The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-02
Local Affairs,
LEGISLATIVE FARMERS, CLUE
FRUIT CULTURE IN MINNESOTA.


House of Representatives.
In the absence of the President, II. NJ
Newson, Esq, one of the Vice Presidents,
took the chair.
Mr.. Sherburne of Hennepin, from the
Committee appointed to obtain subscriptions
for report in pamphlet form of the debates
of the Club, proposed to be published by
Hyde & Williams of Minneapolis, stated
that about 1000 copies had been subscribed
for, and that more would be obtained.
Mr.. Sherburne went on to show the vital
Importance of having the question settled
as to the capacity of the State for Fruits,
which could only be done by gathering up
the results of the experience of all who had
been engaged in experiments. He stated
that Mr.. Kimball, of Dayton, on the
Crow River, above st. Anthony, had set
out 400 apple trees, and large proportion
had grown well, withstood the rigors of win
ter, and were now in thrifty condition, and
that in two years he would have fruit in
abundance. Mr.. Kimball had promised to
write out his experience in the business, to
be published in the proceedings of the Club.
Mr.. Kimball's trees were set out on high
timbered land, with a clay soil. Mr..
Shrewsbury thought our marshes peculiarly
adapted to raising cranberres. His plan
would be to take small marsh, of from one
to five acres, cut ditch through it to its
lower end to drain it, and then plough it up
so as to kill the wild grass, then set out the
vines in rows two feet apart, and they will
soon grow fast enough to cover the ground,
and keep out the grass. To protect the
vines at the time of blowing in the spring,
have gate, if convenient, at the outlet of
the ditch, and flow the marsh.
Mr. Ford wished to add few statements
to those made at the previous meetings, in
regard to certain kinds of fruit. He would
recommend the subject of protection for the
consideration of all who engage in fruit cul~
ture In Minnesota. Apple trees as we'll as
Others of the kind, may be protected by
throwing up the earth some two or three
feet about the trunk and upward from the
earth, straw or hay may be bound around
the tree. Such protection will benefit trees
very much while young, and as they become
larger they will be more hardy. But little
straw is needed to keep the temperature
more even and prevent the injurious effects
of our winter sun and chilling winds. The
earth will prevent the ground from sudden
thawing and freezing. This mound will
also prevent injury by the mice, as they al
ways do their work under the snow.
We have for the first time, tried the ex-
pertinent of protecting our dwarf trees en-
tirely with EARTH and if this plan succeeds,
we are inclined to the opinion that, for gar
den purposes. it will pay, especially in the
case of pears, cherries, peaches and apricots
AT cost of FIVE cents quite large dwarf
tree may be earthed up in our light soils.
Grape vines must be laid down and COW
cred with earth, which may be done very
readily, and at a trihing expense, if the vines
are not allowed to grow too large. Our
climate is peculiarly adapted to the culture
OF grapes, and the time will come when
vineyards will be extensively planted on our
river bluffs and hillsides. Minnesota wine
will become common article in our market
and the fruit of the vine sold at five cents
per pound instead of forty cents, as we now
have to pay for an inferior eastern grape.
Farther south the grape is more disposed to
rot and mildew, than with u.s. and this is one
of the peculiarly desirable features of our
climate.
You are probably aware, Mr.. President,
that IN ny persons plant the Raspberry !;
but how seldom do they ever have any fruit.
This, sir, is owing to the fault that so few
cover their bushes in the fall. At the east
no one expects fruit from the finer varieties
OF the raspberry if they are not protected,
which is very easily done by digging little
earth away from the foot of the canes, and
after bending them to the ground, cover
them lightly with earth. Before this is
done, or rather after fruitng all the old
canes should be cut away to ensure good
growth OF young canes for the next years
bearing. Leave some half dozen canes
IN hill and do not let your ground become
overgrown like brush heap. The Lawton
blackberry probably will require here the
same treatment, but no one should fail to
grow all these desirable fruits, merely be
cause they need little protection.
The Rhubarb or Pie Plant, although not
strictly one of the fruits, yet it now takes
the place of many fruits, and is hardly to
be dispensed with in any we'll regulated
family. 1t is in use for pies and sauce from
May until October, and it makes better
pie than the apple. Wine is now being
made from the juice, and with us we have a
fine drink for hot weather, which we call
Rhuharb lemonade. 1t is made by using
little sugar with the juice and adding a few
drops of the extract of lemon.
Rhubarb is grown generally from roots,
which may be had at any of the nurseries.
1t may be raised also from seed, but we sell
dom get good sort in this way. We have
one fourth of an acre of the old Turkey or
Scotch Hybred,- very prolific variety
and being light kind, makes a beautiful
light colored wine, and for lemonade, it is
very desirable No family should be with
out good supply of pie plant, at least until
they are well supplied with other fruits.
Mr.. Clark, of Mount Moriah Farm, near
ST Paul importad in 355 a large numhar