156 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



always very fertile. It is loose and easily worked, stands excessive moist- 

 ure and drought, with as little injury to the growing crops as any other 

 soil. It is adapted to all agricultural crops and is the first to mature 

 them. Some varieties of strawberries, such as Crescent, Warfield, 

 Countess, Windsor Chief and many others do well on this soil. 



Where a sandy loam contains 60 per cent, sand, apples, grapes and cur- 

 rants do well, and this is probably the best for growing nursery stock and 

 cuttings of all kinds. On such soil trees and plants are always well 

 rooted, much better than those that grow on clay. A sandy loam is not 

 the best to hold plant food, especially if the season is wet. Compost 

 should always be used and applied to the soil just before the ground is 

 seeded, planted, or set to plants. 



Intermediate or loam contains from 40 to 60 per cent, sand, the balance 

 clay. It is usually very rich and fertile and is adapted to the growing of 

 all grains and fruit. The soil should be frequently ploughed and stirred, 

 which will greatly increase the fertility. On the lighter portions of this 

 soil compost should always be applied as on the sandy loam. When the 

 soil contains from 30 to 40 per cent, sand, and the balance clay, it has the 

 power of fixing and holding all kinds of manure and soluble plant food 

 both for present and future use. We consider this soil the best for apples 

 and all kinds of fruit. It is rich in all the mineral substances which are 

 essential in growing fruit. This soil is found in large quantities in Min- 

 nesota. There are thousands of acres of it around Lake Minnetonka, 

 which in time will become large commercial orchards and vineyards. 

 The frui elands around Lake Minnetonka have natural advantages over 

 other parts of the state, being situated on a large lake and near to two 

 large cities, with railroads to ship to all points. 



Growing apples in Minnesota is not by any means an experiment. The 

 age of some fruit trees and the amount of good fruit they have produced 

 are conclusive evidences of what can be done by intelligent growers. 



Eastern ideas of growing apple trees with trimmed up trunks has been 

 discontinued by experienced growers in Minnesota. Their trees are all 

 grown with low tops, and are allowed to branch at or near the ground. 



In conclusion on this subject our niodeof growing permanent and fruitful 

 orchards is as follows: Eoot-graf t each variety on its own root or specie. 

 Give them in the nursery plenty of space, sun and air. Allow them to 

 take their own form and head low. Transplant to the orchard when two 

 years old. Set them in the same position with regard to the points of the 

 compass, as they stood in the nursery, placing them one rod apart each 

 way. Give them good cultivation, and allow no grass to establish itself 

 in the orchard. 



Each spring or fall all young orchards should have a light dressing of 

 well rotted compost, and this should be increased each year as the trees 

 attain size and come into bearing. 



We consider this of vital importance to the health and life of the trees. 

 The manure contains all the elements that combine with the minerals 

 in the soil and produce plant foods for the trees, which the roots take in 

 various proportions. If any of the foods are not present in the soil, or are 

 not in sufficient quantities, defective fruit and wood must be the result. 



It is very necessary that we should know what kind of soil we have. 

 This can be determined in the following way: Take about two pounds 



