STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 357 



growing of fruit in Washington county, more especially standard 

 apples, I find many among the farmers who are discouraged about re- 

 planting where their trees were killed three years ago by the hard 

 winter. They do not stop to think that the varieties they were accus- 

 tomed to raising in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois (even 

 as far south as the central part of the latter state) were injured dur- 

 ing the same months in those localities, and that, if one would keep 

 his orchard up, so as to receive benefit from it, he must renew his 

 trees occasionally. Perhaps if they would become members of our 

 Society they would learn from the experiences of others, gain more 

 courage and not be so disheartened about apple growing in Minne- 

 sota. 



CAUSE OF FAILURE. 



Too many trees are carelessly planted, put in narrow, contracted 

 holes, and not enough fine earth worked in among the fibrous roots, 

 thus setting them firm in the ground. Also, not mulching after 

 planting, but leaving the trees to take care of themselves; the plant- 

 er, however, hoping some day to pick and eat apples from his trees. 

 But, alas! he will be doomed to disappointment. They perhaps never 

 leaf out. What comes next? Why, of course, he condemns the tree 

 peddlers, as they are termed; or, if he can't attach blame to them, he 

 goes for the climate, and concludes that it is no use to bother with 

 apples in Minnesota. 



I know that tree agents, as a rule, have great notoriety wherever 

 they travel; but still I think they are quite useful at times, to get 

 around among the farmers and stir them up to the idea that some 

 sorts of fruits ought to be mixed in with other products of their 

 farm, and that they ought not be confined to vegetables and animal 

 food altogether for a living. No one denies but that ripe fruit is 

 healthy for anyone to eat, and promotive of the welfare and happi- 

 ness of mankind. One old patron of mine, whom I was stopping 

 over night with, says : " I presume I shouldn't have had an or- 

 chard if it hadn't been for the agent." The careful planter, loses his 

 trees, some times, through the effects of climatic changes; but he is 

 generally ready to give an order to an authorized agent of a good, 

 responsible company for more, for the purpose of keeping up his 

 orchard. 



HOW TO PLANT. 



As to the best method for purchasing and planting trees in Minne- 



