STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 303 



the bottom of the slope, leaving a long, open descent below, thus af- 

 fording a free circulation of air to the orchard. 



Let us emphasize the fact that all kinds of trees grow very much 

 alike on all kinds of slopes, all other things being equal, such as soil, 

 protection from wind, sun, fire, etc. 



VARIETIES. 



Having got ready to plant, if for profit and you live west of a line 

 running between Lake Pepin and Rochester, take my advice and of 

 the varieties of apples now to be had plant nothing but the Duchess 

 of Oldenburgh; when you are able to get the Itasca and Peerless, 

 plant them. If you plant for home consumption, plant five Tetofs- 

 kys, twice as many Duchess, five Wealthy, and of crabs and hybrids 

 two Early Strawberrys, five Transcendents, five Whitneys and three 

 Header's Winter. These are the three best apples and four best crabs 

 of thoroughly tested varieties. There are other hardy crabs, but 

 bearing so little as to be unprofitable. The Tetofsky will not bear 

 much, but are early and good. The Wealthy will bear considerable 

 fruit, if cared for as I am about to direct. 



PLANTING. 



Secure sound trees not exceeding three years of age and with good 

 roots. A tree grown in Minnesota one Summer from the graft, cut 

 back to the ground next Spring, making a growth of three and a half 

 feet that Summer, healed in the ground that Autumn, is a good tree 

 to plant; or a well-grown, perfectly sound tree two or three years old 

 and having no scars on its body where limbs have been trimmed off. 

 See that the bark be perfect. Be sure you buy of a JNIinnesota nurs- 

 eryman, and one that does not pretend to be doing an immense busi- 

 ness. He may be doing so much that he knows nothing of your little 

 order and trusts it to Tom, Dick or Ole to fill. 



If you plant to raise apples to sell, ei' her plant root grafts, three 

 grafts eight inches apart where 3'our tree is wanted, or else buy se- 

 lected one or two year old trees. Be sure the}' are dug in the autumn. 

 A tree that stands out through a Minnesota winter, except it be a 

 wiiter like 1887-8, is not fit to be transplanted in the spring To get 

 your trees home safe be sure that they are well wrapped up root and 

 branch as soon as they come into your hands; secure them from 

 wind, frost, and sun; keep the roots moist until they are planted; see 

 that the bark and roots be not bruised in any manner, for in our rig- 



