294 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



most of the other parks of the city, and very attractive results have 

 been attained, while at the same time the public taste has not been 

 vitiated by gazing upon abnormal constructions of so-called "floral 

 art." 



In this park stands the bronze statue of Ole Bull, recently pre- 

 sented to the city by his fellow countrymen who have here estab- 

 lished their homes. 



Two lessons may be learned from the history of Loring Park: 

 first, that tracts of land which in a state of nature maj'^ be classed 

 as useless, if not worse, may be transformed into places of beauty 

 thus adding greatly to the value of the surrounding propert3'; and 

 secondly, that with care and intelligent planning such a change 

 may be wrought in a very few years, and no community need hesi- 

 tate to enter upon such a task for fear that future generations only 

 will reap the benefit. 



PLUMS AND CHERRIES IN 1896. 



W. S. WIDMOYEK, DRESBACH. 



Cherries blossomed very full and were a sight to make the owner 

 proud and passer-by envious, but the result in fruit was anything 

 but satisfactory to the horticulturist, there being none to speak of. 

 Most of my trees have only been set out two years, and have borne 

 no fruit as yet, but they made a splendid growth the past j^ear, 

 especially the Early Richmond and Kentish Red cherries. 



It is very essential to success that cherries be planted as early in 

 spring as the ground can be put in proper condition, as they start 

 to grow very early; of a lot planted late in the spring of 1S92 which 

 were delayed at the nursery, for some caxise or other onl}' twenty 

 per cent lived, while out of seventy-five planted early in 1894 only 

 one died, and that was nearly dead when planted. 



I have had no experience in raising cherries for market as yet, so 

 cannot tell what the profits would be, but am informed b}^ one of the 

 oldest growers in this county that it pays quite well for the labor 

 expended. 



This man plants very close, eight bj^ ten feet, and plants two 

 rows of red raspberries between the rows of trees. He claims they 

 protect the young trees, and he gets two or three crops of berries 

 before they have to be taken out. Then the ground is seeded to 

 grass of some kind, preferably clover. He has mostl}' English 

 Morellos, but has planted quite largely of Early Richmond the last 

 year or two, claiming if he could get one good crop, he would be 

 well paid for his trees and trouble. 



Plums served us about the same as cherries, except the Desota 

 and one tree we have of Decker's seedling (which took first premium 

 at the state fair as the best new plum). I picked four bushels of 

 plums from one tree of Desota, set in 1892. All wild plums as well 

 as the Rollingstone and a new seedling of the Desota were covered 

 with bloom but set no fruit. 



One tree of the Abundance had a few verj'^ fine looking plums, but 

 they are rather insipid in flavor compared with our best natives. 



Remarks about planting cherries also apply to the Japan plums. 



