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MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



to the Mississippi Valley States." Long continued work with 

 this fruit and the cumulating knowledge of the destructive 

 blight has still further impelled me to the study of the sub- 

 ject and an endeavor to learn of varieties which have in them 

 the hereditary power to breed a race of pears suited to the 



demands of our climate, and it 

 only now awaits the active and 

 material support of the states to 

 hasten the adaptation and devel- 

 opment of this most delicious 

 fruit to the great northern basin 

 of the upper Mississippi, and in 

 fact to a large part of the United 

 States. 



It is interesting to note the 

 difference there is between the 

 Seckel Chinese crosses which 

 were bred from the group of 

 trees before mentioned, which 

 are now twenty-four years old, 

 and the smaller parallel row of 

 trees, seedlings of the Keiffer 

 hand-crossed with Winter Nelis. 

 The latter are now seventeen 

 years old. They were crippled 

 by every hard winter, so that 

 most of them died either with 

 cold or blight, while the former 

 with one exception, which has 

 been removed, are apparently as 

 hardy as any forest tree and 

 have never shown a blighted 

 twig. 



In conclusion permit me to add that I think that you will 

 happily join me in the knowledge of the discovery so long 

 ago of this highly adapted wild pear, and of the auspicious 

 development which has already been secured through its use 

 in adapting this highly delicious fruit to this great northern 

 basin of the upper Mississippi. 



Chas. Gr. Patten in his seedling orchard. 





