The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-05
STATE MAY LEAD
IN FINE APPLES
NATURAL. CONDITIONS FOR THEIR
GROWTH UNEQUALED.
President Clarence Wedge, in His An
nual Address Before Thirty-ninth An
nual Convention Of Minnesota State
horticultural Society, Recommends
Renewed Effort to Produce Perfect
Winter Apples.

Realization of the hope that Mime
sofa some day may stand pre-emlnent
in the production OF winter apples de-
ling trees, according to President Clar-
ence Wedge Of the Minnesota State
horticultural society. The vital i'm.
portance and the brilliant promises OF
| Seeding fruits were emphasized IN MS
annual address, read before the thirty
cultural society, which opened IN the
Unitarian church today. Sickness pre-
vented President Wedge from attend
ing and his address was read by Pro-
fessor Samuel B. Green, who presided,
Fully 800. persons were in attend
| ance when the gathering was called TO-
order. Among them were members OF
! the Minnesota State Forestry associa
ton, the Minnesota Beekeepers' asso-
citation and the Woman's Auxiliary,
| which will hold simultaneous meetings
at the same place. The great interest
of women in horticultural subjects was
indicated by the large attendance OF
Recommends Inner Circle.
After repeating the assertion of Luth-
err Burbank, the eminent horticultural-
list, that Minnesota possesses natural
conditions for pre-eminence in fruit
production that are unequaled any
where, President Wedge in his address
recommended the formal ton of an inner
circle Of the most ardent and sacrificing
| horticulturalists to experiment with
Seeding apples and extend interest IN
the work, by reporting their progress,
annually, to The society. AS mark Of
distinction for these persons he recon-
mended badge. The suggestion ap-
peared to find instant and unanimous
, approval and it is probable that when
= MI. Wedge arrives tomorrow morning a
, movement to organize this circle will be
: begun.
In his address Mr.. Wedge showed the
remarkable growth in the production
and Improvement in quality Of Mime,
), sofa apples. The apple region of south
! ern Minnesota. he wrote was becoming
!. the mecca Of buyers from all parts OF
:, the country, and only the lack of de-
sirable winter apple postponed the time
= when the state would stand foremost II
= the production of this fruit. Seeding
q plums and grapes were also urged az
= important to the rise Of the state as {
Il fruit producer. ~.s'
y The Strawberry Blight.
- Small fruits came in for importan'
consideration during today's session
1 and an important result was attained
q in arriving at the cause Of the hitherto
q mysterious blight suffered by the straw
i berries in July. At that time plants
"a which have carried large; lusty berries
II within two or three days of ripening
!. suddenly fell dead The leaves turne'
u black and the plants wilted as if the,
had been nipped by a bEghting frost
. = While many growers had suffered sucl
e losses before, the blight was never. s.
y widespread as last summer and thous
70 ands Of dollars were lost. Many knew
:. the cause, but inquiries this morning in
! Dictated that. the majority of grower
r., were ignorant of the trouble.
j The discussion indicated that lack O
= moisture was the cause. It was show
w. that water was one of the requisites O
successful, strawberry production, an
that last fall was exceedingly dry
Growers who failed to water the berry
beds laid them open to peril. The mois
ture, absorbed by the soil or the fal
prey for frost, no matter how thick tn
covering over them. Tho the frost di
A. not kill them, it blighted them severely
in and by the time they had raised tn
ne berries to mature size their vitality ha
rs been exhausted and they were unabl
s-l!to be necessary when strawberry bed
rk are prepared for the winter.
to tt Extols the Strawberry.
OIL M. r. eastman of Owatonna deplore
re the tendency of farmers to scorn tn
h strawberry. He urged a wider use {
IL the strawberry in the farmers garden
er, H. G. Westman of Sandstone reviewe
"a the progress Of the strawberry in tt
lpine regions of Minnesota. E'The Con
mercial Raspberry .Field'' was dea
! with by. Henry Haggard Of Excelsio
les who pointed out many advantages
of the production Of this fruit. stBlac
de berries and Other Fruits in the Subj
i'd ban Garden'' was the subject of an i
, s teresting paper read by George
ad Grimes Of Minneapolis. Professor n.
Of Honson of Brookings, s.. D., conclud,
iii: the berry topic with an instructive p
gn- pc, On rBreedin,gy Hardy strawberri
eeri The convention was opened with
life solo by Miss Jennie Anderson, acco
1er panied by DR.. Frank Moorhouse. Invot
ich ton was pronounced by Rev. G. S. H,
is rison, a pioneer minister Of Minneso
md now living at York, Neb.
it'll Apace with the increased attendar
ais at the convention this year and the
apT- creased production Of apples and otl
eat fruits in the state is the quality a
quantity of the exhibits being arrang
. in the basement of the church. I
-, all the exhibits had not been finally
ranged this afternoon, the exhibit
ready is one Of the most complete
the history of the society. Seedli
fruits occupy prominent place in
- attention of the convention and
!. II specimens are on exhibition.