16fc MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



mention the Lombardy poplar. It is about as worthless as a permanent 

 tree as any that could be mentioned; but, out of gratitude for the protec- 

 tion it has given me for the past twelve years, I will state that for a tem- 

 porary wind break it is good and perhaps the quickest grown of any. 



It must be remembered that one of the uses of a wind break is to catch 

 and hold the snow drifts away from our buildings, driveways and fruit 

 gardens, and that unless such wind break be at least six rods wide it 

 should be placed at a good distance from anything that will be injured 

 or obstructed by the drifts sure to be at the sides of a narrow belt of 

 trees. Thoughtlessness in this matter has cost many farmers of my ac- 

 quaintance needless labor and loss. I confess that I leave this branch of 

 the subject with reluctance. Our farmers may have wasted much time 

 and money in the orchard and garden, but I am confident that they have 

 received a better return for every hour of time and dollar of money put 

 into the shelter belt, than for the same amount spent in the common 

 routine of farm work. 



A few matters in regard to the farm fruit garden will next be consid- 

 ered. In order that fruit may profitably be raised upon the farm the 

 first requisite is that the trees and bushes be so planted and arranged as 

 to admit of the largest possible use of horse cultivation, and that farm- 

 ers disabuse themselves of the idea that grapes, currants, strawberries, 

 young orchards, etc., can be profitably grown among weeds and bluegrass. 

 Everything from strawberries to apple trees should be planted in long 

 rows a liberal distance apart. I am especially impressed with the be- 

 lief that farmers will be more likely to give their orchards needed culti- 

 vation if the old system of planting in squares be abandoned and the 

 trees be set rather thickly in rows three rods apart. Among the advan- 

 tages of this method of planting I would mention— 



1st. The apple on many if not most of the farms of the state is of un- 

 certain hardiness, the land devoted to orchards planted in the usual way 

 is rendered almost worthless for crops from the inconvenience of working 

 horses among the trees; hence, if the trees die or fail there results a complete 

 loss. While on the contrary, if the apple trees are planted in rows wide 

 apart the space between the rows can be profitably used for potatoes, gar- 

 den, squash or corn, and the land occupied by orchard be made to pay a 

 fair rental independent of the life or productiveness of the trees. 2nd. 

 A better circulation of air is allowed among the trees and healthier or- 

 chard conditions secured. 3rd. Where but few rows are to be looked af- 

 ter fewer trees will be injured by whiffletrees and cultivators. 4th. If 

 the rows run north and south and thick planting in the rows be made, 

 the top of one tree will shade the trunk of its next neighbor and danger 

 from sun scald be somewhat prevented. 



The raspberry, blackberry and currant in most situations and in our 

 usual dry seasons will do much better if a heavy mulch instead of a culti- 

 vator be used to keep down the weeds. My experience in this matter has 

 been decisive. The straw or marsh hay needed for such a mulch is still 

 on the average Minnesota farm almost a waste product, and its applica- 

 tion to small fruits is the cheapest method of securing the moisture 

 necessary to the best development of fruit. I cannot leave the consider- 

 ation of the fruit garden without taking the opportunity of recommend- 

 ing the De Soto plum, like the asparagus in the vegetable garden it is 



