102 ANNUAL REPORT 



who treat their forest trees for instance, with the same attention 

 and cultivation and who are equally intelligent and diligent in their 

 work, and who live not very far apart, do not meet with the 

 same success. Now I presume it is impossible for any of us 

 to define just what the real cause is. "We want to apply here the 

 principles of agricultural chemistry and geology. 



President Elliot. We have another paper that follows in the 

 line of what you are talking about. I wish to say in regard to Mr> 

 Michner, the author, that I learned of his success in apple culture 

 some three or four years ago, and was reminded of him this 

 autumn by the President of the Farmers' Alliance, in asking him 

 the question who were the best apple growers in the state. He 

 named Mr. Michner, and I entered into correspondence with him 

 and through that correspondence have received this paper. 



FRUIT GROWING IN MINNESOTA. 

 By D.K. Michner, of Etna. 



I am asked to write a short article descriptive of my successes 

 and failures in fruit raising in Minnesota. My experience dates 

 back to 1858, when as a boy I took pride in helping father plant 

 apple trees, making a plat each spring showing the exact location 

 of each variety; have long since given up the plat business. If 

 your tree ever comes into bearing you will know the variety. 



It would be amusing to beginners in apple growing to read a list 

 of the varieties we used to plant in the 50's and 60's and even later. 



When the hard winter of 1872 and '73 came our Talman Sweets, 

 Sweet Pear, Red Astrachan, Russets, etc., were ready for the spring 

 clearing up, about the only things left was Duchess and a few 

 crabs. 



Then we began to plant Duchess in earnest. Then ventured on 

 Fanieuse, Haas, Ben Davis, Wealthy, etc., and we raised some fine 

 crops of these varieties. 



The winter of 1884-5 left us plenty of food for reflection. The 

 Duchess had stood unscathed through it all. I think the first 

 planted was about 1865 or 1866. 



It would take too much of your time to mention all the varieties 

 and all the top working schemes tried, digging pits, filling up with 

 stones and planting trees on them. It is enough to say I have 

 been through the mill, and that it is amusing to me to listen to pet 

 theories and hobbies which we often read and hear. Though we 

 all have them, mine is this: 



An orange tree will stand a certain degree of cold. A peach 

 tree about 20° below. Apples from 20° to 55° or 60° below zero 

 In the winter of '84-5, in this part of the State, on high ground 



