HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 225 



tion of varieties and as to methods of cultivation. But tlie suc- 

 ceeding winter upset these reckless practices; our older orchards 

 were swept away, and nearly every tree was fitted for the brush - 

 pile, and orchards theretofore so promising became a total loss 

 in many instances. And hence it was not strange that those 

 most sanguine in the past should now seem most disheartened or 

 discouraged, for a time at least, regarding brighter prospects in 

 the future. 



SMALL FRUITS. 



Wild fruits, as we have said, were seen in great abundance in 

 many places, and always found a ready sale; they proved to be 

 at least a temporary substitute for better fruits grown at a dis- 

 tance, in other states. They were, however, inferior in quality 

 to cultivated sorts that were imported, or even those that were 

 produced at home. It was but natural that here and there en- 

 thusiastic growers should be found who very soon began experi- 

 menting in small fruit culture. Some were successful in a 

 marked degree, and not unfrequently a good supply of fruit was 

 raised at moderate cost. It may not be without some passing 

 interest to call to mind some of the efforts made by these early 

 planters. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Experiments have been conducted by quite a number of grow- 

 ers of the strawberry, that prince of berries, by propagating 

 from the seed. In certain instances flattering results have been 

 obtained. The process to any but a persevering person, would 

 seem a tedious one, perhaps, but it has been continued^ here for 

 many years. 



Of those who have pursued this method of seeking to originate 

 choice and hardy seedlings, we mention Geo. B. Wright and Wm. 

 Lyons, of Hennepin county, the latter being one of our leading 

 small fruit growers at the present time, and one who has origin- 

 ated quite a number of promising varieties. 



Another of the early pioneers of fruit growing in Minnesota, 

 and also an earnest horticulturist, was Mr. John Hart, of Wi- 

 nona county, who was the originator of ''Hart's Minnesota Seed- 

 ling," a variety which he considered quite superior to Willson's 

 Albany. The berry has found many warm admirers, not only 

 in this state but elsewhere. 



J. C. Kramer, of La Crescent, has met with marked success in 

 propagating seedlings. He is the originator of a promising 

 berry known as "Early Princess." The variety was named by 

 Vol. IV— 29 



