raspberries before. But last year we planted +Raspberry No. 8, sent to us from the Fruit-Breeding Farm. This sort is a +very vigorous grower; some canes grew over six feet high. It fruited +this year; it is very prolific; the fruit is very large and of good +quality. It would be quite satisfactory if it were a little hardier. +Not being protected more than half of the plants were lost last winter. + +But the everbearing strawberry No. 1017 received from the Fruit-Breeding +Farm is a complete success. They were properly planted and well taken +care of. All flowers were removed up to July 10th and then left alone. +In early August the first berries were picked, and we kept right on +picking till the frost killed the fruit stalks. The growing of this +strawberry will be continued. A new bed will be planted next spring with +young plants that were not allowed to bear last season. The fruit was +all that could be desired, fine, large and of very good quality. It +seems to be of greater advantage to grow the everbearing than the +June-bearing sorts. The everbearing planted in spring will grow a large +crop in fall and bear again in June next year. From the first we get two +crops in fifteen months, from the second two crops in three years. And +to fruit any sort oftener than two seasons is not considered very +profitable. + +Most all trees of apples, pears, plums, evergreens and grafts which were +planted last spring, have done very well, and we don't know of any that +failed to grow. The hybrid plums received last spring are all alive. The +same may be said of the 50 Norway pine obtained from the Minnesota State +Forester, W. F. Cox, not one failing to grow. If evergreens are handled +right in transplanting they are just as sure to grow as any other trees. +This year was especially favorable for transplanting on account of the +many rains and cool weather. + +This, too, was the kind of weather which pleased our vegetable gardener. +He found it scarcely ever necessary throughout the season to apply water +to the growing plants for their best development. All grew fine and +large. Cabbage heads were grown that weighed thirty-five pounds; +carrots, onions, beets, lettuce and in fact all the different varieties +were first-class. Yet there was something that did not please the +gardener nor ourselves, namely, the tomatoes did not get ripe. We had a +few early kinds all right, but the bulk, the large, fine varieties, were +hanging on the vines still green when the first heavy frost touched +them. It was too cool for them to ripen. The same may be said of the +melons. Not once did we have melons at table this year. They were too +poor to be served. + +Our floral plantings were a great success. The many artistic foliage +designs developed wonderfully and were the admiration of all visitors. +Our peonies were a mass of exceedingly beautiful flowers, filling the +air with fragrance as of roses. We are not surprised that these flowers +have gained so much popularity of late, for their great beauty and ease +of culture recommend them to all lovers of flowers. The dahlias, too, +were very excellent; in fact, we never saw them better. They are quite +ornamental in flower and plant. The newer varieties have exceptionally +large flowers, but the plants do not show off so well and bend down from +the weight of the flowers. For symmetry and uniformity of growth the old +varieties are hard to be excelled. Some of the roses were not so good as +desired, the buds got too much rain at times and rotted away. The mock +oranges, syringas and others were all very good, but the spireas +suffered much when in flower from rains. As a whole, however, our lawns +and grounds were beautiful and satisfactory and the new greenhouse has +done good work. + +The growing of fruit this year has been a disappointment to many +horticulturists. Indeed, some got quite a showing of fruit in favored +localities, but the majority got not much of a crop to be proud of. +Well, we cannot regulate the weather conditions, but we are pleased with +the thought that such abnormal conditions are not of frequent occurrence +in Minnesota. Yet there is one redeeming feature of the season and that +is, the wonderful growth of plants and trees which gives promise that +with the usual normal conditions our expectations for a better fruit +crop will be realized. + + * * * * * + +STORING CABBAGE IN THE FIELD.--In choosing a site for a storage +pit, select a ridge, well drained and as gravelly a soil as possible. +The pit should be 6 to 10 inches deep, the length and width depending +upon the amount to be stored. It is well to have it wide enough to +accommodate 3 to 5 heads on the bottom row. + +In harvesting the heads, pull up by the roots. Break off only the dead +or diseased leaves, and fold the remaining leaves over the head as much +as possible to protect them. Overripe or cracked heads should not be +stored. The heads are placed in the pit with their heads down and roots +up. The second layer is also placed heads down between the roots of the +first layer. It is well not to have more than two layers, on account of +the weight having a tendency to crush the lower layer. + +When the cabbages are put in place they are covered with a layer of +earth. When cold weather comes, straw or manure can be added. + +Cabbages can often be kept better in pits than in common cellars.--E. F. +McKune, Colorado Agricultural College, Fort Collins, Colorado. + + + + +Wintering of Bees. + +FRANCIS JAGER, APIARIST, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. + + +The winter losses of bees in Minnesota are great every year. Bee keepers +can reduce these losses by preparing bees for their winter-quarters. + +The chief known cause for winter losses are: Queenlessness, smallness of +number of bees in colonies, insufficient food, improper food, dampness, +bad air, the breaking of the clusters, and low temperature. + +More colonies die from lack of food and from cold than from all other +causes. In fact, most of the other causes can be traced to lack of food +and cold. + +Queenless colonies will certainly die in a few months. + +If the number of bees in a colony is small the clusters cannot generate +enough heat or keep it generated and the bees will perish. To avoid +this, small colonies should be united in the fall into one big colony. + +Bees must have food in the winter in order to generate heat. About forty +pounds of honey to the colony should be provided when the bees are put +into winter-quarters. Should the colony be short of honey of its own, +finished frames may be supplied early in the fall or sugar syrup may be +fed. Bee keepers should keep about one well filled extracting frame out +of every seven for feeding purposes. + +Dark (not amber) honey is poor food for bees in winter. All black honey +should be removed and combs of white honey should be substituted. +Experiments made by Dr. Phillips, in Washington, D. C., have shown that +bees consume least honey and winter best when the temperature inside the +hive is 57 degrees Fahrenheit. + +Dampness in a cellar causes the comb and frames of the hive walls and +cover to get damp and mouldy, and the bees perish from wet and cold +after exhausting their vitality in generating heat. + +Bees need fresh air. Foul air will cause excitement, causing an +overheated condition; and the bees will scatter and die. Any excitement +among bees in winter is fatal. Cellars on high ground, covered with +straw over timbers, are best for wintering bees. + +If the bee cluster divides or splits up during the winter, the smaller +clusters will perish from cold. The present style of Hoffman frames +divides the bee cluster into eleven divisions separated from each other +by a sheet of wax comb, with no direct communication between different +divisions except over, below or around the frames. If the bee cluster +contracts during the winter on account of cold the divisions of the +outside frames are sometimes left behind and die. Some bee keepers +perforate their frames to keep an easy passage for bees from one +compartment to another. If kept warm, even weak colonies may pass over +or around the frames without much difficulty. When cold, only the +strongest will be able to accomplish this difficult task. Wintering +bees in division hives or in two story hives, which give them a +horizontal bee space through the middle between the two divisions, is +highly recommended for successful wintering. + +[Illustration: Francis Jager, Professor of Apiculture, University Farm, +St. Paul.] + +In long-continued severe cold the bee clusters will contract into a very +small, compact mass. The tendency of this cluster is to move upward +where the air is warmer. If enough honey is stored above them they will +keep in contact with it. If the honey is stored at the side, the bees +sometimes lose their contact with it and die of starvation and cold. +This is another argument in favor of wintering in two story hives. Often +they will move towards one corner and die there, leaving the other +corners filled with honey. If you must winter in one story hives give +bees plenty of honey in the fall and place the cluster at one side of +the hive so that they move necessarily toward the honey supply. + +Bees should be kept in a cellar at a temperature of about 45 degrees. +The difference in the temperature between the outside and the inside of +the hive will be between 10 and 15 degrees. Very strong colonies, no +matter where kept, will keep themselves warm and will survive any degree +of cold, but there is no doubt that their vitality and ability to stand +wintering will suffer a great deal thereby, causing dwindling in the +spring. Cellar wintering is at present general in Minnesota. The bee +cellar should be warm, dry, dark and ventilated. The bees should not be +disturbed during their winter sleep by pounding, jarring, shaking and +feeding. Mice also may cause the bees to get excited and perish. A four +to one inch wire screen in front of the entrance will prevent mice from +getting inside. + +The fundamental principles to guide the bee keeper in wintering his bees +are: First, strong colonies, at least six frames covered with bees when +clustered; second, ample store, not less than forty pounds of honey; and +third, a hive with not less than 57 degrees inside temperature. This +temperature may be maintained outside in a double walled hive or in a +hive lined with flax or felt, now manufactured for that purpose, or by +packing the hives in leaves, straw or shavings--or by putting them into +a warm cellar. + +Bees in our climate should be put into winter quarters about November 15 +and should not be put on their summer stands in the spring until soft +maples are in bloom. + +By following these suggestions winter losses may be reduced to an +insignificant percentage, and these mostly from accidents and causes +unforseen, for bees respond wonderfully to proper treatment. + + + + +The Currant as a Market Garden Product. + +B. WALLNER, JR., WEST ST. PAUL. + + +The currant is essentially a northern fruit, therefore does well in +Minnesota. + +I plant my currants on a clay loam as it retains moisture and coolness, +which the currant prefers. Their roots run somewhat shallow, and hence +sandy or friable soils are not desirable. Soils such as will prevent a +stagnant condition during heavy rainfalls are essential. I plant my +currants early in spring as soon as the frost leaves the ground and a +proper preparation can be secured. I plant them five by five feet apart, +as they require a thorough cultivation the first two years from +planting. + +I plant mangels between the rows the first year; second year continued +cultivation is practiced; third year I apply a mulch consisting of +mushroom manure to a depth of from four to six inches, which answers a +double purpose, to keep out weeds and to act as mulch at the same time. +During a prolonged dry spell the soil is moist under this covering, and +it makes it more pleasant for the picking, as it prevents the berries +getting soiled after a rain during the picking season. You cannot +fertilize the currant too abundantly, as it is a gross feeder and +requires plenty of manure to get best results, as such fruit commands +the best price on the market. + +I planted my currants on ground previously well fertilized with well +decayed barnyard manure. + +I prefer strong well rooted two-year-old plants. The long straggling +roots are shortened, and bruised portions cut off with a sharp knife. +The tops are somewhat reduced, depending on the size of plants. I set +them in a furrow, sufficiently deep to admit the roots to spread out in +a natural position, fill in with surface soil and pack around the roots, +so that when the earth is firmly settled the roots will not protrude out +any place. + +In regard to pruning I find the best and largest fruit is produced on +canes not over four years old, and if judicious cutting out of the old +canes is followed nice, large, full clusters of fruit of excellent +character will be obtained. This is a fact that I want to emphasize: if +the market is glutted with currants, you can readily dispose of your +product, providing they are qualified as extra large, which results can +be attained by following these rules. + +Pertaining to insects and diseases, I spray my currants twice for the +currant worm with arsenate of lead at the rate of two pounds to fifty +gallons of water. + +I also use hellebore (dry powdered form), especially valuable in +destroying the worms when berries are almost ready for market, and on +which it is dangerous to use arsenical poisons. I never was troubled +with the currant worm cane borer. I attribute the absence of this +dreaded insect to my keeping all old wood cut out, which is generally +infested with it. + +As to varieties I planted the following: Wilder, Victoria, Prince +Albert, Red Cross, Diploma and White Grape. The Wilder is the best +commercial berry, very productive and large, while the Diploma is one of +the largest fruited varieties in existence, its main drawback consisting +of a straggling habit of growth which requires either tying up the +branches or pruning back somewhat short. + +The Prince Albert is late and can be recommended for commercial use. +Victoria is a prolific bearer, fair size fruit and requires little +pruning. Red Cross is large fruited, but shy bearer. The White Grape +meets with little demand as a market berry, fine to eat out of hand and +an excellent table berry. + +I also planted a few Black Champion; have not grown it long enough to +know definite results. + +The demand for black currants is limited, but the prices are fair. As to +picking would say we pick them when not quite ripe, as the average +housewife claims they jell better than when over-ripe. They must be +picked by the stem and not stripped off--all defective, over-ripe and +bruised berries should be eliminated at the picking. + +When the box is being filled a few gentle raps should be given to settle +the clusters into place, as they shake down considerably. All the +conveniences and same character of boxes and crates used in handling of +other small fruits are equally adapted to the currant. + + * * * * * + +WELCOME THE THRUSHES--THESE BIRDS DO THE FARMER LITTLE HARM AND MUCH +GOOD.--That thrushes--the group of birds in which are included +robins and bluebirds--do a great deal of good and very little harm to +agriculture is the conclusion reached by investigators of the United +States Department of Agriculture who have carefully studied the food +habits of these birds. Altogether there are within the limits of the +United States eleven species of thrushes, five of which are commonly +known as robins and bluebirds. The other six include the Townsend +solitaire, the wood, the veery, the gray-cheek, the olive-back, and the +hermit thrushes.--U.S. Dept. of Agri. + + + + +Report of Committee on Examination of Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding +Farm for the Year 1915. + +DR. O. M. HUESTIS, MINNEAPOLIS; FRANK H. GIBBS, ST. ANTHONY PARK. + + +On the morning of October 12, 1915, your committee visited the State +Fruit-Breeding Farm, was met at the Zumbra Heights Station, on the M. & +St. Louis R.R., by Superintendent Haralson and were very soon in the +midst of a plat of over 3,000 everbearing strawberry plants all +different--some plants with scores of ripe and green berries as well as +blossoms, others with few berries and many runners. The superintendent +had already made selections and marked some 250 plants for propagation. +In another plat of 1,000 varieties it was very apparent that No. 1017, a +cross between Pan-American and Dunlap, was the superior, although others +were choice, both as plant makers and fruit-bearers. No doubt many +excellent kinds will come from those selected. It certainly was +encouraging to be able, even after the heavy frost of a week before, to +pick three quarts of large, well ripened berries, a photo of which we +obtained on reaching the city and will appear in the Horticulturist. + +[Illustration: Field of No. 3 June-bearing strawberries at State +Fruit-Breeding Farm.] + +Of the June-bearing varieties No. 3, a cross between Senator Dunlap and +Pocomoke, would seem to surpass anything else we saw as to strength of +plant and health of foliage. As to its fruiting ability, will refer to +the display made at the last summer meeting of the society, which was so +much admired. We have no doubt there is a great future for No. 3, as has +been for its illustrious parent, the Dunlap. Next we went over to the +raspberry field containing, it seemed, thousands of strong, straight, +healthy plants, which would have to be seen to be appreciated and only +then when in fruiting. No. 4 took our special attention. The canes were +especially clean, well branched and healthy--a cross between Loudon and +King. Many others seem to be very promising. + +[Illustration: Everbearing strawberries, No. 1017. Minnesota State +Fruit-Breeding Farm. Gathered October 12, 1915.] + +Next we were shown a variety of everbearing raspberry from which we +indulged in ripe fruit of good size and flavor and which it is hoped +will be as valuable as the everbearing strawberry. Of the thousands of +everbearing seedlings selections had been made of about 100 which were +fine looking plants, well cultivated and free from disease. + +We were then shown some hundreds of wild peach seedlings, seedlings of +Burbank plums, thousands of hybrid plums of all ages, and a plat of +thousands of plum seedlings which will be disposed of to nurserymen this +fall and bring a nice income to the state; also wild pears from +Manchuria with good prospects of being hardy and free from blight. + +We saw a number of nice plum trees, of which the superintendent told us +the fruit would color before ripening and would stand long shipments, +which so far promise well. Several hundred Beta grape seedlings probably +even more hardy than the parent, many crosses in roses which if judged +by the foliage must be seen in bloom to be appreciated, seedlings of +Compass cherry crossed with apricot; Compass cherry crossed with +nectarines; seedling currants, over 2,000 from which to select the best. +Over a hundred commercial varieties of apples from East and West, and +over 200 varieties of peaches from China and Manchuria, walnuts, +butternuts and many dwarf apple trees on Paradise stocks, which fruit +early. A good field of corn in shock, for feed for the horses. The old +orchard on the place when bought, which had been top-worked to some +extent, looked healthy everywhere. The farm seemed to be free from +noxious woods, free from pocket gophers or moles and well cultivated, we +thought, for the small number of men employed. Machinery and tools were +well housed. We were also pleased to be shown through the new home of +the superintendent, not yet occupied, which seemed to be complete in all +its appointments. + +We think the state has a great asset in the farm and recommend that as +far as possible members of this society visit it during the coming +summer and that the society use its influence with the Board of Regents +that more land be procured as soon as possible in order that trial +plants may remain longer to more definitely prove their worth and that a +greater work may be done for the state. We notice in a report made just +six years before, viz., October 12, 1909, by Brothers Wedge, Underwood +and the then president of the society, Prof. Green, that even runnerless +everbearing strawberries were represented and that they had the usual +pleasure of picking strawberry blossoms in October. Had they been with +us they would have had a large dish of No. 1017 covered with rich cream +and served at the hand of Mrs. Haralson. + +Mr. C. S. Harrison: Mr. Chairman, I think the slogan of this society +should be "Urbanize the country and ruralize the town." I see tremendous +changes going on all the while. Can you think of the possibilities of +Minnesota? About 40 per cent of the land under cultivation and that half +worked. By and by there is going to be a crop of boys who will raise +seventy-five to 100 bushels of corn to the acre where their dads raised +twenty-five. You got to keep out of their way, you got to help them +along. + + + + +Marketing Fruit by Association. + +A. N. GRAY, MGR. BAY LAKE FRUIT GROWERS' ASSN., DEERWOOD. + + +Marketing fruit or any farm product by association is the modern +farmer's insurance of results. + +A great deal might be said on this subject, but I shall tell you briefly +what the Bay Lake Fruit Growers' Association have accomplished. + +The first raspberry growing for market at Bay Lake was back in 1886. +Nick Newgard, one of our first settlers, sold quite a few berries that +year. Bay Lake is seven miles from Deerwood, the nearest railroad point, +and at that time there was only a trail between these places, and it was +necessary for Mr. Newgard to pack his berries in on his back. This same +method was used in transporting supplies. + +[Illustration: Strawberry field on place of A. N. Gray, at Bay Lake.] + +Mr. Newgard told me recently that he received a very good profit on his +berries the first ten years, but each year the acreage increased and +each year the growers' troubles increased in disposing of the crop. + +In 1909 there was an unusually large crop and, shipping individually, as +we did at that time, it was a case of all shipments going to Duluth one +day, flooding the market, then the next day every one shipping to Fargo +and flooding that market, and at the end of the season when the growers +received their final returns they found that they had received very +small pay for their berries. + +In the fall of that year the growers around Bay Lake called a meeting to +see if some organization could not be formed to handle their berries +and look after the collections. The result of this meeting was the +incorporation of the Bay Lake Fruit Growers' Association. + +When the berry season opened in 1910 we had a manager, hired for the +season, on a salary, who worked under a board of five managing +directors. It was the manager's business to receive the berries at the +station, find a market for them, make the collections and settlements +with the growers. The result of this first year was so satisfactory to +the members that the total membership increased that fall to almost 100. +This new system had eliminated all the worry, and we received a good +price for our berries after the expense of our manager had been +deducted. + +We have just closed our sixth season, which by the way has been a very +successful one, as the prices received have been above the average. We +now have about 150 members, and we have two shipping stations, Deerwood +and Aitkin. We market strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, +gooseberries, plums, Compass cherries, apples, sweet corn and celery. + +We have a nice trade worked up and have little trouble in finding a +ready market for any of our products. + +It is our aim, as growers, to give our customers all A No. 1 quality. +During the berry season we have an inspector whose duty it is to inspect +the berries as they arrive at the station and any found to be of poor +quality we dispose of locally for canning. The grower of these berries +receives a credit for the amount we realize. In this way we keep the +standard of our berries up, and we have very few complaints from our +customers on soft berries. + +As for losses on bad debts, we have thus far had very few. We usually +get a credit rating from the prospective customer's bank and ship to him +accordingly. Our old customers file standing orders with us to ship them +so many crates each day, and each year brings us new customers who have +heard of the fine Bay Lake berries. + +In 1912 the association built a potato warehouse at a cost of about +$2,500, and we store the members' potatoes for them at a nominal cost. +In 1914 the association decided to put in a stock of flour and feed and +keep the manager the year around. Our business in this line has been +increasing all the time. It is very interesting to note that over 60 per +cent of our flour and feed customers are not members of the association. + +We are growing all the time and branching out. A few months ago we added +a small stock of hardware and some groceries, and these have taken so +well that we would not be at all surprised if eventually we find +ourselves in the retail store business. + + + + +Evergreens for Both Utility and Ornament. + +EARL FERRIS, NURSERYMAN, HAMPTON, IOWA. + + +As far as horticulture is concerned, the only touch of color on the +Northwestern landscape during the coming winter will be furnished by the +greens and blues of evergreens. + +Did you ever pass a farm home in the winter that was protected by a good +evergreen grove and notice how beautiful it looked? Did you ever stop to +think of the difference in temperature that an evergreen grove makes, to +say nothing of the contrast in the appearance of the place to that of a +home with no grove? + +[Illustration: A shelter of old Scotch pine at Mr. Earl Ferris'.] + +When I was a small boy I was fortunate enough to be raised on a farm in +Butler County, Iowa, that was well protected by a good Norway spruce, +white pine and Scotch pine windbreak. The Norway spruce and white pine +are still there and if anything better than they were thirty years ago. +At that time my father fed from one to five carloads of stock every +winter back of this grove, and I honestly believe that he fed his steers +at a cost of from $5 to $15 per steer less than a neighboring feeder who +fed out on the open prairie with a few sheds to furnish the only winter +protection. I shall never forget the remark a German made who was +hauling corn to us one cold winter day. As he drove onto the scales back +of this grove, he straightened up and said: "Well, the evergreen grove +feels like putting on a fur coat," and I never heard the difference in +temperature described any better. Our evergreen grove moved our feeding +pens at least 300 miles further south every winter, as far as the cold +was concerned. + +[Illustration: Thrifty windbreak of Norway spruce at Mr. Earl Ferris' +place, in Hampton, Ia.] + +Near Hampton, Iowa, we have three or four of the best stock raisers in +the United States. Every one of them is feeding cattle back of a large +evergreen grove. In recent years they have divided up some of their +large farms into smaller places and made new feeding sheds, and the +first improvement that they made on each and every one of these places +was an evergreen grove. They buy the best trees that can be obtained +that have been transplanted and root pruned, and most of them prefer the +Norway spruce in the two to three foot size. After planting, they take +as good care of them as they do of any crop on the farm, for they fully +realize that cultivation is an all important thing in getting a good +evergreen grove started. + +Several days ago, I talked with one of these feeders who has time and +again topped the Chicago market. He made the remark that the buildings +on his farm cost thousands of dollars while his evergreen grove had only +cost from $100 to $200, but that he would rather have every building on +the place destroyed than to lose that windbreak. + +As the price of land and feed increases, the farmers of the Northwest +are waking up to the fact that an evergreen grove is an absolute +necessity, and that they cannot afford to plant any other. The maple, +willow, box elder and other similar trees take so much land that they +cannot afford them. They are a windbreak in the summer, but a joke in +the winter. + +The time is not far distant when every up-to-date farmer in Minnesota, +Iowa, Nebraska and other Northwest states will have a good evergreen +grove which will be considered as much of a necessity as his barn, house +or other outbuildings. + +[Illustration: Evergreens adorn old home of Otto Kankel, at Fertile, +Minn., in Red River Valley.] + +Late this fall, my wife and I left Hampton for an automobile trip +through Minnesota, North Dakota and into Canada. It seemed to me on this +trip that the most beautiful thing we saw about the farm buildings were +the evergreen groves that many of the farmers now have all through +Minnesota and Dakota. I was certainly very much surprised at some of +these windbreaks and at some of the varieties of evergreens that were +being grown successfully as far north as Fargo. Near Fargo we found some +extra good specimens of Norway spruce, which I consider the best of all +windbreak makers. We also found the Scotch pine doing well 100 miles +northwest of Fargo, and other varieties which were naturally to be +expected being planted to a considerable extent. + +As far as usefulness is concerned, the farmer of the prairie states is +bound to get more real value from an evergreen than any other person, +but I am very glad to say that the homes of the wealthy in the cities +each season are being improved more and more by the planting of the more +ornamental evergreens. Cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Boston, +St. Paul, Minneapolis, and other large cities of the United States are +using thousands of evergreens every season to beautify the homes, of not +only the wealthy but of the laboring man also. The price of evergreens +at the present time is within the reach of everyone owning a home, and +there is no other improvement that can be placed upon a piece of ground +at so little expense and so little labor that will add so many dollars +in real value to that property as will the evergreen, either as a +windbreak or in landscape work. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Executive Board. + +J. M. UNDERWOOD, CHAIRMAN + + +The report of the executive board is necessarily brief from the fact +that the machinery of our society is kept in such excellent condition by +our secretary, that there is little left for our board to do. His +monthly issues of the "Horticulturist" keep the membership posted on all +important items of interest and are a splendid examplification to the +public of the value of our publications and of the meetings of our +society. Your executive board meets twice a year to verify the accounts +of the secretary and treasurer and at other times when there is +something of importance to attend to. + +We wish to call your attention to the fact that your board is +practically self supporting. The members work for nothing and board +themselves, which is a mighty good way to do. + +There is a work of very great importance for the _members_ of our +society to do the coming year. That is to help in every legitimate way +to _secure an appropriation_ by the next legislature with which to build +for our society a _home_. We should have had it provided so that we +could celebrate our semi-centennial a year from now in our own home. If +we were a private society, we would have had a home years ago. + +We should be closely affiliated with the horticulture of the State +University. Our home should be located on the grounds of the +Agricultural College, where the building could be used for other +purposes when not needed by our society. Let every member of our society +interview the senator and member of the house from his or her district +next fall and secure their promise to support a bill to appropriate +$50,000 for building us a home. + + + + +Annual Report of Treasurer, 1915. + +GEO. W. STRAND, TAYLORS FALLS, TREASURER. + + +RECEIPTS. + +1914. + +Dec. 1. Balance on hand $4,948.35 + Interest on certificate of deposit, six months, to + November 1, 1914 126.15 + +1915. + +Mar. 1. Semi-annual allowance 1,500.00 +Apr. 5. Interest on deposit, six months, to April 1 85.96 + A. W. Latham, receipts secretary's office, November 25, + 1914 to June 21, 1915 3,290.74 +Sept. 4. State Treasurer, semi-annual allowance 1,500.00 +Dec. 1. A. W. Latham, receipts secretary's office June 21, 1915, + to December 1, 1915 1,064.30 + ---------- + $12,515.50 + + +DISBURSEMENTS. + +1914. + +Dec. 12. Order 229, A .W. Latham, Revolving Fund $600.00 +Dec. 12. Order 235, Premiums Annual Meeting 596.50 + +1915. + +Mar. 1. Order 230, A. W. Latham, first quarter salary 450.00 +Apr. 5. A. W. Latham, interest on deposit 85.96 +June 1. Order 231, A. W. Latham, second quarter salary 450.00 +June 21. Order 232, A. W. Latham, expenses secretary's office + November 25 to June 21, 1915 3,290.74 +June 25. Order 236, Premiums Summer Meeting 1915 172.00 +Sept. 3. Order 233, A. W. Latham, third quarter salary 450.00 +Dec. 1. Order 234, A. W. Latham, fourth quarter salary 450.00 +Dec. 1. Order 237, A. W. Latham, expenses secretary's office + June 21, 1915 to December 1, 1915 1,064.30 + ---------- + $7,609.50 +Dec. 1. Balance on hand 4,906.00 + ---------- + $12,515.50 +Deposits, Farmers & Mechanics Bank $4,276.15 +Deposits, First & Security National Bank 629.85 + ---------- + $4,906.00 + + + + +Annual Meeting, 1915, N.E. Iowa Horticultural Society. + +C. E. SNYDER, PRESTON, DELEGATE + + +Your delegate arrived at Decorah at nine-thirty, Wednesday, November +seventeenth. Full accommodations offered by the Winneshiek Hotel made +the trip complete and homelike to delegates and members. + +The convention was held in the old Marsh Hall, a very suitable place, +offering ample room with all necessary accommodations for such a +gathering. + +Decorations showed much time and skill, resulting in a beautiful display +of shrubbery-boughs, evergreen, etc. + +The area of a table about one hundred feet long and six feet wide, +running through the center of the hall, contained a great variety of +apples surprising for this season. Many, including C.H. True, of Clayton +county, proved themselves successful orchardists. + +[Illustration: Mr. C. E. Snyder, Preston.] + +On various other tables large displays of agriculture, apiary, +greenhouse and garden products completed the harmonizing of +horticulture, floriculture and agriculture, including mentioned +decorations appearing as a striking feature and an encouragement to the +cause. + +The meeting was called to order shortly after ten o'clock by President +Geo. S. Woodruff. The mingling of many instructive papers with humorous +selections and music proved the program well arranged. Same carried out +very successfully held the interest of a not large but fair attendance +throughout. A paper and address by Wesley Greene, of Des Moines, should +have reached the ears of every Iowa and Minnesota citizen. A striking +selection on "The Tree," by J. A. Nelson, was descriptive, instructive, +humorous and poetic. + +A topic of great interest was the everbearing strawberry, which +persistently bobbed up every now and then in interesting discussion. +Brother Gardner, with his practical experience, was right at hand, a +leader and authority on this fruit. Clarence Wedge, who always contended +that the Progressive was away ahead of all others, was endorsed by every +man that grew them in this convention, by a vote on merit of varieties. + +Reports from the different districts showed a heavy rainfall throughout +the season, resulting in rust and scab. Sprayed orchards showed better +results than others. Small fruits were abundant and good. + +Shortly after four o'clock Wednesday afternoon automobiles drew up and +took delegates and members over beautiful Decorah, stopping at Symond's +greenhouses, and on through the most beautiful park in this section, +then to the palatial residence of John Harter, where a very bountiful +banquet was enjoyed. + +During convention Secretary Black's and Treasurer True's reports showed +the society in flourishing condition. + +All officers were re-elected, place of next meeting to be chosen later +by the executive committee. + + * * * * * + +HANDLING RASPBERRIES.--In 1911 the Government investigators +made comparative tests of the keeping qualities of carefully handled +raspberries and commercially handled raspberries. Several lots of each +kind were held in an ice car for varying periods and then examined for +the percentage of decay. Other lots were held a day after being +withdrawn from the refrigerator car and then examined. The results are +most significant. + +After 4 days in the ice car it was found that the carefully handled +berries showed only 0.4 per cent. decay, while the commercially handled +fruit had 4.6 per cent. After 8 days in the car the difference was +vastly greater. The carefully handled fruit showed only 2.2 per cent. +decay, but with the commercially handled this percentage had risen to +26.7, or more than one-quarter of the entire shipment. When the fruit +was examined a day after it had been taken out of the ice car, the +evidence was equally strong in favor of careful handling. Carefully +handled fruit that had remained 4 days in the car was found a day after +its withdrawal to show only 1 per cent. of decay against 17.5 per cent. +in commercially handled berries. Carefully handled fruit left in the car +8 days, and then held one day, showed only 8.1 per cent. of decay as +against 47.6 per cent. in commercially handled fruit. + +The following year experiments were made with actual shipments instead +of with the stationary refrigerator car, and the results confirmed +previous conclusions. It was found, for example, that there was less +decay in the carefully handled berries at the end of 8 days than in the +commercially handled berries at the end of 4. Carefully handled fruit +that was 4 days in transit, and had then been held one day after +withdrawal from the refrigerator car showed less than 1 per cent of +decay, whereas commercially handled berries subjected to the same test +showed nearly 10 per cent. + + + + +Orcharding in Minnesota. + +RICHARD WELLINGTON, ASST. HORTICULTURIST, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. + + +This paper is purposely given a broad title so that it may cover any +questions which come under the head of orcharding. Many of you who have +been pestered with an "Orchard Survey Blank" can easily guess what +subjects are to be taken up. Thanks to many of the members of this +society and other fruit growers for their hearty co-operation, a large +amount of data has been collected from fifty-three counties, +representing most of the districts within the state. As would be +expected certain counties have contributed much more information than +others, probably owing to their greater interest in orcharding. For +example: Thirty-one replies have already been received from Hennepin +County, seven from Goodhue, six from Renville, five each from Houston, +Meeker and Rice, four each from Chippewa, Dakota, Mower, Polk and +Wabasha, three each from Blue Earth, Nicollet, Ottertail, Pine, Ramsey, +Steele, Washington and Watonwan and one or two each from the remaining +counties. Perhaps if the right parties had been reached the low-standing +counties would have a higher ranking. + +The best way to present the data is an enigma. If all the information +was given at one time we would need a whole day instead of fifteen +minutes. Of course much of the material is a repetition, and a general +summary will cover the main facts in most cases. Nevertheless it is not +feasible to take up all of the subject matter in this short period, and +therefore the first two topics on the survey blank have been selected, +namely, orchard sites and protective agencies. At a later date, if you +are sufficiently interested in dry facts other subjects, as soils, +dynamiting, orchard management, stock of fruit trees, methods of +planting and pruning, varieties for various localities, etc., will be +taken up. Some of the subjects, like sites and soils, will be treated as +state problems, while others must be considered as sectional. + +Minnesota, as you all know, contains many different climatic conditions, +and consequently its orchard practices and recommendations must vary +accordingly. To meet this problem the writer, in consultation with Prof. +Cady, divided the state into six sections, namely, the southeastern, +east central, northeastern, northwestern, west central and southwestern. +Many counties are, of course, in an intermediate position and might be +thrown into either of the adjoining sections, but an arbitrary line +must be drawn somewhere. Freeborn, Waseca, Rice, Goodhue and all the +counties east of them are placed in the southeastern section. Nicollet, +LeSueur, Sibley, McLeod, Wright, Isanti and the counties to the east are +included in the central east, and Pine, Mille Lacs, Morrison and the +counties to the north and east are placed in the northeastern section. +Beltrami, Hubbard, Ottertail and the counties to the west are placed in +northwestern section; Traverse, Douglas, Todd, Stearns, Meeker, +Renville, Yellow Medicine and the enclosed counties in the west central, +and the remainder to the south and west are in the southwestern section. +Thus, when the various sections are mentioned, you will know what part +of the state is being referred to. + +_Site of Orchard._ By site of orchard we refer to its location, that is, +whether it is on rolling, level or hilly ground, and the direction of +its slope, provided it has one. From past experience it is believed that +an orchard situated on a north slope is ideally located for Minnesota +conditions, as its blossoming period is retarded and consequently the +liability of injury from late frosts decreased. But all people who want +orchards do not possess such a slope, so they set out their orchards on +the most convenient location. A few growers have orchards sloping in all +directions, and their opinion on the influence of slope on hardiness and +retardation of the blooming period should be valuable. It is of interest +to note that, out of 108 reporting on the levelness of the orchard +ground, only twelve had level ground, two level to nearly level, one +level to decidedly rolling, twenty-nine nearly level, seven nearly level +to slightly rolling, three nearly level to medium rolling, twenty-nine +slightly rolling, four slightly rolling to medium rolling, eighteen +rolling and three decidedly rolling. A glance at the figures shows that +the majority of orchards are on nearly level to slightly rolling land. +In addition to the numbers given thirteen reported a slight slope, one a +slight slope to a medium slope, two a slight to a steep slope, sixteen a +medium slope, one a medium to a steep slope, and five a steep slope--the +emphasis being laid on the moderate rising ground. No grower reported an +orchard location entirely at the base of a slope, but six reported +orchards extending from the base to the top of the slope, two from the +base to midway of the slope, twenty-five at midway of the slope, seven +from midway to the top and twenty-two at the top of a slope--the high +ground evidently being preferred for orchard sites. As a general rule, +as would naturally be expected, those who reported their orchards on the +top of the slope usually reported their ground as either high or medium. +Of ninety-six reports on the elevation of the orchards only four +reported low land, and two of these were on top of a slope, two low and +medium, one low and high, forty-six medium, fourteen medium and high, +and twenty-seven high--the medium taking the lead. These figures have +been given of the state as a whole, but when the sections are considered +the southeastern and the west central take the lead in the highest +percentage of high ground in comparison with the lower ground; the +southeastern and east central, for the greatest amount of rolling land; +and the southwestern, for the most level or nearly level land. + +[Illustration: Down the long row. View in well cared for orchard of J. M. +Barclay, Madison Lake.] + +As for the effect of direction of slope on hardiness, there were many +varied opinions. Thirty stated without question that the direction had +an effect, thirty-one stated that it had no effect, and seventy-two +admitted that they did not know. Of those answering in the affirmative +only seven had two or more distinctly different slopes, while fifteen of +the negatives had two or more slopes for comparison. Nine of those who +stated they didn't know had two or more slopes upon which to base their +judgment. In summing up the direction of sites preferred, seventy-seven +recommended a northerly slope, nine had no preference, one preferred +southeast, one west, one west and east, two east, one north and east, +one northeast or east, and sixty-four expressed no opinion. Two growers +stated that the north slope prevented early bloom and thereby lessened +liability to injury from late frosts, two growers stated that northern +slopes decreased the loss of moisture, and one stated that the northeast +slope gives the largest fruit and the west the best colored. + +As a brief summary of the reports on orchard sites, it may be stated +that high ground, rolling or sloping to the north, is preferred by the +majority of growers who filled out these orchard survey blanks. + +_Protective Agencies._ Under this heading comes windbreaks of all kinds, +whether hills, natural timber or planted trees, and bodies of water +which ameliorate the climate. Out of fifty-four replies from the central +east section, sixteen reported that their orchards were favorably +affected by lakes, the benefit coming in most cases from the prevention +of early and late frosts. One grower attributed the cooling of the air +during the summer as a benefit and two stated that the bodies of water +furnished moisture. Two growers in the southeast section received +favorable influences from the Mississippi River, and one in the +southwestern and two in the west central sections thought they received +beneficial effects from lakes. According to this data, orchards in the +east central section, owing largely to the influence of Lake Minnetonka, +are greatly benefited by the presence of water. + +Windbreaks are a very important factor in successful orcharding in +Minnesota, even though one party in the southeast section and three +parties in the central east noted no beneficial effects. According to +reports from the central west and southwest sections they are of great +benefit and in some cases indispensable to apple growing. As would be +expected by any one who is acquainted with Minnesota, the planted +windbreaks are a more important factor in the prairie country than in +the natural wooded and hilly regions. In the southeast section, five +orchards were reported as protected by bluffs and hills, three by both +hills and natural woods, two by natural woods, two by both natural and +planted woods, and twenty-one by planted woods; in the central east +section, one by a hill and a planted windbreak, one by a town, fifteen +by natural timber, two by natural and planted timber, and nineteen by +planted windbreaks; in the northeast section, two by natural and four by +planted windbreaks; in the northwest section, three by natural and two +by planted windbreaks; in the west central section, one by a hill and +natural timber, five by natural timber, two by natural timber and +planted windbreaks, and eighteen by planted windbreaks; and in the +southwest section, one by a hill and natural woods, one by a hill and +planted windbreak, two by natural timber, and fifteen by planted +windbreaks. If Meeker County, which has natural timber, was not included +in the central west--and perhaps it should have been included in central +east--this section would have only one orchard protected alone by +natural timber; and if Blue Earth County was eliminated from the +southwest, this section would have no orchard protected alone by natural +timber. + +The beneficial effects from windbreaks may be summed up as follows: +Twenty-five reported that they prevented fruit from being blown off +trees, nine that they prevented trees and limbs being broken by winds +and storms, ten that they protected trees from injury by winds without +specifying the kind of injury, four that they reduced injury from +frosts, ten that they either prevented or reduced winter injury, four +that they helped to retain moisture, five that they helped to hold snow, +eight that they prevented snow drifting, five that they protected +orchards from hot and dry winds, three that they permitted the growing +of apples, and one that they supplied all advantages. + +The kinds of trees recommended for windbreaks and the methods of +planting are numerous and variable and to discuss them at length would +take too much time. However, the principal facts may be briefly +enumerated. + +In eighty-five reports that listed set out windbreaks, it was found that +fifty-seven growers had used evergreens, thirty-seven willows, +twenty-nine box elders, twenty-five maples, seventeen cottonwoods, +thirteen ashes, eleven elms, eight poplars, four oaks, four plums, three +nuts and one apple. The evergreens consisted of thirteen Scotch pine, +eleven evergreens (not named), eight Norway spruce, five spruce (not +named), three balsam, three Austrian pine, two white pine, one yellow +pine, two cedar, two white spruce, two pine (variety not named), two +fir, two jack pine, one Black Hills spruce, and one tamarack. In the +willows were given twenty willows (variety not named), two +laurel-leaved, seven white and eight golden; in the maples, sixteen soft +maples, two hard maples, one silver-maple and six maples (kind not +named); in the poplars, five Norway, one Carolina, two poplar (kind not +named); and in the nuts, one black walnut, one butternut and one walnut. +The major part of the box elders, cottonwoods, willows and ashes were +noted in the central west and southwest sections. Thirty-seven +experienced growers of windbreaks, the most of them living in the +southwest, west central and southeast sections, recommended the +following trees for windbreaks in the given proportions, twenty-four +evergreens, fifteen willows, seven maples, six poplars, five elms, five +box elders, three elms, two plum, two cottonwood, three hedges, one oak, +one hackberry and one black walnut. The evergreens are decidedly the +most popular, and among the varieties mentioned Norway spruce takes the +lead for those recommended, and the Scotch pine for those planted. + +There are about as many different systems of planting used as growers. +The main point in all cases was to have a planting that would stop the +wind and storms. A few growers advocated the use of a hedge or plum +trees to fill in under the windbreak, while one grower desires a +circulation of air under the branches of his trees. Cultivation and +intercropping of windbreaks are also recommended in a few cases. The +distance of planting varies, of course, with the trees or shrubs used. +For example: one grower recommends 8 ft. x 8 ft. for large deciduous +trees, and another grower, 6 ft. x 12 ft. apart in rows and two rows, 12 +ft. apart. For Scotch pine one grower advocates eight feet. In some +cases a mixture of many kinds of trees is recommended, and then again +only one kind. One very solid windbreak is made up of a lilac hedge, +four rows of jack pine, four rows of Norway poplar and one row of +willow. Another is one row willow, one of evergreen, one of willow and +one of evergreen. + +Various distances between windbreak and orchard were used and +recommended. A large number of orchards were started at about twenty +feet from the windbreak and a few as close as one rod, but these +distances proved to be too close. One grower, however, recommended close +planting and later the removal of a row of trees in the windbreak when +more space was needed. The recommended distances for planting varied +from thirty to 500 feet, although seventy-five to 100 was satisfactory +in most cases. + +More details have been given in regard to orchard sites and windbreaks +than many of you are probably interested in, but for one who is planning +to set out an orchard they should prove of value and profit, as they are +based upon the experiences of many of Minnesota's best orchardists. + + + + +My Experience with a Young Orchard. + +ROY VIALL, SPRING VALLEY. + + +About ten years ago we acquired some land three and one-half miles north +of Spring Valley. This land is very rough and was originally covered +with heavy timber, in fact, about one-third of our large orchard was +cleared and grubbed out the fall before planting. + +When I became interested in fruit growing one of the first things I did +was to join the Horticultural Society and to the knowledge obtained +through this membership we owe in large measure what success has come to +us. + +The eighteen acres selected for our main orchard slopes quite abruptly +to the north and northeast. In fact, the slope is so steep that the +ground, if kept under cultivation, would wash badly, and this was the +real reason for seeding down our orchard at the time of planting. The +orchard is now seven years old, and the trees have never had a particle +of cultivation. Part of this ground was in grain and seeded to alsike +and timothy the year before; the balance was the new land referred to, +which we had broken and immediately seeded down to alsike and timothy, +with oats as a nurse crop. + +Our first problem was what varieties to plant, in what proportion and +where to buy them. In this we adopted the recommendation of this society +at that time, choosing Wealthy, Duchess, Patten Greening and +Northwestern Greening, with fifty Malinda and fifty Iowa Beauty. We now +have in addition two small orchards with nearly forty varieties +altogether. The varieties, for the large orchard were divided as +follows: 250 Duchess, 250 Patten Greening, 300 Northwestern Greening, +1,000 Wealthy. Were I to set another commercial orchard of the same size +it would contain 500 Duchess and the balance Wealthy. While the Patten +Greening is an ideal tree and an early and prolific bearer, there is +with us a much larger per cent of imperfect and diseased fruit than of +any other variety. Tree for tree, I believe the Duchess will produce +_more_ saleable _fruit_. + +Where to buy our trees was decided for us in one of our first numbers of +the Horticulturist, viz., at the nearest reliable nursery. That this was +good advice is evidenced by the fact that out of the 1,900 trees we have +found but two that were not as ordered. + +Our next problem was, at what distance to plant the trees. The more +information we sought the less sure were we of the best plan. We were +advised to plant all distances from 12 feet by 16 feet to 24 feet by 32 +feet. We finally concluded to take about an average of them all and +decided on 20 feet by 20 feet, and so far have had no reason to regret +it. We have put up the alsike and timothy every year for hay with the +usual machinery, and there has not been over a half dozen trees +seriously damaged. Our trees were nearly all three years old, 5 to 6 +feet, and we find they do much better in sod than a smaller tree. + +Having the orchard set out the next thing was to protect the trees from +mice and rabbits. This we did by making protectors out of wire cloth, +using different widths, from 18 to 24 inches, cutting it in strips 10 +inches wide and holding it about the trees by three pieces of stove pipe +wire at the top, middle and bottom. Not counting the time of making and +putting them on these cost us from 1-1/2 cents to 2-1/2 cents each, and +lasted from three to four years. We used a few made of galvanized wire +cloth, which lasted much longer. + +Three years ago we commenced replacing these protectors with a wash of +white lead and raw linseed oil mixed to the consistency of separator +cream. The first year we painted only fifty trees, the next year 100, +the next 300, and this last year we painted every tree on the place. We +can see no bad effects, and it certainly protects against mice and +rabbits and, what is equally as important, against borers also, and the +cost per tree, including labor, is much less. + +We have also used the lead and oil with splendid results in treating +trees affected with canker. We had quite a number of Wealthy so +affected, and we cut out the affected bark and wood and then covered the +wound with lead, and in almost every case it has proved a cure, that is, +stopped the spread of the canker. + +The second year our orchard was set out we began to mulch the trees with +grass cut in the orchard, clover straw, pea straw--anything we could +get. We were unable to mulch the entire orchard that year, and before we +got the balance mulched you could tell as far as you could see the +orchard which trees were mulched and which were not. The former not only +made a better growth, but had a healthier look. Now I do not want you to +get the idea that I am advocating the sod system except in locations +similar to ours. Were our orchard on more level ground I not only should +have cultivated the first three years, as advocated by most authorities, +but would have continued the cultivation in some degree at least. + +Nevertheless, on account probably of the very favorable location, I +think our orchard will compare favorably with any cultivated orchard of +the same age. Having the orchard set out, protected against mice and +rabbits and mulched, we found that the real work of raising an orchard +had just begun. First came the gray beetles the following June, and they +ate the new growth off several hundred trees before we discovered them. +At that time, not knowing what else to do, we hand picked every one we +could find and destroyed them. These beetles we found came from oak +groves on the south and west, and the next year we sprayed with arsenate +of lead six or eight rows of trees on that side of the orchard, and as +we have since then sprayed the entire orchard each year we have had no +further trouble. + +Next came pocket gophers, and before we learned how to stop them we had +lost a number of trees by their chewing off the roots just beneath the +surface of the ground. By opening their runways and placing well down in +them a piece of carrot or potato in which has been placed a little +strychnine we succeeded in getting rid of them entirely. Next came the +woodchucks. They were very destructive with us, chewing the bark above +the protectors as well as the roots. Trapping is the most successful +method we have found, and by keeping a half dozen traps out all the time +we held them in check. Eternal vigilance must be the motto of the +successful orchardist. + +In the year 1913 we picked our first crop of apples, that is, in +sufficient quantity to be considered in a commercial way. Our Duchess we +sold in barrels at $2.00 net. Wealthy we packed in bushel boxes, making +two sizes, the larger, three inches and over, we called No. 1, and they +sold for $1.25 per box net. The balance or smaller ones were also sold +in boxes and brought us $1.00 per box net. Patten Greenings brought us +80 cents and Northwestern Greenings, 90 cents per box. Our neighbors, +who sold to the local and transient buyers in bulk and in barrels, +received 75 cents to 90 cents per hundred pounds, or $2.00 per barrel. + +The past year we had only about 75 bushels of all kinds. With the +exception of Duchess and possibly Patten's Greening we shall certainly +sell our next crop in bushel boxes. + +We are top-working about 50 Patten's Greening to Jonathan, Delicious, +McIntosh Red and King David. As the work was only started a year ago +last spring I cannot tell you of its success or failure. So far the best +results seem to be with the Jonathan. + +We also have about thirty varieties of plums, including many of Prof. +Hansen's new hybrids. Of these the Opata seems to be the most hardy and +prolific, but it is subject to brown rot, which, this past year was so +bad that we lost more than half the fruit. We have it top-worked on +several varieties of native plums, and it was similarly affected there +also. This was the only variety in our orchard of 150 trees that was so +affected. We have fifteen Surprise plums, set seven years, that have not +yielded altogether a peck of plums. Only lack of time kept me from +grubbing them out last spring. This past season they were so heavily +loaded that we had to prop the limbs and then thin out the fruit. + +We endeavor to spray all our trees twice with commercial lime-sulphur +and arsenate of lead--the first time immediately after the blossoms +fall, the second two weeks later. Our spraying outfit consists of a +Morrill & Morley hand pump, fitted in a 100-gallon tank, which we +mounted on a small, one-horse truck. We operate it with three men, one +to drive and pump and one for each line of hose, spraying two rows of +trees at once. With this outfit we can spray 400 to 500 trees (of the +size of ours) a day. + + * * * * * + +THE NATIONAL FORESTS--besides being the American farmer's most +valuable source of wood, which is the chief building material for rural +purposes, are also his most valuable source of water, both for +irrigation and domestic use. In the West, they afford him a protected +grazing range for his stock; they are the best insurance against flood +damage to his fields, his buildings, his bridges, his roads, and the +fertility of his soil. The national forests cover the higher portions of +the Rocky Mountain ranges, the Cascades, the Pacific Coast ranges, and a +large part of the forested coast and islands of Alaska; some of the +hilly regions in Montana and in the Dakotas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, and +limited areas in Minnesota, Michigan, Florida, and Porto Rico. In +addition, land is now being purchased for national forests in the White +Mountains of New England and in the southern Appalachians. In regions so +widely scattered, agricultural and forest conditions necessarily differ +to a great degree, bringing about corresponding differences in the +effect of the national forests on the agricultural interests of the +various localities. Wherever agriculture can be practiced, however, the +farmer is directly benefited by the existence of national forests and by +their proper management.--U.S. Dept. of Agri. + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. +Minneapolis. + +SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE USE OF COAL ASHES-- + + +This is the time of the year when the unsightly heaps of coal ashes are +likely to appear in one's back yard--eyesores and apparently useless. + +Yet there are several ways in which they can be used to advantage about +the garden. + +They should first be sifted, using a quarter-inch wire mesh. The rough +or coarser parts are well adapted for use on paths and driveways, +forming a clean, firm surface with use. These paths are especially good +in the garden, for weeds do not grow readily in them, and they dry off +quickly after a rain. + +Such parts of the ashes as will pass through an inch mesh will make a +very good summer mulch about fruit trees and bushes that require such +care. This mulch will conserve the moisture at the roots of the tree or +plant at a time when it is very necessary to have it. + +About a pyramid of these coarse ashes one may plant anything that +requires much water. The roots of the plants will run under the ashes +and keep moist and cool. Through a drought a little water poured upon +the ashes will be distributed to the roots without loss. + +The fine sifted ashes will render the tougher hard soils more friable, +their chief virtue being lightening it. In a very mild degree they are a +fertilizer, though in no degree comparable in this respect to hardwood +ashes. Yet it has been proved that soil to which sifted coal ashes had +been added grew plants of richer, darker foliage. They must be very well +mixed with the soil by a thorough spading and forking. + +The following experiment was noted in the Garden Magazine: A soil was +prepared as follows: One-eighth stable manure, one-eighth leaf mold, +one-quarter garden soil (heavy), one-half sifted coal ashes. Plants +grown in this soil surpassed those grown in the garden soil next to +them. + +Coal ashes would not be advised for a light soil. + + * * * * * + +Watch this page for announcement of Garden Flower Society meetings. + +January 20th, Public Library, Minneapolis, Tenth and Hennepin, +Directors' Room, 2:30 p.m. + +SUBJECTS: + +Hotbeds, coldframes, management and care of the young plants, Mr. Frank +H. Gibbs. + +The Minnesota Cypripediums. Can they be successfully cultivated? Miss +Clara Leavitt. + +Five-minute talks on "The Best Things of 1915." + +Members are urged to bring their friends to this meeting. No one who +contemplates having a garden this year can afford to miss it. Let us be +generous and share our good programs with as many as possible. Each +member is host or hostess for that day. + + + + +SECRETARY'S CORNER + + +ANNUAL MEETING WISCONSIN STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCY.--This +meeting is to be held at Madison, Wis., on January 5-7. Mr. Chas. +Haralson, superintendent of our State Fruit-Breeding Farm, is to +represent this society at that meeting. We may look for an interesting +report from him in the February issue of our monthly. + +IS YOUR ANNUAL FEE PAID?--If not, won't you please send it in +promptly, remitting by a $1.00 bill, which is a safe medium of payment, +instead of using check unless you draw on a bank in one of the larger +cities of the state. Checks on country banks, as a rule, can only be +collected here by a payment of ten cents, which the society can ill +afford to pay for so many members. + +ANNUAL MEETING S.D. HORT. SOCY.--The annual gathering of this +sister association will be held in Huron, S.D., January 18-20. Quite a +good many of our members live so near the state line that they may find +it convenient to attend this meeting, which will certainly be a +profitable one. Prof. N. E. Hansen is secretary. Mr. Wm. Pfaender, Jr., +of New Ulm, is to be the representative of this society at the South +Dakota meeting. + +ANNUAL MEETING SOUTHERN MINNESOTA HORT. SOCY.--This very +wide-awake auxiliary of the state society will hold its annual meeting +in Austin, January 19th and 20th next. The program of the meeting is not +yet at hand, but you may be sure that it will be an interesting and +practical one. If the reader is living anywhere within convenient range +of Austin by all means attend this meeting and get inspiration and help +for the work of another season. + +YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.--This refers to members of the society +who have paid their annual fee for 1916 and are wondering why they have +not yet received the membership ticket. There is always a little +unavoidable delay in sending out these tickets after the annual meeting. +First the tickets must be printed, and then the society folder that goes +out with them must be prepared, and the material making up this folder +comes from quite a number of sources, and it takes more or less time to +get all of these matters together and in shape. You need not be +solicitous in regard to membership fees remitted, as the chance of loss +in transmission is approximately nothing; hardly half a dozen instances +of the kind have come up in the twenty-five years of service of the +secretary. + +PASSING OF MICHAEL BENDEL, SR.--This old member of our society +and resident of Madison has just been called away, December 23rd, at the +age of seventy-nine years. While not an attendant at our meetings he was +a most loyal member of the society, and especially conspicuous in the +western part of the state, where he lived, as a successful experimenter +in orcharding, in which work he had a large experience. His portrait and +a brief sketch of his life appear in the 1914 volume of our report, on +page 150. Mr. Bendel was for many years president of the Lac qui Parle +County Agricultural Society, was always greatly interested in everything +to improve the interests of his community, and especially those +pertaining to farm life. He has left an enviable record. + +FARMERS AND HOME MAKERS WEEK.--University Farm, midway between +Minneapolis and St. Paul, have prepared a royal program for all +interested in agricultural work and life, including the needs of the +household, filling all of next week, from January 3rd to 8th, inclusive. +Seventy-nine professors and instructors by count are on the program for +the week, and it is so arranged that those attending pass from one +lecture room to another, from hour to hour, selecting the subjects that +they have a special interest in. Horticulture, or subjects closely akin, +have a place on this program Monday afternoon, Tuesday forenoon and +afternoon, Wednesday forenoon and Thursday forenoon; Thursday afternoon +the horticultural program is devoted entirely to vegetables; Friday +forenoon and afternoon; and Saturday forenoon altogether spraying. When +this magazine is received it will be too late to send for a program, but +not too late to attend the meetings, which we hope many of our members +may have the opportunity to do. + +ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL MEETING.--The badge book, which is issued +at every annual meeting, containing the list of those who notify the +secretary of a purpose to attend the meeting, is a pretty good index of +the attendance. This year the badge book contained 442 names. Of course +not all of these were present at the meeting, but a great many who were +there had not sent notice of attendance and whose names were not in the +badge book, so that the figures given elsewhere in this magazine as to +attendance, estimated at from 400 to 500, are certainly not any too +high. + +Of this number not to exceed fifteen members, including vice presidents +and superintendents of trial stations living at a distance, receive +their railroad fare to and from the annual meeting, which is the only +compensation they receive for their work in operating the trial stations +and preparing the annual or semi-annual reports connected with their +positions. This is not in fact any compensation for service but rather a +recognition of the large obligation under which the society rests +towards them for such gratuitous service. + +PLANT PREMIUMS FOR 1916.--On the inside front cover page of +this monthly will be found a list of the plant premiums offered to our +membership the coming spring. This list is also published in the society +folder, of which copies will be sent to each member and which can be +supplied in any number desired by application to the secretary. The list +of plant premiums includes a considerable variety of plants both +ornamental and otherwise useful. Those of special interest this year are +the new fruits being sent out from the State Fruit-Breeding Farm, +including No. 3 June-bearing strawberry, which gives promise of being a +very valuable fruit for Minnesota planters; No. 1017 everbearing +strawberry, the kind which has been selected from thousands of varieties +fruiting at the station, a good plant maker and also a prolific fruiter +of high quality berries; No. 4 raspberry, a variety of extraordinary +vigor and hardiness, large fruited, and a prolific bearer; and several +varieties of large fruited plums. Every member of the society with +facilities for growing fruits should be interested in trying these new +varieties, which of course are still being sent out on trial, and we +desire to hear from our membership as to their measure of success with +them. + +[Illustration: A. W. LATHAM O. C. GREGG CHAS. G. PATTEN + +From photograph taken in front of Administration Building, at University +Farm, on the morning of January 8, just before presentation of +certificates referred to on opposite page.] + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted in estimating their practical value. + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + +Vol. 44 FEBRUARY, 1916 No. 2 + + + + +OPEN LETTER TO MEMBERS + +OF THE + +Minnesota State Horticultural Society + +FROM ITS SECRETARY. + + +Probably members of the society very generally noticed a few weeks since +in the daily papers of the Twin Cities and elsewhere an announcement +that "certificates of award for special meritorious services in the +advancement of agriculture" would be made by the Minnesota State +University to Mr. O. C. Gregg, Hon. W. G. LeDuc, Mr. Chas. G. Patten and +Mr. A. W. Latham. + +These certificates were awarded Saturday, January 8th, 1916, at the +closing exercises of the Farmers Week at the University Farm before an +audience of twelve hundred people, gathered in the chapel in the +Administration Building. Appropriate exercises were conducted by the +President, Geo. E. Vincent, and the Dean of the University Farm, A.F. +Woods, in the presence of Hon. Fred B. Snyder, President of the Board of +Regents of the State University, and other members of the Board and a +large representation of the professorship of University Farm School, +also occupying the platform. + +Dean Woods read a sketch of the life of each one of the recipients, and +the certificates were formally presented to each in turn by the +President of the State University. All the persons who were to receive +this honor were in attendance except Gen. LeDuc, who was probably unable +to be present on account of his extreme age. + +When this matter was first called to my attention I felt that it would +be entirely out of place, being its editor, that I should make reference +to it in the society monthly, but as the fact has been widely published +throughout the state, and whatever honor is connected with this +presentation is to be shared with the members of the Horticultural +Society, I have changed my view point in regard to this, and it seems to +me now that the members of the society should be fully informed as to +what has taken place. + +Mr. O. C. Gregg received this distinction on account of his connection +with the farmers' institutes of the state, of which he was the pioneer, +and in connection with which he remained as superintendent for some +twenty-two years. + +Gen. LeDuc was for a number of years Commissioner of Agriculture at +Washington and introduced many important reforms in the management of +that department. + +Mr. Chas. G. Patten is well known to our members of course as the +originator of the Patten's Greening apple, although this is quite an +infinitesimal part of the work that he has done in connection with the +breeding of fruits, the results from which the public are to profit by +largely, we believe, in the early future. At his advanced age of +eighty-four we feel that this honor has been wisely placed. + +"Mr. A. W. Latham has been secretary of the Minnesota State Horticultural +Society for twenty-five years, during which period its membership has +advanced from one or two hundred to thirty-four hundred, making it the +largest horticultural society in the country, and probably," as stated +by the Dean in his address, "the largest in the world." + +While this distinction has been conferred upon the secretary of your +society it is not to be considered as so much a personal tribute to him +as a recognition of the splendid work done by the society as a whole, in +which every member has had some share. To express fully my thought in +this I will refer briefly to the organization of the society, just half +a century ago, when a handful of earnest men united their efforts under +the name of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society in an endeavor to +solve the difficult problems connected with fruit growing in this +region. None of the men who at that time organized this society are now +living, but others have taken their places, and the important service +that was so well cared for by the earlier membership is being equally as +well prosecuted by those who have succeeded them. + +My personal connection with the society began the third year of its +existence, so that I had the high privilege of enjoying personal +acquaintance with practically all those earlier workers in the society, +and indeed most of them were still alive when I came into the +secretaryship twenty-five years ago. It will not be out of place to +speak here particularly of a few of those who are no longer with us: +John S. Harris, that staunch friend, one of the original twelve, whose +medallion hangs on the wall of the horticultural classroom at University +Farm; Peter M. Gideon, whose self-sacrifice gave us the Wealthy apple, +now of worldwide planting--he in whose memory the Gideon Memorial Fund +was created; Col. John H. Stevens, that large hearted man of +unquenchable public spirit; P.A. Jewell, searcher for new fruits and +founder of the Jewell Nursery Company; Truman M. Smith, seven years +president during many dark days; Wyman Elliot, one of the original +twelve, well called by one "King of the Horticultural Society"--so +recently taken from us. The institution of learning conferring this +distinction upon us has contributed a full share of workers now no +longer with us; W. W. Pendergast, first principal of the University Farm +School, and for many years president of the society until stricken with +a fatal illness; and Prof. Saml. B. Green of blessed memory, whose loss +we shall never cease to mourn. There are many others who did great +service to the society that I should be glad to speak of here if space +would permit. + +In the list of those who are still with us and have served with such +self devotion and courage in advancing the interests of the society, and +that for which it stands, are to be found the names of many men +prominent in various walks of life in our state. It would be out of +place for me to select from this list a few and give them special +prominence where hundreds have contributed to the life and growth of the +association all these many years until the present enviable place now +occupied by the association has been attained. To the executive board of +the society, most of whom have been members of the board for a long +period of years, of course the success of the association is especially +due. Men of initiative in an ambitious and unselfish way working for +the success of the association, they have had very much indeed to do +with its progress. + +As I endeavor to recall the personality of those who have been of +special service to us I find the list almost without limit. With what +pleasure and satisfaction have I been permitted to serve with the +members of this society! What willingness to perform the duties +suggested has ever characterized the assistance that has been rendered +by the membership of this society! It has been an exceedingly rare thing +for any member to offer an objection to undertaking any service asked of +him, and with such support as this so readily and heartily given, and +often at large expense to the member, what can be expected other than +such success as has come to our society. I wish I had the ability to +express at this time the thought that is in my heart as I recall all of +these helpful brothers and sisters to whom indeed belongs as much as to +the writer any distinction that comes to the society as a result of +these years of labor. + +Notwithstanding the State University have seen fit to refer to this in a +way to indicate that our society has reached some certain vantage +ground, it must not be lost sight of that the real work of the society +is still before it. Whether to be carried on under the present +management or under a changed management we have a right to look ahead +and anticipate the definite and widely expanding results that are still +to come from the services of the members of the society, which we are +sure in the future, as in the past, will be heartily rendered. + +A. W. LATHAM, Secy. + + + + +June-Bearing Strawberries. + +GEO. J. KELLOGG, RETIRED NURSERYMAN, JANESVILLE, WIS. + + +Any fool that knows enough can grow strawberries, which reminds me of +the preacher in York State who both preached and farmed it. He was +trying to bore a beetle head and could not hold it; a foolish boy came +along and said, "Why don't you put it in the hog trough?" "Well! Well!" +the preacher said. "You can learn something from most any fool." The boy +said, "That is just what father says when he hears you preach." I don't +expect to tell you much that is new, but I want to emphasize the good +things that others have said: + +_Soils._ I once had twenty-one acres of heavy oak, hickory, crab apple +and hazel brush, with one old Indian corn field. I measured hazel brush +twelve feet high, and some of the ground was a perfect network of hazel +roots; the leaf mould had accumulated for ages. The first half acre I +planted to turnips, the next spring I started in to make my fortune. I +set out nineteen varieties of the best strawberries away back in the +time of the Wilson, than which we have never had its equal. The plants +grew well and wintered well, but they did not bear worth a cent, while +just over the fence I had a field on ground that had been worked twenty +years without manure that gave me two hundred and sixty bushels to the +acre. It took three years with other crops to reduce that loose soil +before I could make strawberries pay. My fortune all vanished. + +Last June while judging your strawberry show, I found a large collection +of twenty-five kinds of the poorest strawberries I ever saw, grown on +the college grounds. I visited the field, found over a hundred +varieties, well tallied, well cultivated, on new oak opening soil. First +crop, the soil seemed ideal, every thing good except the plants and the +fruit. The foliage was defective and the fruit very poor. Was it the new +soil? + +I have always found good garden soil would produce good strawberries; +the best beds were those that followed potatoes. Cut worms and white +grubs seldom follow two years of hoed crops. + +[Illustration: Mr. Geo. J. Kellogg ten years ago] + +_Preparation._ Preparation for the best strawberries should be started +three years before planting. Using soil from sand to clay, well drained, +well manured, sowed to clover, take off the first cutting of clover, +then more manure plowed under deep with the second crop of clover, as +late as can before freezing up, to kill insects and make the soil +friable and ready for a crop of potatoes the next spring. After +harvesting 300 bushels of potatoes to the acre use a heavy coat of well +rotted manure without weed seed, plowed under late in fall. The +following spring, as soon as the ground will work, thoroughly disk and +harrow, and harrow twice more. Then roll or plank it, mark both ways two +by four feet, set by hand either with dibble or spade, no machine work. +Crown even with the surface, with best of plants from new beds, leaving +on but two leaves, and if the roots are not fresh dug, trim them a +little. Firm them good. + +Now start the weeder and go over the field every week till the runners +start, then use the nine-tooth cultivator with the two outside teeth two +inches shorter than the others. Cultivate every week till the middle of +October. Use the hoe to keep out all weeds and hoe very lightly about +the plants. Weeds are a blessing to the lazy man, but I don't like to +have it overdone. Don't let the soil bake after a rain. Keep the +cultivator running. In garden work a steel tooth rake is a splendid +garden tool. + +Volume 1905, page 230 (An. Report Minn. State Hort. Society). Mr. Schwab +gets an ideal strawberry bed, then kills it with twelve inches of mulch. +If the ice and snow had not come perhaps the plants would have pulled +through. Volume 41, page 390. Mr. Wildhagen gives an ideal paper on +strawberries, it will pay you to read it again and again. Instead of one +year's preparation, I would have three. + +_Winter Protection._ Unless in an exposed place, marsh hay is the best +and cleanest mulch, but high winds may roll it off. Clean straw away +from the tailings of the machine is next best. For small acreage if one +inch can be put on as soon as the ground is frozen a half inch, it will +save the many freezings and thawings before winter sets in. For large +acreage it is not practical to cover till frost will hold up a loaded +wagon. Two inches of mulch, that covers the plants and paths from sight +is enough, but I see you cover deeper, from four to twelve inches in +Minnesota, and often smother the plants. If we could have a snow blanket +come early and stay on late in spring, that would protect the plants, +but we want the mulch also to protect from drouth and keep the berries +clean. A January thaw is liable to kill out any field that is not +properly mulched. + +A two inch mulch will not hinder the plants coming through in spring; +four inches will require part of the mulch raked into the paths; if +plants don't get through readily loosen the mulch. I have known some +successful growers to take off all the mulch from the paths in spring +and cultivate lightly but thoroughly, then replace the mulch to protect +from drouth and to keep the berries clean, but I don't think it pays. + +_Weeds._ In the best fields and beds I ever saw there will come up an +occasional weed in spring, and it pays to go over the ground with a +spade or butcher knife and take out such weeds. We almost always get a +drouth at picking time, better a drought than too much rain. A good +straw mulch will usually carry us through. + +_Irrigation._ If irrigation is attempted the fields must be prepared +before planting to run water through between the rows. Sprinkling will +not do except at sundown. Rain always comes in cloudy weather; you +cannot wet foliage in sun in hot weather without damage. A good rainfall +is one inch, which is a thousand barrels to the acre, so what can you do +with a sprinkling cart? Showers followed by bright sunshine damage the +patch. + +If your plants are set too deep they rot, if too high they dry, if not +well firmed they fail. When I have used a tobacco planter I have had to +put my heel on every plant. Of course you know that newly planted June +varieties must have the blossom buds cut out, and everbears bearing must +also till July. + +_Picking._ The man who has acres to pick must secure his boxes the +winter before and have at least part of them made up if they are to be +tacked. I have found a boy can make up boxes as fast as thirty pickers +can fill. If you use the folding box no tacks are needed. Too many boxes +made up ahead are liable to be damaged by the mice. + +_Pickers._ Engage your pickers ahead; agree on the price and that a part +of the pay is to be kept back till the close of the season, which is +forfeited if quitting before time. If pickers are too far away, +transportation must be furnished--free boxes of berries are appreciated +by the pickers. + +_Marketing._ Sometimes the marketing of the fruit is harder than the +growing of it. If enough is grown form an association to sell it, get +advice from a successful association how to form and how to run it. +Sometimes a well made wagon, a good team and a good man can sell from +house to house in the country and city and make good returns. In this +way you get back your crates and part of the boxes. I know a successful +grower in Iowa, who sold his crop of ten acres to the farmers and city +people, they doing their own picking and furnishing their own boxes, at +a given price. All the proprietor had to do was sit at the gate and take +in the cash. It is worth a good deal to know how to grow the best of +strawberries and often it is worth more to know how to turn them into +cash. + +_What Varieties?_ Dunlap and Warfield have a general reputation for +profit, can be picked together and sell well; dark color, good canners +and good shippers. If you want a third variety take Lovett. Some of your +growers want nothing but Bederwood, but it is too light and too soft to +ship, though it is a good family berry. I expect Minnesota No. 3 will +soon be the only variety you will want of the June kinds. + +_Insects._ Winter drouth often injures the roots and some lay it to +insects. The winter of 1899 was the worst winter drouth I ever knew; it +killed every thing. If you are troubled with the crown borer, root lice, +leaf roller or rust, grow one crop and plow under, or move your fields a +good distance from the old bed. What shall be done with the old bed? If +you have insects or rust plow under and get the best place to start a +new bed, and don't set any of your own plants if you have insects or +rust--and be sure you buy of a reliable grower. + +_Old Beds._ If the first crop is big, plow under, if light and you have +a good stand of plants, no insects or rust, you can mow and teddy up the +mulch and in a high wind burn it over--a quick fire will do no harm. +Then you can plow two furrows between rows and drag it every way till +not a plant is seen. Soon, if the rows are left a foot wide, the plants +will come through. Then manure (better be manured before plowing), and +you may get a good second crop. Some mow and rake off and burn outside +the bed, then with a two horse cultivator dig up the paths and cultivate +and get the ground in condition. Put on the manure and hoe out part of +the old plants. + +I like the plan of Wildhagen; mow, burn and then cover three inches deep +with one hundred big loads of manure to the acre and don't go near the +patch till picking time next year. He gets a nice early crop, and if +berries are a little small it pays better than any other way. Try it! I +have known some fields carried to fourth crop, and amateur beds kept up +for ten years. It takes lots of work to keep an old bed in good +condition. J.M. Smith, of Green Bay, Wis., almost always took one crop +and plowed under. If the first crop was injured by frost, he took a +second crop. He raised four hundred bushels to the acre. + +Wm. Von Baumbach, of Wauwatosa, Wis., raised from five acres less ten +square rods seventeen hundred bushels big measure beside quantities +given the pickers. I have had beds and fields where I have timed my boys +picking a quart a minute. I had one small boy that picked 230 quarts a +day. But in all my sixty years growing strawberries I never properly +prepared an acre of ground before planting. I could take a five acre +patch now, as young as I am, and beat anything I have ever done. + +_Mulch._--For mulch for small beds, if straw or marsh hay is not handy, +use an inch of leaves, then cut your sweet corn and lay the stalks on +three inches apart and your plants will come up between in spring and +give you clean fruit. Cut cornstalks are good for field covering, also +shredded cornstalks. I have used the begass from the cane mill, but it +is too heavy. Evergreen boughs are very good if well put on for small +beds. + +In my paper, Vol. 1911, page 180 (Minn. Report), it should read five +bushels to the square _rod, not acre_. Who ever heard of five bushels an +acre! + +_Big Yields._--You all know of Friend Wedge's 74-3/4 quarts from one +square rod of Everbearers the season of planting. I believe that can be +beaten. Let our society put a few hundred dollars in premiums for best +yield of square rod of everbearers and of June varieties, and of a +quarter of an acre; also the best product of one hill, and the best +product of one plant, and its runners fourteen months from planting. I +believe one plant of everbearers can produce a quart the season of +setting. I know of the five bushels to the square rod, and the other +fellow had four and a half bushel of Wilson. + + + + +Surprise Plum a Success. + +C. A. PFEIFFER, WINONA. + + +I realize at the outset that I am treading on delicate ground in +undertaking to defend the Surprise plum, on account of it having been +discarded by our fruit list committee, but after seeing our young trees +producing this year their third consecutive heavy crop I feel justified +in taking exception to the action of the committee. My first experience +with the Surprise plum dates back to 1897, when Mr. O. M. Lord, of +Minnesota City, probably the best authority on the plum in the state in +his time, presented me with one tree, which at that time were being sold +at $1.00 each, and I was cautioned against giving it too much care or I +would kill the tree, and that is just what happened to it. + +[Illustration: C. A. Pfeiffer, Winona.] + +The following year, 1898, I bought twenty-five trees from Mr. Lord and +planted them late in March, on very sandy land on a southerly slope, +pruning the trees back almost to a stump. These trees were very slow in +getting started but made a satisfactory growth before the season was +over. They commenced to bear the third year after planting, and are +still producing good crops, but it is my more recent experience with +this variety that finally induced me to prepare this article. In the +spring of 1909, we set out 160 plum trees, on rich, black, loamy soil on +low land, nineteen of them being Surprise, the other varieties being, +according to numbers, Terry, Ocheeda, Stoddard, Hawkeye, Bursota, Wolf, +Omaha also a few Jewell, DeSoto, Forest Garden, American and Stella. The +Surprise trees bore a crop in 1913, again in 1914, and 1915, making it +to the present time not only the most productive but the most profitable +variety on our place. While we did not keep an accurate record of the +exact yield in 1913 and 1914, some of the trees produced fully five 16 +quart cases in 1913. A fair average would perhaps be about four cases +per tree. In 1914 the crop was somewhat lighter, yielding an average of +three cases per tree. This year we picked and sold eighty-five cases, +which brought us a gross revenue of $79.60. We lost part of the crop on +account of continual rain in the picking season, or we would have had +fully 100 cases. Nine of the trees being in a more sheltered location +than the other ten held their fruit better during the growing season, +and produced a relatively heavier crop than the ten that were exposed to +our fierce winds all summer. + +We have never been able to supply the demand for them, at good prices, +while other varieties went begging at any kind of a price. Among their +good qualities with us are productiveness, good size, extra fine quality +and attractive color. They are delicious to eat out of hand just as they +are ripe enough to drop from the tree. They are fine for canning, +preserving or jelly. They are practically curculio proof, and have never +been affected with brown rot as have some other varieties. Aphis never +bothers them, while Terry and some other varieties nearly had the whole +crop ruined by this pest in 1914. The branches form good, strong +shoulders at the trunk and do not split or break down in heavy storms or +under their heavy loads of fruit, as the Terry and Forest Garden do. The +flower buds and fruit form as freely on the new growth as on the old +spurs. The crop is therefore about evenly distributed all over the tree, +and while we picked almost eight cases from one tree this year it did +not appear to be overloaded, as some varieties frequently are, the +Surprise tree always being capable of maturing all the fruit that sets. + +We have shipped them 300 miles by freight with perfect success, but we +pick them from the tree before fully ripe. If allowed to ripen on the +tree they drop badly, which bruises and damages them. The trees are +thrifty, vigorous growers with beautiful glossy foliage that can be +distinguished from all other varieties. + +You would note on examination of the buds that we have promise of +another crop next year, but this will depend somewhat on the weather +during the blooming season. We attribute one of the reasons for our +success with the Surprise plum to the fact that they are planted among +and alongside of varieties that have the same season of blooming, and +which undoubtedly are good pollenizers, namely the Bursota, Wolf, +Ocheeda and Omaha. The bloom of Surprise being almost sterile, they +will not be a success planted alone. + +[Illustration: A Surprise plum tree growing on the place of Prof. A.G. +Ruggles. It bore in 1914 four bushels, having been well sprayed with +arsenate of lead and bordeaux mixture.] + +You will perhaps ask if there are no faults or diseases they are subject +to, and we will state, for one thing, the fruit drops too easily when +ripe, and you will either have to pick them before fully matured or find +a good many of them on the ground. They are also occasionally subject to +blossom blight, which was rather a benefit, as it thinned the crop out +to about the proper proportion. We also had considerable plum pocket and +fungous growth one season about ten years ago. Such has been our +experience with the Surprise plum--and will again repeat that until the +society finds a plum equally as good or better, instead of discarding it +on account of unproductiveness and recommending such poor quality +varieties as Wolf, DeSoto and some others, our learned horticulturists +should make a special study of this variety and ascertain the cause of +its unproductiveness, and also to what localities in the state it may be +adapted. + +Mr. Pfeiffer: Right here I will say to those gentlemen who are looking +for a cure for brown rot or curculio, they had better plant Surprise +plums. (Applause.) + +Pres. Cashman: I am glad the Surprise plum has at least one good friend +in this audience. I think it has several. + +Mr. Ludlow: What has been your experience with the Ocheeda? I see you +mention it. + +Mr. Pfeiffer: The Ocheeda at the present time, I am sorry to say, I am +disappointed with. I planted some fifteen years ago, and they were nice +large plums, as you have described, and they were on sandy soil. I have +twenty Ocheeda trees now, and they are quite badly subject to brown rot. +Their quality is very nice to eat from the tree out of hand, nice and +sweet. + +Mr. Street: I want to second everything Mr. Pfeiffer has said. I joined +this society about twelve years ago, and it was through studying the +reports of this society that I got interested in the native plum. The +Surprise plum does very well with us in Illinois. Professor Hansen is +one of those that are responsible for my starting in with the Surprise. +It was years ago at our state meeting that he mentioned that as one of +the good plums for Northern Illinois. Well, I put it alongside of the +Wyant and the native plums that are of the same sort. I may state the +conditions under which we grow them. We always cultivate before bloom, +cultivate thoroughly. Before the growth starts we give them a very +thorough spraying with lime-sulphur spray; then just before the bloom, +just before the blossoms open, as late as we can wait, we use about 1 to +40 or 50 of the lime-sulphur solution, also put in three pounds of +arsenate of lead. Then after the blossoms fall we use the same spray +again, perhaps two weeks after that again, and we keep that up for about +four times. We have had abundant crops, and they have been very +profitable. + +Pres. Cashman: I am very glad to know that the Surprise plum has friends +in Illinois, and we are also pleased to know that Mr. Street is with us +and we hope to hear from him later. The president of the Wisconsin +Horticultural Society, Mr. Rasmussen. + +Mr. Rasmussen: I will say the Surprise plum has given just about the +same results with us--it is the most profitable we have. + +Mr. Sauter: I was over to the Anoka county fair; it was the first part +of September, and all the other plums weren't ripe, all the stuff they +had in was green. But all the Surprise were ripe, so that certainly must +be an early ripener. + +Mr. Pfeiffer: Not especially early. + +Mr. Hall: I was certainly glad to hear Mr. Pfeiffer so ably defend the +Surprise plum. The Surprise plum was the only one I got any good from. +The DeSoto, Wolf and Stoddard and all those, the brown rot got them, but +the Surprise plum had perfect fruit. I am surprised that it has a black +eye from the society. + +Mr. Pfeiffer: Your location is where? + +Mr. Hall: Sibley County. + +Mr. Kellogg: Thirteen years ago I set out a root graft that made about +five feet of growth and just as quick as it got big enough to bear it +was loaded with Surprise plums, but since then it hasn't been worth a +cent. + +Mr. Miller: If Mr. Pfeiffer had been in my orchard he could not have +given us a better description of it than he did, of the Surprise plum. I +set it out about fifteen years ago. I think I paid sixty cents for those +seedlings, they stood about three and one-half feet. I never had brown +rot in them. When I set them out I put them with other varieties and set +them so the inside ones would fertilize the outside ones. Afterwards I +set these on the east side of the orchard, where they got protection +from the west wind. They have borne almost every year, and this year +they are the only ones we had a crop on. + +Pres. Cashman: I think we get as near to agreeing on this question as on +most others. It is suggested that we find out how many have had success +and how many have had failures with the Surprise plum. All those who +have been successful in raising Surprise plums will please raise their +hands. (Certain hands raised.) Now, hands down. Those who have been +unsuccessful will please raise their right hands. (Other hands raised.) +It seems there were more successes than failures. + +A Member: It has been mentioned that the frost this year killed the plum +crop. I noticed in my orchard previous to that frost when we had a snow +storm, I noticed that the blossoms dried up and fell from the trees +before that hard frost. I think the question of success or failure with +the Surprise, as with other plums, is sort of comparative. I don't know +of any plum of the Americana type that we have a success with every year +any more than any other. So it is relative. I would like to ask if +anyone had the same experience with the blossoms drying and falling off +the trees before that frost. + +Mr. Crawford: Perhaps the gentleman will recall the fact we had two +nights in succession of quite severe frost. The first night it was +almost a freeze, and the second we had the snow storm which is given +credit for the plum failure. + +Mr. Anderson: The gentleman who read the paper, he is from Winona, where +he has a very much better location for any kind of fruit than the +general run of the state. The other gentleman is from Illinois. Now, +this good location near Winona and the temperature down in Illinois, +does that favor the Surprise plum, and has it anything to do with their +success and our failure? + +Pres. Cashman: We will have to leave that to the audience. + +Mr. S.D. Richardson: Down in Winnebago I got three trees from the +originator of the Surprise plum, and while I was at the nursery I never +saw any plums, but I propagated some from there and a man in our town +has some Surprise plums from it, and since I left the nursery I think +the man has had some plums from them. I got them from Mr. Penning when +they were first originated, but they never bore plums for me. I had no +other plums around there. Perhaps if they need pollen from other plums +they didn't get it, and this man that has had the first success with +them he had other plums near them. Perhaps that is the secret. The tree +is hardy and good, and if you can get a crop of plums by having +something else to fertilize them, the Surprise plum is all right. + +Pres. Cashman: I think Mr. Richardson has struck the keynote to a +certain extent, we must put them near another variety to pollenize them. + + + + +Northeast Demonstration Farm and Station. + +W. J. THOMPSON, SUPT., DULUTH. + + +Last May the Station orchard was set out, the same consisting of about +516 apple trees with a fringe of cherries and plums. The apples +consisted of year old stock (purchased the year preceding and set in +nursery rows) and included these six varieties: Duchess, Patten's +Greening, Okabena, Wealthy, Hibernal, Anisim. Good growth was made the +past season and the stock went into winter quarters in good shape. +However, 20 per cent died, the loss being in this order: Wealthy, +Anisim, Hibernal, Pattens' Greening--Okabena and Duchess were tied for +smallest loss. In addition to the above, we made a considerable planting +of small fruits, principally currants and gooseberries, together with a +limited quantity of blackberries and raspberries. Twelve varieties of +strawberries were set out, each including 100 plants. All made a +splendid growth this season. An interesting test is under way in the +dynamiting work. Alternate trees have been set in blasted holes, a stick +about one and one-half inches long being sufficient to make a hole three +feet in diameter and perhaps twenty inches in depth. It is yet too early +to measure the results of this work, but owing to the nature of the +subsoil in this region, we are looking for splendid results. With regard +to the stock secured from the Fruit Farm, we have not been uniformly +successful. Much of the stock seems to be weak and dies readily from +some cause unknown to us. Next season we should be able to render a more +complete report, as our work will then be fairly started. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, West Concord Trial Station. + +FRED COWLES, SUPT., WEST CONCORD. + + +[Illustration: Fred Cowles at home.] + +Of the new varieties of plums that I received from the Fruit-Breeding +Farm most all have done well. The only one that has borne is No. 21. +This one had two plums on last season, and several this. They were a +medium size red plum, very good flavor, and seem to come into bearing +very young. No. 17 is a very thrifty grower, but when it bears that will +tell what it is worth. Hansen's plums are doing well, but we believe +they are more adapted to a better drained soil than we have here, as we +are on a heavy prairie soil. But these varieties are very thrifty and +bear so young. + +The grapes have all stood the winter with no protection and have not +killed back any. We expect some fruit next season. + +The raspberries that we received have all done well. No. 4 seems to take +the lead for flavor and is a good grower. + +Notwithstanding the cold season our strawberry crop was very good, and +we are much impressed with No. 3, it is so strong and healthy; it is +just the plant for the farmer, as it will thrive under most any +condition. I believe it will fight its way with the weeds and come out +ahead. + +We reported very favorably on the Heritage when it was in bloom, but it +does not set enough fruit to pay for its space. The berries are large +but very few on my grounds. I will discard it. + +Our apple crop was very good, especially Duchess, Wealthy and +Northwestern Greening. We have been trying some of the tender varieties +top-worked. Northern Spy gave us five nice apples on a two year graft. +We also have Jonathan, Talman Sweet and King David doing well. Delicious +grafted three years ago has not fruited yet. + +This has been a splendid summer for flowers, and they seemed to enjoy +the damp, cool season, especially the dahlia. If you have not tried the +Countess of Lonsdale you should; it is a cactus dahlia and a very free +bloomer. Everblooming roses did well--we had them in October. + + * * * * * + +PLANT LICE ON BLOSSOMS.--Aphids infesting the apple buds +appeared in serious numbers during the present season in the Illinois +University orchards when the buds began to swell. They were also +observed in neighboring orchards. In 1914, apple aphids caused serious +damage in certain counties in Illinois, and some damage was reported +from many sections of the state. + +The aphids attack the opening buds, the young fruits, the growing +shoots, and the leaves, sucking the plant juices from the succulent +parts by means of long, very slender, tube-like beaks, which they thrust +through the skins of the affected organs into the soft tissues beneath. +They weaken the blossom buds by removing the sap; they dwarf and deform +the apples so that varieties of ordinary size frequently fail to grow +larger than small crab apples, and the fruits have a puckered appearance +about the calyx end; they suck the juice from the growing shoots, +dwarfing them; and they cause the leaves to curl, and if the insects are +present in large numbers, to dry up and fall off. They are more +injurious to the growth of young trees than of old trees. In old trees +their chief injuries are on the fruit. + +This species of aphids are easily killed in the adult stage by certain +contact sprays. Winter applications of lime sulphur cannot be depended +on to destroy eggs. Poison sprays such as arsenate of lead are not eaten +by this type of insect, and consequently are ineffective remedies for +aphids. Kerosene emulsion is effective but is uncertain in its effect on +the foliage of the trees. The best available sprays are the tobacco +decoctions, of which the one most widely in use is "Black Leaf 40," a +proprietary tobacco extract, made by the Kentucky Tobacco Products +Company, Louisville, Kentucky. This material is used at the rate of one +gallon in one thousand gallons of spray. It may be combined with lime +sulphur, lime sulphur arsenate of lead, Bordeaux, or Bordeaux arsenate +of lead, not with arsenate of lead alone. + +The ideal time to spray for these aphids is just as soon as all or +nearly all the eggs appear to have hatched. Observations made in the +University orchards this season indicate that all the eggs hatched +before the blossom buds began to separate. After the leaves expand +somewhat and the blossom buds separate, the aphids are provided with +more hiding places and are more difficult to hit with the spray. +Unfortunately, spraying at this time would require an extra application +in addition to the cluster bud (first summer) spray (made for scab, +curculio, bud moth, spring canker worms, etc.), and would thus add +seriously to the cost of the season's operations. Spraying for aphids at +the time of the cluster bud spray is, however, highly effective, and in +general it is advised that this method be followed. If, however, +previous experience has shown serious losses from aphids, or if they are +present in extremely large numbers, the extra application may be well +worth while.--Ill. Agri. Exp. Station. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Duluth Trial Station. + +C. E. ROWE, SUPT., DULUTH. + + +[Illustration: A rosa rugosa hybrid rose grown by C. E. Rowe, Duluth.] + +Although this was an off year for apples, results were probably as good +here as in other sections of the state. The spring gave promise of an +unusual crop, but the constant dropping of fruit during the summer +months left us with about two-thirds as many apples as were harvested in +1914. The quality was much poorer, owing to extremely cool weather and +the presence of scab in many localities. + +The plum crop failed almost completely, and many trees were injured from +aphis attacks. I have never known the aphis so hard to control as they +were last summer. + +Nearly all fruit trees made an excellent growth this season, and the new +wood was well ripened when the freeze-up came. The fall rains provided +plenty of moisture, and our trees should come through the winter in +excellent shape. + +Raspberries and currants produced about one-half the usual crop this +year, probably owing to our May freeze. + +Strawberries were almost a failure, largely due to winter-killing. Last +winter did more damage to perennial plants than any other winter within +the recollection of the writer. The fall was rather dry, and our snow +covering did not come until January. + +We received from Supt. Haralson for trial four plum trees, variety No. +1; and fifty everbearing strawberry plants, variety No. 1017. Both plum +trees and strawberry plants made a good growth. Although the +strawberries were set heavily with fruit, but little of it ripened +before the heavy frosts came. The plant is very vigorous, and the berry +is large and of excellent quality. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Vice-President, Tenth Congressional District. + +M. H. HEGERLE, SUPT., ST. BONIFACIUS. + + +On May 18th we had several inches of snow accompanied by a fierce +northwest wind, and orchards without any shelter suffered seriously, and +both apples and plums in such orchards were scarce and of a rather +inferior quality. A few orchards had a fair crop, while a couple of +others with a natural windbreak had a fairly good crop, but on an +average it was the lightest apple and plum crop we have had for some +time. + +Mr. Beiersdorf and Mr. Swichtenberg report a good crop of Wealthy and +Peter. Their orchards are close to a lake and are well protected on the +north and west by a natural grove. + +Of the twenty-four report blanks sent out, eleven were returned properly +filled in, and they all report conditions about as above outlined. + +Cherries and grapes suffered even more from the cold than the apples, +and that crop was very light. My Homer cherry trees look healthy and are +growing fine, but the past two years had not enough fruit to supply the +birds. + +Raspberries and strawberries were a good crop and of exceptional fine +quality, but the currants and gooseberries were a total failure in my +garden as well as elsewhere, according to all reports received. + +There were not many fruit trees planted in this district the past year. +For instance, at this station the deliveries last spring consisted +principally of bundles containing one-half dozen or a dozen trees each, +and the total number delivered in that way did not exceed 200 trees and, +according to all information, the planting throughout this district was +very light. + +I know of only one new orchard started with 700 four and five year old +trees. About 500 are Wealthys and the balance Patten Greenings. The +trees made a good start but were somewhat neglected during the summer, +the field being planted to corn and some to barley, and all was handled +rather rough. + +There was very little blight in this district the past year. I noticed +just a little on two or three Transcendents, and Mr. Jos. Boll, who has +about 1,500 bearing trees, reports no blight at all. + +I did no spraying this year, did not consider it worth while, as there +was no fruit, and most others felt the same way. Other years though a +lot of spraying is done, and the more progressive ones spray two and +three times. + +There is plenty of moisture in the soil, and the trees are going into +winter quarters in good shape, therefore prospects for apple and plum +crop the coming season are excellent. + +[Illustration: Residence of M. H. Hegerle, St. Bonifacius.] + +Probably a hundred or more different kinds of apple and plum trees and +berries of all kinds are grown here. Farmers in the past usually bought +what the salesman recommended, just to get rid of him; lately though +they are taking more interest in the selection, and the Wealthy, +Patten's or Northwestern Greenings, Okabena, Peter and perhaps a few +Duchess are about the only apple trees planted now. Surprise plums, +Dunlap and everbearing strawberries are the leaders. + +Ornamental shrubs are found here of all names and descriptions and +colors, and they all seem to do well. + + * * * * * + +HONEY VINEGAR.--Vinegar made from honey has an exceptionally +fine flavor and is not expensive. A small amount of honey furnishes a +large amount of vinegar. Follow these directions: Dissolve thoroughly in +two gallons of warm, soft water one quart jar of extracted honey. Give +it air and keep it in a warm place, where it will ferment and make +excellent vinegar.--Missouri College of Agriculture. + + + + +Thirty Years in Raspberries. + +GUST JOHNSON, RETIRED FRUIT GROWER, MINNEAPOLIS. + + +Of the growing of fruit, it may well be said, "Experience is a good +teacher, but a dear school." + +When I began fruit growing, some thirty years ago, I did not begin it +merely as an experiment. I was interested in every branch of the work +and, being very much in earnest about it, I felt confident of success. + +Thinking that the failures and drawbacks sometimes experienced could be +easily overcome by a thorough understanding of the work at hand, I began +by getting all the information possible. I found that great books such +as by Downing, Thomas, etc., were more suitable for the advanced fruit +grower, but I studied all the pamphlets and books obtainable during the +winter months and put this knowledge into practice during the summer. Of +course I could not put into practice all I had obtained from this +reading, but I remembered distinctly the advice to all amateur fruit +growers to start out slowly. This was particularly suited to my case, +for the land was covered with timber, some of which I grubbed each +summer, gradually adding acres as I cleared the land. + +My first venture was in planting raspberries, planting potatoes between +the rows the first year. One delusion I had was in planting as many +different and untested varieties as I could afford to buy and not +confining myself to those that had been tried and had proven +satisfactory. Fortunately for me, the high cost of plants at this time +did not warrant my buying as many different varieties as I desired, and +I had to be contented with fewer plants. From the most promising of +these, I saved all the plants possible. + +I had an idea that I could do better by sending to some of the Eastern +states for my plants, but here again I was mistaken, for the plants +often did not arrive until late in May, and by the time they had reached +their destination were practically all dried out. The warm weather then +coming on, I lost the greater part of them, although I had carefully +hoed and tended them in the hope that they would finally revive. Here I +might also mention that the express charges added considerably to the +cost of these already expensive plants. + +As a beginner I put much unnecessary labor on these plants. While I do +not wish to leave the impression that hoeing and caring for them is not +all right, still there should be a happy medium which I later learned as +I became more experienced along this line. I must admit, however, that +this rich, new land thus cultivated certainly yielded some wonderful +fruit. + +As time went by, I kept adding to my plantation, and owing to the large +yield and the good demand for the black caps I took a fancy to raising +them. When the Palmer variety was first introduced, I planted quite a +field of them. I shall never forget the way these berries ripened, and +such a lot of them as there were. Practically every one by this time +having planted black caps, their great yield soon overstocked the +market, and berries finally dropped as low as 65c or 70c a crate. + +Having decided to dig up these black caps, I began paying closer +attention to the red raspberry. I noticed that the raspberries growing +wild on my place grew mostly in places where big trees had been cut down +and young trees had grown up, thus partly shading the plants. Having +this fact in mind, I planted the raspberries as follows: I planted an +orchard, having the trees in parallel rows, and between the trees in +these same rows I planted the raspberries. By planting in this manner, +the cultivation would benefit the trees as well as the smaller plants. +Of course after the trees began bearing heavily, the plants nearest the +trees had to be removed, and later the other plants likewise were +removed. + +As a beginner it was a puzzle to me which varieties I should plant. All +varieties listed in the numerous catalogs were so highly recommended as +being hardy, large yielders, good shippers, etc., that the selection of +plants was not an easy matter. + +The speed with which a new variety of raspberry is sent out over the +country and discarded is surprising. The most popular sort at this time +was the "Turner" variety. I did not, however, fancy this variety, for it +suckered so immensely that it required continual hoeing to keep the new +plants cut down. The berries were unusually soft and settled down in the +boxes, which greatly detracted from their appearance in the crates. +There were also at this time a few of the "Philadelphia" variety being +planted. They are a dark, soft variety and somewhat similar to the +Turner. + +Just at this time there was being sent out a new variety, known as the +Cuthbert, or Queen of the Market, and queen it was indeed. This was a +large, firm berry, and after ripening it would remain on the plant a +long time without falling off. These plants grew up in remarkably long +canes, but not knowing how to head them back they would often topple +over during a heavy storm. This added another valuable lesson to my +increasing experience, which resulted in my pinching of the new canes as +soon as they had attained a height of from three to four feet. This made +the plants more stocky and more able to support their load of berries +without the aid of wire or stakes. + +Next came the Marlboro, plants of which sold at as much as a dollar +apiece in the east. I then set out a bed of Marlboro, which proved to be +even better than the Cuthbert, previously mentioned. They could be +picked while still quite light in color, thus reaching the market while +still firm and not over-ripe. There was only one possible drawback, and +that was the fact that I had planted them on a southern exposure, while +they were more adapted to a colder or northern exposure. This variety on +a new field, as it was, practically bore itself to death. + +About this time, there originated in Wisconsin a berry known as the +Loudon. A committee of nurserymen having gone to see this variety +returned with the report that the half had not been told concerning this +great berry. Wanting to keep up with the times, I decided to plant some +of this variety in the spring. The yield from these plants was immense, +and the berries large, but unlike the Marlboro already mentioned they +could not be picked until very dark and real ripe. This variety was more +subject to anthracnose than any I had seen, and served to give me a +thorough understanding of the various raspberry diseases, which I had +heretofore blamed to the drouth. The leaves would dry up and the berries +become small and crumbly when affected by anthracnose. It might be said +of this variety as regards public favor, that it went up like a rocket +and came down equally fast. + +I next tried the Thompson Early as an experiment, but this variety +proved a failure, or at least a disappointment. These berries ripened +very slowly, just a few at a time, and did not compare favorably with +either the Marlboro or the Loudon. + +A party close by had at this time planted out a large field of a variety +of raspberry which I had not seen before. These plants produced a large +berry, more like a blackberry in appearance. Having by this time had +experience with so many kinds of raspberries, I examined this new +variety carefully, and all in all decided that this was the coming +berry. Here, too, I also noticed the first signs of disease. The plants +had only begun to bear fruit, however, and judging from the strong, +tall canes, they looked good for at least fifteen years. This disease, +however, practically destroyed the entire field within two years. Before +too badly diseased, I had obtained and planted out a couple of acres of +these plants and immediately began spraying them. The following spring I +sprayed them again, and although the plants became perfectly healthy, I +sprayed them once or twice during the summer, and it is needless to say +the result was a berry which, considering all its good points, was +certainly deserving of the name it bore, which was "King." In fact, I do +not hope to see anything better in the raspberry line during the next +thirty years, that is, any seedling having all its merits: a strong +growth, hardiness of cane, an immense bearer and a good shipper. It's +only fault is that the berries will drop from the plants when real ripe, +but if you are on the job this can easily be averted. + +As far as anthracnose is concerned, I have found that there is not a +variety of raspberry standing out in an open field, unsprayed or partly +shaded, that will stand up under a heavy crop without being affected by +this disease. + +After increasing my plantation, as I had by this time, I found I +required more help. Ability in managing my helpers was a necessity. My +experience with them in the field was that when I set them to hoeing a +newly set raspberry field if not watched they would destroy half the +roots, loosening the little hold the struggling plants had, by cutting +close and hoeing the soil away from the roots. I have seen supposedly +intelligent men plowing alongside of the plants, thinking they were +doing their work so much more thoroughly, but if they would dig up one +plant before plowing and another after, they would readily see the +results of their plowing. + +A born farmer assumes that everybody knows how to handle a hoe or a +plow, but why should they, not having had practical experience? When put +to work such as hoeing, they would make the most outlandish motions with +the hoe, often destroying valuable plants, not being able to distinguish +them from the weeds. Though they may labor just as hard, they cannot +possibly accomplish as much as the expert who can skillfully whirl a hoe +around a plant in such a manner as to remove every weed and yet not +injure the plant in the least. In other words, the best efforts of the +novice cannot possibly bring the results so easily accomplished by the +more skillful laborer. Except in a few cases, I have found inexperienced +help a discouragement. + +In hiring pickers who had to come quite far each morning, I found that +if the morning had been wet and rainy, but had later turned out to be a +nice day, they would not come at all. The sun coming out after these +showers would cause the berries to become over-ripe and to drop from the +bushes, or if still on the bush would be too ripe for shipping. These +same pickers, when berries were scarce, would rush through the rows, +merely picking the biggest and those most easily acquired. + +Having tried pickers as mentioned, I decided that to get pickers from +the city and board them would be the better plan. While they seemed to +work more for the pleasure connected with life on the farm than with the +idea of making money, yet after a little training and a few rules, most +of them would make splendid pickers, and my berries being carefully +picked and in first class condition, would readily sell to the best +trade. + +Leaving the subject of berries and berry picking, I will dwell briefly +on my experience with the winter covering of the plants. At first I +would cover the canes in an arch-like manner, which would require more +than 18 inches of soil to cover them, and it was necessary to shovel +much by hand. In the spring I found it quite a task to remove all this +soil and get it back in place between the rows. After I learned to cover +them properly, that is flat on the ground, I found it required but a +small amount of soil to cover them, and in the spring it was only +necessary to use a fork to remove the covering, and with a little lift +they were ready to start growth again. + +After getting more and more fruit, I found I could not dispose of it in +the home market, and tending to the picking and packing of the fruit did +not leave enough time to warrant my peddling it. I had been advised to +ship my berries to two or three different commission houses in order to +see where I could obtain the best results. I frequently divided my +shipments into three parts: consequently some of my fruit would meet in +competition with another lot of my fruit, and not only would one concern +ask a higher or lower price than the other, but they would not know when +to expect my shipments, which they would receive on alternate days. I +finally came to the conclusion that I would send all my fruit to one +party, and I found that it was not only more of an object to them, but +people would come every day to buy some, knowing they were getting the +same quality each time. + +Although it has been my experience that the raspberry is never a +failure, still I have found that it is a good policy not to depend +entirely on the raspberry, but to extend the plantation in such a way as +to have a continuous supply of fruits and vegetables in season, from the +asparagus and pie plant of the early spring to the very latest variety +of the grape and apple ripening just before the heavy frost of fall, +when it is again time to tuck them all away for the winter. + +Mr. Ludlow: Do I understand that you have to lay down and cover up those +red raspberries? + +Mr. Johnson: Yes, sir; otherwise you only get a few berries right at the +top of the cane, and if you cover them the berries will be all along +down the cane. + +The President: Do you break off many canes by covering them? + +Mr. Johnson: No, it is the way you bend them. When you bend them down, +make a kind of a twist and hold your hand right near them. You can bend +them down as quick as a couple of men can shovel them down. + +Mr. Anderson: Do you bend them north or south or any way? + +Mr. Johnson: I generally bend one row one way and the other the other +way. Where you want to cultivate, it is easier for cultivation; you +don't have to go against the bend of those plants. That bend will never +be straight again, and when you come to cultivate you are liable to rub +them. + +Mr. Anderson: How far have you got yours planted apart? + +Mr. Johnson: About five feet. + +Mr. Sauter: What is your best raspberry? + +Mr. Johnson: I haven't seen anything better than the King. + +Mr. Sauter: Do you cover the King? + +Mr. Johnson: Yes. + +Mr. Sauter: We don't do it on the experimental station. I never covered +mine, and I think I had the best all around berry last summer. + +Mr. Johnson: That might be all right when they are young, but I find it +pays me. + +A Member: Don't they form new branches on the sides when you pinch off +the ends? + +Mr. Johnson: Yes, sir; then you pinch them off. + +A Member: Don't they break right off from the main stalk in laying down? + +Mr. Johnson: No, no. + +A Member: We have a great deal of trouble with that. How do you get +these bushy bushes to lie down? + +Mr. Johnson: I take three or four canes, and kind of twist them, give +them a little twist, and lay them flat on the ground. + +Mr. Anderson: Don't you take out any dirt on the sides? + +Mr. Johnson: No, sir; sometimes I might put a shovel of ground against +them to bend the canes over. + +Mr. Rogers: Do you plant in the hedge row or in the hill system? + +Mr. Johnson: In the hedge row. I think it is better because they protect +one another. + +Mr. Ludlow: How far do you put them apart in the hedge row? + +Mr. Johnson: Four feet. That is the trouble with the King, if you don't +keep them down, your rows will get too wide. + +A Member: I heard you say a while ago you covered these. Do you plow +them after you get them down or do you cover them with a shovel? + +Mr. Johnson: I cover mostly with a shovel. Sometimes I take a small plow +through. + +A Member: Don't you think in covering them with a plow you might disturb +the roots? + +Mr. Johnson: That is the danger. + +A Member: I saw a fellow covering up twelve acres of black caps and he +plowed them shut. After I heard what you said I thought maybe that he +was injuring his roots. + +Mr. Johnson: You know the black cap has a different root system from the +reds. The roots of the reds will run out all over the road. + +Mr. Willard: How thick do you leave those canes set apart in the row, +how many in a foot? + +Mr. Johnson: I generally try to leave them in hills four feet apart, not +let them come in any between. About three or four in a hill. I generally +try to cut out the weak ones. + +Mr. Willard: You pinch the end of the tops, I think? + +Mr. Johnson: Yes, sir. + +A Member: When do you cut those sucker canes? + +Mr. Johnson: I generally hoe them just before picking time and loosen +the ground in the row. That is very important, to give them a hoeing, +not hoe down deep, but just loosen that hard crust there and cut all the +plants that you don't want, and then generally, after the berries +commence to ripen, your suckers don't come so fast, and you keep on +cultivating once in a while. + +Mr. Brackett: I have some King raspberries, and I never covered them up +in ten years. I will change that. The first year I did cover a part of +my patch, at least one-half of them, and that left the other half +standing, and I couldn't see any difference. Around Excelsior there are +very few people that cover up the King raspberry. But the King raspberry +has run out; all of the old varieties have run out. We have at our +experiment station the No. 4--you can get double the amount of fruit +from the No. 4 than from the King. The best way to grow the King +raspberry or any other raspberry is to set them four feet apart and +cultivate them. If you grow a matted row you are bound to get weeds and +grass in there, you are bound to get them ridged up, but by planting in +hills and cultivating each way you can keep your ground perfectly level. +As far as clipping them back my experience has been it is very hard to +handle them--they will spread out. It is a big job to cover the plants +and then to uncover them again. I know it is not necessary with the No. +4; that is hardy. That is what we want. Hardiness is what we want in a +berry, and you have it in the No. 4. + +Mr. Hall: I would like to ask you what you spray with and when you +spray? + +Mr. Johnson: The bordeaux mixture. I spray them early in the spring and +just before they start to ripen. + +Mr. Wick: With us the Loudon raspberry seems to be the coming raspberry. + +Mr. Johnson: Is it doing well now? + +Mr. Wick: Yes, it is doing well. + +Mr. Ludlow: How many years is the planting of the King raspberry good +for? + +Mr. Johnson: I think it would be good for fifteen years or more if they +are handled as I do it. Keep at the plant, hoeing and spraying them +twice a year; trim out the old wood and keep them healthy. + +The President: You take out all the old wood every year? + +Mr. Johnson: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Ludlow: When do you do that? + +Mr. Johnson: In the fall. I figure this way, every extra cane that you +grow on the plant is a waste. If I see a cane a little higher than the +others I just stop it, and it throws the sap back. + +Mr. Berry: Do you fertilize and how and when? + +Mr. Johnson: I found I didn't need much fertilizer. I put on wood ashes +and such things when I burn the trimming of the berries and such things. + +A Member: When do you spray? + +Mr. Johnson: I generally spray in the spring after they get started and +just before they are starting to ripen. I spray them sometimes when they +are starting to ripen, and the berries would pick up in one day. + +A Member: You mean to say you could grow them for fifteen years without +fertilizing? + +Mr. Johnson: Yes, sir. + + * * * * * + +KNOWLEDGE of the temperature of the pantry and cellar is +important, in order that one may make improvements in conditions. +Putrefaction will start at 50 deg., so that a pantry or closet where +food is kept should have a temperature at least as low as that. Cellars +where canned goods are stored should have a temperature of 32 deg. +or over. Apples are frequently stored in outside cellars, where the +temperature should be kept at 31 deg. or 32 deg.; but apples may be +kept satisfactorily at 34 deg. or 36 deg. When stored at the higher +temperatures, the fruit should be placed there soon after being picked. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Nevis Trial Station. + +JAS. ARROWOOD, SUPT., NEVIS. + + +We would say that the station is in good condition; all trees and +shrubbery have done well; no complaint as far as growth is concerned. +This being an off year for fruit in this section, the fruit crop in +general was light, the late frost and heavy rains destroying most all, +both wild and tame fruits. + +The strawberries, raspberries and currants were fairly good; plums and +apples were very light, except some seedlings, both apples and plums, +which seemed to hold their fruit. Most all the large apples were +destroyed by the freeze, such as Duchess, Wealthy, Greening and +Hibernal. There were some of the Duchess seedlings that seemed to stand +all kinds of freezing. + +[Illustration: Jas. Arrowood in his trial orchard, at Nevis, in Northern +Minnesota.] + +Now in regard to the fruits that were sent here from Central station. +The majority are doing fairly well, especially in regard to strawberry +No. 3, which is doing splendidly and points to be the coming strawberry +of northern Minnesota. It is a good runner and has a large, dark +foliage. Plants that we left out last winter without covering came +through in splendid condition and made a heavy crop. In regard to the +fruit, it is of the best quality, large and firm and a good keeper. In +regard to raspberries, Nos. 1, 4 and 7 did very well, and stood the +winter without laying down, and bore a good crop. + +In regard to the eighteen plum trees I received three years ago, Nos. 1, +4, 5, 6, 7, and 12 have done very well and have made a good growth, but +have had no fruit so far. + +The sand cherry that was received the same year, No. 2, has done very +well and bore some fruit this last year of a fair quality. + +Hansen cherries are doing fairly well and bore some fruit this year. + +Now in regard to plums that were received in 1914 Nos. 2, 3, 8, 10, 13, +20, have all made a good growth. What was received in 1915 have all +grown. + +The grapes that we received two years ago have made but little growth. +There were no grapes in this section this year; they all froze off about +twice. + +I received at the county fair about sixteen first prizes on apples and +plums this year. We did considerable top-working, mostly on Hibernals +and native seedlings, which are doing very well. Some of our seedling +cherries are commencing to bear and show to be perfectly hardy. They are +of the Oregon strain of sweet cherry. + +In regard to gardens, they were fairly good throughout the section. Corn +crop a failure. + +In regard to the condition of the trees and shrubbery, this are going +into their winter quarters with lots of moisture and with a large amount +of fruit buds, with a good prospect for fruit next year. + + * * * * * + +DESTROYING PLANT LICE.--According to the results of experiments +a 10 per cent kerosene emulsion should prove effective against the green +apple aphis. The kerosene emulsion made either with 66 per cent stock, +10 per cent, or with naphtha soap and cold water, seemed to kill all the +green apple aphides. The 40 per cent nicotine solution, with a dilution +up to 1 to 2,000 combined with soap, were likewise effective +aphidicides. The kerosene emulsions under 10 per cent were not +satisfactory, neither were the soaps at the strengths tested, except +that fish-oil soap, 5 to 50, killed 90 per cent of the aphides. Laundry +soap, 3 to 50, was effective against the young aphides only. Arsenate of +lead alone, as was to be expected, had little or no effect upon the +aphides. The combination of arsenate of calcium with kerosene emulsions +is not a desirable one, since an insoluble calcium soap is formed, +thereby releasing some free kerosene.--U.S. Dpt. of Agri. + + + + +New Fruits Originated at Minnesota Fruit-Breeding Farm. + +CHAS. HARALSON, SUPT., EXCELSIOR. + + +The subject on which I am to talk is rather difficult to present at this +time, but I will mention a few of the most promising new varieties. + +[Illustration: The new and valuable hardy raspberry No. 4, growing at +State Fruit-Breeding Farm.] + +We have developed several hundred new varieties of fruit since we +started fruit-breeding at the State Fruit Farm. Many of them are very +promising, but it probably will take several years before we really know +what we have that will be of value to the public. + +We have been growing thousands of seedlings of apples, plums, grapes, +raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries and currants, from which +valuable varieties have been selected. All of them have been put under +propagation in a small way for testing at the Fruit Farm, trial +stations and many other places. Some very favorable reports from several +places have been received during the last year from parties who have +fruited these new creations. We also have some hybrid peach and apricot +seedlings which have stood the test of the last two winters. Some of +them blossomed very freely last spring, but on account of the hard +freeze in May they did not set any fruit. I hope to be able to report on +these another year. + +[Illustration: Hybrid plum No. 21--at Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding +Farm.] + +The results of breeding strawberries have given us one everbearing and +one June-bearing variety, which have been tested in many places +throughout the state. The June-bearing variety has been introduced as +Minnesota No. 3. The berries are almost identical with Senator Dunlap in +color and shape, but somewhat larger and, I think, more productive. The +plants are equal to Dunlap in hardiness, or more so, a stronger plant, +and a good plant-maker. The fruiting season is about a week earlier than +Dunlap. It is a firm berry and stands shipping a long distance. My +belief is that this variety will make one of the best commercial berries +for the Northwest. + +The everbearing variety is known as No. 1017. It is a large, round +berry, dark red color, and is of the best quality. This variety is +strong and vigorous and a good plant-maker when blossoms are picked off +early in the season. It is also very productive. The blossoms and +berries on a number of plants were counted in October, and we found all +the way from 200 to 345 berries and blossoms on single plants. This is, +of course, a little more than the average, but it shows what it will do +under ordinary conditions. This variety has been growing next to +Progressive, on the same soil, with the same cultivation, and I think +that persons who have seen it this summer will agree with me that it is +far ahead of Progressive in size and productiveness. I will say right +here, if you expect to have a good crop of fruit in the fall, keep the +most of the runners off. If you encourage them to make runners, or +plants, you will have less fruit. + +The raspberries sent out as Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, are all worthy +of trial. The No. 4 has fruited several years and gave the best showing +so far. The fruit resembles the Marlboro somewhat, but the color is +darker. It is not one of very high quality, but the size of the berry +and its appearance will more then make up for this. The canes and +foliage are generally healthy and very hardy. This variety will be +planted very extensively just as soon as enough stock can be supplied to +fruit growers. + +The Burbank crossed with Wolf, hybrid plums. There have been several of +these sent out to trial stations, and as premiums to members of the +Horticultural Society. I will mention them in order as to size of fruit. +No. 5, 12, 4, and 6 will measure 1-3/4 inch in diameter. Nos. 21, 10, +17, 9, and No. 1 are nearly as large. The kinds which have given best +all around satisfaction up to the present time, are Nos. 1, 6, 9, 10, +12, 17, 21 and 25. One or two years more trial should give us an idea +which ones will be worthy of general propagation. + +There are also several varieties of Abundance and Wolf crosses which +have fruited for several years. The quality of the fruit of these +hybrids is probably somewhat better than the Burbank and Wolf hybrids, +but the fruit in most cases runs smaller. No. 35 is probably one of the +best; its fruit is about 1-1/2 inch in diameter, colors up all over +before it is ripe, and will stand shipping a long distance, as they can +be picked quite green and still are colored up all over. There are +several numbers equally, or nearly, as promising as No. 35. + +Sand cherry X Satsuma plum No. 145 is in the same class as Sapa. The +color of the fruit is bluish black when ripe, the flesh purple, pit +small and nearly freestone; fruit ripens first part of August. This tree +is a strong grower and makes a large tree. We also have another plum, +Compass cherry X Climax, about the only variety which fruited this year. +The color of the skin is almost blue when fully ripe; the meat is green +and of a very pleasant flavor. The pit is small and clingstone; size of +fruit is about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. The tree is a strong, upright +grower. This variety has been propagated this summer. I will not try to +describe any more as there are some 2,000 hybrid plums on the place and +only a small per cent have fruited. + +[Illustration: Ornamental Purple Leaf Plum, originated at State +Fruit-Breeding Farm.] + +In grapes we have several varieties worthy of propagation, but I will +just mention two varieties. One is a red grape about the size of Wyoming +Red. The bunches are large and very compact; the season for ripening is +about with Moore's Early; the quality is good enough to make it a table +grape. The vine is just as hardy as Beta grape, of which it is a +seedling. It has good foliage and the vine is a rank grower. The other +variety is black when ripe, nearly as large as Moore's Early. The fruit +is ripe first part of August; the vine is vigorous and hardy. + +Strawberries and raspberries were a good crop this year, but all other +fruit was a total failure on account of the killing frost and snowstorm +on May 18th. Apples were in full bloom at the time, and a good crop of +plums had set on the trees, but all fell off a few days later. There +were no currants or gooseberries and only a few grapes. + +Mr. Waldron: What do you think the male parent was of the red grape? + +Mr. Haralson: I couldn't say. We don't know what the cross is. + +Mr. Waldron: Did you have any red grapes growing there? + +Mr. Haralson: I presume there were quite a number of varieties growing +near by. In the Beta seedlings we find a number of grapes that ripen +green and also some black and a number red, but not a great many, I +would say from five to seven per cent of the seedlings. + +Mr. Wellington: Have you been able to cross the European plum with the +Japanese? + +Mr. Haralson: We have one or two varieties, but the fruit is very small, +the fruit isn't very much larger than the Compass cherry. The tree is a +very strong grower and makes a large tree, but the fruit is not up to +what it should be. + +Mr. Cook: What number do you hold that red grape under? + +Mr. Haralson: The red grape is No. 1. + +Mr. Sauter: Which is the next best raspberry besides the No. 4? + +Mr. Haralson: I couldn't tell you at present. I thought the No. 2, but +from reports I have had from several places some think No. 1 is better. +No. 4 is the best of them all so far. + +A Member: I would like to ask which of those raspberries is the best +quality. + +Mr. Haralson: They run very much the same, very little difference in the +quality. The quality I should say compares very favorably with the King. + +The President: Those of you who know of the wonderful work done by Mr. +Haralson can not help but say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." +He has surely accomplished wonderful results out there, and the people +of this state and adjoining states will all in time enjoy the fruits of +his labor. (Applause.) + + * * * * * + +KILL WILD ONIONS IN NOVEMBER.--The secret of the vitality of +the wild onion lies in the two sorts of underground bulbs. Each plant +produces one large bulb, which germinates in the fall, and four or five +small ones, which start growth in the spring. + +Late fall plowing, followed by early spring plowing and planting the +infested land to some clean cultivated crop destroys the wild onion pest +by killing both sorts of bulbs as the growth from them appears and +before they have a chance to multiply. The fall plowing should be deep, +and care should be taken to completely bury all green tops of the onion. +If very much top growth has been made, a harrow run before the plow will +facilitate the thorough covering of the tops. + +Another interesting and valuable point about the wild onion is that the +spring bulbs rarely produce heads; consequently, if the infested land is +plowed in the fall, a spring oat crop practically free of onions can +always be secured. But for complete eradication of the onion, both fall +and spring plowing is necessary, and November is the best time to do the +fall work. + + + + +Annual Meeting, 1915, Wisconsin Horticultural Society. + +CHAS. HARALSON, EXCELSIOR, MINN., DELEGATE. + + +The meeting was held January 5, 6 and 7, 1915, in the Assembly Room of +the State Capitol in Madison, Wis. Your delegate was present in time for +the opening session and given a chance with other delegates to deliver +the greetings of their societies. + +The opening address by Governor Phillip was very interesting. He told of +the possibilities the State of Wisconsin offered fruit growers in a +commercial way with markets all around them. He advocated honest grading +and packing to obtain the top prices for the fruit. He also urged every +farmer to have a small orchard and fruit garden for home consumption. + +Spraying and spray mixtures, illustrated, was ably presented by +Professor Geo. F. Potter, University of Wisconsin. + +A speaking contest by ten students from University of Wisconsin competed +for prizes of $25.00, $15.00 and $10.00. This brought out almost every +phase of horticulture and was one of the most interesting sessions. + +Commercial orcharding in the middle west was shown with moving pictures +and explanations by Sen. Dunlap, Savoy, Ill. These pictures illustrated +spraying, cultivating, harvesting, grading, packing, caring for the +fruit and marketing the same, and several other operations in connection +with uptodate commercial orcharding. He also gave a talk on spraying and +spraying materials. He said lime-sulphur is preferred in his locality. + +A half hour question and answer session was led by Professor J.G. Moore, +University of Wisconsin, on pruning. This brought out a very lively +discussion about how to prune young orchards and what age of trees to +plant for commercial orchards. This question was not settled, as some +preferred one year old trees, while others would plant nothing but two +year old trees. + +M. S. Kellogg, Janesville, Wis., spoke of nurserymen's troubles. His +paper was very interesting from a nurseryman's standpoint with all their +troubles and what they have to go up against. + +C. O. Ruste, Blue Mounds, Wis., spoke about the farmer's orchard, what to +plant and how to care for the same. + +The writer gave a paper, telling what is being done in the line of +fruit-breeding at the Minnesota Fruit-Breeding Farm. + +The program was very full and interesting. The attendance, however, was +not very large. A very good exhibit of apples was on display in the +fruit room. The fruit was clean, well colored and up to size. Many +varieties, such as Jonathan, Fameuse, Baldwin, Windsor, Talman Sweet and +Wine Sap were on display in great quantities. + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. +Minneapolis. + + +At the annual meeting the following officers and members of the +Executive Committee were elected. + +Officers--Mrs. E. W. Gould, President, 2644 Humboldt Ave. S., +Minneapolis; Mrs. Phelps Wyman, Vice-President, 5017 Third Ave. S., +Minneapolis; Mrs. M.L. Countryman, Secretary-Treasurer, 213 S. Avon St., +St. Paul. + +Directors--Mrs. F. H. Gibbs, St. Anthony Park; Mr. G. C. Hawkins, +Minneapolis; Miss Elizabeth Starr, Minneapolis; Mrs. H. A. Boardman, St. +Paul; Mr. F. W. Bell, Wayzata; Mr. F. F. Farrar, White Bear; Mrs. R. P. +Boyington, Nemadji; Mrs. J. F. Fairfax, Minneapolis; Mrs. H. B. Tillotson, +Minneapolis. + +After a thorough discussion, it was unanimously agreed that more +frequent meetings would be advisable. Our program committee has, +therefore, planned for a meeting each month, alternating between St. +Paul and Minneapolis. It was, of course, impossible to set the dates for +the three flower shows so early in the year, or to announce all of the +speakers. The program in full for each month will appear on this page, +and we hope to save our secretary a great deal of routine work as well +as considerable postage to the society. So watch this page for +announcements. We hope the following program will prove both interesting +and profitable, and that our members will bring friends to each meeting, +all of which will begin at 2:30 o'clock _promptly_. + +PROGRAM FOR 1916. + +February 24. Wilder Auditorium, 2:30 p.m., Fifth and Washington St., +St. Paul. + Soil Fertility, Prof. F. J. Alway. + Birds As Garden Helpers. + +March 23. Public Library, Minneapolis, 2:30 p.m. + Work of the State Art Commission, Mr. Maurice Flagg. + How Can the Garden Flower Society Co-operate with It? + Our Garden Enemies. + Cultural Directions for Trial Seeds. + Distribution of Trial Seeds. + +April 27. Wilder Auditorium, St. Paul, 2:30 p.m. + Native Plants in the Garden. + Roadside Planting. + Use and Misuse of Wild Flowers. + +May. Date to be announced. Mazey Floral Co., 128 S. 8th, Minneapolis. + Informal Spring Flower Show. + What Our Spring Gardens Lack. + Good Ground Cover Plants. + +June. Date to be announced. University Farm, St. Paul, Joint Session +with Horticultural Society. Flower Show. + +July. Date to be announced. Minneapolis Rose Gardens, Lake Harriet. + Picnic Luncheon, 1:00 p.m. + Roses for the Home Garden. + Our Insect Helpers in the Garden. + +August. Date to be announced. Holm and Olson, 2:30, 20 W. Fifth St., St. +Paul. Informal Flower Show. + How to Grow Dahlias. + The Gladiolus. + +September 21. Public Library, Minneapolis, 2:30 p.m. + Fall Work in the Garden. + Vines. + Planting for Fall and Winter Effect. + +October 19. Wilder Auditorium, St. Paul, 2:30 p.m. + What Other Garden Clubs Are Doing. + How My Garden Paid. + Reports on Trial Seeds. + +November. Date to be announced. Park Board Greenhouses, Bryant Ave. +S. and 38th St., 2:30 p.m. Chrysanthemum Show. + Hardy Chrysanthemums. + +December. Annual Meeting. + + {MRS. PHELPS WYMAN, +Program Committee. {MRS. N. S. SAWYER, + {MISS ELIZABETH STARR, + {MRS. E. W. GOULD, + + + + +BEE-KEEPER'S COLUMN. + +Conducted by FRANCIS JAGER, Professor of Apiculture, University +Farm, St. Paul. + + +QUEEN BEES FOR BREEDING.--Queen bees for breeding purposes will +be sent to beekeepers of the State from University Farm during the +coming summer with instructions how to introduce them and how to +re-queen the apiary. Mostly all bees in the state at present are +hybrids, which are hard to manage. In many localities bees have been +inbred for years, making the introduction of new blood a necessity. All +queens sent out are bred from the leather colored Italian breeding +queens of choicest stock obtainable. The price of queens will be fifty +cents for one, and not more than three will be furnished to each +beekeeper. Orders with cash must be sent directed to the "Cashier," +University Farm, St. Paul, Minnesota. The queens will be sent out in +rotation as soon as they are ready and conditions are right. + + + + +SECRETARY'S CORNER + + +MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS CHANGE.--A good many members when sending in +annual membership fee give the number of their membership for the +previous year. Members will please note that membership numbers change +each year, as all members are numbered in the order of their coming upon +the membership roll. The only number that we care about in the office, +if for any reason it is necessary to give it, is the number for the +current year. + +A WORD FROM PROF. WHITTEN.--Prof. J. C. Whitten, of the +University of Missouri, who was on the program at our annual meeting for +three numbers, and at the last moment was taken ill and unable to be +with us, has written describing the condition of his illness and +expressing his deep regret at his enforced absence from our meeting, and +a hope that at some other time he may have an opportunity to be with us. +We shall look forward to having him on our program another year with +eager anticipation. Prof. Whitten ranks as one of the most prominent of +professional horticulturists of the country, and we are certainly +fortunate in being able to secure his attendance, as we hope to do +another year. + +MEMBERS IN FLORIDA.--Quite a number of members of the +Horticultural Society are spending the winter in Florida. Some of these +the secretary knows about, but addresses of only two are at hand. J. M. +Underwood, chairman of the executive board of the society, and family +are at Miami, Fla., for the winter. Mr. Oliver Gibbs, at one time +secretary of the society for a number of years, is at Melbourne Beach, +on the east coast of Florida, where he has been now for some ten +winters--and some summers also. His health makes it necessary for him to +live in so mild a climate. We have the pleasure of meeting him here +often during the summer. Now in his eighties he is nearly blind but +otherwise in good health and always in cheerful spirits. + +NEW LIFE MEMBERS.--Since the report of 1915 was printed, in +which there will be found on page 520 a list of life members of the +society, there have been added to the life membership roll fifteen +names; five of these were made honorary members by the unanimous vote of +the association for valuable service rendered to the society, and were +well deserving of this honor, as follows: Chas. Haralson, Excelsior; +S. H. Drum, Owatonna; F. W. Kimball, Waltham; J. R. Cummins, Minneapolis; +John Bisbee, Madelia. + +To the paid life membership roll there have been added ten names as +follows: E. G. Zabel, LaMoure, N.D.; Roy E. McConnell, St. Cloud; O. F. +Krueger, Minneapolis; L.A. Gunderson, Duluth; Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Gibbs, +St. Anthony Park; Herman Goebel, Wildrose, N.D.; T. Torgerson, Estevan, +Sask.; Law Swanson, St. Paul; Rev. Saml. Johnson, Princeton. + +Don't you want your name added to this life roll? If you have already +paid an annual membership fee for this year a further payment of $4.00 +made any time during the year will be received as first payment for a +life membership fee. That is, the amount of the annual fee already paid +may be deducted from a life membership fee paid any time during the +current year. + +SEND IN A NEW MEMBER.--Have you noticed the advertisement on +the inside of the back cover page of this and also the January issues of +our monthly? There never was such an opportunity to secure valuable new +fruits as this presents to you and to your neighbor, many of whom we +feel sure would gladly take advantage of the opportunity if it were +presented to them. Take an evening off and do yourself and your +neighbors this good service--and the society as well. + +NUMBER THREE STRAWBERRY.--Very few of those who have so far +selected plant premiums for next spring's delivery have chosen Minnesota +No. 3 June-bearing strawberry. Our members will surely make a mistake if +they do not secure for next spring's planting a quantity of this +splendid new berry, which seems likely to supplant the Senator Dunlap as +the June-bearing variety in the near future. It is a very vigorous +grower, equally attractive, of good quality, holds up well and is a +healthy, hardy plant. Do not leave this out of your list of selection +for plant premiums. + +APPLE SEED OF LARGE VALUE.--A considerable quantity of apple +seed has been secured of Mr. John Bisbee, of Madelia, Minn., from his +orchard, top-worked, as it is, with many varieties of long keeping +apples, so that this seed is almost certainly crossed with something +that will keep well as well as of high quality. It will be found +especially valuable to plant for growing seedlings. It would be well to +secure this seed soon, mix it with damp sand and leave out of doors +where it will freeze, keeping the package which holds it covered from +the air so that it may not dry out. Every member should have a little +corner in his garden for growing apple seedlings. It is an enticing +experiment, and such seed as this is likely to give good results. We are +still looking for the $1,000 apple. You may grow it from some of this +seed. Package of twenty-five seed at ten cents, to be secured of Secy. +Latham. + +A FAVORABLE WINTER FOR FRUITS.--The ground was in good +condition last fall, with a reasonable amount of moisture, fruits, both +trees and plants, well ripened up, and now with a fairly good blanket of +snow and no long continued severe weather, we have to this point in the +winter a very certain assurance of a good yield of fruit the coming +spring. To be sure the thermometer was down in the neighborhood of +thirty degrees one night, but it was there so short a time that it +scarcely seems possible that any harm could have been done by it. The +horticulturist should be a natural optimist and always anticipate +something good ahead, which is one pretty sure way of getting it. + +MINNESOTA NURSERYMEN GIVE MEMBERSHIPS.