St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-21
THE H0RTICULTURISTS.
The Eighteenth Annual Session Now
In Progress In st. Paul.
Interesting Papers Presented Upon the Ad-
vancement Made In Fruit Culture
In the State.

The State Horticultural society met in its
eighteenth annual meeting in the large COM
mittee room on the third story of the
state capitol yesterday morning at
eleven O'Clock and was called to order
by Hon. Truman M. Smith, of st. Paul, its
president. In the absence of Secretary
Oliver Gibbs. Jr., who is at New Orleans, S.
D. Hillman, of Min neapolis, was chosen
secretary pro TEN and e. l.. Smith, of Min
neapolis, assistant.
Russell Blakely, Esq, of st. Paul, presi-
dent of the State Amber Cane society, gave
the address of welcome of the society to st.
Paul and remarked that it was with
great qualification that he did so
as this meeting of the two
societies together during the session of the
Legislature would enable our representatives
to more fully understand the important
workings of both. A great work had already
been accomplished by both societies and they
both looked forward to the future with con-
6dence as to beneficial results.
j. s. Harris, eX- president of the Horti-
cultural society, responded to these remarks,
saying that it was glad of the opportunity to
meet here, not only for the chance of meet
the valuable opportunity of meeting
the members of the legislature
from all parts of the state, and thereby
better make known to them the objects Of
the society. He hoped that the latter would
so see the Importance of planting trees on
the praries of che state that they would in
sist on the states taking hold of the enter
prise to push it with generous appropriations
to success.
The balance of the morning session was
devoted to social intercourse and arranging
specimens of fruit and the products of the
amber cane. The thirty-tve displays of
apples were fine specimens of the Wealthy,
Russian. and several varieties of seedlings.
OF these the specimens shown By Andrew
Peterson, Of Waconia, and Mrs. j. NJ. Under
wood, of Lake City, we're the
finest. o Specimens of grapes shown
were the Agawam, Maxatowny, Isabella,
Catawba, Iona, Diana, Jefferson, Prentiss,
Black Eagle, Duchess, Vergennes, the Carver
se-dling and fine specimen of the Eamalon
by Senator Alderman, of Young America.
A fine specimen of Seeding grapes were on
exhibit by 8. S. Workman, of Lake City,
while the best exhibit was admitted to be
made by President Smith.
c. L. Smith exhibited elegant specimens
Of white star oniops; VIM. E. Bumball of po-
tatoes aud corn; j. Z. Kale, of Minnetonka,
of onions; knight H. Whipple, of Nortbone,
of ten varitit Of potatoes, AID Northrup,
Broslan 81 Co.. of Minneapolis, of field, tree
and garden seeds.
A fine exhibition of amber cane sugar and
syrup was made by Mr.. Porter as also of
two cars OF amber cane candies, said to be
the first manufactured in the state. A. H.
Kinney, of Morristown, also made good ex-
hibit of amber cane syrup, sugar and canned
fruits.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
President Smith announced that Wednes-
day would be divided by the Horticultural
society occupying the morning and the
amber cane the afternoon session.
Wyman Elliott, of Minneapolis, j. NJ. IN
derwood, of Lake City, and Z. H. T. Dart,
Of Owatonna, were appointed a finance com
mittee.
Wyman Elliott and Isaac Gilpatrick, of
Minneapolis, and K. c. shannon, Of Granite
Falls, were appointed a committee on pre-
miums.
REPORT OF FRUIT COMMITTEE.
John S. Harris, on the part of the society's
fruit committee, stated that the fruit crop in
Southern Minnesota for 1884 was more sat
isfactOry and better than in two previous
years. The spring of 1888 witnessed a great
bloom, but cold and backward summer
failed to ripen grapes, and nearly all the APP
Piles dropped from the trees. In 1884 the
season was more propitious. The strawberry
crop was good, and the berries at their best,
the Wilson'S and Crescent doing the best.
No care Of beds and transpla nting from old
beds were remarked upon as injurious prac-
iices.
Grapes we're au extraordinary crop, and
the lateuess Of the fall enabled them TO ma
ture. The leading variety was the Concord
and next the Delaware. The Warden and
GAINESVILLE also did we'll.
The apple crop was fair aud in some sec
tions large, and the exhibits made at the diff
fercnt fairs were superior to any ever before
made. The destructive work of the insect
called the borer ruined great quantity Of
this crop In 1884, while other enemies Of
this fruit demon strate that in the coming
season that eternal vigilance is to be the
price Of fruit"
GINSENG.
Col Stevens, Of Minneapolis, read an in
terrstng paper on the cultivation of ginseng,
the getting Of which root in the big woods of
the state Immediately preceding the panic
Of 1857 saved the families Of many farmers
from actual starvation. The sale during
these years to Minneapolis and st. Paul
traders was rising Of 100000 per annum.
This root is valued at its weight in gold in
China aud japan, where as a remedy 1t Is
believed to have great virtues, 1t being
tonic stimulant.
STRAWBERRIES.
W. II. Brimhall read paper relative to
the raising OF the Crescent seedlings, the
Downing and Wilson seedlings, on Hazel
Bush break, setting them two feet apart In
the rows with the rows four feet apart which
field dried up. From this bed he set new beds
on land in fair condition, covering the same
with marsh hay for the winter. All came
ont right In the spring, the Crescent show
ing the largest number Of plants, the
CuIbert falling entirely, while from the Down
ing and Wilson be picked $50 quarts Of fine
ferries. He mulched a part of the bed and
found that 1t doubled the yield.
This brought out an exhaustive discussion
on strawberries and how to succeed in their
raising, which lasted until the close Of the
session.
EVENING SESSION.
The resignation Of z. j. Mendenhall, Of
Minneapolis, the society's entomologlst, on
account OF illness, was received, and com
mittee consisting Of Messrs. Harris, Elliott
and Grimes were appointed to wait upon
him and express the regret
of the society al his Ill health,
thank him for the valuable assistance he has
given the society and arrange with him for a
paper in the forthcoming report.
Reports were read from D. NJ. Lord, Of
WinoDa county, giving a good account Of
the fruit crop there for the year 1854, except
in the matter Of native pears.