HISTORY OF HORTTCULTURE IN MINNESOTA. 11 



on horticiiltnra] matters, with instructions to collect siicli facts and statistics 

 upon the subject as they were able, and to report them at the next annual 

 meeting. At the next meeting, March 4th, a mouth later, by a resolution 

 oftered by Mr. Smith, the secretary, Mr. J. A. Wheelock was directed to 

 apply to the U. S. Commissioner of Patents for such plants, seeds, and 

 publications as could be apportioned to the State. 



Tracing this matter of attention to fruit growing along through the records 

 of the State Agricultural Society, we next see that at a meeting of the execu- 

 tive committee held at the Fair Grounds in Minneapolis, Sept. 30, 1866, pre- 

 sent, Messrs. Guiteau, Hoag, Ames and Smith, it was voted, "the flrst 

 premium for essays on fruits be given to Col. D. A. Robertson, and that it 

 be requested for publication." 



We do not learn what particular essay is here referred to amongst the 

 many penned by Col. Robertson about this time in the history of fruit grow- 

 ing, or attempts at it in the State ; and, as afterwards the Colonel had the 

 misfortune to lose most of his manuscripts and pamphlets by the burning of 

 his oflice, there is not much chance of coming definitely at the facts in the case. 

 But, as in ;March, the same year, previously it will be noted, he had been 

 actively occupied with the fruit question, the substance of his views may be 

 had perhaps in the newspapers of that date, aud in what we shall shortly 

 present. 



That Col. Robertson deserves all the honor that can be conferred upon him 

 as one of the very first in point of faith and energy in the attempts made to 

 introduce fruit culture into the State, we have the evidence in the shape of 

 two able communications to the St. Paul Pioneer of the dates respectively of 

 :March 1st and l-tth, 1866, and which are given below. There can be no doubt 

 from what followed in October, the same year, that his special efforts in the 

 line indicated were not only largely influential in bringing about the organi- 

 zation of the '' Fndt Grov-efs Association" the basis and beginning of the 

 present State Horticultural Society, but that these efforts, — recognized as we 

 have seen— naturally placed him at the head of the movement as President of 

 the association referred to. As a portion of the history of fruit growing in 

 the State at that time, as well as of the ideas current on the subject, we print 

 the two communications from the pen of Col. Robertson as follows : 



[from the ST. PAUL PIO^'EER, OF MARCH Ist, 1866.] 



Pomological — The Pioneer Fruit Groicers of Minnesota — miat they have 

 Accomplished — Hovj onr Fruit Trees are Killed hij the Sun — Peach Tree Culture 

 in Dakota County. 



[ C0:MMU1S^CATED BY D. A. ROBERTSON.] 



The successes and failures in our pioneer fruit growing, detailed in the letters now in 

 course of publication, are alike instructive and valuable, affording conclusive evidence of 

 the fi-uit tree growing capabilities of our soil and climate. In the Middle States, as -well as 

 in the extreme Northwest, the successful cultivation of fruit trees requires knowledge and 

 experience. There are failures in every climate, resulting from lack of information, from 

 want of care, from sun-blight, or "fi'ost," or uncongeniality of soil, or atmospheric causes. 

 In a new country like ours, a new experience must be acquired. 



