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MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 75 
stood the blast, and in our markets finds ready sales. Trees last fall bring- 
ing in $12.00 to $15.00 per tree, or at the rate of $1,200 to $1,500 per acre, 
as much as an acre of wheat ina lifetime; and to our membersI can say, — 
what a return in golden fruit after our watching, working and waitings; 
and if one variety can do as well, what will be the result when that superb 
of apples, the Wealthy, comes into bearing. We raised some of this last 
fall of ’76, and were more than pleased with it. But I am digressing, and I 
would still further say we have our Siberian family to full back on. All 
good, and I think the day not far distant when they will be bettered by be- 
ing hybridized, so that they will not be met in the markets as crabs. 
Planting, Training and Pruning. 
4th. I prefer low headed trees. Buy them in the fall and heel them in 
with proper care and set them in spring about the time the Oaks are putting 
forth their leaves and not earlier is my rule, as the tree will start and not 
stand still and be dried by the cold spring winds. 
In setting I dig out a hole large enough for the roots without cramping 
them and deep enough to set the tree 6 to 9 inches deeper than it stood 
in nursery row, and on sandy soils I set twelve to fifteen inches deep, and 
after setting I generally mulch with rotten straw and cover it with little 
earth to hold the mulch in place. After planting I cut back a portion of the 
top of each tree to help form a better head and balance the loss of roots. 
But in after pruning I prune but little, and go most decidedly against 
seeding down orchards to timothy-grass. 
Plant the ground to hoed crops or buckwheat. In closing I can say our 
county again redeemed herself by a large apple crop, several parties having 
some 200 or more bushels. There was a glut of Crab-apples in our markets, 
but a large amount were made up into cider with good returns. 
Other Fruits. 
A large crop of Raspberries, Strawberries and Currants, with those that 
had plants. My trial of Prouty’s Seedling Strawberry and Janesville Grape 
were of such a good success I would recommend them to all. One of my 
neighbors raised with common bed culture four bushels of Strawberries to 
the rod of ground or at the rate of 640 bushels to the acre at 10c, per quart 
would net him $2,048.00 per acre. I mention this to show what can be done 
in Minnesota. 
Hoping you may have a good meeting and being circumstanced so that I 
cannot attend by being hurt, I remain, 
Yours truly, 
W.K. BatTEs. 
STOCKTON, MINN., Jany. 12th, ’77. 
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