282 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mandan, N. D. Trial Station. 



W. A. PETERSON AND MAX PFAENDER. 



The past winter has again been a very severe one from a 

 horticultural standpoint. A detailed report on the varieties sent 

 to us from the Minnesota Fruit-Breeding Farm cannot be pre- 

 pared at present, but a few general statements can be made. 



Apples, plums and cherries have all suffered severely. A 

 few varieties of crabs are more promising. All named varieties 

 of grapes, including the Minnesota numbered ones, died, even 

 though they had been protected with soil. 



Some currants are excellent, and there is a great difference 

 in hardiness even between the common varieties. Gooseberries 

 were all. injured severely, except those covered with soil. Straw- 

 berries were all killed or injured, except the South Dakota 

 variety. 



Native fruits under cultivation here all came through per- 

 fectly. Juneberries, plums, buffalo berries, choke cherries and 

 currants, all started their new growth from the terminal buds. 



The Norway and Carolina poplar have proven worthless. 

 The Northwest poplar has been the best one tested here and the 

 Canadian poplar is a close second. The laurel-leaf willow is 

 hardier than the Russian golden. 



The best ornamentals are Tartarian honeysuckle, golden cur- 

 rant, spireas arguta, salicifolia and sorbifolia, Persian lilac, na- 

 tive rose, Siberian dogwood, buckthorn, josekea and Villosa lilacs 

 and the common lilac. 



Everything seems to point to the fact that the horticulture 

 of the future in this region, known as the Northern Great 

 Plains, will need to be revised from its very foundation. 



Such a revision must be based on : 



First — Testing of the most promising varieties and saving 

 only the very hardiest. 



Second — A study involving the basic fundamentals of effects 

 of stock on scion and vice versa. 



Third — An entirely new method of culture of those fruits 

 which are usually grown in orchards. 



Fourth — A thorough study of best methods of winter pro- 

 tection. 



