46 HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE IN MINNTJSOTA. 



J. S. Shearman, of Rockford, llliuois, expressed it as very strange that the 

 Duchess should be injured by 15 deg. below zero on the grounds of Mr. Ford, 

 when 32 deg. below does not effect it in his own latitude. Stated that he had 

 seen the tree growing finely and bearing fruit, at St. Cloud and other places, 

 and had not seen it winter killed. It dies often from careless treatment. 



J. T. Grimes, of Hennepin county, had a number of the Duchess on his 

 grounds from one to six years old, none of which had been injured. Made a 

 practice of throwing a low mound of earth round them in the fall to keep off 

 mice, and to prevent the water settling around the roots. Believed many 

 trees were killed because they were not taken care of, often by water settling 

 round the base of the tree, or in its forks, when the bark is injured by freez- 

 ing and thawing. 



P. A. Jewell, being called, stated he believed there are localities where the 

 Duchess failed, and proceeded to cite cases where it had died, and others 

 where it is doing well. Thought that very many trees are sold containing 

 the germ of disease, and many are killed by Winter pruning. He would 

 recommend its cultivation on high land, and near water ; but believed it very 

 unlikely to succeed on low rich land, unless near some body of water. Be- 

 lieves there is lime on all Minnesota laud, and the tree did not die from its 

 lack. Doubts whether fifty per cent, of this kind of trees is doing well in 

 the southern part of the State. Thought them more likely to succeed if set 

 out at two or three years of age than at one year. 



W. L. Wilson, of St. Paul, had two or three Duchess, quite old (the best 

 one set tifty apples last year) on a southern slope, with a grape trellis below, 

 giving partial protection from the sun. Two or three years ago the trees 

 looked perfectly healthy. They now show marks of disease. He did not 

 think they would live, and considered their advanced age no guaranty of their 

 success. States that he has seen very few other trees of this kind. 



J. S. Shearman stated that some years ago, after a very dry Summer and 

 Fall, the Winter set in with no rain, and many trees, both old and young, 

 were killed in Wisconsin. Considers pruning in AVinter almost sure death to 

 standard trees. 



L. M. Ford remarked that many trees killed during our very wet season. 



P. A. Jewell stated that trees here top-kill ; in Illinois, they root-kill, and 

 that it was his opinion, the trees did not die from either the wetness or 

 dryness of the ground, as there was a coating of snow to protect the roots. 

 Did not think one Crab died to ten Duchess. 



D. A. J. Baker, St. Paul, had planted twelve trees of the Duchess, and 

 thought they would not live. Had met with poor success with all kinds of 

 apples, but was not discouraged. 



T. Moulton, of St. Anthony, had traveled in Carver, Scott and Stearns 

 counties, but had seen very few that were healthy. Thought many had been 

 injured before leaving the nursery, by being cut back for scions ; also, that 

 very many trees have been sold for Duchess that were less hardy varieties. 



Chas. H. Clark, Hennepm county, had planted seven hundred apple trees, 

 fifty of them Duchess. Met with perfect success with one and two year old 



