140 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
HOW MINNESOTA SEEDLINGS CAME THROUGH THE 
WINTER OF 1898-9. 
J. S. HARRIS, LA CRESCENT. 
When it is considered how very few of the old standard varieties of apples 
in cultivation south and east of us will withstand the severity of many of our 
winters without fatal injury, it is encouraging to know that we have a con- 
siderable number of seedlings of our own production that give promise of 
possessing superior hardiness and came through the last very cold winter 
without any apparent injury, and great numbers that came through and are 
in better condition than the hardiest of the older varieties, which but a few 
years since were termed “‘ironclads.” Familiar to us among these were the 
St. Lawrence, Fameuse, Taiman Sweet, Haas, Dominie, Walbridge, Plumb 
Cider and others, but the winter left them more or less crippled, and most 
of them have been killed outright in previous cold winters. The Wealthy 
generally came through the winter in better condition than any of the above 
list. Although it was the first Minnesota seedling placed prominently before 
the public and recommended for general planting by our society, it has 
proved hardier and better than any of the older American varieties, and in 
this respect nearly equaling the Duchess of Oldenburg and several others 
of the best of the Russians. (These notes cover only my own observations 
and are confined chiefly to southeastern Minnesota.) 
The Peerless stood through the last winter without injury. It is a vigor- 
ous, strong rooted tree, that is inclined to continue growth until late in the 
season and hold the foliage late into winter, especially with young trees, 
and has frequently, in some localities, shown a discoloration of the ends of 
the young wood; but has rarely failed to grow from the terminal buds. The 
variety seems to be improving in this respect and ripening the season’s 
growth better than when first introduced. 
The Okabena came through the winter in even better condition than the 
Duchess, which may probably be attributed to its being a more vigorous 
grower and a stronger rooted tree. 
The Daisy, which is of the same origin as the Okabena, came through 
all right. 
Not any Russian within the range of my observations endured the winter 
as well as the Nelson, at Spring Valley and other places where it has been 
grown. Not a terminal bud was discolored, and not a leaf has blighted. 
The Ohligee seedlings Nos. 2, 6, 8, 10 and 14, which have been propagated 
by S. D. Richardson, at Winnebago City, and are on trial on my own place, 
have come through as well as any of the Russians. 
The Malinda, while not a Minnesota seedling, was developed and ex- 
tensively propagated in this state. It shows considerable discoloration im 
some localities and does not appear to be as hardy as the varieties above 
named, but is worthy of further trial. 
The Eberhard, Catharine, Holt, Waif, Lord L, Brett No. 1, and dozens: 
of others not yet named, came through the winter in better condition than 
almost any of the old eastern varieties, and with selections that will yet be 
made from varieties originated by Messrs. Gideon, Dartt, Brand and others, 
the outlook for growing apples of the very best quality and most beautiful 
appearance in our North Star state is very cheering. If our people will save 
and plant seeds of the hardiest and best apples raised and ripened in our own 
