HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE IN MINNESOTA. J 53 



subseauent disappointment. The subject was to liave been '' Nursery Tree 

 Culture," comprising the best methods of making hardy trees along with the 

 use of manures. 



Mr. Tuttle, being called upon for information as to hardiness of trees, con- 

 sidered that trees were much injured by encouraging a too late growth. A tree 

 may be even loaded down with fruit, and yet, on examination, it will be found 

 that decay has been going on. Trees do not finish their growth before they 

 get to bearing. They required age before bearing. We want in Wisconsin, 

 as they did here, a few hardy trees, instead of so many doubtful varieties. 

 Give trees a hardy body and hardy root and they were all right. Mr. Tuttle 

 had found that very many tender varieties of apples would do well for a few 

 years, but eventually prove quite tender. The Northern Spy was considered 

 hardy in Wisconsin, for a number of years, but he now classed it among ten- 

 der trees. He had been surprised to see trees classed as hardy in Minnesota 

 that were considered half hardy in AVisconsiu. Fall Stripe was one of them. 



In reply to an inquiry, he said the Ben Davis was a good bearer and did 

 well. He considered the Baldwin a tender tree. He said they were not much 

 protected from severe weather by the lake (Michigan.) 



Mr. Hamilton desired Mr. Tuttle to give a list of w^hat he considered hardy 

 varieties. He himself raised Baldwins, but he did not think he ought to re- 

 commend it, because his location was particularly a favorable one. 



Mr. Tuttle considered the Duchess and Red Astrachan as good varieties — 

 the latter one of his Ijest bearers. The Fameuse was best for early winter. 

 The Early June was the best for an early apple, and stood at the head of 

 apples ; but it was a poor grower, and could do nothing under four years. It 

 ripens as early as the Red Astrachan, and was a very desirable apple. They 

 were also hardy. It was a medium-sized apple, with some pink about it. He 

 had done nothing to enrich the soil of his orchard. He did not believe in 

 manures for orchards. All good fair lands, clay and loam, would do for fruit. 

 In regard to protection, he believed in full tops, and the protection of the 

 trunks against heat, either by hay bands, or something of the kind. Fissures 

 were apt to open at the junction of the limbs with the trunk, in a severe Win- 

 ter, and burst the tree asunder where the limbs s])ring from the tree in a 

 cluster. The limbs should be distributed up and down along the trunk. 

 Most orchards were neglected whilst small, because they did not look to be 

 of much importance, where if larger they would be taken care of. He cared 

 little for tops to begin with. The Tetofsky he spoke highly of as a good an- 

 nual bearer. He would name six varieties, two for Summer, two Fall, and 

 two Winter : For Summer, Tetofsky and Sops of Wine ; for Fall, Duchess 

 and St. Lawrence ; for Winter, the Fameuse and Golden Russet, There is 

 nothing that takes the place of the Fameuse as a good apple to keep over. 

 He had had them in the very best condition on the first of March. He did 

 not consider the Ben Davis as an established fruit in Wisconsin. As a keep- 

 ing apple, he considered it very good. It was yet doubtful, and sometimes 

 passed by another name— the Gay Deceiver. The English Golden Russet he 

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