FILLMORE COUNTY FRUIT GROWERS. 77 



first drove a fence staple into each side of the harrel just below the 

 top hoop; I then filled the barrel to within a little of the top with 

 apples, then spread a sack over the apples and tilled the remainder 

 of the barrel with grass or weeds, packing it in firmly and piling 

 it above the top of the barrel. I then took an old barrel stave, tied 

 one end down to the edge of the barrel, and springing the other end 

 down tied it to the other staple, thus making a spring that held the 

 ajjples firmly without bruising them. My experience this fall con- 

 vinced me that Minnesota apples if properly handled, don't have 

 to go begging to market, for the demand outlasted 1113' supply, 

 although Rochester market was glutted with Southern apples at 

 one dollar and fifty cents a barrel." 



(We shall have to try and convince Mr. Corp that no harm comes to 

 any one from an exhibit of cold storage fruit, and the object lesson 

 is worth a great deal to the faint hearted who have no faith in fruit 

 growing in Minnesota. We want a full collection of his fine fruit 

 at our next winter exhibit, which we hope will much surpass the 

 last. — Sec'y.) 



FILLMORE COUNTY FRUIT GROWERS. 



R. PAKKHILL, CHATFIELD, SECRETAKY. 



A horticultural meeting was held on the 19th and 20th iusts., at 

 Squire Burleson's office in Spring Valley. The meeting was called 

 to order at 2:;-{0 p. m., Thursday. D. K. Michener was elected chair- 

 man, and R. Parkhill, sec'y. J. Marshall presided at the meetings 

 Friday forenoon and afternoon, Mr. Michener not being able to 

 be present. 



The attendance was not very large, but much interest and enthu- 

 siasm was manifested by those present. 



C. G. Patten, Charles City, Iowa; O. F. Brand, Faribault, Minn; and 

 C. F. Gardner, Osage, Iowa, professional horticulturists, were pres- 

 ent and gave interesting addresses during the meetings. Wm. 

 Somerville, of Viola, attended and gave very valuable assistance by 

 practical talks to farmers on the varieties of the different fruits 

 suited to this part of the state and the care and cultivation of the 

 same. He also spoke at some length of the large amount of money 

 paid by the people of this state for Eastern apples, proving from his 

 own experience that every fanner in southeastern Minnesota could, 

 at very little trouble and expense, grow an abundance of fruit for 

 his own use. 



A society was organized to be known as the "Fillmore County Hor- 

 ticultural Society," and the following were elected officers for the 

 ensuing year: D. K. Michener, president; R. Parkhill, secretary and 

 librarian; S. F. Leonard, treasurer; and an executive committee con- 

 sisting of the president, secretarj', treasurer and B. Taylor and H. 

 .Moon. 



It was decided to elect also one vice-president from each township 

 in the county. Several of these were elected at the meeting, and the 

 remainder will be elected at the next meeting of the societj- to be 

 held at some convenient place in the county next Fel)ruary. 



A constitution and Ijy-laws, somewhat similar to that of the state 

 horticultural society, was adopted. Any person can become a mem- 

 ber by sending his name and fifty cents, the annual fee, to the 

 secretary at Chatficld or the treasurer at Washington P. O. 



