APPLE SEED OF LARGE VALUE.—­A considerable quantity of apple seed has been secured of Mr. John Bisbee, of Madelia, Minn., from his orchard, top-worked, as it is, with many varieties of long keeping apples, so that this seed is almost certainly crossed with something that will keep well as well as of high quality.  It will be found especially valuable to plant for growing seedlings.  It would be well to secure this seed soon, mix it with damp sand and leave out of doors where it will freeze, keeping the package which holds it covered from the air so that it may not dry out.  Every member should have a little corner in his garden for growing apple seedlings.  It is an enticing experiment, and such seed as this is likely to give good results.  We are still looking for the $1,000 apple.  You may grow it from some of this seed.  Package of twenty-five seed at ten cents, to be secured of Secy.  Latham.

A FAVORABLE WINTER FOR FRUITS.—­The ground was in good condition last fall, with a reasonable amount of moisture, fruits, both trees and plants, well ripened up, and now with a fairly good blanket of snow and no long continued severe weather, we have to this point in the winter a very certain assurance of a good yield of fruit the coming spring.  To be sure the thermometer was down in the neighborhood of thirty degrees one night, but it was there so short a time that it scarcely seems possible that any harm could have been done by it.  The horticulturist should be a natural optimist and always anticipate something good ahead, which is one pretty sure way of getting it.

MINNESOTA NURSERYMEN GIVE MEMBERSHIPS.—­A considerable number of the nurserymen of Minnesota are again giving memberships this year as premiums to purchasers of nursery stock in quantity of $20.00 or upwards.  This is a commendable enterprise, not only on account of its material assistance in building up the membership roll of the society but more especially because it brings in the kind of members who have, or should have, a large practical interest in the workings of the association, and we believe also that it is like “casting bread upon the waters;” those receiving these memberships will have a warm feeling for the nurserymen which present them.  If you who read this are Minnesota nurserymen and are not in the list of those who are doing this service for the society, don’t you want to take advantage of an immediate opportunity to align yourself with those who are showing so large an interest in the welfare of the association?

[Illustration:  GATHERING THE APPLE CROP IN HAROLD SIMMONS’ ORCHARD—­AT HOWARD LAKE.]

While it is not the intention to publish anything in this magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be remembered that the articles published herein recite the experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must always be noted in estimating their practical value.

THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST