156 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



FRUITS FOR THE LAKE SUPERIOR REGION. 



R. H. PENDERGAST, DULUTH 



Owing to its being so far north, those who first set out trees 

 here were afraid to try so many varieties of apples except the crabs; 

 also the fact that trees start so late in the spring that late winter 

 varieties will not ripen well here shortened the list we had to 

 choose from. 



I consider the Duchess of Oldenberg the best variety of apple 

 for the Lake Superior country. It is very hardy, productive, and, 

 owing to our late spring and cool summer, the apple does not 

 ripen as early as in Hennepin county, and the fruit keeps much 

 longer after picking. The tree does not blight and is a good mar- 

 ket apple. 



The Wealthy stands the winter well here, and the apples 

 ripen well. It is very productive, and the fruit needs thinning out 

 while the trees are young. Quality extra. 



The Tetofsky is a favorite variety for home use, the apples ri- 

 pening early. The tree is of handsome form and compact growth, 

 taking up but little room in the garden. It is a good eating apple, 

 and trees bear well. 



These three varieties are all that you will find in general use in 

 this section except crabs. Most people when setting out a few 

 trees for their own use ask for varieties that have been tested and 

 are suited for the climate here. 



When I came to Lake Superior in 1867, the Transcendent and 

 Hyslop were the varieties of crab in use in Minnesota. I set them 

 out on my farm, and sold them for man^ years, as they were not af- 

 fected by blight here as they were below. They were very produc- 

 tive and the best market apples among the crabs. Within the last 

 ten or twelve years there have been two or three seasons when they 

 have blighted a little. Last year, during a wet spring, the trees 

 made a very rapid growth; this was followed by several weeks of 

 very hot weather, and most of the Transcendents and Hyslops 

 blighted badly, and many of them were killed. 



I consider Whitney No. 20 the best variety of crab apple for this 

 section. It does not blight, is a good bearer, large size, good qual- 

 ity and sells well. The. Virginia does well here. The Minnesota 

 is the best late variety, but not as productive as some of the others. 

 Our native plums do well around Lake Superior, ranking in 

 merit as follows : 



1st, Forest Garden; 2d, Cheney; 3d, Wolf; 4th, Desoto. 

 The Desoto would deserve first place if it ripened a little ear- 

 lier, as it is one of the best plums and a heavy bearer; but some 

 seasons it does not mature perfectly. 



The Early Richmond cherry has done well here for many years; 

 is hardy and very productive, and a good market variety. I hke 

 the Ostheim and. Vladimir best of the Russian cherries. 



