40 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



pears on this program with Mr. Patten, Prof. Beach, of [a., etc. The Breed- 

 ers' Association, with Hon. W. M. Hays as secretary, have worked up a 

 great program. Send to him at the National Capitol for a copy. 



Orchards by the Score in the Red River Valley. — A communica- 

 tion from Oie J. Hagen, Hendrum, in the Red River Valley, speaks of many 

 large orchards biii-g planted there from one to as high as five acres in a single 

 orchard. Fruit trees i ave done so well there in the last few years that planters 

 are encouraged to go into this enterprise on quite an extensive scale. As 

 orcharding is still simply an experiment in that region and conditions have 

 not heretofore seemed especially favorable to this industry, it would seem the 

 part of wisdom to set only the hardiest varieties in small quantities and study 

 the situation. Above all things get in touch with the State Horticultural 

 Society. 



New Prizes for Seedling Apples. — The executive board of the society 

 has decided to offer $100 a year for six years, for best winter seedling apples, to 

 be grown on trees the seed producing which is yet to be planted. The first 

 prize will be awarded six years from now, and one annually thereafter for five 

 consecutive years Full particulars as to this new offer will be found in this 

 number. This is a contest in which every member may take part, as it is only 

 the matter of planting a few apple seed and watching the trees grow until they 

 come into bearing. If you don't secure the prize, you are quite certain, by 

 following directions, to get something that is hardy and of real value to you. 

 Don't fail to read the article referred to carefully and save a few apple seeds 

 for spring planting. Read also the article following it, by Mr. Elliot, on 

 saving and planting apple seed. (See pages 30 and .36.) 



A Pl.'^nT Breeders' Auxiliary. — A new auxiliary to our society was 

 organized the second week in December with a goodly number of the older 

 members of the society as charter members. The name of this organization 

 is "The Plant Breeders' Auxiliary of the Minne.sota State Horticultural 

 Societ)^" and its object seems to be well set forth in this title. It is "to en- 

 courage the origination of new horticultural plants adapted to Minnesota." 

 The constitution of this auxiliary has not been definitely decided upon in all its 

 details but will appear in an early number of our monthl5^ That the affiliation 

 of those in our society interested in the development of new fruits, flowers, 

 and other plants especially adapted to our region will result in good there is 

 no question, and the purpose is to invite all who are interested in this subject 

 to co-operate in this way to advance the exceedingly desirable end in view. 



"Practical Cold Storage"— is the title of a book fresh from the 

 press, by Madison Cooper, well known in this region as authority on refrigera- 

 tion. The work is an exceedingly comprehensive one, covering not only the 

 practice and methods of construction of cold storage houses and their opera- 

 tion, but also the handling and storing of all varieties of products that are 

 kept in such places, giving, it would seem, very complete information on the 

 subject. It is an unusually handsomely gotten up book, 9>^ by 6yi inches, 

 containing 560 pages, printed on heavy half-tone paper and profusely illu.strated 

 with diagrams, plates, sectional views and half-tone cuts. Any of our readers 

 who are contemplating the construction or operation of any kind of a plant 

 for keeping articles in refrigeration would do well to secure a copy of this 

 c omprehensive work. It is for sale by the author, Madison Cooper, Water- 

 town, N. Y. Price in substantial cloth binding, $3.50. 



