360 MINNESOTA STATE HOKTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



Plum Pits and Crab Apple Seeds in Demand — There is a large and 

 growing demand for the pits of native Minnesota plums and the seed of crab 

 apples. The crab apple of which the seed is especially desired is the old fash- 

 ioned Siberian, red and yellow, Pyrus baccata, as it is technically called, but 

 the seeds of any other crabs are wanted also, and a ready market will be found 

 for them undoubtedly with the nurserymen of the northwest. Don't forget to 

 save also a few seeds of choice apples and especially of the longer keeping ones, 

 of any hardy variety and good quality, to plant upon your own place. Every 

 person should have a few seedlings growing. That is the way we expect to get 

 the apple the horticultural society has offered $1,000 for. You will enjoy 

 the work, and something satisfactory to you is likely to come out of it, even if 

 you do not get the prize. 



Government Distribution of Seeds.— Secretary Wilson, of the U. S. 

 Dept. of Agriculture, in his annual report announces a change in the nature of 

 the work of this seed distribution, which if carried out will go far towards re- 

 deeming the department from the lack of practical value heretofore attending 

 this annual distribution. As announced, the department will gradually sub- 

 stitute new or little known varieties, such as specialties or novelties, for the 

 more common sorts heretofore distributed. After distributing them one year, 

 they will be dropped, and any demand for them will be supplied by the regu- 

 lar trade. So radical a change as this in the management of that business 

 will be recognized as a great step in the direction of practical usefulness in the 

 distribution and fair treatment for the men who are in the seed trade as a busi- 

 ness proposition. 



Premiums on Apples at the Winter Meeting.— The exact details of 

 premiums to be offered on fruit at the coming winter meeting of the society 

 have not been decided upon, but they will not differ materially from those of 

 the previous year except the amount offered for seedling apples is likely to be 

 increased. We hope that our members who can possibly plan to be present 

 at the meeting will store specimens of everything that is worthy of exhibition 

 and assist us in making the exhibit at this meeting the largest the society has 

 ever made. It will have to be a big one, however, as the exhibit last year ran 

 up in the neighborhood of 1,000 plates. Be especially particular to save any 

 good early or late winter seedlings. The amount of premium offered on 

 these will be divided pro rata, so that every seedling of some commercial value 

 will be recognized at the distribution. Early apples which it is desired to pre- 

 serve for this meeting can be sent to cold storage at Minneapolis, and tags for 

 this purpose may be secured from the secretary on application. 



QUESTIONS. 



Question — Can bog iron ore be made to supply the place of potash or 

 any other constituent of a commercial fertilizer? Would it benefit bush fruits in 

 any way if incorporated in the soil they grow in? 



Question. — Will some one through the Horticulturist give what informa- 

 tion they can why some of our apple trees blight so badly this season? Is it on 

 account of the character of the season or is there some other cause for it? Can 

 it be remedied in some way through mulching or grafting? Is it the sap of 

 the tree that causes it? I trim off the affected parts just a little below where 

 the blight shows, and this seems to stop it from working downward, while I 

 have noticed where trees become affected and no attention is given them the 

 whole limb becomes affected. 



