STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 283 



the statistics are probably more nearly correct than any person 

 could estimate; and they form something of a basis for approxima- 

 tion. 



The number of farms in the county is 1913. The highest esti- 

 mate for bearing trees would give each farm 13 trees on an average* 

 These figures are only useful in showing the large number of farms 

 without any trees, and for showing our capabilities, if each farmer 

 would plant 50 good trees. 



In comparing Winona, with some other counties, which started 

 in fruit raising several years later, it has not kept up with them, 

 and hardly maintains its early reputation. The counties of Carver, 

 Scott, Dakota and Washington, produced in the year 1880 about 

 5,000 bushels each: Fillmore & Wright upward of 7,000; Henne- 

 pin, 12,560; and Le Sueur, 13,360. Judging from our early success, 

 this county is naturally as well adapted to fruit raising as any of 

 those named except Le Sueur and Carver. 



The most marked success has been met in the valleys and upon 

 the ridge land contiguous to the Mississippi river. The opinion is 

 prevalent that the ridge lands are surest and that they are pro- 

 ducing the best fruit. There are, however, some fine appearing 

 orchards upon the prairie lands of the west and southwest parts of 

 the county: notably, that of Mr. C. L. Blair, of Saratoga, prob- 

 ably the oldest and largest in that vicinity, though there are sev- 

 eral younger orchards in that and the adjoining towns that 

 promise well. These prairie orchards contain but few varieties, 

 the Duchess predominating, and for crabs the Transcendent and 

 Hyslop are best known. Mr. Hohman, located in a small valley a 

 few miles above Minnesota City, planted an orchard of the two last 

 named varieties, intending to manufacture cider and vinegar. His 

 crop this year was about 400 bushels; none of which were man- 

 ufactured as they readily sold in the Winona market at a fair price. 



Of the old stock of seedlings, spoken of in the report of 1873, in 

 the paper by Mr. Ely, only a very few remain, probably not more 

 than 100 in all. A few of these appear sound and healthy, and 

 have borne good crops. President Harris has carefully examined 

 some of the trees and tested the fruit, and pronounces them well 

 worthy of cultivation. 



If we are to look for success in apple raising in the direction of 

 our own seedlings, here is a small field for a starting point. 



In the orchard of Mr. Whetstone (the old Campbell orchard), 

 where the seedlings have died, their places have been filled with 

 Duchess, Haas, Ben Davis, CFtter's Red, Pameuse and Wealthy, and 