--A considerable number +of the nurserymen of Minnesota are again giving memberships this year as +premiums to purchasers of nursery stock in quantity of $20.00 or +upwards. This is a commendable enterprise, not only on account of its +material assistance in building up the membership roll of the society +but more especially because it brings in the kind of members who have, +or should have, a large practical interest in the workings of the +association, and we believe also that it is like "casting bread upon the +waters;" those receiving these memberships will have a warm feeling for +the nurserymen which present them. If you who read this are Minnesota +nurserymen and are not in the list of those who are doing this service +for the society, don't you want to take advantage of an immediate +opportunity to align yourself with those who are showing so large an +interest in the welfare of the association? + +[Illustration: GATHERING THE APPLE CROP IN HAROLD SIMMONS' +ORCHARD--AT HOWARD LAKE.] + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted in estimating their practical value. + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + +Vol. 44 MARCH, 1916 No. 3 + + + + +My Orchard Crop of 1915 from Start to Finish. + +HAROLD SIMMONS, ORCHARDIST, HOWARD LAKE. + + +In anticipation of a crop of apples for 1915 we commenced the season +with the regular annual pruning in March. We begin pruning as soon after +the 25th day of February as the weather is mild enough for us to work +comfortably, as the pruning of fifteen hundred trees requires +considerable time when one is obsessed with the idea that nothing short +of a first class job will do, and that to be accomplished mainly by the +efforts of one individual. + +We have endeavored to grow our trees so that they should all have from +three to five or six main limbs, and any tendency of a limb to assume +the leadership is suppressed. A tree grown upon this principle has the +faculty of growing a great many laterals, necessitating an annual +pruning. As far as possible we prune to prevent laterals from becoming +too numerous, from growing so as to overtop or shade lower limbs, to let +in light and sunshine, so as to get the maximum amount of color on the +fruit and in a measure to help in thinning the fruit. Having in view the +idea of an annual crop instead of a biennial one, one essential point +always in mind is that we want an open headed tree, and we also wish to +insure our trees against blight, and so we eliminate all water sprouts. +Apparently, no Minnesota orchard is immune against blight. + +Some objections are raised to this type of tree, one criticism being +that the tree is structurally weak from the fact that if one limb breaks +off at the trunk the tree is about ruined. We offset the possibility of +such a break by careful training and by wiring the trees, a plan I +gathered some years ago from a Mr. Mason, at that time president of the +Flood River Apple Growers Association. + +[Illustration: Young trees in full bloom in Mr. Simmons' orchard.] + +We use No. 14 galvanized wire, a half inch galvanized harness ring, and +screw-eyes with stout shanks and small eyes. Locating up the main limbs +what might be called the center of effort, or where the main pull would +be when loaded with fruit, put in a good stout screw-eye in every main +limb, eyes all pointing to the center of the tree, and then wire them +all to the harness ring in the middle of the tree. When finished the +ring and the wires are like the hub in a wheel with the spokes all +around. We tried this first on our N.W. Greening trees, and results were +so satisfactory that we have applied it to a great number of other +varieties with equal satisfaction. Once put in a tree, it is good for +the life of the tree. + +Our objection to a tree with a central leader is that it is very +difficult to create an open head, and if the blight strikes the leader +it generally means the loss of the tree. Low headed trees we have found +by experience, are easiest cared for; they are the most economical for +thinning, harvesting, spraying and pruning; they also shade the trunk +and main limbs. + +After pruning all brush is removed from the orchard and burned. + +The next operation is spraying, and our first spraying was done when +most of the petals were down, using a Cushman power sprayer, running at +two hundred pounds pressure, with two leads of hose and extension rods +with two nozzles on each. Spraying solution, six gallons of lime and +sulphur, twelve pounds of arsenate of lead paste to each tank of water +containing two hundred gallons. We aim to cover the tree thoroughly from +top to bottom and spray twice each season. However, the past season half +the orchard only was sprayed twice, the other half only once, the second +spraying being applied about two weeks after the first, when we use lime +and sulphur only, and then five gallons instead of six, in each tank of +water. We use angle nozzles, the better to direct the spray into the +calyxes. + +The orchard was mowed twice during the summer, early in June and the +middle of July. A heavy growth of clover covers most of the orchard, and +none is ever removed, all is left to decay just as it is left by the +mowers. + +The next thing in line to take our attention is thinning the fruit. The +past season we thinned the Wealthy and top-worked varieties only; +another season, we expect to carry this work to every tree in the +orchard. The trees were gone over twice in the season, although the bulk +of the work is done at the first operation. We use thinning shears made +expressly for the purpose. + +By the end of July the trees in many instances were carrying maximum +loads, and unless rendered assistance by propping in some way, the +limbs, great numbers of them, must soon break. To get props to prop +hundreds of trees, needing from five to six up to a dozen per tree, and +apply them, looked like a big job. To purchase lumber for props the +price was prohibitive; to get them from the woods was impossible. We +finally solved the problem by purchasing bamboo fish poles, sixteen and +twenty feet long, and by using No. 12 wire, making one turn around the +pole at the required height, turning up the end of the wire to hold it +and making a hook out of the other end of the wire, using about seven or +eight inches of wire for each. These made excellent props at small +expense, the ringlike excresences on the pole preventing the wire from +slipping. We propped as many as four and five limbs at different heights +on one pole. This method carried the heavily loaded trees through the +season in good shape. Anyone afflicted with too many apples on their +trees should try it. + +Next in line came the harvesting of the crop. We use the "Ideal +Bottomless Bag" for a picking utensil, and almost all the fruit is +picked from six foot step-ladders. We pack the apples in the orchard. +Fortunately we have had the same people pick our apples year after year, +from the first crop until the last one of the past season. + +[Illustration: Apples by the carload at Howard Lake.] + +In packing we aim to use the kind of package the market demands. The +crop this season was all barreled. The pickers have been on the job long +enough so that they are as able to discriminate as to what should go +into a barrel and what should not as I am myself. However, our system is +to always have about twice as many barrels open ready for the apples as +there are pickers. The barrels are all faced one layer at least, and two +layers if we have the time, and as the pickers come in with +approximately half a bushel of apples in the picking sack, they swing +the sack over the barrel, lower it, release the catch and the apples are +deposited without bruising in any way. + +The next picker puts his in the next barrel, and so on, so that each +succeeding picker deposits his apples in the next succeeding barrel. In +that way I personally have the opportunity to inspect every half bushel +of apples, or, I might say, every apple, as a half bushel of apples in a +barrel is shallow, making inspection a very simple matter. When the +barrels are filled they are headed up, put in the packing shed until +sufficient have accumulated, and when that point is reached they are +loaded out, billed to Minneapolis, where practically all our apples have +been sold for years. All fruit up to date has been sold on a commission +basis, the crop for the past season aggregating five carloads, or +approximately 800 barrels. + +We feel that we have worked out a fairly good method to handle both our +trees and our apples, but we have not reached the conclusion that our +methods in any way guarantee us a crop of apples, although in ten years, +or since the orchard came into bearing, we have never had a season that +we did not have a fair crop of apples. In 1913 we sold seven carloads, +in 1914 four carloads, in 1915 five carloads, and the trees as far as +they are concerned promise us a fair crop for 1916. We are working as +though this is assured, but in the final analysis it is up to the +weather man. + +A Member: I would like to ask Mr. Simmons in regard to his wiring. We +are raising our trees in the same manner, the open-headed trees, and I +wanted to ask him where the central ring is placed, in the crotch of the +tree or where? + +Mr. Simmons: The ring is suspended by the wires in the center of the +tree. It makes an excellent arrangement. You can stand on that wire and +gather the apples from the topmost limbs of the trees. The screw-eyes +should be put in at what might be termed the center of effort or pull, +when the limb is heavily loaded. If not put in high enough, it causes a +rather too acute angle where the screw-eye is inserted and the limb is +likely to break. + +A Member: We had considerable difficulty with broken branches. + +Mr. Ludlow: Are the rings put on the outside or the inside of the trees? + +Mr. Simmons: On the inside, so that the screw eyes all point towards the +center of the tree. After three or four years you can't see the screw +eye, it grows right into the tree. + +Mr. Ludlow: I want to ask if you recommend the bamboo poles for general +propping of trees? + +Mr. Simmons: Yes, sir; most emphatically I would. It is the best and +most economical prop you can use. Of course, it is the general opinion +among expert fruit growers that the crop should never be too heavy for +the tree. The bamboo prop is the best we found. With reasonable care, +bamboo poles will outlast common lumber. + +It is the general opinion among expert fruit growers that the tree +should carry all fruit possible, but should not be permitted to be +loaded so heavy as to need propping. + +Mr. Dyer: I have an orchard of 70 acres and it would take a great many +bamboo poles to prop that orchard. I use pieces of board, various +lengths, 4 inches wide and 1 inch thick, of various lengths. I get them +14 to 16 feet long and sometimes I cut them in two. My trees are large, +twenty-five and thirty and thirty-five years old, and that has been my +most successful material to prop with. + +Mr. Simmons: What is the cost? + +Mr. Dyer: Well, you know what the lumber is, I paid about $24.00 a +thousand. + +Mr. Simmons: When I tried to buy the props from the lumber yard they +would have cost me twenty cents each. I bought the twenty foot bamboo +poles for $7.00 a hundred and the sixteen foot poles for $4.50 a +hundred. + +A Member: I didn't get where his orchard is located, and I would like to +ask about the variety of apples he had the best success with. + +Mr. Simmons: The orchard is located at Howard Lake, forty-three miles +west of Minneapolis. We grow Duchess, Patten's Greenings, Hibernals and +Wealthys. + +Mr. Ludlow: What is your average cost per tree for thinning? + +Mr. Simmons: We have for years thinned the Wealthy trees and our +top-worked varieties, but I never kept any accurate account of the cost +of thinning. + +Mr. Ludlow: How old are your Wealthys? + +Mr. Simmons: Fourteen years old. + +Mr. Huestis: Mr. Simmons stated that he used the wire and the ring and +the screw-eyes. If he used that, why does he need props? I used the same +thing this summer on some Wealthys and thinned them besides, and I +didn't need any props because I used the wire from the center ring to +the branches. + +Mr. Simmons: Well, the wire supports support the main limbs but there +are a great many laterals. For instance, you have the main limb going up +here at an angle of 90 degrees and the limbs that come out of that are +not supported. The props I use are supporting the laterals. + +Mr. Anderson: Are your returns satisfactory shipping to the Minneapolis +market? + +Mr. Simmons: Always have been very satisfactory; that has been my only +market. + + * * * * * + +FIGHTING MOTHS WITH PARASITES.--Over 12,000,000 specimens of +two parasites which prey on the gipsy moth and brown-tail moth were +released in 201 towns in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode +Island during the fall of 1914 and spring of 1915, according to the +annual report of the Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of +Agriculture. + +As a result of the successful establishment of colonies of these and +other parasites which feed on the gipsy and brown-tail moths, marked +progress is being made in reducing these pests. Effective co-operation +is being afforded by the States, which carry on as much work as possible +within the infested areas, thus allowing the Federal authorities to +carry on field work along the outer border of infestation, so as to +retard the gipsy moth's spread.--U.S. Dept. of Agri. + + + + +Annual Meeting. 1915, S.D. State Horticultural Society. + +WM. PFAENDER, JR., NEW ULM, MINN., DELEGATE. + + +Arrived at Huron, S.D., Monday night, January 17, 1916. The officers as +well as the members gave me a very fine reception and, although I am a +life member, I was made an honorary member of the society, and during my +stay was entertained very agreeably. + +I attended all meetings. The society had three meetings each day, except +Thursday, the 20th, when there was no meeting held in the evening. On +account of the very cold weather the attendance from outside was not as +large as it should have been. + +Some very interesting papers were read. Mr. E. D. Cowles, of Vermillion, +in his paper on "What to do when your grape vines freeze back," +advocated to break off the shoots (do not cut them off) near the old +wood, so that new shoots would start from the same bud or eye and would +produce a crop. + +The papers by the president, Rev. F. A. Hassold, "Relation of +Horticulture to Home-Making" at the meeting, and "Community Effort in +Rural Life" at the banquet, were very fine and much appreciated by the +audience. + +Professor N. E. Hansen in his paper, "New Fruits," stated, among other +things, that he had made a large number of crosses with Chinese sand +pears and other pears, and that he expects to get from the crosses +varieties that will be blight proof, and that he intends to continue +experiments along this line. + +Two very able and much appreciated papers at the banquet were: +"Landscape Gardening," by Miss Hazel J. Kent, and "Transforming a Place +Into a Home," by Mrs. Geo. H. Whiting, both of Yankton, S.D. + +Governor Byrney was present at the banquet and in his address +congratulated the horticulturists of South Dakota on what they have +attained and encouraged them in their difficult undertakings. + +Your delegate was asked to give notes on "Minnesota Fruit Culture," +which he did to the best of his ability. The discussions after each +paper were interesting and instructive. + +The meeting was a very successful one and all present appreciated the +fact that these gatherings assist in developing this great Northwest in +horticulture, forestry and many other ways. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Sauk Rapids Trial Station. + +MRS. JENNIE STAGER, SUPT. + + +Warm weather this last spring came quite early, and with bated breath we +waited for the usual frost, but still it came not. The plum orchard +became a wilderness of bloom; the buds of the apple trees began coyly to +unfold their dainty loveliness; pussy willows flaunted their sweetness +on the air--while the birds sang their love notes from trees and bushes. +Then frost came--not once, but night after night. Thus our hopes, which +had risen with every promise of a bountiful harvest, fell with the +thermometer far below zero. When fall came both plum and apple orchards +made so poor a showing, not only here but all around this part of the +country, that we had hardly enough fruit for our own uses. + +[Illustration: Mrs. Stager's grandchildren among the roses of one year's +growth.] + +We had a great deal of rain, all through the spring and into the summer. +Strawberries, that generally do well in wet weather, did not bless us +with their usual abundance. Currants and gooseberries also left us in +the lurch--but the Snyder blackberries were loaded with luscious fruit, +while raspberries--why the berries of the Golden Queen bent the stalks +down with their weight. Prof. Hansen's Sunbeams were covered with +berries, as were all of the seedling raspberries sent from the Breeding +Farm three years ago, Nos. six and seven, of the red ones, bore the +largest and firmest berries. I had quite a time keeping the blossoms off +the everbearing strawberries sent here in the spring from the State +Breeding Farm. Although I had bought and planted three named--and very +much extolled--other kinds of everbearers, none of them were as prolific +in plants, and extra large berries, as those unnamed ones from the State +Breeding Farm. We had our first berries from them in August. + +When we had our fair here, the last of September, I made quite a showing +of them, from the size of a bean (green) to a crab apple (ripe), +surrounded by leaves and blossoms. They were still covered with bloom +when the hard frosts came. + +The two small hybrid plums sent did not make much growth. Most +vegetables that have always grown so well in other summers did very +poorly this year. Out of four hundred and seventy-five tomato plants, +taken the best of care of by Inez, my granddaughter, for the state +tomato contest, we did not get one bushel of good ripe ones. Lima and +other table beans were planted three times (on account of rotting in the +ground) and then did not ripen. No ripe corn. In fact, about all the +vegetables that came to fruition were peas, cauliflower and cabbage. + +Of flowers, sweet peas, pansies and early lilies were fine, although +growing things were late. Paeonies had very few flowers. However, roses +were masses of bloom. Moss roses did the best ever, also large bushes of +Rosa Rugosa (you see this year, we had neither the ubiquitous potato +bug, rose bug, caterpillar or any other varmint to war against); quite a +number gave us blooms all summer. Then most of them threw out strong new +plants, as do the raspberries, from the roots. On the whole, with our +bounteous harvest of grain and so forth in this blessed country, we can +be thankful we are alive. + + * * * * * + +KEEP YOUTH ON THE FARM.--"What can we do to keep our young +people free from the deceiving lure of the city and contented to remain +on the farm?". + +The following was prepared by C. W. Kneale, of Niwot, Colo., a student in +civics in the Colorado School of Agriculture, as a part of his regular +class work. Young Kneale, although a student, has some excellent ideas +which "Father" and "Mother" might do well to ponder carefully: + +"Get good books, magazines and farm papers for them to read. + +"Have some kind of lodges for them to go to, such as the Grange. + +"Arrange it so they can have a party or entertainment once in a while. + +"Go with them to church every Sunday. + +"Arrange it so they can have one or more picnics every year. + +"Teach them how to do all kinds of farm work, by giving them a small +tract of land to farm for themselves and showing them how to raise their +crops, and have them help you with your work. + +"Give them a horse which they can ride or drive when they haven't +anything to do, or when they want to go anywhere. + +"Teach them to love and be kind to animals." + + + + +Ravages of the Buffalo Tree Hopper. + + +"Mr. Latham recently sent me some twigs of apple tree very badly injured +with what we call the buffalo tree hopper. These scars are made entirely +by the female in the act of egg-laying. This process of egg-laying takes +place from the last part of July until the leaves drop in the fall. The +eggs hatch the following spring. The young forms do not feed at all upon +the apple but get their nourishment by sucking the juices from the weeds +and grasses in the immediate neighborhood of the orchard. + +[Illustration: The Buffalo Tree Hopper and its work] + +"The injury of this particular tree hopper is bad because the insect in +egg-laying makes two slits, side by side, afterwards poking the eggs +beneath the bark. As the tree continues to grow, the area between the +slits dies, making a very rough appearance of the bark and an area into +which spores of disease and bacteria may enter. The twig that is badly +scarred very often dies, and sometimes young trees just set out are +marked so badly that they succumb. + +"The only practical remedy against such a pest is clean cultivation of +the orchard, as one can readily work out from knowing the life history. +It is possible that some of the sprays like Bordeaux mixture, or +self-boiled lime-sulphur, sprayed and kept active on the trees during +the month of August would deter these hoppers from laying eggs. However, +we have had no practical experience along this line, although we do know +that trees under clean cultivation are not affected."--A. G. Ruggles, +Head of Section of Spraying and Tree Insects, University Farm, St. Paul. + + * * * * * + +MINNESOTA NO. 3 STRAWBERRY.--A communication from Peter +Jackson, Cloquet, says: "I had my first trial of the Minnesota No. 3 +strawberry last year and they did finely. I had one hundred twenty-five +quarts from sixty plants." Who can do better than that? + + + + +Growing Tomatoes in Northern Minnesota. + +REV. GEO. MICHAEL, WALKER, MINN. + + +Sow seed in hotbed about April first, in rows five inches apart and five +inches apart in each row. Transplant in garden one week after danger of +frost is past. The day before transplanting soak the hotbed thoroughly +with warm water. In taking them up to transplant use a sharp butcher +knife; the ground thus cut out will form a cube five inches in diameter. +This block, should be set in a hole ten to twelve inches deep. The +ground around the block must be made very firm. This block will be four +to six inches below the surface. _Fill the hole with warm rainwater_ and +three or four hours later rake in loose dirt to fill the hole, being +careful not to pack it in the least. + +_How to prepare the ground._ Manure heavily; plow very deep; harrow +thoroughly. Then in forming the hills place two shovelfuls of fine +manure and one-half shovelful of hen manure for each hill. Spade this in +from twelve to eighteen inches deep and eighteen to twenty inches wide. +Cultivate often. + +The plants should be staked at first to keep the wind storms from +injuring them. When one and one-half feet high they should be trained +over poles placed on each side of the row one and one-half feet from the +ground. Plant hills four feet apart, and _train each plant to four or +five vines_, cutting off all side shoots and a few of the leaves. _Never +cut off_ the top of a vine to hasten the ripening. + +Make the ground _as rich as possible, plough deep, plant deep, set deep +and prune carefully_. If you do not use poles or a trellis the vines +thus managed should spread over the ground as pumpkin vines grow, and +instead of "going all to vines" the tendency will be to go all to +tomatoes. + +_A big story._ Over $3,000 per acre. In 1910 I had three rows each forty +feet long and four feet apart, i.e., a row 120 feet long, or 480 square +feet. More than $35.00 worth of ripe tomatoes were taken from these +vines, the price never more nor less than five cents per pound. If 480 +square feet will produce $35.00, 43,560 square feet would produce +$3,175. + +During the tomato season I was away from home when a neighbor gathered +bushels which are not counted in the above figures, and our family used +and gave away several bushels more. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Vice-President, Fourth Congressional District. + +J. K. DIXON, NORTH ST. PAUL, MINN. + + +The fourth district fruit crops--with the exception of strawberries and +raspberries--were conspicuous by their absence this season of 1915. + +A festive blizzard that came prancing our way the 17th of May +effectually destroyed what promised to be a bumper crop of apples and +plums. The trees were for the most part past the blossoming stage, and +the fruit had started to develop. Currants and grapes met the same +disastrous fate. Only in favored situations, adjacent to large bodies of +water, were there any apples, plums, grapes or currants to speak of. + +[Illustration: Mr. J. K. Dixon, North St. Paul.] + +In my orchard, at North St. Paul, we burned wet straw smudges every +second row on the outside of the orchard, allowing the wind to drift the +smoke through trees. This was done by adding the wet straw at intervals +to the burning piles in order to create a continuous dense smoke. When +daylight appeared we noticed the ground covered with a beautiful blanket +of frost, and decided two men smoking pipes would have been as effective +treatment as the smudge. + +In this, however, I have since concluded we were mistaken. As the season +advanced we noticed the first three or four rows in from the smudges +gave us our only apples, whereas the further one went in the fewer were +found, until they finally disappeared entirely. + +Question: If the above treatment had been given every second or third +row throughout orchard, what would the results have been? + +Strawberries and raspberries proved their superior ability to withstand +the assaults of King Boreas and Jack Frost. Strawberries were in blossom +and were saved from total loss by a two or three inch blanket of wet +snow that fortunately preceded the frost. Consequently they are reported +as fair to good crop. Raspberries, owing to the abundant and regular +rainfall, are reported from all over the district as a fair crop. One +grower having one-half acre of the St. Regis everbearing red raspberry +reports having ripe berries from the last week in June to the 8th day of +October, when a big freeze-up put them out of commission. This one-half +acre produced 2,000 pints, that sold for fancy prices. Also the +everbearing strawberries are reported as making good and proving their +claim to recognition as an established institution in the fruit world. + +A few of the largest growers report spraying with lime-sulphur and +arsenate of lead. However, the rainfall was too abundant at the right +time (or wrong time) to get best results. + +Very little blight is reported as present the past summer, and what +little there was yielded readily to the pruning knife applied five or +six inches below infected wood, being careful to sterilize tool in +solution of corrosive sublimate. The most serious injury from blight is +caused by its attacking tender sprout growths on trunks or large +branches. The blight runs very rapidly down the tender wood, penetrating +to the cambium layer, where it causes cankers, often girdling entire +trunk and killing tree outright. This is especially true of the Virginia +crab and Wealthy apple. + +Trees and plants came through last winter in A1 condition as a +consequence of a mild winter, and this fall they go into winter quarters +with abundance of moisture and well ripened wood. + +Considerable nursery stock was planted last spring with excellent +results, due to plentiful supply of moisture from spring to fall. + +While fruit growing in Minnesota is not so extensively engaged in as in +some reputed fruit growers' paradises we read about, I wish to state +that the South and East (to speak in the vernacular) "has nothing on +us." I have reliable information that the same freeze that cleaned us +out up here in the North did the same trick for growers at Mobile, +Alabama. Therefore, I advise members not to yield to discouragement. +Plant and care for varieties recommended in the society planting list +and emulate the society motto, "Perseverantia Vincimus." + +From replies to letters sent out the following list of varieties +appears to be in favor as the most desirable to plant in this district: + + Apples: Wealthy, Okabena, Duchess, Patten's Greening. + + Crabs: Florence, Whitney, Lyman's Prolific. + + Plums: DeSoto, Hawkeye, Wyant, Wolf. + + Raspberries: King, Sunbeam, Minnetonka Ironclad. + + Currants: Perfection, Prince Albert, Long Bunch Holland, + Wilder. + + Gooseberries: Carrie, Houghton, Downing. + + Grapes: Beta, Concord, Delaware. + + Hardy Shrubs: Spirea Van Houtii, Hydrangea P.G., Snowball, + Syringa, Tartarian Honeysuckle, Lilac, High-bush Cranberry, + Barberry, Sumac, Elderberry, Golden Leaf Elder, Buckthorn for + hedges. + + Hardy Perennials--Flowers: Delphinium, Campanula, Phlox, + Paeonies, Iris, Hermerocallis, Tiger Lilies. + + Tender Plants: Dahlias, Gladiolus. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Mandan, N.D., Trial Station. + +W. A. PETERSON, SUPT., MANDAN, N.D. + + +In the spring of 1914 a number of plums, grapes and raspberries were +received from the Minnesota Fruit-Breeding Farm. The larger part of the +plums were winter killed in 1914-15. Those that survive after a few more +winters may be considered as practically hardy. Those remaining made a +good growth in 1915, but did not bear. + +The grapes lived through the winter in good shape, although they had +been covered. These are all Beta seedlings. + +The raspberries Nos. 3, 7, and 8, were partly covered and partly left +exposed--all three numbers died to the ground when not protected. No. 4 +was received in the spring of 1915 and made a good growth. + +Strawberry No. 1017 was received in spring 1915 and bore heavily this +fall but made only a very few runners. + +Extensive experiments are being carried on in plant-breeding, pomology, +vegetable gardening, arboriculture and ornamental horticulture, and in +the course of time a lot of valuable information will be gathered. + +On the whole the season was backward in spring and the summer was +abnormally cool. There was sufficient rainfall for all crops. + + + + +Fruit Growing a Successful Industry in Minnesota. + +A. W. RICHARDSON, FRUIT GROWER, HOWARD LAKE, MINN. + + +It is now about eighteen years since I conceived the idea of fruit +culture as a competency for old age, being then, as now, employed as +representative for some concern and required to travel over this state, +earning a livelihood for myself and family. The nature of my first work +on the road necessitated my attendance (a large portion of the time) at +Minnesota farmers' institute meetings, where I came in contact with +those gentlemen employed in that work, and among the number our friend +Clarence Wedge, of Albert Lea, and other personal friends, such as O. C. +Gregg, the founder of the institute work, Mr. Greely, Mr. Trow and +others. It was among these gentlemen I got my first desire for a piece +of land, and was advised by them several times to get a piece of land, +and if I could not afford to buy a large piece, to buy a small piece, +which latter course I was compelled to adopt. I became imbued with a +desire to grow fruit and was particularly interested in the subject of +horticulture, and eagerly devoured all the literature obtainable on the +subject, and listened very attentively to all discussions on the subject +at these meetings. + +In 1897 I moved to Howard Lake and succeeded Mr. E. J. Cutts in the +nursery and fruit growing business. Mr. Cutts was well known to a great +many. He died just prior to my residence in Howard Lake, where I got in +my first practical experience in the fruit-growing business. After +conducting this business for about twelve months, I disposed of it and +bought a home in another part of town and at once set out about 200 +apple trees and other small fruit. Gradually I acquired more land and +set out more trees, until today I have about 1,600 apple trees, about +1,000 of which are at bearing age. I made one grand mistake however, as +a great many other growers have done and are still doing, I planted too +many varieties. I used the list of tried and recommended sorts issued by +the State Horticultural Society (long before I became a member) and +planted accordingly and, like many other growers, have my quota of +Hibernals, Minnesotas, Marthas and other sorts which experience has +demonstrated are not nearly as desirable as other varieties. + +I have demonstrated to my entire satisfaction that it is profitable and +perfectly proper to grow also small fruits in a young orchard. In my +second orchard, containing about 600 trees, I planted the trees 15x30 +feet and later the same season set out raspberries 3x6 feet, occupying +all the space in the rows and between the rows, and for two successive +seasons I grew a third crop between the raspberries, which plan works +admirably. One mistake I made, however, was in planting a little too +close to the apple trees, requiring more hoeing around the apple trees +to keep the raspberries in subjection, which could have been obviated to +a large extent by not planting so closely. I grew raspberries about +seven years in this orchard. My returns after the second year brought me +$500.00 to $700.00 annually, and I sold enough plants to more than pay +me for all the labor expended on the orchard, to say nothing of corn, +beans, cabbage, etc., raised the first two years between the +raspberries. Now the trees are about ten years old and all bearing. I +have discontinued the cultivation and have seeded to clover, which we +usually mow and allow to lie and rot. + +[Illustration: Residence of A. W. Richardson, at Howard Lake.] + +I figure that outside the investment I have brought my orchard into +bearing with practically no expense, having had a revenue every year +since planting the trees, which are composed of Patten Greening, +Hibernal, Duchess, Wealthy, Peerless, Minnesota, Virginia, Okabena and +Whitney. My last orchard of 625 trees consists principally of Wealthy, +and trees are set 20x20, and I am following the same plan of growing a +crop between. The year 1915 makes four crops taken from this young +orchard, now four years old. About two more seasons will follow this +year, and then about the time for bearing I will discontinue the +planting of any crop and sow it to clover. + +I plant one or two year old trees trimmed to a whip, digging a much +larger and deeper hole than is really necessary to accommodate the +roots, but I am sure this plan gives the roots a much better start than +if they are crowded into a small hole, and particularly if the ground is +hardpan or similar soil. Pinching off the buds the following year or +two, when you commence shaping your trees to your liking, is good, thus +eliminating severe pruning. I have endeavored to follow up this annual +pruning when possible, often being compelled to hire additional help for +this purpose, as the nature of my regular business keeps me from home +when I should be pruning. I am sure you will agree with me so far that +"fruit growing in Minnesota is successful." + +Four years ago or more I decided that in order to receive the top price +for the products off my place I must produce a first class article, and +so to that end I have worked. I bought a gasoline power sprayer, costing +me about $300--by the way, the first one in Howard Lake, although two of +us there each bought one the same spring, and now there are three power +sprayers in our village. I have demonstrated that it is possible to get +the top price of the market in more ways than one by furnishing a first +class article. You will ask me how it is possible for me to do this and +be away from home so much. I have been ably assisted by my wife, who +sees that my general directions are carried out as I have outlined. + +This year we have marketed something over 300 barrels and have received +the top market price, netting me about $500.00. I tried out a new plan +this year, selling through a reliable commission firm. I have heretofore +sold direct to the retailer with splendid results. 1913 was a bumper +year and the market flooded everywhere with poor unsprayed stuff. I sold +about 250 barrels and received an average of $3.25 per barrel, F.O.B. +Howard Lake, and in 1914 about the same amount was realized. There is +always a good demand for a good article, carefully picked and honestly +packed, discarding all bruised and scabby or wormy apples, or those +undersized or less than 2-1/2 inches in diameter. + +This season I sprayed my trees three times, the first time early in +April, using what is known as a dormant spray, using commercial +lime-sulphur solution 32 degrees Baume, 20 gallons to a tank of 200 +gallons of water, or four times as strong as the two subsequent +sprayings, after the blossoms fall, at which later time I use in +addition arsenate of lead, 10 pounds to a 200 gallon tank of water, and +work under 200 pound pressure--and by doing thorough work can produce +apples almost entirely free from any disease or worms. My last shipment +of apples this year was October 2nd and consisted of 196 barrels, +one-third each of Hibernals, Patten Greenings and Wealthys, which +brought top prices. + +[Illustration: Mr. A. W. Richardson, Howard Lake.] + +I am a firm believer in co-operative marketing and think it is the only +logical way to market any crop, but to conduct a successful marketing +organization there should be stringent rules compelling all who join an +association for marketing to spray thoroughly if nothing else, as I am +firmly convinced that you cannot grow apples and compete with other +localities without doing so, and doing so every year, whether a prospect +for a good crop exists or not. I can prove this, as I only partly +covered my entire orchard in 1913 with spraying. You could easily see +which had been sprayed and which not. Excessive rain at the vital time +prevented my completion of the work. I am convinced by experience, too, +that the dormant spray, usually neglected by most growers, is very +necessary and am sure better and healthier foliage is obtained by this +practice, and by it the scale can be controlled in a large degree. + +I had eight to ten Patten's Greening trees that had been attacked by a +disease called by some "oyster scale." The trees abnormally lost their +foliage early in the season, and I had about decided they were dead +when, after a dormant spray the following spring, they entirely revived +and are now as healthy as any trees on my place. + +I have practiced top-working to some extent and for the past three or +four years have been able to put down in my cellar, several bushels of +Jonathan, Grimes Golden, Delicious and other varieties. Have now about +125 Jonathan trees top-worked on Hibernals, and except for some blight +they have done splendidly. + +There is no room for discussion, no room for argument in any way, why +fruit-growing in Minnesota is not a very successful business to be +engaged in. I have demonstrated, I am sure, that if I can bring an +orchard into bearing and hold down a good, fairly lucrative position at +the same time and do so with very little expense, and others can do the +some thing. + +Now I am going to criticise some one and let the criticism fall where it +belongs. There has been a great injustice done the commercial fruit +grower, or those trying to grow fruit commercially, by advising, urging, +or anything else you choose to call it, the farmer or small homekeeper +to buy more fruit trees and plants than this class of individual needs +for his own use. In order to receive some returns for this surplus, he +rushes it into town and sells it to the best advantage, delivered in +sacks, soap boxes, etc., carelessly handled and bumped into town in a +lumber wagon. The merchant is loaded up with a lot of unsalable stuff +and often finds himself overloaded and barrels up some and sends it to +the commission row and expects some returns, which vary from nothing to +a very small amount. Why, last season I knew a large general merchandise +concern in a town a little west of Howard Lake that thought they had +struck a gold mine. They employed a packer or two, bought barrels, +rented a building and bought this class of stuff right and left, offered +at any old price, $1.50 per barrel to anything they could get, and sold +clear up to the Canadian line. I saw the stuff a great many times after +it reached its destination, and it was hardly fit for sale at any price. +This indiscriminate selling of nursery stock by eager salesmen and +nurserymen is doing more to hurt the commercial fruit growing industry +than any one thing. The only salvation for the grower making his living +out of the business is to produce a better article, better picked, +better packed and marketed through the proper channels. This matter just +referred to I have often discussed by the hour, and during the past +winter my views were thoroughly endorsed by prominent men in the +extension work of our state. + +In conclusion will say, comparing the fruit industry in Minnesota with +that greatest of all industry, raising grain, it is so much easier (if +ordinary care be exercised) to produce a finer article, more attractive +in appearance, better packed and marketed properly, than the other +fellow does, while in growing grain this is not the case, as all the +grain is dumped into the hopper and bin, and the individuality of the +grower is forever lost. The demand for the apple has increased +wonderfully the last few years, and it is quite likely to be further +increased owing to the European demand for American apples, which for +the next fifteen or twenty years will increase by leaps and bounds, +owing to the devastating of so many of the great orchard sections in +parts of Austria and northern France. This authentic information came +through Mr. H. W. Collingwood, many years editor of the Rural New Yorker, +and according to Mr. Collingwood's idea there has been no time in the +history of the United States when the outlook for commercial orchards +was so bright. He advises the widespread planting of commercial orchards +to meet this new demand which has shown itself already in Europe and +will greatly increase after the war is over. + +[Illustration: A two-acre field of Dunlap strawberries on place of A. W. +Richardson, at Howard Lake.] + +Mr. Ludlow: I would like to know what you advise for that commercial +orchard, what varieties? + +Mr. Richardson: Wealthys, all the time. (Applause.) + +Mr. Ludlow: I would like to ask for the comparative prices you received +for the three apples you mentioned, Wealthy, Greening and Hibernal. + +Mr. Richardson: The Hibernal sold for around $3.00 a barrel and the +Wealthy sold for three something. Mind you, I never sold apples at all +until this year to Minneapolis markets. I can sell all the apples I can +grow myself without any trouble if I have the proper men to pick them +and pack them at home. I had a son that was doing that until a few years +ago, and he followed my instructions and would place nothing but first +class stuff in the barrels and would sell my samples without any trouble +and get the top market price. I run across down in my cellar some of +last year's crop of Northwest Greenings, just two of them left, one of +them partially decayed. Something I never had known to happen before. +They lay in the cellar just wrapped up. + +Mr. Ludlow: It wasn't embalmed? + +Mr. Richardson: No, sir. Gentlemen, you need not be afraid of growing +fruit in Minnesota. + +Mr. Ludlow: What peculiar method have you for keeping those apples? + +Mr. Richardson: Just wrapped in paper only. + +The President: What temperature do you keep in your cellar? + +Mr. Richardson: 40 degrees about this time. + +The President: You have a heater in your cellar? + +Mr. Richardson: Yes, sir, but this is shut off from that, though the +pipes run through. + +A Member: Are your trees still as far apart as they were at first? + +Mr. Richardson: No, sir. I neglected to say that I sent East and got +some roots, and I was advised to set them out between. I have part of my +orchard set 15x16, but that is too close together. + +A Member: If you were going to do it again would you put them 30x30? + +Mr. Richardson: 20x20, that is, Wealthys, particularly. Of course, for +the Hibernals, you got to put them farther apart. + +A Member: You mentioned the Delicious. What is your opinion of the +Delicious? + +Mr. Richardson: My experience has been so little with them. I have about +150 Jonathan trees coming on that will be all right. + + * * * * * + +MARBLE PILLAR TO FAMOUS MCINTOSH TREE.--Perhaps one of the most +curious monuments in existence has recently been built in Ontario by +Canadians. The farmers have just erected a marble pillar to mark the +site on which grew a famous apple tree. + +More than a century ago a settler in Canada named McIntosh, when +clearing a space in which to make a home in the wilderness, discovered +among a number of wild apple trees one which bore fruit so well that he +cultivated it and named it McIntosh Red. + +The apple became famous, and seeds and cuttings were distributed to all +parts of Canada, so that now the McIntosh Red flourishes wherever apples +grow in the great dominion. In 1896 the original tree from which this +enormous family sprang was injured by fire, but it continued to bear +fruit until five years ago. Then, after 15 years, it died, and the +grateful farmers have raised a marble pillar in honor of the tree which +has done so much for the fruit growing industry of their land. + +The story of this apple tree illustrates the African proverb that though +you can count the apples on one tree, you can never count the trees in +one apple.--January Popular Science Monthly. + + + + +Report of Committee on Horticultural Building. + +S. P. CROSBY, CHAIRMAN, ST. PAUL. + + +As you know, at the last legislature there was a bill prepared and +introduced asking for an appropriation of $40,000 to build a new home +for this society. It was provided, that that home should be located on +the grounds of University Farm or upon the grounds of the State +Agricultural Society, and that was to be left to the discretion of the +executive board of this society. The bill is a very well drawn bill, and +the committee appeared before the legislature some four or five times. +We went before the committee of the senate and before the committee of +the house and senate, and as a matter of fact the result was that the +bill never came out of the committee. + +The cry last year, as it is every year, was that of retrenchment and low +taxes. Now, that is all right as a general proposition, but Minnesota is +not a poor state. In the cities of course we think we have all the taxes +we ought to have, and we think they are pretty high; perhaps you +gentlemen living in the country think you have as high taxes as you +ought to have, but that the state, for instance, has over $30,000,000 in +the school fund, probably reaching up to fifty or sixty millions some +day, with other figures which can be given here, shows that Minnesota is +not a poor state. On the other hand, it shows that Minnesota is a rich +state. Certainly there is no good reason why it should not provide a +good home for this society, which has earned it and is nearly fifty +years old. + +Now, ladies and gentlemen, I simply want to say one thing. Don't depend +upon the committee to do all this work. While we didn't get our bill +through last year we came away full of courage, and just as sure as +night follows the day we are going to have a new home for this society +one of these days. (Applause.) But I want it distinctly understood that +every member of this society, men and women--and I certainly include the +women because oftentimes they are the best politicians, and they know +how to talk to people and get things--when the next legislature is +elected must use his or her influence with the senators and +representatives of the various districts of the state and make an +impression upon them and get a promise out of them to vote for and +support the bill. A bill will be introduced into the next legislature, +and it will probably be this same bill, and if you don't forget this, +but simply do your duty in seeing these representatives and taking the +matter up, why there isn't very much doubt in my judgment but what we +will be successful and have our bill passed. + +We have members, I think, in every county of the state, haven't we, +President Cashman? + +The President: Yes. + +[Illustration: Mr. S. P. Crosby, St. Paul.] + +Mr. Crosby: If we only have two or three in some counties, if they would +make an effort to see every representative and senator and talk the +matter over, that is what is going to count. It is a year or something +like that before the legislature meets again, but it don't want to be +forgotten, and if every live member of this society will put his +shoulder to the wheel, I don't think there is any possible doubt but +what we will succeed and have the bill pass. + +We broke the ice last winter and got acquainted with some of the people. +And another thing I want to say, and that is if that bill the next time +is not reported favorably out of the committee I would be in favor for +one of having it reported to the house or senate without any +recommendation of the committee. I talked with probably fifteen or +twenty, I should say, of the different members of the senate and house +about that bill, and it had a great many friends both in the house and +senate. Some of them came to me and said: "Crosby, why don't you put it +in the house, and we will show you how we will vote." There was a whole +lot of feeling that way, because if men investigate and find out what +the society is standing for and what it has done they will know it is a +perfectly meritorious bill. I think with a reasonable amount of work we +will accomplish a great deal, and we shall succeed eventually in having +the bill passed. + +Another matter that is proper to speak of now is to see where the +members of this organization stand. I am going to tell you something. I +didn't hear it personally myself, but I did hear it from Mr. Yanish. He +is a man of veracity and he told me. He said in the last legislature the +Hennepin delegation used all the strength they could against this bill. +If it is a rivalry between the two cities, St. Paul and Minneapolis when +we propose to put the building in neither Minneapolis or St. Paul, but +practically midway between the two cities, if that rivalry can go to +that extent, it seems to me mighty small business. + +We were very careful not to conflict in any way with the state +university in getting any of those appropriations they were asking for. +They wanted big sums of money. We didn't conflict with them, we didn't +do anything against them. We made a gentlemanly campaign and put our +case before the committee. There were a number of members who were +favorable, but of course there were thousands of bills in there, and it +didn't get out of the committees, as I said. + +We see more and more every year what great necessities there are for a +home for this organization. We ought to have a building like as the +plans given in Mr. Latham's last report, a building that would have a +fine auditorium, a fine exhibit room, a place where we are at home +instead of going from place to place and meeting at different places and +not having the adequate facilities we ought to have. + + * * * * * + +STORE VEGETABLES FOR THE WINTER.--The basement is often the +best place on the farm for storing vegetables, says R. S. Gardner, of the +University of Missouri, College of Agriculture. It must be properly +built, and the temperature, moisture, and ventilation conditions kept +right if the best results are to be obtained. If it is too warm the +vegetables will dry and shrivel, and if the ventilation is poor, drops +of water will form and the vegetables will be more likely to decay. If +there is a furnace in the cellar, the storage room should be far enough +away so that it can be kept cool, and during very cold weather the door +may be opened to prevent freezing.--Mo. Exp. Sta. + + + + +Tomatoes for the Kitchen Garden. + +C. W. PURDHAM, MARKET GARDENER, BROOKLYN CENTER. + + +The first and most important thing in raising tomatoes is good seed. To +raise good tomatoes does not depend so much on the variety you have as +it does on the seed. + +In the fall select your best tomatoes and save the seed. Then about the +first of April sow your seed. + +You can sow them in a box behind the stove, and as soon as they are up +give them all the sunlight you can. When they are about two inches high, +have some four-inch flower pots and transplant, giving them a good +thorough wetting before removing them from the seed box to the flower +pots. + +By this time it will be warm enough to have a cold frame, which may be +prepared by nailing four boards together any size desired. One three by +six feet will hold about 150 plants. Shelter it well from the north and +slope it a little to the south with enough dirt in the frame to hold +your pots. + +You can cover them with storm windows or cloth tacked onto frames. Keep +well covered nights and give all the sunlight possible through the day. +After danger of frost is past, set them out. Sandy loam is best, which +must be well pulverized and fertilized. + +After you have removed the plant from the pot and set it in the ground, +place the pot about two inches from the plant, also about two inches +deep in the ground. Then throw a small handful of dirt in each pot and +fill with water as often as necessary. + +This is the best way of watering that I know. + +Mr. Sauter: What kind do you think is the best for an early variety? + +Mr. Purdham: Well, the Earliana is extensively raised and the Dwarf +Champion. + +Mr. Sauter: What do you think of the Red Pear? + +Mr. Purdham: I don't know anything about that, but for a late variety of +tomato the Ponderosa is quite a tomato; it is a very large tomato. + +Mr. Sauter: How about the Globe? + +Mr. Purdham: That is a good tomato. + +Mr. Sauter: What do you know of the paper cartons instead of flower +pots? + +Mr. Purdham: I have never tried the cartons; I should think they would +be all right. + +Mr. Miller: In saving your seed from year to year, is there any danger +of the seed running out in time? + +Mr. Purdham: I don't think so. If you take your best tomatoes I think +you will improve them. + +Mr. Miller: I should think the germination of that seed would run out? + +Mr. Purdham: That may be, I can't say as to that. There are people that +make a specialty of studying that. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Vice-President, First Congressional District. + +F. I. HARRIS, LA CRESCENT, MINN. + + +In making a report for the First Congressional District, I will say at +the beginning, that all my observations and interviews were taken in +Houston and Winona counties, an especially favored locality this year, +and I am well aware that the conditions and results are exceptional and +do not form a just estimate for the district and are certainly very much +above the average. The apple crop in the section named was a record +breaker, and where trees were at all cared for and properly sprayed the +quality and size of the fruit was very superior and remarkably free from +insect pests and disease. + +[Illustration: Bridge on Lakeside Drive, at Albert Lea, in First +Congressional District.] + +The yield of several orchards in this vicinity was from 1,000 to 15,000 +barrels of marketable fruit, an increase of nearly 100 per cent above +the largest previous crop. From this station twenty-one carload lots of +apples, averaging 200 barrels per car, were shipped, besides nearly as +many more sold in the local markets of La Crosse and Winona and shipped +in small lots by freight and express. The prices obtained were in all +cases good, considering that the varieties grown are mostly summer and +fall and had to be sold in competition with Iowa and Illinois fruit. +While all markets were over-supplied, the demand for the quality of +fruit grown here in the commercial orchards was greatly in excess of +the supply and attracted buyers from Chicago and the Twin Cities and has +built a permanent market so long as the quality keeps up to this year's +standard. + +At the same time, I am more than ever impressed with the necessity for +some manner of utilizing the surplus and low grade fruit with which the +local markets are flooded. It seems a great waste to have thousands of +bushels of apples fed to hogs and left to rot on the ground which would +be a large asset if converted into vinegar or canned. More than one-half +the fruit brought from farms is only fit for such use and by being +forced on the market serves to lower prices and demand for good fruit. I +visited one farm orchard within twenty miles of here and saw at a low +estimate 400 bushels of apples lying on the ground, all of which could +have been utilized in a factory, but not having been sprayed were not +fit for barreling, and the owner had turned the hogs in to get rid of +them. This is a condition that is sure to become worse in view of the +many small orchards recently set, besides the commercial orchards that +are just coming into bearing. From the reports received, in reply to +circulars sent out, I gather that the crop varied from nothing to 100 +per cent and the quality in corresponding ratio, depending in most cases +upon whether orchards were properly sprayed or neglected. + +Scab and other diseases caused a large proportion of the fruit set to +drop, and the remainder was unsalable in unsprayed orchards. +Considerable blight is reported in a number of orchards, especially +where cultivated. Trees growing in sod were noticeably free from it. +Practically nothing is being done to prevent its spreading. While +cutting out the affected wood may in some cases check it, I am satisfied +a better remedy will have to be found before it is wiped out. In my own +orchard just a few trees located on low land and under cultivation were +affected, and not a single case in sod. + +There is from all reports an abundance of moisture in the ground, and +trees are in good condition to stand a hard winter, except that in some +cases the buds started during the warm days of November. + +The crop of strawberries was generally a very light one on account of +blossoms being injured by late frosts and winter killing, but a few +correspondents report a full crop. + +Other small fruits, including currants, raspberries and blackberries, +were a practical failure and light crop. + +The crop of grapes was very light and in only a few favored localities +ripened before killing frosts. Plums, except in a few instances, were a +failure, the exceptions being in case of the Hansen hybrids. + +[Illustration: Residence of S.H. Drum, Owatonna, in First Congressional +District--a veteran member of the society] + +While more varieties of apples are successfully grown in this vicinity +than elsewhere in the state, and some correspondents recommend a long +list, my experience and advice is to set only a few varieties of known +commercial value, and while far too many early apples are being grown, +this condition is better than planting winter apples of unknown +hardiness and quality. The Northwestern Greening is the most profitable +winter apple here, but I understand it is not hardy in some localities +in the state. + + * * * * * + +ALASKAN BERRY HYBRIDS.--At the Sitka Experiment Station in +Alaska a strain of hardy strawberries is in the making, the result of +crosses between the native of the Alaskan coast region and cultivated +varieties. Several thousand seedlings have been grown, all very vigorous +and most of them productive and of high quality. The native variety of +the interior of Alaska is now to be used in similar crosses. + +The Cuthbert raspberry has been crossed with its relatives, the native +Salmonberry (_Rubus spectabilis_ Pursh.) and the Thimbleberry (_R. +parviflorus_ Nutt.). The only interesting fact so far developed is that +the hybrids of the two species first named are almost entirely sterile. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Vice-President, Seventh Congressional District. + +P. H. PETERSON, ATWATER, MINN. + + +From the answers received on blanks sent out I find there was a fair +crop of apples raised throughout this district, with the trees in good +condition for winter. Wood is well ripened up, leaves all shed and +plenty of moisture in the soil. + +[Illustration: A productive strawberry field at P. H. Peterson's Atwater +fruit farm.] + +All report none or very little blight this year. Spraying is not done +generally, but those few who do it are getting results. In our own +orchard, which was sprayed twice last spring, we have not found one +wormy apple. + +Plums, none or a very few. Mr. Bjornberg, of Willmar, reports the +Surprise plum a full crop, others a total failure. Compass cherry bore a +fair crop, but with me it rotted badly, as also did Prof. Hansen's +plums, Sapa and Opata. + +Grapes: Not many are grown except the Beta, which bore a heavy crop in +spite of the late spring frosts. + +Blackberries: Nothing doing. + +Raspberries and strawberries were a light crop. Strawberries especially +were badly damaged by late spring frosts--with me they were nearly a +total failure except the everbearing, which gave us a good crop. And I +want to add that they are here to stay for home use, and possibly as a +market berry. Plants are fully as hardy as the June-bearing sorts. No +matter how many times the blossoms are frozen off in the spring they +will come right out again and give us berries until it freezes up in +the fall. + +Currants and gooseberries were a fair crop. + +From the reports I gather that less nursery stock has been planted here +than usual, but with good results, as the season has been favorable for +plantings. + +The fruit list recommended by the State Horticultural Society can be +relied on in this locality. + +There is a good deal of interest shown here in top-working the better +quality winter apples onto hardy trees with good results, and the +Hibernal seems to be the best stock to use--it certainly ought not to be +planted for any other purpose. The apple is a drug on the market, and +those who planted largely of this variety find it difficult to dispose +of the crop at any price. + + * * * * * + +STUDYING FRUITS IN ILLINOIS.--Many seedling apples are being +grown at the Illinois Experiment Station. Reciprocal hybridizations +between standard orchard varieties and various species of the genus +Malus have been made, fifty-seven species and varieties which are not of +commercial importance having been obtained from the Arnold Arboretum at +Boston. Direct improvement through these violent crosses is not +anticipated, but it is hoped to acquire valuable information regarding +the affinities of the various species used, and also to produce material +for use in back crossing. Reciprocal crosses between standard orchard +varieties are also being made in large numbers, while a difficult piece +of work has been attempted in the reciprocal crossing of different +strains of the same variety, and different individuals of the same +strain. C.S. Crandall writes: "This project has aimed at the selfing of +particular individuals, and the use on trees here of pollen from trees +of the same variety in orchards 100 miles away and grown under quite +different conditions. Considerable effort has been expended in the +prosecution of this project, but up to the present time we have recorded +no successful pollinations. We have not as yet a very wide range of +varieties, but as far as we have gone we have encountered complete +sterility in the selfing within the individuals and in the attempt to +use pollen of the same variety brought from a distance. The unfortunate +feature about all the hybridizing work with apples is the mongrel +character of the plants on which we work. We know nothing of the +parentage of any of our varieties, and it seems quite useless to +speculate on what the segregation of characters may be in crosses +between different varieties. A further discouraging feature in apple +breeding is the long period required to get results from any particular +cross. Effort is being made to shorten this period by grafting scions of +hybrid seedlings on dwarf stocks and growing the plants in pots. This +will help some, but at best the attainment of results is some distance +in the future. We are endeavoring to maintain a reasonably complete +record of every step that is taken so that a complete history may be +available for those who may later continue the work. + +"In pursuing the projects as outlined above there are a number of minor +problems that are receiving some attention: such as the retention of the +vitality of pollen, the period of receptivity, the seed production in +hybrid fruits, and the time for and percentage of the germination of +seeds. On all of these points we are accumulating considerable +information that it is hoped may be of some practical value."--Journal +of Heredity. + + + + +Spraying the Orchard. + +HON. H. M. DUNLAP, SAVOY, ILLS. + + +I don't know whether I am out of place with this topic of mine or not +with a Minnesota audience, but I came through the exhibit rooms as I +came up to the hall, and whether you spray or not you certainly need to, +for I saw all sorts of fungous diseases upon your fruit. I presume that +these are not the poorest specimens you have--very few people, you know, +bring the poorest specimens they have to an exhibition place, Mr. +President, and I presume that if these are the best you have the poorest +must be pretty bad in the way of fungous diseases. + +Of course, people don't like to have their faults told them, but if we +have anything the matter with us it is best for us to find out what the +matter is and then get rid of it. It is better than to do as many did in +the commercial fruit-growing states a number of years ago about the San +Jose scale, those that were interested in having that fact suppressed, +or at least thought they were interested in having the fact suppressed +that they had San Jose scale within the confines of their state. They +didn't want that information to get out, so they didn't discuss the +matter of San Jose scale in their societies. + +In Illinois we took a different view of that proposition, and it was, +that we had the San Jose scale and we thought the thing to do was to +stamp it out, to get after it. So we agitated that subject in our +society and talked about it. We had the state entomologist canvass the +entire state to find out where the San Jose scale was doing its work and +gave him authority to go in and spray those places or cut down the trees +and get them out of the way. The effect of that work is very evident. + +The people of other states would point to us saying that they did not +have the scale but that we had because we reported the fact, but I know +they now have it a great deal worse than we do because of this neglect. + +In this matter of spraying and spraying materials, if we go back in +history--we have to look for truth wherever we find it, whether it comes +from low or high sources. As a matter of fact thieves and sheep ticks +and ignorance are largely responsible for our spraying and the spraying +materials of today. It doesn't sound very well in a scientific body to +talk that way, but truth is truth wherever you find it, whether it comes +from the university professor or from the farmer. If we recognize truth, +from whatever source it comes, then we are open-minded and can take +advantage of things that will be greatly to our benefit. + +In the matter of spraying materials: They were discovered through +accident, in an effort to prevent thieving in the vineyards of Bordeaux, +France. It seems that workmen on the way to their places of employment +were in the habit of foraging on the vineyards of the farmers along the +way. To prevent that some of the fruit growers conceived the idea it +would be a good thing in order to scare them to get blue vitriol and mix +it with water and spray it on the fruit along the roadside. Later in the +season, very much to their surprise, they found that the grapes that +were treated in that way were not affected with the brown rot. So they +tried it again to see whether they were right about that being the +cause, and it wasn't long before they used it for that purpose. They +stopped the thieving, but they also discovered a scientific truth, that +the Bordeaux mixture was a fungicide and that fact has been of immense +value to the world since then. + +When the San Jose scale came into this country from the west, some man +who had used sheep dip for sheep ticks, said: "If it is a good thing +against sheep ticks, why isn't it good against this little vermin they +call the San Jose scale?" He tried it on the trees, and he found that it +was an effective remedy for the San Jose scale. So we have lime-sulphur +today as one of the spray materials in very common use. + +Among other things the scientists told us we couldn't use lime-sulphur +and arsenate of lead together, that they would have to be sprayed over +the orchard in separate sprays, that is, we would have to go over the +orchard with lime-sulphur and then again with arsenate of lead, that +when you combined the two the chemical combination was such that it +deteriorated the lime-sulphur. Some farmer who didn't know about that +scientific proposition determined to put them both on together, and he +found that it not only worked all right but that the two were really +more effective when combined than if put on separately. So you see it +was thieves, sheep ticks and ignorance that are responsible for three of +our most successful ways of spraying at the present time. + +Now, scientific men have come in and given us a great deal of +information along various lines in regard to spraying, and I don't decry +science in any sense at all. These men, while they were not +scientifically educated, discovered scientific truths, and it is truths +we want after all. + +Just what your position on this spraying proposition is here in +Minnesota, whether you have commercial orchards up here or not, I have +not been able to discover. I presume that your plantings here are very +largely that of the farmer and amateur rather than the commercial +orchardist. In Illinois we have our large commercial orchards, and we +have gotten beyond the question of whether it pays us to spray or not. +For a man to be in the commercial apple business in Illinois and not +spray means that he doesn't accomplish very much and his product doesn't +bring him any profit. + +Now, whether you spray commercially or whether you spray for your family +orchard in an amateur way, it doesn't matter so far as the spraying is +concerned--you should spray in either case. If you have a community +where you have few orchards and they are small, it behooves you to get +together and buy a spraying outfit, combine with your neighbors and buy +a good spraying outfit, and then have some man take that matter up who +will do it thoroughly in that neighborhood and pay him for doing it. In +that way, if you hire it done, it doesn't interfere with your farming +operations and gets your spraying done on time. I have noticed this with +stockmen and with grain farmers, men who are not directly interested in +fruit but combine it with their regular business, that they consider +fruit growing a side line and such a small part of their business that +they usually neglect it altogether. In the matter of the spraying they +keep putting it off until tomorrow. When the time arrives for spraying +you must do it _today_ and not put it off until tomorrow. + +Time is a very essential element in spraying. To give you an +illustration: A few years ago, in spraying a Willow Twig orchard, +consisting of eighteen rows of trees, I sprayed nine rows of those +trees, or about half of the orchard, we will say, the first part of the +week, the first two days. And then there came on a two or three days' +rain, and the balance of those eighteen rows was sprayed the very last +of the week or the first of the following week. The two following +sprayings went on just at the right time for them, but when it came to +the harvesting of that crop the trees that were sprayed first, that were +sprayed immediately after the bloom fell, produced 175 bushels of very +fine No. 1 fruit, free from scab, while the other nine rows, equal in +every respect so far as the trees are concerned and the amount of bloom +there was, produced seventeen bushels of No. 2 fruit, no No. 1 fruit at +all. + +The Willow Twig is one of those varieties that is very susceptible to +scab, and of course this is a marked illustration of what happens if you +don't spray at the right time. Notwithstanding the fact that the nine +rows, the last ones, I speak of, were sprayed with the two following +sprays at the same time that the other part of the orchard was sprayed, +the results were entirely different because the first spraying, which +was really the important one so far as the scab is concerned, was not +put upon the tree at the right time. + +The scab fungus, which seems to appear on your apples out here, is one +of the most insidious diseases we have in the whole fruit industry. I +think that scab fungous disease is probably the one that affects you the +most. Now, scab fungus will not be noticed particularly in the spring of +the year. The time that those spores are most prevalent, the period of +their movement as spores in the atmosphere and the lodging upon the +fruit, is right at the beginning, right about the time of the blossoming +or immediately following. For a period of about two weeks at blooming +time and after is the time that you have that condition. + +And the trouble is--it is just like typhoid fever. You let typhoid fever +get into a family, and they do not think anything of it except to take +care of the patient properly if he has it, but it doesn't scare the +neighbors, it does not interest them. But let the smallpox break out in +a community, and everybody is interested and scared to death for fear +they are going to get the smallpox. + +Well now, as compared with things of a fungous nature, the scab is a +good deal like typhoid fever. The latter is insidious and it will +destroy more--I take it there are more people die in the United States +of typhoid fever every year than die of smallpox, ten to one. I haven't +the statistics but I have that in mind, that it is a fact that they do, +and yet there isn't half the fuss made about typhoid fever that there is +about smallpox. + +Now, that is so about the scab fungous disease. In Illinois, to +illustrate, we have what is called the bitter rot fungus in the southern +part of the state. If any one has the bitter rot they are scared to +death, they think they are suffering untold misfortune. The bitter rot +attacks the apples when nearly grown. The ground is covered with the +rotted apples, and you can see them in the trees, but this little bit of +scab fungus, they do not seem to notice that. + +The reason is this, that scab comes from very minute spores that appear +upon the apples in May or June, and as the summer advances they spread +more and more. It depends, of course, upon the amount of moisture there +is present, but it begins its work when the apples are very small. If it +gets upon the stem of the apple it works around the stem and the apple +drops off, and you have apples dropping from the time they are the size +of peas until the very last of the fall, and while it looks in the month +of June as if you are going to have a good crop of apples when it comes +harvest time your crop has diminished greatly or to nothing, and you +wonder where it has gone. With this scab fungus they just keep dropping, +dropping, all through the season; whenever you have a little rain or +wind these apples that are affected will drop off. You don't notice them +very much because they go so gradually, one at a time or so, and you +don't notice you are having any particular loss until it comes fall, and +you find that your crop is very small. + +That is why I say, you should wake up to the fact that it is necessary +for you to spray if you are going to have perfect fruit and plenty of +it--and I doubt not you could increase the amount of fruit you have in +the State of Minnesota by ten times in one year by simply spraying your +orchards thoroughly at the proper time with fungicide. + +To do this, as I said, you must have a spraying outfit, individually or +collectively, in your neighborhood, and if you get one individually you +can take the contract to spray your neighbor's trees, if you wish, and +get back enough to pay you for the outlay. If you have only a few trees +and you have some one who understands it, you could just as well spray a +few other orchards in the neighborhood and get your spraying done for +nothing in that way, charging them enough to cover the cost and enough +for some profit. That is done in some sections and is a very +satisfactory way. + +The only way, however, that I would do this, if I were you, would be to +enter into a joint arrangement of not less than five years, because if +you do it from year to year, if a man has good fruit one year, he may +say, "I guess I don't want to go to that expense this year; I will drop +that." You know how it is. If you make a contract for five years then +you can make your plans accordingly and get your material and your +spraying outfit and everything. I wouldn't trust to a one-year plan +because they get "cold feet," as the saying is, after the first year, +and perhaps they have not noticed any great advantage and they back +out, but if they keep it up five years they wouldn't be without it. + +In a small way it isn't necessary to have a high power, high pressure +engine to do this spraying with. A _good_ hand pump, as they make them +now, has a very efficient force in applying this spray. It is not the +force with which the spray material is applied that makes it effective, +so much as it is the thoroughness with which it is done. You have to do +a thorough job. In spraying you are providing insurance for your apple +crop. That is just what it means, and not to spray is like doing without +fire insurance on your buildings. You do that, not because you want +fire, but you are doing it for protection, you are going to be on the +safe side. You are doing like the darkey woman when she was about to be +married. She had been working as cook, and the day came for her to be +married. That morning she brought a roll of bills down to the boss. She +said: "Mr. Johnson, I wish you would keep this money for me. I's gwine +to be married." He said: "Is that so? But why do you come to me with +this? I should think having a husband you would have him take care of it +for you." She said: "Lord a' massy. Do you think I was gwine to have +that money around the house wid dat strange nigger there? No, sir." +(Laughter.) + +That lady was taking the precaution of being on the safe side, and that +is what we do when we spray our orchards, we are going to be safe. + +There are a great many kinds of spraying materials. There is the +bordeaux, one of our best fungicides, but we find in Illinois that it +also, while it is a good fungicide, has the effect sometimes of burning +the fruit if the weather conditions are just right. If you have pretty +fair weather conditions up here and don't have too much rain, you +probably would not get your fruit affected too much, and if you are not +growing it for market it doesn't matter so much because all it does is +to russet the fruit. It doesn't do any particular harm except when the +scab fungus is especially bad, for then it does injure the foliage more +or less. On the whole, in Illinois, we are using the lime-sulphur in +preference to the bordeaux, and our commercial orchard growers there +have completely abandoned the bordeaux except for bitter rot fungus or +blotch fungus, which comes late in the season. The spray just before the +bloom is a very important one for the scab fungus. After you can see the +pink of the bloom on the trees as they begin to look pink, before the +blossoms open, put on your lime-sulphur, or you can use bordeaux mixture +at that time if you prefer it, without injury to your fruit. + +(To be continued in April No.) + + + + +Everbearing Strawberries. + +GEO. J. KELLOGG, JANESVILLE, WIS. + + +A few words about this new breed. Progressive, Superb and Americus are +the best three I have found in the last ten years--don't confound +American with Americus. Pan-American was the mother of the whole tribe. +This variety was found in a field of Bismark, by S. Cooper, New York, +and exhibited all through the Buffalo World's Fair. There is where my +first acquaintance with it was formed. From this one plant and its +seedlings all the ten thousand everbearers have been grown. But +Pan-American don't make many plants. There are a great many good kinds +in the ten thousand, and a great many of them worthless. So look out +when and where you buy. I have great hopes of your No. 1017, but kinds +do not adapt themselves to all soils or climates. + +I have not found any success with the everbearers south of the Ohio. I +have tried them three years in Texas. I sent plants to Bro. Loring, in +California, and they failed to produce satisfactorily. Missouri grows +almost all Aroma; California but two kinds commercially; Texas only +Excelsior and Klondike for shipment. I hope our No. 3 Minnesota +June-bearing and our No. 1017 Everbearing, will have as great a range as +Dunlap. + +Friend Gardener, of Iowa, has a lot of "thousand dollar kinds." I hope +some of them will do wonders. He sold 5,000 quarts of fruit after August +15. A firm at Three Rivers, Mich., this season advertised 30,000 cases +in September, but perhaps it was only 3,000; I have known printers to +make mistakes. My boy's beds of Superb, Progressive and Americus were +loaded with ripe and green fruit and blossoms October 1st this year. +Most, if not all, know the fruit must be kept off the everbearers the +season of planting till the plants get established, usually two or three +months, then let them bear. If you want all fruit, keep off the runners; +if all plants, keep off the fruit. Beds kept over that have exhausted +themselves will need rest till July to give big crops. Beds kept over +will fruit a week earlier than the June varieties, rest a few weeks, +then give a fall crop, but don't expect too much unless you feed them. + +There are ten thousand kinds of new everbearers, so don't buy any that +have not been tried and proven worthy. There are thousands that are +worthless. Friend Haralson only got No. 1017 out of 1,500 sorts. He has +now 3,000 new kinds, set out four feet apart each way, he is testing. +From what many growers are doing this breed will pay commercially, but +it will be by experts. I have not time to advocate cultivation in hills +or hedge rows; if you want big berries this is the way to get them. Be +sure your straw mulch and manure mulch are free from noxious weed or +clover and grass seeds. Everbearers need the same winter care as June +varieties and a good deal more manure. Don't cover with asparagus tops +unless free of seed. Put manure either fresh or rotted on the old bed +with a manure spreader or evenly by hand. There is a possibility of +manuring too heavily. + +[Illustration: A typical everbearing strawberry plant as it appears in +September.] + +Mr. Durand: What is the best spray for leaf-spot and rust in +strawberries? + +Mr. Kellogg: Cut it out and burn it, but then there are some sprays with +bordeaux mixture that will help you, but you have got to put it on +before the rust shows itself. + +Mr. Miller: I would like to ask Mr. Kellogg if he advises covering the +strawberries in the winter after snow has fallen and with what success? + +Mr. Kellogg: If the snow isn't too heavy you can do it just as well +after the snow comes as before, but if your snow comes early and is a +foot deep you have got to wait until the January thaw before you can +successfully mulch them. That snow will protect them until it thaws off, +until the ground commences to freeze. If the snow comes early and stays +late it is all the mulch you need. + +Mr. Franklin: Are oak leaves as they blow off from the trees on the +strawberry beds, are they just as good to protect them as straw would +be--when there are lots of oak leaves? + +Mr. Kellogg: If you don't put them on too thick. You don't want more +than two inches of leaves. If you do they will mat down and smother your +plants. + +Mr. Ludlow: Have you had any experience with using cornstalks that have +been fed off, just the stalk without the leaves. Is that sufficient for +a winter protection without the straw or leaves? I put on mine just to +cover them. They are four inches apart one way and then across it the +other way so as to hold it up and not get them smothered. + +Mr. Kellogg: That is all right. I have covered with cornstalks. + +Mr. Ludlow: Would it be policy to leave that on and let the strawberries +come up through, to keep them clean? + +Mr. Kellogg: If you get the stalks on one way and haven't them covered +too thick the other way, leave them on; the strawberries will come +through. + +Mr. Gowdy: I would like to ask Mr. Kellogg what he thinks of planting +different varieties together. + +Mr. Kellogg: It is a good plan. I spoke of Dunlap and Warfield. The +Warfield is a pistillate. If you plant all Warfields you get no fruit. +If you plant all Dunlap it will bear well but it will do better +alongside of a pistillate, or it will do better alongside of some other +perfect. It will do better to plant two or four kinds. They used to ask +me what kinds of strawberries I wanted, and what was the best one kind. +I told them I wanted six or eight in order to get the best kind. I want +an early, and a medium, and a late, two of a kind. + +Mr. Gowdy: I planted one year three varieties with great success. + +Mr. McClelland: What time do you uncover your strawberries? + +Mr. Kellogg: I don't uncover them at all. If you got on four inches of +mulch you want to take off enough so the plants can get through, but +keep on enough mulch in the spring to keep your plants clean and protect +from the drouth. + +Mr. McClelland: Will they come through the mulch all right? + +M. Kellogg: They will come through all right if it isn't more than two +inches. If they shove up and raise the mulch open it up a little over +the plants. + +Mr. Willard: I would like to ask the speaker, the way I understood him, +why he couldn't raise as good strawberries on new ground as on old +ground? + +Mr. Kellogg: The soil seems to be too loose. Now, that twenty-one acres +I had, it was full of leaf-mold. It was six inches deep and had been +accumulating for ages. I couldn't account for it only that it was too +loose, and I had to work it down with other crops before I could grow +strawberries. + +Mr. Willard: So it would be better to plant on old ground or old +breaking than new? + +Mr. Kellogg: Yes, old ground that has been well manured, or old ground +that has never been manured, will grow better strawberries than new +soil, as far as I have tried it. New clover soil is a good soil. + +Mr. Wedge: It might add to the value of this discussion to state that +Mr. Kellogg's soil at Janesville is rather light soil anyhow. I am under +the impression that if his soil at Janesville which produced so poorly +on new soil had been a heavy clay soil that the result would have been +different. + +Mr. Kellogg: That twenty-one acres was clay after you got down to it and +was in the woods; my other fields were out on the prairie. I don't think +the light soil had anything to do with it, with my failure in the woods, +I think it was the new soil. + +Mr. Sauter: Can the everbearing and the common varieties be planted +together? + +Mr. Kellogg: Yes, if you are growing plants you want everything. + +Mr. Sauter: How far apart must they be planted? + +Mr. Kellogg: So their runners won't run together, and they won't mix. If +the runners mix maybe you would get some crosses that are valuable. + +Mr. Clausen: I was just thinking it might interfere, that some one might +not plant strawberries at all on account of new soil. I would say I have +a neighbor, and he had entirely new soil. It was black oak and +hickory--I have some of that myself. I never saw a better patch of +strawberries than he had. I don't think I ever saw a better strawberry +patch than he had of the everbearing kind, so I don't think it is just +exactly the old soil. + +Mr. Willis: I have my strawberries on new ground, and they did very +fine, couldn't be better. From a space of five feet square I got +twenty-eight boxes, that is, of No. 3. + +Mr. Wedge: Forest soil or prairie? + +Mr. Willis: It was light clay. I have got about an acre and a half on +new soil now, and they look very fine. + +Mr. Glenzke: What would be the consequence of the berries being planted +after tomatoes had been planted there the year before? What would be the +consequence as to the white grub that follows the tomatoes, and other +insects? + +Mr. Kellogg: That white grub don't follow tomatoes, if the ground was +clear of white grubs before. It is a three year old grub, and it don't +come excepting where the ground is a marsh or meadow, and doesn't +follow in garden soil, hardly ever. If the ground has been cultivated +two years, you don't have any white grub. + +Mr. Glenzke: Part of this ground had been in red raspberries, and I +found them there. This year I am going to put in tomatoes and prepare it +for strawberries. Will that be all right? + +Mr. Kellogg: You may get some white grubs after the raspberry bushes if +your raspberries have been two or three years growing. Potato ground is +the best you can follow strawberries with. + +Mr. Rasmussen (Wisconsin): What trouble have you experienced with +overhead irrigation with the strawberries in the bright sunshine? + +Mr. Kellogg: Everything is against it. You wet the foliage, and it is a +damage to the plants. You can't sprinkle in the hot sun without damage. + +Mr. Rasmussen: I didn't mean in putting it on in that way, but where you +use the regular spray system. We watered that way about seven years in +the hottest sunshine without any difficulty, and I wondered if you ever +put in a system and sprayed that way, as I think that is the only way to +put water on. + +Mr. Kellogg: If you wait to spray after sundown it will be all right; +the sun mustn't shine on the plants. + +Mr. Richardson: Mr. Yankee once said in this society if one man said +anything another man would contradict it. So pay your money and take +your choice. I sprinkle my strawberries in the hot sun, and I never had +any damage done to the plants. His experience is different. Ours is a +heavy clay loam. + +Mr. Kellogg: Tell the gentlemen about the peat soil, you had some +experience with peat soil. + +Mr. Richardson: No, I never did. It wasn't peat, it was a heavy black +clay and I had the best kind of strawberries, they came right through a +tremendous drouth without any water at all. + +Mr. Kellogg: What did you use? + +Mr. Richardson: I used a common garden hoe. + +Mr. Willis: I heard some one talking about the grub worm. I read of +somebody using fifty pounds of lime to the acre, slaked lime, and 100 +pounds of sulphur to the acre in a strawberry bed, and he killed the +insects. + +Mr. Kellogg: I think that wouldn't kill the grub; he has a stomach that +will stand most anything. The only thing I know is to cut his head off. +(Laughter.) + +Mr. Willis: Would it improve the plants, fertilize the plants, this +lime? + +Mr. Kellogg: Lime and sulphur is all right, and the more lime you put on +the better--if you don't get too much. (Laughter.) + +Mr. Sauter: I am growing the Minnesota No. 3, and also the No. 1017 as +an everbearer. Is there any kind better than those two? + +Mr. Kellogg: I don't believe there is anything yet that has been offered +or brought out that I have examined thoroughly that is any better than +June variety No. 3, as grown by Haralson, and the No. 1017 of the +everbearers. He had a number of everbearers that bore too much. There +was No. 107 and No. 108, I think, that I tried at Lake Mills, which bore +themselves to death in spite of everything I could do. + +Mr. Simmons: The question has come up two or three times in regard to +peat soil for growing strawberries. Peat soil will grow strawberry +plants first class, but the fruit is generally lacking. That is my +experience. I grew some on peat soil for two or three seasons, and the +plants grew prolific, but I didn't get any fruit. + +Mr. Ebler: I would like to ask Mr. Kellogg what treatment he would +advise for a strawberry bed that through neglect has matted completely +over, in which the rows have disappeared. + +Mr. Kellogg: Plow out paths and rake out the plants and throw them away +and work the bed over to rows about two feet wide. + +President Cashman: I see you all appreciate expert advice. We have Mr. +Kellogg well nigh tired. + +Mr. Kellogg: Oh, no; I can stand it all day. + +Mr. Cashman: I am sure you all agree that it is a great privilege to +listen to Mr. Kellogg on this subject. If you will follow his advice +very closely it will save you a great many dollars, even to those who +don't grow more than an ordinary family strawberry bed. He has had forty +or fifty years of experience, and he has paid large sums of money for +that experience and now turns it over to you free of charge, and I hope +you will all profit by it. + +Mr. Kellogg: I have grown probably 300 different varieties of +strawberries, and the more kinds I grow the less money I make. +(Laughter.) + +Mr. Wedge: I would like to ask Mr. Kellogg and I think we would all be +interested in knowing when he began growing strawberries? + +Mr. Kellogg: Well, I don't hardly know. I didn't go into the business +until 1852, but I commenced picking strawberries in 1835, and that was +where the Indians had planted them. My father commenced growing +strawberries when I was a boy, but when I got to be a man I went at it +myself in 1852. (Applause.) + + + + +_IN MEMORIAM--Mrs. Melissa J. Harris_ + +Passed January 29, 1916. + + +Mrs. Melissa J. Harris, widow of the late John S. Harris, one of the +charter members of our society and rightly called the godfather of the +society, passed to her reward on January 29 last, at the age of +eighty-five years. Since the death of her husband, which occurred in +March, 1901, Mrs. Harris has made her home with some one of her four +surviving children, all of whom live in the southeastern part of the +state, not far from La Crescent, where Mr. and Mrs. Harris resided from +1856 up to the time of Mr. Harris' death, some forty-five years. + +[Illustration: Mrs. Melissa J. Harris.] + +Many of the older members of this society have enjoyed the hospitality +of this kindly home, among them the writer, who passed a very pleasant +day there, looking over the experimental orchards of Mr. Harris, some +twenty years ago. No member of our society surpassed Mr. Harris in his +zeal for its welfare, and he was ready to sacrifice anything apparently +to advance its interests. If the card index of the reports of this +society was examined it would be found that no member has begun to do +the service for the society in the way of contributions to its program, +reports on seedling fruits, experimental work, etc., that was done by +him. His passing left a real void in the life of the association which +has never really been filled. A splendid life size photo of Mr. Harris +adorns the walls of this office; a reproduction from this in reduced +size is opposite page 161, Vol. 1901 of our annual reports. + +The funeral services of Mrs. Harris were conducted in the Presbyterian +church at La Crescent, the same building in which services were held +for her husband, at which there were present from our society as +representatives Mr. J.M. Underwood, the late Wyman Elliot, and the +writer. Her body was laid to rest beside that of her husband in Prospect +Hill Cemetery at La Crescent. + +Mrs. Harris is survived by four children, ten grandchildren, and nine +great-grandchildren. Frank I. Harris, one of the two sons, is well known +to our membership who attend the annual meetings or the state fair; +another son, Eugene E., who is also a life member (Mr. Harris saw to it +that both of his sons were made life members during his life time) has +occasionally been with us. Mr. D.C. Webster, of La Crescent, at present +in charge of one of the society trial stations, is a grandson of Mrs. +Harris. Exhibitors at our meetings and at the state fair are all well +acquainted with this valuable member of our organization.--Secy. + + + + +EAT MINNESOTA APPLES. + +Contributed monthly by R. S. MACKINTOSH, Horticulturist, +Extension Division, University Farm, St. Paul. + +FRUIT NOTES. + + +Early spring is the best time to prune apple trees. More and more +attention is being given to the pruning of young and old trees in order +that they may be able to support large loads of fruit. Yet too many +trees have been neglected and now look like brush heaps instead of fruit +trees. + +Neglected trees should have all dead and interlocking branches removed +this year. Next year a few more needless branches should be taken out +and some of the others shortened. After this a little attention each +year will keep the tree in good form. + +Each year the Agricultural Extension Division of the University of +Minnesota arranges for pruning and spraying demonstrations in different +orchards of the state. Communities wishing this kind of help, should at +once send in petitions signed by fifteen or more persons interested in +fruit growing. Send applications to Director, Agricultural Extension +Division, University Farm, St. Paul. + +Pruning is a good subject for farmers' clubs to take up in March and +April. + +Look out for rabbit injury this spring. Apple trees cost too much + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. +Minneapolis. + + +_Cypripedia_, by Miss Clara Leavitt. + +The showy lady's slipper (C. hirsutum) is found in swamps and rich +meadows. Old settlers tell of gathering the pink and white "moccasin +flower" by the bushel, to decorate for some special occasion. Today we +are trying to shield a few in their last hiding places. The draining of +swamps and cutting of meadows has had much to do with their +disappearance. The picking of the leafy stem by the ruthless "flower +lover" cripples the plant for a season or more and frequently kills it +outright. Attempts to transfer it to the home garden have succeeded for +a year or so but rarely longer, perhaps because its native habitat is +very difficult to duplicate. + +The small yellow lady's slipper (C. parviflorum), found in bogs, and the +large yellow (C. parviflorum var. pubescens), growing on hillsides and +in rich woods, as well as in swamps, are the most widely distributed and +best known of this genus. They have often been transferred from the wild +to the home garden. Where they have been given their native soil and +environment the stock has increased and seedlings have developed. They +have even been brought into conservatory or window garden and forced to +flower in February. + +The crimson stemless lady's slipper (C. acaule) is found in drier woods +and on the stump knolls of swamps in certain locations. It has with +difficulty been established in a few gardens. + +The small white lady's slipper (C. candidum) occurs locally in boggy +meadows. It is a very dainty plant. It grows in at least one wild +garden. + +The ram's head lady slipper (C. arietinum) is very rare and local. It is +a very delicate and pretty thing, purple and white in color. + +All of these species are to be seen in season in the Wild Garden of the +Minneapolis Park System. + + * * * * * + +Committee on the protection of Cypripedia: Mrs. Phelps Wyman, chairman; +Miss Clara Leavitt, Miss M. G. Fanning, Mrs. C. E. C. Hall, Mrs. E. C. +Chatfield, Mr. Guy Hawkins. + + * * * * * + +Our plant exchange should be of great benefit to our members, such a +fine beginning having been made last spring. Send a list of the plants +you have for exchange and those you would like to receive to our +secretary. These will be posted upon the bulletin board at our meetings, +where exchanges can be arranged between the members. + + * * * * * + +March 23. Public Library, Minneapolis, 2:30 p.m. Meeting of Garden +Flower Society. Program: + +Our Garden Enemies. +Cultural Directions for Trial Seeds. +Distribution of Trial Seeds. +Minnesota Cypripedia. Have they responded to Cultivation? + + + + +BEE-KEEPER'S COLUMN + +Conducted by FRANCES JAGER, Professor of Apiculture, University +Farm, St. Paul. + +IMPORTANCE OF GOOD QUEENS. + + +The government census of 1910 gives the average of honey production per +colony for the State of Minnesota at five pounds per colony. Allowing +for mistakes which were made in making up this census, there is no doubt +that the average amount of honey produced by a colony is not nearly as +high as efficient beekeeping would make it. When some well known +beekeepers will average year after year fifty, seventy and even a +hundred pounds per colony, there must be something wrong with those who +fall far below this amount. + +There are many causes responsible for this failure of honey crops. Bad +management, no management at all, antiquated or impossible equipment, +locality, etc., are all factors contributing towards a shortage in the +honey crop, but poor queens are the most universal cause of +disappointment. The queen being the mother of the whole colony of bees, +the hive will be what she is. If she is of a pure, industrious, gentle, +hardy and prolific strain, the colony over which she presides will be +uniform, hard working, easy to handle, easy to brave the inclemency of +the weather and the severity of our winters, and populous in bees. The +bees partake of the characteristics of the queen. + +The fact of the matter is, that more than 90% of our Minnesota queens +are either black Germans or hybrids, neither of which lend themselves to +pleasant and profitable beekeeping. Having been inbred for years will +make them still less valuable, and most of them have been inbred for +generations. + +Among many things in which the beekeepers of Minnesota should begin to +improve their beekeeping possibilities, the necessity of good queens +comes first. With a new strain of pure, gentle, industrious, leather +colored Italian bees, their love for beekeeping should receive a new +impetus, leading them to better equipment and better management. + +It was with this point in view that the University of Minnesota has +secured the best breeding queens obtainable from which to raise several +thousands of queens for the use of beekeepers of the state. + +These queens will be sold each year during the months of June, July and +August at a nominal price of fifty cents each, and not more than three +to each beekeeper. The University is ready to book orders now. There is +such a demand for these queens that last year only one-quarter of the +orders could be filled. Given three pure Italian queens to start with, a +beekeeper may easily re-queen his whole bee-yard in the course of a +year. Detailed printed instructions how to proceed will be sent out to +all buyers of queens free of charge. + +Time has come to start bee-keeping on a more profitable basis, and the +first step towards better success should be a new strain of queens. + + + + +ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES + +By F.L. WASHBURN, Professor of Entomology, University of +Minnesota. + + +RABBITS; RABBIT-PROOF FENCES; FIELD MICE. + +Probably the thoughtful orchardist has before this date visited his +orchard and trampled the deep snow down around his young fruit trees for +a distance of two feet on all sides of each trunk, thus preventing +rabbits from reaching the trunk above the protected part, or from eating +the branches in the case of low-headed trees. Even at this date, this +should be done where the snow lies deep. Frequent tramplings about the +young trees also protects the trees from possible injury by field mice +working beneath the snow. + +This leads us to speak of our experiences with so-called "rabbit-proof" +fencing. In the summer time, when an abundance of food is everywhere +offered, these small mesh fences are generally effective barriers, but, +in the case of the low fences, drifting snow in winter permits an easy +crossing, and in the case of the higher fences which have the narrow +mesh at the bottom, gradually widening toward the top, it is possible +for a rabbit to get his head and body through a surprisingly small space +between the wires. The writer was astonished, late last autumn, previous +to any snowfall, to see one of these pests, which had jumped from its +"nest" in his (the writer's) covered strawberry-bed, run to the +inclosing fence, which was provided with the long, narrow mesh above +alluded to, raise himself on his hind feet and push his way through a +space not more than three inches wide. It would seem, therefore, that +one should accept with some reservation the assertion that these fences +are actually "rabbit-proof." + + +PREPAREDNESS FOR (INSECT) WAR. + +However one may regard the agitation for or against preparing this +country for (or against) war, we are doubtless of all one mind as to the +desirability of being prepared to successfully cope with the various +insect-pests which are sure to arrive during the coming spring and +summer to attack shrubs, fruit trees, berry bushes, melons, cucumbers +and practically all of our vegetables. The Entomologist has every reason +to be thankful that, early last spring, he laid in a supply of arsenate +of lead, Black Leaf No. 40, commercial lime-sulphur, tree tanglefoot, +tobacco dust, also providing himself with an abundance of air-slaked +lime and a spraying outfit suitable for use in a small experiment garden +and orchard at Lake Minnetonka. All gardeners, particularly those who +cannot quickly purchase such things on account of distance from a +supply, should take time by the forelock and obtain materials now, that +they may be ready at hand when very much needed. + + +AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY IN ENTOMOLOGY. + +An item of importance, and quite far-reaching in its significance is the +fact (as reported at the recent meeting of entomologists at Columbus) +that the odor in stable manure which attracts house flies, has been +"artificially" produced, if that expression may be used, by a +combination of ammonia and a little butyric acid. A pan of this, covered +by cotton, attracted hundreds of flies which deposited their eggs +thereon. The possibilities of making use of this new-found fact are most +promising, and the discovery is especially significant in that it opens +an immense and practically an untried field in entomological work; that +is, the making use of different odors to attract different species of +insects. A series of experiments in this direction with the Mediteranean +fruit fly, also recently reported, have been most surprising but too +extensive to permit of discussion here. + + * * * * * + +Nurserymen intending to import currants or gooseberries from Europe will +be interested in learning that there is a possibility of a federal +quarantine on shrubs of this genus grown abroad. + +State Entomologist Circular No. 36, issued in January, 1916, and +entitled the "Red Rose Beetle," by S. Marcovitch (illustrated), is +available for distribution. Application should be accompanied by one +cent stamp. + + + + +SECRETARY'S CORNER + + +PLANT COMMERCIAL ORCHARDS.--It is well established that in +certain localities at least in the state commercial orcharding is on a +safe basis, offering reasonable financial profits if managed by those +who take pains to inform themselves on the subject, and are then +thorough going enough to practice what they know. This spring will be a +good time to plant such an orchard. Orchard trees of suitable size were +never more plentiful in the nurseries, and undoubtedly the sorts which +you wish to plant can be readily purchased. Ask some of your nearest +nurseries for prices as to 500 trees, either two or three years old, +whichever you prefer. + +GIVE YOUR NEIGHBOR A CHANCE TOO.--This means that you should +not be satisfied simply in having secured something of value to +yourself, but pass on to others the valuable opportunity which you +yourself are enjoying. It is a well established principle of life that +the greatest happiness consists in giving happiness to others. As any +member can do his neighbor a favor, without any expense to himself, and +indeed with profit, by putting his neighbor in touch with the valuable +facilities offered by the Horticultural Society, there is evidently a +double reason why he should do so. For the small membership fee charged +you can put into his hands all the material referred to on the next +page. Read it over and lend your neighbor a helping hand. + +TIMELY NOTES IN OUR MONTHLY.--There will be in our monthly +magazine during most of the rest of the months of the year five pages +devoted to timely topics. The experience of the past year or two in this +direction encourages us to believe that this will prove to be the most +valuable portion of our monthly. One page, as heretofore, will be +operated in the interest of garden flowers, edited by Mrs. E. W. Gould; +another page, prepared by Prof. R.S. Mackintosh, under the head of +"fruit notes," which subject indicates clearly its purpose. Prof. +Francis Jager, the Apiarist at University Farm, will prepare another +page, pertaining to the keeping of bees. Prof. F.L. Washburn, the State +Entomologist, will have a page devoted to insect life as interesting the +horticulturist. The fifth page will be handled by Profs. A.G. Ruggles +and E.C. Stakman jointly devoted entirely to the subject of "spraying." +Each issue of the magazine will contain these notes as applying to the +month just following. They will be found well worth studying. + +ARE YOU A LIFE MEMBER?--Of course if you are interested in the +work of the Horticultural Society and likely to live ten years you ought +to be a life member. Experience with this roll for twenty-five years now +as secretary of the society indicates that a life membership in the +society is almost an assurance that you will prolong your days. A list +of deaths in the life membership roll published year by year would +indicate that our life members are going to be with us far beyond the +average span of human life. Since publishing a list of new life members +in the February Horticulturist, there have been added to this life list +five names: Tosten E. Dybdal, Elbow Lake, Minn.; Gust Carlson, +Excelsior; A.N. Gray, Deerwood; A.M. Christianson, Bismarck, N.D.; Chas. +H. Lien, St. Cloud. + +If you have already paid your annual fee for this year, send us $4.00 +more and your name will be placed on the life roll with the balance of +$5.00 to be paid one year from how--or send $9.00, and that makes a full +payment. + +[Illustration: HORTICULTURAL BUILDING (SHOWING NEW GREENHOUSES +ATTACHED) AT UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. ANTHONY PARK, MINN.] + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted in estimating their practical value. + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + +Vol. 44 APRIL, 1916 No. 4 + + + + +Dwarf Apple Trees. + +DR. O.M. HUESTIS, MINNEAPOLIS. + + +I have here a sample of McIntosh Red grown on a standard tree--a +beautiful apple and well colored. Here I have the same variety grown on +one of my dwarf trees, not quite as well colored. + +Now, the dwarf tree that bore these apples has been planted two years; +this is the second year of its growth in my own ground at Mound, on Lake +Minnetonka. + +I have sixty dwarf trees, five of which have been in eight years, and +they have borne six crops of apples. The last ones I got two years ago, +and they were two years old when I got them. I planted five of these +dwarf trees at the same time that I planted forty standards. The dwarfs +have borne more fruit than the standards up to date. Of course, they +have only been in eight years. The standards are Wealthy, Duchess, +Northwestern Greening and one or two Hibernal and some crabs; the dwarf +stock is the Doucin. It is not the Paradise stock, which is grown in +England largely and some in France and Germany. My trees are a little +higher than my head, and I keep them pruned in a certain way. One of my +older trees the second year had ninety-six apples on it. It was a Yellow +Transparent, and they came to maturity very well. Several of my trees +are about four feet high. I had from twenty-five to fifty apples on +them, and they all ripened nicely. The Red Astrachan and the Gravenstein +and one Alexander had a few apples on them, and I notice that they are +well loaded with fruit buds for another year, which will be the third +year planted. + +The care of these trees is probably a little more difficult than that of +the standard tree, or, at least, I give them special care. I have +attempted to bud into some of these, but in my experience they do not +take the bud very well. I can take a bud from one of the dwarfs and put +it on a standard, and it will grow all right, but I can't take a bud +from a standard and put it on a dwarf as successfully. I judge it is +because it isn't as rapid growing as the Hibernal, for instance, would +be. I notice the Hibernal is the best to take a bud because it is a +rapid growing tree and an excellent one on which to graft. + +If I wanted to plant an orchard of forty or fifty acres I would plant +standard trees and would put the dwarf between the rows, probably twelve +feet apart. Mine are about ten feet apart, some of them a little more, +but I have two rows eight feet apart each way, nine in each row, which +forms a double hedge. I expect them to grow four feet high. I will prune +them just as I wish to make a beautiful double hedge between two +cottages. + +[Illustration: Residence of Dr. Huestis, at Mound, Lake Minnetonka.] + +In pruning those that have been in eight years I have tried to use the +renewal system as we use it on grapes sometimes. I take out some of the +older branches and fruit spurs that have borne two or three years. They +must be thinned out. I counted twenty apples on a branch a foot long. I +let them grow until they are large enough to stew and then take some off +and use them, when apple sauce is appreciated. I thin them every year +and get a nice lot of good fruit each year. + +I have noticed for two years that I have about ninety-eight per cent. of +perfect apples, not a blotch nor a worm. I spray them all, first the +dormant spray and then just as the blossoms are falling, and then one +other spraying in two weeks and another spray three weeks later. + +Mr. Ludlow: Do you mulch the ground? + +Dr. Huestis: Well, I dig up the ground a little in the spring. The roots +are very near the surface, not very penetrating, and I cultivate around +the roots, but I am careful not to cut them. Every fall I put a good +mulch of leaves and hay around them. I have been a little fearful they +would winter-kill. I wouldn't lose one of them for ten dollars, and I +think it well to mulch them, leaving a little space at the base. + +Mr. Andrews: Are the roots exposed in some cases? + +Dr. Huestis: Yes, I noticed on two of the older trees, those that have +been in eight years and have borne six crops, you can see the roots on +one side, the top is exposed a little, and I think it would be well to +put a little dirt on those another year. The stock of these dwarf trees +is slow growing with a rapid growing top, and that is what dwarfs them. +I have transplanted one tree three times, which would make four +plantings in eight years, and that tree bore almost as much fruit last +year as any of them. In another case once transplanted I think the tree +is better than the others that were left. + +[Illustration: Dwarf Yellow Transparent, bearing 96 apples, third year +from planting at Dr. Huestis'.] + +As I said before, if I was planting an orchard I would put dwarf trees +between, and by the time they had borne three or four crops, and you +were expecting a crop of fruit from the standard trees--about seven +years from the time you put them in--I would put the dwarf trees as +fillers, costing about forty cents apiece, and by the time they are +bearing nicely your friends would have seen those, and I believe would +want them at the time you want to take them out. I believe I could sell +any of mine for three or four dollars apiece. I think that would be one +way of disposing of them after you wanted to take them out of the +standard orchard on account of room. That is just a thought of mine. + +When I got my first ones eight years ago I gave one to a man who lives +in North Minneapolis, at 1824 Bryant Avenue North. Any one can see it +who lives up in that section. The first year he had twenty-nine apples, +and it has borne each year since. The one which I have transplanted and +which bore last year is a Bismarck. It is a little better apple, in my +mind, than the Duchess. It is a good deal like the Duchess but is a +better keeper and has a better flavor than the Duchess. + +[Illustration: Dwarf Bismarck, fourth year, at Dr. Huestis'] + +I would like to read a quotation to show that the dwarf tree is not a +late thing. Recommending dwarf trees for gardens, "Corbett's English +Garden," published in 1829, says: "I do hope if any gentleman makes a +garden he will never suffer it to be disfigured by the folly of a +standard tree, which the more vigorous its growth the more mischievous +its growth to the garden." + +Marshall says, "The fewer standard trees in the garden the better." Also +that the dwarfs are less trouble to keep in order and are generally more +productive, and that "placed eight or nine feet distant, pruned and kept +in easy manner, they make a fine appearance and produce good fruit." +W.C. Drury, highly regarded as a modern English authority, writing in +1900 says: "For the private garden or for market purposes the dwarf, or +bush, apple tree is one of the best and most profitable forms that can +be planted." He also says: "The bush is one of the best forms of all, as +it is of a pleasing shape and as a rule bears good and regular crops." + +Mr. Clausen: Don't you have trouble with the mice? + +Dr. Huestis: No, sir, have never seen any. + +Mr. Clausen: I had an experience a few years ago. My neighbor made a +mistake; he was hauling straw around his apple trees, and he happened to +take one row of mine. We had no fence between us--and he laid the straw +around the trees. I found when I came to examine these trees in the +spring they were all girdled around the bottom. I am afraid to mulch. + +Dr. Huestis: I never have taken any chances. Ever troubled with the mice +at your place, Mr. Weld? + +Mr. Weld: A little. + +Dr. Huestis: I have never had any trouble with the mice. I always put on +a lot of old screen that I take from the cottages that is worn out and +put a wire around it so the mice can't get through it. We must protect +from mice and rabbits. + +Mr. Kellogg: How soon do your dwarf trees pay for themselves? + +Dr. Huestis: I don't know. I reckon these four have paid about twelve +per cent. on fifteen or twenty dollars this year, and they have right +along. They have paid me better so far during the eight years than the +standards. That might not apply in eight more years, but for a city lot, +a man who has fifty square feet, how many apple trees could he put in +that seventeen feet apart? Nine standard trees. In that same plot of +fifty feet square he could put in sixty-four dwarfs, and it would be a +nice little orchard. I think it is more adapted to the city man. The +ordinary farmer would neglect them, and I should hate to see a farmer +get them, but I would like to do anything for the man living in the city +with only a small plat of land--my vocation being in the city, my +avocation being in the country. + +Mr. Kellogg: Are those honest representations of the different apples +from the dwarf and the standard? + +Dr. Heustis: I don't know. Those are a fair sample of those I found in a +box on exhibit and are Red McIntosh. They are better colored than mine, +most of them are like this (indicating). I find the Yellow Transparent +that I have budded on the standard better on the dwarf than on the +standard. + +Mr. Kellogg: Does it blight any? + +Dr. Huestis: No blight; there hasn't ever been a blight. I think that is +one reason why I feel I could recommend them quite conscientiously. +Other trees have blighted when the conditions were favorable. + + * * * * * + +TWENTY-FIVE BY SEVENTY FOOT PLOT WILL PRODUCE ENOUGH VEGETABLES FOR +A SMALL FAMILY.--Even the smallest back yard may be made to yield a +supply of fresh vegetables for the family table at but slight expense if +two or three crops are successively grown to keep the area occupied all +the time, according to the garden specialists of the department. People +who would discharge a clerk if he did not work the year round will often +cultivate a garden at no little trouble and expense and then allow the +soil to lie idle from the time the first crop matures until the end of +the season. Where a two or three crop system is used in connection with +vegetables adapted to small areas, a space no larger than twenty-five by +seventy feet will produce enough fresh vegetables for a small family. +Corn, melons, cucumbers, and potatoes and other crops which require a +large area should not be grown in a garden of this size. Half an acre +properly cultivated with a careful crop rotation may easily produce $100 +worth of various garden crops in a year. + + + + +Plums That We Already Have and Plums That Are on the Way. + +_The Brown Rot (Monilia) a Controlling Factor._ + +DEWAIN COOK, FRUIT GROWER, JEFFERS. + + +By the term "plums we already have" for the purpose of this paper we +shall include only those varieties that have given general satisfaction +over a large territory and for long term of years, and in the writer's +opinion every one of such varieties are of full blooded, pure Americana +origin. + +The DeSoto takes the lead of them all. It undoubtedly has more good +points to its credit than any other plum we have ever grown. The Wyant +and the freestone Wolf are considered as being the next two most popular +varieties. These were all wild varieties, found growing in the woods of +Wisconsin and Iowa many years ago. + +There are a few other Americana varieties that are nearly as good as are +some of those enumerated, but at present we shall not attempt to name +them. There are many otherwise fine varieties that are not included in +this list of plums we already have, but because of a certain weakness of +the blossom they require to be intermingled with other varieties, or the +blossoms do not fertilize properly. They only bear well when conditions +are very favorable. We class such varieties as being not productive +enough. + +Many attempts, with more or less--generally less--success have been made +to improve our native plums through the growing of seedlings. Mr. H.A. +Terry, of Crescent, Iowa, has done more of such work in his day than any +other one man. His method was to plant the Americana kinds, like the +DeSoto, alongside of varieties of the Hortulana type, like the Miner, +then growing seedlings from the best plums thus grown. From such cross +bred seedlings Mr. Terry originated and introduced a great many very +fine varieties. But where are they today? The Hawkeye and the Terry are +about the only ones the general public knows very much about. I will +venture this statement, that as far as I know there is no variety of +native plum in which there is an intermingling of Hortulana or Chickasaw +type that has proven productive enough to be generally profitable. + +The Surprise plum belongs to this type, as also does the Terry plum. The +Terry plum we want to keep a while longer, not because it is a mortgage +lifter for the growers but because of the extraordinarily large size of +its fruit, as well as for its fine quality. + +There are many injurious insects and fungous diseases that tend to make +life a burden to the man who tries to grow plums in a commercial way. +Among the insects are the plum curculio and the plum tree borer, better +known as the peach tree borer. The curculio sometimes destroys all of +the fruit on the tree, and the borer very often will destroy the whole +tree of any variety. + +Among the fungous diseases are the shot hole fungus and the plum pocket +fungus, but the worst of all is that terribly destructive disease of the +plum known as the brown rot. This brown rot fungus sometimes destroys +the whole crop of certain varieties, besides injuring the trees +sometimes as well. This one disease has done more to make plum growing +unpopular than all other causes combined. Give us a cheap and efficient +remedy, one that will destroy the rot fungus and not do injury to the +foliage, buds or tree, and a long stride will have been made towards +making plum growing popular as well as profitable. + + +_Japanese hybrid plums._--Just now the Japanese hybrid varieties are +attracting considerable attention. One prominent Minnetonka fruit grower +said this to me about them: + +"Mr. Cook, what is the use of making all of this fuss about these new +plums? Plums are only used for the purposes of making jelly anyway, and +we can usually get a dollar a bushel for our plums, and they would not +pay any more than that, no matter how large and fine they are." + +This brought me up with a jerk, and I have concluded that no matter how +advanced a place in horticulture these new hybrid plums may eventually +take, that there will always be a place for our native varieties, even +if only for the purpose of making jelly. + +It seems to the writer that in view of the fact that after many years' +attempt to improve our native plum through the process of seed +selection--and we have made no material advancement in that line--that +the varieties of plums that are on the way must almost of necessity be +the product of the Americana and some of the foreign varieties of plums. + +Mr. Theo. Williams, of Nebraska, a few years ago originated a great many +varieties of these hybrid plums. He claimed to have upward of 5,000 of +them growing at one time. Only a few of them, however, were ever sent +out. Of these the writer has been growing for quite a number of years +the Eureka, Emerald, Stella, Omaha, B.A.Q. and some others. As a class +they are all reasonably hardy for my section. They grow rapidly, bear +early, usually the season after they are planted or the top grafts set. +They set fruit more freely and with greater regularity, as the seasons +come, than do the best of our native varieties. The fruit is of larger +size and of firmer flesh, while the quality of some of them, like the +B.A.Q., ranks rather low. The quality of others of them, like the +Emerald, is almost beyond comparison. + +One year ago in answer to a question by the writer as to why the people +of Iowa did not take more interest in the planting of these hybrid plums +of Mr. Williams, Mr. C.G. Patten stated that it was because the plums +rotted so badly on the trees. Now, Mr. Patten stated the situation +exactly--most of these fine varieties are notoriously bad rotters. The +brown rot seems to be a disease of moist climate. Nature's remedy is an +abundance of sunshine and a dry atmosphere, but we cannot regulate the +climate. Prof. Hansen has sent out a few varieties of these Japanese +Americana hybrid plums, and our Supt. Haralson is doing a great work +along this line. We can only hope--but cannot expect--that Mr. Hansen's +hybrids or Mr. Haralson's hybrids as a class will prove more resistant +to the brown rot than do those of Mr. Williams of the same class. + +We have hopes that from some of Mr. C.G. Patten's hybrids of the +Americana and Domestica plum will come some varieties worthy of general +planting, and also of Prof. Hansen's crosses of the Americana plum and +the Chinese apricots. + +There is another class of hybrid plums that are something wonderful in +their way, beginning to bear nearly as soon as they are planted, the +very earliest of all plums to ripen its fruit, immensely productive and +of finest quality. I refer to Prof. Hansen's sand cherry hybrid plums. +My opinion is that Prof. Hansen has done all that man can do in the way +of producing elegant varieties of this class of fruit. But there is the +uncertainty, however, or perhaps I had better say the certainty, that +the brown rot will take a good portion of the crop nearly every +season--sometimes only a part of the crop, and other seasons it may take +the entire crop of these fine sand cherry hybrid plums. + +Bordeaux mixture has been the one remedy advertised for years for the +control of this disease, and however well it may work in the hands of +experts of the various university farms, it has not proved uniformly +successful in the hands of the ordinary fruit grower. + +Now, if some medicine should be invented, or some magic made, whereby +the brown rot would be banished from our orchards then a great many of +the fine varieties of hybrid plums would be transferred from the "plums +that are on the way" to the list of "plums that we already have." The +brown rot is a controlling factor. + +Mr. Kellogg: What do you know about the Surprise? + +Mr. Cook: Oh, I know a little more than I want to know about it. I have +had the Surprise a good many years. + +Mr. Kellogg: You have been surprised with it? + +Mr. Cook: Yes, sir, I have been surprised quite a bit, but in the last +two years since the plum crop failed there have been a few plums on the +Surprise trees, but for a great many years when other plums bore heavily +we got nothing. + +Mr. Hansen: Do you know of any plum that has never had brown rot? + +Mr. Cook: In my paper--as they only allowed me fifteen minutes I had to +cut it short, and I didn't say very much about the brown rot. All the +Americana plums, and all varieties of plums I have ever grown, have in +some way been susceptible to the brown rot, but some have been more +resistant than others. Now, that is one reason, I believe, why the +DeSoto takes the lead. It is less subject to the brown rot. We have here +a moist climate, and sunshine and dry atmosphere is the remedy, but some +of these varieties have such a peculiar skin it is resistant to brown +rot, and it seems certain, I don't know, if it is not on account of the +thick skin. The Wolf has a thick skin and is subject to brown rot, but +the DeSoto is not subject to that so much but more subject to the +curculio. The Japanese hybrid plums, Mr. Williams said at one time--I +saw in one of the reports--that he had Japanese plums enough to grow +fifty bushels of plums, but he generally only got a grape basket full. +He didn't think very much of them. In these sand cherry hybrids, I think +Mr. Hansen has done all that man could do. + +Mr. Ludlow: What is the difference between the brown rot and the plum +pocket fungus? + +Mr. Cook: Professor Stakman will tell you that in a later paper, but it +is an entirely different disease. The brown rot will work the season +through. It will commence on some varieties and work on the small plums +and work on the plums half-grown and on the full-grown. The plum pocket +fungus, it works on the plums in the spring of the year and sometimes +takes the whole crop. The Terry plum, I think, a year ago, it took the +whole crop. + +Mr. Kellogg: What is the best spray you know of, how often do you apply +it and when? + +Mr. Cook: Which is that for, for the brown rot? + +Mr. Kellogg: Yes, for the plum generally. + +Mr. Cook: Oh, I don't know of any. Let me tell you something, the plum +as a class is very susceptible to injury from sprays. I know when +Professor Luger was entomologist there was some talk of spraying plums +for curculio, and some tried it, and while it generally got the curculio +it killed the trees, and Professor Luger said that the foliage of the +plum was the more susceptible to injury from arsenical poisoning than +that of any other fruit in Minnesota. The Japanese hybrid plums, I +think, will take injury a little bit quicker than the native, and when +you come to the sand cherry plums it is extremely dangerous to spray +with anything stronger than rain water. + +Prof. Hansen: I want to talk about the lime-sulphur. We will probably +have that in the next paper, only I want to say that seems to have taken +the place of the Bordeaux mixture. Brown rot, that is something that +affects the peach men too. In the state of Ohio in one year the peach +men lost a quarter of a million dollars from the brown rot, the same rot +that takes our plums. We are not the only ones that suffer from the +brown rot. Well, they kept on raising peaches because they learned to +control it, and if you are not going to spray I think you better give +up. As to trying to get something that won't take the rot, it is +something like getting a dog that won't take the fleas. (Laughter.) + +Mr. Older: I had considerable experience in putting out seedling plums. +When large enough to get to bearing there wasn't a good one in the whole +lot. I got some plums, the finest I could pick out, and three years ago +they first came into bearing, and one of my neighbors went over there +when they were ripe and said they were the best plums he had seen, but +since then I have had none. I got some Emerald plums from Mr. Cook. They +were nice plums, and when he came to see them he said, "I came to see +plums, I didn't come to see apples," but the brown rot gets a good many +of them. I had some last year, and just before they ripened the brown +rot struck them, and it not only took all the fruit but got the small +branches as well. I don't know what to do about the brown rot. + +Mr. Drum: I would say that my experience was something like Mr. Older's +with the sand cherry crosses. They grew until they were large and I +sprayed them with lime-sulphur. I couldn't see any injury from that +until they were grown, nearly ripe, and then in spite of me in a single +day they would turn and would mummy on the trees. I had a Hanska and +Opata and the other crosses, and they bore well. They were right close +to them, and the brown rot didn't affect them particularly. + +Mr. Ludlow: I would like to ask these experts what is the life of a plum +tree. Now, an apple tree, we have them that have been bearing for forty +years, but my plum trees that were put out less than twenty years ago, +they got to be a thicket and they don't bear any large plums at all. I +introduced years ago, if you remember, the Ocheeda plum, that come from +seedlings that we found in the wild plum at Ocheeda Lake. It is a very +fine plum. I had about twelve bushels this year, and I have never seen a +bit of brown rot in that variety of plums, although the other varieties, +if they bore at all, they were brown rotted all over. The Ocheeda plum +has a very thin skin, and when the rain comes at the right time and the +sun comes out they all split open. That is its fault. But my orchard is +getting old; it is twenty years old. I had a young man work for me, and +he left me and bought a new place. I told him he could take up all the +sprouts he wanted of those Ocheeda plums. He did so and put out an +orchard of them. I think that was about ten years ago. This year while +my plums didn't average me, my Ocheedas didn't average, over an inch or +an inch and an eighth in diameter from that old orchard--he had sold out +and gone to California--but from that orchard a man that never thinks of +cultivating sold three wagon loads of the finest plums I ever saw. + +Mr. Kellogg: How large were the wagons? (Laughter.) + +Mr. Ludlow: Well, the ordinary wagon box. He hauled them and sold them +in town. That was from an orchard that had been left without any +cultivation. + +Mr. Philips: I have heard George Kellogg say you could prove anything in +the world in a horticultural meeting. I was glad to have Mr. Cook say a +word in favor of the DeSoto. The first plum I ever bought was a DeSoto +thirty-five years ago. I planted it and never saw any brown rot on it +and had five bushels on it this year. George Kellogg saw it; I can prove +anything by him. (Laughter.) Talking about Prof. Hansen's sand cherry +crosses, I have a number of his trees. I have two in particular that are +nice trees. My wife the last three years has selected her plums from +these trees for preserving and canning. I never saw any brown rot on +them. They are nice trees, and I propose to stick by Hansen as long as +he furnishes as good stuff as that. The locality makes a great +difference in this brown rot. Some of the smaller varieties of Prof. +Hansen the brown rot takes. As some one has said, it will take the plums +and the twigs after the plums are gone. It may be that the locality has +something to do with it. + +Mr. Cook: A year ago I was talking with some gentlemen in the lobby of +this hotel here and among them was a gentleman from the Iowa society, +and I was trying to urge and tell them about the great value of some of +those hybrid plums. Mr. Reeves said to me: "Mr. Cook, if you were going +out into the woods to live and could only take one variety of plum with +you, what variety would you take?" If he said five or six different +varieties I would have made a different answer but he said only one +variety, and I said it would be the DeSoto, and his answer was, "So +would any other man that has right senses about him." + +Mr. Anderson: It was my pleasure some time ago, I think it was in 1896, +to set out a few plum trees, DeSotos, and those trees grew and grew +until they bore plums, and I was very much pleased with them. It was +also my fortune about that time to sell plums that another man had +grown, such varieties as the Ocheeda, the Wolf and the Wyant. They were +such beautiful plums, and I obtained such beautiful prices for them, I +was very much enthused over growing plums. I purchased a number of trees +of that variety, but up to the present time I have never marketed a +bushel of plums from any tree of that kind. The DeSotos bore plums until +they died a natural death, which was last year. + +Mr. Goudy: I have one DeSoto in my orchard which is seven years old, +never had a plum on it, never had a blossom on it. What shall I do? +(Laughter.) + +Mr. Ludlow: Cut it out. + + + + +Spraying Plums for Brown Rot. + +PROF. E. C. STAKMAN, MINN. EXP. STATION, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. + + +The brown rot of plum is without doubt one of the important limiting +factors in plum-growing in Minnesota. In seasons favorable to its +development, losses of from twenty to fifty per cent. of the crop in +individual orchards are not uncommon. + +Experiments on the control of the disease have been carried on by the +sections of "Plant Pathology and Tree Insects and Spraying," of the +Minnesota Experiment Station, since 1911. No accurate results could be +obtained in 1912 and 1915 on account of crop failure in the orchards +selected for experiment. Results are available for the years 1911, 1913 +and 1914. + +Brown rot is caused by a fungus (_Sclerotinia cinerea (Bon.) Wor._). +Every plum grower knows the signs of the disease on the fruit. Blossoms, +leaves and twigs may also be affected. The diseased blossoms become +brown and dry, and fall from the tree; the diseased leaves become brown +and may die. Young twigs may also be killed. + +Infection may occur at blossoming-time. The amount of blossom blight +depends very largely on weather conditions; in fairly warm, moist +weather there is usually more than in drier weather. The same is true of +the rot on the fruit; during periods of muggy weather it may spread with +amazing rapidity. The rot does not usually attack the fruit until it is +nearly or quite ripe, although green plums may rot, especially if they +have been injured. It is important to know that a large percentage of +rotted plums have been injured by curculio. Counts have shown that in +many cases as much as eighty-five per cent. of the rot followed such +injury. + +Rotted plums should be destroyed for two reasons: (1) The spores +produced on them may live during the winter and cause infection in the +spring; (2) if the mummies fall to the ground, late in April or early in +May of the second spring the cup fungus stage may develop on them. This +cup fungus produces a crop of spores capable of causing infection. + +Spraying experiments, the summarized results of which are given here, +show that the disease can be fairly well controlled even in badly +affected orchards. + +Some of the experiments were carried on in the orchards at University +Farm and some in commercial orchards. There were from twelve to +forty-five trees in each plot, and the trees on which counts were to be +made were selected before the rot appeared. The percentages given below +refer to fruit rot and do not include blossom or twig blight. The object +was to determine the times for spraying and the most effective spray +mixtures. Details are for the most part omitted, and the results of +various experiments are averaged. + +For convenience the times of spraying are designated as follows: + +1. When buds are still dormant. +2. When blossom buds begin to show pink. +3. When fruit is size of a pea. +4. Two weeks after third spraying. +5. When fruit begins to color. + +It did not pay to apply Spray 1. In the plots on which applications 1, +2, 3 and 4 were made there was an average of 6.3 per cent. of rot, while +in those from which Spray 1 was omitted there was an average of 6.7 per +cent. rot, a difference so slight as to be negligible. Neither did Spray +4 seem to pay, there being an average of 10.9 per cent. brown rot when +it was applied and 11.4 per cent. when it was omitted. + +The schedule finally adopted was therefore the application of Sprays 2, +3, and 5. Spray 2 is necessary to prevent blossom blight, although it +has not always reduced the amount of rot on the fruit. Spray 5 is the +most important in reducing the amount of rot. In all of the experiments +during three years the average amount of rot in the sprayed plots which +did not receive Spray 5, was 10.7 per cent. On the plots which received +Spray 5, with or without the other sprays, the average amount of rot was +4.6 per cent., and the average on unsprayed plots was 34.8 per cent. +Excellent results were sometimes obtained by applying only Spray 5, +although this did not, of course, have any effect on blossom blight. In +1913 the amount of brown rot in one plot which received only Spray 5 was +3.3 per cent., while in the unsprayed plots it was 33.9 per cent. In +1914 the amount of rot was reduced from 38.8 per cent. in unsprayed +plots to 6.5 per cent. in the plots to which Spray 5 was applied. +Possibly Spray 3 could be omitted without seriously interfering with +results; success in controlling the rot with Spray 5 alone seems to +indicate this. It was hoped to settle the matter during the past summer, +but spring frosts spoiled the experiment. + +For the present it seems advisable to recommend the application of +Sprays 2, 3, and 5. In the first two, two and a half pounds of arsenate +of lead paste, or one and one-fourth pounds of the powder should be +added to each fifty gallons of spray mixture in order to kill the +curculio. In the plots sprayed in this way in 1911 ninety-six per cent. +of the fruit was perfect, while in the unsprayed plots only 81.6 per +cent. was perfect, and in 1913 and 1914 the amount of brown rot was +reduced from 34.8 per cent. to 4.6 per cent. Several growers have +reported excellent results from these three applications, and there is +no reason why other growers should not duplicate them. + +[Illustration: Brown rot of plums showing the small, grayish brown tufts +of spores. Can be controlled by destroying mummies and thorough +spraying.] + +The efficiency of various fungicides was tried. Self-boiled +lime-sulphur, 8-8-50; commercial lime-sulphur, 1 to 40; 2-4-50 and +3-4-50 Bordeaux; iron sulphide made up with 1 to 40 commercial +lime-sulphur, and iron sulphide made up with 10-10-50 self-boiled +lime-sulphur were tried and all gave good results. Commercial +lime-sulphur, 1 to 40, has been used in commercial orchards with +excellent results, and it will probably be used more than the other +spray mixtures because it is so easy to use. Possibly weaker solutions +of lime-sulphur would do just as well as 1 to 40. This will be +determined, if possible, during the summer of 1916. + +Good results were obtained only when a high pressure was maintained in +spraying. There was a clearly observable difference between plots +sprayed with low pressure and those sprayed with a pressure of more than +175 pounds. For large orchards a power sprayer is desirable; for small +orchards a barrel sprayer with an air-pressure tank attached is large +enough. Such an outfit can be bought for $35 or $40 and can do good +work. + +The cost of spraying three times should not exceed fifteen cents a tree. +The results from spraying orchards which contain a great deal of brown +rot and have never before been sprayed will probably not be so good the +first year as in better kept orchards, but by spraying regularly each +season the disease can be well controlled. + +Mr. Cashman: Please state what you mean by 3-4-50 there. + +Mr. Stakman: 3-4-50 Bordeaux mixture means three pounds of bluestone or +copper sulphate, four pounds of lime, and fifty gallons of water. The +copper sulphate should be dissolved in twenty-five gallons of water, the +best way being to put it into a sack and hang the sack in the water. The +lime should be slaked and then enough water added to make twenty-five +gallons of milk of lime. Here is where the important part of making up +the spray comes in. Two people should work together and pour the milk of +lime and the bluestone solution together so that the streams mix in +pouring. It is very important that the mixing be thorough and the +mixture should be used fresh. + +The President: Do you add any Paris green at any time or arsenate of +lead? + +Mr. Stakman: Always add arsenate of lead two times, when the buds are +swelling and when the plums are the size of green peas. + +The President: How much? + +Mr. Stakman: I would rather leave that to Professor Ruggles. We used +from 2-1/2 to 3 pounds and Mr. Ruggles, I think, found 2-1/2 pounds was +enough. + +The President: That is, 2-1/2 pounds to 50 gallons of water with the +other ingredients? + +Mr. Stakman: Yes. + +Mr. Dyer: I would like to ask if you have ever used arsenate of lead for +spraying plums? + +Mr. Stakman: In the experiments which we conducted in co-operation with +Mr. Ruggles, of the Division of Entomology, we always used arsenate of +lead in the first two sprayings to kill the curculio. + +Mr. Dyer: I had quite an experience, so I want to know what your +experience was. + +Mr. Stakman: We never had any trouble with it. + +Mr. Dyer: I have had an experience of thirty years, and I have never +seen or had on my place any brown rot, and I never was troubled with any +curculio, and I practically always used arsenate of lead. + +Mr. Cashman: Isn't it a fact if you begin spraying your plum trees when +they are young and spray them early, at the right time, you have very +little trouble with the brown rot? And spray them every year? + +Mr. Stakman: Yes, that is it. You might be disappointed the first year +if the orchard had never been sprayed, but by spraying year after year +you finally cut it down. + +Mr. Cashman: You said a pressure of 200 pounds ought to be used? + +Mr. Stakman: Yes, but it isn't necessary to get an expensive power +sprayer to keep up that pressure. There are sprayers on the market that +cost from $30 to $40 which have a pressure tank by which the pressure +can be maintained at from 175 to 250 pounds without any great amount of +trouble, that is, for a small orchard. If you have a big enough orchard +for a power sprayer, of course get it. + +Mr. M'Clelland: This summer my plum trees, the leaves all turned brown +and came off. What is the reason? + +Mr. Stakman: When did it happen? + +Mr. M'Clelland: Along in August, I think; July or August. + +Mr. Stakman: What kind of soil were they on? + +Mr. M'Clelland: Clay. + +Mr. Stakman: Did you spray? + +Mr. M'Clelland: Yes, sir, I sprayed. + +Mr. Stakman: What did you use? + +Mr. M'Clelland: Lime-sulphur, I think. + +Mr. Stakman: Did the whole leaf turn brown? + +Mr. M'Clelland: Yes, sir, the whole leaf turned brown and came off. + +Mr. Stakman: How strong did you use the lime-sulphur? + +Mr. M'Clelland: Not very strong. + +Mr. Stakman: If you use very strong lime-sulphur you sometimes get such +an effect on both plums and apples. Sometimes the leaves fall, and +almost immediately you get a new crop of leaves. + +Mr. M'Clelland: This was in August. + +Mr. Stakman: There was a perfect crop of new leaves? + +Mr. M'Clelland: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Stakman: My only suggestion would be that you used the lime-sulphur +too strong. That might account for it. + +Mr. Sauter: I never sprayed until this year. I tried it this year and +with good results. I sprayed my apple trees at the same time, and I +sprayed the plums with the same thing I sprayed the apple trees with. I +had nice plums and nice apples; last year I had hardly any. + +Mr. Stakman: What did you use? + +Mr. Sauter: Lime-sulphur and some black leaf mixture. I used it on the +plum trees and the apple trees, and afterwards I used arsenate of lead. + +Mr. Stakman: You didn't get any injury to the plum trees? + +Mr. Sauter: No, sir, we had nice plums. + +A Member: I have seventeen plum trees, and I have only sprayed with +kerosene emulsion and the second time put in some Paris green, and I +have never seen any of the brown rot, but there have been a good many of +the black aphids on the plum trees, on the end of the branches. I cut +them off and burned them. I didn't know whether that would be the end of +it or not. + +Mr. Ruggles: Why don't you use "black leaf 40," 1/2 pint in 50 gallons +of the spray liquid. It can be used in combination with arsenate of lead +and lime-sulphur or arsenate of lead and Bordeaux mixture. + +If you wash them with black leaf 40 it will kill all the aphids. I did +that myself this summer. + +A Member: Please give us a little better explanation of what black leaf +40 is. + +Mr. Ruggles: It is an extract of tobacco that is for sale by wholesale +drug companies and stores, or you can get it from Kentucky, from the +Tobacco Products Company, at Louisville, Ky., or Grasseli Chemical Co., +St. Paul. I am not advertising, Mr. President, but they will send you a +small package for seventy-five cents, about half a pint. Of course, that +looks kind of expensive, but it will go a long way. I think possibly it +is the best thing we have to combat lice. + +Mr. Stakman: Plum pocket is caused by a fungus which is supposed to +infect mostly when the flower buds are just beginning to swell, +especially in cold, wet weather. Plum pocket causes the fruit to +overgrow and destroys the pit, and big bladder or sack-like fruits are +produced instead of the normal fruit. The fungus that causes it gets +into the twig and is supposed to live there year after year. Therefore +pathologists usually recommend cutting out and burning affected branches +and even trees that bear pocketed plums several seasons in succession. +Our experiments with plum pocket have not extended far enough to enable +me to say anything definite about it. + +Mr. Hall: With us in western Minnesota this year this plum pocket got +all the plums that the frost didn't get. If we were to cut off the twigs +we would have to chop off the trees. + +Mr. Stakman: When a tree becomes so badly infected that practically all +of the branches produce pocketed plums year after year you can't expect +very much normal fruit. Sometimes you might get some, but usually not +very many. + +Mr. Graves (Wisconsin): Do you use your black leaf 40 in conjunction +with your Bordeaux or lime-sulphur? + +Mr. Ruggles: Yes, you can. + +Mr. Graves: Doesn't it counteract the result? + +Mr. Ruggles: No, it does not. + +Mr. Stakman: I used this year lime-sulphur and black leaf 40 together. + +Mr. Graves: You say you got the same results from black leaf 40 in that +mixture? + +Mr. Stakman: It killed the plant lice; that is all I wanted. + +Mr. Graves: We had some experiences that indicated that black leaf +counteracted the other results. + +Mr. Stakman: Yes, sir, I think that has been the impression, but I think +there have been some experiments more recently to show that the black +leaf 40 can be used in conjunction with other sprays without +counteracting their results. + +Mr. Richardson: Did you ever know the plum pocket to come unless we had +cold weather about the time of blossoming and lots of east wind? + +Mr. Stakman: Yes, a little; I have seen it mostly when there was cold +weather, however, and as I said before it usually isn't so serious +unless there is cold, wet weather. + +Mr. Richardson: I settled out in Martin County, Minnesota, in 1866, and +in all my experience I never saw plum pocket unless we had the right +kind of cold weather at the time of the blossoming. I had my plums all +killed and destroyed one year and never did anything for it, and when we +had the right kind of weather I never had any trouble. + +Mr. Stakman: When you have cold, wet weather, as I mentioned before, +infection takes place much more rapidly than it does at other times. +There is some evidence to show that the fungus lives in the twigs and +that affected ones should be cut out. + +Mr. Richardson: Yes, but these didn't bear any for four or five years, +and when we got the right kind of weather I got good plums. + +Mr. Norwood: My experience is something like this man's. I have had my +plums killed off as many as five years with the plum pocket and then had +a good crop of plums. I sprayed with lime-sulphur. + +Mr. Stakman: When did you spray? + +Mr. Norwood: I spray just before the buds open. + +Mr. Stakman: The flower or leaf? + +Mr. Norwood: Flower, and then I spray when the plums are well started, +just before they begin to ripen. + +Mr. Stakman: Were you spraying for the pocket or brown rot? + +Mr. Norwood: I used lime-sulphur and arsenate of lime. + +Mr. Stakman: Of course, spraying after buds open wouldn't do any good +for the plum pockets at all. + +Mr. Norwood: I spray mainly for the brown rot, and I have pretty good +luck. + +Mr. Cashman: Have you had any experience in using orchard heaters to +save plums in cold nights? + +Mr. Stakman: I will ask Mr. Cady to answer that. + +Mr. Cady: No, I haven't tried to use them. + +Mr. Cashman: We tried it this year, and we saved our plum crop. We have +tried it the last four years and saved our plum crop each year. We also +sprayed each year and had a very good crop of plums when neighbors who +had not sprayed had very few, and I am satisfied if we use the proper +ingredients and spray properly at the right time, and occasionally use +an orchard heater when there is any danger of freezing, that we will +raise a good crop of most any plum that is hardy enough for this +climate. + +A Member: What kind of heaters do you use? + +Mr. Cashman: We use oil heaters. We use crude oil, the same oil we use +in our tractor engine. + +A Member: Where do you buy your heaters? + +Mr. Cashman: We have them made at the hardware store, of sheet iron, +with a cover. We put about two gallons of oil in this heater. There is a +small piece of waste that is used as a wick, which we light from a +torch. It will heat quite a large space sufficiently for two or three +hours and prevent frost. + +Mrs. Glenzke: Do you put a canvas over the tree or leave it uncovered? + +Mr. Cashman: We do not put anything over the tree. + +Mr. Stakman: What does your oil cost? + +Mr. Cashman: About eight or nine cents a gallon. + +Prof. Hansen: Just a thought occurred to me that out west on the Pacific +coast where men have to get down to business in order to raise fruit +they have these horticultural commissioners that have absolute police +power to make orchard men clean up. They will come into your old orchard +and pull it up and burn it and add it to your taxes, charge it up to +you, if you don't clean up. The same sort of police power should prevail +here. If a man has an old plum orchard that is diseased through and +through, it won't do for him to tell his tale of woe year after year and +not do anything. A county agent will come along and clean it up for him. +After it is cleaned up it will be an easier proposition. If you are not +going to keep up with the times and spray, then the county agent ought +to have police power to burn the orchard. Either spray or go out of the +plum business. + + * * * * * + +TO MAKE CONCENTRATED APPLE CIDER ON A COMMERCIAL SCALE.--The +specialists of the fruit and vegetable utilization laboratory of the +department have completed arrangements for a commercial test of the +recently discovered method of concentrating apple cider by freezing and +centrifugal methods. As a result, a cider mill in the Hood River Valley, +Ore., will this fall undertake to manufacture and put on the retail +market 1,000 gallons of concentrated cider, which will represent 5,000 +gallons of ordinary apple cider with only the water removed. + +The new method, it is believed, makes possible the concentrating of +cider in such a way that it will keep better than raw cider, and also be +so reduced in bulk that it can be shipped profitably long distances from +the apple growing regions. The old attempts to concentrate cider by +boiling have been failures because heat destroys the delicate flavor of +cider. Under the new method nothing is taken from the cider but the +water, and the resultant product is a thick liquid which contains all +the apple-juice products and which can be restored to excellent sweet +cider by the simple addition of four parts of water. The shippers and +consumers, therefore, avoid paying freight on the water in ordinary +cider. In addition, the product, when properly barreled, because of its +higher amount of sugar, keeps better than raw cider, which quickly turns +to vinegar. + +The process, as described by the department's specialists, consists of +freezing ordinary cider solid. The cider ice is then crushed and put +into centrifugal machines such as are used in making cane sugar. When +the cider ice is whirled rapidly the concentrated juice is thrown off +and collected. The water remains in the machine as ice. + +At ordinary household refrigerator temperatures this syrup-like cider +will keep perfectly for a month or six weeks, and if kept at low +temperatures in cold storage will keep for prolonged periods. At +ordinary house temperatures it, of course, will keep a shorter time. + +To make the concentrated syrup, the cider mill must add to its equipment +an ice-making machine and centrifugal machinery, so that the process is +not practicable on a small scale. The specialists are hopeful, however, +that the commercial test soon to be inaugurated in Oregon will show that +it will be possible for apple growers to concentrate their excess cider +and ship it profitably to the far South or to other non-producing +regions. The specialists also believe that it will enable apple +producers to prolong the market for cider.--U.S. Dept. of Agri., Oct., +1914. + + + + +How Mr. Mansfield Grows Tomatoes. + +MRS. JENNIE STAGER, SAUK RAPIDS. + + +Somewhere around 1870 Mr. Wm. Mansfield, of Johnsons Creek, Wis., +commenced to apply what Gov. Hoard, of Wisconsin, told him was +"persevering intelligence," to the propagating and improving of the +tomato, and he soon found out that the tomato was capable of almost +unlimited improvement. He has made a specialty of the tree tomato, of +which he says he has demonstrated to the world that in the Mansfield +tree tomato he has produced one of the greatest wonders of the age. All +who have seen them, tasted or grown them, with even a small degree of +good sense, are loud in their praise for their good qualities: wonderful +growth of tree, beauty of fruit, smoothness, solidity, flavor, +earliness, etc. + +In giving directions how to grow them he says you should remember that +if your brightest child is raised among Indians he is not likely to +become president. Neither will the tree tomato if thrown on a brush +pile, or just stuck in a poor, dry place and left to care for itself, be +ready to jump on your table, on the Fourth of July, or any other month, +a ripe, delicious, two-pound tomato. + +He says first get your seed of some reliable person, who can warrant it +pure and all right. Then at the proper time, which in this climate would +be some time in March, get some rich old earth for boxes in your house, +hotbeds or greenhouse. Sow the seed, cover lightly, wet down every day +and keep warm, with all the sun possible. When up ten days transplant to +other boxes, six inches apart, and not less than four inches deep. Keep +wet and give all the light and sun you can, and by the time it is safe +to set them outside they should stand from twelve to twenty-four inches +in height, with bodies half an inch thick. + +_To prepare the ground._--First select a place as near water as +possible, and also, if you can, let your rows run east and west. Throw +out dirt two spades deep, then put in three or four inches of night soil +if you can get it, if not use hen manure and wood ashes, equal parts, or +some other strong manure, in the bottom of trench. Then fill up the +trench with the best dirt you can get, mixed with well rotted stable +manure, as no fresh manure must come near the roots or bark to rot them. + +Now set out your plants without disturbing the dirt about the roots. Set +eighteen inches apart in the row and have the dirt in the trenches a +little lower than at the sides. Place a strong stake at each plant or a +trellis and tie them to it as fast as set. Then if it does not rain use +hard, soft, cold or warm water and give plenty each day. As your plants +commence to grow, just above each leaf will start a shoot. Let only the +top of the plant, and only one or two of the best branches grow, so as +to have not over one or two of the best stems to run up. Now the buds +for blossoms show themselves on the tops of the vines, and a few inches +below. Just above each leaf, a shoot starts; nip off every one of these +just as soon as they appear. As the lower leaves get brown and old pick +them off. Train the fruit as it grows to the sun. Tie often and well. +Let no useless wood grow. Give all the sun possible and water, water and +then water. Then you can take the cake on tomatoes. + +[Illustration: Wm. Mansfield and his big tomatoes, Casselton, N.D.] + +Mr. Mansfield's record twenty-six years ago, at Johnsons Creek, Wis., +was: Height of tomato tree, eleven feet. Weight of single tomato, two +pounds six ounces. He says, since he has moved to North Dakota, his +tomato has in no wise deteriorated. