262 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
legislature provided for it by law, and Mr. Dartt received the ap- 
pointment as superintendent. To this interesting charge then Mr. 
Dartt is now largely devoting his time and developing a work al- 
together congenial to him. We believe this, his latest work, will 
prove to bea fitting and lasting monument to the labors of a life 
given to horticulture. 
Mr. Dartt has held many offices of importance in connection 
with this society, notably that of vice-president from his dis- 
trict, which he has occupied for sixteen years and fills at 
this date. 
His has been an eminently practical life,and in the society he 
has always been looked upon as a working member, one of 
those, if there was anything to be done, whose assistance could 
be counted upon. 
Though his three score years and ten are already past, his 
temperate and wholesome life gives assurance that he will be 
with us many years yet to encourage by his counsel and cheer 
and enliven by his ever ready and pleasant wit. 
May life’s richest and crowning blessings fall upon the gray 
heads of those who gather with us.—SEcy. 
OWATONNA EXPERIMENT STATION. 
MIDSUMMER REPORT. 
E. H. S. DARTT, SUPT. 
I send a brief approximate statement of the amount and condition 
of the stock now growing at the Owatonna tree station. I estimate 
the whole number of trees at 15,000, about 12,000 being apple and 
crab trees and the remainder being largely evergreen, shade and 
ornamental trees. There are about 800 varieties of apples that have 
been grafted, besides a large number of seedlings. A majority of 
the seedlings are of crab origin, being grown largely from Minne- 
sota, Quaker Beauty and other crab seeds. These crabs were grown 
in close proximity to Duchess, Wealthy, Tetofsky and other apples, 
so that valuable crosses are likely to develop. 
As it was not expected that I would raise trees to sell, I intended to 
graft just enough of each kind for a fair trial, increasing the num- 
ber somewhat on best known varieties. In grafting 6,500 last winter, 
about 1,000 Duchess and 1,000 Hibernal with 50 to 100 of severak 
other leading sorts were grafted with a view to supplying the local 
demand. Most trees are in fine condition, and especially the root 
grafts above mentioned. In the orchard niany varieties blossomed, 
but the fruit was mostly destroyed by frost. A few apples remain 
of about thirty-five varieties—the Duchess showing most fruit. 
Blight has touched but lightly up to the present time. 
Plums in the orchard are doing fairly wellin growth, and most of 
the trees are producing fruit, but there is not likely to be more than 
a quarter of a crop on account of injury by frost and worms. Of a 
