130 ANNUAL REPORT 



occasion be greatly lessened. In fact the genuine blizzard would 

 scarcely exist at all for it would be impossible for it to be created 

 as the conditions favorable for origin would not exist. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Pearse said he had good success transplanting trees with- 

 out the use of water. He never used any water in setting ever- 

 greens. He transplanted 4,000 trees three years old without any 

 loss. Evergreens were cheap and could be had for seven dollars 

 a thousand and were the cheapest trees to buy. These trees in 

 a short time would be valuable and if generally planted by the 

 farmers of Minnesota it would have a marked effect upon the 

 climate. They should be set by the millions. No subject is 

 worthy of being advocated by the society more than the planting 

 of evergreens. He advised setting White Pine, Scotch Pine, 

 Balsam of Fir and the Norway Spruce. 



Mr. Urie said he had set a good many evergreens and agreed 

 with Mr. Pearse as to the importance of planting them gener- 

 ally. He would advocate setting Scotch Pine; it was a beauti- 

 ful tree, a rapid rjrower and a hardy tree. He had trees that 

 were forty-five f et high that had been set some twenty years, 

 and some of them were ten inches in diameter. Farmers would 

 do well to plant them in rows around their farms, and across 

 the farm; there was no danger of planting too many. 



Mr. Brand thought it best to use water in setting, as it was al- 

 ways best to be on the safe side. In case of drought the water 

 would give the trees a start. 



Mr. Pearse. One thing I wish to explain. I always mulch 

 large evergreens and find it better for the earth to absorb the 

 moisture from the mulching than from water poured on at time 

 of setting. I am no advocate of pouring water in a hole to pack 

 the dirt, when with mulching I can get a better result. 



Mr. Brand. I contend that we need water to settle the earth 

 around the roots of the tree. They will settle in a better con- 

 dition than to put in the soil and secure it with the foot. Water 

 settles around every fibre. 



Mr. Harris. I do not think water is beneficial if the ground 

 is in the right condition for planting; it is better without water 

 than with it. But give the mulching immediately after the 

 trees are planted; also select an hour of the day when the wilt- 

 ing process is not going on freely. There are more evergreens 

 killed by exposure than by the want of water. 