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Central Trial Station. + +PROFS. LE ROY CADY AND R. WELLINGTON, UNIVERSITY FARM. + + +Since the coming of Prof. Wellington to the Station to take up the +pomological and vegetable divisions the work of this Station, has been +divided, Prof. Wellington taking the fruit and vegetable experimental +work, while Prof. Cady continues the work in ornamentals, and on that +basis the reports will be made this year. + +_Ornamentals._--The campus of University Farm has been very much +enlarged this year by the building of the Gymnasium, and consequent +parking about it, and the grading of an athletic field. This will call +for considerable planting work next spring. + +The season has been exceptionally good for the growth of all ornamental +stock. All came through last winter in good shape. A late frost killed +many of the early flowering plants, and this prevented the forming of +fruit on such plants as barberry and wahoo. About 400 seedling paeonies +flowered again this year. Some of these are promising. An excellent +block of aquilegia was flowered. A trial ground of some hundred or more +annuals was maintained and proved very interesting. It is hoped that +many more annual novelties may be tried out this year. The perennial +garden established last year was added to and furnished something of +interest the whole season. It will be the aim of the Division to have in +this garden all the annuals and perennials of value in this section. +Some new shrubs were added by purchase and through the Bureau of Plant +Industry. The hedges have proved an interesting exhibit again this year, +and it is planned to add a number of new ones to the group next season. +About seventy-five varieties of chrysanthemums were flowered this autumn +and were much enjoyed by our visitors. + +_Fruit._--This year has been a very poor fruit year owing to the freeze +on May 18, when the thermometer dropped to 26 degrees Fahrenheit. At +that time a very promising crop of apples was frozen on the trees. +Currants and gooseberries were also frozen on the bushes, and the young +shoots were frozen on the grape vines. Later the grape vines sent out +secondary shoots which bore a small crop of late maturing fruit. +Regardless of the heavy freeze an apple was found here and there +throughout the orchard, although no one variety seemed to be +particularly favored. On one-year-old Compass and Dyehouse cherry trees +a few fruits were borne, and a similar amount of fruit was produced on +one-year-old Sapa and Skuya plums. The old plum seedling orchard, which +is located to the south of the college buildings and is partially +protected by a wooded hill to the north, gave about five per cent of a +crop. The one-year-old raspberries and blackberries bore a small crop, +and the new strawberry bed, containing over 150 varieties, yielded a +good crop. Records were made on the blossoming dates of practically all +the varieties grown at the Station, and complete descriptions were made +of all the strawberry flowers, fruits and plants. + +[Illustration: Class in propagation at work at Minnesota State +Agricultural College.] + +Plants were taken from the strawberry bed and used for setting out a new +bed, which is located on level and uniform ground. By another year +sufficient data should be at hand to report on the performance of the +varieties tested. + +The aphids were very numerous and unfortunately caused the defoliation +of all the currants with the exception of the blacks. A new sidewalk +through the currant patch necessitated the transplanting of about +one-half of the varieties, and so the prospect for a good currant crop +next season is poor. The mildew attacked the Poorman gooseberry very +severely but did practically no damage to the native varieties, as the +Carrie and Houghton. Blight was a negligible factor, and what little +appeared was removed as soon as noted. This year's rest, especially as +it has been coupled with a good growing season, should be very favorable +for an abundant crop in 1916. + +In summing up the varieties at the Trial Station, it is of interest to +note that the following number are under observation: 235 apple, 1 +apricot, 15 cherry, 3 peach, 6 pear, 70 plum, 23 blackberry, 3 dewberry, +14 red currant, 3 black currant, 2 white currant, 13 gooseberry, 26 +grape, 4 black raspberry, 22 red raspberry, 1 purple raspberry and 157 +strawberry. + +_Vegetables._--The vegetable work has been concentrated on the bean, +cucumber, lettuce, pea, onion, potato and tomato. The chief work with +the bean and pea has been to isolate desirable canning types from the +present varieties. Selection has also been carried on with the lettuce, +with the object of securing a head type which matures uniformly. Onion +bulbs of various types have self-fertilized, and desirable fixed strains +will be separated if possible. Incidentally, the inheritance of various +types and colors of the onion is under observation. In the tomato the +influence of crossing on yield and earliness has been studied. Increases +nearly as high as five tons have been obtained, and the prospects are +very bright for securing valuable combinations for gardeners who use +greenhouses and high-priced land. Results of this work will probably +soon be published in a station bulletin. + +[Illustration: Chrysanthemums in flower in University Farm +greenhouses.] + +A better type of greenhouse cucumber is being sought by combining the +European and White Spine varieties. From past experience the author +knows that a uniform type that is well adapted to market purposes can be +obtained, and the only question will be its productiveness. +Unfortunately hybridizing was not performed early enough in the season, +and disease prevented the making of crosses. This coming season the work +will be repeated. + +The main work of the year has been on the potato, and the chief problem +has been on the determination of the cause of degeneracy. Incidentally, +many varieties have been tested, and the exchange of seed with the Grand +Rapids, Crookston and Duluth stations has been started. If possible, the +effect of varying climatic and soil conditions on the potato will be +noted. + +A few vegetable varieties have been tested and among them the Reading +Giant, a rust-proof asparagus, has proved promising. Malcolm, the +earliest Canadian sweet corn, ripened very early and will be tested +further. Washington, a late sweet corn ripening between Crosby and +Evergreen, made an exceptionally good showing and may prove of much +value for market purposes. The Alacrity tomato was found to be similar +to the Earliana and superior in no way. Bonny Best and John Baer +tomatoes produced smooth, desirable fruit and are deserving of a wide +test. + +The much advertised "seed tape" was given a trial, and it proved +satisfactory in most cases. For kitchen gardeners who are ignorant of +planting distances, methods of planting and varieties, and who can +afford to pay a higher price for their seed, the tape may prove of +value, that is, if a high grade of seed is maintained. + + * * * * * + +A CORRECTION.--In O. W. Moore's interesting article on +"Sexuality in Plants," which appeared in the November (1915) number of +The Horticulturist, two errors were present. The first is merely +typographical, as Kaelreuter's name, page 411, should be spelled +Kolreuter. The second, however, is misleading, as it states that the +process of fertilization is called "Mendel's Law." It is true that +Mendel's Law is based upon fertilization, but it concerns simply the +splitting up of certain characters into definite mathematical +proportions. For example, Mendel found that when he crossed a yellow and +green pea the first generation produced only yellow peas. These peas +when self-fertilized split up into practically three yellows to one +green. By self-fertilizing the progeny of the second generation it was +found that one-third of the yellows bred true for yellow, and two-thirds +of the yellows broke up into yellow and green, showing that they were in +a heterozygous condition, and that all the greens bred true for green. +At the present time this method of segregation has been proved to hold +for many easily differentiated characters in both the animal and plant +kingdom, but much more experimental work will have to be done before it +can be said to hold for all inheritable characters.--Prof. Richard +Wellington, University Farm. + + + + +Rose Culture. + +MARTIN FRYDHOLM, ALBERT LEA, MINN. + +(Annual Meeting, 1916, So. Minn. Hort. Society.) + + +Rose culture is one of the most fascinating occupations in the line of +horticulture. But when you come to talking or writing about it you +scarcely know where to begin or what to say, there passes before your +eye an exhibition of such an amazing fragrance and beauty of varying +colors. Even now as I am writing these lines I can see with my mind's +eye every rose in my garden, some in their full glory, filling the air +with the sweet fragrance; others just opening; others in bud; and so on +in an ever pleasing variety. I have taken special interest in roses for +some ten or twelve years and have grown a good many different varieties +of them with success, good, bad and indifferent. I have succeeded well +with some of the hybrid perpetual roses. At the present time I have in +my garden Paul Neyron, General Jacquiminot, Ulric Brunner, Black Prince, +Etoile De France, Frau Karl Droschky and Marshall P. Wilder, also others +of which I have lost the names. Of climbing roses I have Crimson +Rambler, Thousand Beauties, Prairie Queen and Dorothy Perkins. All the +above named are everbloomers, except the climbers, and all need careful +winter protection. + +_How to grow them._--Get two year old No. 1 plants and prepare your soil +just like you would for your vegetable garden. If your soil is not +particularly rich, spade in a liberal quantity of well rotted manure and +mix well with soil. Set your plants and keep up clean cultivation all +summer and give them plenty of water, and you will have an abundance of +roses the first year. In the fall get some clean straw, bend your rose +bushes over, put a fence post across on top of them to hold them down +and then cover with straw to a depth of one foot. Or if you have a +number of them planted in one row, make a long box about two feet wide +and about twenty inches deep, fill about half full of straw, then place +along side of the row of plants, bend your plants down lengthwise the +row, then tip the box over them, put some straw around sides of box and +on the outside put some posts or boards on to hold it down, when you +will have the best protection possible. Right here I want to put in a +word of warning, and that is, if you do not like to do extra work don't +attempt to grow roses; in other words, if you are lazy they don't like +you well enough to stay with you, for it means work and lots of it. + +We have, however, one class of roses which can be grown by every one who +wants them, the hybrid Rosa Rugosa roses. Of them we have such as +Blanche D. Caubet, pure white of large size, a perpetual bloomer; Sir +Thomas Lipton, also white, a little smaller in blossom but perfectly +double; Conrad Meyer, clear silvery pink, of large size, very double and +of choicest fragrance, a continuous bloomer (needs some winter +protection); New Century, rosy pink, shading to almost red in the +center, good size and double. One of the hardiest is Hansa, deep violet +red, very large, double and an exceedingly profuse and continuous +bloomer, absolutely hardy. These five varieties can be considered as +everybody's roses, because of the easiness and sureness with which they +can be grown, taking into consideration the elimination of winter +protection. Planting, preparation of ground and cultivation are the same +as for all other roses. Do not imagine for a minute that they will do +well in sod or grass. + +[Illustration: Martin Frydholm in his rose garden, at Albert Lea.] + +Another class of roses is the Baby Ramblers. For borders and bedding +roses these I think surpass all others on account of the easiness by +which they may be grown. And they are a perfect mass of blossoms from +June till freezing. They need winter protection, but that is not +difficult on account of the low growth and small size of plant. + +Above all do not forget that all roses need rich soil and lots of water. +When your rose bushes are three years old you must begin to give some +attention to trimming. Cut out some of the oldest wood before you lay +them down in the fall, and if some of the shoots have grown very tall +cut back about half, although these rank canes may give you the best +roses the following season if you can protect them well enough so that +they do not winter-kill. In this photograph which is shown here is one +Ulric Brunner with one shoot extending two feet above my head and +covered all along with the most magnificent roses I have ever had in my +garden. The same thing I have done with the General Jacquiminot. + + + + +Asparagus by the Acre. + +E. W. RECORD, MARKET GARDENER, BROOKLYN CENTER. + + +First I am careful about selecting seed of a good variety. My choice is +Palmetto, because it is hardy and the best seller on our market. In +starting a bed I sow my seed as early as possible in the spring in rows +about eighteen inches apart, and when the plants are well up I thin out +to about an inch, so the roots will not be so hard to separate when +ready to transplant. My experience has been that plants two years old +are more easily handled than those one or three, because the one year +plants are not matured enough, while the roots of the three year old +have become too matured, and when separated too many of the roots are +broken off. + +In preparing the ground for asparagus I plow and then harrow it and mark +it off so the rows will be five feet apart. I plow a furrow from +fourteen to sixteen inches deep, throwing the dirt both ways. Then with +my cultivator I loosen up the bottom of the furrow. I place the plants +in the furrow about eighteen inches apart, being careful to spread the +roots evenly over the bottom of the furrow, putting a little dirt over +them to hold them in place. With my cultivator I keep filling in the +furrow, at the same time plowing out the middle to keep down the weeds. + +In fertilizing a bed of asparagus my experience has been that the best +way is to plow a furrow between the rows, filling it with barnyard +manure, then covering this with earth. Spreading the manure broadcast +makes too many of the stalks grow crooked. + +I never cut my asparagus for market until the third year, and then only +for a short time. By the fifth year the bed is strong enough to cut the +whole season. When the season is over I cultivate often enough to keep +down the weeds. I never cut the old stalks off until spring, because +after the first freeze the stalks are hollow, and this would allow the +frost to run down into the roots. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Vice-President, Second Congressional District. + +JOHN BISBEE, MADELIA. + + +A summer remarkable in many respects has passed. Many of our people have +labored hard, and the rewards of that labor have been meager and +unsatisfactory. Horticulture with all the other labors on the land has +been rewarded like the other cultivators of the soil in our section of +the state. I sent out twenty-five of the circulars and twenty were +filled out and returned. + +Apple raisers report, four a good crop, the balance poor or none. + +Plums: One fair, others poor or none. + +Cherries: One good, all others poor. + +Grapes: One good, balance poor to none. + +Blackberries: One good, balance poor to none. + +Other fruits all poor. + +Nursery stock: One place reports one car load planted, the balance a +few, all making good growth. + +Strawberries: Five report good crop, balance few to poor. + +Blight: Some reported but little efforts made to eradicate. + +Fruit trees did not suffer much last winter (1914-5). All report plenty +of moisture in ground. + +Varieties of apples doing best: Wealthy, Duchess, Longfield, Salome, +Spitzenberg, Northwestern Greening, Anisim, Malinda, Hibernal, Jonathan. + +Spraying neglected very largely. + +I am doing all of the top-working I can get done every spring. + +Am setting largely the Salome. I find the tree hardy here; a moderate +bearer; apples fine and handsome; a good keeper; tree does not blight +and grows very thriftily. It grows on a great share of the stocks in +which I have placed it. + +My next best apple is the Spitzenberg. I am not placing many Wealthy +scions, as I have about all I want of them. + +I tried thinning the fruit on some of my heavy bearers last summer and +like it much. I think the best way to do it is to cut out the fruit +spurs, as that can be done in the winter. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Vice-President, Fifth Congressional District. + +CHAS. H. RAMSDELL, MINNEAPOLIS. + + +The horticultural interests of the Fifth Congressional District (of +which Minneapolis is the largest part) comprise three lines of activity, +the raising of fruit, vegetables and flowers for home supply and profit, +ornamental horticulture for pleasure and the city marketing of the +produce of this and every other region, furnishing whatever is demanded +by a large metropolitan market. Therefore, I will report along these +lines. + +[Illustration: Chas. H. Ramsdell.] + +Judging from the reports of my correspondents throughout the country, +the "freeze" in May was responsible for a rather complete absence of +local fruit the past season. Sheltered orchards and those on the south +side of any lake bore a small crop. Of apples, the Wealthy and Malinda +are mentioned as bearing fairly well. Plums were entirely a failure, +cherries are not raised to any extent, grapes and small fruits were not +enough to supply the market as a whole. Raspberry and strawberry growing +seems to be on the decline, owing to the prevalence of insect pests +which do _not_ receive attention to keep them in check. The importance +of this is all the more apparent, because with the shorter distances of +this district being the rule, the danger from rapid spread is more +pronounced. + +The growing conditions of the season have been of the best, and all +stock goes into the winter in excellent shape with a good amount of soil +moisture and a promise for better conditions next season. + +Several market reports have been received which give valuable +information. Prices of fruit, vegetables and floral stock have been low +in almost all cases. The public demand has been rather below normal, +although it has been steady and fair in volume. There seems to be a good +deal of complaint about the care of the railroads, etc., with fruit and +perishable products, but, on the other hand, a good deal of local +produce is not put up in good shape. The uniformly good packing of +western fruit reveals the cause of its popularity on the local markets. +Certain kinds of fruit almost glutted the market this season, notably +Florida grape fruit, western box apples and peaches. I quote one market +statement as very pertinent: + +If Minnesota apple growers would gather their apples before they are too +ripe, carefully grade and pack uniformly through the barrel, thus making +it possible for the wholesaler to ship out on orders, they would +undoubtedly realize more for their product than to market them +themselves in the usual manner in which apples are marketed. + +Ornamental horticulture in my district is making rapid progress. Large +lots of nursery stock are yearly put in with excellent results. The +influence and interest of the "Garden Flower Society" and of these +horticultural meetings is nowhere more felt than in Hennepin County. The +gardens of the Minneapolis park board, in Loring Park, at Lyndale +Farmstead, and near the Parade and Armory, give the horticultural public +much valuable information. Even the wild flower garden in Glenwood Park +is yearly receiving an increasing number of visitors. The increasing use +of perennials is creating a new gardening enthusiasm. The perennial +exhibit at the summer meeting of the Horticultural Society was worthy of +much study. Careful use of hardy evergreens is increasing also, adding +value especially to our winter landscapes. This season has been very +favorable to gardening work and steady has been the progress made. + +Greater care with insect pests, and better methods of preparing fruit +for market seem to be the two greatest needs of the horticulturists of +the Fifth District. + + * * * * * + +APPLE PRODUCTION AND PRICES.--According to the best authority +available, the apple crop in the United States for 1915 promises to be +about 22,500,000 barrels, says The Niagara County, New York, Farm Bureau +News. This will be the lightest crop in several years, the 1910 crop +being the next lightest, when about 24,000,000 barrels were produced. In +comparison, the 1914 crop was about 45,000,000 barrels and the 1913 crop +about 30,000,000 barrels. + +The above refers to the commercial crop that is marketed in closed +packages, and should not be confounded with the recent estimate of the +United States Department of Agriculture, which is understood to refer to +the total production of apples, including those used for cider and +shipped to the market in bulk. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Vice-President, Sixth Congressional District. + +E. W. MAYMAN, SAUK RAPIDS. + + +[Illustration: Residence of E. W. Mayman, at Sauk Rapids, Minn.] + +This district comprises quite a large area, and a large amount of fruit +of various kinds is raised. Besides the reports received, I visited a +good many places where fruit is being raised and intended visiting more +except for unfavorable weather. From all sources the reports were that +all fruit trees, vines and other plants came through the previous winter +in good condition, and that all fruit trees budded and blossomed earlier +than usual. April being such a warm month caused this condition--and +indications were for a record-breaking crop. But this was all changed +after the severe freeze of May 17th, which destroyed nearly all blossoms +of apple and plum and what promise there was of cherry and grape. The +frost again on June the 8th did great damage to raspberries and +strawberries, currants and gooseberries. From all reports received and +from my own observation at my place I can sum up briefly as follows: + +Apples not more than five per cent. of crop; crab apples, no crop; +plums, from ten to fifteen per cent. of a crop; cherries, very few +planted except the Compass and crop very light; grapes, not very +extensively raised, Collegeville having the largest collection so far as +I know, and at that place while the new growth had been frozen off still +a second growth of new wood was formed and gave a light crop of fruit. + +Blackberries: No crop reported. + +Raspberries: There is in this immediate vicinity upwards of twenty acres +or more planted of several varieties, but the crop was very light, and +from other places the reports received were the same. + +Strawberries: There is also quite a large acreage planted in this +vicinity, but the crop the past season was very poor, except for the +everbearing variety planted for experimental purposes. This variety did +well and continued to fruit to November 1st. + +Currants and gooseberries: Reports gave no crop to speak of, and at my +place and in this vicinity while there is quite a large planting there +was no fruit. This, of course, was owing to the frost as before stated. + +Very little nursery stock has been planted except in small quantities +here and there, yet there is great interest taken in fruit raising. + +In regard to blight, none to speak of according to reports, and +everything indicates a good healthy growth. + +As to spraying there seems to be little done along that line, although +some orchards have been sprayed. + +All trees and shrubs and perennial plants planted the past season, as +well as those previously planted, made an exceptionally good growth, +owing, I think, to the cool, moist spring and continued cool summer. +And, all wood maturing early, everything, I think, has gone into winter +quarters in very good condition, and other things being favorable we may +expect a good crop of everything next season. + + * * * * * + +The following poisoned wash has proved highly satisfactory in the West +and promises to be one of the most popular methods of protecting trees +from rabbits: + +_Poisoned Tree Wash._--Dissolve one ounce of strychnine sulphate in +three quarts of boiling water and add one-half pint of laundry starch, +previously dissolved in one pint of cold water. Boil this mixture until +it becomes a clear paste. Add one ounce of glycerin and stir thoroughly. +When sufficiently cool, apply to the trunks of trees with a paint brush. +Rabbits that gnaw the bark will be killed before the tree is injured. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Vice-President, Ninth Congressional District. + +MRS. H. E. WELD, MOORHEAD. + + +The fruit crop in general throughout this district was not very good. +The spring was late and cold with a heavy frost in June. Where the fruit +trees were protected by a natural windbreak, we find the best +conditions. Wilkin, Becker, Ottertail counties' reports indicate that +the apple crop was small, but the fruit was of good quality. + +[Illustration: Residence of Louie Wentzel, Crookston, life member and +vice-president in 1914] + +The varieties that are grown in this district in order of their +importance and hardiness are the following: Hibernal, Duchess, Okabena, +Patten's Greening and Wealthy. The hardier varieties of crabs are +growing here. The Transcendent is the most popular crab. The Hyslop, +Florence and Whitney are also grown. + +But very little blight is reported in this district. + +In localities where the trees have the protection of a windbreak there +was a small crop of plums. The DeSoto, Forest Garden and Hansen hybrids +are giving very good results. Even the wild plums were few, as the +blossoms were hurt by frost. + +Where there was windbreak protection the Compass cherry tree looks +healthy and has given a fair crop. + +Grapes have not been very generally planted. The Beta is the hardiest +variety. The Concord does well where properly planted and cared for. + +Raspberry bushes made a good growth and look healthy; although damaged +by frost there was a fair crop. + +Strawberries yielded fairly well where they were given attention. The +Senator Dunlap, Warfield and everbearing plants should be more generally +grown. + +Gooseberries and currants were just fair in some localities, in others +the late frost destroyed all prospects of small fruits. The Houghton and +Downing gooseberries, Red Dutch and White Grape currants are some of the +varieties planted. + +In Ottertail, Wilkin and Beltrami counties a good deal of nursery stock +has been planted and with very good success. + +Very little has been done in the way of spraying orchards, as trees are +young. + +All fruits are going into winter in good condition, with fair amount of +moisture in the ground and trees full of fruit buds. + +The hardy ornamental shrubs, honeysuckle, lilac, mock-orange and spirea +Van Houttii can be grown here. Hardy perennial flowers that do well are +peony, phlox, golden glow and bleeding heart. This northern section of +the state is the land for the hardy perennials. Nowhere else do we get +such beautiful colorings and bloom. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Madison Trial Station. + +M. SOHOLT, SUPT. + + +This season has been very good. We have had plenty of rain, so that all +nursery stock set out this last spring has made a good growth. + +The first part of May a hard frost did quite a good deal of damage to +small stock just planted or lined out in the nursery. This frost also +damaged the blossoms on the fruit trees. The plum trees happened to be +in full bloom when this frost came, so that froze them entirely, and so +we did not get any plums to speak of. We also had a light crop of +apples, especially of the early varieties. The Northwestern and Patten's +Greening bore a good crop. + +The grapes also froze. I expected to get some fruit off those grape +seedlings I received from the State Fruit-Breeding Farm three years ago, +but they went with the rest of it. + +The plum trees I received this and two years ago are all doing well. +They did not freeze back any when we had that hard frost; so far they +seem to be hardy for this location. + +Had a medium crop of raspberries, also a light crop of currants and +gooseberries. We had a good crop of strawberries. Seedling strawberry +No. 3 is doing very well. Everbearing strawberries are doing nicely. We +had a nice fall and plenty of rain, so that trees and shrubbery went +into winter quarters in good condition. + + + + +Growing Beans and Sweet Corn. + +P. B. MARIEN, ST. PAUL. + + +Since it is one thing to grow beans and sweet corn and another to make +money on them, I think from a market gardener's point of view my heading +should have been "growing beans and sweet corn at a profit." + +I will talk of beans first, because while the two are planted at about +the same time, beans make their appearance on the market long before +sweet corn. + +Beans have a nitrogen gathering power and are therefore a soil-improving +crop. They are to the gardener what clover is to the farmer. For early +beans we have found that sandy soil well fertilized is by far the best. +If possible it should be sloping toward the south, although we have had +good success on level land well drained. One should have the best seed +possible, and if you get hold of a good strain of seed that produces +nice, velvety beans earlier than your neighbor, save as much of that +seed as you can. Of course now that the price of seed is $10.00 to +$14.00 a bushel one cannot be too particular. + +[Illustration: P. B. Marien, St. Paul.] + +Too much stress cannot be laid on the fact that to make money on beans +one must have them on the market within a week after the first ones make +their appearance. To do this one must plant them at the right time. The +practical gardener knows that as he sits near the stove with the ground +still frozen and a cold March wind blowing he cannot say "I will plant +my beans on April 15 or on April 20." It is impossible to set a date for +planting. After the ground has been plowed and well tilled he must wait +until it is well warmed. Sometimes it pays to take a chance, but we +always wait until the buds appear on the white oak trees. However there +is nothing infallible about this rule, but it is the one we generally +follow. + +As to kinds we have two wax beans which we have planted for many years: +the Davis, which does well in wet weather, and the Wardwell Kidney, +which does well in dry weather. Every variety of green beans we have +ever grown has done well. + +Rows three feet apart, with the hills about six inches apart, three or +four seed in a hill, might take up too much room on a small scale, but +where one uses horses to cultivate, I think it is about right. + +Beans should be cultivated at least two or three times a week, and they +should be hoed three times during the season. Never cultivate your beans +while the dew is on, as it has a tendency to rust them. + +While St. Paul has not offered a very good market for medium and late +string beans in the last few years, it is a good plan to have a patch +come in about every ten days. Because you happen to get from $2.50 to +$3.50 a bushel for your first beans this year, do not resolve to put the +whole farm into beans next year, for they might come three or four days +later than your neighbor's, and your profits might be like ours were one +day last summer. I came to market with forty-eight bushels of beans. +They cost twenty cents for picking. I sold thirty-two bushels at thirty +cents and offered the remaining sixteen bushels at twenty cents, but +found no sale for them. I brought them back home and to my surprise +found two extra bushels, making eighteen instead of sixteen bushels. I +concluded that someone had despaired of selling them and perhaps had +poor success in trying to give them away and so forced them on me. +However we consider we did well on our beans, as the first two pickings +brought from $2.00 to $3.50 per bushel. + +Now a few words about sweet corn. Along about the 6th to the 12th of +July the truck gardener should load his first sweet corn. Sweet corn is +of American origin, having been developed from field corn, or maize. No +large vegetable is so generally grown throughout the country, the +markets of the cities taking large quantities, and immense areas being +grown for canning purposes. + +Seed that fails entirely is not often found, but when one has a good +strain that produces early corn it is best to save some. + +We generally have sweet corn to sell every day from about the middle of +July until the first frost. To do this we plant every ten days from +about the 20th of April to the 20th of June. Our early variety is the +Peep-O'Day, which is planted about the same time as the early beans. We +also plant the Golden Bantam at this time. This is followed by Red Cob +Cory, Pocahontas and some more Bantam. Then about May 15th to 20th we +plant early and late Evergreen, Bantam and Country Gentleman. + +[Illustration: A load of vegetables at Marien's ready for market.] + +Soil well adapted to common field corn will produce good sweet corn, +thriving best on well fertilized land. Sandy soil is best for the early +varieties. + +Sweet corn is often grown in drills, but we prefer the hills three feet +apart, as it is easier to get an even stand, and cultivating both ways +will push the crop. It should be cultivated shallow and never deep +enough to hurt the roots. It is well to hoe it once. + +Sweet corn is one of the few vegetables which is quite free from serious +injury from either insects or diseases. + +Sweet corn may be divided into three classes: early, medium and late. It +is very important that the various kinds come in as early as possible, +as a few days make a lot of difference in price. + +So you see that to make a profit on beans and sweet corn, four things +are needed: good seed, planting at the right time, in the right kind of +soil, and plenty of elbow grease--or hard work. + +A member: How far apart do you plant your beans in the row? + +Mr. Marien: The rows three feet apart and the hills six inches, putting +three or four seeds in a hill. + +A Member: Don't you recommend testing your seeds before you plant them? + +Mr. Marien: Hardly the bean seeds. I don't remember of ever having found +any poor bean seeds. + +A Member: I mean seeds generally, corn, etc.? + +Mr. Marien: Yes, sir, we do; we always test our seed. + +Mr. Goudy: What is your method of harvesting your beans? + +Mr. Marien: Well, we generally employ pickers, boys and girls, and we +pay them about twenty-five cents a bushel when they are above a dollar +and a quarter, and then we keep going down; as the price goes down we go +down too; but we have paid as much as thirty cents when the price of +beans was high and it is important to get many on the market the next +day. + +[Illustration: Harvesting the hay crop at Marien's.] + +Mr. Anderson: What are your gross receipts per acre for beans? + +Mr. Marien: That is a hard question to answer, as sometimes it is very +poor for the medium and late beans, and sometimes there aren't any +receipts at all. (Laughter.) But the early beans sometimes go as high as +$250.00 an acre. + +Mr. Anderson: How late can you plant them and be sure of a crop? + +Mr. Marien: We have planted them as late as the 15th of June. + +A Member: You mentioned Davis as your first variety. What is the second +one? + +Mr. Marien: The Wardwell Kidney. We always plant the two varieties at +the same time because if we strike a wet season then the Davis does +well, and the Wardwell won't do as well in wet weather but will do +better in dry weather. + +Mrs. Glenzke: Will you tell me the color of your beans? Are they golden +wax? + +Mr. Marien: Yes, some golden wax and some green string beans. We haven't +as good a market for the green ones. + +Mrs. Glenzke: Have they a string on the back? + +Mr. Marien: Some have and some have not. There is the Bountiful, or the +Thousand to One; that is a small green string bean that hasn't any +string. But they are very hard to pick; so we don't raise many of them. + +Mrs. Glenzke: Have you ever tried Golden Pod? + +Mr. Marien: I think that is a wax bean? + +Mrs. Glenzke: Yes. + +Mr. Marien: Oh, we don't like them, at least not on the St. Paul market, +because they are hard to pick. I don't know how it is in the Minneapolis +market. + +A Member: What is the best of the green kind? + +Mr. Marien: We find that the Bountiful is a very good bean; and then +there is also the Red Valentine. + +A Member: Did you ever grow any Crusset Wax? + +Mr. Marien: No, sir, I have not. Of course, there are some kinds that +are just the same, but they go under different names in different +places. Different catalogs will catalog the same seeds in a different +way. + + * * * * * + +BEWARE BLIGHT CURES.--Almost every year orchardists are +persuaded to try some new, so-called "blight cure" or preventative, only +to find later that they have wasted time and money in the experiment. +Government regulations regarding fake remedies of this character are +more strict than formerly, but there are still some agents trying to +dupe the public into buying their wares. + +Blight, which is often referred to as apple blight, fire blight, or pear +blight, is caused by bacteria which live in the sap of the tree, and the +principle followed by the blight-doctor is to introduce something into +the sap which will prevent the working of the bacteria. The remedies are +applied in various ways. Sometimes the trunk is painted with a mixture +of some kind, or holes are bored into the trunk and these filled with a +powder. The orchardist is sometimes furnished with a box of nails as the +first "course" and instructed to drive these into the roots of the +trees. + +It is evident that anything introduced into the sap that is strong +enough to kill the bacteria living there will likewise damage the cell +tissue of the tree, and result in more harm than benefit. One powder +that has been brought to the attention of the Experiment Station, sells +for $3.00 per pound, and is administered in teaspoonful "doses." Such a +preparation as this is probably harmless, but is a waste of time and +money. It would have no effect on the tree or the blight. + +Some of the agents not only claim that their remedies will cure blight, +but, due to ignorance or other causes, they also claim that trees +treated will be immune from attacks of certain insects. + +Orchardists may rest assured that up to the present time, no real +preventative or cure has been found for blight, and that the only way it +can be controlled is by cutting it out.--Colorado Agricultural College. + + + + +IN MEMORIAM--MRS. E. CROSS. + + +Mrs. Erasmus Cross, of Sauk Rapids, and a member of the Minnesota State +Horticultural Society since 1888 (27 years), passed away at that place +on Tuesday, December 28th. On December 16th Mrs. Cross sustained a +painful injury by falling on the floor and breaking her hip. Owing to +her advanced age, eighty-two years, the limb could not be set without +the use of chloroform, which could not be given on account of weakness +of the heart. Death finally released her from her suffering. + +[Illustration: The late Mrs. E. Cross, daughter and grandaughters.] + +Mrs. Jane Cross was always very enthusiastic about the Horticultural +Society and the good it was doing, not only for this but other states. +The ills of her age had prevented her from attending the meetings these +late years, though she often did so in earlier years, but she always +sent her fee through the writer, and eagerly awaited her return from the +meeting to hear of its stimulating success. Mr. Cross died about six +years ago. Two sons, James, of St. Paul, and Robert, of Sauk Rapids, and +two daughters, Mrs. Annie Nicholson, of Hamline, and Mrs. Emma +Sovereign, of Sauk Rapids, mourn her loss. Our society has lost a most +loyal friend.--Mrs. Jennie Stager, Sauk Rapids. + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. +Minneapolis. + + +Notes from Prof. Alway's interesting and instructive talk on +"Maintaining the fertility of our gardens." + +Requisites for proper plant growth are warmth, ventilation, root room, +the absence of harmful alkalies or animals that destroy the beneficial +bacteria in the soil, water and plant food. + +By far the most important requisite for growth is water. More plants and +crops fail because of the lack of a proper amount of it than from any +other cause. + +Plenty of fresh air is needed by the plants, as they derive a portion of +their food from it. + +They adapt themselves largely to conditions as to root-room, a plant +thriving in a pot, but spreading to much greater root space when grown +in the open with plenty of room. The more restricted the root space, the +more food and water it will require. + +The fourth requisite for growth does not concern us as there are no +alkali lands in the counties near the Twin Cities, and the harmful +minute animals that destroy the beneficial bacteria in the soil are as a +rule found only in greenhouses. + +The best fertilizer for the garden is the thorough use of the hose. + +Each year stable manures become harder to obtain, but the fertility of +the garden can be maintained by the use of commercial fertilizers, which +are more concentrated foods and are much easier to work with. + +The perfect plant food consists of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. We +can obtain these in separate form and use as we need them. + +Nitrogen comes in the form of a salt, called nitrate of soda, and in +dried blood. The nitrate of soda is very soluble in water and is taken +up at once by the plant. It can be scattered upon the ground near but +not touching the plant, as in the latter case it would burn it. It can +also be dissolved in water--a tablespoonful to a pail--and the ground, +but not the plant, watered. Dried blood is slower in action and requires +warmth, so should not be used early in the season. Nitrogen promotes +quick and luxuriant growth of leaves and stems and is good to use when a +green growth of any kind is wished. + +In bone meal we find the phosphorus necessary to aid in the development +of fine and many flowers, to expand root growth and to hasten maturity. +It works slowly, so can be applied to the ground about a plant early in +the season, and will be available in the ground the following year if +enough is used. Equal parts of nitrate and bone meal can be used at the +rate of one to two pounds to every one hundred square feet. + +Potash is almost off the market, as a result of the war, the main supply +being imported from Germany. It can be obtained from hardwood ashes, and +every bit of these should be saved for the garden and stored in a dry +place where they will not become leached out by the action of water. + +_April Spraying._--Snowball bushes and others that have been troubled +with aphides, or plant lice, the previous year should receive a thorough +spraying of Black Leaf No. 40 (an extract of forty per cent. nicotine) +before the leaf buds expand. For this early spraying, two tablespoonsful +of the extract can be used to every gallon of water. It will stick to +the branches better if some soap is dissolved in it. This spray will +kill most of the eggs of these pests, which will be found near the leaf +buds. When the leaves open another spraying should be given to kill all +those that escaped the first treatment. For spraying after the leaves +open use one tablespoonful to each gallon of water. + + * * * * * + +Meeting of the Minnesota Garden Flower Society, April 27th, St. Paul, +Wilder Auditorium, Fifth and Washington Streets, 2:30 p.m. + +Native Plants in the Garden +Shall We Collect or Grow Our Native Plants? +Roadside Planting. + + + + +BEE-KEEPER'S COLUMN. + +Conducted by FRANCIS JAGER, Professor of Apiculture, University +Farm, St. Paul. + + +Bees are kept both for profit and for pleasure. The old fashioned +beekeeper with his hybrid bees, kept in immovable hives, logs or boxes, +did not derive much profit from his bees. He kept them mostly for +pastime. During the last fifteen years men with new methods of +management and modern equipment have been rapidly superseding the +picturesque old beekeepers. Modern beekeeping courses are now taught in +connection with our institutions of learning, and young men full of +energy and ambition are beginning to realize that beekeeping is offering +one of the few opportunities to make a comfortable living with a +comparatively small expense. Older beekeepers, both on the farm and +professional men, also are beginning to study beekeeping. They attend +short courses, subscribe to scientific bee papers and study bee +literature. With increased study and knowledge the whole status of the +beekeeping industry is just now undergoing a rapid change. Professional +beekeepers, men who devote their whole time to beekeeping, are +increasing, and more amateurs are turning to professional beekeeping +every year. Organizations of beekeepers now exist in nearly every state. +Their object is to spread knowledge among their members and to secure +better prices for their product by co-operative marketing. Contrary to +fears of more conservative beekeepers the demand for a first class +article of honey is increasing more rapidly than the supply. A national +organization of beekeepers and bee societies is taking up just now +national problems in connection with their industry and has succeeded in +making the government interested in this "infant industry." An +appropriation of $200,000 has just been allowed by the agricultural +committee of the Congress to develop beekeeping in localities where help +is needed. The state of Minnesota allows an annual appropriation for +beekeeping interests of $10,000, divided among the following branches: +Bee inspection department, which takes charge of bee diseases, $2,000; +state fair exhibits for premiums and maintenance of a bee and honey +building in connection with our State Fair, $1,500. The Division of Bee +Culture at the University Farm, which has charge of teaching, +demonstration, extension work, research, queen rearing, correspondence, +statistics and model apiaries, $6,500. Minnesota beekeepers should be +grateful to those men who have helped them to raise their industry from +a mere nothing, until we have become the acknowledged leaders in +beekeeping among all the states of the Union. They, however, are rapidly +following, nearly all states now have efficient bee inspection laws, and +twelve universities have followed our lead and have included beekeeping +in their curriculum. + +But we must not be satisfied with what we have accomplished. Out of +$14,000,000 worth of honey which this state produces (by figuring) only +$1,000,000 worth are gathered every year, and beekeeping in the state +must grow to fourteen times its present proportions before it will be +anywhere near its possibilities. + + + + +ORCHARD NOTES. + +Conducted monthly by R. S. MACKINTOSH, Horticulturist, Extension +Division, University Farm, St. Paul. + + +Minnesota orchardists are preparing for a full crop of apples this year. +From the experiences of last year with apple scab and codling moth, more +thorough spraying is to be done. Senator Dunlap stated an experience he +had in spraying that should be carefully considered by all apple men. +Nine rows of trees were sprayed on Monday or Tuesday. Owing to bad +weather the other rows could not be sprayed until Friday or Saturday. +What was the result? He had 175 barrels of No. 1 fruit from first part +and only seventeen barrels of No. 2 in rows sprayed later. Some are +planning their orchard work for the season along the following lines: + +_First: Pruning._ To be done during the mild weather in March and April. +Thin out all dead wood, interlocking branches, water-sprouts and shorten +others. Pruning is to get the tree into better form to sustain a large +load of fruit, to open the center to permit sunlight to get in to color +fruit, and to permit of better spraying. There are too many trees in +Minnesota that have never been touched by knife or saw. Such trees need +attention, but the pruning should not be too severe at any one time. +Begin this year to do a little pruning; next year do more; the year +after a little more; and after that very little attention will be needed +to keep the tree in good condition. + +While pruning look out for rabbit and mouse injury. If good trees have +been injured do some bridge grafting as soon as you can. This means +connecting the healthy bark above the wound with the healthy bark below. +Small twigs cut from the same tree, that are long enough to span the +wound, are cut wedge shaped on both ends, and these ends put under the +healthy bark. If possible cover the wounded area with earth. If too high +up tie the scions in place and cover all cut surfaces with grafting wax +and cloth. Several scions should be put in if the tree is large. + +_Second: Spraying._ Three sprayings are needed on every bearing apple +tree in Minnesota. + +First spray: When the center of buds show pink. Don't wait too long. + +Second spray: When the petals have fallen. + +Third spray: Ten to fifteen days after the second. + +Use lime-sulphur and arsenate of lead each time. It is important to do +this at the right time, in the right way, and with the right materials. +Right is the word and not left-undone. Further particulars will be found +on the page devoted to spraying topics. + +_Third: Cultivation._ Follow the plan that is best suited to location. +This may mean sod, part sod and cultivation, cultivation and mulch, +mulch only, or cultivation and cover crop. Doubtless the last is the +best in most instances. + +_Fourth: Thinning._ The thinning of apples in Minnesota has not been +received with as much consideration as its importance demands. More +attention will be given to this topic in subsequent issues. + + +HOME GARDEN. + +What about the farm and home garden for 1916? Is the garden to receive +the undivided attention of one or more members of each family, so that +all members and guests may share its fruits? Let's make the home garden +the best spot on every Minnesota farm in 1916. A conservative estimate +of the actual value of the products from a half-acre garden is fifty +dollars. In Minnesota there are over 150,000 farms. This would mean a +total value of over $7,000,000. This does not include the value of the +products of the village and city gardens. Careful estimates made in this +state show that it costs about fifteen dollars for man and horse labor +to take care of a garden of about three-fourths of an acre. Now for a +BIG GARDEN MOVEMENT this year--for all the year. Not a big beginning +kept up until the little weeds become big weeds. Is anyone going to +allow weeds to outdo him? + + + + +NOTES ON PLANT PESTS. + +Prepared by Section of Insect Pests, A. G. RUGGLES, and by +Section of Plant Diseases, E. C. STAKMAN, University Farm. + + +Buy spray materials as soon as possible. The orchardist will probably +notice very little difference in the price of his spraying materials, +like arsenate of lead and lime-sulphur, as compared with last year; but +those who still think that Paris green is the only good stomach +insecticide, will be astounded by this year's price. At the present +time, in one pound lots, the retailer cannot sell Paris green for less +than 50c per pound--over twice what it was last year. In large +quantities, it is doubtful if it can be purchased for less than 45c per +pound. Fortunately arsenate of lead, a better stomach insecticide than +Paris green, has not advanced materially in price, the powdered form +being obtained for about 25c per pound. One and one-half pounds of this +powder is used in fifty gallons of spray mixture. In our experiments, we +have found arsenate of lead superior to Paris green as a remedy for +potato bugs and all orchard insects. It is not necessary, therefore, to +allow any injurious biting insect to live simply because Paris green is +high in price. Arsenate of lead, if properly applied at the right time, +will keep any of these insects in check. + +A dormant wash does little good in controlling scab. Hence, on account +of the high price of spraying compounds, do not spray when unnecessary. + +Many diseases of nursery stock are controlled by spraying. Begin +spraying as soon as leaf buds unfold, with lime-sulphur 1-40 or Bordeaux +mixture 4-4-50. + +Copper-sulphate has also advanced 15c or 16c per pound. Lime-sulphur has +not advanced materially; therefore, plan to use lime-sulphur or some of +the made-up (paste) Bordeaux instead of Bordeaux mixture, whenever +possible. _Potatoes can not be sprayed with lime-sulphur._ + +The aphis problem is usually a very serious one, because they are such +persistent little breeders. The trees or shrubs most affected are roses, +snowball, currant, apple, plum and elm. The eggs of the plant lice pass +the winter on the bark or buds of these plants and hatch as the buds +begin to swell. Spray with the lime-sulphur (1-9) at this time. As soon +as the leaves appear, spray with nicotine-sulphate as per directions on +the container. + +If plum pocket was bad last year, the trees should be thoroughly pruned. +Then spray with copper-sulphate, one pound to nine gallons of water, or +lime-sulphur, one gallon with nine gallons of water, before the buds +open. Follow with one to forty lime-sulphur or other spray as for brown +rot. Control methods for plum pocket are not well worked out, so these +methods cannot be depended upon entirely. + +Be sure and look over the apple trees carefully; cut out and burn all +cankers. Black rot has been increasing in the state, and since a great +deal of early infection may come from cankered limbs, it is important +that cutting out and burning be resorted to. + +Last year the spring canker worm was just as active in the state as the +fall canker worm; therefore, just as soon as possible, trees affected +last year should be banded with the tree tanglefoot. The moths come out +of the soil the first two weeks in April and at that time attempt to +crawl up the trunks of the trees to lay their eggs on the limbs. + +When raspberries are uncovered, be sure to cut out and burn all dead +canes missed last fall. The gray bark disease and anthracnose, also +snowy tree cricket and red-necked cane borer, are controlled in this +way. + +Plan to keep the young canes covered with a protective spray of +resin-Bordeaux mixture. Try it on at least part of the patch. The +benefit will not be apparent for a year. + +Spray currants and gooseberries as soon as leaf buds begin to unfold, +with either Bordeaux mixture 4-4-50 or lime-sulphur 1-40, to prevent +powdery mildew and leaf spots. + +For further information write to the section concerned. Inquiries will +receive prompt attention. + + + + +SECRETARY'S CORNER + + +ANNUAL MEETING OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF +NURSERYMEN.--Information has reached this office to the effect that +this national association will hold its annual meeting in Milwaukee June +28th to 30th. This is so near by that it ought to bring a goodly number +of Minnesota nurserymen in attendance. For particulars in regard to the +matter address John Hill, 204 Granite Bldg., Rochester, N.Y. + +PASSING OF HANS KNUDSON.--Mr. Knudson, late of Springfield, +Minn., was the originator of the Compass cherry, which has been +generally planted throughout the Northwest these recent years. He grew +this variety from a seed as a result of a handmade cross between the +Miner plum and the sand cherry. Mr. Knudson had other seedlings of +similar origin which we thought might be of value, but nothing has been +since heard from them. News of his passing early in January has just +come to this office. + +THE MCINTOSH RED.--I think the McIntosh is quite hardy as a +top-worked tree; there are two in my old orchard set in 1894, and they +have shown no signs of injury. They were grafted on crab whips, but they +were planted on a knoll, that while clay was within twelve to fifteen +inches of a deep bed of sand. They have been shy bearers, but I think on +a clay subsoil, such as I now have, they might prove good bearers. I +would not be afraid to risk them as to hardiness.--F. W. Kimball, +Waltham, Minn. + +REPORTS FOR MINNEAPOLIS MEMBERS.--Every member of the society +is entitled to a copy of the annual report if desired. As there are not +as many copies printed, however, as there are members, if every one +asked for a copy we should be in trouble at once. Copies are mailed as +promptly as possible after receiving membership fee to all members +except those living in Minneapolis and those who come in as members of +some auxiliary society. Minneapolis members are requested to call at the +society office and secure the copy to which they are entitled, which +will then get into their hands in a good deal better shape than though +it passed through the postoffice. Members of auxiliary societies are +entitled to a copy of the report, but only upon the prepayment of +postage, which would be seven cents to points within 150 miles of +Minneapolis and ten cents outside that limit. + +SCIONS FOR TOP-WORKING.--Stark Bros. Nurseries, of Louisiana, +Mo., have sent to us for use in testing on top-worked trees a quantity +of scions of the following varieties: King David, Jonathan, Delicious, +Stayman Winesap, York Imperial and Liveland Raspberry. These scions are +to be used primarily to fill orders for top-working from members who +have selected them as one of the plant premiums, No. 8. There will, +however, be a considerable surplus, we believe, and as far as they hold +out we shall be glad to send them out to members of the society who have +trees for top-working, and know how to graft properly, upon receipt of +postage stamps to the amount of postage and packing, which would be +approximately ten cents. We are not sure that we can supply all who may +ask for them, but to a limited extent we can do so. I would suggest +promptness in making application for these scions. Address Secy. +Latham. + +WHO IS GROWING MCINTOSH RED APPLE?--Information from an +interested member of the society is called for as to what success, if +any, has been had in growing the McIntosh Red top-worked on hardy trees +here in Minnesota. Scions of this variety have been sent out several +years by the society and probably some have already come into fruitage, +or perhaps they have been secured from other sources. Replies will be +published. Address Secy. Latham. + +NO PLANT PREMIUMS AFTER APRIL 1ST.--All members ordering plant +premiums have undoubtedly noted this important condition that "all +applications for plant premiums must be made prior to April 1st." This +condition will be strictly adhered to, and those sending in selections +for plant premiums after that date need not feel disappointed if they do +not receive them. It is absolutely necessary to make a definite date +beyond which no applications will be received in order to work out +successfully the problem of distribution which faces us at that time. + +TO MEMBERS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES.--Occasionally a member of an +auxiliary society writes to this office asking for a copy of the annual +volume of the society. Members of auxiliary societies are entitled to +this volume, but the State Society does not pay postage on it, the +amount received from auxiliary societies for memberships not permitting +this expense. Any member of any auxiliary society who wishes to have a +copy of the annual volume mailed from this office should send with the +application postage at the rate of seven cents if within one hundred +fifty miles of Minneapolis, and ten cents to points in the state more +than one hundred fifty miles from Minneapolis. + +BUY NURSERY STOCK AT HOME.--There are always more or less +agents of foreign nurseries, that is nurseries located outside the +state, canvassing for orders of nursery stock in our state, and many +citizens are also tempted to reply to advertisements of outside +nurseries who are trying to secure business in Minnesota. It is not my +purpose to condemn these outside nurseries nor their methods of doing +business, which in most cases undoubtedly are honorable and straight +forward. But there is a real advantage in buying nursery stock at home, +that is, from nurserymen located in our own state, and especially from +nurserymen who are in the immediate vicinity. There is no class of goods +that one can buy in connection with which there is such opportunity for +mistake and fraud as in nursery stock. It is impossible for any but an +expert to tell by the appearance of a tree or plant of any kind what the +variety is, and either through mistake or purposely it is no uncommon +thing for those purchasing trees to be disappointed as to the names of +varieties when they come into fruitage or flower. If the nurseries are +in our own state, or in our vicinity, it is a very easy matter to get at +them, and they will almost uniformly be found willing to make good such +blunders, or if they don't and the matter is worth while they can be +made to do so. Don't place your orders outside of the state if the +things you want can be purchased at home. You will find it a real +advantage to act on this counsel. Especially in the case of strawberry +plants the element of distance is a very important one as on account of +their leafy character they heat and spoil readily. A few plants near +home are often worth more to the recipient than a large shipment from +abroad. + +NURSERYMEN OF MINNESOTA.--The secretary endeavors to keep a +correct list of all those engaged in the nursery business in this state. +As far as his personal acquaintance goes of course the list is known to +be a correct one, but there are doubtless a number engaged in the +nursery business in a small way of whom he does not know personally, and +he would be glad to hear from any engaged in the nursery business who +are not personally acquainted with him so that their names may be added +to this list. The address of the secretary is always to be found on the +front cover page of this magazine. + +THE SOCIAL ELEMENT AT OUR ANNUAL MEETING.--Those of our members +who attended the last annual meeting could not have failed to note the +large proportion of ladies in attendance at these meetings, not only at +the one managed by the Woman's Auxiliary, but also at every other +meeting during the four days session. You may be surprised to learn that +approximately one-third of those who registered as purposing to attend +the meeting belonged to the gentler sex, and the proportion in +attendance was somewhere in that neighborhood. This is one of the +delightful features of our annual gathering which is steadily +increasing. More and more are the ladies attending our meetings, and in +larger number are they becoming members of the association aside from +any relation they may sustain as wives or daughters to those who are +already members. This movement should be in every way encouraged, and we +hope another year to be able to offer still more attractive +accommodations in this direction. In planning for a new building for the +society, this feature of our work should not by any means be lost sight +of. I believe that very few organizations of this kind can boast so +large an interest on the part of the ladies in the various branches of +its work. + +DID YOU SELECT EVERBEARING STRAWBERRIES AS YOUR PREMIUM?--An +altogether unexpected demand has been made upon us for the Everbearing +Strawberries the society is offering as plant premiums to its members +this spring. Probably twice as many plants have been called for as can +be furnished in the amount asked for. Under the "right of substitution" +which the society reserves in the matter of its plant premiums, probably +plant premium No. 16 will be substituted for Nos. 17 and 18 if matters +turn out as now appears, though the number of plants sent will be more +than is offered under No. 16. As this everbearing strawberry, originated +at the fruit-breeding farm, No. 1017, is a very prolific plant maker, a +dozen plants, if the runners are allowed to grow, will make plants +enough to set out a bed of them next year, large enough in all +probability for family use. + +In the matter of June-bearing strawberry No. 3, offered as premium, +there is undoubtedly stock enough to fill all orders including those +asked for for which money has been sent, and we are in hopes that orders +for raspberry No. 4 can be filled in their entirety, though it may be +necessary to return money which has been sent for additional plants. + +In this distribution all members will be treated exactly alike and +altogether in accordance with the conditions noted in connection with +the list of premiums as found on page six of the society folder and on +the inside front cover page of the magazine. + +[Illustration: VIEW IN FRUIT-BREEDING GREENHOUSE, STATE COLLEGE, +BROOKINGS, S.D. + +This is Prof. N. E. Hansen's laboratory, where he works out his problems +in cross-breeding. (See opposite page.)] + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted in estimating their practical value. + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + +Vol. 44 MAY, 1916 No. 5 + + + + +What is Hardiness? + +PROF. N. E. HANSEN, HORTICULTURIST, BROOKINGS, S.D. + + +By the term hardiness is understood the capacity to resist against any +special condition of environment. So in speaking of hardiness of the +plant it may mean hardiness as to either cold, heat, drouth, fungus or +insect trouble. In the present discussion hardiness against cold will be +considered mainly, since that is the most difficult problem we have to +meet in this horticultural field. It would be of great advantage could +we determine by examination of the plant its power to resist cold. If we +could determine by the looks of a new apple tree its power of resistance +to our test winters, it would save us many thousands of dollars and much +vexation of spirit. Some years ago the Iowa State Horticultural Society +made a determined and praiseworthy effort to determine hardiness by some +characteristic of the plant, especially in apple trees. A chemical test +of the sap of hardy and tender varieties was made. The palisade cells of +the leaf, and the cellular structure of the wood, were examined under +high powers of the microscope to determine some means by which a tender +variety could be distinguished from a hardy one, but no general rule or +conclusion could be formulated. In a general way nurserymen and +orchardists say that a variety that ripens its wood well in the fall +shows it by the twigs being sturdy and not easily bent, while twigs that +are not well ripened indicate lack of hardiness. + +The winter of 1884-85 was preceded by a late, wet autumn that kept trees +of all varieties growing very late, so that winter came before the wood +was ripened. In all the literature on this subject, I have been unable +to find any method by which a hardy variety could be distinguished from +a tender one of the same species, or, in other words, there is no +correlation between morphology and hardiness. + +Although we do not know what determines hardiness, we may still go ahead +with our experimental work. We do not really know what electricity is, +but inventors in that line have enough of a theory on this subject so +that they are able to work very successfully with this gigantic force of +nature. We know there is a difference in hardiness between the red cedar +of Tennessee and the red cedar of Minnesota, and that it is safest for +us to plant the tree as it is found at the north. The same applies to +many other trees that are found native over a wide area. At Moscow, +Russia, the box elder as first imported was from St. Louis, and it +winter-killed. Afterwards they got the box elder from Manitoba, and it +proved perfectly hardy. Although botanically both are the same, yet +there is a difference in hardiness. + +My way of securing hardiness is to work with plants that are already +hardy. I like to work with native plums in my plant breeding experiments +because there need be no concern about their hardiness. We know they are +hardy, or they would not be here after thousands of years of natural +selection in this climate. + +The other way of obtaining hardiness is by crossing a tender variety +with a hardy one. When we cross the native plum with the Japanese plum, +we obtain seedlings that combine in a fair measure the hardiness of the +native plum with the size and quality of the Japanese plum. + +In many states of the Union the question of varieties for commercial +orchards has been to a large degree settled. There is always room for a +new apple, but for commercial purposes the varieties already in +cultivation are sufficiently satisfactory as to size, color and quality +as well as in keeping and shipping capacity. So the main effort in their +horticultural societies is along other lines, such questions as +marketing, packing, spraying, insects, fungi and orchard management. But +in this region the winter apple question is still a vital one. + +Some promising winter apples have appeared recently, and it remains to +be seen whether they will stand up under the next test winter. They are +certainly satisfactory in size, color, quality and keeping capacity. + +The greatest question now presents itself in planting apple seed. What +variety shall I choose? Some pedigrees may be like a blind alley, they +will lead us nowhere. The commercial apples of the East and of the +Pacific Coast are the survivors of millions of apple seedlings raised +by immigrants from Western Europe during the past three centuries. They +survived because they were the best. From time to time very good +varieties are super-ceded by new ones that appear. From the ashes of +millions of seedlings will arise, Phoenix-like, the creations that will +dominate our future prairie pomology. Here in the Northwest thousands of +farmers have already determined to a considerable extent what we may +expect from planting the seed of certain standard varieties. + +[Illustration: The Waneta plum. A promising variety originated and +introduced by Prof. N. E. Hansen.] + +Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa are full of seedlings of the Duchess. Some +of the best are Okabena, Peerless, Patten's Greening, Milwaukee, Dudley, +Pewaukee. A very large amount of Wealthy seed has been planted, +especially in Minnesota. Many of these give promise, but in none do we +appear to have obtained the true winter-keeping capacity. The Wealthy +has given us the Lord's L, Evelyn, Lyman Sweet, Perfect and many more, +observed at Minnesota state fairs from time to time. The Malinda has +given us in the Perkins' seedlings a number of promising new varieties +that evidently are true winter keepers. The fact that they appear hardy +may come from the fact that the original orchard had hardy varieties, +like the Duchess, standing near the Malinda. From the experience with +these three varieties I would like to draw the conclusion that in order +to get winter apples we should save the seed of winter apples, but it +would not be safe to draw this conclusion without further experiments. +There is an immense number of Ben Davis seedlings in Missouri and +adjoining states, but none appear to have come into extensive commercial +notice except the Black Ben Davis and Gano. But as near as I can learn +we cannot obtain real hardiness from this line of descent, unless the +Ben Davis in the mother orchard is standing near varieties like the +Duchess. + +The seed of standard winter apples top-grafted on hardy stocks like +Hibernal should be carefully saved as nature may have smiled with +indulgence upon your efforts and created the desired variety. I am +watching with great interest a tree of very vigorous, smooth growth, +from seed of Talman Sweet top-grafted on Duchess. You would not expect +to get anything hardy from seed of the Talman Sweet, but the entire +hardiness so far of the young trees propagated from the original +seedling, makes me impatient to see the fruit. A blend of Talman Sweet +and Duchess ought certainly to bring something good, but they will not +all be hardy or all good. The fact that there are so many different +lines of pedigree available to us in our apple work, makes it all the +more necessary for us to divide the work. + +Let us gather inspiration from the story of Johnny Apple-Seed--one of +the patron saints of American horticulture--who about one hundred and +twenty-five years ago forced his way through the wilderness of Indiana +and Ohio and planted many bushels of apple seed as he went along, so +that when settlers came they found their orchards ready for them. The +story of John Chapman and his unselfish efforts in planting the seed of +apples and other fruits in the American wilderness should give us +courage and patience to give a little of our time to this work. Make a +record of what seeds you plant, and when the seedlings are one year of +age plant them out in a row where they can be cultivated. Select the +best ones as they fruit and bring to the state fair or horticultural +meeting. You may not win the grand prize, but you will have the +satisfaction of having made some contribution to the common welfare. + + * * * * * + +In localities where cottontails are sufficiently abundant to be a +continual menace, the safest and most nearly permanent method of +securing immunity from their ravages is to fence against them. It has +been found that woven wire netting of one and one-half inch mesh and +thirty inches high will exclude rabbits, provided, that the lower border +of the fence is buried five or six inches below the surface of the +ground. In cases where a small number of trees are concerned, a cylinder +of similar wire netting around each tree, if so fastened that it cannot +be pushed up close against the tree, serves the purpose more +economically. + + + + +Standardizing Minnesota Potatoes. + +A. W. AAMODT, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. + +(Gideon Memorial Contest.) + + +The potato is one of the large farm crops of the country, rating next to +the cereals in importance. According to the census report of 1909, +United States produced 389,194,965 bushels, and three-fourths of these +were consumed in the states in which they were produced. The report also +shows that the most extensive production was along the northern tier of +states, from Maine to Minnesota. In 1909 the states ranked in production +as follows: New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Maine, Minnesota, +Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Illinois and Colorado. In the same year +Minnesota ranked fourth in surplus production, producing sixteen per +cent. of the potatoes which entered into interstate commerce. Wisconsin +produced twenty per cent., Michigan twenty-four per cent. and Maine +twenty-five per cent. + +[Illustration: Figure I. Rural New Yorker.] + +In Minnesota the largest part of these potatoes are grown in certain +districts of the state, and according to the 1909 census the counties +rank in respective order, namely: Hennepin, Isanti, Chisago, Clay, +Anoka, Sherburne, Washington, Ottertail, Dakota, and Mille Lacs. This +shows that the largest production is in the vicinity of St. Paul and +Minneapolis, and the Red River Valley, especially in Clay County. + +The following statement shows the per cent. of increase in acreage from +1900 to 1910 and that the older districts are being rapidly outdone by +the counties towards the northern part of the state: + +Clay, 455 per cent.; Sherburne, 254 per cent.; Polk, 136 per cent.; +Todd, 109 per cent.; Hennepin, 83 per cent.; Anoka, 58 per cent.; +Isanti, 26 per cent.; Chisago, 17 per cent. + +From these reports it is also evident that the distribution of the +surplus is entirely towards the southern states, either as table stock +or as seed potatoes, which in turn varies with the different years +because of differences in crop yields. But as a general rule Maine, New +York and Michigan supply the states in the east, east central and +southeastern part of the country, Wisconsin the Chicago market and +Minnesota the Mississippi Valley, especially Nebraska and Kansas. In +addition Minnesota ships seed potatoes to many of the Southern states. + +[Illustration: Figure II. Burbank.] + +Because of these markets, potato shippers maintain that competition is +extremely keen between the potato growing sections of this country. +There can be no doubt that the only way Minnesota can meet her increase +in yield and increase in demand is to determine whether or not she will +expand her markets to the territory which is now being held by the other +states. But before Minnesota can get these markets and obtain the better +prices, she must standardize her potatoes. That is, Minnesota can +obtain great improvement by adopting certain standards for the grading +and sorting of potatoes. + +At a conference held in Chicago, last February, of representatives from +the growing, shipping and marketing interests, the following +recommendations for greater uniformity in potato shipments were made: + +_Size._--Market stock of round white varieties shall be graded over a +screen which measures 1-7/8 inches in the clear. For long white +varieties a screen of 1-3/4 inches, in the clear, is recommended. + +_Weight._--Stock running over twelve ounces is undesirable and not over +five per cent. of this maximum weight should be allowed in first class +shipments. + +[Illustration: Figure III. Burbank Russet.] + +_Quality._--Stock should be practically free from serious external +imperfections, including late blight rot, common scab, sunburn, frost +injury, bruises, knobbiness, second growth, etc. Stock should be mature +and clean. + +_Varietal purity._--Commercial potato shipments should be graded to one +variety. + +All indications show that Minnesota must grade and sort for commercial +shipments of potatoes, and that a definite brand or grade designating a +definite standard must be adopted in order to secure the highest prices. +All inferior stock must be thrown out, and the best potatoes given a +chance to make an attractive showing. + +The standing which Minnesota potatoes will have in the market will be +determined a great deal by the grading, which is usually the work of +the dealer, although some farmers do their own grading by hand. Ungraded +potatoes injure the Minnesota potato trade and reduce the profits, as +the freight is the same on dirt, small and unsound potatoes as it is on +the fine stock. As much as a ton of dirt and culls is sometimes found in +a car on the Chicago "team tracks" after the wholesale merchant has +sacked all he is willing to accept. This freight, sorting charges and +cost of disposing of refuse must be paid by some one. Co-operating to +improve the sorting done at loading stations is a means of establishing +a grade to meet competition and to reach new markets. + +[Illustration: Figure IV. Early Ohio.] + +Standardization also means grading to eliminate potatoes infected with +disease, such as common scab and late blight, sunken discolorations or +dry hard blisters, green, spongy and coarse stock. All of these defects +tend to lower prices. + +In order to increase the value of the Minnesota potato we must also +supply the market with the variety which it demands, and, furthermore, +this variety must be free from mixture. Minnesota has already taken a +step in this direction. The Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, +Minnesota Crop Improvement Association and the Minnesota Potato Growers' +Association have recommended the following varieties and types to be +selected and grown. + +The Rural New Yorker, as shown in Figure 1, is the leading round, white, +late potato for Minnesota. It is a good yielding and keeping variety, +fine in quality, an excellent market sort and suitable for almost any +soil. + +Similar to the Rural New Yorker are the Carman No. 3 and Sir Walter +Raleigh. + +The Green Mountain is a desirable white late potato, similar to the +Rural New Yorker, but more oblong and with squarer ends. It is better +suited to rich heavy soils than the Rural New Yorker, as they are not so +likely to grow hollow. + +[Illustration: Figure V. Triumph.] + +Other similar varieties are the Carman No. 1, Green Mountain, Jr., and +State of Maine. + +The Burbank (Fig. II) is a long, white, late potato of excellent quality +and suitable only for rich, loose, loam soils. Thrives well upon new +rich soils that are well supplied with humus. + +Other inferior varieties confused with the Burbank are the White Chief, +White Star and Pingree. + +The Burbank Russet (Fig. III) is a long, russet, late potato differing +mainly from the Burbank in its heavily russeted skin. Very fine for +baking. Suitable for low, moist, friable and peaty soils. + +The Early Ohio (Fig. IV) is the leading early potato in Minnesota. The +type is oval with a pinkish or flesh colored skin. It is particularly +suited to the black, rich, friable soils. + +The Triumph (Fig. V) is a round, red, very early potato, valuable for +southern seed trade. It suffers severely from drought, and, therefore, +soils subject to this condition should be avoided. + +Similar or identical varieties are Red Bliss, Bliss, Triumph and Stray +Beauty. + +The Irish Cobbler is a promising white, early, roundish potato of good +quality, although inferior to the Early Ohio. It has not been +sufficiently tested out, but is promising for southern seed trade. + +Similar variety is the Extra Early Eureka. + +The King is a broad, oblong, reddish potato. Very suitable for worn-out +and sandy soils. + +Similar or identical variety is the Maggie Murphy. + +In conclusion I would have you to remember the main points of this paper +which may be summarized as follows: + +First. That Minnesota is one of the leading potato producing states of +the Union. + +Second. That Minnesota must establish a reputation for a continuous +supply of well graded stock practically free from diseases and +blemishes. + +Third. That Minnesota must create a general interest in better seed, +true to name and type. + +Finally. Minnesota must secure the co-operation of all agencies +interested in the production, distribution and utilization of potatoes +to get better production, better grading and better marketing. + + * * * * * + +INSECTS HELP RAISE CROP.--It is well known that most of our +crop plants will not form fruit and seed unless the flowers are properly +pollinated. The principal carriers of pollen are wind and insects. In +some plants, such as the beet, both wind and insects play an important +part in the spread of pollen. In all cereals and grasses, and in the +potato, the pollen is carried mainly by wind. In most of our common +plants of garden, field, and orchard, insects are the chief and most +effective carriers of pollen. The following is a list of +insect-pollinated plants: Onions, asparagus, buckwheat, gooseberry, +currant, cabbage, radish, turnip, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, +apple, pear, plum, cherry, peach, alfalfa, clover, melons, cucumbers and +squashes. We are very dependent upon the bees and other insects for a +good crop yield.--W. W. Robbins, Colorado Agri. College. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Vice-President, Eighth Congressional District. + +FRANK H. CUTTING, DULUTH. + + +This district embraces within its limits a very large area having +different characteristics from a horticultural standpoint. Much of the +land has a high elevation and is rolling or hilly, and much is low and +comparatively level. A considerable portion is close to Lake Superior +and other large bodies of water and, therefore, governed by conditions +with respect to frost different from those controlling land not so +situated. The quality or character of the soil is also varying. + +The foregoing considerations probably furnish the reason for the widely +differing reports secured on the blanks distributed, and which were +quite generally answered. This prompts the suggestion that before +planting commercially or on a large scale one should personally conduct +a series of experiments on land designed for use to test its +adaptability for the fruits intended. + +We suffered a frost and hard freeze on the 18th day of May which greatly +damaged the fruit buds; the temperature registered on that day at the +United States Weather Office being 27 deg. The month of June was the +coolest in forty-five years. The low temperature of the summer months +and lack of sunshine resulted in a tardy development of fall fruits and +a failure to mature them. Even the Beta grape and the Compass cherry did +not ripen their fruit. The Opata plum, however, bore a large crop of +ripe plums early in September. + +Very little blight has been reported. + +The weather report shows a deficiency of precipitation up to December 1 +of 3.81 inches. However, the heavy rains in November immediately before +the ground froze supplied sufficient moisture to enable trees and shrubs +to stand the winter. + +The following list is suggested by the reports: + +Apples: Duchess, Okabena, Wealthy, Patten's Greening. + +Crab Apples: Florence, Early Strawberry, Virginia. + +Plums: Cheney, Aitkin, Compass, Opata. + +Grape: Beta. + +Cherries: Reports generally unfavorable. + +Blackberries: No kinds reported favorably. + +Raspberry: Minnetonka Ironclad, King, Cuthbert, Older. + +Strawberries: Dunlap; Everbearing--Progressive and Superb. + +Currants: Red Dutch, Perfection, Wilder, White Grape. + +Gooseberries: Carrie, Houghton, Downing. + +Hardy Perennial Flowers: Peonies, Phlox, Sweet William, Delphinium, +Canterbury Bells, Foxglove, Oriental Poppies, Iceland Poppies. + +Hardy Shrubs: Snowball, Hydrangea, Lilac, Honeysuckle, High Bush +Cranberry. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Paynesville Trial Station. + +FRANK BROWN, SUPT. + + +The summer of 1915 will long be remembered as the summer with no warm +weather. There was a heavy frost the morning of June 10th. The season's +rainfall was very heavy, but trees at the best made only a normal +growth, and with many varieties, especially of forest trees, the growth +was much less than the usual growth of even a dry season. + +Some fruit trees blossomed quite early, and the young fruit formed +during a warm spell, and these trees were heavily loaded with fruit. +This was especially noticeable with Wealthy, Duchess, Okabena and +Whitney No. 20 apples, and with some of the Hansen hybrid plums. Other +trees, fully as good bearers, blossomed a few days later and set no +fruit at all, the frost killing the blossoms while not severe enough to +harm the fruit already set. + +The cool weather of this past season has probably helped fruit growers +more than it has hindered them, for had it been as hot as it usually is +when we have such a tremendous rainfall, blight would most certainly +have caused much trouble, but as it was we have had practically no +blight at all. + +This season has again demonstrated very plainly the advantages of +top-working, such trees making a better growth, and the fruit being more +even, and less troubled with spots, scab, etc. + +The plums sent to this station the spring of 1913 bore no fruit at all +this season, but the trees made a fair growth and all appear healthy +except a few that froze back the winter of 1913-14. + +The plum trees sent from the central station the spring of 1914 made a +very poor growth that season, owing undoubtedly to the fact that the +roots were dry when reaching here, but this last season all but one made +a splendid growth, and one No. 10, to my surprise, produced five plums +that for beauty and eating qualities would place this variety in the +front rank with the best in the state. We shall watch these trees with +great interest and will report on their actions as they develop. + +The four trees of No. 1 plum, sent here the spring of 1915 from the +central station, made a splendid growth, each tree developing fruit buds +in abundance. + +Of the seven varieties of raspberries sent here the spring of 1913, +three made good this last season. No. 2 bore a tremendous crop of very +large fruit, in quality the best; No. 4 bore heavily, an all around +good berry and apparently a good shipper; No. 7 produced a good crop, +not quite as large as No. 2, but continued in bearing for a long period. +Further testing will be necessary for these berries, but so far they +look good. + +There is little to say about grapes, except the growth has been good, +and the amount of fruit buds started immense, but the frost and +unsuitable weather told the tale--we won't repeat it. + +Of strawberries we will say this: If the central station did nothing in +five years except to produce the strawberry known as Minnesota No. 3, +they have still done well. It is hardy, a good shipper, it is delicious +with cream and sugar, a good canner, in fact a great big Senator Dunlap +with no green core, but ripens to the tip. It is also a good plant +producer. + +The strawberry known as No. 1017, planted last spring, did well. It is a +wonderful plant producer, having a very heavy, dark green foliage, it +seems to be a good bearer of large, dark red berries. + +With the wood on the fruit trees thoroughly ripened, and fruit buds in +good condition, we may look ahead to the future with courage, believing +that all things come to him that waits in Minnesota, providing he +hustles while he waits. + + * * * * * + +RED ROSE BEETLE IS EASILY KILLED.--Did you ever wait patiently +in the spring for your favorite Japanese rose to bloom and find when the +buds were ready to burst that it was scaly and spotted around punctures +made by the red rose beetle? Then did you vow once more to destroy the +beetles when you saw the roses begin to wither from punctures made by +the beetle in the stem? + +The destruction of the red rose beetle is simple, according to a +circular recently issued by the Minnesota state entomologist, University +Farm, St. Paul. The method is to cultivate the ground around the rose +bush early this spring and cultivate it again in the late fall. This +will destroy many of the beetles, for they live in the soil in the +winter. Then a few of the pests can be hand-picked and destroyed. + +If they are still too thick, they may be removed next fall for safety to +next year's blooms. The beetle lays its eggs in the hip of the rose. +These can be seen after the rose is in full bloom as a black spot, +covered over with no noticeable depression. The growing pests leave the +old blossom by the middle of September and go into the soil until next +spring. + +The bush should be examined in the latter part of August for any flower +hips containing insect larvae and all found should be plucked and +burned. A few hours' work will insure a beautifully blooming bush next +year. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Jeffers Trial Station. + +DEWAIN COOK, SUPT. + + +The 1915 apple crop at this station was a complete failure, owing to the +freezes of late May and early June. This apple failure, so far as I have +been able to ascertain, was prevalent over the entire county of +Cottonwood, although we could hear of plenty of apples being grown only +a short distance over the county line in all directions excepting to the +west of us. + +[Illustration: A windbreak at Dewain Cook's, mostly white willow.] + +The season has been one of cool weather and much rainfall, so much so +that although we had no killing frosts this fall until October 5th, yet +no corn or melons ripened in this vicinity. We quit spraying our fruit +trees when the freeze came last spring and destroyed the apple crop, and +the result has been that there was much scab on the foliage of many +varieties of our apple trees. The Antonovka and the Hibernal seem to be +about the healthiest in this respect. As to the fire blight there has +been absolutely none at this station the season just passed. + +As for plums we got a few bushels in the final roundup, De Sotos, Wolfs +and Wyants mostly. Of the Japanese hybrids, we got a few specimens of +the B.A.Q. The Emerald bore freely, but the fruit mostly either was +destroyed by the brown rot or cracked badly just as they were getting +ripe. The Tokata, one of Hansen's hybrids, gave us specimens of very +fine fruit. + +Of the apricot hybrids only the Hanska made any pretense of trying to +bear anything, but the curculio got away with about all of them. + +When I made the midsummer report most of Hansen's sand cherry hybrids +were promising a good crop, but with the exception of the Enopa and +Kakeppa, from which we gathered a few quarts of fruits, we got nothing. +The brown rot, assisted by the curculio, took them all. It sure looks +as if we ever expect to make a general success with these sand cherry +hybrids and with the Japanese hybrids, we will have to be better +educated along the line of controlling this disease that is so very +destructive to the fruit of some varieties of plums, especially of those +varieties that have sand cherry or Japanese blood in them. + +[Illustration: A veteran white spruce at Mr. Cook's place.] + +[Illustration: Specimen Colorado blue spruce at Dewain Cook's.] + +We have to report a grand success with everbearing strawberry No. 1017, +sent to this station from our State Fruit-Breeding Farm last spring. The +season all through was favorable for that class of fruit. We kept all +blossoms picked off till about the first of August, when we let +everything grow, and there is a great number of new plants. These new +plants, with a few exceptions, did not bear, but the old plants, the +ones set last spring, we gathered from them, from about September 15 +till the first hard frost, October 5th, a liberal crop of surprisingly +fine fruit. The Americus, also an everbearing variety, treated exactly +as we did Minnesota 1017, bore a great number of plants and some fruit +in the fall. The berries were not so large as the 1017 nor so many of +them. While it is a perfect flowering variety, most of the late blossoms +blighted, which seems to be a weakness of this variety. + +On November 5th our strawberry beds were all given a mulching with loose +oat straw for a winter protection. + +The several varieties of grape vines originating at the Minnesota State +Farm on trial here have all made a vigorous growth. We have them all +pruned and laid on the ground, and we intend to give them no other +winter protection. They are in a sheltered location. In spite of the +various freezes early in the season we got samples of fruit from most of +the varieties. Minnesota No. 8 seems to be the earliest to ripen its +fruit. The wild grape flavor is noticeable in all these varieties. + +The various varieties of plum trees sent here from the State Farm made +vigorous growth the past season and are looking healthy with the +exception of Minnesota No. 21. Of the five trees of this variety each +one has a great many galls on the body of the tree. It is probably what +is termed black knot, only the galls have not turned black yet. They are +apparently of too recent growth for that. It is probable that we will +plant other trees in their places next spring. + + * * * * * + +PAINTING OF SMALL TREE WOUNDS USELESS.--It has long been the +custom for horticulturists to recommend, and fruit growers to use, +dressings of various kinds on the wounds of trees when branches are +removed in pruning. A few years ago the New York Experiment Station +decided to conduct some experiments to determine whether such practice +was really of any value or not. + +From results of this work, which have recently been published in +bulletin form, it is concluded that the use of white lead, white zinc, +yellow ochre, coal tar, shellac and avenarious carbolineum as coverings +for wounds under five inches in diameter is not only useless, but +usually detrimental to the tree. This is particularly true of peaches, +and perhaps of some other stone fruits, which, according to +recommendations, should never be treated at all. + +The substances mentioned often injure the cambium layer to such an +extent that the healing of wounds is greatly retarded. Of the substances +experimented with, white lead proved to be the best and is recommended +wherever anything is used. But it is not thought worth while to use even +white lead for wounds two or three inches or less in diameter, though it +may be advisable to use it on wounds where very large branches have been +removed. + +On the larger wounds, where much surface is exposed to decay, the white +lead will help to keep out moisture and the organisms which cause decay. +The smaller wounds, however, heal so quickly that the evil effects of +the covering may more than offset the benefits derived from its +use.--R.A. McGinty, Colorado Agricultural College, Fort Collins, +Colorado. + + + + +Annual Report, 1915, Montevideo Trial Station. + +LYCURGUS R. MOYER, SUPT. + + +About twenty-six years ago a plantation of white spruce was made at this +station. The trees flourished for several years and bade fair to become +a permanent success, but some six or eight years ago they began to fail +and many of them have since died. The survivors are all in poor +condition. It seems that this tree is not well adapted to prairie +conditions, at least not to the prairies of Southwestern Minnesota. Its +native range is much further north. Here it evidently suffers from heat +and dryness. The Black Hills spruce is commonly regarded as belonging to +the same species. It has not been tested nearly so long, but so far it +seems to be entirely hardy. + +Something like thirty years ago a few trees of black spruce, a few trees +of European larch and a few trees of balsam fir were planted here. They +have long since disappeared. White pine planted at about the same time +disappeared with them. A single tree of Scotch pine planted at about the +same time, standing in the open, is gnarled and crooked and shows a +great many dead branches. A forest plantation of several thousand Scotch +pine, made something like twenty-two years ago, is still in good +condition. Many of the trees are from twenty-five to thirty feet high. +Some of the smaller trees have been over-topped and smothered out, but +generally the trees seem healthy. A few hundred of the black, or +Austrian, pine were set at the same time. They are about two-thirds of +the height of the Scotch pine, but they are as healthy and vigorous +trees as one would care to see. Some trees of rock, or bull, pine (Pinus +scopulorum) were set at the same time. They have grown at about the same +rate as the black pine and are healthy, vigorous trees. + +Norway spruce has done better here than white spruce, some old trees +fruiting freely. The Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) seems to be +our best spruce, and so far as tested the Black Hills spruce is a good +second. Douglas fir has been planted in a small way in the parks, but it +is young yet. + +It seems probable that the Scotch pines in the forestry plantation owe +their comparatively good condition to the shelter they get from the hot +winds from being planted close together, and from the fact that they are +partly protected by the black pines planted to the west of them. The +single tree of Scotch pine above referred to has had garden cultivation +for thirty years, but it seems likely that it was injured by the same +hot winds that killed the white pine and the larch. The Scotch pine is a +native of Northern Europe, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, Normandy +(near the ocean) and Germany and Russia around the Baltic, and all these +countries have a moist, cool climate. The black pine is a native of +Southern Europe, growing all the way from Southern Spain to the Taurus +Mountains in Asia Minor. In its native habitat it has become accustomed +to the hot winds that often sweep across the Mediteranean, the burning +sirocco of the Great Sahara. The dwarf mountain pine, Pinus Montana, +grows in the Pyrenees, in the Alps, in the Carpathians and in the Balkan +Mountains, so that it, too, often encounters the hot winds that come +across from the African deserts. It is probable that the ability of the +black pine, the dwarf mountain pine, the Black Hills spruce, and the +rock pine to flourish on the prairies of Southwestern Minnesota is due +to the fact that all these trees have become accustomed to resisting the +hot, dry winds that often reach them in their native habitats. + +The Norway spruce (Picea excelsa) in its many varieties is native to +almost the whole of Europe, extending from north of the Arctic Circle to +the Pyrenees and Balkan Mountains in Southern Europe. We could then +expect that trees from the Pyrenees or from the Balkans might be so well +accustomed to the hot winds from Africa as to make them resist, at least +for some time, the hot winds of the prairies. And they do seem to stand +better than the white spruce or the balsam fir or the white pine. + +Some report should be made on the material sent out for trial from the +State Fruit-Breeding Farm. The strawberry, No. 1017, made a fine growth, +and promised a large crop of fruit in September, but a few days of quite +dry weather, following a very wet spell, ruined the crop at ripening +time. + +The raspberry, No. 4, is a great producer of sprouts and multiplies +enormously, but it seems to be a rather shy fruiter, and the fruit is +not of the highest quality. It is intermediate in season. No. 5 is a +much larger and better berry, although not quite so hardy. Both came +through the winter, without covering, in good condition. No. 8 seems to +resemble the old Columbian. It does not sucker much. It is a large, late +berry of good quality. It was covered, so its hardiness is untested. +Prof. Hansen's Oheta is a berry of much promise. It is of fine quality +and fruits abundantly. + +The hybrid plums were sprayed with a commercial dust spray but not +effectively enough, for the fruit all rotted. We shall try more thorough +spraying next season. + +Patten's Greening, Oldenburg, Okabena and Simbrish No. 1 produced a good +crop of apples. With us Okabena is undersized, of poor flavor and an +extremely poor keeper. + + + + +The Growing of Vegetables for Canning. + +M. H. HEGERLE, PRES. CANNING FACTORY, ST. BONIFACIUS. + + +The state authorities, through the Agricultural Farm and other sources, +are doing good work promoting and encouraging the growing of vegetables, +but it seems more could be done towards the marketing and conservation +of these vegetables after they are grown. + +The growing season for vegetables in this state is comparatively short, +and although during that short period everybody eats vegetables, every +grocer's show windows, and even the sidewalks, are used to display them, +and a tremendous business is done, yet there are tons and tons of nice +fresh vegetables go to waste, not only for the market or truck farmer +but in every family garden--be the same ever so small, there is a steady +waste going on, all of which could easily be conserved _by canning_. + +Canning is simply putting the fresh vegetables in tin cans or glass jars +(the latter are much more expensive, but no better), steaming and +sealing them and setting aside until wanted. By doing this every truck +farmer, and any one having ever so small a garden, could conserve enough +which otherwise would go to waste to keep them in real fresh vegetables +all winter. + +Of course the thousands living in the cities having no garden can not do +this and are therefore dependent on the canning factory for their fresh +vegetables, and here is where my topic comes in, _the growing of +vegetables for canning_. + +It is no trick to grow vegetables for home canning, any variety will do. +You need not select a big lot of one kind, and you need not sort for +size or color. Just take the surplus as you find it in your garden from +day to day. All it needs is, it must be fresh and it must be thoroughly +clean--but growing for the canning factory is different. To line up +fifty to 200 growers to sow the same seed, to plant, harvest and bring +to the factory just when in right condition, requires time and hard +work. This really is the hardest problem the canning factory has to +solve, and that is the reason why all successful canners grow at least +part of their product. + +You must remember vegetables put in cans will come out just as you put +them in. If you put in stale, tough, stringy beans you will be sure to +find them there when you open the can, but if you put in fresh, tender +beans, peas, corn or whatever else, you will find these exactly as you +put them in, and it's immaterial whether you open this can the first, +second or tenth year. We must not forget that vegetables properly +sterilized and sealed will keep indefinitely, and they require no +preservative of any kind. No canning factory uses any preservative, and +no home cannery should use them. + +[Illustration: Upland Farm, St. Bonifacius, Minn.] + +There was a time when canning was considered an art or a secret. I +remember receiving circulars offering for sale the secrets of canning, +and while in the grocery business some twelve years ago I sold thousands +of packages of canning compound. These canning compounds, after a +thorough examination by our State Food Department, were found not only +worthless but harmful if put in canned foods. + +_Remember_, to can vegetables successfully, it requires no canning +compound or preservative of any kind, simply fresh and thoroughly clean +vegetables. + +Fresh vegetables are a good, healthy food, we all know this; and besides +they are cheaper than meat; therefore should be on our tables two or +three times a day. But mind you, they must be fresh, and while for some +of us during the growing season it is comparatively easy to get them +fresh, yet during the rest of the year, say eight to ten months, real +fresh vegetables in bulk are hard to find and high in price. A lot of +so-called fresh vegetables shipped in from a distance at best require +several days to make the rounds through the grower, the shipper, the +jobber, the retailer--to our tables and are really not fresh. They have +become stale, and by coming in contact with different kinds of material +have lost their delicate flavor. Therefore to insure real fresh +vegetables for our tables, at least during the winter months, we must +take the canned article. + +All of us remember how most everything in the grocery line was handled +in bulk, dried fruits, cereals of all kinds, coffee, tea, etc., was +displayed on the counters, along the aisles and even outside along the +sidewalk, handled and examined by any one and exposed to dust and flies. +Just about the same way are vegetables in bulk handled today. Where is +the grocer who would go back to those days, and where is the public that +would patronize him? + +Mrs. Glenzke: What vegetables do you can? + +Mr. Hegerle: We can corn; beans, string and wax; apples, tomatoes, etc. + +Mrs. Glenzke: How do you manage to get the farmers to bring them in? In +Wisconsin it was a failure. As you say, they came when they got their +work done, and the whole bunch came there at one time. + +Mr. Hegerle: That is the hardest work, to get the growers to bring the +vegetables when they are in the right condition and when they should be +canned. + +Mrs. Glenzke: There are five canning factories in that neighborhood now, +and there isn't a one of them that allows the farmers to bring their +stuff. They rent the farmers' land for themselves. For miles and miles +you can't find a farmer that hasn't rented his farm. + +Mr. Hegerle: You have to have the vegetables at the right time. + +Mrs. Glenzke: They use the farmer's team and give him all the assistance +they can. It does away with having them all at one time. I have seen +twenty-five farmers come at one time. I don't see how you manage it. + +Mr. Hegerle: We have had a lot of trouble, and we are growing some of +our vegetables. + +Mrs. Glenzke: You can raise four successive crops of peas on the same +ground, and you can make that work all right. They used to can squash, +corn, tomatoes, and they have got down to peas entirely. + +A Member: Doesn't most of that trouble arise from the low prices? + +Mr. Hegerle: No, not entirely. The price when contracted is +satisfactory, and we find in our experience in growing our own +vegetables we can grow them cheaper than what we pay to the growers. But +we wouldn't grow any if we could get the growers to bring them in when +they are in the right shape. When corn is at a certain stage to make a +good canned article it has got to be brought in that day, and if the +farmer don't bring it, if he has a state fair on or a wedding or a +funeral or something and delays it a day or two, then it is all off; +that corn is lost. + +Mr. Sauter: I would like to know which is the best beans for canning, +the yellow or the green? + +Mr. Hegerle: Well, we prefer the Refugee, both in wax and green. We +prefer them because they are the best in flavor we have. + +Mr. Sauter: Which is the best, the flat or the round of the wax? + +Mr. Hegerle: Round is preferred by the trade, by the grocers or jobbers. +I have kept the flat wax beans for my own use of those that we can. + +Mr. Sauter: Don't the flat ones bring a little more than the round ones? + +Mr. Hegerle: Well, probably the first or second picking, but you can't +pick them as often as the other variety. The Refugee you can pick four +or five or six times, and the flat beans can only be picked two times. + +Mr. Anderson: I would like to ask what you pay for beans for canning +purposes? + +Mr. Hegerle: We pay from 3/4 of a cent up to 4 cents a pound. Sometimes +a man brings in some that are almost too good to throw away, they are +big and stringy, and rather than send them home we think we have got to +take them and pay him something for them. We would rather not have them, +and we usually dump them. Starting from that we pay up to three and four +cents. Four cents for well sorted and mostly small beans. They have got +to be graded, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Number 1 is the smallest, and they bring +the best price. We pay in proportion to the number 1's and 2's in the +load. + +Mr. Sauter: What tomato do you find the best for canning? + +Mr. Hegerle: Well, the Earliana. + +Mr. Sauter: Do you have any trouble with those bursting the cans? + +Mr. Hegerle: No, sir. + +Mr. Sauter: We had that trouble in canning for our own use. They burst +the can, they expanded. + +Mr. Hegerle: That is the fault of the man, not of the tomato. + +Mr. Sauter: They were picked and canned the same day. + +Mr. Hegerle: Probably not sterilized enough. Sterilizing fruit is the +main thing. A tomato is really one of the easiest things to can. + +Mr. Sauter: In other tomatoes we don't have that trouble. It seems to +hurt the sale of them to the women folks. + +Mr. Hegerle: Sterilize them a little more. + +Mr. Sauter: About how long would you cook them? + +Mr. Hegerle: I am not the man at the wheel on that part. I don't know. +We have a superintendent that handles that part of it. + + + + +Top-Grafting. + +AN EXERCISE LED BY A. J. PHILIPS, WEST SALEM, WIS., AT 1915 ANNUAL +MEETING OF THE SOCIETY. + + +Mr. Philips: When I first talked top-working in Minnesota, Professor +Green and some of the knowing ones felt a little leary about it, but I +kept right on just the same. The most I have got out of top-working is +the pleasure I have had, doing the work and seeing the fruit grow. I +inherited a love for top-working from my father. He used to top-work +some, and after I began planting trees my old friend Wilcox used to come +and visit me, and he was strong on top-working on hardy roots. I used to +make a little sport of the old man, but no more I guess than people have +made of me for doing the same thing. He made me a proposition about +forty years ago. He says, "You plant ten trees of a good variety to +top-work on--I will pick them out for you--and then you top-work them +with Wealthy, and then plant ten Wealthy trees right beside them on the +same land and in the same rows, right together, and see which will do +the best." At the end of ten years the Wealthy on their own roots had +borne good crops but they began to fail, while the top-worked ones (on +Virginia crab) were just at their best bearing at that time. Professor +Green came and looked them over at the end of fifteen years. The first +ten on their own roots were dead, and the others grafted on Virginia +bore apples until they were twenty-five years old. That convinced me +that top-working in certain cases would pay if done on a hardy stock. + +I have seen a Northwestern Greening tree that was crotched, split apart +and lay down when it was loaded with apples, in Waupacca County, but +when grafted onto a stock whose limbs grew out horizontal it will carry +a load of fruit until it ripens without injury. + +I won a first prize at the Omaha exposition. My apples were not much +better, but they were top-worked and were a little larger. I have some +specimens here that show the practical difference. These grew on my own +land. I found in showing apples in Milwaukee at their fairs that I could +always get the best specimens from the top-worked trees. That convinced +me that you could grow better fruit that way. + +Mr. Brackett: What age do you commence the grafting? + +Mr. Philips: I like to commence at two years old. I like to set a +Virginia crab and let it grow one year and then commence top-working, +and top-work about half the first year and the balance the second. + +Mr. Brackett: Is that in the nursery row? + +Mr. Philips: No, where I am going to have it grow. I have found the +Virginia--and the Hibernal, too, either of them, very vigorous trees. +The Virginia is very vigorous. You dig up a Virginia tree, and you find +a great mass of roots; it has strength, and it grows fast. I have +top-worked about forty varieties on the Virginia and some on Hibernal. +Mr. Cady was there and looked it over, Prof. Green was there and Mr. +Kellogg has been there a number of times--and I always ask them this +question: If they found any trees where the top had outgrown the stock? +I have never seen an instance where the top of the tree put onto a +Virginia crab outgrew the Virginia. I have some in my garden now where +the union is so perfect it takes a man with good eyesight to see where +it is. + +[Illustration: A.J. Philips, West Salem, Wis. Photo taken in his +eighty-second year.] + +Mr. Brackett: If you had Virginia trees twelve years old would you +top-work them? + +Mr. Philips: Yes, sir, out towards the end of the limbs. + +Mr. Brackett: Suppose the limbs were too big on the stock you are going +to top-work, how would you do then? + +Mr. Philips: I practice cutting off those larger limbs and letting young +shoots grow. Mr. Dartt did a good deal of top-working, and he top-worked +large limbs. I told him he was making an old fool of himself, but he +wouldn't believe it. He would cut off limbs as large as three inches and +put in four scions and at the end of two years they had only grown eight +inches each. I have put in one scion in a Virginia limb that was about +3/4-inch in diameter, and had it that season grow eight feet and one +inch. That is the best growth I ever had. + +The reason that my attention was called to the Virginia as being +vigorous was, when I attended the meeting of this society about thirty +years ago--I think it was at Rochester--Mr. A. W. Sias, who was an active +nurseryman and one of the pioneers of this society, offered a premium of +$5.00 for the best growth of a crab apple tree, and then, in order to +win the money himself (which he did), he brought in some limbs of a +Virginia that were six feet long that grew in one season; and I figured +then that a tree that could make that growth in one season was a +vigorous tree, which it is. Nothing can outgrow it, and that was one +reason why I commenced using it. + +Mr. Brackett: I have one trouble in grafting the Wealthy to the Hibernal +on account of its making that heavy growth. I lost some of them by +blight on that account. + +Mr. Philips: Which was blighted, the Hibernal? + +Mr. Brackett: No, the Wealthy made such a big growth that it blighted. I +cut the top back and put grafts in, and they made a good growth, but +they blighted. Did you have any trouble like that? + +Mr. Philips: No, sir, I think my soil is different from yours. My soil +is of a poor order, a heavy clay, and it don't make the growth. + +Mr. Brackett: How many of those large limbs could you cut off in one +year and graft? + +Mr. Philips: Cut about half of the growth of the tree if not too large, +don't cut enough to weaken the tree too much. Next year cut the balance +off. + +Mr. Crosby: In grafting, suppose you get scions from an Eastern state, +what time would you get those scions, say, from Maine; Maine is on a +parallel with Minnesota? + +Mr. Philips: I prefer cutting scions in the fall before they freeze. + +Mr. Crosby: How would you keep those scions? + +Mr. Philips: I have tried a great many ways, in dirt and burying them in +the ground, but the best way to keep them is to put them in boxes and +put some leaves among them. Leaves will preserve them all winter if you +keep them moist enough, wet them a little once in ten days just to keep +them damp. Leaves are a more natural protection than anything else. +Don't you think so, Mr. Brackett? + +Mr. Brackett: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Crosby: What kind of a graft do you usually make? + +Mr. Philips: I have put in some few whip-grafts but use the cleft-graft +with the larger limbs. + +Mr. Wallace: Is the Patten Greening a good tree to graft onto? + +Mr. Philips: It is better for that than most anything else where I live. +It is hardy and makes a good growth. If I had Patten Greenings, many of +them, I would top-work them. The apple is not a good seller where I +live. + +Mr. Kellogg: What was the condition of that tree where Dartt put in four +scions? + +Mr. Philips: They grew eight inches each in two years, then died. Those +scions were too weak to take possession of the big limb. It is like +putting an ox yoke onto a calf. They can't adapt themselves. They hadn't +strength to take hold of that limb and grow. That was a good +illustration. Put a graft on a small limb, and it will assimilate and +grow better than if you take a large one. + +Mr. Brackett: Where you put in more than one scion in a limb, is it +feasible to leave more than one to grow? + +Mr. Philips: No, not if they grow crotchy. I let them grow one year to +get firmly established and then I take off the lower one. I have trees +in my garden I have done that with, and you couldn't see the crotch. It +grows right over. + +Mr. Brackett: I have seen a great many of them where both of them were +growing. + +Mr. Philips: It makes a bad tree, as bad as a crotchy tree. + +Mr. Kellogg: Isn't it better to dehorn it and get some new shoots to +graft? + +Mr. Philips: Yes, sir, and if they are _very old_ the best way is to set +out new trees. + +Mr. Crosby: In getting scions are there any distinguishing marks between +a vigorous scion and one not vigorous? + +Mr. Philips: Nothing, only the general appearance. If I see a scion that +looks deficient I pass it by. + +Mr. Erkel: Would it be practical to use water shoots for scions? + +Mr. Philips: I should rather not. I have always had scions enough to +avoid using water shoots. They are an unnatural growth; I wouldn't use +them. Take a good healthy scion. + +Mr. Kellogg: Would scions from bearing trees with the blossom buds on do +you any good? + +Mr. Philips: Well, not with a blossom bud on; I wouldn't use such a +scion. Some people say if you cut your scions from a bearing tree they +will bear quicker, but I never saw any difference. + +Inasmuch as this question has been asked a great many times by people, +what age to plant a tree, whether it is best to plant young trees or +trees four or five years old, I will say I am in favor of young trees, +and I am in favor of grafting a tree when it is young. + +Mr. Brackett: Isn't that a general opinion in the West where they make a +business of planting large orchards? + +Mr. Philips: I think so. I think that is the case. + +Mrs. Cadoo: Can you graft onto a Martha crab and have success with that? + +Mr. Philips: I never had very good success with the Martha crab; it +isn't vigorous enough. + +Mrs. Cadoo: We had a tree twelve years and got seven apples. + +Mr. Philips: Well, I think I got eight. (Laughter.) I believe with the +Martha crab if you will plant it where there are other crab trees around +it you get a pretty good crop, but not if you isolate it. I have an idea +it is not self-fertilizing. I think that is the trouble with the Martha. +It is a nice crab. + +Mr. Brackett: You showed the difference in size there, those top-worked +and those not--don't you think that is because of cutting the top back? +You throw a heavy growth in there, which makes the fruit that much +larger? + +Mr. Philips: Well, it might be. + +Mr. Street: Have you had any experience in budding in August or first of +September on those trees? + +Mr. Philips: Yes, sir, I do a little budding every year. Budding is a +hard thing to do, that is, it is a particular thing to get the bud +matured enough and still have sufficient sap to slip. + +Mr. Street: Would you put it on the top or bottom side of the limb? + +Mr. Philips: I would put it on the upper side of the limb every time, +but I would put it a little further from the trunk of the tree than I +would to graft for the reason, if the bud fails you have two chances, +and you have that same limb to cut off and graft next year. + +[Illustration: Winesap apples top-worked on Peerless, grown at +Northfield, Minn.] + +Mr. Johnson: I want to ask if it has a tendency to make the apple any +earlier? Virginia crab is an early bloomer, and would grafting it with +Wealthy make it bloom earlier? + +Mr. Philips: I hardly think so. I think it is a great deal as it was +with the man that had the boots. Some told him his boots would wear +longer if he greased them, and some one else told him they would wear +longer if he did not. So he greased one and not the other, and the one +that he greased wore fifteen minutes longer than the other. (Laughter.) +I don't think it makes much difference. I tell you what it does do. You +graft a McMahon onto a Virginia and instead of having the McMahon its +usual color, you will get a very nice blush on it. + +Mr. Erkel: Is the Duchess a good stock to graft onto? + +Mr. Philips: I haven't found it very good. It is hardly vigorous enough +for a stock. + +Mr. Erkel: You mentioned Patten's Greening a few minutes ago. Isn't that +considered a rather short-lived tree? + +Mr. Philips: Not with me it hasn't been. I set some thirty years ago. I +never had a Patten's Greening injured with the cold. It is very hardy. + +Mr. Street: How about the Brier's Sweet crab? I grafted some last year +and had a larger percentage of the scions live on those than on the +Hibernal. + +Mr. Philips: You wouldn't get as good a growth afterwards. The scions on +the Virginia would grow better and have a better top. I don't think the +Brier's Sweet is as vigorous as Virginia. + +Mr. M'Clelland: I grafted on 120 Hibernals this spring and got hardly +one failure. + +Mr. Philips: You did good work. + +Mr. M'Clelland: Made a growth of three to four feet, some of them. + +Mr. Philips: That is good. + +Mr. M'Clelland: Have you anything as good? + +Mr. Philips: If I had Hibernals I would graft them, but if I had to set +something on purpose for grafting I would set Virginias. I have had +better success with that variety for stocks. + +Mr. Kellogg: Too big a growth on the graft is liable to be injured in +the winter, is it not? + +Mr. Philips: Too vigorous a growth on the tree is liable to get injured +in the winter anyway. I like to see a good growth. I like to see it grow +and then pinch it back in the fall. You can pinch it back a good deal +easier when it has made a good growth than to make it grow big enough. + +Mr. Street: I would like to know whether we should force all of the +growth into the scion the first year where we graft on trees that have +been set two years. + +Mr. Philips: One of the pleasures of doing top-working is to watch the +growth of the grafts. I did a good deal of that on Sunday. You might do +worse than communing with nature. You watch them same as you watch the +growth of anything else, and if you think the graft is growing too fast +let some of the shoots on the stock grow to take part of the sap, but if +you think it is growing too slow and these shoots are robbing it, cut +them off. I like a good growth on grafts; it looks more like doing +business. + +Mr. Street: But the second year would you keep all of the growth in the +graft? + +Mr. Philips: Yes, sir, the second year I would, and if it makes too +large a growth pinch off the end. I put in some for a neighbor this +season, and I go down and see to them every two weeks. If I thought they +made too much growth in August I pinched them back so as to make them +ripen up quicker. I don't like to have them grow too late; as Mr. +Kellogg said, frost will get them. (Applause.) + + + + +Spraying the Orchard. + +HON. H. M. DUNLAP, SAVOY, ILLS. + +(Continued from March No.) + + +Then just as soon as your bloom falls, just as soon as the blossom +petals fall, then you want to spray again. You should use arsenate of +lead along with your lime-sulphur in both sprayings, because your +arsenate of lead will take care of a great many insects that injure the +fruit. The first spraying, immediately before the bloom, with arsenate +of lead is for the curculio, what is called the Palmer worm, for canker +worm--if you have any of them--the tent caterpillar, the leaf roller and +various other insects that injure the fruit and the foliage. The spray +just immediately after the bloom in addition to fungous is a codling +moth spray. To get rid of the codling moth worm you use the arsenate of +lead. The codling moth egg hatches shortly after the bloom falls, and +the little worm instinctively goes into the blossom end of the apple, +because that is the only place it can enter the apple at that particular +time. Just why it does not enter on the side of the apple I can not say, +but there is a little fuzz on the outer side of the apple at that stage +of growth that perhaps prevents their getting in, and that fuzz as the +apple grows larger disappears, so a little later they can enter on the +side or at any other part of the apple that they choose. + +[Illustration: Hon. H. M. Dunlap, Savoy, Ills.] + +When the blossoms fall the apples stand upright on the tree, and the +little pointed leaves that are on the blossom end of the apples, that we +call the calyx, are all open, and at that time you can spray so as to +get the arsenate of lead on the inside. Within a week or ten days after +the bloom falls these sepals, or little leaf points, gradually close +together until they are all closed up tight, and after that you can't +get your spray in there. After the worm hatches he gets between the +little leaves of the calyx and goes on the inside of the apple and into +its center. You want to have your poison ready for Mr. Worm when he +enters the blossom end of the apple, and the more thoroughly and more +effectively you spray the better are the results. + +It has been said that if you spray thoroughly at that time, that that is +the only spray you really need for the codling moth worm. I don't agree +with that, as there is always a second brood of worms. I use the +arsenate of lead along with the lime-sulphur for all these sprays, +before the bloom and after the bloom, and if you don't spray more than +three times you will be doing yourself a good service, and it will well +pay you. In some parts of the country they spray as high as seven or +eight times in the commercial orchards, but I would say in a farmer's +orchard three times would be enough, once before the bloom and twice +later, and you will notice the good results. + +There are other sprays besides these, but none perhaps of any importance +to you up here except the winter spray for the San Jose scale, if you +have that, and I noticed one or two specimens out there that seemed to +have the scale upon them. That spray should be done either in the fall +or early winter or late winter while the trees are dormant. That has to +be put on of winter spray strength, using lime-sulphur or some of the +other San Jose scale sprays without the arsenate of lead, as you don't +need to use the lead with this spray. + +Now, as I stated to start with, these remarks ought to be appropriate to +your needs and to make them so it would be a good deal better for me to +give you the opportunity of asking questions or of discussing this +question of spraying yourselves rather than for me to go into this +subject any further and not know just exactly what you would like to +listen to. If you have any questions to ask I would be glad to answer +them if I can. + +Mr. Horton: What proportion of the lime-sulphur and arsenate of lead do +you use? + +Mr. Dunlap: If we get the commercial brand of lime-sulphur we use it in +the proportion of three gallons of that commercial mixture to 100 +gallons of water and for the arsenate of lead in the same spray tank at +same time we use four pounds of arsenate of lead to the 100 gallons. + +Mr. Horton: Have you ever carried over lime-sulphur from one year to +another? + +Mr. Dunlap: Yes, sir, we often do that, carry it over until the next +year. It wants to be kept where it will not freeze. + +Mr. Horton: Is there much danger of evaporation so it would be too +strong to use next year? + +Mr. Dunlap: Your barrel should be kept bunged tight. + +Mr. Richardson: Mr. Dunlap fails to say anything about dormant sprays. +Don't you use dormant sprays? + +Mr. Dunlap: I was just speaking about the dormant or winter spray. When +you spray in the winter time use lime-sulphur or scalicide. + +Mr. Richardson: Another thing: I take a little exception to what Mr. +Dunlap says in advocating buying a spraying machine collectively in the +neighborhood, for the simple reason that it is necessary to spray at one +particular time, at the vital time just before the blossoms fall and at +the time they have fallen. We have found it almost impossible to do any +spraying for anybody except ourselves at that time. We talked that +matter over before we bought spraying machines. + +You said you wondered whether there were any apples grown here +commercially. Out of our town we shipped this year eight car-loads of +apples. We have three power sprays in our orchard, and we talked that +matter over before we bought them, about buying collectively, and we +decided it was absolutely impossible to do it. I don't think it is +feasible for a small grower to depend on that kind of thing because he +may be disappointed. My theory is for each one to have his own sprayer, +large or small. Another thing, we find a pressure of 200 pounds is +better than spraying without that pressure; we get better results. + +Mr. Dunlap: The gentleman misunderstood me. I said where you have just +small orchards you could do it collectively. Of course, I do not +advocate where a man has enough to have use for a spray machine for his +own orchard that he get one collectively. That would be a great mistake, +but where a man has only fifty trees in a neighborhood where there are +no big orchards, it would be better for a dozen or more to combine. If +you can get around with it in a week you will be all right but not +longer than that. + +Mr. Richardson: I beg to differ with you just the same. I think if you +want to spray you must spray at the time; it might rain the next day, +and you might miss the whole season. + +Mr. Dunlap: There are a good many people who don't like to go to the +expense of a spray machine just for fifty trees or 100 trees. If they +would combine with a few neighbors they would do some spraying work, +otherwise they wouldn't do any at all. If a man will buy a machine and +do his own spraying, why, that is certainly the best thing to do, but if +he won't do that it is better to combine with his neighbors and do it +than for none of them to do it. Community spraying is the best thing to +do if you have only small orchards. + +Mr. Dyer: What pressure would you recommend in spraying for codling moth +where arsenate of lead is used? + +Mr. Dunlap: You can do effective spraying all the way from sixty pounds +to 200 pressure. My preference is about 150 pounds. I have known +instances where considerable injury was done by using too high pressure. +We have sprayed at 225 pounds, but we have given that up. It is not as +good as from 150 to 175 pounds. + +Mr. Dyer: I would like to know about what quantity of arsenate of lead +and lime-sulphur combined would you recommend? How much of each? + +Mr. Dunlap: In 100 gallons of water we put three gallons of the +concentrated solution of lime-sulphur, as we buy it commercially, three +gallons to 100 gallons of water, that is, for the summer spray, and for +the arsenate of lead we use four pounds of arsenate of lead to the 100 +gallons. + +Mr. Dyer: In connection with that I would like to ask if you have used +or would recommend pulverized lime-sulphur? + +Mr. Dunlap: I haven't used any. + +Mr. Dyer: Do you know anything about it? + +Mr. Dunlap: I think it is a more expensive proposition. + +Mr. Dyer: I never used any myself. I thought perhaps that might work +better in connection with the arsenate of lead than the liquid. + +Mr. Dunlap: I couldn't say, I have always followed the policy of never +departing from well-established lines of work until I am satisfied that +the new one is absolutely all right. I have seen in our state men +destroy the fruit from a forty or eighty acre orchard by taking up some +new thing that was highly advertised and looked very attractive. It is +not the same proposition, of course, but they tell us the devil comes in +very attractive form. He comes with a swallow-tail coat and a red +necktie and a buttonhole bouquet, and he looks very attractive. So it is +with a lot of these things advertised; they look attractive but for our +own good we ought to stick to the things we know and let the state +experiment station try them and report upon them. + +Mr. Huestis: Does Mr. Dunlap attribute the general dropping of apples to +the scab fungus? + +Mr. Dunlap: Not entirely. + +Mr. Huestis: Do you think that it weakens the stem of the apples? + +Mr. Dunlap: Yes, sir, the droppings of the apple is largely due to the +scab fungus. Of course, some of the dropping occurs as the result of too +much rain or too much dry weather, something of that kind, that is not +attributable to scab fungus. + +Mr. Kellogg: Does spraying injure the bees? + +Mr. Dunlap: I have never had anybody prove to me that the bees were +especially injured by spraying in the bloom. We do not practise spraying +in the bloom, that is, we spray when we have about one-third of the +bloom left on the trees. I have never had any injury, and we have +orchardists who have bees in their orchards, and they go on spraying the +same way. I do not believe bees are poisoned by the spray. Maybe I am +mistaken about it, but I have never seen any conclusive proof of the +bees being poisoned by the spray. It is possible they might collect it +and carry it into the hives and might poison the brood in the hive. I +don't know. I thank you. (Applause.) + + + + +The Value of Horticulture to the Farm. + +MRS. CLARENCE WEDGE, ALBERT LEA. + + +It is pleasant to have a good roomy subject. E. S. Martin said in +Harper's Weekly as Christmas time approached, "There are just two places +in the world, and one of these is home." I will paraphrase it by saying, +"There are only two places in the world, and one of these is the farm." +So the value of horticulture to the farm is a large subject. + +I passed a farm last summer that I shall never forget. It was quite +unattractive, I believe, so far as variety of contour was +concerned--quite level and commonplace. Right across the road from the +house was a half-grown windbreak of golden willow. Against that as a +background blazed out row upon row of the most brilliant flowers, +graduated down to the edge of the road, and extending as far as half a +city block or more. Think what a beautiful surprise for every one that +turned that corner. I think the occupants of the house must have enjoyed +sitting on their porch watching the people in the cars start with +pleasure and turn to look as they flew past. That farmer (or his wife) +knew something of the value of horticulture to the farm. Perhaps it was +a device of the farmer's wife to divert the gaze of the passer-by from +the porch, for you know we do stare shamelessly when we are on a joy +ride. At any rate, that farm would not be forgotten by any one that +passed it. The advertising that beauty spot gave his place would exceed +in value a column a week in the county paper, and not cost a tenth as +much. + +Lowell remarks, "Nature with cheap means still works her wonders rare." +And there she stands with arms extended, offering the farmer all the +wealth and beauty he will put forth his hand to take. + +Last fall I passed another farm down in Iowa, whose owner had tried to +make his place conspicuous by putting a concrete wall and gateway in +front of his house, and making lavish use of white paint in decorating +his buildings and grounds. He succeeded, but I cannot help thinking that +if he had put the money that useless concrete work cost into shrubbery +and vines, it would have made his place twice as attractive. I dislike +pretentious adornments to the farm, especially where the rest of the +place doesn't measure up to them. Like Senator Blaine, who, at the time +the Queen Anne style of architecture became popular, on being asked why +he did not have his old fashioned house Queen Anned, replied that he +did not like to see a Queen Anne front and a Mary Anne back. + +A farm home can be something better than a city park. One of the +beautiful things that I shall always remember about Berlin was a way +they had of bordering their parks and the enclosures of public +buildings. They take tree-roses trimmed up to the height of a fence with +a hemispherical head. Then they plant them around the edge of their +grounds a rod or two apart, festoon chains from the top of one rose +stalk to the top of the next, and where the chain touches the ground +midway between them, they plant a little ivy which climbs up and +conceals the chain and gives the appearance of festoons of vines between +the rose trees. I thought them so lovely that when I married a +nurseryman I thought I would persuade him to do something of that kind +on our grounds, but he has convinced me that while that is all right for +a city park, it would not be in good taste in a country place. It would +look too artificial. The charm of a country place is its natural beauty. +For the same reason we do not have any trimmed evergreens or hedges on +our place. Moreover, the man who makes his living from the soil finds +the upkeep of those decorations too pottering, and if he had money to +hire it done he would rather put it into his automobile or into other +improvements. + +The natural beauty that can be set about the farm home will become it +better. Wild grape vines or woodbine draping the wire fences tempt the +eye of the passer-by to linger, and they cost nothing. Once planted, +they are there for a life-time. A walnut tree in a fence corner will +grow to a fair size in ten years, in twenty it becomes a land-mark. A +catalpa of a hardy strain will do the same thing in about half the time +in our part of the state. Take an elder from your woods and plant it in +an angle of your house, and it makes a luxurious growth that rivals the +castor bean of the city park and does not need to be replaced the next +spring. + +It certainly pays to go in for some kind of horticultural adornments for +the farm. They are so easy and inexpensive to obtain and make such a +happy difference to the farmer's family and to all who pass his way. +When you have a specially prosperous year on the farm, save a little of +the surplus for new trees or shrubs. + +But I remember passing another farm, all of twenty-five years ago, where +horticulture may once have been of value to the farmer but had become a +burden to him. There was a dense grove of willow down at one side, +through which the drive leading to the barn was kept wet and muddy by +the shade. On the other side rose a high grove of trees casting a gloomy +shade on the house and poultry buildings, and a few odd shrubs straggled +along the roadside and gave the place an unkempt look. Of all things, +have sunshine! City people often have to sacrifice it, but no farmer is +too poor to have it in plenty. Don't let your trees tyrannize over you. + +It is, perhaps, unnecessary to mention the value of a windbreak to a +farm. If it has not been provided by nature it is an absolute necessity +to plant one as a matter of economy. It saves fuel inside and gives +comfort outside. The cows give more milk, and all the animals put on +more fat, if they have a sheltered place to take their airing. It is +also a good thing to set some bushes or small spruces along the +foundation wall of the house on the windy side. They are ornamental in +summer, and in winter they catch the snow and tuck the house in against +the wind. + +When it comes to the garden, the "Value of Horticulture to the Farm" +depends largely upon the farmer's wife, for a garden needs mothering as +well as fathering. Few farmers have time to do more for a garden than +the actual labor of plowing, planting, and cultivating, and digging the +root vegetables in the fall. Somebody must watch the garden, go through +it nearly every day, poison the cabbage worms and potato bugs, keep the +asparagus and cucumbers picked, watch for the maturing of peas and +beans, and dispose of any surplus either by canning or sending to +market. To visit the garden only when you wish to gather some particular +vegetable is like milking the cow only when you happen to want some +milk. + +A garden well tended puts the farm far ahead of the city home for +luxuries of the table and cuts the cost of living in two. Fresh +vegetables and cream are expensive articles in the city, inaccessible to +any but the well-to-do, but it does not take a very thrifty farmer to +have them, providing he has a thrifty wife. But to be a real helpmeet +she must have an overall skirt and a pair of rubber boots. Then the dewy +mornings will be as much of a pleasure to her as to her husband, and she +can do her garden work in the cool of the day. + +A garden is especially valuable to a farm, because the farm is usually +somewhat isolated and must depend more or less upon its own resources +for freshness and variety of food. A good garden on the farm will almost +abolish the tin can, and strike off a large part of the grocer's bill, +to say nothing of making the farmer live like a king. + + + + +The Strawberry Weevil. + + +As strawberries are about to blossom, it would be well to keep a +look-out for a shortage in the number of blossoms, for this is the first +indication of the work of the strawberry weevil. Because of the +diminutive size of the insect, few are acquainted with it, so that the +shortage of blossoms or failure of the crop is often attributed to +frost, hail, climatic conditions or some other agency. Upon close +examination, the buds will be found to be severed from the stem, some +lying beneath on the ground, others being still attached by a few shreds +in a drooping manner. Further examination around the buds may reveal a +small snout beetle, which is the cause of the injury, it being about +one-tenth inch long and marked with two dark spots on each wing cover. +The females oviposit in the buds, and then cut them off when oviposition +is completed, in order to protect the larva within, which later develops +to the adult beetle. + +[Illustration: Showing beetle of strawberry weevil and the damage it +inflicts.] + +The strawberry weevil has been especially injurious around the vicinity +of Hopkins the past summer. It was not uncommon to find fields with from +forty to ninety per cent. of the buds cut, and as the earliest and most +mature buds, which would be the first to ripen, are among those cut, +the losses inflicted may be quite serious. The weevil not only injures +the cultivated strawberry, but is found to attack the buds of the red +raspberry, dewberry and wild strawberry. It is a singular fact that only +the staminate varieties are injured, especially those which furnish +considerable pollen, since this constitutes the chief food supply of +both larvae and adults. + +_Life History._--The weevil appears as soon as the buds begin to form +and soon after deposits an egg within the bud. She then immediately +crawls down the stem and proceeds to sever the bud. The eggs hatch +within five or six days, and in about three or four weeks the footless +grubs become full-grown, coming out as adults about five days later. +This new brood, upon emerging, will attack the leaves, making numerous +small holes on the under surface, soon after picking time. As early as +August 25 the beetles were found to go into hibernation last summer, +within the strawberry fields, being found especially among the dead +leaves. The older beds were found to be more seriously infested because +of the fact that they wintered over in the small fields. + +_Control._--Since the weevils do not disperse readily, and since they +hibernate within the fields, the one crop system and the plowing up of +the beds immediately after picking would probably do away with the +injury entirely. This one crop system could be followed for about two +years, when it might be advisable to return to the two crop system if +the weevils have disappeared. + +On April 18, 1916, the weevils were located by the writer underneath the +straw, and beginning to move about. From observations last year, it +would be advisable to remove the straw from one or two rows in order to +hasten the maturity of the buds, and keep the straw on the remainder of +the patch in order to force the weevils to the uncovered row. They could +then be destroyed either by plowing under or burning. + +Some recent experiments by Prof. Headlee, State Entomologist of New +Jersey, appear to have been successful against the strawberry weevil. A +dust spray of a mixture of arsenate of lead one pound, and sulphur one +pound, was used as a repellent, giving almost perfect protection. The +material was applied twice, April 30th and May 6th. + +The writer will be glad to co-operate with the growers, if they find the +presence of the weevil in their strawberry beds.