SECRETARY S CORNER. 479 



One Hundred Doi<i,ars for Roadside Trees. — Mr. Chas. M. Loring 

 of Minneapolis, a life member of this society, has offered a special premium of 

 one hundred dollars to encourage the planting of shade trees along the side of 

 the country roads. The details connected with this offer have not yet been 

 arranged, and we shall be glad to receive suggestions in regard to them. It is 

 probable that the offer will be made for trees to be planted next spring and 

 cared for, for a limited time. How few farmers have shade trees planted along 

 the road in front of their homes! And yet what beauty and dignity thej- add 

 to the place! Far too little attention is given to this feature of landscape 

 adornment. 



A Suggestive Experience in Strawberries.— "The amount of straw- 

 berries I raised in 1902 was 6,700 quarts. The space of ground was five 

 acres. The varieties had were Bederwood, Warfield and Lovetts. The reason 

 my strawberries made such a poor success last year was on account of the loca- 

 tion; it was a stubble field plowed in the fall of the year, and I planted the 

 strawberries in the spring of the year of 1901. We all know it was a dry year, 

 and the stubble ground did not get a chance to settle. On the low ground, 

 where the plants grew a little, they were drowned out this last summer, so 

 what the dry weather did not kill in 1901 got drowned out in 1902." 



H. F. Hansen, Albert Lea. 



A Good Word for Crab Roots— "Nearly thirty years ago I had a 

 number of Wealthy trees growing in my orchard. I set five more Wealthy 

 trees that had been grafted on to the tops of as many three-year old Transcendent 

 crabs. At the same time I had sent me two Wealthy trees that had been started 

 on crab roots. These all grew finely till the winter of 1884 - 5. The spring 

 of eighty-five found all other Wealthys on mj' place killed root and branch 

 except these f'wo IVealtJiys sent me that were grown on crab roots. These two 

 trees are the largest and finest Wealthy trees I know of in northern Iowa. 

 These trees have been bearing unusually heavy crops for many years." 



Edson Gayi^ord, Nora Springs, la. 



Seedling Apples at the Annual Meeting. ^We are expecting a large 

 display at the coming annual meeting. For the first time for a great many 

 years, at least longer back than the secretary can recollect, seedling apples 

 from states bordering us are to be allowed in competition with our own in the 

 annual exhibit. We are in hopes there will be many varieties of commercial 

 value shown. You should notice particularly the premiums offered for seed- 

 ling apples, including the special preinitini offers. If you know of any promis- 

 ing seedlings growing in the neighborhood, be sure and interest the owner to 

 either come and bring the fruit to the meeting or to send it by express to the 

 secretary, to reach him not later than Nov. 30. As to the number of specimens 

 required, etc., please notice the details as given in the premium list. Come to 

 the meeting yourself! You can help us in this and other ways to make the 

 gathering a grand success, and if you are kept at home you will reap the 

 benefit of this in the report and in other ways later on. 



Low Railroad Rates to the Annual Meeting.— Special emphasis 

 should be placed on this, as the special rate made for the horticultural meeting 

 is the only low rate to the Twin Cities prior to the holidays, and anyone plan- 

 ning to visit this neighborhood before that time should certainly take advantage 

 of this opportunity and attend at least one session of the horticultural society. 



