98 3Iississippi Valley Horticultural Society. 



The third, that he study his subject thoroughly to learn all the known laws 

 of adaiitation. 



The fourth, that he select for his main planting only the few hardiest ; and 



The fifth that he keep out a liberal line of experiments, according to his 

 means, and be ready to branch out in good time. 



In regard to the first condition — no other State has been such a slaughter- 

 ground of apple trees as Minnesota. Nearlj' every farm that was opened 

 from 1850 to 1860, when all the southern and central sections were settled up, 

 has had a succession of orchard funerals. First eastern and southern trees, 

 next western trees, then Canada trees, then home-grown seedlings, and lastly 

 the crabs. All are gone of these old plantings but the Duchess of Oldenburg 

 in general, and in particular, here and there a survivor from some other sort 

 that is unable to give any account of itself. Many of these lost trees lived to 

 bear fruit, and give promise of long life and profit. One farmer in my 

 neighI)orhood, from a small orchard of two or three hundred trees, had five 

 hundred bushels of choice apples, and was peddling them around town from 

 his wagon like potatoes. The winter of 1872-'3 froze up dry. In the spring his 

 Plum's Ciders, his Fameuse, his Saxtons, his Jonathans, his Golden Russets, 

 his Talman's Sweets, and all that ilk, had not a live root remaining, although 

 potatoes left undug in the fall on ground adjoining lay through under the 

 deep snow-drifts, and came out perfect in the spring. One may think he 

 knows the reason of all these failures, and how to avoid them in the future, 

 but let him be ever so well posted, when he comes to open his^ purse for a ' 

 new purchase, and contemplates the labor, the use of his ground, and the 

 possible chances of another failure — here is where he needs the courage — a 

 courage like that of Peter M. Gideon, the originator of the Wealthy apple, 

 who for twenty years went ragged in the battle for apples, but said all the 

 while," I will grow apples or leave the State, and I won't leave the State!" 



Love for trees is, perhaps, more necessary for success in severe climates 

 than it is in mild ones. Nothing so well keeps up an interest and a watchful 

 care. Trees need more care in i\[innesota'than in Missouri, though they get 

 none too much of it anywhere. It must be a love akin to that of parents for 

 children, of a lover for his mistress, a husband for his wife, of friend for 

 friend; a love for their soc.et}'^, for their beauty, their protection from all 

 danger, their help in time of trouble; an enjoyment of their budding and 

 blossoming time, their growth, their fruitage, until and through the autumn, 

 when they hang out their crimson, russet, and golden banners, vicing ^ith 

 all the lovely colors of the wooded hills, and onward with the .same care to 

 shield them from harm during the white-robed i)eriod of their winter rest. 

 A man who will bark a tree in cultivating, if he can avoid it, or who, having 

 done it, will not hasten to bind up the wound as he would upon the limb or 

 body of a friend, is not lit to grow apples in Minnesota. If he loves not his 

 trees, he is liable to put it oil'—" time is too valuable; something else will pay 

 better." Pay! a man must feel that nothing else pays so well as to keep him- 

 self and hi.s associates out of trouble; and he must have that feeling for his 



