136 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



about the floor a good deal, eavesdropping, I might say, and what 

 I heard was certainly very complimentary to Minnesota. There 

 seemed to be still so many people in the East with the idea in their 

 minds that we were still scalping Indians, and it was a matter beyond 

 the comprehension that we could raise apples in sufficient quantity 

 to take the Wilder medal. It will pay you to put your money in 

 exhibits of that kind as long as Dakota does not go down there. It 

 will pay you. 



Mr. Elliot : I just want to tell you a little incident that happened 

 while I was there that impressed me. One day we were standing 

 by this table when two bright Massachusetts girls came along. 

 They went from one end of the table to the other looking at those 

 apples, and at last they stopped and leaned over and said, "We would 

 like to inquire about this collection of apples. We have seen some- 

 thing about it in our papers, and we want to know more about it." 

 I explained to them what it was, and one of them turned to the 

 other, "I am going home, and I am going to plant apple seeds. If 

 that woman out there in Minnesota can produce apples in ten years 

 and make such a display as this there is certainly some hope for 

 me." That is missionary work. If we can do a little missionary 

 work in the seedling line I think it will be a benefit to us and to 

 everybody. I want you to think this thing over. I want you when 

 you go home to save seeds of your best apples, and put it where 

 it will not be too dry, keep it in a cool place until next spring, put it 

 in water and soak it, put it out before freezing weather is over for 

 two or three nights, and then plant it and care for it just as this 

 lady planted and cared for it for two years, and you will soon see 

 the good results of your work. 



Mr. Probstfield : I have not taken the great care that Mr. Elliot 

 recommends, but I have found out that the seeds which did the best 

 were seeds that I planted when I had to cut a little ditch with an 

 axe before the frost came out of the ground, and they came along 

 best when the ground was frozen hard, and those that I planted in 

 the fall soon after they were taken out of the apples did not do 

 well at all. Those I planted in the spring were eaten up by worms. 

 I just planted some a week ago before I came down here. 



Mr. Perkins : Is it necessary to freeze the seeds to make them 

 grow? 



Mr. Elliot : It has been done without. It is not always neces- 

 sary, but it is a good thing to do. 



Mr. Perkins : These seeds were never frozen. 



Mr. Taylor: What did you do with them? 



Mr. Perkins : They were put in moist earth in the cellar and 

 then planted when the season was suitable. 



Mr. Elliot : I think you said they were sprouted in the house 

 before planting? 



Mr. Perkins: Well, they were sprouted in the apple; they were 

 started in the apple. (Lauehter.) 



Mr. Kellogg (Wis.) : You have not half done what you ought 

 to have done in this city. Here you have this magnificent display 

 of apples, and I venture to say there are not five hundred men in this 



