The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-02-02
TRAVERSE DIES SIoUx, Jan. 2, 1854.
Correspondence Of Tho Ponce.
Fruit and Fruit Trees for Minnesota,
N u VI Il T. Il


Mr. EDITOR On my way from ii. pau %
this place in November last, l Obiained ad-
d,ional facts in favor Of fruit CROWN IN Mime
sofa.
At Point Douglass I met severn farmers Of
that vicinity from whom learned hat IL siaan
lot of apple trees came into bearing he past
son in that neghborhcod. The amount OF f.uit
produced was by no means large, yet % forn-bsd
very good proof that trees Can be gt0Vn in the
Territory. The trees were set out 7eral wears
ago, and were obtained from l!iinos Most Of .
the farmers about Point Douglass, were taken in
badly by The sale of ''seasoned trees from he
same nursery that supplied ST Paul .iih SINH
lar article. As matter Of course they 4le gen
orally discouraged and think il uselos, IL 81 out
fruit trees.
was very agreeahly surprised to find ouIle
orchard of apple trees nearly large enough 80
bear fruit at Reeds Landing, al the loat q. Lake
Pepin. Among them ~ere also few peach trees
that were thrifty and in good condition. Tie
trees were obtained at some nursef, below, sd
put out three or four yenrs ago. They .'a2 r.
ceived but little care as was Informed by NJ.
Reed, still they seemed 10 have toUri>nea even
on u stiff clay soil. As far the location Of NJ.
Reeds orchard is concerned, ii is remarkably
good, being high ground and comp ctey prc'ec.-.
ed from winds.
! This by the way, is a very importani consider
T
those who putting out trees. On the prtirie
il is not easy to obtain proper situation io.
orchard but ia The climber" and openiuss, y
is quite different and nearly every farm wi fur
nlsh ground that is protected on one more sli =.
One half Of Minnesota, al least, j. fail Of good
sites for orchards, and in IA few year ,hiu', We
shall see fine trees and fruit growing upon them
/ The facts have just set forth, proc quite
elusive to my mind that good trees Sc, on, proper
a.. =. ii.
sofa mean Of course, apples, pears. cherries
aud p'uins. Peaches may do well occasionally
in some places. The trees | have alluded 70 1T
Reeds Landing, may produce sou.c rpecinens
of frun mex, season If well taken ~ he pc
sent winter There seems TO be sFet want 81
care among those who put out trees, particularly
in respect to muIching, If this simple process
had been generally resOried 20, do1ot nct 5aS
that hundreds Of trees that were put out Il lie
spring Of 1851 and '52 which are now dead o.
in Il miserable condition, would ha,e attained
very respectable growth. Good treatment VII
often save poor trees, while The best frequently
die OF neglect Mu!chlng, as | have before sta
ted, will protect The roots both IN suI1u"r Ind
winter. In summer the weeds are py down Is
it, and the ground is always in a moist Stale,
just such the roots Of all trees require, whle
IN winter Il more even temperature - preserved.
and the effects of frost, sudden reeZlng and ihaw-
ing are not SD injurious. Some lou iEeIeS IA
depth Of straw partly decayed, or coarse manure
placed about the tree Is sG!hcIent. l am Inclined
to think that grass cut in Jane, JUS tt0 ho1
weather comes, and put about the ROOFS Il trees.
viii prove to be as good and convenient T. ueans
of mulchins as we can have. Mice would NOT
probably be as troublesome in such ll'y aso
sometimes in straw | will close tbs number by
advising those who have trees TO pnt something
about them Immediately. even thong Tie winter
ia partly gone. L. ". (.
Davenport, Iowa, Jan. 1854.