USA > Minnesota > Wright County > History of Wright County, Minnesota > Part 27
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HISTORY OF WRIGIIT COUNTY
Minnesota State Hortienltural Society in 1866 for their mutual assistance and exchange of ideas and experiences. They went to work with great enthusiasm to try these Russian importations. Although their high expectations were not realized, they found at least some varieties that were considered hardy enough for our northern country. These trees were propagated as rapidly as possible, but it took some years before a sufficient supply was on hand for the trade of the more northern counties. At this time, too, a few varieties of hardy erabapples had been originated, which could safely be planted. The varieties of apples were the Duehess, Tetofsky and Transparent; and of erabs, the Transeen- dent, Siberian and Hyslop. Now we had at least a few apples that could be tried, but we had no cultivated plums, as all eastern and European varieties failed entirely. What was to be done? Our own native varieties came to the reseue. The woods of Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota were searched for the best native kinds and brought under cultivation. The work was sueeessful, and many varieties were now propagated for the trade. As for eulti- vated grapes and other small fruits, they were still obtained from the east.
From 1868 on, a little more attention was paid to fruit growing. Farmers and townspeople, seeing the possibility of at least being able to raise crabapples, freely bought from the agents who now came annually to solieit orders for stock, and the more so, when in 1869 or 1870 trees bearing large apples were offered for sale. Nurserymen from the southern counties did quite a flourishing business in Wright and other central counties at that time. The varieties that were generally to be had were the Tetofsky, Duehess and Transparent apples, and the Transcendent, Ilyslop and Sibe- rian erabs. But horticulture in Wright county, as elsewhere, had its drawbacks; the first venture of growing apples was on the whole not quite sueeessful. For, although some erabs and apples bore well for a few years, blight and other diseases now appeared all over the county and ruined many good trees. This was so mueh the worse, as the owners did not know what to do to save their trees. It was but natural that quite a number of farmers beeame discouraged and would not buy and plant any more fruit trees. Yet there were always some people in the county who kept right on trying against all odds. This setbaek lasted for a long time and not much progress was made in fruit-raising in Wright and surrounding counties for the first ten years. This may be seen from a report written by J. I. Salter of St. Cloud on June 21, 1875, to C. Y. Lacy, secretary of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. After speaking about the injury done to trees from the cold winter, he gives the following fruit list for the eentral eoun- ties of the state: Apples, Duchess; crabs, Transcendent and Hyslop; raspberries, Philadelphia, Brinekle's Orange and Doo-
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little ; blackberries, Kittatinny and Wilson ; strawberries, Wilson's Albany, Juennda, Charles Downing and Hovey's Seedling. With the exception of the apples and crabs, few fruits mentioned by Mr. Salter are now grown. He does not mention any currants and grapes, although they were grown at least to some extent in Wright and neighboring counties.
One of the pioneer nursery salesmen, who labored long and earnestly to promote the culture of fruit in this county and who presented a striking contrast to the methods of many other nur- sery agents of that time, was Frank Shanley, who, from 1874 to 1880, sold the Transcendent, Hyslop and Siberian varieties. Some of these trees flourished and gave delight to their owners, but many did not survive. It was believed, however, that these varie- ties represented the height of apple-growing in the county, and that these were the most suitable fruit trees that could be found for Wright county soil and climate.
In the meantime, however, Peter M. Gideon, of Lake Minne- tonka, justly called the father of the Minnesota apple industry, had been pursuing his long and patient efforts in originating seedling apples suitable to growing in Minnesota. Among these varieties were the Wealthy, now at the head of the list for com- mercial planting in Minnesota, and the Peter, an apple similar in color and quality to the Wealthy. Through the work of Mr. Gideon it became apparent to the farmers that there were im- portant lessons to be learned if they were to make the apple a staple erop in Wright county. Trees must be grown that were adapted to the soil and climate conditions, among the necessities being hardness of tree, strong constitutionality to resist blight and sun seald and endure the sudden and severe changes of winter, and the ability to mature in time to avoid the early frosts.
