SEEDLINGS AND NEW FRUITS FOR 1897. 227 



Wm. Oxford, of Freeburg, has a few fine seedlings, but perhaps 

 none of them will prove more valuable than the one he calls 

 Switzer. The tree is about sixteen years old, vigorous, healthy and 

 free from anjj^ blemish. It is also a prodigous bearer in alternate 

 years. The fruit is a little below medium in size, but of good 

 quality and is a remarkably good, long keeper. A specimen was 

 shown at the late state fair that had lain upon a shelf in a common 

 cellar a whole year and was still in good condition. His Oxford 

 Orange is most likely a local seedling, but his trees were grafted 

 and procured from a small nursery that has since been discontin- 

 ued and the owner has left the state. The trees appear to be very 

 healthy, syminetrical growers and heavy fruiters, also non-blighters. 

 The fruit will ordinarily keep until mid-winter. A varietj^ found at 

 Reno two years since and that will probably be designated as Mor- 

 gan's seedling has this year borne an enormous crop. The tree 

 looks to be perfectly healthy, is fourteen or more years old and has 

 never shown any blight. In our travels we have seen considerable 

 numbers of the Peerless, and they are almost invariably doing well 

 and looking more promising than almost any other variety. Al- 

 though the tree does blight, under certain conditions it resists 

 blight better than a great many other varieties. 



Mr. E. H. S. Dartt: I would like to say a word in regard to 

 the Owatonna tree station. 



Mr. J. S. Harris: I did not suppose you would be here, or 

 I would have omitted Owatonna. (Laughter. ) 



Mr. Dartt: I thought, perhaps, you would not regard the 

 Owatonna tree station as your own, and that you did not look 

 after it as sharply as you ought, and I want to extend an in- 

 vitation to every member of our society to visit the Owatonna 

 tree station. Now, if you will let me know when you are 

 coming, I will meet you at the station, or somebody else will, 

 and we will show you the nicest little city in Minnesota, and I 

 believe we can show you the most progressive tree station. I 

 don't know but what I ought to except the central station. 



Prof. S. B. Green: O, don't do that. (Laughter.) 



Mr. Dartt: I think it will pay any of you that are interested 

 in tree culture to look it over carefully, just to see what I am 

 doing and what I am trying to do, and of course you will en- 

 joy the opportunity of saying whether what I am doing is done 

 in the right way or not. I hope all of you who can will 

 accept this invitation. Of course, if you can you will come in 

 blossoming time, and, if you cannot come at that time, come a 

 little later when the fruit is ripe, and I know it will be a 

 pleasant visit for you. Whatever comfort there is in it for you, 

 I want you to enjoy it in visiting the station. While I am on 

 my feet I want to say that it affords me a great deal of pleasure 

 to meet you. I really like those old fellows that have listene 



