492 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



northwest. The findingf of these trees at a point 100 miles north of 

 Minneapolis was a g-reat deal of a surprise, as it is generally 

 thought this is the northern limit of their growth. Mr. Nutter heard 

 also from some of the settlers of fine bearing orchards of apples 

 and pears "farther on," but did'nt verify the report. 



A Local Society Trial Station.— The local society at Elk River 

 have set a noteworthy example in establishing in connection with 

 their association a trial station, where the members are jointly test- 

 ing a large number of varieties of fruits for their mutual benefit, 

 instead of each one doing this work for himself, as the planters of 

 the state are very generally doing. They are now growing there 

 forty- four varieties of apples, twenty-one of plums, eight of cherries, 

 and "a large number of grapes, currants, gooseberries and raspber- 

 ries, and forty-one of strawberries, besides many novelties &c." A 

 most commendable example. See the report of their secretary, A_ 

 W. Keays, to be published later. 



A New Suggestion as to Re-Foresting.— In a letter received 

 by Capt. J. N. Cross, of Minneapolis, some time since from Ed. A. Beals^ 

 well known to our readers as lately in charge of the weather 

 bureau office in this city, Mr. Beals says: "While in Knoxville, 

 Tenn., I met a Major Vanderford, who is Professor of Agriculture 

 in the University of Tennessee, and director of the Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station. He is very much interested in forestry matters 

 and has in view a simple plan for reforesting Tennessee, which he 

 is confident will be successful to a marked degree. It is to remit 

 taxes for twenty years or so on all lands where trees are cultivated; 

 that is to sa}^ cut over land or other land set aside and main- 

 tained for forestry purposes and protected from fires, stock, etc. At 

 the end of twenty years Major Vanderford claims this land will be 

 the most valuable the farmer has, and it can then be taxed propor- 

 tionately to its worth. I believe it possible for such a plan to work 

 where small holdings dominate, but it probably would not in the 

 case of our northwest lumber corporations with vast tracts of this 

 kind of land (cut over) on hand. In Tennessee, however, they are 

 mostly small farmers. Each one may perhaps have a small patch 

 unsuitable for cultivation, but still desired as a part of the farm. 

 Taxes on same become a burden, but by planting trees thereon, he 

 would be relieved while the land was unprofitable of this expense, 

 but later when valuable taxation re-begins and the state is benefited 

 two-fold, first by the timber in a general way and, second, by higher 

 taxes now paid on valuable land that heretofore was comparatively 

 worthless." 



Storage of Vegetables. — Potatoes, turnips, table beets, carrots, 

 etc., should be kept where it is perfectly dark and the protection 

 should be afforded as soon as they are taken from the ground. If 

 stored in a cellar, there is nothing better than a good tight barrel 

 with three inches of sand on top. Take any cheap material, old bran 

 sacks are best, cut in pieces the right size to well cover the top of 

 barrel, then put on the sand and the following spring you will find 

 your vegetables as fresh and plump as when taken from the 

 ground. Keep the cellar cool, but never take any chance of letting 

 frost get in. 



