150 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
REPORT OF EXPERIMENT STATION, NEW ULM, MINNESOTA. 
C. W. H. HEIDEMAN, SUPERINTENDENT. 
New Ulm, Minn., Dec. 23d, 1891. 
Sam’l B. Green, Esq., Horticulturist: 
DEAR Sir:—I herewith submit to youand through you (such parts there- 
of as you see fit) to the Minnesota State Horticultural Society areport of my 
experimentation at this station during the past year. Most of the 
experiments which I have commenced will require from 5 to 10 years 
before any definite results can be reported, and are for the most part 
rather more of a scientific nature, although as a matter of choice my 
subjects are all of a horticultural nature, and any information which my 
experiments may evolve may be of interest and value to the horticulturist 
ot the extreme northwest. 
My principal study has been and will continue to be 
First: ‘‘Acclimitization,” ‘‘Modification of plants by climate,” ‘‘Char- 
acteristics of hardiness in plants” and generally investigation and study — 
of all the phenomena relating to or bearing in any way upon constitutional 
hardiness of plants. 
Second: To determine the laws which govern the transmission of 
hereditary and other characteristics, including the laws of prepotency of 
male and female parents in transmitting and reproducing characteristics 
hereditary, or variations. i 
Third: Experiments in budding, grafting, crossing and hybridizing 
to determine the affinities of various species and varieties; effect of stock 
upon scion and effect of scion on stock. 
Fourth: Improvement by selection of our most promising native fruits, 
etc. 
The most satisfactory experiment I have yet undertaken is the winter 
protection of tender roses and other plants, generally considered too 
tender to withstand our severe winters, even with the most careful cover- 
ing. : 
I believe the discovery of much importance to horticulturists of the 
northwest, and worthy of more extended investigation and experiment 
by experiment stations, having better facilities and a more varied stock 
of plants than private individuals with only small grounds and limited 
means. 
My method is, just before winter sets in, or about the time I usually 
cover my grapes and hardy roses,to spreadan old gunny sack on the ground 
and around the plant: on this put three or four inches of locomotive 
cinders; then lay the branches on this and peg down to hold them; then 
over all lay a covering 3 or 4 inches of the cinders, carefully lapping the 
bagging to hold the cinders in place. Over this put 3 or 4 inches of 
ordinary garden soil, and the plant is reasonably secure. The object of 
the bagging is to confine the cinders where needed and to remove them 
from the bed inspring. The cinders as they come from the locomotive are 
a perfect absorbent,and this combined with their non-conducting qualities - 
make them the best of material for covering any plant which requires or 
“ieee 
