184 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
” 
Mr. Wragg, (Iowa): If we should put ona dust blanket it 
would blow away. I would rather have the buckwheat to con- 
serve the moisture; it is better than anything else. 
The President: You sow that in July? 
Mr. Wragg, (lowa): Yes, in July. 
Mr. Dartt: Well, we have the advantage of you fellows; our 
soil does not blow away. (Laughter). 
Mr. Bush: Is there not a happy medium between those two 
extremes? I cultivate my orchard freely until the first of July, 
then mulch with barnyard litter and allow that to remain, and 
in that way get good results. 
Mr. Harris: I would keep the litter out. 
BEST THREE EVERGREENS FOR SHELTER. 
CHAS, HAWKINSON, MINNEAPOLIS. 
During the twenty-three years’ experience aS nurseryman near 
Minneapolis, I have grown and planteda great many evergreens, 
yet it is just as hard for me to select the best three evergreens for 
shelter as it would be for me to pick out the best three members of 
this society. There seems to be no variety of evergreen that will 
stand our western blizzards without being somewhat protected. I 
consider the three following varieties best for shelter: Norway 
Spruce, Red Cedar and Norway Pine, or what is usually called Red 
Pine. Fora fast growing evergreen, I would plant Scotch Pine, but 
when it reaches the age of 15 to 20 years it begins to grow scraggy; 
therefore, [have not placed iton my list. White Spruce is another 
evergreen that has generally given good satisfaction, but I con- 
sider the three first named varieties the best. 
Mr. T. T. Smith: What does the gentleman mean by the red pine? 
Mr.C. L.Smith: Oneof them has very long needles, and the other 
one has fine needles, more scattering. He means the one with the 
heavy leaves; you can scarcely see through it, 
Mr. Elliot: Itis the native Norway pine growing in the northern 
part of the state. 
Mr.C.L. Smith: In handling this Norway pine, what success 
have you had in transplanting? 
Mr. Hawkinson: They did not transplant as good as the Scotch 
pine, but they are a good tree. 
Mr. Dartt: I have had experience with the red pine, this long- 
leaved, heavy pine. Thetree station set out a good many,and a good 
many of them failed. I hardly think this red pine is worthy of 
planting in the dryest sections of the state. It may do where moist- 
ure is abundant. In regard to the red cedar, I think you will find 
that the majority of the red cedar are tender. I bought some at two 
or three different times, and I think four-fifths of those I bought 
proved worthless, and still I bought those that were said to have 
been grown from northern seed. 
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