A VOICE FROM THE FARMER’S INSTITUTE. 77 
A VOICE FROM THE FARMER’S INSTITUTE. 
A. K. BUSH, 
.Lecturer on Horticulture in the Minnesota Farmers’ Institute. 
In nearly every place we visit I find a large number who are in- 
terested and are planting trees and fruits quite extensively, many 
being surprised with their success when they had expected failures. 
They are growing small fruits, plums and apples in abundance, 
which means they are used and enjoyed as they can and should be 
in the family. 
A farmer living near this city said: “Iam growing alltheapples 
my family can use, from a few trees, some varieties keeping until 
spring.” Another said: “I have lived in this county more than 
twenty-five years and thought I coudd not grow fruits here. A few 
years ago I bought an assortment of fruit trees, bushes and plants 
from a local grower who was strictly reliable, using his judgment 
and experience in selecting varieties, planting, etc. Now, we are 
enjoying fruits of our own growing in large assortment and great 
abundance. I never fully understood their value before growing 
and using them as a staple food in my familly. I wish I had known 
something of the possibilities of a fruit garden and orchard and 
how cheaply the same can be grown even in this part of Minnesota. 
With such knowledge I would have had plenty of home grown fruits 
years ago.” 
The experience of this man is being repeated all over our state 
where Minnesota grown stock is planted, tested and approved varie- 
ties selected, using intelligent care and up-to-date methods of culti- 
vation, setting, protection, etc., as taught by the Minnesota Hort. 
Society through its practical instructors and publications. 
Every fruit grower in our state should makea special effort with 
his neighbor to extend the usefulness of this society and its work by 
securing additional members, who need its help and encouragement 
in overcoming the prejudice now existing with us against fruit 
growing, caused largely by planting inferior stock and worthless 
varieties to us, grown and sold by dealers from the south and east. 
Plant Minnesota grown stock and such varieties as succeed best in 
your locality and are on the “ Fruit List,’ same being recommended 
by majority vote of members present at the annual meeting of the 
State Horticultural Society. Follow these suggestions,and you are 
sure to succeed with fruit growing in Minnesota. 
COMMENDATION IS APPRECIATED.—“I consider your report a great 
credit to the state, and to your horticulturists; you may well be 
proud of the interest that you have worked up,considering the great 
disadvantages that you have to contend with in some respects com- 
pared with more favored localities. ButIsee you are not discour- 
aged in the least, and I wish you success in every undertaking to 
advance horticulture.”’ 
D. M. MCNALLIE. 
Sarcoxie, Mo., Jan. 25, 1898. 