--S. Marcovitch, Section +of Economic Entomology, Division of Economic Zoology, University Farm. + + + + +Secretary's Annual Report, 1915. + +A. W. LATHAM, SECRETARY. + + +Twenty-five years is a long time to look forward to, but it does not +seem so long when you look back, and yet when I review the changes that +have taken place in the Horticultural Society since I assumed the +position of secretary twenty-five years ago the way seems long indeed. +In the year 1890 very nearly all of the old members of the society, +those who had contributed their time and money to bring it into +existence and keep it alive for its first twenty-four years were still +on the membership roll and doing loyal work for the association. As year +by year passed these veterans of the association one by one dropped away +until at the present time the number of those in that class who are +still with us here are so few in number that it becomes almost a +vanishing point. In the year 1897 a photograph was taken of "ten +veterans of horticulture," a copy of which is hanging in the secretary's +office, and of these ten the only one now with us is that loyal friend +and supporter of the society, Seth H. Kenney, of Waterville, now eighty +years of age and too feeble to attend this meeting. Going back to a date +still earlier, covering the first few years of the association, the only +working members of the society as far as the secretary recalls are J. M. +Underwood, C. M. Loring and himself. This is the order of nature, and we +should remember only with gratitude and affection those who have served +before us and with us and passed on. + +At the close of this, the forty-ninth year of the society, we find the +membership roll somewhat larger in number than at any previous period in +its history, there being on the annual roll 3,079 members, and on the +life roll 311 members, of whom 30 are honorary. There have been added to +this roll the past year one honorary life member, Mr. Lycurgus R. Moyer, +of Montevideo, and 20 paid life members. The number of deaths appearing +on this life roll during the past year is fortunately only two, Mr. E. A. +Webb, editor and manager of "The Farmer," who had been a member since +1906, and V. A. Neil, of Minneapolis, whose death occurred prior to the +1914 annual meeting but had not been spoken of heretofore. + +As usual a considerable number of sources have contributed towards this +large membership roll. The auxiliary societies, of which there are 10 +have brought upon this roll in all 878 members. One new auxiliary +society has been added to the number this year, organized in St. Paul +under the name of "Horticultural, Poultry and Improvement Association of +West St. Paul." An auxiliary society maintained at Crookston for a +number of years seems to be no longer in existence and should probably +be taken from the list of auxiliaries. The farmers' institutes have not +contributed as largely to the membership roll as some previous years, on +account in part of the fact that the work heretofore done by farmers' +institutes is being done in farmers' clubs and schoolhouse meetings of +farmers, which does not offer as good an opportunity for securing +memberships, though the service to the cause of horticulture is probably +even better. Through this source the society has received this year 146 +memberships. Many of the nurserymen have contributed liberally to the +membership this year, memberships that were given by them to their +customers in accordance with an arrangement made with this office. In +all from this source have come upon our roll 172 memberships. + +The State Fruit-Breeding Farm continues to be the object of permanent +central interest in our association. Unfortunately the frosts of last +spring interfered with the fruiting of the thousands of trees which +under other circumstances would have borne fruit, many of them for the +first time, so that practically few advances have been made the past +year in breeding new tree fruits except in preparation for the future. +In small fruits it was different, and the list of these worthy of trial +which are standing the climate well is a growing one. Our membership are +exceedingly interested in these new fruits as manifested by the large +number called for through the distribution of plant premiums. In all +there were sent out this year 2,594 lots of these plant premiums. + +There is a growing interest in top-grafting late-keeping varieties of +apples as indicated by the large number of calls made on this office for +scions for this purpose the past season. + +The seedling contests continue and the interest in growing seedlings +continues as well, there having been a call during the past year from +this office for a considerable number of packages of apple seeds by our +membership. + +So far no apple seedling has appeared to which we could award the $1,000 +prize offered by the society for a winter apple. Referring to the +seedling contest inaugurated some years ago, the first $100 premium in +connection with which should have been awarded three years ago, it +appears that the time limit for the fruitage of these seedlings was +made too short. The fourth premium comes due at this meeting, but no +claimants have as yet come forward for any of these premiums. Probably +it will be thought a wise thing to do to continue these awards during +later years when these seedling trees will come into bearing. + +The "acre orchard" contest entered into a year ago last spring in which +there 35 entries finally materialized into a smaller number than +anticipated, reports having come into the office last year from 23 +contestants. The reports for the current year are now being received but +not all at hand. + +The executive board provided conditions under which these orchards +should be conducted and the prizes awarded, which conditions will be +found published in the 1914 report of the society on page 45. + +Trial stations are continuing their work and are being used principally +now as far as new material is concerned in testing of fruits from the +State Fruit-Breeding Farm. To this list has been added the government +station at Mandan under the management of A. W. Peterson, reports from +which point will also be made to our association from time to time, as +well as from the trial stations connected with University Farm, all of +which stations have been added also to our society list. + +Arrangements are being perfected for the purpose of extending to our +membership opportunity to use the books from the society library, which +is now increased to about 3,300 volumes. This list has been published in +the 1915 report of the society, and we shall be prepared early in the +year to send out books to all who desire them according to the +regulations, which will be published in an early number of our monthly. + +The society is maintaining its card indexes and adding year by year to +the amount of material which they represent. One of these cards indexes +contains the names and titles of all the articles published in the +society's annual reports and is indexed also with the names of the +writers, the index being prepared in this double manner. Another card +index contains the list of books in our library, and the third one, +indexed by subjects, the bulletins on horticulture coming from the +various state experiment stations and the U.S. Department of +Agriculture. These indexes are invaluable for their various purposes and +may be used by the membership at their volition. + +The society maintained an office at the late state fair, at which a +considerable number of memberships were received and a large number of +members met by the secretary and other officers of the society. We +believe this was an excellent move and should be continued in the +future. + +As to the horticultural exhibit at the state fair, while the secretary +has no official connection with it, it should be spoken of as a very +satisfactory exhibition indeed and well handled. The building as a +whole, covering all branches of horticultural work, was a real credit to +the various interests represented and well deserves all the time and +expense lavished upon it. + +Probably the most important event of the year with which the secretary +was officially connected was the effort made to secure an appropriation +from the state legislature in session last winter for the construction +of a building for the uses of the Horticultural Society. The building +committee, with which the secretary served, held a number of meetings +with members of the Board of Regents and various committees at the state +legislature, at which a considerable number of our membership besides +those regularly on the committee were in attendance and took part in +appeals in the interest of the building. The secretary's service in this +connection was largely the effort made to enlist the co-operation of the +membership in the way of getting them to write letters or talk +personally with the members of the legislature upon the subject, and an +appeal was sent out through the mails to all of our membership with this +object in view. The response was a most liberal one, far beyond our +expectations. Some of the members of the legislature received over +thirty letters from their constituents asking their support to this +measure. There was not a single member of the legislature who did not +receive some communications about this matter. In all there were sent in +this manner to members of the legislature 1,594 letters. While our +efforts to secure this building failed, it was, as we believe, largely +on account of the prevailing and unusual sentiment for economy which +permeated the legislature to an extraordinary degree, and we have +reasonable assurance that a similar effort with the next legislature +will bring us success. In regard to this matter the chairman of the +building committee speaks more fully. + +The financial report follows and to this your attention is respectfully +requested. + + + + +Secretary's Financial Report, 1915. + +A. W. LATHAM, SECRETARY. + + +RECEIPTS. + +Balance $91.62 +G. W. Strand, Treasurer 685.96 +Life membership fees 190.00 +Books sold 14.10 +Cuts sold 7.50 +Banquet tickets sold at 75c each 138.00 +Garden Flower Society, account premiums 65.00 +Annual fees, 1914 8.00 +Annual fees, 1915 3,004.00 +Annual fees, 1916 263.00 + --------- + $4,467.18 + +DISBURSEMENTS. + +Postage $717.33 +Office rent 420.00 +Telephone 55.45 +Premium books 113.61 +Office supplies 28.36 +Plant premiums 105.14 +Assistance in office 719.21 +Printing 247.16 +Expenses annual meeting, 1914 90.73 +Expenses annual meeting, 1915 76.84 +Expenses summer meeting, 1915 14.64 +Banquet 152.75 +Reporting annual meeting 174.99 +Expenses vice-presidents 29.17 +Expenses superintendents, trial stations 50.59 +Assistance annual meeting 1914 100.50 +Expenses delegates, etc., meeting, 1914 224.07 +Expenses delegates to other societies 30.29 +Discounts, membership fees, auxiliary societies, etc. 825.54 +Examining officers' books 10.00 +Treasurers salary, 1914 25.00 +Collecting checks 10.00 +Plans of horticultural building 40.00 +Officers' bonds, 1915 15.00 +Forestry Association 50.00 +Insurance on library sundries 8.00 +Sundries 20.68 +Balance 112.13 + --------- + $4,467.18 + +GENERAL STATEMENT, DECEMBER 1, 1915. + +Balance in Hennepin County Bank December 1, 1914 $177.38 +Interest in 1915 $11.24 + --------- + Total $188.62 +Loring Fund, including interest 140.60 +Balance with secretary 112.13 +Balance with treasurer 4,906.00 + --------- + Total $5,347.35 + + + + +SUMMER MEETING, 1916. + +Premium List, Summer Meeting, 1916. + +No Duplicating of Varieties Permitted. + + +OUT-DOOR ROSES. + + 1st 2d 3d 4th + prem. prem. prem. prem. + +Collection--three blooms of each named +variety, to be shown in separate vases $6.00 $4.00 $2.00 $1.00 + +Collection of named varieties--three +blooms of each, in separate vases, amateurs +only 6.00 4.00 2.00 1.00 + +Three named varieties, white--each variety +in a separate vase, three blooms +of each, each bloom on a separate stem 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Three named varieties, pink--each variety +in a separate vase, three blooms of each, +each bloom on a separate stem 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Three named varieties, red--each variety +in a separate vase, three blooms of each, +each bloom on a separate stem 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Collection of Rugosa and Rugosa Hybrids--each +variety (consisting of one +cluster of blooms on a single stem) in a +separate vase 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Most beautiful rose in vase 1.00 + +Largest rose in vase 1.00 + +Seedling rose to be shown by the originator. +(Not previously exhibited in +competition.) Bronze medal donated by +the American Rose Society. + +Basket of out-door roses and foliage, arranged +for effect without ribbon, not to +exceed twelve inches in diameter 3.00 2.00 1.00 + +The following named varieties of roses to be entered separately and +shown in separate vases, three to five blooms in each vase. + +Prince Camile deRohan, General Jacqueminot, Margaret Dickson, M. P. +Wilder, Jules Margottin, Magna Charta, Paul Neyron, Madam Gabriel +Luizet, Baroness Rothschild, Anna de Diesbach, Ulrich Brunner, John +Hopper, Rosa Rugosa (pink and white), Baron deBonstetten, Karl Druski, +Madam Plantier, Grus an Teplitz. + +Each, 1st prem., 75 cents; 2nd prem., 50 cents; 3rd prem., 25 cents. + + +PEONIES. + + 1st 2d 3d 4th + prem. prem. prem. prem. + + +Vase of Festiva Maxima, 6 blooms $2.00 $1.00 $0.50 +" " flesh or light pink " " " " " +" " medium or dark pink " " " " " +" " white " " " " " +" " red " " " " " + +Collection--three blooms of each named +variety in separate vases $6.00 $4.00 $2.00 $1.00 + +Collection--three blooms of each named +variety in separate vases, amateurs only 6.00 4.00 2.00 1.00 + +Seedling peony, three blooms 3.00 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Collection--one bloom of each variety, +shown each in a separate vase; for amateurs +owning no more than ten varieties 2.00 1.00 .50 + + + + +ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS. + + 1st prem. 2d prem. 3d prem. 4th prem. +Vase of Arabis $1.50 $1.00 $0.50 + " " Canterbury Bells " " " + " " Dielytra " " " + " " Delphinium " " " + " " Evening primrose (Oenothera) " " " + " " Forget-me-not " " " + " " Foxglove " " " + " " Gailardias " " " + " " Grass pinks " " " + " " Iceland poppies " " " + " " Iris " " " + " " Lilies " " " + " " Lupine " " " + " " Nasturtiums " " " + " " Oriental poppies " " " + " " Pansies " " " + " " Perennial coreopsis " " " + " " Pyrethrum " " " + " " Shasta daisies " " " + " " Sweet peas " " " + " " Sweet William " " " + +Collection--named perennials, in separate +vases $6.00 $4.00 $2.00 $1.00 + +Collection of annuals and perennials in +separate vases (not to exceed 12) by +amateurs who have never taken premiums +on flowers 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 + +Vase of flowers grown and exhibited by +child 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Vase of any kind of flowers not named +in this list. (An exhibitor may make +any number of entries desired under this +head) 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Vase of flowers arranged for artistic +effect 1.50 1.00 .50 + +Basket of outdoor-grown flowers, arranged +by exhibitor 3.00 2.00 1.00 + + +STRAWBERRIES. + +One quart of each variety, to be shown on plate, not in box. + + 1st prem. 2d prem. 3d prem. 4th prem. +Collection (not less than six varieties) $5.00 $4.00 $3.00 $2.00 + +Collection of three named varieties 3.00 2.00 1.00 .50 + + +The following varieties of strawberries to be entered separately: + + 1st prem. 2d prem. 3d prem. 4th prem. +Bederwood, Dunlap, Crescent, Splendid, +Clyde, Warfield, Lovett, Enhance, Glen +Mary, Haverland, Progressive, Superb, +Americus, each $1.00 $0.75 $0.50 $0.25 + +Best named variety not included in the +above list 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Seedling, originated by exhibitor 3.00 2.00 1.00 + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. +Minneapolis. + + +*Notices of our May, June, July and August meetings will be mailed to +members. Being exhibition meetings, the dates will depend upon weather +conditions. + +It is suggested that in cases where plants have not already been +exchanged, the informal exhibition of spring flowers, our May meeting, +be also "Exchange Day," and that plants for exchange be brought to that +meeting. + + +A SHAKESPEARE GARDEN. + +So wide an interest in the commemoration of the tercentennial +celebration of Shakespeare's death has been awakened by the "Drama +League of America" that there will be many old English gardens planted +in 1916,--gardens containing as many as possible of those flowers +mentioned in his plays. + +Not all of these many flowers and shrubs could be grown in our climate, +some mentioned, such as nettles, burdocks, plantains and other weeds, +would be entirely out of place in a garden, soon overrunning it. It must +be remembered, too, that in Shakespeare's time herbs and wild flowers +were cultivated in most gardens, that many considered beautiful then are +now almost forgotten, and that some have been so far surpassed by their +improved hybrids, the originals would not now be cultivated. + +We have not attempted, therefore, to include all of the flowers so +lovingly mentioned by the poet, but have used only those that will prove +beautiful and hardy in Minnesota, making a planting that will prove, +with proper care, permanent. Were each plant labeled with its proper +quotation the garden would prove much more interesting, e.g., "There's +rosemary, that's for remembrance--" Hamlet, marking the plant of that +name. + +_Annuals._--Gillyflowers (Ten weeks' stocks); Love in Idleness (Pansy, +Viola tricolor); Mallow (Lavatera splendens); Marigold (Calendula +officinalis); Poppy (Somniferum, Opium poppy). + +_Trees._--Hemlock, Hawthorne. + +_Vines._--Honeysuckle, Scarlet Trumpet. + +_Bulbs._--Scilla Nutans (Hyacinthus nonscriptus); Daffodils; Saffron +(Crocus santious); Crown Imperial (Frittilaria Imperialis); Lily, +Candidum, Turk's Cap (Scarlet Martagon), Orange Lily (Croseum), +Spectabile, Tigrinum. + +_Herbs._--Balm (Lemon Balm); Camomile (Anthemis); Caraway; Dian's Bud +(Wormwood, Artemisia Absinthium); Fennel (Foeniculum officinalis); +Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis); Lavender (Lavendula vera); Marjoram +(Origanum vulgare); Mint; Milfoil (Yarrow); Parsley; Rosemary +(Rosmarinus officinalis); Rue (Ruta graveoleons); Savory; Thyme (1, +Thymus vulgaris, 2, Thymus Serpyllum). + +_Perennials._--Aconite (Napellus); Balm (Bee-balm); Brake; Carnation +(Bizarre Dianthus caryophyllus); Clover (Crimson Trifolium incarnatus); +Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris); Cowslip (Primula veris); Crowflower +(Ragged Robin, Lychnis floscuculi); Cuckoo Buds (Butter cups, Ranunculus +acris); Daisies (Bellis perennis); Eryngium M. (Sea Holly); Flax; Flower +de luce (Iris Germanica, blue); Fumitory (Dicentra spectabilis; Bleeding +Heart); Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia); Larksheel (Delphinium elatum, +Bee Larkspur); Peony; Pinks (Dianthus Plumarius); Violet (Viola +Odorata). + +_Roses._--Brier (Eglantine Rose), Provencal (Cabbage Rose), Musk, +Damask, White Provence, York and Lancaster. + +For appropriate quotations to mark each flower the little book, +"Shakespeare's Garden," by J.H. Bloom, will be found very helpful. Our +other authorities have been Biesley and L. Grindon, all of which are in +the Public Library. + +MRS. N. S. SAWYER. +MRS. E. W. GOULD. + + + + +ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES + +By F. L. WASHBURN, Professor of Entomology, University of +Minnesota. + +SUGGESTIONS TO PARTIES PLANNING TO PURCHASE NURSERY STOCK. + + +It may be quite out of place to offer any suggestions along this line to +readers of this magazine, and yet some buyers may find help in the +following: + +For evident reasons it pays to buy Minnesota stock where possible, stock +which has been tried out and found to be hardy, rather than purchase new +varieties, glowingly described in catalogues. Always buy from an +inspected nursery. + +For evident reasons it pays to buy from nurseries near at hand, so that +the time elapsing from the shipping of the trees or shrubs and the +planting is small. + +Further, it is always desirable, if possible, to buy from the nurseryman +himself, a responsible party, rather than from an agent. It is further +very desirable to personally pick out your own stock in a visit to the +nursery. + +When the goods are received, see that they bear an inspection +certificate for the current year. The plants should be in good condition +and show that the roots are protected from air and wrapped in moist +packing material. The condition of the received goods indicates the +carefulness of the nurseryman or the contrary. Do not allow trees or +shrubs to lie neglected after being received, where the roots will dry +out. If you are not ready to plant they should be at once heeled in, +first divesting them of their wrappings. + +If any injurious insects, like scales or fungus-looking growths, are +found on the trees, the same should be reported to the Experiment +Station. After planting the trees and shrubs, they should receive the +best of care in regard to cultivation. + +Finally, refuse to accept any raspberry or blackberry plants showing +crown gall on roots or crowns. + + * * * * * + + +CROWN GALL ON RASPBERRIES BLACKBERRIES. + +All the nurserymen are able to recognize crown gall, and whatever we may +think regarding its effect or lack of effect upon apple, we know by +personal observation that it may and does cause the death of +raspberries. This disease of course is, unfortunately, very +common--almost universally present in our nurseries. The public, +generally, are so well aware of its injurious effect upon canes that +they are indignant when any such stock is received from nurseries. It +behooves all nurserymen, therefore, for the sake of their own business +interests if nothing else, to be extremely careful that no diseased +stock of any kind is sent to patrons. + + * * * * * + + +THE DESTRUCTION OF A CARLOAD OF DISEASED POTATOES. + +The State Entomologist, by virtue of being a collaborator with and agent +for the United States Horticultural Board, supervised the destruction by +burning of 403 sacks of potatoes, seven per cent. of which, according to +the testimony of our Plant Pathology Division, were infested with +powdery scab. The Great Northern Railroad, which had brought the +potatoes from Canada, were given the choice by Federal authorities, +either to return the potatoes to Canada or destroy them by burning, +under our supervision. They chose the latter procedure and the use of +the Minneapolis crematory was secured for this purpose. Ninety sacks of +this same shipment which were illegally unloaded at Casselton, N. Dak., +were buried by North Dakota authorities. It is to be hoped that this +disease does not find its way into the potato belt in the Red River +Valley. + + + + +NOTES ON PLANT PESTS. + +Prepared by Section of Insect Pests, A. G. RUGGLES, and by +Section of Plant Diseases, E. C. STAKMAN, University Farm. + + +The first real spraying of the apple orchard should be given just as the +center bud of the flower cluster begins to show pink. The material to +use in the spraying compound is lime-sulphur (1 to 40) plus arsenate of +lead, 1-1/2 pounds of the powder, or three pounds of the arsenate of +paste to fifty gallons of the made-up lime-sulphur. If done properly +this will get the scab of the apple, blossom blight or the brown rot in +the plum, and is the most important spray for plum pocket. The arsenate +of lead in the mixture will control the young of leaf eating insects and +precocious plum curculios. + +The second most important spraying of the year is given within a week +after the blossoms fall, the same spraying compound being used. This +spraying kills many of the germinating spores of such things as apple +scab and also is the important spray for codling worm as well as for the +plum curculio and for leaf eating insects. + +Watch carefully for the hatching of plant lice eggs. The ideal time to +spray for these is just after hatching, and before the young lice become +hidden in the bud scales or in the curl of the leaves. The spraying +material to use at this time is a sulphate of nicotine. + +Plow the plum orchard as soon as possible in order to turn under mummied +plums, which are responsible for much of the primary infection of brown +rot. + +Plowing the apple orchard early to turn under the old leaves is also +essential in preventing scab spreading to the flower stalks. + +Cultivate the vineyard in order to turn under the mummies. Practice +clean cultivation from the very beginning in order to help control black +rot and downy mildew. If the rot or mildew was very bad in the previous +years, early spraying with the Bordeaux mixture 4-4-50 is very +important. + +Keep the radishes, cauliflowers, and cabbages covered with a poison +spray from April 30 to May 20 to prevent the ravages of the cabbage +maggot. This should be applied once a week in fair weather, and twice a +week in rainy weather. The spray is made as follows: + +Lead arsenate, three-fourths ounce; New Orleans molasses, one-half pint; +water, one gallon. + +Look over the seedling cabbages carefully and destroy all which show any +sign of wilting or rotting. + +Cut out apple twigs badly injured by the buffalo tree hopper and burn +them immediately. + +Watch for plant lice on lettuce in cold frames. To combat the insects +the plants should be sprayed with nicofume liquid, one teaspoonful to a +gallon of water. + + + + +BEE-KEEPER'S COLUMN + +Conducted by FRANCIS JAGER, Professor of Apiculture, University +Farm, St. Paul. + + +COMB HONEY, EXTRACTED HONEY, AND INCREASE. + +The practical beekeeper must decide at the beginning of the honey season +whether he wishes to produce extracted honey, comb honey or merely to +increase the number of his colonies. The manner of management of his +apiary will depend upon such decision. At any rate a modern outfit, pure +bred colonies in modern ten or eight frame hives, is required for +successful beekeeping no matter in what line of bee industry he may feel +inclined to engage. + +For production of extracted honey the ten frame hive is to be preferred. +Bees are less inclined to swarm in a ten frame hive, and two ten frame +supers as a rule will be required where three eight frame supers would +otherwise be necessary. + +In successful extracted honey production swarming may be reduced to a +minimum if during the dandelion and fruit trees honey flow, and in the +beginning of white clover flow, once a week an empty drawn comb be +inserted into the middle of the brood nest. As soon as the brood chamber +has eight frames of brood the queen excluder is added and an extracting +super added filled with white extracting combs. If the beekeeper does +not care to raise his extracted honey in snow white combs only, the +excluder may be omitted, but the result will be that the queen will lay +eggs throughout the whole hive, thus rendering extracting difficult on +account of brood present. When raising extracted honey on a large scale +two extracting supers may suffice for each colony. When the one next to +the brood chamber is filled it is extracted at once, the top one taking +its place next to the brood. The extracted super when empty is then +given back to the bees and placed on top. When the second super is +filled the process is repeated. This process of extracting honey +requires a period of four or five weeks. All supers are removed at the +end of the honey flow. The last full super, however, should not be +extracted but saved for the feeding of light colonies in the fall and +spring. + +The easier way to produce extracted honey is to have enough supers, say +three or four for each colony. The first is added during the dandelion +or fruit blossom flow as soon as the colony is strong enough to readily +enter into it. When this super is nearly full and the combs can be seen +through the top bars to whiten, another super is added next to the brood +chamber, and the partly filled super is raised. When this second super +begins to get well filled, a third and a fourth super is added on top. +In the latitude of Minneapolis it is not advisable to insert a super +next to brood chambers after July 4th, or two weeks before the end of +the honey flow, because such procedure would result in a large amount of +uncapped honey. + +Comb honey should not be produced where the honey flow is slow and +intermittent. Weak colonies will not produce comb honey profitably. In +making up supers only A 1 sections should be used, with full sheets of +extra thin foundation and three-eighths inch bottom starters of thin +foundation. Care should be taken to fasten the foundation very solidly, +else heat and weight of bees will cause it to drop. One or more bait +sections should be used in the first comb honey super to induce the bees +to enter into it more readily. Bait sections are the half finished, +unmarketable sections of the previous season. One to four are used near +the center of each super. + +(To be continued in June No.) + +[Illustration: THE HOME OF THE LADY SLIPPER--MOCCASIN FLOWER. + +THE MINNESOTA STATE FLOWER.] + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted in estimating their practical value. + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + + +Vol. 44 JUNE, 1916 No. 6 + + + + +The State Flower and State Flag of Minnesota. + +E. A. SMITH, VICE PRES. JEWELL NURS. CO., LAKE CITY. + + +The material in this paper has been gathered from several sources, part +of which has never before been published. It is presented not so much in +the spirit of criticism as it is in the spirit of making the best of a +mistake which the writer believes occurred when the moccasin flower was +designated as the state flower of Minnesota. + +Last spring an acquaintance of mine was rambling through the woods and +came across the Cypripedium, or the Moccasin flower, or the Lady +slipper, the state flower of Minnesota. He sent me a few specimens. +Although I had lived in the state of Minnesota for a number of years, +this was the first time that I had ever seen the state flower or known +anything about it. The incident set me to thinking, and I went to work +to find out what I could about this flower. I herewith present that +information as briefly as possible. + +There are forty-one states in the Union that have a state flower. Other +states have the matter under consideration. This fact alone would +indicate that a state flower is of some importance as an emblem, or it +would not be so generally considered by the various states. In most +instances the flower was selected by a vote of the public school +scholars of the respective states. The vote was then submitted to the +state legislature and a resolution adopted making the state flower +legal. I submit to you the question: Are school children qualified to +choose a flower as an emblem of the state? Do they understand the +conditions required in the state and the purpose of the selection +sufficiently well to enable them to select intelligently? Do the +children in your school know what flower is common in the northern part +of the state as well as in the southern part of the state? + +In Minnesota, however, the state flower was not chosen by the school +children of the state, but upon petition of the Woman's Auxiliary Board +of World's Fair Managers a resolution was introduced into the senate +February 4th, 1893, by the late Senator W.B. Dean, providing that the +wild Lady Slipper, or the Moccasin flower, Cypripedium calceolus, be +accepted and the same designated and adopted as the state flower, or the +floral emblem of the state of Minnesota. This resolution was also +adopted in the house the same day. A few years later upon petition of +the Nature Club of Minneapolis the variety was changed to the Reginae or +Spectabile, variety. + +[Illustration: The Lady Slipper--Minnesota State Flower. Somewhat under +size.] + +The mystery of the selection in this state is, why was a flower chosen +which is not common to any part of the state? We therefore have a state +flower, beautiful in itself, but without special appeal to the people +because it is comparatively unknown. + +There are about forty species of the Cypripedium belonging to the north +temperate zone. Several of these species occur in the northern United +States and Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains, which are found in the +state of Minnesota. It is called the Moccasin flower because it +resembles the Indian shoe. This plant grows preferably in cool and moist +woods or in bogs. It flowers principally during the months of May and +June. The varieties differ in color, being deep red, pink, yellow, white +and variegated. All of the species, however, are very beautiful. + +The varieties more commonly found in Minnesota are, Acaule, rose purple; +Candidum, small white; Arietinum, red and white; Parviflorum, small +yellow; Pubescens, large yellow; and Spectabile, description of which is +as follows: Plants stout, leaves oval, acute; sepals, roundish, white; +petals, oblong, white; labellum, white or pale pink purple. Very showy. + +It is unfortunate that the Minnesota State Flower does not take kindly +to civilization and cultivation, as it is very difficult to transplant. +About ten years ago at Lake City, Minnesota, we tried to propagate the +moccasin flower. We dug the roots and transplanted them in ground +especially prepared in a nearby grove where we could watch their +development, but the plants were a failure. + +A state flower should be one of the common flowers of the state, so +familiar to all, that its name would suggest a picture of the flower +itself. Probably not 10 per cent of the people of the state have ever +seen it. On this account it is to be regretted that this variety was +chosen as the flower emblem of the state. A state flower, like the state +flag, should be accessible and familiar to everyone, and yet, probably, +the state flag of Minnesota is a stranger to many residents of the +state, for Minnesota did not have a state flag until 1893. + +An emblem should mean something to the individual. The family coat of +arms and the iron cross are distinctive emblems. The shamrock in +sentiment is as dear to an Irishman as his native land. If an emblem +means something to the individual, how much more it ought to mean to the +state and nation. + +The flag is an emblem of loyalty and patriotism. Men fight for it. They +lay down their lives for it because it stands for home and country. I +fancy if men did not know what the flag looked like, the fight would +not be a very fierce one. Do you know what the state flag of Minnesota +looks like? A description of it can be found in the Legislative Manual +for 1915. This flag bears a wreath of white moccasin flowers +(Spectabile) upon a blue background, in the center of which is the state +seal. The design was chosen by a committee of six ladies. It is +appropriate and beautiful, and was designed by Mrs. Edward H. Center, of +Minneapolis. + +The state should furnish an attractive picture of the state flower and +the state flag to every high school in the state, free of charge. The +influence would be good, creating a deeper loyalty to the state. + + + + +Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. + +REMARKS AT ANNUAL MEETING BY SECY. F. CRANEFIELD, MADISON, WIS. + + +President Cashman: We have with us today, Prof. Cranefield, secretary of +the Wisconsin Society. I am sure everybody will be pleased to hear from +him. + +Mr. Cranefield: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I thank you, Mr. +President, for your very kind introduction. I know you meant well when +you introduced me as professor, but I really must plead "not guilty" to +the charge. There was a time, long ago, when I was connected with our +Agricultural College, in a minor relation, that I was not in a position +to resent it, but I have reformed since, and as secretary of the +Wisconsin Horticultural Society I am trying to live down the past. + +It goes without saying that I am glad to be here. I want to come as long +as you will let me come. We of the Wisconsin society are watching you +closely to see if we can by any means learn the secret of your success, +and to that end we are here in considerable force. Our president is +here, and the managers of two of our largest co-operative fruit shippers +associations also. + +Frankly, we want to beat you if we can. You have the biggest and the +best society in the country, and we have the second biggest and next +best, and we are striving for first place. + +Having now disposed of the usual compliments befitting the occasion I +will aim to tell you of a few things we are trying to do in the +Wisconsin society. + +The efforts of our society during the past ten years have been directed +quite largely to the development of commercial fruit-growing in the +state. While we have not overlooked nor forgotten the home owner we have +been working to take commercial orcharding out of the hands of the +farmer and put it in the hands of specialists, and we are succeeding. We +have today about thirty thousand acres of purely commercial orchards in +Wisconsin and more coming. We discourage by every means at command the +planting of fruit trees by the man who is engaged in general farming +except sufficient for his own use. + +Further, in this campaign we aim to concentrate our efforts on certain +districts so as to build up fruit centers. For instance we have in Door +County, that narrow little neck of land between Green Bay and Lake +Michigan, over seven thousand five hundred acres of orchards, apple and +cherry. + +Along the Bayfield shore line we have another splendid fruit district +almost, if not quite, as well known as Hood River and worth vastly more. + +In the southwestern corner of the state along the valley of the Kickapoo +River, on the high bluffs on either side of the river, have been planted +a thousand acres of apples and cherries in the past five years. + +While not all of this development is directly due to the Horticultural +Society, ours has been the moving spirit. The Kickapoo development is +due wholly to the work of the society. + +In this way we are establishing an industry that will be a tremendous +asset to the state. There was a time when dairying was but a feeble +industry in Wisconsin, and now we lead. + +Our society also aids in the development of marketing associations. In +doing these things we also aid the farmer and home owner, for whatever +is best in the commercial orchard is best in the home orchard. Spraying, +pruning and cultivation as practiced by the expert serve as models for +the farmer who has but two dozen trees. + +The other activities of our society are similar to yours. We publish a +magazine, as you do; we hold two conventions, as you do; in fact our +work, and no less our interests, are the same as yours, and I most +sincerely hope that the very pleasant relations that have existed +between the societies may continue for all time. + + + + +Marketing Fruit Direct. + +H. G. STREET, HEBRON, ILL. + + +In studying this subject, the direct marketing of fruit, let us first +see how much it includes. Does it include simply marketing alone? Or +does the success of it depend principally upon the varieties of fruit +set out together with the after cultivation, pruning and spraying? First +of all you must interest people in your work by producing something that +they really want, and half of your problem will then be solved. + +There are any number of places in the northwest where the demand far +exceeds the supply. I do not mean for the common run of fruit full of +worms and covered with scab, but, instead, strictly No. 1 fruit of the +very best varieties. + +About 1901, through the advice of my uncle, Dr. A. H. Street, of Albert +Lea, I joined your society, and through the experience of your members I +learned many valuable lessons. Perhaps the one that impressed me the +most was that of grafting our choicest varieties upon hardy crab stocks +so as to make them hardy enough to withstand our hardest winters, and by +so doing it nearly insures us against total failures in the fruit crop +and especially against losing the trees outright. + +[Illustration: Mr. H. G. Street, of Hebron, Ills.] + +This top-working of course will not do all; we still have to assist +Nature by proper spraying, pruning, cultivating, etc. Doing all in your +power to secure a crop each year to supply the trade you have already +worked up is a big item in holding it. + +While studying your conditions, together with those of Wisconsin and +Illinois, I became very much interested in the native plums as well as +in the apple industry. Therefore I also set out some three acres of the +following varieties: Surprise, Terry, Wyant, Hammer and Hawkeye, also +some of the Emerald and Lombard. + +As this was then new business to me, I had fallen into no deep ruts, and +of course I took it for granted that all horticulturists practiced what +they preached. Therefore I pruned, sprayed, etc., according to +directions, and in due time the fruits of my labor commenced to show up, +and they certainly were attractive to the eye as well as to the taste. + +[Illustration: Wolf River apple tree twelve years old, bearing eighteen +bushels, in H. G. Street's orchard.] + +As our supply increased our demand increased also, so that for the past +five years our average plum crop has been around 2,000 baskets (the +8-lb. grape basket) and all sold readily at 25 to 35 cents retail. + +We are located at Hebron, Illinois, eight miles south of Lake Geneva, +Wis., on the Chicago & Lake Geneva Railway, which makes an ideal +location for a fancy trade. During plum harvest it is nothing uncommon +to have fifty to 100 visitors a day. These customers include all +classes, from the Chicago millionaires to the common laborers, and all +receive the same cordial reception. + +We make it a point never to allow them to think that we are close with +our fruit--not even the neighborhood boys, as they are our best +friends. What they buy we charge them a good fair price for and never +fail to give all new customers a few choice samples of best varieties. + +By the latter part of the plum season our big red Wolf River apples +commence to show up and cook well; also Wealthy and McIntosh commence to +get ripe enough to eat, and the demand each year has far exceeded the +supply. + +So far we have had very few poor apples, but we always sort them into +three grades, the third grade being made up into cider to sell while +sweet. The second grade we sell as such for immediate use. The firsts of +the McIntosh we have sold at $2.00 to $2.50 per bushel, Wealthy, +Jonathan and Grimes at $1.50 to $2.00, while Wolf, N. W. Greening, +Salome, Winesap, Milwaukee, etc., have averaged us $1.25 per bushel. We +are always very careful not to have any bruised, diseased or ill shaped +specimens in our first grade. + +The President: Can you tell us something more about your experience in +marketing direct? Do you sell all the fruit you raise on the place? + +Mr. Street: We sell about all the fruit that we raise direct to the +consumer. When we first started we started with strawberries, and about +half of our crop went to the merchants, and he would retail it for 20 +per cent, but to any one that came there for it we would charge the full +retail price, same as he had to charge, and we never had any trouble +with any of the stores that we dealt with. If we have any seconds or +anything we don't like to put out to the stores we sell them to our +customers and charge them whatever we think would be right for them. + +As to plums, about two-thirds of those would sell right direct to +customers coming there, the rest we supplied to the stores at 20 per +cent discount so that they could retail them at the same price that we +retail them for. Since the apples have begun to bear it seems that +two-thirds of the people want the McIntosh, and almost everyone is +satisfied with its flavor. They average a little larger with us than the +Wealthy, and some of them you can hardly tell from the Wealthy unless +you know just about what the fruit is. Last year we kept them until +about February or possibly later, but an apple with as good a flavor as +that you cannot keep from being eaten up. + +The President: I suppose that is automobile trade? + +Mr. Street: A great deal of it is. + +The President: How did you get it? By advertising? + +Mr. Street: No, by doing something so much different from what anybody +else is doing you get people to talking. I think the Wolf River apple +together with the Terry and Surprise plums have been the cause of +getting started. Of course, the McIntosh now is helping out, too. You +give a person a few Wolf River, not for eating but for cooking, and then +give him a Wealthy or something like that to eat--they will be looking +at the big Wolf River and eating the other and seem to be well satisfied +and always come back. Whenever we sell to the stores we always gauge our +prices so that the majority of their customers will take our fruit +before taking the shipped in fruit from Chicago. We find with grapes we +can charge about five cents a basket more than they retail the Michigan +grapes for. + +[Illustration: View in eleven year old orchard of H. G. Street.] + +For native plums we get more than they do for the Michigan fruit. We +have had quite a good many of the Burbank plums, but we cannot sell over +one-third as many as we do of the natives. + +A Member: You don't ship them, so don't consider the packing? + +Mr. Street: The only ones we ship are those ordered by people coming +there or by letter. If they want a bushel we pack them in a bushel box. +If they want three or six bushels then we pack them in barrels. + +Mr. Anderson: Where are you located? + +Mr. Street: Just south of the Wisconsin state line. + +Mr. Anderson: I am located 100 miles west of here, and I shipped out 400 +bushels of apples to the Dakotas last year direct. + +Mr. Richardson: How many growers are there in your neighborhood growing +fruit commercially? + +Mr. Street: I do not know of any who spray, cultivate and prune +according to the best methods within about 100 miles. We always make it +a point to give our customers good fruit, so that we are not afraid to +recommend it. Then there is another advantage. If they come right there, +and we have any seconds we can tell them just what they are, and if they +want them we can sell them for what they are worth, but if we are +putting them into a store, I prefer not to put in seconds. + +Mr. Kochendorfer: I think that is the advantage of disposing on a public +market. You have a chance to sell the inferior goods without any coming +back. + +Mr. Street: The main thing is to use improved methods and try to outdo +the other fellow. Cultivate a little more thoroughly, put in your cover +crop, not over-fertilize but all you possibly can; give the dormant +spray; spray before bloom very thoroughly and again after bloom; two +weeks after that again, about July 15th. + +Mr. Richardson: How many apple trees have you? + +Mr. Street: We now have ten acres in apples, but most of them are young, +about three acres in bearing. + +Mr. Richardson: I would like to ask the gentleman if in a small place +that way he hasn't a better local market than we have here in the larger +cities. Around Lake Minnetonka they raise grapes, but we get most of our +grapes from Ohio and Indiana. I have wondered why it is that these +grapes go to another market when they can just as well go to the +Minneapolis market. You know as well as I do anyone buying fruit in the +Twin Cities always buy fruit grown in Ohio or Indiana. + +Mr. Street: I do not know why it is, but so far we haven't realized that +we have any competition. We charge for our best eating apples fully as +much as the stores have to charge for the Western fancy packed fruit. +There is not a worm hole or speck of disease on the No. 1, and really I +can't see how they can compete after raising the fruit in the West and +packing and shipping it to Chicago and then out there. The price they +would have to charge there would make us a good fair price; in fact, a +good big price. + + + + +A Satisfactory Marketing System. + +G. A. ANDERSON, RENVILLE. + + +I have marketed this fall some over 400 barrels of apples, mostly +Wealthy, Duchess and Northwestern Greening. Three hundred barrels of +these were shipped direct to local merchants in Dakota and western +Minnesota towns in small shipments of a few barrels at a time or as fast +as they could sell them. I started this way of marketing during the big +crop of 1913 and this year again, getting nearly all of my old customers +back and many new ones. I secured satisfactory prices, and for my +location I believe I have solved the marketing problem. One does not pay +much attention to the marketing as long as enough only for local demand +is produced, but when one has a surplus to dispose of the marketing +problem looms rather large. I have tried several times shipping to +commission firms, but have never received satisfactory returns. + + + + +A Successful Cold Storage for Apples. + +H. F. HANSEN, ORCHARDIST, ALBERT LEA. + + +Mr. Clarence Wedge: I want to preface this short paper with the +statement that Mr. Hansen is a man who has worked himself up from the +very bottom of the horticultural ladder. He came to Albert Lea a very +poor man, and I think supported himself for some time by trapping and +fishing and such work as he was able to do. He is a man with a great +tendency to investigate and to work out problems for himself. By his +thrift and persevering investigations he has brought himself into a fine +property and great success. He is the market gardener in our part of the +country and a credit to his kind. (Mr. Wedge reads the paper.) + +When my orchard, near the city of Albert Lea, began to bear heavy crops +of fruit, I found it very desirable to hold the Wealthy and other kinds +that ripen at the same time until after the farmers had marketed their +fruit. We have a very good cold storage in Albert Lea that is open to +the public, but the price they charge is sixty cents per barrel for two +months' storage, which is more than the fruit will bear, and so I began +to think of putting up a cold storage of my own. + +My first one was built underground with pipes for ice and salt to cool +it, something like the system that I am now using. But I found out in +the first season that it takes a great deal of ice to offset the heat +that is coming in from the ground at the sides and bottom of the cellar. +And so I built the storage which I am now using entirely above ground, +using the basement under it for storing cabbage and vegetables. I built +this in 1913, the size 28x56 feet, using cement blocks for the basement, +where the cabbages are stored. The cold storage above this is built as +follows: + +First, an ordinary frame building with 2x4 inch studdings sheathed on +the outside with drop siding with No. 3 flooring. Inside of this +sheathing 2x4 inch studs placed flatwise, sheathed on the inside with +No. 3 flooring, and the six-inch space back of the studs filled with +sawdust. On the outside of this firing strips one-half foot are nailed, +which are covered with linofelt. One-half foot firing strips are nailed +inside of this, and these also covered with linofelt. To this again +one-half foot firing strips are added, to which are nailed metal lath, +and the whole is plastered with cement. The floor both above and below +is made of 2x12 joists, with No. 3 flooring nailed below the joints, the +space between which is then filled with ten inches of saw dust, leaving +an air space of two inches at the upper edge of the joists. The joists +are then covered with linofelt and then the linofelt covered with No. 3 +flooring. + +On the north and west sides I found it necessary to add one more +waterproof coat of linofelt in order to make sure of keeping out the +frost. + +I have so far only finished up for cold storage one-half of the room, +using the other half for a packing room, so that my present facilities +are only 28x28 feet. This room is cooled by eight inch pipes of +galvanized iron, extending from the attic above to troughs near the +floor, that are sloping so as to carry off the melted ice. These pipes +are on both sides about two feet apart. The ice is pulled up into the +attic by horsepower and broken up small enough into pieces to feed the +pipes. The amount of salt used with the ice depends upon how fast we +want the ice to melt. A large quantity of salt cools the storage down +quicker. In practice I find that it takes one hour for a man to elevate +a ton of ice, chop it up and fill the pipes. They hold something over a +ton and must be filled every other day in ordinary September weather. It +will not do to let the pipes remain less than one-half full. When the +ice gets down that far, we have to fill again. + +The total cost of my storage when it is entirely furnished up and the +present capacity doubled will be about $3,000.00. At present it holds +2,000 standard size apple boxes. + +I find that it only pays to put in good fruit that in ordinary seasons +will keep until the first of March and hold its flavor well and give +good satisfaction on the market. Icing stops about the middle of +November. The cost per box for storage is as follows: Ice and salt, ten +cents. Interest on investment, six cents. I have figured out carefully +the entire cost of growing and storing apples, and find out that leaving +out the interest on the value of the land, it will approximate +forty-eight cents per bushel. This includes cultivation, spraying, +packing, and picking. The question which now interests me is whether we +can grow fruit good enough and stand the expense and compete with apples +grown in the other good fruit sections of the country. + +Mr. Older: I had the pleasure of visiting this plant with Mr. Wedge, and +this man had quite a good many boxes of as fine apples as you would wish +to see. This was along the latter part of February, and they were in +fine condition. He had a lot of Jonathans and Yankees and some other +varieties I don't remember, grown on top-worked trees there. + + + + +The Plum Curculio. + +EDWARD A. NELSON, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. + +(Prize Winner at Gideon Memorial Contest.) + + +The small crescent-shaped punctures, so common on apples, plums, peaches +and other fruits, are made by a small snout-beetle known as the plum +curculio. The beetles issue from their winter quarters at about the time +the trees are in full bloom and feed on the tender foliage, buds and +blossoms. Later they attack the newly set fruit, cutting small circular +holes through the skin in feeding, while the females, in the operation +of egg-laying, make the crescentic cuts so characteristic of this +species. The egg, deposited under the skin of the fruit, soon hatches +into a very small whitish larva or grub, which makes its way into the +flesh of the fruit. Here it feeds greedily and grows rapidly, becoming, +in the course of two weeks, the fat, dirty white "worm" so well known +among fruit growers. + +The curculio is a native of North America and for more than 150 years +has been known as an enemy of fruits. Our early horticultural literature +abounds with reference to its depredations. In more recent times the +great increase in planting of fruits, brought about to supply the +increased demand, has permitted it to become much more abundant than +formerly, and the plum curculio constitutes at the present time one of +the most serious insect enemies of orchard fruits. Statistics gathered +of its depredations show that it is distributed over much of the area of +the United States. Its western limit is, roughly, a line drawn through +the centers of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma +and Texas. East of this line the entire United States is infested except +the southern third of Florida and the northern half of Maine. + +Is the plum curculio causing much damage to the fruit growing industry +of this country? That it is is shown by the National Conservation +Committee in its report in Volume III, page 309, where it states that +the average annual loss in late years to only three fruits is as +follows: + +Apples $3,257,806 + +Peaches 4,088,814 + +Plums 1,244,149 + ---------- +Grand Total $8,590,769 + +Just think of it! A total loss each year to only three fruits of over +$8,500,000. This amount is a heavy drain upon the fruit growing +industry of this country. During the past twenty-five or thirty years +the total damage caused by this insect, to the various fruits which it +attacks, would, on a conservative estimate, probably be not less than +$100,000,000. + +These figures show the absolute need of the adoption of effective +remedial measures against this insect so as to lessen this loss. But +before we can hope to combat this insect systematically and successfully +it is necessary to know its life history and habits. + +[Illustration: The curculio in its stages of growth, and its fruit +injury.] + +There are four distinct stages in its life cycle: (1) The egg, (2) the +larva, or "worm," (3) the pupa, and (4) the adult, or beetle. + +The curculio passes the winter in the adult stage under accumulations +of partly decayed leaves, among the closely-packed dried grass of +sod-covered orchards, and probably wherever suitable protection from the +winter may be found. Its depredations are usually worse near woods, so +it probably finds here very suitable places for wintering. + +In the spring, when the fruit buds are unfolding, the beetles begin to +emerge from their winter quarters and feed to some extent on the +blossoms and tender leaves of the fruit trees. Mating soon begins, and +by the time the fruit is well set the beetles make this fruit the chief +object of their attention. The circular punctures in the skin are +feeding punctures, while the crescent-shaped ones are egg-laying +punctures. A single egg is deposited in a puncture, although several may +be placed in a single fruit. From one to eight eggs may be deposited +daily by an individual female, which may be continued for several +months. The great majority of the eggs, however, are deposited by the +end of eight weeks. These eggs hatch in from three to seven days, being +influenced greatly by the weather. + +The egg hatches into a larva, or "worm," which bores into the fruit. It +becomes full-grown in from twelve to twenty days and bores out of the +fruit. It enters the soil, burrows to a depth of one-half to two inches, +and forms an earthern cell in which to pupate. In three or four weeks it +emerges as a full grown beetle and attacks the ungathered fruit and the +foliage. On the approach of cold weather the beetle seeks a protected +place in which to pass the winter. + +The character of the injury is very nearly alike in all fruits. In the +plum the fruit often falls to the ground before mature. In seasons of +short crops very little fruit may remain to ripen. The punctures cause +the fruit to become mis-shaped and to exude masses of gum. The ripe +fruit becomes "wormy." The late varieties may be seriously injured by +the new generation of adults. In the apple the injury to the fruit is +about the same as in the plum, except that the infested fruit is not so +likely to fall to the ground and that the egg rarely hatches into the +grub there. The fruit becomes knotted and pitted. The late varieties may +also be injured by the new generation of adults. In the peach, cherry +and other stone fruits, the injury closely resembles that of the plum. + +Although the plum curculio has some natural enemies that tend to reduce +its numbers somewhat, yet they are not important enough to be considered +as effective means of control. Some of these natural enemies are +parasites of various kinds, birds, chickens and the like. + +There are several remedial measures practiced, varying in their degree +of effectiveness. Away back in the early days of horticulture in this +country, when the curculio became very abundant rewards were offered for +an effective method of combating it. Several were proposed, but only a +few were at all effective. The best of these methods is what is called +"jarring." + +The curculio has the habit of falling to the ground and "playing +'possum" when disturbed. This led to the practice of holding or +spreading sheets beneath the tree and then striking the tree a sudden, +forcible blow with a padded pole or mallet in order to dislodge the +beetles. The trees were jarred daily from the time the calyx or "shuck" +began to slip from the newly set fruit until the beetles had +disappeared, or for at least four or five weeks. This was practiced to +quite an extent, but it takes too much time and is too expensive. + +A still better remedy is clean cultivation. Experiments have shown that +as high as 76.75 per cent. of the pupae may be destroyed by means of +thorough cultivation. The mere breaking of the pupal cell, leaving the +earth in contact with the body of the pupa, is fatal to many. Others are +killed by the crushing action of the earth as it is stirred. Others are +exposed to the elements and subject to the attacks of their enemies, +such as ants and birds. Sunlight is quickly fatal to them, and exposure +to the air on a warm day in the shade is also fatal to them. +Observations show that the insect is in the pupal condition in the +ground in from fifty to sixty-five days after the falling of the +blossoms of such fruit as apples and plums. Data have been presented to +show that the minimum time spent in the ground is about twenty days. +Shallow cultivation should begin, therefore, in about eight or nine +weeks after blossoming. It is best to cultivate every week or oftener +for six or seven weeks. It is very necessary that this cultivation +should reach immediately beneath the spread of the limbs, as most of the +curculios are found here, having dropped from the fruit above and +burrowed into the soil where they fell. + +The third method of combating the curculio, the method most commonly +used and most generally recommended, is spraying with arsenical poisons. +The spray most generally used is arsenate of lead. The most economical +and effective way is to add arsenate of lead to Bordeaux mixture. The +Bordeaux is mixed in the following proportions: three pounds of copper +sulphate (blue vitriol), four pounds of lime, and fifty gallons of +water. To this amount of Bordeaux mixture three pounds of arsenate of +lead are added. In place of Bordeaux mixture lime-sulphur may be used. +If the insecticide is used alone, three pounds of arsenate of lead in +fifty gallons of water make an effective spray. It is best to spray +three times, the first spraying coming just before the blossoms open, +the second coming ten days later, and the third another ten days later. +The cost is from ten to fifteen cents per tree for the three sprayings. +This cost is lessened when combined with other sprays. + +While spraying greatly reduces the injuries inflicted, yet it is +apparent that account must be taken of other factors, such as the +relative abundance of insects as compared with the amount of fruit +present on the trees. With a small fruit crop and an abundance of +curculios, the most thorough spraying in the world will not serve to +bring through a satisfactory amount of sound fruit. + +While spraying is undoubtedly the most important aid and, if persisted +in from year to year, may answer for its control, as its effects are +cumulative, yet it is clear that other control measures should also be +employed. In all cases which have come under observation the insects +have always been found most abundant in orchards which are in sod or are +poorly cared for and allowed to grow up more or less in weeds and trash. +Also, orchards near woods always suffer severely, especially along the +border. As opposed to this condition is the notably less injury in +orchards kept free from weeds and trash. In such cases spraying usually +given for other insects, as the codling moth, serves to keep the +curculio well under control. In fact, it may be said as a general +statement that the curculio will never become seriously troublesome in +orchards given the usual routine attention in cultivation, spraying and +pruning now considered essential in successful fruit growing. Serious +losses from the curculio are almost conclusive evidence of neglect, +which is best and most quickly corrected by the adoption of proper +orchard practice. + + * * * * * + +AN ANTIDOTE FOR WASP STINGS.--It not infrequently happens that +persons biting unguardedly into fruit in which a wasp is concealed +receive stings in the mouth or throat. Such stings may be exceedingly +dangerous and even fatal since the affected tissues swell rapidly and +this is liable to cause difficulty in swallowing and breathing. An +effective antidote is employed in Switzerland. The sting is rubbed +vigorously with garlic, or, if it is too deep in the throat for this +treatment, a few drops of the juice from bruised garlic are swallowed. +If garlic is not to be obtained onion may take its place, but is a less +active agent. The efficacy of this simple remedy was verified by a Swiss +specialist, who found it important enough to be presented at a session +of the Vaudois Society of Medicine. + + + + +Increasing the Fertility of the Land. + +PROF. F. J. ALWAY, DIVISION OF SOILS, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. + + +I have been asked to speak on "Increasing the Fertility of the Land." To +speak on such a subject is sometimes a rather delicate matter because +some people consider they have a soil so good that you can't increase +its fertility. With some of the prairie soils, when they were first +plowed up that wouldn't have been so very far amiss. Take those black +prairie soils with the grayish yellow clay subsoil, with an abundance of +lime in it, which you find in a large part of the state, including a +large part of Hennepin County, and you have as good a soil as you may +expect to find anywhere on the earth's surface. But you can't keep a +soil up to its full limit of fertility, no matter how good it is, unless +you frequently treat it with something. + +[Illustration: Prof. F. J. Alway.] + +When a soil is well supplied with lime there are three things that are +liable to be deficient. If it is not well supplied with lime there may +be four, but the bulk of your soils are good enough so far as lime is +concerned. Those three are potash, which is abundant and will be +abundant 100 years from now, phosphoric acid, or phosphorus, with which +our soils are fairly well supplied, and nitrogen, which comes from the +vegetable matter. In nitrogen our prairie soils are remarkably rich when +first plowed up. The phosphoric acid and the potash you can not lose +unless they are taken away in the form of crops, but the nitrogen may be +lost without even taking off crops. All you have to do is to cultivate +your soil, when part of the nitrogen becomes soluble in water and is +carried down by the rain into the water-table unless you have plants +growing with roots to take it up; a large part escapes into the air. So +when your black prairie soil has been under cultivation for twenty +years, as an orchard, usually from one-half to one-third of the +original nitrogen has escaped, most of it into the air, only the smaller +part being carried off in the crops. That is the one thing that +orchardists and horticulturists have to concern themselves about first +of all, so far as soil fertility is concerned. + +I see that the first of the questions for me to answer deals with that. +"What crop do you consider the best green manure?" There are two kinds +of green manures. One is represented by rye. Rye takes up the nitrogen +that is in the soil, and when it dies leaves behind what it took out of +the soil; the next crop can get this. By plowing under the rye crop you +do not increase the amount of nitrogen, the most important element of +fertility in the soil. + +We have a better green manure than that, better than rye or oats or +barley or any of those plants that properly belong to the grass family; +namely, the members of the clover, bean or pea family--all of these +plants which are called legumes, which have pods and which have flowers +shaped like butterflies. + +As these grow they take up nitrogen from the air; the bacteria which +make their home on the roots of those plants take the nitrogen from the +air and give it to their host plants. The plants receive this nitrogen, +store it in themselves, and when the crop is plowed under you have a +great amount of nitrogen added to the soil. Now, a clover crop of an +acre growing from spring until the freeze-up in the fall may take out of +the air as much as 120 pounds of nitrogen. One hundred and twenty pounds +of nitrogen, bought in the form of commercial fertilizer from Swift & +Company, or Northrup, King & Company, would cost you $24.00. The clover +has taken that much out of the air. If the crop were pastured off, the +greater part of this nitrogen would be returned to the soil; when you +plow the clover under still more nitrogen is taken from the air by +bacteria that live upon the decaying plant material, and you may have +$48.00 worth of nitrogen per acre added to the soil by simply growing +clover for one year. + +Any kind of green manure crop that bears pods is good. Vetches are good, +and soy beans are among the best for orchards. Clover, if you give it +time to make a good growth, is as good as anything. + +The next question is--"Should apple raisers use commercial fertilizers?" +Now, the apple tree, when it is growing on good soil, makes such a +vigorous root development that it is hard to get any commercial +fertilizer to help it. On poor soils it, like any other kind of plant, +will respond to fertilizers. Some of the eastern experimental stations +have been carrying on investigations with commercial fertilizers for a +great many years to see whether in apple orchards these will cause an +increase in the yield or an improvement in the quality of the fruit. On +good soils, even after ten or twelve years' fertilization they have been +found to have no effect except in the case of nitrogen, and this can be +better supplied in the form of a green manure plowed under than in any +other way. That is to say, keep your orchard clean until the last of +July or first of August, sow your green manure crop, let it grow until +freeze-up and stay there during the winter time. It holds the snow and +so affords some winter protection. In the spring plow it under, and you +plow under all the nitrogen that the plants had collected the previous +year. Then keep your orchard clean during the summer time, until in July +or August you again sow the green manure crop. + +[Illustration: Applying ground limestone to an acid soil to determine +whether liming will be profitable. Half of the field is left unlimed.] + +The fertilizers that I get more inquiries about than any others are the +phosphates--bone meal, acid phosphate and rock phosphate. +Horticulturists have read that striking results are being obtained with +these on certain crops in the eastern and central states, and they want +to know whether the same fertilizers will pay here. Some inquire about +potash fertilizers. With the latter there is no doubt but that the +results we would obtain would, even under ordinary circumstances, not +pay. At the present time potash costs about ten times what it does in +times of peace. Sulphate of potash, which ordinarily brings $45.00 per +ton, is now quoted at $450. This puts its use out of the question. + +The phosphoric acid fertilizers are no higher now than usual. They cost, +according to the kind, from $9.50 to $25.00 per ton. Some of them are +produced near here--in South St. Paul. With tree crops, apple, plum and +pear, we need expect no increased yield from the use of phosphates, +unless it be on our very poorest soils. On certain crops, like the bush +fruits--the currants and the raspberries, we might get a distinct +benefit. I cannot give a definite answer to that. I can tell you what +results they have obtained in New York state, what they have obtained in +Pennsylvania or Illinois or Maine, but what results we would get in +Minnesota we do not know. We can't apply their results to our +conditions. The only thing we can do is to carry on such experiments +here, and they have not yet been started. That brings me to a third +question I have here. + +"What experiments are being conducted by the University of Minnesota +with orchard and other horticultural crops?" We realized the importance +of this matter and plans were prepared. Then, as you know the last +legislature was economical. It decided that one of the best places to +make a cut would be in the funds for experimental work; when these funds +were reduced we not only could start no new experiments but even had to +cut off some of the old ones. For that reason these fertilizer +experiments have to wait until the next legislature or the one after. I +hope the next legislature will make such an appropriation that they may +be begun. + +Now, for the next question. A man states that he can secure at a very +low rate limestone from one of the Minneapolis companies producing +crushed limestone for road-making purposes and wants to know whether it +will pay him to haul it to his farm. Well, if you do not have any other +work for your teams it may pay you. However, if your time is valuable, +you had better take some samples of the soil and send them in to the +experiment station. Just address them to the Soils Department or Soils +Division. Then we can decide whether it is worth while trying some of +the limestone. We cannot tell you whether it will pay; we can tell you +whether it is likely to pay, or whether it is likely to be a waste of +energy, or whether it is so doubtful that you ought to give it a fair +trial. On perhaps two-thirds of the fields in Hennepin County it would +be a waste of money and energy; on about half of the others, we may say, +it is almost certain to be a good investment at a dollar a ton. On the +remaining portion we simply can't say. On these, chances are even +whether it would pay. No crops are injured by limestone, so you are safe +in putting it on. Practically all crops are benefited by it on sour +soils and especially the vegetable crops. + +The next question is--"Are the black peat or muck soils first class? Do +they need anything besides drainage?" Some of them, a very few, produce +really good crops when they are drained, plowed and brought under +ordinary cultivation without fertilization, but only a few. Nearly all +of them need commercial fertilizer, and until a bog covered with peat +soil has been carefully examined to ascertain the depth of the peat, the +difficulty of drainage, and the character of the peat (because peats +differ greatly within a few miles of each other) it is unwise to attempt +to reclaim it. Within three miles of the experiment station we have +three bogs very different in character. One, about half a mile from the +buildings, is heavily charged with lime. Another has an exceedingly +small quantity of lime so that profitable crop production of any kind +would be out of the question without a heavy application of ground +limestone or quicklime. Still another one stands between these two. One +of them can be reclaimed without any great expense, but with the one it +would be a very expensive matter to fertilize and treat with lime after +it had been drained. + +Those are the questions that have been given me. Are there any other +questions? + +Mr. McCall: What is peat lacking in? + +Mr. Alway: Practically all peats are lacking in potash. If the peat +layer be very shallow, six inches, twelve inches, sometimes even +twenty-four inches, the plants are able to get their roots down through +the peat and get their potash from the underlying clay or loam. In that +case no fertilizer is needed. Some of the peats lack lime, some of them +lack lime, potash and phosphoric acid, and some these three and nitrogen +also, so that you either have to apply some commercial form of nitrogen +or grow legumes as green manures. + +Mr. Kellogg: What was the trouble where I couldn't raise strawberries on +new wood soil? + +Mr. Alway: I couldn't answer that. + +Mr. Kellogg: The leaf mold was six or eight inches deep. + +Mr. Alway: Was it any deeper than that? + +Mr. Kellogg: I don't know, it may have been down a foot, and the leaf +mold had been accumulating there for ages. + +Mr. Alway: In some cases the peat is so thoroughly decayed that it looks +like leaf mold and it may be a foot or two feet deep. + +Mr. Kellogg: This was no peat, it was just wood soil. I could not raise +anything-- + +Mr. Alway: Did the plants grow? + +Mr. Kellogg: Yes, the plants grew and wintered well but didn't bear +worth a cent. + +Mr. Alway: Did they make lots of runners? + +Mr. Kellogg: Oh, fairly good, but right over the fence in the next field +that had been worked for twenty-five years I got 260 bushels of +strawberries to the acre; never had any manure on it. + +Mr. Alway: The more leaf mold the more nitrogen; if you have too much +nitrogen it may develop the vine and fail to form fruit or seed. + +Mr. Ludlow: On heavy black prairie soil, three feet deep, where I am +growing eighty bushels of corn to the acre, I want to put in +strawberries, and I have a lot of wood ashes, dry wood ashes, not +leached ashes, but dry wood ashes. Would it be worth while to put that +on or would that overdo the thing? Would it be policy to put that on? + +Mr. Alway: It is not likely to do any harm, and it is likely to do some +good. Wood ashes contain chiefly lime and potash. The potash will be a +distinct benefit. The lime isn't of any particular benefit to this crop +on most soils. For strawberries it is slightly harmful on our ordinary +soils that are originally well supplied with lime. + +Mr. Ludlow: On another piece a ways from that I put out a young orchard, +and in order to start the trees well I had covered the ground half an +inch deep with wood ashes around those trees. I noticed that the weeds +grew there twice as quick as they did when I got away from the wood +ashes. + +Mr. Alway: There you have the benefit of the potash and the lime. If you +put lime in the orchards it will make the clover and most of the other +green manure crops grow better, and thus you gain in nitrogen from the +lime; you gain in potash as it comes from the wood ashes. + +Mr. Brackett: Have you ever found any ground with too much leaf mold on +it to grow good strawberries? + +Mr. Alway: I have not. + +Mr. Brackett: I remember when I broke out my place where I am living now +I had a place where the leaves had collected and rotted until I would +say there was eight or ten inches of leaf mold. When you went across it +you would sink in almost to your shoe tops. On that piece of ground I +grew 11,000 quarts of strawberries to the acre in a year, the largest +yield I had ever grown on that leaf mold. You can never get too much +leaf mold. There must have been something else besides the leaf mold. + +Mr. Alway: In case a crop does not give a satisfactory yield it may be +due to other things than the soil, and until we eliminate the other +possible causes we can't safely blame it to the soil. + +Mr. Moyer: What do those black soils in the western part of the state +need? They have a whitish deposit on top. + +Mr. Alway: Drainage. That is alkali. + +Mr. Kochendorfer: I have a ten-year apple orchard that I disked last +year and kept it tolerably clean this spring. There were a lot of +dandelions sprung up that I mowed down the middle of July, and since +then they have grown up again. Will they take nitrogen the same as +clover? + +Mr. Alway: They won't take any from the air. They will act like so much +rye, but when they die and decay nitrogen will be gathered from the air +and added to the soil by bacteria that live upon the decaying vegetable +matter. + +Mr. Kellogg: Did you ever hear of them dying? + +Mr. Alway: Dandelions? If they are plowed under. + +A Member: Is it practicable to grow soy beans in this soil? Can they be +gotten at a reasonable price, and can we mature them here? + +Mr. Alway: They mature here without any serious difficulty. There are a +great many different varieties. If you order them from a distant seed +house you may get a variety that will mature in Louisiana but not in +Minnesota. + +A Member: How about cowpeas? + +Mr. Alway: Cowpeas are disappointing thus far north. In Minnesota they +are not nearly as satisfactory as the soy bean. In an unusually warm +summer they are satisfactory. + +A Member: With the soy bean do you have to plow in the whole of it? + +Mr. Alway: Yes. The whole plant ought to be plowed under. + +A Member: Would it be practicable to feed soy beans in an orchard? + +Mr. Alway: Yes. You don't get quite the same benefit from the green +manure when you pasture as when you plow under. + +A Member: How about the hairy vetch? Does it grow here? + +Mr. Alway: Yes. It grows here. It is not a bad crop at all. + + * * * * * + +POISONING TREE SCALE.--We take the following from _Scientific +American_ as worth consideration by the owners of orchards and lawns: + +A correspondent in _Science_ relates the following rather startling +experiment in killing tree scale by poisoning the sap of the tree. He +says: + +"I have in my ground a plant of Spanish broom about a dozen years old +and with a trunk about four inches in diameter which has for several +years been seriously infested by cottony cushion scale (_Icerya +purchasi_). I have tried various sprays, have put scale-eating beetles +on the tree, and at one time cut all the branches off and sprayed the +trunk several times in the attempt to get permanently rid of this scale, +but up to last winter it seemed that all attempts were in vain. In +February of this year, when the broom was very thickly covered with the +scale, I bored a three-eighths inch hole in the trunk to a depth of +about three inches, filled the hole nearly full of crystals of potassic +cyanide, and plugged it up. In two days the scale began to fall from the +tree and in a few days all appeared dead. Others hatched and attacked +the tree, but lasted only a short time, and the tree has since been free +from scale and very vigorous." + + + + +NOTICE OF SUMMER MEETING, 1916 + +A JOINT SESSION OF THE MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AND ITS +AUXILIARIES, THE MINNESOTA STATE GARDEN FLOWER SOCIETY, THE MINNESOTA +STATE BEE KEEPERS SOCIETY AND THE MINNESOTA STATE FLORISTS SOCIETY. + +Will be held FRIDAY, JUNE 23rd, 1916, in the Gymnasium, at University +Farm, St. Paul. + + +THE GYMNASIUM BUILDING in which this meeting is to be held has +recently been constructed and only finished suitable for the uses of +this gathering within the past year. The grounds about it are still in +part in an unfinished condition. Directly south of this building are the +football grounds, originally a marshy tract, now filled in and leveled +off, with hillsides sloping upwards some thirty to forty feet on either +side, well shaded. These slopes would be excellent places for the picnic +dinner and the afternoon session except for the fact that they have +recently been seeded and are not yet in condition for use. The main room +in the gymnasium building, which is a very large room--at least three +times as large as the one occupied by our exhibit last year--will be +used for the fruit and flower display, and exhibitors can have access to +this hall early in the forenoon, though visitors will be barred from the +exhibition hall until 12:00 m. to give ample opportunity for placing and +judging the display. + +The exhibition will remain in place undisturbed until 9:00 o'clock p.m. +The flowers will be distributed to the various hospitals in the Twin +Cities. + +THE PREMIUM LIST accompanying this notice is practically the +same as last year, there being only a few minor changes, to which it +will not be necessary to refer here. The season, up to the time of +writing this notice at least, having been a favorable one we are +anticipating a large display of flowers, probably the finest ever shown +at any of our summer gatherings, and as the weather is always pleasant +on the occasion of our summer meeting a large gathering of members and +visitors is also assured. + +DEMONSTRATIONS.--There will be a number of demonstrations at +the farm, one by Prof. Francis Jager, the apiculturist, at 11:30 +o'clock, at the Apiary Building. No special subject has been announced +for this, but it is certain to be a profitable occasion for those +interested in bee culture. Professors connected with the entomological +and pathological departments will conduct experiments in spraying at +some point near the Main Building. Undoubtedly there will be other +demonstrations, which may be announced before the meeting or in regard +to which announcements will be found posted at the gymnasium. + +GUIDES TO THE GROUNDS.--Guides will be in attendance to escort +visitors about the grounds to various points of interest. These guides +will be prepared to answer questions pertaining to the various branches +of educational work at the farm. Those who wish to take advantage of +this service will meet the guides at the gymnasium at 10:30 a.m. and +3:30 p.m. The guides will wear suitable badges. + +PICNIC DINNER.--In regard to the picnic dinner, which will +occupy the time between noon and 2:00 o'clock, we are not quite sure as +to where it will be held, but probably near the dining hall. Should the +weather be unfavorable of course there is plenty of room inside the +gymnasium building. Lemonade, ice cold, will be provided in quantity at +the gymnasium building to meet the needs of the picnickers. + +AFTERNOON MEETING.--At 2:00 p.m. the afternoon session of the +meeting will be held at some point in or around the gymnasium building, +depending on the weather at that time and somewhat also on the weather +between now and then as to the condition the grounds may be in. + +REACHING THE GROUNDS.--Take the Como-Harriet or Como-Hopkins +car in either St. Paul or Minneapolis, get off at Doswell Avenue, and a +walk of approximately one-half mile will bring you to University Farm +grounds. To reach the gymnasium go north on Cleveland Avenue, which is +the avenue running along the west side of University Farm, past the +University Farm buildings until you come to the last building, which you +will recognize as the gymnasium by its size. The grounds between +Cleveland Avenue and the gymnasium are in an unfinished condition, but +visitors will readily find their way across. If you prefer to ride all +the way to the grounds get off at Eustis Avenue, which the conductor +will point out to you. From that place cars run every fifteen minutes +into the Farm grounds, an extra fare of five cents being charged. Ask +the conductor to let you off at the gymnasium building, which you will +reach from the street car after a short walk over ground still ungraded +and where no special path has been provided. Getting off at that point, +however, saves a long walk from the terminal station. If in doubt as to +the way, follow the sign of the arrow. + +VISIT TO STATE FRUIT-BREEDING FARM.--This farm is located at +Zumbra Heights, twenty-two miles west of Minneapolis on the Minneapolis +and St. Louis railroad. The train leaves depot at 8:35 a.m. Return can +be made by way of Zumbra Heights landing on Lake Minnetonka and the lake +steamers via trolley line to Minneapolis, or by waiting until +mid-afternoon a train can be secured returning to the city on the +railroad. One or more of the professors will go out Saturday morning, +June 24th, to accompany any who may desire to take advantage of this +opportunity to visit the Fruit Breeding Farm in a body. There are many +things of interest there, the special timely feature at this season +being the fruiting of a large field of No. 3 strawberries, which variety +gives promise of being the coming commercial berry of the Northwest. + +ENTRIES.--All entries must be received by the secretary not +later than Monday, June 19th. No entries whatever will be received at +the meeting. The exhibitors are urged to send in their entries at as +early a date as possible, under no circumstances later than the date +noted above. Entry blanks will be furnished by the secretary on +application. + +EXHIBITS.--All exhibits must be in place and properly labeled +by 11:30 a.m. to compete for premiums. The exhibitors must be members of +the society and growers of the articles exhibited. Any one may become a +member upon payment of the annual fee of $1.00. + +Fruits and flowers shown become the property of the association. + + + + +Premium List, Summer Meeting, 1916. + +No Duplicating of Varieties Permitted. + + +OUT-DOOR ROSES. + + 1st prem. 2d prem. 3d prem. 4th prem. + +Collection--three blooms of each +named variety, to be shown in +separate vases $6.00 $4.00 $2.00 $1.00 + +Collection of named varieties--three +blooms of each, in separate vases, +amateurs only 6.00 4.00 2.00 1.00 + +Three named varieties, white--each +variety in a separate vase, three +blooms of each, each bloom on a +separate stem 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Three named varieties, pink--each +variety in a separate vase, three +blooms of each, each bloom on a +separate stem 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Three named varieties, red--each +variety in a separate vase, three +blooms of each, each bloom on a +separate stem 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Collection of Rugosa and Rugosa +Hybrids--each variety (consisting +of one cluster of blooms on a single +stem) in a separate vase 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Most beautiful rose in vase 1.00 + +Largest rose in vase 1.00 +Seedling rose to be shown by the +originator. (Not previously +exhibited in competition.) Bronze +medal donated by the American +Rose Society. +Basket of out-door roses and +foliage, arranged for effect without +ribbon, not to exceed twelve inches +in diameter 3.00 2.00 1.00 + +The following named varieties of roses to be entered separately and +shown in separate vases, three to five blooms in each vase. + +Prince Camile deRohan, General Jacqueminot, Margaret Dickson, M.P. +Wilder, Jules Margottin, Magna Charta, Paul Neyron, Madam Gabriel +Luizet, Baroness Rothschild, Anna de Diesbach, Ulrich Brunner, John +Hopper, Rosa Rugosa (pink and white), Baron deBonstetten, Karl Druski, +Madam Plantier, Grus an Teplitz. + +Each, 1st prem., 75 cents; 2nd prem., 50 cents; 3rd prem., 25 cents. + + +PEONIES. + + 1st prem. 2d prem. 3d prem. 4th prem. +Vase of Festiva Maxima. 6 blooms $2.00 $1.00 $0.50 + " " flesh or light pink " " " " " + " " medium or dark pink " " " " " + " " white " " " " " + " " red " " " " " + +Collection--three blooms of each named + variety in separate vases $6.00 $4.00 $2.00 $1.00 + +Collection--three blooms of each named +variety in separate vases, amateurs only 6.00 4.00 2.00 1.00 + +Seedling peony, three blooms 3.00 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Collection--one bloom of each variety, +shown each in a separate vase; for +amateurs owning no more than ten +varieties 2.00 1.00 .50 + + +ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS. + +Vase of Arabis $1.50 $1.00 $0.50 + " " Canterbury Bells " " " + " " Dielytra " " " + " " Delphinium " " " + " " Evening primrose (Oenothera) " " " + " " Forget-me-not " " " + " " Foxglove " " " + " " Gailardias " " " + " " Grass pinks " " " + " " Iceland poppies " " " + " " Iris " " " + " " Lillies " " " + " " Lupine " " " + " " Nasturtiums " " " + " " Oriental poppies " " " + " " Pansies " " " + " " Perennial coreopsis " " " + " " Pyrethrum " " " + " " Shasta daisies " " " + " " Sweet peas " " " + " " Sweet william " " " + +Collection--named perennials, in +separate vases $6.00 $4.00 $2.00 $1.00 + +Collection of annuals and perennials +in separate vases (not to exceed 12) +by amateurs who have never taken +premiums on flowers 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 + +Vase of flowers grown and exhibited +by child 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Vase of any kind of flowers not named +in this list. (An exhibitor may make +any number of entries desired under +this head) 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Vase of flowers arranged for + artistic effect 1.50 1.00 .50 + +Basket of outdoor-grown flowers, +arranged by exhibitor 3.00 2.00 1.00 + + +STRAWBERRIES. + +One quart of each variety to be shown on plate, not in box. + + 1st prem. 2d prem. 3d prem. 4th prem. + +Collection (not less than six +varieties) $5.00 $4.00 $3.00 $2.00 + +Collection of three named varieties 3.00 2.00 1.00 .50 + +The following varieties of strawberries to be entered separately: + + 1st prem. 2d prem. 3d prem. 4th prem. + +Bederwood, Dunlap, Cresent, +Splendid, Clyde, Warfield, Lovett, +Enhance, Glen Mary, Haverland, +Progressive, Superb, Americus, each 1.00 $0.75 $0.50 $0.25 + +Best named variety not included in +the above list 2.00 1.00 .50 + +Seedling's, originated by exhibitor 3.00 2.00 1.00 + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. +Minneapolis. + + +_Photographic contest_--Open to all members of the Garden Flower +Society. + +Class I. Photograph showing best garden arrangement or planting effect. +List of flowers and shrubs to accompany picture. + +First prize--Twenty-five perennial plants. + +Second prize--Twelve iris. + +Class II. Photograph showing individual plant in bloom. A growing plant +in bloom will be preferred to one in a vase. + +First prize--Twenty-five perennial plants. + +Second prize--Twelve iris. + +Class III. Photograph showing wild flower in bloom. Directions governing +Class II to be followed. + +First prize--Twenty-five perennial plants. + +Second prize--Twelve dahlia tubers. + +Any number of pictures may be entered in each class, but only one prize +in each class will be given an exhibitor. + +When possible have photographs 5x7 inches or 4x5 inches, although size +will not bar an otherwise meritorious picture. Photographs in Classes I +and II should be confined to the garden of the exhibitor. + +All pictures are to be in the hands of our secretary by November first, +and are to become the property of the society. The prizes will be +delivered the following spring. The pictures will be on exhibition at +our annual meeting in December. + + * * * * * + +These directions in The Garden Magazine are so good they are quoted +verbatim: + +NEXT TO SEED PLANTING the most important part of the gardener's +work is skill in the technique of transplanting. How often do you hear +concerning some gardener, that if he "only touches a thing, it is bound +to live?" There is no "king's touch" in the garden game. People who +"love" plants are more successful with them, merely because such persons +take greater care in handling them. The first essential in transplanting +is to have good plants. They should be well hardened off (see March +Reminder, covering cold-frames); this applies to plants in flats and in +pots even more than to those growing in frames. In buying plants, select +stocky, compact, dark colored ones in preference to very large ones. + +PREPARE THE SOIL as carefully as though you intended to sow +seeds. Mark out the rows, and if fertilizer is to be used, mix it +thoroughly with the soil before beginning transplanting. Then prepare +the plants carefully. Unless they are very small, cut back the largest +leaves about one-half with an old pair of scissors. With a small trowel +or an old knife, cut them out of the frame or flat in which they are +growing, keeping as much soil as possible with each. (If not in flats, +cut them out as you use them in the garden.) If they are in pots, knock +them out carefully and pack into flat for convenience in handling. Paper +pots, which produce the best plants, are not removed before planting. +Water thoroughly the day before planting, so that the soil will be in +the best condition for handling; but for several days before planting, +it is well to keep the plants "on the dry side," as they will then +re-establish themselves more quickly when set out. + +(To be continued) + + + + +ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES + +By F. L. WASHBURN, Professor of Entomology. + +University of Minnesota. + + +A SILVER PRUNE IN BLOOM AT MINNETONKA. + +May 19, 1916.--The writer has a small silver prune grafted on hardy +root, which he obtained from Mr. Arrowood, Nevis, Minn., now in bloom at +his experimental garden at Minnetonka--not many flowers, it is true, but +in bloom just the same. This tree is not more than two feet high, and +was somewhat protected by a rabbit protector and high snow. Other plums +in the Entomologist's orchard, (one acre) are now nearly full of bloom: +Hanska, Skuya, Opata and other Hansen hybrids, as well as trial plums +from the University fruit breeding farm. + +We have top worked this spring Hibernals, and Patten's Greenings with +Stark's Delicious, Grimes Golden, King David and Johnathan. + +One-half of this land slopes sharply to the north and the other half +more gently to the south, clay, loam with clay subsoil, offering +favorable conditions for orchard work as well as work with grapes, small +fruits and vegetables. + +Of grapes we have started Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, Agawam, +Brighton, Iona, Lindley, Salem, Barry, Herbert, Isabella, Green +Mountain, and others. + +We have even had the temerity to try Loganberries from the Pacific +coast, and have some in fruit at present. A heavy covering of soil next +winter will possibly protect these plants during the cold weather. + + +THE WHITE PINE BLISTER RUST IN MINNESOTA. + +This disease has just been found on a few White Pines in two Minnesota +nurseries. The trees in one of these nurseries came from Wisconsin, +shipped into that state from the east. Absolute identification has been +furnished by the Plant Pathology Division of the Agricultural College. +The state entomologist has already in the field a force of men who will +inspect every nursery in the state where white pines are grown. + + +THE ENGLISH SPARROW PEST. + +We have experienced some success in the use of a sparrow trap, catching +from 11 to 25 in half a day. It must be noted, however, that this does +not occur every day, and further, that the young birds are most easily +caught. Both old and young evidently learn to avoid the trap. Another +party who has used this trap also reports success even greater than +ours. Other parties report an average catch of ten birds a day for +nearly four months. One can also, if on a farm, resort to shooting them +singly, or, better, when gathered together feeding. In fact, they may be +baited with grain for a few days (preferably in the fall or winter) and +previous to the use of the shotgun. This accustoms them to gathering in +a close flock. Eggs and nests may be repeatedly destroyed, if placed +within reach. A well-directed stream of water from a hose is helpful in +making them desert their roosts, at least for a while. + +Dearborn (Farmers' Bulletin No. 493, U.S. Dept. of Agr.) describes a +nest-box trap. Sparrows may also be poisoned, but this calls for extreme +care. In this case it is interesting to learn that one experimenter fed +a large number of sparrows killed by poisoning to a pet cat with no ill +effects to the latter. + +We have picked them from cornices upon our house at dusk with the aid of +a small collecting gun or pistol, firing a very light charge of shot, +but found that the shot marred the house, and were therefore obliged to +discontinue the practice. + +In addition to trapping sparrows with approved sparrow traps the +following recipe has recently come to our notice: + +"Feed good cracked corn a few days; then substitute poisoned cracked +corn made as follows: Soak one quart of cracked corn in water; take it +out and let it get about half dry. Dissolve one ounce of strychnia in +hot water. Soak corn in this until it swells and then dry completely." + + + + +BEE-KEEPER'S COLUMN. + +Conducted by FRANCIS JAGER, Professor of Apiculture, University +Farm, St. Paul. + + +COMB HONEY, EXTRACTED HONEY, AND INCREASE. + +(Continued from May No.) + +Colonies run for comb honey are very much inclined to swarm. Swarming +with the resulting division of forces is incompatible with profitable +comb honey production. The colony must be kept together for best +results. The following methods are used by well known beekeepers. + +1. At the beginning of the honey flow let the colony cast a natural +swarm. After hiving the bees on starters or full sheets of foundation +and giving them a little brood to prevent them from swarming out again, +the swarm is put in the place of the parent colony, which is removed to +one side two or three feet. The seventh day the old colony is moved over +to the opposite side of the swarm two or three feet. Two weeks after, +all the bees are shaken in front of the swarm, and the hive with wax and +honey removed. Thus the desire of bees for swarming has been satisfied, +and the colony is still working together. + +2. Make a shaken swarm. During the dandelion honey flow add an +extracting super to your comb raising colony to give bees room to store. +At the beginning of the honey flow set the whole hive a little aside and +put a new bottom board on the place thus vacated. On this bottom board +place the extracting super from your colony. Find the frame with the +queen and put it in the middle of this new brood chamber, bees and all. +Then shake all the bees from the old brood chamber into the new. The +brood in the old hive thus left orphans may be piled up on top of some +weaker colony in your yard who will take care of it. Five such supers +with brood may be piled on top of one such colony, and they will be the +strongest in the yard for storing extracted honey during the basswood or +other late honey flow. This honey will be very handy for feeding your +bees in the fall and spring. Now add a comb honey super to your shaken +swarm. Add more supers when necessary, below before July 4th, on top +after that date. Remove all comb honey supers at once at the end of the +honey flow to have them white and clean. + +3. When your colony is very strong at the beginning of the honey +flow--about June 10th--remove the queen, either by killing her or by +starting a new colony with her with two frames of brood. The seventh day +cut out all queen cells but one--be sure not to leave two. This will +re-queen your apiary, will prevent swarming for that season, will put a +large number of bees into the field--there being no larvae to feed, will +prevent thousands of bees from being hatched after they are of no use as +gatherers of honey, and the honey needed for raising those bees will go +into the supers. + +(Continued in July No.) + + + + +SECRETARY'S CORNER + + +NOTICE OF SUMMER MEETING will be found on pages 257-259 of this +magazine. Don't overlook it--and be sure to come. Great show of flowers +and a fine day is assured--that is our record to date. + +THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE during the summer month, will be open as +usual except Saturday afternoon, but the secretary will be in regularly +only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. + +THE STATE ENTOMOLOGISTS REPORT ON NURSERY INSPECTION in 1915 +has been issued as circular No. 37. It contains a list of all inspected +nurseries in the state; and also six full page photographs illustrating +the nursery industry in Minnesota. Copies can be obtained by writing +F.L. Washburn, St. Anthony Park, Minn. + +A GOOD YIELD OF EVERBEARING STRAWBERRY PLANTS.--Mr. J. J. +Kunkel, of Kimball, Minn., writes under date of May 13th: "The three +everbearing strawberry plants I received of you in 1915 made about 250 +young plants, of which I replanted this spring about 200. We had a few +berries, but did not expect berries as we let all runners grow." + +Who has done better than that in growing No. 1017 everbearing strawberry +plants? + +A FARMER ON THE BOARD OF REGENTS.--We are much pleased to note +the appointment of a real farmer in the person of C. W. Glotfelter, of +Waterville, as a member of the Board of Regents of the Minnesota State +University. Mr. Glotfelter is well known throughout the state as late +president of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, and is at present +occupying the same position with the Minnesota Crop Breeders' +Association. He is a farmer in every sense, as he lives upon a farm +which he has himself worked personally a great many years. We feel that +the horticultural and agricultural interests of the state are especially +well cared for by this board in having Mr. Glotfelter in its membership. + +WYMAN ELLIOT'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIBRARY.--A short time since +Mrs. Elliot, widow of the late Wyman Elliot, sent to this office as a +contribution to our library all of the horticultural and agricultural +books which belonged to Mr. Elliot. There were in all 397 volumes, +nearly all of them bound in cloth. The larger portion of these were +reports of other horticultural and agricultural societies, most of which +the Horticultural Society already had in the library. There were, +however, some forty or fifty very valuable reference books, or books on +specific subjects of a horticultural character, and a considerable +number of reports of other societies which we did not have, in all +amounting to seventy-seven volumes. These have been placed mostly in two +cases by themselves which will be marked with Mr. Elliot's name, and, of +course, each one of these volumes has an inscription of similar +character on the fly leaf. The remainder of these books, 320 in number, +are being sent to University Farm library for use there as far as they +need them, and they will be likely to know where to place to advantage +any that they have no personal use for. There are plenty of libraries in +the state that would be glad indeed to receive some of these volumes, +and we hope that in this way Mr. Elliot's name will appear in the +catalog of many of our public libraries. + +NEW LIFE MEMBERS.--There have been quite a number of names +added to the life membership roll of the society during the year 1916 +and since the last public record was made of this sort. The names of the +following persons have now been added to the permanent roll of the +society: Ludvig Lima, Montevideo; Mrs. Florence Burlingame, Grand +Rapids; A.L. Negstad, Arlington, S.D.; C. P. Bratnober, 1419 Harmon +Place, Minneapolis; Miss Anna M. Johnson, Lafayette; H. J. Appleby, +Minneiska; Hans M. Johnson, Pipestone; Christ Effertz, Norwood; O.J. +Oyen, Watson; F.E. Older, California State Normal School, Los Angeles, +Cal.; Erick Sparre, Elk River; E. H. Mazey, 3029 Ewing So., Minneapolis. + +There is still room in this list for others, and why not instead of +paying annual membership year after year make one payment and have done +with it? + +RESOLUTION ABOUT STATE FLOWER.--The following resolution was +unanimously adopted at a meeting of the Minnesota Garden Flower Society, +held during the annual session of the State Horticultural Society, in +December last. + + Resolved, That whereas, The State of Minnesota has adopted a + state flower, which, on account of its being a native of the + woods and bogs, is not generally known or recognized, and + + Whereas, The State of Minnesota in 1893 adopted by legislative + vote a state flag, which emblem is not generally known to the + residents of the state, and believing that familiarity with the + state flower and the state flag will do good and create loyalty + to the state and union; + + Be It Resolved, That we, the Minnesota State Horticultural + Society, do hereby petition and pray the state legislature of + Minnesota, to have printed an attractive picture of the state + flower and the state flag, properly framed, and present it to + the high schools of the state, with the request that it be + placed upon the wall of their assembly room. + + Also, that it be furnished free of cost, to such other public + buildings as may be deemed advisable. + +PROGRAM, "FARMERS' WEEK."--During "Farmers' Week" at University +Farm, January 1-7, 1917, there will be scheduled several conferences +which fruit and vegetable growers should find of value to them in their +work. These conferences deal with all of the problems of the grower, but +special afternoons are given to the small fruits, the tree fruits, and +vegetables. Next January will be the third conference of the fruit +growers, the second for the vegetable growers, and the first for the +small fruit growers as a separate branch of the fruit work. + +Mr. W. G. Brierly, Chairman of the Division of Horticulture, University +Farm, is working on programs for these conferences for next January. He +will be very glad to have any one interested write to him for +information or to suggest topics for discussion. The program for the +vegetable growers' conference will be drawn up by a joint committee from +the St. Paul and Minneapolis vegetable growers, working with Mr. +Brierly. The committee is planning to meet at the time of the summer +meeting of the Horticultural Society and will, of course, welcome any +suggestions as to topics and speakers. + +These conferences are for all growers interested and are free to all. +There has been some difficulty heretofore in that very few suggestions +as to program have been offered by the growers themselves. If you have +any problems or matters which you would like to have discussed at these +conferences, now is the time to make your suggestions. + +[Illustration: SOUTH END OF EXHIBITION HALL AT LATE SUMMER +MEETING. The flower exhibit is mostly in north end of hall, and not +showing in this picture.] + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted in estimating their practical value. + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + +Vol. 44 JULY, 1916 No. 5 + + + + +My Neighbor's Roses + + + The roses red upon my neighbor's vine + Are owned by him, but they are also mine, + His was the cost, and his the labor, too, + But mine, as well as his, the joy their loveliness to view. + + They bloom for me, and are to me as fair + As for the man who gives them all his care. + Thus I am rich, because a good man grew + A rose-clad vine for all his neighbors' view. + + I know from this that others plant for me, + And what they own, my joy may also be. + So why be selfish, when so much that's fine + Is grown for you, upon your neighbor s vine! + + --_Anon_ + + + + +SUMMER MEETING, 1916. + +Minnesota State Horticultural Society + + A Joint Session with its Auxiliaries, the Minnesota State + Garden Flower Society, the Minnesota State Bee-Keepers Society + and the Minnesota State Florists Society. + +A. W. LATHAM, SECY. + + +There seems to be something almost uncanny in the unbroken sequence of +pleasant days that have greeted the annual summer meeting of the +Horticultural Society in the last quarter of a century. For days before +this meeting it seemed assured that we should this year at least have an +unpleasant day for our gathering, and even the day before and night +before were most unfavorable. Friday morning, June 23rd, however, opened +up bright and beautiful, warm and pleasant, as nature can smile, and +continued so throughout the day. The meeting was in accord with these +favorable circumstances, and I believe brought out more and better +flowers and more, though no better, people, both as exhibitors and in +attendance, than any previous similar gathering the association has +held. + +The exhibition was installed in the new gymnasium at University Farm, a +room sufficiently large so that it not only accommodated the exhibition +with wide aisle space, but also found plenty of room for the placing of +chairs for the afternoon meeting. Tables were arranged around three +sides of the hall, which were used for the displays of perennials and +roses. The peonies were shown on several tables in the north center of +the hall and besides these there were exhibits of some of the choicest +of the peonies made upon the floor, so arranged that visitors could walk +amongst them and look down upon them and see them at their best. One +table was occupied with the strawberry exhibit, which, however, was a +small one on account of the lateness of the season, though the +Fruit-Breeding Farm showed some forty or fifty plates of No. 3, the new +June-bearing berry of such large popularity, and a few everbearers. The +number of entries was, I believe, in excess of any previous meeting, +amounting altogether to 521. Most of the old exhibitors at our summer +meeting were present and some few of the newer ones. The effort which +was made this year to secure a completed exhibit at 11:30 proved to be a +success, and by the lunch hour the judges had gotten well along with +their work and the hall was opened to the public to inspect the display. + +At 12:00 o'clock or thereabouts the members and their friends gathered +upon the lawn near the station dining hall, where there were plenty of +trees and green grass, and partook of the noon repast, for which purpose +the station provided coffee and also lemonade, the latter a new feature +in our bill of fare. + +The regular afternoon meeting was held at 2:00 o'clock in the same hall +in which the exhibit was placed. This was largely attended, some two or +three hundred taking advantage of the opportunity to listen to those who +found place on this extempore program. Our society reporter took some +notes of what transpired at the meeting, but they were only partial +notes, and what here follows in regard to what took place is only in the +nature of extracts. + +President Cashman was in the chair as usual and in a few words extended +greeting to the society saying, amongst other things: + +"This occasion is always looked forward to with a great deal of +pleasure. We meet those engaged in similar lines of work, we discuss the +problems with which we have to contend, our joys and our sorrows. We +come here to meet our friends--and my experience has been that there are +no truer or more loyal friends than those found amongst the +horticulturists. The true horticulturist is a lover of nature, a lover +of the beautiful and all that goes with it. He looks for nothing except +the best that can be found in human kind. Such are the men and women +that belong to the Horticultural Society." + +As representing the University Farm, whose hospitality in a large sense +the society was enjoying, Dean Woods gave us a hearty welcome in his +happy way, and what follows is typical of the kindly things he said: "We +always have pleasant days and pleasant memories because those who study +flowers and fruits and the beauties of nature are the ones from whom one +can get inspiration to understand and to know what nature means. Any one +who can listen to the sounds of nature, any one who can see in flowers +the spirit of life struggling upwards has the true spirit of the +horticulturist and is always welcome here." + +Mr. A. Brackett, of Excelsior, being called upon, had something to say +about strawberry culture, and in the course of his remarks showed +several plates of different varieties of strawberries. What follows is +the substance of his talk on this subject. "We have here what we call +the No. 3 strawberry produced at the Experimental Farm. I believe from +my experience that it is going to take the place of all of our common +June-bearing strawberries. It is a deep rooter, fine large plant and a +nice, solid berry, and I have never seen any blight or rust on the +plants. I think that it will pay for all the expense that has ever been +paid out for the farm, that one berry will pay for it, it will be of +that much value to the people of Minnesota. The everbearing strawberry +has come to stay, and for private use you do not need to plant any other +variety. The everbearing strawberry will ripen its fruit at least a week +ahead of almost any other berry we have, and then it will continue +bearing until the frost kills it. I had at least twenty bushels of fruit +from my plants last year, and I secured from one-quarter acre +fifty-three cases and sold them at $4.80 a case. They talk about what +they can raise in California, but we can do better here, and I believe +if you will stick to these three varieties, the Americus, Superb and +Progressive, you will not need to plant any other variety. The Americus +has the best flavor but it isn't as large. Of the Superb nearly all of +the berries are large, very few small ones, but they haven't got the +flavor. + +"There is one thing about this new strawberry, it can not bear the year +around, that is, during the summer, unless the ground is very rich. I +think I put on one-half acre of the everbearing strawberries twenty-five +loads of fertilizer. You have got to make the ground rich to carry these +plants through and produce the berries. I use a narrow row on the hill +system. I cut my rows down in the spring, dig up the plants and leave +the row four inches wide and plants six inches apart. This brings more +berries and better plants." + +Prof. C. B. Waldron, of Fargo, N.D., horticulturist at the Fargo +Agricultural College for a quarter century, who has rarely missed being +with us at any summer gathering, being called upon, among other things +said: "There are a good many things that affiliate people together in +groups of one kind or another. It used to be that if people had the same +belief about eternal punishment, etc., that they would group themselves +together, but nowadays we find people grouping themselves according to +more natural methods. I think people grouping themselves together for a +common love of trees, fruits and flowers makes a more natural bond of +affiliation, and when I find a man that knows the names of many of our +beautiful flowers I feel drawn to him at once. I can't seem to tire of +that person's company, no matter what political party he belongs to. +These things that I speak of seem to be a more natural and harmonious +relationship to build our friendship upon than almost anything else. I +know that I always look forward days and weeks ahead to meetings like +this, where I can meet with people who love and admire and cherish the +things that I find my greatest delight in." + +The superintendent of the Fruit-Breeding Farm, Mr. Chas. Haralson, spoke +briefly of the work at the Fruit-Breeding Farm, which he is conducting +with such distinguished success. His statement was altogether too brief +when one knows the vast amount of detail work that is being done there +in development of new fruits: "The work at the Fruit-Breeding Farm is +carried on just the same as usual. We are working on strawberries, +plums, apples, grapes somewhat and several other fruits like +gooseberries and currants. The best success we have had so far in the +new varieties is with strawberries, raspberries and plums. It takes only +a few years to run through a generation of these, and we can get them +selected quicker than apples. The plum crop is very light this year, +especially on the hybrid plums, on account of winter-killing, that is, +the buds killed during the winter. They never did that before, but this +year they have done it to a great extent. The strawberry crop is very +good and so are the raspberries now coming on. Probably as many as 2,000 +apple seedling trees are bearing this year, so we will have a little +chance for selection in the line of apples. In grapes we are working +with most of the seedlings from the Beta and some hybrids, and we have a +few of the Beta seedlings that are very good. One red variety compares +favorably with any of the cultivated varieties. It is perfectly hardy so +far. And we have two or three varieties of black nearly as large as +Moore's Early or Concord. + +"We also have a number of seedlings of pears, but we are not very far +advanced with them yet. Pears stand the winter fairly well, although +they winter-kill to a certain extent. When they are weakened through the +winter and growth starts in the spring they blight. Blight is the worst +part of our work with pears." + +Prof. R. S. Mackintosh, of University Farm, was caught on the floor, and +as usual took opportunity to tell people they ought to eat more apples +and something about how to get them. This seems to be a subject that is +ever in his mind and which he is persistently working to good advantage. + +"You folks that are hungry and want apples or apple pie want to get busy +about the middle of August and eat up your surplus apples in Minnesota. +It is a shame that farmers, fruit growers, etc., have spent years trying +to grow apples in Minnesota and then we cannot get enough people to eat +the apples. We are going to carry on the clearing house as we did last +year, and if you want apples let us know. We can grow apples the same as +we can grow peonies and strawberries, but it is a little hard to get +them distributed properly." + +Mr. A. M. Brand, of Faribault, who had an extraordinary exhibit of +seedling peonies at the meeting, pronounced by our peony expert, Mr. +C.S. Harrison, "second to none in the world," was introduced and talked +briefly along the line of seedling peony production, as follows: "There +is a great deal of encouragement in what we have been able to +accomplish down there at Faribault along the line of producing something +fine in peonies. Sixteen years ago we started out with the idea of +improving upon the stock that we already have. We had a little red +peony, a very nice peony, originated by Mr. Terry down in Iowa, called +Rachel, and starting out with that as a mother plant we have produced +some of the finest roots that there are in cultivation. By using lots of +the seed of Rachel we have been able to produce this Mary Brand, +considered by many of the peony growers as one of the finest red peonies +in the world. A great many people that raise nice peonies think they +have to go to the trouble of hand fertilization. That isn't necessary. +We started out with such varieties as Rachel, and by letting the bees +and the elements do the fertilizing for us we were able to produce +varieties like this. Here is the new seedling that we brought out this +year and named Ruth--a pink peony. As a rule we plant about a peck of +seed every year, and out of that peck of seed it probably brings us +10,000 seedlings, and out of this 10,000 we get one good seedling, and +this is the only good seedling that we have produced this year. This is +a seedling that comes from Rosa Fragrans. When we picked this seedling +from the bed of seedlings we considered this the finest seedling that we +had, and it has never come good from that time to this, and it is ten +years since we have been trying this seedling, which will show you when +you are growing seedlings that the first time a seedling blossoms and +comes splendid you mustn't be too enthusiastic about it. The next year +it may be worth nothing. You have got to try a seedling in every way to +find out whether it is worth sending out. As a rule it takes us ten +years from the time that a seedling first blossoms until we send it out. +Ninety per cent of all the peony seedlings that you grow will be +singles, one out of 10,000 seedlings will be fair and one out of 100,000 +seedlings will be extra good--so you see that those which we have +produced give us some encouragement. I wouldn't advise many of you to go +into the seedling business, although you might produce one good seedling +out of a handful of seed. + +"If you plant a peony on the lawn you have to fertilize it heavily. You +can't have your lawn right up to the stalks of the peony. If you want a +peony on the lawn you must give it two feet of ground. Most of the +peonies that are brought here are taken out of fields that are +cultivated with a horse cultivator. If you want your flowers on the lawn +and don't want to cultivate them you have to use lots of fertilizer. You +must not use too much. Fertilize heavy about once in three years. Don't +fertilize every fall. Fertilize in the fall, and the next spring spade +the manure in and then don't use any manure for three or four years. +Plant peonies any time from the first of September until the time it +freezes up and plant any time in the spring until the growth starts on +the plants. If you plant in the spring you are just six months ahead of +planting in the following September, though September is really the +best time to plant. If a peony clump becomes old, as large around as a +tub, and you still want it to stand in the same place I would cut out +half of the stalks as they come up, and then to get still larger +blossoms after the stalks have come up I would pinch the side buds +also." + +[Illustration: A fringe of peonies at the summer exhibit.] + +Mrs. Crawford, of Indiana, a peony grower of much experience there, who +came to Minneapolis for the purpose of attending our flower meeting, we +understand, told us something about how peonies are grown in her +section, an interesting and practical talk, part of which follows: "In +Indiana we have a sour, black clay soil. We fertilize with crushed +limestone and leaves. I fertilize with the leaves that fall in the +autumn after the leaves have begun to rot. I cover them without cutting +the tops. Then in the spring when they begin to bud we go over them on +our knees and work the leaves all in with a trowel. I have 3,000 plants, +but with the assistance of the men we have we get it done, and grow fine +peonies. In regard to manure, I never feel that I can put any fertilizer +within two feet. The rows are from three to four feet apart. We never +use any fertilizer that will come in contact with the stems, as when the +flowers are cut off it leaves the stem hollow, and if the manure gets in +the stem it works down the stem into the roots and leaves a hollow root +in time. We never use in our part of the state any fertilizer that will +come in contact with the stems except leaves. When the streets are +cleaned in the fall I pile the leaves on the back lot. I have fourteen +or fifteen loads hauled in. This is scattered over the peonies. I want +to compliment you on having very fine peonies, some of them finer than I +have ever seen, and I hope you will all be as enthusiastic about raising +peonies as I am. Is it necessary to burn the tops when they are cut off? +I consider that the ashes from the tops aid in fertilizing. I pile them +up in little piles and burn them and sprinkle the ashes over the +peonies. Frequently when I dig around a peony and I feel that the soil +has become exhausted I throw in a handful of garden peas, and when they +get about a foot high I spade them under for fertilizer." + +Mr. D. W. C. Ruff, of St. Paul, had a wonderful showing of peonies of +named varieties, most of them very expensive from a money standpoint, +they having cost him prices varying from $5.00 to $40.00 a root, and +judging by the character of the flowers which he held up for the +audience while he talked about them they were well worth the money. I +regret that we are unable to give a verbatim report of his talk, with +the names of the varieties, but this information must be secured from +him at some later time. In part he said: + + "I have spent the last fifteen years in making a good + collection of peonies. I have gone all over the world for + peonies and have brought together some of the finest peonies + from all the noted growers and horticulturists. In my + collection I have over 400 hundred varieties, that is, what I + am growing at my home. I have brought here today of course a + great many peonies of the later varieties. I have brought these + here from an educational standpoint so that the people might + see some of the rare ones that they might have heard about or + read about and see them and know of these varieties. Last year + I made an exhibit and showed hundreds of them. This year I have + brought just a few choice things." + +Rev. C. S. Harrison spoke in his usual inspiring way, but with such force +and speed that our stenographer was unable to pick him up, which we +sincerely regret. We all know Mr. Harrison as an enthusiast in flowers. +He has met with us year after year at both annual gatherings. While he +is eighty-three years old yet what he has to say and the way he says it +still have the ring and inspiration of youth. He proposed the +organization of a peony society for the Northwest, and a show of hands +indicating there was material present to perfect such an organization +the plans were laid therefor. Our reporter got this far: + +"I have attended the national peony shows of Boston and New York, and +they cannot hold a candle to your peonies, mark that! There is +something in your soil and in your climate which brings them to the +front." + +Prof. F. L. Washburn was to tell us something about the white pine +blister rust, but he failed to inflict upon us a long technical talk, +and from what he said all the reporter got was this, from which however +one could well judge what was in his thought. "We have found in +Minnesota a disease on the white pine called the 'white pine blister +rust.' One stage of this disease is on the gooseberry or currant, that +is, we find it now on the white pine and going to the gooseberry or +currant. We went to the governor, state treasurer and state auditor and +obtained $1,000 for use in fighting this besides our regular +appropriation." + +Mr. J. M. Underwood, of Lake City, without whom the program would be +incomplete, spoke a few closing words as follows: "We have had such a +splendid program, and I know you are anxious to look at these beautiful +flowers, and all I have time to say, and a disposition to say, is that I +think we owe a great obligation to the Garden Flower Society, a splendid +organization auxiliary to the State Horticultural Society. I think you +ought to all be members of that Garden Flower Society. It is a wonderful +working organization, and I think the ladies that are in charge of it +deserve a great deal of credit and should be complimented as being +foremost on the program. There is a great deal that I could say, but I +know there isn't time for it, and I thank you." + +In the meantime many more visitors had come into the hall to view the +display, which continued on exhibition until 9:00 o'clock in the +evening. Prof. Cady, who had general charge of the arrangements at the +meeting, reports that at least one thousand people saw the display, and +we think that it was well worth while to have kept it open until that +hour. Representatives from a number of the hospitals were present after +the meeting and took the flowers away to be used to cheer the sick in +both Minneapolis and St. Paul. + +The total amount of awards at this meeting were $178.75. A list of these +awards with the names of the judges follows in a separate article. No +one person took any large amount of premiums, they were well distributed +amongst a dozen and a number of others who received smaller amounts. +Mrs. H.B. Tillotson, who has a wonderful flower garden near Eureka, Lake +Minnetonka, received premiums of $17.00, which is the largest amount +paid to any one person, although there were a number of others who +received slightly smaller amounts. + + + + +Award of Premiums, Summer Meeting, 1916. + + +ROSES. + +Collection, B. T. Hoyt, St. Paul, fourth premium, $1.00. +Collection named varieties, amateurs, Thos. Redpath, Wayzata, second + premium, $4.00. +Collection named varieties, amateurs, Mrs. H. B. Tillotson, Excelsior, + First premium, $6.00. +Collection named varieties, amateurs, Mrs. D. W. C. Ruff, St. Paul, third + premium, $2.00. +Three named varieties, white, Thos. Redpath, Wayzata, first + premium, $2.00. +Three named varieties, pink, Thos. Redpath, Wayzata, first + premium, $2.00. +Collection Rugosa and R. Hy., B. T. Hoyt, St. Paul, first premium, $2.00. +Most beautiful rose, Mrs. H. B. Tillotson, Excelsior, first + premium, $1.00. +Largest rose, Mrs. D. W. C. Ruff, St. Paul, first premium, $1.00. +Seedling, B. T. Hoyt, St. Paul, first premium, Bronze medal donated by + American Rose Society. +Basket outdoor roses arranged for effect, Mrs. H. B. Tillotson, Excelsior, + first premium, $3.00. +Basket outdoor roses arranged for effect, Mrs. D. W. C. Ruff, St. Paul, + second premium, $2.00. +Basket outdoor roses arranged for effect, Mrs. John Gantzer, St. Paul, + third premium, $1.00. +Mdm. Plantier, Thos. Redpath, Wayzata, first premium, $0.75. +Gen. Jack, B. T. Hoyt, St. Paul, first premium, $0.75. +Gen. Jack, Mrs. G. T. Brown, St. Paul, second premium, $0.50. +Magna Charta, Mrs. G. T. Brown, St. Paul, first premium, $0.75. +Ulrich Brunner, Mrs. G. T. Brown, St. Paul, first premium, $0.75. +Baroness Rothschild, Mrs. G. T. Brown, St. Paul, first premium. $0.75. +Mdm. Plantier, Mrs. G. T. Brown, St. Paul, second premium, $0.50. + +AUG. S. SWANSON, Judge. + +PEONIES. + +Flesh or light pink, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, third premium, $0.50. +Medium or dark pink, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, third premium, $0.50. +White, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, second premium, $1.00. +Festiva Maxima, B. T. Hoyt, St. Paul, second premium, $1.00. +Medium or dark pink, B. T. Hoyt, St. Paul, second premium, $1.00. +Festiva Maxima, John E. Stryker, St. Paul, first premium, $2.00. +Light pink, John E. Stryker, St. Paul, second premium, $1.00. +Dark pink, John E. Stryker, St. Paul, first premium, $2.00. +Red, John E. Stryker, St. Paul, second premium, $1.00. +Flesh or light pink, D. W. C. Ruff, St. Paul, first premium, $2.00. +White, D. W. C. Ruff, St. Paul, first premium, $2.00. +Red, D. W. C. Ruff, St. Paul, first premium, $2.00. +Collection, 3 blooms, professional, B. T. Hoyt, St. Paul, first premium, + $6.00. + +A. M. BRAND, +C. J. TRAXLER, +Judges. + +Collection, three blooms, amateur, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, fourth + premium, $1.00. +Collection, three blooms, amateur, Mrs. H. B. Tillotson, Excelsior, third + premium, $2.00. +Collection, three blooms, amateur, John E. Stryker, St. Paul, first + premium, $6.00. +Collection, three blooms, amateur, Mrs. E. W. D. Holway, Excelsior, second + premium, $4.00. + +OLAF J. OLSON, Judge. + +Seedling, B. T. Hoyt, St. Paul, fourth premium, $0.50. +Seedling, Crimson No. 1, 1916, A. M. Brand, Faribault, third + premium, $1.00. +Seedling, Ruth, A. M. Brand, Faribault, first premium, $3.00. +Seedling, No. 245, A. M. Brand, Faribault, second premium, $2.00. + +D. W. C. RUFF, Judge. + +ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS. + +Dielytra, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, third premium, $0.50. +Forget-me-nots, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, first premium, $1.50. +Gailardias, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, third premium, $0.50. +Grass Pinks, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, second premium, $1.00. +Iceland Poppies, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, second premium, $1.00. +Dielytra, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, first premium, $1.50. +Delphinium, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, third premium, $0.50. +Foxgloves, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, second premium, $1.00. +Grass Pinks, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, first premium, $1.50. +Delphinium, Mrs. H. B. Tillotson, Excelsior, second premium, $1.00. +Foxgloves, Mrs. H. B. Tillotson, Excelsior, third premium, $0.50. +Iris, Mrs. H. B. Tillotson, Excelsior, third premium, $0.50. +Gailardias, Guy C. Hawkins, Minneapolis, second premium, $1.00. +Dielytra, Anna E. Rittle, St. Paul, second premium, $1.00. +Iceland Poppies, Mrs. E. W. Gould, Minneapolis, third premium, $0.50. +Gailardia, E. A. Farmer, Minneapolis, first premium, $1.50. +Foxgloves, Mrs. J. F. Fairfax, Minneapolis, first premium, $1.50. +Iceland Poppies, Mrs. J. F. Fairfax, Minneapolis, first premium, $1.50. +Iris, Mrs. E. W. D. Holway, Excelsior, first premium, $1.50. +Delphinium, Mrs. H. A. Boardman, St. Paul, first premium, $1.50. +Forget-me-nots, Mrs. H. A. Boardman, St. Paul, third premium, $0.50. +Iris, John S. Crooks, St. Paul, second premium, $1.00. +Canterbury Bells, Mrs. Chas. Krause, Merriam Park, second premium, $1.00. +Grass Pinks, Mrs. Chas. Krause, Merriam Park, third premium, $0.50. +Canterbury Bells, J. A. Weber, Excelsior, first premium, $1.50. +Forget-me-nots, Vera P. L. Stebbins, second premium, $1.00. +Oriental Poppies, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, first premium, $1.50. +Pansies, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, first premium, $1.50. +Pyrethrum, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, second premium, $1.00. +Sweet Peas, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, first premium, $1.50. +Sweet William, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, second premium, $1.00. +Shasta Daisies, Elizabeth Starr, Excelsior, third premium, $0.50. +Lilies, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, third premium, $0.50. +Oriental Poppies, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, second premium, $1.00. +Pansies, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, second premium, $1.00. +Lilies, Guy C. Hawkins, Minneapolis, first premium, $1.50. +Perennial Coreopsis, Guy C. Hawkins, Minneapolis, first premium, $1.50. +Pyrethrum, Guy C. Hawkins, Minneapolis, first premium, $1.50. +Lupine, Mrs. E. W. Gould, Minneapolis, first premium, $1.50. +Shasta Daisies, Mrs. G. T. Brown, St. Paul, second premium, $1.00. +Sweet William, Mrs. J. F. Fairfax, Minneapolis, third premium, $0.50. +Lupine, Mrs. H. A. Boardman, St. Paul, third premium, $0.50. +Oriental Poppies, Mrs. H. A. Boardman, St. Paul, third premium, $0.50. +Pyrethrum, Mrs. H. A. Boardman, St. Paul, third premium, $0.50. +Shasta Daisies, Miss Flora Moeser, St. Louis Park, first premium, $1.50. +Lilies, Mrs. Chas. Krause, Merriam Park, second premium, $1.00. +Pansies, Mrs. Chas. Krause, Merriam Park, third premium, $0.50. +Lupine, Miss Marion Prest, St. Paul, second premium, $1.00. +Sweet William, J. A. Weber, Excelsior, first premium, $1.50. + +JOHN HAWKINS, +JOHN A. JANSEN, +Judges. + +Collection named perennials, J. A. Weber, Excelsior, first premium, $6.00. +Collection named perennials, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, second premium, + $4.00. +Collection named perennials, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, third premium, + $2.00. + +MRS. H. A. BOARDMAN, +MRS. WM. CRAWFORD, +Judges. + +Vase of flowers by child, Mrs. F. E. Kidd, Minneapolis, + first premium, $2.00. +Vase of flowers by child, Matilda Gantzer, St. Paul, second premium, $1.00. + +MARTHA A. WYMAN, Judge. + +Vase of any kind flowers, Mrs. Frank Moris, Lake Elmo, second premium, + $1.00. +Vase any kind flowers, Miss Marjorie Knowles, St. Paul, first premium, + $2.00. +Vase any kind flowers, Miss Flora Moeser, St. Louis Park, third premium, + $0.50. + +J. A. Boies, Judge. + +Vase of flowers arranged for artistic effect, Mrs. F. E. Kidd, Minneapolis, + second premium, $1.00. +Vase of flowers arranged for artistic effect, Mrs. S. A. Gile, Minneapolis, + first premium, $1.50. +Vase of flowers arranged for artistic effect, F. H. Ellison, Minneapolis, + third premium, $0.50. +Basket outdoor grown, Elizabeth Starr, Excelsior, third premium, $1.00. +Basket outdoor grown, Mrs. S. A. Gile, Minneapolis, second premium, $2.00. +Basket outdoor grown, Mrs. H. A. Boardman, St. Paul, first premium, $3.00. + +M. EMMA ROBERTS, +CARRIE L. WILKERSON, +Judges. + +STRAWBERRIES. + +Collection, six varieties, H. G. Groat, Anoka, first premium, $5.00. +Collection, three named varieties, H. G. Groat, Anoka, + first premium, $3.00. +Collection, three named varieties, E. A. Farmer, Minneapolis, + second premium, $2.00. +Progressive, Mrs. H. B. Tillotson, Excelsior, first premium, $1.00. +Bederwood, H. G. Groat, Anoka, first premium, $1.00. +Dunlap, H. G. Groat, Anoka, second premium, $0.75. +Crescent, H. G. Groat, Anoka, first premium, $1.00. +Warfield, H. G. Groat, Anoka, first premium, $1.00. +Warfield, Mrs. M. A. Rohan, Minneapolis, second premium, $0.75. +Senator Dunlap, J. F. Bartlett, Excelsior, first premium, $1.00. +Minnesota No. 3, J. F. Bartlett, Excelsior, first premium, $1.00. +Minnesota No. 3, A. Brackett, Excelsior, second premium, $0.75. +Americus, A. Brackett, Excelsior, first premium, $1.00. +Progressive, A. Brackett, Excelsior, second premium, $0.75. +Superb, A. Brackett, Excelsior, first premium, $1.00. +Best named variety, Mrs. H. B. Tillotson, Excelsior, first premium, $2.00. +Best named variety, H. G. Groat, Anoka, second premium, $1.00. +Best named variety, Mrs. John Gantzer, St. Paul, third premium, $0.50. +Seedling, A. Brackett, Excelsior, first premium, $3.00. + +THOMAS REDPATH, Judge. + + + + +Experiment Work of Chas. G. Patten, Charles City, Ia. + +GEO. J. KELLOGG, LAKE MILLS, WIS. + + +June 6.--I have just spent four days with our friend Patten. He has +7,000 surprises on seventeen acres of experiment orchard dating back to +1868--every tree of the 7,000 has a history. + +For twenty-eight years he has been working on the Chinese sand pear and +has brought out a race that is blight-proof, perfectly hardy and of good +size and quality. He is not yet satisfied, but has 5,000 cross-bred +seedlings of many crosses that are about three feet high, ready for +transplanting in orchard rows next spring--and he has not room to set +them. The state of Iowa does not appreciate his labor or value the work +he has done and is doing; they are not giving him the money or men to +carry on this work. + +Beside the pear experiments he has hundreds of crosses of apples that +are very promising and just coming into bearing. These are scattered all +through that orchard of 7,000 trees, with the pears, and nearly as many +plum crosses. Some plums are heavily loaded this year that are of +wonderful value, and one of the great points is that they have escaped +the bad weather in blooming time, while all our standard varieties +failed--and I believe the hardiness of bloom will insure fruit on his +best kinds when others fail in bad weather. + +He is breeding form of tree in all these fruits--see his paper in the +last volume of Iowa Hort. Report. His crop of apples is light, but many +crosses show some fruit. Some pears and plums are loaded. Eugene Secor +says, "Patten is greater than Burbank." + + * * * * * + +WINDBREAKS ON FARM PAY DIVIDENDS.--Windbreaks are usually more +or less ornamental on a farm, and add to the contentment of the owner. +But it is not generally known that windbreaks actually pay dividends. At +least studies made a few years ago in Nebraska and Kansas indicate that +windbreaks are profitable. The state forester will soon study their +influence in this state. It must be admitted that windbreaks occupy +space that could be profitably devoted to agricultural crops, and that +the roots of the trees and their shade render a strip of ground on +either side of the windbreak relatively unproductive. Yet in spite of +these drawbacks, efficient windbreaks undoubtedly do more good than +evil. + +The windbreak reduces the velocity of the wind, and, consequently, the +loss of soil water from evaporation from the soil surface and from the +field crops. This is equivalent to additional rainfall, just as "a +dollar saved is a dollar made." It seems from investigations made by the +United States Forest Service that the greater yield of field crops and +apples behind the protection of a good windbreak is enough to warrant +every farmer in the prairie states in planting windbreaks.--W.J. +Morrill, Colo. Agri. College. + + + + +MIDSUMMER REPORTS, 1916. + +Collegeville Trial Station. + +REV. JOHN B. KATZNER, SUPT. + + +The weather conditions of last winter were not any too favorable for +plants and fruit trees. In fact the cold was at times severe and long +continued, reaching its maximum with 38 degrees below for one day. The +total subzero weather for the winter amounts to 489 degrees, of which +January figures with 285 and February with 168 degrees below. This is +some cold, no doubt, and yet our hardy fruit trees did not suffer. But +other trees not quite hardy suffered more than usual. This is +particularly noticeable on my German pear seedlings. The wood of the +branches as well as of the stem had turned black down to the ground. All +the imported European varieties of pears are dead and ready for the +brush pile. Prof. N.E. Hanson's hybrid pears have suffered just a +little. This, however, may be due to the unripe condition of the wood +rather than to cold. They had been grafted on strong German pear stock, +made a vigorous growth and were still growing when the frost touched +them. Another season they may be all right. All our cherry trees, too, +are almost dead and will be removed and their place used for a trial +orchard. + +It was of great advantage to plants and trees that we had much snow, +giving them good protection in root and stem two feet up. But this deep +snow helped the rabbits also in reaching the lower branches of the apple +trees. They were very active during the winter months and did much +damage by biting off the buds and smaller twigs from those branches, but +did no injury to the bark of trees otherwise. + +Spring was rather cold and late. Up to the middle of May there was not +much growth of any kind. But we started work at the station as soon as +the ground could be worked. Apple and plum grafts made last winter were +set out. The orchard was gone over and trees pruned where needed. The +grape vines were uncovered and tied up on the trellis. A liberal +dressing of manure was worked in around vines growing on poor soil. More +than a hundred Alpha grape vines were planted along a students' walk for +their future benefit. The everbearing strawberries were looked after and +a new bed was started. Some apple trees were planted in the orchard to +replace others. Quite a number of German pear seedlings were grafted +with hardy varieties an inch below ground. We expect this will give us +healthy and hardy trees and fruit in due time. + +[Illustration: Patten's No. 108 in blossom at Collegeville Station.] + +A friend of mine sent me from Los Angeles, Cal., four fine large cherry +trees: the Tartarian, Napoleon Bigarreau and Early Richmond. These are +one year old budded trees; they have made in the congenial climate of +California a growth of about eight feet and are an inch through the +stem. They arrived the first week in March. It was cold yet and the +ground covered with a foot of snow. As we could not plant them, we +applied water to the roots and kept the trees unpacked in the cool root +cellar till planting time. They are growing now, but next spring we +expect to see their finish. Another variety of sweet cherries was sent +to the trial station from the mountains of Pennsylvania and planted in +the nursery, but we expect that will meet the same fate. From the U.S. +Dept. of Agriculture we have obtained scions of a pear, No. 26485, +which were used in budding some German pear seedlings, as also ten +plants of Prunus Tomentosa No. 38856. This is a Chinese bush cherry, and +though the fruit is of little value, yet the plant is said to be quite +ornamental. + +In forestry work 200 arbor vitae were set out, more for ornamental +effect, and in open places of the woods several thousand Scotch pine +were planted. This planting was also extended partly around the opposite +lake shore to improve the landscape during the winter months, when +everything looks bleak and dreary. + +This station has received quite a liberal supply of new stock for trial +from the Minn. State Fruit-Breeding Farm, viz.: June bearing strawberry +No. 3, everbearing kind No. 1017, raspberry No. 4 and everbearing sorts +Nos. 30 and 31; of plums, Nos. 35, 9, 21, 1, and sand cherry crossed +with Climax; of apples, six Malindas, Nos. 38, 32, 29, 25, 12 and 12. +They are fine large trees and were planted in the trial orchard. Ten +smaller apple trees which we received were set out in the nursery and +after a year or two will find their place in the orchard. These trees +are labeled: Gilbert, Winesap, Russet Seedling, then Nos. 90, 271, 269, +16, 7045 and A1. All of this stock has been carefully planted and is now +doing well. + +The only variety of fruit trees which bloomed before the 20th of May was +the Akin plum. Most all other trees were getting ready to bloom, but it +was really too cold for them to open their flowers. From that time on +the blooming became more general among the plums and later among the +apples. The trees which did not bear last year were full of flowers. +Some of the new plums, too, had quite a number of blossoms, and we are +watching with great interest what the fruit will be, as we intend to +propagate the best ones in a small way for home use. + +Of small fruits we have now on trial five varieties of raspberries and +also three sorts of strawberries, Nos. 3, 4 and Progressive. This will +give us a good chance to judge of their relative value as to hardiness, +quality and quantity of fruit. + +The truck garden is taken care of as usual, but is far behind other +years in growth and development of vegetables on account of the cold +spring. If it were not for our greenhouse and hotbeds, I think we would +yet be without radishes and lettuce. + +The same may be said in regard to the planting of our lawns. The plants +were all ready in the greenhouse, but the planting had to be deferred as +long as there was danger of frost. The flower beds on the lawns were +finally planted, the designs are very good, but it will take some time +yet till their beauty can be seen and enjoyed. + +Judging from present conditions, we may get a pretty good crop of +fruits. The time for the late spring frosts passed by without doing any +harm. The weather during blooming was favorable for setting a good crop +of apples and plums. The grapes, too, show up well and promise a good +crop, and the strawberries and currants are doing splendidly. + + + + +Jeffers Trial Station. + +DEWAIN COOK, SUPT. + + +June 13.--_Plums_--Much rainy weather during the blooming period was +undoubtedly the main reason why the plum crop of 1916 will not amount to +very much. Only a few of the Americana have set any fruit whatever. +However, the Terry and the Wyants carry considerable fruit. + +Of the Japanese hybrids the B.A.Q. and Emerald have set some fruit--also +the Stella. Of the hybrid plums originating at the Minnesota State +Fruit-Breeding Farm there are only a few scattering specimens on any of +them. Most of them have set no fruit whatever. Minn. No. 6, one tree, is +in a dying condition from winter-killing. + +Hansen's hybrids have mostly set some fruit, but not freely. The Hanska, +Toka, Opata and Wohanka are among those varieties making the best +showing of fruit. + +While in a general way we consider the rains during the blooming period +responsible for the almost failure of the 1916 plum crop, but, to be a +little more specific, the blight of the plum bloom, or rather the brown +rot fungus, was more generally prevalent and more generally destructive +than at any previous season. As for the fungous disease known as plum +pocket, we have not seen one this season. It has been entirely absent. + +As for spraying to control the brown rot fungus, we have and are doing +the best we know. With the exception of about twenty-five large plum +trees that we have made into a hog pasture and could not get at very +well with our gasoline spraying outfit, we sprayed about all our plum +trees (and other fruit trees as well) twice before blooming, once just +as the fruit buds began to swell and again just before they bloomed, +with lime-sulphur solution. We are now spraying the third time, adding +arsenate of lead to the lime-sulphur. + +Of grapes sent me from our State Fruit-Breeding Farm all varieties are +looking fine. The Beta we gave no winter protection, but all of the +others we covered with strawy manure. We did this as all the other +varieties winter-killed the first winter after planting, and we did not +like to take any chances with them. + +Minn. No. 3 strawberry is doing itself proud. We consider it the best +all round variety we have ever grown and are planting almost exclusively +on our own farm. + +The everbearing Minn. 1017 continues to hold place as first best. We set +out some 400 plants of this variety this spring, and they are making +runners freely. Judging from last season, we expect a large crop of +fine fruit from them next September, as well as a great quantity of new +plants. + +Apples are in a very satisfactory condition. I need to say but little +about varieties. All kinds of bearing size bloomed full, and most kinds +have set full of fruit. Of such kinds as Okabena, Duchess and Wealthy, +it looks as though practically every blossom turned into an apple. + +We received several seedling apple trees from Mr. Chas. Haralson, of the +State Fruit-Breeding Farm. They were all set out, and all are growing. + + + + +La Crescent Trial Station. + +D. C. WEBSTER, SUPT. + + +June 17, 1916.--We received this spring, from the Fruit-Breeding Farm, +plants for trial as follows: Malinda Nos. 12, 25, 29, 32, 38, 269, +Russett Seedling, Gilbert Winesap, Nos. 7045, No. 90, No. ----, No. A 1, +everbearing raspberry Nos. 30, 31, and strawberry No. 3. We also +received from other sources Waneta and Lokota plum. Everything received +for trial this year lived and is growing well. + +Of the plums received in 1914, No. 6 died last winter. Those remaining +about all bloomed, but only a very little fruit set on the following: +Nos. 3, 5, 8, 10, 14, 20. Native plums have set no fruit this year. + +Apple trees top-worked last year did poorly. The trees worked two years +ago did finely and already have quite the appearance of real apple +trees. Some are setting fruit this year, and we anticipate a few fine +specimens of Jonathan and Delicious this fall from them. + +In the orchard which blighted so badly two years ago, several trees died +from that cause. A great many are in a ragged condition from the pruning +necessary, and we note with considerable anxiety the occasional +appearance of that dreaded enemy a few days ago. + +Last year we had what might be called a full crop of apples, and +consequently did not expect them to do much this year. However, they had +a fairly good bloom, and about one-half of the trees have set a fair +crop. We sprayed twice with so far satisfactory results. + +Strawberries in this vicinity were badly injured by ice in winter where +not covered. Ours were covered and now promise a good yield. Began +picking the 14th inst. + +We set quite a patch of everbearers No. 1017 this spring. They bore last +fall but chickens picked most of the berries. Superb were unsatisfactory +and winter-killed where not covered. + +Carrie gooseberry has set full of berries and plants look fine. + +All other trees and shrubbery in general at this station are in good +condition. + + + + +Mandan, N.D., Trial Station. + +(Northern Great Plains Field Station.) + +W.A. PETERSON, SUPT. + + +All plants at this station went into the winter with favorable soil +moisture conditions. Many plants, however, made a late growth and were +still in growing condition late in September. + +The winter was a long and severe one, although there was more snow than +usual. The early spring was severe, being both windy, cold and dry. Up +to date (June 9th) there have been very few calm days. Three or four +very severe dust storms did considerable damage by blowing out seeds and +blighting the tender new growth of many plants. + +The winter of 1915-16 in this section can be called a test winter, as +much winter-killing both in root and top has resulted. + +A large proportion of the apple and plum orchard (60% to 75%) killed +out. There was no mulch or protection in these orchards. Practically all +grapes killed out, even though protected. A few Beta are alive at the +crown. Asparagus (unprotected) suffered severely. All raspberries had +been covered with dirt. They came through perfectly and promise a good +crop. + +Strawberries wintered successfully. The South Dakota variety came +through perfectly, even when not mulched. All are in full bloom now. +Practically all of Prof. Hansen's plum hybrids killed out entirely, or +are dead to trunk or crown. + +A large number of seedlings of Chinese apricot, Chinese peach, native +grapes, Juneberries and bullberries passed through the winter with +little or no injury. About 1,000 Beta seedlings, lined out as one year +seedlings in the spring of 1915, winter-killed, with the exception of +about seven or eight plants. + +Paradise apple stocks wintered safely. + +Soft maples that winter-killed to the ground in the preceding year are +good to the tips this spring, even though they had made four to six feet +of new growth last summer. + +Many new plantings have been made this spring, especially along +plant-breeding lines. Extensive experiments have also been started with +fruit trees, shelter-belt trees, ornamental shrubs and perennial +flowering plants to determine the factors that influence the hardiness +of plants. + +Strawberry No. 1017, from the Minnesota Fruit-Breeding Farm, made an +excellent showing in 1915, and all plants bore some fruit. Only a few +runners were made, however. All plants were potted in fall, so no data +has been secured on their hardiness. Several hundred more plants of this +variety were set out this spring and they made an excellent stand. + + + + +Montevideo Trial Station. + +LYCURGUS R. MOYER, SUPT. + + +_Syringa Japonica._--The Japanese tree lilac has often been recommended +by this station, but last winter was unusually severe, and an old tree +obtained from Prof. Budd, nearly thirty years ago, now shows several +damaged branches. Younger trees on our grounds and in the city parks +show no injury. Perhaps this tree cannot be expected to live to be much +more than thirty years of age nor attain a much greater height than +thirty feet. The old tree is throwing up new stems from its roots and +may rejuvenate itself. + +_Caragana._--The small shrubby caragana (Caragana pygmaea) was unusually +fine this spring when in full bloom. We received it from Prof. Budd many +years ago. It does finely in the clay banks of Lincoln Parkway in this +city, but it is seldom offered by nurserymen. Caragana frutex, formerly +called Caragana frutescens, is a somewhat taller shrub and not quite so +floriferous. It makes a fine screen. Both of these shrubs are addicted +to root sprouting, and might not please those who care for a stiff, +formal garden. Both may be readily propagated from root cuttings. + +_Roses._--Hansen's Tetonkeha rose at this writing is in full bloom and +is a very striking object. It grows to the height of about four feet and +needs no protection. The flowers are large and of a deep pink color. It +seems to be as hardy as the old yellow rose of our gardens, that rose +being now, too, at its best. Among other garden roses Paul Neyron is in +a rather weak condition, Ulrich Brunner is doing a little better, while +Mme. Georges Bruant is doing still better. Rosa pratincola grows on our +grounds naturally, and we have brought in from the edges of the timber +Rosa Engelmanni and Rosa Maximilliani. A friend in Duluth has sent us +Rosa Sayi, and we obtained Rosa Macounii from the Bad Lands of North +Dakota. These roses, as well as the more common Rosa blanda, make an +interesting addition to the hardy border. + +_Delphinium Formosum._--We obtained a plant or two of the old tall +larkspur almost thirty years ago. The old plants persisted several +years, and seedlings have grown up from self-sown seed, and the +plantation is now as attractive as ever. + +_Chrysanthemum Uliginosum._--The giant daisy has been here for a long +time and needs but little attention. The clumps should be taken up and +divided occasionally. It is one of our best late fall flowers. + +_Philadelphus._--Philadelphus pubescens came through the winter without +injury. Philadelphus zeyheri suffered a little. Philadelphus coronarius +came through in fair condition in a rather protected border, but +Philadelphus Lemoinei was frozen back nearly to the ground. + +[Illustration: Giant daisy, or chrysanthemum uliginosum.] + +_Physocarpus._--Physocarpus opulifolius came through the winter with no +more than its ordinary injury. + +_Lonicera._--The old climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) came +through the winter very much damaged, but our native honeysuckle is in +fine condition. The bush honeysuckles are all hardy. The one known as +Lonicera bella alba does not differ very much from the common white form +of the Tartarian honeysuckle. + +_Prunus Triloba._--The double flowering plum has always been hardy with +us, and usually has been a splendid bloomer in the latter part of April, +but last winter was so severe that it did not bloom at all this spring. + +_Catalpa._--Another strange feature of the winter was that Catalpa +speciosa came through entirely uninjured. + +_Viburnum._--Viburnum pekinensis came through in fine condition as well +as its close relative, the high bush cranberry. The common snowball did +not suffer so much from aphis this year as usual. Viburnum lentago, +which grows in the river valleys here naturally, is doing finely. + +_Syringa._--Among the bushy lilacs Syringa ligustrina, Syringa +Chinensis, Syringa josikea and Syringa villosa all bloomed fully. The +varieties of the common lilac, known as Ludwig Spaeth, Charles X, +Senator Vollard and the one that Prof. Budd brought from Russia and +called by him Russian lilac, were all very satisfactory. This last +variety has pink flowers and is a very choice variety of Syringa +vulgaria. + +_Amelanchier._--The large Juneberry, probably Amelanchier Canadensis, +was a very attractive object in April, when its purple-colored young +leaves contrasted with its white bloom. The dwarf Juneberry, with their +villous young leaves and white flowers, are very attractive in April and +should receive more attention from our planters. + +_Dictamnus._--The gas plant (Dictamnus fraxinilla) becomes more +attractive from year to year. It is one of the hardy plants which needs +scarcely any attention to keep the weeds away. The pink form is very +showy when in flower, and the plant is very attractive after the flower +is gone. + +_Iris._--A rather large collection of Siberian iris is very attractive +just now. The city has found it a very desirable, hardy plant to set in +the park. + +_Apples._--A very good tree for park planting seems to be the crabapple, +known as Malus seboldii. It is very attractive when in bloom, and the +fruit as it ripens takes on a rich warm color that is very interesting. +Okabena is promising a light crop, which may be advantageous, as when +this variety bears freely the apples are apt to be undersized. A +Thompson seedling is promising a full crop as well as most of the other +common varieties. The Wealthy on Malus baccata is bearing a full crop. + +_Hybrid Plums._--The common varieties of plums are promising a very good +crop, except Surprise, which is not bearing at all this year. Minnesota +No. 10 is the only one of the new seedlings bearing a full crop. No. 18 +has a light crop. No. 8 is thrifty and promising and so is No. 10. No. +20 suffered from the winter. Plums No. 1 and 2 are both promising. Plum +No. 11 was injured by the rabbits. Hansen's No. 3769, Sansota, is +bearing a light crop. + +_Raspberries._--Raspberry No. 8 is promising a full crop. It is a very +late variety. Hansen's Oheta is one of our best berries. + +_Gooseberries._--Western Minnesota is not well adapted to the +cultivation of gooseberries, nor do currants do very well. The Carrie +gooseberry is promising a full crop, and some of the older varieties are +doing better than usual, perhaps on account of the unusually cool +season. + + + + +Nevis Trial Station. + +JAS. ARROWOOD, SUPT. + + +June 16, 1916.--Apples came through the past winter in fairly good +shape, especially the stock we have grown at this place. There has been +some loss with stock that has been brought from outside nurseries from +top killing, and there have been some sun scalds where trees have been +exposed to the southwest sun, mostly among the limbs and crotches. There +will be a fair crop of apples, as they seem to be setting fairly good. +There has been considerable top-working done this spring with fair +success. + +[Illustration: Mr. James Arrowood alongside a seedling of the +Transcendent in early bloom.] + +Our native plums have all come through the winter in good shape, with +only a small setting of plums, on account of so much rain. In regard to +the plums we received from the Breeding Station in 1913: the number of +plums was eighteen; all grew except two, and those killed back each +year. They were No. 2. All the rest have grown, but no fruit up to date +except on No. 7. That fruited last year and also is loaded with fruit at +this date. The trees received in 1914 all grew except two. They all made +a fair growth but haven't yet set any fruit. The dozen trees that were +sent me in 1915 have all made a good growth this last year. + +Two dozen grapes that were sent to me three years ago have not set fruit +but have made a slow growth. Now in regard to small fruit, such as +strawberries, we wish to say that No. 3 heads everything in the +strawberry line for growth and berries. Its equal is not found in this +section of the country. In regard to the everbearing we cannot say that +they have done as well as we expected them to. The raspberries that we +received three years ago have all done very well. No. 1 and No. 5 have +done the best. Those berries have all stood out without covering through +the winter. We have one acre of them now. They have not killed back at +all and promise a big crop. + +We received this spring about one dozen apple trees which we will report +on later. Currants and gooseberries promise a good crop. + +In regard to the shade trees and the evergreens they have all done +remarkably well. We have more faith in the seedling fruits, such as +apples and plums, for this section of the country. We believe our only +hope will be through the seedlings. This was the late Prof. Green's +prediction to me just before his death. Every year brings to mind his +saying, that we must plant our own apple and plum seed if we ever expect +any good results in Northern Minnesota. + +In regard to the Hansen plums--all seem to be doing well and are set +full of fruit. We would also mention the Hansen sweet alfalfa, which is +a wonder. It grows and spreads equal to quack-grass. Four years ago we +received fifty plants, which were planted according to directions of the +professor to set two feet apart and cultivate the first year. During +these four years it does not appear that there has been a single plant +killed out. It has spread from the seed and roots over two rods wide and +six rods long and as thick as it can stand. + + + + +Owatonna Trial Station. + +THOS. E. CASHMAN, SUPT. + + +There is but little to report from the Owatonna Station at this time. +Trees and plants came through the winter in good condition. The apple +trees, Haralson's plum seedlings, No. 1017 everbearing strawberry, No. 4 +raspberry and Beta grape seedlings came through the winter without +injury. Trees that are old enough have blossomed well and are carrying a +fair crop of fruit. + +A new lot of seedlings originated by Mr. Haralson at the Fruit-Breeding +Station have been planted this year, and the station this year put in +the following: Malinda Nos. 12, 17, 13, 58, 32, 29, 7, 18, 25, 3, 35, +38, W. 82; Malinda seedling, W. 132; Hilbut, Winesap, W. 79, No. 16, No. +269, W. 81, W. 100, W. 184, No. 90, W. 20 G., No. 243; No. 31 +everbearing raspberries, Russet Selly, W. 36, W. 135, No. 272. They are +starting off in good shape and will all make a good showing for the +first year. + +We have done the usual spraying, first with lime-sulphur and a small +portion of arsenate of lead while the trees were dormant, and just +lately a good dose of arsenate of lead. The foliage of the trees is +perfect, and bugs of all kinds are conspicuous by their absence. People +who have not sprayed find their trees badly stripped of foliage. I am +afraid of severe losses unless they get busy very soon. Spraying costs +but little and must be done if we are to raise fruit. + + + + +Paynesville Trial Station. + +FRANK BROWN, SUPT. + + +The plums sent to this station the spring of 1914 wintered very nicely, +blossomed very full and have set considerable fruit. The new growth on +these trees is very satisfactory, and they seem to be healthy in all +ways. + +No. 1 plum trees sent here last spring froze back quite badly, but as +many other supposedly hardy trees did the same we are still in hopes +that this was only an incident in a hard winter. + +[Illustration: A corner of the home orchard at the Paynesville Station.] + +No. 4 raspberry is still a favorite here; it winters perfectly, is a +strong grower, and a good all around berry, both as a home berry, and as +a shipper. + +Raspberries Nos. 2 and 7 are both good, but No. 2 lacks a little in +hardiness, and we wish to test No. 7 more fully before reporting. The +other raspberries, Nos. 1, 3, 5 and 6, are no good here. + +If I knew how to say more in favor of that grand strawberry Minn. No. 3 +I should say it; with us it is the best of all the June-bearing berries, +hardy, productive, a good canner and a good shipper. + +The spring of 1915 we received from the Central Station fifty plants +labeled Minn. No. 1017. We considered it our duty to test these in all +ways, so kept all berries picked off until July 1st, then allowed fruit +and plants to form as they would, and the result was an immense crop of +dark red fruit, of the finest quality, and over 600 strong, sturdy +plants. These were transplanted this spring without the loss of a single +plant, and at this date are certainly a fine looking bunch. + +The apple trees received this spring from the Central Station are all +doing well. The trees and plants from that Station certainly speak +volumes for the work being done by Supt. Haralson. + +Some trees and shrubs killed back quite badly the past winter, +especially spirea Van Houtti was badly hurt. + +Fruit prospects are good, the cold backward spring held the fruit buds +back until all danger of frost was over. + +Strawberries are especially fine this season, and bid fair to be a +record crop. In fact, the horticulturists in this part of our state have +much to be thankful for. + + + + +Sauk Rapids Trial Station. + +MRS. JENNIE STAGER, SUPT. + + +June 13--Starting with a late spring, which saved all sorts of blossoms +from the frost, now in June we have promise of an unlimited amount of +fruit. But with heavy rains almost every night, we cannot effect much +with spraying. One spraying eliminated all worms so far from not only +the currants and gooseberries, but the roses also, and once going +through the orchards has done away with the few tent caterpillars that +had started in their work. + +So on the whole we have hopes of a full harvest of not only tree but +small fruits. Most vegetables are backward, as also flowers from seeds, +but with so much to be thankful for how can any of us complain. + + * * * * * + +ALLEGED PEAR BLIGHT CURES ARE WORTHLESS--ORGANISM OF DISEASE LIVES +UNDERNEATH BARK OUT OF REACH OF "CURE."--Fruit growers should not +allow themselves to be induced to purchase and use worthless pear blight +cures. Every year we hear of cures for pear blight being sold to fruit +growers, but to the present time the experiment stations of the country +have hunted in vain for any practical remedy that may be sprayed upon +trees or used in any way for the cure of this typo for disease. The +organism lives underneath the bark entirely out of reach of remedies +that may be applied to the surface of the tree. + +I would strongly recommend to fruit growers that they do not spend any +money for pear blight until they are able to learn through experiment +stations, or the Department of Agriculture at Washington, D.C., that +there is a remedy that can be used for the control of this +disease.--C. P. Gillette, Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station. + + + + +West Concord Trial Station. + +FRED COWLES, SUPT. + + +June 14.