106 ANNUAL REPORT 



working of the State Horticultural Society. It was arranged for a 

 basket picnic to be held during one day of the convention, and 

 we have changed that from Friday to Thursday. It will interfere 

 some with the program but we will try to get through with it just 

 the same. 



The discussion was then resumed. 



Mr. Barrett. Now, this is a fact with which most of us are fam- 

 iliar, that nature's processes of preparation for the growth and de- 

 velopment of fruitage and plants is perfect; that certain plants 

 cannot grow in certain soils. Take the apple for instance. A few 

 years ago in Wisconsin (I was a resident of that state before com- 

 ing to Minnesota) a great many were trying experiments in the 

 eastern part of the state in raising apples. They failed and there 

 was great discouragement but they kept at it and now they have 

 made it a success. Prof. Green is familiar with this fact. Take 

 phosphate of lime from the lock and pulverize it to the utmost ca- 

 pacity and apply it to your plants. Then take phosphate of lime 

 from the bone of an animal and apply it in the same way and you 

 will find a wonderful difference between the phosphate of lime in 

 the rock and that in the bone. If we can post ourselves in geology 

 and agricultural chemistry, be better posted in its processes of re- 

 fining, developing, quickening and electrifying, as far as it is pos- 

 sible, we will make a better success; but we must be better stu- 

 dents. We have based our conclusions largely upon experiments 

 and we should back it with a certain degree of scholarship or in- 

 formation that carries the Avork to a better success. To this end, I 

 believe, we should make some kind of arrangement under the 

 auspices of our society by which we can get more information upon 

 this topic before the society. 



Mr. Dartt. I believe the paper we have heard read is a good 

 one. It is good because it is founded upon experience. It illus- 

 trates a fact and makes the fact plain to us. At the same time, I 

 do not think it is best for us to waste a great deal of time in try- 

 ing to understand all the processes of growth; I think it is impos- 

 sible for any man to tell exactly how the blades of grass grow. 



Mr. Somerville. There is no doubt a difference in locations. 

 Where the ground is sandy and gravelly you cannot expect to raise 

 crops with the same success as on a better soil. Where I live 

 there have been many efforts made trying to raise fruit; there have 

 been many sad failures as well as some successes. It depends 

 more, taking the country at large, on the care and attention paid 

 to the orchard than there really exists in the location, unless it is 

 something remarkable like that of Mr. Sias. Take the country in 





