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- OUR MISTAKES IN ORCHARDING. arte Ya 
living fruit problem of this present age. It is a live issue and 
freighted with far more significance than many are yet ready to 
admit. I refer to top-working to secure hardiness,which if properly 
done will completely revolutionize the fruit question here in the 
Northwest. Itis giving us the shortest and surest road to success 
now known. That there have been and will be many serious failures 
along this line of progress, I am free to admit. I have made very 
many serious mistakes myself onthisline. Butthat this important 
problem is now mostly solved, I have no shadow of doubt. From 
now on the great majority of errors that have presented themselves 
have been overcome, and many obstacles of hindrance have been 
removed. In short, the way nowisso plain that he who runs can 
read and shun error. Select young, vigorous, standard trees that 
are known to be extremely hardy. See that these have been grown 
mostly on their own, hardy roots. Use nocrab stock for standard 
apples, except for some specific purpose. For best results, grow 
these stock trees to about seven years old. Commence when you 
first set them to grow as many branches as possible to the sun, 
setting the scions in the same direction. First, graft about one- 
third of the topmost shoots with late-keeping varieties the next 
season; then set about a third more next lower with earlier varieties, 
leaving the rest for future consideration. I am not now sure it will 
ever be best to remove the original lower limbs, as these may aid in 
toning up the vitality of the tree in trying seasons. 
By this new departure we are surely going to win back most of 
our old choice varieties. Top-working is the missing link we have 
so much needed and so persistently sought for. We now have it, 
and on it we are going over turbulent Jordan dry shod and with it 
scale the walls of Jerico. 
THE MINNEAPOLIS MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—That this new organi- 
zation devoted to the study of the mushroom is doing good work 
may be judged by the following report: 
The Minneapolis Mycological Society had its regular weekly meeting on Monday, 
Oct. 3. All the members were present, with a large number of new members enrolled, 
and a goodly number of visitors. There is a fascination about this new forest food, 
and the varieties exhibited show that the members have not been inactive in canvass- 
ing the fields and groves in this vicinity. Although many varieties have been shown 
at previous meetings, new ones were brought forward, notable among which were sev- 
eral varieties of the boleti, the edible and unwholesome, and specimens of the tree 
fungi, which is more abundant in the fall than in other seasons, The Pleurotus ulma- 
rius was shown and also the Pleurotus ostreatus. The main object of this society pur- 
ports to be the distinguishing of edible mushrooms from those that should be avoided, 
and if, as is often stated, quantities of this valuable and sustaining food are going to 
waste on our lawns and woods, it isa good thing to know where proper information re- 
garding it can be obtained. The much maligned mushroom is now having a fair show. 
Any one not a member may bring specimens of fungi that he finds and have them clas— 
sified. Strangers from both St. Paul aad Minneapolis are invited to attend the meet- 
ing of the society at Dr. M. Whetstone’s, 408 Nicollet avenue, room 305, on any Monday 
evening. Lillie C. Flint, 
Secretary of the Minneapolis Mycological Society 
St. Paul, Minn., 720 Igelhart Street, October 6th. 
