SOUTHERN MINN. HORT. SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT. 77 
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
ANNUAL REPORT, 1899. 
C. PARKHILIL, SECRETARY, CHATFIELD. 
The counties of Freeborn, Mower and Fillmore comprise the territory 
of this society. 
Last spring much damage to fruit was feared, as the result of the ex- 
treme cold weather of the past winter, but as the season advanced it was 
seen that the hardy varieties had not suffered to the extent that had been 
anticipated. On the whole, the late test winter has been a blessing to pros- 
pective fruit growers in this territory. 
In the orchard, the Wealthy has wintered almost as well as the Duchess, 
and some of the newer seedlings, such as the Patten and the Peerless, have 
shown a remarkable vitality. 
As arule, small fruit wintered in good shape, where well protected, and 
gave good returns, but the apple crop was almost a failure. 
Our society proposes to help find the “coming apple,’ and to that end 
has been distributing one year seedling apple trees to all members who 
wish to experiment on this line. The seedlings are supplied at a nominal 
price by the Wedge Nursery Company. 
That $1,000 premium hangs a little high, but is so tempting that many 
of our members are planning to raise an apple tree on which they can climb 
high enough to reach the prize. 
As a result of the work of our society, an interest in horticulture is 
slowly but steadily growing among the farming community; on the other 
hand, of the many business men who became members in 1808, only a small 
percentage renewed. : 
Our annual meeting will be held at Albert Lea in February, and there 
is a good prospect of the largest and best meeting in the history of our 
society. 
PROGRAM OF THE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA HORTI- 
CULTURAL SOCIETY, 1900. 
Following is the program of the Seventh Annual Meeting of the Southern 
Minnesota Horticultural Society, to be held in Skinner Mercantile Co. Hall, at 
Albert Lea, Minn., February 14 and 15, 1900: 
OPENING SESSION, WEDNESDAY, 10 A. M. 
Good and Bad Results of the Past Winter.—Two minutes talk—All. 
Award of Premiums on Essays. 
Trees and Shrubs for the Farmer’s Front Yard.—J. Marshall, Washington, 
A Good Way to Raise Good Plums.—O. W. Moore, Spring Valley. 
The Place for and Treatment of the Orchard.—C. Morgan, Forestville. 
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION, 1:30. 
President’s Address.—President J. C. Hawkins, Austin. 
What is the Matter with My Orchard?—W. F. Kearns, Austin. 
How to Raise 4,090 Quirts of Strawberries per Acre—H. C. Ellergodt, Lanesboro. 
Protection Against Root Killing.—Clarence Wedge, Albert Lea. 
Some Enemies in Fruit Raising and How to Fight Them.—Prof. S. B. Green, State Uni™ 
versity. 
