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MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



jealousies and make close combinations for the handling of their 

 product. Much shrinkage can be saved in this way. 



Wisconsin is particularly interested in plums, and plum culture 

 was given considerable discussion. Again Minnesota has given 

 Wisconsin the most important varieties. At one point in the dis- 

 cussion the president called for the "four best varieties for general 

 culture." My note book shows that nearly every one who responded 

 placed the Surprise at the head of their list. The Jewell Nursery 

 Co.'s proposed cash prize of $i,ooo for a new hardy plum aroused 

 much interest and was thoroughly discussed several times. Prof. 

 Sandsten, state horticulturist, said that the desired plum must 

 come from crossing rather than from seedlings. 



A glimpse of the apple exhibit at the Wisconsin meeting, — about one-third of the exhibit. 



Mr. C. F. Hale, the well-known peach grower of Michigan, 

 and Mr. A. V. Schermerhorn, of Illinois, contributed much to the 

 interest of the session. Both of these gentlemen being practical 

 fruit growers on a large scale spoke with much authority, especi- 

 ally on the subject of spraying, and were met with volleys of ques- 

 tions. Mr. Schermerhorn says that the dust spray is an absolute 

 humbug as a fungicide. Mr. Hale said that he found the small 

 grower generally fell down on the spraying proposition because he 

 did not follow it up close enough to become thoroughly familiar 

 with the requirements ; as he put it, spraying is a preventive, not a 

 cure, and must be intelligently persisted in. A lively tilt occurred 



