382 MINNESOTA STATE HOBTICULTUBAL SOCIETY. 



a heavy crop of late maturing apples. The chances are that you will 

 find the bark dead at the point the limbs leave the tree on the upper 

 side of the crotch. You may also find the trunk affected, but seldom 

 will you find the first evidences of decay in the small limbs and 

 twigs. If you observe closely you will be surprised to see the 

 seeming vitaHty of the small limbs, even when the trunk is well on 

 the road to decay. Therefore, if we can get the trunk and large 

 limbs of a hardy stock we have traveled quite a piece toward solving 

 the question. We have plenty of the Russians and of the crab fam- 

 ily that are hardy. Select from those kinds what will make a good 

 union and that have good, strong collars. Take the tree while small, 

 so as not to have too many limbs. I generally set out those three 

 or four years old one season and graft them the next. After the 

 roots have got a good hold, and the tree has sent out a few good, 

 thrifty shoots, take these and put in whip grafts on the young, 

 thrifty shoots as far out as you can get them. From four to six 

 limbs are enough to form a good head to a tree. Watch your scions 

 carefully to see that suckers do not rob them, and if any scions fail 

 see that the tree is filled out the next year. You will soon have a 

 tree with the trunk and main limbs of the hardiest kind that the 

 country produces ; and if for scions you have selected from trees of 

 at least second hardiness you have traveled a long way toward 

 producing winter fruit.. Keep your list small, except you are will- 

 ing to experiment and ready to meet disappointments ; but do not 

 for one moment think your work is done. It is said that "the price 

 of liberty is eternal vigilance." I believe also that the successful 

 raising of the winter apple has the same price. But keep on ; do 

 not despair. You and I may never see it, but our children or our 

 children's children are bound to see the day when the very best 

 of the king of all fruit, in great variety, will be raised throughout 

 the state. Who ever saw such a body of intelligent, persevering men 

 as are now interested in the development of fruit in the Northwest 

 balked of their purpose ? It may l:ake time, but I firmly believe that 

 the hour is near at hand when it can be proclaimed that we have 

 a winter pomology equal to the best. 



Strawberries — The proper kind of plants to use in starting a strawberry 

 bed are those grown the previous year expressly for transplanting. In grow- 

 ing plants for such purpose, extra pains are taken in training and pruning the 

 runners to that only the best plants are preserved, and so few of these that no 

 two shall stand closer than five or six inches apart, The late-forming sets and 

 runners are cut off, so that when winter sets in the bed is composed wholly of 

 strong, well-matured, well-rooted plants. When wanted in the spring, the 

 entire row — not the edges of it — is taken up, and a choice grade of plants is 

 thus secured. Better pay an extra price for such plants than to take inferior 

 ones as a gift. 



