CHAPTER II. 



FRUIT INTERESTS. 



/. Trees and Shrubs for the Cold North. 



§ I. FOR THE PRAIRIE STATES. 



There is much agitation concerning the merits of particular 

 fruits and ornamentals for the cold prairie states, where the 

 greatest hardiness is required. There are two lines of effort 

 for the production of varieties suited to this # region, — the im- 

 portation of varieties from Russia, with a few from the northern 

 Chinese region, and the origination of hardier sorts directly 

 from our American stock. It is no doubt true that the ultimate 

 progress will come as the result of both these endeavors \ and 

 the present unsettled condition of affairs must in the end be 

 productive of good, wholly aside from matters of present varie- 

 ties, as it spreads and popularizes an agitation for the common 

 good. The mass of foreign varieties which have been thrown 

 upon the country has led, in the present eagerness of the public 

 mind and in the absence of comprehensive tests, to great con- 

 fusion and often to premature denunciation of the whole pro- 

 ject. In order to aid in simplifying this confusion of varieties, 

 I have invited Professsor Budd, of the Iowa Agricultural Col- 

 lege, who is particularly conspicuous in the introduction of 

 plants for Iowa and adjoining states, to prepare lists of the 

 varieties which at present appear to possess greatest merit. 

 These are plants " which are doing well over a large part of 

 the northwest." 



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