STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Ill 



we want to act as a family of brothers. We are all working to one 

 end, and should remember that in unity there is strength. 



My name is Thompson. I have the champion seedling orchard of 

 Grundy county. I believe that every man can raise fruit on their 

 own farms if they will make the effort to do so, in a greater portion of 

 Minnesota and most of [owa. They can do this with proper protection 

 by usi^g our native seedlings and crossing them with the choicest 

 Russian varieties. 



I agree with Col. Robertson that the root does affect r,he scion; it 

 will affect the flavor of the fruit if allowed to remain. It is best to 

 get a tree on its own roots if possible. I never sold a tree in my life. 

 I don't want to interfere with the business of those who sell trees. 

 They should sell trees true to name, and then, I say, let the purchaser 

 use a good deal of common sense, and investigate as to the kind of 

 soil he has, the best locations, study the reports, and plant the v<irie- 

 ties adapted to the soil and location, and they will succeed, and not 

 till then. Above all things there is no use for people of Northern 

 Iowa and of Minnesota going to the east of the Mississippi river, tak- 

 ing soft, woody trees, gathered up promiscuously, to be planted out 

 here. My theory is to plant seeds of the best varieties of seedling 

 trees, and throw away the worthless kinds. I have experimented with 

 seedlings until I have more than a hundred distinct varieties in bear- 

 ing in a single season, in a seedling orchard of a little over three hun- 

 dred trees. 



Col. Robertson stated that he had found from observation, where 

 fruits were improved either in Europe or in this country, it had been 

 by the cultivation of the best varieties and by the propagation of 

 seedlings. The experiments that are made should be conducted by 

 our agricultural institutions. The work was too expensive to be con- 

 ducted by individuals. The results accomplished by our experimental 

 stations would be more satisfactory than could be obtained in any 

 other way. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NATIVE FRUITS. 



By 0. M. Lord, Minnesota City. 



In the production of native fruits, Southern Minnesota bears no 

 comparison with that part of Wisconsin lying east of it, especially 

 such fruits as have a wide commercial value, like cranberries, the va- 



