MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 5 
named gentleman, as calculated to discourage the planting of trees. 
We come here, he said, to encourage horticulture, but the tendency 
of the last speaker’s remarks was not encouraging. If any one 
knows of any varieties that have failed, it is well enough to speak of 
them, but he thought the gentleman too wholesale in his condemna- 
tion. ; . 
Mr. Dartt replied to the criticism of the last speaker. His object 
was not to discourage horticulture, but to tell the truth though it 
shamed the devil. | 
Col. Stevens remarked that from the favorable nature of Mr. Jor- 
dan’s land, he could raise more than twenty varieties of fruits that 
could not be successfully raised on Mr. Dartt’s place. This fact, he 
thought, would account for the discrepancy in the statements of the 
two gentlemen. 
Mr. Jordan. We do not want in the very outset to discourage the 
‘planting of any kind of trees. Moreover I object to the assertion 
that the Duchess of Oldenburg is the only variety of apples fit for 
planting. 
President Smith suggested that Mr. Dartt was only speaking of 
his own district. 
Mr. Dartt rejoined that he did not mean that the Duchess was the 
only one that could be raised, but it was the best that he knew of. 
The Tetofsky was the next best. To this there are some objections. 
It does not take root readily ; it is also an early fruit. As many or 
more trees of that variety died when transplanted than, any other. 
It was also more liable to blight and to winter kill. The Haas is 
the next best, but it blights a little. The Saxton is liable to blight. 
So are all varieties when exposed to blighted trees. The Golden 
Russet was good for nothing in his section. These three varieties 
are hardy enough; others not so. The Wealthy killed down worse 
than the Haas or Ben Davis. 
Col. Stevens denied this, saying that the Wealthy he has had 
stood the cold better than any other. There was a mistake. The 
Wealthy had never been known to kill even in the sandy soil near 
Minneapolis. 
Mr. Dartt remarked that because a yearling tree kills ought not 
to discourage any horticulturist.. He had no doubt there would bea 
large number of varieties that in time would succeed and recom- 
mend themselves. Those that have stood the test should be recom- 
mended. New kinds should be tried before being recommended. 
The great source of discouragement is getting up new fancy varie- 
ties and getting people to pay their money for them, and when 
found out they simmer down to nothing. Many that have been 
highly recommended to-day stand very low to-morrow. We should - 
so act that the people will not believe we are a set of axe-grinders. 
If we come here recommending, from time to time, new varieties, 
and they turn out worth nothing, how long will it be before the peo- 
ple will lose confidence in the State Horticultural Society? 
REPORT OF L. B. HODGES.. 
Mr. L. B. Hodges, of Olmsted county, remarked that it did him 
