St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-04
horticulture in Minnesota.

CONDENSED from the Farmers Review
stenographic report of the American Nur-
serymen's Convention.
Prof. Green made some remarks on
Minnesota's prospects as fruit-grow-
ing state. He said that Minnesota had
been called the North Star state. Many
varieties of apples had been tried in the
state and found wanting. These had
now been rejected. Crab apples could,
however, be grown in great quantities.
1t had also been found that in some 10
calities the Russian varieties were
worthy of cultivation. In states where
the common varieties of apples could
be grown the Russians were not needed.
but where the common apples could
not be grown the Russians were good
ones to raise. He hoped that from the
many varieties now being tried
and experimental with some good
varieties would be found that could both
stand the cold of their climate and
produce good fruit at the same time. He
thought tEat it was only question Of
time when good fruit would be pro-
duced. As to plums farmers in Mime
sofa had been able, in some instances.
to transplant from the woods species of
plums that were doing fairly well with
out protection. Grapes were profitable
along the lakes, but it was necessary to
cover the vines in the winter. All
small fruits grow in great abundance in
the stare. 1t is best to cover all small
fruits in winter. Cherries can be raised
at profit The notions that have gone
abroad in regard to the state are very
erroneous. 1t had been referred to by
some as a state so cold that it would
raise little, while others had circulated
the story that even some tropical fruits
would grow there. The rainfall of the
state for the past year had been about
twenty-sx inches. He believed that it
was necessary to have system of horti-
culture of their own, a system different
from that of states whose climates were
different. He said that Minnesota had
started the first experiment station in
the country.
A gentleman present said that Eastern
nurserymen would like to know what
valuable. They had imported many
varieties of the Russians and had found
none equal to the Duchess of Olden-
burg.
Mr.. Albaugh said that with the ex-
ceDtion of the Duchess none had done
well in the Northwest. They had tried
thirty-Seven varieties of Russians at
the station and none of them had done
well. Nearly all of them were frozen
out the first winter. The Wealthy Is as
profitable as the Maiden's Blush. This
apple has been great success in Illi-
nois, and has proved itself a good mar
ket apple.
A gentleman from Massachusetts
spoke to the same effect. He referred
to the Baldwin, and said it was good
apple, but winter-killed easily. AS to
the Russians, he had had forty-fye
varieties sent to him from Washington
for experimentation but he considered
them so worthless in his soil that he did
not set them out.
Mr.. Harris said that there was dis
position on the part of many Western
gentlemen to abuse the Russian apples.
The fact of the matter is that they have
not been tried long enough to tell
whether they will be a success or not.
The men that have put them oil the
market have made mistake. it would
have been better not to put them on the
market, and sent them out with rec
ommendation till they had been thor
oughly tested. They should at least
only be planted in small numbers at
first as a test. He said that there was
only one orchard that he knew of that
was doing well, and that was the
orchard belonging to Mr.. futile, OF
Michigan. He would not recommend
any man TO rush into these varieties
and sell them to their patrons till it was
proved that they could stand the
Western winter. He was satisfied that
many of them would prove valuable,
hut would not advise raising them till
it was decided which.