332 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ORCHIDS IN A MINNESOTA GREENHOUSE. 



R. S. MACKINTOSH, ST. ANTHONY PARK. 



The accompanying' picture was taken last March in Mr. R. J. 

 Mendenhall's greenhouse on the day that Professor Green's class in 

 greenhouse work, from the agricultural school, visited it. It illus- 

 trates very well the beautiful orchids (Cattelya) which were in bloom 

 at that time. The other houses were equally as beautiful as this 

 one. A large sale of violets was in progress the day that we were 

 there. This visit was an object lesson to the students as to the ex- 

 tent of the flower business in this section. 



On a previous trip they inspected Mr. Fred Busch's extensive 

 vegetable forcing greenhouse in Richfield, where they saw large 

 quantities of nice vegetables growing during the winter. 



Both Mr. Mendenhall and Mr. Busch are always ready to show the 

 boys through their greenhouses and to answer any questions that 

 are asked them. 



These excursions are of great benefit to the class in illustrating 

 the practical working of the various subjects upon which they are 

 engaged in the class room. 



PLUMS A SOURCE OF PROFIT. 



DEWAIN COOK, WINDOM. 



We are satisfied that there is no place in Minnesota where 

 the European, or what is commonly called the tame plum, can be 

 profitably grown, and, even if they could be grown here, we 

 have no use for them, as we have a better fruit in our best 

 selected natives. In that section of country which lies between 

 Lake Michigan and the Missouri river, the finest varieties are 

 fouud growing wild most everywhere, and I believe that all the 

 hardy natives now prominently before the public originated in 

 this same territory — and we of Minnesota are living in the cen- 

 ter of the best native plum region upon earth. Three of the 

 best eating plums known, the RoUingstone, Mankato and 

 Ocheeda, originated within our borders. With the common 

 wild plum so plentiful, probably not in one town in twenty in 

 our state could a bushel of any of our standard varieties be ob- 

 tained in their season. I have been unable to even supply the 

 local demand at ^2.00 per bushel. That price or more could no 

 doubt be obtained anywhere in our state. What an opening! 

 No winter killing, no blight and a ready market at good prices! 



But we have the plum gouger and the curculio with us 

 always, and for profit we should plant mostly of the thick 

 skinned varieties, like the Wolf and the Mankato, as they seem 

 to be stung less and recover more rapidly than the thin skinned 

 varieties, like the Cheney and the Rockford. 



The Desota on account of its early and sure fruiting and good 

 quality should, of course, be one of the varieties most largely 

 grown. The RoUingstone is one of the best sellers whenever 

 its qualities become known. The Hawkeye and Stoddard 

 should no doubt be included in the list of plums to plant for 

 profit. 



For home use, it is, of course, profitable to plant even as few as 

 one or two trees, but as the market is practically unlimited, the 

 greater the number of trees cared for the greater the profit. 



