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MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



feet ; also in winter if there is no snow to protect the ground from 

 freezing deeply it becomes frozen to the depth of three and four 

 feet. I find conditions, therefore, very trying to the vitality of the 

 apple tree; especially so if the tree has been taxed by fruiting 

 heavily. So when I consider the methods adopted in the propaga- 

 tion of apple trees, I believe those methods are against the tree pass- 

 ing successfully through the unfavorable conditions just mentioned. 

 Very few trees regain the tap-root condition so necessary to help 

 them withstand extremes of drouth and cold. 



If left to remain where planted after grafting, some would put 

 down deep roots, but after remaining in a nursery two or three years 

 the roots are cut off and the tree is planted in an orchard, and in 



view in orchard of Mr. Hamlin V. Poore, Bird Island. 



most instances the whole top left on. Owing to fertile soil and 

 favorable weather for growth the tree grows and appears thrifty, 

 giving hope to the planter but of too short duration. 



Now I come to my method of producing a successful apple or- 

 chard. I select seeds of apples grown in this state — the better the 

 apple from which the seeds are selected the greater the promise of 

 choice seedlings being produced. These seeds I grow one year in 

 nursery row, then I transplant to permanent orchard, having of 

 course the ground ready prepared and marked out. The greatest 

 care must be observed in the preservation of the tap root. With 

 spading fork, one forkful of earth is removed from the yearling tree, 

 and the tree is then carefully pulled up, preserving in addition to 

 the taproot all the lesser roots possible. By wrapping with wet 