--The past winter was long and severe. Besides the severe cold, +a heavy coat of ice remained a long time on trees of all kinds, causing +much anxiety, but when the time came trees of all kinds were full of +bloom and beauty. Most varieties of apples have set a full crop of +fruit. Some trees which bore a heavy crop last year have little or none +this year, but the general crop of apples will be heavy if it matures. +Our trees top-worked to Jonathan and Northern Spy are bearing good this +year; they show no signs of winter-killing. + +[Illustration: Side view of Mr. Cowles' home grounds.] + +Plums were full of bloom as usual, but have set little fruit. Some +varieties--Sansota and Wyant--have a few scattering plums. Seedling No. +17 also has a few. The new seedlings from the Station are all growing +good. The native plums in a thicket have more fruit than the named +varieties. + +Strawberries have wintered well and give promise of a full crop. Some +garden patches in the vicinity winter-killed badly. Minnesota Seedling +No. 3 promises to be a good berry; the strong fruit stems keep the +berries from the ground. The Progressive and Superb, of the everbearing +type, are no longer an experiment, but are a success, and many farmers +are planting them. + +Raspberries winter-killed some. The Herbert seems as hardy as any. +Seedling No. 4 is also hardy. Gooseberries and currants are bearing as +usual. Grapes have started rather late and will have a short season to +mature. + +The early flowering shrubs bloomed very full this spring. Lilacs did +extra well. The Persian lilac was very full and lasted a long time. +Chas. X, Madam Chereau and Alphonse la Valle were fine. Villosa is just +coming out; this is a beautiful variety. The tree lilac received from +China a few years ago is going to bloom for the first time. The iris is +just in full bloom, and the delicate colorings always please. Peonies +are late this year, none being out at this time. A few Rugosas are the +only roses out at this time, but they look promising for a little later. + + + + +Orcharding in Minnesota. + +DISCUSSION LED BY PROF. RICHARD WELLINGTON, UNIVERSITY FARM. + + +Mr. Sauter: I want to set out 500 trees; what kind shall I set out? I +live at Zumbra Heights. + +Mr. Wellington: I would prefer some of the more experienced growers to +speak on that question, but going over the recommendations of over 160 +growers the Wealthy is recommended in practically all cases in +preference to the other varieties. We know, however, that the Wealthy +needs pollen from other varieties for fertilization of the blossom, so +it would be foolish to put out 500 Wealthys. It is better to mix in some +of the other varieties. If I was planting an orchard, probably +seventy-five per cent. of the apples would be Wealthys. + +Mr. Sauter: And what next? + +Mr. Wellington: Well, that depends altogether on your market. If you can +handle the Duchess apple, work the Duchess in; or if you wanted a few +late apples, work in some of the other varieties. + +Mr. Sauter: Isn't the Okabena better than the Duchess? + +Mr. Wellington: It is a little later. + +Mr. Richardson: Four days later. + +Mr. Wellington: That would be my recommendation. I would put in the +majority of the trees Wealthys and then work in some other varieties +according to your market. + +Mr. Sauter: Isn't the Malinda and the Northwest Greening all right? + +Mr. Wellington: The Northwest Greening seems to be especially valuable +in certain parts of the state. In some parts they winter injure, but it +is a good late variety. + +Mr. Sauter: How is the Malinda? + +Mr. Wellington: Malinda is all right excepting in quality. It is lacking +in quality. + +Mr. Sauter: Is it a good seller? + +Mr. Wellington: I couldn't tell you about that. Some of these other +gentlemen could give you information on that point. It tastes more like +cork than anything else, but after the other apples are gone we are not +so particular about it. + +Mr. Dunlap: The speaker brought out one point that we tested out a great +many years ago in Illinois, and I suppose it is really an important one +here, and that is the protection against the winds with shelter-belts. +Now, at the University of Illinois they planted out some forty acres to +test that with all the varieties they could get together, and they +planted spruce trees not only on the outside of the orchard but they +planted them in through the orchard, dividing the orchards up into ten +acre plots. Quite a number of the early planters of apples in Illinois +also put windbreaks around their orchards with considerable detriment to +their orchards. + +We find that we need air drainage there just as much as we need +protection against the wind. If I were in Minnesota I might change my +mind after studying the conditions, but if I was going to plant in +Minnesota and I should plant evergreens I certainly would trim them up +from the bottom so as to get air drainage. I have known of instances +where orchards were protected and where there was air drainage they were +all right, but where they were closely protected by the trees they were +injured by the frosts by their starting too early in the spring. If you +get a warm atmosphere around the trees you start your buds pretty early, +several days earlier than they would if they had the right kind of air +drainage, and it does seem to me that the experience we have had would +be against close planting around an orchard for protection from frost, +though you do want to protect them against winds, but air drainage, it +seems, is not a detriment to orchards. (Applause.) + +Mr. Richardson: I wish to say that in my observation and my experience +if I was putting in a windbreak I would put it on the south and west +sides; I wouldn't have any on the north and east. + +Mr. Brackett: Our prevailing winds are from the south and west during +the summer, and the Wealthy is an apple that is bad for falling off when +it gets to a certain stage, and I think it is very necessary for us to +have a windbreak on the south and west if we are going to protect our +orchards here. + +Mr. Ludlow: The wind comes from the northwest generally in the winter, +when we have storms, and if snow falls and it comes from the northwest, +and the orchard is protected on that side by a windbreak, the windbreak +will catch the snow and it will pile on top of the orchard, and I have +known at least a dozen trees to be broken down by the storms of winter +getting in that way. + +A Member: I think crab apple trees make a good windbreak, if they are +set twice as close together as trees in the orchard. + +A Member: I think location has more to do with it than anything else. I +have two or three orchards in mind where five years ago, when we had +that hard frost, they had an abundance of apples, and it was protected +from the northwest. I have another orchard in mind that was protected +from the north and northwest, and this year they had over 1,400 bushels +of Wealthy apples. Mine wasn't protected particularly from the north, +and I had no apples, but back of the buildings, there is where I had my +apples. I tell you location has more to do with it than a windbreak in +such a case. + +Mr. Drum: You all remember some ten or more years ago when the apple +trees were in blossom, and we had a terrible snow storm and blizzard and +freeze. My orchard was protected both from the southwest and the +northwest and the north, and following that freeze my trees had the only +apples that were left in that country. I think that protection from the +north and northwest is just as essential, especially in a position where +the winds have a wide sweep. My house and my orchard slope off to the +northwest, and I have a full sweep of the northwest wind there for +miles. The house was set as it were on a pinnacle. I think the +protection from the northwest is fully as essential in such a position +as any other. + +Mr. Whiting: This windbreak proposition is a question of locality. In +the western part of the state, as well as in South Dakota--especially in +South Dakota--we say that the south windbreak is decidedly the most +important of any we can put in. We have more hot winds than you do here +in the eastern part of Minnesota. You don't have that trouble, but in +western Minnesota you are very much like we are in South Dakota. Mr. +Ludlow knows the conditions, and I say you must take that into +consideration. If you are in that locality the south windbreak is +decidedly the most important of any. Then I would say the windbreak on +the south, west and north are all of considerable importance. Of course, +you can overdo it, you can smother your orchard. You must guard against +that, but we have too much air drainage. + +In regard to the variety proposition, isn't it true that you are growing +too many perishable apples in Minnesota? I know it is so in South +Dakota. We are growing too many of these early varieties; we ought to +grow more winter varieties. If you want to build up a large commercial +apple business you have got to raise more keepers. You are planting too +many early varieties. + +Mr. Dowds: I have been setting out apple trees more or less in different +states for sixty years. If I was going to set out another orchard I +would put windbreaks all around it, north, south, east and west, and +the windbreak that I would use would be the yellow willow. It grows +quick, it gives you a circulation of air, and it protects your trees. My +experience in the last fifteen years has been that the yellow willow was +the best windbreak that you can have around the house. + +Mr. Brackett: Mr. Whiting says, grow winter apples. I want to know what +winter apples will bring the money that Wealthy bring. + +Mr. Whiting: That is a hard question, but isn't it a fact that you grow +too many Wealthys? Don't you glut the market unless you have cold +storage? You ought to work to that end just as much as possible; you +ought to have more good keepers, better winter varieties. + + + + +The Society Library. + + +Books may be taken from the Library of the Minnesota State Horticultural +Society by any member of the society on the following terms: + +1. Only one book can be taken at a time. + +2. Books with a star (*) before the title, as found in the published +library list, are reference books and not to be taken from the library. + +3. In ordering books give besides the name also the case and book +numbers, to be found in the same line as the title. + +4. Books will be sent by parcel post when requested. + +5. When taking out, or sending for a book, a charge of ten cents is made +to cover expense of recording, transmission, etc. + +6. Books are mailed to members only in Minnesota and states immediately +adjoining. When sent to points outside the state a charge of fifteen +cents is made. + +7. A book can be kept two weeks: If kept longer a charge of two cents +per day will be made. + +8. The library list, to December 1, 1915, is published in the 1915 +annual volume of the society. Additions to this list will be published +year by year in the succeeding annual volumes. + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. +Minneapolis. + + +Mr. H. H. Whetzel, of the plant disease survey, U.S. Department of +Agriculture, stationed at Cornell University, where the American Peony +Society has its test grounds, has made a study of the stem-rot disease +of the peony and has set forth the results in an address before the +Massachusetts Horticultural Society, from which the following has been +culled: + +"The botrytis blight is by far the most common and destructive disease +of the peony so far as known at present. This disease is frequently +epidemic, especially during wet springs. It occurs wherever peonies are +grown, apparently the world over. + +"This disease usually makes its appearance early in the spring when the +stalks are coming up. Shoots will suddenly wilt and fall. Examination +will show they have rotted at the base or just below the surface of the +ground. The rotted portion will soon become covered with a brown coat of +spores--much like felt. Generally it is the young stalks that are +affected, though sometimes stalks with buds just opening will suddenly +wilt and fall. It is thought the spores are carried through the winter +on the old stubble, after the tops have been cut off. They are in the +best position to give rise to a new crop of spores in the spring, and +the new shoots become infected as they appear. + +"To eradicate this disease the old stubble should be carefully removed +in the fall or early spring by removing first the soil from the crown so +as not to injure the buds, and cutting off the old stalks. These should +be burned and the soil replaced with clean soil or preferably sand. +Whenever a shoot shows sign of the disease it should be cut off and +burned. The buds must also be watched and any that begin to turn brown +or black and die must also be cut off and burned, as spores will be +found upon them, and these will be spread by the wind and insects. +Spotted leaves should also be picked off. In wet seasons the peonies +should be closely watched. For the small garden, with comparatively few +clumps of peonies, this treatment will be entirely practical and +effective." + +Bulbs should be ordered this month if you wish the pick of the new crop. +There are two fall blooming bulbs that would add to our September and +October gardens. One is the Sternbergia, or autumn daffodil, and the +other is the autumn crocus. + +The bulbs should be planted in August and will blossom the same season. +The daffodil is a clear yellow and is good for cutting. These bulbs must +be ordered as early as possible. + +Lady bugs are our garden friends, destroying multitudes of aphides. They +should never be killed. + +Have you the following all ready for use? + +For insects, bugs or worms that chew--or eat portions of +plants--arsenate of lead, paris green or hellebore. + +For sucking insects, nicotine or kerosene emulsion. + +For diseases, bordeaux mixture or ammoniacal copper carbonate solution. + +A good sprayer. + + * * * * * + +_Remember_ our photographic contest. + + + + +BEE-KEEPER'S COLUMN + +Conducted by FRANCIS JAGER, Professor of Apiculture, University +Farm, St. Paul. + +INCREASING COLONIES (CONTINUED FROM JUNE NO.) + + +[Illustration: Prof. Francis Jager's apiary at St. Bonifacius.] + +To increase you must first make your colonies strong. One or more of +your best colonies must be selected to raise queens for your increase +unless you wish to buy your queen. Stimulate your queen raising colonies +by feeding and not giving them any supers. The crowded condition will +bring on an early swarming impulse, under which they will raise from +twelve to twenty large, well developed queen cells each. The queens of +your queen raising colonies should be clipped. When in due time a queen +raising colony swarms, catch the queen and remove her and let the swarm +return. Immediately after this swarm you may proceed to divide your +other colonies from which you wish to increase. Put down on a permanent +location as many empty hives as you have available queen cells in your +colony that swarmed. Into one of these you put your removed breeding +queen with two frames of brood and bees. Into each of the rest of the +empty hives put two frames of brood with all adhering bees from your +colonies you wish to increase. Be sure to leave the queens in the old +hive after brood for increase with adhering bees has been removed. Thus +you have now a number of new colonies with bees and two frames of brood +but no queen. The rest of the hive may be filled with drawn comb or +sheets of foundation. To prevent the bees from returning to the old +home, stuff the entrance of the hive solidly with grass. In two days the +grass will wilt and dry and the bees will come out automatically and +stay in the new location--at least most of them. In the meantime being +queenless they will be busy with raising queen cells on the two frames +of brood. This occupation will make them contented, then on the seventh +day cut out every one of their queen cells and give them a cell from +your breeder colony. Your queen breeding colony on the seventh day after +swarming will have ripe queen cells ready to hatch, with one queen +probably out. If by listening in the evening you hear her "sing" and +"peep" go next morning and remove all queen cells and give one to each +of your newly formed colonies. They will be readily accepted, will hatch +immediately, sometimes whilst you are removing them, but certainly the +same or next day and begin laying in due time. From such colonies you +may not expect any surplus honey, but they will build up rapidly and +will be strong colonies to put away next fall. + +[Illustration: ADMINISTRATION BUILDING (MAIN BUILDING), UNIVERSITY +FARM, ST. ANTHONY PARK, MINN.] + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted in estimating their practical value. + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + +Vol. 44 AUGUST, 1916 No. 8 + + + + +How May University Farm and the Minnesota State Horticultural Society be +Mutually Helpful in Developing the Farms and Homes of the Northwest? + +A. F. WOODS, DEAN AND DIRECTOR, DEPT. OF AGRI., UNIVERSITY OF MINN., ST. +PAUL. + + +The farm without its windbreaks, shade trees, fruits, flowers and +garden, if it can be called a home at all is certainly one that needs +developing and improving. There are many abiding places in the +Northwest, as in every other part of the United States, that lack some +essential part of them. The first and most important step with a view to +correcting these conditions is to bring together those interested in +home improvement to talk over problems and difficulties and to plan how +to correct them and to interest others in the movement. This is what +this great society with its auxiliary societies has been and is now +doing most successfully. It is true that your work has been more +particularly from the horticultural view point, but, as I said in the +beginning, fruits and flowers are civilizing and home making influences. + +There should be more horticulturally interested people from the farms +affiliated with this society. Each farmers' club should have a +horticultural committee. There are now about nine hundred farmers' clubs +in the state, and the number is increasing constantly. These clubs +represent the communities in which the members live. They include men, +women and children, farmers, preachers, teachers, every member of the +community willing to cooperate. They start things in the community +interest and follow them up. The Agricultural Extension Service of the +University is in close touch with these clubs. The horticulturists of +the service especially might help to arouse the interest of the clubs in +this movement. This society might offer some prizes especially designed +to interest the boys and girls of the farmers' clubs. Each club +horticultural committee should have representation in this society. Some +of the prizes might be memberships or trips to the annual meeting. Many +members of this society are members of such clubs. They could take the +lead in the movement. In this way the society would keep in touch with +the homes and communities of the state, and all would grow together in +horticultural grace--and the other graces that go with it. + +[Illustration: A Minnesota farm home with handsome grounds and modern +conveniences.] + +The gospel of better homes is like every other gospel. It must be taken +to those who need it and who know it not or are not interested. The +extension service of the University is organized to carry the message of +better homes, better farms, better social and business relations to the +people who need it. Farmers' institutes, short courses, lectures, +demonstration, farm supervision, judging at county fairs, boys' and +girls' club work, institute trains, county agent service, indicate some +of the kinds of work in progress. The press is also a powerful factor in +this work. The Minnesota Farmers' Library, which is made up of timely +publications on all matters of rural interest, has a mailing list of +fifty-five thousand farmers. From six to twelve of these publications +are issued each year. "University Farm Press News" reaches regularly +six hundred papers in the state. "Rural School Agriculture," containing +material especially adapted to the needs of the consolidated and rural +schools, reaches practically every rural and consolidated school in the +state each month. "The Visitor" is a special publication prepared for +the use of the teachers of agriculture in the high schools of the state. +The "Farmers' Institute Annual" is a manual of three hundred pages +published each year in editions of fifty thousand and contains material +of interest to every farmer. Many special articles are prepared for farm +papers. Every department of the extension service and college and +station is in touch with the farm homes of the state through +correspondence, and much valuable work is accomplished in this way. The +aim is always to work from the home as the center, and from that to the +group of homes constituting the community, the township, the county and +the state, in an ever-enlarging circle. + +[Illustration: A typical Minnesota consolidated school building.] + +The greatest opportunity for better homes and better farms and a better +country life is in enlisting the children of the country in the +movement. When I say the children of the country, I do not mean to +exclude the children of the villages and towns whose tastes may lead +them countryward. We should never stop or attempt to stop the free +movement between the country and the city. It is good for both. The +children of today will be the farmers and farm home makers and the +business men and women of tomorrow. Are the children of the farmers +looking forward with interest to farming as a business, and life in the +country as attractive? The movement to the city in ever-increasing +numbers is the answer, but it is the answer to what has been and now is, +rather than to what is to be. A new day is dawning, in which the +brightest minds and the choicest spirits will again choose to live in +the open country and make there the ideal homes from which shall +continue to come the life and vigor of the nation. But if it is to be +so, the schools of the country must furnish real intelligent leadership +and the country church must come again to spiritual leadership. We must +all help to bring this about. + +Minnesota has a plan to accomplish this, and it is working out even +better than we dared hope. Experience has shown that by consolidation or +the cooperation of several districts, good results may be secured at no +greater cost than the same type of school costs in town. The small +school of today is expensive because it is inefficient. The consolidated +school is giving the children of the country the education that they +need and is doing it better than it can be done anywhere else. The +consolidated school is becoming the rural community center. An important +feature which has been adopted by many of the consolidated districts is +the building of a home for the teachers in connection with the school. +This home may be made typical of what the modern home should be, not +expensive but substantial, artistic, convenient and sanitary. The +grounds should be suitably planted with trees, shrubs and flowers, and +there should be a garden. The school building is also made to fit the +needs of the community. The larger rooms may be used for entertainments, +farmers' club meetings, lectures, etc. There should be facilities for +testing milk and other agricultural products, examining soils, etc. +There should be a shop for wood and iron work, or at least a work bench +and an anvil. There should be a library of good reading and a place to +cook and bake and sew. There should be a typewriter, a piano or an +organ, and such other conveniences for teaching and social center work +as the community may wish and be able to secure, and, best of all, +teachers living at the school who know how to operate the plant in +every detail and to make it useful to the community. + +[Illustration: An ideal plan for consolidated school grounds.] + +There were nine of these schools five years ago in Minnesota. According +to the last report of the Department of Public Instruction, there are +142 now, and the number is increasing constantly. The state as a state +is behind the movement and is giving substantial aid, direction and +supervision to these schools. When the forward movement was planned, +plans were also made to train teachers and to give the teachers already +in the service special work that would fit them to adjust themselves to +the new needs. + +The normal schools and the high schools teaching agriculture, manual +training and home economics have adjusted their courses to meet this new +demand. Six years ago the work had hardly begun. Today there are 214 +high and graded schools teaching home economics, 177 teaching +agriculture, 125 teaching manual training, and of these 121 are +preparing teachers especially for the rural schools. + +The College of Agriculture and Home Economics of the University of +Minnesota is training the teachers in these subjects for the high +schools and normal schools, and, in cooperation with the State +Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Department of Agriculture has +been conducting a summer school for rural teachers, where those already +teaching and those planning to teach can get the training required to +meet the new conditions and demands. Similar summer schools have been +conducted in cooperation with the agricultural schools at Crookston and +Morris. All together each year there are between 1,800 and 2,000 +teachers taking these special courses. Every effort is made to bring to +these teachers the view point of the new country life movement. + +This society and the members individually in their home communities +should stand squarely behind this movement. They should become +thoroughly informed regarding it. It is the cornerstone of the new +country life. + +Finally I wish to call your attention again to the great educational +opportunity which you are missing. If you could come into vital contact +each year with more than 4,000 young men and women who are seeking for +everything that will help them to be more useful citizens, would you do +it? You could exert in that way an exceedingly great influence on the +homes and future welfare of this state and nation. You can do it if you +will come out and live with us the year round at University Farm. We +should have a building there suited to your needs that we could all use +as a great horticultural center, open the year round. You have already +taken steps in this direction. I hope that conditions will be such that +we can join hands to get it very soon. + + * * * * * + +SAN JOSE SCALE REQUIRES PROMPT ACTION--ORCHARD SHOULD EITHER BE +DESTROYED OR SPRAYED BEFORE BUDS OPEN.--There are a few orchards in +Colorado that are found to be infested with the San Jose scale. + +Owners of these orchards should determine upon one of two courses to +pursue. The orchard should either be promptly cut down and destroyed, or +the trees should be thoroughly treated with lime-sulphur solution or a +good quality of miscible oil for the destruction of the scale before the +buds open in the spring. + +If lime-sulphur is determined upon, the home-made article may be used, +or the commercial lime-sulphur solutions may be used, in which case they +should be diluted with water, in the proportion of one gallon of the +commercial lime-sulphur to not more than ten gallons of water. The +application should be made thoroughly, so that every bit of the bark of +trunk and limbs is covered with the spray. + +If miscible oil is used, I would recommend using one gallon of the oil +to each nineteen gallons of water. Hard or alkaline waters should be +avoided, as sometimes the oil will not make a good emulsion with them. +Use soft water, if possible.--C.P. Gillette, Colorado Agricultural +Experiment Station. + + + + +The Horticulturist as King. + +C. S. HARRISON, NURSERYMAN, YORK, NEB. + + +Some of the promises regarding our future stagger us with their +vastness. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my +throne." But how is it down here? Thou "crownest him with riches and +honor." Thou hast "put all things under his feet." Unto fields where +feet of angels come not we are chosen as partners of the Heavenly Father +to make this a more fruitful and beautiful world. + +In our life work much depends on our attitude regarding our calling. We +can plod like an ox, or like Markham's semi-brute man with the hoe, and +make that the badge of servitude to toil, or we can make it a wand in a +magician's hand to call forth radiant forms of beauty from the somber +earth to smile upon us and load the air with fragrance. We can live down +in the basement of horticulture or in the upper story. + +Man is coming to his own. The savage trembled at the lightning stroke +which shivered the mighty oak. Little knew he that here was a giant at +play waiting to be tamed and harnessed so he could be the most obedient +servant--ready at the master's beck to leap a continent, dive under the +ocean, draw heavy trains, and run acres of machinery. Man reaches out +his wand, and steam, gas, and oil rise up to do his will. + +If, with the advance of civilization, he wants beautiful things to adorn +person or home, he finds subterranean gardens of precious gems almost +priceless in value--gems that are immortals, flowers that never fade, +prophets all of the "glory to be revealed." + +You have heard of the marvelous Persian garden of gems--four hundred +feet in length and ninety feet wide--made to imitate the most beautiful +blooms of earth. It cost millions upon millions. Do you know that it is +in your power, with the advance of floriculture, to create gardens far +more resplendent in beauty--great gardens of delight fit for the touch +of angel's feet, while the whole is flooded with billows of sweetest +perfume? Three years ago that was a patch of barren earth; now you have +pulled down a section of paradise upon it and condensed there the tints +of the morning, the splendors of the evening, the beauty of the rainbow, +and the effulgence which flames in the mantles of the suns. + +I love to think of Nature as a person--first born daughter of God--her +head white with the snows of the centuries, her cheeks radiant with the +flush of recurrent springtime, emblems of eternal youth. She takes you +by the hand, leads you into the forests, talks to you of the soul of the +tree, tells you how intelligent it is. There is one standing in the +open. It has performed a feat no civil engineer can emulate. Think of +those roots so busily scurrying around in the earth, gathering food to +send up the cambium highway to nourish the trees. See the taut cords +thrown out to anchor it against the storms. Look at those trees on the +outskirts. Among wild animals the strongest are on guard on the outside +to protect the herd. So these sentinel trees guard their wards against +the storms. Fool man cuts down the guards and the wards fall before the +sweep of the storm. Mother Nature--dear, friendly soul--takes you into +her holy of holies and reveals her mysteries. She makes a confident of +you. She throws open her doors and shows you the wide vistas of a new +land you may enter and glorify. Follow her direction, and what a friend +you have! Cross her, thinking you know more than she does, and she +laughs at you. She takes you into the garden and the nursery and +discloses her wonders and helps you to work miracles. You plant seeds +and bulbs, and beauty rises to greet you. Did you ever think of the +royal position of the florist and horticulturist? + +The sacred poet speaks of the "labor of the olive." What a flood of +light that opens upon us. "All things are yours." Let us go out into the +grove you have planted. I once took off my hat to myself. While living +in the Republican Valley, near the 100th meridian, I planted some bull +pine seed. When the little trees were large enough, I transplanted them +in rows six feet apart and started a miniature forest. Twenty-five years +after I went to see them. The rows were straight. The trees had fine +bodies six inches through. They were miniature columns in a temple, +holding up a canopy of green. The ground was covered with a thick carpet +of needles. It was one of the most pleasing sights I ever saw. Then I +thought, "What if I had planted forty acres?" I would have had a Mecca +to which horticultural pilgrims would have flocked from hundreds of +miles. I planted the trees, and the faithful servants kept on working +day and night, and that beautiful grove was the result. Every tree you +plant is your servant, and how faithful it is--no shirking, always at it +whether you are looking or not. Look at that cherry tree. How the tiny +rootlets scurry through the soil--faithful children gathering food to +send up to their mother. Look at that flood of bloom. Then the fruit +grows till a mass of red gleams from the leafy coverts. There is a great +difference between a patch of brown earth and your faithful Jonathan. +What a marvel that little patch of soil, absolutely milked by those busy +foragers, and the extracts of it glowing in red beauty on the tree. Talk +of chemists! Those quiet rootlets surpass them all. + +[Illustration: Albert Victor iris, from Mr. Harrison's garden--about +one-third size.] + +If you want to be in the realm of miracles, lay down your hoe awhile and +sit among your flowers. Your brain devised the plan, your hand planted +the seeds and bulbs. "Behold the lilies, how they grow." Now sit there +and think it out. At your feet are artists no human skill may imitate. +Two peonies grow side by side. Golden Harvest opens with yellow petals +fading to purest white. In the center is a miniature Festiva +Maxima--blood drops and all. How can those roots send up the golden +tints, the snowy white and the red, and never have the colors mixed? +Close by is a Plutarch, deep brilliant red. The roots intermingle. How +is it possible to pick out of the dull soil, Nature's eternal drab, that +brilliant color for your peony? There are your iris, the new sorts +absolutely undescribable. There are a dozen different shades in a single +bloom. But those blind artists at work in their subterranean studios +never make a mistake. The standards must have just such colors, the +falls just such tints, and where did they get that dazzling radiant +reflex such as you see on Perfection, Monsignor and Black Knight? But it +is always there shimmering in the sunlight. There is a fairy--a pure +snowy queen. How was that sweetness and purity ever extracted from the +scentless soil? Every bloom uncorks a vial of perfume which has the odor +of the peach blossom. + +Did you ever sit down in your kingdom and see what a royal throne you +occupied? What a reception your flowers give you! The ambrosia and +nectar of the feasts of the deities of fable are overshadowed by the +fragrance and sweetness of your worshippers. It would seem that every +flower, like a royal subject, was bent on rendering the most exalted +honor to her king. No company of maidens preparing for nuptials were +ever arrayed like these. Each one is striving to do her best. The +highest art ever displayed in the palaces of kings is no comparison to +the beauty and splendor of your reception. By divine right you are +supreme. The fertile soil puts her tributes at your feet; for you all +the viewless influences of nature are at work; for you the sun shines +and the showers fall. So brothers, don't creep but mount up as on +eagle's wings. Invoice yourself and see how great you are! Don't live +all the while in the basement--spend some time in the upper story of +your calling! + +You are not making the earth weep blood. You are not spreading on the +fields a carpet of mangled forms. You are not dropping ruin and death +from the skies or polluting God's pure waters with submarines. You are +not turning all your energies into the work of destruction, despoiling +the treasures of art and the pride of the ages and turning the fairest +portions of the earth into desolations. You are not changing yourselves +into demons to gloat over starvation and ruin. You are soldiers of +peace. Behind you was the somber earth. You touched it with the wand of +your power, and beauty, health and pleasure sprang up to bless you. + +See what you have done! You have clothed the barrenness of the dreary +plain with gardens, orchards and forests. You have been at work with God +and glorified a vast empire, and now he has blessed the work of your +hands. Instead of the air sodden with tears and tremulous with the wail +of widows and orphans, you are welcomed with the joy of children and the +delight of mothers. All along the lines of progress you receive the most +cordial ovations, and when you pass on to the land where "everlasting +spring abides", may you receive the royal welcome, "Well done, good and +faithful servant." + + + + +The Newer Fruits in 1915 and How Secured. + +PROF. N. E. HANSEN, STATE COLLEGE, BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA. + + +Mr. Hansen: Mr. President and Fellow Members: This subject is not an +entirely satisfactory one this year owing to the fact that we lost about +three sets of tomato plants from frost, the last frost coming the ninth +of June. These conditions, of course, are unusual, but it prevented the +fruiting of a lot of new fruit seedlings which appeared promising. +However, I decided to propagate two new plums because they had borne +several excellent crops. One of these is a very late plum of good +quality, with flesh of peculiar crisp texture, which ripens after all +the other plums, about a week before frost. It is a combination of the +Wolf plum with the Kansas sand plum (_Prunus Watsoni_). The tree is of +late dwarf habit but very productive, and its late season may give it a +place. + +Another plum which I decided to place in propagation is a hybrid of the +wild plum of Manitoba with the Japanese plum. The mother tree was raised +from wild plum pits received from Manitoba a few years ago. These bear +very freely and are the earliest of the native plums. The tree is of +low, dwarf habit. The fruit is not as large as my Waneta, which is a +hybrid of the largest native plum, the Terry, (_Prunus Americana_), with +the Apple, one of the best of Burbank's Japanese plums. But since the +range of the plum Manitoba is so far north, it may give greater +hardiness where that is needed. At any rate, it is of interest to know +that the Manitoba native plum can be mated with the Japanese plum. + +Pears constitute my favorite line at present. "What can I do for hardy +pears?" is a question I have been asked many times. The prairie +northwest cannot raise pears owing to the cold or the blight. In my +travels in Asia, including four tours of exploration in Siberia, I made +a business of buying up basketfuls of pears in Manchuria, Mongolia, +Western China and Eastern Siberia and saving the seed, giving the flesh +away to the coolies, who were glad always to get the fruit. These have +raised me many seedlings. In addition I have imported a lot of pears +from Russia. + +[Illustration: Pyrus Simoni + +The hardy, blight-proof sand pear used by Prof. N.E. Hansen in breeding +pears for the Northwest. A careful study of our eastern Arctic pears has +been made recently by Mr. Alfred Rehder, botanist at Arnold Arboretum, +and this form of sand pear is now called Pyrus Ovoidea instead of Pyrus +Sinensis, or Pyrus Simoni.] + +The pears of northern China and eastern Siberia are usually called the +Chinese sand pear and have been given various names, _Pyrus Sinensis_, +_Pyrus Ussuriensis_, _Pyrus Simoni_. The form I am working with mainly +was received in the spring of 1899 at the South Dakota Station under the +name of _Pyrus Simoni_, from Dr. C.S. Sargent, Director of the Arnold +Arboretum, Boston, Massachusetts. Since the publication of Bulletin 159, +of the South Dakota Experiment Station, April, 1915, in which I give a +brief outline of this work, the pears of this region have been studied +by Dr. Alfred Rehder of the Arnold Arboretum, and it now appears that +the true name of _Pyrus Simonii_ should be _Pyrus Ovoidea_. These trees +have proved perfectly hardy at Brookings and have never suffered from +blight. Varieties of other pears have been top-grafted on this tree, and +they have blighted, but the blight did not affect the rest of the tree. +Mr. Charles G. Patten, Charles City, Iowa, also has a form of the +Chinese sand pear which has proven immune to blight. In other places +sand pears have been under trial which have suffered from +winter-killing. However, I understand that the pear Mr. Patten has +tapers toward the stem, while the pear received by me as _Pyrus Simonii_ +tapers toward the blossom end. The actual source of seed is really of +greater importance than the botanical name, as it is possible to get the +seed from too far south, whereas we should plant only the northern form +of the species. + +The fruits of _Pyrus Ovoidea_ correspond in size to the ordinary pear +much like the Whitney crab-apple does to the apple. It is a real pear, +juicy and sweet, but not high flavored. Other varieties of pears have +been top-grafted on this tree and have blighted, but the blight did not +affect the rest of the tree. During the many seasons I have had this +pear the tip of one twig only showed a very slight trace the past +season, but I did not determine it was really blight. It is practically +immune. + +I have also worked the Birch-Leaved pear, _Pyrus betulifolia_, Bunge, a +native of northern China, and a choice ornamental tree. Trees of this +species were received from a nursery in Germany in the fall of 1896 and +have proven perfectly hardy and quite resistant to blight. The fruit is +quite small, usually less than one-half inch in diameter, covered with +thick russet. _Betulifolia_ means birch-leaved, alluding to the shape of +the leaf. + +Now, the pear is a difficult thing to work with on account of blight. +What is blight? It is an American bacterial disease, not found in the +home of the pear, Asia or Europe, so that during the 6,000 years of its +cultivation of recorded history the pear has never had to meet the +bacterial enemy known as blight. That is one of the reasons, I presume, +why they have such strict quarantine in Europe against American trees. +The question with pears is, will they stand blight or not? They are +spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in California to keep out +blight. Blight is a native of the northeast United States, and they are +keeping it down on the Pacific slope, but they are always on the edge of +the precipice. The whole pear culture of America is in an unsatisfactory +state, owing to this danger. + +With these two northern pears as a foundation, I have endeavored to +secure seedlings with fruit of large size and choice quality by +hybridizing them with many of the best cultivated pears from Germany, +France, England, Central Russia and Finland, as well as with some of the +best varieties from the eastern pear-growing regions of the United +States. The work has been done mostly under glass in our fruit-breeding +greenhouse. Some of these fruits weighed one and one-fourth pounds. Some +of the resulting seedlings are subject to blight, while many have thus +far shown immunity. Since it is impossible to determine their relative +immunity to blight except by distributing them for trial elsewhere, I +sent out scions in the spring of 1915 of thirty-nine of these new +seedlings to twenty-four men in several states. These varieties are +under restrictions until fruited and deemed worthy of further +propagation. + +[Illustration: Crossing work in pears--view in Prof. N. E. Hansen's +Fruit-Breeding Greenhouse, State College, Brookings, S.D.] + +I did not know whether immunity to blight is a possibility or only an +iridescent dream, so I made no charge for these scions. The only test of +a pear seedling, the same as with the apple, is that of propagation. +Furthermore, if you have but the one seedling tree you may lose it by +accident; whereas, if you send it out to a number of good men, you +cannot lose it. + +It should be distinctly understood that none of these new seedlings have +borne fruit, but by what may be termed the projective efficiency of the +pedigree I am satisfied that some of them will be valuable. In like +manner, a horse-breeder depends so much on the pedigree in his colts +that he is willing to enter them in a race. I believe something of value +will come from this line of work. I do know that my _Pyrus Ovoidea_ is a +pretty good, juicy little pear, a whole lot better than no pear at all. +I hope these seedlings will keep up their immunity to blight. The +original seedling trees certainly have had every chance to become +affected by blight, as they were surrounded by blighting apple trees, +crab-apple trees and pear trees, and no blight was cut out. I thought +this was the best way, since that is the test they will have in the +farmers' orchards when they go out from the nursery. + + +_Hardy Pear Stocks._--Now we are up against the problem of stocks for +these hardy pears. The quince is a standard dwarf stock, but it is not +hardy enough for us. Last spring I planted 12,000 seedlings of the +various commercial pear stocks, including imported French pear +seedlings, American grown French pear seedlings, Kieffer pear seedlings +and Japan pear seedlings. From one season's experience I like the Japan +pear the best. The French pear seedlings, especially, did not do well. +The Japan pear stock is coming into high favor in recent years on our +Pacific slope, where it is sometimes called the Chinese blight-proof +stock. The French pear stock is not in favor on our Pacific slope owing +to their liability to blight. We may also expect from the French pear +stock a decided lack of hardiness. The Japan pear stock is probably some +form of the Chinese sand pear. The seed may come from too far south, +whereas we should plant only the northern form of the species. This +varying degree of hardiness in the Japan pear seedling of commerce I +find discussed in a German horticultural paper. I have tried to +establish a regular source of supply by importing the seed, but it is +difficult indeed to do this. To avoid root-killing at the north we +should mulch these Japan pear seedlings heavily until we get enough +orchards of this truly hardy form, _Pyrus Ovoidea_, planted so we can +raise our own stocks. I firmly believe we will extend pear culture on +the North American continent clear to the Arctic Circle if we wish. + +For pear stocks I am going to try everything I can think of. Some years +ago I worked pears on Juneberry stock from a hint given me many years +ago by Professor J.L. Budd. These grew well and were in full bloom when +five feet high, but were lost in clearing off a block of trees. I hope +to try this again on a larger scale. The mountain ash and hawthorn are +sometimes used, but both will be expensive and perhaps short-lived. The +quince is the dwarf stock of commerce but would need to be very heavily +mulched to prevent root-killing. Such dwarf pears are splendid in the +back yard, or for training up against the side of the house; the fruit +is fine and large, and the trees fruit the second year. The pear will +root in nursery by grafting with a long scion on apple seedlings. I hope +there will be much work done along this line. + +To sum up the question, I think there is a hardy pear in sight. We have +the requisite pedigree back of it, and it seems that the quality we call +immunity to blight is in some of these Chinese or Siberian pears. If we +can combine the hardiness and blight-resistance of this Siberian pear +with the large size and high quality of fruit of the European pear, with +thousands of years of cultivation back of it, then we have the solution +of the pear question in sight. Millions and millions of people are +watching for a good hardy pear. (Applause.) + + * * * * * + +WARNING TO MUSHROOM GROWERS.--As the result of a serious case +of mushroom poisoning in a mushroom grower's family recently, the +mushroom specialists of the U.S. Department of Agriculture have issued a +warning to commercial and other growers of mushrooms to regard with +suspicion any abnormal mushrooms which appear in their beds. It seems +that occasionally sporadic forms appear in mushroom beds, persist for a +day or two, and then disappear. These are generally manure-inhabiting +species and may be observed shortly after the beds have been cased. In +the instance cited, however, these fungi appeared in considerable +numbers at the time the edible _Agaricus campestris_ should have been +ready for the market, and the dealer supposed it was probably a new +brown variety and tried it in his own family. As a result, five persons +were rendered absolutely helpless and were saved after several hours +only through the assistance of a second physician who had had experience +with this type of poisoning. + +In the opinion of the Department, this case is peculiarly significant +and demonstrates that the grower must be able to distinguish _Agaricus +campestris_ from any of the wild forms of mushrooms that may appear in +the beds. Under the circumstances, the Department strongly urges every +grower to make himself thoroughly familiar with the cultivated species. +Complete descriptions, with pictures of poisonous and cultivated +species, are contained in Department Bulletin 175, "Mushrooms and Other +Common Fungi," which can be purchased for 30 cents from the +Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, +D.C. + + + + +Manufacture of Cider Vinegar from Minnesota Apples. + +PROF. W. G. BRIERLY, HORT. DEPT., UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. + + +Cider making is an old process, carried on in a small way on the farm or +more extensively in the commercial "quick process." From apple cider +many different products are obtained, chief of these being vinegar and +others being bottled cider, boiled cider, apple butter and, more +recently, concentrated cider and cider syrup. This discussion will +consider only the manufacture of vinegar. + +As a farm process, the making of cider vinegar utilizes an otherwise +waste product, the culls or unmarketable varieties. It can be done on +rainy days or when other work is slack. For the best results, however, +as in any form of marketing, some vinegar should be made each year so +that the market may be supplied regularly, and, further, to give the +necessary experience which will mean a better quality of vinegar. + +As a commercial process we find the making of cider is a regularly +conducted manufacturing enterprise in which a considerable amount of +capital is needed. Expert knowledge of vinegar making, especially of the +"quick process," is essential. On this basis it is not open to the apple +grower and is a doubtful venture on a co-operative plan without the help +of experts. Where a vinegar factory is established, however, it gives to +the orchardist a means to dispose of his cull apples. + +Considering the process as it can be carried on on the farm, there are a +number of distinct steps, all of which are important. The first step is +to prepare for the work. Get a good machine, as it will pay for itself +in the added extract of juice. A good machine need not cost more than +$25 and may be had for less. Casks must be obtained and sterilized with +live steam or sulphur fumes, washed thoroughly, and kept in a convenient +place where they will not dry. It is best as well to have the +convenience of running water to wash the apples if dirty and to clean up +the machine occasionally. Cleanliness should be provided for and +insisted upon, as dirty and decaying apples not only give undesirable +flavors, but the bacteria and molds feed upon the sugar in the cider and +greatly reduce the strength of the vinegar. This is one reason why a +rainy day is a good time for cider making, as dust and flies are less +and molds are not so abundantly "planted" in the cider. + +The next step is the grinding and pressing and is very simple. With an +efficient machine the cider is quickly ready for the casks. + +Then follows the first fermentation, which very frequently is not +properly managed, and poor vinegar results. The casks should be filled +only two-thirds full, the bung left open but screened with cheesecloth +or lightly fitted with a plug of cotton to admit air. Compressed yeast +generally should be added, at the rate of one cake to each five gallons, +first mixing the yeast in lukewarm water. If the cask is then placed in +a warm place, at least sixty degrees--seventy degrees or more being +better--we have the three requirements of proper fermentation, namely, +air, warmth and yeast. This will give rapid fermentation, which will +reduce the loss of sugars to a minimum. This fermentation should be +allowed to go on until completed. If vinegar starts to form it will +usually leave a residue of sugar and give a weaker vinegar. It will +require from two weeks to a year to change all the sugars into alcohol, +depending upon the management of the work. When finished the clear juice +is "racked" or siphoned into a clean cask, through a straining cloth to +insure the removal of all pomace or sediment. + +[Illustration: Prof. W. G. Brierly, Horticultural Dept., University Farm, +St. Paul, Minn.] + +Then follows the fermentation to produce the acetic acid and finish the +vinegar. A "starter" of "mother" can be used, but it is best to take out +a gallon or more of the cider when "racking" and add a pint to a quart +of a good grade cider vinegar. Let it stand in a warm place, well +covered with cheesecloth, and in from four to ten days a granular, +brownish cake should begin to form. This starter can then be put +directly into the casks, a pint or more to each cask. If the starter +develops a white, slimy coat, throw it out and start again. For all of +this second stage of fermentation follow the same plan as at first. Fill +the barrels not over two-thirds full, use a cotton plug or cheesecloth +screen at the bung and keep at a warm temperature. The essentials again +are air and warmth, with a good vinegar starter. Under these conditions +the vinegar may be ready in from two to ten months. If the usual plan of +"natural" fermentation is followed, and the cask is kept at a low +temperature, it may be three years before the vinegar is ready. + +When the vinegar seems to be completed, send a sample to the State Dairy +and Food Commission at the Capitol for analysis. If they say it is +completed, "rack" off and strain again into clean barrels, this time +filling full and driving in the bung. This will prevent loss from +evaporation, and the vinegar can be sold at any time. The state law +requires that cider vinegars sold in the state measure up to a certain +standard--namely, four per cent. of acetic acid, 1.6 grams per 100 cc. +of solids, and .25 grams per 100 cc. of ash. + +So much for vinegar making in general. For Minnesota conditions little +is known about the definite behavior of any apple varieties. This has +led to the study of vinegar making as a problem for the Experiment +Station. The Division of Horticulture is carrying on variety tests to +determine the yields of juice at different stages of maturity, the +efficiency of types of presses, labor costs per gallon, and the +production of vinegar from each variety to determine its value. The +Division of Agricultural Chemistry makes analyses of the sweet cider to +determine the composition and vinegar prospects, and also analyzes the +vinegars at various stages. The work has been carried on for two seasons +and is showing some interesting facts. These must, however, be checked +with further work before definite statements can be published. + +As to machines, our results show that the press with press cloths will +outyield nearly two to one the press with the barrel or drum. However, a +strong grain sack used to catch the pomace and used to confine it in the +drum will give a very satisfactory yield, but it requires a considerable +amount of labor to do this. + +As to labor costs per gallon, we have as yet no definite figures except +that one man can grind and press a minimum of eight to nine gallons an +hour. Two men can raise the output to at least thirteen gallons. At 25 +cents per hour the cost per gallon on this basis varies between two and +four cents. As the apples are of little value, and the labor generally +"rainy day" labor, this seems to give an inexpensive product. + +Our vinegars are as yet incomplete. The run of 1914 was very limited and +of necessity stored in a cold cellar. It now tests two per cent. acetic +acid, so is only half finished. + +As to variety yields, the results of the work of two seasons compare +very closely and show generally that there is a variation from a minimum +of a scant two gallons up to more than a pint over three gallons from +forty pounds of each variety. The forty-pound quantity is taken as +representative of the bushel by measure. The varieties leading cider +production are--the Hibernal and Wealthy, which generally have given us +about three gallons per forty pounds, the Duchess and Patten running +slightly lower in cider yield. The Longfield, Lowland Raspberry, +Charlamoff and Whitney rank in a third group, according to our trials. +This does not mean, however, that those in the latter group are not +usable, as the Charlamoff and Whitney are among the highest in sugar +content. These figures are greatly modified if the apples have been in +storage or are over-ripe. + +The chemical analyses of the ciders show that, in general, Minnesota +apples do not contain relatively high percentages of sugars. This varies +with the season and increases with maturity. The highest total sugar +content in ripe apples has been found in the Charlamoff at 9.25 per +cent., followed in order by Whitney, 9.08 per cent., Wealthy 8.81 per +cent., Duchess 8.60 per cent., Patten 8.21 per cent., Hibernal 7.85 per +cent., and Longfield at 7.17 per cent. The significance of these figures +is seen when the statement is made that it usually takes two per cent. +sugars to make one per cent. of acetic acid. With the majority of our +apples we must work carefully, or the vinegar will not meet the state +standard of four per cent. acetic acid. This is further substantiated by +the report of the State Dairy and Food Commission that the vinegar +samples sent to them rarely come up to the standard. + +From the data as we now have it we cannot draw definite conclusions, but +in general it is safe to say that the making of vinegar from Minnesota +apples is done on a close margin. This will mean careful work to get the +most out of the fermentation, the use of yeast, warm cellars or store +rooms and proper management of the casks as to filling and the entrance +of air. The work is not expensive. There is a good demand for really +good vinegar, and a market is provided for fruit which could not readily +be sold in any other form. + + + + +A Summer in Our Garden. + +MRS. GERTRUDE ELLIS SKINNER, AUSTIN. + + +Summer in our garden begins with the arrival of the first seed catalogue +in January, and closes the day before its arrival the next January. We +may be short on flowers in our garden, but we are long on seed +catalogues in our library. We do not believe in catalogue houses +excepting seed catalogues. We find them more marvelous than the Arabian +Nights, more imaginative than Baron Manchausen, and more alluring than a +circus poster. We care not who steals the Mona Lisa so long as Salzer +sends us pictures of his cabbages. The art gallery of the Louvre may be +robbed of its masterpiece without awakening a pang in our breasts, if +Dreer will only send us the pictures of those roses that bloom in the +paint-shops of Philadelphia. Morgan may purchase the choicest +collections of paintings in Europe and hide them from the public in his +New York mansion, if May will send us pictures of watermelons, such as +were never imagined by Raphael, Michael Angelo or Correggio. + +While the world watches the struggle for the ownership of some great +railway system, the control of some big trust, the development of some +enormous enterprise, we watch for the arrival of the seed catalogue to +see which artist can get the most cabbages in a field, the most melons +on a cart, or make the corn look most like the big trees of Yosemite. +Don't talk to us of the pleasures of bridge whist, it is not to be +compared with the seed catalogue habit. + +In the seed catalogue we mark all the things we are going to buy, we +mark all the new things. There is the wonderberry, sweeter than the +blueberry, with the fragrance of the pineapple and the lusciousness of +the strawberry! We mark the Himalaya-berry--which grows thirty feet, +sometimes sixty feet in a single season. Why, one catalogue told of a +man who picked 3,833-1/2 pounds of berries from a single vine, beside +what his children ate. Our Himalaya vine grew four inches the first +season and died the first winter. We were glad it did. We did not want +such a monster running over our garden. We wanted to raise other things. + +But we did not lose faith in our catalogues. We believe what they say +just as the small boy believes he will see a lion eat a man at the +circus, because the billboard pictures him doing it. + +If we ordered all the seeds we mark in the catalogue in January, we +would require a township for a garden, a Rockefeller to finance it and +an army to hoe it. We did not understand the purpose of a catalogue for +a long time. A catalogue is a stimulus. It's like an oyster cocktail +before a dinner, a Scotch high-ball before the banquet and the singing +before the sermon. Salzer knows no one ever raised such a crop of +cabbages as he pictures or the world would be drowned in sauer kraut. If +the Himalaya-berry bore as the catalogues say it does we should all be +buried in jam. You horticulturists never expect to raise such an apple +as Lindsay describes; if you did, they would be more valuable than the +golden apples of Hesperides. + +But when we get a catalogue we just naturally dream that what we shall +raise will not only be as good but will excel the pictures. Alas, of +such stuff are dreams made! We could not do our gardening without +catalogues, but they are not true to life as we find it in our garden. +We never got a catalogue that showed the striped bug on the cucumber, +the slug on the rose bush, the louse on the aster, the cut worm on the +phlox, the black bug on the syringa, the thousand and one pests, +including the great American hen, the queen of the barnyard, but the +Goth and vandal of the garden. + +But the best part of summer in our garden is the work we do in winter. +Then it is that our garden is most beautiful, for we work in the garden +of imagination, where drouth does not blight, nor storms devastate, +where the worm never cuts nor the bugs destroy. No dog ever uproots in +the garden of imagination, nor doth the hen scratch. This is the perfect +garden. Our golden glow blossoms in all of its auriferous splendor, the +Oriental poppy is a barbaric blaze of glory, our roses are as fair as +the tints of Aurora, the larkspur vies with the azure of heaven, the +gladioli are like a galaxy of butterflies and our lilies like those +which put Solomon in the shade. Every flower is in its proper place to +make harmony complete. There is not a jarring note of color in our +garden in the winter time. + +Then comes the spring in our garden, a time of faith, vigilance and hard +work. Faith that the seed will grow, vigilance that it is planted deep +enough and has the right conditions in which to grow. Vigilance against +frost, weeds and insects. Planting, sowing, hoeing, transplanting, +coaxing, hoping, expecting, working--we never do half that we planned to +do in the springtime--there are not enough days, and the days we have +are too short. + +Then comes summer, real summer in our garden. Then flowers begin to +bloom, and our friends tell us they are lovely. But we see the flaws and +errors. We feel almost guilty to have our garden praised, so many +glaring faults and shortcomings has it. The color scheme is wrong, there +are false notes here and there. There are tall plants where short plants +should be. There are spaces and breaks and again spots over-crowded. We +water and hoe, train vines, prop plants, and kill the bugs, but we know +the weak spots in our garden and vow that next summer we shall remedy +every mistake. + +[Illustration: Mrs. Gertrude Ellis Skinner among her gladoli.] + +Then "summer in our garden" has an autumn. The garden is never so +beautiful as when the first frost strikes it. Pillow-cases, sheets, +shawls, aprons, coats and newspapers may for a brief time hold at bay +the frost king, but he soon laughs at our efforts, crawls under the +edges of the unsightly garments with which we protect our flowers, nips +their petals, wilts their stems and blackens their leaves. We find them +some morning hopelessly frozen. But the earth has ceased to give forth +its aroma, the birds are winging southward, the waters of the brook run +clear and cold, and the voice of the last cricket sounds lonesome in the +land. We say to nature, "Work your will with our garden; the summer is +over, and we are ready to plan for another season." + +And what have we learned from the "summer in our garden?" That no one +can be happy in his garden unless he works for the joy of the working. +He who loves his work loves nature. To him his garden is a great +cathedral, boundless as his wonder, a place of worship. Above him the +dome ever changing in color and design, beautiful in sunshine or storm +and thrice beautiful when studded with the eternal lamps of night. The +walls are the trees, the vines and the shrubs, waving in the distant +horizon and flinging their branches on the sky line, or close at hand +where we hear the voice of the wind among the leaves. + +A wondrous floor is the garden's cathedral of emerald green in the +summer, sprinkled with flowers, of ermine whiteness in the winter, +sparkling with the diamonds of frost. Its choir is the winds, the +singing birds and the hum of insects. Its builder and maker is God. Man +goeth to his garden in the springtime, and, behold, all is mystery. +There is the mystery of life about him, in the flowing sap in the trees, +the springing of the green grass, the awakening of the insect world, the +hatching of the worm from the egg, the changing of the worm into the +butterfly. + +The seed the gardener holds in his hand is a mystery. He knows what it +will produce, but why one phlox seed will produce a red blossom and +another a white is to him a miracle. He wonders at the prodigality of +nature. In her economy, what is one or ten thousand seeds! She scatters +them with lavish hand from ragweed, thistle or oak. If man could make +but the single seed of the ragweed, he could make a world. The distance +between a pansy and a planet is no greater than between man and a pansy. +The gardener sees the same infinite care bestowed upon the lowest as +upon the highest form of life, and he wonders at it. He looks into the +face of a flower, scans the butterfly and notes the toadstool and sees +that each is wonderful. + +From the time he enters his garden in the springtime until he leaves it +in the autumn, he will find a place and a time to worship in his +cathedral. He enters it with the seed in his hand in the spring, and as +he rakes away the ripened plants in the autumn he finds something still +of the mystery of life. A puff-ball is before him, and he muses on its +forming. The little puff-ball stands at one end of the scale of life and +he, man, at the other, "close to the realm where angels have their +birth, just on the boundary of the spirit land." From the things visible +in our garden we learn of the things invisible, and strong the faith of +him who kneeling in adoration of the growing plant looks from nature to +nature's God and finds the peace which passeth understanding. + + + + +Bringing the Producer and Consumer Together. + +R. S. MACKINTOSH, HORTICULTURAL SPECIALIST, AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION +DIVISION, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. + + +The introduction of Mr. Producer to Mr. Consumer directly, and not by +proxy, is the chief desire of the present time. The fact remains, +however, that in the vast majority of cases Messrs. Proxy & Co. is +brought in and breaks up the direct personal contact. The development of +complex marketing means specialization and in a large degree sets it +apart from production. When specialization becomes dominant, then +standardization becomes necessary. Each producer is unable to keep in +touch with all such movements and consequently finds it hard to keep +abreast of the times. In this age of rapid transit, specialization, +scientific discoveries, and the improvements resulting therefrom, seem +somewhat out of place when compared with our present marketing systems. +This does not mean that our marketing is entirely out of joint, but it +does mean that there is something the matter or so many would not be +discussing it. The consumer hears what the producer received, the +producer hears what the consumer paid, and then somebody gets to +thinking and talking. Discussions lead to investigations, and +investigations lead to conferences. Just lately a large conference was +held in Chicago, and certain plans were formulated to attempt to unravel +some of the evils that exist in marketing. So much has been said that +the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun certain investigations, and +we hope that the workers will find ways to solve some of the troubles in +a logical and, we hope, sane way. + +A year ago your committee on marketing reported that there were certain +things needed, and an ideal system was suggested to correct these +faults. One of the basic factors emphasized was standardization. Another +committee reported on changes needed in the statutes regarding the +weight of a bushel of apples. Congress has enacted a law which specifies +the size of a barrel for apples. New York, Massachusetts and other +states have enacted grading laws. Some states require that the fruit be +free of certain insect and disease injuries. Several states have laws +regulating commission men. Most states have laws which do not allow the +sale of food products that are decayed. These are all steps toward the +standardization that is so necessary. In other words, the several laws +have been passed to correct some of the troubles which have come up when +so many hands handle the products. These laws were not needed in olden +times when the consumer went directly to the producer's door and there +bargained for his wares. + +Minnesota is a state noted for co-operative enterprises. There are over +two thousand such organizations doing more than $60,000,000.00 worth of +business yearly. We know full well the value of the co-operative +creameries and how butter has been brought up to a high standard. As +citizens, we rejoice; as horticulturists, and citizens as well, we want +our products to stand high in the estimation of others. I was much +pained this summer while discussing the marketing of apples with several +commission men to hear them say that they did not like to take local +shipments. The reason was that the goods were usually below grade, and +the returns did not always please the growers. It is evident that we +must improve our methods in ways which will remove this stigma. Many of +the commission men try to induce good grading and packing. They like to +handle "top notch" goods, for it is cheaper to handle goods that move +quickly than those that are a drag and require too much handling. The +Agricultural Extension Division of the College of Agriculture is +organized to give help, where help is needed, along a large number of +agricultural lines. + +Realizing these facts, we have been trying to get the ear of the +producer and consumer in an effort to get them to do certain things. On +the one hand, we want to have good varieties, and to help this lectures +and demonstrations are given in the care of the orchard, pruning, +spraying, thinning, picking, grading, packing and marketing. On the +other hand we want more people to eat Minnesota apples. It is a campaign +of education and publicity. + +If one wishes to sell anything, he finds that he must advertise. He must +advertise so much and in so many ways that people cannot help buying his +wares. There are certain widely advertised articles that you must know, +whether you are interested or not. One of these runs along the highways +so often that you are shaken, even against your will, into consciousness +of its existence, so that you cannot get along without having one, or at +least seeing one. The latest edition seems to have put on feathers in +the form of a white dove of peace. May it succeed. Advertising Minnesota +apples has been attempted this past year. + +It was found necessary to provide a standard by which the buyer and +seller could agree on apple grades. After consulting several persons, it +was decided to adopt the following grades: + +"A" Grade.--Hand picked, normal shape, good color (at least one-third +colored), free from dirt, disease and insect injuries, and well packed. +Limit of defects allowed: Not more than 10% of all kinds nor 5% of any +one kind. + +[Illustration: Prof. R. S. Mackintosh--Horticulturist connected with +Extension Division, University Farm, St. Paul.] + +"B" Grade.--Hand picked, practically normal shape, practically free from +dirt, disease and insect injuries, and properly packed. Limit of defects +allowed: Not more than 15% of all nor 5% of any one kind. + +Only one variety and grade should be put in a package. In the grade +specifications given, normal shape refers to the general form of +well-grown specimens of the variety in question. For instance: The +Wealthy is regular in outline and nearly round, while the Hibernal is +somewhat flat and often irregular. In like manner the color must be +typical of the variety, whether green, yellow or red. Red apples usually +sell better than green or yellow varieties, although the quality may be +even poorer. Fruit showing insect or disease injuries cannot be classed +as well grown. Grading to size is very important. This is not specified +because it depends upon the variety and season. Only apples above a +selected minimum size, as 2-1/2 inches, the diameter at right angles to +stem, should be placed in the same package. Defects refer to apples not +up to grade in size, color or shape and having bruises, punctures, +disease or insect injuries. + +_Fancy._--For persons having extra choice fruit, a fancy grade can be +used. Well-grown specimens, hand picked, of normal shape, at least +two-thirds colored, free from dirt, diseases and insect injuries and +properly packed. Not more than 5% of combined defects allowed, of which +only 2% can be of the same kind. + +Hundreds of letters were sent to persons in the state, telling them that +we would maintain an information bureau or clearing house to help them +in finding markets for their apples. Several growers replied, and the +names of persons who were anxious to buy apples were given them. Nine +farmers' clubs asked for information as to where Minnesota apples could +be bought. This is a beginning, and it shows that there is need for some +sort of an organization that can find out where apples are and who wants +them. The intention has not been to interfere with the regular trade +routes, but to give the growers information as to who wants apples. As +you will notice, this does not bring the producer directly to the door +of the consumer. There must be some one to act as a go-between in most +cases. + +It was just stated that Minnesota is a state having a very large number +of co-operative business organizations. Among these are about two +hundred live stock shipping associations having a very simple form of +organization. A number of persons in a community, having considerable +stock to ship, come together, adopt a simple set of by-laws which +provide for the selection of a manager, his compensation--usually a +certain percentage on the gross receipts--and a small amount for losses +which may occur. No capital stock is required--only the actual living +stock. The manager ships the stock at certain times, and when the +returns come in deducts the amounts provided for expenses and then +returns to each shipper his proportionate amount. In this way the stock +is sold at the terminal yards the same day and with other stock from +many sections. It is a very simple, satisfactory way of marketing. + +The more I study and think of our apple situation, the more I am of the +opinion that a very large part of our fruit could be marketed in a +similar way. Some of our La Crescent friends ship together in carlots +successfully. Why not others? This is the very best way to begin +co-operation in a successful way. As Mr. Collingwood says: +"Co-operation, like charity, should begin at home and be well nurtured." +In other words, begin to co-operate at home in a small way and let the +future large organizations take care of themselves. + +To be specific, let the growers in a community meet and form a +fruit-shipping association with by-laws patterned after the successful +stock-shipping associations. Then the fruit should be well grown, picked +in time, graded thoroughly and honestly packed and marked. Haul at once +to car. The manager will take charge and ship as he thinks best. Each +package must have the customary identification marks, so the manager can +keep an accurate record of all transactions. If, by chance, trouble +comes up, the shippers can pool their interests, and send a +representative to find out the trouble. Thus they can do together what +each cannot do alone. Even this does not bring the consumers directly in +contact with the producers. It is, however, a step nearer. + +The public auctions started in New York this season seem to have been +successful, and it may mean an innovation which will improve marketing +conditions in general. These auctions are held under the recently formed +Department of Foods and Markets. The Department has contracted with a +large auction company which advances the freight, conducts the sales, +guarantees the accounts, and advances the net returns for the goods +daily. The producer is able to get returns within two days. The total +cost is 5% on the gross sales; 3% for the auction company and 2% for the +Department of Markets for the advertising and for other overhead +expenses. Posters have been issued to advertise New York State apples. +As this Department has been working only for a short time, it is too +early to tell whether it is a success in every way. + +We earnestly ask your co-operation in trying to solve the question of +marketing Minnesota apples. All interested must assist in this important +subject. + + * * * * * + +WORLD'S TALLEST TREES.--The tallest trees are the Australian +eucalyptus, which attain a height of 480 feet. + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. + +Minneapolis. + + +HARDY CHRYSANTHEMUMS. + +The new type of hardy chrysanthemums called "early-flowering" has been +largely developed by a Frenchman named August Nonin, of Paris, who has +devoted much of his life to perfecting this strain from seedlings of the +old-fashioned "mums" of our grandmothers' gardens. It is considered by +far the most satisfactory kind to grow out of doors, blossoming earlier +than the pompons. A few of the best of these early-flowering types are: +White--Crawford White, Dorothy, Milka and Normandie; yellow--E'toile +d'Or, Carrie, October Gold; pink--Beaurepaire, Eden, Le Danube; red and +bronze shades--Harvest Home, Firelight, A. Barham and Billancourt. These +are the earliest bloomers of this type. + +Hardy pompons are still most largely grown for outdoor flowering, but of +these there is also a choice, as the earliest bloomers are the most +desirable to use. Lilian Doty, a large-flowered, clear, bright pink, is +considered the very best of these. Donald and Minta are other good +pinks. The earliest whites are Queen of the Whites, Waco, Grace and +Myer's Perfection. Jeanette, Wm. Sabey, Golden Climax and Zenobia are +the best yellows, and Julia Lagravere, Urith and Tiber the best crimson +and bronze shades. There are many other beautiful pompons, but they +bloom too late for practical out-of-door use. + +The single mums have of late been used successfully out-of-doors when +early blooming varieties have been chosen. + +Of these Elsa, Gladys Duckham and Mensa are the earliest whites: Ivor +Grant, Mrs. Southbridge and Mrs. Buckingham the earliest pinks; +Josephine, Golden Mensa and Marion Sutherland the earliest yellows; and +Silvia Slade, Ceddie Mason and Brightness the earliest crimson and +bronze shades. + +As soon as it is warm enough in the spring the plants should be set out +about twelve inches apart in rich garden soil, and kept pinched back +during May and June to insure a stocky growth. If one has old clumps in +the garden, they should be taken up and divided and set in new earth +just as any old perennial plant would be treated. + +During the hot summer weather they should be well watered once a week +and sprayed in the cool of the evening. This will keep down the black +and green aphis, the worst enemies of mums. In case these pests become a +menace a spray of tobacco water will end the trouble. A little bone meal +or well rotted manure dug about the plants in August will help to +produce fine blooms. + +A gardener who has never yet lost a plant through winter-killing treats +them as follows: After they have finished blooming he cuts them down to +about eight inches above the ground and lets the leaves blow in on the +bed, covering to a depth of six or eight inches. Then he lays pine +branches over the beds to prevent the leaves from blowing away. So +treated, the plants will remain frozen all winter. They should in all +cases be set in a well drained position, as they will not stand "wet +feet." Uncover with the other perennials in the spring.--Mrs. E. W. +Gould. + + + + +BEE-KEEPER'S COLUMN. + +Conducted by FRANCIS JAGER, Professor of Apiculture, University +Farm, St. Paul. + + +The Minnesota honey crop of 1916 will probably be a record breaker. This +brings up the question of how to market this crop to the best advantage. +Let me state at once that the greatest obstacle to free and easy selling +of honey is the careless, untidy, sometimes unsanitary way some +bee-keepers put up their honey for the market--spoiling the appetite of +the public for this most delicious of nature's foods not only for +themselves but also for progressive and up-to-date bee-keepers. The +result of this big honey crop will be to eliminate the No. 2 and No. 3 +bee-keeper and his honey from the market until No. 1 has sold out his +product. + +A short article like this cannot make a good bee-keeper out of a poor +one, it can only serve as a reminder to those who know how "lest they +forget." Moreover, the most careless and backward bee-keepers imagine +that they are crackerjacks at their trade, thus putting themselves +beyond the possibility of becoming anything. It takes a thousand +hammer-blows to drive home a truth or a useful idea. + +If comb honey is your specialty observe the national grading and packing +rules. They are printed in all bee papers and magazines, and have been +given all possible publication to reach you. + +To obtain fancy comb honey your sections must have been made over strong +colonies in No. 1 white, new sections with extra thin top and bottom +starters. After the honey flow is over in your locality (which you can +detect by the tendency of bees to rob and be cross) remove your comb +honey at once. By leaving it on, travel stained and propolis spotted +sections will result. The snow white finish of the comb will be +discolored, the wood will assume that "used and handled" appearance +which is not attractive to the buyer. The sections must be graded fancy, +No. 1 and No. 2. Every section must be scraped around the edges and all +propolis removed. Some bee-keepers even polish the wood of the section +until it looks as clean as if it just came from the factory. + +After cleaning and grading put up your honey into standard shipping +cases. Do not ship it in the super where it was raised nor in a soap +box. If shipped to a distant market by freight or express, eight +shipping cases must be packed together into one honey crate provided +with handles. The tendency of late is to put up each comb in a separate +paper box with transparent front to keep the honey free from flies and +finger-marks. This practice deserves universal adoption. + +If you produce extracted honey you may leave your honey with bees for a +week or two after the honey flow is over. Extracting should be done in +hot weather, during August or early part of September. A modern hand or +power extractor is an absolute necessity. There are still a few old +timers who "butcher" their bees late in the fall, and render the honey +by the "hand mash and sheet strain" method, but they are only relics of +a poetical past and going fast. + +Honey to be extracted must be well capped over. If extracted too thin it +will ferment and get sour. If left with bees too long it will be too +thick and hard to extract. Extracting ought to be done in a bee-tight +room to keep out robber bees. Extracted supers may be returned to the +bees in the evening or piled up at a distance in a safe place for bees +to clean out. Extracted honey must be left to stand in a settling tank +for about a week, or until all air bubbles and wax particles have risen +to the top. It should be put up into five gallon cans or barrels for +wholesale trade. For retail trade it should be bottled when needed, else +it will candy in the glass. Bottling it hot or heating it after bottling +will delay crystallization for a considerable period. The bottles ought +to be white, clean and labeled with your name. Each kind of container +should be well packed in a wooden shipping case. Do not make it a +practice to sell a large amount to a customer at once, sell rather +smaller amounts at frequent intervals. + + + + +ORCHARD NOTES. + +Conducted monthly by R. S. MACKINTOSH, Horticulturist, Extension +Division, University Farm, St. Paul. + + +Once in a while it is well to pause for a few moments to consider some +of the results of past efforts. We have been growing apples in Minnesota +in large quantities. Insects and diseases are causing more damage each +year, and this has lead us to pay more attention to the prevention of +these pests. A regular spraying program has been outlined, and many +persons have adopted it. What are the results? It seems to us that the +results of spraying at West Concord, Minn., should be made known to the +readers of the MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST. It indicates very +clearly the value of spraying and how someone in a community can take +charge and diligently push for better methods. In this case the +instructor in agriculture, with the aid of his superintendent and board +of education, secured a power sprayer and began to spray the orchards in +the vicinity. At first it was necessary to ask the owners if they might +spray their trees. After three years, however, the owners appealed to +Prof. Updegraff to have their trees sprayed. This year he had more work +than he could manage. Demonstrations of this kind show the value of the +work so vividly that the most skeptical gradually becomes convinced of +its value. + +Several schools have purchased spraying outfits. We hope that we shall +hear from more of them in the future. In many cases the spraying outfit +is used for whitewashing the interior of barns and other buildings. + +Reports that come to the Agricultural Extension Division indicate that +there will be a surplus of apples in some sections this year. We want to +assist in the distribution of the surplus and shall continue the Apple +Clearing House again this year. If you have more apples than you can +sell locally please let the division know what you have to sell. Address +the Agricultural Extension Division, University Farm, St. Paul. + +Apples for market must be graded and packed properly if they are to be +sold through the regular trade routes. The barrel is the standard +package in most parts of the country. The bushel basket is being used +for early fruit in some markets. All fruit for sale should be _hand +picked from the tree_ (not from the ground) and allowed to cool. Grade +according to size and freedom from insect and other injuries. Pack +carefully so as to avoid bruising. When cover is put on press firmly in +place. Do not allow fruit to shake about while in transit. Pick early +maturing fruit while more or less green. Ripe fruit will not keep well +during hot weather. (See page 321 of this number.) + +Late August and September is the time when practically all our county +fairs are held. It is hoped that the exhibits of fruits, vegetables and +flowers will be large and of good quality. Follow the premium list very +carefully. Put on the plate the right number of specimens. Pick apples +so as to leave stems attached. Quality means specimens of perfect shape +for the variety, free of insect or disease injuries, without bruises and +well colored. Vegetables should be well selected in every particular. +Select the specimens that you would like to use. The overgrown specimens +are not always the best. + +[Illustration: A VALLEY LAWN WITH SHRUBBERY ON BORDER OF WOODS. +FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY HENHOUSE AND YARDS. + +View on same grounds with garden pergola shown on page 331.] + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted In estimating their practical value. + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + +Vol. 44 SEPTEMBER, 1916 No. 9 + + + + +The Pergola--Its Use and Misuse, Convenience and Expense. + +CHAS. H. RAMSDELL, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, MINNEAPOLIS. + + +Let me take you by a brief word picture to Italy, the first home of the +pergola as we see it hereabouts today. On the hills and vineyards above +the sea, in that sunny land, I can see a beautiful home or villa, +seemingly about to tumble off the rocky point on which it rests. Indeed, +so scant is the space about the building that none is left for trees to +shade the white house from the heat of the tropic sun. But shade must be +had to break the glare of the noonday. The vine and the grape thrive +amazingly near the sea, and this necessity evolved the pergola. It was +compact, could be made straight or curving, short or long, usually +narrow but still supporting to some height the delicate leaves and fruit +of the grape. Thus, the Italian secured his shade and made an +interesting walk or approach. Because of its open work and light +proportions the views of the beautiful Italian sea and sunset were not +blocked but thereby improved, each view framed in by the pergola +pillars, with the picturesque tracery of the vine clinging to them. + +Here was its home, and here it was perfect in its setting. We Americans, +in our zeal to secure all that's good, have brought it bodily to our +homes. But like much else that's transplanted, we do not always look +well to the new conditions as comparable to the old. The pergola is, +however, too valuable a garden feature to do without. Our greater care +should be to study our need, use the pergola when advisable for some +other feature, like one of those illustrated on this sheet, when more +appropriate. + +In construction the pergola is usually made of materials to match the +house, sometimes masonry or stone pillars as well as those of wood. The +rafters and lighter beams should be made of the most durable wood, +preferably cypress, and carefully painted. The pillars may be of classic +design or of more modern lines, but if they are of a thickness greater +than one-seventh of their height, they are not proportionate to the +light load they carry. Preferably, the columns rest on and are anchored +to concrete or stone footings in the ground. The supporting rafters from +pillar to pillar are the heavier construction, the cross beams, etc., +the lighter. + +[Illustration: Pergola over garden gate, with planting to screen kitchen +garden, in Minneapolis.] + +The surface of the ground beneath the pergola should be made of weather +proof brick or tile floors. They shed the surface water and make it +useable in damp weather, not possible with the turf. + +The cost of these structures is largely optional with the builder. One +clever with carpenter's tools can build one at the cost of his time and +lumber. The other limit cannot be set. Masonry pillars, cypress lumber, +pavement of the floor, the size, cost of design, etc., will, upon +occasion, bring up this cost to that of a small house. I have found a +firm in Chicago who will ship one complete, ready to set up, following +one's own design, or, after submitting standard designs and photographs +of their work. They sell one 8 feet long, 7 feet 6 inches wide and 7 +feet 6 inches high with 10-inch columns for $45.00, each additional +8-foot section $25.00, f.o.b., Chicago. The pictures shown of such a +pergola are highly attractive. From this figure the cost runs up to +$500.00 and even $1,000.00 for circular construction eight-four long and +correspondingly heavy. Of course, one can secure low figures from any +local millwork company if a good detailed design is available. In this +way good distinctive work is possible. + +Its uses are infinite. It may serve to connect the architectural lines +of the house with garage or other smaller building. It may lead from +house to garden, or along an overlook walk along the river or lake. It +may encircle a garden pool or an important statue. It can be made an +approach to a band stand, or other park building. It will make part of +the garden background, but should not be depended upon without the +higher foliage so eminently desirable. + +[Illustration: A garden pergola erected last summer on clients' grounds +south of Lake Harriet, Minneapolis--covering walk from house to garden, +sixty five feet long.] + +Do not make the mistake of expecting a pergola to serve as a porch or +outdoor place to sit or sleep. One needs the roof of a tea house to keep +off the evening dews or occasional shower. It cannot be made a large +feature of the grounds like a garden. It is not important enough. It +will not, without trees and high shrubs behind it, make any background +as will a garden wall or lattice. It is no barrier along a street or of +any use as a fence or division line. And sometimes the lines of a house +or building may be better carried by a rose arch or vine arch without +the expense of a pergola. Thus you see it has its limited place, and its +use must be decided upon with good taste and judgment. + +The pergola is almost incomplete without the growing vines on it. A four +years' growth of Beta or Janesville grapes (which we don't have to lay +down for winter), will give one a beautiful showing of the hanging fall +fruit. The bittersweet is also good with yellow fall fruit. The several +varieties of clematis are desirable if combined with the heavier growing +grape or woodbine. The woodbine is good for its fall color, although +weedy in growth. + +The Minnesota honeysuckle should be mentioned, also the Dutchman's Pipe +and the Solanum, all good in a limited way. The climbing roses are all +right to use, although they lack foliage background and have to be laid +down every winter. However, I like to believe the man who designed the +first pergola had the grape vine in his mind in so doing, for the two +fit conditions like hand and glove. + +It is a structure of charming possibilities. Its lines curve as well as +any other feature. Its proportions should be always light and graceful. +It adds much to almost any garden or home grounds when carefully used. +Its open work overhead typifies the freedom of the outdoors. It also +recalls the vine and its growth to the light. And if we temper our +enthusiasm with good sense, its use will be fortunate and the result a +happy one. + + + + +Packing and Marketing Apples. + +H. M. DUNLAP, PRES. ILL. ORCHARD CO., SAVOY, ILLS. + + +The growing of apples is one problem, the marketing is another. The two +are intimately related but entirely different. It is essential in +obtaining the best results to first grow good apples for the market. +This, like the darkey's receipt for rabbit soup, comes first. The darkey +says, "first kotch your rabbit." + +Many a grower who understands fairly well how to produce good fruit is +lost when it comes to selling it to an advantage to himself. You notice +that I said "to himself." It is often done to the advantage of the +buyer. Like most inventors the apple grower usually needs assistance in +selling what he has produced. The grower who connects up with the best +methods in this particular gets best results. + +No one can long be successful whose methods are not careful and honest +in the packing of apples. + +_Equipment for Harvesting the Apple Crop._--There are some who insist +that the only way to pick apples is to use a basket lined with cloth. +These insist that the use of the basket in picking is the most careful +method and that the bruising of the apples is reduced to a minimum. I +have, however, seen apples handled very roughly in baskets. The picker +hangs the basket on the tree, on the ladder rung, or sets it on the +ground and then proceeds to shoot the apples into the basket from +distances of one foot or six or eight feet away. + +The bottomless picking sack, with broad straps across the shoulders, has +come into use within the past few years in many commercial orchards. My +experience is that either the basket or sack is good if rightly handled, +and either may be objectionable if care is not exercised. + +My own experience after using both is in favor of the sack. If care is +used no more bruising will be done than with the basket, and it is far +more expeditious. Both hands are at liberty for use in the picking. The +sack should not be shifted about, and the picker should not be allowed +to lean against the rungs of the ladder with the filled sack between. +The sack should be lowered into the picking crate so that the apples +have no drop in emptying the sack. Pointed ladders are the best for tall +trees and less liable to injure the tree or turn turtle and upset the +picker. + +A packing house is essential if best results are to be obtained, but +many growers use the canvas-covered table in the orchard, picking and +packing the product from sixteen to thirty-six trees at a sitting, and +then moving the table to the next center, and in this way the entire +orchard. In good weather this is not so bad as might seem, but at times +the sun is very hot, or sudden showers saturate everything, and in the +late fall the weather is too cold and frosty for comfort. On the whole, +therefore, a good sized packing house or shed built at a convenient +place in or near the orchard is the more desirable method of handling +the crop. This building must be large enough to give room for a sorting +table three feet wide by sixteen or more feet in length, or, better +still, room for an apple grading machine of best pattern, which will +occupy about three feet by twenty feet. There should be a space on one +side or end of the building for unloading the bushel crates with which +all well regulated orchards should be equipped, when they come from the +orchard. These crates can be stacked up four or five deep, and there +should be adequate room for these based on necessities. There should be +room for at least a day's supply of apple barrels and a place to cooper +them up by driving the hoops and nailing same. There should be enough +room to face and fill barrels and head them up and to stack up enough +for half a day's hauling ahead. + +The size of this building will depend upon whether you are barreling 100 +barrels per day or 1,000 barrels. For the former a building 28x20 feet +will answer very well. For the latter amount 60x100 feet would be none +too large. This building should have skylights in the roof. I build +these of ordinary greenhouse sash about 3x6 feet, usually putting in two +of these in each building on the north or east side of the roof, +according to the slope, and directly over the sorting end of the table. +This will give you light an average of thirty minutes more each day and +prolong the day's work that much, or at least make it possible to do +better work on cloudy days and in the evenings. + +The building should be approachable on all four sides with the wagon, +and doors either sliding or hinged should open at least ten feet wide +for taking apples in and out. For example, I have my sheds arranged to +take the fruit as it comes from the orchard on one side of the building. +The number one apples go out one door, and in case I use a grader the +number two go out another side. The cider apples also take their route. +The fourth side is used for supplying empty barrels as needed. Thus you +see the necessity for getting to all four sides. On the side where the +filled barrels are loaded onto the wagon there should be a raised +platform so that the loading can be carefully and easily done. A bin for +the cider or vinegar apples should be built with a roof on same. + +Low-wheeled, platform wagons are needed to haul fruit from the orchard +to the packing house. + +_The standard barrel of three bushels_ capacity is used generally by the +commercial orchardist in preference to the box. Good hoops are growing +scarcer every year, and some, including myself, are using two or four of +the six hoops required of the twisted splice steel wire variety as being +both safer and more economical. In transit or in storage they hold +better and do not break and scatter the contents of the barrel over the +car floor or storage warehouse. + +The best floor for the apple house is concrete. The next best is to +cover the ground with coal cinders and lay 2x4 flat on the cinders, +filling between them with cinders to a level and nailing the floor +boards to these 2x4. This gives a good solid floor at little expense. + +The walls are of 4x4 uprights, about eight feet apart, resting on 8x8x12 +concrete blocks with a half inch iron rod imbedded in the concrete and +countersunk in lower end of upright 4x4 to keep the latter in place. +Nail ties of 2x4 are used, and to these are nailed common lumber +surfaced. The roof consists of 2x4 or 2x6 rafters, usually three feet +apart, with 1x6 boards spaced about three feet apart as sheeting. The +covering in this case is of galvanized corrugated iron, suitable length, +of No. 26 gauge. The doors of this building should be on rollers, and +with two or more double doors on each of the four sides to give plenty +of light and easy access to and from the building. The roof and dry +floor are the important parts of such a building, and you only need the +walls as a support and occasionally to break off the wind when weather +becomes chilly. What you should avoid in a packing house is narrow +doors, dark interior and access from only one or two sides. + +_Picking._--I have found it most satisfactory to pick by the bushel, +keeping a foreman in the orchard to see that crates are filled full, +ladders and apples carefully handled. Each picker is provided with +tickets of a certain number which corresponds to the one opposite his +name on the sheet tacked to a small board or clip carried by the +foreman. Each picker is assigned a tree, and his empty boxes are +distributed to him from the wagon. When filled the number is tabulated +by the foreman and loaded onto the wagon and hauled to the packing shed. +Here they are stacked up and afterwards emptied onto the sorting tables +or machine grader, and from thence into the barrels. + +_Hauling to Market._--The barrels when filled are not allowed to lie +around, but are hauled immediately to the car or storage. Failure of +winter apples to keep in storage may often be traced to the packing +shed, where the apples stand in the crates or lie in the barrels for a +number of days, perhaps a week or two in warm weather, before they are +forwarded to storage. Sometimes delays occur at the storage owing to +rush, and apples remain sometimes for a week or ten days in cars before +they are unloaded. It behooves the grower not only to watch his own +packing house for delays, but the storage company also. In one instance +I lost $1,000 on five cars of apples that were without refrigeration +five weeks owing to the storage warehouse not being completed. I knew +nothing about this until two years afterwards. + +Hauling to the station is done on wagons or motor trucks equipped with a +rack that permits the barrels being carried lying down, but supported at +each end of the barrel so that the weight of the barrel does not come +upon the bilge. They can be so racked up that one wagon will carry +fifty-five barrels. A three-ton truck will carry forty barrels of apples +and haul forty more on trailer. Such an outfit in one of my orchards +makes five trips in one day a distance of four miles, traversing forty +miles and carrying 400 barrels of apples. One and one-half miles of this +is over a well-graded dirt road, and two and one-half over brick and +concrete pavement. In our Clay County, Illinois, orchards we have two +12-25 gasoline tractors that are used for cultivating during the summer +and for hauling apples in the fall. These machines easily haul 110 +barrels of apples on two wagons and make two trips a distance of five +miles from orchard to town. + +_Loading Cars._--I am surprised at the lack of knowledge of how to +properly load barreled apples into cars. Over half the cars going to +market are improperly loaded. The best way is to place all the barrels +crosswise of the cars with lower tier to the right side of the car, and +the second tier the left of the car with the bilge lying in the hollows +of the lower tier. The third tier should be at the right side again +directly over the lower tier. If a fourth tier is added they should be +at the left and directly over the second tier. In this way your apples +are loaded to carry with the least injury to the apples. Being uniformly +loaded they are easily counted from the top after they are in the car, +and your loader can verify his wagon load count after the apples are all +in and thus prevent mistakes. + +_Packing Apples._--The packing season is a busy one. Often the grower +finds himself short of help, and when this is hard to get he is sure up +against it if he wants to do a good job of packing. + +First make your estimate of the crop you have to harvest. If +inexperienced, get an experienced man to help you. You need this +estimate for two reasons. You must determine the number of packages you +need, which must be contracted for in advance, and you need to know how +much labor you need to get the crop in within the time limit. You should +not begin harvesting too early, for immature fruit, poorly colored, +brings a lower price, and you do not want to be so late that the fruit +mellows up or drops from the trees before it is gathered or is caught by +a freeze. + +I will relate a little experience of mine in the latter connection. In +the autumn of 1911 I had a heavy crop on a hundred and twenty acre +orchard. The season was rainy, and we lost six days during October, +which put us across the line into November with our picking. The last +days of October or first of November brought a severe freeze when the +mercury went to twenty, or twelve below freezing. This lasted two nights +and one day. The apples were frozen absolutely solid through and through +on the trees. As I had over 12,000 bushels, all Willow Twigs, +unharvested, it was an anxious time for me. The second day was cloudy +with the temperature at thirty-four degrees, just freezing, and the +following night it remained at the same point, for we were enough +interested to note the temperature. This continued up until noon of the +third day, when the frost was out of the apples and we proceeded with +our picking. These apples kept perfectly and were sold the next May at +$4.50 per barrel. There was no perceptible difference between the +apples picked before or after the freeze. Two years later my experience +was different. We were caught with 1,000 bushels on the trees by an +equally severe freeze. The sun came out bright the following morning, +and by noon the temperature was up to fifty degrees. The apples turned +brown and looked like they had been baked. They were good only for +vinegar. The variety in both cases was Willow. + +In packing apples it is a good plan to use a corrugated paper cap on +both ends of the barrel, in addition to a waxed paper next to the apples +on the face end, stenciled with the name of the grower and his +postoffice address. Use uniform sized apples for the face as much as +possible, and of good color. The face is permitted to be 20 per cent. +better than the contents. Drop facing I consider best for the second +layer rather than double facing, as it holds the face apple in position +better and presents a more solid face to the buyer when opened. The +barrels should be filled uniformly from bottom to top with an even grade +of fruit. No reputable packer will attempt any fraud upon the purchaser +in this respect. In tailing off the barrel preparatory to putting in the +head, the better way is to face the apples on their side in concentric +rings with the color side of the apple up. I would not select these +apples as to size or color, but let them correctly represent both as +they run through the barrel. There can be no objection, however, to your +putting the colored side of the apple up. We should always look as well +as we can, and first impressions if good, while not always lasting, are +desirable in the apple business of inspecting packages. In filling the +barrel care must be taken to gently settle the apples into place by +shaking the barrel from time to time as it is filled. After the bottom +is faced off the corrugated cap is placed on the apples, with the smooth +side next to the apples, and the head pressed into place. It is well to +use headliners to secure the heads and not trust to the use of nails +alone. Have some regard for the man who has to open these heads in +storage or the salesroom. Try a few yourself if you never have, and you +will use headliners for him who comes after if for no other reason. + +Mr. Kellogg: How do you get rid of the waste apples that would rot in +the orchard? + +Mr. Dunlap: We have a large vinegar plant, and we convert the cider into +vinegar and sell it as cider vinegar. We have sometimes shipped the +fresh product of the cider mill to factories, where it is made into +vinegar. Then there are evaporators for evaporating them. Take a certain +grade of apples not good to grind up into cider, and they evaporate this +grade of apples. Then there are canning factories that also take them. +The cider mill is a very good way to work up your culls and then sell as +vinegar. + +A Member: What do these apple graders cost? + +Mr. Dunlap: From $75.00 to $125.00. The price usually depends upon the +equipment. + +A Member: Do you use clear cider for vinegar? + +Mr. Dunlap: I use clear cider for making vinegar, and if it is too +strong to meet the requirements of the law we dilute it when we sell it. + +A Member: I would like to ask if you have any difficulty in getting your +cider vinegar up to the requirements of the law? + +Mr. Dunlap: We do not have any trouble about that, except that made from +summer apples. Any cider that will grade 18 or 24 with the saccharimeter +in the fall of the year, when it is made, will make good vinegar. + +A Member: Do you pack all one-size of apples in a barrel? + +Mr. Dunlap: No. + +A Member: Do you use very nearly the same size apples in a barrel, or do +you put large ones at the top and bottom? + +Mr. Dunlap: I have heard of growers doing that, but the only way to pack +a barrel honestly is to select your facers--the law permits that they +may have 20 per cent. advantage of the rest of the barrel. The rest of +the barrel ought to be graded uniformly throughout. I don't mean by that +they should all be apples of three or four inches diameter, but that +they run above a certain figure with a minimum of 2-1/4 or 2-1/2, +depending upon the variety you are packing. In running them over +graders, which sizes them, all over that size go over the apron and into +the barrel. + +A Member: Do you face both ends of the barrel? + +Mr. Dunlap: Yes, sir, we do. We do not undertake to select for the +bottom or tail of the barrel apples as to size or color, but we do +this--we lay those apples around in concentric rings and turn the color +side or best looking side of the apple up and as nearly level as may be +across the top and just the right height, so that when they are pressed +into the barrel the barrel will be tight enough so as not to have the +apples loose, and yet not have them bruised in the heading. It takes +practice to do that just at the right height. + +The barrel should be shaken as it is being filled. If you do not shake +often when being filled and settle the apples down so they reach the +place where they belong, no matter how tight you make your barrel, when +it gets into the car and on the train and in motion that constant +shaking and jar will loosen the apples, and you will have a slack +barrel. + +A Member: What sort of apples go to the canneries? + +Mr. Dunlap: That, of course, depends upon the season. If the season is +such that the No. 2 apples are not worth any great amount of money, they +will buy everything except cull stock below the strictly No. 1 apple and +use them in the canning factory. If the price is high they will probably +take the drops, those dropped in picking, or good sound drops. We +usually make a practice of cleaning up our drops once a week off the +ground in picking time. Before we begin picking we clean the ground +entirely and run that through the vinegar factory, into the cider mill, +and after that is done any apples that drop in picking they are disposed +of in various ways, sometimes to the evaporator, sometimes to the +canning factory and sometimes they are shipped in bulk if they are good +sound apples and not injured in any way except perhaps for a few +bruises. + +A Member: In debating the question of the grower and the cannery we are +anxious to know just how far it is practical to use apples--what apples +we can use after grading them, say, for instance, into Nos. 1 and 2? Can +we use a deformed apple? For instance, do the canners in your country +buy deformed apples--I mean lacking in roundness? + +Mr. Dunlap: They can use them; they are a little more expensive to +handle when you put them on the fork to peel them. Of course, they have +to use the knife on them afterwards in those places where they are not +perfect, cutting out any imperfect spots on them. But as a rule they +require pretty fair quality of apple for cannery and above a certain +size. They wouldn't want to use anything less than two inches in +diameter, and from that on, and they get as good apples as they possibly +can. They have to limit themselves as to prices according to how much +they can get for their product. + +A Member: What grader do you recommend? + +Mr. Dunlap: Well, I don't think that I care to advertise any grader. I +am not interested in any. + +A Member: You are a long way from home, and it might enlighten the rest +of us. + +Mr. Dunlap: There are several graders on the market, and for all I know, +giving good service. I am using the Trescott, made in New York. + +A Member: What is the matter with the Hardy? + +Mr. Dunlap: I never used the Hardy--I don't know about that. Some of +them will bruise the apples more than others. + +Mr. Sauter: What form of packing for apples will bring the best prices? + +Mr. Dunlap: I investigated that. I have packed as high as a couple of +thousand boxes of apples, and I have taken the very best I had and +barreled. I picked out the extra selects and boxed them. Then I took a +No. 1 grade from those that that were left and the No. 2 grade, and my +No. 1 grade in barrels were disposed of before I could sell my boxes at +all in the market. The boxes were the last thing I could dispose of. +Considering the extra cost of boxing I was out of pocket in selling them +in boxes. Bushel baskets are all right, you can pack the basket with no +more expense than packing a barrel. + +Mr. Brackett: What can a cannery afford to pay for apples? + +Mr. Dunlap: I have never been in the cannery business, I could not tell. + +Mr. Brackett: They are talking of starting a cannery where I live and I +wondered what they can afford to pay. + +Mr. Dunlap: Some five or six years ago I sold a number of hundred +bushels to canneries at 60 cents per hundred pounds. Whether they can +afford to pay that or not I don't know. I haven't sold any to them for +several years now. In fact, I should judge they couldn't afford to pay +that for them because they went out of business. + +Mr. Brackett: In other words, they can't pay over 35 or 30 cents a +bushel? + +Mr. Dunlap: I don't know what they can afford to pay. + +A Member: We had a canning factory that paid 40 cents a bushel of 50 +pounds, that would be 80 cents a hundred. + +Mr. Brackett: Are they still in business? + +A Member: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Sauter: We had one that paid 52 cents a bushel. + +Mr. Dunlap: If they were to can these apples in Illinois and ship them +up here they have got to pay freight to come in competition with your +apples. + +Mr. Sauter: I sprayed last spring first with lime-sulphur, and my +sprayer worked fine. I had a hand sprayer, but when I mixed the +lime-sulphur and the arsenate of lead it almost stopped up. What was the +matter, was it the mixture or the sprayer? + +Mr. Dunlap: Most all of these mixtures when you put them together ought +to be more or less diluted. + +Mr. Sauter: How long must they stand dissolved? + +Mr. Dunlap: The lime-sulphur is in solution, and if you have that in +your water tank the best way is to put your arsenate of lead in in the +form of a paste and dilute it until you get it so that there is about +two pounds of arsenate of lead to a gallon of water, and with that you +can pour it into your tank and if you have an agitator in there you +won't have any difficulty with it. In the early days of spraying when we +used blue vitriol with lime, we tried a concentrated solution of the +blue vitriol and lime and found we couldn't get it through the strainer, +but by diluting it, putting our blue vitriol in one tank, and putting +half of our water that we intended putting in the sprayer in that, and +taking another tank and putting half the water and the lime in that and +then putting the two together in this diluted solution, we didn't have +any trouble, but in putting in the concentrated solutions together we +had a sticky mess and all sorts of trouble. It would not go through the +strainer. + +Mr. Sauter: How does the powdered arsenate compare with the paste? + +Mr. Dunlap: I haven't had any personal experience with the powder and I +would have to refer you to the experiment station. + +Mr. Sauter: Powder mixes a great deal easier. + +Mr. Dunlap: Yes, sir. I had this experience with hydrated lime. The +hydrated lime, as you know, comes in sacks and in the form of flour, and +all you have to do is just to pour that into the water, and there is no +trouble about mixing it at all. With lime from barrels that we used for +making bordeaux, we would slake it and run it off into barrels, and +there we diluted it so that we got two pounds to every gallon of water, +our stock solution. But with the hydrated lime we can take so much out, +so much by weight, and put it into the tank, and it dissolves right in +the water. But we found this difficulty as between slaked lime and the +hydrated lime. While the hydrated is very nice to use it did not possess +the adhesive quality that the regular slaked lime did, and it would wash +off the trees and take the vitriol solution with it, and we discontinued +its use. + +Mr. Sauter: You think it best for anybody with a small orchard to make +his own lime-sulphur solution? + +Mr. Dunlap: That depends on how he is equipped. It costs a great deal +less to make your own solution than it does to buy it. Whether you could +afford to do it or not depends upon the amount you spray and your +equipment. You really ought to have, in making your own lime-sulphur, a +steam boiler, although you can make it in an ordinary farm feed boiler. +You can boil it right in that and turn it out after it is made, stirring +it with a wooden paddle while cooking. I find that if we are equipped +for it we will make a product that is equal to the imported product, but +we ought to have a little more equipment. We ought to have steam and run +this steam into our cooking vat to keep it boiling at the right +temperature right along, and boil it for an hour, and then have a +mechanical agitator in the bottom of the tub that keeps it stirred up, +and keep the cover closed down as nearly tight as possible so as to +exclude the air as much as possible, letting the surplus steam escape, +and in that way we get a product as good as anything we are able to buy, +at less than half the price. If one is using a great quantity that is +the way to do it, but in small quantities I don't think it would pay to +bother with it. (Applause.) + + + + +Marketing Fruit at Mankato. + +P. L. KEENE, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. + +(Gideon Memorial Contest.) + + +Mankato has a population of about twelve thousand and is just about +within the car-lot market. In seasons of low production it can easily +use all the fruit grown in the vicinity, but in seasons of good +production some must be shipped out. This irregular supply makes it +difficult to obtain a satisfactory method of marketing the fruit. + +Nearly all kinds of fruit are grown here. Apples, strawberries and +raspberries are grown to the greatest extent. There are several orchards +having from five hundred to a thousand trees, while many small fruit +growers have several acres of strawberries and raspberries. Plums, +blackberries, currants and gooseberries are grown on a smaller scale, so +that there is seldom enough produced to make it necessary to ship them. + +The number of varieties grown is very great, as it is in almost every +locality where the industry is relatively young. There are over forty +varieties of apples grown on a more or less large scale. This makes the +marketing problem still more difficult. Many of the growers are +beginning to specialize in two or three varieties, such as Wealthy, +Patten, Northwestern and Malinda. Last year some of the growers produced +as many as five carloads. Small fruits are brought in by the wagon load +during the heaviest part of the season, making it possible for the fruit +houses to load a car in a day. + +The commercial growers use good, practical methods of culture, keeping +the land well cultivated and using cover crops and mulch; but many of +the small growers of half-way fruit men--those who do not specialize in +fruit growing--neglect their orchards. Most growers properly prune and +thin their trees and bushes, while many are beginning to spray. + +In the picking, grading and packing of the fruit is where the great +majority fail. After they have grown the fruit carefully and +successfully, they fail to properly harvest and dispose of it. This +fault lies in the fact that they have specialized in the production of +their product and have given little time or attention to the marketing +of it. They realize, though, that success in fruit growing depends as +largely upon proper marketing as upon proper growing. + +The first step in marketing is the picking of the fruit. Fruit, as any +other product, should be picked at a certain time; and the grower who +allows his fruit to remain on the tree or bush too long, as is often +done with the apple, until his work is caught up, is the grower who +receives unsatisfactory prices for his product. Many farmers bring +windfalls and bruised apples mixed with the hand picked ones and expect +as much as the grower who carefully picks his apples. The picking +utensils are also often a cause of injury. Tin pails, wooden buckets and +boxes are used to too great an extent. These naturally bruise more or +less of the apples as they are put into the pails, especially if extreme +care is not used. The pouring of the fruit from one receptacle into +another is still another source of injury. + +The small fruit grower usually handles his fruit with greater care than +the apple grower does, for the simple reason that improper handling of +these fruits soon shows itself, and the grower may find that he is +unable to dispose of his fruit. The most common cause of injury to small +fruit is over-ripeness. + +[Illustration: P. L. Keene.] + +The improper sorting and grading of fruit is another cause of +unprofitable returns. All bruised, wormy or injured apples should be +discarded at picking time. The presence of only a few inferior fruits in +a lot will bring the price down considerably. The same holds true with +berries, and is even more important, for if one berry rots it soon +spreads disease to the other berries. For this reason the sorting out of +all inferior fruit is essential, even more so than grading. + +The grading aids in getting better prices but is not necessary for +profitable results. If small fruit is well sorted, the growers claim +that it is not necessary to grade it, for the fruit will then be fairly +uniform. + +With apples, grading is distinctly beneficial. Many marketable apples +may be blemished so that their appearance is hurt, while their keeping +and shipping qualities are but slightly injured. The best grade must +contain apples uniform in size, shape and color, and free from all +blemishes. Hence it is readily seen why at least two grades are +essential. The growers at Mankato do not grade their apples to more than +one grade and this amounts only to sorting. The best of the commercial +apple growers carefully sort out the small and injured fruits, but a +large portion of the growers even neglect this to some extent. + +The method of packing the fruit is very variable, and in fact a large +part of it is not packed at all. Most of the small fruit growers use the +sixteen quart crate, while the apple, if it is packed at all, is packed +in barrels. One requirement of a package is that it be clean, and if it +must be clean a secondhand package cannot be used. Many fall down here +by using secondhand, odd sized and dirty crates or barrels. The shipping +crate should be kept out of the field and off of the ground. The place +for it is in the packing house. + +The apple growers often take their barrels into the field to fill them +and thus more or less soil them. This is not done to any great extent at +Mankato, for most of the barrel packing is done at the fruit houses, the +growers bringing in the apples loose in a wagonbox. This is a good +system as the apples are only handled three times: from the tree to the +picking basket, from the picking basket to the wagonbox, and from here +into barrels. By this method the apples are sorted both at the picking +and barreling time. If the apples are to be graded or packed at the +farm, a packing house should be provided at or near the orchard. + +It is needless to speak of the slack and inefficient method of marketing +apples in sacks, salt barrels and odd boxes; but this is still done by +some half-way growers. They often have to either take the fruit back and +feed it to the pigs or give it away. Even when they are able to sell it, +they barely cover expense of picking and marketing. + +Several methods of selling their fruit are available to the growers +around Mankato. The different methods used are (1) selling direct to +consumer, (2) selling to stores, (3) selling to wholesale houses, (4) +selling to commission men. + +The amount handled in the "direct to the consumer" way is rather large +in the case of small fruit, but there is very little so-called "apple +peddling" done. Some growers have regular customers whom they supply +yearly with a barrel or more of apples, but this is usually some friend +or relative. Some growers peddle out their summer apples by driving +through the residence sections of the city and selling to anyone who +wants to buy and in such quantities as they desire, but not all growers +care to follow this plan. Sales are always made for cash, except perhaps +where a person is a regular customer. This method is too unsatisfactory +to be used for winter apples but is often advantageous in disposing of a +large crop of summer apples. The fruit is not usually in very good +shape, and is often that which the fruit dealers have rejected. The +fruit is marketed in any package that happens to be handy, or loose, in +the box, and is measured out usually in small quantities to the buyer. + +[Illustration: A load of apples from P.L. Keene's orchard, near Mankato] + +The handling of berries direct to consumer is much more systematized and +therefore proves more satisfactory to both parties concerned. The +majority of growers sell a considerable quantity in this way. They pack +in sixteen quart crates, and usually will not divide a crate. The +berries are for the most part delivered on order of the customer, for +cash. Each grower has his regular customers, and some advertise to a +limited extent. This method is usually satisfactory to the grower for he +sells at a fixed price, and over that which he could get at the stores. +He finds that it pays him to furnish good berries, for if he delivers a +poor crate the lady receiving that crate is sure to make it known to her +neighbors, while a good crate will add to his reputation. Therefore, the +grower will take particular pains to have the boxes well filled with +good berries and delivered promptly, in order to hold this trade. In +compensation he receives a good price, regular customers and a sure +market for his product. + +The amount handled through the stores is about equal to that handled +direct to the consumer, but in some seasons it is not as great. The +grower demands cash, for he can get it at the other places, while most +of the stores prefer cash rather than a trade basis, on account of the +bother of handling the trade checks. Some stores, by offering a higher +trade price, try to draw trade, but this does not attract the commercial +grower. It may, however, attract the half-way grower. Most stores do not +try to handle more than they can dispose of themselves. It is the small +grower who sells to the stores. The large grower cannot get the prices +that will pay him to bother with the store trade, while the fruit houses +do not want to handle the small fruit grower's product, for it is +usually of inferior quality. Hence, the store trade is a necessity under +present conditions, even though it is not a very satisfactory method. + +The apples are brought to the stores in the same packages as to the +consumer direct. The berries are handled in the same packages, but the +condition and quality are more apt to be inferior than with those sold +to the consumer. The stores usually re-sort the fruit before they sell +it. They very seldom ship fruit. In case they get more on their hands +than they can sell, they either store it for a few days, or sell to the +wholesale fruit houses. + +There is more fruit handled by either one of the two wholesale fruit +houses than by any other single way in Mankato. They handle the bulk of +the apple crop grown commercially but will not take inferior fruit. The +small fruit growers market a considerable portion of their crops through +them, especially in years when they have more than they can dispose of +to consumers. The wholesale houses offer no fixed price, except it be in +a contract with some individual grower whom they know will bring in good +fruit. When a load comes in they look it over and bid on it. If the +grower is satisfied with the price, he sells, and if not he tries the +other house or the stores. + +The commercial growers usually bring in their apples loose in the +wagon-box, and the apples are packed into barrels here. This insures a +clean barrel, properly packed. It enables the buyer to look over the +load as it is being unloaded. One or two growers have a reputation good +enough that the houses will buy their fruit barreled. All small fruits +are handled in the sixteen quart crates and are not repacked. The +grower delivers them as up to grade on his reputation, which will not +last long if he does not furnish good berries. The grower usually tells +the wholesaler when they were picked and the condition they are in. They +do a cash business only. + +Very little has been handled through the commission men of other cities. +A few carloads have been shipped to Minneapolis, but returns were not as +satisfactory as when sold to the wholesale houses. In shipping the +grower has to take more risk and do more work, such as packing and +loading the car, than when he sells to the wholesaler. Most growers +prefer to sell to the houses than to do this extra work, which they are +neither used to, nor capable of handling. Besides this, most growers do +not have enough fruit at any one time to load a car. + +There is no co-operative association at the present time, but the +growers were trying to organize one last winter. In a certain way there +is an agreement among the small fruit growers, in that nearly all of +them agree to market their fruit in the sixteen quart crate and stick to +certain prices as far as possible, and not to cut prices under other +growers. This applies especially to the "direct to the consumer" trade. +There are no street venders to whom the growers can sell nor with whom +they would have to compete, and there is no city market at Mankato. + +Storage conditions have not been developed. The wholesale houses have +small storage rooms of their own, but do little storing of home grown +products, as they ship them out as soon as they get a carload. The +stores store a few days in case they get an over-supply on hand. The +growers store apples in their own cellars, often keeping them until the +following spring. A few city people buy apples in the fall and store for +winter use, but it is not very satisfactory for the storage houses do +not regulate the temperature accurately enough. + + * * * * * + +PRUNING OF CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES.--The main reason that +currant and gooseberry bushes do not yield satisfactory crops from year +to year is due to the lack of proper pruning. + +Both currants and gooseberries produce their fruit on canes that are at +least two years old, the first season being generally utilized for the +growing of the canes, the second for the formation of fruit buds or +spurs, and the third a full crop may be expected. These canes will bear +for two and even three years, but each year after the third they begin +to show a decided decline--the fruit becomes smaller and less valuable. +In order to keep the production up to the standard, the bush should be +placed on the rotation basis, that is, each year a few new, strong +shoots should be permitted to grow. All the rest should be cut out, and +also each spring a like number of the oldest canes should be removed. In +other words, we should grow the same number of new canes that we take +out in old canes. In this way, we eliminate the old and exhausted canes +and keep the bushes in strong, vigorous growth. Further, as the season +progresses, all shoots beyond those that we wish to use for fruiting +later on should be removed and not permitted to utilize the food supply +that should go to the fruiting canes.--E.P. Sandsten, Col. Agri. +College. + + + + +Support for an Overloaded Fruit Tree. + +MISS NELLIE B. PENDERGAST, DULUTH. + + +Some years ago the writer wearied of the many objectionable features +connected with propping overloaded apple trees, and found relief in a +new application of the maxim of modern charity--"help people to help +themselves." + +The average apple tree is quite capable of supporting its load of fruit, +with a little assistance in applying its strength. This is +satisfactorily given by overhead supports. My method is as follows: + +Take a piece of gas pipe, the diameter depending on the size of the tree +and consequent weight of the load, and long enough to extend some two or +three feet above the tree. The required height would be governed by the +spread of the branches and the distance between the trunk of the tree +and the proper point for support of the limbs. + +The pipe is placed against the trunk of the tree, pushed a few inches +into the ground, and tied in several places tightly to the tree. On the +top (which must be screw-threaded) is screwed an ordinary gas pipe end. +Heavy cords are then run through holes in the top piece and tied to the +branches wherever needed--the same cord often being made to tie several +branches which are in line perpendicularly. + +[Illustration: View of apple tree with fruit laden branches supported by +pipe or wire.] + +The branches should be wrapped with a bit of burlap or other suitable +padding under the cord, as otherwise the friction resulting from the +inevitable swaying of the heavy limbs on windy days would result in +rubbing the bark off and possibly entirely girdling the branch. Pads +should also be placed between the gas pipe and the tree trunk wherever +there is contact, and under the rope where tied. + + + + +What Frisky is Telling the Veteran Horticulturist. + +CHAS. F. GARDNER, OSAGE, IOWA. + + +I am your cunning little squirrel, and as you have named me Frisky and +have adopted me as a regular member of your family, I will tell you some +little things I know about horticulture, or more properly, forest tree +planting. + +[Illustration: Our squirrel.] + +My ancestors from way back through geological ages have all been lovers +of nut trees and especially conifers. If you knew of the great districts +covered with valuable timber that have come into existence by reason of +our planting of nuts and conifer seed, you would be very much surprised. +While we gather large quantities of seed for use as food during the +long, cold winter months, each one of us secretes several thousand seed +annually, widely scattered, in good places for trees to grow. The most +of these scattered seeds remain in the ground and germinate where they +were planted. + +My grandfather on my mother's side has told me that some of his +relatives in Scotland were once accused of doing considerable injury to +plantations of firs and pines by gnawing off the top shoots, which you +know make pretty good eating for a hungry little squirrel. Wasn't that a +great thing to make a fuss about? I believe my grandpa knew as much as +you do about the real existence and natural history of the mastodon, +the megatherium, the paleotherium and the pterodactyl. + +In the planting of forest trees we were assisted by birds. I will name a +few who helped us the most in this northern latitude, or, as you call +it, "the blizzard belt." You showed me the other day two beautiful oak +trees, on your grounds that were planted by crows. Bluejays are great +seed planters, also mourning doves; and the wild pigeons, now extinct, +were great planters of many nut trees. Almost every variety of birds has +assisted us in the planting of the seeds of trees, bushes and, in fact, +all plants that bear valuable fruits or nutritious seeds. + +[Illustration: Chas. F. Gardner at his best.] + +While I think of it, I will tell you that I was born in a beautiful +nest, made of moss, twigs and dry leaves curiously interwoven in the +fork of a tree at a considerable height from the ground. I had four +little brothers and sisters. We loved each other dearly and had a good +time all cuddled up in our sweet little home. I wish you would let me go +and visit them sometime this summer. Now if you have no objection I will +take a little nap.--Frisky. + + + + +Top-Working. + +O. W. MOORE, VETERAN HORTICULTURIST, SPRING VALLEY. + + +From my experience in fruit growing I have come to the conclusion that +the best method to apply in starting a commercial orchard in this +section of country would be to gather apple seed from Duchess and +Hibernal apples and plant them, in order that we might grow hardy +seedling roots to be used in making root-grafts. After growing these +apple seedlings one year I would graft short pieces of their roots to +long Hibernal scions, plant them out in the nursery row and grow them +the first year as a whip or single shoot. The second year before growth +starts in the spring I would cut those whips back to the height where I +wanted to start the head of the tree. After growth starts rub off all +the buds except from four to six at the top, these being left to form +the head of the tree. The trunk of the tree below these buds should be +kept clear of all growth at all times. + +By this method we get uniform trees, as the heads, or tops, are all of +an equal distance from the ground and all run very nearly the same size. +Now we have those trees two years old in the nursery row, and as a +foundation for hardiness we have done our best. We have taken seed from +our hardiest apples to grow our seedling roots; we have grafted Hibernal +scions onto those roots, which is supposed to be the hardiest apple wood +that we have. Still there is one point that has not been touched upon, +and that is, that it is not to be supposed that all of those seedling +roots from the seed of our hardiest apples will be hardy. You may ask +why? Well, because mother nature does not do business that way. We hear +now and then the remark, "He is a good mixer." Well, if any man or set +of men can beat mother nature at mixing they will have to do better in +the future than they have done in the past. + +But remember that we have the Hibernal as a scion above those roots, and +that is the best apple wood to root from the scion that I know of. Some +may ask, why not use the Virginia crab? I answer, for the reasons above +stated, as I have tried both. + +Our trees are two years old now and are ready to be planted in the +orchard where they are to remain. Grow them in orchards one year. But if +from drouth or some other cause they do not make a satisfactory growth, +grow them two years. Then top-work their four or six limbs about six +inches from their forks to any kind of apple that you wish to produce in +a commercial way--but leave all small growth below those unions the +first year. The second year cut everything away but the scions. + +If the planter will follow the above methods I am willing to stake my +reputation as a fruit grower that he will have an orchard that will stay +with him and give satisfaction. + +Very many apple trees, especially seedlings, when they come to bearing +age are found to be worthless or nearly so. If those trees are taken in +hand at any time under ten years old they can be readily top-worked to +some good apple and completely changed in two years' time. The first +year work center limbs or leaders, leaving the lower growth to be worked +the second year. The third year by cutting everything away but the +growth of the scions we have the tree changed over to a better variety +of fruit. As to the size of limbs to graft I have always made it a point +to never work limbs over one inch in diameter. But from one inch down to +whip-grafting size, limbs from three-quarters to one inch, we set two +scions. The wound heals sooner with two scions than with one. If there +is too much growth in a year or two, cut a part of it away just above +the union. + + + + +Evergreens. + +JENS A. JENSEN, ROSE CREEK. + + +Why not grow evergreens in the place of willows? When I came to Mower +County if there were any trees planted they were willows, a few Lombardy +poplars and Balm of Gilead. + +Since 1890 there has been a great deal of planting of evergreens, +especially around Austin and Rose Creek. + +Some people think it hard to grow evergreens. One mistake they make is +in planting too large trees. Another is in planting them in June grass +sod, a sod that will not wet down one inch in a rain that lasts +twenty-four hours. + +Evergreens should be planted in cultivated land, and then they will grow +surprisingly fast. Plant trees from one to two feet. If wanted for a +windbreak, plant eight feet apart; if two rows are wanted, plant trees +sixteen feet apart, in rows four feet apart, the trees planted +alternately. Norway, White and Black Hills spruce, also White, Scotch +and Jack pine are doing well here. + + + + +IN MEMORIAM--EZRA F. PABODY + + +EZRA F. PABODY was born in Vernon, Indiana, July 26th, 1838. His +father's name was Ezra F. Pabody, and his mother's maiden name was Mabel +Butler. Comrade Pabody was married in Oxford, Ohio, October 10th, 1866, +to Emma A. Brown. + +[Illustration: Portrait of the late Ezra F. Pabody, from a photograph +taken ten years ago.] + +His education was acquired by attending, first, the common schools at +Vernon, Indiana, until he was sixteen years of age; and in September, +1854, he entered Hanover College, where he spent five years. In 1859, he +entered Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and graduated from that +University in June, 1860. In September of that same year he entered +Princeton Theological Seminary, where he studied for one year with a +view to entering the ministry, but the condition of his health +interfered with his carrying out this purpose. + +In 1861, having come to Minnesota, and as volunteers were being enlisted +to crush the rebellion, which threatened our country with destruction, +his spirit of patriotism impelled him to offer his services to aid in +maintaining the government. Accordingly he enlisted at Fort Snelling, +September 25th, 1861, and was enrolled in Company "A," Third Minnesota +Volunteers. In November of that year he was appointed Hospital Steward +of the Regiment, but he was unable long to endure the activities of the +service, and on July 9th, 1862, was discharged on account of +disability. However, his loyal spirit would not allow him to rest if +there was a place where he might serve effectively, and accordingly, on +August 24th, 1862, he enlisted again,--this time in the 79th Indiana +Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to duty as Hospital Steward, in +which office he continued until discharged for disability December 18th, +1862. + +After his army service, he engaged in the drug business at Vernon, +Indiana. In 1875 he removed to Minneapolis and here followed the same +line of business until 1888. + +In August, 1890, he was prevailed upon to take up City Mission work in +connection with Westminster Church, and was ordained to the Gospel +ministry in 1900. + +Retiring from the active work of the ministry in 1903, he passed the +remaining years of his life in his quiet home at Zumbra Heights, Lake +Minnetonka, where the death angel found him September 21st, 1915, after +a long period of illness. + +His memory will be lastingly perpetuated by the development of his city +mission work, known as "Riverside Mission," a neglected portion of +Minneapolis, embracing what is known as "The River Flats," where the +inhabitants, mostly foreigners, and in need of religious instruction, +were taught by this faithful missionary and his estimable and +consecrated wife to speak and sing the language of Heaven. + +The faithful wife and co-laborer, one son, E. Fitch Pabody, and one +daughter, Eleanor (Mrs. Ward H. Benton), all of Minneapolis, survive +him. + +Mr. Pabody is, of course, best known to the members of this society on +account of his service with it in the past thirteen years. While not one +of the oldest members of the society from a point of years in his +connection with the society, in point of service he ranks very high, for +during all the period of his service he was always finding something to +do for the association. Several times he was on the program, in a number +of official capacities he served the society, and especially as a member +of the reception committee during a number of our annual meetings was he +of largest use to the association, and his courteous and kindly ways we +especially remember. Mr. Pabody was very near to the writer personally, +and his taking away is largely in the nature of a personal loss. Mr. +Pabody had a great love for horticultural pursuits. His garden and +orchard occupied very much of his thoughts during the later years of his +life, when he lived on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. It is hard to part +with these old members who have so much endeared themselves to us in +these many thoughtful ways.--Secy. + + + + +Bread Cast upon the Waters. + +C. S. HARRISON, YORK, NEB. + + +The instance recited below has nothing particularly to do with +horticulture but a good deal to do with a "horticulturist," C. S. +Harrison, of York, Neb., that picturesque veteran in horticulture, who +has been an attendant at our meetings now for so many years, adding such +a strong interest to our annual gatherings. Mr. Harrison recited at our +late meeting the incident referred to here--without the denouement, +which came to him in California this winter, where he met Mr. Lindbergh, +one of Minnesota congressmen. As a result of this incident we had Mr. +Harrison with again at our late summer meeting.--Secy. + +In 1861 I was living in Sauk Center, Minn., where I preached the first +sermon. I had a tract of country under my care 100 miles in extent and +had all sorts of work to do. Ten miles from Sauk Center there was a +sturdy Swede who was at one time speaker in one branch of the Swedish +parliament and for a while secretary to the king. He moved to Minnesota +about the year '60. It seems he had not learned the art of graft, and he +was poor. He took up a preemption and built him a little log house +12x16. One day he took a load of logs to the mill and, stumbling, fell +on the saw. This caught him in the back and split it open, and also took +a stab at his right arm. + +It was hot weather and no surgeon within fifty miles. I followed him to +his home; we did not think he could live. I picked out the sawdust and +rags from his back and kept the wounded arm wrapped in cold water, and +now for a surgeon I got a horse from a neighbor and a man to ride him. I +said, "Don't hurt the horse but go as fast as it is safe." Twenty miles +ahead I knew another man with whom he could exchange horses, and then +another relay brought him to the doctor. Dr. Hunter proved to be a good +surgeon. We had kept the patient with such care that with his clean +habits and robust constitution he underwent the operation all right. I +helped the doctor, and we took off the arm near the shoulder. I had a +busy time until the surgeon came. I stayed with the man all day, then +drove home ten miles and was by his side early. It took the doctor about +three days to get there. The horses were poor, and the auto did not +exist even in a dream. By the next December the old hero was out +chopping rails with his left hand. + +How poor the people were! Every dollar had a big task before it. The +good doctor only charged $20. I rode quite a distance--got a little here +and there and paid the bill. A son of the old man, C. A. Lindbergh, is +now representative in congress from the 6th district of Minnesota. We +discovered each other this winter. I have kept up a pleasant +correspondence. His daughter, Eva, who helps her father, has just +written me that she is going to be married in Minneapolis in June, and +she wants me to perform the ceremony. All the friends and relatives will +be there, and she wants the man who saved her grandpa. Thus, after +fifty-five years, stirring memories of the past are awakened and happy +anticipations of the future.--C. S. Harrison. + + + + +SECRETARY'S CORNER + + +MORE EVERBEARING STRAWBERRIES.--Mr. Walter Ferguson, of +Mankato, has pretty near the record number of strawberry plants raised +last year. From four plants of No. 1017 everbearing strawberries he +reports having raised several over six hundred. He says he reset twelve +new plants in July and they produced over three hundred. + +ADVANCE PREMIUM LIST, ANNUAL MEETING, 1916.--Elsewhere in this +number will be found an advance list of premiums to be offered on +vegetables and apples at the coming annual meeting of the society. There +will be practically no change from this list, though there may be slight +additions to it. Possible exhibitors may feel safe to save material for +exhibition in accordance with the premiums therein offered. + +PASSING OF J.F. BENJAMIN.--Members of the society who have +attended our annual meetings for the last ten or more years will readily +recall the face and figure of this very loyal member of the society, who +was always at hand to serve in any capacity as opportunity came to him. +Mr. Benjamin was a successful fruit grower, not only from a financial +standpoint but from his love of the art. We hope to publish a suitable +sketch of his life at some later date. + +MUNICIPAL CAMPS IN NATIONAL FORESTS.--The City of Fresno, +California, has established a fifteen-acre camp in an adjoining national +forest, providing low cost outings for the school children of that city +and their parents. Los Angeles is doing something similar on even a +larger scale, and other municipalities are following suit. Minnesota has +splendid national forests, and the time may come when the state or some +of the municipalities of the state may be able to make similar use of +these forests for the benefit of our people who are not able to go to +larger expense to secure needed summer outing. + +THE APPLE CROP.--The Department of Agriculture in its August +1st report forecasts an apple crop of seventy-one million barrels +against seventy-six million last year and a yearly average for the past +five years of sixty-six million. The favored regions in apple growing +this year are in the New England states and the Pacific states, the +Central states showing a very large falling off in the apple crop, +anywhere from four-fifths to one-fourth of previous years. + +NATIONAL VEGETABLE GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.--It seems there is an +association of this character, called "Vegetable Growers' Association of +America," and it will hold its next annual meeting in LaSalle Hotel, +Chicago, September 26-29. Representatives of local vegetable growers' +associations' will probably do well to get in touch with this national +gathering. If any go from this state the secretary will be glad to +receive from them a report of the meeting. Marketing, soil fertility, +heating, packing, spraying and other subjects will be covered on the +program. For further information address James B. Foley, Secretary, 3100 +South Spaulding Avenue, Chicago. + +APPLE TREES AS A WINDBREAK.--John W. Maher, of Devils Lake, +N.D., in correspondence has spoken at two different times of the use of +apple trees as one feature of windbreaks in his vicinity, using such +varieties as Duchess, Patten's Greening, Hibernal, etc. In this +connection he says "probably it is only the amateur horticulturist who +sets a row of young apple trees in the stubble fields as a windbreak for +apple grafts, but this has been done here and the windbreak is +satisfactory. I believe that the apple is more hardy in this kind of +soil than it is generally considered to be. If the apple tree is +properly limbed so as to shade its trunk and larger limbs it is a real +success." + +HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY PERIODICALS.