HORTIIULTURE IN MINNESOTA. 



C. S. Harrison, York. 



No state in th3 union lias had greater difficulties to overcome than 

 Minnesota, and no class of men have won more sublime victories along the 

 horticultural line. Every defeat was a challenge which was heartily 

 taken up until victory followed victory, and now this northern state has 

 the best, the largest and most enthusiastic society in the United States, 

 If not in the world. Just think of it, the membership is now over 2,800 

 and will soon reach 3,000. From beginning to the end the different pro- 

 grams were carried out without a hitch. Secretary Latham had all the 

 machinery well oiled. 



The first paper was on the Ponderosa, or bull pine, by the president 

 of the Nebraska Park and Forest society, who is also a life member of 

 the Minnesota society . He gave his experience of twenty-five years with 

 this remarkable tree, showing its adaption to the great west and north- 

 west. He showed how the farmer could raise these trees in the open as 

 easily as he can onions, he gave the expenience of an ordinary farmer in 

 Manitoba who raised 3,000 from one-half pound of seed at the initial cost 

 of 50 cents per 1,000. He had samples with him showing the necessity 

 of transplanting when a year old, thus securing a mass of fibrous roots. 



He also spoke of the by-products of this tree. Several establishments 

 in California and Oregon are distilling a valuable oil from the needles, 

 which is used in making soap and also cough candies. Fiber yarn 

 is also made from them, so when you plant a rapid growing bull pine 

 grove you plant a flock of sheep, which, instead of needing care, will 

 take care of you, it will cost nothing to winter them and you know where 

 they are nights. He hoped that in a few years members would come to 

 the meetings wearing overcoats of their own growing. 



A. B. Coleman gave an interesting paper on raising small firuits on 

 the pine lands of northern Minnesota. The discussion following showed 

 that this portion of the state was producing enormous crops of splendid 

 berries. "Walter A. Yatmke gave an accounty of his remarkable success 

 with the Homer Cherry in the southwestern portion of the state. Dis- 

 cussion developed the fact that cherries had not been successfully grown 

 north of St. Paul. In the afternoon the general subject of evergreens was 

 conducted by former president, Clarence Wedge of Albert Lea. He 

 brought in quite a number of specimen trees of his own growth. Mr. 

 Wedge has had special success along this line. In the discussion, the 

 fact was brought out that every failure of Rocky mountain evergreens in 

 Minnesota has been traced to the fact that the seeds had been gathered 



