202 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



extreme winters, but enough, of first class in quality of fruit can 

 be had to answer our purpose in the pursuit of more and better 

 the year through. 



The experimental orchard is intended as a lasting institution. 

 It is designed to cull out and insert better varieties as better are 

 found or developed in the lapse of time. Every year the seed is to 

 be carefully saved and planted, each variety to be carefully labeled, 

 and the results carefully noted, as each tree, or set of trees, come 

 into bearing. The orchard contains 745 trees, grafted and set last 

 spring, and it will require some ten years to see any results from 

 it, as these trees have first to fruit, and the seed therefrom to grow 

 into trees and develop their qualities of fruit. 



Mr. Smith — Are there many new apples coming out in Minne- 

 sota that promise to be of any value? 



Mr. Gideon — Not many as yet. There are some in the southern 

 portion of the state that have got some little note, that are not 

 known to have any crab in them, but whether they will succeed 

 when taken out of that immediate vicinity, is a question. There is 

 a certain portion of Minnesota, around Winona, where they appear 

 to be able to grow anything that they plant, and these new seed- 

 lings are mostly in that neighborhood; not yet tested outside. 



Mr. Smith — The Wealthy is the best of anything you have. 



Mr. Gideon — The Wealthy is the best in size and appearance 

 of anything that I have grown. I have some others as good in 

 quality as the Wealthy, and fully as good and perhaps a little bet- 

 ter, in training. 



Mr. Phillips — I have understood that the state of Minnesota has 

 an experimental farm, and they have taken this matter in hand, to 

 have these seedlings cultivated for the benefit of the people in the 

 state, and see if they can produce an apple that is adapted to the 

 climate. I think Mr. Gideon has been appointed fruit commis- 

 sioner of the state, and that they have appropriated a thousand dol- 

 lars for the purpose of making these experiments. I think it would 

 be well for him to explain just what course the state has taken. 

 Perhaps it may induce our people to help our horticulturists 

 a little. 



Mr. Gideon — The state has purchased one hundred and sixteen 

 acres adjoining my farm, and on that the experimental orchard is 

 situated. I have charge of it. They pay me one thousand dollars 



