82 HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE IN MINNESOTA. 



paper early in September, before freezing weather, would obviate this bark 

 bursting, as he had proven in his own orchard and observed elsewhere. 



Mr. J. S. Shearman, of the Northwestern Nurserj', Rockford, 111., being 

 called upon, said that it was idle to say that the apple would not thrive in 

 Minnesota. Those on exhibition to-day at the State Fair — the product of 

 this State, were the finest specimens of the different varieties on exhibition 

 he ever saw. In regard to the bark bursting near the surface, it was a com- 

 mon event all through the West. He had observed it not only in Illinois, but 

 in Wisconsin and Iowa, as well as in Minnesota. Of course this was confined 

 to unusual Winters. 



D. W. Humphrey, of Rice county, thought that the apple (juestion was 

 pretty well settled in this State, but he wanted to say, that in addition to the 

 different varieties recommended by the Society, he found around Faribault 

 that the Saxton or Fall Stripe, was doing very well. 



Mr. Secretary Harkness, of Faribault, called the attention of the Society 

 to the importance of a remark made by Mr. Jewell about top-Avorking ; or, 

 in other words, the grafting or budding of the semi-hardy varieties on those 

 of the hardy kinds. After a very free discussion, this project was endorsed 

 by every member of the Society. 



Hon. Chas. Ploag, of Hennepin county, had visited every school district in 

 that count}-, and it afforded him much pleasure to bear testimony to the 

 bright prospects of the raising of apples in that section of the State. He 

 saw several orchards that were full of choice fruit. 



The President being called upon, gave a flattering account of the fruit 

 prospects in his neighborhood, and especially in his own grounds. In answer 

 to a question by Col. Robertson, he said that he knew of several Flemish 

 Beauty Fears, and other varieties that were bearing, and appeared hardy. 

 He had no doubt of the ultimate success of the pear in the State. He had 

 lost last Winter a few apple trees, but that was common in all latitudes. He 

 enjoined upon all the necessity of pruning trees— if at all — in June. In 

 reference to winter killing, he was satisfied the injury was done in October. 

 He had a hickory tree killed in his garden, last Winter, from the same cause. 

 He thought pear trees should be set over a trench filled with small stones, 

 which should be properly drained. New seedlings were of great moment. He 

 continued his remarks in an interesting manner. 



It was then voted that the President should collect and send samples of 

 Southern Minnesota apples to the American Institute, New York. 



Also, a committee consisting of Col. D. A. Robertson, of the State Univer- 

 sity, and Col. John H. Stevens, of Minneapolis, to collect samples in Northern 

 Minnesota, and dispose of them in the same way. 



The Society then adjourned to meet in P'aribault early in January next. 



THE ANNUAL MEETING AT FARIBAULT, JANUARY, 1871. 

 The convention assembled at Fireman's Hall, in Faribault, at 2 p. m. The 