--February, 1894, the first +number of the monthly issued by this society was published and sent out +to its members. Publishing the report in this way as a monthly was an +experiment, which has proved to be a very successful one indeed, and +this method of publication has now for a long time been a permanent +feature of the work of this society. In 1894 the society had about six +hundred members. The increase in the membership of the association since +that period has brought the roll to high water mark this year at 3,700. +At that time as far as we know no other horticultural society was +publishing its report as a monthly. Quite a number of state societies +are now doing something of this sort, though not exactly following the +same plan as the Minnesota society, our report appearing as a monthly +magazine and being bound up later with list of members, index, etc., +making altogether the annual report. The only association that has +exactly followed our plan is the Manitoba Society. Wisconsin, Kansas, +Nebraska, Virginia and other associations not now recalled are sending +out a monthly to their membership. Illinois and perhaps some others are +publishing a quarterly. Some of the state boards of horticulture are +publishing a monthly, notably the California board, and in some cases +the state boards of agriculture are doing this also. The plan +inaugurated by this society is being slowly popularized and will +undoubtedly continue to be made use of more and more as the study and +practice of horticulture develops in our country. + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. +Minneapolis. + + +GARDEN HELPS FOR SEPTEMBER. + +_September Meeting of the Garden Flower Society_ will be held on the +twenty-first, at 2:30 p.m., at the Minneapolis Public Library. + +_Topics_, "Fall Work in the Garden." + +"Planting for Fall and Winter Effects." + +"Vines and Their Uses." + +Have you taken any photographs of your garden, its individual flowers, +or wild flowers for our photographic contest? It is not too late yet to +get good pictures. Every member is urged to enter this competition. + +_Plant peonies this month._ Old clumps of hardy perennials may be +divided and reset early this month. Flowering bulbs intended to be in +bloom at Christmas should be potted now. Grass seed for new lawns or bad +places in old ones can be sown this month. + +The daffodil makes an early growth and should be planted this month. +After the first killing frosts the tender roots, like cannas, gladioli, +elephant's ears, and dahlias, can be lifted with a fork and spread out +under cover to dry, then stored in a cool cellar, free from frost. + +Do not cultivate the soil after September first. + +All newly set plants should be mulched lightly. + +All litter about the garden can be cleared away. Any plants that have +been infested with insects or diseased should be burned. Leave no +harbors for the eggs of insects, such as old weeds, grasses or litter of +any kind. + +Seeds of native plants which you wish to naturalize should be gathered +and sowed immediately in a shaded, well drained location, where the soil +has some humus. + +Lily-of-the-valley should be planted this month. + +Try planting a few sweet peas late in September or early October. + +Important September blooming flowers are phlox, Japanese anemones; +perennial asters, or Michaelmas daisy, so-called because they are +supposed to be at their best on Michaelmas Day, September 29th; +helleniums, helianthus, hardy chrysanthemum, pyrethrum uliginosum, +boltonia. + +If you have not these flowers, try and visit some garden where they are +blooming in order to know what kinds to grow. + +Poppies for next June's blooming can be sown this month. + +Be prepared for the first early frosts, having ready to use some light +covering, such as cheesecloth. The garden can be prolonged from two to +six weeks by this slight protection. + + + + +ORCHARD NOTES. + +Conducted monthly by R. S. MACKINTOSH, Horticulturalist, +Extension Division, University Farm, St. Paul. + + +A CONFERENCE OF HORTICULTURAL EXTENSION WORKERS. + +A conference of the Horticultural Extension leaders of Wisconsin, +Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota was held early in +August at the Iowa State College, at Ames. The subject of apple and +potato clearing houses was the chief question discussed. The work of +this kind was started by Professor Greene in Kansas when they had the +big apple crop in 1913. Later Iowa and Minnesota undertook similar work. +It is expected that a co-operative plan will be formulated which will be +of greater value than when each state works alone. + +The visiting members were very glad to have President Pearson discuss +co-operation as he saw it while visiting a dozen or more countries in +Europe. + +One hour was spent in an automobile tour of the grounds and farms. +Considerable land from one to three miles from the main campus is now +used for experimental work. One of the latest additions to the +horticultural equipment is a cold storage plant and range of +greenhouses, costing over sixty thousand dollars. + + +HORTICULTURAL TOUR IN WESTERN IOWA AND EASTERN NEBRASKA. + +The horticultural societies of Iowa and Nebraska joined in an automobile +tour of the orchards, vineyards, nurseries, and truck farms August 2 to +4. The first day was spent in and around Council Bluffs. Interest +centered around the large Co-operative Grape Growers' Association. A +grand picnic dinner was served by the ladies. This association has been +in active operation for fifteen years. Professor Beach emphasized the +value of the work that is being done, and especially the value of having +a contented lot of people in a community mutually interested in one kind +of work. On the return trip a stop was made at the experimental apple +orchard that is conducted by the Horticultural Department of the Iowa +State College. This orchard of 900 trees was leased in 1910 for ten +years to determine if an old orchard that has been unprofitable could be +made profitable. Careful records have been kept of expenses and of the +size and grade of all fruits produced under the several soil treatments. +To date six crops have been harvested from the 475 trees under +experiment. The lowest was 1,700 bushels in 1911 and the largest was +6,000 bushels in 1915. It is estimated that there is about thirty per +cent. of a crop on the trees this year. Demonstrations were given in +spraying, dynamiting trees, treating trees affected with blister canker, +and grading apples with a large grading machine. + +The second day was spent in orchards near Omaha. Some excellent orchards +that have been very profitable were visited. It had been very dry in +that region, consequently the fruit was undersized. + +The third day was spent in southwestern Iowa, from Hamburg to Glenwood. +It is impossible to tell about all the good things seen on this trip. We +saw all kinds of pruning, cultivated and "sod cultivated" orchards and, +above all, corn, corn and more corn. At Shenandoah the nurserymen and +seedsmen took charge of the party and entertained all in a very +hospitable manner. There were ninety at the noon banquet. In the +afternoon they showed us the large nurseries and seed warehouse. + +Toward the end of the trip we stopped at a 40-acre orchard, mostly +Grimes Golden. A hailstorm had injured the fruit very much. + +One of the great lessons gained from the 150-mile automobile tour was +the fact that _spraying_ is _one_ of the _most important orchard +operations_. It was interesting to hear what some of the older +orchardists would say when they saw fruit injured by scab. It is an +important matter with them, because it means dollars to have +disease-free fruit to market. + +[Illustration: VETERAN DOUGLAS FIR, STANDING MILES OUT FROM THE +PROTECTING MOUNTAIN, EXPOSED TO ALL THE FIERCE WINDS OF THE +PLAINS.] + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted in estimating their practical value. + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + +Vol. 44 OCTOBER, 1916 No. 10 + + + + +Camping on the Yellowstone Trail. + +CLARENCE WEDGE, NURSERYMAN, ALBERT LEA, MINN. + + +I suppose that civilization is the correct thing for mortals to aspire +to. As a boy, while I hated it with a bitter hatred, I accepted it as +inevitable because my elders approved it and because it seemed +indissolubly linked to the school, the church and the things of good +repute. As I grow older the yoke sits easier on my shoulders, but doubts +have increased as to its necessary connection with the good, the true +and the beautiful. It surely kills the sweet virtue of hospitality. In +my home church lately there was a call for volunteers to entertain a +visiting delegation, and I was interested in observing how perfectly the +number that might be accommodated in any home was in inverse ratio to +the size and furnishings of the house. High heeled shoes and hobble +skirts, two-story starched collars and tile hats are fashion signs of +civilization, but I cannot see why a ring in the nose and a tattooed arm +might not have answered just as well. I am getting harder to convince +that a broad foot, shaped on the lines laid down by the Creator, is less +beautiful or desirable than the one-toe pointed shoe, decreed just now +by our particular brand of culture, and today I would as lief defend the +cult of the simple red man as the savagery that disgraces the lands +across the water. + +Whatever the merits of the matter, for one month of the year we and our +tent and automobile abandon ourselves to barbarism, and live as we +please. This year we chose to spend our month on the Yellowstone Trail, +the road that leads from the Twin Cities to the Yellowstone National +Park, and which is different from other roads leading in the same +direction mainly by its yellow mark, faithfully directing the traveler +on his way and preventing the loss of time in getting directions at +doubtful cross roads. Our party consisted of a young botanist, and his +wife, my wife, myself and our small boy Alan. Our equipment consisted of +a tent, 7x7 ft., weighing, stakes, poles, partition and all, 16-1/2 +lbs.; a trunk on the running board made to hold bedding and grub box, +and an oil cloth to use as a tent floor. Like the Indians we go light, +and live the simple life while on the trail. We get off at six o'clock +in the morning, eating our breakfast on the move as we get hungry; lunch +at noon by the roadside, and camp early, seeking the most interesting +spot, from the top of a butte to a pleasant river valley--and cooking +the one square meal of the day by such a brushwood fire as we are able +to gather. + +[Illustration: "Us" and some others at a mountain cabin.] + +For the first few days we try to provide some straw to temper the hard +earth, but as the days go by, and we get used to roughing it, we sleep +soundly with nothing but a blanket and oil cloth between us and mother +earth. We pin back the tent door, and with the night wind fanning our +faces, close our eyes to the stars and flickering campfire. Some who +have never camped are afraid of bugs, snakes and wild animals. We have +spent our vacation month this way for twenty-five years, have camped in +most of the counties of Minnesota, and in Iowa, the Dakotas and Montana, +and have never had but one unpleasant experience of the kind. That was +one night when we pitched our tent after dark on the bottoms below Fort +Snelling, and did not know till we had laid ourselves down that a colony +of ants had pre-empted the spot before us. We did not get much sleep, +but we had the comfort of feeling that they were nice, clean, +self-respecting, self-defending ants. Would that our experience in +hotels had been equally fortunate! + +[Illustration: A young Douglas fir.] + +Leaving the western boundary of the forests of Minnesota near Glencoe +and going across the prairie and plains to the mountain forests of +Montana is an interesting experience. The only trees in Western +Minnesota and the Dakotas are those found along the lakes and water +courses, and west of the Missouri the trees and shrubby growth, even in +such places, becomes very scanty or entirely disappears, giving a weird +appearance to one who has always associated water and trees together in +his mind. As we draw near the Montana line, trees begin to appear on the +tops of the buttes and high bluffs on the distant horizon. Traveling on +the railroad I have wondered what they were. With our own private car we +satisfied our curiosity by zig-zagging our way up to a camping place +among them, the first night they came in sight. Of course they were our +old friends, the Ponderosa pine, whose name will always be associated +with our grand old man from Nebraska. They ought to be renamed the +Harrison pine. How they endure the drouth and cold in a soil so poor +that grass withers and dies out, and how they stand erect where every +other living thing bows to the bleak winds and blizzards of the +prairies, is one of the mysteries of plant life. What a splendid bonfire +we made of their boughs that night, flaring as a beacon out over the +ocean of prairie about us! + +The day before we had passed by hundreds of clumps of a beautiful blue +lupine with finely cut foliage and profusion of color that rivaled any +flower of its shade I have seen in cultivation. On the way home we +gathered a handful of seed from which we shall hope to grow some plants +at home. We tried to dig a few to transplant, but their roots seemed to +go down, down, till with my short handled shovel, I got discouraged. The +herbage of the plains has learned to dig deep for water. + +[Illustration: A camp by the Red River of the North, Mrs. Wedge sitting +by a giant cottonwood. Our 16 lb. tent at the right.] + +Leaving the Yellowstone at Big Timber and striking across the plains to +the Snowy Mountains, we found the Ponderosa pine, and soon the Flexilis +pine, wherever a rocky ridge is lifted above the level of the plains, so +that these trees were in sight a large share of the time, even far away +from large rivers and groups of mountains. If a homestead anywhere in +that state is not cozily protected by bright colored evergreens it is +not because there is any difficulty in getting trees that will thrive in +that soil. + +[Illustration: A young Ponderosa pine.] + +The Snowy Mountains are in the center of Montana, quite unsheltered from +the other ranges of the Rockies. It is the meeting place of the flora of +the mountains and the plains. I think it is the eastern limit of that +peerless tree of the Rockies, the Douglas fir. I gave my impressions of +this tree to the society a year or two ago. I am still more in love with +it from what I again saw last August in its native Snowy Mountains, and +from the bright, sturdy little trees that have been growing at my home +in Minnesota for two years past, giving assurance of their willingness +to be transplanted to our moister air. It is the coming evergreen for +the prairies, and it will be a happy day for all who plant an evergreen +west of the natural timber when the Douglas fir has displaced the trees +that come from the cool, moist forests of Europe and the sheltered woods +of our own lake regions. + +I think the Snowys are also about the eastern limit of the little +broad-leaved evergreen called the Oregon grape, that I believe every one +in Minnesota can grow for Christmas greens. From my first acquaintance +with it I got the impression that it required shade, but this time I +noted that it was growing all over the bare ridges that radiate from the +mountains, wherever it was possible for a little snow to lodge. We can +substitute a light sprinkling of straw when snow is lacking. It +certainly does not require shade. + +The Mariposa lily is a unique flower that springs up in open places and +produces a white blossom about the size and shape of the wild morning +glory. It grows about a foot high and produces one or two flowers on +each stalk. It must have a long period of bloom for ripe seed pods, and +blooming plants were common at the same time in August. + +The Canadian buffalo berry and a dwarfish birch are two mountain plants +of no small ornamental value for the plains. They may not endure the +moister air near the Mississippi, but there we have already many useful +natives, like the black haw and thorn apple, that are as yet almost +unnoticed. + +[Illustration: Group of Douglas fir on the mountainside. Thirteen trees +in a space of only two square rods. None less than two feet in +diameter.] + +One of the principal charms about the great country traversed by the +Yellowstone Trail is its newness and freshness. Millions of acres just +as the Indian, the buffalo and the coyote left them--broad stretches as +far as eye can reach without a sign of human habitation. But this is +fast passing away. Out among the sage brush in land as poor and +desert-like as could well be imagined, homes are being mapped out by the +thousand, and crops of grain were grown this year that rival the best +yield in any of the older states. The time is close at hand when the +main highways will be built up and made so hard and smooth that two +hundred and fifty miles will be made as easily as our average runs of +one hundred and fifty. The way will be safer and speedier, but it will +lack some of the spice of adventure, and it will be harder to realize +the simple life about the camp fire that now seems to harmonize so well +with the wildness of the plains. + + + + +The Minnesota Orchard. + +A QUESTION AND ANSWER EXERCISE LED BY J. P. ANDREWS, NURSERYMAN, +FARIBAULT. + + +Mr. Andrews: This is a very important subject. We have been talking +about it a long, long time, and we have advanced a little, ought to have +advanced quite a little more, and this exercise is along the road of +improvement in that line. Anything that is bothering us, anything that +is in the way of our success with the apple orchard, ask what questions +you can, not that I can answer them all, but there are some good +orchardists around here that I know I can call on, in case I can not. In +this exercise the questions come first, and it is for you fellows to +start the ball rolling. + +There is one thing we are lacking, that is winter apples. We have enough +of fall apples, seems to me, so we can get along very well, but we are +looking for something a little better quality than Malinda and that will +keep somewhere near as long. All these new seedlings that have been +introduced in the past and big premiums offered, they seem to have +stopped right there and we are not getting the benefit of but one or +two. If they had been adapted to the north, as they should have been, we +undoubtedly could have had several good varieties of apples that we +could recommend for planting a considerable ways north of here that are +good. As it is now we are really looking in this southern part of the +country for keeping apples. + +I should think if we could get these new varieties of seedlings that are +keeping well introduced into the Fruit-Breeding Farm and let Supt. +Haralson handle them under number and send them off to the north of us a +good ways, we could have them tested. Those that have exhibited these +new seedlings and got premiums for them, they ought to be a little more +free to get them in some shape so that they will be tested and we will +learn their worth. They have their premiums, they got those simply +because they are good keepers. Well, now, that isn't anything in their +favor for Minnesota planting, not very much. Of course, good keepers, +that is a good thing, good quality is another thing, but the first thing +is hardiness, and the people who have been drawing these premiums have +been seemingly backward in getting them in shape to test. They are +afraid to put them out for fear somebody might steal them, but if Mr. +Haralson had the handling of them under number nobody could steal them. +You have got title to them and control them just as well as when you +keep them right on your place where they haven't a chance to show +whether they are hardy or not. There is the weak point in this seedling +business for Minnesota, I think. + +But the apple orchards of Minnesota, if you are not all getting the good +results that you want from your orchards, if you are not all getting a +full crop, what is the reason? The last year and this year we have +failed of getting a good crop of apples or almost any crop, whereas +before, ever since the old orchard was planted in 1878, why, we have +regarded the apple crop as really a very much surer crop than almost any +of the farm crops, but the last two years we have failed to get a crop. + +I attribute the poor crop a year ago to such an excessive crop as we had +the year before that. Two years ago everything was loaded, breaking +down, because we didn't thin them as we ought to, and we could hardly +expect very much the next year. This last year, you know we had frosts +quite frequent up to about the 10th of June, I think that was the reason +we had such a failure this year. Our own orchard is on ground that is +about 225 feet above Faribault, so we have got air drainage, and we +would expect to escape frosts on that account and have as good a crop as +anybody else would in that neighborhood. But that wasn't the case. We +didn't get any apples, and yet during county fair why there was quite a +nice show of nice fruit that they had picked up a few here and a few +there, where really their location seems to me could not have been any +better than ours. I don't know what the reason was, but it was very +patchy, and I didn't dream we would have such a good show of fruit as we +did, and I couldn't tell where it came from. + +Mr. Philips: I think when the trees are loaded so heavily, if you would +pick off a third of them you would get more out of the balance of the +crop. + +Mr. Andrews: Yes, I think that. The question is, if we pick off a third +of a heavy crop, if we have a heavy crop, if that wouldn't help the next +crop. It surely would. + +Mr. Philips: Help that crop, too, in the price. + +Mr. Andrews: Yes, sir, it will pay that year besides paying the next +year, too; it will pay double. + +Mr. Philips: It is a good plan any year. + +Mr. Andrews: Yes, we ought to do that, we are lacking in that work of +thinning the fruit. We sometimes have a late frost that will take off +part of them, thin them that way, or wind, or something of that kind, +and we rather depend on that feature of it. Then in that time of the +year we are very busy and liable to have some things neglected, and that +seems to be the one that is almost always neglected. + +Mr. Brackett: Would you advocate the extensive planting of apples in +this climate? + +Mr. Andrews: I would not. At the same time you take it in the southern +part of the state I presume they can grow them there. They can grow +there many things we can't think of growing in this part of the state +unless it be along Lake Minnetonka. + +Mr. Older: Where you have an orchard ten years old, is it best to seed +it down or still continue to cultivate it? In the west they have to +cultivate. What is the best in this country? I know one man says it is +best to keep on cultivating while it is growing, and another man says +that that will kill the trees. I want to know which is the best. + +Mr. Andrews: I think cultivation is the thing that ought to be done +until the trees get well to bearing, anyway, and then it furnishes +nitrogen to the soil to seed it down to clover. If we don't do that we +are very liable to neglect that element in the soil. The better way to +my mind is to cultivate for eight or ten years, and then I do think it +is all right perhaps, for farmers, I mean, who will neglect the +cultivation if they depend on it. That is, if they make up their minds +it is better to cultivate than it is to seed down, their trees are more +apt to be neglected. During the busy part of the season they won't +cultivate as constantly as they ought to. If they would do that I have +not much doubt but what cultivation would be all right right along, if +you will furnish that nitrogen that ought to be in the soil for the +protection of the crop. Clover is the easiest way to get that, and the +trees will be more sure to have the benefit of that if you sow to clover +and grow a crop of hay and turn it under, possibly let it be into clover +two years, but turn that under and cultivate for two or three years and +then put into clover again. I think that would be preferable for the +farmer, for the farmer especially, than it would to undertake to either +cultivate all the time or seed down all the time. + +I don't believe it is a good thing to seed down where there are young +trees growing and while the orchard is young. If you will plant your +potatoes in that orchard between the rows and cultivate it, you will do +the cultivating. I haven't got very much faith in the average farmer--I +don't mean you horticulturists--but the average farmer. If he will plant +trees and you advise him to cultivate them while they are young, they +will be neglected after the first year or so. He may while the fever is +on, he may cultivate them one year and the next year about half +cultivate them, and the following years they will grow up to grass and +weeds. Whereas, if he plants potatoes he gets just the right cultivation +for the trees if he cultivates the ground enough to get a good crop of +potatoes. Then in the fall when he digs the potatoes he loosens up the +ground, and it takes up the moisture, and after the fall rains they go +into winter quarters in good shape. It seems to me that is as near right +as I could recommend. + +Mr. Hansen: What distance apart ought those apple trees to be? + +Mr. Older: Another question along that line. Suppose we concede that a +young orchard ought to be cultivated until it gets eight or ten years +old, then which is the best when you seed it to clover to cut the clover +and throw the hay around the trees for a mulch or just take the hay +away, or what? + +Mr. Andrews: I think it would be better to put the hay around the trees +for mulching. If the hay is used and the barnyard manure is taken to the +orchard that would fill the bill pretty well. + +Now, the distance apart? Grown trees really need about thirty feet apart +each way. If you run the rows north and south and put them thirty feet +apart, and sixteen feet or a rod apart in the row, with a view to +taking out every other tree, you might have to go under bonds to take +them out when they are needed to come out (laughter), or else you would +leave them there until you hurt your other trees. If you would take out +every other tree when they get to interfering after several years, eight +or ten years, you can grow a double crop of apples in your orchard, but +if you do the way you probably will do, leave them right there until +they get too close, you will-- + +Mr. Hansen: Spoil all of them? + +Mr. Andrews: Yes. Then you better put them out a little farther apart, +and, as I said, two rods apart each way I don't believe is too far. Our +old orchard that we put out in 1877 is just on its last legs now. At +that time, you know, we didn't know anything about what varieties to +plant, we didn't have as many as we have now. The old orchard only had +the Duchess and Wealthy for standards, and half of the orchard was into +crabs, because I thought at that time crabs was the only thing that +would be any ways sure of staying by us. Well, those trees are about +through their usefulness now, the standards. They have borne well until +the last two years, generally loaded, and they were put out at that time +fourteen feet apart each way, breaking joints so that they didn't come +directly opposite. And when they got to be twelve or fifteen years old, +it was difficult to get through there with a team or with any +satisfaction, it was rubbing the limbs too much. Then the next orchard +we put out on the farm was twenty-four feet by fifteen or sixteen feet +in the row, the rows twenty-four feet apart. I wish they were a little +farther apart, although that hasn't bothered very much about getting +through between the rows, but it shows that a tree that is any ways +spreading in its habit really needs about two rods each way. Are there +any other questions? + +Mr. Brackett: Do you think a Wealthy orchard under thorough cultivation, +making a rank growth, do you think it is as hardy as an orchard seeded +down, and do you think that a Wealthy orchard would blight more than +other kinds? + +Mr. Andrews: If the ground is rich and under thorough cultivation it +does tend to cause fire blight. I haven't followed it on anything but +young orchards. When they have commenced to bear then we have generally +seeded down and turned in the hogs, and we have rather neglected the +cultivation after that. I do think that if we had cultivated a little +more often it would have been better. + +Mr. Older: What do you consider the best to seed down with, clover or +alfalfa? + +Mr. Andrews: I have never tried alfalfa. I don't see why it wouldn't be +all right, if you don't try to keep it too long. It would furnish the +nitrogen all right. + +Mr. Older: Which kind of seeding down would you prefer, what kind of +clover? Would you want the Alsike clover or sweet clover for an apple +orchard? + +Mr. Andrews: I haven't tried anything but the medium clover. The sweet +clover I think would be rather a rank grower. + +Mr. Older: If you are going to mow it, why not mow the sweet clover same +as the other? + +Mr. Andrews: That would be all right. If you were going to use it for +mulching, I think it would be the thing, because it would be better for +mulching than for feeding. + +Mr. Ludlow: I would like to give a little experience in putting in +alfalfa in an orchard. We got the seed, the Grimm alfalfa, I think, is +the name of it, and I got a good stand. We got seed from it the first +year, and I sowed more, but there seemed to be something about the +alfalfa that would draw the pocket-gophers from two miles around. The +second year I think I had nineteen of my thriftiest apple tree roots all +eaten off. I didn't know there was one in the field because there were +no mounds at all. In the spring I found where they were at work, and I +catch on an average of twenty pocket-gophers out of that mound every +year. Talk about cultivating, the pocket-gophers will cultivate it, and +the alfalfa is pretty much all eaten out and it has come into bluegrass. + +Mr. Harrison: That question as to alfalfa; the experience is always that +the roots go too deep so it hurts the apple trees. Red clover seems to +be the clover that is favored by most people. + +Mr. Andrews: Mr. Ludlow spoke of the pocket-gopher favoring alfalfa. We +have a patch of alfalfa right near the apple trees. I don't remember +that I have noticed any pocket-gophers work in that piece at all. On the +opposite side of the road, where it is clover and timothy, why, they +work there tremendously. I know Brother Ludlow was telling us a little +while ago at dinner about pocket-gophers working on his place, and I +wouldn't wonder if he is blessed with an extra colony of them there. + +Mr. Ludlow: I try to catch them all out every year. I catch out on an +average about eighteen to twenty every fall, so as to catch them before +they increase early in the spring. It seems as though they came from a +distance. I know one came into my garden this year. I didn't know there +was a gopher within a mile, and in one night he made four mounds in the +middle of my strawberry bed. + +Mrs. Glenzke: Did you ever try poisoning them? + +Mr. Ludlow: No, I never did. I am most successful in catching them in a +trap. + +Mr. Brackett: Have you got any pocket-gophers that do not make mounds? +Do you understand that? + +Mr. Ludlow: No, sir, I don't understand that, but when they came in and +killed the nineteen trees in the fall I hadn't seen a mound there. In +the spring I found where they were at work, and then I went after them. + + + + +City "Foresters" and Municipal Forests. + +PROF. E. G. CHENEY, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. + + +Several cities in the state have appointed "city foresters." This is a +step in the right direction, if it is a precursor to the establishment +of municipal forests for these men to manage; otherwise it is a misnomer +and can only be misleading to the people. The city governments, in an +endeavor to create a complete park organization, have so far adopted +this title from European practice without much regard to the duties of +the officer. A forester handles trees in mass formations,--sometimes for +timber production, sometimes for the protection of water-sheds, +sometimes for aesthetic effect or park purposes,--but always in the +mass. + +The handling of shade trees such as we have in our city streets is the +work of an arborist. The planting of large ornamental trees, the pruning +of the individual for formal effect, the filling of cavities and the +bracing of weak parts, are no part of a forester's work; nor do they +necessarily fall within his knowledge. An expert should undoubtedly be +in charge of the work, but an expert arborist, not a forester. The title +is, therefore, when combined with the present duties, unfortunate, +because it gives the people--still struggling with a hazy conception of +forestry--a wrong idea of the true character of the real forester's +work. + +Two very obvious ways of avoiding the difficulty present +themselves,--either to change the title or to change the duties. The +former would probably be much easier of accomplishment, but the latter +is without question the course which the city ought to pursue. Since the +cities have adopted the title of "city forester," and so obtained a more +complete park organization on paper, why not make the improvement real +by adopting the rest of the European practice and creating city forests +for these new officers to handle? That would indeed be a real +improvement, and one without which any city park system is lamentably +lame. + +Nearly every large city has some large park within in limits kept in a +more or less natural condition as a recreation ground for its people, +thus recognizing its influence for health and social betterment. How +much it would increase this influence if there were a considerable tract +of forest within easy reach of the city! How much better approach it +would make to the city than the unsightly waste places so often +encountered! How much better setting it would make for the suburban +residence sections! + +Such a municipal forest is not a Utopian dream, but a practical thing +well within the reach of almost any city. The law passed by the last +legislature makes it possible for a city to purchase land for such a +purpose either within or without the city limits. The activities of the +present park boards show that money can be obtained to carry out such +plans. The establishment of the forests would be less expensive than is +generally imagined. The amount of money expended on the Gateway Park in +Minneapolis would buy hundreds of acres of city land within fifteen +miles of the city. With the aid of a municipal nursery, such as every +park system should have, this land could be planted up at a total +expense, for stock and labor, of six to eight dollars per acre. The cost +of maintenance would be limited to the patrol of the tract to prevent +fire and trespass. Of course, there might be no money revenue from the +forest for many years, but in a comparatively short time it would begin +to fulfill its purpose as a park, and once the timber is mature, there +would be a continuous net annual income of from five to ten dollars per +acre. Suppose that the city had 10,000 acres of such forest paying a net +annual revenue--in addition to its full services as a park--of from +$50,000 to $100,000 toward the maintenance of the other city parks, and +it must be remembered that for every dollar of net revenue the forest +would pay an additional dollar or more in wages to swell the coffers of +the city;--certainly that would be something very much better than +anything that the city has at present. + +St. Paul, with the bottom lands and cliffs on either side of the river +between Hastings and Minneapolis, could make a beautiful and profitable +park of what now threatens to develop into a monumental waste. Duluth +could make a forest which would be unsurpassed in beauty and usefulness +by any in the world out of the brushy, unoccupied, rock-bound hills as +far west as Thompson. Mankato has a glorious chance for the same work +along the Minnesota valley. Virginia and Hibbing could do nothing better +than make such use of the rocky, mine-scarred hills in their vicinity. + +And so opportunity might be cited for almost any city in the state. For +the municipal forest need not be confined to the big cities. In fact, in +some respects the smaller city has an advantage over the larger place. +Suitable land can usually be obtained near the city at a much more +reasonable price and the revenue obtained bear a much larger ratio to +the total expenses of the town. There are some small towns in Germany +where the entire running expenses are paid by the revenues of the town +forest, and one or two where the forest not only pays all of the taxes +but also pays a cash pension to a number of the older inhabitants. + +Certainly our towns, looking forward to an endless and progressive +existence, cannot afford to neglect this opportunity to develop a useful +park, to provide a source of cheap wood and lumber for future +generations and a substantial revenue for the city. + +Expert advice need not be employed until the size and revenue of the +forest warrants it, for the State Forest Service stands ready to +help--by the selection of land, the formulation of plans, and +consultation--any city that is wise enough to take advantage of this +law. + +The "city forester" can then be a forester indeed, and one of the good +points of the European city government will have been adopted in fact as +well as in name. + + + + +The Salome Apple. + +H. W. HARRISON, ROCHESTER, MINN. SO. MINN. HORT. SOCIETY. + + +The Salome apple is named after one of the faithful Bible characters, +Salome, who was associated with Martha and Mary while our Savior was on +earth and was also a witness of his crucifixion. Thus the name alone +commands respect. It was originated in eastern Canada, and it was +introduced here some twenty-five years ago by the Princeton Nursery +Company of Illinois and has proven to be very hardy on different soils +and locations. It is grown in the southern tier of counties of Minnesota +and as far north as New Ulm. + +Like all good things it has had a hard fight to overcome its opponents. +At the time it was introduced here there were Ben Davis and other tender +varieties delivered in its place in certain localities. These not being +hardy of course gave the Salome a black eye. Nevertheless it is an apple +that should be grown extensively because of its hardiness, its clean +appearance and upright growth, spreading just enough to admit air and +light. + +Its fruit will keep in ordinary cellars until May or June. It is medium +in size and color, red streaked with green and yellow. Flesh is yellow +and sub acid. Like all winter varieties it is slow to come in bearing +but yielding heavily when it does bear, whenever other varieties do. Let +us not lose sight of this excellent fruit in our desire to produce +something new and original. + + + + +How May the State University and the Horticultural Society Best +Co-Operate? + +GEO. E. VINCENT, PRESIDENT MINN. STATE UNIVERSITY, MINNEAPOLIS. + + +Now, so far as I can understand, the only excuse for interpolating me in +a program of this kind is that you are giving so much attention to +technical subjects, you are working so hard, you need from time to time +relief in order that you may not suffer from brain fever or any of the +ailments of overstudy. I am confident from this point of view anything I +may have to say will meet that need completely. + +The relationship between this society and the university strikes me as +typically American. There are two ways of doing things--leaving public +undertakings entirely to private initiative, to individuals, to +voluntary groups; that is one plan. There is another plan which consists +in putting everything into the hands of the state. Constituted authority +takes charge of the whole life of the citizen's, all the activities and +enterprise are made public, state affairs. + +Those are the two extremes. The dangers of those two methods are very +obvious. Many enterprises left to private initiative will be done in +haphazard fashion; there will be duplication and waste. When the state +undertakes all these enterprises it changes the whole aspect. Public +management may make for a certain efficiency, but it sooner or later +undermines the initiative, the feeling of responsibility of the +individual. We are a practical people, we compromise and combine the +various methods of doing things. It is the typical American way to +combine private initiative with a certain measure of state co-operation. +The work for horticulture in the state of Minnesota has been developed +under exactly these conditions. + +If I remember rightly, this society was organized in 1867. It has +assumed a definite leadership in the development of horticulture in the +state of Minnesota; the university has gradually been adapting itself, +so to speak, to the work of this society. The society and the university +have officially been in close relationship. I believe that in the early +days the secretary was at the same time a university officer and for the +last twenty-five years, I am told that at least one expert of the +university staff has always been a member of the executive board of this +society. This has made a personal bond. + +Then the society has done a great many important things. You have stood +by at times when people were not perfectly certain about the importance +of various kinds of scientific work. You have been steadfast. Sometimes +it required courage to stand for the scientific ideals which the +university was attempting to carry out in important work that had a +bearing upon horticulture. + +And you have, of course, the chief responsibility and distinction of +having seen to it that our fruit-breeding farm should be established. I +believe you were also kind enough to pick out the site, although none of +you were personally interested in the particular real estate ultimately +purchased. + +So that we feel--we of the university feel--that the work of +horticulture in this state is distinctly a co-operative undertaking, and +that the leadership and enterprise and vision of this society have been +the chief things that developed horticulture in Minnesota to the point +it has reached. But we do believe that the co-operation of your +university is an important and, we hope, from now on will be an +increasingly important thing. Certain work is going on constantly at the +University in the various departments, and that work is of distinct +benefit because you recognize it. + +We had a good illustration a few minutes ago. The professor of soils was +having his brains picked, as he had a perfect right to have, by you. You +were asking him questions, and I noticed once or twice he said he didn't +know. That must have inspired confidence in him; I have a good deal of +faith in people who don't know it all. That shows two things--they have +a sense of humor, and they expect to find out. There is something +pathetic in a person who knows it all; it is a case of arrested +development. + +So out of the department of soils you expect to get the result of +careful and scientific study of the nature of soils. From the department +of plant pathology you expect to learn about the various forms of plant +diseases and the way in which these may be eliminated. From the +department of entomology you expect to learn something about the +troublesome insects, which are so universal an annoyance. I think they +simply exist to test our character, to see whether we have courage to go +on, bugs or no bugs. We do the best we can to become familiar with the +habits of these nefarious creatures and let you know what we know. So I +might call attention to one or two other departments--but you know how +much is being accomplished. You get regular reports. You have a +committee to visit and investigate our fruit-breeding farms. If I may +judge from the reports which your committee makes--I don't know whether +it is because it is one of your children and you are indulgent--your +committee seems to think good things are being done and distinct +progress recorded at the fruit-breeding farm. With your support and +confidence we are enlarging the work there. It seems we should have more +land in the early future, and we may ask for your co-operation in +convincing the powers that be that such increase of territory is +necessary. + +How many members have you? 3,407 members, I believe. Perhaps you have +more since that number was given this morning. At any rate, there is a +good number, and when you think of all the wisdom and all the experience +that those 3,407 people have, it seems a great pity not to get it +organized in better form. Come and pick some more brains while these +brains are still available and organize this great mass of knowledge. + +Here is the next problem. Who are the people that are going to take your +places? Who is to have a gold watch given him fifty years from now--or +given to her fifty years from now? This thing is to go on, and how? It +goes on by discovering in Minnesota the horticulturally-minded people in +the state; you must always be on the lookout for people who are to do +the big things. The great European governments are considering how they +are going to keep their armies recruited, how the next generation is to +be brought in and organized. That is the same problem in every nation. +It is extremely necessary to put out dragnets for specialists. There are +probably thousands of men in Minnesota who are horticulturists, they are +dormant horticulturists, and your business and ours is to try to +discover them. So the problem with us is how to get out the dragnet. + +You know there is a great biological principle that is illustrated in +the lower types of animals. Millions of fish eggs are produced for every +hundred that actually fertilize and amount to anything. So when you are +looking for results in a great subject, when you are trying to discover +people, when you are putting out a dragnet, you have to try a very large +number with the hope of discovering the relatively few who really show +the divine spark, who are really the men that you are looking for. + +It is a very interesting thing when you come to think about it, all the +while we are looking for special ability in modern activities we do it +by fashion. Fashion is something that victimizes the ladies. They do not +care for fashion itself, it is thrust upon them from the outside. Most +women conform to fashion on the principle of protective coloring; they +do not care for it themselves, but they do not want to be conspicuous by +not conforming; so they protect themselves that way. + +I consider fashion is a beneficial thing when you look at it the right +way. By fashion all kinds of new things are started throughout the +country, and you discover certain people who have a special aptitude. It +becomes the fashion to do various things, and in many cases people +become interested and develop their own special tastes and faculties. + +I am tremendously interested just now in rural education. We want a +rural school that will be attractive. We are interested in getting +houses for the teachers to be built right alongside the school house. +Then there will be the garden in connection with the house, the flower +garden and the tree planting. Some of us are looking forward to the time +when the rural school will be the most charming spot in all the +countryside, not a place from which the teacher escapes at the earliest +possible moment on Friday to return reluctantly on Monday morning, but a +place where she wants to remain, where the rural school will be the +center of the community and community life. It will be an attractive +place for the best kind of teacher. When we can get to that point we +shall be able to establish in the rural regions an institution that will +be a vital part of the whole community and a thing of joy and of beauty. + +That gospel might be extended to the tree planting on the farmstead. You +know what the state art society had been doing. There is another +dragnet. You have seen the Minnesota Art Journal, which is dealing with +the problems in tree planting of the farm, planting around the farm +house; That in connection with the modern farm house that has been +suggested, these things have a very important bearing upon problems in +which both you and the university are interested. + +And then we can look forward to the time when you will have your +permanent home, if not on the farm grounds themselves at least near +there, where we could co-operate and use the same building, so that +while it would be yours you will feel that it is being utilized +throughout the year in such a way that the expenditure of the money +would be justified. + +There is a fine vista ahead of us, a vista of the things to be, +accomplished by means of this American combination of private initiative +and enterprise and idealism and the support of the state for certain +details of work which can be best accomplished in that way. + + + + +The Shelter Belt for Orchard and Home Grounds. + +A DISCUSSION LED BY JOHN W. MAHER, NURSERYMAN, DEVILS LAKE, N. DAK. + + +Mr. Maher: The subject this morning is to be on "Shelter-Belt for +Orchard and Home Grounds." I am satisfied, provided the "Home Grounds" +include the whole farm. + +The entire farm needs shelter, particularly from the hot, drying winds +and other destructive winds that uncover and cut down crops in +springtime and carry away the fertile top soil; and the summer winds, +hot winds, of course, that eat up the moisture; and those destructive +winds that sometimes harvest our barley and other crops before they are +cut. We need protection from all these winds, and in this latitude these +winds blow uniformly from the southwest. So every farm should be +protected from them by a substantial shelter-belt on the west and south +sides, which can also be the farm wood-lot. + +[Illustration: Apple tree windbreak at Devil's Lake Nursery. Hibernal in +the foreground. Patten's Greening in the distance.] + +There is another phase of protection that has been emphasized this year +very much, and that is, protection against summer frosts and late spring +frosts. A gentleman living at McIntosh, near Crookston, in this state, +told me that corn matured up there wherever it was protected from the +north wind. At the Devils Lake Nursery we had a 400-bushel per acre +potato crop protected only by the blocks of nursery stock, whereas the +yield in the vicinity was from nothing to fifty bushels per acre--and I +believe if Mr. Andrews will inquire into the location of the good apple +crops about Faribault he will probably find they were saved by similar +shelter protection, or the natural lay of the land. + +Mr. Kellogg: What is your best windbreak? + +Mr. Maher: The evergreen is the best windbreak for the reason that it +gives more shelter, retains its leaves in the winter and fewer rows of +trees will make a good shelter-belt. The variety--that is, west of the +timber line in Minnesota--I should say the best would be the Ponderosa +pine, or bull pine, after that the jack pine may be, or else the +Colorado blue spruce and the Black Hills spruce. + +Mr. Kellogg: Colorado spruce is too expensive to set out as a windbreak. + +Mr. Maher: Well, the green varieties. I don't see why they should be any +more costly than the others. Of course, they are held at a higher price, +but they make a good windbreak because they are easily grown and are +perfectly hardy to stand the dry atmosphere and the hot winds. + +[Illustration: American Elm windbreak at Devil's Lake, N.D.] + +Mr. Kellogg: What is the reason there are so few of them really blue? + +Mr. Maher: I don't know. There is only a small percentage, probably 15 +per cent., that are blue. I think the dryer atmosphere produces more +blue than the more humid atmosphere. We have more blues in North Dakota +than you will find even here. I believe it is the dry atmosphere and the +intense sunlight that causes the blue, because the red cedar in North +Dakota, the native red cedar, is really a silver cedar and has a blue +sheen, or rather, a silver sheen. + +A Member: How large do the trees have to be to be of benefit? + +Mr. Maher: I have a friend out of Devils Lake who had 160 acres of flax +destroyed by a spring wind that hits the earth at such an angle. It +picked up the earth and cut the flax off, by reason of the clay hitting +the little plant, except about a hundred foot strip along the west +side, and that was protected by a growth of grass and weeds not to +exceed a foot in height. So it depends on the kind of wind a great deal +and the angle at which the wind strikes the grounds. + +Now, the distance that a windbreak will protect a field has been studied +out and measured and demonstrated by a great number of men. Mr. McGee, +at Indian Head, gave a great deal of thought and study to the windbreak +proposition and measured the distances that the shelter-belt would +shelter the crops, and he came to the conclusion that for every foot in +height there would be an absolute protection for a rod in distance, and +outside of that actual protection there would be a long distance that +would be partially protected. The same study was made by a gentleman in +Iowa--I can't call his name just now--and he came to practically the +same conclusion as to the distance that the protection reached in +proportion to the height of shelter-belt. + +[Illustration: Mountain Ash windbreak at Devil's Lake, N.D.] + +A Member: I want a shelter mostly for apple trees. Would it be five or +six years before I receive any benefit, or seven or eight years? + +Mr. Maher: Plant your protection when you plant your apple trees, and +you will have your protection sooner than you have your apples. If you +are going to do that, don't put the shelter too close to the apple +trees, which is a very common fault. + +A Member: How much distance would you allow for the roots? + +[Illustration: White Willow windbreak at Devil's Lake, N.D.] + +Mr. Maher: I should say not less than 100 feet, anyway. + +Mr. Moyer: I live in southwestern Minnesota, about thirty miles from the +South Dakota line, and I think it is a mistake to recommend the white +spruce for planting out there. The white spruce naturally grows towards +the North Pole, it extends even up to the Arctic Circle. Twenty-four +years ago I purchased a dozen white spruce from Robert Douglas, who was +then alive, and planted them northwest of my house. About five years ago +they began to fail, and now only two or three are alive, and they are +covered with dead branches. I feel sure that the white spruce have been +injured by the hot winds that come across the prairies from the +southwest. I don't think they can stand it. There is a variety of white +spruce that grows in the Black Hills, which I think will be decided to +be a different species when botanists come to study it, that will stand +our prairies. Another tree that we like is the Colorado blue spruce; it +is hardy and grows excellently. About twenty-three years ago, when +Professor Verner was at the head of the Forestry Department at +Washington he sent me 8,000 evergreens, and I set them out. They were +bull pine and the Scotch pine and Austrian pine. I was over to look at +them the other day. The Scotch pine, which have been set now +twenty-three years, are over thirty feet high, the Austrian pine about +two-thirds as high, and the bull pine, Ponderosa, is about as high as +the Austrian pine. He told me to set these trees about two feet apart +each way. I thought that too thick, so I set them in rows six feet apart +and about two or three feet apart in the rows. He wished me to alternate +the planting with deciduous trees. He recommended that I add a few +deciduous trees, green ash and box elder and a few elm, and I set them +as far as they would go, but they didn't go very far in setting the +8,000 evergreens. Then I thought it would be a good idea to use the +wolfberry that grows wild on the prairies. I set them alternately with +some of the evergreens, but as they have a very liberal root system it +was hard to get them out. The finest tree in the plantation is the +Austrian pine, and if it continues to do as well as it has the last +three or four years I think the Austrian pine is going to be a very +valuable pine for shelter-belt. + +Mr. Kellogg: Have you tested the Douglas spruce? + +Mr. Moyer: Not to a great extent. It does well in some localities. + +[Illustration: Soft, or Silver, Maple windbreak--to be succeeded by +permanent windbreak of Bur Oak--shown growing between man and boy.] + +Mr. Maher: I think the real test is to get them as near native to your +place as you can. The area over which the white spruce grows is greater +than that of any other spruce, possibly greater than any other +evergreen, especially through the northern latitudes. I don't think +there is any question about the Black Hills spruce being the white +spruce that was left there growing when the other timber was destroyed, +if we can adopt that theory. The white spruce from seed from the +Northwest, from the British Columbia countries especially, is perfectly +hardy with you. It is perfectly hardy with us at Devils Lake, which is a +very much more severe test, whereas the white spruce from its southern +limits may not be hardy even here. I think the Black Hills spruce is +perfectly hardy. The distance north and south relatively is not so +important with reference to growing trees as to get them from too far in +the humid district. The white spruce that I would be afraid of would be +the seed from New England and from the farther east limits of its +growth, where the conditions are so much more humid. + +Mr. Kellogg: Do you find any trouble with too much protection for +orchards? + +Mr. Maher: Where the protection is too close to the orchards I think it +is very bad. It destroys the air drainage-- + +Mr. Kellogg: That is why they are liable to blight. + +Mr. Maher: And they blight also. The air drainage is interfered with, +and you get blight, and you also smother the orchard. I don't know but +what the apple and the Americana plum are about as hardy trees as we +have anywhere. I don't make any attempt to protect them specially except +from the south and west. I don't put any northern windbreak around any +orchards I set out. Of course, we may lose a crop with a spring frost +all right when northern protection might save it, but with us up in our +country if we have a good spring frost it is usually heavy enough to +catch them anyway. + +[Illustration: Norway Poplar windbreak at Devil's Lake, N.D.] + +I have a question here: How long should a shelter-belt be cultivated? +Now, that is a point on which I think too much emphasis is placed. If +you set out your trees as Judge Moyer did his, close together, inside of +a few years they will take care of themselves, they will form forest +conditions very quickly, and cultivation is not necessary any more. Of +course, if you set your trees a great distance apart where there is +nothing to protect them from the burning sun, and the ground bakes and +dries, then you must cultivate or mulch, but I think cultivation much +better than mulching. + +Another question: How many rows of trees make a good windbreak? My idea +is that it takes twenty rows to make a good one--of deciduous trees, of +course. Two or three rows of evergreens, planted not further than eight +feet apart and with joints broken, probably makes as good a windbreak as +the twenty rows of deciduous trees and take less ground. + +Mr. Horton: Wouldn't you have an open space in those trees? You wouldn't +put them all together? + +Mr. Maher: If I had twenty rows of trees I would put them together. + +Mr. Horton: Would you have an open space outside of those twenty trees +for the snow to lodge in? + +[Illustration: Ponderosa Pine windbreak--at Devil's Lake (N.D.) +Nursery.] + +Mr. Maher: I have never known the snow to do any hurt in a twenty row +windbreak. It distributes itself in there, and the more comes the +better. + +Mr. Horton: I have seen them broken badly with the snow. + +Mr. Maher: That would be probably the poplars and trees that break +easily. + +Mr. Horton: On my farm I put out a row of twenty trees. Outside of that +I left a space on the north and west six rods wide, and I put out some +golden willows outside of that, and that made an open space for the snow +to fall in. + +Mr. Maher: That is a very good plan, to have a row of willows back of +your shelter-belt, especially around the home and orchard and barn +ground, to hold the snow back. + +Mr. Moyer: I found that the snow drifted into my evergreens but didn't +break them. I used lilac bushes; I planted a long row. Lilacs are very +common, and I got enough to plant a long row. They are now ten feet +high, and it is a magnificent sight in summer. + +Mr. Maher: I know the lilac is a splendid thing, better than the golden +willow, because they last longer. They are more hardy, and they make a +better protection, and as far as wood goes from the golden willows you +get nothing except branches unless it is the white willow. + +I have another question here: What would you plant around the garden? +For a windbreak around the garden orchard, that should have an inside +protection, and the shelter-belt itself should be too far away from the +garden to be sufficient protection. Around the garden I would plant +Juneberry or dogwood or any of those common native berry plants. They +will afford the very best kind of protection, just as good as the lilacs +and just as hardy, and at the same time will produce food for the birds +and bring them about your garden and keep them with you and shelter +them. + +Mr. Kellogg: The barberry-- + +Mr. Mahler: The barberry would be all right, but I prefer the Juneberry +and the mulberry and the dogwood, because they come up a little higher. +The barberry is all right. + +Mr. Kellogg: I had barberry, and I dug it all up. + +Mr. Maher: It spread too much? + +Mr. Richardson: I like the Russian mulberry. + +Mr. Maher: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Richardson: Is the mulberry hardy with you? + +Mr. Maher: No, sir. + +Mr. Moyer: The buckthorn makes a very good protection. + +Mr. Maher: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Huestis: How would the golden elder do as a hedge? + +Mr. Maher: It would be a protection, but it is liable to spread too +much. + +Mr. Huestis: Do you know whether the mulberry is hardy in Minnesota or +not? + +Mr. Maher: I think from here south it is hardy, especially southeast. + +Mr. Moyer: It occurs to me that the Tartarian honeysuckle is about as +good as any thing you can plant for birds. It is perfectly hardy on the +prairies and grows up ten or fifteen feet high. + +Mr. Maher: The Tartarian honeysuckle and several varieties of the bush +honeysuckles are splendid, and they are hardy and will grow anywhere. + +A Member: Did I understand some one to say that the mulberry was not +hardy? + +Mr. Maher: It was stated that it wasn't hardy in North Dakota. + +A Member: I put mulberry trees in my garden yard that have been bearing +mulberries for years and years. + +Mr. Maher: I think the mulberry is hardy from here south and especially +southeast. I don't think it would grow out on the prairie very far. + +Mr. Richardson: It grows on the prairies southwest of here. + + + + +My Color Scheme. + +MRS. R. P. BOYINGTON, NEMADJI. + + "Oh, my garden lying whitely in + The moonlight and the dew, + With its soft caressing coloring, + Breathing peace to all who view." + + +Our garden color scheme this year was a number of red, white and blue +pictures, these pictures being supported, on the different sides, by +brilliant, oriental color effects. + +The first picture had for its north side the south side of the cottage, +which was covered with climbing roses (American Pillars and Crimson +Rambler). A bed of petunias, six feet wide and as long as the cottage, +came next, and was separated from about four hundred delphiniums +(belladonna) by a walk which was bordered on both sides by a row of +candytuft and a row of forget-me-nots, blue as a baby's eye. To the +south of the delphiniums was a great bank of bridal wreath +chrysanthemums, white as the driven snow. + +A walk on the east had the same--candytuft and forget-me-not border. To +the south and west of this picture were irises and Oriental poppies in +all the gorgeous coloring of the Orient, with a small space on the west +where hundreds of pansies nodded their lovely faces to the stately blue +larkspurs. Are we sure, as has been said, that God forgot to put a soul +in flowers? + +To the east, beyond the walk, is another picture--Shasta daisies and +blue cornflowers. On the north side is a brilliant hedge of red sweet +peas. On the east and south of this most exquisite picture are Iceland +poppies, red pyrethrums, and here and there are clumps of dark red sweet +william. In the early morn, just after the "morning stars have sung +together," and the forces of day are slowly coming into action, this is +a wonderous picture. + +On the north side of the cottage is a screened-in porch. Here cardinal +climber gives its myriads of cheerful bloom, while blue lobelia and +white anemones, with the porch boxes filled with vinca atmosphere of +beauty and cheer to those who come and take the social cup that truly +cheers. The broad lawn slopes north to the driveway. To the east, +separating the lawn from the walk, which is west of the canna beds, is a +border of dusty miller next the grass and one row each of blue anchusa +and red snapdragon. The silver leaved poplars in the distance give a +soft sheen to the whole picture. + +Away to the west is a spruce hedge and inside the hedge red hollyhocks +and phlox with a great row of crimson poppies. A simple garden made of +simple things, and yet as we go through it to our peony bed, that +gorgeous flower, standing alone in its regal, queenly beauty, we do not +wonder that when one of old walked with God it was in the cool of the +evening and in a garden. + + "Where in all the dim resplendent spaces, + The mazy stars drift through + To my garden lying whitely in + The moonlight and the dew." + + + + +My Experience in Grape Culture. + +JOSEPH TUCKER, AUSTIN. SO. MINN. HORT. SOCIETY + + +During fifteen years I have had in my garden several varieties of +grapes, namely, the Concord, Worden, Moore's Early and a green grape +(not certain of its name). All have done remarkably well whenever the +season was reasonably favorable. I mean by that the absence of the late +spring and the early fall frosts, which are the greatest drawbacks to +grape culture. For that reason I would not advise anyone to undertake it +as a business venture on a large scale. On the other hand, where it is +desired to supply the family table with fresh fruit as long as it will +keep, also to add a variety of jellies and preserves for the winter, a +dozen of vines will supply an ordinary family with grapes whose flavor I +have never seen surpassed. + +You who do not always expect money to grow on everything you touch, you +who admire and love a plant or vine and feel well repaid for your labor +to see it grow and bear fruit, you who have a vacant corner in your +garden well adapted to that purpose, I urge you most earnestly to plant +some grape vines, and I assure you that with some knowledge of their +care and a determination not to fail you will succeed, and you will +eventually be able to see a pretty sight--for, to my mind, nothing is +handsomer than a well trimmed grape row with the ripening fruit. The +soil that will grow corn will produce good grapes. My advice is to +select early ripening varieties, for then you will only have the +possible spring frost to contend with, and that is easy to guard +against. + +Do not fail to adopt some system of pruning, for that is the most +essential part of the secret to grow good grapes. Other necessary +information will no doubt be furnished by any reliable nurseryman with +whom you are dealing. I wish to say in conclusion that so far I have had +no trouble from any insects attacking the vines or fruit, and I have +always been able to produce fruit that commands the first premium +wherever exhibited. + + + + +Protect the Garden against Winter Weather. + +U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE. + + +At this season many inquiries come to the United States Department of +Agriculture regarding the protection of garden plants and shrubs during +the winter. Such flowers as peonies and hollyhocks will come up again +the following year if they are properly protected during the winter, +while others, like cannas and dahlias, which are more accustomed to warm +climes, must have their roots or bulbs dug up and stored in a cellar. +The department's specialists give the following suggestions for "putting +the garden to bed": + +_Hardy Perennials._--Cover hardy perennials, such as peonies, larkspur, +hollyhocks, columbines, iris, platycodons and perennial poppies, with a +good coating of manure or other litter to a depth of 3 or 4 inches. In +more southern localities this will hold the frost in the ground and keep +the plant from alternately freezing and thawing; in more northern +regions the manure will protect the plant from freezing to a depth that +will cut off its water supply. + +_Cannas and Dahlias._--As soon as the tops of cannas, dahlias, +gladiolus, caladiums and similar plants are killed by frost, dig up the +roots or bulbs and store them in a cellar where the temperature will +remain at 55 degrees, and should never go below 50 or above 60 degrees. +Do not shake any more earth from the clumps of cannas and dahlias than +is necessary in removing them from the ground. Place the plants on racks +or in slat boxes so the air may circulate freely through them. No frost +must reach the roots nor must they become too warm or dry. + +_Shrubs._--As a rule shrubs should not be trimmed in the fall. This +process is timely immediately after the blooming period, if this is in +the spring, as in the case of the snowball. If the shrubs bloom in the +fall, as do some hydrangeas, the rose of Sharon, and some lilacs, they +should not be cut directly after blooming but in the spring of the +following year. Lilacs, snowballs and mock orange should be let alone +during the winter, being neither trimmed nor covered with straw and +manure. + +_Roses._--Almost all kinds of roses are hardy in the vicinities of +Washington, D.C., and St. Louis and to the south of a line drawn between +these points. From Washington northward local conditions influence the +successful cultivation of certain varieties. Some roses, as the brier +and rugosa, need no protection, but other varieties, such as the hybrid +perpetuals, teas and hybrid-teas, need special care, particularly north +of the fortieth parallel. Teas and hybrid teas hardly succeed in +Chicago, although the hybrid-perpetuals grow as far north as Canada. All +these classes do well on Long Island and in Boston near the sea when +proper care is given them. These varieties in the vicinity of Washington +need merely a little manure on the ground to prevent alternate freezing +and thawing. Farther north, however, they should be treated as follows: + +Cut the tops to within 30 inches of the ground. Cover the roots with +coarse manure or leaves or similar litter. Hold this in place by +evergreen boughs which also acts as a protection. Brush from deciduous +trees or shrubs may be substituted for the evergreen boughs except in +the most northern regions. + +Mounds of earth about six or eight inches in height should be drawn +about the base of the rose bushes to keep them from mice. As an added +protection against mice, permit the ground to freeze slightly before +winter protection is supplied. In fact, roses should not be protected +until after the first light freeze, which may be expected in Washington, +D.C., about the first of December, but earlier farther north. (Tops must +be protected in Minnesota.--Sec.) + +_Climbing Roses._--In the latitude of Philadelphia and farther south +climbing roses usually need no protection during the winter unless they +are a particularly tender variety. Farther north these roses need +protection similar to that given to the tea and hybrid tea roses. + +Where it is possible to do so, remove climbing roses from their +supports, and cover the branches with a little dirt. A little fall +trimming might be desirable to lessen the space occupied by the branches +on the ground. Such side branches as are not to be needed for next +season's blooming may be cut off. Such cutting off and shortening of the +ends as would otherwise be done in the spring may be done in the fall +before covering, merely for convenience. + + + + +Growing Asparagus. + +A DISCUSSION LED BY E. W. RECORD, MARKET GARDENER, BROOKLYN CENTER. + + +A Member: I want to ask if many put salt on asparagus? + +Mr. Record: Salt is very good, but I think only for the reason that it +makes the plant tender and keeps down insects. But if I was to use +anything to keep insects down I should use Paris green. Shorts or bran, +that is the best for cutworms. Everybody knows that with the least +scratch or mar on the side of the asparagus it will grow crooked, and +then it is a pretty hard proposition to get it into the bunch ready for +market in any kind of shape. + +A Member: Some have the idea that salt helps the growth of the plant. + +Mr. Record: Well, I never found it did. + +Mr. Baldwin: I would like to know how to control rust on the stems in +the summer time. + +Mr. Record: Well, I can't answer, but I find that the Palmetto has less +rust on it than any other variety. I have never been bothered with +asparagus rust yet. + +Mr. Baldwin: After the bed gets to be a few years old the grass and +weeds commence to come up. After you get through cutting, it is pretty +hard work to get in there and clean them out. Do you find it the best +way to hoe them after you get through cutting? + +Mr. Record: I will tell you. I cultivate right over the tops of the rows +and keep on cultivating until the asparagus comes up and begins to +sprout. By the time the weeds come up the second time, it is time to +quit cutting. + +Mr. Baldwin: How deep do you put the plant below the surface in +transplanting? + +Mr. Record: From twelve to fourteen inches. In the east they are growing +asparagus, and they set out their plants, and they fill in and wait +until the asparagus comes up and then they fill with rotted manure and +never fertilize any more, but here there are very few that do that. I +never did, but I find in putting on manure broadcast a year afterwards +the shoots were very crooked. I did that one year only. After I put it +on I thought I would have something good, and I didn't have anything. As +soon as it comes up it starts to get crooked. + +Mr. Baldwin: You mean to say that putting manure on top makes the +asparagus crooked? + +Mr. Record: That was my experience. + +Mr. Baldwin: I have always practiced that. I think what makes it crooked +is cultivating the top and cutting the crowns off. + +A Member: When the weeds come in we disk it. + +Mr. Record: I never like to disk it. If your bed is very old you are +liable to cut some of your crowns rather than to keep the weeds out. + +A Member: Your manure would be all gone then? + +Mr. Record: I know there was a man right adjoining me who had an +asparagus bed, and he used a lot of rotten manure the summer before, and +he got very little asparagus that was marketable. I asked him what the +trouble was, and he said he didn't know. This year he had a good crop. I +can't say it was the manure that did that, only it looks that way. + +A Member: How would you start a new planting? + +Mr. Record: I would plow my ground thoroughly and get it in good shape. + +A Member: Wouldn't fertilize the first season? + +Mr. Record: I would. I would fertilize my asparagus ground two years. + +A Member: I mean in preparing your patch for the new planting? + +Mr. Record: I would first plow and harrow and then fertilize. Plow both +ways from fourteen to sixteen inches deep and with a fine cultivator +loosen up the bottom of furrow and put in the plants and cover with a +little earth. Then with the horse keep filling in the furrow. I saw this +summer several men with hoes working. That is all right, but it takes a +long time, especially with the proposition we are up against about hired +help. I can do it just as well with the horse and four times as fast. +The second year you can harrow it any way you want to. + +A Member: Common corn land, is that fit for raising asparagus? + +Mr. Record: Yes, sir, asparagus will grow on poor ground better than +many other vegetables will. + +A Member: Will it improve that land by fertilizing with top dressing? + +Mr. Record: I think so. + +A Member: The heavy land I suppose wouldn't be good for it? + +Mr. Record: They raise good asparagus on clay land, but I don't think it +will grow as good as on sandy soil. It is not quite so warm; it packs +harder and I think more liable to grow crooked. + +A Member: I was called out to see a man's asparagus bed. He asked me +what kind of ground I thought it must be, and I said a light soil. This +man had a heavy clay, and it rained on it, and then the sun came out +very hot and the top cooked, and when the little shoots were to come up +they turned back. That ground wasn't good for asparagus. + +Mr. Record: It should have been harrowed well after that rain. + +A Member: You see he couldn't get in there. + +A Member: What fertilizer is good? Is bone meal good? + +Mr. Record: Any commercial fertilizer is good, I think. Bone meal is +good. + +Mr. Crawford: Can you raise asparagus successfully in the shade or a +partial shade? + +Mr. Record: Well, I wouldn't want too much. I have shade on both sides +of mine; it is a hedge. I notice it isn't near so good next to the hedge +as it is out in the middle of the bed, although shade on both sides +protects it from the wind and makes it hotter. The hotter it is, the +faster it will grow. + +Mr. Crawford: I asked the question because I have a west line shade +several years old, trees are willow and box elder. Considerable of the +ground is a loss to me, practically so, from that shade. + +Mr. Record: I don't think it is a very good place for asparagus. + +A Member: I would like to ask if a person on clay soil could use sawdust +to work in? + +Mr. Record: Horse manure with sawdust, we use a great deal of that, that +is, planing mill shavings. That is all right. That will loosen up the +ground some, but when it is turned over, of course, it will harden up +again if there comes a good hard rain on it. + +A Member: How many years have you maintained a bed? + +Mr. Record: Why, it will go from twelve to fourteen years, although the +place that I am on now, I know that was good for twenty-five or +twenty-six. It is practically gone now, but for twenty years it was +good. But of late years it won't run over twelve to fifteen. + +Mr. Willard: I would like to ask something about changing an old +asparagus bed to a new position. + +Mr. Record: I wouldn't advise you to use the old roots. You get a bed +quicker by using plants that are two years old, and of course there are +some plants better than others. I bought my plants in the east. Now they +have good plants here, a good many of them, too, but I have never seen +anything as good as I got for my last bed. The best way if I was going +into it, being a market gardener, would be to go to some neighbor that +had a good straight bed and get my own seed. It is very easy to save, +and most anyone would give a man all he wanted and charge him nothing. +All he would do would be to gather it up. + +Mr. Miller: I would like to ask--I only grow for kitchen garden and I +presume most of us are in the same boat--we were told to plow a furrow +deeply and fill it with good manure and to plant the roots with the +crowns about four inches below the surface of the bed. + +Mr Record: Well, I wouldn't fertilize it first. I would, as I say, plow +my furrow and loosen up the bottom of it, so that the plants will get a +chance to get started. You know if you are plowing it out or shoveling +it out it will get down to hard ground. That isn't so good. You loosen +up the bottom and put your plants evenly over the ground and put in a +little dirt, and if you have it a little barnyard manure. + +Mr. Miller: I suppose the idea of putting that in the bottom is that it +is so hard to cultivate the manure on the top without doing as you +mentioned? + + + + +The Running Out of Varieties. + +PROF. C. B. WALDRON, HORTICULTURIST, AGRI. COLLEGE, N.D. + + +There is no fact more familiar to gardeners, orchardists and farmers +than the "running out" of varieties, and no question that is more +obscure as to its causes. The possibility of deterioration of varieties +is noted to a greater or less extent in all field and garden crops, +particularly with those that are most highly developed, or which +represent the greatest departure from the original species. + +It is evident that the cause must lie either in the environment which +surrounds the variety or in the selection which it has received, or in a +combination of the two. It is held also by some that aside from the +influence of soil and climate, and in spite of the most rigid selection, +there is an inherent tendency in varieties to depart in a more or less +marked degree from the type in which they first appeared. This is +particularly true of new varieties that have not yet become established. +Almost before the plant breeder can determine their type they have +broken up into so many distinct forms that it is impossible to get any +further than the first generation. + +This has been noted several times with new varieties of squashes and +other cucurbits, and to a similar but less marked degree with tomatoes +and some other garden crops. These might well be termed evanescent +varieties, and since they never become fixed or find their way into +cultivation they are of interest only to the plant breeder. + +The influence of environment, particularly soil and climate, upon the +size, quality and productiveness of certain garden crops is well known, +though just what effect this may have in determining the hereditary +character of a variety has never been very well worked out and is still +a matter of much doubt. We know, for instance, that there is a tendency +for corn grown in the middle or southern latitude to attain to a larger +size and require a longer period for maturity than the same corn grown +in the north. This tendency is shown in the first generation, but +whether it appears as a constant hereditary character or not is still +open to discussion. + +There are those who maintain that it is just as practical to develop a +dwarf, early variety of corn in the middle latitudes with careful +selection as it is to develop a variety of equal earliness when the +planting is done in the north. These maintain that the reason the +dwarf, early varieties of corn are not normally developed in the middle +latitudes is because the selection in those places is usually made from +the large plants which yield well, instead of from the small, early +plants, such as would be naturally selected at the north. + +By the same reasoning it is held that the constant growing of any +species or variety in the northern latitudes does not increase hardiness +but only enables us to determine which is hardy, thereby enabling us by +selection to increase the hardiness of our varieties. + +[Illustration: Cat-leaf weeping birch and shrubbery on campus of +Agricultural College at Fargo, N.D.] + +We must admit that this reasoning has a sound scientific basis, its +principal weakness at the present time being that there has not been +enough experimental work done to determine how general and constant its +application is. + +However true it may be as a scientific principle, we have on the other +hand the undoubted fact that varieties of certain plants, like the +cauliflower, are so strongly modified by environment that the varieties +disappear altogether as such unless the breeding plants are grown under +very definite conditions. It is well known that cauliflower seed can be +grown, for instance, only in certain parts of Europe around the North +Sea and to a limited extent in the vicinity of Seattle, and that +cauliflower seed from any other region produces plants which not only +lose all varietal characteristics but which scarcely resemble +cauliflower at all. + +As an illustration of this same principle millet affords an excellent +example. Grown at the north for a number of years, without change of +seed, it becomes short with stiff straw and very large heads, yielding a +large quantity of seed. When grown as far south as Tennessee for a +period of five years only, it assumes a very different character, being +tall and leafy with small heads and not very productive of seed. It +might be possible by very rigid selection to develop a variety of millet +that would tend to be tall and leafy even in the north, but it is +doubtful if it would remain so, and the difficulty of keeping it up to +type would be too great to make it profitable. + +All this is equivalent to saying that there are certain unstable +varieties that are so influenced by climate that it is not good practice +to try and keep them up to any given standard except when they are grown +in regions which naturally develop the type that we are seeking to +maintain. + +The more striking examples coming under this class are cauliflower, +millet, onions, tobacco and some of the flowering plants. + +A few years ago it was supposed that the running out of varieties of +celery was due to a similar cause, that is, to unfavorable environment. +To this was ascribed the pithy quality that characterized some of the +varieties. Upon further investigations, however, it was found that this +pithy condition came about through carelessness in seed selection. There +is a more or less inherent tendency in all celery to become pithy, and +unless these plants are carefully excluded, the varieties will run out +from that cause. + +The different varieties of tomatoes, egg plant and the cucurbits do not +seem to be especially affected by soil and climate, and in such +instances the varieties can be kept up only by rigid selection, no +matter how favorable that environment is under which they are grown. +With these plants there is always the inherent tendency to go back more +or less to the wild state, and lapse of care in seed selection for a +period of only a few years will result in a variety very different from +the one which we had in the beginning. + +It will be seen from this that in some instances the best plan is for +each farmer or gardener to develop his own strains of crops that he +grows, while in other cases it is best to leave the selection to those +that are working in a more favored environment so far as those varieties +are concerned. + +There still remains to be considered the plants that are propagated +asexually, like potatoes and all our cultivated fruits. From the fact +that a number of our standard varieties of apples and some other fruits +date back one hundred years or more, and are still as productive as at +the beginning, it is evident that some asexually propagated varieties +may be considered almost fixed or permanent. + +[Illustration: Niobe willow (Salix vitellina, var. pendula nova), on +campus N.D. Agri. College, Fargo.] + +The buds or scions from which new trees are started are taken +indiscriminately from the bearing trees, and since there is no great +variation in them the varieties do not tend to change. Whether they +could be improved by taking scions from only the most productive trees +is still a question. There are some who consider this possible, but we +do not yet have enough experimental evidence to establish it as a fact. +So far it would seem that about the only crop which is propagated +asexually that is likely to deteriorate, or is capable of improvement, +is one that is directly modified by soil and climate. + +The potato is the most striking example of this class of crops. It is +well known that the potato responds very readily in the matter of size, +yield and quality to certain types of soil and climatic conditions. It +is also known that the qualities thus acquired seem to be more or less +permanent; that is, that potatoes brought from the north, especially +those which have been grown in heavy soil, will produce a crop some ten +days earlier and thirty per cent larger than a crop grown from seed +produced in a region six hundred miles farther south. Early Ohio +potatoes grown in North Dakota, when used for seed in southern Iowa, +give a much larger and somewhat earlier crop than the native grown seed. +This would indicate that the potato is bound to run out in a measure if +grown continually in southern latitudes, and in this instance a change +of seed, using always the seed from the northern latitudes and the +heavier soil, is necessary, in order to keep the variety up to standard. + +[Illustration: Carnege library and flower beds at N.D. Agricultural +College, Fargo.] + +It will be seen that while there is no question as to the fact of +varieties running out, that they differ a great deal in this respect, +and it is only through a knowledge of the facts covering each variety, +or at least the varieties of each species, that would enable a grower to +know what to do in order to keep a variety up to the highest standard. + +Mr. Kellogg: What is the matter with the old Wilson strawberry? + +Mr. Waldron: I think people forgot about it and began growing better +varieties. I know there is an impression among strawberry growers that +the Wilson strawberry has run out. I don't know. I know it has been +supplanted by other varieties, and the general impression of most men is +that it is because other varieties, better varieties, came in and that +variety was neglected. + +Mr. Kellogg: It can be found in eastern catalogs now. + +Mr. Waldron: Isn't it as good now as it was? + +Mr. Kellogg: That is what I want to know. + +Mr. Waldron: I understand that it is from the people that have grown +them. I don't know of any strawberry in my career from the first time +that I have been working in strawberries that seems to be any poorer now +than it was twenty-five or thirty years ago. The Wilson might be an +exception. I know that has been referred to as an instance of +deterioration of variety. The strawberry might be so dependent on +climatic and soil conditions that it might be classed with the potatoes +and not be in a class with the apples, which don't seem to deteriorate. + +Mr. Kellogg: Is there such a thing as a pedigreed strawberry plant that +is taken from runners? + +Mr. Waldron: We have experiments going on at the agricultural college +now. We set out a number of plants from strawberry growers that +advertise a pedigreed strawberry, and beside those we have strawberry +plants from growers who don't advertise them as pedigreed. This year we +ought to get some returns on that; last year the patch was flooded +out--we had very heavy June rains. We have about ten varieties from a +large number of different growers, some supposed to be perfect and some +not. We are going to have some report of them at the next horticultural +meeting. I don't believe there is anything much in pedigreed +strawberries. + +The President: In the state of North Dakota our friend here who has just +spoken occupies the same position in the hearts and minds of the people +of his state as do our friends Haralson, Hansen and Patten in this +section. His work is along a little different line, his being almost +purely an agricultural section, but he is a very practical man and is +doing splendid work up there. + +Mr. Doty: I wish to say a word on this strawberry question. Some years +ago the postmaster at Monticello wanted to know of me what kind of +strawberries to set out; I was handling nursery goods at that time. I +told him I would recommend to him the Wilson, the Warfield and the +Haverland. The Wilson I would set in the center. He had six square rods. +He set them out. The second year he invited me up to his patch and asked +me to guess on how many strawberries he had raised on that patch. I +said: "Six bushels"--I thought I would put it high. But he said: "I have +picked twelve bushels from that patch." I said: "It can't be possible," +and he said: "Come right into my shop here. I have a paper here and I +put down every single quart of strawberries that I have sold here." I +figured it up and found that he had twelve bushels out of that patch. I +told him to set the Wilson in the center, the Warfield on one side and +the Haverland on the other. He did so and that was the result, the best +result that I have ever known. + +The President: How many years ago? + +Mr. Doty: Well, it was about fifteen years ago. + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. +Minneapolis. + + +October is one of the best months in which to plant shrubs. After the +leaves show them to be dormant they can be safely moved and will become +established before very cold weather. + +Each year we are learning that _more_ planting can be done in the fall +if done early enough, and by so doing one escapes a part of the rush +that comes in the spring. "Anything that is hardy can be moved in the +fall," an old nurseryman once said to me, and it has been a safe rule to +follow. But note the word "hardy" in his advice. All stock, either +shrubbery or perennials, that are planted in the fall should be well +mulched. + +The bulbs for the spring garden, except those that require early +planting, will also need to be put in this month in order to make a good +root growth before frost overtakes them. Here we are able to achieve +exact results as they very seldom disappoint us as to color or time of +blooming as some other plants do. + +Have you tried planting your bulbs with any of the ground cover plants +that will take away the bare look that most bulb beds have? The arabis +with its snowy blossoms is beautiful beneath the early tulips. The +violas--with such a wide range of color--make lovely backgrounds for the +later tulips, as also do the creeping phlox and the native lavender blue +divaricata phlox. A bed of this beneath pale pink Darwin tulips is one +of the lovely memories of last spring's garden. + +Another snowy white flower is the perennial candytuft, Iberis. Blooming +at the same time and remaining lovely for a long period it combines well +with any of the tall tulips or narcissi or daffodils. Alyssum saxatile, +with its sheet of gold, and the dear forget-me-nots, both grow well +beneath the tulips. The fine lacey tufts of meadow rue are lovely among +the pink and white and rose tulips. Surely the bulb beds need not be +bare. + +The very early blossoms are always the most welcome. So plant some +bulbs, at least twenty-five, of scillas, snowdrops, snowflakes (Leucojum +vernum). These, if left undisturbed, will increase greatly. The +chionodoxas, grape hyacinths and crocuses are all well worth planting, +but do not put the latter in the grass as they will not do well there in +our climate. + + +FOR OUR ROSE GROWERS. + +Members of the American Rose Society have been raising money to employ a +trained plant pathologist to study diseases of roses. The work has been +begun under Dr. L. M. Massey, of the New York State College of +Agriculture, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. + +By co-operating with Dr. Massey all growers of roses will greatly +increase the efficiency of the investigations. A rose disease survey +will first be made. It is here that all rose growers can help by sending +specimens of diseased plants, with a statement regarding varieties +affected, nature and extent of the injury, time of appearance of the +disease and any other things that have been noticed regarding it. +Information for the control of the disease will be given by Dr. Massey. +The following directions are given to those sending specimens: + +"The material sent should be freshly collected and should show various +stages of the development of the disease. Where roots are sent it will +usually be undesirable to enclose any soil. Where convenient specimens +should be mailed so as to reach Ithaca the latter part of the week. +Place leaves, buds, etc., between the leaves of an old newspaper, a few +between each two sheets. Then roll into a tight bundle and wrap in stout +paper. Attach one of the franked tags (which may be had upon request), +on which you have written your name and address, and mail. It will go +postage free--H.H. Whetzel, Head of the Department of Plant Pathology, +New York State College of Agriculture, Cornell University, Ithaca." + + * * * * * + +Meeting of Garden Flower Society, St. Paul, Wilder building, 2:30 p.m., +October 19. Topics: "How I Made My Garden Pay" and "Work of Garden +Clubs." Reports of seed trials. + +[Illustration: DISTANT VIEW OF A FIELD OF THREE YEAR OLD SEEDLING +PEONIES ON THE GROUNDS OF BRAND NURSERY CO., AT FARIBAULT, MINN.] + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted in estimating their practical value. + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + +Vol. 44 NOVEMBER, 1916 No. 11 + + + + +Peonies--Old and New. + +A.M. BRAND, NURSERYMAN, FARIBAULT. + + +About the first thing I can remember, as I look back over the years that +are past, is my father's field of peonies, and of a man standing at a +table with a large peony clump before him cutting it up into divisions. +I remember wondering how such beautiful flowers could come out of such +an ugly, dirty root. The bright little eyes, some red, some white and +others pink interested me, and boy fashion I put many questions to the +man about them. And then my father came by and noticing my interest in +the matter, though a busy man, stopped and explained to me the process +of dividing the roots. + +That was forty years ago, but from that day to this I have watched with +ever increasing interest the growth and handling of peonies. I was but a +small boy then, but I remember my father gave me his big pruning knife, +and under his guidance I divided my first peony. And I thought I had +done fairly well, for he patted me on the head and said it was well done +and that some day I would make a nurseryman. + +The peony industry as far as the West was concerned was in its infancy +then. We had few varieties--peony buyers had not yet become critical. I +can remember of but four sorts: the white variety, Whitleyii, now called +Queen Victoria; the red Pottsii and the two pinks, Fragrans and Humeii. +Peonies were then sold as red peonies, white peonies and pink peonies, +and that was all there was to it, and the customer felt very lucky if he +got the color he ordered. + +But a wonderful change came over the industry along in the nineties. +Some of the better varieties had worked west in different ways, and +people began to waken to the fact that there were more than simply red +peonies, white peonies and pink peonies. Such varieties as Festiva +Maxima, Edulis Superba, Marie Lemoine, Eugene Verdier and the like came +to us. Flower lovers slowly began to realize that the old, despised +"piny" of mother's garden was a thing of the past, and that here in its +stead we had a glorious and beautiful flower. And as the better +varieties have continued to come from year to year, the interest in the +flower has continued to increase until now I think I am safe in saying +that in the colder portion of our country at least, and in our own state +in particular, the interest manifested in the peony is greater than that +taken in any other flower. + +And it is of this modern peony that I am asked to tell you--of its +cultivation and care, how it is multiplied and how the new sorts are +produced. + +Right here at the start I wish to correct an erroneous impression about +the peony that has been spread broadcast throughout the land by means of +not too carefully edited catalogues and misinformed salesmen. + +We often hear an agent say or we read in some catalogue, "When you have +the peony planted all is done." Now this is not true. It comes a long +ways from being true. I think the very results which the following out +of this belief have brought about are accountable for the production of +more poor peonies than all other causes put together. The peony, it is +true, will stand more abuse than any other flower you can name and still +give fairly good results, but if you want good peonies you must take +good care of them. + +The planting season opens about the first of September in +Minnesota--probably the middle of the month is safer--and it continues +right up to the freeze-up in the fall and up to the middle of May in the +spring. We have lifted peonies that have grown a foot in the spring, +packed them carefully, shipped them to middle Wisconsin, and in the fall +had the shipment reported as having done splendidly. September planted +roots will bloom the following season. After that there is little choice +between fall and spring planting. + +The peony root will stand lots of abuse after being thoroughly ripe, but +still it is best to handle it with care. Keep it fresh and plump until +planted. If accidentally it becomes shriveled, immerse for twenty-four +hours in a pail of water. This will revive it. Remove from the water and +plant immediately. The roots should be planted with the tops of the buds +from two to three inches below the surface--not more than three inches +at the most. + +Many times you will notice that you have a nice, thrifty looking plant, +but that it does not bloom. Nine times out of ten if you examine into +the matter you will find that your plant was set from six to eight +inches deep--and this is why it didn't bloom. Another cause of peonies +not blooming is their being planted in lawns where the soil is +impoverished by the roots of large trees. + +The common method of propagation of established varieties is by +division. Grafting is resorted to by professionals in some instances, +but that does not interest us here. + +The peony will do well in any well drained soil, though a rich sandy +loam is the best. It will give splendid results in heavy clay if well +cultivated and if at the blooming season in case of drouth the plants +are well watered. + +Of all soils a sandy one is the poorest for the production of bloom, +although, on the contrary, for the rapid production of roots the lighter +soils are ideal. Such soils not only produce roots much more rapidly +than the heavier soils, but produce a root that divides easier and to +better advantage. But it is with the cultivation of the plant that we +are most interested. + +As I have said before, no plant will stand more abuse than the peony and +still give fairly good results, but if given a good soil and then good +cultivation we have no flower that will give us more satisfaction for +the care we give it. + +When grown in large numbers peonies should be planted, if possible, so +that the plants can be cultivated with a horse. Deep cultivation seems +to bring the best flowers. Where we can give horse cultivation we start +the cultivator just as early in the spring as we can. As a rule we start +by the middle of April and keep it going through the plants once a week +at least, and oftener if necessary, right up to the time when the buds +start to open. Cultivation here ceases until the blooming season is over +and is then resumed often enough to destroy all weeds up to the first of +August. We use one and two-horse cultivators and run the shovels to +within three or four inches of the plants and two to three inches deep. + +But few of us can cultivate in this way. Field cultivating methods are +hard to apply to the lawn and garden. But we may get the same results in +other ways. Clumps of peonies on the lawn should be so planted that a +cultivated space encircling the plant at least a foot wide is left. +This space should be covered in the fall with a mulch of well rotted +barnyard manure which should be forked or spaded into the soil in the +spring. And the soil about the plant should be thoroughly forked over, +to a depth of two to four inches, three or four times before the +blooming season. + +Where the plants are planted in borders and beds in the garden, mulch +and cultivate in the same way, stirring the soil all about and between +the plants. Care should be taken in applying the manure mulch not to get +it directly over the plant if the tops have been cut back. The stems are +hollow as they die out in the fall, and thawing snow and occasional +rains of winter leach the strength out of the manure, and this filters +down through these hollow stems and comes in contact with the roots and +rots them. + +For the sake of protection the peony needs no winter mulch. For this +latitude it is perfectly hardy. + +After the blooming season cut all the blossom stems back to the leaves +for looks. Do not cut the leaf stalk back until about the middle of +September. By that time the plant is dormant, and all top growth can be +removed with perfect safety. + +Most of us are willing to spend this time and labor if we get results +and to get the best results with peonies we must have good varieties. Of +named peonies there are somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 +varieties. Large collections now catalogue all the way from 250 to 500 +sorts. From such collections it is hard for those not thoroughly +familiar with the merits of the varieties to make an intelligent +selection of moderate priced peonies for a small planting. For people so +situated I make the following suggestion of varieties: + +_White_: Candissima, Festiva Maxima, Duchess de Nemours, Duke of +Wellington, Couronne d'Or, Queen Victoria, Avalanche, Madam de +Verneville, Mons Dupont, Marie Lemoine. + +_Pink_: Edulis Superba, Model de Perfection, Monsieur Jules Elie, +Livingston, Mathilde de Roseneck, Alexander Dumas. + +_Light Pink_: Eugene Verdier, Delicatissima, Marguerite Gerard, +Dorchester Eugene Verdier. + +_Red_: Richard Carvel, Felix Crousse, Meissonier, Rachel, Delachii, +Purpurea Superba and Rubra Superba. + +So much for the old peonies. Now to the new ones. And the question +naturally comes, why any new ones? With over 2,000 varieties shouldn't +we be satisfied? No! Many of the varieties catalogued might be +eliminated, and we should be the gainer thereby. I believe I am safe in +saying that if the present list were cut down to 300 sorts it would +cover all the varieties worth while. And there is such a great chance +for improvement! So many beautiful varieties coming to us of late years +beckon us on. Crousse, Dessert and Lemoine have set the pace, and we of +America will not be left behind. + +[Illustration: Looking up the rows of a bed of our seedlings three years +after transplanting. The white variety in the centre of the picture is +Frances Willard, considered by us one of the world's best whites. At the +time this picture was taken, the flowers were just opening, so one gets +no idea of the size of the blooms after they open.] + +Either eighteen or nineteen years ago my father definitely set about the +bringing forth of a line of new peonies. For years he had been +experimenting with seedling apples. His immense collection of peonies +gave him the idea of producing something better along that line. A great +bed was planted out from which to collect seed. Hundreds of the best +varieties obtainable were planted in this bed, two of each variety, with +a very liberal use of the three varieties, Edulis Superba, Fragrans and +Triumph de l'Ex. de Lille. Some twelve varieties of the most vigorous +singles of all colors were also used. Bees and the elements were +allowed to do the cross-fertilizing. In the fall of 1899 the first seed, +amounting in all to about a peck, was harvested and planted. This seed +was allowed to dry and was planted just before it froze up, directly +into the field where the plants were to remain and bloom. + +The seed was planted about two inches deep, in rows two feet apart, with +the seeds six inches apart in the row. Immediately after the ground +froze a two-inch mulch of coarse slough hay was spread all over the +field. This was removed in the spring and the field kept perfectly clean +that season by hand weeding, as cultivation could not be practiced. No +seed germinated that year. That fall the ground was again mulched, and +this mulch removed early the next, or second, spring. + +This second season just as soon as nature began to quicken the little +peonies began to pierce the soil. Standing at one end of the field and +looking down the rows one could fairly see the little fellows burst +forth from their long confinement and thrust their little red heads in +serried ranks through the brown earth. They reminded one of line upon +line of miniature red-coated soldiers on parade. + +A fourteen-tooth Planet Jr. horse cultivator was immediately started +amongst them, and intense cultivation given the bed that season. By the +end of the growing season the little plants were from two to four inches +high. + +The next spring, the third from the planting of the seed, the young +plants burst through the ground strong and robust. Cultivation was +started immediately, as during the season before, and the plants made +rapid growth. By the middle of May, most of them were eight inches high +with an abundance of foliage. + +We noticed a few buds appear this season. The strong, vigorous +development of the buds, of one plant in particular, continued to claim +our attention, and we watched it with intense interest. Day by day the +buds grew larger, and then finally a day came when the first petal +lifted, and the next morning the petals spread forth in all their glory. +It was a gem, we realized we had something first class. My father said +after he had studied it a while, "It pays me for all my time, and money, +and work. If I never get another as good I shall be satisfied." It was a +beautiful dark red, very early, as good a red as Terry's Rachel. We +named it Richard Carvel. + +Six other plants bloomed that season. One was of the Japanese type. The +others singles. + +By the next spring the small plants were well established, and we knew +by their vigorous growth that we might expect the most of them to bloom +that season. + +Thorough cultivation was given from the start, and by the middle of May +the bed was covered with a mass of buds. June came. The blooming season +was at hand. Slowly the buds began to show color. Here and there over +the field a petal began to lift. A short space of anxious waiting, and +then a day came when it seemed as if the bed had been touched by a hand +of magic, for from one end to the other it was one solid blaze of color. +Before us were thousands upon thousands of flowers and no two alike. + +As quick as the flowers began to open we started to grade and mark them. +It took two men working steadily for a week to inspect and mark this +bed. Everything that looked choice was marked No. 1. Everything that +looked as though it stood a chance of coming choice, if given a better +chance, was marked No. 2. All other doubles were marked double with +their color. And all singles were marked single with their color. + +When the digging season came those marked Nos. 1 and 2 were lifted and +divided and each planted in a bed specially prepared for them. Each sort +was staked. These plants were set in rows three and one-half feet apart +and three feet apart in the row. + +Intense cultivation was given them for three years. The performance of +each sort was recorded for each year. At the end of the third year those +sorts which had come good two years out of the three were again lifted +and planted in another soil and watched closely for another period of +three years. This gave us a pretty definite knowledge of their behavior, +made us acquainted with them. It toned down, as I might say, the +enthusiasm with which we first selected them, allowed of our making +careful comparison with the best sorts, and finally enabled us to keep +what were really choice. We did not have any need for the others. + +Of the ones first selected as No. 1 from the seed bed, about thirty-five +in number, we finally kept eight; of those marked No. 2, about sixty. We +afterwards selected two as first class. + +Those plants simply marked double in the seed bed were planted in a +regular field bed by themselves. Each plant was divided and staked. This +bed was allowed to stand three years and the plants were carefully noted +each year as they bloomed for varieties that we might have accidentally +overlooked in the seed bed. Among these thousands of plants we found two +sorts which we called first class. One of these, though it is sixteen +years since the seed was planted, we are just about to send out. + +I have given you the history of this single bed because it shows about +how the seedling peony must be handled. We have since varied our method +in handling in a single respect. We no longer plant our seed direct in +the field. We find it much better to plant broadcast in seed beds. These +are much more economical to keep clean the first year. After the little +seedlings are one year old or, better, after they are two years old, we +lift them in September and plant them in a permanent bed. + +[Illustration: Our seedling Harriet Farnsley, a very late all one color +pink. This variety is in bloom at the same time as Richardson's Rubra +Grandiflora, at a time when most good peonies are gone. The flower from +which this photo was taken measured seven inches across.] + +Now if any of you are tempted to grow peonies from seed let me warn you +not to get too enthusiastic in anticipating results. The chances are +that 999 out of every 1,000 will have to be discarded. Test thoroughly +before you decide to keep. The flower my father and I both decided our +best when it first bloomed we no longer keep. Our best flower is one we +took no particular notice of the first two years it blossomed. + +But do not let me discourage you. Though eight or ten choice varieties +may seem small returns, still there is a pleasure in the work that you +cannot fail but feel. And when you go forth into your fields after your +stocks of better sorts have increased so that you can have each kind +blooming about you in long rows, and as you see first this beautiful +variety and then that come into bloom, you feel well repaid for the +years of waiting and the labor you have bestowed upon them. + +Mr. Brand: A great many people ask the question whether just as soon as +the peony has blossomed they cannot cut the top off. It would be a great +mistake to do so. Your peony growth does not complete its development +until about the middle of September, and if you cut the top off just as +soon as the plant has blossomed you are going to have a great many of +them rot. We had a very striking illustration of this two years ago. +Just as our peony season was closing we had a severe hailstorm which cut +our peony beds right off down to the ground. We couldn't save the tops +if we had wanted to. That fall when we dug our roots it was almost +impossible to fill our orders, because the roots were in such terrible +shape. The tops were removed before they ought to have been. + +Talking about disappointments with peonies, I think the peony I was most +impressed with of all the seedlings we have had came good but once. That +was eleven or twelve years ago. As I look back upon it I think this was +the most beautiful flower we ever grew, but it never came good but that +once. I was so impressed with its beauty that I took it from where it +bloomed in the seedbed and planted it at my house in the garden. When it +came on to bloom, it was a disappointment and has been such ever since. +I still keep it, hoping that some year it may bloom again as it did that +first year. + +Mr. Harrison: Not a bit of it. They are the most lying vegetable on the +face of the earth. May I ask if Mr. Peterson, of Chicago, is here? He is +an expert peony man. I presume we will all like to hear from him. + +Mr. Peterson: I haven't anything to add; if you want to ask questions I +will be glad to answer them. + +The President: Ladies and gentlemen, you probably know that Mr. Peterson +is one of the expert peony men of the United States. In fact, as far as +fifteen years back we were able to get some of the newer and better +varieties from this gentleman. I never had the pleasure of meeting him, +but we want to meet you, Mr. Peterson. You have all heard of Mr. +Peterson, the peony man of Chicago and a life member of this society. +(Applause.) + +Mr. Peterson: I have nothing to add. I have been in the game a good many +years. We have systematically kept track of over three hundred varieties +since 1888, so that it may be if you have any questions to ask I might +be able to answer them, and I would be glad to. The proposition that +Mr. Brand has stated is actually within the facts. We have raised +thousands of seedlings, and not one of them do we now grow. You see some +of the Peterson seedlings listed in other people's catalogues, but I +don't have one myself. + +A Member: What kind of varieties would you suggest for the ordinary home +garden, best dozen varieties? + +Mr. Peterson: I would name for the white peonies, the Madam de +Verneville, Avalanche, Couronnes d'Or; of the pale pink, Delicatissima, +Marie Crousse, Grandiflora; of the red, Monsieur Martin Cohuzac, +Monsieur Krelage, Felix Crousse; of the deep pink, Modeste Guerin, M. +Jules Elie and Claire Dubois. I do think that Mr. Brand has some of +exceptional merit that will probably be put in the red class. I don't +know his others, but Felix Crousse is undoubtedly the best of its type +in the red. + +A Member: Have you tried out the Baroness Schroeder? + +Mr. Peterson: I surely have. It is very fine, but it is a little +changeable, not only in its habits but in its shade. If you want a +perfect white, it isn't that, it is a nearly flesh white. I would say +that the Madame Emile Lemoine is finer. + +A Member: Do you advise spraying for them? + +Mr. Peterson: No, but I tell you what was asked of me today, which is +the secret of having no disease in our plants. Any two-year-old plant in +our field that doesn't bloom, we dig it up and throw it away, and that +will nip any trouble in the bud, and then you will not get any strain +that is not blooming. If we see any other defect, any that won't head +good, we take it up and throw it away. That one point I think all of you +can well follow, and that is, to dig up every two-year-old plant that +doesn't bloom and throw it away, that is, during the blooming season. + +Mr. Harrison: Some varieties will bloom and some won't. You have got to +punish the whole on account of the few? + +Mr. Peterson: I do that. If I have a two-year-old plant that is blooming +in a section I keep it and follow it up. + +Mr. Harrison: Any special rule about multiplying or dividing? + +Mr. Peterson: No, except to divide in September, even possibly the last +week of August, and the earlier they are divided at that time when the +eyes are large, the better it is. + + * * * * * + +CAN FRUIT WITHOUT SUGAR.--_Canning Specialists Say Boiling +Water May Be Used Instead of Sirup._ Fruit for use in pies or salads or +as stewed fruit can be put up or canned without the use of any sugar at +all, according to the canning specialists of the department. They, +therefore, advise those who, because of the high price of sugar, have +been thinking of reducing the amount of fruit they put up to can as much +of their surplus as possible by the use of boiling water when sugar +sirup is beyond their means. Any fruit, they say, may be successfully +sterilized and retained in the pack by simply adding boiling water +instead of the hot sirup. The use of sugar, of course, is desirable in +the canning of all kinds of fruits and makes a better and ready +sweetened product. Moreover, most of the fruits when canned in water +alone do not retain their natural flavor, texture and color as well as +fruit put up in sirup. Fruit canned without sugar to be used for sauces +or desserts must be sweetened. + + + + +Fruit Retail Methods and Costs. + +CLARENCE W. MOOMAW AND M.M. STEWART, FRUIT AND PRODUCE MARKETERS, +PORTLAND, OREGON. + + +On studying the various phases of city apple marketing, special +attention was given to retail methods and costs. The purpose of this +study was chiefly to learn whether the wholesale supply controls the +price. The cost of operation as a factor in determining retail prices +also was investigated as far as possible. + +Retail apple distributors may be classed as follows: + +(a) Fruit-stand vendors. + +(b) Fancy grocers, fruiterers, etc., catering almost exclusively to +high-class or fashionable trade and doing a very extensive credit +business. + +(c) Grocers catering to a cheaper class of trade, largely upon a cash +basis. + +(d) Hucksters or street peddlers. + +Relatively high prices were charged for apples purchased at fruit +stands. Extra fancy Northwestern and Colorado Jonathans were sold to the +dealers during October and November at prices ranging from $1 to $1.25 +per box. Apples which grade 150 to the box retailed at two for five +cents, or $3.75 per box. This meant a gross profit of about 250 per +cent. In the ninety-six size, extra fancy Jonathans sold at three for +ten cents, or $3.20 per box, showing a gross profit of about 200 per +cent. + +In the East Side tenement section of New York City it was learned that +by reason of the cheap prices prevailing and the heavy supply of apples +arriving the peddlers were operating to the detriment of fruit stands. +The fruit-stand dealers were selling only about one-third to one-half +the quantity of fruit handled in former seasons. The pushcart and wagon +peddlers as a rule buy packed or loose fruit cheap and go direct to the +homes of the residents, selling at prices considerably below the +fruit-stand men. The peddlers handle a large quantity, make quick cash +sales, and pay no rents. Other dealers incur heavy operating expenses +and generally sell not for the purpose of moving a large quantity, but +for the highest price obtainable. Consequently, the movement is +restricted. + +The largest profits were found usually in barreled apples. For instance, +New York B grade, two inches minimum, approximately 600 apples to the +barrel, sold for a cent each or $6 per barrel. These apples cost the +retail dealer not over $2 per barrel delivered to his store, allowance +being made for jobber's profit and drayage. The investigator saw "A +grade" fruit, 2-1/2 inches minimum, averaging about 400 apples per +barrel, which cost the retailer not over $3, being displayed for sale at +two for five cents, or $11.25 per barrel. Such prices prevailed at no +less than twenty-five retail stores visited in one day. Apples were +being offered for sale at retail all over New York City at prices +ranging from one cent each at the cheap corner fruit stands, to fifty +cents and eighty cents per dozen at the fanciest fruit stores. + +In general, it may be said that the gross profits of fruit-stand vendors +range from 100 to 250 per cent. Operating expenses other than rent in +most cities except New York are not relatively high and all sales are on +a strictly cash basis; hence the net profits on good fruit are large. + +Grocers catering to high-class trade buy only the best apples. Extra +fancy Jonathans, Grimes, etc., preferably 138's and 150's size, were +purchased at $1 to $1.25 per box. These apples were taken from the box +and repacked in small splint trays similar to the peach basket used in a +six-basket carrier. Each box of apples filled approximately ten trays. +Each tray sold for thirty cents; hence the box brought $3, representing +a gross profit of about $1.75. Extra fancy Delicious and Winter Banana, +72's size, purchased at $2 per box, retailed at five cents each, or +$3.60 per box. Other sizes and varieties brought corresponding prices. +No attempt was made by this class of grocers to stimulate consumption by +temporarily reducing prices. + +The retail prices quoted above were maintained consistently throughout +the 1914 season, regardless of prevailing jobbing prices. The large +margins charged by the retailers, for the most part, were due apparently +to the small amount of business handled, the perishable nature of the +commodity, and the cost of operation. + +An elaborate and efficient delivery service must be maintained by the +grocers, and many small deliveries are made each day at an actual loss +to the dealer. A large proportion of the grocery-store patrons buy on +credit and pay when it becomes convenient. Many of these accounts are +never paid. Hence it becomes apparent that the good customer who pays +his bill regularly each week, or who pays cash, must suffer for the +shortcomings of others. However, there can be little doubt that reducing +prices would materially increase consumption and in the end result in +equally good profits for the dealers. Reduced prices and better business +practice should prove to be very beneficial to grower, dealer and +consumer. + +The profits derived from the sale of cheaper grades of apples to the +poorer class of consumers are not so large. It was learned that those +catering to such trade operated on a margin of 75 to 100 per cent. of +the purchase price. + + + + +Raspberries. + +F. C. ERKEL, FRUIT GROWER, ROCKFORD. + + +Raspberries are so easily grown it is surprising we do not find more +farmers and back lot gardeners in the city giving them attention. I +believe more people would raise raspberries if they could be made to +realize what great returns they would receive for a little work and +care. As a commercial proposition raspberries are the poor man's friend, +yielding large returns with very small investment and requiring but +little land. + +I will attempt to give a few essentials in raspberry culture without +going into detail, with the hopes that at least a few more patches of +raspberries may be planted as a result of my effort. With the main +points of raspberry culture given, there is no reason why any one with +ordinary intelligence can not solve the details and meet with success. + +Raspberries have a little advantage over strawberries with the man who +is not greatly enthused over small fruit culture. When once established +the plantings do not have to be renewed annually but with ordinary care +will last several years, in fact they will stand more Junegrass sod and +weeds and general neglect and still produce results than anything else I +know of unless it is apple trees. + +Another point in favor of raspberries over strawberries is that it is +not quite so hard on the back to pick them, and when large quantities +are grown it is easier to get pickers. + +Red raspberries will succeed on most any kind of soil so long as it is +kept reasonably well fertilized and supplied with humus. They prefer a +moist loam, and a northern slope is preferable to a southern slope +because not so quickly affected by drought. Good drainage is necessary, +and if planted on low ground where water is liable to stand at any time +the ground should be tiled or otherwise drained. + +Raspberries may be planted either in the fall or spring, or the plants +may be dug in the fall, heeled in outside, covered with mulch, or they +may be stored in the cellar and planted in spring. + +Plants bought from a nursery in the spring should be unpacked +immediately on arrival, the roots dipped in thin mud, then heeled in +until permanently planted, even if the delay is but a day or two. + +The tops of the plants should be cut, leaving but a few inches, and if +any blossoms appear the first season it would be better to remove them +to prevent fruiting. It would be expecting too much of a newly +transplanted plant to make much of any growth and produce fruit the same +season. If allowed to fruit the first season but little fruit could be +expected at best, and it would leave the plant dwarfed if indeed it were +not killed outright. + +The suckers that come up the first season will produce the next season's +crop, after which they die down and should be removed, other suckers +taking their places annually. Not over two or three suckers should be +allowed to each plant the first year; after the first year leave five to +eight in each hill, depending on the kind of soil, fertility, etc. + +When plants are cheap and plentiful it is customary to use two in each +hill to insure a good stand the first year, but it is reasonable to +expect, however, where there are two root systems in each hill instead +of one that in after years there would be more troublesome suckers to +remove than if there was but one root in each hill, and this is no small +matter with some varieties. + +To obtain planting stock large clusters of roots may be divided to +propagate from, but these usually have but few fibrous roots and are not +as good as first year's growth suckers, springing from roots near the +parent plant. Red raspberries may also be propagated from root cuttings +or even from seeds, the latter not coming true to variety, however. + +Plantings should preferably be made on ground plowed the fall previous, +but spring plowed ground will answer if thoroughly disced, harrowed and +planked and then repeated, to make the ground firm. + +If the ground is poor add a liberal dressing of well decayed barnyard +dressing before plowing, or if not well decayed wait until after +planting to apply the manure. Future cultivations will mix the dressing +with the surface soil where the roots will be able to reach it, since +raspberry plants are close surface feeders, and for this reason all +cultivations should be shallow after the root system has formed. + +When the matted row system of planting is adopted, the late Prof. Green +advised using a heavy mulch for two feet on each side of the rows to +preserve moisture and discourage weed growth close to the plants, +cultivating only a strip through the middle. + +Raspberries may be planted in rows five or six feet apart to allow +cultivation both ways, or in rows seven feet apart with plants two or +three feet apart in the rows with the idea of allowing a matted row and +cultivating but one way after the first season. + +The matted row is hardly to be recommended unless one is willing to use +a hoe rather freely to keep the plants free from weeds where the +cultivator can not reach them, or unless he can provide a good, deep +mulch to discourage weed growth. + +Rows should preferably run north and south, so the fruit will be shaded +during the middle of the day, but this is not absolutely necessary. + +In setting the plants place them just a little deeper than they grew +originally, carry them to the field in pails of water or thin mud, +avoiding exposure of the roots to the air unprotected, but do not use +water in the holes unless the ground is extremely dry. Firm the ground +well close to the plant, and cultivate between rows all summer to +preserve moisture, whether weeds are troublesome or not, up to September +1st and be sure to cultivate shallow after the roots begin to occupy the +ground. + +Hills that grow exceedingly tall and rank may be cut back to about two +and a half feet in height in the spring, or if one is willing to take +the trouble to pinch off the end of the plants at this height during the +growing season they will get bushy plants better able to hold up a load +of fruit--besides cutting back has a tendency to produce larger fruit. + +We only grow two varieties of red raspberries, both of which are +perfectly hardy without winter covering, so we have no suggestions to +make or experiences to relate regarding winter protection. I am afraid I +would be tempted to quit the business if I had to cover our raspberry +bushes for winter protection. I think it would be as big a task as all +the rest of the work combined except picking, and I let some one else do +that part. + +For a home garden it is even more desirable to select a variety that is +hardy without winter covering than when grown in a commercial way, for +this is one of the tasks that is liable to be neglected unless one makes +a business of it. + +In choosing a variety the other qualities to look for besides hardiness +without winter covering are size, color, flavor, prolificacy and good +shipping qualities. + +We are located only twenty-five miles northwest of Minneapolis, and one +would naturally suppose we would market our berries there, but we get +better prices in towns along the Soo railroad in western Minnesota and +the Dakotas. + +Although our berries are a variety that crumble unless left on the +bushes until ripe they do not spoil readily, which is probably due to +the fact they are quite acid, and we ship to points in North Dakota +nearly as far west as Chicago is east of us with very little loss. +Wherever our berries have been introduced they have made friends, and +there is hardly ever a time that we do not have standing orders for two +or three times as many berries as we can furnish. + +We usually ship in flat cases, two boxes deep, twenty-four pints to a +crate, which brought us $2.00, $2.25 and $2.50 per crate net, f.o.b. +shipping point. + +There is but one other berry grower near us, so we do not have much +difficulty in getting pickers. The first year we built a couple of small +cottages to accommodate people from the city who might care to combine +berry picking with a few days' outing, and it was surprising what a good +class this proposition appealed to, but we now have enough local pickers +to care for our crop. + +The profits in raspberry culture vary all the way from little or nothing +above cost of production up to several hundred dollars per acre, +depending on the season and how well cared for. + +Whether raspberry culture is a money making proposition or not in a +commercial way, there certainly is no good reason why every farm or city +garden should not have at least a few hills of raspberries for home use. +Even leaving the matter of cost out of the question, there is a +difference between fruit just off the bushes and that which has stood +around in hot, dusty places several hours or longer waiting for a +purchaser. Try it and be convinced! + + * * * * * + +TO INOCULATE SEED.--Coating the seed of legumes with inoculated +soil before planting is a simple method of insuring soil inoculation at +slight cost. County agents in Illinois have found ordinary furniture +glue effective in holding particles of inoculated soil to the seeds. +This method gives each individual seed some of the particles of +inoculated soil, which it carries with it when it is planted. The scheme +requires but a small amount of inoculated soil and costs but a few cents +an acre. The method is described in Farmers' Bulletin 704 of the U.S. +Department of Agriculture. + +Dissolve two handfuls of furniture glue for every gallon of boiling +water and allow the solution to cool. Put the seed in a washtub and then +sprinkle enough of the solution on the seed to moisten but not to wet it +(one quart per bushel is sufficient) and stir the mixture thoroughly +until all the seed are moistened. + +Secure the inoculated soil from a place where the same kind of plants as +the seed are growing, making sure that the roots have a vigorous +development of nodules. Dry the soil in the shade, preferably in the +barn or basement, and pulverize it thoroughly into a dust. Scatter this +dust over the moistened seed, using from one half to one gallon of dirt +for each bushel of seed, mixing thoroughly until the seed no longer +stick together. The seed are then ready to sow. + + + + +The Flower Garden. + +(AN EXERCISE LED BY G. C. HAWKINS, FLORIST, MINNEAPOLIS, AT THE 1915 +ANNUAL MEETING.) + + +Mr. Hawkins: We have a question box and I would be glad to have any one +use it or rise and state their question. I will answer, giving my +experience. + +The first question I will read is--"What would you advise about covering +in the garden in a season like this?" There are now two questions to be +answered. First, what kind of covering? Second, how much? + +The first question can be answered this way. Every garden is benefited +by a good covering of well decayed manure. Second. Any light covering of +straw or horse manure with plenty of straw in it is very good. Leaves +make a good covering if they can be kept dry, but leaves when not +covered get wet, pack down over a plant and too often do more damage +than good. The advantage of covering, or mulching, is to prevent thawing +and freezing. To keep plants frozen from fall until spring would be +ideal. The ideal winter is one when the snow falls early and stays on +during the winter. We should cover lightly the plants that need +protection, and when the snow falls, as a warm blanket, the plants will +come through the winter in perfect shape. + +Mr. Hawkins: We have a question box and would be glad to have any one +use it, or rise and ask your question, and we will endeavor to answer it +and give our experience along that line. + +Mr. Horton: What would you advise for plants that are infected with +aphis? + +Mr. Hawkins: Spraying is one of the best things and for that we use a +weak tobacco solution, so as to moisten the plants, a light mist will do +the work. I want to tell a little experience in growing peonies. Last +year I tried the experiment of using ground bone around them, which is +one of the best fertilizers we have. It contains nearly all the elements +of a perfect fertilizer. Just as soon as the little joints come out of +the ground, dig a trench about three inches from the main bush, about +two inches deep and fill with ground bone and watch the result. I +carried this plan out with wonderful success, getting 350 perfect +blossoms on twenty-five bushes. It takes bone about thirty days to +commence to dissolve. The day of the automobile has brought need for a +new fertilizer, and we must carefully select the best that can be had. +We must turn back again to the green crops and the artificial +fertilizers. This also works well with roses. + +Mr. Reckstrom: Would bone do that was bought for the chickens? + +Mr. Hawkins: Yes. You understand the finer the particles the quicker it +commences to dissolve. + +A Member: Where can ground bone be obtained? + +Mr. Hawkins: All first class seedsmen have it from small packages of ten +pounds to 100 pound sacks. + +Mr. Bell: I tried hardwood ashes, and that seemed to be the best thing I +struck. There were some shrub lilacs that didn't blossom. One winter I +just put the ashes right on, probably a bushel around the one large +bush. After that I had plenty of blossoms. On peonies and roses the +result seems to be very good. + +[Illustration: Residence of G. C. Hawkins, 2913 Fremont Avenue South, +Minneapolis.] + +Mr. Hawkins: No question but what ashes are very fine, for the simple +reason the potash in hardwood ashes is a very good fertilizer. I would +like to ask some one to give his experience in regard to rust on the +tiger lily and the phlox. The perennial phlox is one of the most +beautiful flowers we have, and there has been considerable trouble this +year with a rust which takes all the leaves off the stalk and is +injurious to the blossoms. I did not find any successful remedy for it, +and I would be very glad if some member would give his experience. + +Mrs. Sawyer: I think you will find bordeaux mixture is good as anything +for the rust on phlox. There is another mixture given for use in the +English gardens, but their conditions are not the same as ours. It seems +that changing the location of the phlox may do it good. Phlox is a plant +that wants free circulation of air. Sometimes they get crowded in the +garden, and a combination of heat and moisture produces the rust. By +changing them to some other ground sometimes it entirely disappears. + +Mr. Hawkins: Mrs. Sawyer thinks this would be a remedy, as they require +a circulation of fresh air and keep down moisture. We know this, phlox +should be divided every third year. If you lift some you will find in +the middle a woody dry substance absolutely detrimental to a large, +healthy growing phlox. If you take off the little plants that come at +the outside of this and replant them you will find your flowers will be +much larger the next year. If we leave bunches of phlox in the same +place successive years they become small. If you separate them it will +add vigor to your plant, and the flowers will do better. I would like to +ask what success you have had with growing tritoma, the flame flower? +Have you had any difficulty in raising them? + +Mrs. Tillotson: I have one blossom that seemed to take such a long time +to get above the ground I wondered what was the matter with it. + +Mr. Hawkins: Mrs. Gould, can you give us any enlightenment? + +Mrs. Gould: I never raised them, I got some bulbs this year. I know you +have to take them up in the winter and store them like gladiolus, and +they do not require very heavy soil. + +Mrs. Countryman: Will yucca filamentosa ever blossom in a garden in St. +Paul? + +Mrs. Sawyer: It will, but it doesn't always. It does blossom in +Minnesota, but I know that people have a great deal of difficulty +getting blossoms. + +Mrs. Countryman: I have five plants growing four years and have never +seen a blossom yet. + +Mr. Hawkins: I have had two growing three years, and I never have seen +the color of a blossom yet. + +A Member: What kind is that? + +Mr. Hawkins: It is the yucca filamentosa. It is an evergreen. It should +throw up a tall stalk with large branches and plenty of white flowers, I +think hundreds of flowers--that is the description. It is a beautiful +thing in the garden anyway. + +Mrs. Countryman: I have seen them in blossom in California. + +Mr. Richardson: I have seen them blossom many times in Winnebago. + +Mrs. Countryman: Give us the culture instructions. + +Mr. Richardson: I grew in nursery rows some odd stuff, had the same +culture that the nursery had. But when it blossomed one year I have been +told on good authority it would be five years before that stalk would +blossom again, only blossoms once in five years, but by having many +stalks they don't all blossom at the same time. I have had them two or +three years in succession but not on the same stalk. + +Mrs. Countryman: Do you cover them winters? + +Mr. Richardson: Never. + +Mr. Hawkins: I think the only reason why the yucca filamentosa doesn't +do well is because it is a plant of the southwest and grows in a warmer +climate. + +Mrs. Sawyer: I had a varied experience in growing those plants, and I +took a great deal of pains to learn all I could from different sources +and different people, and I believe our trouble is our late frosts, I +think that is conceded by people who have really gone into the question +thoroughly. Our late frosts injure them more than anything else. A +little protection in the spring is what they need more than protection +in winter, and we know that they don't want a wet place. + +Mr. Hawkins: I want to recommend a flower that should be very popular. +It is perfectly hardy, blossoms for years, the hardy pyrethrum. It is a +daisy-like flower, absolutely free from insects and a sure bloomer. We +have plants in the garden that have bloomed six years. It comes in many +shades, from white to deep crimson, blooms from the 15th of May to the +1st of July and makes a beautiful showing. In regard to iris, did any +one have any trouble with their iris coming a little ahead of time last +year and being frozen? + +Mrs. Sawyer: I guess they all froze off. I don't think it was because +they were ahead of time; it was because of the frost. + +Mr. Hawkins: What would you recommend? + +Mrs. Sawyer: I don't think there is anything to do in weather like last +spring, you can't cover anything away from a hard black frost like that +was. + +[Illustration: G. C. Hawkins, of Minneapolis.] + +Mr. Hawkins: We have several hundred plants on a southern slope, and I +thought perhaps the sun beating against the southern slope is what +started them earlier. + +Mrs. Sawyer: Ours weren't on a southern slope, pretty near level, rather +north than anything else, and they got frozen. + +A Member: What causes the rot in the iris? + +Mr. Hawkins: That depends upon the kind of iris. With the bulbous rooted +iris, the bulb is filled full of water during the heavy rains, and if +you add more water to it it simply decays. The Siberian and many of the +fibrous rooted iris will stand a great deal of water. + +A Member: Does the German? + +Mr. Hawkins: The German is a bulbous root. As I said, it takes all the +moisture it needs. That is one reason why iris never wilts down in a dry +spell. It always looks fresh and green. + +A Member: I would like to say it is well not to plant the iris deep. The +natural iris will lie almost on top of the ground, and they like to have +the sun beat down on them. The iris likes to bask in the sun. + +Mr. Hawkins: This would prove to you that the bulb takes enough water to +support it and doesn't need any more because it rests on the top and +basks in the sun. Has any one tried anything new in the garden that will +stand our climate? + +Mrs. Norton: I would suggest that hardy alum-root, or heuchera. It is a +perfectly hardy perennial, can stand our worst winters without any +covering, and it grows about so high from the ground (indicating two or +three feet), with its geranium-like leaves, and the flower grows about +three feet high, all covered with pink bells on the stems. It is a very +decorative plant and perfectly hardy. I think it has been much neglected +in the Northwest because it is so perfectly hardy and it increases very +rapidly. I have over one hundred. + +Mr. Hawkins: I would like Mrs. Gibbs to say a word. + +Mrs. Gibbs: The only thing I can say is that I enjoy being around among +other people's gardens. I think that is one of the best places to find +out things that we want; so many times we buy something that sounds +well, but when we have it planted it doesn't look as well. I think one +of the best ways is to visit gardens and especially those that use +labels. + +A Member: I would like to ask about the trollius. + +Mr. Hawkins: Has any one had experience in raising trollius? + +Mrs. Gould: I have had experience in not raising them. I planted three +years, and after getting the seeds from all the seedsmen I discovered in +a book on plants that the seed would have to be in the ground two years +in order to germinate. I didn't know that and left them in only a few +months. I think the only way is to buy the plants. It is a very +beautiful plant, yellow and shaped like golden glow, belongs to the same +family as the buttercup. + +A Member: I would like to ask about the hollyhocks. I saw such beautiful +hollyhocks around Lake Minnetonka and I have never been able to make +them winter. I would like to ask about that. + +Mr. Hawkins: We have three plants, hollyhocks, digitalis and canterbury +bells, and nearly all have the same trouble with them. If we mulch them +we are liable to have the center decay and the plants practically +useless. It is a question of mulching them too much or not mulching +them. I would like to have you speak up and tell us your experience. I +have in mind a gentleman who raises splendid hollyhocks in the +neighborhood of the lakes. Takes no care of them, and yet he had one +this year seventeen feet high, which took care of itself and had any +amount of blossoms. I tried that experiment several years myself of +mulching them, and the crown rotted. These are three of the best flowers +of the garden, and we ought to have some certain way of keeping them. + +A Member: Have you ever tried mulching them with corn stalks? + +Mr. Hawkins: Yes, I have tried it but lost them. + +A Member: I had very good luck with them that way. + +A Member: It is more a question of drainage than of mulching. + +Mr. Hawkins: That might be. + +Mrs. Gould: I wish simply to say that the trouble with winter grown +hollyhocks and canterbury bells is that they will head so tall and must +be kept dry. I always cover the hollyhocks and if I had the others I +think I would cover them. I uncover mine early in the spring, and if it +gets cold put on a little more straw. You are almost sure to uncover +them the wrong time. With foxgloves I think it is almost unnecessary to +cover them. + +Mr. Hawkins: In our gardens the hollyhocks form one of the best +backgrounds we can have, beautiful, tall, stately stalks, and the +canterbury bells, certainly nothing more beautiful than they. Then we +come to the other, the digitalis, which is equally as beautiful. We must +give our attention to the protection and growth of these in years to +come because they are three of the beautiful things of the garden. It +has been suggested that digitalis be potted and put inside the cold +frame and leaves put over them. I think leaves are a splendid protection +if you can keep them dry. If I were using them as a mulch I would keep +out the water by covering with roofing paper to keep them dry. + +Mrs. Countryman: I am told on good authority that the hollyhock is a +true perennial and not a biennial. + +Mrs. White: It is listed in the foreign catalogs as both a perennial and +a biennial. + +Mrs. Countryman: Wouldn't the hollyhock come under the heading of being +perennial but not a permanent perennial? + +Mr. Hawkins: It might be classed that way. There seems to be a +difference of opinion as to just what it is. I have known them to come +six or seven years in the same spot. + + * * * * * + +TIE TRAP FOR RABBITS.--An inexpensive and permanent sewer tile +trap for cottontail rabbits has proved very effective in Kansas. To make +the trap, proceed as follows: + +"Set a 12 by 6-inch 'T' sewer tile with the long end downward, and bury +it so that the 6-inch opening at the side is below the surface of the +ground. Connect two lengths of 6-inch sewer pipe horizontally with the +side opening. Second grade or even broken tile will do. Cover the joints +with soil so as to exclude light. Provide a tight removable cover, such +as an old harrow disk, for the top of the large tile. The projecting end +of the small tile is then surrounded with rocks, brush, or wood, so as +to make the hole look inviting to rabbits and encourage them to frequent +the den. Rabbits, of course, are free to go in or out of these dens, +which should be constructed in promising spots on the farm and in the +orchard. A trained dog will locate inhabited dens. The outlet is closed +with a disk of wood on a stake, or the dog guards the opening. The cover +is lifted and the rabbits captured by hand. + +"These traps are especially suitable for open lands and prairies, where +rabbits cannot find natural hiding places. They are permanent and cost +nothing for repairs from year to year. If it is desired to poison +rabbits, the baits may be placed inside these traps, out of the way of +domestic animals or birds. This trap also furnishes an excellent means +of obtaining rabbits for the table, or even for market."--U.S. Dept. of +Agri. + + + + +Blueberry Culture. + +U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE. + + +Blueberries thrive best on soils which are so acid that they are usually +considered almost worthless for ordinary agricultural purposes. +Blueberry culture, therefore, offers possibilities of profit to +individual land-owners in districts in which the general conditions are +especially hard and unpromising. Blueberries can not be grown in +ordinary fertile soils. + +Although frequently confused, especially in the South and in the Middle +West, blueberries and huckleberries are quite distinct. In New England +the name "huckleberry" is restricted to berries which contain 10 large +seeds with bony coverings like minute peach pits which crackle between +the teeth, while the name "blueberry" is applied to various species of +berries containing many but very small seeds. It is the latter, not the +large-seeded huckleberry, which offers possibilities for profitable +culture. + +At the present stage of the blueberry industry it is best to begin by +transplanting the most promising wild bushes, selecting them for the +size, flavor, color and earliness of the berry as well as for the vigor +and productiveness of the bush. These plants can be propagated in +various ways, which are described in detail in a professional paper of +the department, Bulletin No. 334, by Frederick V. Coville. The aim of +the cultivator should be to secure bushes which will produce large +berries. These cost less to pick than small ones and bring a higher +price on the market. A berry eleven-sixteenths of an inch in diameter +has already been produced under field culture. + +The three fundamental requirements for successful blueberry culture are: +(1) An acid soil, especially one composed of peat and sand; (2) good +drainage and thorough aeration of the surface soil; and (3) permanent +but moderate soil moisture. Next in importance to these essentials is a +location such that the berries may reach the market without delay. The +best prices are obtained about the beginning of the wild blueberry +season. The main crop of wild blueberries comes from northern New +England, Canada and northern Michigan. A location to the south of these +areas where the berries will mature earlier is, therefore, to be desired +for the commercial cultivator. One of the most promising districts now +known is the cranberry region of New Jersey, where berries mature early +and the shipping facilities to the market in Philadelphia, New York and +Boston are good. + +Another important factor to be considered in selecting a location for a +blueberry patch is the possibility of late spring freezes. For this +reason the bottoms of valleys should be avoided. Freezing seldom injures +the blueberry plant itself, but the fruit crop is often destroyed in +this way. From past observations it appears that wild blueberries +growing in or around bodies of water frequently escape the injurious +effects of late spring freezes, and it seems, therefore, that a flooding +equipment for blueberry plantations similar to those used for cranberry +bogs may, under certain circumstances, prove commercially advantageous. + +At the present time, however, only a beginning has been made in +blueberry culture. The yield and profits in field plantations from +improved bushes have not as yet been ascertained. There is, however, one +small planting in Indiana where complete records have been maintained +for the past six years. This plantation was started in 1889 in a natural +blueberry bog, which was first drained and then set with wild blueberry +bushes transplanted without selection for individual productiveness or +size of berries. On this plantation the yield per acre has averaged +1,741 quarts for the past six years. This average would have been +somewhat higher except for the almost total failure of the crop in 1910, +due to late spring freezes. An average of 14-1/2 cents a quart has been +received for the berries and the net profit per acre is estimated at +$116 a year. In this estimate allowance has been made for interest, +taxes and depreciation. The expense for weeding, cultivation, and +irrigation is placed at $20 an acre and the cost of picking at five +cents a quart. + + * * * * * + +HOMEMADE FIRELESS COOKER.--A wooden or tin pail, lined with two +thicknesses of paper and provided with a close-fitting cover, may be +used for the outside container of the cooker. Allow for three inches of +packing on all sides and at the bottom of the pail. A gallon oyster can +will serve very well for the nest, which should be wrapped on the +outside next to the packing with asbestos and a piece of asbestos placed +under the bottom to prevent the scorching of the packing when hot +soapstones are used. Shredded newspaper and excelsior make a good +packing. Pack this very tightly around and to the top of the nest, the +top of which should be about three inches below the lid of the outside +container. A piece of cardboard cut to fit inside the lard can with a +circle cut out of the center around the top of the oyster can or nest +will hide the packing and make a neat finish. Place a three-inch cushion +of unbleached muslin, stuffed tightly with excelsior, on top of the lid +of the nest. When the top of the outside container is placed on and +hooked down, it will be tight enough to cause a pressure. If a tin pail +is used for the outside container, it may be enameled white, or a wooden +pail stained brown, making a neat-looking appliance for any kitchen. +Regular aluminum fireless-cooker utensils may be used for cooking the +food in the nest, but any kind of a vessel with a close-fitting top and +one that fits closely in the nest is suitable.--U.S. Dept. Agri. + + + + +Hardy Perennials. + +MISS GRACE E. KIMBALL, WALTHAM. + + +There has been very little in my work with hardy perennials that seems +worth relating. For many years, in Austin, we had iris, peonies and +phlox in our garden. While my love for flowers and outdoor work led me +to spend all my time, outside of office hours, in the garden, the iris +and peonies, especially, never gave any trouble but grew and blossomed +in the most approved fashion. With the phlox we have had more trouble, +sometimes in dry seasons not getting the bloom we should, and finally, +the last year we were there, losing nearly all the roots we had. I am +now inclined to think that had we divided and transplanted them some +years before, we would not have lost them. + +It was only a few years ago that I began to realize that herbaceous +perennials could, with success, be planted in the fall in our climate, +and it was not until two years ago that I made any attempt at fall +planting. That year I was quite successful, but last year, wishing to +divide as close as possible, especially with the iris, I evidently +overdid the matter, with the result that I lost many of my plants. +However, I learned my lesson, and this year they were not divided so +closely, and I am hoping that they will come through the winter all +right. + +With the hardy perennials easily raised from seed my first experience +was with the oriental poppy. I had greatly desired to have some in the +garden and, not knowing that the fall was the time to plant them, +ordered some one spring. They failed to grow, so the next year I +attempted to raise them from seed, starting them in the house as I did +my pansy seed. But I was far from successful in that way, and having +read some articles on the difficulty of raising them from seed, also +learning that they should be set out in the fall, I made up my mind they +were not worth bothering with. + +However, father suggested I might succeed by planting the seed in the +shade out of doors, and even though it was quite late in the summer I +got more seed and sowed it broadcast in a hedge of lilacs, syringas and +so forth, kept the ground moist, and in a short time had many plants +coming up. I also had ordered a few to be shipped me in the fall. + +By fall my seedlings were large enough to be transplanted into boxes, to +be moved as we were moving from Austin to Waltham. With those I had +ordered for fall delivery, they were moved to our new place, the boxes +sunk in the ground, and the next spring put into a hedge with other +plants--for while they do not stand transportation very well in the +spring, I have been successful in transplanting them from one part of +our grounds to another at that season. + +Since coming to Waltham I have started the seeds of the poppy, larkspur, +columbine and gaillardia in a grove near the house, where they are +easily kept moist. If I get the seed in early in the spring, the plants +are often large enough to transplant in the fall. However I like better +to plant the seed later, about the time the first blossoms from each +variety have ripened their seed. The seedlings will then be large enough +to withstand the winter with a little protection and ready for spring +transplanting. + +With a comparatively small amount of work, and very ordinary care, once +the plants are set out anyone can have continuous bloom from early +spring until frosts come, by setting iris, peonies, phlox, columbine, +poppies, larkspur, gaillardia, giant daisy and painted daisy. Such a +selection would make a big variety of color and form in the garden, and +all but the first three kinds can be very easily raised from seed. Or +not wishing so many kinds, one can have flowers all summer by a careful +selection of several varieties of iris, peonies and phlox. + + + + +Why Should We Grow Seedling Apples? + +ISAAC JOHNSON, WEST UNION, IA. + + +There is no work in fruit growing that has more taken my attention and +given me more pleasure than the growing of seedling apples. For many +years I have been of the opinion that apples for this severe climate +must be grown from seed. If we succeed in growing hardy, productive and +good keeping varieties, they must be native, or raised at home. By +experimental work along in this line of growing fruit we have come to +this conclusion that fruit trees do best grow at home. + +In looking over the list of apples we grow this far north, we all know +that the hardiest and the most productive kind are seedlings, either +from Minnesota, Iowa or Wisconsin. Minnesota has the Wealthy, the banner +apple; for early and late fall apple it has no equal. Wisconsin has the +Northwestern Greening and the Wolf River, which are very large, showy +and good market apples. We all know what Mr. Patten has done along in +this line of growing seedlings. + +At the state horticultural meeting in Des Moines, December last, was +exhibited one hundred varieties of seedlings and a large number of +those, to my judgment, were good keepers and fine looking apples. +Hundreds and hundreds of varieties of apples have been imported from +Russia, and I for one have tested fifty or sixty of those Russian +varieties, but at the state meeting, where I exhibited seventy-seven +varieties, I was able to show only three Russian varieties, Longfield, +Antinovka and Volga Cross. I think I have reason to ask what would we +have for apples today if there had not been any seedlings raised? Why +does the State of Minnesota offer one thousand dollars for a seedling +apple tree that is as hardy as the Duchess with fruit as good as the +Wealthy and that keeps as well as the Malinda? Because to get such a +variety it must come from seed. + + + + +Planting for Color Effects in the Garden. + +MRS. H. B. TILLOTSON, MINNEAPOLIS. + + +The most attractive flower bed in my garden this year has been the one +planted for a blue and white effect. From earliest spring, soon after +the snow had gone, until now, October 4th, there has been something +interesting and beautiful blooming there. + +In the middle of the summer it was one tangled mass of lilies, +delphinium, phlox and gypsophila, their perfume filling the whole +garden. As the lilies faded and the delphinium grew old and went to +seed, the old stalks were cut away. The phlox and delphinium bloomed +again in a little while, and in September the candidum lilies began to +come through the ground, getting ready for next year. + +The bed is three feet wide by thirty long, and was covered last winter +with loose straw and leaves, with a few cornstalks to hold them in +place. Early in April this was raked off and the edges of the bed made +straight, for the grass always grows in a little each year. The warm +sunshine soon brought out the scilla and crocus, almost carpeting the +whole bed. One would not think of the other things hiding under their +leaves. + +The forget-me-nots began to look green along the edge, and up through +the fading crocus and scilla came a few straggling grape hyacinths, blue +and white, and one lonely plant of the Virginia cowslip +(Mertensia)--more could have been used with good effect, for they too +disappear after awhile. + +The Virginia cowslip staid in bloom until the forget-me-nots were a +mass of blossoms, and the blue Darwin tulips (pink, really, with a blue +spot in the bottom of the cup, just back of them) were in all their +glory. In the middle of the bed the Madonna lilies, and belladona +delphinium had covered the ground with green. In spots the wild violets +were in blossom--they had crept in some way from the dirt--I think it +had been taken from the woods near by. + +Watching each day, for the friends I knew would soon be coming, I found +the first shoots of the hardy phlox, which I knew to be G. Von Losburg +and Miss Lingard. Double blue bachelor buttons, self sown, were there, +some transplanted to fill in the bare spots, and poppies; I didn't know +what color they would be, for the wind and the birds had sown the seed; +but the leaves were a beautiful grey-green, and I let them grow. I had +almost given up the double baby breath (gypsophila paniculata, fl. pl.), +but finally it came all the way down the bed, about every five or six +feet, between the delphinium and the phlox. There were perhaps a dozen +plants of phlox, a dozen of belladona delphinium and six baby breath +through the middle of the bed, and on each side a row of the intense +blue Chinese delphinium. + +Just outside these, and next to the forget-me-nots and tulips, are the +bachelor buttons, and, coming through it all, a hundred candidum lilies, +their waxy white blossoms glistening in the sunshine, and the perfume so +heavy you knew they were there long before you could see them. The +poppies, too, were there; they were double, like a peony, rose-pink with +a white edge. I was glad I let them grow, for I don't think I ever saw a +more beautiful sight. + +I let it all grow and bloom as long as it would, hating to touch it for +fear of spoiling all. Finally I was obliged to clear away the old +stalks, and it looked rather bare for a time. But I brought some white +asters from the reserve garden. The Baron Hulot gladoli were soon in +bloom. The phlox sent up tiny shoots for new bloom from the base of each +leaf, and the second crop of bachelor buttons came along. White +schizanthus along the edge, covered up the old forget-me-nots, and +funkia lilies (subcordata) threw up their buds. The delphinium all began +to bloom again, the grey-green leaves of the baby breath was still +there, and soon my bed was all abloom again and staid so the rest of the +summer. + +But never did it equal the glory of those first ten days of July. + + + + +The Fall-Bearing Strawberries. + +CHARLES F. GARDNER, NURSERYMAN, OSAGE, IA. + +(SO. MINN. HORT. SOCIETY.) + + +There are now such excellent varieties of fall bearing strawberries on +the market that a person can have no good excuse for not planting some +in his garden. Select the ground for the bed where you will get the +whole benefit from the rays of the sun. I want no trees, bushes, or tall +growing plants of any kind near the bed. The farther away, the better. + +The earth should be made quite rich with well rotted compost. I like the +plan of preparing the bed a long time before you get ready to set your +plants. You can then work the soil over, time after time, and every time +kill a crop of weeds. More plants are set in the spring than any other +time, but they will grow and do well if set in midsummer or any time +after that up to the middle of October. Get through setting in September +if you can. If you set later, in October, cover the plants with a slight +covering of straw as soon as planted. Then afterwards, when you make a +business of covering put on a little more, cover them nicely--but you +are liable to kill them if you put on too much. Two inches deep I find +to be about the right depth to go through our ordinary winters. I mean +two inches after the straw has settled. I think many persons spoil their +plants, or at least injure them severely, by putting on too heavy a coat +of covering. I will also tell you to beware of using horse-manure as a +covering for strawberries. Clean straw or hay is the best of covering. +(Fall planting of strawberries not advisable in Minnesota.--Secy.) + +Most people do not trim the plants enough before they are set. All fruit +stems should be cut off, if there are any, and the most of the old +leaves removed, two or three of the youngest leaves on the plant is all +that should be left. These will start right off into a vigorous growth, +and you will soon have strong, healthy plants. I think it pays to put a +small handful of tobacco dust on and around each hill. You can generally +get it at your nearest greenhouse--or you can find out there where to +send for it. Get enough to put it on two or three times during the early +and latter part of summer. + +Do not select ground for your new bed that has been in strawberries; +take ground that has never had strawberries on, or at least that two or +three crops of some kind have been taken from it since it was covered +with strawberry vines. + +After the plants are set, they should be well firmed; it is absolutely +necessary that they should be very solid in the earth. They should not +be too deep nor too shallow, one is as bad as the other. The crown buds +should be in plain sight, after the ground is firmed and leveled, just +in sight and no more. A little temporary hilling will do no harm, but +the ground should be kept as level as possible. All cultivation should +be shallow so as to not disturb the roots of the plants. This is also a +very important item. Just remember that every plant loosened after it is +set means death to the plant if it is not reset at once. Cultivate often +when the ground is not too wet. Keep your bed entirely free of grass and +weeds. This is easily done if all work is done when it should be. The +time to kill weeds is when the seed first sprouts; don't wait until the +weed plants are an inch or more high; if you do you will never keep them +clean, and then you will never have success in your work. + +[Illustration: Chas. F. Gardner at work in his everbearing strawberry +experiment grounds.] + +Cut all fruit stems off as fast as they appear, until your plants get +well rooted, and then let them bear as much as they want to. But if some +plants set an unusually large number it is well to cut out part of the +fruit. If rightly thinned you will increase the yield in quarts. + +If fruit is the main object, after the plants are well located and begin +to set fruit for your main crop, they can be mulched with clean straw or +hay, carefully tucked up around each hill. This will keep the fruit +clean and conserve the moisture in the soil, and you can stop +cultivating. If plants are the main object, then you can not use the +mulching, but must keep the cultivator going between the rows. Well +informed growers of the strawberry plant generally have beds on purpose +for fruit in one place, and in another place one to grow plants. + +No one will make a success in growing strawberries unless he can learn +to detect the rogues that appear from time to time in strawberry patches +or in the fields. These rogues are generally plants that have come up +from the seed that has been scattered in one way and another over the +bed. Berries are stepped on and mashed, other berries are overlooked and +rot on the ground, but the seed remain and germinate when the time comes +for it in the spring, and some of these plants are not destroyed by +cultivation or by hoeing, and soon make trouble for the grower. No +seedling will be like the original plants that were first set, and many +of them will be strong growing plants, good runners but worthless for +fruit. When you set a new lot of plants you get some of these seedlings, +and that is how the mixture comes in. I have counted one hundred and +fifty seedling plants around one old plant in the spring. Of course the +most of these where good tillage is practised are destroyed, but some +remain in spite of all you can do unless you pay the very closest +attention and learn to distinguish rogues from the true named varieties. +All rogues must be kept out if you keep the variety true to name. Of +course once in a while a rogue will prove to be a valuable variety, as +was the case when Mr. Cooper found the Pan American eighteen years ago, +from which our fall varieties owe their parentage. If you want to be +successful remember to keep in mind the value of constant selection and +keeping your parent stock true to name. + +When you first set out your plants, go over them and examine them +closely and see that everything is right. Then remember that the first +sign of a good fall bearing variety is to see it throw out fruit stalks. +You can cut these off, so that the stub of the fruit stem will show that +it has sent up a flower stalk. You can see the stub. In this way in a +small patch you can easily keep track of them. If some plants do not +throw out fruit stems, mark them so you can tell them, and if they pass +the season without trying to fruit, you must refrain from setting out +any of the runners that appear, or there is liability of trouble. Let +such plants alone for another year's trial. Then if they do no better, +dig them up and destroy them. Once in a while they prove to be all +right, but often they are worthless. + +Learn to tell a variety by a careful examination of the plant at +different times during the season. Fix the general color of the leaf in +your mind, its shape and size. Notice whether the fruit stems are long +or short, whether the blossoms are above the leaves, in plain sight, or +are hidden below. Are there many fruit buds to the stalk, or but few? +Are the blossoms pistillate or staminate? Are the petals large or small? +Are the stamens long or short? Are the anthers well or poorly formed? +They should be plump and well filled before they are ready to open. + +Is the receptacle on which the pistils sit well formed and capable of +being developed into a perfect berry, or do they look ungainly in shape? +Are the petals pure white or slightly crimson? Are there many runners, +or few, or none? Do the new runners bear blossoms and fruit? If so, when +do they commence to bud and bloom? When do the berries begin to ripen? +Notice the size and shape of the fruit, also the color. You can tell +much from the taste of the berry. No two varieties taste exactly alike. +Some are real sweet and some kinds real sour. Then there are all grades +between. + +The perfume, or fragrance, of the fruit of the common strawberry when +fully ripened under proper conditions of sunlight and moisture has long +been esteemed and highly appreciated by mankind in general, and in this +respect the fall-bearing strawberry varies greatly. The most of the +varieties excel all common kinds as to perfume and that delicate +strawberry flavor which nearly everybody loves so well. Once in a while +a musk-scented variety is developed, like the Milo on our grounds, which +as yet has never been sent out. By paying close attention to these +things you can soon learn to distinguish many varieties at any time +during the growing season. + +In 1898 Mr. Cooper found his seedling which he called the Pan American. +From that small beginning there are now many varieties, perhaps +thousands, that excel the parent plant, and perhaps a hundred varieties +of great value. Some varieties have very superior merit. I will mention +a few: Progressive, Peerless, Advance, Danville, Forward, Prince, Will, +Milo, Nathaniel, 480, and there are others which might be mentioned. +Good reports have reached me of kinds produced at your Horticultural +Experiment farm by Prof. Haralson, but I have never tried them. My +private opinion is that several kinds I have not mentioned will very +soon take a back seat, as the saying is. The best varieties are bound to +come to the front. + +The best advertisement one can have is the ability to ship thousands of +quarts during the whole autumn. This season we shipped 22,565 quarts, +mostly sold in pint boxes. They netted us from 12-1/2 to 18 cents per +pint. At home we kept them on the market during the whole season at 15 +cents per quart. We lost as many as 5,000 quarts by violent storms +during the season. It was a fair season for growing plants, but there +was too much water to grow the best of fruit. + + + + +Heredity in Gladioli. + +G. D. BLACK, GLADIOLUS SPECIALIST, INDEPENDENCE, IA. + +(SO. MINN. HORT. SOCIETY.) + + +As heredity is a comparatively new word, it may be well to define it at +the beginning of this paper. Webster says "It is the transmission of +mental or physical characteristics or qualities from parent to +offspring, the tendency of an organism to reproduce the characteristics +of the progenitor." + +Most of the species of gladioli are native in the temperate zone of +Southern Africa, where they have grown for so long a time that they will +reproduce themselves in a marked degree from seeds. + +Some have grown in the moist soils of the valleys for so many +generations that they have become adapted to these conditions and will +not thrive on the elevated plateaus and mountain slopes. Those which are +native in the higher and cooler altitudes will not grow well in the +lower lands. + +A species or variety becomes acclimated when it is grown in one locality +for several successive generations, because it is one of nature's laws +that it takes on new characteristics that improve it for existence +there. These characters are changing more or less during each generation +on account of environment. + +We can not aid nature in strengthening and improving the desirable +qualities unless we follow nature's laws. By crossing two varieties that +have certain desirable characters in common we may be able to make these +characteristics more dominant. + +Much of the crossbreeding of the gladiolus has been done in such an +unscientific manner that it is surprising that so much improvement has +been made. This improvement is mostly the result of extra care and +cultivation, and the selection of the best each generation. In order to +retain the benefit of any extra care and cultivation it has to pass on +as a heritage to the succeeding generation and is there incorporated +among its characteristics. Each generation should be an advance toward +the desired ideal. + +There is no doubt in my mind that the ruffling and doubling of the +petals in flowers that have been under cultivation for several +generations is caused by the extra feeding and care that they have +received. + +Most species of gladioli in their wild state are small and lacking in +beauty. Abnormal or freak varieties should not be selected as the best +for breeding, because they are usually the result of a violent cross, +and are nearly always weak as propagators and sometimes entirely +sterile. + +Princeps has a very large flower, but the spike is short and only two or +three blooms are open at one time. It was originated by Dr. Van Fleet by +crossing Mrs. Beecher and Cruentus. Burbank crossed Princeps and +America, and quite a number of the seedlings show the markings of Mrs. +Beecher, one of their grandparents, but with shorter spikes. In this +cross Princeps transmits the undesirable character of short spikes but +leaves out the abnormal size of flower, and the best characters of +America are lacking. The parentage of America is very much in doubt, as +three prominent gladiolus breeders claim the honor of originating it. + +There are many characteristics to be considered when making selections +for breeding besides the color and size of the flower. The bulbs of some +varieties will stand considerable freezing while other varieties will +not. This same characteristic is noticed in the foliage. The severe +frost that killed our corn crop on August 30th so impaired Panama, +Hiawatha and some others that very few blooms of these varieties opened +afterwards. The foliage of some varieties remained green after a +temperature of twelve degrees below freezing. + +A representative of a Holland bulb growing firm who called on me a few +days ago says that Niagara is a very weak grower in Holland and Panama +is a very vigorous grower. My experience with these varieties is just +the reverse. This seems to show that sometimes the difference in climate +may cause certain characters in the plant to act differently--if the +Hollander is not mistaken. + +A few varieties are sometimes subject to blight and rust. Some are only +slightly affected, and many others are entirely blight proof. + +There are so many characteristics to be considered by the scientific +breeder that it is almost impossible to enumerate them all in this +paper. + +There is yet a great work to be done in breeding out the undesirable +traits and incorporating the improvements which we desire. + + + + +Civic Improvement. + +MRS. ALBERTSON, PRES. CIVIC IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE, AUSTIN. + + +This is a subject so broad and so closely connected with "The City +Beautiful" one can hardly find a starting point, but we might begin with +the one word--civic--which has drawn to itself many minds, much sober +thought and from some much hard work. + +The fear was widespread that woman would work havoc if she attempted to +spell the task, but how needless, for the word civic can be spelled with +accuracy from whichever end approached. + +What was the beginning of the civic league and the city beautiful? It +began at home, where most women's work begins. To have a beautiful home +one must have the right kind of house. To have the beautiful house to +make the beautiful home the setting must be made to correspond--so after +the house, the lawn; after the lawn, the boulevard. Then the work +spread. Streets needed cleaning, unsightly billboards had to be removed, +perhaps an adjoining vacant lot had a careless owner whose pride needed +pricking. So the need of a civic league grew, and now it has become a +vital spark in many cities all over the Union. Minnesota has over thirty +civic clubs doing specific work. Is it entirely the work for women? No. +Is it entirely the work for men? No. It is a work for both. It is a work +that is very contagious and a contagion that needs no quarantine. + +Civic league work envelopes many lines of improvement. Streets and +alleys sometimes need to be reported to the proper committee of the city +council; the disposal of rubbish and garbage has confronted many civic +societies. There is nothing so conducive to unsanitary conditions and so +disfiguring to a beautiful street as glimpses and often broad views of +alleys and back yards that have become dump piles and garbage receivers. + +Besides the effect on one's love for cleanliness and beauty, it breeds +disease--and so public sanitation was added to the civic league work. + +In some cities the societies are taking up the work of smoke abatement. +I might say that we have a few offending chimneys in our own city +beautiful. Every member of the city council should be a member of the +civic league, for much more could be done by co-operation. There is +great need of the civic improvement league and park board working +together, for their aim is one--to make the city beautiful. + +The work that gives the most beauty to the city after the good +foundation of cleanliness, public sanitation and removal of public +nuisances is that done in the parks. I am glad cities are making larger +appropriations for parks, and I hope our city will have more in the +future, for there are great possibilities of making our city not only a +city beautiful, but a most beautiful city. Parks should be well lighted, +playgrounds for children are almost a necessity, the river banks should +be kept clean--but most of all the natural beauties of a place must be +preserved and trees should be planted. Shade is needed as a good +background. There is nothing that will enhance a beautiful statue, +fountain or other park ornament like a setting of good trees. + +If possible to have it there is no more attractive spot in a park than a +lily pool. The old idea of laying out parks according to some +geometrical pattern is giving way to the development of walk lines of +practical use, recognizing both traffic requirements and the +desirability of location for numerous park benches. What will lend more +charm to a park than a beautiful drive bordered with noble trees leading +up to some focal point or opening a way to some particular vista that +would otherwise be lost! + +The park board should not limit its work to parks alone, but wherever +there is a spot, triangle corner or any other kind of available place, +there should be planted shrubs or flower beds. They soon become a public +pride and cheer many passersby. We have a number of bright spots in our +city, beginning in the spring with a beautiful bed of tulips. May +another year bring us many more! One forgets the mud and the +disagreeable days of spring in watching the bulbs thrust their little +pointed noses through the cold earth and the development of the buds +until they burst open into a blaze of color, flaunting their gorgeous +heads in a farewell to old winter and giving a cheery welcome to the +coming summer. + + + + +BEE-KEEPER'S COLUMN. + +Conducted by FRANCIS JAGER, Professor of Apiculture, University +Farm, St. Paul. + + +If not already done the beekeeper should at once make his final +preparations towards a successful wintering of bees. There are several +conditions under which the bees winter well, all of which are more or +less understood. The chief of these are a strong colony of young bees, +sufficient amount of good stores, and the proper place to keep the bees. + +Bees that were queenless late in the fall or bees that had an old queen +who stopped laying very early in the season, will have only few and old +bees for wintering and will not have vitality enough to survive. Such +colonies should be united with some other good colony or if too far gone +they should be destroyed. Weak colonies should be united until they are +strong enough to occupy and fill when clustered at least six frames. + +The best stores to winter bees on is pure honey capped over. Honey dew +will kill the bees in winter. If you have any black honey in your hives +you had better remove it and replace with white honey. A ten frame hive +ready for winter ought to contain from 35 to 40 pounds of honey. A +complete hive if put on a scale should weigh not less than from 50 to 60 +pounds. The best way to supply food to the bees is to remove the dry +combs and insert next to the cluster full combs of honey. Feeding sugar +is a dangerous undertaking, and it should not be resorted to unless +necessity compels one to do it, and then feeding should be done early in +the season to allow the bees to invert the sugar, cap it over and +consume such stores which are not capped over before winter. The hives +that winter best are those which contain no uncapped honey in the +frames. + +For the bulk of beekeepers cellar wintering in Minnesota is to be +recommended. The things to be looked after in cellar wintering are: +first, that the temperature of the cellar does not go much below 45 +degrees, at least not for any length of time. Second, that the entrances +are kept open and clear of dead bees and are guarded with four to the +inch wire screen against mice. Third, that the moisture generated by the +bees does not accumulate on the walls and covers of the hives. This is +most essential. Moisture absorbing material should be used in place of a +wooden cover, for instance flax board or gunnysacks, or a super filled +with shavings over a queen excluder. The bees must have free passage +over the top of the frames. We wintered the bees at University Farm +without loss by using nothing else but the one inch flax board on top of +the hive, which kept the hive positively dry all winter. + +Your cellar should be dark, should have some ventilation, and the bees +should never be disturbed during their winter sleep. By following these +recommendations, you will be delighted to find your bees in the spring +in a most flourishing condition for next summer's work. + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. +Minneapolis. + + +After the frosts have killed the _dahlia_ foliage the tubers should be +dug and stored before the cold becomes so great. They may be injured by +it. + +The stems should be cut to about three or four inches of the roots, +using a sharp knife, so as to make a clean cut. To the stems attach the +label firmly. Loosen the earth about each clump before attempting to +lift it, then run the spade or fork as far under it as possible and pry +it gently out. In this way the tubes will not be broken or injured where +they join the stem, which is the only place where they can make the next +season's growth. Most of the soil will drop off as they dry. Lay the +roots so that water will not have a chance to collect in the soft hollow +stems, or crown rot may trouble you. + +A cool, dry shed is a good place in which to cure the roots. Lay them on +boards and turn them occasionally so they will dry evenly. + +In a week's time they should be ready to store for winter, the best +place being a frost-proof cellar. Unless this is very dry, it is best to +have boards raised a few inches above the floor on which to lay them. +This will allow a current of air to pass under them. If a damp cellar +must be used, air slaked lime sprinkled under the boards will help to +keep them dry. Cover them a little with dry sand. The best temperature +is 40 degrees. + +_Cannas_ can be lifted and stored at once. Cut the stems off short, +leaving enough to attach the labels to. They keep best if lifted with as +much soil about them as possible. The clumps can be set close together, +on boards arranged in the same way as for dahlias. They will stand a +slightly warmer temperature than dahlias. + +_Tuberous begonias_, unlike dahlias and cannas, should be lifted without +cutting the stems. They should be cured in the sun for at least two +weeks and during that time turned to dry evenly and kept perfectly dry. +A cold frame is a good place in which to do this. When the stems part +readily from the bulbs, the latter can be packed in boxes and stored in +any dry place where the temperature will not fall below 40 degrees. +These are among the tenderest bulbs and should be the first to be +lifted. + +_Gladioli_ should be lifted with their stems intact, tied in bundles and +hung in a dry shed to dry. When thoroughly dry, the stems can be cut off +and the bulbs packed in boxes and stored the same as the begonias. They +are especially sensitive to heat, and if the air is too dry the bulbs +will shrivel and lose much of their vitality. + +_Montbretias_ should be lifted out and stored in the same way as the +gladioli. + +_Tuberoses_ should be lifted with the stems intact and spread out to dry +or hung in a dry place. When thoroughly cured, cut off the stems close +to the bulb and store in the same way as gladioli. + +_Caladium, or Elephant's Ears_, should be lifted without disturbing the +stem or leaves. As the leaves dry they can be removed, but the stem +should not be cut near the bulb, as this is the point of growth the +following year. They can be stored with the dahlias and cannas and are +not apt to shrivel, as the bulb is so large and fleshy. + +_Zephyrunthes, summer blooming hyacinths, tritomas, and tigridias_ +should be lifted, cured, and stored in the same manner as gladioli. + +All of these are subject to rot, so it is well to examine them +occasionally. If any rot is found, remove the affected bulbs, and if +those remaining appear damp, dust lightly with air-slaked lime. Flowers +of sulphur can also be used to dust them with to prevent this trouble. +Should the bulbs be getting too dry, cover with sand. In our climate of +extremes, it is necessary to examine them at intervals, and be prompt in +the use of a remedy if any of these adverse conditions are discovered. + + * * * * * + +NOTICE. + +The November meeting of the Garden Flower Society will be held in the +Minneapolis Park Board greenhouses, thirty-eighth street and Bryant +avenue, November 16, 2:30 p.m. Take Monroe and Bryant car. St. Paul +members will transfer from the Selby-Lake at Bryant avenue. This will be +a chrysanthemum show, and a talk on hardy chrysanthemums will be given. + + + + +SECRETARY'S CORNER + +MINNESOTA CROP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.