The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-01-03
A For the Minnesotian
The Real Condition of Fruit Trees in
y Minnesota.

MESsRs. EDIoRs You have probably for
gotten the promise we made in the spring,
but we have not, and having deferred writing
until the growing season is past, we are the
better able to determine the true extent of
last winters destruction upon all kinds of
fruit trees.
| No correct opinion could be formed even
after the trees had "lcaved out" from the
fact that many had vitality enough left to put
forth few leaves, but when the hot wealth
er of June and July came on they died out
right or ceased to grow. The real condition
therefore of our trees is quite as bad, If not
aeorse than we stated in the Minnesotian on
the 5th Of April. At that time we were sat
lsfied that our peas, plums, and most kinds
of cherries were killed to the snow line. but
we supposed that many Of the apple trees
that we partially injured, would come out
right in the spring, particularly our large
bearing trees. But we were sadly dsappoint-
ed, and especially in regard to the large
| trees.
And here venture to say, that not more
than one IN tare0ty of all the trees in the Ter
rltory that have been obtained below. will
ever come into successful hearing. This is
certainly rather a deplorable state of things,
still We are bound to report progress, and let the
public know the worst, as we promised to do
in our articles for the Pioneer some three or
louryears ago.
You have doubtless noticed several articles
in the papers Of late by persons of one or two
years residence among us, all of course end
ing with the opinion that we can raise fruit
IL Minnesota. Some of them tell us that they
have planted fruit trees, and that they ore
clire. This may all be true, but how much
life have they -? "that's the question"
With our six years experience, we have so
little faith in the apple trees imported into
Minnesota heretofore, that We would not pay
very large sum for all that can be found
from Iowa to pembina. And to be fair in
the premises we will engage to sell ours " Of
the same Sort" very cheap by the thousand,
to include also our bearing trees, some seven to
eight years old, and from two to five years
growth in our grounds, say from $50 to $50
per thousand, depending altogether upon the
size and price of wood in st, Paul.
Our hopes are now all conferred in trees
grown here, and in some twenty kinds out of
some one hundred kinds that we have been
cultvating. From these we are sanguine of
raising fruit, as they most bravely withstood
the effects Of the past winter and made q
splendid growth during the summer. AL
though our stock of trees grown here is large
at present, having offered but few for sale
last spring, yet we shall not ask any to buy
the tender varieties.
1t is far better to plant Ten trees of the
! right kind than enc hundred as they are
usually purchased. Our country, no doubt,
will be flooded with tlosh in the shape Of trees
from below next spring. and they will be
bought by those who do not become posted.
They will learn, however in time. Our adj
| vice is to plant none unless you are sure they
are right, and lay out your spare change for
the smaller fruits, such az currants, Goose
berries, strawberries, r,spberrics, grapes, pie
plant, &c.
L. NJ FORD