28 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
I IS THE NORTHWEST. 
Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the South Dakota Horticultural 
Society—President’s Suggestions Regarding Progress In Hor¬ 
ticulture—George H. Whiting, Nurseryman, Discussed Straw¬ 
berries and Evergreens—Varieties Adapted to Rigor . 
ous Climate—The Officers Elected. 
The thirteenth annual meeting of the South Dakota Horti¬ 
cultural Society was held at Sioux Falls, January 20-22. In 
the discussion of strawberries, George H. Whiting of Yankton, 
nurseryman, emphasized the point that old strawberry plants 
are blackrooted and have no vitality. There should be two 
strawberry beds, one for raising fruits and the other for raising 
plants. The concensus of opinion of strawberry growers was 
that Warfield was one of the best pistillate or female varieties 
and as fertilizers the Brandywine, Enhance, Lovett or Beder- 
wood. Bederwood and Warfield make a good combination. 
It is essential to cover strawberry plants in the fall. 
H. M. Avery, president of the association, in his annual 
report said that progress was being made. It might have 
looked some times as though the steep grade of progress was 
unsurmountable, but with the assistance given by the experi¬ 
mental station at Brookings things were now looking brighter. 
Horticulture, however, would have to make rapid strides to 
keep abreast of the progress being made in the state. One 
reason why horticulture had not advanced more rapidly was 
the instinct in the average person to acquire wealth and which 
could be done more rapidly in other channels. He did not 
believe in taking a pessimistic view of the situation and 
thought that the work now being done by the secretary would 
eventually take root and give just as good results. He thought 
that a reasonable appropriation by the legislature and some 
method of creating more enthusiasm would boom horticulture. 
Occasional contributions to the state papers on horticulture 
would undoubtedly help the movement. 
Mr. Whiting, discussing conifers, said that the native ever¬ 
greens of South Dakota were by far the most profitable for 
Dakota planters. Norway spruce is of no value for this state. 
Arbor Vitae, Black Spruce, Hemlock and Balsam Fir are all 
worthless for the state. The Blue or Silver Spruce of Colorado 
is very beautiful hardy evergreen, especially the blue variety, the 
only objection at present being their rather high price. For the 
lawn they are most desirable. The White Spruce is of slower 
growth but is very attractive for ornamental purposes. The 
Black Hills spruce is the variety of White Spruce native of the 
Black Hills and is of slower growth than the eastern White 
Spruce, but a very satisfactory and ornamental evergreen for the 
lawn. The Jack Pine of Northern Minnesota is the most rapid 
grower of the evergreens. It is not a pretty tree, but makes an 
excellent wind break. The Colorado Silver fir is a beautiful and 
apparently hardy tree, but more experience with it is needed. 
1 he Douglas Spruce from Colorado is less promising. But the 
prince of pines for the plains,” as Mr. Norvy said, is the Bull 
pine of the Black Hills, known generally as the Ponderosa 
pine. This is the most satisfactory pine for the open prairie, 
as it can stand considerable drought and is absolutely hardy. 
I his is probably because it is found native on the dryest 
points and steepest slopes of the Black Hills. The Austrian 
pine was considered more ornamental than the Scotch pine, 
hut neither were considered of permanent value for Dakota 
planters. Northern red cedar was considered one of the best 
prairie evergreens ; the southern red cedar winter kills and is 
worthless in the North, while the red cedars found native in 
the Black Hills and other parts of the state are absolutely 
hardy and are the best for the prairie planter. It appears to 
vary greatly from seed, many of the trees being of a beautiful 
silver color, others brown or green. Of the shrubby ever¬ 
greens for the lawn the Dwarf Mountain pine and the Trailing 
Juniper of the Black Hills, and the Savin Juniper were all con¬ 
sidered valuable. 
After evergreen roots are once dry no amount of water can 
can soak them up, because the sap is resinous and hardens. 
A few moments of exposure to the sun and air at the time of 
transplanting is sufficient to set the sap so that water will be 
of no avail afterwards. For all intent and purposes such a 
tree is dead. With proper care exercised, evergreens are as 
easily transplanted as other trees. The earth should be made 
very firm about the roots at the time of transplanting and left 
loose on top to prevent baking. 
These officers were elected : President, J. P. Bentz of Woon¬ 
socket; vice-president, A. V. Norvy of Madison; secretary, 
N. E. Hanson of Brookings; treasurer, M. J. DeWolf of 
Letcher; librarian, E. 1 ). Cowles of Vermillion. 
NOVA SCOTIA FRUIT GROWERS. 
The thirty-eighth annual meeting of the Nova Scotia Fruit 
Growers’ Association was held in Wolfville on the 21st and 
22d of January. The attendance was large, the programme 
well carried out and the meeting highly successful from every 
point of view. A large and remarkably fine exhibit of fruit was 
made, including the standard market varieties of the provinces. 
Even Gravenstein, considerably out of season the last of Jan¬ 
uary, was shown in good condition. Among the new varieties 
exhibited, the one which was the center of principal interest was 
Red Russet. Very fine specimens of this variety were exhib¬ 
ited from Kentville, and those who are growing it regard it as 
one of the most piomising varieties for the European trade. 
One of the most striking things about the fruit exhibit, how¬ 
ever, was the showing of Ben Davis. It has usually been said 
that this variety cannot be grown in the East in competition 
with the Ben Davis of the southwestern states. If the speci¬ 
mens on exhibition in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island 
are an example of what can be grown in those districts, how¬ 
ever, Missouri and Kansas will need to look to their laurels. 
It may be much regretted by everyone, but Ben Davis is being 
extensively planted through this section for commercial pur¬ 
poses. 
The principal discussions of the meeting were upon the sub¬ 
jects of transportation and San Jose scale. The province is 
still free from this pest, but it is expected to arrive at any time. 
The growers are, however, prepared to fight the scale to a 
finish when it is found, and their present feeling is to spare no 
pains in the way of inspection in order that it may be discovered 
at its first infestation. Some members favor the total exclusion 
of all nursery stock coming from Ontario and the United 
States ; but such extreme precautions are not popular with the 
leading growers. 
Addresses were made by a few members of the society and 
by several speakers from abroad, including Alexander McNeill 
of Ontario; W. A. MacKinnon, Prof. Waugh of Vermont ; 
