450 ANNUAL KEPORT 



making experimeuts and hanging on to a forlorn hope, until 

 they have gained the confidence of the multitudes and aie now 

 regarded as heroes in horticulture. 



THE PAST OF HOKTIC'ULTURE. 



• 



The first j)lanting of trees and fruits by the early settlers of 

 this country was of such varieties as were favorites in their 

 former homes. The planters had but an imperfect knowledge 

 of the soil and climate of the country, and the hardiness and 

 adaptability of varieties; for a few years a great number of va- 

 rieties succeeded so well as to raise fond hoises that this was 

 destined to be a country well adapted to the production of ap- 

 ples, pears, and all hardy fruits, and orchards were being exten- 

 sively planted with the most tender varieties. Right upon this 

 hopeful period occurred a fearful disaster; the winter of 1872-3 

 destroyed trees by thousands, and totally annihilated hundreds 

 of orchards of the old favorite varieties. Investigation proved 

 the cause to be root-killing, resulting from a severe and 'pro- 

 tracted drought which had prevailed in the fall. The ground 

 froze up dry, and the absence of snow caused it to freeze to a 

 great depth, consequently all moisture was drawn from the 

 roots. A few varieties survived this test (one not likely to 

 come again in an ordinary lifetime), and they were considered 

 to be "ironclads" and formed the basis of replanting and starting 

 new orchards. 



Ten or twelve years of remarkable success followed this great 

 disaster, and a new impetus was given to the planting of such 

 varieties as had survived the severe test, and in looking about 

 for others of equal hardiness, and to the originating of new va- 

 rieties from seed, when in the winter of 1884-5 a disaster as 

 great as the first overtook us. The conditions of the latter were 

 in many respects directly opposite from the first. A summer 

 drought and early frost had matured the growth of the trees. 

 September, October and half of November were wet and very 

 warm, starting a new growth. Winter shut down suddenly, was 

 long and severe, and the deep snows prevented freezing of the 

 ground. The opening of spring found the tops and trunks of 

 many varieties killed to the ground. 



THE PRESENT. 



Not yet discouraged our people are turning past failures to 

 profit. Improved varieties of the Siberians, several varieties of 



