106 MINNEAPOLIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



them from breaking. These are the stock it pays to top-work. 

 Budding- is really grafting, and some prefer this way of getting the 

 variet}' they wish on a certain stock, because it is done without so 

 much cutting in the early spring. 



There are many different views as to the season of the year that 

 trimming should be done to injure the least. From many trials I 

 prefer September. From the tenth to the first tof October the blight 

 is done for the season, and the roots have received their supply of 

 the sap elaborated by the leaves, and the wounds where the limbs 

 are cut off have a long season to dry and get ready for the next 

 growing season. I have never heard of any grafting being done 

 in September, but have often thought of it, and expect to try it next 

 September. If there is any one here that has tried grafting in the 

 fall and knows from experience that it is bound to be a failure, it 

 may dissuade me from the trial. 



The different ways of grafting and budding have been so often 

 described and so minutely illustrated in various horticultural 

 papers that it is useless for me to repeat them. 



In conclusion, allow me to advise everybody to never cut a seed- 

 ling, except for pruning it into shape, till it shows what kind of 

 fruit it will bear; never trim off large limbs except the last of Sep- 

 tember or in October, and then, as soon as cut off, cover the wound 

 with ver}'- soft grafting wax or paint; never expect somebody else 

 will top-work your orchard to suit you as well as you can do it 

 yourself; never top-work a tree that already bears good fruit; and 

 never, no, never, expect to grow apples on a white birch. 



BEST VARIETIES OF CURRANTS FOR THE AMATEUR. 



J. R. CUMMINS, WASHBURN. 



For home use, the White Grape currant possesses qualities that 

 might place it first on the list. It yields about as much fruit as other 

 varieties, and comes nearer to being a sweet currant than any 

 other. It is not, however, profitable as a market variety, the red 

 being more salable. The Victoria is a good bearer, and the fruit 

 keeps well on the bushes for some time after being ripe. The North 

 Star is the strongest grower of all varieties, a good bearer, clusters 

 very large. The Red Dutch and Stewart's Seedling are also good 

 varieties. Fay's Prolific is one of the profitable kinds where the 

 conditions are favorable, but it cannot be recommended for general 

 cultivation, not having the hardiness of other varieties. While the 

 climate of this state is generally favorable, cultivation has very 

 much to do with the profit of growing currants. Heavy manuring 

 is needed, and ashes are useful. 



Mr. Harris: I would like to ask Mr. Cammias if he has ever 

 raised the Long Bunch Holland? 



Mr. Cummins: Yes, that is a stronger grower than the 

 North Star. 



Mr. Elliot: Is there more money in it? 



