STATE HORTICULIURAL SOCIETY. &il 



impression as the sense of this meeting that there in nothing among 

 those 1,700 varieties that is good for anything. Let us test them a 

 little further. We have many varieties hardier than the Duchess and 

 there is no doubt about it This discussion would appear much better 

 in Southern Iowa, Illinois or Kentucky. 



Mr. Dartt. If we have found but one valuable apple in over 1,700 

 does that class them in a very favorable light before the people? 



Mr. Sias. I do not admit we have found but one good variety among 

 that number. 

 Mr. Harris. I contend that they haven't had a fair show. 

 President Elliot. I have been very much amused to see how this 

 paper has stirred up the animals, especially the Russians, this great 

 Northern Bear. Brother Fuller asks the question why we are always 

 tinkering at this seedling question. We have got to keep this thing 

 before the people, or we shouldn't accomplish anything. Out of a 

 great deal of brush we may find something of value. We are going to 

 get something, and in this method, if no other, I hope we shall keep 

 trying, and if we don't secure the object sought for this year perhaps 

 we will in the next one. When we look at the vast territory of Russia 

 and see how they have succeeded it should give us hope that we may 

 be fully successful. 



Mr. Smith. Mr. Fuller makes a mistake in saying we have less 

 apples now than we had sixteen years ago. I am not an enthusiast in 

 regard to the general planting of apple trees, but I do believe Duchess 

 is the best of anything we have for the people at present. We have 

 to-day more than ten times the number of healthy fruit trees in Min- 

 nesota we had ten years ago. 

 Mr. Dartt. No, we haven't. 



Mr. Smith. In the last three years there have been more good, clean 

 fruit trees planted than at any other stage of our history. 

 Mr. Cutler. I think not. 



Mr. Smith. Trees that went through the winter of 1883 and 4 will 

 be worth something. If we continue to plant, as Mr, Harris says, we 

 will soon have an abundance of fruit, for we may not experience such 

 another winter in twenty-five years. 



Mr. Dartt. It hits us about every other winter; we got it last year. 

 Mr. Smith. I have talked with farmers in all portions of the State 

 and believe we are gaining ground. I saw more than a hundred Min- 

 nesota seedlings on exhibition at fairs last fall, and there are numer- 

 ous trees to be found all over the State that bear fruit and do not show 

 much, if any injury. 



