HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE IN MINNESOTA. 15 



1 consider the lowest hollows, with black soil the poorest, the highest portions, hting 

 nnprotected, the nest poorest, and the slopes the best. Sheltered on the north by higher 

 ground, and some parts are sheltered on the eatt and south by higher ground and grubs, or 

 small trees. On the v.est there is a hedge of willows and cottonwoods, now 15 or 20 feet 

 high. 



7th. Have banked up the trees in the fall to the height of one loot, more or less, for the 

 purpose of keeping the water and mice from them. 



Sth. My trees are' headed low, some of them very low. 



0th. In addition to those noted. I have fruited several kinds, a part of them seedlings— 15 

 or 16 in all. 



10th. A part of the trees were mulched the first season after planting; not since. 



Varieties that have failed or done but poorly— Baldwin, R. I. Greening, Roxbury Russett, 

 Golden Sweet, Hubardston Nonesuch, Spitzenberg, Early Harvest, Porter, Gilliflower. 



The above I consider worthless here. 1 have several varieties of apples not in general 

 cultivation: some of them promise well; some have fruited here. 



My young trees were badly damaged last October by the frost. We had warm weather 

 until late in the fall, and the cold weather of the latter part of October found them still 

 green, and some were apparently growing. The frost split the barks of some, and discolored 

 the sap or soft wood of others. It is the first time I have seen the apple dama'^ed in a 

 similar way. 



My location is prairie principally, though the portion occupied by my orchard is bur oak 

 opening Avith hazelbrush. There are no large trees on either side. As far as my observation 

 goes, high or elevated timber land, with the timber left on all sides sufficient to break tne 

 winds, would be the best location for fruit trees, alwaj^s regarding the slopes as preferable. 



My trees have all been raised from seed sown here, and grafted by myself. 



The earliest fruit from the seed was produced on trees four years from the seed, they 

 having been root grafted when one year old. 



In this section of the State, George Sylvester, of Plainview, Wabasha county, and Natlian 

 Fisher, of Beaver, Winona county, have raised apples. 



Yours respectfully, 



Irvin W. Rollins. 



WASHINGTON COUNTY. 



Afton. Feb. 20, 18fi(5. 

 Col. Boherfson: 



Sir: In answer to your inquiries regarding apple trees, I beg to say, that on the 9th day 

 of May, 1S54, I set out twenty-five three year old trees. 

 2. Came, I understood, from Iowa. 

 Z None have escaped injury. 



4. Surface soil, rich, black loam, with clay subsoil. 



5. The land was under cultivation one year before p'anting. I have grouii iuimpkins 

 among the trees. 



('). Southern aspect, sheltered on the northwest side by blufi"-i. 



7. I have sometimes protected the trunks with cornstalks— sometimes with board-*. 



S. They are grown tall, mostly. 



P. The Fameuse, Dominie, and Strawberry varieties have fruited. 



10. I have mulched sometimes in winter. 



I have one Fameuse, which the deer girdled and killed; it has since grown up from the 

 roots, and borne fruit of good size and quality for several years. Last spring it was covered 

 with bloom, Avhich, I supposed, the frost killed, as it all fell ofl". 



Another Fameuse bore a bushel of fruit in 1862 and died the year following. I had iixe 

 trees labeled, " York Russet." which died immediately; two Dominies, one of which bore 

 a little fruit, both died out; three Vaudaveeres Avhicli made a creat growth, killed out but 

 h;ive since grown up from the roots; three Baldwins, gone root and branch; three Sweet 

 Boughs killed, but grown from the roots; two Swaars gone; two Esopus Spitzenbergs of 

 which one is alive and has bloomed, but never bore fruit. I had two Strawberries, one bore 

 a few apples, but killed down to the ground— it has grown up from the roots, and last year 

 the suckers bloomed again. Should the season prove favorable, I expect several of the 

 above to bear next summer. I shall set out a few Duchess of Oldenburg trees in the Spring. 

 Wishing you success in your eflbrts, 



I am truly yours, 



David Berrt. 