The progress of horticulture in Wright county from 1875 to 1893 was slowly but steadily advaneing. One of the main draw- baeks was the many unscrupulous agents who palmed off their worthless stock on the unsuspecting farmers. These agents, who never saw the inside of a nursery and knew nothing about fruit trees, utilized their chances for making money. They bought their trees from eastern nurseries in quantities and paid perhaps ten cents a tree, but often sold them to the farmers for one dollar apiece. It would not have been so bad had the trees grown and borne fruit, but being of varieties not at all adapted to our con- ditions, they lingered for two or three years and then died. The people were simply cheated and humbugged by these sharps, called agents. While some still kept on planting apple trees, many determined not to throw any more money away uselessly on nursery stock. Another reason why we did not advance as fast as was desirable was due to the fact that our southern nurs- eries, on whom we were dependent for stock, made but little
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progress. It takes years to originate and test fruits adapted to our state. With the arrival, however, of our famous Wealthy and some very good crabs as the Whitney, real and lasting prog- ress was being made in horticulture. These apples were propa- gated as fast as possible and planted in almost every county of the state. A few years later found these apples in many places in the county, doing well and bearing excellent fruit. The farmers would point with pride to their fine, healthy trees with bent-down branches full of luscious apples. These two varieties have done much in removing the old indifference and in making horticulture more popular in our county. However, they were not the only varieties which were sent out during this period ; many more were originated and introduced by our experimenters, but none of them ever enjoyed the popularity of our Wealthy. This apple, as mentioned, was originated by Peter Gideon at Lake Minnetonka and is now grown east and west, from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. It has become a favorite with every fruit grower, and famous for its excellent qualities and has merited the distinetion of being called the "Jonathan of the North."
But man is never satisfied, nor is the horticulturist. Having been successful to some extent, he tried his hand in new experi- ments, and for that a good opportunity was offered to him in testing new fruits. The United States Department of Agricul- ture thought it well to try some more Russian varieties of fruits for our middle west. So in 1882 Professor Budd, of Ames, Iowa, made a trip of exploration into the interior of Russia, where the climate is more severe than in Minnesota. He imported many varieties of apples, pears, plums and cherries, which were all tested in the North Central States. Nurserymen and many mem- bers of our Horticultural Society were now in their full glory, trying and testing these importations to find some new varieties of fruits for the state, and although their expectations were not realized fully, yet quite a number of apples were found hardy enough for Minnesota, though in other respects they were not just what was wanted. The pears, plums, cherries and many apples did not find the climate of Minnesota congenial for their successful growth. The fruit list for Minnesota was now largely increased and in a few years these new varieties found their way into Wright county and were successfully grown in many towns.
To show what was and could be grown in Wright county at the close of the year 1893, it is only necessary to mention some of the varieties which were recommended for planting in the southern half of the state by the Minnesota Horticultural Society. Of apples we had the Wealthy, Duchess, Hibernal, Tetofsky, Long- field, Christmas, Borovinka, Okabena, Peerless and Patten's Greening. Of erabs and hybrids were mentioned: Virginia, Martha, Early Strawberry, Whitney, Beecher's Sweet and Ar-
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lington. Of plums: Desota, Rollingstone, Forest Garden, Wolf, Weaver Ocheeda and Cheney. A similar large number of varie- ties of the smaller fruits were given. It is true, some of the above sorts were only considered hardy enough for the more southern counties, but all were tried even as far north as Stearns county, which is further north than Wright county, and found to be as hardy as any others that are suceessfully grown here.
The greatest progress in horticulture has been made in Wright county since 1893, and especially since 1899. Many eauses may be advanced for its long strides achieved in fruit culture. One of the main reasons was the educational work of the Minnesota IIortieultural Society carried on throughout the state. Before 1893 it scareely had more than 300 members any given year, but from now on it made a most wonderful progress in its member- ship, and in 1914 more than 3,000 aetive hortieulturists of the state belonged to this society. It is now the largest horticultural society in the United States. From the very beginning its mem- bers worked hard to test all the different varieties of fruits, foreign and native, for the purpose of finding out suitable sorts that could be safely planted in Minnesota. They sowed seeds from fruit trees annually to originate new hardy sorts and en- couraged everyone else to do the same, so that we might originate our own pomology which we could not possibly get from other states. Their work was erowned with wonderful success, not only in introdueing many sorts from foreign lands but also in originating new varieties adapted to our county and state. It is only necessary to mention sueh native seedlings now grown in Wright county as the Wealthy, Okabena, Peerless, Patten's Green- ing and many other sorts not so well known.
