Calendar for April.

O. M. LORD, MINNESOTA CITY.

The snow at this date, March 27th, probably averages six inches in depth all over southern Minnesota, indicating a rush of work for April, and the weather prophets predict a very wet month. Both these conditions affect materially our problems of work, but a wet or backward spring is not necessarily fatal to the production of fruits, especially those indigenous here, or those that are adapted to our climate. If the weather is favorable at the time of pollenizing, we may confidently expect a crop, other conditions being favorable.

Most fruit growers conclude that drouth has more to do in the destruction of fruit than any other climatic condition; so that if moisture is secured and held, we may hope for success. The question then is how to hold it to the best advantage. tion and mulching are the best means we can use.

Shallow cultiva

It is not best to disturb the mulching on the strawberries until the plants begin to grow and show signs of wanting sunlight, unless plants are wanted for setting, when all the mulching should be removed as soon the ground does not freeze at night. Early set strawberry plants make the best growth during the whole season, as a rule. If the ground has been kept clean and properly mulched in the fall, nothing is gained by spring cultivation. But cultivation of bush berries is an absolute necessity, and this should be continued till the fruit is well set, especially after a rain. Red raspberry canes should be cut back, taking off at least one-third of last year's growth. This is most convenient after the leaves have started, so that all injured or undesirable canes may be removed. The past winter has been severe on all tender varieties of fruit. Unprotected blackberries are probably killed. If April should prove to be wet, protected blackberries may suffer from rotting of the buds, if uncovering is delayed too long.

Native plums should be grafted.before the buds start, or as soon as freezing nights are over. Scions are best if cut a day or two before using. The trees may be safely transplanted, even after the leaves have formed.

Grapes also need attention as early as possible, especially the cuttings. If the cuttings have a short portion of the two-year-old wood left on in transplanting and are put where they are designed to stand, they will probably come into bearing sooner than the ordinary cutting transplanted.

Wood ashes are very desirable to apply on all our fruit plants, except where the soil contains alkali. Though not always necessary to incorporate them with the soil, they appear to do the plants

the most good when cultivated in, as the potash is then more or less dissolved and assimilated by the small roots. The rains will of course, wash the potash into the soil, where it is never lost till taken up by the growth of vegetable matter, and if the ashes are incorporated with the soil they are not so liable to be washed away or carried out of reach of the plants.

In gardening the earliest productions are the most heartily enjoyed and most eagerly looked for. Some varieties, like peas, onions, asparagus, etc., need early attention, but plante of a tropical nature do best when the ground has become thoroughly warmed. Too much attention cannot be given at this time to the quality and character of the seeds to be used. If the seeds are worthless, we labor in vain and are doomed to disappointment. Next to care in the selection of seeds, comes a proper selection of varieties, adapted to our soil and conditions. In many cases this can only be determined by trial and especially so with fruits, as most vegettables are liable to adapt themselves to different soils when in the proper condition. A safe rule to follow is to select such as are known to succeed in the vicinity or neighborhood. A word of caution may not be out of place here in regard to a heavy outlay or investment in untried productions, which may be staples in a more favorable climate. Of the soil we have no fear, but reason and common sense dictates to us not to try dates, figs and pineapples, and prudence requires us to go slow on even some of the productions of temperate regions, like prunes, quinces, sugar beets, etc.

COMMON SENSE Pruning. The principles of pruning, as I hold them, are to head rather low, to have a central stem, with branches that come out evenly and continuously, to allow no large limbs to cross each other or otherwise interfere. Train to a round, evenly balanced head. Great care should be used to know the habit of each variety, those which are of upright habit being headed lower and cut back on top to prevent too tall growth, and those of drooping or spreading habit being treated exactly the reverse. Do not cut off all the twigs along the main branches, for they are needed to shade them and sometimes bear considerable good fruit, especially in case of the peach. No stumps should be left, but the cuts made exactly at the crotches. It has been proved by careful experiments that it does not pay to cover small wounds with anything to protect them from the weather while they are healing. Large wounds, such as are over an inch in diameter, should be covered with any common paint, which is cheap and as good as wax or anything else for this purpose. If these ideas are reasonably well followed there will be little or no need to secure the advice of an expert to show any sensible man how to do the work well.-H. E. VAN DEMAN.

FRUIT FOR PARIS EXPOSITION.-The Western New York Horticultural Society is making plans to exhibit a carload of fruit at the big show next year,

Secretary's Corner.

PORTRAIT OF J. C. PLUMB.-The excellent plate used as frontispiece in this number came to us through the courtesy of the "Wis. consin Horticulturist."

SEND IN FRUIT REPORTS.-The fruit growers are requested to send by April 15th brief reports of the condition of orchards and fruit gardens, from which to prepare a summary for the May number. Address the secretary.

WHAT WILL THE HARVEST BE?-Advices received during the month as to the condition and prospects of Minnesota fruits indicate no change from what was said of the situation in the March Corner. Winter "still lingers in the lap of spring," and until she gets over it, and things begin to grow, nothing more definite can be known. The prospect is, however, generally thought to be good, and the injury inconsiderable to hardy trees and plants and small fruits reasonably protected.

CALENDAR FOR 1899.-Mr. O. M. Lord, of Minnesota City, has kindly consented to edit the calendar for the current year. His long and varied experience in different branches of horticulture in the northwest fits him for this work, and the society is very fortunate to secure his assistance.

It will be remembered that Mr. Lord has been representing horti culture with the Farmer's Institute this winter, and he will probably be with the institute corps again during the summer season.

