232 ANNUAL EEPORT. 



hardy, long-keeping varieties, and thrifty, productive orchards, 

 there is danger that they will be doomed to disappointment. I 

 tell you, the whole thing is an experiment and should be treated 

 as such until we have some certain knowledge of their adapta- 

 bility to our wants. The experiment may prove but little better 

 for supplying present wants than that of the plants of our or- 

 chards had been to Baldwins and Greenings. It is the seedlings 

 of these, crossed with our best Minnesota varieties, that are to 

 give us our future orchards and earn for our State an enviable 

 reputation for the beauty and quality of her fruits, Tt has long 

 been known that varieties originated in certain localities and 

 soils are generally better suited to those localities and soils 

 than those introduced from other places, and our own experi- 

 ence has demonstrated that there are comparatively few of the 

 good varieties of other countries that are anything like a suc- 

 cess with us. An all-wise Providence has provided for per- 

 petuating species. The little seed, when brought under favora- 

 ble circumstances, sends out roots to penetrate the soil to gather 

 up moisture and food, and a stem and branches and leaves and 

 flowers and seeds to elaborate the secretions and acquire quali- 

 ties that shall enable the coming tree to become adapted to the 

 condition under which the seed was produced. Therefore, the 

 true principle for us to pursue is to save and plant the seeds from 

 our hardiest and best varieties, either hybridized or cross-fertil- 

 ized with Siberian or Russian varieties. Always saving from 

 both parents those having some characteristics we wish to per- 

 petuate in the offspring, and each generation so produced will 

 become more "at home" under our climatic conditions. 



I do not think that I stand alone in my opinions upon this 

 part of my subject; but doubtless what I have said will receive 

 some severe criticising. In closing this part of my subject per- 

 mit me to quote from the address of the venerable Marshall P. 

 Wilder, president of the American Pomological Society, at their 

 late meeting. In speaking of the production of new fruits he 

 said: "It is now more than thirty years since I first called the 

 attention of this society to the importance of producing fruit 

 from seed in order to originate and obtain such varieties as 

 might be adapted to the varied climate of our ever increasing 

 and immense territory. Thus have I spoken for a long course of 

 years of the importance of this branch of our duty. Thus would 

 I preach while life lasts. Plant the most mature and perfect 

 seeds of the most hardy, vigorous and valuable varieties, and, 



