Fruit Culture in Minnesota. 101 



sion of our list into a large variety of apples, and that we shall soon add to 

 the acknowledged beauty and quality of the apples we have, the merit of 

 long keeping in these new sorts, and be able to dispute the markets of the 

 world as to winter apples with New England, New York, Michigan and Mis- 

 souri ; but on the experimental list let these new candidates stand, with rea- 

 sonable hospitality, for further acquaintance, before putting them into 

 orchards on a large scale by men of moderate means and without expert 

 knowledge in making selections. 



I need not say much of other fruits under this caption. 



PKARS. 



The i^ear, for our adoption, we have yet to find. Our hope is now in Charles 

 Gibb and Prof. Budd. 



THE CHERRY. 



The cherry went out of general view when the winter of 1872-3 killed our 

 Early Richmonds. The Germans of Carver county, latitude about 45°, have 

 had the Ostheim for over twenty years, unknown to the Minnesota Horticul- 

 tural Society till now. They say it is hardy enough there and is adapted to 

 the climate ; that it blossoms late in the spring, bears heavy in favorable sea- 

 sons, and is a large, good, dark colored cherry. They propagate it only by 

 root sprouts. Mr. Charles Ludluff", a farmer of Carver, who obtained the 

 first trees from Germany, says that if grafted it must not be on sour cherry 

 stocks. Whether it will be hardy west of the big woods or in the northern 

 part of the State, we do not know. We want to trv for the severest tests, the 

 Russian Vladimers, and shall do it as soon as we can get them, by importa- 

 tion, or from that "nest of spicery," the Iowa Agricultural College farm at 

 Ames. 



THE PLUM. 



Plum culture we know nothing of in Minnesota, except as to the Iowa, Il- 

 linois and Wisconsin natives, like the Forest Garden, the Weaver and De Soto, 

 and many nice wild sorts selected from our native Minnesota groves. But 

 the growing of these sorts is successful and profitable. They are of fair 

 quality for eating out of hand, and good for cooking. They are large, hand- 

 some and sell well in market. The Forest Garden is earliest, but will not 

 bear much handling or transportation unless with extreme care, it is so ten- 

 der in skin and pulp. The Weaver and De Soto are firm. These two resist 

 the Little Turk, and for some reason he does not seem to get hold of the For- 

 est Garden where I have seen it grown. Perhaps he may under other con- 

 ditions. These varieties are all perfectly hardy. Opinions difTer, but I con- 

 sider the De Soto most reliable for a crop and most profitable. There are 

 others known by name and highly recommended but I am not acquainted 

 with them. 



SMALL FRUITS. 



As to small fruits, little need be said. From the currant to the grape, they 

 are nearly all at home in Minnesota ; only that some of them entail more 



