HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE IN MINNESOTA. 123 



truth of these statements, I refer the reader to the Hon. C. T. Buck, who gathered from a 

 few trees two hundred bushels, several of the trees filled five barrels each: Norman Buck. 

 Esq., 200; George W. Clark, 250; Orrin Clark, 200: Mrs. Mary A. Campbell, 600; Wm. II. 

 Stewart, 400: Laurance Thomas, 600. The two last named live 9 miles from Winona, one on 

 the ridge and one in the valley. M. K. Drew, 200 bushels, in the city of Winona, in the sand 

 H. D. Huft'had a large show of the best fruit. Mr. S. Bates, 300 bushels, who also has one 

 of the largest young nurseries in the State, where he has all the approved varieties of the 

 best trees. Last, though not leist, John Hart, whose premiums at the Minneapolis Fair, 

 and at the State Fair, amounted to more than one hiindred dollars. 



I shall be pardoned, in this connection if I relate a little incident, concerning Mr. Hart, 

 which exhibits his early devotion to fruit growin'x. Some thirteen years ago. on the dav 

 that he voted to give the railroad .$5,000,000 loan, a friend called on him to go and vote. After 

 the voting was done the friend asked him to go and take a glass of beer. Mr Hart refused 

 the beer; in place of it he took a couple of apples, and like a g )od man, he took them home 

 to eat in the evening, with his wife. This done, they planted the seeds from the cores: 

 from these seeds he raised eight fine apple trees, five of which are still living, and from these 

 trees he obtained the same premiums of this last year. 



I have said that some men failed to make the trees live. There is a man by the name of 

 Eldridge, living near Winona, who paid, in all, $200, for trees. They all died but one, so 

 that he said a single tree cost him $200. This man has now oOOO living trees, he set out in 

 one orchard, and he has, prospectively, one of the largest and best orchards in the State. 

 This same man raised strawberries sufficient to employ twenty men, women, and children 

 all the picking season, and made strawberries and Black Cap Raspberries pay. 



In conclusion I would say, that Winona is no better for fruit of all kinds than other counties 

 in the State of Minnesota. We have had a little more time, and perhaps have taken a little 

 more paing. Go and do likewise. It is time to cease saying that apples will not grow in 

 Minnesota. If a lone woman, without the aid of husband or children, can set out and care 

 for an orchard that will produce each year six hundred bushels of choice fruit, what may 

 not be done when every farmer shall give to the subject of growing fruit, that place which it 

 ought to hold in our domestic economy. A proper regard to the coming question should 

 induce us to plant fruit trees, and to plant them at our earliest opportunity, and if the trees 

 die, plant again and again till we shall finally succeed. 



An acre of land which is worth from ten to fifteen dollars in its native State is worth one 

 thousand dollars when covered with a good, growing orchard. 



I may say, before closing, that pears of the choicest varieties are grown in abundance 

 wherever the trees have been set out and properly cared for. 



At the conclusion, a vote of thanks was tendered to AEr. Ely, and the Essay 

 ordered printed with the proceedings of the vSociety. 



On motion, Messrs. Loring-, Buck, Smith, :^^endenhall and Baker, were ap- 

 pointed to meet the committee of the Legislature to come up to the Society 

 to-day. 



Mr, Gideon was then called upon and read an essay which was directed 

 against fast horses in general, and against horses trotting at Agricultural 

 Fairs in particular. The essay was placed in the hands of the committee on 

 publication, to be used by them as they deem best. 



The President suggested the subject of districting the State, which subject 

 elicited some discussion, and was finally laid upon the table. 



CHERRIES. 



This subject was next brought up. Mr. Cook stated that a Mr. Myers, near 

 St. Peter, had brought cherry trees from Germany, which are doing well, and 

 are in bearing. The fruit is of dark a color, fine flavor, with a small pit. 



Col. Stevens— in Minneapolis there are Morello, Early Richmond and Car- 

 nation Cherries which are all doinsr well. 