--Will hold its annual +meeting this year at Fairmont on Feb. 21-22-23. The seed growers of +Minnesota would be especially interested in this meeting, at which there +are to be a number of seed contests, particulars in regard to which are +not at hand. They may be secured by addressing the secretary, Prof. C. P. +Bull, University Farm, St. Paul, Minn. + +THE VEGETABLE GROWERS CONVENTION.--This convention, which is I +understand an annual gathering of the vegetable growers of America, was +largely attended in Chicago the last week in September. A report +received of the meeting indicates an attendance of eight hundred +vegetable growers, including two hundred fifty from the vicinity of +Chicago. The city entertained them with an inspection trip, throughout +Cook County and later a party of them went to Racine and visited the +experimental gardens operated by Prof. R. L. Jones, of the Wisconsin +University. Perhaps we may have a fuller report of this meeting from +some of our Minnesota growers who were in attendance. + +THE SOCIAL ELEMENT AT OUR ANNUAL MEETING.--Making the West +Hotel the headquarters of the society at the same time that the meeting +is held in the building gives an especially good opportunity for +renewing and cultivating acquaintance amongst the members in attendance. +This was particularly noticeable last year, and without doubt one of the +most enjoyable features of the gathering. Placing emphasis upon this, an +additional room has been engaged for the coming meeting on the same +floor and adjoining the rooms occupied last year, which will be fitted +up especially for a reception room where members and their friends may +gather and rest as they visit and talk of the many things of interest +connected with our society and its work. A suitable sign will direct +members to this reception room, and we anticipate that it will be made +use of largely. + +THE PRIZE WINNER IN THE GARDEN AND CANNING CONTEST.--The +Horticultural Society is offering $10.00 to pay railroad fare and +traveling expenses to attend the annual meeting of our society by the +boy or girl making the best record in the state in the "garden and +canning contest" carried on by the Minnesota Extension Division. The +successful contestant will tell in his or her way how it was that +success was secured in the contest. Besides this prize of $10.00 each of +the ten boys or girls scoring next highest in this contest will receive +an annual membership for 1917 in the State Horticultural Society. The +name of the successful contestant is not yet announced. + +DELEGATES FROM SISTER SOCIETIES.--Several delegates have been +appointed from horticultural societies in adjoining states, notices of +which have reached this office. + +Mr. D. E. Bingham, of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., is to represent the Wisconsin +State Horticultural Society. Mr. Bingham has made fruit growing his life +work, a man of large experience, whose services are in demand in that +state also as an institute lecturer. We shall have an opportunity to +profit by his experience at our meeting, as you will note by consulting +the program. + +Mr. G. D. Black, of Independence, Ia., is to represent the Northeast Iowa +Society. Mr. Black has been with us before and he will find many who +recall his presence here in previous years. He is to give us on the +program his later experience in connection with the growing of the +gladioli, a work to which he has given large attention for many years. + +From South Dakota is coming the president of that society, Rev. S. A. +Hassold, from Kimball, S.D. + +Other visitors from Iowa not officially sent to us who have signified an +intention to be present are: Chas. F. Gardner, Osage, Ia.; E. M. Reeves, +Waverly. Prof. S. A. Beach is also to spend the last two days of the +annual meeting with us and his name will be found upon our program on +several topics. No professional horticulturist in America is better or +more favorably known than Prof. Beach, and our membership who are +interested in orcharding should not fail to hear what he has to say on +the subjects he presents. + +Mr. N. A. Rasmussen, of Oshkosh, Wis., is also to be with us and will be +found several times on the program. Being an expert in market gardening +we are going to work him to the limit while he is with us. We anticipate +that Secretary Cranefield of the Wisconsin Society, will also spend the +week with us. Prof. C.B. Waldron will be here as representative of the +North Dakota Society, and also Prof. F.W. Broderick of Winnipeg as +representing the Winnipeg Horticultural Society--and of course our Prof. +N.E. Hansen, of South Dakota. All of these friends will be found on the +program. + +There may be others, but this will do for a start. + +[Illustration: VIEW OVER VEGETABLE TABLE AND ACROSS FRUIT EXHIBIT AT +1916 MINNESOTA STATE FAIR. MR. THOS. REDPATH, SUPT. FRUIT +EXHIBIT.] + + While it is not the intention to publish anything in this + magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be + remembered that the articles published herein recite the + experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must + always be noted in estimating their practical value. + + + + +THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST + +Vol. 44 DECEMBER, 1916 No. 12 + + + + +Perennial Garden at Carmarken, White Bear. + +J. W. TAYLOR, ST. PAUL. + + +We have had so many inquiries about our garden as to how we make things +grow, and as to the best plants to use, that we take pleasure in +answering through the Horticulturist and giving the result of our +experience in making an attractive perennial garden. Our soil is sandy +loam, very quick and warm, except in one place where it is low and there +is a heavy black soil over clay. It has been well enriched with well +rotted manure and cultivated as much as possible every spring, where it +could be done without disturbing plants and bulbs. The arrangement of +flowers as regards the blending and careful selection so that one bloom +does not kill another is the secret of a beautiful garden. Acres of +flowers placed without any regard to color, no matter how expensive +individual plants may be, is not pleasing to the eye. It is like a crowd +of mixed people, and we know crowds are never beautiful. There is +incompatibility among flowers as there is among people, and the +compatible must be associated or there is no harmony. + +What do we raise and how do we do it? We will, in the space allowed, +answer this as best we can. It is not necessary to spend a great lot of +money if one uses good judgment and knows where to buy. Take that grand +flower, the peony. One can spend as much money as one pleases on these. +There is just now a fad regarding these flowers, and some rich people +are paying as high as $30.00 a root for certain kinds, but it is not +necessary. The most really lovely gardens I have seen in the East and +West have not been filled with plants bought at fancy prices. We have +some that originally cost us a good deal of money and which are now +cheap, as for instance, the Henryii lily. We bought the first we heard +of at one dollar and one-half each. Now they can be bought for thirty +cents. In peonies, Baroness Schroeder, an ivory white, is selling for +three dollars a root, while the most beautiful of all the whites +according to my taste, Festiva Maxima, can be bought for fifty cents. +The Kelways are all fine. The best cost about one dollar each. In our +garden, among others, the Pallas, Edulis Superba, Golden Harvest, Madame +Crousse and Queen Victoria, all fine, cost us fifty cents each. We have +a row all around our garden of these splendid flowers, many varieties, +some very rare, and nothing could be more gorgeous in color or more +effective than this border. Hundreds of people came to see this peony +show this year and were extravagant in their praise. The perfect harmony +of arrangement was what pleased. We made many friends happy with armfuls +of them to take home. That is the pleasure of your garden, the enjoyment +one gets from making others happy. We especially notice how pleased the +children were, the girls more so than the boys, perhaps, as they +wandered along the paths fondling this or that bloom with loving +fingers. With such an amount of bloom it is easy to send bouquets to the +childrens' hospitals and to sick friends. We plant the peonies with the +crown just under the earth, two feet apart. In the fall we cut off the +old stalks and replace them over the plants after putting a good +dressing of rotted manure on the beds. + +Another flower, which is very attractive, is the larkspur Belladonna, +turquoise blue. It shows from a great distance as its heavenly blue +meets the eye. When arranged in a vase with white flowers it makes the +most beautiful, choice and refined bouquet we know of. The Formosum is a +lovely dark blue and very striking. Give them plenty of water and some +wood ashes to keep off the slugs. Cut off the stalks after blooming, +about August first, and they will bloom again in autumn. We had this +year a large clump of Madonna lilies and next to them a large bunch of +larkspur. The effect was stunning. Just before the larkspur came the +whole north end of the garden was aflame with Oriental poppies, hundreds +of them. No other flower produces the effect upon one that this great +proud, wonderful flower does. It is the queen of the show. We transplant +this in September in ordinary soil. Or we sow the seeds in August and +transplant the seedlings as soon as up. They need no protection, but we +protect everything with straw and branches. The branches to keep the +straw from packing too hard and keeping the air out. Protection of +roses is necessary, of course. We had a great collection this season. +Our plan is to cut them back to within a foot of the ground then fill a +box with leaves and turn over them. We never lose a rose thus protected. +Neither sun nor mice injure them. + +Another grand flower is Digitalis, or foxglove. These gladden your heart +as the medicine made from them strengthens it. Get the mixed plants or +seed, Gloxinia flora. When in bloom, look into their little gloves and +note the wonder of nature's coloring. With us they grow six feet tall in +black, heavy soil. They self-sow, and the plants of the present year +bloom the next. A bed of these make a most gorgeous, dignified group in +your garden. They are hardy with a very slight covering. Many with us +self-sow and live through the winter without any protection. We made up +a bed of these self-sowed in fall of 1915. They were a glory this +summer. A few years ago every one said, don't waste your time on +Japanese Iris. They thrive with us and bear blooms fully as large as a +tea plate and of most exquisite beauty. We divide them every third year +and in the spring cover them with old fertilizer and water them well. +They grow in a heavy soil with some sand worked in. Our best varieties +are Oriole, Distinction, Alice Kiernga, Beauty of Japan and Blue Flag. + +The Gladiolus is another bright and interesting addition to our floral +family. The best we have are Marie de Ruyter, a pretty blue; Badenia, +lavender; Golden King, a magnificent yellow; Florence, lilac blotched; +Mazie, corn color; and Dawn, shell pink. Plant these bulbs in +succession, three weeks apart, from April first, six inches deep, so +they will stand up, and eighteen inches between rows. In this way you +will have them until frost. For the house cut them when first bud comes +out, and they will all blossom in water. + +A flower which attracts much attention with us is the Canterbury Bell, +cup and saucer variety, in different colors. Very showy. This is not a +perennial but a biennial. We plant our seeds in July and transplant in +September or October. The Persicifolia in white and blue is a hardy +perennial and grows on stalks two to three feet high, a great favorite +among white flowers. In some soils they do not do well, but with us grow +rampant. We prefer the white. We cut over two thousand stalks this +summer from one hundred fifty plants. + +Of Tulips, which are so welcome in early spring, the Darwin leads all. +We love them as we do the Stars of Bethlehem, the Hyacinths, Narcissi +and the darling little blue flowers, Scilla Siberica, that come with the +Snowdrops and Crocuses before the snow is gone. We thus have bloom from +snow to snow. Always something bright, and that is another strong reason +for a perennial garden. + +We have many calls from persons wishing to buy plants or seeds. We do +not sell either, but gladly give away our surplus. We have furnished +many gardens in this way all about us and thus added to the beauty of +the surrounding country and made ourselves and others happy. Our +collection of Lilies, Auratums, Speciosums, Tigers, Madonnas, are all +planted six to eight inches deep and, after spreading manure are covered +with straw, after frost. We cover all bulb beds with manure in the fall. +Among lilies all but the Auratums last years, but these lose their +vitality in two or three seasons. Plant all lilies in fall except +Madonnas, which should be put in in August. Two fine flowers we would +recommend to flower lovers: the Amaryllis Hallii, or, as we call it, the +wonder flower, which grows a large bunch of leaves in spring and in June +they all die down. In August there springs up a single stalk from the +apparently dead plant, bearing a lily-like bunch of flowers of charming +colors. It is as hardy as an oak. The other is the Dictamnus, or gas +plant. Most beautiful and very hardy. Get one white and one pink and +plant near each other. They are fine. Of course we have named but a +small part of our collection, but will be glad to give any further +information to our Horticulturist readers and will be glad to welcome +them at our grounds any time. + + * * * * * + +CANNING FRUITS WITHOUT SIRUP.--Can the product the same day it +is picked. Cull, stem, or seed, and clean the fruit by placing it in a +strainer and pouring water over it until it is clean. Pack the product +thoroughly in glass jars or tin cans until they are full; use the handle +of a tablespoon, wooden ladle, or table knife for packing purposes. Pour +over the fruit boiling water from a kettle, place rubbers and caps in +position, partially seal if using glass jars, seal completely if using +tin cans. Place the containers in a sterilizing vat, such as a wash +boiler with false bottom, or other receptacle improvised for the +purpose. If using a hot-water bath outfit, process for 30 minutes; count +time after the water has reached the boiling point; the water must cover +the highest jar in container. After sterilizing seal glass jars, wrap in +paper to prevent bleaching, and store in a dry, cool place. + +If you are canning in tin cans it will improve the product to plunge the +cans quickly into cold water immediately after sterilization. When using +a steam pressure canner instead of the hot-water bath, sterilize for 10 +minutes with 5 pounds of steam pressure. Never allow the pressure to go +over 10 pounds. + + + + +The Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding Farm. + +CHAS. HARALSON, SUPT., EXCELSIOR. + + +The Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding Farm was established eight years ago, +principally for breeding new varieties of fruit adapted to our climate +and conditions. The aim of this work is to assist the people in getting +better commercial varieties of the various fruits grown in the state, so +that better returns could be secured for the people engaged in the +various lines of fruit growing. Some of the plant-breeding work is +beginning to show results, a few varieties of fruit are being +distributed in a small way for trial in different localities. + +A great deal of work has been done with apples. Seedlings have been +grown by the thousands every year with the idea of selecting some +desirable varieties when the trees come into fruiting. Hardiness of +tree, long keeping and good quality of fruit are the most desirable +points we are looking for in our selections. A great deal of crossing +under glass is being done with apples; a number of seedlings, the +results of this crossing work, are planted every spring. + +Some of the six thousand Malinda apple seedlings planted seven years ago +have fruited to some extent for the last three years. These show a great +variation in fruit, both in color, quality and long keeping. Some of the +fruit ripens with the Duchess, while others will keep until spring in +good condition. There is a chance for some desirable varieties out of +this lot, but it will take several years to determine whether we have +anything better than the Wealthy. The Wealthy is by far our best +commercial variety, but we are looking for something that will keep +until spring. + +Gooseberries and currants are easily raised and are perfectly hardy with +us, but we are working to get some improvement on these varieties. Many +thousand seedlings are being grown for this purpose. Our native +gooseberries are used in breeding work with the cultivated varieties to +a great extent, as they are hardy, strong growers and resistant to +mildew. + +As to cherries, we have none that are satisfactory. Some work has been +carried on for several years, but we have not obtained anything of +special value so far. The most promising combinations are Compass cherry +crossed with the cultivated varieties. None of these have fruited, but +we have some hope for a hardy cherry from these seedlings. + +Peaches and apricots are not hardy in Minnesota, and consequently nobody +thinks of planting them. Some years ago we started crossing the sand +cherry with peaches and apricots. The results were a number of +seedlings, but all turned out to be worthless; the trees after several +years growth were small, or grew mostly in bush form. They blossomed +every spring but never set any fruit on account of some imperfection in +the flowers. Four years ago we started to use the Compass cherry as the +male parent, and this combination is more promising. The seedlings make +a good growth and a fairly good sized tree, practically as hardy as the +Compass cherry. The seedlings resemble the apricots and peaches in +blossom, tree and foliage. This fruit will not be exactly an apricot or +a peach, but may take the place of these fruits in a small way. + +[Illustration: No. 7 Hybrid Seedling Plum--from Minnesota State +Fruit-Breeding Farm, at Zumbra Heights.] + +The Compass cherry crossed with Prunus Pissardi, or purple leaf plum, is +a very interesting combination. We have about fifty seedlings growing. +Most of them have the purple foliage and bark, are very ornamental and +can be used with effect for lawns and landscape planting where large +shrubs are wanted. + +The grapes. The Vitis Labrusca, such as Concord, Worden, Moore's Early +and many other varieties, are not hardy unless protected during winter. +There is a demand for hardy grapes that do not need any winter +protection. At the Fruit-Breeding Farm this problem has been taken up on +a large scale. The Beta grape is hardy but lacks in size and quality. +This variety has been used to grow many thousands of seedlings from, and +also used in cross-breeding with the better varieties. A large percent +of Beta seedlings come true to seed or nearly so. This gives us several +hundred varieties equal to Beta, and some of them are quite an +improvement in size and quality over the parent and practically as hardy +as the wild grape. Many of these are worthy of propagation where +hardiness is the main object. Very few of the hybrid grape seedlings +have fruited, but indications are that in a few years we will have +grapes equal in size and quality to any of our commercial varieties. + +Experiments are being carried on in a small way with pears, roses and +nuts. Our native hazelnuts can be improved by selection and crossing +with the filberts. The same is true with the Rosa Rugosa and our native +roses. + +In breeding strawberries we probably have had better success than with +any other fruit we have attempted to improve. The breeding work was done +in the greenhouse during winter and early spring and seed planted as +soon as berries were ripe. The plants were transplanted to flats and +later planted out in the field, where they remained until fruiting, when +the selections were made. We have fruited approximately 60,000 +seedlings. These have been weeded out so there are about 400 left, and +these will be cut down to a few of the best varieties. At present we +have one everbearing and one June-bearing variety which have proven to +be very productive, of good size, good quality and good plantmakers. +These plants have been sent out as premiums to members of the State +Horticultural Society for the last two years and will be distributed the +same way next spring. + +In raspberries we have several varieties which are promising. King x +Loudan, No. 4, is a variety that has been sent out as premium the last +three years. This variety is amongst the hardiest, the berries are dark +red, very large and the most productive of all the varieties growing on +the place. This has also been sent out as premium through the +Horticultural Society. + +In plums we probably have had the best success. Some of the first +breeding work was with Burbank x (crossed with) Wolf and Abundance x +Wolf. We have twenty-eight seedlings of Burbank x Wolf and forty-five +Abundance x Wolf which have fruited several years. We have varying +degrees of hardiness in these seedlings. Most of them have withstood our +winters at the fruit farm without injury, as well as in most of the +southern half of the state. + +Among the Abundance x Wolf hybrids eight of the seedlings are only +partly hardy, while of the Burbank x Wolf only one or two have shown +themselves to be particularly weak in this respect. + +Type of fruit. In general the Burbank type of fruit is dominant. The +flesh of these hybrids runs quite uniformly yellow, varying in degrees, +however, from a deep yellow to a yellowish green. Some of them have a +yellow skin with a blush or a streak of red, while others are a deep red +even before ripe. The fruit in size varies from both smaller and larger +than the parents. Firmness characterises most of the hybrids. We are +also getting good shipping quality, and in Burbank x Wolf No. 12 we have +a plum measuring one and three-quarters inches and more in diameter and +a perfect freestone. This plum will be used extensively in further +plant-breeding. + +In shape of tree the two hybrids differ materially. The Burbank x Wolf +hybrids make spreading trees more or less, while the Abundance x Wolf +grows more upright and does not need quite as much room. + + * * * * * + +TENT CATERPILLAR.--As soon as small nests are detected, they +should be destroyed. When in convenient reach, the nests may be torn out +with a brush, with gloved hand, or otherwise, and the larvae crushed on +the ground, care being taken to destroy any caterpillars which have +remained on the tree. + +The use of a torch to burn out the nests will be found convenient when +they occur in the higher parts of the trees. In using the torch great +care is necessary that no important injury be done to the tree; it +should not be used in burning out nests except in the smaller branches +and twigs, the killing of which would be of no special importance. Nests +in the larger limbs should be destroyed by hand, as the use of the torch +may kill the bark, resulting in permanent injury. + +Tent caterpillars are readily destroyed by arsenicals sprayed on the +foliage of trees infested by them. Any of the arsenical insecticides may +be used, as Paris green, Scheele's green, arsenate of lead, etc. The +first two are used at the rate of one-half pound to 50 gallons of water. +The milk of lime made from 2 to 3 pounds of stone lime should be added +to neutralize any caustic effect of the arsenical on the foliage. +Arsenate of lead is used at the rate of 2 pounds to each 50 gallons of +water. + +On stone fruits, such as cherry, peach, and plum, arsenicals are likely +to cause injury to foliage and must be used with caution if at all. On +such trees the arsenate of lead is preferable, as it is less injurious +to foliage, and on all trees sticks much better. In spraying for the +tent caterpillar only, applications should be made while the +caterpillars are yet small, as they then succumb more quickly to poisons +than when more nearly full grown, and prompt treatment stops further +defoliation of the trees.--U. S. Dept. Agri. + + + + +Color Combinations in the Garden. + +MISS ELIZABETH STARR, 2224 FREMONT SO., MINNEAPOLIS. + + +English books on gardening set forth two principal methods of making a +garden: first, to have each part perfect for a short time each year and +then let it melt into the background for the rest of the season; second, +to have every part of the garden showing some flowers all through the +summer. + +These two methods suggest the impressionistic and miniature schools of +painting. With the first method it is possible to get great masses of +color and brilliant effects to be viewed at a distance, but it requires +a great deal of space, with a perennial garden at least, for +unfortunately most of our perennials are in their greatest glory for +only a few weeks at a time. The second method fills more nearly the +needs of the small garden, where the vistas are short and the individual +plant is under close inspection. The greatest difficulty is this, that +the amateur cannot resist the lure of a great variety of plants, and +unless a vigorous thinning out is faithfully practiced and the habit of +growth, the period of blooming, the height and color of each individual +is carefully studied, the effect of the whole is very apt to be mussy +and distracting to the eye, whereas the ideal garden is soothing in +effect. + +I have only been studying the problem for the last five or six years, so +that I am still decidedly an amateur, but I have kept a faithful record +of the time of flowering of each variety I have grown in my garden and +have discovered that the time of blooming does not vary more than five +days for each plant no matter whether the season be wet or dry. With +this record at hand I can arrange each part of my garden with a view to +the succession of bloom throughout the summer. I can place plants with +clashing colors side by side with the calm assurance that they will not +clash because their periods of blooming do not overlap. In this way I +can completely change the color of certain parts of my garden during the +summer if I so desire. + +In studying combinations for the garden we must take into consideration +the harmony and contrast of color, texture, form, height and the +succession of bloom. We must also see that plants requiring the same +soil and the same care are put together. In my garden I use both annuals +and perennials but am limited in choice to those plants that are +perfectly hardy, that will stand infinite neglect, drought, much wind, a +stiff soil, that do not require especial protection in the winter, that +will be in bloom all summer long and be beautiful. This, as I have +found, is a rather difficult task. + +[Illustration: Perennial border. Edging of pinks and Shasta daisies, +pink canterbury bells and Festiva Maxima peony. Behind, pyrethrum, +uliginosum and hollyhocks. Blue flowering flax adds depth to the pink +and white.] + +There is a great diversity of opinion as to how to set out plants. Some +say, "Give each plant plenty of room; let it expand as much as it will." +Others say, "Each six inches of ground should have its plant; set them +so closely that no dirt will show between; in this way each individual +plant will be finer than when set out singly and the leaves will form a +shade for the ground." I have used the latter method, for, since we have +no means of watering, the conservation of moisture is an important item. +The chief objection is that there is a constant danger of overcrowding, +and it requires a frequent resetting of plants as they increase in size +from year to year. + +[Illustration: Yellow iris against the blue of distant hills.] + +I have a border on the north side of my garden that is six feet wide and +about seventy feet long. It is my aim to keep this in bloom all through +the summer long. There is a background of purple and white lilacs and +cut-leaf spirea. The first thing that comes in the spring is poet's +narcissus, then groups of Darwin tulips; both of these are naturalized +and remain in the ground from year to year. Next comes the perennial +blue flax, a half dozen plants set at intervals down the border, that +every morning from mid-April until August are a mass of blue. Clumps of +May-flowering iris and then June-flowering iris and four large peony +plants make the border bright until the latter part of June, when +alternating groups of field daisies and pink and red sweet williams are +in full bloom at one end of the border, and summer-flowering cosmos +holds sway at the other end, while the flax, bachelor's buttons and +daisies fill the center with blue and white. By the middle of July the +calendulas, coreopsis and annual larkspur make a vivid display where the +narcissus was before. These four make a very good combination, for if +the bed is well made and the narcissus planted deep, the coreopsis and +larkspur seed themselves, and with the exception of a deep raking in the +late fall the bed needs no attention except thinning out for three +years, and it is in bloom for at least four months of the season. + +[Illustration: Pink and white pinks, field and Shasta daisies, +canterbury bells and hollyhocks.] + +In this border I have at last found a place for the magenta phlox that +usually fights with the whole garden. I put it in front of a single row +of pink and white cosmos, flank it on one side with pink and white +verbenas, on the other with mixed scabiosas and in front of all a single +row of Shasta daisies. This combination pleases the family as well as +the phlox. + +On the south side of the garden, against a low buckthorn hedge is a +narrower border of sky-blue belladonna, delphinium, buttercups and +achillea, with an edging of Chinese pinks. I had thought the +complementary colors of the delphinium and buttercups would set each +other off, but it is a very poor combination, for the foliage is so much +alike that there is no contrast there, and when the plants are not in +bloom it is almost impossible to tell which is which so as to take out +the buttercups, whose yellow is too bright. Shasta daisies set off the +delphiniums to perfection with the wonderful purity of their white and +yellow and pleasing contrast of form, foliage and height. With Emperor +narcissus bulbs set between the plants, there are flowers in the border +the whole season. + +Another very poor combination that is in my garden, much to my sorrow, +is hemerocallis and siberica iris. They started out about three feet +from each other, but the hemerocallis spreads so quickly that now they +form a mass that is almost impossible to break apart. Another mistake I +made was to put Shasta daisies and field daisies near together. It is +unfair to the smaller daisies, for although they are fully two inches in +diameter, yet they appear dwarfed beside the giants. + +There is one point in my garden that is vivid throughout the summer. +First comes the orange lilium elegans, then scarlet lychnis and later, +tiger lilies. Another bit is gorgeous from the first of August until +frost; it is made up of blue and white campanula pyramidalis, that grow +quite five feet high, and Mrs. Francis King gladioli. + +An important thing to think of is the line of vision from each point of +vantage of the house--the endwise view of a multicolored bed of fairy +columbines against a light green willow from the sewing room window, +from the library the blue of a Juniata iris swaying four feet up in the +air in front of a sweet briar, from the front porch pale yellow +Flavescens iris through a mist of purple sweet rockets. + +The garden is in its glory during the iris season. At a conservative +estimate we have about twenty-five hundred of them in our little garden, +ranging through all the colors of the rainbow and blooming from April +until late June. They may easily make such an increase that it is +baffling to cope with, but they are so beautiful and so amenable to the +experimenting of an amateur that we feel as though we couldn't get +enough of them. Last summer a wonderful effect was achieved by putting +dark blue and mahogany-colored pansies beside Jacquesiana and Othello +iris, this repeating the color and texture in different plants. + +[Illustration: Rocky Mountain columbine against the willow hedge, with +perennial candytuft as edging.] + +We leave the garden through a wooden arch. Climbing over one side of +this is a Thousandschon rose, and on the other side a Dr. Van Fleet +grows rank. A wild clematis is planted beside each rose and fills the +top of the arch. I am rather dubious about the combination, for I fear +the clematis may grow so heavy that it will choke out the roses, but +this summer at least it was beautiful, and another summer will come to +try other combinations. + + + + +Truck Crop and Garden Insects. + +AN EXERCISE LED BY PROF. WM. MOORE, ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY +FARM, ST. PAUL. + + +There is one insect that probably all those who are in the market garden +business are very much interested in, and that is the cabbage maggot. As +you all know, in the spring of the year, after cabbages are put out, +frequently you will find the cabbages slowly dying, one dying one day +and two or three the next day, and so on until sometimes fifty per cent +or more of the cabbages die. At first it is not exactly apparent what is +killing the cabbages, but when one is pulled up it will be noticed that +a little maggot is working in the root of the cabbage. This insect is +commonly known as the cabbage maggot. + +For a number of years work has been carried on with the cabbage maggot, +and all sorts of treatments have been tried, many without any great +success. The unfortunate part is that usually the market gardener don't +take much thought of this maggot until it is actually doing the injury, +and at that time they are mighty difficult to handle. + +There have been several different treatments advised, one of which is +fresh hellebore, about two ounces steeped in a quart of boiling water +and then diluted to a gallon and poured upon the base of the plant. It +will destroy the maggots, but hellebore is very expensive and, as +probably most of you know, there isn't a great amount of profit in +cabbage; so any treatment will have to be a cheap treatment, or you will +use up your profit. + +During the last two years I have been working along a line which is +entirely different from the treatment of the maggot, and that is based +upon the fact that the fly which lays the egg which produces the maggot +in the cabbage comes out early in the spring and flies about the field +for probably a week or ten days or two weeks before it lays its eggs, +and during that period it eats any sweet material which happens to be on +hand. With this as a basis we thought we might be able to poison the +flies and thus prevent injury from the maggots, and we have tried +several different spray mixtures along that line. One mixture which we +use is a mixture which is normally used against the fruit flies which +are oftentimes injurious to fruit, particularly in the east and in +tropical countries. This contains three ounces of arsenate of lead, two +and half pounds of brown sugar and four gallons of water. The idea is to +spray this in the field, spraying it on the plants as soon as the +plants are put out in the field. We have more or less definite dates for +the appearance of the flies in the field and for their disappearance +again. But, as you know, the season varies, and the result is somewhat +uncertain. So probably the best method is to base it upon the time you +plant out your cabbage. In the early seasons you will plant your +cabbages early, and in the late seasons later. So plant out your cabbage +and then spray them every week until the 10th of May. + +You should spray them, not to cover the leaves with the poison, but +merely sufficient so that there are a few drops of this poisoned +material on the leaves so that the flies can eat it. Flies will come +there and feed upon this mixture and die. + +It is rather peculiar that we started work here about the same time on +the cabbage maggot that they started work on the onion maggot along +similar lines in Wisconsin. I don't think that either knew that the +other was working towards that end. They used a different mixture, +one-fifth ounce of sodium arsenite, one-half pint of New Orleans +molasses and one gallon of water. This was sprayed over the onions and +was very successful in controlling the onion maggot. + +I tried their mixture this last year. They published some of their +results last year, so it gave me an opportunity to watch their mixture +in comparison with the lead arsenate. They claimed the lead arsenate did +not act as quickly as the sodium arsenite. That is true, but when you +have a ten-day period to kill the fly it don't make much difference +whether it dies in ten hours or twenty-four. The flies are not doing any +injury. If you take the lead arsenate and sugar and water and put it in +a jar, the arsenate always sinks to the bottom, and if you were to test +it that way, the fly would feed on the top and you might not get a quick +result. But if you spray it on, the lead arsenate will kill as quickly +as the sodium arsenite. + +There is an objection to the use of arsenite in that sodium arsenite is +a soluble poison and will burn the leaves of the cabbage. Of course, +that is not particularly serious as those are the first leaves the +cabbages have and the cabbage soon gets over any slight injury, but many +truck gardeners probably would object to that. In the onion you have a +different shaped leaf, and the injury is not so apparent. Last summer I +found that New Orleans molasses would give you a little bit better +result than the sugar, and it is cheaper. The objection to the New +Orleans molasses is the sticky nature of the material in handling. + +I might mention in regard to opening cans of New Orleans molasses. If +you never opened one and try this treatment, be careful about opening +the can. The lid is pushed down tight and under warm conditions, or if +the molasses has been in a warm room there is a certain amount of +fermentation and gas under pressure, and if you pry it open quickly you +find the lid flies up in the air and you will probably be smeared over +with molasses. + +I employed my spray, that is, one ounce of lead arsenate, one-half pint +of New Orleans molasses and one gallon of water last season. The check +plots had cabbages attacked by the maggots, probably 10 or 15 per cent +of the plants dying from the attack. Last year was a very good season, +that is, many of the plants seriously attacked put out roots again, and +those were able to grow again in the sprayed plots. The infestation of +the sprayed plots was probably about 30 to 40 per cent. of the plants, +but they only contained probably one maggot each, which is very slight +and not sufficient to do any damage. + +There is one market gardener whose cabbage patch we sprayed, I think, +only a part of two rows, and we thought we would leave the rest of his +patch as a control. Apparently the amount of material we put on there +was sufficient to attract the flies from the whole field. Not a single +cabbage died, and he was pleased with the result of the spray. + +Mr. Miller: What do you do for root aphis? + +Mr. Moore: Root aphis can very easily be controlled with tobacco +extract. It is put upon the root of any plant that is affected, a +tablespoonful to a gallon of water. There are a number of different +tobacco extracts on the market. Some of them contain 15 per cent. of +nicotine, some contain 20, some 25 and some 40, and I think there is one +brand that contains 45 per cent. You will find that the brands that +contain the most nicotine are the most expensive, but in proportion you +use less material. Thus 20 per cent. tobacco extract would take two +tablespoonfuls to the gallon, while 40 per cent. would take only one. It +is the nicotine which is the working portion of it. + +Mr. Miller: Then you can use the black leaf forty? + +Mr. Moore: It is very good, it is 40 per cent. nicotine. There is +another product put out by the same company, a black leaf, only 15 or 20 +per cent. This is cheaper, but you have to use more of it. If anything +probably the more expensive would be the cheaper in the long run. + +Mr. Wintersteen: The maggots that attack the radishes and turnips are +the same as the cabbage maggot? + +Mr. Moore: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Wintersteen: Why is it I have no trouble with the cabbages, and yet +I can raise no radishes or turnips in the same ground? + +Mr. Moore: The radishes and turnips are attacked and the cabbages are +not? + +Mr. Wintersteen: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Moore: Which do you raise, early cabbages? + +Mr. Wintersteen: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Moore: What variety do you raise? + +Mr. Wintersteen: The Wakefield, generally. + +Mr. Moore: Some varieties of cabbages are not nearly so severely +attacked as others. I think of the two that they would prefer radishes +probably. Growing them side by side you find they infest the radishes. +That was my experience last year. I grew the first generation of +cabbages, and the second generation I took over into the radishes +because I wanted to treat them there. + +Mr. Rasmussen: Did you say the same fly attacks the onion and the +cabbage? + +Mr. Moore: The onion has two different flies, one which is black in +color, with light colored bands across the wings, and that one passes +the winter as a larva in the old onions left in the field. It is an +injurious practice to leave old onions there to breed these maggots. If +they were taken out and destroyed you could do away with that one. The +cabbage fly is different. When you use the spray it would probably be +all right to use the sodium arsenite for the onion and the lead arsenate +for the cabbage. The type of leaf is entirely different, and on the +cabbage you are apt to burn them with the sodium arsenite while the lead +arsenate will give you practically the same result. + +Mr. Goudy: The cabbage butterfly, does that come from the same maggot? + +Mr. Moore: No; this maggot is on the root, the cabbage butterfly lays +its eggs on the leaf. You get the cabbage worm from the cabbage +butterfly. + +Mr. Goudy: What do you do for that? + +Mr. Moore: Paris green is used to a great extent, but many people have a +horror of using Paris green. Last year, I think it was, I was called up +on the phone by some one and I advised him to use Paris green. He said +that he was afraid it might poison everybody. I explained to him there +was no danger from it, as you know the cabbage leaves grow from the +inside, not from the outside, and the spray would be on the outside +leaves. Besides that, we usually spray early for the cabbage worm while +the heads come on later. + +Mr. Goudy: Did you ever try capsicum, sprinkling that on the heads? + +Mr. Moore: No, sir. + +Mr. Goudy: I saved my cabbages one year by using that. + +Mr. Moore: Some people claim salt is good. One of the students mentioned +it to me. One applied it by putting a spoonful around over the head, +another dissolved a tablespoonful in about ten quarts of water and +sprayed it on. Salt is rather injurious to vegetation as a rule. Of +course, they only put it on the leaves, and the cabbage is a hardy +plant. Air slaked lime is also good, but would have to be applied +several times. With the arsenate you apply it once and kill all the +brood. + +Mr. Ludlow: We took them all off of mine one year by using boiling hot +water. + +Mr. Moore: Yes, sir; water is very good. The objection is, on a large +scale it is not feasible. + +Mr. Miller: Slug shot is very good. + +Mr. Moore: Yes, sir; it doesn't contain very much poison, but it is +sufficient to kill the cabbage worm. + +Mr. Cadoo: I used just simply wood ashes. + +Mr. Moore: The cabbage worm is one that is very easy to handle. + +A Member: I have always used salt. I think it makes a more firm and +solid head, that is my theory, I don't know whether I am right or not. I +have been doing that for years. + +Mr. Moore: I don't know. I never heard of the treatment with salt until +two or three days ago when several students mentioned that they used +salt. Some people won't use Paris green. There was one case a man said +his wife wouldn't let him do it even if she knew it wasn't poison; she +didn't like the idea of Paris green on cabbage. + +Mr. Ingersoll: Is there anything you can suggest to control the yellows +in asters? + +Mr. Moore: The yellows in asters has been a problem which has been very +amusing there at the farm. A man sends in an aster to the entomological +department, we examine it and can't find anything that belongs to our +department, and we send it to the plant pathological department, and +they send it back to us. Last year we made a point in every case of +yellows in asters to send some one to investigate and find out what was +going on to produce it. In some cases it seemed to be a fungous disease. +One case I know turned out to be a fungous disease, the very next one +was due to plant lice on the roots of the asters. In that case I don't +think you get quite the distinct yellows of the asters, but rather the +plants wilt and become weak and finally die. That can very easily be +controlled with tobacco extract, pouring it upon the buds of the plants. +We do not know definitely about the yellows. We think it is more or less +of a physiological disease of the plant, not due to an insect. This last +year we have not found any what we would call the true yellows. There is +an insect that produces similar trouble on other plants, a plant bug, +which is hard to secure because it flies away. That is the reason we +have been sending out to see exactly what is going on in the field, and +we didn't see any evidence of their work this year. Another thing, it +seems to be a year in which the asters did fairly well, and there was +very little yellows. + +Mr. Ingersoll: You think that irregular watering might make any +difference or very solid rooting? + +Mr. Moore: It might do something of the sort. The most we heard of the +yellows was the year before last, and we were held up at the time with +other work and could not investigate properly. Any one here that has +yellows in asters next year, we would be very glad to hear from him and +send some one out to find the cause. It wouldn't surprise me that it was +something in the treatment of the aster. + +Mr. Cadoo: Do angleworms hurt house plants? + +Mr. Moore: Not as a rule. They do eat a small amount of vegetation, but +ordinarily in a house plant, if you have, say, a worm in a pot, I think +it is rather beneficial than injurious, because it keeps the soil +stirred up. + +Mr. Rasmussen: What is the spray for the cabbage and onion maggot? + +Mr. Moore: Unfortunately I am a very poor person to remember figures, +and I carry this around with me. One spray is three ounces of lead +arsenate, two and a half pounds of brown sugar to four gallons of water, +but we found that probably a little better spray was to use the New +Orleans molasses instead of the sugar and the formula is: One ounce of +lead arsenate, one-half pint of New Orleans molasses and one gallon of +water. The spray that was used for the onion maggot and was devised over +in Wisconsin is: One-fifth ounce of sodium arsenite, one-half pint of +New Orleans molasses and one gallon of water. + +Mr. Rasmussen: The Wisconsin spray is what I used to spray my place +several years, and I was wondering if it was the same. + +Mr. Moore: It was peculiar that they started to work on the onion maggot +in Wisconsin at the same time we started on the cabbage maggot here. + +Mr. Rasmussen: We have controlled the onion maggots almost entirely, but +the cabbage maggots are very difficult. + +Mr. Moore: In our control plots it controlled it very well. Our plants +were infested only with a few maggots, but not sufficient to do any +injury. + + + + +The Wealthy Apple. + +F. H. BALLOU. + +(THE OPINION OF AN OHIO APPLE GROWER--FROM A BULLETIN ISSUED BY OHIO +STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.) + + +The value of a variety of apple commercially usually decides its place +in the estimation of growers. Naturally the later maturing, longer +keeping or winter varieties are generally accorded this preference. +Orchardists in the southern part of Ohio doubtless would elect Rome +Beauty queen of money makers, were the question put to a vote. Apple +producers of northern Ohio or western New York would as surely vote for +Baldwin. But what variety would you--Mr. Lover-of-apples-and-apple +products--vote for and plant if but a single variety and space for but a +single tree were available? After twenty years observation and enjoyment +of apple precocity, apple dependability and all-around apple excellence +throughout a long season, the writer continues annually to cast his +ballot for Wealthy. + +[Illustration: Mr. Rolla Sfubbs, of Bederwood, Lake Minnetonka, under +his favorite tree, the Wealthy.] + +True the Wealthy has its faults--so have all the other varieties of +apples of individual choice--and so have we--the growers; but for early +fruitage, prolificacy, excellence for culinary use, extended period of +usefulness, richness and delicacy of flavor when ripened in a cool +cellar and good keeping qualities when under proper conditions it is +placed in cold storage, there are few if any varieties other than this +that combine so many splendid and desirable characteristics. From +mid-July to mid-September of the present year we have been using +Wealthy for culinary purposes with steadily increasing enjoyment as +their quality has gradually become finer and finer. At this writing, +September 18, we have in the cellar attractively colored, well ripened, +pink-and-white-fleshed Wealthy delightful for dessert use; and there are +yet Wealthy--firm and crisp--on the trees for later autumn use if kept +in the cellar, or early winter and holiday use if placed in cold +storage. + +If we could have but one apple tree that tree would be a Wealthy. This +statement is made with full knowledge and appreciation of the many other +excellent varieties of various seasons, including Grimes, Jonathan, +Stayman and Delicious. + + + + +Law Fixes Standards for Containers for Fruits, Berries and Vegetables in +Interstate Commerce. + +(TAKEN FROM "WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE," THE ORGAN OF WIS. STATE +HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.) + + +Standards for Climax baskets for grapes, other fruits and vegetables, +and other types of baskets and containers used for small fruits, +berries, and vegetables in interstate commerce, are fixed by an act +approved by the President August 31, 1916. The law will become effective +November 1, 1917. + +The effect of the act will be to require the use of the standards in +manufacturing, sale, or shipment for all interstate commerce, whether +the containers are filled or unfilled. A large part of the traffic in +fruits and vegetables in this country enters interstate commerce. The +law relates only to the containers and will not affect local regulations +in regard to heaped measure or other method of filling. A special +exemption from the operations of the law is made for all containers +manufactured, sold, or shipped, when intended for export to foreign +countries, and when such containers accord with the specifications of +the foreign purchasers, or comply with the laws of the country to which +the shipment is destined. + +Standards of three capacities are fixed for Climax baskets--2, 4 and 12 +quarts, dry measure. These containers, often known as "grape baskets," +have relatively narrow, flat bottoms, rounded at each end, and thin +sides flaring slightly from the perpendicular. The handle is hooped over +at the middle from side to side. In addition to fixing the capacities of +these standard baskets of this type, the law also prescribes their +dimensions. + +The other standards are for "baskets or other containers for small +fruits, berries, and vegetables." They are to have capacities only of +one-half pint, 1 pint, 1 quart, or multiples of 1 quart, dry measure. +Such containers may be of any shape so long as their capacities +accurately accord with the standard requirements. + +The examination and test of containers to determine whether they comply +with the provisions of the act are made duties of the department, and +the Secretary of Agriculture is empowered to establish and promulgate +rules and regulations allowing such reasonable tolerances and variations +as may be found necessary. + +Penalties are provided by the act for the manufacture for shipment, sale +for shipment, or shipment in interstate commerce of Climax baskets, and +containers for small fruits, berries, and vegetables, not in accord with +the standards. It is provided, however: + +That no dealer shall be prosecuted under the provisions of this act when +he can establish a guaranty signed by the manufacturer, wholesaler, +jobber, or other party residing within the United States from whom such +Climax baskets, baskets, or other containers, as defined in this act, +were purchased, to the effect that said Climax baskets, baskets, or +other containers are correct within the meaning of this act. Said +guaranty, to afford protection, shall contain the name and address of +the party or parties making the sale of Climax baskets, baskets, or +other containers, to such dealer, and in such case said party or parties +shall be amenable to the prosecutions, fines, and other penalties which +would attach in due course to the dealer under the provisions of this +act.--Department of Agriculture. + +[Illustration: A PLANT-CHIMERA: TWO VARIETIES OF APPLE IN ONE. + +Golden Russet and Boston Stripe combined in the same fruit, as the +result of a graft. Trees producing these apples bear only a few fruits +of this combination; the rest of the crop belongs entirely to one or +other of the two varieties concerned. The explanation of these chimeras +is that the original buds of the scion failed to grow, after the graft +was made, but an adventitious bud arose exactly at the juncture of stock +and scion, and included cells derived from both. These cells grow side +by side but remain quite distinct in the same stem, each kind of cell +reproducing its own sort. From "Journal of Heredity," May, 1914. +Published by the "American Genetic Association," Washington, D. C.] + + + + +The Rhubarb Plant. + +LUDVIG MOSBAEK, ASKOV. + + +Rhubarb, or pieplant, as it is more commonly called, is one of the +hardiest and at the same time a most delicious fruit. When the stalks +are used at the right stage and given the proper care by the cook, they +are almost equal to fresh peaches. + +Rhubarb can be transplanted every month in the year, but the best time +is early spring or August. There are especially two things rhubarb will +not stand, "wet feet and deep planting." Most beneficial is good natural +or artificial drainage and rich soil, made so by a good coat of manure, +plowed or spaded in, and a liberal top dressing every fall, cultivated +or hoed in on the top soil the next spring. Fifty plants or divisions of +a good tender variety planted 3 to 4 feet apart will supply an average +household with more delicious fresh fruit and juice for six months of +the year than five times the space of ground devoted to currants, +gooseberries or any other fruit, and if you have from 50 to 100 plants +you can afford to pick the first stalk that sprouts up in April and +still figure on having an abundance to keep you well supplied all +summer. + +Do you really know what a delicious beverage can be made from the juice +of rhubarb mixed in cool water? Take it along in the hayfield a hot +summer day. And even if you can not keep it cool the acid contained in +the juice still makes it a delicious and stimulating drink where you +would loathe the taste of a stale beer. There are about a hundred other +ways to prepare rhubarb, not forgetting a well cooled rhubarb mush +served with cool milk in the evening or for that matter three times a +day; nothing cheaper, nor healthier. The fresh acid contained in the +rhubarb purifies the blood and puts new vigor in your body and soul, is +better and cheaper than any patent medicines, and from the growth of 50 +to 100 plants you can eat every day for six months and preserve enough +in fresh, cool water in airtight jars to last you all winter. But you +can do still better with your rhubarb. You can add three months more and +make it nine months of the year for fresh, crisp, delicious fruit. I +will tell you how. + +When your rhubarb gets 3-4 years old and very big and strong clumps of +roots, divide some of the best and make a new planting and dig some of +the balance before frost in the fall. Leave them on top of the ground +until they have had a good freeze--this is very essential to +success--then place the roots as you dug them in a dark corner in your +cellar or in a barrel in your cellar, exclude all light, keep the soil +moderately wet and after Christmas and until spring you will have an +abundance of brittle, fine flavored stalks that are fully equal to and +perhaps more tender than the outdoor grown. Years ago in Chicago I grew +rhubarb in a dark house 36x80 ft., built for that purpose, and the +stalks generally commanded a price of 12 to 15c a pound in the right +market in January, February and March. + +It is better not to pull any stalks the summer you transplant, at least +not until September. Next year in May and June you can have stalks from +1/2 to 1 pound and over. When you pull stalks don't take the outer two +or three leaves but only the tender ones, and strip them off in +succession so you do not come back to the same plants to pull for four +to six weeks or more. Just as quick as the plant shows flower stems cut +them off close to the ground and keep them off, never allow them to show +their heads. + +I have grown rhubarb for market and for domestic use for about forty +years, having one time as much as five acres, and I will assure you if +you will follow directions you will appreciate rhubarb more than before +and get out of it all it is worth. + + * * * * * + +TREES PLANTED BY MACHINE.--A machine which plants from ten to +fifteen thousand forest trees seedlings a day is now being used at the +Letchworth Park Forest and Arboretum, in Wyoming County, N. Y., +according to officials of the Forest Service who are acting as advisers +in the work. Previously the planting had been done by hand at the rate +of 1,200 to 1,500 trees each day per man. + +The machine was designed to set out cabbage and tomato plants, but works +equally well with trees. It is about the size of an ordinary mowing +machine and is operated by three men and two horses. One man drives the +team while the other two handle the seedlings. The machine makes a +furrow in which the trees are set at any desired distance, and an +automatic device indicates where they should be dropped. Two metal-tired +wheels push and roll the dirt firmly down around the roots. This is a +very desirable feature, it is said, because the trees are apt to die if +this is not well done. Two attachments make it possible to place water +and fertilizer at the roots of each seedling. Another attachment marks +the line on which the next row of trees is to be planted. + +No cost figures are available yet, but officials say that the cost will +be much less than when the planting is done by hand. It is stated that +the machine can be used on any land which has been cleared and is not +too rough to plow and harrow.--U. S. Dept. Agri. + + + + +The Greenhouse versus Hotbeds. + +FRANK H. GIBBS, MARKET GARDENER, ST. ANTHONY PARK. + + +In discussing the subject assigned me, I will only speak of hotbeds and +hothouses as used for the purpose of growing vegetables and early +vegetable plants. + +The hotbed is still very desirable where it is wanted on a small scale +to grow early vegetables for the home or market, as the small cost for +an outfit is very small as compared to hothouses. Sash 4x5 ft., which is +the favorite size with market gardeners, can be purchased for about +$2.00 each glazed, and a box 5x16 ft. to hold four sash can be made for +$1.50, making an outlay less than $10.00 for 80 sq. ft. of bed. With +good care sash and boxes will last eight years. + +Where the beds are put down in early February two crops of lettuce and +one crop of cucumbers can be grown, and when the spring is late three +crops of lettuce before outdoor lettuce appears on the market, when the +beds are given over entirely to the cucumber crop. Lettuce at that time +generally sells for 25c per dozen, and cucumbers from 50c down to 15c +per dozen, according to the season. From three to five hundred cabbage, +cauliflower or lettuce plants can be grown under each sash, or from 150 +to 300 tomatoes, peppers or egg plants can likewise be grown under each +sash, or where lettuce is grown to maturity six dozen per sash. + +The cost of the horse manure for the beds varies greatly, as some are +situated where it can be secured very reasonably, while with others the +cost would be prohibitive. The amount required also varies according to +the season they are put down. When the beds are put down early in +February, three cords of manure are necessary for each box. When they +are put down March 1st, one-half that amount is needed. Where there is +no desire to get the early market, and the beds are put down March 15th, +one cord is plenty for each box. I have never tried to figure out just +what the cost of putting down each box is, or what is the cost of +ventilating and watering; but if they are neglected and the plants get +burned or frozen, the cost is much more than if they were given proper +attention, and, besides, much time is lost in getting another start, as +they are generally left several days to see if the plants will recover, +which they seldom do. + +The cost of hothouses varies so greatly for the size of the house that +it is hard to draw a comparison. A modern steel frame house containing +10,000 sq. ft. of glass can be built for about $4,000.00, or a house +one-half that size can be built for $10,000.00 and is no better than its +cheaper rival. A small house say 16x80 ft., heated with a brick furnace +and flue and hot water coil can be built for from $350.00 to $400.00, +where one does not have to hire skilled labor. A hothouse of any size is +very satisfactory, as in cold, stormy weather, when we can't even look +into a hotbed, plants can be kept growing and there is always something +we can do and be comfortable while we are doing it. It is impossible to +use a hotbed all winter, as no matter how much manure is put into it in +the fall it will cool out and be worthless long before spring. + +[Illustration: Showing hotbeds and greenhouse at F. H. Gibbs' market +gardens.] + +With a good hothouse four crops of lettuce can be raised during the fall +and winter, and a crop of cucumbers in the spring and early summer. + +Each crop of lettuce sells for from 20c to 25c per dozen; the plants are +set six inches apart each way, making about four per square foot of +bench room. + +The cucumber crop generally pays as well as two crops of lettuce and is +usually planted to come into bearing early in June and kept bearing +through July, or until the outdoor cucumbers are on the market. In the +so-called summer just passed (1915), there were no outdoor cucumbers, +and they were kept bearing through August and September. Cucumbers grown +in hotbeds cannot be kept in bearing more than six weeks before the +vines go to pieces and will not sell for as high a price as hothouse +grown. With favorable weather I have always thought I could grow a crop +of lettuce in less time in a hotbed than in a hothouse, but with cold, +cloudy weather the advantage is on the side of the hothouse. Much less +time is required to do the ventilating and watering in a hothouse than +with beds, and the soil must be in the highest state of fertility for +either one. + +While hotbeds will always be desirable in many localities on account of +the small first cost, the days of the large commercial hotbed yard is +passed, and there are now around Minneapolis 5,000 hotbed sash that will +not be put down next spring, or if put down, used only on cold frames, +all owing to the scarcity of fresh horse manure. + +While it is a great satisfaction to have a hothouse or hotbeds and grow +vegetables in winter, the life of the market gardener is not one +continuous round of pleasure, as lice, white fly, red spider and thrip, +mildew and fungous rot are always ready for a fight, and the gardener +must always be on his guard and beat them to it at their first +appearance, or the labor of weeks will be lost. + + + + +An Ideal Flower Garden for a Country Home. + +M. H. WETHERBEE, FLORIST, CHARLES CITY, IOWA. + + +In laying out grounds for country homes or remodeling them, space should +be of the first importance, and where space permits there is no better +arrangement than a fine border on one side of the lawn with a driveway +between the lawn and the border, leading from the street to the house +and barns. The border should be wide enough to have a nice variety of +shrubs for a background, and there should be space for the hardy +perennials and bulbs, which should not be planted solidly but placed in +clumps and arranged according to height and blooming season and as to +color effect. + +I will mention a few of the hardy shrubs and plants that we can all grow +with success. While the catalogues are filled with a large list of +so-called hardy stock, we must remember that we live in a good sized +country and what would be hardy in Southern Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, +would not stand the winters of Northern Iowa or of Minnesota or other +localities of the same latitude. In shrubs we can be sure of a variety +of lilacs, snowballs, and hydrangea paniculata. Some of the newer +varieties are fine and bloom in August, when few other shrubs are +flowering. Spirea Van Houttii, best known as Bridal Wreath, we might +include and a few of the hardy vines if a trellis or other support was +given for them, such as clematis paniculata, coccinea and jackmani, the +large purple and white honeysuckle, Chinese matrimony vine, etc. + +Among hardy roses, which are called the queen of all flowers, are the +Rugosa type, which will stand the winters with no protection and +continue to flower all summer. While the flowers of that type are single +or semi-double, the bushes would be handsome without any flowers. This +type also produces hips, which adds to their attractiveness, and these +may be made into jelly in the fall if so desired. I would advise to +plant some of the most hardy of the hybrid perpetual roses, such as +General Jacqueminot, Magna Charta, Mrs. Chas. Wood, Mrs. John Lang, Mad. +Plantier, with some of the climbers, such as the Rambler in variety, +Prairie Queen, Baltimore Belle and, perhaps, some others, with the +understanding that the hybrids and climbers should have protection in +some form for the winter months. + +Then in hardy perennials there is such a variety to select from that one +hardly knows where to begin or when to stop. Of course everyone wants a +few peonies, and some of the hardy phlox, in such a variety of color. +Then the delphinium, or hardy larkspurs, are fine bloomers. The blue and +white platycodon are sure to flower, while the German iris are good and +the Japan iris are fine flowers, but have to have good protection to +stand our winters. For fine white flowers we have the showy achilleas in +variety and gypsophila paniculata, called baby breath as a common name. +Then we must have plenty of space for a variety of annuals, such as +sweet peas, cosmos, pansies, verbenas, etc. Also, we would grow +geraniums in variety, a few summer carnations, and the selection can be +large or small, but almost every one will want some dahlia and gladiolus +bulbs. Those that like yellow, or lemon, lilies can plant them and have +a mass of flowers during June. The Japan lilies, especially the rubrum +variety, are good bloomers and quite hardy. + + + + +The Planting and Care of Hardy Perennials. + +MISS GRACE E. KIMBALL, WALTHAM. (SO. MINN. HORT. SOCIETY.) + + +The most important essential in the planting of hardy perennials is the +preparation of the ground. It must be deeply spaded or plowed and +thoroughly pulverized. While most kinds of plants will do well in any +good garden soil, most gardens need more or less fertilizer to make the +ground good garden soil. So it is well at the time of spading or plowing +to see that enough fertilizer is applied to insure good growth and +blossom. But care must be used that no fresh stable manure comes in +contact with the roots. If it must be used see that it is put in the +bottom of the hole or trench dug for the plants, and covered several +inches with earth. + +When the ground is well prepared and properly fertilized comes the +planting, and as many plants need somewhat different handling, it is +well for one starting a garden to understand just how each kind should +be set. The iris, for instance, likes to be very near the surface of the +ground. In fact it seems to delight in pushing the earth off the fleshy +part of the root and basking in the sun, while the small roots lie very +close to the surface. The oriental poppy must be planted with the crown +well above the ground, or else when any moisture settles on it the crown +will rot, and the plant die. The gaillardia, larkspur and columbine +should be planted about as the oriental poppy with the crowns perhaps +not quite as much above the ground, while the peony should be set so +that the bud is covered two or three inches. + +Since fall planting of herbaceous perennials has come into prominence +one can choose either spring or fall for most of their planting, as most +plants do well set at either time. But the oriental poppy does not ship +nor transplant well in the spring. It dies down after blossoming--one +may think they have lost their plants then--and starts up again in +August or September. Just as it is starting then seems to be the safest +time to plant. + +August and September are considered the best months to do fall planting, +although some advocate setting peonies until it freezes. Still I think +it safer to plant earlier than that. + +If I were beginning a hardy garden, one that I could add to from time to +time, I would try to set out in the fall plants that bloom in the spring +or early summer, and in the spring those that bloom in the fall. Nothing +is gained by setting iris or peonies in the spring, for nine times out +of ten they will not bloom the same season they are set, while if set in +the fall nearly all varieties of either the iris or peony will bloom the +next year. On the other hand, phlox set in the spring scarcely ever +fails to bloom in the late summer or early fall, and keeps it up until +freezing weather. The phlox, however, should be taken up and divided +every two or three years to obtain the best results. + +After planting comes the cultivating, which should be kept up all +summer. Especially after a rain should the ground be stirred to keep it +from baking. In exceedingly dry seasons by keeping a dust mulch around +the plants one can avoid having to do much watering--for unless you +water thoroughly at such a time it is better not to water at all. +However, if it finally becomes necessary to apply water, the dust mulch +has kept the ground in condition to absorb all the water that is used. + +In the fall after the ground has frozen a light covering of some kind +should be thrown over the plants. This is to protect them from the +thawing and freezing that takes place from time to time during the +winter and early spring. After the first year, when the foliage has +increased so as to be some protection, it is not as necessary to cover, +although no doubt a little more covering would be beneficial. Some +growers of the peony, however, advocate cutting off the leaves in the +fall, and in such a case a covering would be necessary. + +We found a very satisfactory way for both covering and fertilizing was +to throw a fork full of dressing around each plant in the fall and work +it into the ground in the spring. + + + + +IN MEMORIAM--J. F. BENJAMIN. + +PASSED JULY 15, 1916. AGED 59 YEARS. + + +"John Franklin Benjamin was born at Belvidere, Illinois, May 6, 1857. +That same year his parents moved to Hutchinson and he, at the age of +five years, was one of the two score of little children who spent hours +of terror in the stockade when it was attacked by the Indians on +September 4, 1862. As he grew up he attended the Hutchinson school, his +boyhood being spent on the farm. He was married in October, 1889, to +Minnie L. Walker. The following year they moved to Pierce county, Neb., +where Mr. Benjamin purchased and for ten years managed a large ranch. In +1890 they returned to Hutchinson and proceeded to open and improve +Highland Home Fruit Farm, which was thenceforth Mr. Benjamin's abiding +place until the summons came that ended all his earthly hopes and plans. + +"He was an active factor in farmers' co-operative society affairs and +supported all movements for the moral and educational uplift of the +community. He had been for many years a member of the M. E. church and +of the Woodmen's and Royal Neighbors' camps and a valued and active +member of each of these societies. + +[Illustration: John Franklin Benjamin.] + +"Mr. Benjamin left no children, and the wife who has been his devoted +helpmate for twenty-seven years survives to face the coming years of +bereavement alone. + +"His had been a useful life, a life of ceaseless and honorable toil, +and that beautiful and valuable property, Highland Home Fruit Farm, +largely the product of the work of his own hands, is a monument to his +memory which will long endure to be admired and enjoyed by others as one +of the model rural places of Minnesota. Few men in the space of +twenty-five years have accomplished more than did J. F. Benjamin in +establishing the fine, modern home, the large orchard and small fruit +and flower gardens and well stocked farm, all of which he had tended +with loving hands." + +Mr. Benjamin was well known by the members of this society who have +attended its annual meetings within the last ten or fifteen years. +During this period he has been an active member of the society, often +serving on the program or in some other way as opportunity came to him. +He was one of the most loyal members of the association, practicing what +he preached, and doing all within his power to extend the usefulness of +the society. I had a close personal acquaintance with Mr. Benjamin and +the highest respect for his character and attainments. As a +comparatively young man we anticipated his presence with us for a long +period of time, but in this we are sadly disappointed. His wife in a +recent letter says, "One of his greatest pleasures was cultivating and +taking care of the flowers which surrounded his home. After a hard day's +work in the field, he would labor with his flowers and shrubbery until +far into the night. He enjoyed taking or sending flowers to the sick, +and many bouquets of his choicest blossoms he gave his friends as they +drove past or called to admire his beautiful grounds." In this spirit +Mr. Benjamin labored to reach others and widen the wholesome influence +of his life.--Sec'y. + + + + +PROGRAM 50th ANNUAL MEETING + +Our Semi-Centennial Anniversary + +Minnesota State Horticultural Society, + +To be held in the West Hotel, Minneapolis, December 5, 6, 7, 8, 1916. + + +A Great Program. + +Study this program carefully and select such features as you especially +desire to participate in--but you are more than welcome to all. + +Discussion follows each topic. + +Discussions are "free for all," whether members or not. Ask questions or +express opinions freely. + + +DEMONSTRATIONS. + +These demonstrations will be given between 1:00 and 1:45 each day of the +meeting in rooms adjoining the hall in which the meeting is held. They +will be conducted by those whose names are here given, both of whom are +connected with the Horticultural Department at University Farm. + +Grafting, Fred Haralson, Hort. Foreman. Pruning, Frank Daniels, +Instructor In Hort. + + +IMPORTANT. + +All participants on this program are limited to fifteen minutes except +where a longer period is specifically mentioned. + +Time for discussion is allowed after each number. + + +NOTICE OF BEE-KEEPERS' MEETING. + +The Minnesota State Bee-Keepers' Society will hold its annual meeting in +the "Moorish Room," West Hotel, Minneapolis, on Tuesday and Wednesday, +Dec. 5 and 6, 1916. Program can be had of L. V. France, University Farm, +St. Paul. + +NOTICE.--A bell will be rung five minutes before the exercises begin in +the Audience Room. + +Persons entering the audience room when any one is addressing the +meeting from the platform are requested to take seats in the rear of the +room, going forward only after the speaker has concluded--and thus avoid +much confusion. + + +TUESDAY MORNING SESSION. + +10:00 o'clock. + +Every member attending should not fail to be in his seat promptly when +this session opens. + +Invocation Rev. C. S. Harrison, York, Neb. +Song Mr. Trafford N. Jayne, Minneapolis +President's Annual Greeting Thos. E. Cashman, Owatonna + +Top-Working Young Apple Trees. + E. G. Lee, St. Paul. + +Evergreens. + C. S. Harrison, York, Neb. + +Preparing and Handling the Apple Crop. + E. A. Smith, Lake City. + +My Prize Orchard. + 1. Henry Dunsmore, Olivia. + 2. E. W. Mayman, Sauk Rapids. + +Appointment of committees on award of premiums. + + +TUESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION. + +1:30 o'clock. + +A half hour "Question and Answer Exercise" on "Bees in the Garden and +Orchard," led by J. Kimball, of Duluth. + +2 o'clock. + +President Cashman in the Chair. Reception of Delegates. + + +FRUITS. + +Strawberry Culture with Irrigation. + N. A. Rasmussen, Oskosh, Wis., President + Wisconsin State Hort. Society. + +Raspberry Culture. + A. O. Hawkins, Wayzata. + +Raspberry Diseases in Minnesota. + G. R. Hoerner, Asst. in Plant Pathology, + University Farm, St. Paul. + +Everbearing Strawberry Field. + A. Brackett, Excelsior. + +Everbearing Strawberries at Osage, Ia., in 1916. + Chas. F. Gardner, Osage, Ia. + +Opening Up the Fruit Farm. + D. E. Bingham, Delegate Wisconsin + State Hort. Society, Sturgeon Bay, Wis. + +The Native Plum, Its Hybrids and Their Improvement. + Dewain Cook, Jeffers. + +Winter Injury to Plums in 1916-17. + M. J. Dorsey, Section of Fruit Breeding, + University Farm. + + +Lantern Talks. + +1. Snapshots on the Road. Nurseries; Top-working; Blister Rust. + Prof. F. L. Washburn, State Entomologist, + University Farm. + +2. Nature of Plant Diseases. + G. R. Bisby, Asst. Plant Pathologist, + University Farm. + + +TUESDAY EVENING SESSION. + +8:00 o'clock. + +MINNESOTA STATE FLORISTS' SOCIETY. + +Prof. LeRoy Cady, President, in the Chair. + +Program: + +Storing and Handling Gladiolus Bulbs. + G. D. Black, Delegate, N. E. Ia. State + Horticultural Society, Independence, Ia. + +Resources of Present-Day Florists. + W. E. Tricker, St. Paul. + +Greenhouse Management. + Prof. Wm. Moore, University Farm. + +Some Native Shrubs and Their Uses. + E. Meyer, Minneapolis. + + +WEDNESDAY FORENOON SESSION. + +9:00 o'clock. + +A half hour question and answer exercise on "The Vegetable Garden," +led by Alfred Perkins, Market Gardener, St. Paul. + +9:30 o'clock. + +N. H. Reeves, Pres. Minneapolis Market Gardeners' Society, presiding. + +The Vegetable Garden. + +A Successful Cabbage Field. + E. C. Willard, Mankato. + +Hotbeds and Cold Frames Nine Months In the Year. (30 min.) + N. A. Rasmussen. Pres. Wisconsin State + Hort. Society, Sturgeon Bay, Wis. + +Improvement of Vegetable Varieties by Selection. + Richard Wellington, Horticulturist, University Farm. + +Some Phases of Onion Growing. + W. T. Tapley, Asst. in Horticulture, University Farm. + +Irrigation in the Market Garden. + C. E. Warner, Osseo. + +The Cultivation of Cabbages. + Nic Lebens, Minneapolis. + +Growing Radishes. + Chas. Hoffman, White Bear. + +A Winter Garden In the Cellar. + N. A. Rasmussen, Sturgeon Bay, Wis. + +Home Canning. + Mrs. Louis M. Glenzke, Hopkins. + + +WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION. + +1:30 o'clock. + +The Question and Answer Exercise to occupy this half-hour will be on +"The Flower Garden," and led by Mrs. H. A. Boardman, St. Paul. + +2:00 o'clock. + +President Cashman In the Chair. + +My Spraying Experience--four five-minute paper. + 1. Harold Simmons, Howard Lake. + 2. E. Yanish, St. Paul. + 3. A. H. Reed, Glencoe. + 4. J. J. Dobbin, Excelsior. + +Orchard Pests In Minnesota During 1916. + 1. Diseases. + Prof. E. C. Stakman. Head of Section + Plant Pathology, University Farm. + 2. Insects. + A. G. Ruggles, Asst. Entomologist, + University Farm. + +3:15 o'clock. + +MINN. GARDEN FLOWER SOCIETY. + +Mrs. E. W. Gould, Pres., Minneapolis. + +Some New Plants at Home and Abroad. + Professor N. E. Hansen, Brookings, S. D. + +The Home Setting As the Architect Sees It. + Mr. Harry W. Jones, Minneapolis. + +A Composite on Composites--Useful Plants for Fall Bloom. + Mrs. Phelps Wyman, Minneapolis. + +Lantern Talk by E. G. Cheyney, Prof. of Forestry, State University. +Illustrated with many views from the forest regions of Northern +Minnesota. + + +WEDNESDAY EVENING SESSION. + +7:30 o'clock, Dec. 6, 1916. + +N. W. PEONY AND IRIS SOCIETY. + +Fifteen-minute musical program by orchestra. + +The Modern Iris. + Mr. C. S. Harrison, York, Neb. + +Peonies, Their Care and Culture. + Mr. John E. Stryker, St. Paul, Minn. + +Peonies for Pleasure. + Mr. Lee Bonnewitz, Van Wert, Ohio. + +Peonies for Profit. + Mrs. Wm. Crawford, La Porte, Ind. + +Peonies and Their Possibilities. + Mr. D. W. C. Ruff, St. Paul, Minn. + +Music. Selection by Orchestra. + +General Discussion. + + +THURSDAY FORENOON SESSION. + +9:00 o'clock. + +A thirty-minute "Question and Answer" exercise on "Success in +Orcharding," led by J. F. Harrison, a successful orchardist, Excelsior. + +9:30 o'clock. + +President Cashman in the Chair. + +Evergreens for Prairie Homes. + M. Soholt, Madison. + +Windbreaks by the Mile. + T. A. Hoverstad, Minneapolis. + +Arrangement of Farm Buildings and Grounds for Convenience + and Artistic Effect. + E. M. Reeves, Waverly, Ia. + +Report of Committee on Fruit List. + J. P. Andrews, G. W. Strand, T. E. Cashman. + +Adoption of Fruit List. + +Annual Reports. + +Report of Executive Board, J. M. Underwood, Chairman, Lake City. + +Report of Secretary, A. W. Latham. + +Report of Treasurer, Geo. W. Strand, Taylors Falls. + +On account of the very full program the annual reports of the +vice-presidents, superintendents of Trial Stations and Auxiliary +Societies, will be filed with the secretary for publication without +reading. (See list on page 20.) + +The Successful Orchard. (30 min.) + S. A. Beach, Prof. of Horticulture, Iowa + State Agricultural College, Ames, Ia. + +Development of Horticulture in Western +Canada. + Prof. F. W. Brodrick, Horticulturist, + Manitoba Agricultural College. + +Contestants, Gideon Memorial Fund--by Students at University Farm +School. + + +THURSDAY AFTERNOON SESSION. + +1:30 o'clock. + +Discuss these subjects. + +"Ornamentation of Home Grounds" will be the subject of the half-hour +"Question and Answer Exercise," led by C. H. Ramsdell, Landscape +Architect, Minneapolis. + +2:00 o'clock. + +President Cashman in the Chair. + +Horticultural Work with the Boys' and Girls' Clubs in Minnesota. + T. A. Erickson, State Club Leader, University Farm. + +Boy or Girl prize winner in the state-wide garden and canning contest. + +Compulsory Spraying for Fruit Insects and Diseases. + K. A. Kirkpatrick, Agricultural Agent, + Hennepin County, Wayzata. + +Annual Election of Officers. + +3:00 o'clock. + +Semi-Centennial Anniversary Session. + +J. M. Underwood, Lake City, Presiding. + +Song. + Trafford N. Jayne. + +Some History. + A. W. Latham, Secretary. + +The Heroes of Minnesota Horticulture. + Clarence Wedge, Albert Lea. + +Personal Recollections. + A. J. Philips, West Salem, Wis. + +The Ladies of the Society. + Mrs. Jennie Stager, Sauk Rapids. + +Greeting from University Farm. + A. F. Woods, Dean. + +The Minnesota Society and the Northwest. + Prof. C. B. Waldron, Agri. College, N. D. + +Looking Ahead. + C. S. Harrison, York, Neb. + +To conclude with a lantern slide talk, "Veterans of Minnesota +Horticulture." Slides prepared by Prof. LeRoy Cady. + + +FRIDAY FORENOON SESSION. + +9:00 o'clock. + +A thirty-minute "Question and Answer Exercise" on the general subject of +"Birds a Factor In Horticulture," led by R. E. Olmstead, Excelsior. + +9:30 o'clock. + +President in the Chair. + +Potato Selection. + P. E. Clement, Moorhead. + +Vinegar a By-Product of the Minnesota Orchard. + W. G. Brierley, Horticulturist, University Farm. + +Our Horticultural Building. + A consultation. + +Plant Breeders' Auxiliary. + +Clarence Wedge, President, in the Chair. + +Annual Report, 1916, Minn. Fruit Breeding Farm. + Chas. Haralson, Supt., Excelsior. + +Report of Committee on Fruit Breeding Farm. + S. A. Stockwell, Minneapolis. + C. S. Harrison, Excelsior. + +Fruit Breeding. + Prof. S. A. Beach, Horticulturist, Ames, Iowa. + +Pedigree in Plants. + Prof. C. B. Waldron, Agricultural College, N. D. + +Origin and Development of Hardy, Blight Resisting Pears. + Chas. G. Patten, Charles City, Ia. + +New Creations in Horticulture for 1916. + Prof. N. E. Hansen, Brookings, S. D. + + +FRIDAY AFTERNOON. + +1:30 o'clock. + +The "Question and Answer" half hour will be occupied with this subject, +"The Home Orchard," led by Henry Husser, Minneapolis. + +2:00 o'clock. + +The Minnesota Orchard. + J. F. Bartlett, Excelsior. + +The New Farmers Fruit. + Freeman Thorp, Hubert. (30 min.) + +The Unfruitful Tree and How to Correct It. (30 min.) + Prof. S. A. Beach, Ames, Ia. + +Orcharding In Minnesota. + Richard Wellington, Horticulturist, University Farm. + +The Minnesota Apple Crop in 1916. + R. S. Mackintosh, Horticulturist, Extension Division, University Farm. + +4:00 o'clock. + +Two-minute speeches by members. + +4:30 o'clock. + +Closing remarks by the President. + + + + +PREMIUM LIST, ANNUAL MEETING, 1916. + +Thos. Redpath, General Supt. + +Geo. W. Strand, Clerk. + +FLORAL DISPLAY. + +W. H. Bofferding, 710 No. 2nd St., Minneapolis, Supt. + + +PLANTS. + +To be staged Monday p.m., Dec. 4, 1916. + + 1st. 2nd. 3rd. +Collection of 12 specimen Palms $10.00 $7.00 $4.00 +Collection of 12 specimen Ferns 10.00 7.00 4.00 +Collection of 12 specimen +Blooming Plants 12.00 9.00 6.00 +(Covering 25 square feet.) + + +CUT FLOWERS. + +To be staged before 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 5. + + 1st. 2nd. 3rd. +12 Roses, Red, any variety $3.00 $2.00 $1.00 +12 Roses, Pink, any variety 3.00 2.00 1.00 +12 Roses, White, any variety 3.00 2.00 1.00 +12 Roses, Yellow, any var'ty 3.00 2.00 1.00 + + +To be staged before 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 6. + + + 1st. 2nd. 3rd. +12 Chrysanthemums, Yellow $4.00 $3.00 $2.00 +12 Chrysanthemums, any other color 4.00 3.00 2.00 +25 Carnations, Red, any variety 3.00 2.00 1.00 +25 Carnations, Pink, any variety 3.00 2.00 1.00 +25 Carnations, white, any variety 3.00 2.00 1.00 + + +To be staged before 10:00 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 7. + + 1st. 2nd. 3rd. +Basket arranged for effect, +diameter not to exceed +12 inches $10.00 $7.00 $4.00 + +Best Bridal Bouquet--Diploma. +Best Corsage Bouquet--Diploma. +Best Bridesmaid's Bouquet--Diploma. + + +VEGETABLES. + +Entries to be made by Tuesday, Nov. 28. N. H. Reeves, Mpls., Supt. + + 1st. 2nd. 3rd. 4th. +Beets, 1 peck $3.50 $2.00 $1.00 $0.50 +Cabbages, 3 heads 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Carrots, 1 peck 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Celery, 1 doz. stalks 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Celeriac, 1 doz. roots 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Lettuce, 1 doz. heads 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Onions, 1 peck Red 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Onions, 1 peck White 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Onions, 1 pk. Yellow 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Onions, 1 peck White Pickling 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Parsley, 1 doz. bnhs. 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Parsnips, 1/2 bushel 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Potatoes, 1 bu. early variety 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Pie Pumpkins, three specimens 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Radish, fresh, 1 doz. bunches 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Salsify, 1 doz. bnchs. 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Hubbard Squash, 3 specimens 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +White Turnips, 1 pk 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 +Rutabagas, 1/2 bu 3.50 2.00 1.00 .50 + +EARLY WINTER SEEDLING.--The fruit shown must not have been kept in cold +storage. Premium $50.00, to be divided pro rata. + +LATE WINTER SEEDLING.--Same conditions as for early winter seedlings +except that if found necessary the fruit shown may be retained and final +decision reserved until later in the winter. Premium $50.00 to be +divided pro rata. + +In each of the above two classes the varieties receiving the three +highest awards will be designated as having received the first, second +and third premium respectively. + + +APPLES (not including crabs). + +No inferior fruit can be shown. + + 1st. 2nd. 3rd. +Each variety (may or may +not have been in cold +storage) included in the +1916 fruit list of the society, +or in the 1916 premium +list of the Minnesota +State Fair $0.75 $0.50 $0.25 + +Collection, not to exceed +ten nor less than six varieties $20.00 to be divided pro rata + + +Pecks of Apples. + +Peck of any variety of apples, the fruit exhibited to be at the disposal +of the society. An exhibitor may enter a peck of each of as many +different kinds as he pleases. $25.00 to be divided pro rata. + + +Top-Worked Apples. + +Collection of named varieties grown on scions top-grafted on other +trees. Accompanying the name of each variety, shown on the same label +(to be furnished by the management), must be noted the name of the +variety on which it is top-worked. $25.00, to be divided pro rata. + + +BOXES AND BARRELS OF APPLES. + +Must have been packed by the exhibitor. + +Only one variety (not less than 2-3/4 in. in diameter) can be shown in a +box. Bushel boxes of the standard size must be used. Awards will be +based on the quality of the fruit, packing, etc. + +SINGLE BOX of any variety of apples, including seedlings, $25.00, to be +divided pro rata. Also 1st $15.00, 2nd $10.00, 3rd $5.00. + + 1st. 2nd. 3rd. 4th. +BARREL of apples, +any variety, $25.00, +to be divided pro +rata. Also $20.00 $15.00 $10.00 $5.00 + + +GRAPES. + + 1st. 2nd. 3rd. +Collection, not more than +10 nor less than 6 varieties $8.00 $6.00 $4.00 + + +$100 SEEDLING APPLE PRIZE. + +The fifth prize of $100.00 will be awarded this season "for the best +late winter seedling apple keeping till March 1st under ordinary cellar +conditions" under the offer made first in 1905, restricted, of course, +to the contestants who have duly registered. + + +NUTS. + + 1st. 2nd. 3rd. 4th. +Each variety of edible +nuts, one quart $1.00 $0.75 $0.50 $0.25 + + * * * * * + +Program Notes: + +You can become a life member of the State Horticultural Society by +payment of $10.00, in two annual payments of $5.00 each if you prefer. +This will entitle you to a file of our bound reports, a library in +itself. + +The annual business meeting of the Minn. Garden Flower Society will be +held Wednesday morning at 10:00 o'clock in an adjoining room. + +Are you a member of the Garden Flower Society? If you are growing +flowers you should join it at once. Consult the secretary, Mrs. M. L. +Countryman. + +Membership fees to be paid to the Assistant Secretary In the Hallway. + + + + + +GARDEN HELPS + +Conducted by Minnesota Garden Flower Society + +Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. +Minneapolis. + + +The Garden Flower Society will have an all-day meeting at the +Agricultural College the first Friday in January next. This meeting is +to be held with the session of the Farmers' Short Course in Room 20, +Horticultural Building. Arrangements will be made so that lunches may be +had on the grounds, probably at the dining hall. + +The program covers a wide range of subjects, and as time will be given +for discussion and answering of questions brought up, this will prove a +most helpful meeting to all of our members. + +Our own annual meeting will be held on Wednesday, December sixth. The +business meeting and election of officers being held in the morning, the +program in the afternoon--at the West Hotel--in connection with the +Horticultural Society. + +Will not each member make an especial effort to bring in a new member at +that time or before? The only reason we have not a thousand members is +because we and our work are so little known. If you will tell your +friends who have gardens what we are doing, you will have no difficulty +in helping us add to our membership. Since last January we have received +sixty-six new members. Can't we make it an even hundred for this year? +With _your help_, we _can_. The program for our annual meeting will be +found in the official program, printed elsewhere in this number. Here is +the program for the meeting at the Agricultural College, Friday, January +5th. Come and bring your garden problems with you. + + * * * * * + +(Program for Meeting, January 5, 1917, 10 a.m., Agricultural College.) + +1. Perennials for Busy People Mrs. H. B. Tillotson +2. Perennials from Seed to Seed Mr. E. Meyer +3. Native Perennials for Garden Use Miss M. Fanning +4. Best Hardy Vines and Their Use Mrs. E. W. Gould +5. Best Annuals Mrs. H. A. Boardman + +1:30 P.M. + +1. Fruits for Ornamental Planting Mr. Phelps Wyman +2. Native Shrubs for the Home Grounds Mr. Paul Mueller +3. Proper Preparation of the Garden Soil Professor F. J. Alway +4. A Watering System for the Garden Mrs. C. E. Warner +5. Growing Bedding Plants for the Market Mrs. F. H. Gibbs +6. Growing Cut Flowers for the Market {Miss Sabra Ellison + {Mr. F. H. Ellison +7. Special Purpose Plants-- + Honey Plants Prof. Oswald + Medicinal Plants Dr. Newcomb + +Question Box. + + + + +SECRETARY'S CORNER + + +THIS IS YOUR VACATION.--If you are a fruit grower or a flower +grower or vegetable grower or interested in home life or in any of the +varied matters directly or indirectly connected with horticulture, the +annual meeting is just the place for you. _Make it a real winter +vacation._ Bring your wife and others of the family if possible and stay +with us at the West Hotel for the four days of the meeting. It will be +one of the bright spots in your life, as you recall the pleasures of +this great and fruitful gathering. + +ANNUAL SOCIETY BANQUET.--Special pains have been taken in +preparing the program for this banquet on account of the fact that this +is our anniversary session in part, and you will not be disappointed if +you anticipate a rich treat, with two or three hundred of the most +congenial people on earth, who will sit down to supper together at the +West Hotel at 6:30 p. m., Thursday, December 7th,--a wholesome repast +and an intellectual feast, don't miss it. You will feel that you really +belong to the brotherhood after dining with us. + +DELEGATES TO THE ANNUAL MEETING.--Besides the delegates at our +annual meeting from abroad referred to in the November number, there is +to be with us also as representative of the Iowa State Horticultural +Society, Mr. P. F. Kinne, of Storm Lake, Iowa. We have pretty good +assurance also that Secy. Greene, of the Iowa Society, will visit with +us at some time during the meeting, and we don't know how many more of +the good Iowa people will find their way here. A late note from Chas. G. +Patten assures us of his attendance at the meeting, when he will give us +a full report of his experimental work in growing seedling pears at his +station at Charles City, Iowa. We are looking forward confidently to +something of large practical value from his work. + +PROGRAM OF ANNUAL MEETING.--The program of the coming annual +meeting of the society will be found in an abbreviated form in this +number of our magazine. It has been sent, however, in all its +completeness, in a separate enclosure to all the members of the society, +accompanied by a blank form to be filled out by members who purpose to +attend and desire to have their names in the Badge Book, and also for +those who renew their memberships. Quite a number of questions are asked +on this blank form, and it is important that they should all be +answered. It is especially important that the names of friends whom you +would like to see members of the society should be given to the +secretary on these blanks and at an early date so that copies of the +program can be sent them in good season. + +The program, as you will note, is an exceedingly diversified one, +special emphasis being laid on orcharding, vegetable growing and +ornamental horticulture. An increasing interest in flower growing is +emphasized by the programs of three auxiliary societies devoted to these +branches of horticulture. + +_Aren't you coming to this splendid meeting?_ Study the program and +consider the advantages of intercourse and companionship with those who +have so much in common as the members of the Horticultural Society. +Don't fail to _attend promptly the first session_, which is always a +full one, right on the minute. + + + + +JOURNAL OF ANNUAL MEETING, 1915 + +Minnesota State Horticultural Society + +Held on Second Floor of the West Hotel, Minneapolis, December 7, 8, 9 +and 10, 1915. + + +Tuesday Morning Session, 10 o'clock. + +Meeting was opened at 10 o'clock a.m., December 7, 1915, by President +Thomas E. Cashman. Invocation was made by Rev. C. S. Harrison, of York, +Nebraska, which was followed by a song by Mr. Trafford N. Jayne, of +Minneapolis. The president then read his annual greeting. (See index.) + +President Cashman: How may University Farm and the Minnesota State +Horticultural Society be mutually helpful in developing the farms and +homes of the Northwest? by our good friend, the dean of agriculture of +this state, Mr. A. F. Woods. (Applause.) (See index.) + +Discussion. + +President Cashman: Anything further before we pass to the next subject? +If not, we will now call on one of our oldest members and one of our +best friends, Mr. George J. Kellogg, of Wisconsin, who will tell us +something about the strawberry business. (See index.) + +Discussion. + +President Cashman: I am sure we are all very much indebted to Mr. +Kellogg. Now, we have another very good friend with us from Nebraska. He +is going to tell us about "The Nurseryman as King." Mr. C. S. Harrison, +of York, Nebraska. (See index.) + +President Cashman: This morning we heard from our good friend, Dean +Woods, then we heard from Wisconsin and later from Nebraska. We have +enjoyed all three, all very instructive and very entertaining, and we +hope to hear from them again. We hope later to hear from another +Wisconsin man, Mr. Philips. Those three men have always contributed a +great deal to the success of our meetings. I understand that Wisconsin +has sent another representative, Mr. A. C. Graves, of Sturgeon Bay. It +has been announced that he is with us. If so, we will be pleased to have +him come forward and have a word of greeting from him, representing the +Wisconsin Horticultural Society. + +Mr. Graves: Mr. President and members of the Minnesota Horticultural +Society: I am very pleased to be here this morning and listen to this +program and these deliberations. I expect to spend some enjoyable days +with you, and on behalf of the Wisconsin Horticultural Society I am +pleased to bring to you their greetings on this occasion. Thank you. +(Applause.) + +President Cashman: We hope to hear from you later, Mr. Graves, and would +be pleased to have you take part in our deliberations. I presume that +there are other delegates here, but if so they have not been announced. +If there are others I hope they will hand their credentials to the +secretary so we may call on them later. + +Meeting adjourned until 1:30 p.m. + + +December 7, 1915, Afternoon Session. + +_The Minnesota Orchard._ Discussion led by J. P. Andrews, Faribault, +Minn. (See index.) + +The President: Ladies and gentlemen, the time has now arrived to +continue with the regular proceedings of the society. Mr. Rasmussen, +president of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, is with us and +will be on the program later, but we will have a few words from him now. +(Applause.). + +Mr. Rasmussen (Wisconsin): Mr. President and members of the Minnesota +Horticultural Society: I didn't expect to be caught this way. I was +going to be real shrewd, I was not going to let you know I was coming. I +told the secretary of our society not to let you know I was coming, but +he notified your secretary that I was coming and that is the way they +happened to get me on the program. I was going to sneak in and get all +the good out of it and was not going to give anything back; I will admit +that is not a fair game. I feel about like a fellow who had to make a +talk at a banquet. He said he was not a speaker, but they insisted. They +would not let him back out. So he got up and feeling kind of shaky, like +I am now, he reached his hand down to get hold of his chair, as he +thought, but touched his wife's shoulder, and she got up. She thought +she had to. He started, "Ladies and gentlemen, this thing was forced on +me. (Laughter.)" So this was kind of forced upon me. I know that your +program is full so I will not detain you any longer. My time is +tomorrow, and I will take you through my garden tomorrow. (Applause.) + +The President: We are all pleased to have Mr. Rasmussen with us, and we +hope we will hear from him often during the deliberations of the +meeting. I was pleased indeed to see so many present this forenoon. +Secretary Latham thought he had plenty of room for all who might attend, +but I don't think there was a vacant chair here this forenoon. I was +pleased indeed to note so many new faces, so many young men present. You +are the people we want to see. The older men have always contributed and +done their part and have made these meetings a grand success, but it +will soon devolve upon the younger men of this society to take their +places. We want you to help them at these meetings, and I was glad that +you did so this forenoon. We hope that the young men will feel at home +and that they will continue to take part, that they will ask questions +and tell us about their successes and their failures, and I hope the +older members will help make it pleasant for these young men. + +We will take up the subject of fruits this afternoon, and I am now going +to call on a plum specialist, a man that we look to to tell us about the +plum troubles in this state, Mr. Dewain Cook, who will tell us about the +"Plums We Already Have and Plums That Are on the Way--the Brown Rot a +Controlling Factor," Mr. Dewain Cook, of Jeffers, Minnesota. (See +index.) + +Discussion. + +The President: We have heard of some of the troubles of those that plant +plum trees. The next speaker will probably tell us how to meet those +troubles, how to combat the plum pocket fungus. We are fortunate to have +with us a scientific man that makes a study of these subjects. I refer +to Professor Stakman, of the University Farm, St. Paul. "The Control and +Cure of Brown Rot, etc.," by Prof. E. C. Stakman. (See index.) + +Discussion. + +The President: I will now call on Mr. C. A. Pfeiffer, of Winona, to talk +to us on "The Surprise Plum a Success." (See index.) + +Discussion. + +The President: "Thirty Years in Raspberries," by a gentleman that knows +how to make money by the raising of raspberries, Mr. Gust. Johnson, of +Minneapolis. (See index.) + +Discussion. + +The President: We will now call upon Mr. Simmons to tell us about "My +Orchard Crop of 1915--from Start to Finish." (See index.) + +The President: As you know, Mr. Simmons is one of the most successful +orchardists in Minnesota. Do you wish to ask him any questions? + +Discussion. + +Mr. Cashman: We are very much indebted to Mr. Simmons for this splendid +paper and for his advice. We must hurry on to the next subject, which is +"Fruit Growing a Successful Industry in Minnesota," by A. W. Richardson, +Howard Lake, Minn. (See index.) + +The President: I am sure you will all agree this was a very instructive +and interesting paper. We have about three minutes in which to discuss +it. + +Discussion. + +Two lantern talks followed--one by Earl Ferris of Hampton, Ia., on +"Evergreens," and one by A. G. Tolaas on "Diseases of the Potato." + + +December 8, 1915, Morning Session. + +Discussion on "The Vegetable Garden," led by H. J. Baldwin, Northfield, +Minn. (See index.) + +N. H. Reeves, president Minneapolis Market Gardeners' Association, in +the chair. + +President Reeves: We will now have a paper on "Growing Beans and Sweet +Corn," by P. B. Marien, of St. Paul. (See index.) + +Discussion. + +The President: We will now listen to a paper on "Growing Vegetables for +Canning," by Mr. M. H. Hegerle, president of Canning Company, St. +Bonifacius. Mr. Hegerle not being present, we will ask Mr. Rasmussen, +president of the Wisconsin Horticultural Society, to tell us "How We +Grow Vegetables in Oshkosh, Wisconsin." (Applause.) (See index.) + +President Reeves: Is Mr. Hegerle in the room? + +Mr. Hegerle: Yes. + +President Reeves: Then we will listen to Mr. Hegerle's talk on "Growing +Vegetables for Canning." (See index.) + +Discussion. + +President Reeves: "Greenhouse vs. Hotbeds, Investment, Care and Result +Compared," by Mr. F. H. Gibbs. (See index.) + +President Reeves: "Growing the Tomato," by C. W. Purdham, market +gardener, Brooklyn Center. (See index.) + +Discussion. + +President Reeves: We will now listen to a paper by E. W. Record on +"Asparagus by the Acre." (See index.) + +President Reeves: You will be entertained with a demonstration of the +coldpack method of canning fruits and vegetables by Professor R. S. +Mackintosh and Miss Mary L. Bull. + +After the demonstration the session adjourned until 1:30 o'clock p.m. + + +December 8, 1915, Afternoon Session. + +Question and answer exercise on "The Flower Garden," led by Mr. G. C. +Hawkins, of Minneapolis. + +The President: I regret to have to announce that one of the big guns who +was to be with us on this afternoon's program, Professor J. C. Whitten, +of Missouri, is unable to be with us on account of sickness. Secretary +Latham received a letter from him just a short time ago, stating that he +was sick abed and the doctor would not permit him to leave. We have +another very able gentleman whom I will call upon at this time to take +Mr. Whitten's place. His name is H. G. Street, of Hebron, Ill., who will +tell us about "Marketing Fruit Direct." (Applause.) (See index.) + +Discussion. + +The President: We appreciate very much this fine paper by Mr. Street. We +have another very important subject this afternoon. We will have a paper +by Mr. W. G. Brierly, Assistant Horticulturist at the University Farm, +on "The Manufacture of Cider Vinegar on the Farm." (Applause.) (See +index.) + +Reading by Miss Mary Bonn. + +The President: We will now turn the meeting over to the Garden Flower +Society and request the president, Mrs. Ruff, to take the chair. (In the +absence of Mrs. Ruff, Mrs. E. W. Gould presided.) + +Mrs. Gould: Our first number will be a paper on the Minnesota State +Flower, by Mr. E. A. Smith, of Lake City. (Applause.) + +Mr. Smith: I wish to add one word to the name of my paper and that is +"Flag," so that it will read "Minnesota State Flower and State Flag." I +have the two subjects so closely associated that I can not separate +them. (See index.) + +Discussion. + +Mr. Smith: I now come to the point in my paper. I move you, Madam +President, that the Minnesota State Horticultural Society and its +auxiliary societies through its secretary present the following +resolution to the next legislature of the state for adoption at that +time: Resolved, that, whereas the State of Minnesota has adopted a state +flower which, on account of its being a native of the woods and bogs, is +not generally known or recognized and, whereas, the State of Minnesota +in 1893 adopted by legislative vote a state flag, which emblem is not +generally known to the residents of the state, and believing that +familiarity with the state flower and the state flag will do good and +create loyalty to the state and Union, be it resolved, that we, the +Minnesota State Horticultural Society and auxiliary societies, do hereby +petition and pray the state legislature of Minnesota to have printed an +attractive picture of the state flower and the state flag, properly +framed, and present a copy of it to each public school of the state with +the request that it be placed upon the walls of the school room, also +that it be furnished free of cost to such other public buildings as may +be deemed advisable. + +I trust, Madam President, that this resolution will not only be seconded +but it will meet with the unanimous approval of the society. + +Mr. Hawkins: I second the motion. + +Mrs. Gould: I do not know that we could vote with the Horticultural +Society. This is not a meeting of that society but simply a meeting of +the Flower Society. Will some one enlighten me? + +Miss White: Madam President, if we could not vote as a society, could we +not vote to recommend this resolution to the Horticultural Society? + +A Member: Yes, or to the two societies to be taken up at their business +meeting, perhaps. + +Miss White: Recommend it be passed by the parent society. + +A Member: Madam President, why should it not be the flag itself and not +a picture of the flag? + +Mrs. Gould: Will you make that motion? + +Miss White: I move that the resolution as presented by Mr. Smith be +endorsed by this Garden Flower Society and referred to the parent +society for their adoption. I will offer that as a substitute. + +A Member: I second the motion. + +Motion was carried. + +Mrs. Gould: Our next subject is "The Pergola, Its Use and Misuse, Its +Convenience and Expense," by Charles H. Ramsdell, of Minneapolis. (See +index.) + +Mrs. Gould: Our next paper is "Hardy Perennials," by Miss Grace E. +Kimball, of Waltham. (See index.) + +Mrs. Gould: This spring our president, Mrs. Ruff, offered prizes for the +best papers on planting for color effect. The judges after reading these +papers carefully selected three. Miss Starr is first, Mrs. Tillotson +second and Mrs. Boyington third. These papers will now be read, Miss +Starr giving the first one. (See index.) + +Mrs. Gould: Mrs. Tillotson will follow with her paper. (See index.) + +Mrs. Gould: Mrs. Wyman will read Mrs. Boyington's paper. Mrs. Boyington +was unable to be with us today. (See index.) + +Mrs. Gould: Mrs. Countryman will read a paper written by Mr. Swanson on +the judging of flowers. (See index.) + +Mrs. Gould: Our meeting will close with Professor Washburn's talk on +"Bird Conservation," which will be given with slides and music. + +Professor Washburn gives lantern talk. + + +December 9, 1915, Morning Session. + +Half hour question and answer exercise on "Truck Crop and Garden +Insects," led by Professor Wm. Moore. (See index.) + +The President: The committee on fruit list has been working very hard +trying to determine why we have particular varieties on the list and the +changes, if any, that should be made. Mr. J. P. Andrews, the chairman of +the committee, is the man who has been doing most of this work, and we +will be glad to hear from him at this time. He is quite radical and in +favor of many changes as you will note when he reads his report. + +Mr. Andrews: There are very few changes, and you know it has been the +policy of this society rather to be conservative and not jump at +anything until we know what it is. (Reads new fruit list.) + +Mr. Andrews: I move its adoption. + +Motion was seconded and carried unanimously. + +Mr. Andrews: I would like to call attention to the fact that a great +many criticize that we do not change the list from time to time. I have +thought that for a long time. Two or three years ago there was a little +move towards making it so we could change it. We are putting up some +nice, big premiums for late winter apples and early winter apples, and +there are undoubtedly some seedlings that would be all right to put upon +the list if we knew more about them. It seems to me it is foolish to pay +those premiums and then drop it right there. We do not know any more +about whether they are hardy or not than if they had been grown in +Missouri. They may have grown well through some protection or favorable +location, but when you commence grafting from a seedling it does not +give satisfaction as a grafted tree and in different localities of the +country. + +We want to know whether the new seedlings are hardy enough for this +climate, not that they are simply of good quality to eat and perhaps +will keep. We find that out here, but we do not find out anything about +the hardiness. + +I think we ought to require a person who has produced a good seedling +and gotten a good premium for it to send some of its scions to the +superintendent of the Fruit-Breeding Farm for testing and let him send +it out to points north of here, between here and the northern part of +the state, to see how much hardiness it has. Hardiness is the quality we +want more than anything else. We have gotten along so far with the +Hibernal, and we ought not to be so particular about quality as about +hardiness. They ought to be required to give Mr. Haralson a few of the +scions or buds so that he could try them there at the fruit-breeding +farm and send them out to more northern locations under number, so that +the originator will be just as well protected, and it will add so much +to the value of the new seedling that he ought to be anxious to do it +instead of holding it back as is now done. + +I move you that we have some arrangement whereby those drawing the +premiums for the first and second qualities, keeping qualities and +eating qualities, etc., shall be obliged to give to Mr. Haralson +something to work on, either scions or buds of those varieties, so that +they can be tested in that way and we know what they are, otherwise it +leaves it for any one to introduce a new variety just about on the same +ground that some other varieties have been introduced in the state, made +a nice, large thing for the man that introduced them to the public and +sold them but afterwards proved a great disappointment to almost every +man who ever planted them. I move that we make such an arrangement, and +we recommend that the state fair do the same. + +Mr. Horton: I second the motion. + +The President: It is moved and seconded that some arrangement be made +requiring people who enter seedling apples for prizes at the +horticultural meeting and the state fair to furnish scions or buds of +such varieties to the central station to Superintendent Charles Haralson +that he may determine whether the trees are hardy and suitable for this +climate or not. + +Mr. Andrews: We need this provision so that Superintendent Haralson +could visit those trees and see what they looked like. + +Mr. Latham: I move that this matter be referred to the executive board +to develop a workable plan to secure the purposes which Mr. Andrews has +in view. + +The President: Do you accept that as a substitute? + +Mr. Andrews: I would if it wasn't for this one thing. It was left that +way a year or two ago, and it hasn't amounted to a thing. I do not care +if it is left to the executive committee if Mr. Latham will vouch for +its being put through. + +Mr. Latham: Don't you remember as the result of that action we prepared +forms to be used by those who examined the seedlings and decided what +seedlings should be further tested and all that sort of thing. We have +those forms for use if the committee wants to use them. + +Mr. Andrews: Those ought to be so as to hold the premium money back +until we get some material to test. + +Mr. Latham: I will say a few words. It is not such a simple matter as it +seems. Here come perhaps fifty people who have grown seedlings. We tell +them we are very desirous that all the seedlings in the state that have +promise of merit be shown. In the division of the premium money they do +not get more than four or five dollars apiece, the best of them do not +get more than eight or ten dollars. Then here comes a resolution which +says, "Before you draw this money you have to furnish scions to the +state fruit-breeding farm with the privilege of sending out to other +stations in the state for testing." The average man who owns a seedling +that is really a good thing begins to think about it, and we will not +get what we want. If a man has a seedling that is better than the +Duchess and Wealthy and has hardiness as well there are lots of buyers +around here that have their eyes open. There has been a half a dozen I +know of picked up in the last few years really first class, fine and +hardy. Those trees are being tested out. It would be a splendid thing if +we could get a really good seedling, as Mr. Andrews says, but a +resolution of this kind will not result in doing what we want to do. + +I would like to have it referred to the executive board so they can work +out a practical plan. Mr. Andrews is a member of the board. I renew my +motion. + +Motion is seconded. + +The President: The original motion as given by Mr. Andrews is that those +people offering seedlings for prizes, before they receive premiums-- + +Mr. Andrews: The first or second premiums, I said, because that would +shut out all of the others. + +The President:--before receiving the first or second premiums, that they +be required or that they will agree to furnish scions or buds for +experimental purposes, these scions or buds to be sent to the central +station to Mr. Haralson for the purpose of testing them out as to +hardiness, under number. Now, the amendment made by Mr. Latham is to the +effect that this matter be referred to the executive committee. We will +first put the amendment that it be referred to the executive committee +to work out a practical plan. + +Mr. Heustis: And report next year. + +The President: That they work out a practical plan and put it in +operation. Was it your idea that we report next year or that the plan be +put in operation? + +Mr. Latham: No objection to reporting next year. If they can work out a +plan they can also put it in practical operation. + +Mr. Andrews: I do not think that I am after this now, gentlemen, any +more than every one of you ought to be after it. We ought to know more +about the hardiness of these trees. This list has stood almost +identically the same list for eight or nine years, pretty nearly the +same, and we are not getting ahead at all. We do not know any more about +the hardiness of these trees we have been putting out than we did +before. + +The amendment was carried. + +The President: This matter will therefore be referred to the executive +board. The next in order is the annual report of the executive board, +Mr. J. M. Underwood, of Lake City, chairman. Mr. Underwood is sojourning +in the sunny south. He has sent a report, however, to Secretary Latham, +and Mr. Latham has requested me to read it. This was written at St. +Augustine, Florida. (See index.) + +The President: Any one wish to make any comments on this report? If not, +we will pass to the report of the secretary, Mr. Latham. + +Mr. Latham: Do you wish to have the report read or have it published +later? It will be published anyway. + +Mr. Miller: Let it be considered as read and approved and filed for +publication. (See index.) + +Motion is seconded and carried. + +The President: We will now have the report of George W. Strand, +treasurer. (See index.) + +The President: What will you do with the report of the treasurer? You +have heard the reading of it. + +Upon motion the report was adopted and filed. + +The President: The next order of business would be the paper by +Professor J. C. Whitten but Mr. Whitten is not present, I am sorry to +say, and I am now going to call on Mr. O. M. Heustis as he is present to +tell us about his "Dwarf Apple Trees." (See index.) + +The President: We are very much indebted to the doctor for his +interesting talk. Is Professor Mackintosh in the room? I was going to +ask him to read a paper on "Successful Cold Storage Plant for Apples," +sent in by Mr. Hanson. I am sorry that Mr. Hanson is not able to be +present, he is ill at home. + +Professor Mackintosh not being present, paper was read by Mr. Clarence +Wedge. + +The President: Mr. Wedge will have a word for us at this time. He has a +suggestion to make. + +Mr. Wedge: Ladies and gentlemen, fellow members: Once a year our society +has been in the habit of bestowing the highest honor within its gift +upon some of the members that have honored the society for so many years +with their services and have made themselves in that way so valuable to +the public that we feel that they deserve the highest recognition which +we are able to give them as a society. It becomes my great pleasure at +this time, standing in the place of my friend, Mr. Underwood, who is +absent, to propose the following names to you which have been +recommended by the executive board for this honor. There are five of +them, the names are: John Bisbee, of Madelia; Charles Haralson, our +superintendent at Excelsior; Mr. F. W. Kimball, of Waltham; Mr. John R. +Cummins, of Minneapolis, and Mr. S. H. Drum, of Owatonna. + +Mr. Bisbee has undertaken and is carrying on one of the largest +experiments in seedling apples in the Northwest. He seems to be a very +quiet member among us, but he is one of the working members who are +doing the things that the society most needs. + +I do not need to tell you anything about the work of Charles Haralson, +the superintendent of our fruit-breeding farm at Zumbra Heights. His +work has approved itself to us all so much that I think he really +deserves the statement that was made by one of our older members that he +has outdone Burbank. He certainly has for this part of the country. + +Mr. F. W. Kimball, a very dear personal friend of mine, has been +carrying on experiments in orcharding for the past twenty-five years +about, in the neighborhood of Austin, Minnesota, and has now removed to +Waltham. His experiments there in top-working have been among the most +useful and among the largest that have been undertaken in any part of +the state. He perhaps deserve the same reputation in our state that our +friend, Mr. Philips, has in Wisconsin. I do not want to say this to +disparage anybody else, but he has certainly made a very large and very +valuable addition to our knowledge of the value of top-working. + +Mr. John R. Cummins, of Minneapolis, whom we have with us this morning, +is one who has been a very persistent experimenter in all lines. I +remember particularly going to his place some ten or fifteen years ago +and going over the remarkable collection of ornamental trees and plants +that he was growing, many of which I did not think it was possible to +grow at Albert Lea, and there he was succeeding with them and +developing them at a point 100 miles north of us. We certainly owe him +a deal of credit for his perseverance and his enterprise. We are glad +that he is with us today. + +Mr. S. H. Drum, of Owatonna, is one who has also been one of our most +faithful members, whose experiments have been in fruits, and he has +brought great encouragement to us in the southern part of Minnesota. He +has now moved to Owatonna and, not being content with the best, he has +started out with a new plantation with two kinds of fruit, and I think +he is topping the market with the very best. + +Mr. President, I move that these names be added to the list of honorary +life members of the Minnesota Horticultural Society. + +There are several seconds to the motion. + +The President: A very fitting tribute, I am sure. Are there any remarks? +The name of Mr. Cummins calls my attention to the fact that about twelve +years ago he presented this society with the gavel that I hold in my +hand. This gavel is made of black walnut grown by Mr. Cummins on his own +place. I do not suppose that he made the gavel himself, but it is made +of material raised on his own farm, and when this gavel comes down good +and hard I want you to think of Mr. Cummins. Are you ready for the +question, that those gentlemen suggested be made honorary life members? + +Motion is carried unanimously. + +The President: I am now going to call on the young men from the +University Farm who are contestants for the Gideon Memorial Fund. (See +index.) + +Contestants thereupon read their essays. + +The President: I will now ask the judges to retire and decide which of +these young men is entitled to this prize money. For the benefit of some +of the newer members who may not understand the situation I will say +that some years ago a number of the members of this society believed +that we should commemorate the good work done by Peter M. Gideon. A sum +of money was raised to be known as the Gideon Memorial Fund. It was +decided that that money be placed at interest and that the interest +derived therefrom be offered as prizes to young men attending our +agricultural school or college. They were to deliver addresses at the +meetings of the Minnesota Horticultural Society, and the young men +preparing the best papers and making the best talks would be awarded +this prize money, the accrued interest from this fund. So we have +annually three young men from the agricultural college that present +papers or make addresses on subjects that are of importance to this +society. This is a memorial for Peter M. Gideon, who has done such +splendid work for the fruit raisers of the Northwest. + +While we are waiting for the report of the judges I will ask Mr. Ludlow +to come forward and tell us about a letter that he received from Peter +M. Gideon, November 2, 1885, and which was accompanied by Mr. Gideon's +last catalog. + +Judges announce their decision. (Applause.) + +_Premiums Awarded to Gideon Memorial Contestants_: + +1. The Plum Curculio--Edward A. Nelson. +2. Standardizing the Potato--A. W. Aamodt. +3. Marketing Fruit at Mankato--P. L. Keene. + +The President: I am now going to call on some of the delegates to this +meeting. Mr. George H. Whiting, representing the South Dakota +Horticultural Society, we will ask him to come forward and say a word. + +Mr. Whiting: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: I do not know why Mr. +Cashman should ask me to come forward. I have not very much to say and +could have said it back there just as well. Perhaps you will wish I had +stayed back there. + +I will say it is a pleasure to me to be with the Minnesota +horticulturists again. I have met with you quite a number of years but +not in the capacity of delegate. I did not expect to be a delegate this +time, thought I would leave the place for some younger man, but there +seemed to be no other present, and so I had to accept. I rather felt as +though I was not competent or did not care to take the responsibility of +making a report. I am getting old and a little tired, and I do not like +to do so much of that kind of work as I used to. However, I presume I +will have to do the best I can and let it go at that. + +I will say you have a wonderful society here. It is a wonder to me +sometimes how you keep up the interest, how to keep up so much interest +in this work. There is no other state in the Union that has such a good, +live society. I attended a great many of the state societies last year. +I had the pleasure of attending the Missouri State Society. I can say +that you discount them and then some. An old state like Missouri and a +fruit state, you might say, it is supposed to be in the fruit belt, and +still you fellows up north here have all the vim and the snap and +determination to do things that those fellows do not do at all. It is +more in the man, I think sometimes, than it is in the location. + +It used to be said that Minnesota was not a fruit state, you could not +grow apples in Minnesota. Well, I believe Mr. Gideon said that if he +could not grow apples in Minnesota he would not live there, something to +that effect, and he did not intend to leave the state either. Now, you +all know what success he made, and you that follow have a great deal to +be thankful for the work he did, and you are hoping--and I presume you +will be successful--to obtain an apple that is even better than the +Wealthy. + +I am glad that you take so much interest in this matter of new +seedlings. It will surely develop something some day, there is no +question about it. Of course, you cannot tell when, and you cannot tell +who will be the lucky man to get the thousand dollars, but undoubtedly +there is more at stake than the thousand dollars; that is a very small +item. + +I think I will not take up your time. It is getting on, and I have not +thought of making any talk, have nothing prepared and nothing in my +head. I thank you for your attention. (Applause.) + +The President: I am going to call on our good friend, Professor Hansen, +secretary of the South Dakota Horticultural Society, who has done so +much for us. + +Mr. Wedge: Mr. Hansen is not here. I just want to say a word that might +interest some of the younger members of the society in regard to our +friend who has just left the floor, Mr. Whiting, of Yankton. He is the +original Dakota nurseryman, who went out in the days of the pioneers +before I think there was any such thing as South Dakota, and he has +stayed on the job ever since. That is not so wonderful, for others, lots +of people, have stayed on the job, but he has made money out of the +business and got rich. I think he deserves some very special praise. +(Applause.) + +The President: Is Professor Waldron in the room? Here he comes. He is +the leading light of North Dakota and a gentleman who has been with us +before. (Applause.) + +Mr. Waldron: These people will think North Dakota is a dark place if +this is a leading light. What is the occasion of this? + +The President: Tell us your troubles. + +Mr. Waldron: When we had a good wheat crop we did not have any troubles. +We forget our other troubles whenever we can get something like 100 +million bushels of wheat. Our horticultural troubles have been quite +numerous. We had a frost every year, including July. We started in on +the ninth day of June with a frost that killed everything in sight +except a few cottonwood trees and things like that, but all of our +tomatoes, which were in blossom by the way at that time because we had a +favorable spring, and plums and apples went the same way. I think a few +of the late blooming plums managed to survive. The frost in July did not +hurt very much but the frost in August certainly finished us. + +Mr. Latham: The reporter is taking all that. + +Mr. Waldron: Our reputation is so good, we can own up to calamity once +in a while. Of course, if our reputation was not better than others we +would have to keep it dark, but inasmuch as nature favors us so +continuously we can own up when we get bumped. The August frost put our +corn out of business, so we are around with long fingers trying to steal +seed corn. + +However, a great many of the people of the state are looking forward to +the matter of planting trees as never before, and our farmers and +citizens are taking more interest in general tree planting and +beautifying the homes than in previous years. I had this term a large +class of students in landscape gardening. They will go out to the places +where they live and encourage the planting of trees and landscape +gardening there. In this matter of general ornamentation the frosts or +other calamities have not discouraged us. I think there were more trees +grown and more ornamental work done this year than in any two previous +years because the men have the money and are willing to spend it. I was +out on a farm last week where a man insisted on buying a thousand +evergreen trees. The nurseryman tried to sell him only five hundred, but +he would not have it that way. He wanted a thousand. He said he had the +money and was going to pay for them; so he planted the thousand trees. +We do not recommend such rashness on the part of our farmers, but it +shows when a farmer insists on having a thousand trees he is taking the +beautifying of his grounds seriously. This is perhaps an extreme case, +but we have others working along the same line. + +I certainly enjoy the privilege of being with you people here again as I +have for the last quarter of a century, twenty-five years ago, when I +was made an honorary member of this society, and I do not know of any +prouder moment in my whole career than when you saw fit to honor me in +that manner. I certainly would never forgive myself for the balance of +the year if I failed to attend these meetings. (Applause.) + +Mr. Philips: Waldron is too modest. He has not told the best thing he +ever did in North Dakota, so I shall. I visited him a good many years +ago, and he had some interesting boys there, especially the oldest one, +and I told him that if he was going to keep ahead of that boy he would +have to hustle, and now that boy at nineteen has the ability to go to +one of the southern states as a professor. So he didn't tell us the +greatest thing he ever did. Maybe some of the credit is due to his wife; +that is the way it is at my house. (Applause.) + +Mr. Waldron: I am so far behind that boy I am sort of jealous. I do not +mention it. + +The President: The secretary of the Wisconsin Horticultural Society is +with us, Professor Cranefield. Is he in the room? + +Mr. Cranefield: Mr. Graves, of Sturgeon Bay, is the duly accredited +delegate to the society and probably you want to hear from him. + +The President: We heard from him two or three days ago, and we will hear +from him again, but just now we want you to give us a few words. This is +Professor Cranefield, who has contributed on previous occasions to the +success of our meetings. (Applause.) (See index.) + +The President: I will now call on Professor Mackintosh, who is going to +read a paper at this time. + +Mr. Mackintosh: Yesterday I had to start the ball rolling as a +substitute for a man from Washington, and with the assistance of Miss +Bull we kept most of you here until after 12 o'clock. Today I am put +ahead of the program, so you won't hear me tomorrow afternoon. The +subject is, "Bringing the Producer and Consumer Together." + +Mr. Mackintosh reads paper. (Applause.) + +The President: I regret very much that time will not permit us to +discuss this very able paper. Secretary Latham has just called my +attention to the fact that there has been but very few tickets bought +for the banquet this evening. You understand it takes time to prepare +food, and he has to announce just how many people would be present, and +I sincerely hope that those of you who intend to attend the banquet (and +I trust that will be every one present) will get your tickets +immediately. It is the very best part of our program. Please get your +tickets so that Secretary Latham may know how to prepare for you. + +At this time recess was taken until 1:30 o'clock p.m. + + +December 9, 1915, Afternoon Session. + +Discussion on "The Topworked Orchard," led by A. J. Philips, Wisconsin. +(See index.) + +The President: The next order of business will be the election of +officers for the coming year. The secretary just handed me this slip +which gives you an idea of the requirements in order to be eligible to +vote for officers. (Reads extracts from constitution.) The first will be +the selection of a president for the coming year. Nominations are in +order. + +Mr. Bradley: Mr. President, it is said that republics are ungrateful, +but it is not necessary for horticultural societies to be ungrateful. It +has been, I think, in the past, and I hope it may continue to be in the +future, the policy of this society to recognize the services of its +officers and so we, I think, are justified in recognizing the +distinguished and efficient services of our present presiding officer. I +take great pleasure in placing in nomination for president of this +society the Honorable Thomas E. Cashman. (Applause.) + +Nomination is duly seconded and there are no other nominations. + +Mr. Crosby: I move that the secretary be instructed to cast the +unanimous ballot of this society for Thomas E. Cashman as president of +this society. + +Motion is seconded and carried. + +Mr. Cashman: Friends, I deeply appreciate this honor that you have +conferred upon me. I am always ready to contribute my mite towards the +service of the people, but I am never happy unless I am convinced that I +am able to give all that the position demands. Your selection of me as +your presiding officer for the sixth time convinces me that you are at +least satisfied with what I have been able to do for you and this, I +assure you, makes me extremely happy. + +I will endeavor to show my appreciation by doing all that is within my +power to further the interests of this society made up of men and women +that cannot be excelled for intelligence, cleanliness of habits and +honorable and right living. I know a great many horticulturists, not +only of this state but of other states, and they, I assure you--and you +know it yourselves--are far above the average. I therefore deem it a +great honor to be known as the president of one of the best +organizations, I do not care whether it is horticultural or otherwise, +in this country today. I thank you. (Applause.) + +The President: I find there are two members of the executive board to be +elected at this time, one to succeed Professor LeRoy Cady and another +Mr. R. A. Wright, whose terms of office expire at this time. + +Mr. Cady and Mr. Wright are nominated to succeed themselves, nominations +are seconded and upon motion the secretary cast the unanimous ballot of +the society for Mr. Cady and Mr. Wright as members of the executive +board for the coming three years. + +The President: The next will be the selection of a treasurer. + +Mr. George Strand is renominated, nomination is seconded and on motion +the secretary cast the ballot of the society for Mr. George W. Strand +for treasurer. + +The President: The secretary places in nomination the following men, as +vice presidents of this organization. I will ask him to name the list. +Vice-Presidents: C. E. Snyder, 1st Cong. Dist., Preston; S. D. +Richardson, 2nd Cong. Dist., Winnebago; J. K. Andrews, 3rd Cong. Dist., +Faribault; B. Wallner, Jr., 4th Cong. Dist., St. Paul; F. H. Nutter, 5th +Cong. Dist., Minneapolis; Matt. Tschida, 6th Cong. Dist., St. Cloud; G. +A. Anderson, 7th Cong. Dist., Renville; J. Kimball, 8th Cong. Dist., +Duluth; A. L. Hanson, 9th Cong. Dist., Ada; A. W. Richardson, 10th Cong. +Dist., Howard Lake. + +Secretary Latham reads names of nominees for vice presidents and places +them in nomination. Nomination is seconded and upon motion the secretary +is instructed to cast the ballot of the society for the persons named as +vice-presidents. + +The President: The next number will be a speech by Mr. S. P. Crosby, +chairman of the committee that was selected by this association to go +before the legislature at the last session and try to secure an +appropriation sufficient to build a home for this society. (See index.) + +The next gentleman on the program is our friend Clarence Wedge, who is +going to tell us of his trip out to Yellowstone Park. (See index.) + +Mr. Wedge: Not exactly to Yellowstone Park. We came within a day's drive +of the Yellowstone, but our interest and enthusiasm went in another +direction this year. + +Mr. Wedge reads paper. + +The President: "Peonies New and Old," by Mr. A. M. Brand, of Faribault, +one of the best peony specialists in the state. + +A Member: And of the world. (Applause.) (See index.) + +Discussion. + +The President: We have another noted horticulturist with us today from +Illinois. You have all heard of the Senator Dunlap strawberry. The +originator is with us today, Senator Dunlap, of Savoy, Illinois. He will +be on the program tomorrow. I will be pleased to have the senator come +forward and give us a word of greeting. + +Mr. Dunlap: I hardly think it is necessary for me to come forward. I +will be on the program a couple of times, and you will hear all that you +care to from me. I am very glad to be here with you. It has been some +time since I met with your society, but I remember well the very +pleasant time I had at that time. I came this week from the Michigan +Horticultural Society, in session at Grand Rapids, and I was very loath +to leave such an interesting meeting, but I knew when I came to +Minneapolis I would be in just as interesting a meeting. I wish to +disabuse your minds of the statements made by your honorable chairman +through an error. I am not the originator of the Senator Dunlap +strawberry. The Reverend Mr. Reisenour (?) is the originator of the +strawberry, and he thought it was a thrifty, strong, healthy plant and +would stand the name of Dunlap, so he gave it to the strawberry. +(Laughter and Applause.) + +The President: I stand corrected. I have been misinformed, although I +think you carry the honor. Our time is up. I have been requested to +announce that the lantern talk given by Mrs. James Jennison will take +place at the close of the Woman's Auxiliary meeting. Some very talented +ladies are to speak this afternoon, and I hope you will all stay and +listen to them. I will now turn the meeting over to the Women's +Auxiliary and request Mrs. F. M. Powers, who will preside, to take the +chair. + +Mrs. Powers: Just a continuation, I hope, of our good program that was +begun this afternoon, and we will now listen to Mrs. Clarence Wedge, of +Albert Lea, on the "Value of Horticulture to the Farm." Mrs. Wedge is +not a stranger to horticulture nor to this society. (See index.) + +Mrs. Powers: Some one has said that the enemy of art is the enemy of +nature, and art is nothing more than the highest sagacity and attainment +of human nature. We have with us Mrs. Cyrus W. Wells, who has had +considerable experience in this line and will give us the practical +side. + +Mrs. Wells spoke on "Art Made Practical." + +Mrs. Powers: "The Day's Work," by Mrs. John B. Irwin. + +Mrs. Powers: According to our program we were to have one speaker +tomorrow morning because we thought she could not be here at this time, +but Mrs. Dunlap is here and will favor us now, if you please. + +Talk by Mrs. A. M. Dunlap on "Better Methods in the Home." + +Mrs. Powers: The last number on our program will be "The Highway +Beautiful," by Mrs. Jennison. + +Mrs. Jennison gave a lantern talk. + +President Cashman: We have a very important question to be considered +this afternoon, and, fortunately for us, it is going to be taken care of +by one of our best men--"Breeding for Hardiness"--something this +gentleman has been doing all his life. He has met with a great deal of +success, and we are profiting by it. That gentleman is Professor N. E. +Hansen, of Brookings, South Dakota. (Applause.) (See index.) + +The President: Mr. C. E. Older has some suggestions to make, and we will +give him an opportunity to talk at this time. + +Mr. Older: Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen: In a meeting of some +of the leading exhibitors of the state fair yesterday they expressed +quite a bit of dissatisfaction with the present manner of awarding +premiums on commercial apples, that is, boxes of apples and one-layer +boxes. The point was that it would be a good thing if the state could be +divided so that the sections which are more favorable for the +development of the apple would be in a section by themselves, and the +balance of the state compete by itself. The following resolution was +formulated to bring before this society, asking for their opinion oh the +subject and discussion: + +Resolved, That we ask the state fair board that the state be divided +into two sections for the purpose of exhibit at the State Fair, making +two classes, one being the Wealthy apple and the other class comprising +all other varieties of box and one layer apples, the state to be divided +as follows: Beginning at the Mississippi river on the north line of +Goodhue County and running west on the north line of Goodhue, Rice, Le +Sueur and Nicollet Counties, thence running south on the west line of +Nicollet, Blue Earth and Faribault. All those counties lying east and +south of these lines are to constitute the first district, the balance +of the state being known as the second district. + +We also ask the state fair board that first, second, third, fourth and +fifth premiums be offered on all apples, and on all the next ten lower +exhibits a certain premium be paid to all deserving exhibits. + +And we ask that premiums be offered on Everbearing Strawberries showing +both bearing plants and fruit of the Progressive, Superb, and any other +varieties. + +We also ask the state fair board that they make some practical +arrangements to get the horticultural exhibits moved to the state fair +from the depots in a more satisfactory and cheaper manner than the +present arrangements. + +I move you that this resolution be adopted. + +Motion was seconded and carried unanimously. + +Meeting adjourned. + + +December 10, 1915, Morning Session. + +The President: We are to have a talk on "Spraying the Orchard," by +Senator Dunlap, of Illinois, this morning. (See index.) + +Discussion. + +Mr. Crosby: We thank Senator Dunlap for his able talk. I think that is +the way to progress. If we do not do things right up-to-date we can +learn how to do better from a competent man. + +The President: We all enjoyed the able talk of Senator Dunlap. He is +president of the Orchard Association of Illinois. He is considered one +of the most practical men down there, and we are very fortunate in +having him with us and to listen to his valuable talk and experience. +(Applause.) + +We will now listen to Professor Richard Wellington, who will tell us +about "Orcharding in Minnesota." (Applause.) (See index.) + +Discussion. + +The President: I am going to suggest a little matter at this time which +I am sure you will all approve of. It has been said by hundreds of men +and women attending these meetings who have had an opportunity of +enjoying the talks and papers and splendid program given here that we +had the greatest horticultural society in the world. It is true that we +have the largest membership of any horticultural society in the United +States and, I presume, of the world. + +You will all agree with me that is due to the efforts of one man to a +large extent. That man has been in our service and looked after our +interests for twenty-five years. He is at his best all the time, +cordial, kind, using good judgment, prevents friction among us, always +working for the best interests of everybody belonging to the society and +the interests of the state. + +As I said before, he has served us twenty-five years, and I think it +only fitting at this time that we should show our appreciation in a way +that will appeal better than words. It has been suggested that we +purchase some little token and present it this afternoon. It is up to +you as to how much you want to give or whether you want to give anything +or not, but Mr. Crosby and Mr. Brackett will be at the door as you pass +out this noon, and they will probably have a hat there and you can drop +in what you want to, and we will buy something for him and present it +this afternoon. (Great applause.) + +The President: Now we will turn the meeting over to the Plant Breeders' +Auxiliary. I regret very much to have to announce that our good friend, +Clarence Wedge, president of this auxiliary, is ill this afternoon and +unable to occupy the chair. I understand there is no vice-president of +the auxiliary, and I have been requested to continue as chairman during +this meeting. + +We have a very important program, one of the very best we have had. Some +of our best men are on this program and I hope you will all stay and +attend the balance of this meeting. I am going to call on our good +friend, Charles Haralson, superintendent of the Zumbra Heights farm, to +tell us about "New Fruits Originated at the State Fruit-Breeding Farm." +(Applause.) (See index.) + +The President: Professor C. B. Waldron, of North Dakota, finds it +necessary to leave in a very short time, and he will therefore address +you at this time instead of this afternoon. He will tell us about +"Running Out of Varieties." (See index.) + +We will now listen to the report of the committee on examination of the +Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding Farm, Dr. O. M. Huestis, Chairman. (See +index.) + +The President: The next speaker needs no introduction to a Minnesota +audience, as the word "Hansen" is a household word and particularly in +every agricultural community within the state, and the Hansen hybrids +are eagerly sought for by practically everybody who plants trees. +Professor Hansen has done a good work and is still accomplishing things. +He will tell us what he has done during 1915. I regret the time is so +short, but we will get Mr. Hansen to tell us more about his work. + +"Newer Fruits," Prof. N. E. Hansen, Brookings, S. D. + + +Afternoon Session, at 1:30. + +Half-hour exercise, questions and answers on "Increasing the Fertility +of the Land," led by Dr. F. J. Alway. (See index.) + +The President: Mr. Crosby has a word for us, and before continuing with +the regular program I will ask him to come forward at this time. + +Mr. Crosby: Gentlemen of the Horticultural Society: Mr. Latham, please +come this way. I have the honor, in behalf of the society, to inform +you, as you probably know, that this is your silver wedding, but we are +going it one better and make it a golden wedding for you today. We have +come to the conclusion, you have been with this society for twenty-five +years, and we think it is best that you be watched and chained. I have +the honor of presenting to you, in behalf of the society, a gold watch +and chain. That is all I have to say. (Applause.) + +Mr. Philips: Now for a speech. + +Mr. Latham: Wait a moment, I will see if it is worth it. (Laughter.) I +hate to part with this old turnip. I have carried it forty-five years +now, never broke a crystal on it, even. It is a good faithful companion. +I do not know what I will do with this now unless I put it away in a +safety vault somewhere. + +I do not think the Horticultural Society expects me to make a speech; +they know I am not a talker. I could say something if the room were +smaller, but my voice does not seem to carry very well. I am a good deal +in the fix of the steamboat that carried passengers on the river up and +down to the camp meeting there. They had a whistle on that boat that +made a tremendous noise but when they blew it the boat had to stop. +(Laughter.) If I talk loud enough to be heard here, my thinking works do +not operate. (Laughter.) + +I hardly know how to express my appreciation of this gift, as showing +the sentiment of the society towards me. Of course, I have tried to do +what I could for the society. Sometimes, perhaps, I have gone a little +too far, something like the man who was appointed in charge of a flag +station. He had never done any such service as that, but he understood +the business of a flagman was to stop trains. The first train that came +along was a heavy express train, eight or ten or a dozen coaches, and he +rushed out and flagged the train. The conductor got off, all in a hurry, +and looked around. He did not see anybody but the flagman. He said: +"Where are your passengers?" "Well," he says, "there ain't any +passengers to get on, but I didn't know but somebody would like to get +off." (Laughter.) Sometimes, perhaps, I have overreached myself here. + +Twenty-five years is quite a while to look back, and as I look over the +faces of those present I can scarcely see one that was a member of the +society twenty-five years ago when I became secretary. Mr. Long in his +address before you at the banquet last night spoke of the meeting that +he first attended of the horticultural society, held in what is now the +Metropolitan Life, on the ground floor, and he spoke of the surroundings +there. No fruit on exhibition. If a man had two or three apples in his +pocket, he showed them around on the sly as though it was a crime to let +people know there was such a thing and that he had a few at home he +could eat. Quite a remarkable thing! + +That was the meeting of the horticultural society in which I was first +elected secretary, and I recall well all the circumstances connected +with it. So many of our members that I thought so much of in those days +are gone. Of those who were present at that meeting, the only person +left that I recall is Mr. Underwood. I had forgotten Mr. Long was there; +I think he reported the meeting; I guess the first of our meetings that +he reported, too. + +I am not going to make any more of an address. President Vincent is here +and will address you. I thank you very much indeed. (Applause.) + +Mr. Vincent: I am very glad that I got in in time to be a witness to +this delightful and gratifying little ceremony which has just taken +place. I can not imagine anything more satisfying to a man who, in spite +of all his modesty, knows he has done for twenty-five years good, +genuine, valuable work than to have other people intimate in so pleasant +a way that they are not entirely oblivious to what he has done. + +It always does one good to see efficient work recognized, and, while I +cannot own, I am sorry to say, to an intimate personal acquaintance with +Mr. Latham, I have come into association with him often enough to be +able to share a little what you feel toward him and toward what he has +done. + +The President: I am sure you will all be delighted to hear from the very +popular president of one of the greatest universities in the United +States, President George E. Vincent of Minnesota State University, who +will now address you. (See index.) + +The President: I am sure we are very much indebted to President Vincent +for this most scholarly and delightful speech. We hope he can continue +with us during the afternoon. Owing to the fullness of our program this +forenoon we are unable to discuss one of our most important subjects, +and that was "The Elements of Hardiness," by Prof. M. J. Dorsey, member +of the Fruit Breeding Section, of the University Farm. He will discuss +that question at this time. (Applause.) (See index.) + +The President: Senator Dunlap, who so delightfully entertained us this +morning and instructed us on the subject of "Spraying" will now speak to +us on the subject of "Packing and Marketing Apples." (See index.) + +Discussion. + +The President: I am now going to call on a gentleman that hasn't said a +word during our discussions and that is Mr. Weld, and request him to +recite his favorite poem. + +Mr. Weld recites "The Three Warnings." + +The President: We have had a very interesting session, had a good time, +everything has gone very nicely, but somehow there has been one thing +lacking. The old friends from Iowa have not been with us with one +exception, Mr. Ferris, who gave us the lantern talk on Tuesday, but +Friend Gardner, Patten, Sherman and several others (I believe Sherman +has been in town, but we have not seen him here) have been absent. The +reason for it is that the Iowa people have been holding their annual +meeting. But I am very glad that Mr. Gardner is with us this afternoon, +and I am now going to call upon Mr. Charles F. Gardner, of Osage, Iowa. +(Applause.) + +Mr. Gardner: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: I have attended your +meetings so long that when I appear here before you I feel as though I +had got home. I have attended every meeting of this society except two +since this society held its annual meeting at Lake City the last time. +That is when I joined the society, and since that time a great many +things have taken place. Think it is seventeen or eighteen years ago, in +that neighborhood. I was absent two years. I went to New Mexico, I went +there to die, but luckily I escaped and came back home. I want to say +this, that when I got back to this part of the country, if there was +anything I thanked God for it was that I was spared to get back. I think +there is no necessity of emigrating either from Minnesota or Iowa, and +people that have traveled over the west and made a tour extending along +the Pacific coast and finally get back into this country, this latitude, +are generally pretty well satisfied and stay here. That is, providing +they didn't spend all their money and can not get back here. Some of our +citizens are now stranded out there and will come home whenever they +can. + +In regard to the progress of horticulture in this length of time, I know +you are very much interested in the work of Mr. Patten and a good many +of you have trees that he originated. I want to say that the people of +our state of Iowa have not really gotten their eyes open yet in +horticultural ways. They only appropriated for our use $4,000. We have +five societies, the state society--and then the state is divided into +four sections. In the last few years our state society has appropriated +to carry on, to help Mr. Patten carry on his work, we have appropriated +and used $4,600. + +Before that time our society allowed $50.00 a year for station fees for +quite a little while, then before that $25.00 a year. Last year we +appeared before the legislature and tried to get some help to keep up +that work and informed them that our money was getting short and that +unless it was done we could not carry on that work. The legislature +hardly winked an eye at our request. No money was appropriated, and of +all the things that I ever hated to help do last week was to discontinue +the Charles City station. For fear that some one might think we had gone +back on Mr. Patten and that the work he has done will be lost to the +world, I will say there is nothing of that kind. There is not a member +of our society but would do anything in the world for Mr. Patten, to +help him. It is just simply a fact that the money of our society is so +nearly exhausted we had hardly enough to pay for the expenses of our +meeting last week. We had a splendid meeting and never had such an +exhibit of apples before. Perhaps we may have had as many apples on +exhibit but not so many perfect ones. On the first opportunity we have +we are going to see that Mr. Patten does not suffer. I would say that +they are in pretty good shape to take care of Mr. Patten down there for +a year or two, and we will not lose the valuable work he has done. + +As the meeting is drawing to a close I want to say in closing that if +there is anything that does me good it is to come up here and look into +your faces once a year, and I wish that I could see more of you. There +is a kind of bond of brotherhood and a feeling that when I am here I am +among friends and I have found that to be the case for almost twenty +years. Thank you. (Applause.) + +The President: I have just discovered a question here that should be +answered, if there is anyone here that can do so. "In my locality the +basswood and box elders are infested with a scale-like substance that +looks like cotton. Most of the trees of the varieties named are +infested. What is it and is there a remedy?" + +Mr. Kellogg: That is no doubt the cottonwood bug that infects the soft +maple. They come and work for about three years and then some insect +comes in and cleans them out. + +The President: What is the remedy, Mr. Kellogg? + +Mr. Kellogg: You can use any spray for this bug. On forest trees it is +out of reach, but arsenical spray will get them if you can reach them. + +Mr. Warner: Cotton maple scale. Professor Waldron recommends to spray +with crude oil when the trees are dormant. We find it best to cut it +back. The cottony appearance does not show until the second year and +then the scale has really done its injury. The time to cut it, you will +find a lot of small scales on the young twigs, and if they are cut off +and a new growth forced you get rid of it. + +The President: I understand Prof. Broderick of the College of Winnipeg +has been here. If he is here I wish he would come forward and give us a +word. I understand he is the delegate from Winnipeg. (Applause.) + +Mr. Broderick: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: Before going away, I +would like, as a member of the Manitoba society to express to you my +great pleasure at being here and taking part in your excellent meeting. +I had planned for a number of years to come down but circumstances have +been such that I have been unable to be here. I might say that we in +Manitoba, about 400 miles north of here, are interested in horticulture +as well as you people in Minnesota. We have a fraternal interest in the +work you are doing. A number of our members, I might say, are members of +your society, and we are getting your excellent publication and +following the work you are doing. Our problems up there are very similar +to yours, and we feel that you can give us greater information than we +can obtain from any other source. We appreciate the excellent work you +are doing, and it has been of great interest to me to see the wide range +of subjects you are covering. I was particularly interested this morning +in the session of the plant breeders, as that is a line of work that we +feel up in Manitoba has some possibilities for us. In a horticultural +line we are confined very largely to the hardy varieties. We are working +on improving the hardiness of our varieties, and the fruit growing as it +is carried on with us very largely in a small way by the farmers and +others interested through our province. We feel, however, that there are +possibilities, and we are only too glad to get any information from you +as to the work and progress that is being made in the matter of hardy +fruits. We have been endeavoring to improve our native plums. I have had +the station there at Winnipeg, and in connection with one of our +nurserymen, Mr. Buchanan, we have been selecting hardy plums for a +number of years, and we hope from that stock in crossing with the +Japanese plums, as Professor Hansen suggested this morning, to prove +that there are possibilities even as far north as Manitoba. I have heard +Mr. Buchanan say on several occasions that he thought the possibilities +of plum growing were fairly good in Manitoba. In small fruits we have +possibilities. The currants and raspberries grow very well. We have not +done so much in strawberries, but I know there are a number of growers +in parts of the province that are making some very successful +experiments in strawberries, and we hope in a few years to produce +strawberries of a fairly good quality. + +The President: How is your wild strawberry? + +Mr. Broderick: I find that the wild strawberry does very well. We have +around Winnipeg, where the college is located, a wild strawberry that +does very well, and it is possible that we can do some work on improving +the wild strawberry. We are looking to our hardy native fruits and the +hardy importations we are making to establish varieties which are hardy +and suited to our conditions. We are interested also in the work done in +tree planting, and I followed with interest the discussion this morning +as to windbreak protection. That has been a problem with us. The +government of the Dominion has taken it over, and we find it is working +out all right. Our Forestry Station at Indian Head sends out lots of +trees free each year. These are planted, and they have a system of +inspection. Certain requirements are made in regard to the preparation +of the soil, methods of planting and caring for the plantation +afterwards. + +A Member: What are the majority of your forest trees? + +Mr. Broderick: Forest trees are largely deciduous, the Manitoba maple, +the ash, the elm and the willows. I was pleased to hear some one this +morning mention the golden willow. That is one of the best trees we +have. The Manitoba maple, of course grows all over that northern +country, but we find that during recent years it has been becoming +seriously infected with various kinds of pests. This year the aphis were +serious. We are discouraging to a certain extent the Manitoba maple and +planting other trees and are getting better results. The ash, the elm +and willow are doing well. With the conifer trees, the Scotch pine, the +white spruce, the balsam fir and the ridgepole pine are those which are +growing. + +The improving of home grounds is another question that is interesting +us. I do not think there is anything in this western country that is +going to do more to make homes than this. So we are interested in all +the work you are carrying on, and we appreciate the opportunity of +coming here and meeting with you and listening to the excellent +discussions you have. I might say that our annual meeting is held in +February and if any of you happen to stray up there we would be only too +glad to have you join with us. + +I thank you very much for the many courtesies extended to me on behalf +of the Manitoba society. (Applause.) + +(Time was now taken up by two minute speeches of different members, +after which the meeting was declared closed.) + + + + +Records of Executive Board for 1916. + + +Record of meeting held in secretary's office 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, +1915. + +There were present Thos. E. Cashman, LeRoy Cady, Clarence Wedge, J. P. +Andrews, R. A. Wright and A. W. Latham. + +In the absence of the chairman of the board, Mr. J. M. Underwood, +Clarence Wedge was elected chairman pro tem. + +The following accounts were examined and approved and orders drawn in +payment therefor. + +Geo. W. Strand, treasurer, premiums annual meeting, 1914, $596.50. + +Geo. W. Strand, treasurer, premiums summer meeting, 1915, $172.00. + +A. W. Latham, expenses secretary's office from June 1, 1915, to Dec. 1, +1915, $1,064.30. + +It was decided to present to the annual meeting of the society for +action the following named persons for honorary life membership: John +Bisbee, Madelia; J. R. Cummins, Minneapolis; S. H. Drum, Owatonna; F. W. +Kimball, Waltham; Chas. Haralson, Excelsior. + +An appropriation of fifty-three dollars and 25-100 ($53.25) was made for +the benefit of the Minnesota Forestry Association. + + Adjourned sine die, + CLARENCE WEDGE, + Chairman, pro tem. + +A. W. LATHAM, Secretary. + + * * * * * + +Record of meeting of the board held in West Hotel 12:30 p.m. Friday, +Dec. 10, 1915. + +There were present at this meeting Thos. E. Cashman, LeRoy Cady, +Clarence Wedge, J. P. Andrews, R. A. Wright and A. W. Latham. + +Thos. E. Cashman was elected chairman pro tem. + +J. M. Underwood was elected chairman of the board for 1916, and A. W. +Latham was elected secretary at a salary of eighteen hundred dollars +($1,800.00) per annum. The salary of the treasurer was fixed at +twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per annum. + +The board having under consideration the recommendation of grades of +apples for use in packing for market, a committee consisting of Clarence +Wedge, J. P. Andrews and R. A. Wright was appointed to take the question +under consideration with authority to act for the board. + +The sum of eight hundred dollars ($800.00) was appropriated as a +revolving fund for the use of the secretary of the society during the +year 1916. + +The following resolution was presented by Clarence Wedge and unanimously +adopted by the board. + + "Resolved: That the board favors the exclusive distribution of + new varieties of fruits of probable commercial value + originating at the State Fruit-Breeding Farm to members of the + society and the trial stations of the state as at present + practiced. + + "Resolved further--That when a variety of fruits originating at + the fruit breeding farm has been sufficiently tested to + establish its commercial value in the state, it shall be given + a name and the State Fruit-Breeding Farm shall cease to + propagate it for distribution." + + Adjourned sine die, + THOS. E. CASHMAN, + Chairman, pro tem. + +A. W. LATHAM, Secretary. + + * * * * * + +Record of meeting held in the secretary's office June 22, 1916. + +All members of the board were present except R. A. Wright. + +Mr. John P. Andrews was elected by the board as its representative in +connection with the assessment of damages on account of nursery stock to +be destroyed in certain Minnesota nurseries to protect from injury +threatened by a disease called "white pine blister rust." + +Having under consideration the trial stations connected with the society +it was decided to discontinue the station located at Madison, Minn., and +locate a station at New Auburn, Minn., R. F. Hall, Supt., and another at +Deerwood, Minn., L. P. Hall, Supt. + +The following resolution pertaining to Farmers' Institutes was +unanimously adopted. + + "Resolved: That in our judgment the carrying out of the spirit + and purpose of the motion adopted by the Farmers' Institute + Board, Sept. 4, 1913, pertaining to 'the horticultural work on + each institute corps'--to quite literally--cannot be fully + performed except by providing for each institute corps some one + who should in whole or in part represent horticulture, and who + should be interested and willing to serve the Horticultural + Society as indicated in said motion; and further, that + reasonable opportunity for such service should be allowed at + each place where an institute corps may be working." + +It was decided to appropriate $65.00 to be applied to the uses of the +Minnesota State Forestry Association. + +The accounts of the Secretary from Nov. 30, 1915, to June 15, 1916, +amounting to $4,112.82, were examined and approved, and an order drawn +for the payment of that amount from the treasury, an equal amount to be +covered into the treasury from the hands of the secretary. + + Adjourned sine die, + J. M. UNDERWOOD, + Chairman Executive Board. +A. W. LATHAM, Secretary. + + + + +Additions to Society Library, 1916. + + +(For preceding list see page 492, Report 1916). + + Case. No. + +Am. Pomological Socy., An. Rep., 1873 3 8 +Am. Pomological Socy., An. Rep., 1871 3 9 +Am. Pomological Socy., An. Rep., 1885 3 10 +*Cyclopedia of American Agri., Bailey. Vol. 1 3 24 +*Cyclopedia of American Agri., Bailey. Vol. 2 3 25 +*Cyclopedia of American Agri., Bailey. Vol. 3 3 26 +*Cyclopedia of American Agri., Bailey. Vol. 4 3 27 +*Cyclopedia of Practical Hort., Lowther, 1916. Vol. 1 4 1 +*Cyclopedia of Practical Hort., Lowther, 1916. Vol. 2 4 2 +*Cyclopedia of Practical Hort., Lowther, 1916. Vol. 3 4 3 +*Cyclopedia of Practical Hort., Lowther, 1916. Vol. 4 4 4 +*Plums of New York, Hedrick, 1915 1 1 +*Grapes of New York, Hedrick, 1915 1 2 + +FROM LIBRARY OF WYMAN ELLIOT: + + Bureau of Ethnology. J. W. Powell 1 3 + Minn. State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1915 44 13 + *American Agriculturist. Vol. 10 4 8 + Report of Secretary of Agriculture, 1889 4 10 + Department of Agriculture. Report, 1877 4 11 + Architecture of Country Houses. Downing 4 12 + American Farmers Encyclopedia. Emerson 4 13 + Michigan Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1886 4 13 + Department of Agriculture, Report, 1856 5 14 + Yearbook of Argiculture, 1855 4 15 + American Forestry Association, Report, 1897 4 16 + Department of Agriculture, Report, 1852-3 4 14 + Food for Plants. Harris and Meyers 47 1 + Western Farmer. Vol. 1 47 2 + Western Farmer. Vol. 2 47 3 + Western Farmer. Vol. 3 47 4 + Minnesota State Horticultural Society, Report, 1869 47 5 + State Entomologist, An. Rep., 1909-1910 47 6 + American Pomological Society, An. Rep., 1903 47 7 + American Pomological Society, An. Rep., 1869 47 8 + Wisconsin State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1876 47 9 + Wisconsin State Hort. Society, An. Rep., 1877 47 10 + Wisconsin State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1891 47 11 + State Experiment Station, Rep., Bulletins 47 12 + Illinois Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1870 47 13 + State Entomologist, Report, 1905 47 14 + Indiana State Hort. Socy., Report, 1853 47 15 + Minnesota Farmers Institute Annual, 1895 47 16 + Minnesota Farmers Institute Annual, 1907 47 17 + Minnesota Farmers Institute Annual, 1908 47 18 + Western N. Y. Hort. Socy., Report, 1887 47 19 + Making Horticulture Pay. M. G. Kains 47 34 + Young Farmers Manual. S. E. Todd 47 33 + Home for All. O. S. Fowler 47 32 + American Weeds and Useful Plants. Wm. Darlington 47 31 + How to Grow and Show Potatoes. Jas. Pink 47 30 + How to Build Hot Houses. R. B. Leucars 47 29 + Field Book of Manures. D. J. Browne 47 28 + Woodwards Country Homes. G. E. & F. W. Woodward 47 27 + Grape Growers Guide. Wm. Charlton 47 26 + Botanical Ready Reference. J. M. Nickells 47 25 + Landscape Gardening. Chas. H. J. Smith 47 24 + Cranberry Culture. B. Eastwood 47 35 + Book of Roses. Francis Parkman 47 23 + Elements of Agriculture, Chemistry and Geology. + J. F. W. Johnston 47 22 + American Farm Book. R. L. Allan 47 21 + Flower Garden. Jos. Beck 47 20 + Handbook of Tree Planting. N. H. Egleston 47 38 + Bulbs. E. S. Rand, Jr. 47 37 + How to Cooperate. Herbert Myrick 47 36 + Suburban Home Grounds. F. J. Scott 45 1 + Trees of America. D. J. Browne 45 2 + California Fruits. E. J. Wickson 45 3 + Ill. State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1885 45 4 + Farmers Universal Handbook 45 5 + *Johnsons Dictionary of Gardening. David Landreth 45 6 + Flowers for the Parlor and Garden. E. S. Rand, Jr. 45 7 + Hedges and Evergreens. John A. Warder 45 8 + The Farmers Miscellany. Geo. W. Marshall 45 9 + The Western Fruit Book. F. R. Elliott 45 10 + The Strawberry Culture. R. G. Pardee 45 11 + Use of the National Forests. Gifford Pinchot 45 12 + Ladies Companion to Flower Gardening. Downing 45 13 + Map of Minnesota, 1854 45 29 + Vegetable Plants. I. F. Tillinghast 45 28 + Mysteries of Bee-Keeping Explained. M. Quinby 45 27 + Grape Culturist. A. S. Fuller 45 26 + Rural Economy. Boursingault's, by Geo. Law 45 25 + Barn Plans and Out Buildings 45 24 + New Creations in Plant Life. W. S. Harwood 45 23 + The Farmers Side. W. A. Peffer 45 22 + Villes' Chemical Manures. A. A. Fesquet 45 18 + Johnsons Agriculture Chemistry. Jas. F. W. Johnston 45 21 + A. B. C. of Agriculture. M. C. Weld 45 20 + Land Drainage. J. P. Clipper 45 19 + Peat and Its Use. S. W. Johnson 45 17 + Forestry Tree Culturist. A. S. Fuller 45 16 + American Poultry Yard. D. J. Browne 45 15 + How Crops Grow. S. W. Johnson 45 14 + +N. J. Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1915 4 23 +Royal Hort. Socy., Journal of, December, 1915 4 19 +Society of American Florists, 1915 27 13 +Wyoming State Bd. of Hort., An. Rep., 1915 27 14 +Man. Hortl. and Forestry Assn., An. Rep., 1915 27 15 +Kentucky Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1915 27 16 +Markets for Oregon Fruits, 1914 27 17 +Vermont State Hort. Socy., Report, 1915 27 18 +Fruit Growers Assn. of Nova Scotia, Report, 1916 27 19 +Illinois State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1915 27 20 +Ontario Vegetable Growers Assn., An. Rep., 1915 4 21 +The American Rose Manual. J. Harris McFarland, 1915 27 27 +Horticultural Societies of Ontario, An. Rep., 1915 4 22 +Georgia State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1915 27 21 +Peninsula Horticultural Socy., An. Rep., 1916 27 22 +Mass. Hort. Socy., Part 2, 1915 27 23 +Nebraska Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1915 27 24 +Virginia State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1915 27 25 +Northern Nut Growers Assn., An. Rep., 1915 27 26 +S. D. State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1915 4 20 +Western N. Y. Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1916 27 28 +Yearbook, Dept. of Agri., 1915 4 18 +Plant Propagation. M. G. Kains 12 9 +Productive Vegetable Growing. J. W. Lloyd 11 29 +Backyard Farmer. J. W. Bolte 11 27 +The Well Considered Garden. Mrs. Francis King 11 28 +Planning and Planting Home Grounds. Warren H. Manning 11 26 +Birds of Town and Country, National Geographic Socy 4 17 +*Fruit Industry in New York. Part 1 27 35 +*Fruit Industry in New York. Part 2 27 36 +Kansas State Hort. Socy. 1914 and 1915 27 37 +Ont. Entomological Socy., An. Rep., 1915 27 38 +Pomological & Fruit Growers Socy. of Quebec, An. Rep., 1915 27 39 +Md. State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1915 27 40 +Oregon State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1915 27 41 +Royal Hort. Socy., Journal of, May, 1916 27 42 +State Hort. Assn. of Pa., An. Rep., 1916 27 43 +Iowa Hort. Socy., An. Report, 1915 27 44 +Ala. State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1915 27 45 +Mass. Hort. Socy., An. Rep., Part 1, 1916 27 46 +Mass. Fruit Growers Assn., An. Rep., 1916 27 47 +N. Y. State Fruit Growers Assn., An. Rep., 1916 27 48 +Washington State Hort. Assn., An. Rep., 1916 27 49 +Ohio State Hort. Socy., An. Rep., 1916 27 50 + + * * * * * + +CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH BOOKS MAY BE TAKEN FROM THE SOCIETY LIBRARY. + +Books may be taken from the library of the Minnesota State Horticultural +Society by any member of the society on the following terms: + +1. Not more than two books can be taken at a time. + +2. Books with a star (*) before the title, as found in the published +library lists, are reference books and not to be taken from the library. + +3. In ordering books give besides the name also the case and book +numbers, to be found in the same line as the title. + +4. Books will be sent by parcel post when requested. + +5. When taking out, or sending for a book, a charge of ten cents (to be +paid in advance) is made to cover expense of recording, transmission, +etc. + +6. Books are mailed to members only in Minnesota and states immediately +adjoining. When sent to points outside the state a charge of fifteen +cents is made. + +7. A book can be kept two weeks: If kept longer a charge of two cents +per day will be made. + +8. The library list, to December 1, 1915, is published in the 1915 +annual volume of the society. Additions to this list will be published +year by year in the succeeding annual volumes. + + + + +MEMBERSHIP, 1916 + +Annual Members. + +Aarrestad N. O Hanley Falls, R. I. +Aase, Martin Kenyon +Abel, Nick Evansville +Abbott, Geo. Newport +Abbott, T. A. 487 Ashland, St. Paul +Abeler, Wm. J. 196 Griggs St., St. Paul +Abeler, Geo. L. 264 Dayton Ave., St. Paul +Aberg, C. 3310 Wenonah Place, Mpls. +Abbott, Mrs. A. W. 221 Clifton Ave., Mpls. +Abrahamson, E. O. Lafayette +Academy of Our Lady + of Good Counsel Mankato +Ackerknecht, W. E. 680 White Bear Ave., St. Paul +Ademmer, B., Jr. New Prague +Adams, Chas. W. 3212 Minnehaha Ave., Mpls. +Adams, D. Albert Hutchinson +Adams, Robt. Morris +Adams, W. S. 1620 Jefferson St., Duluth +Aelzant, Louie Brevator +Affleck, C. A. Willmar +Ahlsten, Mrs. Mary Dent +Aiton, Geo. B. Grand Rapids +Akers, Mary D. 1541 W. Minnehaha, St. Paul +Alexander, Alfred Dawson +Almquist, C. A. Capas +Alme, O. T. Ulen +Allen, Edgar New Auburn +Allison, Prof. J. H. Univ. Farm, St. Paul +Albertson, A. R. Paynesville +Alden, E. M. Deer River +Albrecht, O. E. 6th & Minnesota Sts., St. Paul +Allis, W. H., Sec Aitkin +Allen, Wilber R. Wells +Albinson, Oscar 1718 11th Ave. S., Mpls. +Alm, Arthur 686 Ivy St., St. Paul +Aldrich, Malcolm 3205 Henn. Ave., Mpls. +Albert, Henry So. St. Paul +Alford, E. F. 2390 Woodland Ave., Duluth +Allen, John S. 3017 Grand Ave., Mpls. +Allen, P. L. 1912 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. +Amborn, Elmer Box 147, Bangor, Wis. +Ames, Mrs. Frank Sta. F., Mpls. +Ammand, Ernest 2819 Polk. St., Mpls. +Amundson, C. E. 409 Henn. Ave., Mpls. +Ambauen, Rev. Jos. Freeport +Amundson, P. C. Amery, Wis. +Anderson, Louis R. 1, Gladstone +Anderson, J. C. B. 1285 Portland Ave., St. Paul +Anderson, Alex. P. 558 Everett Ave., Chicago +Andrew, Harry 5327 S. Lyndale, Mpls. +Anderson, Richard R. 4, Northfield +Anderson, J. E. R. 5, Box 35, Hector +Anderson, A. M. Gran Marais +Anderson, Andy 935 Cherokee Ave., St. Paul +Anderson, J. W. Mitchell, S. D. +Anderson, Henning 1108 S. 4th St., St. Peter +Anderson, Mrs. Andrew, S. Elm St., Owatonna +Andrews, Theo. S. Bemidji +Anvid, Olof Blackduck +Anderson, Axel Hotel Leamington, Mpls. +Andrews, Gen. C. C. Capitol, St. Paul +Anderson, Miss Deborah 627 E. 17th St., Mpls. +Anderson, John W. R. 3, Cokato +Anderson, A. J. 161 E. Cook St., St. Paul +Anderson, David 4044 Aldrich S., Mpls. +Andrews, Mrs. W. E. Lake Wood, White Bear +Anderson, Carl Vesta +Anstett, Jake Preston +Anderson, Fred Rush City +Anderson, Wm. R. 4, Isanti +Andrews, J. P. Faribault +Anderson, S. A. 3801 Dupont N., Mpls +Anderson, C. G. 1514 W. Lake St., Mpls. +Anderson, G. F. W. Side Sta., R. 2, St. Paul +Anderson, J. F. Lake City +Anderson, Frank H. 2905 Fremont S., Mpls. +Anderson, John 4315 Girard N., Mpls. +Anderson, Andrew 865 Bidwell St., St. Paul +Anderson, Mrs. John R. 2, Box 99, Isanti +Anderson, Ernest Cove +Anderson, John A. 715 Normal Ave., Valley City, N.D. +Andrews, W. A. Walhalla, N. D. +Anderson, L.P. Bemidji +Anderson, Axel Dunnell +Anderson, Henry Lake Wilson +Anderson,, Alfred O. 914 St. Olaf Ave., Northfield +Anderson, Wm. 1540 Kirkwin Ave., St. Paul +Andreas, Reuben W. 71 Melbourne Ave., Mpls. +Anderson, J. L. Clarkfield +Anitzberger, Phil. 1245 Livingston Ave., W. St. Paul +Anderson, Peter Eastwood +Anderson, Victor Hastings Hotel, Mpls. +Anfield, E. N. Clinton +Anderson, B. E. Elbow Lake +Armitage, C. W. Canby +Arrowood, Jas. Nevis +Arness, A. G. Benson +Arkens, Edw. J. Park Rapids +Archer, T. E. 1399 Raymond Ave., St. Paul +Archer, Mrs. Marian 1399 Raymond Ave., St. Paul +Arneson, M. Shelly +Arctander, Ludwig 324 N. Y. Life Bldg., Mpls. +Aronson, Geo. Box 135, South Park +Asp, Arthur E. R. 11, Milaca +Asplund, Chas. R. 1, Hopkins +Ash, H. C. 15 Carlyle Ave., Duluth +Asperstrand, Aug. Amery, Wis. +Atwood, H. J. Hunters Park, Duluth +Atcheson, Jas. Mapleton +Atherton, Mrs. Isabella Newport +Aune, Olaf Underwood +Austin, Miss Mary J. 503 Sellwood Bldg., Duluth +Austin, O. A. McVille, N. D. +Aune, Theo. Glenwood +Avery, Carlos State Capitol, St. Paul +Ayers, H. B. Kimberly +Ayers, C. O. 1025 17th Ave. S., St. Cloud +Ayers, Ellsworth D. Pine City + +Badrann, Peter Harvey, N. D. +Bailey, J. Vincent Dayton Bluff Sta., St. Paul +Baillif, R. L. Sta. F, R. 3, Mpls. +Baalson, H. E. Brooten +Baglien, Hans H. Rothsay +Baillif, C. E. Sta. F, R. 1, Mpls. +Backus, Mrs. C. H. 580 Holly Ave., St. Paul +Bagley, Mrs. Horace Towner, N. D. +Bailey, Victor River Falls, Wis. +Bailey, Phoebe D. 1023 17th Ave. S. E., Mpls. +Bahe, H. G. Hastings +Babcock, Mrs. J. B. Belgrade +Baker, H. P. N. Y. State Col. of For., Syracuse, N.Y. +Beath, P. A. Drake, N. D. +Belker, Jake Maple Plain +Beise, Dr. H. C. Windom +Becker, Ernest Northland +Baldwin, H. J. Northfield +Baker, H. F. 4629 Lake Harriet Blvd., Mpls. +Baney, J. W. Blackduck +Baldwin, Miss L. O. 707 Cham. of Com., Mpls. +Ballou, Herb 3316 10th Ave. S., Mpls. +Baker, John W. R. 3, Maynard +Baker, W. H. Reading +Bannister, I. C. Stillwater +Balfour, Donald C. Rochester +Banning, Mrs. J. F. Juamba +Baker, Bert Hoosick Falls, N. Y. +Bamford, Geo. J. 1703 Sheridan Ave., St. Paul +Baker, Miss Ida A. 4629 Lake Harriet Blvd., Mpls. +Balcarek, V. L. Hyannis, Neb. +Baldus, Jos. L. Montrose +Baldwin, E. B. Care of Western Electric Co., St. Paul +Baker, M. J. Deer River +Bartram, Mrs. C. S. R. 1, White Bear +Barclay, J. M. Madison Lake +Barnstad, Ole Willmar +Barnes, J. U. 705 Oneida Blk., Mpls. +Barnard, A. H. 206 Lbr. Exchange, Mpls. +Barott, J. E. Tamarack +Barker, Mrs. S. E. R. 3, Excelsior +Bartlett, J. F. Excelsior, Minn. +Barrows, Walter A. Brainerd +Bartholomew, O. A., Jr. 120 So. 5th St., Mpls. +Barnes, Fred Northfield +Bartlett, Mrs. E. A. R. 2, Hopkins +Bartsch, Chas. G. R. 2, Mankato +Bartholomew, R. L. Sta. F, R. 1, Nic. Ave., Mpls. +Barton, Bert Republic, Mich. +Barrett, Miss Alice Humboldt Ave. and 28th St., Mpls. +Bardwell, Fred L. Excelsior +Barthelemy, Ed St. Cloud +Barnes, David 2123 Dunedin Ave., St. Paul +Barker, Geo. H. 414 Owen St., Stillwater +Barrows, Walter A., Jr. Brainerd +Bates, W. K. Stockton +Batho, Geo. 406 Maryland St., Winnipeg, Man. +Baxter, Hector 4200 Park Blvd., Mpls. +Baumgartner, Joe Robbinsdale +Bassett, Mrs. H. S. Preston +Bazille, E. W. 606 Carroll, St. Paul +Bawman, F. J. 802 Edmond Ave. S. St. Paul +Bauer, Geo. Deerwood +Bawman, Mrs. J. N. Bricelyn +Bawman, Wm. Hayfield +Bathke, Fred 496 Aurora Ave., St. Paul +Bass, Mrs. G. Willis 1811 Bryant No., Mpls. +Bayle, P. J. Grand Marais +Bell, F. W. Hopkins +Becker, E. W. Excelsior +Becker, J. C. Adrian +Bell, F. J. Winona +Beatty, L. R. Orr +Beaver, H. M. Lake Park +Bemis, V. E. Inkster, N. D. +Beise, Geo. W. Morris +Beckman, J. F. 310 Webster Ave., St. Paul +Behrems, W. F. New Richmond, Wis. +Bena, Lincoln A. R. 2, Hopkins +Bell, J. F. Wayzata +Bechtel, Esler E. 125 Cedar St., Hibbing +Beck, C. J. 462 High Forest St., Winona +Belzer, F. L. Glasgow, Mont. +Benjamin, J. F. Hutchinson +Berger, Geo. Arlington +Berry, Frank Stillwater +Berthelsen, Christ Albert Lea +Berglund, Robt. Kensington +Berg, H. S. Clarkfield +Benson, A. O. Forest Service, Mont. +Benton, Henry W. Sec. Bk. Bldg., Mpls. +Berghold, Rev. Alexander Mooskirchen Steiermarck, Austria +Bennett, C. A. Granite Falls +Bernhardt, Thos. J. 815 Fidelity Bldg., Duluth +Bend, C. M. Commerce Bldg., St. Paul +Benson, Harry 4410 33rd Ave. So., Mpls. +Bergh, Otto I. Grand Rapids +Benner, T. W. No. St. Paul +Bergstrand, H. 915 E. Lawson St., St. Paul +Bernardy, Peter Taunton +Berg, Arthur, 953 German Ave., W. St. Paul +Bergstrom, N. A. 114 So. 18th Ave., E. Duluth +Benson, Andrew Jackson +Benson, Frank Stephen +Bennett, S. M. Drake, N. D. +Bergreen, Leslie Clarkfield +Bethke, H. Franklin +Betchwars, Frank Jordan +Bessette, F. W. Orr +Betzold, R. A. R. 1, St. Paul +Best, H. G. Faribault +Bayard, P. C. 2366 Carter Ave., St. Paul +Baumhofer, Earl F. R. 3, Box 40, Hopkins +Bates, J. H. 710 Somerset Blk., Winnipeg, Man. +Bawden, Mrs. J. 831 W. 7th St., Duluth +Bauer, Edward Cove +Bayly, Mrs. J. W. 2419 E. 2nd St., Duluth +Benke, Albert Dent +Berlin, A. N. Crystal Lake, Ill. +Berkner, Alfred Sleepy Eye, Ill. +Bender, Louis Wheaton +Berstrand, Dr. J. G. Menahga +Bergman, Mrs. Wm. Comfrey +Berdahl, A. A. Gernmell +Biermann, Henry Glencoe +Bisanz, Rudolph 1505 E. 24th St., Mpls. +Bickert, W. J. Washburn, N. D. +Biggs, S. Elizabeth Fairmount, N. D. +Bisbee, Clinton West Sumner, Me. +Bierwirth, Paul 1021 Winslow Ave., W. St. Paul +Billings, H. H. Pine Island +Bixly, Henry N. Richville +Bimebsero, W. A. Hinton, Ia. +Bittner, Geo. J. R. 2, Winona +Bill, Ambrose 984 Gorman Ave., W. St. Paul +Bjornlie, Thorwald Madison +Bjornberg, G. J. Willmar +Bjeldanes, N. H. Madison +Blaker, Rev. C. D. 4420 Grimes Ave., Mpls. +Blakestad, L Lyle +Blackmore, Hon. J. C. Christchurch, N. Z. +Bluhm, A. G. Biscay +Blessing, David S. 4 N. Court St., Harrisburg, Pa. +Black, G. D. Independence, Ia. +Blomberg, Fred Crosby +Blair, D. L. Winnebago +Blodgett, Mrs. H. A. 856 Fairmount Ave., St. Paul +Bloomer, Ed Sherburn +Blombeck, Alfred Eagle Bend +Blodgett, Mrs. F. S. 330 W. 3rd St., St. Paul +Blase, Fred So. St. Paul +Blackstad, Rudolph St. James +Blaker, M. H. Palmyra, N. Y. +Blood, Oscar F. Worthington +Bly, C. W. Osakis +Blair, Frank D. 26 Court House, Mpls. +Blodgett, P. L. 2913 Emerson So., Mpls. +Blazing, G. M. Deer River +Bjork, Fred Buffalo +Bjorge, Henry O. Lake Park +Bjordal, Einar Wild Rice, N. D. +Bosshard, Herman Moorhead +Boardman, Mrs. H. A 1336 River Blvd., St. Paul +Bollmann, Paul Balaton +Boline, J. A. Clarissa +Boelk, Ferd Lansing +Bock, John Wabasso +Born, Otto G. So. St. Paul +Bongie, Louis Bradley St. Sta., St. Paul +Bofferding, W. H. 1423 N. Emerson, Mpls. +Boeglin, Louis Park Greenhouses, 38th & Bryant, Mpls. +Borland, Robt. Excelsior +Boll, Jos. St. Bonifacius +Bondeson, Wm. Walnut Grove +Bodreen, Chas. J. Stillwater, R. 1, Box 6 +Bottenmiller, L. H. Bertha +Bondhus, Thos. Storden +Bothun, B. E. Thief River Falls +Borreseh, Rev. Father Caledonia +Borning, B. J. Echo, R. 2 +Borgendale, H. L. Madison +Boman, A. 2018 W. Supr. St., Duluth +Boone, C. L. Care of Chase Bros. Co., Rochester, N.Y. +Borchardt, A. W. Bellingham +Booth, Wm. Eagle Bend +Bosin, Mrs. F. W. Rapidan +Borgerding, John Freeport +Boraas, Julius 1319 E. Franklin, Mpls. +Boche, Herman H. Sunfish Rd. and Butler Ave., W. St. Paul +Botsford, F. P. Gilbert +Boerger, Wm. A. St. Cloud +Bowman, Dr. F. C. 119 6th Ave. W., Duluth +Boyington, Mrs. R. P. Nemadji +Bove, Peter St. F, R. 4, Mpls. +Boyd, J. B. Willmar +Bowen, Walter S. 347 Wabasha St., St. Paul +Boysen, P. B. Steen +Bozja, Rev. Vincent Morgan +Boyd, Montelle M. Stephen +Boyum, Iver A. Northfield +Bourduas, Frank 933 So. Robert St., W. St. Paul +Bowman, Mary Rothsay +Boxlang, Mrs. B. J. Kenyon +Boysen, Dr. Pelican Rapids +Boyd, Byron Long Prairie +Bovay, Arthur G. Lakefield +Boswell, L. R. Mpls. Paper Co., Mpls. +Brandt, P. C. Morris +Brandt, P. A. Erskine +Brand, A. M. Faribault +Bradrud, Albert Spring Valley +Braden, Mrs. Chas. E. 450 McKnight Bldg., Mpls. +Brakke, Albert Wild Rice, N.D. +Bradley, Geo. J. Norwood +Bradbury, W. W. 1724 E. 3rd St., Duluth +Brander, Mrs. J. R. 3, Hopkins +Brabetz, N. F. 915 3rd Ave. So., Mpls. +Brawnell, T. G. Grand Meadow +Bratan, F. M. Grand Meadow +Bray, N. J. Hovland +Bradford, F. H. Farmington +Bradley, Wm. Montpelier, N. D. +Brainard, Harold Turtle River +Bradley, Wilson Deerwood +Brevig, A. L. Starbuck +Briggs, H. W. Sanborn +Briggs, Geo. A. St. Peter +Bremer, John Lake City +Bringmeier, Fred J. Cass Lake +Brevig, C. L. Starbuck +Breyer, P. P. 3318 4th St. No., Mpls. +Brierley, Prof. W. D. Univ. Farm, St. Paul +Bren, Daniel Hopkins +Bredvold, Martin Greenbush +Bren, Rev. Jos. Hopkins +Brinkmann, Henry W. Glencoe +Breening, H. C. Balaton +Bremer, Leslie Cannon Falls +Brimeyer, H. Slayton +Brewer, I. C. St. Charles +Bren, Adolph Hopkins +Brewer, W. W. Orisko, N. D. +Bren, Geo. J. Hopkins +Bren, Jos. S. Hopkins +Bren, Frank E. Hopkins +Brinkman, Wm. 407 Erie St., St. Paul +Breide, Fred Deer River +Brown, Frank Paynesville +Brown, Mrs. G. T. 646 Hague Ave., St. Paul +Broberg, Peter New London +Broman, Aug. Atwater +Brunkow, Chas. A. Delano +Brown, Aug. Winthrop +Broden, Gust A. Murdock +Brown, H. A. Brownsdale +Brown, John A. Windom +Brummer, Henry W. Renville +Bruns, Henry Excelsior +Brooks, W. W. Long Prairie +Brogren, Olof Willmar +Brownlie, J. Roy Care of Flathead Natl. Bk., + Kalispell, Mont. +Brodalen, H. A. Pelican Rapids +Brown, A. F. 2120 Como Ave., W. St. Paul +Brown, Clarence Z. 610 N. Y. Life, Mpls. +Brown, Mrs. G. W. St. Louis Park +Brown, Chas. G. Paynesville +Broman, Axel Milaca +Broker, Mrs. H. A. Collegeville +Brodalen, G. A. Ottosen, Iowa +Brumpton, Wm. Shevlin +Bugbie, A. E. Paynesville +Buchanan, D. P. Shoshone, Cal. +Buhler, E. O. Capitol, St. Paul +Bue, Thos. 3138 22nd Ave. S., Mpls. +Buehler, John G. 434 Main St. N. E., Mpls. +Buchloz, Aug. Osseo +Bull, M. Royal Crown Soap Co., Winnipeg, Man. +Bull, Geo. N. 4116 8th St. W., Calgary, Alta. +Bullard, W. H. 95 E. 6th St., St. Paul +Buol, Peter Wabasha +Buckeye, J. Lakefield +Bunn, T. H. Pine Island +Brombach, Jos. 3010 15th Ave. So., Mpls. +Brown, R. A. Lakefield +Brown, Rev. Geo. W. Wilson, Wis. +Brown, Clarence J. 629 Sec. Bk. Bldg., Mpls. +Brown, Mrs. J. F. 2412 Garfield, So., Mpls. +Brooker, H. W. Sauk Center +Burkee, John A. Roseau +Burnette, W. J. 1405 Como Ave. S. E., Mpls. +Burow, W. P. La Crescent +Burns, Mark. Cass Lake +Burfield, Geo. E. Shevlin +Burns, Chris Cass Lake +Burke, T. J. Bemidji +Burrows, Mrs. A. L., Box 355, White Bear +Burbeck, E. W. 106 E. Winona St., Duluth +Burquist, A. E. Lindstrom +Burnett, John Torrey Bldg., Duluth +Burns, John J. Hopkins +Burkhard, Miss L. S. White Bear Lake +Burness, B. 328 Security Bk. Bldg., Mpls. +Burch, Edward P. 1729 James So., Mpls. +Burch, Frank E. 754 Linwood Place, St. Paul +Busch, Fred Lyndale Ave. S. and 50th St., Mpls. +Bussey, L. M. 1814 Hamline Ave. S. E., Mpls. +Buttrud, Mrs. J. H. 51 Luverne Ave., Mpls. +Busch, Bernh. Lyndale Ave. S. and 50th St., Mpls. +Buth & Co., W. F. 298 Univ. Ave., St. Paul +Butterfield, F. J. Long Lake +Bussey, W. H. 511 Beacon St., Mpls. +Bute, Chas M. R. 4, Jackson +Bush, O. D. Barron, Wis. +Byrnes, Dr. W. J. 207 Masonic Temple, Mpls. +Bye, C. M. New Brighton +Bye, J. T. R. 1, New Brighton +Byrne, Mrs. M. E. 6544 Fafayette Ave., Chicago +Cairns, Miss Gertrude M. Ellsworth, Wis. +Cant, W. A. Duluth +Campbell, E. R. Excelsior +Carniff, Mrs. Laura J. 185 W. Brompton St., W. St. Paul +Canning, Richard Orchard Gardens, Mpls. +Cadoo, H.T. 988 Gorman Ave., W. St. Paul +Campbell, Mrs. B. B. Sta. F., Mpls. +Cadwell, B. D. Hastings, Box 295 +Callahan, John St. Charles +Campbell, H. E. H. Willmar +Cameron, John A. 2503 Lyndale No., Mpls. +Campbell, D. G. 959 26th Ave. N.E., Mpls. +Cady, E. N. Lewiston +Cannon, Mrs. Newton Superior, Wis., 1517 John Ave. +Campbell, Mrs. H. A. 55 E. 4th St., St. Paul +Carlson, C. H. Fertile +Carmen, C. A. Hankinson, N. D. +Carruthers, J. T. Willmar +Carlson, And. Grandy +Carey, Geo. W. Lidgerwood, N.D. +Carlson, C. W. Mound +Carpenter, F. H. 121 W. Franklin, Mpls. +Carlson, John Care of Carlson & Hasslen, Ortonville +Carnahan, E. J. Longville +Carter, A. N. Howard Lake +Carlson, Mrs. Wm. 6005 London R., Duluth +Carpenter, M. B. Hotel Aberdeen, St. Paul +Carlson, Peter Mohall, N. D. +Carlson, J. A. 3410 18th Ave. S., Mpls. +Carlson, Rev. C. W. 711 10th Ave. So., Mpls. +Carlson, John Kimball +Carlson, Oscar 2739 15th Ave. S., Mpls. +Carlson, Axel Manhattan Bldg., Fergus Falls +Carll, Norman Waltham +Carlson, G. D. R. 2, Buffalo +Carlson, Janas R. 2, Esmond, N. D. +Cary, H. E. Jenkins +Carey, Mrs. F. R. R. 2, Robbinsdale +Carr, M. J. 682 Stryker Ave., St. Paul +Carver, J. 2312 17th Ave. So., Mpls. +Carlson, Mrs. Jno. R. 3, Hopkins +Carribou, Farris Twig +Carlson, G. C. Tower +Carlson, J. 3402 Cedar Ave So., Mpls. +Catlin, T. J., M.D. Palisade +Cash, W. H. H. New Lisbon, Wis. +Case, L. S. 1413 Merc. Natl. Bank Bldg., St. Paul +Cedergren. E. A. Lindstrom +Cecil, R. E. Gen. Del., McKeesport, Pa. +Cecka, John Lonsdale +Charlson, S. Dennison +Chamberlain, V. M. Spring Valley +Chalberg, Chas. Kandiyohi +Chapman, C. P. Dent +Chatfield, Mrs. E. C. Mound +Chase, Jas. J. Farmington +Chamberlain, W. D. Albert Lea +Chapman, Ed. A. Redwood Falls +Chamberlain, Louis M. 54th St. and Pillsbury, Mpls. +Charlton, R. 2049 Robinson, Regina, Sask. +Chapman, Sidney 158 E. Haskel St., W. St. Paul +Charvat, Frank Brocket, N. D. +Chapman, R. W. Plainview +Chase, Mrs. A. G. Faribault +Chaffee, H. L. Amenia, N. D. +Chamber of Commerce Brainerd +Cheney, W. H. Olivia +Christopherson, K. O. Zumbrota +Christopherson, Chris Camden Place, Mpls. +Cherney, J. W. Winslow and Arion Sts., W. St. Paul +Chrystoph, John 525 2d St., Hudson, Wis. +Chrudinsky, Mrs. Robt. J. Lakewood +Chinn, W. P. Care Ella Mine, Gilbert +Chinlund, H. A. 13th & S. Park St., Red Wing +Cheyney, Prof. E. G. Univ. Farm, St. Paul +Chute, L. P. Chute Bldg., Mpls. +Cheney, Mrs. W. B. 4237 Washburn Ave., Mpls. +Christman, W. F. 3804 5th Ave. S., Mpls. +Christiansen, Peder C. Dagoner, Mont. +Christenson, Chris R. 3, Box 39, Albert Lea +Chradle, Mrs. W. E. Cleveland +Chermack, W. R. Hopkins +Christie, R. G. Canby +Cherveny, John J. Zimmerman +Chelmen, B. E. Georgeville +Christenson, Abraham Deerwood +Christenson, C. G. Deerwood +Christopherson, Chas. G. 4116 45th Ave. S., Mpls. +Cherveny, Joe Zimmerman +Christenson, Miss Nancy Mandan, N. D. +Chemak, Otto R. 1, Hopkins +Christian, Jas. Sherburn +Christensen, M. 951 Goff Ave., W. St. Paul +Christensen, Aug. Little Falls +Cherry, M. M. N. St. Paul +Cinkl, Albert Blooming Prairie +Child, F. S. R. 1, Hopkins +Christy Color Printing + Eng., Inc. 179 St. Paul St., Rochester, N.Y. +Clemons, L. A. Storm Lake, Ia. +Clarkson, Stewart F. St. Charles +Clausen, P. Albert Lea +Cleator, Frederic W. Forest Service, Republic, Wash. +Cleator, W. P. 1400 Wash. Ave. N., Mpls. +Clark, Mrs. A. Y. Box 237, White Bear +Clague, Frank Redwood Falls +Clark, R. J. Eden Prairie +Clementsen, Nels Fertile +Clausen, T. A. Lakeshore Greenhouses, Albert Lea +Clark, Geo. S. 27 5th Ave. S., St. Cloud +Clement, C. C. Mosier, Oregon +Clapp, Edw. S. 770 Hamline Ave., N. St. Paul +Clark, Jas. Williams +Clark, Newell E. 5030 Emerson S., Mpls. +Clark, E. E. Eden Prairie +Clark, H. B. Pine Island +Clausen, Hans Sleepy Eye +Clum, Miss K. M. R. 4, St. Paul +Clark, D. F. 2110 Bryant S., Mpls. +Cleveland, Henry 603 15th Ave. E., Duluth +Colling, Jas. H. Inkster, N. D. +Coffin, W. F. Homer +Converse, T. R. Stillwater +Constance, Wm. Hopkins +Colburn, Otis L. Excelsior +Congdon, John S. R. 5, Box 83 Fort Collins, Colo. +Colb, John F. 3442 20th Ave. S., Mpls. +Coffin, E. C. 2449 Garfield Ave., Mpls. +Colban, Walter H. 307 4th Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. +Coffman, G. W. Wadena +Conrad, Maud A. Montevideo +Congdon, J. W. 2620 Blaisdell, Mpls. +Colburn, G. B. R. 6, St. Cloud +Conklin, Marion Jamestown, N. D. +Coffron, Geo. Box 74, Biwabik +Cole, Geo. Penturen +Conners, J. B. Hibbing +Collins, J. C. Mound +Cocker, Walter Lanesboro +Colby, F. L. Enfield, N. H. +Conrad, Emil R.R., Collis +Commandros, Tom Golden Rule Floral Dept., St. Paul +Colman, I. W. 519 11th Ave. S.E., Mpls. +Coleman, D. A. R. 2, Aitkin +Constance, Geo. I. Cumberland, Wis. +Coffey, Mrs. J. A. Jamestown, N. D. +Cobb, E. R. 175 E. Winona St., Duluth +Cook, A. D. 225 Kasota Blk., Mpls. +Corser, Fred 615 James N., Mpls. +Cornwell, E. C. Minnesota City +Cornell, T. H. 815 Fidelity Bldg., Duluth +Cornetinson, C. O. Watson +Cook, Geo. Menahga +Cooper, Mrs. D. H. Winnipeg, Man. +Cook, Geo. H. Care Golden Rule, Red Wing +Cook, E. W. Cleveland +Corwin, Ellis Cove +Cornwell, L. L. Pine Island +Cornell Univ. Library Ithaca, N.Y. +Crowe, W. H. Osakis +Crowell, Dr. I. G. Shell Lake, Wis. +Cramer, Dr. Geo. P. 686 Syndicate Bldg., Mpls. +Cross, Mrs. Jane Sauk Rapids +Crooks, Mrs. John S. 803 Commerce Bldg., St. Paul +Crooks, John S. 803 Commerce Bldg., St. Paul +Crocker, F. E. Morgan +Crossett, C. N. Faribault +Cuzner, E. A. Univ. Ave. & 13th St. S.E., Mpls. +Cutting, S. Carnegie, Man. +Cummings, Geo. W. R. 3, Box 118, Mpls. +Currie, W. A. 816 Summit Ave., Mpls. +Cutler, W. R. Claremont, S. D. +Cutler, John Glencoe +Custer, C. C. Howard Lake +Custer, Orrin O. Cokato +Curtis, J. W. G. 810 Globe Bldg., St. Paul +Cummins, Miss Beatrice Barnum +Cutting, M. C. Care "The Farmer," St. Paul +Curran, Dr. F. 2612 13th Ave. S., Mpls. +Cushing, Luther S. Osceola, Wis. +Cowles, F. J. West Concord +Coultas, R. W. Worthington +Cote, L. Grasston +Covington, Thos. E. 1793 Ashland Ave., St. Paul +Countryman, A. D. Appleton +Countryman, Mrs. M. L. 218 S. Avon St., St. Paul +Coy, Sherman L. Cloquet +Cox, Wm. T. Capitol, St. Paul +Cowling, C. N. 184 W. Robie St., St. Paul +Courtney, M. J. Glencoe +Cowling, Mrs. Chas. N. 184 W. Robie St., St. Paul +Cox, L. A. 436 Syndicate Blk., Mpls. +Cox, Hanford Ely +Court, Harry Warroad +Crassweller, Arthur 4230 E. Superior St., Duluth +Cramer, Fred Mapleton +Crane, R. E. Grand Meadow +Crafts, Robt. H. Mound +Crane, W. I. 810 Buch St., New York +Crabtree, Mack H. Mott, N. D. +Crewe, Percy S. Mohall, N. D. +Crandall, H. H. Morristown +Crane, Benj. W. Spring Valley + +Dahl, Louis D. Atwater +Dablen, O. E. Albert Lea +Dahl, F. A. Chisago City +Danielson, Solomon Rothsay +Dale, O. G. Madison +Dahlheimer, Frank Anoka +Dahl, H. P. Isanti +Dalzell, W. E. Hinckley +Daily, D. 2508 17th Ave. S., Mpls. +Daniel, T. W. Care M. Thorson, R. 1, Wayzata +Dahl, H. M. 929 Central Ave., Red Wing +Dahlquist, C. A. Popple +Dalberg, Mrs. A. O. Amery, Wis. +Dangers, Fred Sleepy Eye +Dahl, Mrs. A. O. 490 W. 4th St., Superior, Wis. +Daigle, A. A. Forest Lake +Danzl, Jos. J. Melrose +Day, Stephen Northfield +Davison, A. H. State House, Des Moines, Ia. +Darling, Dr. C. H. 697 Endicott Arcade, St. Paul +Davis, L. G. Sleepy Eye +Davis, H. H. Placeville, Cal. +Davis & Ferree Waukee, Iowa +Darrow, Geo. M. Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, D.C. +Davenport, W. R. Dennison +Davis, T. A. Esmond, N. D. +Dasher, C. A. Buffalo Lake +Deline, W. F. Cannon Falls +Decker, J. S. Austin +DeLong, T. R. Halliday +DeForest, Geo. Owatonna +DeCamp, J. L. Eureka +Deighton, C. H. 902 Wolvin Bldg., Duluth +Denson, W. A. Hasty +Deatharage, Mrs. Robt. 2428 Portland Ave., Mpls. +Deebach, Herman 364 Maple St., St. Paul +Deebach, E. A. Dayton Bluff Sta., St. Paul +DeLameter, Mrs. J. 4920 Morgan Ave. N., Mpls. +Dempsey, Thos. St. Peter +Dean, Harold Care Thorpe Bros., Andrus Bldg., Mpls. +DeSmidt, A. A. Battle Lake +Desmond, W. 3501 Portland Ave., Mpls. +Derickson, G. P. 238 W. Franklin Ave., Mpls. +DePuy, A. C. Park Rapids +DeWolf, Mrs. D. F. 654 Hague Ave., St. Paul +Dexter, Mrs. W. K. Mound +Devore, F. J. 972 S. Robert St., St. Paul +Deplages, N. J. R. 2, York, N.D. +Dept. of Agric. Ottawa, Out. +Diethelm, M. Victoria +Dittbenner, R. C. Sleepy Eye +Dickenson, W. C. Anoka +Dixon, Jas. K. Box 6, North St. Paul +Dille, Peter O. Dassel +Dike, Henry B. Hotel Berkeley, Mpls. +Dill, Joe Victoria +Distad, O. O. Hayfield +Dickinson, Sherman 3127 4th Ave. S., Mpls. +Dittmer, Gus Augusta, Wis. +Dillman, A. C. Newell, S. D. +Dispatch Prtg. Co., + C. F. Blandin, Mgr., St. Paul +Dickey, Mrs. Agnes T. Esmond, N. D. +Dixon, Dr. Frank Mora +District Insp. of + Forest Reserve Winnipeg, Man. +Dill, Albert St. Bonifacius +Dobbin, J. J. Excelsior +Doll, P. J. 2303 Bryant Ave. N., Mpls. +Dockham, A. T. Eagle Bend +Dodge, Clayton J. Moose Lake +Dobbin, W. J. Excelsior +Dodge, E. J. Hector +Doerfler, Jos. 1919 Fillmore St. N.E., Mpls. +Dodgson, Sam Clearwater +Dobble, Mrs. Edwin 1385 Raymond Ave., St. Paul +Dodge, Ben Mankato +Dobbs, David E. Indus +Donaldson, Mrs. W. N. 216 Palmett Ave., Duluth +Dodson, T. R. Nashwauk +Dominican Fathers 18th Ave. and 24th St., Mpls. +Doring, Rev. F. M. Rogers +Dowler, W. A. Fort Williams, Ont. +Dorr, W. F. 1132 Lbr. Ex., Mpls. +Doyle, W. J. Fern Ave. and Lake St., St. Louis Park +Dorland, W. H. Dayton Bluff Sta., R. 4, St. Paul +Downing, W. J. Ronneby, R. 2 +Downing, Lloyd St. Charles +Doories, Mrs. A. Fridley +Down, J. J. 303 Medical Blk., Mpls. +Douglas, W. B. 805 Commerce Bldg., St. Paul +Drake, Mrs. H. T. 435 Portland Ave., St. Paul +Drisko, Mrs. E. M. 3913 Garfield, Mpls. +Dreuttel, Albert Cleveland +Drebert, Alexander F. 1769 Iglehart Ave., St. Paul +Dtessely, L. J. Gatzke +Durand, Albert Waseca +Dunn, John W. G. 1033 Lincoln Ave., St. Paul +Dunn, W. W. 2143 Princeton Ave., St. Paul +Dubbelis, Joe Lincoln +Dunning, Dr. A. W. 803 Lowry Bldg., St. Paul +Dunning, Frank Anoka +Dunsmore, Dr. F. A. 100 Andrus Bldg, Mpls. +Duel, Robt. Sauk Center +Duesterhoeft, Adolph 1021 Hall Ave., W. St. Paul +Dunn, A. C. Duluth +Duncan, Alvin Redwood Falls +Dvorak, John Hopkins +Dubbels, Chas. W. Viola +Dunbar, S. J. Elkhorn, Wis. +Dunlop, W. B. 2013 Waverly Ave., Duluth +Dvorak, Frank Montgomery +Dunsmore, Thos. Danube +Dvorak, Alley Hopkins, R. 3 +Duerr, Dr. W. P. Lake City +Durham, Sabin Grygla +Dybig, Nursery Colton, N. D. +Dysinger, S. D. 24 W. 5th St., St. Paul +Dykema, Ben Raymond +Dyer, C. H. 2824 10th Ave. S., Mpls. + +Eastgate, J. E. Larimore, N. D. +Earle, C. E. Park Rapids +Earney, Andrew 2617 Western Ave., Seattle, Wash. +Eberhart, A. L. Austin +Ebersperger, Mrs. 2008 Girard N., Mpls. +Eckenbeck, S. C. Appleton +Eckberg, Aug. Winthrop +Edlund, E. Detroit +Eddy, C. T. R. 4, Willmar +Edson, W. D. Libby +Eddy, Vernon Hyland Sta. N., Mpls. +Edwards, Frank Gilbert +Edden, G. St. Croix Falls, Wis. +Edgerton, Mrs. E. A. 2720 Bryant So., Mpls. +Edwards, O. T. Grand Meadow +Edny, F. S. Goodthunder +Effertz, Peter Norwood +Egnell, A. Howard Lake +Eisengraler, Dr. G. A. Granite Falls +Eidem, P. C. Clarkfield +Eisenach, W. L. Aitkin +Eklund, P. A. Willmar +Ekelund, C. A. Hopkins +Ellison, F. H. Linden Falls, R. 2, Mpls. +Elliott, W. J. Albertville +Ellingson, S. Sta. F., R. 4, Mpls. +Elstrom, F. O. Atwater +Elliott, P. P. Grand Rapids +Elwell, J. T. 945 14th S.E., Mpls. +Elliott, Miss Martha R. Stillwater, R. No. 5 +Ellison, Miss Sabra Sta. F, R. 2, Linden Falls, Mpls. +Elliott, H. J. Hopkins, R. 3 +Elofson, J. S. Hasty +Elsenpeter, H. J. Buffalo +Elgren, Mrs. Harry Red Top +Ely, Dr. Jas. O. Winnetka, Ill. +Eliason, Alfred J. Corrall, R. 2 +Ellingson, G. T. 2315 W. 10th St., Duluth +Ellis, G. C. West Salem, Wis. +Ehler, Geo. 880 Euclid St., St. Paul +Emmans, N. H. 1736 James Ave. S., Mpls. +Emberland, John 1989 Selby Ave., St. Paul +Empy, Clarence L. Eureka +Emerson, Byron T. 4314 Grimes Ave., Mpls. +Emerson, John H. 1114 Argyle St., St. Paul +Endsley, P. M. Minneapolis +Engel, Rev. Peter 1456 Leland Ave., Chicago, Ill. +Engel, Rev. Peter Collegeville +Engleson, I. J. Montevideo +Engman, A. E. Hallock, R. 1, Box 47 +Englestad, Louisa Thief River Falls, R. 3 +English, Mrs. C. E. 2691 Lake of Isles Blvd., Mpls. +Engen, Gilbert A. Finley, N. D., R. 1 +Emerson, A. F. Grand Portage +Engel, A. W. Esmond, N. D. +Enroth, A. L. Orr +Erwin, D. A. Waseca +Erkel, F. C. Rockford +Erickson, Oliver Atwater +Erne, F. X. 887 Goff Ave., St. Paul +Erikson, E. D. Wegdahl +Erikson, John W. Aitkin +Erikson, C. O. Watson, Box 182 +Erb, E. C. Red Wing +Erling, Frank, Jr. 37 W. Belvidere St., W. St. Paul +Essig, Aug. Sanborn +Essene, Mrs. Anna 3421 Longfellow Ave., Mpls. +Eshelby, E. C. 400 Shubert Bldg., St. Paul +Escher, Sam'l C. Slayton +Erickson, A. B. 114 Mill St., N., Fergus Falls +Erickson, Chas. Northland +Erickson, Wm. M. Courthouse, Red Wing +Erickson, Emil H. R. 2, Maynard +Erickson, L. W. 4541 35th Ave. S., Mpls. +Erickson, Oscar Dalton +Erickson, K. A. Pequot +Erickson, May 2522 10th Ave. S., Mpls. +Evans, John L. 424 2nd Ave. E., Duluth +Everett, Mrs. G. W. Waseca +Ewing, A. L. River Falls, Wis. +Ewald, Julius Cumberland, Wis. +Ewing, Prof. Jas. Northfield +Cecil, E. E. McKeesport, Pa., Gen. Del. + +Fairfax, Mrs. J. F. 4869 S. Aldrich, Mpls. +Faehn, F. J. Wallace, S. D. +Fagerlie, I. F. Clarkfield +Fabian, Edwin 1914 Jefferson Ave., St. Paul +Fabian, Norman J. St. Paul Park +Fairchild, D. L. 500 Lonsdale Bldg., Duluth +Fabel, P. H. Buffalo Lake +Fairchild, Mrs. D. L. Tamarack +Fairfield, Chas. R. 1313 4th Ave. S., Mpls. +Fairchild. L. G. Shevlin +Farrar, F. F. White Bear +Farmer, C. R. Ada +Fanning, Miss Mary 756 E. 6th St., St. Paul +Farmer, E. A. Sta. F., R. 2, Mpls. +Farrell, D. H. New London, R. 2 +Farel, Chas. A. Buffalo +Farcier, Peter Buffalo Lake +Farcier, V. E. Stewart +Faurat, F. S. 816 5th Ave. S.E., Mpls. +Farnham, Jas. M. St. Cloud, 503 St. German St. +Farrar, O. R. Albert Lea, R. 4, Box 14 +Featherston, S. T. Red Wing +Ferodowill, F. X. Wayzata +Felland, Prof. O. G. Northfield +Feleen, Nels N. Willmar +Fergerson, W. C. Litchfield +Feesl, Vinz. Cor. Winslow & Arion, St. Paul +Fell, Henry Janesville, R. 6 +Fesenbeck, J. A. Cloquet +Featherstone, J. S. Hastings +Fieske, C. A. Sleepy Eye +Finch, Mrs. Mary Care Duluth-News Tribune, Duluth +Fisher, Thos. A. Waverly Hotel, Mpls. +Fitzer, Chas. Robbinsdale +Fink, Christian Waconia +Fisher, Geo. A. 221 1st St. N., Mpls. +Finke, E. H. Spring Valley +Finkle, Miss Kate 2760 W. River Blvd., Mpls. +Finke, E. R. Waterville +Fischer, W. C. Linden Hills Sta., R. 3, Mpls. +Fitzer, H. Luverne +Fish, L. L. Wayzata, R. 2 +Finstad, Jos. 1014 Edgerston St., St. Paul +Fiedler, Mike J. Dent +Fisher, Walter I. 2432 Girard So., Mpls. +Fisher, F. J. Buffalo Lake +Finnegan, Pat Thorp, Wis. +Fjelde, G. J. Madison +Flint, H. R. Dubois, Wyo. +Flagstad, J. Sacred Heart +Flint, Henry W. R. 4, Box 125, Tacoma, Wash. +Flood, E. J. Newman Grove, Neb. +Floreen, Swan Constance +Flygare, Hans H. Atwater +Flynn, A. E. 978 Allen Ave., St. Paul +Flath, Jos. A. R. 28, Plymouth, Wis. +Fletcher, Mrs. F. S. 3148 Irving So., Mpls. +Flyen, Henry Dawson +Flint, P. P. Osakis +Ford, F. H. Maple Plain, R. No. 3 +Ford, A. J. New Rockford, N. D. +Folden, P. Rollag, R. No. 2 +Foss, Elizabeth H. 501 E. River Blvd., Mpls. +Forest Supervisor Ely +Forest Supervisor Cass Lake +Foerster, Fred E. 766 Rondo St., St. Paul +Foley, T. H. Manchester +Folske, Otto H. 132 W. Lucy St., W. St. Paul +Fordyce, G. W. Newport +Foster, I. D. Sandsone +Fox, O. A. 1914 Lincoln Ave., St. Paul +Foster, Mrs. Mary D. Foley +Forsam, Albert Madison +Forbes, B. W. 231 W. Winona St., Duluth +Fritcher, C. E. Hancock +Frye, P. H. Willmar +Freeman, Gust E. Red Wing +Freeman, C. H. Zumbrota +Frydholm, Martin Albert Lea +Fredrickson, Wm. Perley +Frank, Albert D. Wood Lake +Frederickson, C. A. Elk River, R. 3, Box 65 +Freese, F. M. Bemidji +Froshaug, David Albee, S. D. +Freeman, Mrs. H. G. St. Louis Park +France, L. V. 2309 Priscello Sta., St. Paul +Frazier, T. F. Cloquet, 1116 Cloquet Ave. +Fryer, Willis E. Mantorville +Franzel Bros. 850 Laurel Ave., St. Paul +Franklin, Mrs. Anna J. R. 1, Box 47, Fridley +Frey, Math. Taunton +Frey, Frank Taunton +Fratke, Julius Pemberton +French, W. L. Austin +Freeman, Nels Scanlon +Fraling, Rev. J. Stephen +Froslan, Peder H. Flaxville, Mont. +Frederickson, P. B. Davenport, N. D. +Fruske, K. A. Brooten +Freeman, Edmund Park Rapids +Frazer, P. C. Pelican Rapids +Frazer, H. E. Pelican Rapids +Frey, Mrs. Frank St. Peter +Frink, Mrs. E. L. Faribault +Frey, Aug. J. 1519 E. 2nd St., Duluth +Fraund, Mrs. S. 73 Western Ave. N., St. Paul +Fuller, E. D. 3421 Longfellow S., Mpls. +Fuller, F. E. Deerwood +Fuller, H. M. Deerwood +Fulcrut, S. G. Goodhue, R. 5, St. Paul +Fuhrman, John Albany +Fuller, E. E. 204 W. Winona St., Duluth +Fuller, Mrs. C. A. Hopkins, R. 1 +Fyfe, H. L. Drake, N. D. + +Galloway, J. E. Austin +Gammell, Dr. H. W. Madison +Galle, A. C. Madison +Galletin, John M. 887 Gorman Ave. W., St. Paul +Gaida, N. A. Holdingford +Gafke, R. J. Woodstock, Ill. +Gallagher, John Amery, Wis. +Gallion, Orville Opstead +Gastfield, A. F. Victor, Mont., R. 1, Box 210 +Garlick, Eva E. Janesville +Gaspard, J. P. Caledonia +Gates, L. D. Winnebago +Garlough, A. L. White Bear, R. 1 +Gaylord, L. E. 981 Pacific Ave., St. Paul +Ganzer, Mrs. John Como Phelan, St. Paul +Garvey, Chas. H. 4453 Lyndale So., Mpls. +Gardner, Franc E. 1704 Humboldt Bldg., Chicago, Ill. +Garrott, Jane Bald Eagle, White Bear, care D. Keefe +Gates, Stephen Hopkins, R. No. 3 +Gantzer, Daniel Merriam Park, R. 1 +Garber, M. J. Dent +Garand, Dr. J. H. Dayton +Gates, J. M. Pickwick +Gesner, Frank 397 Brimhall St., St. Paul +Gerdsen, Henry Waconia +Gearty, T. G. Robbinsdale +Gessner, Oscar Forest Lake, R. 2 +George, E. S. Graetlinger, Ia. +Germond, Miss M. 413 Exchange Bldg., Duluth +Gerten, Frank L. South St. Paul +Gerlach, Mrs. A. F. 1262 Dayton, St. Paul +Gerber, A. H. 1594 Portland Ave., St. Paul +Gerrish, Harry E. 822 Plymouth Bldg., Mpls. +Gerhard, Ray C. 2712 So. Bryant, Mpls. +Gembo, Elmer J. Wayzata +Gerdes, Chas. 1916 Dupont So., Mpls. +Gerhard, Gergen Cannon Falls +George, R. R. Hopkins +Germond, W. H. 3009 Nic. Ave., Mpls. +Gertsmann, Frank Morgan +Getty, D. C. Mapleton +Gibbs, Miss Ida W. Merriam Park, R. No. 1, Box 107 +Gibbs, A. B. Tower +Gibbs, M. L. Echo, R. No. 2 +Gibson, Thos. 1907 Waverly Ave., Duluth +Gimmestad, M. O. Belview +Gippe, Miss Louise Watson +Gile, Mrs. S. A. 3136 Irving S., Mpls. +Ginter, E. W. Stewartville +Gillespie, May E. R. 1, Linden Hills, Mpls. +Gilby, Jas. 3204 16th Ave. S., Mpls. +Gillespie, Miss Anna 2528 38th Ave. S., Mpls. +Gillespie, I. H. R. 1, Box 55, Anoka +Gipson, E. H. Faribault +Gjerset, Oluf Montevideo +Glyer, Alfred Forest Lake +Glaspell, Bernard Jamestown, N. D. +Glessner, Mrs. Frank 3840 Sheridan Ave. S., Mpls. +Glenzke, Louis M. Glen Lake via Hopkins +Glass, Walter River Falls, Wis. +Goodman, D. E. Faribault +Goldsmith, Mrs. H. Cleveland +Goelz, Mike Brooten +Goltz, John Havana, N. D. +Goldberg, B. M. 2418 E. 3rd St., Duluth +Gooch, H. I. 3808 Woodland Ave., Duluth +Goetz, Edgar A. 2186 Doswell Ave., St. Paul +Gould, Mrs. Edward 2644 Humboldt S., Mpls. +Gormley, J. 2727 Taylor St. N.E., Mpls. +Gordon, W. A. 627 2nd Ave. S., Mpls. +Gowdy, Louis 3751 Aldrich S., Mpls. +Gough, E. Estevan, Sask. +Gordon, C. H. Owatonna +Goltz, A. L. Balaton +Gotts, Oscar Maple Plain +Gowdy, Miss Chestine Faribault +Goss, Sam Atlantic, Ia. +Grant, L. R. Battle Lake +Gray, Elmer W. 3443 Pleasant Ave., Mpls. +Grandahl, R. L. Red Wing +Graves, D. N. Faribault +Grasselli Chemical Co. St. Paul +Granger, A. H. Correll +Graff, Fred 2501 23rd Ave. S., Mpls. +Grant, Harry C. Faribault +Graham, L. G. 2338 Doswell Ave., St. Paul +Granquist, Chas. 915 W. Abbott St., Stillwater +Gray, N. H. Fergus Falls +Greaza, A. E. R. 4, St. Paul +Gregory, H. Jordan +Green, Wm. Morgan +Greening. C. F. Grand Meadow +Greene, Dr. Chas. L. 324 Summit Ave., St. Paul +Greene, Michael E. 617 Warrent St., St. Paul +Green, F. M. Menahga +Greene, Alfred Grand Meadow +Grettum, Wm. 1417 8th Ave. E., Duluth +Green, John C. 4730 London Rd., Duluth +Gregg, Kenneth 112 Lbr. Exch., Mpls. +Groat, H. G. Anoka +Grimm, Ben 2418 E. 4th St., Duluth +Griswold, A. A. Long Lake +Grosse, E. A. La Moille +Grover, Gust. A. Glyndon +Grunig, A. C. Cloquet +Griesgraber, Jos. 86 W. Morton, W. St. Paul +Groff, N. S. West Side Sta., R. 1, W. St. Paul +Griese, E. T. Hibbing +Griffith, Edith 1307 4th Ave. S., Mpls. +Gruhlke, Wm. H. Jackson +Grier, Hazelton 1938 Robbyn Ave., Merriam Park +Gronna, A. T. Waterville, Ia. +Gruber, John Lakefield +Grindeland, A. Warren +Gryte, E. K. Ruthton +Grunig, W. R. 225 Av. C, Cloquet +Gunderman, H. Wabasha +Gustafson, Alfred Long Prairie +Gundlach, Miss Carrie M. White Bear +Gustafson, W. H. Montevideo +Gunn, D. M. Grand Rapids +Gustafson, Frank A. Warman +Gustner, E. R. 3, Hopkins +Guthnecht, B. 879 Oakdale Ave. W., St. Paul +Gullette, Albert 2622 Fillmore St. N.E., Mpls. +Gustafson, Chas. R. 3, Duluth +Gunderson, G. Box 127, Webster, S. D. +Gulbranson, R. Thief River Falls +Guthunz, Mrs. W. M. 1637 Hague Ave., St. Paul + +Hakel, Adolph Silver Lake +Hadley, Emerson 123 Farrington, St. Paul +Hagen, L. E. Fountain +Haack, Chas. E. Mound +Haakenson, Hjalmer Boyd +Hagen, F. A. Lake City +Hage, Paul J. Hanska +Haecker, Prof. F. L. Exp. Sta., St. Paul +Haas, Rev. L. 5115 9th St., St. Paul +Haines, M. T. 177 Woodland Ave., Fairmont +Hager, John 613 Van Buren, St. Paul +Haeg, Mrs. E. H. R. 1, Sta. F, Mpls. +Hackett, J. E. 187 Malcolm Ave. S.E., Mpls. +Hahn, M. D. Amiret +Haglund, O. N. Eastwood +Hagen, Severt Waseca +Hagnie, Donald 707 Fairmount Ave., St. Paul +Haining, John. A. Brookston +Haering, J. J. Jordan +Haglund, Mrs. Aug. Red Top +Haglund, Gust. Red Top +Halverson, Alfred Spring Grove +Hall, R. F. New Auburn +Hallstrom, C. O. Box 185, Red Wing +Hall, L. P. Deerwood +Hall, Mrs. C. E. C. 3036 Portland Ave., Mpls. +Hall, T. W. 251 Cham. of Com., Mpls. +Halden, F. E. Mound +Halbert, C. W. 203 Dispatch Bldg., St. Paul +Halverson, L. Shevlin +Halverson, Jacob Delavan +Halvorsen, A. S. Albert Lea +Halvorson, H. S. Brooten +Hall, S. O. 621 Erie St. S. E., Mpls. +Halverson, M. J. Medina, N. D. +Hale, W. H. 1042 McKnight Bldg., Mpls. +Hall, Stanley Grygla +Hammer, F. O. 2144 Princeton St., St. Paul +Hanselman, Jos. 1677 Adrian St., St. Paul +Hanger, Jacob Wyoming +Hanson, N. P. Hutchinson +Hansen, Geo. W. 1104 Doud Ave., Bemidji +Hanson, Henry Graceville +Hanson, Albert T. R. 10, Fergus Falls +Hanson, M. C. Clarkfield +Hanson, Frank W. Box 711, Litchfield +Hanover, R. F. Winona +Hammer, E. A. St. Charles +Hansen, Peter R. 1, Box 35, S. St. Paul +Hanus, Adolph R. 2, Hopkins +Hanlos, Augusta Donaldson, Wis. +Hanson, R. B. Ladysmith, Wis. +Hanna, M. M. D. & I. R. Ry., Duluth +Hamustrom, C. J. New Brighton +Handy, A. M. Granada +Hansen, H. F. Albert Lea +Hansen, Chris Albert Lea +Hanson, Simon J. Dawson +Hanson, Jas. F. Fertile +Hanson, C. L. Fertile +Hammer, M. E. Heiberg +Hanson, L. O. R. 1, Box 68, Red Wing +Hanson, A. L. Ada +Ham, Geo. S. R. 2, Aitkin +Hanson, H. C. Barnum +Hansen, Phil Capitol, St. Paul +Hanson, O. W. New Richland +Hanson, O. M. R. 1, Ulen +Hanson, Ivan Clarissa +Hanford, Arthur 2027 Woodland Ave., Duluth +Harrison, F. M. Glenwood +Harrison, H. W. R. 6, Rochester +Hartman, Frank Iona +Harold, Geo. E. Maiden Rock, Wis. +Harper, J. L. Lock Box 1006, Mpls. +Hartwick, Ole Granite Falls +Harris, A. W. Sleepy Eye +Harseim, Louis B. Aitkin +Hartig, Wm. Hopkins +Harris, W. S. 2449 Pillsbury Ave., Mpls. +Harnden, C. H. Fairmont +Hardwick, Mrs. B. G. 4419 Fremont S., Mpls. +Hastings, C. C. Buffalo +Habison, E. H. 227 Anoka St., Duluth +Harris, Mrs. John 3000 E. 25th St., Mpls. +Hart, Frank Cleveland +Harder, Fred 1044 Winslow Ave., W. St. Paul +Hart, Frank W. Laporte +Harris, Earl Litchfield +Haskins, Geo. Burtrum +Haseltine, Mrs. E. R. Excelsior +Harper, Stanley J. Box 1625, Mpls. +Harris, L. E. Atwater +Harris, Van V. 1723 E. 6th St., Duluth +Hawkins, Mrs. Alice M. 1523 Fremont N., Mpls. +Hathaway, C. E. Northfield +Hawkins, J. S. 1523 Fremont N., Mpls. +Hawkins, John Box 495, Mpls. +Hawkins, Mrs. J. C. Austin +Hawkes, A. S. Waseca +Hatcher, Frank Wayzata +Hatledal, Ole O. Benson +Hawkes, Chas. B. 20 E. 3rd St., St. Paul +Hawkins, G. C. 2913 Fremont S., Mpls. +Hawkes, H. B. Excelsior +Haupt, C. F. 106 Concord St., St. Paul +Hattenberger, Tony Shakopee +Hayden, Chas. Blackduck +Hatcher, Amos Delano +Hawkins, Mrs. G. C. 2913 S. Fremont, Mpls. +Hatcher, Lloyd F. Wayzata +Hauenstein, Mrs. Regina 4428 Aldrich S., Mpls. +Hayes, Chas. H. Clarissa +Hazelton, D. C. Cutler +Haven, G. A. Chatfield +Hayes, Dr. E. W. Browns Valley +Heinemann, R. E. Montevideo +Hegerle, M. H. St. Bonifacius +Heltemez, John Sauk Rapids +Helger, Wm. C. 1955 Portland Ave., St. Paul +Hegland, A. 2018 W. Superior St., Duluth +Helgeson, C. T. Albert Lea +Hellyar, A. B. 1718 Chicago Ave., Mpls. +Heckle, Jos. 976 Bellows St., W. St. Paul +Heller Bros. Albee, S. D. +Heinsohn, Aug. LeSueur +Heck, Geo. J. 418 Rice St., St. Paul +Heier, Herman R. 1, Bertha +Headman, P. W. Henning +Hellerman, Gerhard Melrose +Hellerman, Herman Melrose +Heinrum, Mrs. Hawkon Lake Park +Hector, Chas. J. 1209 E. 2nd St., Duluth +Heins, Geo. N. Box 295, Sleepy Eye +Headline, Francis R. 2, West Concord +Helland, B. J. Clearbrook +Heagy, Ralph 1687 W. Minnehaha St., St. Paul +Healy, Mrs. Reginald J. 2105 Irving S., Mpls. +Heikkila, Oscar Ely +Henze, Jake Lewiston +Henjum, Nels Frost +Henderson, H. G. Lime Springs, Ia. +Hendrickson, M. P. Montevideo +Henry, P. Albert Lea +Henry, Henley & Son 175 Concord St., St. Paul +Henke, Gust. Buffalo Lake +Henkel, Peter Watkins +Henderson, R. L. Brady, Mont. +Hennemann, Dr. H. F. Sauk Center +Henningsen, Walter C. 5208 Chicago Avs., Mpls. +Henjum, Ole Saum +Hener, Willie Leonard, N. D. +Hemphill, Henry Pillager +Hendrickson, Ernest Mahtomedi +Hendrickson, Henry Kratka +Henry, Mrs. M. J. 1895 Iglehart Ave., St. Paul +Hesselgrave, R. V. Winnebago +Hershaug, Ed. Kenyon +Hewitt, Cameron Fond du Lac +Herman, A. C. 1613 Van Buren St., St. Paul +Herscher, Laurence Renville +Hewitt, Adelaide R. 1, Hopkins +Heritage, Wm. Ely +Herman, Jos. R. 2, Box 81, W. St. Paul +Herds, John W. Lonsdale +Hetle, E. Northfield +Heuring, Mat. Rogers +Hilborn, E. C. Valley City, N. D. +Hicks, Wm. C. Cedar +Hidde, Fred Herman +Hillger, Rev. Aug. Rich Valley +Hill, W. W. 146 W. 48th St., Mpls. +Hill, F. C. Albert Lea +Higbie, W. S. Eden Prairie +Highby, L. P. H. Albert Lea +Hillman, Wm. O. 396 Dewey Ave., St. Paul +Hiller, Aric Excelsior +Hibbard, Mrs. C. J. 3806 Sheridan S., Mpls. +Hill, G. E. R. 1, White Bear +Hildebrand, E. W. 967 Galvin Ave., W. St. Paul +Hicks, Fred C. 1022 Court Merrill, Mitchell, S. D. +Hillig, John Morgan +Hidershide, Dr. Geo. N. Arcadia, Wis. +Hintermister, J. H. 202 Dispatch Bldg., St. Paul +Hinckley, C. N. R. 3, Osseo +Hines, Ed., Lbr. Co. Chicago, Ill. +Hitchcock, F. E. 401 Com. Bldg., St. Paul +Hinkle, B. J. Little Falls +Hinckley, C. S. Elbow Lake +Hinras, M. Sleepy Eye +Hislop, Walter 243 Sunfish Rd., W. St. Paul +Hirt, John H. 4430 34th Ave. S., Mpls. +Hjermstad, C. F. Red Wing +Hjermstad, H. L. Red Wing +Hobart, W. P. 4400 Dupont S., Mpls. +Hofmann, E. L. Janesville +Hoffman, Rev. C. Bruno, Sask. +Hoff, J. M. 324 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. +Hofenmeister, Alfons New Ulm +Hoffman, Herman Dent +Hoffman, G. Henderson +Hoffman, L. J. Buffalo +Hoffman, H. R. 526 5th Ave. S., Wausau, Wis. +Hoffman, Mrs. C. S. 2334 Langdon, St. Paul +Hoaglund, Hildur 5th St. S., Willmar +Hoffman, Geo. J. Long Lake +Hobbs, Arnold 610 N. Y. Life Bldg., Mpls. +Holmberg, J. E. Avoca +Holt, John E. Carver +Holmgren, P. O. Hoffman +Holten, John Fertile +Holmberg, J. A. 1241 Edgerton St., St. Paul +Holm, E. P. 20 W. 5th St., St. Paul +Holmes, Mrs. Jos. T. R. 2, Box 17, Northfield +Holt, John Wolverton +Hollingsworth, Ralph 1107 13th Ave. S.E., Mpls. +Holland, Ozra S. R. 1, Winona +Holl, Dr. P. M. 2011 Chicago Ave., Mpls. +Holtimier, John Excelsior +Homan, Frank R. 1, Sauk Rapids +Holasek, Winslow Hopkins +Holmberg, A. R. Renville +Homola, Frank J. R. 2, Hopkins +Holstad, Hans 920 St. Olaf Ave., Northfield +Holm, H. E. Opstead +How, H. Esmond, N. D. +Holst, John R. 1, S. St. Paul +Holbrook, Miss Eleanor B. 5250 Penn Ave. S., Mpls. +Horton, W. H. Alexandria +Hornly, H. C. Cloquet +Hostetter, A. B. Duluth +Hoverstad, A. T. Maynard +Howland, Clinton J. Northfield +Howland, Mrs. Eleanor R. 1, Sta. F, Care E. Landis, Mpls. +Hoss, Mrs. Nick New Ulm +Hoyt, B. T. Hamline & Hoyt Aves., St. Paul +Hove, John I. Northwood, Ia. +Houghtelin, J. M. Chatfield +Howard, Geo. F. 1281 Raymond Ave., St. Paul +Hoyt, Edward Scotch Grove, Ia. +Howe, Peter Kellogg +Houghton, Jas. G. 3129 Clinton Ave., Mpls. +Howlett, Mrs. D. D. R. 5, Oshkosh, Wis. +Horton, Mrs. F. W. R. 1, White Bear +Hosmer, Ralph S. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, N.Y. +Horton, G. L. Litchfield +Hostager, N. A. Zumbrota +Hoslicker, F. S. Tappen, N. D. +Hough, J. S. 500 Northern Crown Bk. Bld., Winnipeg, M. +Howe, T. J. Clark, S. D. +Hoppert, Walter O. R. 1, Bx. 198, W. St. Paul +Hromatka, Joseph Hopkins +Hoover, J. L. R. 2, Kensal, N. D. +Hoyard, W. E. Henderson +Horn, Chas. 244 Lewis St., Duluth +House, Susan M. 201 W. Faribault St., Duluth +Houston, Geo. S. 3833 Thomas Ave., Mpls. +Hoyt, L. H. Fridley +Hoyt, Arthur Fridley +Hoyt, R. A. Lake City +Huestis, Dr. O. M. 400 Central Ave., Mpls. +Huff, Theo. A. Fergus Falls +Huber, Frank Shakopee +Hull, F. H. Brookpark +Hubbell, C. H. 917 Marquette Ave., Mpls. +Hubacheck, Mrs. F. R. Long Lake +Huffman, Mrs. E. J. Nemadji +Huckfield, B. E. 4116 Queen Ave. S., Mpls. +Huber, Rev. A. T. Elbow Lake +Hughes, H. J. Care Farm, Stock & Home, Mpls. +Hughart, H. F. Hamel +Huff, N. L. 1219 7th St. S.E., Mpls. +Hulbert, A. M. Elk River +Huey, W. G. 717 10th Ave. N., Fargo, N. D. +Huff, B. J. Yola +Hultquist, Esther M. Care Gowan-Lenning-Brown, Duluth +Hubbard, W. A. Lake City +Huldal, H. T. R. 1, Wilton +Husser, Henry Minneiska +Hummel, Prof. J. A. 2143 Commonwealth, St. Paul +Hurtt, Wm. Hoople, N. D. +Hundt, G. Tintah +Humphrey, D. A. 3624 Blaisdell, Mpls. +Hushka, Joseph Felton +Hurd, Burton 652 S. Smith Ave., St. Paul +Huyck, E. J. 44th & Central Aves., Mpls. +Huttner, Miss R. 2, Glen Lake, Hopkins +Hybergh, S. Hamel, Minn. +Hynes, John F. R. 1, Moose Lake + +Innes, J. C. Luverne +Ingebrigtsen, Iver J. Fertile +Ingmundson, C. P. 121 2nd Ave. S., Jamestown, N. D. +Ikier, Wm. Vernon Center +Ingram, Carrie E. Sandstone +Isaacson, O. A. Madison +Innis, Geo. S. 1671 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul +Ihfe, Fred 301 W. Brompton St., W. St. Paul +Isensee, A. R. 3, Annandale +Isidore, Mother M. Mankato +Imlach, H. E. Estevan, Sask. +Ingleston, R. F. 703 E. Nebr. Ave., St. Paul +Imdicke, Ben Brooten +Irish, Mrs. Addie Detroit +Irving, John N. S. Park, St. Paul +Ireland, John Shell Lake, Wis. +Ingalk, Boyd Newport +Ingales, Boyd Newport + +Jackson, P. T. 1722 Summit Ave., St. Paul +Janzen, Abr. Mt. Lake +Jackson, Peter Cloquet +Jacobson, P. G. Madison +Jaquith, O. O. Box 114, Pillager +Jacobson, J. F. Madison +Jager, Rev. Francis. St. Bonifacius +Jacobson, Nels Wayzata +Jackson, Jas. Woodstock +Jacobs, Dr. J. C. Willmar +Jacobson, Fred Rushford +Jasmer, Paul A. Winona +James, Dr. A. C. Springfield, Ill. +Jahren, Rev. H. C. M. Grand Meadow +Jaycox, L. I. Woodstock +Jacobson, J. L. Madison +Jarshaw, Sam Madison +Jacobson, J. M. Hills +Jacobson, T. M. Hills +Jaeger, Jos. R. 3, St. Cloud +James, J. Willis 1863 Lincoln Ave., St. Paul +Jackman, C. F. R. 2, Box 7, Esterville, Ia. +Jackson, Geo. R. Manchester, N. H. +Jamison, Robt. Excelsior +Jansen, D. E. Rogers +Jackson, J. F. 216 Lbr. Exch., Mpls. +Jackson, Miss Emma A. 4005 Drexel Blvd., Chicago, Ill. +Jensen, A. P. Box 84, Askov +Jerabek, Mrs. Mary Excelsior +Jensen, Jens A. Rose Creek +Jensen, Adolph 3315 17th Ave. S., Mpls. +Jensen, J. P. Morgan +Jensen, C. M. Albert Lea +Jedlicka, Henry R. 3, Eagle Bend +Jensen, Anton McIntosh +Jenson, Jens H. Box 314, Hudson, Wis. +Jenswald, John Duluth +Jennison, Mrs. Jas. 4224 Fremont S., Mpls. +Jenson, J. A. New London +Jenson, N. A. Willmar +Jensen, J. L. Menomonie, Wis. +Jernberg, J. C. 1724 10th Ave. S., Mpls. +Jensen, L. Clearbrook +Jenson, W. F. Mankato +Jepson, Mrs. J. H. 1323 Fremont N., Mpls. +Johnson, J. P. Miami, Fla. +Johnson, Gust J. Clarissa +Johnson, P. G. 3300 Elliot, Mpls. +Johnson, Dr. A. E. Cloquet +Johnson, E. A. Maple Plain +Johnson, Fred Jarretts +Johnson, L. T. Spring Grove +Johnson, O. B. New Richland +Johnson, P. E. North Branch +Johnson, Arnt R. 2, Viroqua, Wis. +Johnson, Henry V. 614 E. Lawson St., St. Paul +Johnson, A. W. 4405 Pleasant, Mpls. +Johnston, Fred L. 1006 Laurel Ave., St. Paul +Johnson, Jos. T. 1196 Jessie St., St. Paul +Johnson, J. H. Doon, Ia. +Johnson, C. A. R. 1, Box 48, Ogilvie +Johnson, Clyde Bergville +Johnson, Carl G. Little Falls +Johnson, Isaac West Union, Ia. +Johnson, O. W. Hawley +Johnson, Lewis Box 238, Albert Lea +Johnson, A. N. 4512 Drew Ave., Mpls. +Johnson, F. W. Breckenridge +Johnson, L. F. 1014 Bemidji Ave., Bemidji +Johnson, G. G. 1510 E. 6th St., Duluth +Johnson, O. H. R. 5, Box 56, Willmar +Johnson, Chas. Eugene U. of M., Mpls. +Johnson, P. J. 3931 Van Buren St. N.E., Mpls. +Johnson, J. C. 3343 Fillmore St., Mpls. +Johnson, W. W. Detroit +Johnson, C. J. Box 37, Cushing +Johnston, Rodney Maple Plain +Johnson, L. H. Maynard +Johnston, Wm. Eden Prairie +Johnson, Selmer 807 W. College St., Rochester +Johnson, F. W. R. 2, Braham +Johnson, A. W. 1081. Hague Ave., St. Paul +Johnson, Miss Carolyn 760 Linwood Place, St. Paul +Johnson, Andrew R. 3, Box 3, Arnold +Johnson, Henry L. R. 7, Fergus Falls +Johnson, Alphonse E. R. 2, Stephen +Johnson, Mrs. Charley Amery, Wis. +Johnson, John J. Box 17, Naples, S. D. +Johnson, Peter Box 17, Naples, S. D. +Johnson, L. O. E. Butler Ave., St. Paul +Johnson, Roy R. 1, Box 46, Brandon +Johnson, Jos. Fridley +Johnson, S. L. R. 3, Hopkins +Johnson, Geo. Millarton, N. D. +Johnson, Geo. Grygla +Johnson, N. C. South Side Farm, White Bear Lake +Jones, A. C. Duluth +Jorgensen, I. B. Hutchinson +Jones, Thos. C. Russell +Jordin, Aug. New London +Jones, J. Frank Redwood Falls +Jordan, J. J. Shakopee +Jones, G. P. Bagley +Jorgenson, Bros. Clarkfield +Jones, J. S. Madison +Jones, S. J. 3736 Oakland Ave., Mpls. +Jordin, John A. R. 8, Litchfield +Jordan, Wm. Merriam Pk. Sta., St. Paul +Jungbauer, Frank 1000 Winslow Ave., St. Paul +Justin, Edw. J. Excelsior +Juen, Louis 1063 Gorman Ave., W. St. Paul + +Katzner, Rev. Jno. B. Collegeville +Kalbakken, Theo. St. Joseph, Wis. +Kapler, Geo. R. Perham +Kasper, Hans Grand Marais +Kangas, Henry Floodwood +Kaiser, Max Merriam Park Floral Co., St. Paul +Kates, Mrs. Rose Litchfield +Kalmbach, W. A. 302 Wolvin Bldg., Duluth +Kaminsky, Jos. Box 445, Hopkins +Kansal, John 2016 Minnehaha Ave., Mpls. +Kallock, H. H. Oslo +Kallberg, Jens Red Top +Karpisek, Jos. 41 Harrison St., Bellaire, Ohio +Kallestad, C. A. Ruthton +Karsten, Miss Ida C. 432 Adams N.E., Mpls. +Keasling, F. J. Zimmerman +Keith, John A. Cass Lake +Kelley, Elmer Sta. F., R. 1, Mpls. +Kelly, W. J. Claremont, S. D. +Keene, P. L. Mankato +Kelley, Clark W. Devils Lake, N. D. +Kees, A. A. Sta. F, R. 4, Mpls. +Kelley, C. E. 240 E. Belvidere St., St. Paul +Keiper, Chas. 260 Haskell St., W. St. Paul +Keller, Henry Newport +Keist, M. J. 1178 Conway St., St. Paul +Kelley, Frank W. R. 1, Menomonie, Wis. +Ketchum, C. S. Middlefield, Ohio +Keyes, E. A. Excelsior +Kenyon, J. M. Lamberton +Kempe, Peter Red Wing +Kenney, Dr. D. J. 5108 Newton Ave. S., Mpls. +Keyes, Dr. C. R. 705 N. 57th Ave. W., West Duluth +Kenning, T. A. 1815 26th Ave. N., Mpls. +Kenety, W. H. Cloquet Forest & Exp. Sta., Cloquet +Kerker, Mrs. Thos. 730 Aurora Ave., St. Paul +Kendrick, J. W. 1804 Iglehart Ave., St. Paul +Kerns, John Olivia +Kendall, R. S. Loraine, Wis. +Kimball, Rev. J. R. 1, Duluth +Kinkade, W. S. Sioux Falls, S. D. +Kinney, S. G. Faribault +Kirk, Loren O. 716 4th Ave. S., Mpls. +Kirk, E. B. 445 Laurel Ave., St. Paul +Kittson, Norman 1017 Dayton Ave., St. Paul +Kingsley, A. W. Bricelyn +Kinsman, A. N. Austin +Killmer, R. E. Pine City +Kimball, E. L. 604 1st Natl. Bank Bldg., Duluth +Kidd, Mrs. F. E. 1800 2nd Ave. N., Mpls. +Kirkpatrick, K. A. Wayzata +Kirchner & Renich 17 S. 7th St., Mpls. +Kittleson, A. J. Madison +Kirk Sisters Clearwater +King, J. C. 1040 Drexel Bldg., Philadelphia, Pa. +Kinsman, C. D. Austin +Kirby, Mrs. C. A. Heron Lake +Kimball, Miss Grace E. Waltham +Kidder, E. D. Marshall +Kind, Wm. Melrose +Kiger, H. E. Wheaton +Kirkwood, W. P. 1376 Grantham St., St. Paul +Klaksirk, Iver S. Underwood +Klebs, J. C. Bertha +Klebs, F. W. Eagle Bend +Klabunde, Carl Spillville, Ia. +Klodt, Frank R. 2, Staples +Klunschmidt, Wm. F. Morgan +Klucas, J. A. Buffalo Lake +Klindt, Henry Litchfield +Klein, M. H. Caledonia +Klein, Albert R. 1, So. St. Paul +Knight, E. W., 1202 N. 6th St. Estherville, Ia. +Knowles, Mrs. M. A. Sawtelle, Cal. +Knoblauch, W. Excelsior +Knatvold, H. Albert Lea +Knowles, Miss Marjorie 752 Lincoln Ave., St. Paul +Knutson, Fred Albert Lea +Knudson, Jacob Taopi +Knapp, G. A. Deerwood +Knapp, A. W. Mound +Knutson, A. R. Pelican Rapids +Knudtson, Andrew Brandon +Kruggel, Miss Emma L. 2929 Fremont So., Mpls. +Kraut, Emil Lester Prarie +Krause, Chas. Merriam Park +Krekelberg, Henry J. Dent +Krogh, H. P. 1486 Hythe St., St. Paul +Kremer, Geo. F. Grand Rapids +Kroehler, T. J. Houston +Kresta, Matt. Eden, S. D. +Kraus, Geo. McGrath +Korth, Albert Rothsay +Kovar, Wansel Owatonna +Kolisch, Aug. St. Louis Park +Kotouc, Rev. A. St. Leo +Koenig, G. A. Howard Lake +Korth, Aug. Rothsay +Koehler, D. Hector +Kortsad, A. Newfolden +Kochendorfer, K. K. South Park +Kohler, Chas. Winona +Krueger, John R. 6, Stillwater +Krause, Mrs. Chas. R. 1, Merriam Park +Kropp, Chas. O. Wadena +Krueger, B. F. Niagara, N. D. +Kroll, John Lake Benton +Kreiziger, Frank 214 Cole St., Watertown, Wis. +Krincke, Henry 46 W. Gessemini, St. Paul +Kruger, Walter Paynesville +Kunkel, Jos. J. Kimball +Kullander, F. Q. Kensington +Kuhns, A. M. Main & Plum, Red Wing +Kuefler, Mrs. Anton Belgrade +Kuyper, Mrs. John R. 5, Mondovie, Wis. +Kueffner, Otto 63 No. Milton, St. Paul +Kyrklund, C. H. Winthrop +Koza, Jos. 917 Bellows St., W. St. Paul +Koester, John V. 207 Iron Exchange, Mpls. +Koelruck, Gustav Stewart +Kozial, Miss Justine M. R. 3, Little Falls +Koher, A. 133 W. Lucy, W. St. Paul +Koutek, Jos. Butler & Stryker, W. St. Paul +Kolbe, Ed Sleepy Eye +Koerner, Olga 1377 Grantham, St. Paul + +Lamb, C. Sr. Baker +Lumberson, L. Warren +Lahn, Mrs. Geo. Rogers +Lammers, Henry P., Jr. 639 Lafond, St. Paul +Lagerquist, John F. Cushing +Lagerquist, F. W. 701 Elmwood No., Mpls. +Lamson, W. H. Hinckley +Lake, A. F. Shenandoah, Ia. +LaFrance, H. 225 Clifton, Mpls. +Lahiff, Arthur 1412 14th Ave. So., Mpls +Isadone, Rasmus Box 440, Cloquet +Lake, Homer Homer +Lambert, Edward V. Buffalo Lake +Lamphere, Mrs. Chas. Frazee +Laflin, J. C. Williams +Lade, Halstein Fosston +Lake, Shores Hubbard +LaCroix, Wm. Deer River +Langholz, J. A. Newport +Landeen, A. F. Eagle Bend +Larkin, T. H. 217 Ford Bldg., Great Falls, Mont. +Larson, Emil V. Eagle Bend +Laurin, John Renville +Lange, Marie R. Willmar +Larson, J. P. 4th St. E., Willmar +Landscape Architect, + Dept. Pub. Wks. Regina, Sask. +Larsen, Raymond M. 214 Providence Bldg., Duluth +Langlund, Nils Cedarbend +Larson, C. F. Morgan +Larson, L. U. Lowry +Larson, Peter Box 208, Albert Lea +Larson, L. R. 2, St. James +Lane, J. W. Anoka +Langseth, C. C. Worthington +Larson, John Box 25, R. 1, Lafayette +Langford, H. A. Blackduck +Larson, W. E. Madison, Wis. +Landahl, H. Little Falls +Landeene, W. E. Elbow Lake +Larson, Ole H. Hisega, S. D. +Lanes, John O. Dawson +Larson, L. B. St. Louis Park +Lange, L. M. Cass Lake +Lange, G. H. Lake City +Langmaid, Abbie B. Granite Falls +Larson, G. 1013 Winslow Ave., St. Paul +Lauritson, A. Warrendale Greenhouse, Como Park, St. P. +Law, K. B. 2237 Doswell, St. Paul +Lawson, F. E. Goodhue +Latsch, John A. Winona +Lawson, M. H. Ellendale +Lawson, F. L. Welch +Lawrence, Alfred Box 115, Eldridge, N. D. +Lawson, L. P. Isle +Lawton, Chas. 2162 Dayton Ave., St. Paul +Lawrence, Mrs. W. W. 2108 Woodland Ave., Duluth +Latourelle, J. R. 1, Centuria. Wis. +Lawrie, Jas. A. 401 Wolvin Bldg., Duluth +Leiner, Dan'l Morris +Lee, Geo. F. Hanska +Leath, Fred Cleveland +Leavitt, Miss Clara 2015 James So., Mpls. +Leary, D. J. Brown's Valley +Lee, E. G. 1787 Dayton Ave., St. Paul +Lee, Ole N. Hayfield +Lee, Iver A. Neilsville +Leake, Mrs. C. W. No. St. Paul +Lehnerts, Prof. E. H. "U. of M.," Mpls. +LeDue, A. C. 10 No. 12th Ave., Duluth +Leach, A. R. Faribault +Lemieux, Mrs. M. A. Nebr. & Adams St., St. Paul +Lee, Prof. Olav 1115 St. Olaf Ave., Northfield +Leitch, Wm. Columbia Heights, Mpls. +Leath, Mrs. Eleanor Okipee Farm, Linden Hills +Leasman, Geo. W. Hector +Lee, T. K. Benson +Lee, J. A. Benson +Ledvina, Joseph Pine City +Lee, Eddie St. Cloud, Minn., R. 5 +Le Fevre, A. 290 Emerson Ave., W. St. Paul +Leonard, Dr. L. D. 515 Syndicate Blk., Mpls. +Lenz, Rudolph Adrian +Lerol, John A. Whalen +Lewis, A. F. LeRoy +Lewis, Chas. L., Jr. Shell Lake, Wis. +Lewis, Meyer Box 6, Mpls. +Leslie, A. W. 2124 Fremont So., Mpls. +Lenander, Edwin Buffalo Lake +Lewis, Bert Caledonia +Leyde, H. G. Newport +Leyde, G. F. Hewitt +Leonard, Dr. W. E., 408 Donaldson Bldg., Mpls. +Lerch, Bernard, Secy. Carpenters Farmers' Club, Togo +Linden, Harry Belgrade +Lippman, J. C. 1486 Hythe St., St. Paul +Lietze, F. W. Mound +Lieske, Robt. Pequot +Lien, Ole L. Willmar +Lindgren, A. W. 317 Kennilworth Ave., Duluth +Lisler, Mrs. A. M. Grand Rapids +Lippert, A. O. Bertha +Lindsay, J. M. Austin +Lightner, Mrs. W. H. 318 Summit Ave., St. Paul +Lindstrom, John A. J. Lindstrom +Linton, Robt. 1045 Everett Court, St. Anthony Park +Lindsey, Geo. F. 1413 Mer. Natl. Bk. Bldg., St. Paul +Linder, E. A. Warroad +Lieberg, C. F. Clarkfield +Limperich, Henry J. 503 6th Ave. No., St. Cloud +Lindahl, J. A. Harris +Lien, Andy Beaudette +Lichtscheidl, John 627 Univ. Ave., St. Paul +Lien, G. E. Maynard +Lindholm, J. A. E. Glen Lake, Hopkins +Linnell, Mr. J. E. Maple Plain +Lindhe, H. E. Deer River +Lindstam, S. F. St. Louis Park, R. No. 1. +Libby, Merton R. Hopkins, R. No. 2 +Lien, Thos. LeRoy +Livingston, C. B. 267 Bryant No., Mpls. +Linderholm, A. Belgrade +Lindgren, Oscar Princeton, R. 4 +Lippincott, Miss C. H. 3010 Hen. Ave., Mpls. +Lindholm, C. J. 710 42nd Ave. N., Mpls. +Light, C. W. 2339 St. John St., Regina, Sask. +Lilleskov, Leonard Byron +Lievere, B. A. 2910 Johnson St. NE., Mpls. +Lowe, M. F. Buffalo +Loegering, Aug. Long Prairie +Lovold, E. J. 4125 31st Ave. S., Mpls. +Loop, Leeman Dent +Loftman, Oscar Fertile +Lomis, C. P. St. Peter +Logstrom, Reinhold Atwater +Loegering, A. J. St. Peter +Loye, C. C. 3537 19th Ave. S., Mpls. +Lomen, O. O. Decorah, Ia., R. No. 1 +Loss, Bj. Lake City +Loudenback, F. M. Bagley +Lowell, O. S. Buffalo +Lott, K. F. 101 E. 8th St., St. Paul +Lorenz, Otto 1187 Dale, St. Paul +Lorentz, R. H. Howard Lake +Long, Miss Avie 627 Penn Ave., Mpls. +Lonsdale, Miss Persis G. Sauk Rapids +Lobsinger, Anton 738 Cromwell Ave., St. Paul +Lorenzen, Gust. Bagley, R. 2 +Losleben, Rev. A. J. Norwood +Long, Jesse L. 2107 5th Ave. N., Mpls. +Lock, Frank Osseo, R. 1 +Lofgren, Erick Red Top +Lofgren, A. H. Tower +Logan, Frank 701 Kenwood Pkway, Mpls. +Lov, Chas. R. 3, Hopkins +Lovering, Thos. Campbell +Loucks, Chas. H. Mankato +Luchan, H. J. Fertile +Ludlow, H. J. Worthington +Lundholm, Dr. E. M. 677 Univ. Ave., St. Paul +Lundborg, Theo. A. Nisswa +Lund, Geo. Excelsior +Luitjens, A. Clara City +Lucas, Dr. H. E. Champlin +Lubich, Franz River Falls, Wis. +Luitjens, D. G. Hopkins, R. No. 1, care of Chas. Asplund +Lucas, Geo. A. 117 S. 6th St., Mpls. +Lufi, O. C. La Crescent +Lundberg, S. L. Red Wing, No. 1 +Lund, Peter Stillwater, 512 Park Place +Luhman, Henry Howard Lake +Ludwig, Mrs. Frank 1894 Iglehart Ave., St. Paul +Luedloff, Herman Cologne +Luther, Otto Hills +Lunden, H. O. Slayton +Lund, C. F. Maple Plain +Luhmann, J. C. 158 W. Wabasha St., Winona +Lusk, W. F. 1453 Hythe St., St. Paul +Lyness, Chas. E. New Richmond +Lysen, Aug. O. Lowry + +Magnuson, J. E. 107 1st St. SE., St. Cloud +Madison, Geo. C. Newport +Mander, Frank C. 1535 Hastings Ave., St. Paul +Manuel, Dr. K. Janie Masonic Temple, Mpls. +Mace, Florence Duluth +Mace, Clarissa E. Duluth +Maass, Win. H. Waconia +Mahlman, H. W. Plato +MacLennan, R. Grand Rapids +Manchester, Edwin V. Hopkins +Mansfield, Miss C. Mankato +Mace, R. E. 1631 E. 3rd St., Duluth +Maney, Peter, Jr. Grygla +Manz, F. W. Paynesville +Magnuson, Swen Templeton, Cal. +Malmsten, F. W. 2117 Western Ave., Mpls. +Malmberg, E. W. Lafayette +Mahler, Adolph Waseca +Malmquist, G. Wayzata +Malitor, Martin St. Cloud +Malberg, P. B. Thief River Falls +Mahler, C. Fairmont, N. D. +Magnuson, I. E. Willmar +Maddy, Mrs. Emma Annandale +Macnab, J. C. Lombard St., Winnipeg, Can. +Mann, R. T. Excelsior, R. 1 +Malmberg, Chas. A. Lindstrom +Manley, L. B. Torrey Bldg., Duluth +Maher, Howard Devils Lake, N. D. +Maine, M. F. 522 Met. Life Bldg., Mpls. +Magie, Mrs. Frank 1710 London Rd., Duluth +MacDonough, Mary Emerson, N. D. +Mains, T. U. 3805 10th Ave. S., Mpls. +Mailand, C. H. Newport +Manthun, Reinhold Dent +Manuel, R. W. 147 Orlin Ave. SE., Mpls. +Majerns, Math. Brooten +Magnuson, O. J. Isanti +Mareck, Titus 420 Ridgewood Ave., Mpls. +Marshall, Mrs. L. Emogene 3032 Irving So., Mpls. +Martin, F. J. Excelsior +Martens, John 2938 Bloomington Ave. S., Mpls. +Martin, John H. 22 N. 4th St., Mpls. +Marsh, V. P. Big Falls +Mariem, P. B. Daytons Bluff, Sta. F, R. 4, St. Paul +Marthaler, Henry South St. Paul +Martenson, Alfred Maynard, R. 2 +Maruska, John A. New Prague, R. 4, Box 78 +Martin, Grant Redwood Falls +Mathews, Mrs. Jas. H. Larimore, N. D. +Mathisen, Geo. W. Windom +Massee, A. W. Albert Lea +Mayo, E. D. 2808 S. Fremont, Mpls. +Maust, S. H. Canton +Mayman, E. W. Sauk Rapids +Matzke, Sil. So. St. Paul +Mayland, A. W. Albert Lea +Mathison, Thoger St. Paul Park +Mattison, Dr. C. W. Swea City, Ia., Box 201 +Mathes, E. H. Excelsior +Mayman, Hattie A. Sauk Rapids +Mattson, F. Terrace, B. C. +Mayne, Prof. D. D. Univ. Farm, St. Paul +Mason, Joe Long Lake +Mather, O. L. 201 S. 21st Ave. E., Duluth +May, Bernard Stewart +Matzke, H. C. 1925 Jefferson St., Duluth +May, Prof. J. H. River Falls, Wis. +Masson, E. Deerwood +Mathews, Oscar R. Newell, S. D. +Mathews, Miss Harriet 807 W. College St., Rochester +Mattocks, Brewer Jr. 911 Woodland Ave., Duluth +Mawin, Geo. G. Warroad +Mellinger, T. S. Pine Island +Merrill, Geo. E. 4604 Washburn So., Mpls. +Mense, F. G. 3941 Aldrich S. Mpls. +Meeker, Mary K. 2548 Clinton Ave., Mpls. +Meeds, A. D. 2424 Harriet Ave., Mpls. +Meadow Lawn Farm St. Peter, R. No. 2 +Meginess, Fred J. Winona +Merritt, Mrs. John E. Aitkin +Meisinger, Engelb. 1062 Stryker Ave., W. St. Paul +Meelker, Ben Raymond +Mendenhall, W. J. 1212 27th Ave. NE., Mpls. +Mead, P. H. White Bear Lake +Melson, John Deerwood +Merritt, C. H. 519 Woodland Ave., Duluth +Merritt, Neal R. Hinckley +Meyer, Henry Blue Earth +Meyer, J. H. Austin +Meyer, C. H. 774 West Ave., Red Wing +Meyer, Frank Excelsior, R. No. 1 +Mesenbring, Otto Clayton, Wis., care Louis Schmidt +Meyenburg, H. C. Montvideo +Meyer, E. St. Louis Park, R. No. 1 +Meyers, Rev. J. St. James +Miller, W. L. 152 E. 5th St., St. Paul +Metcalf, Dr. F. W. Winton +Meyers, J. E. 515 N. 27th St., Mpls. +Mills, D. L. Lake City +Miks, Rev. A. St. Michael +Mpls. Public Library Mpls. +Miller E. B. Mpls., R. 1, Sta. F. +Milne, H. A. Elmerado, N. D., R. No. 2 +Mighton, S. R. Winnipeg, Man., Box 1393 +Miller, H. J. Cologne +Miner, H. P. 3022 Dupont So., Mpls. +Mix, H. P. Lidgewood, N. D. +Miller, Warren Verdi +Mitchell, D.M. Owatonna +Mitchell, W. B. 508 1st Ave. S., St. Cloud +Minder, Emma Ortonville +Michelson, Nels Austin +Miller, Elbert W. R. 1, Anoka +Mills, L. D. Garden City +Miller, Hans F. P. 501 N. Greeley, Stillwater +Middleton, E. C. Baudette +Miller, T. E. Ely +Mpls. Real Estate Bd. 633 Andrus Bldg., Mpls. +Miller W. L. 152 E. 5th St., St. Paul +Miller, O. A. Rainbow Hotel, Great Falls, Mont. +Miller, S. J. Briarcombe Farm, Winona +Mitchell, Mrs. Harry Halma +Minn. Northern Nurs. Co. 1511 Raymond Ave., St. Paul +Miller, Joseph Hopkins +Miller, Chas. 4539 Morgan No., Mpls. +Miller, Wm. J. Warroad, Box 442 +Miller, Hjalmar S. Lindstrom +Miller, E. Amery, Wis. +Mielke, Geo. Sidney, Mont. +Miller, Henry C. Sauk Center +Mpls. Architectural Club 920 Nic. Ave., Mpls. +Miller, Sarah A. Sauk Rapids +Moehring, Otto Montevideo +Moore, W. M. Forest Service, Santa Barbara, Cal. +Moeser, Ed St. Louis Park +Moore, Mrs. C. F. Worthington +Moberg, Aron Lowry +Moline, E. J. 2622 Henn. Ave., Mpls. +Monson, N. L. Buffalo Lake +Mondeng, Chas. 160 Newton Ave. N. Mpls. +Moeser, Ernest St. Louis Park +Montgomery, Katherine A. Bradley St. Sta., St. Paul, R. 4, Bx. 29 +Montgomery, W. C. Excelsior, R. No. 3 +Moore, John E. Louisville +Moede, H. F. Buffalo Lake +Moody, Geo. W. Amery, Wis. +Moeser, Miss Flora St. Louis Park +Molander, A. L. Bemidji +Moline, Geo. Woodstock +Molenar, John Raymond, R. 2 +Monk, B. B. Minot, N. D. +Moen, A. A. Bemidji, R. 2 +Mojha, Joseph R. No. 1, Lonsdale +Moore, E. V. Eagle Bend +Moen, Albert O. Smithport +Moberg, Oscar Lowry +Moe, P. C. Mentor +Morrison, Rev. J. D. 2131 E. Supr. St., Duluth +Moran, C. B. Newport +Morey, Geo. W. 3606 Van Buren St. NE., Mpls. +Moris, Mrs. F. 180 Rondo St., St. Paul +Morris, John R. Beaudette +Morgan, Benj. H. 712 So. 5th St., Leavensworth, Kan. +Morrill, E. W. Hopkins, R. 1 +Morton, Mrs. E. H. St. Louis Park +Mortz, Aug. Stewart +Morlan, Ogden C. 4628 Colfax S., Mpls. +Mortenson, J. P. New Richland +Moritz, Isaac Hector +Morrison, Mrs. Eugenia Excelsior +Morley, Jas. Wahpeton, N. D. +Morse, John H. 2511 Washburn Ave. S., Mpls. +Morgan, R. M. Howard Lake +Moen, Albert O. Terrace, R. 1, Box 42 +Molsted, C. E. Valley City, N. D. +Moffitt, Mrs. F. L. 508 Univ. Ave. SE., Mpls. +Moses, Mrs. W. S. Wahkon +Motter, J. P. Lamberton +Mousel, Henry Canby +Moss, W. F. Worthington +Mosbjerg, Chr. 216 7th St. N., Mpls. +Moulton, H. R. Windom +Mott, F. R. Hibbing +Moses, J. B. Jackson +Munch, Mrs. E. W. Crookston +Mullen, A. J. Custom House, Mpls. +Mudd, Mrs. Neva Sandstone +Munson, Nels Cokato +Mulqueeneg, Mrs. Jas. Buffalo +Munn, Mrs. M. D. Forest Lake +Mundt, Fred Sunfish Rd., R. 2, W. St. Paul +Mullen, John T. Litchfield +Munsterteiger, Arthur Buffalo +Mulroy, M. F. Brown's Valley +Murray, J. W. Excelsior +Murray, D. L. Blooming Prairie +Murray, Chas. M. Princeton +Musser, R. D. Little Falls +Musser, C. R. 200 Mer. State Bk. Bldg., Muscatine, Ia. +Murphy, Frederick P. Central Lake +Murdock, H. E. 1961 Queen Ave. S, St. Paul +Murray, Mrs. H. J. 812 Osceola Ave., St. Paul +Mutny, John S. Gregory, S. D. +Musil, F. J. Hector +Musil, Rudolph Hector +Murdock, E. C. 405 Scheffman Bldg., St. Paul +Myrah, E. G. Spring Grove +McBroom, J. K. Excelsior +McBride, A. F. 1764 Marshall Ave., St. Paul +McAllister, Geo. E. 2637 Emerson N., Mpls. +McCullough, Francis Mound +McCabe, Mrs. M. Sta. F., Mpls. +McConachie, N. Perham +McCallum, John Clinton, R. No. 1 +McCoy, Dr. Mary 15 W. Supr. St., Duluth +McCabe, W. J. 2125 Abbotsford Ave., Duluth +McCullach, Jas. T. Washburn, N. D. +McClintock, R. G. Willmar +McCaleb, Seth Eyota +McCathy, T. Caledonia +McCabe, M. M. 2328 Roslyn Ave., Duluth +McCall, Geo. W. Fort Williams, Ont. +McCarthy, F. F. 2725 E. 6th St., Duluth +McCormick, Miss Care Geo. H. Rogers, + 2302 Blaisdell Ave., Mpls. +McElroy White Bear, Bx 386 +McDuffee, Herbert S. 2540 3d Ave. S., Mpls. +McFadden, Dr. C. A. 6719 Tioga St., Duluth +McGuire, A. J. Univ. Farm, St. Paul +McGuire, S. H. Annandale +McGonagle, Mrs. W. A. Hunter's Park, Duluth +McGolerick, Bishop, Jas. Duluth +McKusick, Miss Florence M. Stillwater +McKee, Maude L. Hotel Waverly, Mpls. +McMillan, F. G. No. 2, 5th St., SE., Mpls. +McLeod, Neil A. 523 3d Ave. SE., Mpls. +McMahon, J. A. Arago +McLaughlin, Peter Hunter, N. D. +McLarty, Jas. Neche, N. D., R. 2 +McLean, Robt. C. 735 Palace Bldg., Mpls. +McNair, C. I. Cloquet +McNeil, Mrs. Alex Dayton +McQuoid, Jas. Pipestone +McQuire, Mrs. D. F. Hopkins +McPherson, A. K. Walker +McPhail, A. J. Hibbing + +Naslund, Adolph Tower, Bx 1448 +Neils, Julius Cass Lake +Neinabor, Chas. Round Lake +Neal, J. A. P. 604 1st Nat. Bk. Bldg., Duluth +Neilson, A. Mankato +Nelson, C. N. Storden +Nelson, Oscar W. Aitken, R. 2 +Nelson, Chas. F. 1449 Hythe St., St. Anthony Park +Nelson, C. G. Lindstrom +Nelson, F. A. Atwater +Nelson, Hans Fergus Falls +Nelson, Jacob Beltrami +Nelson, Hans Twin Valley +Nelson, C. A. A. Park Rapids, Bx. 206 +Nelson, Peter E. Montevideo +Nelson, Anton Grasston +Nelson, Mrs. Sim. Westbrook +Nelson, Mrs. V. D. 2829 9th St. S., Mpls. +Nelson, C. J. Willmar +Nelson, Hugo C. Hibbing +Nelson, Mrs. Wm. Box 143, Spooner +Nelson, P. J. Clarissa +Nelson, Chas. J. R. 1, Eagle Bend +Nelson, S. R. Owatonna +Nelson, A. N. R. 2, Box 116, Hopkins +Nelson, E. 880 S. Robert St., W. St. Paul +Nelson, Hon. E. M. Fairmount, N. D. +Nelson, E. V. Box 111, Alta Dens, Cal. +Nelson, M. O. 2530 Harriet Ave., Mpls. +Nelson, Andrew Northland +Nelson, Martin R. 1, Hopkins +Nellermoe, F. G. Buffalo Lake +Ness, H. H. 1900 Wash. N., Mpls. +Newland, H. Custom House, Mpls. +Newberg, A. Excelsior +Newell, Wilfred Mayo Farm, Rochester +Newmann, A. H. Sta. F., R. 3, Mpls. +N.Y. State Col. of For. Syracuse, N. Y. +Nesbitt, Mrs. Victoria K. 210 13th Ave. E., Duluth +Neske, Mrs. Albert Waseca +Neudecker, A. S. Clements +Nesdahl, Ole Box 15, Shevlin +Nettleton, C. H. Stockton +Newhall, Mrs. H. F. 2702 Humboldt S., Mpls. +Ness, Gabriel Hannaford, N. D. +N.Y. State Ranger School Wanakena, N. Y. +Nesbitt, Mrs. W. L. 4715 Fremont S., Mpls. +Nelson, Henry Oslo +Nelson, Alfred M. Hector +Nelson, A. M. 5114 Elliot Ave. S., Mpls. +Nelson, A. E. R. 1, Box 81, Felton +Nelson, Geo. H. Hope, Minn., via Owatonna +Nelson, Walter R. 2, Oslo +Nelson, L. M. 2637 17th Ave. S., Mpls. +Nelson, E. M. Fairmount, N. D. +Nelson, Fred S. Maple Plain +Nelson, S. C. Alexandria +Nelsen, Leslie 953 Goff Ave., W. St. Paul +Nelson, Carl A. Cokato +Nelson, John Baudette +Nieman, Chas. Hamburg, Wis. +Niemeyer, C., 487 W. Calif. St., Pasadena, Calif. +Nichols, S. S. 707 Cham. of Com., Mpls. +Nichols, Mrs. C. H. 1920 Palace St., St. Paul +Nielsen, N. Mankato +Nickel, Geo. Reading +Nicol, Henry C. Mail Carrier 30, St. Paul +Nicholson, Mrs. Sam'l J. 5303 Nic. Ave., Mpls. +Noble, A. S. Dent +Norderhus, Paul S. Murdock +Nolte, Henry Duluth +Nordby, Ed. J. Renville +Norval, Wm. Elk River +Nordbye, O. W. Granite Falls +Northern Pine Mfgrs. Assn., Lumber Ex. Minneapolis +Norin, Dr. Frans L. Roseau +Nousse, John 1346 Western No., W. St. Paul +Nordine, John Lake City. +Noble, Fred 287 E. Lucy St., St. Paul +Nowlen, B. E. 2370 Chilcombe Ave., St. Paul +Nordquist, E. D. Evansville +Novak, Frank Lonsdale +Nohava, Mathias Lonsdale +Norton, John Lonsdale +Norberg, Mrs. C. Eastwood +Noehl, Nicholas R. 3, Dassel +Norton, A. W. Cumberland, Wis. +N.W. Nat. Bk. + Information & Pub. Dept., Minneapolis +Nutter, F. H. 710 Sykes Blk., Mpls. +Nydahl, J. L. 715 21st Ave. So., Mpls. +Nygaard, Thos. 953 40th Ave S.E., Mpls. +Nyman, Col. M. R. 1401 1st Ave. So., Mpls. +Nystrom, O. Eastwood +Nysoeu, C. O. Pelican Rapids + +O'Brien Pat Renville +O'Connor, Jas., Jr. Granite Falls +Oberleiter, John Pequot +Oberleiter, Mrs. Maria Pequot +Oberg, Alma Mayer +Olson, S. J. Grand Meadow +Olson, Oscar A. Truman +Olson, Wm. C. R. 2, Maynard +Olson, Ova Boyd +Olson, John A. Boyd +Olson, Chas. R. 2, Lindstrom +Olson, Miss Julia Aitkin +Olson, Geo. W. Carver +Olmstead, Mrs. E. W., 2727 Lake of Isles Blvd., Mpls. +Olsen, Chesta Central +Olsen, Peter Eastwood +Olson, Paul 2538 Taylor St. N.E., Mpls. +Olin, Miss Signe J., 328 No. 60th Ave. W. Duluth +Olson, J. J. Central Lakes +Odell, Mrs. R. R. 2836 Irwing So., Mpls. +Oehring, C. C. Elkader, Ia. +Oesch, Fred Winona +O'Hara, Dr. P. Waverly +Ohr, E. J. Sta. F, R. 3, Mpls. +Ogren, G. C. Cambridge +Oehler, Mrs. Ira C., 1766 St. Claire St. St. Paul +Ogaard, Arthur J. Hettinger, N. D. +Ogroskie, Paul Deer River +Olson, Lewis R. 3, Kalispell, Mont. +Oldenburg, Henry C. Carlton +Olsen, H. P. R. 1, St. Louis Park +Olson, Aug. R. Kennedy +Olson, J. B. Willmar +Oleson, Michael Montevideo +Olson, Mrs. D. W. White Bear +Olson, Peter M. R. 4, Zumbrota +Olmstead, Rett E. Excelsior +Olson, O. E. R. 2, Bx. 92, Braham +Olney, Will Knox, N. D. +Olson, O. J. 20 W. 5th St., St. Paul +Olson, Edwin O. R. 2, Dent +Olson, O. G. Porter +Olson, C. H. Beltrami +Olds, L. Pequot +Ollinger, J. F. Hopkins +Oldenberg, C. J. R. 1, Belle Plain +Olson, Wm. G. Dunnel +Olson, Oluf Burtrum +Olson, Hjalmer C. Bx. 26, Ironwood, Mich. +Olson, Mrs. Otto W. Eagle Bend +Olson, Oscar Orr +Old, Mrs. W. A., 5218 Washburn Ave. S. Minneapolis +Olson, A. H. 912 W. Robert St., St. Paul +Olson, Miss Margaret Wyoming +Olson, Martin Lake City +Olson, C. E. Underwood +Oleson, Cris Cushing, Wis. +Old, Mrs. M. E., 1399 W. Minnehaha St. St. Paul +Oredalen, Ole Kenyon +O'Neill, O. H. 608 Globe Bldg., St. Paul +Opsata, C. Bemidji +Omland, Erik McIntosh +Orr, Grier M. 1040 Laurel Ave., St. Paul +O'Neil, Wm. Cass Lake +Orwell, C. S. Clarkfield +O'Neill, Jas. M. Woodstock +Oram, Martin 3240 16th Ave. S., Mpls. +Orr, Mrs. G. M. 1040 Laurel Ave., St. Paul +Ordway, Mrs. L. P. 523 Portland Ave., St. Paul +O'Meara, Steve LeSueur Center +Omann, M. E. Stewart +Octhoudt, Geo. Eden Prairie +Oppegaard, E. O. Sacred Heart +Oregon Agri. Col. Library Corvallis, Ore. +Orde, G. S. Riverdale Ave., Calgary, Can. +Osborn, John Dassel +Ostern, L. N. Montevideo +Osborne, E. W. 323 B. P. Bldg., St. Paul +Ottis, Frank J. 867 Forest, St. Paul +Osborn, L. M. 3900 Sheridan S., Mpls. +Orsborn, H. E. 2900 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. +Osgood, H. E. St. Paul +Otte, E. W. 821 S. Wabasha St. W. St. Paul +Ostergren, E. A. N. St. Paul +Ostrom, Mrs. C. J. Winthrop +Otosa, A. L. R. 3, St. James +Osborn, Frank H. R. 4, Albert Lea +Otto, W. H. 958 S. Robert St., W. St. Paul +Oswald, Wm. K. 122 10th St., Cloquet +Ott, Adolph R. 2, Granite Falls +Overgaard, P. H. Albert Lea +Ouellette, C. A. 904 Arkwright St., St. Paul +Owens, John 4452 Xerxes Ave. S., Mpls. +Overn, A. V. Albert Lea +Owens, John Cook + +Pabody, Mrs. E. F. 69 11th St. S., Mpls. +Palzer, Casper Mazeppa +Paine, F. W. 706 Sellwood Bldg., Duluth +Palmer, Ezra Paynesville +Palmer, S. E. Browerville +Palke, Stephan Bryant, Wis. +Parman, E. A. Hudson, Wis. +Partridge, H. C. Owatonna +Parker, C. W. Valley River, Man. +Parsons, John B. Fergus Falls +Parks, W. S. Thorp, Wis. +Parsons, Frank Maple Plain +Parker, Percy W. Dispatch Bldg., St. Paul +Partridge, Van B. Owatonna +Parks, Mrs. Walter Airlie +Parker, Vern Pine Island +Parks, Robt. Shell Lake, Wis. +Parker, F. M. Garden City +Parker, Ira J. Waverly Hotel, Mpls. +Patten, J. W. Long Lake +Patience, J. C. Little Falls +Passmore, Miss C. W. R. 2, Box 14, Hopkins +Paup, F. O. Sherburn +Paterson, J. F. South Shore, White Bear +Patterson, M. T. Ellendale +Patterson, Mrs. J. O. 2814 James Ave. N., Mpls. +Passehl, Fred R. 1, Montrose +Peerless Rubber Mfg. Co. 555 Pierce Bldg., St. Louis, Mo. +Peck, Mrs. E. W. Orchard Gardens, Savage +Pentney, E. H. Manitou +Peabody, Lloyd 645 Delavan Ave., St. Paul +Peck, C. W. Redwood Falls +Perl, H. J. 1029 Iglehart St., St. Paul +Pearce, G. A. 3418 Allendale Ave., Duluth +Peabody, F. C. Merrifield +Peck, Harold J. Deer River +Perry, Mrs. Gentz Amery, Wis. +Perkins, T. L. R. 3, Red Wing +Pervogal, H. J. 30 S. Clintworth St., St. Paul +Pegenholf, Edward Maple Plain +Pegenholf, John Maple Plain +Peil, L. L. 121 N. P. Bldg., St. Paul +Perkins, Paul H. 250 20th Ave. N., Mpls. +Peck, Chas. Washburn, Wis. +Peiffer, N. J. Al. Eden Valley +Penney, John Cushing, Wis. +Penning, Martin New Ulm +Pederson, P. A. Beardsley +Pengilly, Jas. R. 1, Osseo +Perry, P. H. Excelsior +Perkins, Thos. Race Track, Mont. +Peek, C. M. Eureka +Pedersen, A. W. Comfrey +Pellet, F. A. Akeley +Peachy, Mrs. Chas. Austin +Pearson, Hjalmer R. 1, Welch +Perkins, Alfred 1780 Wakefield Ave., St. Paul +Penney, A. W. Stacyville, Ia. +Peavey, L. J. R. 1, Osseo +Pennington, E. 317 2nd Ave. S., Mpls. +Peake, G. W. Univ. Farm, St. Paul +Perkins, Mrs. W. F. 2426 Crystal Lake Ave., Mpls. +Peck, C. C. Munsing, Mich. +Pevy, E. P. Clearbrook +Pederson, F. W. 1705 Lincoln Ave., St. Paul +Peterson, Alvin Astoria, S. D. +Peterson, Jos. Lake Crystal +Peterson, P. H. Atwater +Peterson, C. O. Willmar +Peterson, Carl F. Storden +Peterson, F. J. Waconia +Peterson, O. M. Albert Lea +Peterson, R. Waldo Canby +Pew, Fremont C. R. 5, Mankato +Peterson, Hans 3901 Van Buren St. N.E., Mpls. +Peterson, Fred Albert Lea +Peterson, L. E. R. 1, Stanchfield +Peter, Justus Cor. Smith Ave. & Annapolis St., St. Paul +Peterson, Jas. Blooming Prairie +Peterson, Aug. 916 W. Maple St., Stillwater +Peterson, John P. Aldrich +Peterson, Chas. J. R. 2. Burtrum +Peterson, Linder Box 103, Bessemer, Mich. +Peterson, Mrs. C. A. 312 Everett Ave., Everett, Wash. +Peterson, Axel Excelsior +Peterson, F. W. 812 6th Ave. S. E., Mpls. +Peterson, Peter Ruthton +Peterriens, J. P. Echo +Peterson, Oscar Buffalo +Petry, Arthur C. 1102 Pacific St., St. Paul +Peterson, Mrs. Martin R. 2, Kintyre, N. D. +Peterson, J. 887 Gorman Ave., W. St. Paul +Peterson, A. E. 3844 10th Ave. S., Mpls. +Peterson, J. H. R. 1, Holdingford +Pettengell, Ben Saum +Peterson, Chas. J. Maynard +Peterson, J. H. Fort Ripley +Peterson, Hjalmar Box 561, Buffalo +Peterson, Spurgeon Hayfield +Peterson, Mrs. Victoria Eastwood +Peterson, H. C. Sleepy Eye +Peterson, Thos. 322 E. 3rd St., Duluth +Pfister, J. M. Marietta +Pfaender, Wm., J. New Ulm +Pfeiffer, C. A. R. 1, Winona +Pfeiffer, Fred Morton +Pfaender, Walter C. New Ulm +Pfeiffer, Mrs. C. E. Winona +Phillips, H. Fort Williams, West Ont. +Pineo, Dr. W. B. 507 Pillsbury Bldg., Mpls. +Pimley, A. E. Park Rapids +Pinkerton, S. W. 1430 Capitol Ave. St. Paul +Pischner, August R. 8, Mankato +Pickatta, Martin Stewart +Pierce, E. B. 138 Seymour Ave. S.E., Mpls. +Piringer, Frank 176 W. Bernard St., W. St. Paul +Picha, John L. New Prague +Pickle, Julia L. St. Croix Falls, Wis. +Pierce, Mrs. Baxter Ashland, Mont. +Pierce, P. P. 816 Delaware St., Mpls. +Peterson, Peter Deer River +Peters, H. P. Glenwood +Platten, Will J. 218 Oakland Ave., Green Bay, Wis. +Pladsen, Emil Milaca +Plank, Mrs. Josephine Hopkins +Plan, Chas. Enver Grove +Plotner, Oscar Saum +Platten, H. J. 419 Dousman St., Green Bay, Wis. +Plainview Public Library Plainview +Pond, E. R. R. 3, Mpls. +Poppler, John Frazee +Pond, D. S. Sta. F, R. 3, Mpls. +Porter, J. N. 2947 Girard N., Mpls. +Popelka, J. J. Ogilvie +Porter, Amos Lake Benton +Potts, Chas. W. Deerwood +Poole, W. A. Forest River, N. D. +Poore, Hamlin V. Bird Island +Pommer, Mrs. Geo. 4311 Garfield Ave. S., Mpls. +Poirier, L. S. 240 Lewis St., Duluth +Pollack, Mrs. Robt. 5321 Avondale St., Duluth +Pomije, Rev. H. D. Olivia +Potter, A. H. 2847 Irving Ave. S., Mpls. +Poussin, G. W. Onigum +Powers, Frank W. 2816 Garfield Ave., Mpls. +Powell, F. W. Willmar +Posz, L. A. Winona +Potter, N. C. Hector +Powell, J. L. Pillager +Poseley, H. E. Cove +Powers, Prof. Wm. H. Agri. College, Brookings, S.D. +Potter, B. F. S. 4400 Nokomis Ave., Mpls. +Poucher, Thos. S. N. St. Paul +Potter, W. L. Raymond +Posivis, John Sherburne +Prentice, Chas. D. R. 4, Highwood, St. Paul +Prosser, L. W. LeRoy +Prentice, S. L. Winona +Pratt, Dr. C. C. Imanuel Hospital, Mankato +Price, Mrs. W. L. Excelsior +Preston, C. A. Hastings +Pruett, Elmer W. Ely +Premo, Alex 106 E. Annapolis, W. St. Paul +Primus, John Melrose +Pritchard, Robt. M. Box 186, Hibbing +Prohl, John 3409 Traverse, Duluth +Prinzing, D. S. Rushford +Prime, F. G. R. 1, Wayzata +Prest, Miss Marion 1713 Summit Ave., St. Paul +Prodoehl, H. R. Olivia +Probstfield, Mrs. Edmund Moorhead +Prova, Mrs. Harry Kelliher +Probett, Miss Ida 1917 Stevens Ave., Mpls. +Prescott, Mrs. E. 337 E. Jessamine St., St. Paul +Preisler, O. S. S. St. Paul +Ptacek, C. J. Long Prairie +Putnam, S. T. Battle Lake +Public Library St. Paul +Public Library Winnipeg, Man. +Purdy, C. E. Lake St. W. & Excelsior Ave., Mpls. +Purdham, C. W. R. 2, Osseo +Puffer, H. M. 26th St. & 32nd Ave. S., Mpls. +Putnam, R. W. Care Bank Pierce-Simmons, Red Wing +Punderson, J. M. Northfield +Pumper, Thos. A. Lonsdale +Pudil, Jas. Hopkins +Pugh, Mrs. Dana V. 109 Howell St., Duluth +Putman, W. L. Pelican Rapids + +Quale, G. E. Willmar +Quam, O. T. Nerstrand +Quinn, Mrs. J. J. 4042 Wentworth Ave. S., Mpls. +Quist, Wm. R. 6, Red Wing +Quinn, J. H. Delano +Quady. Wm. Blue Earth +Quast, John Buffalo Lake +Quigly, D. J. Litchfield +Quandt, Wm. Buffalo Lake +Quinlan, M. New Prague +Quinn, J. A. Tower + +Rains, Dr. J. M. Willmar +Rankin, Prof. A. W. 916 5th St. S.E., Mpls. +Ramsdell, Chas. H. 812 N.Y. Life Bldg., Mpls. +Rafelson, Anton Montevideo +Ramey, E. W. Redwood Falls +Ray, F. W. 959 40th Ave. N.E., Mpls. +Ralston, Dr. J. F. Cavalier, N. D. +Ramm, E. A. Winona +Raths & Seavolt 447 Wabasha St., St. Paul +Rand, B. R. Frazee +Rauscher, John 673 Bidwell St., St. Paul +Raub, Clark Winnebago +Sahlfing, W. M. Cleveland +Rarig, Prof. F. M. 63 Barton Ave. S.E., Mpls. +Rauen, Mrs. P. J. White Bear +Raddatz, Arthur Pine Island +Rathlisberger, Chas. Slayton +Ranney, H. F. Benson +Raftery, W. H. Garrison, N. D. +Reeder, G. S. Sauk Rapids +Reed, John A. 707 Cham. of Com., Mpls. +Rees, S. B., Jr. Linden Hills, R. 2, Mpls. +Reeves, N. H. 3410 2nd St. N., Mpls. +Reeves, Mrs. John Nemadji +Reed, Calvin Care M. J. Johnson, Manning, N. D. +Reese, L. A. Cumberland, Wis. +Redpath, Geo. A. Big Sandy, Mont. +Rector, S. M. Deer Creek +Reeves, E. M. Waverly, Ia. +Regnier, E. 1640 Montreal, St. Paul +Ree, Selmer S. R. 1, Zumbrota +Reeves, Mrs. H. G. Nemadji +Reamer, J. L. 1921 Greysolon Rd., Duluth +Reed, M. H. Hastings +Rehbein, Ed R. 3, Duluth +Reinking, Wm. Osseo +Rekedal, S. E. Lucan +Reichert, John 215 E. 7th St., Red Wing +Reno, Nils Excelsior +Revord, T. A. Austin +Renner, Max St. Louis Park, Minn. +Remel, Casper Menomonie, Wis. +Reynolds, M. N. Turtle River +Reif, Geo. H. White Bear +Remsker, Rev. Peter Canby +Reiland, Wm. R. 1, Box 10, W. St. Paul +Rempel, Henry D. Mountain Lake +Renney, S. E. 2636 Pillsbury, Mpls. +Reinhardt, S. H. R. 3, Merriam Park +Reynolds, J. W. Kelliher +Reiten, Lars S. Hastings, N. D. +Reynolds, Virginia A. 232 W. Franklin, Mpls. +Rekkedal, Ole Minneota +Reynolds, John Crystal Bay +Reithner, C. W. Deer River +Rhodes, Clarence H. The Pioneer Co., 3rd & Minn. St., St. Paul +Richardson, Ira E. New Brighton +Richardson, L. P. Comfrey +Riehl, Frank Belle Plaine +Richardson, A. W. Howard Lake +Rieke, Adolph Fairfax +Rice, F. C. Northfield +Rice, L. H. Park Rapids +Rice, C. F. 218 N. 5th St., Mpls. +Rice, Millard Box No. 66, Berg, N. D. +Richardson, Jerry Hastings +Rice, Mrs. E. V. Dayton +Riden, T. E. Shevlin +Rieger, Rev. M. Hinckley +Richardson, A. O. Menahga +Riegel, J. M. Care Dispatch Ptg. Co., St. Paul +Richards, J. W. 6029 London Rd., Duluth +Richardson, H. C. 729 E. 6th St., Duluth +Rice, H. J. Benson +Richards, Mrs. Frank A. 1879 Dayton Ave., St. Paul +Richardson, W. D. Care Swift & Co., Chicago +Rink, Mrs. M. 894 Hastings Ave., St. Paul +Risser, H. A. R. 2, Hopkins +Rittle, Miss Anna E. 409 Marshall Ave., St. Paul +Rittmaster, Harry 934 Allen St. W. St. Paul +Ritchell, Wm. Sta. A., Minneapolis +Ritchell, Mrs. Frank H. 3364 Hayes St. N.E., Mpls. +Rising, Marion S. 787 Laurel Ave., St. Paul +Risch, John Elkton, S. D. +Ritchie, J. H. R. 2, White Bear Lake +Rimstad, Ludvik Dawson +Rindahl, C. L. Oklee +Ritt, A. 401 Sinnen St., St. Paul +Risk, Miss Mary M. R. 1, Adams, Wis. +Risdale, P. S. Am. For. Assn., Washington, D. C. +Robinson, Geo. W. 699 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul +Robinson, Chas. A. 4633 S. Xerxes Ave., Mpls. +Robbins, H. M. Excelsior +Robson, C. A. Red Wing +Robertson, John Hot Springs, S. D. +Roads & Forests 1406 Majestic Bldg., Detroit +Roberts, C. M. 139 W. 40th St., Minneapolis +Roberts, Miss Emma M. 14 E. 51st St., Mpls. +Rogers, C. R. St. Anthony Falls Sta., Mpls. +Rodgers, Dr. Emma White Bear +Roe, C. E. 412 Providence Bldg., Duluth +Rodecker, L. V. Gladstone +Rohan, Mrs. M. A. 1004 Nicollet Ave., Mpls. +Rockhill, Harlow Conrad, Ia. +Rognlie, P. B. Esmond, N. D. +Rogers, Mrs. Geo. N., 462 E. King St., Winona +Roke, Rev. W. E. Verndale +Roe, Fredrik Madison +Rogers, T. C. 409 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. +Rodenberg, Henry Mindora, Wis. +Rogers, H. N. Farmington +Rojina, Frank Univ. Farm, St. Paul +Rockhill, Oscar Larchwood, Ia. +Roche, Wm. Inkster, N. D. +Rowell, H. H. S. Box 223 Lewiston, Idaho +Ross, Norman M. Indian Head, Sask. +Rosenwald, J. F. Madison +Rosander, J. W. Wayzata +Rosacker, Hans 19th Ave. and H. St. N. E. Mpls. +Rolin, John Breckenridge +Rowe, John Verndale +Rosenquist, Mrs. J. O. 3216 Blaisdell Ave., Mpls. +Rosenquist, Edwin Eagle Bend +Ronnigen, Otto Madison +Rossacker, Hans 1856 Stinson Blvd., Mpls. +Rowley, J. A. Blooming Prairie +Rokes, G. B. Woodstock +Rosenberger, Peter 1003 Stryker Ave, St. Paul +Rowe, Dr. A. T. Larimore, N. D. +Rotty, Mrs. Clara R. 2, Hastings +Rotty, John Sr. R. 2, Hastings +Rowse, And. Simpson +Rolvaag, Prof. O. E. Manitou Ave., Northfield +Rosengren, Carl Sacred Heart +Rovang, O. N. Dalton +Rowe, W. H. St. James +Rosholt, Mrs. Julius 1925 Penn Ave., Mpls. +Rosenstein, David 118 Washington Ave., Mpls. +Rowell, W. W. 3224 2nd Ave. S., Mpls. +Rose, Logan Mankato +Runals, Maj. D. E. Edgerton +Ruff, Mrs. D. W. C. Bald Eagle Lake +Rupley, Geo. 612 Lyceum Bldg., Duluth +Russell, Dr. E. B. Excelsior +Ruble, C. H. Albert Lea +Russell, S. B. Rochester +Reudlinger, C. N. 2924 Aldrich Ave., Mpls. +Rucker, I. W. Aitkin +Russell, Dr. Thos. Grand Rapids +Running, Alvin Montevideo +Rutherford, Geo. Clara City +Rusten, Erland J. Box 25, R. 4, Beresford, S. D. +Ruble, Harry E. Albert Lea +Russell, Hans Warroad +Rush, John H. Buffalo Lake +Rue, E. B. Lakefield +Rue, B. O. Lakefield +Ruttger, Jos. Deerwood +Rustin, J. O. Kelliher +Ruenitz, Nis Sleepy Eye +Rude, T. A. 320 3rd Ave. S., St. Paul +Ruth, S. S. Deer River +Rust, C. R. 1517 E. Superior St., Duluth +Ryan, Timothy Hopkins +Rysgaard, Jens Orchard Gardens, Savage +Ryan, Geo. L. North St. Paul +Ryden, P. Cambridge + +Salzer, Geo. 606 Plymouth Bldg., Minneapolis +Salbach, F. C. 116 7th St. N., Great Falls, Mont. +Sampson, L. F. Excelsior +Saam, John 835 E. 6th St., St. Paul +Salveson, Rev. Adolph Toronto, S. D. +Salander, G. Donaldson's Greenhouse, Mpls. +Saltnass, A. M. 3712 11th Ave. S., Mpls. +Sabin, Bert Mission +Samuelson, H. R. Box 28, R. 1, Lafayette +Sahlin, Peter Red Top +Samuelson, Fred Eastwood +Sampson, Richard Excelsior +Sand, Ole O. Elbow Lake +Sawyer Mrs. N. S. Excelsior +Sandrock, Wm. Houston +Sayre, R. 108 E. 51st St. Sta., Chicago, Ill. +Sartell, Mrs. Jos. St. Cloud +Sandboe, I. A. Wegdahl +Sane, Peter P. R. 1, Montevideo +Salter, Lewis Morris +Sandberg, C. M. Lake City +Sauter, A. Excelsior +Sands, Louis Agri. School, St. Paul +Sawyer, C. W. 1400 Wash. Ave. N., Mpls. +Sanford, Mort Faribault +Sanborn, Louis 409 Lumber Exchange, Mpls. +Sanderson, Oscar Albert Lea +Satrang, I. I. Waterville, Ia. +Sanders, J. H. Buffalo Lake +Sanby, E. Elbow Lake +Sanborn, Edward A. 1786 Marshall Ave., St. Paul +Saunders, Mrs. Wm. Robbinsdale +Sawyer, L. E. 2538 Fillmore St. N. E., Mpls. +Saxson, C. R. Worthington +Sandberg, John H. Pequot +Saueressig, W. A. Drake, N. D. +Sanford, M. W. Faribault +Scott, Wm. G. R. 4, Winnipeg, Man. +Schlemmer, A. Chisago City +Schotzko, F. E. Springfield +Schwerin, Henry Echo +Scherber, J. D. Rogers +Schreiner, Francis X. R. 2, W. St. Paul +Schmidt, Edward R. 3, Mankato +Schiffrer, Rev. Val. Madison +Schmitz, Jacob Shakopee +Schrooten, J. Fairmont +Schumann, Carl Round Lake +Scott, Z. D. Scott-Graff Lbr. Co., Duluth +Schulcz, Peter Wells +Schlemmer, C. H. 1602 Hague Ave., St. Paul +Schnathorst, Wm. Frazee +Schultz, L. S. Excelsior +Schriber, Fred H. White Bear Lake +Scott, Miss Zaidee A. 810 McKnight Bldg., Mpls. +Scone, Mrs J. A. 2015 Girard Ave. N., Mpls. +Schumaker, R. H. Bemidji +Schroedel, John Sherburn +Schumacher, Albert G. Fairfax +Schultz, Wm. G. Elgin +Schaffer, Arthur R. 5, Windom +Scott, W. C. 2109 Doswell, St. Paul +Schlegel, F. T. Chokio +Schmickle, C. W. South Haven +Schmitt, Adrian 629 2nd St. N. E., Mpls. +Scobie, Frank Sleepy Eye +Schmitt, Jos. E. Stryker and Butler St., W. St. Paul +Schleusner, Ernest R. 5, Menomonie, Wis. +Schulz, Joseph Lester Prairie +Scobie, Bertha C., 4172 Eddy St., Chicago, Ill. +Schultz, Mrs. O. W., 5019 1st Ave. S., Mpls. +Scherf, Fred Osseo +Schlomkey, Chas. Newport +Scott, John T. 1486 Hythe St., St. Paul +Score, John J. Wolf Butte, N. D. +Schuneman, Wesley Schuneman & Evans, St. Paul +Schulz, Carl Melrose +Schroeder, C. A. Mankato +Schaefer, Mrs. Henry Sta. F, R. 1, Mpls. +Schuneman, Carl T. Schuneman & Evans, St. Paul +Scott, E. B. Laporte +Schweizer, Myron, 1185 Hague Ave., St. Paul +Schechter, J. R. 6, Worthington +Scott, C. G., + Gowan Lenning Brown, Duluth +Schnidt, Rev. Otto E. Decorah, Ia. +Scanlan, John S. Long Prairie +Schultz, Theo. R. 2, Monticello +Scheffold, Rev. Geo. Wayzata +Schoeneman, Wm. F. 1111 Goff Ave., W. St. Paul +Schneider, J. J. Renville +Schwarg, Mrs. P. J. Dodge Center +Schneider, Rudolph C. 708 Osceola Ave., St. Paul +Schmidt, Alois Hugo +Sell, Chas. Delano +Selvig, C. C. Willmar +Seiler, J. M. Excelsior +Secor, Eugene Forest City, Ia. +Searles, Robt. Hammond, Wis. +Seifert, Frank L. New Ulm +Segrin, Frank Sauk Center +Seines, O. E. Windom +Seidl, John N. 1063 Goff Ave., W. St. Paul +Selby, J. S. La Crescent +Secor, A. J. Pipestone +Sederstrom, Alfred R. 5, Montevideo +Sebbe, Nels Box 21, Esmond, N. D. +Seitz, W. A. Laurel, Mont. +Severson, F. L. Stewartville +Setterholm, L. W. Dale +Severa, Emil 1677 Vincent Ave. N., Mpls. +Senecal, J. W., 1307 Yale Place, Apt. 10, Mpls. +Seymore, Mrs. M. T., 109 W. 3rd St., Duluth +Seward, Fred Central Lake +Shannon, R. Annandale +Shepley, Mrs. E. L. 12 Summit Court, St. Paul +Shave, Alfred S. Hawley +Shattuck, G. W. Whalan +Shaw, Robt. Finkley +Shelley, T. E. Hanska +Shenahan, F. C., + Univ. of Minn., Minneapolis +Sherwood, Geo. E. Kimball +Shelland, Miss Ann Dept. Public Inst., Capitol, St. Paul +Sherwood, W. C. Woodland Ave., Duluth +Sherman Nursery Co. Charles City, Ia. +Sharpless. Rev. S. F. Fergus Falls +Shenk, Wm. J., 897 Oakland Ave., W. St. Paul +Shenandoah Nurseries Shenandoah, Iowa +Shepherd, A. K., 1963 Ashland Ave., St. Paul +Shane, Danl. West Salem, Wis. +Sharp, A. B. Lincoln +Shaw, Dr. A. W. Buhl +Sherman, E. D. Morgan +Sherwood, M. W. Chatfield +Shellum, Jacob Goodthunder +Sharpsteen, Mr. 125 Cecil St. S.E., Mpls. +Sheppard, F. J., 103 E. Lake St. Minneapolis +Sheer, Otto Maple Plain +Shaw Botanical Gardens St. Louis, Mo. +Sheldrew, Geo. Grygla +Shaw, Daniel Thief River Falls +Shirley, H. L. Breckenridge +Short, Mrs. John Wayzata +Shoen, Mrs. Mary Comfrey +Shivley, Lloyd R. Tower +Shields, Miss Box 7, Shields, Pa. +Shields, Martin M. Faribault +Shoaff, T. H. Grand Rapids +Shoquist, Isaac Clinton +Simmons, W. A. 1620 So. Spring Ave., Sioux Falls, S. D. +Simpson, Hon. David, N.Y. Life Bldg., Mpls. +Sipher, Mrs. A. J. Aitkin +Simmons, W. A. 1620 S. Spring Ave., Sioux Fals, S. D. +Siehl, C. D. 4449 Beard Ave. S., Mpls. +Simmons, Irwin Glenwood +Sims, S. A. Excelsior +Siegle, Simon Carver +Sill, J. W. Belgrade +Simison, Dr. C. W. Hawley +Simon, Otto 1085 Goff Ave., W. St. Paul +Sikes, S. R. 915 Wash. Ave. So., Mpls. +Silliman, A. P. Hibbing +Singer, Edw. Erie +Signs, Mrs. C. E. 873 Ottawa St., St. Paul +Sinclair, C. E. 225 Kasota Blk., Mpls. +Silbernagel, Peter, Jr. Dent +Simons, Orlando Glencoe +Simek, Alois L. 306 State Ave., Owatonna +Sigl, Cyrill M. Hopp, Mont. +Sinclair, Mrs. E. L. 425 So. Prospect, Rochester +Simmons, A. W. Forest Lake +Sisler, A. M. Grand Rapids +Sincock, W. J. 1025 Central Ave., Virginia +Simmons, L. L. Grand Marais +Sjoquist, John A. St. James +Skytte, C. J. Fisher and Autumn St., St. Paul +Skinner, J. W. Saum +Skinnemoen, Ole Wendell +Skoog, A. L. Carver +Skorpen, Jens Valley City, N. D. +Skrivseth, B. L. Buxton, N. D. +Skogland, Clarence 1069 E. Ave., Red Wing +Skinner, J. H. Austin +Skretting, Rasmus Red Top +Skaurud, H. O. R. 2, Twin Valley +Sloan, F. G. Ellendale +Slinner, L. Burtrum +Sloan, Mrs. J. B. 1740 Laurel Ave., St. Paul +Slack, H. W. 1736 Princeton Ave., St. Paul +Smith, C. H. Faribault +Smith, F. C. Plumb City, Wis. +Smith, Mrs. W. S. 486 Portland Ave., St. Paul +Smith, E. D. 213 Phoenix Bldg., Mpls. +Smith, S. D. Stanton +Smith, C. L. 2018 Hawthorn Ave., Mpls. +Smith, T. C. Lakeville +Smith, A. D. Redwood Falls +Smith, L. Z. Mankato +Smith, D. D. St. Paul +Smith, Fred W. Bottineau, N. D. +Smiley, R. W. 713 E. 2nd. St., Duluth +Smith, B. W. 132 E. Lake St., Mpls. +Smith, W. F. Sturgeon Lake +Smith, Mrs. Geo. W. Dent +Smith, Geo. D. Faribault +Smith, Rev. F. J. St. Francis +Smith, H. W. R. 2, Richville +Smith, Wm. Richville +Smith, Theo. Richville +Smith, E. E. R. 2, South Haven +Smith, C. W. Lakeville +Smith, Joe J. Agri. College, N. D. +Emith, A. C. 2095 Commonwealth Ave., St. Paul +Smith, Mrs. Jessie E. Thief River Falls +Smith, Geo. O. 2721 Minn. Ave., Duluth +Simer, Jerome Spring Park +Snyder, C. E. Preston +Snell, H. D. 2354 Chilcomb Ave., St. Paul +Snoke, Guy Wayzata +Sorenson, S. Anoka +Solem, O. A. Th. Halstad +Solseth, Ed. A. Box 182, Watson +Sorenson, Otto A. Albert Lea +Soderlund, Nels Box 54, Alvarado +Sommerfeld, F. W. Echo +Solem, Peter Thief River Falls +Soderholm, Ellis Atwater +Sommers, Benj. 6th and Wacouta St., St. Paul +Soderholm, C. Reading +Soule, H. E. 417 Plymouth Bldg., Mpls. +Southall, John Berlin, N. D. +Solberg, A. J. Winger +Sonnesyn, E. C. 1805 10th Ave. So., Mpls. +Sorby, H. Montevideo +Sovereign, Mrs. Emma Sauk Rapids +Souther, Moses F. Hector +Sorenson, Jens Alb. Armstrong +Soesch, M. C. R. 1, Kimball +Spates, S. R. Wayzata +Sperr, Fred Donnelly +Spadino, Fred St. Paul Park +Spiten, O. G. Hayfield +Sprague, Clifford Madelia +Speelman, Mrs. S. A. Turtle River +Spencer, G. H. 404 Hawthorn Rd., Duluth +Sperl, John B. Box 71, R. 2, W. St. Paul +Spicer, W. A. R. 2, Bagley +Sprague, Mrs. Jas. W., 3120 Irving S., Mpls. +Sperbeck, Frank R. 2, Winona +Spielman, E. F. R. 5, Worthington +Stai, Chas. R. 607 Torrey Bldg., Duluth +Starr, Miss Elizabeth Minneapolis +State Reformatory St. Cloud +Stahl, H. H. Minot, N. D. +Stakman, Prof. E. C. Univ. Farm, St. Paul +Staar, John Grasston +Stanley, T. W. Baudette +Stassen, Win. A. Charlton Germs, St. Paul +Stahl, Chas. Laporte +Staley, G. M. Grand Rapids +Stahl, F. J. Cottage Park, White Bear +Steller, G. F. Excelsior +Stevenson, A. P. Morden, Man. +Steiner, John Iona +Stewart, Prof. John St. Anthony Park +Stelter, A. L. Rosemount +Stemsrud, M. A. Madison +Stebbins, Vera 320 Oak Grove St., Mpls. +Stemple, Aug. St. Peter +Stevens, H. G. Cloquet +Steele, Wm. M. Mound +Stewart, R. G. 1349 Reaney St., St. Paul +Steere, W. S. R. 1, Savage +Stevens, W. C. 3901 Thomas Ave. So., Mpls. +Sten, John Red Wing +Stennes, E. J. R. 6, Montevideo +Steckel, Rev. L. W. Albert Lea +Steene, Peter Lancaster +Stephens, P. J. Estevan, Sask. +Steenerson Van Hook, N. D. +Stender, Mrs. Chas. Dent +Stenlyem, Peter O. Esmond, N. D. +Stevins, W. C. South Haven +Stevens, S. Geo. Fond du Lac +Stepanek, Fred Ogilvie +Stepanek, Mrs. Joe Ogilvie +Stevens, Mrs. J. W. 458 Holly Ave., St. Paul +Stevenson, Miss Isabel Delhi +Steele, W. R. Big Fork +Stockwell, S. A. 304 Andrus Bldg., Mpls. +Stork, W. E., 363 S. Cleveland Ave., St. Paul +Street, H. G. Hebron, Ill. +Strader, W. M. R. 6, Mankato +Stowe, J. M. Hibbing +Stryker, Mrs. J. E. Pioneer Press Bldg., St. Paul +Stoa, Martin Albert Lea +Stromsedt, O. N. Willmar +Strand, A. K. Twin Valley +Stryker, John D. Woodland Ave., Hunters Park, Duluth +Stillwell, John A. Arago +Stocker, Ben Sanborn +Stull, L. B. Mazeppa +Strate, E. B. 658 Plum St., St. Paul +Storeim, Albert S. Ortonville +Stone, A. L. Benson +Stubbs, Milton Long Lake +Strable, Karl 3038 Blaisdell Ave., Mpls. +Stickney, L. A. Minnesota City +Stranden, Ole G. Swift +Stob, C. T. R. 2, Svea +Stone, W. M. 16 So. 3rd St., Mpls. +Stoleson, Theo. R. 1, Viroqua, Wis. +Stromnar, J. A. Rollag +Stob, G. Raymond +Strachaners, Clarence 412 Syndicate Bldg., Mpls. +Strissel, H. E. Fergus Falls +Stowe, A. W. Laurel, Mont. +Strauss, Mrs. Minnie 624 Ohio St., St. Paul +Strong, Mrs. Saml. Hopkins +Stromstad, Torval M. Shelly +Strathern, John Rich Valley +Stewart, Mrs. Nina Northfield +Strey, A. C. Montrose +Stocking, Wm. St. Peter +Stockton, Mrs. C. M. Faribault +Stromme, C. K. Hannaford, N. D. +Strong, J. P. Excelsior +Stone, E. E. Downing, Wis. +Strandli, Erick Big Falls +Stryker, John E. 816 Globe Bldg., St. Paul +Sundberg, Chas. A. Worthington +Sucker, Adolph Lewisville +Sundheim, A. M. 3205 Park Ave., Mpls. +Sundt, Ole M. Willmar +Summerfield, Isaac 921 Goodrich Ave., St. Paul +Summers, Mrs. L. Box 23-B, R. 1, Mansfield, Wash. +Sullwold, H. A. 1773 Summit Ave., St. Paul +Sullivan, John 361 Iglehart, St. Paul +Svaboda, Frank Canby +Svaboda, J. Browerville +Swanson, Albert R. 1, St. Croix Falls, Wis. +Swann, J. R. Madison +Swanson, Chas. R. 2, No. St. Paul +Swedberg, J. E. R. 2, Battle Lake +Swanson, C. W. Box 29, R. 1, Lafayette +Swanson, Alfred 584 Boxrud Ave., Red Wing +Swan, Mrs. T. P. Mendota +Swanson, Henry A. Cushing, Wis. +Swanson, A. P. Box 268 Stevensville, Mont. +Swedberg, P. W. Moose Lake +Sweet, W. H. 1731 Chicago Ave., Mpls. +Swensson, John Box 57, R. 2, Maynard +Swart, J. W. 4051 Linden Hills Blvd., Mpls. +Swenson, Gunder R. 3, New London +Swenson, H. E. R. 1, Center City +Swedberg, J. I. Madison +Syrdal, R. R. Shelly +St. John, A. M. Lakefield +St. John, P. R. 3121 Humboldt So., Mpls. +St. Clair, H. Estevan, Sask. +Swanson, John W. Stephen +Swanson, Wm. Dent +Swedenberg, M. F. Lyndale Sta., Mpls. +Swenson, Ed Spring Valley +Swanson, Mrs. J. M. R. 1, Eagle Bend +Swanson, F. M. Crete, N. D. +Swedberg, Martin Tappan, N. D. +Swenson, Emil Lafayette +Swanson, Chas. S. W. Litchfield +Swain, F. O. Lincoln +Swanson, Mrs. Marie E. R. 1, St. Croix Falls, Wis. +Swan, Frank Woodlake +Sweet, Orla Alexandria + +Taylor, M. F. Anoka +Talcott, Mrs. A. L. Westbrook +Taylor, John W. 206 Globe Bldg., St. Paul +Tallant, F. E. 711 Plymouth Bldg., Mpls. +Tallafson, H. S. R. 5, Willmar +Taylor, Thos. W. Eagle Bend +Taylor, J. G. 932 Nicollet Ave., Mpls. +Tavener, Mark Esmond, N.D. +Taylor, J. B. Ipswich, S.D. +Tavis, Fred Albert Lea +Tappe, Chas. Box 6, R. 1, Sebeka +Taylor, G. F. Excelsior +Tauscheck, Jos. 966 Allen Ave., W. St. Paul +Tanner, F. O. Brownsdale +Tappan, W. M. Hibbing +Taylor, Rev. Wm. Litchfield +Taner, Geo. M. New Ulm +Taylor, E. E. Merrifield +Talland, G. M. 534 Woodland Ave., Duluth +Taylor, Mrs. E. A. Box 26, Faribault +Taylor, Wm. Faribault +Terry, L. W. Howard Lake +Teisberg, O. T. Zumbrota +Tewes, Fred Mazeppa +Teeple, David P. R. No. 3, Wells +Tereau, Mrs. F. 430 Iglehart Ave., St. Paul +Templeton, A. E. 602 Oneida Bldg., Mpls. +Tenter, Henry Dent +Tenter, Wm. Dent +Temple, Lyle Morristown +Tellin, Mattie Deer River +Thompson, F. S. 234 Sec. Bldg., Mpls. +Theilmann, Geo. Excelsior +Thunstedt, John Willmar +Thiebaut, Rev. C. Browns Valley +Thompson, Torkel Louisburg +Thorp, Col. Freeman Hubert +Thomas, Chas. J. Frazee +Thompson, Dr. C. S. W. 137-1/2 Main St., Helena, Mont. +Throolin, P. J. 4018 Van Buren St., NE, Mpls. +Thomas, E. L. Vergas +Thornton, M. J. Deer River +Thorpe, Ralph 2837 Central NE., Mpls. +Thornton, F. C. Benson +Thornton, M. P. Worthington +Thompson, Robt. R. No. 5, Willmar +Thompson, Fred. M Bricelyn +Thompson, W. J. Pitt +Thompson, R. C. Oneida Blk., Mpls. +Thor, Herman Mound +Thompson, M. J. Supt. Exp. Farm, Duluth +Thompson, Harold Care of Lake Shore Greenhouses, Albert Lea +Theilen, Chas. G. 3327 Morgan Ave. N., Mpls. +Thompson, O. A. Murdock +Thielman, P. R. St. Cloud +Tharen, J. A. Hills +Thener, John M. Adrian +Thierschaefer, Jos. R. 6, Sauk Center +Thomson, C. Jean 416 N. 18th Ave. E., Duluth +Thompson, Thorwold Oslo +Thomson, M. A. 426 Kennilworth Ave., Duluth +Thompson, L. C. Ruthton +Thomson, W. J. Shaunavon, Sask. +Thorn, Geo. R. 2, Prescott, Wis. +Tingley, W. J. Forest Lake +Tillotson, Mrs. H. B. 1320 5th St. SE, Mpls. +Tillisch, J. F. F. Renville +Titus, S. L. 140 Endicott Arcade, St. Paul +Tillisch, Mary A. Washburn Home, Mpls. +Tiedt, Mrs. Fred Argyle +Tilden, Miss M. B. Sta. F, Mpls. +Tisdale, Mrs. G. E. 3144 Irving S., Mpls. +Timmerman, Mrs. Wm. 381 E. Cook St., St. Paul +Tjosvold, L. A. Willmar +Torgerson, H. P. Astoria, S.D. +Tomalin, W. H. Bx. 304, Regina, Sask. +Totusek, Frank J. Silver Lake +Towler, Robt. S. R. 1, Exceisior +Torfin, Iver Wannaska +Tollefson, Hogen R. No. 2, Clearbrook +Tomlinson, W. H. LeSueur +Tolberg, O. Edwin Winner +Todd, J. E. Dept. of Prov. Secy., Toronto, Ont. +Todji, Rev. Jos. Searles +Tomlin, G. C. Edgeley, N.D. +Tome, G. H. Pine Island +Townsend, Mrs. Eddie Pine Island +Tormanen, Peter R. 4, Cokato +Torgrim, J. R. 621 W. 3rd Ave., Mitchell, S.D. +Todd, J. A. 212 Victoria St., Duluth +Tostenson, E. Jackson +Torguson, G. C. Gleenwood +Trumble, H. W. Sherburn +Trabert, Chas. L., Secy. 2736 Elmwood Ave., Berkeley, Sal. +Tripps, O. A. R. No. 3, St. Cloud +Train, G. L. Chisholm +Trafton, Gilbert H. Mankato +Trask, Ebert Saum +Trethewey, J. H. Virginia +Trybe, Thos. Eagle Bend +Trautz, Geo. 2108 Carroll Ave., St. Paul +Trotler, A. 227 Spruce St., Virginia +Tschieda, Matt St. Cloud +Turner, H. H. Northfield +Tuskind, C. O. Davenport, N.D. +Turner, John Shakopee +Tufte, Theo. T. Northwood, N.D. +Tucker, Joe Austin +Tull, W. H. Padus, Wis. +Tyacke, Geo. Proctor + +Unze, Geo. Shakopee +Unumb, P. O. Alexandria +Ueland, M. K. Shelly +Univ. of Wash. Seattle, Wash. +Uptagraft, LeRoy West Concord +Unkenholz, S. W. Mandan, N.D. +Utsch, Herman Little Falls +Univ. of Mo. Genl. Lib. Columbia, Mo. +Unumb, E. O. Alexandria +Umbstaetter, Mrs. Shields, Pa. +Ulschmit, John Frazee +Uelander, T. L. Crystal Bay +Univ. of Ill. Library Chicago, Ill. + +Vangen, Peter O. Box 9, R. 1, Climax +Vande Bogart, W. S. Zumbrota +Van Vick, John Spiritwood, N.D. +Vandermarck, Mrs. C. W. 818 Albert St., Crookston +Vanstrum, John A. Clarkfield +Vance, F. L. Popple +Vander Veer, Geo. H. Center City +Van Duzee, E. M. White Bear Lake +Vanbeck, Henry 1843 Quincy St. NE., Mpls. +Van Loon, John R. 2, La Crosse, Wis. +Varden, Archie Care of Frank Bovey, Wayzata +Van Doom, J. C. 836 Sec. Bldg., Mpls. +Van Stone, I. M. 3322 Park Ave., Mpls. +Vacinek, Vaclav R. 1, Pine City +Veit, Fred Fergus Falls +Verplank, E. E. R. 1, New Richland +Velie, Chas. D. 225 Clifton Ave., Mpls. +Vestre, Lars Boyd +Velde, G. T. Granite Falls +Vine, W. W. R. 1. Elgin +Vinquist, Alfred B. Box 74, R. 3, Red Wing +Vibert, F. D. The Pine Knot, Cloquet +Viall, Roy Spring Valley +Vierling, Ed. J. Shakopee +Vine, P. O. Porter +Va. & Rainy Lake Co. Virginia +Viel, Raymond St. Laurent, Man. +Vierling, M. A. 824 Hall Ave., St. Paul +Vikse, Ole Ostrander +Vibert, Percy Cloquet +Vincent, G. E. Univ. of Minn., Mpls. +Vincent, V. D. Commercial Club, Duluth +Vikla, John P. Lonsdale +Vikla, Wencel J. Lonsdale +Vikla, Martin J. Lonsdale +Vikla, Mathias R. Lonsdale +Villaume, Eugene 123 W. Isabel, St. Paul +Volkmer, Henry Holdingford +Vollenweider, Henry La Crescent +Vogt, C. F. St. Paul +Von Herff, B. 1901 McCormick Bldg., Chicago, Ill. +Voyler, Henry Vergas +Vodden, John Argusville, N.D. +Vorlicky, Jos. Thief River Palls, Wis. +Vosejpka, John M. Lonsdale +Voehl, H. W. Lakefield +Vraspir, Frank R. 2, Hopkins + +Wade, R. H. Odin +Wachlin, Wm. Faribault +Wakefield, W., M. D. Lake Benton +Wagner, Ed. R. 649 Charles St., St. Paul +Waas, P. H. Dresbach +Waite, Geo. Moorhead +Wach, V. N. Lake Crystal Lake, Ill. +Waite, Jas. F. Eureka +Wagner, C. D. W. Winona St., Duluth +Wang, Albert 926 Garfield Ave., Duluth +Wands, Robt. W. Little Falls +Walgren, Swan J. 3048 10th Ave. S., Mpls. +Walden, J. M. Northfield +Wallner, Berthold Jr. 200 Dodd Rd., St. Paul +Waldholm, Mrs. Geo. Tintah +Wallace, H. L. Grasston +Walsh, W. P. Murdock +Walz, Fred F. Egeland, N.D. +Walters, J. J. Dupree, S.D. +Walz, Theo. Watkins +Walkup, J. E. 2416 Sheridan So., Mpls. +Walton, Louis 351 Snively Rd., Duluth +Waldal, Marius Plummer +Waller, L. S. Waubun +Wallin, O. Red Top +Walters, Wm. Grand Portage +Walker, Roy Sauk Rapids +Wallace, John G. Solway +Watt, John Leonard, N.D. +Wampler, A. J. 134 E. 4th St., St. Paul +Washburn, W. O. 63 So. Robert St., St. Paul +Wattner, A. A. Canby +Washburn, Prof. F. L. St. Anthony Park +Wanous, Frank R. Glencoe +Warren, Mrs. Geo. H. 3443 Irving S., Mpls. +Wanlass, Jos. Jr. Bangor, Wis. +Warner, Frank Snow Ball +Watts, Arthur 2833 17th Ave. S., Mpls. +Watt, Wm. Swift +Warner, A. L. Duluth +Washburn, C. O. Edgeley, N.D. +Warren, A. A. R. 3, St. Cloud +Warner, C. E. R. 1, Osseo +Warner, Mrs. C. E. Box 85, R. 1, Osseo +Wayne, Jens R. 4, Ellendale +Wandrie, Otto Frazee +Watson, Jas. T. 40th Ave. E. and Gilbert St., Duluth +Warnock, R. W. Independence, Mo. +Watson, Dwight H. Box 212, White Bear Lake +Warner, Mrs. E. C. 3030 W. Calhoun Blvd., Mpls. +Warren, Mrs. Clyde W. Sauk Rapids +Warwick, Andrew 2525 13th Ave. S., Mpls. +Watson, Mrs. J. L. 1173 Ashland Ave., St. Paul +Wardian, Math. Holdingford +Ward, Wesley Mapleton +Wasserzieher, Edward Deerwood +Watzke, Chas. Belgrade +Ware, Mrs. Elizabeth 2885-1/2 Knox Ave., Mpls. +Watson, Geo. P. International Falls +Weld, J. O. 1601 Fremont N., Mpls. +Welke, Sam Fall Creek, Wis. +Wedge, Robt. C. Albert Lea +Weld, Mrs. H. E. Moorhead +Weinhagen, Chas. 361 Bates Ave., St. Paul +Webster, J. K. St. James +Wedge, A.G. Jr. Bemidji +Wedge, L. P. Albert Lea +Wenz, Chas. Hector +Weflen, Chris Montevideo +Weed, Ben B. Care of Weed, Parker & Co., St. Paul +Wegmann, Theo. Lake Itasca +Wendt, Chas. H. Blue Earth +Webber, Mrs. C. C. Crystal Bay +Webster, A. E. Dresbach +Wellman, C. W. Dauphin, Man. +Welke, Fritz R. 1, Eau Claire, Wis. +Wentworth, R. J. R. 3, Robbinsdale +Weber, J. A. Care of C. G. Goodrich, Excelsior +Welp, Rev. Francis Alexandria +Webber, C. C. Crystal Bay +Weikert, Henry I. St. Paul +Wenholz, Henry Buffalo Lake +Wendelschafer, T. G. Cleveland +Wenz, Ludwig B. Hector +Weiler, Nick 871 Univ. Ave., St. Paul +Westergaard, C. Buffalo, N.D. +Westergaard, P. J. Belgrade +Weyerhaeuser, F. E. 1413 Mer. Natl. Bank Bldg., St. Paul +Westfield, Kasper Canby +West Central School of Agri. Morris +Wetzel, Aug. R. 1, St. Ignatius, Mont. +Weyerhauser, C. A. Little Falls +Wetherbee, M. H. Charles City, Ia. +West, J. P. Rockford +West, W. J. Hibbing +West, Wm. L. 43 S. St. Albans St., St. Paul +Werner, H. O. Agri. College, N.D. +Wetzel, Mrs. Paul K. Deerwood +Westcott, Geo. E. 1173 S. Robert St., St. Paul +Westerfield, E. O. Fort Atkinson, Wis. +Weum, C. O. Lincoln +Wesiphall, C. D. R. 2, Romely +Weston, Frank Clitheral +Weum, Mrs. T. A. Kenyon +Wessels, Percy Neche, N.D. +Wetteland, T. Sunfish Rd. and Butler St., W. St. Paul +Wermerskirchen, Rev. Father A. Hokah +Wheeler, Miss Gerda Bruno +Whetstone, Dr. Mary S. 738 E. 16th St., Mpls. +Wheeler, Olin D.N.P.R.R. Office, St. Paul +Wheeler, Jesse Excelsior +Wein, Rev. H. J. Caledonia +Week, F. D. Slayton +Wenzel, Orrin J. 1718 Taylor Ave., St. Paul +Whiting, Geo. H. Yankton, S.D. +Whitney, Geo. G. 420 Germania Life, St. Paul +White, Mrs. Emma V. 3010 S. Aldrich, Mpls. +Whiting, D. J. Northfield +Whyte, A. 662 Central Ave., St. Paul +White, J. U. Brainerd +Whitten, Thos. S. Winton +Whipple, G. M. St. Louis Park +White, H. H. Minnesota Transfer, Mpls. +Whitney, Frank H. Truman +Whittemore, Dr. M. K. Cloquet +Whitney, N. J. Albert Lea +Whiting, Mrs. Geo. H. Yankton, S.D. +Whitchill, N. 1208 E. 26th St., Mpls. +Whitney, E. H. Granada +White, Mrs. Wm. G. 767 Goodrich Ave., St. Paul +White, Mrs. Grace 347 W. Wabasha, Duluth +Whorton, R. D. Huron, S. D. +White, Henry R. Brainerd +Whipple, Mrs. Estelle Grand Rapids +Wickland, John Atwater +Wiegel, H. A. Magnolia +Widmoyer, W. S. La Crescent +Wichman, Frank First Natl. Bank Bldg., St. Paul +Wick, Oscar East Grand Forks +Wickstrom, A. E. R. 1, Anoka +Width, A. B. 2018 W. Superior St., Duluth +Wicklund, Lawrence R. 6, Atwater +Wiggins, Earl L. Baudette +Wiffler, Fred Arcadia, Wis. +Wier, John Campbell +Wiggin, G. H. Cloquet +Wieschmann, Albert Bertha +Wilen, Chas. R. 3, Argyle +Wilson, Oscar Underwood +Willis, Rev. Francis Excelsior +Wilbur, D. Floyd, Ia. +Wille, F. W. 1046 Wakefield Ave., St. Paul +Williams, M. Staples +Will, O. H. Bismarck, N. D. +Wilder, C. B. Floodwood +Wilder, Mark L. R. 1, Kasota +Wilwerding, Nick Box 25, R. 5, St. Cloud +Willius, F 469 Laurel Ave., St. Paul +Willard, D. E N. P. R. R., St. Paul +Will, Wm. Beltrami +Wilson, J. F. Cloquet +Willard, E. C. Mankato +Williams, Niles L. Dayton Bluff Sta., St. Paul +Wildung, W. H. Howard Lake +Will, Hugh Box 29, Mpls. +Wilkelmi, F. W. Cloquet +Willis, Robt. Marietta +Willus, Chas. H. 4140 32nd Ave. S., Mpls. +Wilson, John Rockford +Wilcox, Mrs. Estelle 1122 Raymond, St. Paul +Wild Floral Co., Frank Sarcoxie, Mo. +Wilwerding, A. J. Freeport +Williams, J. R. Elgin +Willis, W. J. Y. M. C. A., Washington, D. C. +Wilson, F. K. R. 1, Hopkins +Wilson, Donald Mantorville +Williams, Rev. E. M Northfield +Wirth, Theo. 3956 Bryant So., Mpls. +Witte, H. L. F. R. 3, Hopkins +Wise, H. Appleton +Wingate, Mrs. W. S. Excelsior +Winkley, F. C. Minn. Loan & Trust, Mpls. +Wintersteen, C. B. 3949 11th Ave. So., Mpls. +Wise, H. R. Brainerd +Winget & Keeler Chokio +Winslow, H. H. Northome +Winjum, G. K. Albert Lea +Winter, E. F. Fergus Falls +Winkler, Mrs. Mary Brooten +Wister, John C Germantown, Phila., Pa. +Windmiller, Miss Pauline Mankato +Windhorst, Geo. W. Olivia +Wolner, Rev. H. J. Virginia +Wolfram, A. C. Belle Plain +Wolner, Dr. O. H. Gilbert +Wodny, Jas. 339 4th St., Cloquet +Wolters, John 182 W. Bernard St., W. St. Paul +Wolfinger, Jos. So. St. Paul +Woestehoff, J. C. Blakeley +Wolf, Chas. Cohasset +Wilson, H. M. 1116 Harrison St., Superior, Wis. +Willis, F. D. 75 E. Sycamore St., St. Paul +Wilcox, J. P. R. 2, Excelsior +Willis, R. J. 956 Grand Ave., St. Paul +Wilkus, A. J. 909 Winslow Ave., W. St. Paul +Williams, L. A. Pelican Rapids +Wille, Otto L. 110 Bates Ave. St. Paul +Wilson, E. B. 1815 Emerson No., Mpls. +Williams, E. E. 1709. W. 2nd St., Duluth +Williams, Dr. J. P. 3722 E. Lake St., Mpls. +Wilkinson, F. L. White Bear +Wilkinson, Mrs. R. J. Stillwater +Wilhalm, Henry Jackson +Wilwerding, J. M. Caledonia +Wilson, John Homer +Wilson, Mrs. Mary C. R. 1, Sta. F., Mpls. +Woodruff, C. O. Excelsior +Woodel, C. F. Austin +Woodworth, W. D. Little Falls +Wortman, H. J. Watkins +Woods, Prof. Geo. B. Northfield +Works, R. M. 2908 Fremont So., Mpls. +Woodward, Philip M. R. 1, Onamia +Woodman, M. H. Sutherland, Neb. +Worden, Mrs. Lillian 256 Farrington, St. Paul +Woods, W. A. Inverness, Mont. +Woodland & Roadside 4 Joy St., Boston, Mass. +Woods, Roy E. New Effington, S. D. +Woods, J. H. Calgary, Can. +Willis, Katon Deer River +Wright, A. V. Mine Center, Ont. +Wright, W. H. R. 3, Minneapolis +Wright, Edward 2544 Woodland Ave., Duluth +Wunderlich, Miss Susie Burns, Sask. +Wulfsberg, Einar Elbow Lake +Wyman, Mrs. A. Phelps 5017 3rd Ave. S., Mpls +Wyse, Oliver Onamia +Wygart, Wm. S. Newport + +Yahnke, W. A. Winona +Yegge, C. M. Alpena, S. D. +Yale Forest School New Haven, Conn. +Young, Mrs. J. Onamia +Youngstrom, O. J. Litchfield +Young, J. C. 1523 Wash. St. N. E., Mpls. +York, R. A. Sandwich, Ill. +Yort, A. S. Box 35, Hopkins +Young, A. F Lake City +Young, Max M. 1777 Marshall Ave., St. Paul + +Zuercher, F. Excelsior +Zrust, Anthony Silver Lake +Zachritz, Geo. P. Excelsior +Ziemer, Ernest St. Bonifacius +Zisch, Chas. Dresbach +Zimmerman, Eli 425 W. Superior St., Duluth +Zumwinkle, Wm. Morton +Zimbinski, Geo. 1243 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul + + +Life Members. + +Adams, Mrs. Louisa J. 1827 Irving N., Mpls. +Ahneman, Geo. F. Mazeppa +Alin, Alex. Fullerton, N. D. +Anderson, G. A. Renville +Anderson, Rev. J. W. Minot, N. D. +Andrews, C. H. Faribault +Arneson, A. N. Wagdahl +Arnold, L. B. 24 Butte Ave., Duluth +Aspden, H. H. Excelsior +Andrews, John K. Faribault +Anderson, Mrs. E. Lake Park, R. 2 +Andresen, A. S. 2607 E. Fifth St., Duluth +Aamodt, A. W. Univ. Farm, St. Paul +Appleby, H. J. Minneiska + +Bailey, E. G. R. 1, Excelsior Care W. C. Rockwood +Baker, Geo. A. Janesville +Barsness, J. A. Kenyon +Bassett, A. K. Baraboo, Wis. +Beebe, H. U. Lake City +Benham, R. H. 215 Palace Bldg., Mpls. +Benson, Edwin Jackson +Berrisford, E. F. 386 Robert St., St. Paul +Blain, H. J. Maple Plain +Boler, Jno. Care Eli Larson, Sawyer, Wis. +Boughen, W. J. Valley River, Man. +Bouska, Frank Biscay +Brady, T. D. Medford +Briard, F. W. Gaylord +Briggs, A. G. G. N. Ry., St. Paul +Brink, C. C. West Union, Ia. +Burton, Miss Hazel Deephaven +Bacheller, T. T. Seney, Mich. +Binger, Herman Renville +Brush, Geo. H. R. Owatonna +Bergstrom, A. G. Maple Plain +Boucher, C. P. 201 E. 4th St., St. Paul +Black, Robt H. Albert Lea +Burlingame, Florence Grand Rapids +Bratnober, C. P. 1419 Harmon Pl., Mpls. + +Cady, Prof. LeRoy Univ. Farm, St. Paul +Carlisle, S. A. Wyoming +Cashman, M. R. Owatonna +Cashman, T. E. Owatonna +Chambers, Rev. R. F. Jackson +Cheney, John Morton +Chrisman, Chas. E. Ortonville +Christensen, P. C. Fairmount +Clarke, Fred H. Avoca +Cline, Wm. Bertha +Cooper, Madison Calcium, N. Y. +Crosby, S. P. 222 Miss. River Blvd., St. Paul +Cutting, F. E. Byron +Christianson, P. A. Hinckley +Conard, Henry S. Grinnell, Ia. +Cutting, Frank H. City Hall, Duluth +Connor, E. M. Excelsior +Carlson, John A Box 963, Thief River Falls +Carlson, Gust. Box 339, R. 3, + Excelsior Care John Washburn +Christianson, A. M. Bismarck, N. D. + +Danforth, Wm. Randolph, Minn. +Daniels, R. L. +Davey, Dr. Flora M. 375 E. Grant St., Mpls. +Dickerson, Wm. Elk Point, S. D. +Doerfler, Rev. Bruno Muenster, Sask. +Doughty, J. Cole Lake City +Dressler, Otto 428 Russell N., Mpls. +Drew, Prof. J. M. Univ. Farm, St. Paul +Dunsmore, Henry Olivia +Durbahn, A. Sleepy Eye +Daniels, Frank P. 2112 Kenwood Pkwy., Mpls. +DeGraff, Miss Marie I. Anoka +Dybdal, Tosten E. Elbow Lake, Minn. + +Eddy, W. H. Howard Lake +Ekloff, John Cokato +Eliason, M. A. R. 2, Appleton +Engman, Nels 4510 52d St. E. Mpls. +Evans, Sheldon J. La Crescent +Effertz, Christ Norwood + +Flannery, Geo. P. 2416 Blaisdell, Mpls. +Fletcher, F. F. 2816 W. 44th St., Mpls. +Fossum, G. Cottonwood +Foster, Wesley S. 810 6th St. S. E., Mpls. +Fournelle, Peter White Bear Lake +Franklin, A. B. St. F, R. 1, Mpls. +Fuller, F. C. Madison, S. D. +Fulton, T. C. White Bear Lake +Funke, J. L. Wabasha +Fredine, J. O. Winthrop +Fiebring, J. H. Milwaukee, Wis. Care Fiebring Chemical Co. +Ferguson, Walker 1184 Woodland Ave., Mankato + +Gale, Ed. C. Security Bldg., Mpls. +Gates, A. H. Rice +Geiger, Wm. C. 520 W. Van Buren St., Chicago, Ill. +Gjemse, L. J. Cannon Falls +Gjestrum, M. L. Rhinelander, Wis. +Glaeser, Mrs. Imelda Owatonna +Gilbertson, G. G. Ruthton +Galbraith, Raymond H. Care Butler Bros., Mpls. +Guerney, D. B. Yankton, S. D. +Gibbs, F. H. St. Anthony Park +Gibbs, Mrs. F. H. St. Anthony Park +Gunderson, Lawrence A. 6131 E. Superior St., Duluth +Goebel, Herman Wildrose, N. D. +Gray, A. N. Deerwood +Graeve, Rev. Mathias Lismore + +Haatvedt, A. A. R. 1, Hoffman +Hagen, O. W. Sleepy Eye +Halbert, Geo. T. 648 Sec. Bldg., Mpls. +Hall, D. S. Olivia +Halvorson, Halvor Hills +Hannah, Robt. Fergus Falls +Harris, Geo. W. McHugh +Harris, E. E. Onlaska, Wis. +Harris, F. I. La Crescent +Harrison, C. S. 829 York Ave., York, Neb. +Harrison, J. F. Excelsior +Hart, W. H. Owatonna +Hartman, M. B. 661 Plum St., St. Paul +Hawkinson, Chas. Wayzata +Hawley, T. C. 504 E. Elm St., Lodi, Cal. +Hermanson, Herman Hopkins +Herrick, U. G. 731 Traffic Station, Mpls. +Hilstad, O. C. Nicollet +Hobart, A. W. 1412 W. 36th St., Mpls. +Hoverstad, T. A. Care Soo Ry., Mpls. +Howard, J. A. Hammond +Hunter, C. C. 5700 Nicollet Ave., Mpls. +Hendrickson, N. Audubon +Holway, E. W. D. Excelsior +Hjeltnes, K. Ulvik, Hardanger, Norway +Heins, C. A. Olivia +Haralson, Fred 1055 24th Ave. S. E., Mpls. + +Irish, Prof. H. C. 1227 Childress Ave. St. Louis, Mo. + +Jager, John 5241 Upton Ave. S., Mpls. +Jerabek, J. S. Hutchinson +Jewell, Mrs. B. Randall, Wis. +Johannesson, L. Beltrami +Johnson, A. A. Winnebago +Johnson, Gust 2620 E. 22nd St., Mpls. +Johnson, Rev. Saml. Princeton +Johnson, Miss Anna M. R. 1, Lafayette +Johnson, Hans M. Pipestone + +Kennedy, J. H. Sheyenne, N. D. +Kerns, G. F. Fairmont +Klingel, Rev. Clement St. Anthony, Ind. +Knight, H. G. LeRoy +Korista, J. S. Box 172, Hopkins +Krier, T. N. Farmer, S. D. +Kueker, Wm. Faribault +Kurth, Wm. A. R. 9, Rochester +Krog, Johan, Jr. Pleasant Grove Farm, Lake Benton +Kugler, F. J. Grand Portage, Minn. +King, E. C. Neshkors, Wis. +Knutesen, Clarence R. 1, Box 200, Hopkins +Krueger, O. F. 3017 Cedar Ave., Mpls. + +Larson, C. L. Winthrop +Larson, Louis M. St. Louis Park +Larson, Lars M. Faribault +Lien, Thos. J. Delavan +Lingen, Carl Starbuck +Loftness, A. G. Thief River Falls +Longyear, E. J. Excelsior +Luce, E. C. Luverne +Loring, A. C. 202 Clifton Ave., Mpls. +Loring, Mrs. C. M. River Side, Cal. +Lowe, J. W. Fairmont +Ludescher, J. L. Frazee +Lund, I. E. Hopkins +Lundgren, Miss E. E. 591 Olive St. St. Paul +Lyman, A. B. Excelsior +Lyndgaard, Jorgen Lake Benton +Lyon, Jay F. Elkhorn, Wis. +Leding, Edward R. 1, Box 64, Gary +Lawrence, Jas. G. Wabasha +Lafot, Ed. W. Lakefield +Lien, Chas. H. R. 3, St. Cloud +Lima, Ludvig Montevideo + +Macauley, T. B. Montreal, Can. +Mackintosh, Prof. R. S. 2153 Doswell, St. Paul +Maher, John Devils Lake, N. D. +Manda, W. A. Short Hills, N. J. +Mann, W. P. Dodge Center +Manner, C. J. Jerome, Idaho +Manning, Warren H. N. Billerica, Mass. +Marshall, F. F. R. 1, Grove City +Marso, J. P. Canby +Mayo, Dr. C. H. Rochester +Melgaard, H. L. Argyle +Melinat, Rev. Max. Odessa +Miller, Albert R. 7, Box 24, Cannon Falls +Mohr, C. J. Rapidan +Mo, Hans Sleepy Eye +Moorhead, W. W. Bethany, Mo. +Mosbaek, Ludvig Askov +Moyer, L. R. Montevideo +Mueller, Paul L. 4845 Bryant S., Mpls. +Mazey, E. H. 3029 Ewing Ave., Mpls. +McComb, Richard Antler, Sask. +McCulley, Preston Maple Plain +McKibben, A. T. Ramey +McKisson, G. D. Fairmont +McKusick, John C. Marble +McLeague, Rev. P. Stewart +McVeety, J. A. Howard Lake +McClelland, L. E. R. 3, Hopkins +McKesson, J. H. 5106 S. Lyndale Ave., Mpls. +McCall, Prof. Thos. M. Crookston +McConnell, Roy E. St. Cloud + +Nehring, Edward Stillwater +Nelson, A. A., Jr. 3222 16th Ave. S., Mpls. +Nelson, B. F. 1125 5th St. S. E., Mpls. +Nelson, John A. R. 2, Maynard +Noren, Geo. Chisago City +Norwood, F. F. Balaton +Nussbaumer, Fred St. Paul +Nelson, Iver Cottonwood +Newman, G. A. 410 W. Olive St., Stillwater +Norling, A. L. Elbow Lake +Negstad, A. L. R. 5, Arlington, S. D. + +O'Connor, Patrick H. 1219 5th Ave. N., Mpls. +Older, C. E. Luverne +Onstine, Frank A. Harmony +Ortmann, Rev. Anselm Richmond +Orton, C. J. Marietta +O'Callaghan, J. Eden Valley +Oyen, O. J. Watson +Older, F. E. 1127 N. Alexandria Ave., Los Angeles, Cal. + +Pattridge, C. A. Comfrey +Paulson, Johannes Sta. F, Richfield, Mpls. +Pederson, J. S. Walnut Grove +Peet, Wm. Boston Blk., Mpls. +Peterson, Geo. A. Canby +Peterson, J. G. Kensington +Peterson, K. K. Rothsay +Peterson, R. M., Office of Markets Dept. of Agri., + Washington, D. C. +Peterson, W. A. Mandan, N. D. +Peterson, Wm. A. 3400 Peterson Ave., Chicago, Ill. +Pfaender, Max Mandan, N. D. +Pond, H. H. Sta. F, R. 3, Mpls. +Pond, I. W. Madelia +Poore, Hamlin V. 817 10th Ave. S. E., Mpls. +Pracna, Frank 236 Delmas Ave., San Jose, Cal. +Prosser, E. M. Gully +Perry, A. G. Care Butler Bros., Mpls. + +Quammen, Ole S. Lemmon, S. D. + +Randall, E. W. 315 Commerce Bldg., St. Paul +Rennacker, C. J. Detroit +Regeimbal, L. O. +Roberts, Dr. T. S. 2303 Pleasant Ave. S., Mpls. +Rood, A. J. Spring Grove +Rowe, Chas. R. 3, Excelsior +Ruff, D. W. C. 732 Globe Bldg., St. Paul +Rydeen, Arthur R. Marietta +Rice, J. A. Renville +Rolf, Rev. W. F. R. 4, Sturgis, Mich. +Reil, John H. Brownton +Raymond, E. A. Wayzata +Robinson, S. Roe 2217 Colfax Ave. S., Mpls. + +Saunders, Wm. Robbinsdale +Savage, M. W. International Bldg., Mpls. +Savs, Rev. Mathias Delano +Sayre, A. M. Hills +Schaupp, Chas. F. Rushford +Schenck, A. A. 1203 Farnham St., Omaha, Neb. +Schell, Otto New Ulm +Schuster, Ed. W. Crookston +Schmidt, Dr. G. Lake City +Scott, Rev. W. T. Black River Falls, Wis. +Scranton, Ellsworth Montrose +Sebenius, John Uno Wolvin Bldg., Duluth +Shellman, A. M. Hanska +Sherman, E. M. Charles City, Ia. +Siverts, Peter Canby +Skaar, N. O. Zumbrota +Slingerland, T. S. Kasson +Slocum, A. M. Excelsior +Smiley, Daniel Mohonk Lake, N. Y. +Smith, E. A. Lake City +Snyder, Harry 1800 Summit Ave., Mpls. +Snyder, S. W. Center Point, Ia. +Soholt, Martin Madison +Speechly, Dr. H. M. Pilot Mound, Man. +Spencer, N. V. Park Rapids +Stacy, F. N. 3115 S. E. 4th, Mpls. +Stager, Mrs. Jennie Sauk Rapids +Stensrud, Hans Watson +St. John, B. E. Bruce, Wis. +Strand, G. W. Taylors Falls +Swanson, Aug. S. Wayzata +Swanson, J. H. R. 4, St. James +Swennes, Knute Minneota +Skotterud, E. O. Dawson +Stevenson, M. J. Morris, Man. +Sanders, T. A. Care Butler Bros., Mpls. +Scherf, F. A. Court House, Red Wing +Swanson, Law 205 Maria Ave., St. Paul +Sparre, Erik Elk River +Shogren, Fred M. Popple + +Tanner, Wm. Cannon Falls +Teigen, Geo. Dooley, Mont. +Teigland, J. L. Minneota +Terry, Alfred Slayton +Thomas, A. A. Sleepy Eye +Thompson, Mrs. Ida 1305 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul +Todd, Fred G. 10 Phillips Place, Montreal, P. Q. +Trefethren, F. G. Stony Butte, Mont. +Treinen, J. P. Miller, Mont. +Trow, A. W. Glenville +True, Fred O. R. 1, Good Thunder +Turngren, L. E. Montrose +Tonder, Sam R. 2, Wabasha +Torgerson, T. Care Prairie Nurseries, Estevan, Sask. + +Underwood, Mrs. Anna B. Lake City +Underwood, Roy D. Lake City + +Van Antwerp, Edward Dent +Van Nest, R. A. Windom +Voight, L. H. Hastings +Volstad, Hon. A. J. Granite Falls + +Wagner, J. F. Box 13, California, Mo. +Waldron, L. R. Agri. College, N. D. +Warren, Geo. H. 3443 Irving S., Mpls. +Warren, W. T. Slayton +Webster, Mrs. W. F. 1025 S. E. 5th St., Mpls. +Wendlandt, Wm. R. 5, Owatonna +Wentzel, A. E. Crookston +Wentzel, Louie Crookston +Wentzel, Wm. F. Crookston +Weston, W. S. Faribault +Wheeler, C. F. Excelsior +White, J. C. Mabel +Williams, J. G. 931 Endicott St., Duluth +Williams, M. M. Little Falls +Wison, Harold S. Box 71, Monroe, N. Y. +Wise, Geo. A. Minneapolis +Wright, R. A. Excelsior +Webster, D. C. La Crescent +Wiehe, C. F. 1520 Jackson Blvd., Chicago +Wyman, Willis L. Park Rapids +Woods, A. F. U. Farm, St. Paul +Wellington, R. U. Farm, St. Paul +Wales, C. E. 601 N. W. Natl. Bank, Mpls. +Ward, F. A. 1194th Ave. S., St. Cloud +Wittig, W. W. Wyoming +Weiss, Freeman 1602 N. Fremont, Mpls. +Warren, O. B. Hibbing + +Yanish, Edward Box 262, St. Paul +Yost, John L. Murdock +Zeimetz, Thos. H. Wabasha +Zabel, E. G. La Moure, N. D. + + +Honorary Life Members. + +Bowen, Mrs. Jas. 327 Beacon St., Mpls. +Brackett, A. Excelsior +Brand, O. F. Pomona, Cal. +Bush, A. K. 1014 SE., 7th St., Mpls. + +Cook, Dewain Jeffers +Corp, Sidney Hammond +Cummins, J. R. 3045 Second Ave., Mpls. + +Drum, S. H. Owatonna + +Gibbs, Oliver Melbourne Beach, Fla. +Gardner, Chas. F. Osage, Ia. + +Hansen, Prof. N. E. Brookings, S. D. +Haralson, Chas. Excelsior +Henry, Forest Dover + +Kellogg, Geo. J. Janesville, Minn. +Kenney, S. H. Waterville +Kimball, F. W. Waltham + +Lacey, Chas. Y. 547 W. Ocean Ave., Long Beach, Cal. +Latham, A. W. 3000 Dupont S., Mpls. +Long, A. G. 4304 Scott Terrace, Morningside, Mpls. +Loring, Chas. M. Riverside, Cal. + +Moore, O. W. Spring Valley +Moyer, L. R. Montevideo + +Patten, Chas. G. Charles City, Ia. +Perkins, T. E. Red Wing +Philips, A. J. West Salem, Wis. + +Redpath, Thos. Wayzata +Reed, A. H. Glencoe +Richardson, S. D. Winnebago + +Schutz, R. A. LeRoy +Smith, C. L. 1234 E. Lincoln, Portland, Ore. + +Tilson, Mrs. Ida E. West Salem, Wis. + +Underwood, J. M. Lake City + +Wedge, Clarence Albert Lea +Wheaton, D. T. Morris + + +Honorary Members for 1916. + +Rasmussen, N. A. Oshkosh, Wis. +Bisbee, John Madelia +Broderick, Prof. F. W. Agri. College, Man. +Dunlap, H. M. Savoy, Ill. +Ferris, Earl Hampton, Ia. +Waldron, Prof. C. B. Agri. College, N. D. +Street, H. G. Hebron, Ill. +Lundberg, Gottfred Kennedy + + + + +INDEX + + +A + +Aamodt, A. W., Standardizing Minnesota Potatoes; 189 + +Albertson, Mrs., Civic Improvement; 435 + +Alway, Prof. F. J., Increasing the Fertility of the Land; 250 + +Anderson, G. A., A Satisfactory Marketing System; 242 + +Andrews, J. P., The Minnesota Orchard; 367 + +Annual Members, 1916; 512 + +Annual Meeting, 1915, A. W. Latham; 3 + +Arrowood, Jas., Supt., Annual Report, 1915, Nevis Trial Station; 77 + +Arrowood, Jas., Mid. Rep., Nevis Trial Station; 286 + +Asparagus by the Acre, E. W. Record; 164 + +Asparagus, Growing, a discussion; 390 + +Award of Premiums, Annual Meeting, 1915; 9 + +Award of Premiums, Summer Meeting, 1916; 274 + + +B + +Ballou, F. H., Wealthy Apples; 461 + +Beans and Sweet Corn, Growing, Pierre B. Marien; 172 + +Bee-Keepers Column, Prof. Francis Jager; 86, 134, 179, 232, 262, 296, + 327, 437 + +Bees, Wintering of, Prof. Francis Jager; 19 + +Benjamin, J. F., Biography of; 473 + +Bisbee, John, Annual Report, 1915, Vice-Pres. 2nd Cong. Dist.; 165 + +Black, G. D., Heredity in Gladioli; 433 + +Blueberry Culture, U. S. Department of Agriculture; 423 + +Boyington, Mrs. R. P., My Color Scheme; 387 + +Brand, A. M., Peonies Old and New; 401 + +Bread Cast upon the Waters, C. S. Harrison; 356 + +Brierley, Prof. W. G., Manufacture of Cider Vinegar from Minnesota + Apples; 313 + +Brown, Frank, Annual Report, 1915, Paynesville Trial Station; 196 + +Brown, Frank, Midsummer Report, 1916, Paynesville Trial Station; 288 + +Brown Rot, Spraying Plums for, Prof. E. C. Stakman; 148 + +Buffalo Tree Hopper, Ravages of, Prof. A. G. Ruggles; 98 + + +C + +Cady, Prof. LeRoy, Annual Report, 1915, Central Trial Station; 158 + +Camping on the Yellowstone Trail, Clarence Wedge; 361 + +Canning, The Growing of Vegetables for, M. H. Hegerle; 203 + +Cashman, Thos. E., Mid. Rep., Owatonna Trial Station; 287 + +Cashman, Thos. E., President's Greeting; 1 + +Central Trial Station, Annual Report, 1915, Profs. LeRoy Cady and R. + Wellington; 158 + +Cheney, Prof. E. C., City "Foresters" and Municipal Forests; 372 + +Cider, Apple, Concentrated, Department of Agriculture; 155 + +City "Foresters" and Municipal Forests, Prof. E. G. Cheney; 372 + +Color Effects in the Garden, Planting for, Mrs. H. B. Tillotson; 427 + +Color Combinations in the Garden, Miss Elizabeth Starr; 449 + +Collegeville Trial Station, Mid. Rep., Rev. Jno. B. Katzner; 277 + +Collegeville Trial Station, Annual Report, 1915, Rev. J. B. Katzner; 14 + +Cold Storage for Apples, A Successful, H. F. Hansen; 243 + +Color Scheme, My, Mrs. R. P. Boyington; 387 + +Cook, Dewain, Plums We Already Have and Plums on the Way; 142 + +Cook, Dewain, Jeffers Trial Station, Annual Report, 1915; 198 + +Cook, Dewain, Mid. Report, Jeffers Trial Station; 280 + +Cowles, Fred, Supt., Annual Report, West Concord Trial Station; 64 + +Cowles, Fred, Mid. Report, West Concord Trial Station; 290 + +Cranefield, F., Secretary, Wisconsin State Horticultural Society; 236 + +Crosby, S. P. Report of Committee on Horticultural Building; 110 + +Cross, Mrs. E., In Memoriam; 177 + +Curculio, The Plum, Ed. A. Nelson; 245 + +Currants as a Market Garden Product, B. Wollner, Jr.; 22 + +Cutting, Frank H., Annual Report, 1915, Vice-Pres., 8th Cong. Dist.; 195 + + +D + +Dixon, J. K., Vice-Pres., Report, 1915, 4th Cong. Dist.; 100 + +Duluth Trial Station, Annual Report, C. E. Roe, Supt.; 66 + +Dunlap, H. M., Packing and Marketing Apples; 333 + +Dunlap, Hon. H. M., Spraying the Orchard; 213 + +Dunlap, Hon. H. M., Spraying the Orchard, continued; 119 + +Dwarf Apple Trees, Dr. O. M. Huestis; 137 + + +E + +Eat Minnesota Apples, Prof. R. S. Mackintosh; 132 + +Entomological Notes, Prof. F. L. Washburn; 135, 230, 261 + +Erkel, F. C., Raspberries; 413 + +Everbearing Strawberries, Geo. J. Kellogg; 125 + +Evergreens for Both Utility and Ornament, Earl Ferris; 29 + +Evergreens, Jens A. Jensen; 353 + +Executive Board, Annual Report, 1915, J. M. Underwood; 32 + + +F + +Farm, The Value of Horticulture to the, Mrs. Clarence Wedge; 217 + +Ferris, Earl, Evergreens for Both Utility and Ornament; 29 + +Fertility of the Land, Increasing the, Prof. F. J. Alway; 250 + +Flower Garden for a Country Home, M. H. Wetherbee; 470 + +Flower Garden--a discussion, G. C. Hawkins; 417 + +Fruit-Breeding Farm, Report of Committee on State, Dr. O. M. Huestis and + F. H. Gibbs; 24 + +Fruit-Breeding Farm, New Fruits Originated at Minnesota, Chas. Haralson, + Supt.; 79 + +Fruit-Breeding Farm, Minnesota State, Chas. Haralson; 445 + +Fruit Judging Contest; 13 + +Fruit Growing a Successful Industry in Minnesota, A. W. Richardson; 103 + +Fruit Retail Methods and Costs, C. W. Moomaw; 411 + +Frydholm, Martin, Rose Culture; 162 + + +G + +Garden, My Summer in a, Mrs. Gertrude Ellis Skinner; 317 + +Garden Helps, Mrs. E. W. Gould; 46, 85, 133, 178, 229, 260, 295, 326, + 359, 400, 438, 479 + +Gardner, Chas. F., The Fall-Bearing Strawberries; 429 + +Gardner, Chas. F., What Frisky is Telling the Veteran Horticulturist; + 350 + +Gibbs, F. H., Greenhouse versus Hotbeds; 467 + +Gibbs, F. H., Report of Committee on State Fruit-Breeding Farm; 24 + +Gladioli, Heredity in, G. D. Black; 433 + +Gould, Mrs. E. W., Garden Helps; 46, 85, 133, 178, 229, 260, 295, 326, + 359, 400, 438, 479 + +Grape Culture, My Experience in, Jos. Tucker; 388 + +Gray, A. N., Marketing Fruit by Association; 27 + + +H + +Hansen, Prof. N. E., What is Hardiness?; 185 + +Hansen, Prof. N. E., Newer Fruits in 1915, How Secured; 307 + +Hansen, H. F., A Successful Cold Storage for Apples; 243 + +Haralson, Chas., Supt., New Fruits Originated at Minnesota + Fruit-Breeding Farm; 79 + +Haralson, Chas., Delegate, Annual Meeting, 1915, Wis. Hort. Society; 84 + +Haralson, Chas., Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding Farm; 445 + +Harris, F. I., Vice-President Report, 1915, 1st Cong. District; 114 + +Harris, Mrs. Melissa J., In Memoriam; 131 + +Harrison, C. S., Bread Cast Upon the Waters; 356 + +Harrison, C. S., Horticulturist as King; 303 + +Harrison, H. W., The Salome Apple; 374 + +Hawkins, G. C., Flower Garden--a discussion; 417 + +Hardiness, What is? Prof. N. E. Hansen; 185 + +Hegerle, M. H., Annual Report, 1915, Vice-Pres., 10th Cong. Dist.; 67 + +Hegerle, M. H., The Growing of Vegetables for Canning; 203 + +Horticultural Building, Report of Committee on, S. P. Crosby; 110 + +Horticulturist as King, C. S. Harrison; 303 + +How May State University and the Horticultural Society Best Co-Operate, + Geo. E. Vincent; 375 + +Huestis, Dr. O. M., Dwarf Apple Trees; 137 + +Huestis, Dr. O. M., Report of Committee on State Fruit-Breeding Farm; 24 + + +I + +Improvement, Civic, Mrs. Albertson; 435 + +In Memoriam, Mrs. E. Cross; 177 + +In Memoriam, Mrs. Melissa J. Harris; 131 + +Insects, Truck Crop and Garden, Prof. Wm. Moore; 455 + + +J + +Jager, Prof. Francis, Bee-Keeper's Column; 86, 134, 179, 232, 262, 296, + 327, 437 + +Jager, Prof. Francis, Wintering of Bees; 19 + +Jeffers Trial Station, Annual Report, 1915, Dewain Cook; 198 + +Jeffers Trial Station, Mid. Report, Dewain Cook; 280 + +Jensen, Jens A., Evergreens; 353 + +Johnson, Gust, Thirty Years in Raspberries; 69 + +Journal, Annual Meeting, 1915; 481 + + +K + +Katzner, Rev. Jno. B., Mid. Report, Collegeville Trial Station; 277 + +Katzner, Rev. J. B., Annual Report, 1915, Collegeville Trial Station; 14 + +Keene, P. L., Marketing Fruit at Mankato; 343 + +Kellogg, Geo. J., Everbearing Strawberries; 125 + +Kellogg, Geo. J., Experiment Work of Chas. G. Patten; 276 + +Kellogg, Geo. J., June Bearing Strawberries; 53 + +Kimball, Miss Grace E., Planting and Care of Hardy Perennials; 471 + +Kimball, Miss Grace E., Hardy Perennials; 425 + + +L + +La Crescent Trial Station, D. C. Webster; 281 + +Latham, A. W., Annual Meeting, 1915; 3 + +Latham, A. W., Letters to Members from Secretary; 49 + +Latham, A. W., Secretary's Annual Report, 1915; 222 + +Latham, A. W., Secretary's Financial Report, 1915; 226 + +Latham, A. W., Secretary's Corner; 47, 87, 136, 182, 263, 357, 439, 480 + +Latham, A. W., Summer Meeting, 1916; 266 + +Letter to Members from Secretary A. W. Latham; 49 + +Library, The Society; 294 + +Lice, Plant, on Blossoms; 65 + +Library, Additions to, 1916; 509 + +Library, Conditions about Taking Books from; 511 + +Life Members; 535 + + +M + +Mackintosh, Prof. R. S., Bringing the Producer and Consumer Together; + 321 + +Mackintosh, Prof. R. S., Eat Minnesota Apples; 132 + +Mackintosh, Prof. R. S., Orchard Notes; 180, 321, 360 + +Madison Trial Station, Annual Report, 1915, M. Soholt; 171 + +Mandan, N. D., Trial Station, Annual Report, 1915, W. A. Peterson, + Supt.; 102 + +Mandan, N. D., Trial Station, W. A. Peterson; 282 + +Marcovitch, S., Strawberry Weevil; 220 + +Marketing Fruit Direct, H. G. Street; 238 + +Marketing Fruit by Association, A. N. Gray; 27 + +Marketing Fruit at Mankato, P. L. Keene; 343 + +Marketing System, A Satisfactory, G. A. Anderson; 242 + +Marien, Pierre B., Growing Beans and Sweet Corn; 172 + +Mayman, E. W., Annual Report, 1915, Vice-Pres., 6th Cong. Dist.; 168 + +Mid-Summer Reports, Trial Stations; 277 + +Michael, Rev. Geo., Growing Tomatoes in Northern Minnesota; 99 + +Minnesota Orchard, The, J. P. Andrews; 367 + +Montevideo Trial Station, Mid. Report, L. R. Moyer; 283 + +Montevideo Trial Station, Annual Report, 1915, L. R. Moyer; 201 + +Moomaw, C. W., Fruit Retail Methods and Costs; 411 + +Moore, Prof. Wm., Truck Crop and Garden Insects; 455 + +Moore, O. W., Top-Working; 352 + +Mosbaek, Ludvig, Rhubarb Plant; 465 + +Moyer, L. R., Annual Report, 1915, Montevideo Trial Station; 201 + +Moyer, L. R., Mid. Report, Montevideo Trial Station; 283 + +My Neighbor's Roses; 265 + + +N + +Nelson, Ed. A., The Plum Curculio; 245 + +Nevis Trial Station, Annual Report, 1915, Jas. Arrowood, Supt.; 77 + +Nevis Trial Station, Mid. Report, Jas. Arrowood; 286 + +Newer Fruits in 1915, How Secured, Prof. N. E. Hansen; 207 + +N. E. Demonstration Farm, W. J. Thompson, Supt.; 63 + +N. E. Iowa Horticultural Society, Annual Meeting, 1915, C. E. Snyder; 34 + +Notes on Plant Pests, A. G. Ruggles and E. C. Stakman; 121, 231 + + +O + +Orchard Crop of 1915, My, Harold Simmons; 89 + +Orchard, My Experience with a Young, Roy Vial; 42 + +Orchard Notes, Prof. R. S. Mackintosh; 180, 328, 360 + +Orcharding in Minnesota, a discussion, Prof. Richard Wellington; 291 + +Orcharding in Minnesota, Prof. Richard Wellington; 36 + +Owatonna Trial Station, Thos. E. Cashman; 287 + + +P + +Pabody, Ezra F., In Memoriam; 354 + +Packing and Marketing Apples, H. M. Dunlap; 333 + +Paynesville Trial Station, Annual Report, 1915, Frank Brown; 196 + +Paynesville Trial Station, Mid. Rep., Frank Brown; 288 + +Pendergast, Miss Nellie B., Support for Overloaded Fruit Tree; 349 + +Pergola, Its Use and Misuse, Chas. H. Ramsdell; 329 + +Perennials, Hardy, Miss Grace E. Kimball; 425 + +Peterson, P. H., Vice-Pres. Rep., 1915, 7th Cong. Dist.; 117 + +Peterson, W. A., Mid. Rep., Mandan, N. D., Trial Station; 282 + +Peterson, W. A., Supt., An. Rep., 1915, Mandan, N. D., Trial Station; + 102 + +Pfaender, Wm., Jr., An. Meeting, 1915, S. D. State Hort. Socy.; 95 + +Pfeiffer, C. A., Surprise Plum a Success; 58 + +Philips, A. J., Top-Grafting; 207 + +Plant Chimera; 464 + +Plums We Already Have and Plums on the Way, Dewain Cook; 142 + +Potatoes, Standardizing Minnesota, A. A. Aamodt; 189 + +Premium List, Summer Meeting, 1916; 227 + +President's Greeting, Thos. E. Cashman; 1 + +Program, Annual Meeting, 1916; 475 + +Protect the Garden against Winter Weather; 389 + +Purdham, C. W., Tomatoes for the Kitchen Garden; 113 + +Patten, Chas. G., Experiment Work of, Geo. J. Kellogg; 276 + +Peonies, Old and New, A. M. Brand; 401 + +Perennial Garden at Carmarken, White Bear, J. W. Taylor; 441 + +Perennials, Planting and Care of Hardy, Miss Grace E. Kimball; 471 + +Premium List, Summer Meeting, 1916; 258 + +Producer and Consumer Together, Bringing the, Prof. R. S. Mackintosh; + 321 + + +R + +Ramsdell, Chas. H., Pergola, Its Use and Misuse; 329 + +Ramsdell, Chas. H., An. Rep., 1915, Vice-Pres., 5th Cong. Dist.; 166 + +Raspberries, F. C. Erkel; 413 + +Raspberries, Thirty Years in, Gust Johnson; 69 + +Record, E. W., Asparagus by the Acre; 164 + +Records of Executive Board, 1916; 506 + +Rhubarb Plant, Ludvig Mosbaek; 465 + +Richardson, A. W., Fruit Growing a Successful Industry in Minn.; 103 + +Roe, C. E., Supt., Annual Report, Duluth Trial Station; 66 + +Rose Culture, Martin Frydholm; 162 + +Ruggles, Prof. A. G., Notes on Plant Pests; 181, 231 + +Ruggles, Prof. A. G., Ravages of Buffalo Tree Hopper; 98 + +Running Out of Varieties, The, Prof. C. B. Waldron; 394 + + +S + +Salome Apple, The, H. W. Harrison; 374 + +Sauk Rapids Trial Station, Annual Report, 1915, Mrs. Jennie Stager; 96 + +Sauk Rapids Trial Station, Mid. Rep., Mrs. Jennie Stager; 289 + +Secretary's Annual Report, 1915, A. W. Latham; 222 + +Secretary's Corner; 47, 87, 136, 182, 263, 357, 439, 480 + +Secretary's Financial Report, 1915, A. W. Latham; 226 + +Shelter Belt for Orchard and Home Grounds, A discussion; 379 + +Simmons, Harold, My Orchard Crop of 1915; 89 + +Skinner, Mrs. Gertrude Ellis, My Summer in a Garden; 317 + +Smith, E. A. State Flower and State Flag of Minnesota; 233 + +Snyder, C. E., An. Meeting, 1915, N. E. Iowa Hort. Socy.; 34 + +Soholt, M., An. Rep., 1915, Madison Trial Station; 171 + +South Dakota State Horticultural Society, Annual Meeting, 1915, Wm. + Pfaender, Jr.; 95 + +Spraying the Orchard, H. M. Dunlap; 213 + +Spraying the Orchard, Hon. H. M. Dunlap; 119 + +Stager, Mrs. Jennie, An. Rep., 1915, Sauk Rapids Trial Station; 96 + +Stager, Mrs. Jennie, How Mr. Mansfield Grows Tomatoes; 156 + +Stager, Mrs. Jennie, Mid. Rep., Sauk Rapids Trial Station; 289 + +Stakman, Prof. E. C., Notes on Plant Pests; 181, 231 + +Stakman, Prof. E. C., Spraying Plums for Brown Rot; 148 + +Standards for Containers for Fruits, etc., Dept. of Agri.; 462 + +Starr, Miss Elizabeth, Color Combinations in the Garden; 449 + +State Flower and State Flag of Minnesota, E. A. Smith; 233 + +Strand, Geo. W., Treasurer's Annual Report; 33 + +Strawberry, The Fall-Bearing, Chas. F. Gardner; 429 + +Strawberry Weevil, S. Marcovitch; 220 + +Strawberries, June Bearing, Geo. J. Kellogg; 53 + +Street, H. G., Marketing Fruit Direct; 238 + +Summer Meeting, 1916, Notice of; 257 + +Summer Meeting, 1916, A. W. Latham; 266 + +Support for Overloaded Fruit Tree, Miss Nellie B. Pendergast; 349 + +Surprise Plum a Success, C. A. Pfeiffer; 58 + + +T + +Taylor, J. W., Perennial Garden at Carmarken, White Bear; 441 + +Thompson, W. J., Supt., N. E. Demonstration Farm; 63 + +Tillotson, Mrs. H. B., Planting for Color Effects in the Garden; 427 + +Tomatoes for the Kitchen Garden, C. W. Purdham; 113 + +Tomatoes, How Mr. Mansfield Grows, Mrs. Jennie Stager; 156 + +Tomatoes in Northern Minnesota, Growing, Rev. Geo. Michael; 99 + +Top-Grafting, A. J. Philips; 207 + +Top-Working, O. W. Moore; 352 + +Treasurer, Annual Report of, 1915, Geo. W. Strand; 33 + +Tucker, Jas., My Experience in Grape Culture; 388 + + +U + +Underwood, J. M., Annual Report, 1915, Executive Board; 32 + +University Farm and Hort. Society, A. F. Woods; 297 + + +V + +Vial, Roy, My Experience with a Young Orchard; 42 + +Vice-President's Report, 1915, 1st Congressional District, + F. I. Harris; 114 + +Vice-President, 2nd Congressional District, Annual Report, 1915, John + Bisbee; 165 + +Vice-President's Report, 1915, 4th Congressional District, + J. K. Dixon; 100 + +Vice-President, 5th Congressional District, Annual Report, 1915, Chas. + H. Ramsdell; 166 + +Vice-President, 6th Congressional District, Annual Report, 1915, E. W. + Mayman; 168 + +Vice-President's Report, 1915, 7th Congressional District, P. H. + Peterson; 117 + +Vice-President, 8th Congressional District, Annual Report, 1915, Frank + H. Cutting; 195 + +Vice-President, 9th Congressional District, Annual Report, 1915, Mrs. H. + E. Weld; 170 + +Vice-President, 10th Congressional District, Annual Report, 1915, M. H. + Hegerle; 67 + +Vincent, Geo. E., How May State University and Horticultural Society + Best Cooperate; 375 + +Vinegar from Minnesota Apples, Manufacture of Cider, Prof. W. G. + Brierley; 313 + + +W + +Waldron, Prof. C. B., The Running Out of Varieties; 394 + +Washburn, Prof. F. L., Entomologist Column; 135 + +Wealthy Apples, F. H. Ballou; 461 + +Webster, D. C., Mid. Rep., La Crescent Trial Station; 281 + +Wedge, Clarence, Camping on the Yellowstone Trail; 361 + +Wedge, Mrs. Clarence, The Value of Horticulture to the Farm; 217 + +Weld, Mrs. H. E., An. Rep., 1916, Vice-Pres., 9th Cong. Dist.; 170 + +Wellington, Prof. Richard, An. Rep., 1915, Central Trial Station; 158 + +Wellington, Prof. Richard, Orcharding in Minnesota, a discussion; 291 + +Wellington, Prof. Richard, Orcharding in Minnesota; 36 + +West Concord Trial Station, Annual Report, Fred Cowles, Supt.; 64 + +West Concord Trial Station, Fred Cowles; 290 + +Wetherbee, M. H., Flower Garden for a Country Home; 470 + +What Frisky is Telling the Veteran Horticulturist, Chas. F. Gardner; 350 + +Wisconsin Horticultural Society, Annual Meeting, 1915, Chas. Haralson, + Delegate; 84 + +Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, F. Cranefield, Secretary; 236 + +Wollner, B., Jr., Currants as a Market Garden Product; 22 + +Woods, A. F., University Farm and Horticultural Society--Mutually + Helpful in Developing Homes of the Northwest; 297 + + + + + * * * * * + + + +Transcriber's note: Minor, obvious typos corrected. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TREES, FRUITS AND FLOWERS OF +MINNESOTA, 1916*** + + +******* This file should be named 18183.txt or 18183.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/8/18183 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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