HISTORY OF HORTICULTUEE IN MINNESOTA. /^ 



i^ers until the annual meeting in the autumn of 1871, was found to meet the 



approval of those present. 



j^The meeting adjourned until Tuesday morning, at 8 o'clock. 



MORNING SESSION. 



The State Horticultural Society met at the rooms of the Board of Trade, 

 on Tuesday morning. John S. Harris, the President, presiding, 



The committee chosen at a former meeting, Messrs. Mendenhall, Wash- 

 burn, and Shearman, to examine the trees in the garden of Wm. M. Harrison, 

 Esq., which had recently shoAvn a peculiar blight, had attended to their dutj', 

 and submitted the result of their investigations. 



Mr. MendenhaB remarked, that the insect was a compensating agent of 

 nature, and that often they went to the liealthiest tree as well as anj' other. 

 This blight was a new phenomenon in this quarter, and he felt it Avas question 

 of great importance. 



Mr. Washburn, who submitted the report, said, that the trees of this garden 

 were transplanted into a soil too much enriched ; nature had been forced by 

 this method of manuring and dressing so that she revolted at the treatment, 

 and by checking^this superabundance of growth had sent this little agent to 

 bore into the new twig at the base, and thus given us to understand that we 

 must study better our soils and the cultivation of fruits. Mr. Washburn pre- 

 sented the veritable bug as found in one of the branches, and Mr. Mendenhall 

 gave the history and habits of the creature as authorized by Harris's Treatise 

 on Insects. 



Mr. Shearman, of Illinois, said that it had long been an anxious matter 

 with him in regard to what caused the blight in apple trees which was preva- 

 lent in Mr. Harrison's grounds at this time. He had often wanted to lay it at 

 the doors of an insect, but until this morning he had never discovered them. 

 But Mr. Meudenhall's investigations satisfied him. 



It was moved b}' Mr. Charles Hdag, that the committee hold this subject 

 in charge through the season, and at the annual meeting present a full writ- 

 ten report of their investigations regarding the nature and habits of this 

 insect. ^ 



Adopted. 



PREPARATION OF SOILS FOR TREES. 



This topic of discussion was enlarged^ upon by the President and others. 

 Mr. Harris said a difference of opinion prevailed. He thought we should 

 avoid digging a deep hole and filling with rich earth or manure. Ground 

 should be well plowed, and trees planted rather shallow, well mulched and 

 cleanh' cultivated — avoid late cultivation or late mulching, which Avill pro- 

 mote a late growth. Trees are lost the first winter because the wood does 

 not ripen, being pushed so late in the fall. Mr. Mendenhall corroborated the 

 statements and endorsed the views of Mr. Harris. 



Adjourned to half-past one p. m. 



