

The Minnesota Horticulturist is very interesting- and helpful 

 to us and is a welcome visitor to our home. 

 Lake City, March 11th, 1896. R. N. BuTTERMORE. 



"The last 'Notes from the Farmers' Institute' had two errors, 

 which I wish you would correct. $100 worth of Turners were sold 

 from J of an acre, instead of i\; and it was our old friend, M. Cutler^ 

 and not Mr. Cutler. I thoug^ht many of the old members mi<;^ht like 

 to hear of his whereabouts." (See March number, 1896.) 



Clarence Wedge. 



"In reading- through the Hotrticulturist for March, and especi- 

 ally' Mr. J. S. Harris' article on grafting, we note the absence of refer- 

 ence to raffia as a material for tying buds and grafts. * * * 

 It is certainly the handiest article we have ever had experience with 

 for the purpose. It is always ready for use, needs no preparation 

 at any time before using and is easily kept. It is soft and pliable 

 and is therefore of benefit in handling tender plants. We under- 

 stand it to be taking the place of the materials we notice mentioned, 

 and it is being adopted by most of the larger growers." 



Thomas Meehan & Sons. 



Germantown, Phila, March 6, 1896. 



In the llower garden, dig the soil onl}' when it is warm and dry 

 and avoid unnecessary tramping over it when saturated with water. 

 Hardy perennial plants should be put outearly,and those that have 

 stood three years in one place will do better if the stools are taken 

 up and separated, replacing one-third and giving the balance to 

 your neighbors who have none. Hardy bulbs that were set in the 

 fall and covered through the winter should be examined occasionally 

 and as soon as thej'^ show signs of active growth should be ixncov- 

 ered. Finally, in planting fruit and ornamental trees do not make 

 the too common mistakes, viz.: selecting trees that are too large 

 and planting them too thickly. J. S. Harris. 



I received today from the Lake City Nurser3'- Co., some Okabena 

 apples that from appearance had not been in cold storage. They 

 were fine specimens of fine quality and of marketable size. When 

 we can raise such winter apples as these that will compare favor- 

 ably with Eastern varieties, both in size and quality, every farmer 

 ought to make an eflFort at least to raise enough for his own use 

 and some to sell. There will always be a market for such apples. 

 It is true we have had no extremely hard winters for a long time, 

 yet from the ripening of the wood and the general appearance of 

 tlie tree I hold it as one of our hardiest varieties. The Lake City 

 Co., sent me six of of these trees four years ago for experimental 

 purposes. They have proved very satisfactory in growth of wood, 

 and from appearance will fruit this year. They have also sent me 



