St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-22
Third Days DOings of the Annual Ses-
sion of the Minnesota State
Horticulturists.
Financial and Other Reports Submitted
by the Officers New Com
mittees Named.
Prof. Porter Makes a Showing of
Work and Results at the
State Farm.
Officers for the Coming Year--Action
as TO Tree Peddlers--Other
Business.
OUR FRUIT GROWERS.
The Third Days Session of the State
Horticultural society.
THE sEcRETARY's REPORT.

Horticultural society, is absent from the
present meeting, having been subpened as
as witness on legal case involving many
thousands of dollars now ON trial in Wi
mona. However, the assistant secretary
read his annual report at the morning ses-
sion yesterday.
The report opened with handsome in
PRODUCTION. in which il was stated that the
larger portion of the people of Minnesota
are engaged in agricultural pursuits, and
| that the farming industry lies at the very
foundation OF our wealth and prosperity.
In the year 1854 there were 924, $50 apple
trees grown in the state. In 1874 there
were 30. O52 bushels of apples produced; in
1883. $50, 736 bushels. Fillmore county re-
ports the largest number of trees in bear
ing, with Olmsted county next. The larg-
est production Of grapes was In Hennepin,
Houston, Ramsey, Wabasha and WinOna
counties, in the order named. While or
charding has been neglected 10 some extent,
smail-fruit culture has rapidly developed.
Agricultural experimental stations have
been established in Connecticut, North
Carolina, New Jersey. New York, Massa-
chuSetjs Ohio, Wisconsin and California.
l III the state Of New York eXpends, as she
does. so, 900 annually for judiciOus and
| profitable experiments TO be made by their
agricultural station. may there not be need
Of provision for corresponding work in
Minnesota?
The secretary had received from Attor-
neg General Hahn the legal information
that the state society must use the 81. 200
/ appropriated by the state each year. and
that no part OF the fund can be set apart as
| 4 reserve fund.
ceipis from membership fees, that he had
drawn warrants on the treasurer in the sum
of Sl3.G6 and that the sum of $50. 80 is still
due. The disbursements for miscellaneous
expenses during the year aggregated
SlOL2i.
TIE TREASURER'S REPORT.
J. T. Grimes OF Minneapolis. treasurer OF
the society, submitted ms report for the
year Just closed. Ii showed that during the
year $685. - was expended for secretary's
salary. premiums, etc. The receipts were
Ss53. So, showing S2lO.99 Overdrawn. The
annual appropriation of $1,000 from the
| state treasury is, however, how available
| The society has also in its treasury about
$500 which has been held as a reserve fund,
but which, by the ruling of the attorney
general, the society is not entitled so to hold.
Treasurer Grimes recommended that the
money Oe converted into a contingent fund.
The report was adopted.
Assistant Secretary Smith introduced
resolution providing for the dissemination
of horticultural literature throughout the
state. This proposition brought j. 5. Har-
ris of La Crosse. and VI. Pierce of Mime
tOnka. TO their feet III. disapprOyal of the
measure. They cOntended that the state
press is an adequate dissemination of hOrti-
cultural information and that the money
contemplated to be expended in Mr.. Smiths
resolution. can be more advantagously en-
ployed in other directions, and the motion
was lost.
In consideration of the information af-
forded by the attorney general, 1t was re-
solved that the money in the reserve fund
be converted into contingent fund.
TRAINING AND PRUNING GRAPES.
j. NJ. Underwood read an interest ing
paper on Training and Pruning Grapes.
written by Samuel Doughty of Lake City.
The eSSayist argued at length against cut
ting the vine to the third joint OIL the
ground that it results to the injury of the
vine. He thought that an abundance of
fruit-bearing and wood is essential. and
that the pruning knife should be sparingly
used.
A. w. Latham of Excelsior followed,
giving his experience in grape culture ut
Lake MinnetOnka. He began by stating
that it was not until recently known that
the very best quality of grapes can be grown
in this climate. The culture is rapidly be-
coming vast industry upon the southern
and eastern banks of Lake MinnetOnka. He
estimated that there were only about TO-
600 full bearing vines on Lake Mime
tOnka. and about 30, 600 vines in all. under
cultivation. His method was to well spread
the vines over trells. and the leaves should
never be removed. He strongly recon-
mended summer pinching. The process
checks the rapid growth, and should be re-
peated when the vines begin To grow out
again. leaving one new leaf to grow after
each new pinching.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The grape committee submitted lengthy
report in which was recommended for gen
eral cultivation for profit the following va
Tieties: The Concord, Worden. Morris
Early, Delaware and Lady. For general
trial they recommended the Early Visitor,
Brighton and 0pOrtO.
During the meeting there was manifested
the bitter feeling against what is denOmina-
ted travelling tree peddlers who impose upon
the credulity of the farmer, and Mr.. Cutler
OF Sumpter read paper on ''Humbugs in
Horticulture" in which he pulled irreSpon-
sible nurSeTymen over the Goals without
mercy.
The subject seemed to be a sort of a fire
brand, and while it brought out strong
support. it provoked spirited opposition.
Many of the members urged that if every
grower should unite himself with a pros
they would become sufficiently posted TO
protect themselves from the inportuning of
impOStOrS.
+. g. Gould of Excelsior read paper on
Success and Failure of Fruit-GrOwing in
the Northwest" The TranScendent crab
apple, the Turren raspberry, the Red Dutch
currants. the HOughton gooSeberrieS, the
Concord. Delaware and MOOre's early
grapes, the DOOlittle, IL Seneca black-cap
raspberries, and the Snyder blackberry
were highly complimented for hardness
and reliability in this section, and were
recommended for general culture.
EXPERIMENTAL FARMING.
In the afternoon Prof. E. d. Porter of
the state experimental farm addressed the
society al great length. He enthusiastically
alleged that i'm this day of progress it re-
quires tenfold the brains to equip a good.
successful farm than it does to fit out a
lawyer. a doctor or other professional man.
He said that the agricultural department of
the State university is now thoroughly
equipped, except with students. Other
agricultural colleges find themselves in a
like dilemma, Yale only graduated six stu
dents in agriculture in 1884. Prof. Porter
detailed his methods of raising grapes. He
] then turned attention 10 the Russian apples
and related the objects of Prof. Budd's
visit TO Russia. 1t was to study the habits
ard condition of the trees and estimate the