134 ANNUAL KEPORT 



in this region. But very few of them have yet arrived to a fruiting 

 age. He has had hirge and fruitful orchards, but the winter of 

 1884 5 was very disastrous to them. However, he is not dis- 

 couraged, bat intends hereafter to grow principally Russians 

 and such seedlings as give promise of success. He does not ex- 

 pect all of these varieties will prove successful or stand our cli- 

 mate, but that a number of them will prove to be perfectly hardy, 

 and that others, through a process of selection of seedlings — like 

 that pursued by Van Mons, in France, with the pear, and of Mr. 

 Bull, of Massachusetts, with the native grape — will surely re- 

 sult in acclimatizing and improving them. 



He is getting about him a very extensive collection of decidu- 

 ous and evergreen trees and shrubs, from Europe and America, 

 which, if they prove adapted to our soil and climate, will be of 

 inestimable value for forestry and ornamental planting. His 

 dwelling is sheltered, and the surrounding grounds ornamented 

 with scores of elegant trees and shrubs, to secure which he must 

 have laid tribute upon many lands. 



In his garden we found every variety of vegetable that con- 

 tributes to good fare upon the farmer's table, growing luxuri- 

 antly. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and grapes were 

 also in great abundance, all of which are succeeding very well 

 with him. We noticed two varieties of native plums — one 

 bearing a striking resemblance to the De Soto, and the other a 

 free-stone of the Weaver type — which struck us as being worthy 

 of propagation. There are numbers of other A^arieties which he 

 has recently secured, with some from Eussia. He has several 

 of the new Russian poplars and willows, and from their remark- 

 ably rapid growth, healthy appearance and great beauty, we 

 believe they will prove great acquisitions. 



September Wth. — We visit the i^lace of Andrew Peterson, at 

 Waconia. He is a native of Sweden and the owner of a good 

 farm, situated about two miles east of Clear Lake. Like Mr. 

 Luedloff he is an earnest and intelligent horticulturist; his or- 

 chard is the most i)romising one we found in the State, and is 

 planted largely to Russian varieties of apples, together with 

 Duchess, Tetofsky, Wealthy, and some seedlings. The Wealthy 

 and seedlings were generally ,'in bad condition, th« Winstead 

 Pippin being the best. This is an apple of good size and quality, 

 a long keeper, but we regret that it is not hardier. He thinks 

 of discarding it, but we suggested that it might be a good va- 

 riety for fertilizing Russians for seedling purposes. Mr. Peter- 



