Addresses — Conditions of Hardiness. 181 



the hybernate or dormant condition in which our hardy trees pass 

 the winter, quite analogous to the winter life of many species of 

 insects, and, if properly ripened, our hardy trees will as safely pass 

 through our severe winters as do those insects. 



Variety. — Qualities inherent in a variety or species maybe 

 modified by the conditions under which the tree may grow. We 

 know that the human family become degenerated by a long course 

 of enervating influences, and why not a given variety of tree? We 

 are ever turning our eyes to new seedlings to secure greater hardi- 

 ness and vigor, and so we will always be compelled to do. But 

 "blood will tell," and vital force is inherent in some families more 

 than others, even to the exclusion of some of the finer qualities, 

 and to such we look for our hardy sorts. But we must not expect 

 the highest development of all essenlial qualities of fruit with that 

 of tree. The conditions of extreme hardiness of a tree are either 

 small size and rich fruit, or larger size and coarse fruit. The 

 Siberian family are typical of the former and the Russian of the 

 latter, under our second general division, the geological. The soil 

 must be so complete in itself that it shall furnish all needful ele- 

 ments of tree food, under ordinary treatment and conditions; and 

 these elements must be in proper proportions, for the root has no 

 power of choice, and if it absorbs an excess of one element to the 

 exclusion of others as necessary, there will be a weakness of the 

 tree apparent at once. Hence the necessity of an even balance in 

 the soil formation to secure the best results. Trees orrown in a bed 

 of muck may survive a summer, but would be unfit for winter in 

 this latitude. The same tree grown on a firm, dry, calcareous soil 

 would make less growth, perhaps, but would be safe for any severi- 

 ties of winter. 



The best tree soils of our state may be divided into three classes, 

 viz: The yrairie loams, the calcareous clays and the clay loams. 

 Each of these contains all needed elements of tree food. The first 

 often having an excess of humus, may produce soft, unripe wood, 

 which, unless checked in growth by midsummer, will not endure the 

 winter. The second, if well trained, will ripen its wood as fast as 

 made, ready for extremes of both heat and cold, 

 do the same if not too moist, but there will be 

 growth and immature wood. 



