HISTORY OF HORTICLTLTL'KE IX MIXXESOTA. 131 



ii. Prune but little : think June and November the best time ; my experience favors low 

 heads. 



10. 1 give the soil a thorough plowing and harrowing previous to planting, and use no 

 fertilizers. 



11. I do not cultivate later than the first of July, and grow garden stuti' regularly until the 

 trees and plants require the whole ground. 



12. I have fruited a few seedlings, one a seedling of the Fameuse ; season, October ; it is 

 large and showy, and the tree appears perfectly hardy with me : have named it Julia. An- 

 other, a seedling of the Greening, is an abundant bearer, and a great favorite for cooking. 

 Am not propagating trees. I will furnish scions to members of the Horticultural Society, 

 where postage is paid. Respectfully, 



John S. Harris. 



REPOllT OF PROGRESS MADE IX HOUSTON COUNTY. 



Fruit growing is exciting considerable interest in Houston county, but most of the orchards 

 are of recent planting, and are just commencing to bear. I think the crop last year would 

 amount to about 2,000 bushels, and there are trees enough planted in the county to produce 

 50.000 bushels in five years; and there will be more planted next spring than in any past 

 j'ear. The largest orchard in the county, as far as I am able to ascertain, is my own, at La 

 Crescent, about seven acres. Wm. F. Dunbar has about four acres : John Turnbull, LaCres- 

 cent, about three acres, and there are a great many plantations of from one to two acres. 



The Duchess of Oldenburg, Red Astrachan, Saxton. Golden Russet and the Fameuse are 

 doing well in all localities. 



The Jonathan, Little Romanite. Seek-no-further, St. Lawrence, Prince's SAveet, Alex- 

 ander, and Blue Pearmain all promise well, and there are many other varieties that have 

 not fruited that have the appearance of being as good as any I have named. 



The best pear trees I have seen are at Caledonia, about six varieties, names unknown, the 

 property of G. Arthur. 



There is probably a larger area planted to grapes than in any other portion of the State. 

 One German in Brownsville manufactured about 2,000 gallons of wine. Most of his vineyard 

 is not of full bearing age. 



The Concord is meeting with the most favor. The first vineyards were planted with Clin- 

 ton, Catawba and Isabella, but did not give satisfactory results. . The business of gardening 

 to supply the villages, is generally carried on by farmers, and as a consequence many of the 

 markets have a very irregular supply of small fruits and vegetables. There is a growing 

 taste in the cultivation of flowers and the planting of ornamental trees and shrubs. 



John S, Harris, 



LaCrescent, Minn. 



After the reading of these reports, which were listened to with much 

 interest, the Chairman called for other reports. 



Judge Baker asked if the reports were the property of the Society. 



The President answered in the affirmative. 



Judge Baker then suggested that the discussion w^as open to all present, 

 and he hoped, therefore, all would participate in it. 



Mr. Elliot, of Minneapolis, then read a report prepared by Mr, John Hart, 

 of Winona, as follows : 



Winona, Jan. 10, 1>73. 



Dear Sir:— The following is an answer to the questions asked in circular: 



Summer apples— Red Astrachan, Red June, Duchess of Oldenburg, Early Harvest, Early 

 Joe, Early Red, Keswick's Codlin, Primate, Sops of Wine, Summer Pearmain, Golden Sweet, 

 Early Pennock, ( twelve varieties.) 



Fall apples— Dyer, Saxton, Jefferson County, Calvert. St. Lawrence, Ramsdale Sweeting, 

 (six varieties.) 



Winter apples— Hawley, White Pearmain, Lowell, Roman Stem, Rambo, Dr. Sylvester, 

 Early Settler. Limber Twig, Newton Spitzenberg, Fameuse, Monstrous Pippin, Ben 

 Davis, Seek-no-further, Perry Russet, Jonathan. Wine Sap, King of Thompkins County, 

 Dominie, Golden Russet, Winona Chief, Janet, Rossa, Price's Sweet, Yellow Belltiower. 



