102 ANNUAL EEPOET, 



and simple. "Well now," be says, "friend Porter, I know that at 

 first glance, it looks as if it was very slovenly; but after tliee bas been 

 as long at gardening as I bave, thee will not allow a hoe or cultivator 

 among thy vines after the blossoms bave set." And then be went on 

 to explain. "Now," said be, "I used to till late in the summer, but T 

 found in the first place, that I was stimulating an undue growth in 

 my vines, and in the second place, I was running the chance of losing 

 the crop by winter-freezing and thawing. I stopped that, and I bave 

 had no trouble with winter-killing." I took the bint and have adopt- 

 ed his methods, with some modifications. I don't want to conceal my 

 vines; I like to see them. I like to cut the weeds out, and [ can ac- 

 complish that with the merest surface culture, just cutting the weeds, 

 and at the same time not stirring the soil enough to stimulate the late 

 fall's growth. 



Mr. Harris. When I came here this afternoon I had no idea of hav- 

 ing anything to say to-day, but I am very much pleased with this 

 discussion in reference to blackberries. I think it is important to 

 prevent the breaking of the canes in laying them down, to dig away 

 from the roots with a fork, from the side you bend them, and then 

 bend the bush where it joins to the root, putting the fork down about 

 six inches and bending the root. Then there isnodanger of breaking. 



Prof. Porter. That is necessary with very strong, heavy canes. Of 

 course, you have to use a little common sense. 



Mr. Harris. It has been said here that the most exposed situations 

 are the best for orchards. Mr. President, I hope that no one will 

 understand this Horticultural Society as advocating the seeking of the 

 most barren peaks and exposed situations of Minnesota, for the plant- 

 ing of apple trees. I believe in high locations for apple trees, but not 

 the most exposed. The best locations are high, but protected from 

 the south and west winds. I believe we can raise apples on the prai- 

 ries here, but we will not succeed until there are groves and wind- 

 breaks all over between here and Dakota. 



And then, I want to criticise tbose holes "three feet deep" for set- 

 ting out apple trees. I don't dig any deeper than the ground has 

 been pulverized with the plow. I like the idea of plowing; and if you 

 dig a bole three or four feet square and half as deep, put in the loose 

 dirt and set your trees, I will guarantee they will grow. 



Mr. Pearce. In regard to covering small fruit, there is nothing that 

 can be covered more easily than blackberries. If I was going to grow 

 berries for profit, in preference to any I would take the blackberries. 



