HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE IN MINNESOTA. 33 



soil. Our wood grows differently from Western Xew York. Our oak burns 

 green, but oak there cannot be burned green without other wood to burn with 

 it. In New York, trees don't bear as young, but live longer. 



Mr. Hamilton spoke of the plan of the Canadian of digging a large hole and 

 putting'a large flat stone at the bottom. 



Mr. Harkness believed from one-half to two-thirds of the trees were killed 

 by too mucli cultivation. Would cultivate no tree later than July. Thought 

 disease often arose from pruning in all seasons of the year. 



Adjourned till 7 r. m. 



EVENING SESSION. 



Convention re-assembled at 7 o'clock. The subject of the morning was 

 resumed. 



Mr. Brand considered that the Red Astrachan, Tallmau's Sweet, Fameuse, 

 and Duchess of Oldenburg, were the best varieties. Considered lied Astrachan 

 as hard}' as the Duchess : perhaps a little hardier in certain situations ; in 

 some might not be so hardy. Had planted 1,000 Duchess stocks and they 

 had winter-killed. He regarded Red Astrachan as the hardiest one could 

 cultivate. Would place stones under trees ; and the soil, whether wet or dry, 

 should be three feet deep. Advised making deep drains under the roots 

 3 to 3^ feet dieep, and filling in small stones. This serves for drainage. 



On motion, the President appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. 

 Harkness, Elliot, Hamilton and Hubbard, to report a list of varieties of 

 apples, suitable for cultivation in Minnesota. 



THE Cl'LTIVATIOX OF S.-\rAI.L FRUITS. 



On motion of Mr. Mott, the subject of small fruit was then taken up in the 

 following order: First, Cranberries; Second, Raspberries; Third, other small 

 fruits. 



Mr. Mott urged the cultivation of the Ci'anberr}' in consequence of its cer- 

 tainty, its great productiveness, and adaptation to transportation. He read 

 a report of the cultivation in New Jersey from the Patent Office Report of 

 1865. 



Mr. Elliot read from Fuller's Fruit Cultivator as to the habits of the Cran- 

 berry. He thought the report of 1,300 bushels to the acre in the Patent Office 

 Report absurb, as it would make the fruit li inches" deep all over the surface. 

 Thought 175 to 200 bushels to the acre would be an average. Ground should 

 be flowed to keep off insects. 



Mr. Frink had seen the Cranberry crop gathered in Shieldsville. The mar- 

 shes had no sand, and the Cranberries did not grow where the ground was not 

 overflowed. 



Raspberries.— The cultivation of raspberries was discussed. 



Mr. Mott had tried the Doolittle Black Cap, and knew it to be a flue berry. 

 Thinks that in this State we don't need to import varieties. The wild variety 

 6 