The people of Wright county, and for that matter of the state, were, on aeeount of past failures in fruit-growing, to a great extent still in a mood of indifference. It now became necessary to educate the publie in this art, to eliminate failures in the future as much as possible, to show the people in a practical way the possibility of more extensive fruit-growing in the state and to arouse a general interest for renewed efforts. There were many persuasive means, foremost being our State Fair. To most people who go there it is a revelation in horticulture, an exhibi- tion of horticultural suceess never expected to be seen in Minne- sota. Many times the visitors from all over the state could be noticed glaneing over the long tables in admiration and saying, "Is it possible that these fine apples have all been grown in Minnesota?" Usually they go home with the mental resolve to try again. Next in importance come the county fairs. They, too, are educating the masses and ereate new interest in horti- culture. For the many years of its existence the Minnesota IIor- tieultural Society has spread the gospel of horticulture in the
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state by its many publications, its reliable information on horti- cultural topies and its annual meetings. The influence of this society is now well recognized when one visits the many towns and farms and notices the many fruit trees or orchards bearing an abundanee of luseious fruit. Finally, there is another faetor that works well for the advancement of horticulture in our county. We mean the leeture eorps which visits the principal towns and eities in our state. To this belong praetieal men who not only lecture on agricultural topics but also make it a point to instruet our farmers how to grow fruits sueeessfully. All these means unite in produeing the one desired effeet-to edu- cate our people in the art of sneeessful fruit-growing in our county, and we may say that this has been wonderfully aecom- plished. Our people have now not only a reliable fruit list, but know how to grow these fruits to perfection. It is compara- tively but a few years ago that there was not an apple grown in Wright eounty; it was not even thought possible, and now the erop is both large and important.
Herewith is appended the list of fruits which was adopted by the Minnesota State Ilortieultural Society December 3, 1914, for the guidance of planters :
Apples. Of the first degree of hardiness: Duehess, Hibernal, Patten's Greening, Okabena. Of the second degree of hardiness : Wealthy, Malinda, Anisim, Iowa Beauty, Lowland Raspberry, Jewell's Winter, Milwaukee. Valuable in some Joeations: Wolf River, Yellow Transparent, Longfield, Northwestern Greening, Tetofsky, Peerless. Most profitable varieties for commercial planting in Minnesota : Wealthy, Duehess, Patten's Greening, Okabena, Anisim. Recommended for top-working on hardy stoeks: Wealthy, Malinda, N. W. Greening, Stayman's Winesap, Grimes' Golden, Milwaukee, MeIntosh. Varieties for trial : East- man, Evelyn, Windsor Chief, Gilbert.
Crabs and Hybrids. For general cultivation : Florenee, Whit- ney, Early Strawberry, Sweet Russet, Transeendent. Varieties for trial : Faribault, Dartt, Sueeess.
Plums and Hybrid Plums. For general cultivation : De Sota, Forest Garden, Wolf (freestone), Wyant, Stoddard, Terry. Most promising for trial: Compass Cherry, Hanska, Opata, Sapa.
Grapes. First degree of hardiness: Beta, Janesville. Second degree of hardiness : Moore's Early, Campbell's Early, Brighton, Delaware, Worden, Coneord, Moore's Diamond, Wyoming Red.
Raspberries. Red varieties: King, Turner, Miller, Loudon, Minnetonka Ironelad, Sunbeam. Black and purple varieties : Palmer, Gregg, Older, Columbian, Cumberland.
Blackberries. Aneient Briton, Snyder, Eldorado.
Currants. White Grape, Vietoria, Long Buneh Holland. Po- mona, Red Cross, Perfeetion, London Market.
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
Gooseberries. Houghton, Downing, Champion, Pearl, Carrie.
Strawberries. Perfeet varieties : Bederwood, Enhance, Lovett, Splendid, Glen-Mary, Clyde, Senator Dunlap. Imperfeet varie- ties: Creseent, Warfield, Haverland, Marie. Everbearing varie- ties for trial : Progressive, Superb, American.
