SECRETARY S CORNER. 357 



Question about Seedless Asparagus. — "Will some of your most ex- 

 perienced asparagus growers please tell us to whether stamina' e, or seedless, 

 plants are not much the most productive and profitable, and if they are how 

 best to get our asparagus beds all seedless plants? Can you profitably divide 

 up seedling plants? If this is practicable, it would seem the quickest and 

 surest plan." F. K. Phoenix, Delavan, Wis. 



Question, — "Is the Minnetonka apple a good variety and is it hardy in 

 our climate?" This question in varying form is frequently asked of the 

 secretary, and he is unable to give a satisfactory answer to it. Have any of 

 our readers what is claimed to be the Minnetonka apple tree growing and 

 fruiting, and if so, what is the character of the fruit ? Is the tree a prolific 

 bearer, and does it seem to be hardy? Please answer, any one who can, these 

 questions briefly for the benefit of our readers.. 



A Prolific Seedling Gooseberry. — Mr. Wyman Elliot reports that 

 314 feet of small plants in the nursery row of the seedling gooseberry he 

 has originated and named the "Carrie" yielded eight and one-half crates of 

 twenty four quarts each. The fruit sold for $2.25 a case. An acre of goose- 

 berries at this rate would bring over $400.00. Mr. Elliot is growing a great 

 number of seedlings of nearly all kinds of Minnesota's hardy fruits, and we 

 may expect to hear from him as to other valuable new horticultural 

 productions. 



New Strawberries by the Acre. — Prof. N. E. Hansen, horticulturist 

 at the South Dakota Experiment Station, Brookings, S. D., writes that he has 

 a strawberry patch of over three acres of new seedling varieties, some of 

 which show such promise that he has already sent them out to a few places as 

 "South Dakota Nos. i and 2, etc.," for further trial. The fruit is of good 

 quality, fair size and bears well without mulching. The professor is earnestly 

 seeking to develop something hardy under the trying soil and climatic con- 

 ditions of his region. 



Hogs in the Orchard — Edson Gaylord, of Nora Springs, Iowa, has had 

 the experience of a lifetime, being now well advanced in years, in trying to 

 develop orcharding in northern Iowa. Hear his conclusions on this one im- 

 portant point: "For many years I have fenced my orchard pig-tight, so I can 

 let the pigs in or shut them out, as it appears to be best. I gather my best 

 apples and leave the poor ones on the ground and then let in the pigs every 

 day or every other day. All the defective apples are eaten at once by the pigs, 

 and no insect has been able to find an abiding place in any corner of my or- 

 chard. I have never sprayed and never expect to, having found a better way." 



Seedling Strawberries erom the Red River Valley. — A box con- 

 taining seedling strawberries of unusual size and packed in many large straw- 

 berry leaves, came to this office by mail June 6. They were from the garden 

 of Mrs. N. Hoss, of Fertile, Minn. She says in her letter to me, "This is my 

 first experience in growing seedling strawberries. Three years ago in July I 

 planted some seeds of the Warfield strawberry, sowing them in a box, where 

 they came up nicely. A year after we set out the plants, and they grew very 

 large that summer. We removed all the blossoms as they appeared that sea- 

 son, and this spring they were almost loaded with the largest and nicest ber- 

 ries you ever saw." This is an encouraging report to any one who is inter- 

 ested in propagating new varieties of fruit. It is a pleasant pursuit in which 

 every horticulturist might well engage as opportunity permits. 



