STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 97 



to contend witli climatic influences, but "let us work on and win." We are 

 morally certain of being victorious in the end. None need be discouraged so long 

 as we are favored with so many encouraging results which have been handed down 

 from the recent past. These show not only what fruit growing may be, but what 

 it is. It will doubtless be said that this is rather a slow way of reporting progress. 

 Be it so, it is a sure way. The injury to apple trees by the strange fatality of last 

 winter's phenomenon, was not confined to Minnesota. It reached south to Mis- 

 souri and east beyond the big lakes. When we con.sider the injury inflicted on the 

 trees in these celebrated apple producing slates, remote from our boundaries, we 

 have abundant reason to be thankful that we had even five or eix varieties of the 

 standard apple, that survived the frosty element, even to the terminal bud of the 

 branches of the trees. Tliis is encouraging. It shows that we have the pyrus 

 malus that are iron clad. They should be in the hands of all of our farmers. If 

 we have one, two, three, four, five and six varieties, now, we may I'easonably expect 

 the introduction of more of the same sort every year. This is a law of nature. Let 

 no one forget it. Our worthy old pomologist, Peter M. Gideon, has some fort}' 

 varieties of new seedlings which he has propagated on the shores of Lake Minne- 

 tonka, which are quite equal to the Wealthy. Some are hardier than that famous 

 apple. Some too, are of more merit, and are longer keepers. All of these will 

 soon be scattered all over the four corners of the State. Several other gentlemen 

 in this State have, too, new seedlings that defied last winter's frosts. No one denies 

 but we have many things to learn yet in regard to pomology. Probably if it were 

 made a rule in moving trees to reduce the last year's growth to one bud, half the 

 failure in transplanting would not occur, provided the proper care had been be- 

 stowed on the new set out trees, because the head and roots would be brought at 

 once to something like a balance of power. Shortening-in and mulching trees 

 ought to be followed as established practical rules in this climate in transplanting, 

 every decidious tree requiring mere care than a willow. We all know that the 

 best growth and the finest fruit, are always to be expected when the tree is furn- 

 ished with the materials of nutriment in just the right proportion. If greatly 

 deficient in any essential ingredient, the tree languishes from starvation. If any 

 highly nutritive substance is in a large overdose the tree may be surfeited or 

 poisoned. 



We must bear in mind that in large portions of Minnesota the soil is very fertile 

 and rich. During the months of June, July, August and September, we have the 

 average temperature of southern Ohio. The overfeeding of one year's growth is 

 worse than lost. Several years will be required to establish a healthy action again, 

 especially if the tree stands in a rich soil so as to dissolve a great amount of food. 

 There is certainly a great contrast in the temperature in our State between summer 

 and winter; certain laws of pomology must be observed. These laws have hereto- 

 fore and will be hereafter pretty thoroughly analyzed by the Minnesota State Horti- 

 cultural Society. They will be made so plain that all can understand and master 

 them. 



It is well demonstrated that the few varieties of apples we do produce aie far 

 superior in quality to those same varieties in other States. This is another curious 

 law of nature, with the law on our side. It is an ill wind that does not blow some 

 one good. Again, apples, the product of Minnesota, are finished off in the most 



7 



