36 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
ECHOES FROM FARMERS’ INSTITUTE. 
HON. A. K. BUSH, LECTURER ON HORTICULTURE. 
Park Rapids, Minn., Dec. 6, 1899.—We have just closed a very successful 
meeting at this place; attendance good, with interest well maintained on all 
subjects. Horticulture was given a full share of time and attention by both 
platform and audience. 
I was out to visit Mr. Usher and found his plantings of small fruits, also 
fruit trees, doing well. He has about two acres planted to currants, goose- 
berries, raspberries, etc., with about seventy-five apple and plum trees. Much 
of his coming crop is engaged at his price. The Older blackcap is doing 
best; Loudon is also doing well; blackberries are a failure with him. No one 
need be without home grown small fruits even in this part of the state, where 
we are within the Lake Itasca State Park region, being about thirty miles 
from that famous lake. 
Alexandria, Minn., Dec. 12—A. W. Latham, Secretary: The package 
of books, magazines, etc., came to me just before starting for this place. I 
opened them in the Institute hall; had but a few minutes to distribute and 
get members for our horticultural society, as the corps was separated, part 
coming here for work tomorrow. 
I got two members in about as many minutes; think a dozen more would 
have joined us if I had had time during the afternoon. All appeared very 
much interested in the Farmers’ Fruit and Vegetable Garden when I pre- 
sented the subject. Many questions were asked. Found one party who 
raised 300 quarts strawberries on small garden patch, another who had 
strawberries measuring six inches about them: others growing good apples, 
with courage good and prospects bright in Stearns county. 
Fergus Falls, Minn., Dec. 15, 18909.—Dear Friend: Below find list of new 
members Horticultural Society: 
C. H. Brush, Fergus Falls, O. H. Brandhagen, Rothsay. 
F. L. Ward, Fergus Falls; Walter Hogan, Fergus Falls; H. L. Burgess, 
Amor; H. Ongstad, Pelican Rapids; Henry Oberg, Kensington; Oscar 
Barsness, Urness; A. M. Dubry, Alexandria; Henry Huseby, Urness. 
(Books delivered.) 
The above list of ten new members was secured at the Alexandria and 
Fergus Falls meetings, where 200 copies of the Fruit List and 50 magazines 
were placed in the hands of people who appeared anxious to get them, as 
they were taken with thanks. The farmers are very attentive to my talks on 
the Farmers’ Fruit and Vegetable Garden, as many of them will plant ever- 
greens and fruit trees next spring, being encouraged by reports of those 
who have bearing fruits near Fergus Falls. One man sold twenty barrels 
home grown apples, another grew fourteen quarts raspberries on seven 
small bushes of the Older variety, which I find is doing well in this part of 
the state. 
Orchards or gardens protected with evergreens are doing best. I am 
fully convinced that such shelters must be planted about all fruit trees in this 
section, if one expects to succeed. 
8 Wealthy apples grown here will keep nearly all winter. Plums are doing 
well when planted and given any kind of care. 
