O MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



swept from existence. Brave Peter Gideon went about in old 

 clothes, saving his money to buy apple seeds to plant by the bushel 

 in the hope that at least one among them might be hardy. Failure 

 followed failure. Then crab seed from one of the northern states 

 gave the Wealthy, and that proved to 'be one of the most hardy and 

 prolific trees ever evolved. Then the experiments kept on. Seed- 

 lings from hardy trees have been planted by the thousands upon 

 thousands, until last fall the seedling apples of Minnesota took the 

 Wilder prize in the American Pomological Society at Boston. 



The papers read were of high order. The writers were earnest 

 enthusiasts. 



Strawberries succeed well in Minnesota. Either the summers are 

 cooler, or in some way the soil and climate are better adapted — at 

 any rate from the reports Nebraska is in the background. They 

 claimed to have raised them so large that six would fill a quart 

 basket. 



The varieties most popular in Nebraska seemed to head the list. 

 Dunlap takes the lead, followed by Warfield, Splendid and other 

 leading varieties. 



I was much interested in the discussion regarding mulching. 

 Some proposed to mulch as soon as the ground was frozen enough 

 to bear up the team. But the plan most highly recommended was 

 to let the ground freeze solid and be in no hurry about mulching. 

 It was said the freezing did not hurt, but the freezing and thawing. 

 Wait till the whole bed is frozen soHd and then mulch, and the 

 mulching keeps the frost in and retards the blooming so there is no 

 danger from late freezes. There seemed to be a good deal for this 

 plan, and it is the one most generally followed. 



I was surprised when reports were given of successful cherry 

 growing. 



Up at Duluth, near the great "unsalted sea," fruit of all kinds 

 did remarkably well, and the crops were very large. In short, there 

 seems but a small portion of our vast domain which cannot be in- 

 vaded by brains and made to raise miracles. 



The genial president, Clarence Wedge, one of the successful 

 and enterprising nurserymen of the state, was present. He is a 

 remarkably able and genial man. He was giving ofif his vitality, 

 ability and cheer to make the meeting a success when he received 

 that cruel stab which entered his soul — a telegram announcing the 

 death of his wife. Mrs. Wedge was a superior woman — she was 

 at the meeting the year before. They have a large family of inter- 

 esting children. It was a blow that hit us all, and many an eye 

 was dimmed, and many a silent petition went up that the Divine 

 Comforter would visit and comfort that stricken home. 



I noted in this meeting a more devout and reverent spirit than 

 usually pervades these gatherings. Men seemed to recognize the 

 thought that they were partners with God, interpreting His plans of 

 mercy to men, and they had a humble and strong reliance on His 

 providence ; and back of all their experiments was the Eternal Love 

 with never-failing help and encouragement. 



There were many visitors from abroad. Prof. Hansen and Mr. 

 Norby, evergreen expert, from South Dakota, also those from Iowa, 



