STATE HORTICULTURA.L SOCIETY. 235 



ORCHARDING IN MINNESOTA. 



By M. Pearce, Minneapolis. 



Fruit growing in Minnesota, especially the apple, is a trade, and 

 but few have learned it, which accounts, more than anything else* 

 for the great loss of fruit trees. After hammering away year after 

 year at 'the vexed question of apple raising in Minnesota for a quar- 

 ter of a century, never discouraged, always investigating the 

 causes of failures and using the means and remedies necessary to 

 avoid future results ; in so doing, the success attained is such that 

 we feel assured that apples can be grown in Minnesota, hardy 

 varieties, such as the Wealthy and other good varieties, in any 

 reasonablj desired quantity, some of which will bring, in the 

 Minneapolis and St. Paul Markets, two dollars per bushel for years 

 to come, as fast as they can be measured out, and the growing of 

 them at a much less expense than that of potatoes or corn. 



In the essay that f:llows may be found some new ideas and 

 themes, at least to some, that will, we trust, set intelligent minds 

 to thinking and experimenting, which is the correct test of all 

 themes. We thoroughly tested them all and know they are cor- 

 rect. In treating the subject before us we shall be as brief and 

 explicit as possible, trusting that much useful information will be 

 brought out in discussion. 



A fruit tree must be considered on a parallel line with animal 

 life in every particular. They must not be fed to death, starved 

 to death, choked to death, frozen to death, or eaten up by worms 

 or insects. They are subject to various accidents, such as cuts, 

 bruises, broken limbs and branches. In short, the same watchful 

 care that is bestowed on domestic animals to keep them healthy, 

 vigorous and productive, must be bestowed on fruit trees to the 

 fullest extent if we expect to reap a large reward. A fruit tree 

 should never be transplanted from a rich to a poorer soil; bad 

 results are sure to follow. In both nursery and orchard the soil 

 should be moderately rich, and if there is any difference the 

 orchard should be the richer. The proper age to transplant from 

 nursery to orchard is two years old from the graft, unless the trees 



