STATE HOETICTJLTUEAL SOCIETY, 353 



Thaja pyramidalis. Douglas pyramidal arbor vitge; pyramidal in 

 form, foliage distinct, like a Petinispora. 



Petinispora rurea. Beautiful golden-tipped foliage; needs a little 

 protection. 



THE CLIMATE OF MINNESOTA. 

 By Chas, Luedloff, Carver. 



Has the climate of Minnesota changed since the first settlement? 



Yes, since the virgin soil of Minnesota was first opened to agricul- 

 ture and horticulture there has been a great change in the climate. 

 Our water supply is gradually becoming less, in lakes, creeks and 

 rivers. Our creeks formerly full are now dry most of the year; the 

 water in lakes land rivers is slowly receding, the banks and the 

 shores being broader and higher. The sloughs not ditched becoming 

 dry, the wild grass dying, making it necessary to sow tame grass, so 

 that we may have food for cattle. Our rivers formerly navigable al- 

 most to their sources, can now be navigated for short distances only, 

 the low stage of water and snags stopping navigation or making it 

 dangerous. This increasing dryness is dangerous to the interests of 

 agriculture and horticulture as well as manufacturers. 



Now a word about its effect on fruit culture. As examples of our 

 first immigrants in the apple were Plumb Cider, Haas, Perry Russet, 

 Golden Russet, etc. These all did well for a while then they died. 

 After them the Lezion crab was tried, which did well for a time; then 

 the blight destroyed them. Now we are sifting oat the hardiest kinds 

 of Russians and seedlings. Some of these are standing well but how 

 long will they flourish in this dry climate? 



What is the question ? I will give you my opinion. The tempera- 

 ture of the climate is controlled by the moisture in the air; moist air 

 breaks the extremes of heat and cold, as we can prove by referring to 

 the coast section. 



A person living where the air is very dry is subject to the extremes 

 in temperature during night and day. In the dry air of the desert 

 after sunset the temperature falls very [quickly, until ice is often 

 formed during the night. This proves that there is a lack of moist- 

 ure in the air. 



Now, let us look at the climate in a timber region. There the air 

 contains more moisture. During every month of the year there is 

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