MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 63 
length, ie. the facts drawn out go very far to show that it comes as 
the result of two or three seasons unfavorable for healthy growth of 
trees followed by a winter of unusual severity, absence of snow, and 
a lack of moisture in both atmosphere and soil, which together with 
the evaporation which is continually going on, even when trees are 
at rest, extracted the moisture from both root and branch, while no 
supply could be taken in. To me, this theory looks plausible, and 
is very well sustained. To prevent the recurrence of such a calami- 
ty it is recommended to supply moisture by artificial means when 
there is a lack of it, retain as much as possible by mulching and 
hereafter be more careful in the selection of our trees. At this point 
a very animated discussion arose upon the using of Crab and Sibe- 
rian roots and seedlings by nurserymen for stocks to graft upon to 
insure greater hardiness. The strong argument was that the crab 
roots would endure any amount of freezing and drouth without in- 
jury. Although no definite conclusion was arrived at, some of the 
members are very sanguine that experience will prove the theory a 
good one. 
The vexed question of fire-blight came up for investigation and 
various causes for it were presented, but the mists and fogs which 
enveloped it were not dispelled and the field remains open for more 
diligent research and practical experiments. Their meeting differed 
from ours in that there was a greater diversity of opinion upon the 
merits of varieties of apples for general cultivation, and not quite as 
much favor shown to the Siberian species. The portions of the State 
bordering upon Lake Michigan and surrounding the smaller lakes 
have proved much better adapted to the growing of fruit than the 
rest of the State, and I fear if the farmers in the more unfavorable 
localities plant largely of some of the varieties adopted, they will meet 
with failure. Most of the region north and west of the Wisconsin 
river seems to present more difficulties to the fruit-grower than even 
Minnesota. They have adopted what is termed a perfectly hardy 
list, viz.: Tetotsky, Duchess, Haas, Fameuse and Plumb’s Cider, and 
a general list in which Rawle’s Jannet and Ben Davis have found a 
place. In grapes, raspberries and strawberries more varieties find 
favor than with us. 
There was a fine display of apples for so unfavorable a season, 
and from the great number and fine appearance of the seedlings 
shown, I am led to infer that our neighbors are awake to the imyor- 
tance of originating something better than they yet have, and there 
is no reason to doubt that systematic experiment will bring about 
improvement. The society are offering premiums for valuable seed- 
lings and that will have a tendency to bring forward such as with- 
stood the severity of the severe winter. 
The secretary in his report, made a statement which we may profit 
by, viz.: ‘* There is a promising field so far as apples are concerned 
in the neglected or unknown varieties in our older orchards. If it 
be found that in various parts of the State trees of any variety have 
lived and thrived and borne good crops of fruit for a score of years 
past, this fact makes this variety worthy of our notice.” We have 
but few trees in Minnesota that date back a score of years and still 
