HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 301 



according to the correct method of pruning apple trees (when 

 pruned at all) with main center stems and moderately sized side 

 branches. Or if a tree is trimmed up till three or four inches 

 through and the top cut off eight or ten feet high it will form a 

 round head by throwing out numerous long branches which are 

 likely to whip around in the wind without being broken. 



The greatest obstacle in the way of rapid progress thus far seems 

 to have been the want of funds to purchase stock and make neces- 

 sary improvements. Judging the future by the past the question 

 arises, Shall we plant with a view of selling trees to help pay ex- 

 penses? I have given this subject much thought, and am con- 

 firmed in the belief that no man who runs an experimental tree 

 station at public expense should be engaged in selling trees. 



The most reasonable way to dispose of the surplus would seem 

 to be, first a liberal patronage of the brush pile, next the supply- 

 ing of other stations with things likely to prove valuable, and lastly 

 the supplying of nurserymen with things of established value to 

 be propagated and sold at reasonable prices. 



Though the incidental fund seems too small for the most effi- 

 cient work, yet I am glad to state that the financial situation is 

 better than it was a year ago. Then there was a deficiency, now 

 there is none, and I shall hope by continued effort to merit your 

 approval. 



I renew my request that you immediately establish such a sys- 

 tem of inspection and supervision over this station as will be a 

 guarantee for its future usefulness. 



REPORT OF EXPERIMENT STATION AT FARIBAULT. 

 By O. F. Brand, Superintendent. 



For location and surroundings of this station see Report of 1888, 

 Page 347. Of the two trees mentioned in that report budded on 

 Beaches' Sweet in 1875, one of them since named Richland Beauty, 

 blighted some the past summer, the other one is entirely free from 

 blight and bears an apple very much like Janet. Quality poor. 



The original is a seedling from Duchess; it is a good bearer in 

 good condition and 23 years old next spring. 



The Estelline, a seedling of mine now 11 years old is very prom- 

 ising. It bore a good crop in 1886. The fruit is nearly as large as 

 Fameuse. Top of tree open and spreading. It is from seed of 

 either Duchess or Palmer's Sweet Crab. I think from the latter. 

 The wood shows no discoloration. I have named it Estelline. The 

 Drake apple top worked on a seedling crab about 1873 is a fine tree 

 and made a remarkable growth last summer. Three fourths of the 

 top is south of the center of the trunk and shades the trunk and 

 forks from the sun. Here are two important points which should 

 be considered by all who plant apple trees in this climate, to wit: 

 Hardy stocks and shade of trunk and forks from sun in winter from 