Native Fruits. Valuable for trial: Dwarf Juneberry, Sand Cherry, Buffalo Berry, High Bush Cranberry.
Nut Fruits. Shellbark Hickory, Black Walnut, Butternut.
Considerable interest has been taken in growing evergreens from seed. This is not so easy to aeeomplish as it may appear to many. Even with the elosest attention to partieulars, failures are unavoidable. In order that the seed shall sprout it is neees- sary to give it forest conditions. For that purpose something like an arbor is built over the seedbed, with laths exeluding about half of the sunlight. On the well-prepared bed the seed may be sown broadcast or in rows. The seed is rolled down lightly and covered with fine sand one-fourth of an ineh or with moist sawdust. The bed is now well watered and covered with elean hay or straw. The bed must never get dry. In three or four weeks the seed comes up and the cover is removed. The young plants should not get too much water or disease will set in and all may damp off. To avoid loss, weeding every week or ten days is necessary. In the fall the seedlings are covered with straw for protection during the first winter. When the plants are two or three years old they are ready for forest or grove planting. The best evergreens are the White, Norway, Seoteh and Bull Pines ; the Norway, White, and Colorado blue spruees ; the Doug- las and Balsam firs, the European Larch, and the White and Red Cedar. All pines do better on sandy land and all spruces do better on good fertile soil if it is not too dry. For Wright county we would recommend the Seotch pine for a windbreak, as it is one of the fastest growers. If two or three rows of them are planted with the trees only six feet apart, they will give entire satisfaction.
For lawns we would suggest to plant as single speeimens, the Colorado blue or White spruce, the White pine and the Douglas fir.
At the present time we do not know what Wright eounty has in store for us ; we do not realize its possibilities in fruit growing as yet. But Wright eonty, with its numerous lakes, with its open prairies and extensive forests, is one of the best adapted counties in Minnesota for horticulture. As it is now one of the foremost dairying counties, so it will be one of the best fruit- growing counties in the state. Sinee we have accomplished so mneh in a few years, we may confidently and reasonably expeet to accomplish more in the time to come. There is no doubt that we have the land for it. Are you skeptical? Walk out into the woods; there you will find native varieties of all kinds: straw-
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
berries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, cherries, thorn- apples, hazelnuts, grapevines and many others. Now all these native fruits would not grow there if the soil were not adapted to their requirements. As for quality, it is a law of nature that fruits grown at their northern limits are better than the same fruits grown further south. This is why our Minnesota straw- berries, for instance, are much better than those from honisiana. "But you cannot change the cold winters, which are so injurious to our fruits, " it is said. Yes, this is very true, we cannot change the cold winters, but we can change the fruits so they will stand the winters. This is just the very thing that is now being done at the Minnesota State Fruit Breeding Farm at Zumbra Heights near Lake Minnetonka. And how is this to be accomplished ? By trying to combine the hardiness of our native fruits with the good qualities of the cultivated varieties. Take, for instance, the plum. The flowers of the wild plum from the woods are erossed by hand with the pollen from a California or a Japanese plum. The resulting seeds contain now the qualities of both plums, hardiness to stand our winters and quality to suit onr taste. By planting these seeds we may obtain what we want, a good hardy plum tree that will stand our winters and bear ex- cellent plums akin either to the California or Japanese plum. But many trials are necessary to find one plum in which both of these qualities are dominant. In this manner the work of fruit-breeding is carried on with all other fruits. Good results have already been obtained, although the work of fruit-breeding has only been carried on for six years. There are now originated new strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes and plums. There are now thousands of hybrid trees and plants growing at the Fruit Breeding Farm; all are tried and only the few good ones will be propagated and sent out to the trial stations for their final trial before they are recommended for general planting in the state. Should this work be carried on for a sufficient number of years, it is very probable that Minnesota will be able to grow some of the choieest fruits in the United States.
