136 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY- 



ANNUAL REPORT, 1906, VICE-PRESIDENT, FOURTH 

 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. 



C. C. DIKE, WHITE BEAR. 



My report by reason of not being able to do much personal visit- 

 ing will be more local than general and confined principally to 

 Washington county. Planting of fruit trees seems to have been 

 quite general in the western half of the country, and the beautifying 

 of home grounds received a large share of attention. One man re- 

 ported very large general sales of trees and shrubs. 



Within a mile of my home there is an orchard of about 4,000 

 trees, mostly apples, planted three, two and one year ago. The 

 first two years in cultivation, last year in grass. In 1906 the trees 

 have made a slow growth. About twenty acres of this orchard is 

 on a south slope. A fire from the Soo R. R., which passes along 

 the orchard, destroyed some 400 trees this fall. 



I have an orchard of about 1,000 trees, mostly plums. I hear 

 that a man near Birch Lake has about ten acres of trees, and one 

 of my neighbors, a mile and a half east, is thinking of planting a 

 forty acre tract of rolling ground with Wealthy, Duchess and Pat- 

 ten's mostly. 



The orchard and small fruit crop has been disappointing in most 

 cases, while some, owing to local conditions, have reported a good 

 crop. 



Considerable winter-killing reported in small fruits. The con- 

 ditions for the coming winter seem to be favorable in most cases. 



The people seem to be giving more attention to fruit protection 

 than ever. Whitewashing the trunks of trees, winding the base of 

 the trunk with wire screening, to protect from mice, and mulching 

 treefi and small fruits. 



Spraying has not received much attention ; some are spraying. I 

 have a dust spray machine. I cannot say whether I am satisfied 

 or not. I mean to try it another season. It is the most economical 

 way to spray and quick. 



Nearly everything on the fruit list has been reported as doing 

 well by some. 



Horticultural Societies Interested. — The later meetings of the horti- 

 cultural societies throughout the United States have been noted for the 

 large amount of attention devoted to civic improvement and kindred subjects. 

 There is everywhere evident a disposition to discuss the improvement of 

 home grounds in rural communities ; and no publications of the American 

 Civic Association have been in larger demand than those which deal with 

 this subject. 



