242 MINNESOTA STATE HOBTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of frost-killing through the southern part of all the coast states, 

 from South Carolina to Texas. Similar care in the management of 

 the fruits now so hardy, prolific and productive in Minnesota would 

 bring about like marvelous results. 



The plum is to engage our particular attention now for a while, 

 not though because of its paramount importance compared with 

 many other hardy indigenous fruits which the state in her munifi- 

 cence has given as a basis of improvement. In addition to what has 

 already been said about the encouragement that will spring from im- 

 mediate results easy to attain and at the same time startling in their 

 character, come the advantages which will be sure to follow a skillful 

 system of culture coupled with care, patience, accuracy and good 

 judgment. We must bear in mind that if all of us should attempt 

 to traverse the same field but little would be gained by the extra 

 work and almost endless repetitions, while the amount of kinetic en- 

 ergy lost to the cause of horticulture and to the state would be well 

 nigh irreparable. 



Another View of Mr. Pendergast's Plum Orchard. 



It has seemed to me best to let a committee of three take plums to 

 develop and bring them up to the highest possible level, consulting 

 together as often as circumstances will permit and, from time to time, 

 adding better plums to the list already found and, much oftener, 

 dropping therefrom such ones as give the least promise of value. 

 One member might improve existing kinds by cross-fertilization and 

 the rejection of failures, a second member might do much by artificial 

 selection, while the last one should thoroughly test the most ap- 



