322 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Third. The freedom from troublesome sprouts which such trees 

 will show in orchard. 



We would add to our testimony in favor of sand cherry stocks 

 that the root seems as able to hold the top upright as any we have 

 tried, some vigorous, top-heavy trees tipping over with either or any 

 other stock we have ever used; and also that the stock seems to 

 induce fruitfulness, as three year trees of Rockford, Cheney and one 

 other variety have shown some fruit, especially the first named, 

 which carried quite a crop. 



The most needed improvement in this valuable fruit seems to the 

 writer to be in the line of better early varieties. The Forest Garden, 

 although with us of good size and a very regular bearer, is suscept- 

 ible of great improvement in quality and earliness. As much as we 

 naturally dislike to advertise a rival nursery, we shall be compelled 

 to admit that the Itasca is the new plum that gives greatest promise 

 of filling this need. As received by us from its original home in 

 Aitkin county, nearly 200 miles north of Albert Lea, it was of fine 

 size, beautiful, clear, light red color, and in prime condition, 

 although repacked at Lake City, and, although grown so far north, 

 ripe with our earliest home varieties. We had been entertaining 

 this angel unawares for three years among the multitude of our 

 trial stock, but had not until this season observed its interesting 

 departure in leaf, bud and bark from the usual type of the Americana. 

 The pit is also very unique, being very broad and thin, unlike any- 

 thing we have before seen. While at Aitkin last winter, we heard 

 reports of the size of this plum that were so astonishing that it will 

 not be best to tax the credulity of the reader by repeating them. 



Mr. Geo. H. Prescott, of Albert Lea, is propagating a plum which 

 was originally found near Red Wing and that has been fruiting in 

 this city for many years. It is as early if not earlier than the Forest 

 Garden, of large size, good substance and flavor, and bearing fine, 

 perfect fruit the present season when Desota in a parallel row was 

 badly affected and ruined for sale by some disease resembling scab. 

 This certainly demands attention as an early fruit of reliable bear- 

 ing habit. 



The Compass Cherry. This remarkable hybrid has been so well 

 advertised that we shall do no more than state that it ripens before 

 any plum with which we are acquainted and seems, therefore, to 

 have a field almost to itself. It bears abundantly on one year nur- 

 sery trees and shows every sign of perfect hardiness. In form and 

 appearance, it is a small plum, of bright red color, absolutely free 

 from astringency of skin or pit, rather tart to eat out of hand, but 

 making delicious sauce. 



Newman Cherry. This is a selected form of the Nebraska sand 

 cherry which we found growing among several hundred that have 

 fruited at our place. It is of large size, round form, nearly black, 

 moderate pit for the race and entirely free from astringency. The 

 bush is of medium size and immensely productive. We are among 

 those of such plebian taste as to consider the sand cherry in its 

 best form well worthy of a place in the average Minnesota garden. 

 It will flourish under the worst possible treatment and produce in 



