68 HISTOIiy OF HORTICULTURE IX MINNESOTA. 



For the first time we iiatliered tame cherries hist season, rreviously we 

 failed. This vahiable fruit in the early years of the State, seemed to follow 

 the apple and was thrown aside. It may now be considered as one of our 

 profitable products. 



The record on grapes is satisfactory, and more favorable than expected. 

 Some forty varieties are in bearing. From one vine four years old, Richard 

 J. Mendenhall, the able President of the Hennepin Horticultural Society, 

 harvested over two bushels of Delaware grapes. The quality of the grapes 

 is intinitely superior to those frombelow^ As Mr. Mendenhall is an educated 

 horticulturalist as well as a thorough entomologist, the Society can profit by 

 his experience. Your attention is most respectfully directed to the success 

 of Truman M. Smith, of St. Paul, in the culture of this superior fruit. 

 • Whether a very great improvement can be made in the introduction of new- 

 varieties of plums remains to be seen. Our natives are very desirable. 

 While most all the old standard varieties have reached a doubtful mattirity, 

 those to the numor born are being cultivated, and the quality of fruit greatly 

 improved. The Excelsior, Harrison, and several other varieties are quite 

 equal to the Miner and Wild Goose, and scarcely inferior to the standard 

 plums of the Middle States. 



Our progress in regard to peaches is far from satisfactory. Its cultivation 

 may aftbrd recreation to amateur gardeners, though we have several in- 

 stances of the trees bearing fruit the past season, and it is not impossible 

 but at some future day the more hardy varieties may be cultivated with profit. 



The pear also fruits. But little attention has been bestowed to its cultiva- 

 tion, and that little in an indifterent manner ; but the trial is w^orth making, 

 with a reasonable prospect of success. 



As a people, much attention is given, and homage rendered at the shrine of 

 Flora. It is not local. Orders are sent from most every postoffice to Vick, 

 Bliss, and Peter Henderson. Lawns and flower gardens are appreciated. 

 Fragrant roses, scarlet lilies, magnificent climbing vines, command the atten- 

 tion of the ladies. The royal dahlia, the double petunia, fuchias, geraniums, 

 gladiolus, heliotrope, hyacinths, pelargonimns, tulips, verbenas, and kindred 

 flowers and plants are becoming household words. The early Spring is wel- 

 comed by white, yellow^ lilac, blue and striped crocus, in advance of the 

 bright, yellow, honest blossom of the dandelion. These gifts are God's 

 boimtiful blessings. The home is happy when the the flowers bloom. 



The list of shade and ornamental trees should receive the attention of the 

 Society. We have those that are upright and those that are drooping. We 

 can select from native varieties and from those that are imported. We have 

 the elm and maple which are so beautiful in New^ England, and to which that 

 section of the Union is so much indebted for a large proportion of its pic- 

 turesque scenery. We have the mountain ash with its emerald foliage, and 

 ermine fruit ; the linden, hackberry, the silver-leaved poplar, coffee-tree, the 

 golden and white birch. This is a native list. Why not dot the roadsides 

 with them? skirt the fields, fill the yards— a home for singing birds, a pleas- 

 ure for everv one who has life and being? We have, too, the green-boughed 



