386 AN^NUAL EEPORT. 



For the experimental orchard, however, I chose the most open situation and what 

 I regard as the most difficKlt place for tree growth on the farm. It is our intention 

 to test these varieties thoroughly, and I feel confident that the trees that survive 

 five winters in our exposed expeiimental orchard, can be relied upon for all Minne- 

 sota points of equal latitude. For comparison of hardiaess, I planted two rows of 

 Duchess in the same orchard. All received moderate cultivation, the twenty-four 

 feet space being planted with potatoes, and only two trees of the two hundred 

 planted died; the others made a good growth. You will doubtless remember, how- 

 ever, that the latter part of the summer was excellent growing weather, so that, 

 despite lack of cultivation at that time, the trees continued to grow, instead of pre- 

 paring for winter, hence many of them went into winter quarters with soft shoots, 

 and these will probably suffer. As rapidly as any trees in the orchard die, their 

 places will be filled with other varieties from the nursery, and thus I hope soon to 

 thin out the weaklings and present to you a list of the fittest, which will survive. 



The orchard is planted twenty-four feet each way; such of the Russians as they 

 continue to grow shall have ample room to reach their full develnpment. 



I also received from Prof. Budd nine varieties of Russian pears, all of which 

 were set in orchard, part in the experimental orchard, and the others in the more 

 sheltered fruiting orchard, which consists of well known varieties of plums, apples 

 and crabs, planted on a northeast slope, in new timber soil. 



There are also on the farm a number of young conifers and deciduous timber 

 trees. Seedlings secured from Robt. Douglas & Co. , of Ilhnois last spring. These 

 have in the main, done well. On account of the great press of work the young 

 evergreens, from two to four inches high, were merely mulched with straw, instead 

 of being shaded. The result almost justified a continuation of the plan. White 

 pine, white and Norwaj^ spruce and balsam fir did as well as with shade, but red 

 pine (P. resinosa) and Austrian pine were almost complete failures. 



In small fruits, we have a good beginning in raspberries and about a dozen 

 varieties of the strawberry. 



In all our work with trees and fruits great care is taken to keep the varieties 

 properly labeled; this becomes of supreme importance, and requires vigilance 

 where the number or sorts is so great, and the number of trees so few as they are at 

 present. I have a firm hope that in the long list already secured, to which additions 

 will be made every year, something absolutely hardy will be found. If a single 

 sort of the entire number should prove good in fruit, late in season and hardier 

 than our hardiest, it will more than repay all outlay and expense, though all the 

 rest prove failures. 



In addition to the above lines of work with fruit, we have grown during the past 

 season for illustration and experiment, every vaiiety of garden vegetable adapted 

 to the soil and climate of Minnesota, embracing varieties of potatoes, corn, beans, 

 peas, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, melons, okra, onions, 

 parslej', ijarsnips, salsify, spinach, etc., etc. 



Besides this work in horticulture, we have carried on all the operations of general 

 farming and have made a commencement with stock, and the dairy. We have fine 

 representations of Short Horns, Holsteins and Jersevs in cattle, Berkshires, Poland 

 Chinas and Durocs in swine, Shropshire Downs in .sheep, and expect to add to 

 these breeds as soon as funds are available for this purpose. 



