The Sauk Centre herald., 1911-12-28
Fruits for North
ern Minnesota.
BY Leroy Cady, HorticuIturist,
Minnesota University Farm.

+
i \ !. i. = :. :. = :. :. !. :. !. = :. !. :.
AS the country becomes settled peo-
pie are becoming more interested in
fruits and vegetables, and it is well
that they do, since good fruit and
vegetable garden on any farm greatly
reduces the actual cost of living;
while, by it's variety, it adds much to
the enjoyment of the table fare and
The health of individuals The old fare
Of salt pork, potatoes and bread be-
comes monotonous, and one does not
soon return to it after he has had the
use of good garden for a season
Northern Minnesota abounds in
many wild fruits, that in some cases,
as with plums and raspberri :. may
be brought to the farmstead | cul-
tivated.
APPLES.
The apple while not as hardy as
other fruits, may succeed If the hard
ier varieties, such as Duchess, Hiber-
nal and Patterns Greening. are plant
GU III SOOu lONdtlOnS SOll.
The best soil for apples is an open
clay or loose loan. The best location
is one that slopes to the northeast,
because it is protected from the hot
southwest winds. 1t is all the more
desirable ii the land is located near
lake or river. Apples will often do
well in other locations. Rough land
may be used, but land that can be
cultivated is preferable.
1t is usually best to set the trees in
the spring, in land that has been thor
oughly plowed and prepared. Dig the
hole trifie deeper and wider than is
necessary for the tree. Fill in with
rich loan, setting the tree from four
to six inches deeper than it grep'
originally. Firm the soil well around
the roots. 1t is often good plan to put
In bucket or two of water, to help set
tie the soil, unless the land is moist
enough. Two or three-year-old trees,
with good fibrous root system, are
preferable to any others They should
be set about 20x25, or in some cases
25x30. This would require from sixty
to eighty trees per acre. A distance
great enough should be chosen, so
that there may be plenty of room
around the trees for cultivating and
spraying.
For the first two or three years pota-
toes or other garden crops may be
grown between the rows. 1t is not a
good policy to grow corn, or anything
that will shade the trunks of the trees.
Thorough cultivation should be given
each season until about Aug. 1 at
least, until the trees come into bear
ing. Some of the best orchardists in
the country say that the orchard
should be kept clean cultivated during
its life.
The ordinary varieties of apples will
usually come into bearing from three
to six years from setting. Varieties
recommended for general planting by
the Horticultural Society and Expert
ment Station are Duchess, Hibernal
and Patterns Greening. Wealthy and
Anisim may often be added to this
list to advantage. Among the crabs,
Florence, Mlnnesota, Sweet Russet
and Whitney are best for general
planting. Sweet Russet and Whitney
are especially good for home use, but
rot desirable for marketing.
PLUMs.
Plums require a somewhat sander
soil, and may be planted sixteen TO
twenty feet apart each way. The
greater distance is better, because it
is easier to spray the orchard. De
Soto, Forest Garden, Wolf (freestone)
and Wyant are all good.
GRAPES.
The Beta is the only grape that is
entirely hardy, without protection, in
Minnesota. This is little better
than the wild grape, and should be
planted in every garden.
RASPBERRIES.
The best varieties of red raspberr:9s
for general culture are King, Turner.
Minnetonka, Ironclad and Sunbeam
Among the black caps, Older, Gregg
and Cumberland seem to give the best
results The Columbian, which is
purple. having the good qualities OF