152 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
have some test of hardiness this winter; all fruits and apples 
took on a second growth on account of the wet weather we had 
in September, and many varieties are in bad shape for this 
winter. 
Mr. Harris: I did not make any suggestion or recommenda- 
tion about that committee. I know itis tedious for you people 
to sit and listen to a description of these things. I think itis 
of interest to trace out the new varieties, and 1 hope you will 
keep the committee going, and I hope the state will see the 
necessity of this some day, so the society can prosecute the 
work with a little vigor. JI have not brought any bills into the 
society for two or three years, but I am at considerable expense. 
I think the committee had better be kept up, and I think 
you had better make some show on the books as though you 
were going to have some pay some time or other. 
Mr. Dartt: Does that report recommend anything? 
Mr. Harris: I think the last report recommended that not 
more than $150 a year should be expended in exploring these 
things, but there was nothing to explore. 
Mr. Dartt: I believe it is a grand, good thing to make these 
explorations, but I believe they should be confined entirely to 
Minnesota and Minnesota seedlings. I think the natural, ten- 
dency with usis to run after strange gods. Now, in my opinion, 
the great bulk of seedlings that are produced all over the 
country are entirely worthless—the great bulk of them—and 
especially those produced in favorable localities, such as Wis- 
consin or lowa. Ido not doubt but marked good may come 
out of Wisconsin and [owa in some of those seedlings, for some 
of them are just as good as we grow ourselves, but I know for 
a certainty that a great many of the seedlings that have been 
produced in Wisconsin for the past twenty-five years are not 
hardy enough for Minnesota. Now, the fact that those seed- 
lings are producing fruit at the present time and seem to be 
hardy is no test atall. We have not had a hard winter since 
1884 and 1885. We have not had a test winter since that time; 
and this favorable trick of the weather enables trees that are 
not naturally very hardy to produce fruit, and they may pro- 
duce fruit as long as the conditions for so doing are favorable. 
I think we should be a little more restrictive in our recommen- 
dations. We should find out a little more definitely about their 
hardiness and be less active in our effort in reaching out after 
things we know not of. That is my opinion, and it does not 
seem to me that it is best to make any great effort in getting 
