HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 349 



They were planted in rows and cultivated until large enough to 

 transplant, when about three hundred were set out in orchard. 

 The soil is a rich black prairie loam with a clay subsoil, inclining 

 a little toward the south, and on the southern edge of the orchard 

 is a strip of low, almost marshy ground, through which runs a 

 small stream of water. On the north, east and west sides of the 

 orchard is a large willow hedge that has grown with the trees, 

 and which in a measure protects the fruit from being blown off 

 by the winds. 



And here in this orchard, to-day, are upwards of one 

 hundred of the finest apple trees that a man ever saw. The 

 fruit is quite varied as to size, color, flavor and season. After a 

 large experience in Illinois, in Michigan, as well as twenty years 

 of orcharding in Minnesota, I must say that this is the most 

 wonderful orchard I have ever known, comprising as it does, so 

 many large, excellent, sweet, sour, red, yellow, and green varieties. 

 The most wonderful features of this orchard, however, is the fact 

 that while in the large extent of territory, around it, where the 

 Wealthy, Duchess and Whitney have been planted and have all 

 died out, even in this same orchard, these new seedlings are 

 growing, strong and vigorous, and bearing large crops of apples. 

 These apples have been exhibited at many of the fairs in Iowa, 

 and have always taken first premium for their size, beauty of 

 color and delicious quality. 



Some of the trees have attained a large size, being 12 to 18 

 inches in diameter, and from 25 to 35 feet in height. We have 

 cut from some of these trees this fall as high as 360 scions, 10 to 

 18 inches long, which I think a good indication of their hardi- 

 ness. This orchard is growing only one hundred and eighty 

 miles south of here, and in a large prairie district, which is a 

 pretty good guarantee that some of them, at least, will prove of 

 value to us in Minnesota. In conclusion, then, as we think of 

 what Mrs. Thompson has done by saving the seeds of those ap- 

 ples away back twenty-five years ago, and planting them in her 

 new home on the bleak prairie of Northern Iowa, may we not all 

 be stimulated to follow her example and reasonably hope for 

 ultimate success in finding something desirable for our reward? 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Dartt. I would inquire where the seeds of Thompson's 

 seedlings came from 1 



Mr. Underwood. In the vicinity of the Hudson river. The 



