: *. 
52 ANNUAL REPORT. 
MR. PEARCE’S PAPER. 
The discussion was here closed, and the next subject taken up,. 
which was a paper on ‘‘ Locations and Exposures for Orchards,’” 
by M. Pearce, of Minneapolis. 
The paper was accepted and placed on file for publication. It. 
was as follows : 
FRUIT TREES—LOCATION AND RESULTS. 
Will Minnesota ever be a great fruit-growing State? Yes, without a. 
doubt. When will it be? When fruit growers are educated to think and 
observe for themselves, and understand what varieties of soil, location, cul- 
tivation, and care of fruit trees is absolutely necessary to make apple-raising 
a perfect success. My experience in Minnesota covers a period of over 
twenty-five years. I am familiar with the climate of the State,—cold win- 
ters, warm winters, early frosts in the fall, late frosts in the spring, and 
occasionally summer frosts. I think to early frosts in the fall and late in 
the spring we can attribute the destruction of trees and fruit more than any 
other season of the year. It is a well known fact to all, that there is a. 
marked difference of temperature at the same time between the low land 
and valleys and high lands. It is often the case on low lands and valleys, 
while the trees are still growing and full of sap, a sudden freeze congeals. 
the sap, ruptures or cracks the bark, and thus badly injuring the trees and 
preparing the way for the flat-headed borer to do its work, which finishes the 
destruction of thousands of trees annually, while those on high Jand are not. 
injured, owing to the high temperature, caused probably by a circulation of 
the air. We uotice the same result in the spring; the trees are not only 
injured, but usually the fruit killed, while on the high lands it is seldom the 
case. 
Again, there is quite a difference of the same varieties of trees grown on 
the low, rich lands and valleys and those grown on the high lands. The 
former make a more rapid growth, contain more sap, the joints further 
apart, poorer bearers and less hardy; while those on high lands are closer 
jointed, less sap, more hardy, and much better bearers. I am acquainted 
with two orchards; they have both had the very best of care and cultiva- 
tion. One is on high land, and the other is in a valley between the hills. 
The trees of the former are in perfect condition, have borne heavy for years 
and among the selection is the Geniton and Ben Davis. The one in the 
valley has never produced a peck of apples, and the most of the trees are 
in a very unsatisfactory condition, to say nothing about location. The same 
results are to be found in regard to locations all over the settled parts of 
the State, with the exception of orchards in close proximity of lakes and 
large rivers, which have a wonderful influence in keeping the temperature ; 
even and the air moist. Such location, with suitable soil, are probably the 
best for apple raising in the State. Peach trees on such locations in this 
State produced fruit last season without protection. In my judgment there 
are many thousand fruit trees in orchards that will never pay expenses, 
owing to bad location, and if not too large it would be better to remove 
them to more favorable ground. Orchards are often planted convenient to 
