70 HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE IN MINNESOTA. 



po-sed that the Transceudent, Hyslop, Grant, Colfax and other apples so 

 common in our gardens,' are the accidental results of hybridizing of the 

 Siberian with the common apple. If b}^ the result of accidental propagation 

 choice and ne\v varieties of fruit have been introduced, there is no end to the 

 bright hopes that may be realized by the educated hand of man in the same 

 field. 



The Society will have occasion to use their influence to protect the people 

 of the State from the imposture of tree peddlers. These sharks frequent 

 every locality. It is only safe to purchase trees from reliable nurserymen 

 and their agents. 



This is the land of insects. Uur bugs and worms, our catapillars, leaf and 

 bark lice, ticks, ants, flies, millers, moths, borers and maggots eat long, 

 devour late, consume the foliage of vegetation, and frequently strip an apple 

 tree at one sitting. They are destructive when in the larvae, as well as when 

 full grown. They are the terrible enemies of the Minnesota horticulturalist. 

 How necessary is it for us to have a State Entomologist. The study of 

 entomology should be a study in our schools. 



It is to be hoped that the day is not far distant when every school house 

 will have its flower garden and nursery, so that the scholars may also be 

 taught the art of grafting, budding, and other matters pertaining to horti- 

 culture. 



Experience has taught us that mulching is necessary. There is not a tree 

 that bears fruit, not a shrub or vine, or cane, that produces berries, but is all 

 the better for this handiwork. Plant as we may, cultivate as we will, or 

 whatever may be the quality of the soil, or however favorable our grounds 

 may be, mulching is indispensable. It is necessary in cold weather, in warm 

 weather — necessary at all seasons. 



The important matter of pruning will occupy your attention. We all 

 want to know at what season of the ye'dv it is best to apply the pruning knife. 

 Some of us are favorable to early Spring, some one time, others at another. 

 My own experience is that the first of June is the best season. Trees should 

 be cut back for their own good, and the question is, at what season of the 

 year should this be carried into execution? 



The Society should impart to the people of the State what variety of soil 

 is best for setting out orchards. The lay of the land, or the exposure of the 

 surface should be considered. A northern exposure is considered by many 

 to be much better for the growth of apples than a southern one. In central 

 Minnesota a northern exposure with clay sub-soil, is desirable. 



The subject of grafting is one fraught with much moment to us, and we 

 are now educated to one fact in this matter, and that is, the only reliable 

 trees for this section, are those Avhich are grafted in the root. Stock grafting 

 will not answer our purpose at all. Many of our nurserymen who propagate 

 only hardy trees, are prone to use tender varieties of apple roots for grafting- 

 purposes. In consequence of this oversight unless the trees are protected by 

 heavv mulching, thev are liable to root-kill in the Winter. Thousands of 



