HISTORY OP HORTICULTURE IN MINNESOTA. 137 



Gooseberries— Houghton's Seedling has done well. 



Grapes— Concord have done the best, so far, with me. Delaware, and Matthews' Xo. 13, 

 on trial. 



Raspberries— Doolittle and Davidson's Thornless. The Davidson I consider the very best 

 for an early kind, as well as hardy. 



I would advise full mulching with coarse manure, and thus prevent the trees starting so 

 early in the spring. I have found June the best time to prune. 



I would also advise leaving them low headed, as they will thereby withstand the heavy 

 winds and heat of summer better. 



Mark T. Berry. 



Mr. Harris hoped the Society would recommend some particiUar grape, the 

 Delaware or the Concord as a popular grape. We had had many reports — 

 let us report something specific. 



Mr. Smith objected to this course, as it would put a weapon into the hands 

 of tree holders, as a means of injury to the communit}'. 



Col. Stevens said that applications to him, from all parts of the State, 

 making inquiries where to purchase hard}' fruit trees, showed that the supply 

 was not equal to the demand. 



Mr. Smith differed with Col. Stevens in this opinion. 



Mr. Clark wished to notice the idea that some one had advanced, that the 

 Legislature was not willing to help the Society. As a member he did not 

 think so. He thought the Legislature was quite willing to aid it and counte- 

 nance it in all practical ways. He agreed with Col. Stevens, that there 

 was not a stock of trees large enough in the State to supply the farmers, and 

 that as soon as stock sufiicient was grown here, the farmers would bii}^ it. 



Mr. Harris now moved that the Society adjourn to meet at 7 o'clock this 

 evening, which motion was carried. 



Adjourned. 



EVENING SESSION. 



Mr. Harris, as Chairman, called the meeting to order. 



On motion, the reporter of the Farmers' Union was elected Secretary pi'o 

 tern. 



The Chairman next called for reports, as in order; stating in reply to a re- 

 quest for information, that bj- a resolution of last winter, members were re- 

 quested to present a verbal or written report of whatever was of interest in 

 relation to fruit growing. 



Mr. A. C. Hamilton, of Winona, reported that the farmers aroimd Winona, 

 belonging to the Society, had not had as many meetings as heretofore ; and 

 that they had not gone in for seedlings as much as some elsewhere. He did 

 not think, from his experience, that more than one seedling in twenty was 

 worth cultivation ; and he had seen seedlings killed in the same orchard 

 alongside of grafted fruit that survived. We had a fine grafted fruit on the 

 table here to-night, and had not to wait for experiments with seedlings. He 

 had 150 varieties, and was on a strife with Mr. John Hart as to number of 

 varieties. He would ultimately have as many as anj- one else. A few good 

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