224 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTLRAL SOCIETY. 



In selecting trees, grown from seed from the T. E. Perkins' and 

 other choice seedlings, for planting in our new seedling orchard 

 last spring, only the best, showing vigorous, robust growth, w^ere 

 chosen. We found a wide variation in habit of growth, some at 

 two years old being five and one-half feet in height while others 

 were not more than three feet. We selected those having the best 

 root systems and with the tops as free from thorns and spurs as 

 possible. 



In digging the holes for planting, the surface soil was placed 

 on one side and that from the bottom on the other. The holes were 

 dug eighteen inches wide and deep ; then the sides were sloped in 

 to fill within six to ten inches of the top and the roots spread out 

 evenly ; then the soil taken from the surface was filled in to cover 

 the roots, treading it down gently but firmly ; after which the soil 

 taken from the bottom of the hole was added, leaving the surface 

 around the tree a little dished or lower than the general level. Hoe- 

 ing and cultivating was kept up till August 20th, when all cultiva- 

 tion ceased. About November loth, the trees were carefully bent 

 over to the ground and covered with soil, to protect them from 

 rabbits and winter's cold. Hereafter only wrapping or painting 

 the bodies with mineral paints, scented with carbolic acid, will be 

 used for winter protection. 



In doing all kinds of work there should be some definite plan 

 or object. The horticulturist must, of necessity, be an experimenter; 

 therefore he should have some definite plan or a well grounded 

 reason for doing everything undertaken. With not a few there are 

 too many uncertain methods in their work. 



Never make up your mind you cannot do a thing that needs to be 

 done, and never put off till tomorrow that which needs doing today 

 — tomorrow may never come. The opportune time often comes but 

 once in a life. We sometimes look back regretfully, thinking hov/ 

 much better we might do had we our lives to live over again ; the 

 right idea is to do faithfully the things of today, forgetting the 

 failures of the past. 



The pursuit of horticulture in this climate is not a bed of roses 

 nor an easy road to travel ; each one entering its service must learn 

 his lesson in the hard school of experience, and if he is extremely 

 persistent may eventually succeed. 



Food of the Ganden Mole —.A. careful study of the stomach content of 

 67 moles was made by L. L. Dyche, of Kansas. Live worms were found to 

 constitute 7? per cent of the entire food. The moles had eaten myriapods, 

 grasshoppers, insect eggs, lar\-ae and various Vinds of other insects. About 

 4 per cent of the food was of vegetable origin, this including the seeds .of 

 grass vegetables and other plants, as well as small quantiti s of corn 



