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470 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ET 
I once asked Peter M. Gideon, what he thought the difference be- 
tween a southwest slope and a northeast one. “I would rather have,” 
said he, ‘‘one acre on a northeast slope than forty on a southwest 
for apples. A soilthat would do fairly well on the northeast slope, 
would be a failure on the southwest.” : 
A soil of sand or gravel, either in surface or subsoilis bad. A 
heavy blue clay, unless elevated and sloping,is bad. If we reflect 
a moment on the effects of the hot southwest winds and the direct 
rays of the sun, we can but seea vast difference in favor of a north- 
east slope. Both the sunand the wind strike with double forceon 
all sites open and facing southwest, while both as they pass over 
the northeast elevation but slightly affect the soil about the roots 
and whatever effect either may have is more evenly distributed 
on all sides of the tree, on bot.its roots and branches. 
Another evil has been in dealing with strangers, who, asa rule 
are without honor and are neither reliable or responsible. Lam 
near seventy and never dealt with strangers. I never have been 
humbugged a dollar in my life. Then why deal with strangers, since 
there is no law in America that can compel youto?. A humbug is 
the easiest bug I know of to get ridof. Let him alone, and he is 
harmless; but when once youcommence dealing with him, you will 
find him the most detestable of all beings. Thousands of dollars 
—hard earned—are annually thrown away by dealing with un- 
known agents. If you are in doubt as to what you want and where 
to best get them, consult with some one you know knows. If he is 
not near, write him full particulars of your conditions and wishes; 
send stamps to pay postage and paper,and you will find this will 
bring you the best returns for the investment you have ever re- 
ceived. There are plenty of good reliable nurserymen, that I 
would be free to guarantee their dealings to be honest, honorable 
and fair. Be no longer duped by the theory of getting trees on 
whole roots or on budded stock. Ihave a letter just sent me asking 
me to furnish whole root seedlings to start trees by setting the 
scions into the crown and using the whole root, which is, in ninety- 
nine cases in a hundred, a very tender root. This may be well in 
tender climes, but perilous in the Northwest. Take your grub ax 
and grub outa few old,decaying trees—crab trees,if you choose—and 
you will find the under set of roots, that the trees were first started 
on,black,dead and often rotten and gone, and the tree still clinging 
to life by a few hardy roots that have struck out for themselves from 
the hardy trunk. Seeing this you need no other argument. The 
evidence is prima facie. 
For my part,I am lead to wonder that our trees have succeeded half 
as well as they have. I have noted some of the many evils that have 
and doconfroent the orchardist here in the northwest. The remedies 
I have suggested have been gathered from over forty years’ obser- 
vation and experience. Brevity has forced me to pass over many 
points of interest | should have been more than pleased to have 
presented here. 
In closing, I wish to present to you the greatest and grandest 
