240 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



roads bisect. Go back to Minneapolis Thursday evening ; stop with Mr. Elliot, who pro- 

 poses a trip of observation Friday and Saturday. Drive twenty miles Friday morning to 

 Lake Minatonka, and call on our pioneer horticulturist, Peter M. Gideon, at Excelsior ; 

 examine the orchard of Mr. Gideon, which is just now coming into bearing, he having 

 raised several seedlings, which are attaining a national reputation in the " Wealthy" and 

 the "Molly." The Wealthy is a seedling of the Duchess of Oldenburg, without doubt, 

 having in the tree a striking resemblance of the parent, in form and color and texture of 

 the wood ; keeps well until July, and is of great promise and commanding appearance, 

 and is not a whit behind in quality the finest apple we have on cultivation. The Molly 

 is its worthy colleague in many respects. 



At eight o'clock of the following morning, bid good by to our host and hostess, and 

 retraced our step for Minneapolis via Wyzeta ; in the route find two varieties of wild 

 Thorn, the double extract of Thornliness. We bring them down to the Hennepin County 

 Horticultural meeting which meets that afternoon at Minneapolis ; on our way call on 

 Mr. 8. Gates to examine his orchard ; find him growing quite a number of the more hardy 

 varieties with very happy results ; among the trees we noticed Duchess of Oldenburg, 

 and a great retinue of the coarser varieties of the Siberian Crab. Arrived in Minnea- 

 polis at noon ; attended the Horticultural meeting. The meeting was largely attended, 

 much interest manifested in horticulture, and samples of apples grown in different 

 parts of the county presented, and the two Thorns brought in are presented by W. 

 Elliott, and a committee appointed to examine and report the best means to propa- 

 gate it as a hedge plant for the Northwest ; the next day President Hoag of the State 

 horticultural society comes with his sleigh, and takes me to Judge Baker's, four miles 

 out of Minneapolis, where he is engaged in Horticulture and Floriculture, who sold last 

 season three hundred dollars worth of choice wild plums of one variety. The next 

 day go to Anoka, eighteen miles north on the Mississippi, where Lewis Martin is com- 

 mencing a nursery and is fruiting several kinds of apples ; for instance, Duchess of 

 Oldenburg, Haas, and a great retinue of the choicer varieties of Siberian Crab. Back 

 to Minneapolis, called on W. Elliot and examined trees and green house plants ; trees 

 of all kinds look fine, and green house plants most splendid. Friday start homeward, 

 via Minnesota Central road, called at Northfield thirty minutes. Much attention is 

 given to trees and fruits, took next train to Faribault college and find Mr. Harkness 

 at home. Leave at noon for Owatona, and. connect with cars on Winona & St. Peter's 

 Railroad ; came to St. Charles at evening, and call on H. C. Robinson and stop over 

 Sunday. Monday morning start for Winona, and come down the south Rolling Stone 

 Valley to Stockton ; call on the Pioneer nurserymen, Messrs. S. Bates & Son, who have 

 been located there fourteen years, and,show nearly twenty kinds of those new seedling 

 apples of Minnesota ; many very nice and of a splendid flavor. They sent some of the 

 best by me to the Wisconsin State Horticultural meeting, and to our own meeting at 

 Aurora. The apples were shown at both meetings. 



At Madison, the State Horticultural Society meeting was in session ; presented our 

 credential from your society as a Delegate, and was madean honorary member. 

 Many fine varieties of apples were shown from different parts of the State, and much 

 interest was manifested by all present, and from all the reports made at the meeting, 

 Wisconsin is becoming one of the fruitful states of the Northwest. Through the efforts 

 of the able President, Doctor Hobbins and the efficient Secretary, Willey, Wisconsin 

 Horticultural Society is making rapid progress in Pomology. 



