358 ANNUAL RErOET 



all over the beautiful prairies of the Northwest. Why, let me ask 

 you, good Dame Nature, could we not develop the Pyrus malus, 

 and P. Baccata, into a reliable winter variety for Minnesota? 

 Simply because I constructed them with a thinner, smoother bark 

 and leaf, suitable for coast regions, and not for the arid plains of 

 the Northwest. The development of the P. coronaria, will estab- 

 lish the center of the great apple belt of this country, on parallel 

 45°, passing through St. Paul and Minneapolis. The crossing of 

 species so unlike will require very careful hand manipulation, and 

 take time, and is the proper work for our experimental stations. 

 In the mean time plant the best of the old sorts and look out for 

 frauds. 



THE ^ESTHETIC SIDE OF HORTICULTURE. 



Is it not passing strange that the most attractive feature of our 

 work should thus far have been almost entirely overlooked and 

 neglected? It is a recognized fact, in the management of both 

 agricultural and horticultural associations, that in the absence of 

 "rare attractions " failure is inevitable. It should be the duty of 

 the ladies to take this matter in hand, and see that we have plenty 

 of good papers on floriculture, and a good display of flowers at our 

 meetings. Every inducement possible should be given the ladies, 

 to take part in our meetings, and help along in this glorious " art 

 that doth mend nature." At the last annual meeting of our State 

 Horticultural Society, the most attractive feature was the fine dis- 

 play of green house plants in bloom. 



MINNESOTA GARDENERS. 



Far be it from me to find fault, or to criticise any of the laboring 

 classes without cause, in the hope by so doing of bettering their con- 

 dition. If we view this subject free from prejudice we shall be 

 able to comprehend the fact, that if all the gardeners of our State 

 could be induced to attend gardeners' meetings, and so keep 

 posted on what other members of the fraternity were producing, if 

 for no other object, to keep up an equipoise in their productions, it 

 would prove greatly to their advantage. Let me explain. Last fall 

 I visited the markets of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Mankato, Owatonna 

 and Rochester, and found the market for fruits of all kinds good 

 and active, and remunerative prices well sustained throughout, 

 while the reverse of all this was true of the vegetable market. 

 Then why not keep up the equilibrium in garden products and 

 prices, by growing more fruit and less vegetables? You certainly 

 can't afford to grow potatoes and tomatoes at 15 cents a bushel; 

 musk melons at 25 cents per bushel, &c, &c. Thus far our gar- 

 deners have labored under great disadvantages,for want of concert- 

 ed action. The worse state of affairs noted, was where no organi- 

 zation among gardeners had been kept up. Olmsted county proved 

 to be the banner county at the Minnesota State Fair, last fall. She 

 took the grand sweepstakes of $200 — on vegetables, and the lion's 

 share in prizes on fruits. This society has reason to take some 

 pride and credit in these grand achievements. Where manure can 



