80 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



forgotten to rain during the fall, the ground was extremely dry when it 

 froze up. To make amends there were three successive heavy rains in 

 December, that largely overcame the drouth and disaster that must have 

 followed had it continued dry through the whole winter. There was not 

 much snow, but enough to protect the roots of most trees and plants, so 

 that,as a rule, they came through the winter in excellent condition. 



We can safely assert that there never was a more glorious springtime 

 for planting trees, in fact, anything— an early and late spring combined 

 and just moistuie enough. Itwouldrain and wetup the ground in nice 

 shape, then wait until you had planted, and then rain again to give the 

 new plants a start. Those that planted early, ordered more, while those 

 who did not intend to plant, caught the infection and ordered, "to be 

 shipped at once." Not hatisfled with giving us a good start, DameNature 

 accompanied us all summer with a watering pot and lavishly bestowed 

 upon us the moisture that so rejoices the garden and orchard. As a re- 

 sult there were but few failures to live, and a splendid growth was made. 

 Later in the season the fickle dame withheld her smiles and threatened 

 to keep our grapes from ripening, but the sun kissed her into good nature 

 again and overcame the coolness, so that every pound of the heavily laden 

 vines was gathered and sent to market. 



The past fall was dryer than we wish it had been, and the drought, 

 which is accentuated by winter's cold, may- cause us some loss. There is, 

 however, a fine covering of snow and up to the present time there has 

 not been any ridiculous caper cut by the mercury, while most of the time 

 it has been just the kind of weather to delight the heart of old and young. 



THE FRUITAGE. 



The facts regarding our productions will no doubt be brought out dur- 

 ing our session. I venture to predict that if there should be a correct 

 statement made the most sanguine of us could hardly credit the amount 

 of apples and small fruits that were raised in the state of Minnesota the 

 past summer. I have taken pains to investigate, and I find that, besides 

 supplying themselves, the farmers in the southern half of the state have 

 taken to each of their several markets from one to several thousand 

 bushels of apples. . While in St. Paul last summer I was attracted by a 

 large grain wagon filled with Duchess. A man in charge had driven onto 

 a vacant lot, unhitched his team, and had four men carrying apples to the 

 different houses, selling them at one dollar a bushel. He had bought 

 them by the carload in Red Wing at sixty cents per bushel, and said he 

 expected to get five or six .carloads from the same shipper. Considering 

 the disreputable way in which they were handled, the apples looked well, 

 but to take apples to market in sacks, unload them into cars in bulk like 

 potatoes, and to convey them to the consumer in the city in grain wagons, 

 suggests a little missionary work on the part of our society. If apples 

 were abundant, what shall I say of small fruits? Wherever set vines 

 and plants were loaded with fruit. People, who ordinarily considered 

 themselves fortunate to get one dish of berries a day, got two dishes 

 three times a day, and a shortcake thrown in. 



FUTURITY. 



We have now come to compare notes and counsel with each other as to 

 what we had best do the coming year. Our society has a grand mission to 

 fulfill. It has already done a great good in fostering and encouraging 



