secretary's corner. 159 



Both Profitabi,E and Pleasant. — "Good judges say my orchard is worth 

 $2,000. I got that by belonging to the Horticultural Society. I feel as though 

 my thirty-three years in that society have been profitable and pleasant." 



Seth H. Kenney. 



Wintering a Young Orchard. — Mr. Dewain Cook, of Windom Mail 

 Station, sent a photograph to this office showing a one year old orchard 

 planted in the open prairie, fully exposed to the winter winds, with corn 

 growing between the rows, which he says: "In exposed places always catches 

 the first snows, and this with deep planting just about insures the. trees for the 

 time being against root-killing." 



The HorticulturaIv Society Bills in the Legislature. — At this date, 

 March 23rd, both the bills affecting the interest of the horticultural society, 

 the one increasing the annual appropriatton of the society $500, and the other 

 increasing the printing by 1,000 volumes annually, have passed the senate 

 and are in the hands of the appropriation committee in the house. As far as 

 known there is no opposition to them and the very reasonable requests the 

 society is making, which represent only the actual necessities, are likely to 

 be granted. In addressing any member of the legislature, however, as oppor- 

 tunity affords, our members are requested to refer to these matters and urge 

 action. It will help along. 



The Fruit Exhibit at St. Louis. — Below are printed some extracts 

 from a circular letter sent out by the Chief of Horticulture at the coming 

 World's Fair. They will be found of value to any who are contemplating ex- 

 hibiting there or contributing towards the state exhibit which, it is taken for 

 granted, will be made. 



"The space will be secured by an officer representing the state commis- 

 sion of each state, and all exhibits of this character will be under the manage- 

 ment of the state commission unless there should be a state that does not have 

 a commission, in which case some other arrangements will be made. 



"Fruit growers in making an exhibit of fruits are assured that they wi'l 

 not lose their identity by an arrangement of this kind, for it will be required 

 that all exhibits be plainly marked, showing the name of the grower and the 

 locality where the fruit was produced. 



"It is important that fruit growers everywhere begin at once to prepare 

 to grow fruit for exhibit purposes. Sufficient plant food should be supplied 

 to enable the trees to bear perfect specimens, and this should be followed 

 throughout the season with the most thorough cultivation. Thorough cultiva- 

 tion will hold the moisture in the soil which will be available for the use of 

 the trees and plants in development of perfect specimens of fruits. The thin- 

 ning of fruit should not be neglected. This is an important consideration 

 where it is desired to grow perfect specimens. In doing this work it is advis- 

 able to leave only such specimens as promise to be large and perfect and also 

 those that are not shaded by foliage. 



"It is intended that a collective exhibit of nursery sto^k from all sections 

 of the world will be made. This will afford a splendid opportunity to study 

 the individual varieties and types represented . 



"It is also expected to have a collection of the newer varieties of grapes in 

 bearing, especially those that/ Inve been produced by crossing. These will 

 be planted the present spring so that they will be bearing in 1904. 



"A collection of varieties of strawberries will be planted the present 

 spring. These will be confined to the new varieties. A part of these will be 

 new varieties that have been produced by a careful system of breeding tor the 

 purpose of obtaining varieties possessing certain characteristics. 



"In the nursery exhibit, a collection of nursery trees affected with crown 

 gall and other diseases, as well as trees infected with wooly aphis, will be 

 made." 



