360 ANNUAL EEPORT 



much for this decade of fruit-growing, so we see that advantage 

 in locatioQ is not all; great care must be exercised, but the re- 

 ward is many fold and it must be a source of great pleasure and 

 gratification, as well as profit, to the person, who, in spite of so 

 many barriers to be removed, produces a conclusive evidence 

 to the inscription on the banner which will head the triumphal 

 march of horticulture in this state — which banner is: 



OECHAEDING IN MINNESOTA. 

 By Archie M. Brand, Faribault. 



In writing upon this subject we take it for granted that the 

 members of the Society for whose consideration this essay is- 

 composed, are well versed in the art of horticulture, and conse- 

 quently write more on a line suited to the wants of the amateur,, 

 rather than those of the professional. 



The first thing that comes to our mind after deciding to plant 

 an orchard is — what is the best locality or site to plant upon? 



To one without experience the natural conclusion would be a 

 good southern slope, where the trees may have the fall benefit 

 of the sun's warmth. But experience has taught us that here is^ 

 where we "miss" it, if we are allowed to use the expression. 

 Go into any orchard where the trees have attained to any size 

 and have received no southern protection; you will notice that 

 while the bark on the north side of the tree is firm and healthy 

 in appearance, that on the southern side will be found warped, 

 cracked and in many cases decaying. From this we would nat- 

 urally conclude that it was the sun and not solely the cold, se- 

 vere winters that is doing the mischief. 



Such has proved to be the case. Late in the winter, or early 

 spring, the warm rays of the sun beating upon the tree, stimulate 

 a heavy flow of sap during the day, which is frozen at night and 

 as a consequence ruptures the sap cells in the bark, thus leaving- 

 it in a condition easily acted upon by the elements of decay. 

 No, we will not take a southern exposure, but on the contrary 



