144 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



remembering the reverses of 1884-5, were unwilling to trust it. The Mc- 

 Mahon was on the whole rather unfavorably considered, tendency to 

 blight being reported. When the question came up "What two varieties 

 for a commercial orchard of 1,000 trees?" quite a number answering, all 

 placed Duchess first, and Wealthy and Hibernal, the only other varieties 

 mentioned, were about equally divided for second place. 



Prof. Budd read a long and important paper on "Valuable Russian 

 Fruits," which, considering that it was prepared for Northern Iowa and 

 is a condensed description of the cream of the Russian apples by the 

 highest authority of the day, should have a place in our report as a whole 

 The value of top working the more tender varieties on extra hardy stocks 

 seemed to be admitted, and some facts were given to show the need of 

 experiment to determine what varieties were congenial. 



Two varieties, grown at Humboldt and in excellent keeping condition, 

 were given to many members to test, by Prof. Budd. They were Veronish 

 Rosy, 1277 and Rosy Repka. 200; both were certainly choice eating and were 

 said by him to be hardy enough for Minnesota. 



C. G. Patten gave a valuable talk on "Tests of Hardiness."' He 

 is one of the most careful and most reliable experimenters in the 

 Northwest, and his presence with us should prove one of the features 

 of our meeting. Prof. Budd stated that a perfect test of hardiness has 

 been discovered by Prof. Halsted, and that it consists in a thimble of 

 starch formed at the points of growth of all hardy varieties. He also 

 gave the results of experiments going to show that in order to origi- 

 nate hardy varieties from seed we should use an Iron-clad mother. 

 Elmer Reeves in a valuable paper on plums recommended propagation 

 on their own roots of our native varieties; mentioning Desota, Hawk- 

 eye, Forest Garden, Rollingstone, Speer, Weaver, Wolf, Wyant and Rock- 

 ford as about the best varieties. J. C. Ferris showed a very interest- 

 ing object lesson in the form of a section of native plum budded on sand 

 cherry about ten years ago. The union was perfect; he also reported the 

 tree somewhat dwarfed and free from sprouts. Grapes received consider, 

 able attention. Prof. Budd spoke highly of Moore's Early, which he 

 said needed much longer pruning than most varieties. Worden seemed a 

 prime favorite. Moore's Diamond and Wyoming were mentioned among 

 the promising sorts; as at our last Minnesota meeting, the mention of 

 the Janesville made things lively. The Shaefler red raspberry and the 

 Older black-cap seemed to be regarded the most productive of their 

 classes. The most marked feature of the evergreen papers and discus- 

 sion was the high esteem in which the Picea Pungens was held for 

 ornamental planting, the two leading growers of northern Iowa plac- 

 ing it at the head of the list. 



The election of officers resulted in the re-election of all except treasurer, 

 to which office Edson Gaylord was chosen. Charles City was made the 

 place of next meeting. It is the duty of your delegate to mention the 

 marked courtesy shown him both by the members and by the citizens of 

 Humbolt, and to recommend our people to secure the published report of 

 the meeting of which the foregoing is but the merest outline. 



CLARENCE WEDGE. 