The following suggestions to the hortieulturist are from the pen of Father John B. Katzner, O. S. B., of St. John's University, who conduets the Experiment Station at Collegeville :
The location of an orehard is of the greatest importanee. The best place is the northeast slope of a hill. If not available, a northern or an eastern slope is all right. Should there be no hill elose to the house a piece of level ground about the premises may be selected. The worst location for an orehard is a southern or western slope of a hill and low ground. Trees need water at all times and will not succeed on a dry hillside, nor can they bear wet feet in low places, where, too, they are exposed to all the early and late frosts and the greater difference of temperature
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between day and night. The orchard or trees in a farmer's garden need sufficient air drainage and at the same time protec- tion from the strong winds and cold blasts of winter, hence a good partial wind-break is much to be desired. We should aim to give the trees the best location available and sufficient pro- teetion.
The best soil is black loam with a elay subsoil of an open texture. The elay should contain about 20 to 30 per cent of sand, so that the water ean percolate right down deep. Should the elay be so stiff that no water would go through it, but rather aeeumulate on top of the impervious elay, the trees would suffer from too much water. Some subsoils consist of a hardpan and will not do for trees. The hardpan should first be broken up by a charge of dynamite before the trees are planted on this soil. Some subsoils are rather sandy but contain some elay; this may make a fairly good location. Avoid all subsoils of pure sand and gravel ,for these soils hold no water, it goes right through as fast as it falls. If you must use sneh a soil, plow the top soil together in high reaches twenty feet wide. This may be the only way for you to grow apples on such a soil.
The land for an orehard should have been in cultivation for a few years and its wild nature subdued. If you have a piece of sod land that would be handy for an orchard, break it up and crop it for two years, then plow it in the fall and make ready for planting in the spring. Order your trees in the fall and heel them in over winter. On a dry place dig a slanting hole two feet deep for the roots, tapering to six inches for the tops. Lay the trees in and put some soil on and between the roots. On these trees you may lay some more. When the trees are all in and the roots covered a little with ground, place some pieces of boards crosswise over the entire trees and fill in the hole with ground and somewhat higher, so that no water will stay there. It is good to put some straw on it for protection, which ought to be removed early in the spring. The trees will come out of their winter quarters in the very best condition for planting and are far ahead of those ordered in the spring. Plant the trees twenty feet apart in rows running north and south and the rows should be twenty-five feet apart. If many trees are to be planted, plow crosswise the proper distance apart, and at the point of inter- seetion dig the holes large and wide enough for the roots. If only a few trees are to be planted the holes may be made with the shovel just as needed for planting, that the ground will not dry out. It is not impossible to plant trees in sod. On steep hillsides trees should be planted in sod to prevent washouts by heavy rains. Dig up the soil the size of a wagonwheel, spade the ground deep, make the hole in the centre and plant your tree. Set the trees about four inches deeper than they stood in the
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nursery, eut off any broken root in such a way that the cut looks downward. Spread out the roots the way they grew and work the top soil among them. Fill in gradually till the roots are covered about four or five inches deep, then firm the ground solid with your boots and weight. The last two or three inches of soil are kept loose. The ground should dish toward the trees to hold the water from the rains. No subsoil and no manure are used for planting, nor is water necessary, when the ground is reasonably moist ; should the ground be dry, then of course water would have to be applied.
After planting, the tops should be pruned. Leave only four strong branches six inches long. The leader, too, should be cut back to grow a low-topped tree, and this is of great advantage later. Trees coming from the nursery in the spring should be put in water over night or buried in moist ground for two days before planting. Trees should be cultivated often; should this be impossible, put a mulch of straw about them to keep the ground cool and moist. In planting, the trees should be well inelined towards the one o'clock sun, or should be staked so that they will not lean over to the northeast from the winds and get sunsealded. It is well to put on a wooden veneer or any other shade to protect the trees from the sun, mice and rabbits at all times. In the fall the trees may be whitewashed up to the branches. It is well to look over your trees sometimes, for bugs and worms might get in their work.
This method of planting, which should be done in early spring, may be recommended for all fruit trees. For phims and their hybrids, if not originated from the sand cherry, we would sug- gest to use a rieher and moister soil for their location. If it be a little sandy it would not hurt. For plums a somewhat lower ground may be used, provided it is not too wet and is free from late frosts, for plums flower early. Cherries delight in high sandy locations, but the ground should be fertile. Nothing more need be said about cherries, as we have no variety sufficiently hardy in our eounty.
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