Il8 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



high lumber prices made necessary by the shameless destruction 

 of the forests. 



The address and paper of Mr. F. H. Nutter, of Minneapolis, 

 on "ornamental planting" was one of the main features of the 

 meeting. We cheerfully admit that it is a subject which needs 

 to be extensively dwelt upon. Right here in Albert Lea there is 

 abundant chance for improvement in this respect, both on public 

 and private grounds. What Mr. Nutter said in regard to too 

 close planting of shade trees is especially applicable to our city. 

 One strong, full crowned, well developed tree is more desirable 

 than a half dozen trees where there is room for only one. 



Mr. Reeves gave an address on the subject of "spraying," and 

 answered numerous questions in regard to same, and the subject 

 was generally acknowledged to be a very important one. 



If we were to give even a synopsis of all the splendid papers 

 read this report would probably be longer than intended. We 

 think that the meeting had an invigorating effect upon the So. 

 Minn, society and can see nothing but gv3od in it, if it was the 

 "thirteenth." 



. Are Japanese Plums or Crosses with Japanese Pi,ums Hardy in 

 This Region ?— So far as we know none of these are entirely hardy, but there 

 is prospect of producing something hardy by crosses of Americana plum with 

 them. It is a work that should be taken up as a part of the movement to 

 secure improved and hardier fruits. If you have Japanese plums or their de- 

 scendants growing in the neighborhood of the Americana plum where there 

 would likely be chance crosses made, or if you can make these crosses by 

 hand pollination, the seed from such plums should be saved and planted 

 in any possible quantity. It is to the thousands and hundreds of thousands 

 of such seedlings that we must look for probable results in the direction de- 

 sired. 



Variations within the Variety. — "We know that no two trees in any 

 one orchard are alike, either in the amount of fruit which they bear or in 

 their vigor and habit of growth. Some are uniformly productive, and some 

 are uniformly unproductive. We know, too, that scions or buds tend to reprot 

 duce the character of the tree from which they are taken. A gardener would 

 never think of taking cuttings from a rose bush or chrysanthemum or a car- 

 nation which does not bear flowers. Why should a fruit grower take scions 

 from a tree which he knows to be unprofitable? Of course there are plenty of 

 good trees that were budded or grafted with scions taken from young trees or 

 that were taken indiscriminately from old trees, just as there are good cattle 

 that ware produced without any care in breeding — some good ones will cer- 

 tainly be secured by accident. But the scientific fruit-grower eliminates all 

 accidents so far as possible; he increases his chances for success when he 

 secures good nursery grown stock and top-works it from trees of bearing age, 

 trees of known productiveness, vigor and quality." 



