THE MINNESOTA 



HORTICULTURIST. 



VOL. 35. APRIL, 1907. No. 4. 



\il jyTen^orian^. 



FRANK YAHNKE, 



WINONA, MINN. 



Died I'>b. 26, 1907, Aged 59 Years. 



Mr. Frank Yahiike was born Nov. 2, 1847, in Wintersfelds, 

 Prussia. He was well known among the agriculturists, and es- 

 pecially among the sugar beet growers, in West Prussia, who wrote 

 to him when he was in Winona to come back to their country and 

 take the lead in one of their main farms. 



He went to the public schools until he was fourteen years of 

 age, when he had to help his father on the farm. Tn the even- 

 ings he and six of his schoolmates studied further under their old 

 teacher until they were eighteen years of age. Then he was 

 asked to take a place as inspector of a large farm. After a few 

 years he took examination for a teacher and taught school for a 

 year, but had to give it up on account of his health. 



Then he was ofifered a position as superintendent of a starch 

 factory and a farm of 2,500 acres under cultivation, where there 

 were mostly potatoes for the starch factory and sugar ])eets for 

 the 'sugar factory raised. He took this position and, young as he 

 was, soon became the leader of the sugar beet growers. 



In April, 1870, he emigrated to America, settling down first 

 in Milton, Wis., where he was employed by Mr. J. C. Plumb, the 

 nurseryman, for three years — and it was through Mr. Plumb's 

 willingness to advise, instruct and help others that he learned 

 the principles and practice of horticulture. Mr. Plumb not only 

 was his teacher in horticulture . but also his model of character. 

 Later on, being inspired with the desire to see more of the world, 

 he traveled for Mr. Plumb, selling nursery stock for him. In 

 the meantime, he rented a piece of land near Milton and started 



