STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ±i 



1 have met some of tlieir victims who would chuckle and laugh over their pur- 

 chase, and tell how gentlemanly they were, and how nicely tliey did it, while others 

 were so mad that they threatened to s^et the dog on or shoot the next man who asked 

 them to buy trees. ']"hus the nurseryman who has something really valuable and at 

 low prices is left with it on his hands after years of toil to grow it. Perhaps he has 

 also paid a tax on what he is compelled to consign to the brush pile. Now if Queen 

 Pomona has a paradise for honest, superanuated nurserymen who have come 

 through great tribulation, persecution and want in this Northwest, where their 

 work is appreciated, I would like to obtain a passport and seek admission. 



Well, what has been done to make fruit a success in the Northwest. 1 will only 

 give a hasty sketch on the apple. Only the early settlers introduced the kinds they 

 had grown up with at the East. After some years trial these were found to be a 

 failure, and other kinds were tried and failed. Then for some time the Wisconsin 

 Horticultural Society recommended five kinds on which there was no opposition. 

 These were Ked Astrachan, Duchess, Fameuse, Tallman's Sweet, and Golden Russet. 

 Now only the Duchess will stand the test except in favorable locations and soils, 

 and to the Duchess add the 'letofski and Wealthy. A small list, says the faithless. 

 True, but will you remember that you being a farmer, can trj' a new farm imple- 

 ment, and in a few hours or days at most can fully test its value. Not so with an 

 apple tree. That, it will take many years to test its hardiness and fruitfulness, and 

 when one has been found like one 1 am acquainted with, twenty- five years old, and 

 has borne twenty bushels of good apples in a year without injury from cold or heat, 

 yet the nearest neighbors to this tree will not buy good trees propagated from it. 

 Is it any wonder if slow progress is made bj- Northwestern nurserymen? This tree 

 is only one among many in Wisconsin and JVlinnesota which have proved their ability 

 to stand this climate. There is one in Pine River Valley, Richland county, Wis., 

 which, it is claimed, has passed through more than one winter when the mercury 

 froze where it stands. There are a number in Waupacca county, Wis., said to be 

 equally hardy. I know of a number near me in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, 

 though not quite as old as twenty-five years, yet giving good promise to outlive some 

 of those who.se cry is, "You can't grow apples here." To the.se may be added hun- 

 dreds imported from Russia, and lastly the crab-apples and hybrids, about the hard- 

 iness of which there is no doubt. Many of them are large enough and good enough 

 for first-class dessert apples. Some will keep until winter. Trees are nearly free 

 from blight. I am satisfied with the above showing. 



The secretaiy was instructed to get frora Mr. Wilcox, the name and 

 history of the hard}' and productive apple referred to. 



Mr. Gibbs stated that he had seen the fruit — as shown by Mr. 

 Wilcox — medium size, good flavor and good keeper for a fall apple. 

 The original tree stands on low ground, near a marsh, in what was 

 thought to be a very unfavorable location. It is known as Rhode's 

 Seedling. 



The following question discussed: Have we a hardy apple adapted to 

 Minnesota climate ? 



Mr. Underwood did not know a single apple or crab, but was injured 



