358 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



fruit culture that the people of the east, on hig-h priced lands, are 

 obliged to make use of to make it pa3^ Their system evidently 

 keeps the ground cleaner and in better shape, requires more expen- 

 sive hand labor, but they invariably get better prices for their pro- 

 ducts. The value of our land need not be considered, so that all 

 plants can be grown further apart and more reliance placed on cul- 

 tivating with horses. This applies with equal force, whether a arqall 

 area is to be grown for family use or on a larger scale commerci- 

 ally. In either case it is certain that care and clean culture pays 

 best. 



Fall setting of fruits is largely practiced in the south, but in this 

 latitude spring setting is preferable for all kinds except black and 

 red raspberries. Too much stress cannot be laid on the thorough 

 preparation of the ground for any variety of fruits. Plowing this 

 month and smoothing down to start the weed seeds into growth, by 

 help of the September rains, will accomplish more at this time than 

 later plowing or delaying till spring; besides, if the soil is naturally 

 heavy, fall plowing will tend to ameliorate it. 



During this month it will be necessary to gather and preserve 

 seeds that would otherwise be injured by freezing. The principal 

 points to be observed are to gather when fully ripe and when dry, and 

 to preserve from dampness and mice. Apple seeds and the stone fruit 

 seeds may be put into sand and wintered out of doors, and should 

 be kept moist. For the stone fruits dry freezing will not do, as the 

 shells will not then crack open. The planting of seeds for fruit 

 should be attended to if we expect to reap much permanent benefit in 

 growing it. 



Pressing Plants for Color.— All plants will not keep their 

 color when pressed, but a large number will if they are carefully 

 placed between papers that are thoroughly dry and quite porous. 

 Nothing should be used which is glazed, and it is best to have a 

 number of sheets between the specimens so they can dry without 

 being changed at all. When smoothly arranged, put in a press, if 

 one has such a thing, and gently apply pressure until you have a 

 hundred or two hundred pounds. Without a letter press one can 

 use a smooth board to lay them on and another over them, using 

 stones or bricks, or any heavy thing to press them. But to save 

 good specimens the pressure must be great. Plants that are juicy 

 should not be put in with others, and layers of cotton between the 

 papers is a great help. When about dry, then change to fresh 

 papers. Dry the damp papers before using again. To mount 

 them, white paper can often be obtained where newspapers are 

 printed. Use a single sheet or one folded once, putting the plant 

 inside. Take white gum arable and dissolve in a bottle; put in 

 whole clovew to preserve it; this makes excellent mucilage. Cover 

 a piece of paper, and when dry cut into narrow strips and fasten 

 down the stems of the plants onto the paper. At the bottom write 

 the order and particular name with place where found and date of 

 finding. — Helen L. Norton. 