TO ENCOURAge Growing Seedlings.-"The Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society has adopted the following plan to aid in the development of the coming apple. Each member who may wish to try his luck, is provided with ten one-year old seedling apple trees, annually, and the society hopes to offer liberal premiums for the best apples raised from these seedlings.

The seedlings will be from seed of best and hardiest Minnesota grown varieties. R. PARKHILL, Sec'y."

WINTER EFFECTS AT SLEEPY EYE.-"My foreign plums are all winter-killed. The Early Red and Long Blue bore plums last year. The Minnesota, from Sweden, is dead. I got scions of a Bohemian prune last spring from Wisconsin, said to be hardy. The whole grafted part is dead. The Illinois Ironclad is dead also. The Schaffer raspberries are killed to the ground. Turner, Ohio and Gregg raspberries are in fair condition. I top-worked a number of apple trees last spring. I think all are in good condition."

MARTIN PENNING.

MEADOW VALE HORTICULTURAL CLUB.-This enterprising local society, of Elk River, has reported fifteen members, Erastus Morgan, president; A. W. Keays, secretary; and they have notified of their intention of sending a delegate to our next meeting. Although

small in numbers the society is an active one, have papers read at their meetings, and have quite a sum in cash offered for premiums for exhibits of fruit.

They are also doing considerable in the way of experimenting, and are to increase this branch of their work this spring by the addition of some 800 trees and plants.

GOING BACK TO THE FARM.-At the commencement, March 24th, of the School of Agriculture, the editor had the pleasure of seeing three young women and thirty young men graduate. It is inspiring to be present on such an occasion and renew again the scenes of youth.

This school is taxed to its utmost to care for all those who are knocking for admission within its doors. The horticultural department is especially crowded, students being refused admission to the classes for lack of room for an additional chair in the classroom. "Packed like sardines in a box" fully describes the situation there

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.In the ever interesting city of Philadelphia the American Pomological Society will hold its 25th biennial session, September 7-8. Interest in horticultural matters seems more pronounced than usual, and the coming gathering in the spacious halls of Pennsylvania's horticultural society will be an important event. Ten state horticultural societies have already selected delegates to the meeting, and there is promise of a large exhibit. By sending $2 to the treasurer, Prof. L. R. Taft, Agricultural College, Michigan, any one interested in horticulture may become a member. Details of the meeting may be obtained by applying to Secretary William A. Taylor, 55 Q street N. E., Washington, D. C.

GO THOU AND DO LIKEWISE.-One of our members, and not an old one either, Francis Davis, of Goodhue, has sent in at different times this year three, six and five new members respectively, in all so far fourteen members, and he promises more when the roads improve so that he can get around. His plan is a simple one. Besides what the society gives new members, namely: cloth-bound report, the magazine for the year and three plant premiums, he gives his own premium of the "Amateur Fruit Growing," which makes an irresistible combination. If each one of the 800 members on our roll would do a similar work for the society, a little mathematics would show an astonishing result. There are a few who could not, and there are others who we fear will not. Perhaps the reader does not belong to either of these classes and takes a vital interest in the work of the society.

Try your neighbor on this plan and report to the secretary.

A NEW AND USEFUL PLANT.-"Having made what I believe to be an important discovery for the horticultural work of South Florida, will report the same to you-in hopes that it may be applicable to Minnesota fruit culture, and so benefit you and the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, of which I am still a member and devoted

admirer. We settled at Harbor View about five years ago, and at that time Judge DeCoster lived about a half mile from us, and had a yard of about an acre in extent surrounding his house that was literally swamped in with to him (and neighbors) an unknown plant, from two to eight feet high. He said he had been on the place some thirty years-but did not know when or how the plant get there. I sent a plant in bloom to the Division of Botany at Washington. They said it was Senna coffee and not poisonousbut lacked the alkaloid principle found in common coffee. I have drank it now about three months-hoping it might act as an antidote to malaria, that I had been troubled with-but can't say much yet about that, only that I have been free from it ever since. I prefer it to Java coffee--because it is not stimulating-and I can drink it as I would so much water, without fear of bad results. But to me its principal importance consists in its great value as a nitrogenous plant. DeCoster gets double the fruit where his trees are crowded with this plant. I have sown an acre with it-in my orchard, and shall not plow or cultivate to disturb this old friend. It is an annual, and I have it in bearing, and will inclose a trifle of seed for you to test and report on."

A. W. SIAS, Harbor View, Fla."

LEGISLATION IN PROGRESS APRIL 5.-1. Our printing appropri ation. The bill providing for this passed the house a few days since without an opposing vote,but was cut down to 3,000 volumes per annum. This change will not cripple our work, as at present conducted. The bill is in the senate now on general orders. That body has a long list ahead of this, and the end of the session is not far off.

2. The San José Scale bill. Shorn of its bond and license features it was reported by the forestry committee and is on "general orders" in the house. With a still further radical amendment, which is assured, we understand, there is some prospect it may pass the house and take its chances in the senate with a host of other . measures on the closing days of the session. As amended it will permit but not oblige nurseries to be inspected; will require nursery stock coming into the state to have been inspected; no certifi cate will be required to ship nursery stock by rail; the state inspector may adopt necessary measures to destroy the insect wherever found; fines are provided for violation of the law. In this form the law will seek to keep the insect out of the state and kill it if found within.

LATER.-This bill has been killed in the house.

3. The forest reserve law. It has passed the house and is in committee in the senate with fair prospects of passage. As this bill creates a "Forestry Board," an appropriation is made in connection with it instead of the usual one to the Forestry Association, as we understand. The bill is almost verbatim as printed in our report of two years since, except that it provides no future income for the heirs of donors of forests to the state from the sale of the products of the land-as the writer remembers it.