STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 239 



finite a number of amateurs, who have been quite successful in the producing of the 

 hardy kinds. L. C. McRenney and J. Petty, are among the most successful growers. 

 Crossing the Father of Rivera on the ice, bring me to Minnesota at LaCrescent. 



Called on J. B. Harris, who is one of the most successful growers in Minnesota. Nest- 

 led among the bluffs of the Mississippi, success in fruit culture is a sure thing. Harris 

 does a general plant business also, and la doing much in Minnesota, for the fruit grow- 

 ing interests. 



W eather, cold and windy. Staid until Sunday noon ; stages left with mails and pas- 

 sengers for Winona on the ice. Stopping at Trempeleau, Wis., 22 miles north of 

 La I ailed on E. Wilcox & Son, J. \V. Grey, and John Nichols, all of whom are 



growing trees and fruits, with abundant success, in great variety, Monday morning, 

 still cold; took stage for Winona, arrived at 11 A. M. ; took cars for Owatona on 

 Winona & St. Peters R. R., via. St Charles, Rochester, and other towns. Rochester is 

 perhaps as tine an inland town as there is in Minnesota. A. W. Sins is the nurseryman 

 there. At Owatona, connected with Minn. Central, for Minneapolis. Monday 

 evening, stopped at Faribault, to call on J. W. Harkness, a nephew of our lamented 

 Edson Harkness. Like his illustrious uncle, he is devoted to Horticulture, and is doing 

 B good nursery business; found him absent in Illinois. H. E. C. Barnett, also a friend 

 of Horticulture ; a son of the first nurseryman at Rochester, N. Y., in 1815. Pomonia 

 still ruus in the blood. 



Faribault is one of the first towns in Central, Minn., containing from four to five 

 thousand inhabitants. Much attention is given to tree and fruit growing. 



Tuesday afternoon, started on for Minneapolis ; arrived in evening. Wednesday called 

 at the office of Col. J. H. Stevens, headquarters of horticulture and agriculture, in 

 Minneapolis; one of the first settlers of the State ; and through his personal efforts 

 much has been accomplished, both in agriculture and horticulture. 



The rapidly increasing population numbers now 15,000. Wyman Elliot is doing a 

 general nursery business, with green-house and plant culture and market gardening. 

 A. Stewart and J. T. Grimes, also nurserymen; and Rank & Grethen, green-house plants 

 and tree growers — all met, and together pro< ded to St. Paul, on Wednesday morn- 

 ing, to attend the Minnesota State Horticultural meeting, which was presided over 

 by the pioneer and president, Charles Hoag, in an able manner. There was a fair at- 

 tendance, and much interest manifested by all. Presenting my credentials as a dele- 

 gate from your Society, I was made an honorary member of theirs. 



The meeting was held two days. The governor and members of the legislature mani- 

 I much interest In the cultivation and production of fruit for their State. A great 

 many new seedlings of much promise are being propagated in different parts of the 

 State. Col. D. A. Robertson, editor of the Minnesota Monthly, untiring ever in the 

 cause of horticulture, reports results of investigation in different parts of the State 

 flattering. Many seedling apples are presented from different parts; but few of the 



Northern Illinois varieties Of apples are hardy enough to grow as far up U St. Paul. 

 These new si edlinge arc producing a wonderful, happy result in the long blank, since tin- 

 early settlement of fifteen years. Thl< musl be a great acquisition for tiii- latitude, and 

 many are the men engaged to try out the new seedling apples for thi.> latitude, and they 

 are the elect for horticulture in Minnesota. The meeting adjourned on the 26th of 

 January. All railroads give free passes to all members, and evince a great desire to see 

 all the horticultural interests developed in the great and growing State that their several 



