STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. * 409 



best pear in the whole world — best, although quite small, is best 

 only in the region of country where it originated. 



4th. Everj'^ kind of standard fruit always changes more or less in 

 characteristics and almost universally deteriorates in quality when 

 far removed from the region where it originated. Selected seedlings 

 from such varieties may and generally do produce excellent kinds 

 of fruit, where the fruit of the ancestral tree was worthless. 



Illustrative Examples: The best varieties of apples now grown 

 in our southern states originated from the seedlings of grafted trees 

 from more northern states, which were first planted in the south, 

 and produced there very inferior fruit. The best varieties of apples 

 of the eastern states, where the trees or graftings thereof are grown 

 in the northern states, produce in the western states fruit of the 

 same names, but they are greatly deteriorated in quality. The best 

 varieties of standard fruits in Europe become more or less denatu- 

 ralized when removed to any part of America. 



These brief remarks on the improvement of fruit trees by seedling 

 culture are submitted to the enlightened judgment of the practical 

 liorticulturalists of this society, I will be greatly obliged to any 

 of them for any criticisms or suggestions they may be pleased to 

 communicate on this important subject. 



A LADY'S SUGGESTIONS ON HORTICULTURE 

 ON MINNESOTA PRAIRIES. 



Linden Farm, Lake Crystal, March, 1884. 

 Oliver Gibbs, Jr. 



Dear Sir: — Please accept my thanks for a copy of the " State 

 Horticultural Society's Report." I find it replete with interest and 

 teeming with animation that speaks well for the society's future 

 success. 



It has been considered a doubtful question with the prairie 

 farmers of Minnesota whether fruit growing can be made a success, 

 but I am happy to say it is gradually being overcome. I do not 

 think any prairie farm need be without its supply of fruit if the 

 farmers will but take the pains to put out groves and hedges for 

 protection against cold winds and storms. 



We have around our garden as well as around many of our fields 



