The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-01
Gardening for Pleasure and Profit.
THE APPLE
IN MINNESOTA AND THE DAKOTAS.
BY Clarence Wedge Albert Lea Minn President minnesota
y --.--E Horticultural Society.

come Of the possibilities of orcharding
III Minnesota? The limit will certainly
not be SO much that which is imposed
by the natural conditions found here,
but rather will be the limit of human
ingenuity, perseverance and skill which
have never as yet been discovered.
While the conditions of our climate
may seem somewhat harsh, and the
danger of the life of trees somewhat
more imminent than in milder climates
it is only fair to state that there arc
some very exceptional advantages to be
found in our climate. The advantages
OF near market and good price have al
ready been touched upon, but this is not
largely exempt from the scab, one of
the most serious diseases that affect
both the tree and the fruit in southern
and eastern orchards. Over very
large share of the principal apple
growing districts Of the country, it is
necessary to resort to continued and
very thoro spraying in order to mako
the fruit fair and saleable. There is
occasionally a year with us that de-
velops the scab to an injurious degree,
but they are so very rare that this dis
ease scarcely need be accounted as one
Of the difficulties to overcome, but
rather count our immunity one Of the
very great advantages which the north
ern orchardist enjoys. The higher quail
ity, color and finish of the fruit as
other strong point in favor Of north
ern orcharding. This has been album
dainty shown whenever our apples have
come in competition with eastern fruit.
And when the day comes, as seems now
almost certain, that Minnesota apples
Twill have achieved market standing
in the country, we can be assured that
the quality and reputation will stand
up by that of our famous butter and
northern wheat Another advantage
which the northern orchardist will be
sure to have for considerable time at
least, is large immunity from the
Eorchard insect pests which overrun all
the older orchard regions, and make
continual and faithful and expensive
effort against them. the first condition
of their success.
u The chief difficulty that we of the
north have to overcome, and provide
i against is the tender roots which we al
present are Of necessity using for oul
trees. Long continued low temperature
with little or none of natural snow pro
} lection is the most fatal enemy tina
. we have to meet, and the roots ar
the weakest spot in our whole orchart
. economy. In the drier prairie reg ION
some artificial projections may at time
be almost necessary, especially whel
I the trees have had the severe drai]
) upon their resources That heavy cro]
. entails. "A liberal mulch Of straw KEEP
!, on all winter is the pest cover we
t found in snowless winters. The sam
, dry, clear air that causes the beautiful
9 polish to our fruit, Will also frequentl
: scald the trunks of3the trees that bea
e it, and indicates very plainly tn
< necessity of using some artificial shad
a for this delicate part of the tree al
u atomy. In the moist soils of the cas-
l. good fruit may sometimes be grown i
J. hard, hide-bound soils. Indeed, in man
(, places the principal effort is to get ri
8 of surplus water. In our northern O.
e chards every effort rnust, on the col
q trary, be made to retain all possib]
t moisture in the soils. Instead of rid.
q ing up the trees they should rather k
h left in hollows, instead Of allowing
e. water proof coat Of bluegrass, the mo-
r loosening clover, or better yet, GUILTY.
e ton, should be practiced wherever pra
n ticab1e. The point of all is that II
t. varieties, and the trees also, should
Q. distinctly of northern origin al
v growth. The Wealthy stands at tt
l. head either for home or market, tt
" Duchess follows closely after, requiril
" more businesslike method in handli1
v and marketing. Patten' 8 Greening al
in Northwestern Greening are running
h race for popularity, the Patten 8 Gree
W ing will 90 further north, will fill t.
o. barrels quicker, and the trees W
W doubtless stand the longer. The latt
~ is the better fruit, and makes sens
a tion wherever shown. They are E;
"a good, sturdy northern sorts that smj
n at zero weather. And that with
1t care they deserve will fill the barre
e. with the noblest' fruit of any cline.