The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-02

ground, but last season we lost four fftbs
OF our crop by the winter. In fact we had
no fruit to speak of except where the snow
drifted little. The fruit we lost last year
would have paid the expense of covering ten
times at least. 1t will not do to leave your
vines exposed if you wish to ensure good
crop OF the strawberry, here or elsewhere at
the north.
Mr.. Shrewsbury seems to think it will not
pay to raise grapes or Raspberries if they
must be protected. Now will return the
assertion that the cultivation of these same
fruits here may be made ten times as profit
able as embarrassing, when persons have
suitable ground. For grapes a hillside is
best, and fully exposed to the sun. One
acre OF grapes, properly managed would
yield more real profit than any farm in this
vicinity, in spite of the covering. At Du.
buque, and Galena, they now cover their
vines, and the vineyards of the Hudson
River, are sometimes nearly ruined for the
want of little covering. AT the present
time they are becoming thoroughly con-
WINGED that in case the vines are not winter
killed, they will bear so much more by pro-
tecting them, that it pays we'll to do So and
if this be true in New Y ork, how much more
does it apply here, in Minnesota, where we
have so many fine situations for the vines,
and where the fruit natures so much better.
and is comparatively free from the rot and
mildew. In many parts of Europe the vine
yards are partially protected from the severe
weather of winter.
At our last meeting some remarks were
made n ri fn f. tho v>plo
the crab, which | deem matter of great
Importance, and much surer means of rails
ing fruits. This must he done in the top
invariably and not in the root. The com.
mon crab tree will do best, the Siberian crab
is the best as it makes beautiful tree. No
one should fail to try this method, and also
to raise trees from the seed. Should the
seedlings produce poor fruit, you may in
sert gratis of the most hardy cultivated
varieties, also in the branches and not in the
root. The plum is said to do well, if worked
in the top of the native or wild stock, and
we would recommend thorough trial of
this method for the plum, if you are not sat-
isfied with the best wild varieties.
would like to say something about the
cranberry but there is not time this evening
to go into details. There are hundreds Of
marshes in our State, that might be convert
ed into valuable cranberry plantations by a
little draining and planting the vines. They
need to be flooded from n ovember till June
to protect the vines and blossoms.
At the East the Cranberry is now con-
sidered one of their most valuable fruits,
where they have the natural marshes. In
Massachusetts and New Jersey they are
making extensive plantations, and the yield
is enormous. No State in the Union is SO
well adapted to the cultivation of the Gran
berry as ours--owing to the peculiar char
acter of our marshes. The fruit commands
high price, and as the demand is yearly
increasing, we need have no fears of over
stocking the market, which extends from
here to New Orleans, to say nothing of an
Eastern outlet.
Persons who intend to make plantation
should obtain some of the recent publica-
lions on the cranberry, which will give them
all the information needed. 1t is to be
hoped that more attention will be given to
this fine fruit, and that it will become one
of our staples for export.
The meeting adjourned at a late hour,
after selecting " Corn Growing in Mime
ota," as the subject for next Monday even
ng.