STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 235 



did not wish to cast any reflections on any nurserymen here, lie 

 thought a great many poor trees had been sold, and a great 

 many farmers discouraged thereby. He was selling trees in 

 Minnesota and Dakota, and handled nothing but what he knew 

 to be good. He expressed a decided preference for the Duchess, 

 Elgin Beauty, Wealthy, and Rollins Pippin apples. The Wealthy 

 was first grown at Lake Minnetonka, this State, and was a splen- 

 did variety. Ten per cent of the trees would bear the second 

 year. Crabs are nearly all hardy varieties. He had met with 

 some opposition in Dakota from nurserymen in this part of the 

 State. He had put but fifty acres of apple trees in Dakota, and 

 thinks they will do as well there as here. We have got to sell 

 our trees to Western farmers. In a short time we cannot raise 

 apples enough to supply our home market. Trees born here are 

 all right, but should be crossed with other good varietes. Rus- 

 sian fruit is worthless here for winter. The Elgin Beauty is a 

 good fall apple, also the Wealthy. He thought the Rollins Rus- 

 set a good keeper, but it blights sometimes; is a good bearer. 



Mr. Harris said he came to the conclusion that there was no 

 genuine horticultural society here. Horticulture includes every- 

 thing in the fruit and vegetable line. There are twenty varieties 

 of apples that do well in Minnesota, and the society should bring 

 them out. A good society will bring new varieties to notice. 

 By all means get the ladies interested in the raising of flowers, 

 etc., and reorganize your society. 



Mr. Hoag asked Mr. Harris if he had any plan for bringing 

 out hardy varieties. 



Mr. Harris rei^lied that he would select seed of the hardiest 

 variety. You should have an experimental farm and test your 

 trees. If you find anything better than you have, get it. 



Mr. Sias had been experimenting with Minnesota seedlings 

 several years, and at the last session of the Minnesota State Hor- 

 ticultural Society had been placed on a committee on Minnesota 

 seedlings. He had traveled quite extensively over the State and 

 was well satisfied with the seedlings 'examined. He found a new 

 variety in an orchard near St. Charles, the fruit of which is as 

 large as the Duchess, and keeps well. The tree stands on a high 

 prairie with a southern slope. The tree was planted some time 

 ago by a man now living in Dakota, and he would correspond 

 with him and ascertain more about the variety, and report here- 

 after. 



Mr. Harris said he had a seedling grafted with Talman Sweet, 



