STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 353 



enough left to start the sap upward; the buds swell; the trees leave 

 out; but then they sicken and die in luidsammer, and the fault is 

 laid to the trees themselves, when it was only in the management 

 of the orchard. One cannot be too careful in setting; and after 

 setting we cannot be too careful out here on the prairie to prevent 

 the wind moving the trees back and forth; not only because of 

 the danger from ice in the winter, but from the dry air getting in 

 among the fibrous roots and killing them by drouth in the sum- 

 mer. We should look at our young trees often in the summer^ 

 and if we find these vacant spaces around the trunks, caused by the 

 trees swaying in the wind, fill them up, and keep out both dry air 

 then and ice in the winter. 



My wife tells me to say one good word for the Meader's Winter; 

 that it is the best apple we have for jelly — juicy and tart — ^just 

 right. 



I am sorry not to be able to meet with the State Horticultural 

 Society. As I am alone on the farm, it is not always possible to 

 go away. But 1 am interested in the proceedings of the society, 

 and hope what I have written may be accepted in lieu of better 

 services which cannot now be tendered. 



J. D. RiNDERKNECHT. 



WINONA COUNTY FRUIT REPORT. 



Stockton", January 8, 1884. 



So far trees, plants and vines seem in good health for a crop of 

 fruit this year. The apple crop of 1883, was not very large, still 

 what was raised brought good prices; Wealthy being sold for |2 

 per bushel, in a small way, as but few are yet raised. My own 

 orchard being young I raised but little fruit and what there was, 

 was mostly whipped from the trees by the wind at the time of the 

 Rochester tornado. I had several seedling apple trees with few 

 apples on for first time, but the storm seemed to have a spite on 

 them, so I cannot say how good or how bad they were, but think 

 the good was ahead. I have been around to the different orchards 

 near me and as a general thing they show neglect. To the careful, 

 energetic fruit grower I can see a bright future. Who is to reap 

 the harvest if no sower sows the seed? Surely the demand for 

 prime fruit is far ahead of the supply. Some say that they will 

 sow one acre to grain and take the proceeds and buy Michigan 

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