52 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



sion it was brought out that apples would not drop on prairies 

 where exposed to the winds any more than in sheltered places, 

 because the stems would adapt themselves to the atmospheric 

 conditions. 



In the afternoon the society met with the "Park and Forestry 

 Association" and the department of agriculture. 



The Iowa horticulturists were rejoicing over their grand ex- 

 hibit at St. Louis, and had their apple exhibit brought to the state 

 hall. It certainly was a grand exhibit, and great credit is due to 

 the Iowa Horticultural Society for showing such a magnificent 

 display of apples at St. Louis, of which 800 plates were placed on 

 tables in the hall of the state building. There were 220 plates of 

 Northwestern Greening, eighty plates of Wolf River, 100 plates 

 of Wealthy, and many other plates of the newer varieties. The 

 Wealthy and Northwestern Greening were most heartily recom- 

 mended for northern Iowa. Mr. Trigg said that prices for apples 

 had not been satisfactory, but the suggestion was made that per- 

 haps this was due to the fact that until this year the growers have 

 not had enough apples to sell, and therefore had not prepared to 

 handle the crop. All through the reports of the directors from 

 the various congressional districts a hopeful tone prevailed, every 

 member reporting that conditions for next season's crop are most 

 excellent, with everything in fine shape for winter. 



Mr, W. T. Richey, of Albia, read a paper on "Gooseberries." 

 This crop has been profitable with him. He prefers a cool soil, 

 plants in rows six feet apart, with plants four feet apart in row, 

 using two-year-old plants. Prune off half of each season's growth. 

 A plantation will last about ten years and should then be renewed. 

 One member asked about mildew, what should be done to combat 

 it. Mr. Harrington recommended spraying with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture. 



Mr. J. P. Anderson, of Lamoni, read a paper on "Strawberry 

 Growing." Mr. Anderson plants in rows four feet apart, with 

 plants eighteen inches to twenty-four inches in row for field cul- 

 ture. He said that the Senator Dunlap is by far the best on his soil, 

 which is a prairie loam. 



In a paper on "Improvement of Our Native Plums by Cross- 

 ing and Selection," Charles F. Gardner gave directions for the 

 work. Plant varieties so the branches interlace, which will secure 

 cross-fertilization ; select the best plums and plant seeds from them. 

 Mr, Gardner said that in this work one will often get varieties 

 which will not be perfectly hardy, but cut them ofif and let them 



