432 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



for his pardon, for it is as easy to grow fruit as it is to grow corn or 

 potatoes. 



The reason why so many fail to grow fruit successfully is be- 

 cause they do not take proper care of it after they plant, or else they 

 buy their stock from parties that they never have seen before and 

 will never see again after they get the money. How would we come 

 out with our corn crop if we bought our seed from strangers from 

 the east or south? What do they know about varieties that are 

 adapted to our climate or location? Every failure that we make is 

 a detriment to us and to the community, and every man who raises 

 a bushel of fruit, plants and grows up a windbreak or improves his 

 place, has benefited himself and also added to the value of his neigh- 

 bor's land, and is a benefit to the country. The man who stands back 

 and only prophesies failure stands in his own light and is a detri- 

 ment to the community. 



A few years ago I called on one of your Minnesota men, by the 

 name of Michener. Many of you probably know him. He was one 

 of the first of your locality to plant a commercial orchard. That 

 man has done more for you Minnesota people than all of the false 

 prophet kickers that stand back and say that fruit growing in Minne- 

 sota is a failure. 



If you that were here in early days would only look back thirty 

 years ago and even later, you would often hear the remark from the 

 prospective settler, "I like your soil and country, but I am going 

 where I can raise fruit." But we hear little of that talk lately. 



And now a word in regard to windbreaks. This is something that 

 every land owner should give a thought to. Most of the old groves 

 are dying out, and by keeping up these windbreaks, which should 

 be of evergreens, it would add much to the looks of the place and 

 much to the comfort of man and beast, and add from one to five 

 dollars an acre to the selling price of the farm. As a business in- 

 vestment, can you name anything that will pay a better dividend than 

 intelligent tree planting. 



. But we must remember in all our handling of trees, digging, 

 setting and care afterwards, it. is well to bear in mind this fact, well 

 known but often ignored, that a tree is a thing of life, that it has it's 

 youth and old age, and that it dies ; that an injury given is a shock to 

 it's vitality, according to the severity of the injury, about the same 

 as in animal life. So handle your trees as careful as you would 

 your children, care for them as you do for your corn, and patronize 

 your home nursery only. Plant liberally, and it will not be long 

 until southern Minnesota will be the banner fruit region of the West. 



