STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 267 



very much gratified at the spirit manifested in the convention. 

 'The work that yon are doing is not a selfish one; it is for the 

 benefit of the great Northwest. We hope to see, and we ti'ust the 

 time will come when these great prairies will be dotted over with 

 orchards. I firmly believe we may, and with orchards that will 

 grow valuable fruit. I don't believe there is a paradise on earth 

 where there is no fruit. No matter what there nuiy be in the 

 soil, or in the natural surroundings, I believe there is no para- 

 dise on this earth, unless it is accompanied with fruit. 



I thank you very much for the kindly attentions you have 

 shown me and your reference to our society, and the work we 

 have done in our State. We shall be glad to see any of your 

 members at our convention, which meets two weeks from next 

 Monday, at Madison. 



President Smith. On behalf of the members of our so- 

 ciety, I will tender the thanks of the society to Mr. Tuttle for 

 the information we have received from him, and his very gener- 

 ous offer to furnish us with specimens for our experimental sta- 

 tions; and we shall be glad to have him meet with us whenever 

 he can arrange to do so. 



THE GEOWING OF SEEDLING APPLES. 



BY PETER M. GIDEON. 



Perhaps a few items on the propagating of new varieties of 

 :seedling apples would be of interest to many not familiar with 

 the facts or principles governing the production of new varie- 

 ties from seed; therefore, please indulge me in a short essay on 

 the subject, though in doing it I rej)eat many items often told, 

 jet new and of interest to the great mass who desire a better 

 collection of fruit, whether they intend to embark in the busi- 

 ness or not. 



I began the culture of fruit about sixty years ago by planting 

 peach seed. Got a good stand and good growth the first year; 

 then dug, reset and cultivated them myself, and had the pleas- 

 ure of eating fruit from them before I was nine years old; and 

 ever since it has been my chief calling and delight. But our 

 efforts and trials in Minnesota began thirty years ago last spring 

 by planting one bushel of apple seed, a peck of i)each seed, and 

 five hundred aj)ple, pear, plum and cherry trees, and for eleven 

 years thereafter planted each year enough apple seed to bring 



