HISTORY OF HORTICLTLTURE IX MINNESOTA. 43 



Wm. L. Wilson, of Maiikato. has succeeded in raising Baldwin. Summer Pearmain, Gilli- 

 flower, and several kinds of winter fruit, the names of which are unknown. Thinks he will 

 succeed with many other kinds. His orchard i~ upon timber land, two hundred feet ahove 

 the river, inclining to the north and west, and sheltered on the south and east by timber. 

 Soil, a clay loam mixed with gravel, clay subsoil. He thinks such a soil well adapted to fruit 

 growing. He cultivates the ground, growing some hoed crop: prefers Pota-.oes. Beans, or 

 some low growing cro]) that will not shade the trees in Summer. He shades his tree< in 

 Spring with boards nailed together in shape of V: this protects them from the scorching rays 

 of the sun. Does not think mulching of any use. Prunes early in Spring. Sometimes 

 piuches tips of limbs in fall to make them ripen up well. Has some excellent native Plums: 

 the best he has ever seen anywhere. 



Mr. G. W. Sylvester, of Woodland, Wabasha county, has planted many varieties, amongst 

 which are Sops of, Wine, Saxon, Tillman Sweet. Perry Russet, Harvest Bough, Kirkbridge 

 White, Red Astrachan. and Duchess Oldenburg. These he considers his hardiest kinds 

 Has raised from five to twenty bushels of apples a year for six years; the princii al kinds 

 fruited being those here named. Has grown some seedlings, a few of which have borne. 

 His ground is oak openings— high— with southern exposure, sheltered on the north. Would 

 prefer northern inclination so sheltered. Soil, a black loam on clay subsoil. 



Thinks it advisable nut to cultivate much or late. Thinks it induces a quick and late growtli, 

 leiivingthe wood not fully ripened, and too full of sap to withstand a severe winter. Recom- 

 mends mulching freely instead of cultivation. Prunes at all seasons: thinks June the best. 

 Has had trees succeed well on new ground, planted second season after breaking. Plants 

 about six inches deep. Has Flemish Beauty Pears in sod ground doing well. 



Mr. Harkuess goes on to .say : 



In examining- thi.s correspondence. I have been struck with the great simi- 

 larity of the experience of tliose who have succeeded in raising fruit. All 

 have succeeded with about the same varieties — those recommended by your 

 committee in January. All are in favor of cultivation early in the season ; in 

 favor of mulching, with one exception; in favor of Summer pruning. High 

 locations with northern exposure seem to have succeeded best. Shelter for 

 trees, has, too, been an important point with all. Trees on clay subsoil seem 

 better than on any other, although there are many localities where trees are 

 doing well on the open prairie, under very unfavorable circumstances. 



It is very gratifying to learn that there have been so many varieties fruited 

 here that are known to be tender in Wisconsin, and are seldom raised there 

 except by top-grafting on the Siberian Crab or some other hardy stock. 



I cannot close this report, without giving some of my views upon this 

 subject. I think the surest road to success to be that of top-grafting on 

 Crabs. I have the present season seen tender varieties doing remarkably 

 well top-grafted on the Soulard, Siberian and Transcendent Crabs. I have 

 no doubt that by top-grafting, we can raise many varieties here that are now 

 considered tender, and even our hardy kinds, or those that succeed well in 

 favored locations, as the Fameuse, Eed Astrachan, terry Eusset, and Golden 

 Russet, will do much better top-grafted on Crabs than they do root-grafted. 

 The Duchess of Oldenburg is about the only tree that is yet known to be 

 perfectly reliable in all localities, root-grafted. The Haas or Maryland Queen 

 seems however to be growing in favor, and in my opinion will be found to be 

 as hardy as the Duchess. 



In planting it is ver^- important that the soil should be thoroughly prepared , 

 and thrown up in such a manner that the trees shall stand upon ridges. In 

 cultivation the ground should be left smooth in Autumn, with furrows 



