DATE DUE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST SB 354 A47 24th 1895 + MIDWINTER PRIZE-WINNER. Four-year-old Magnura Bonum Orange Tree, four feet high, carrying 5 2 ripe oranges, at Orangevale. PKOCEEDINGS TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION Amekican Pomologigal Society. SACRAMENTO, CAL., JANUARY 10-18, 1895. COMPILED BY THE SECRETARY. PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY TOPKKA, KANSAS: CRANE & COMPANY, PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 1895. LJbKAKY UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHU^^ETTS AMHERSl MASS. '^a^wavMMMpaVHiqw conte:nts. Constitution and By-Laws v List of Officers vii List of Standing Committeks viii Membership — List of Life Members xi List of Biennial Members xii Obituary Notices xv Preface 1 Proceedings — Tweuty-fourtli Sessiou, held at Sacramento, Cal., January lG-18, 1895 3 Adjourned Session, held at Los Angeles, Cal., Jaimary 30, 1895 103 Appendix — ^ Fruit Reports, by the Chairman of the General Fruit Committee 135 Fruit Reports, by State Vice-Presidents 156 Miscellaneous Papers 173 Notes on Excursions in California 301 Illustrations of Scenes Along the Lines of the Excursions, facing pages 3, 30, 33, 101, 133, 171, 301, 303, 305 Rules for Exhibiting and Naming of Fruits 305 Explanation why the Fruit Catalogue does not Appear in this Volume 307 Index 3(i9 (iii) CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. CONSTITUTION. Akticle 1. The uanie of this Association shall be the American Pomolocjical Society. 2. Its object shall be the advaucerneiit of the science of Pomology. 3. It shall consist of delegates appointed by Horticultnral, Agricnltnral and kindred Societies in the United States and British America, and of such other persons as take an interest in the welfare of the Association, and are desirous of promoting its aims. They shall pay four dollars biennially, and twenty dollars paid at one time shall con- stitute a life membership. 4. The meetings shall be held biennially, at such time and place as may be desig- nated by the Society ; and special meetings may be convened at any time on the call of the President. 5. The officers shall consist of a President, a First Vice-President, one Vice-Presi- dent from each State, Territory and Province, a Treasurer and a Secretary, who shall be elected by ballot or otherwise at each biennial meeting. BY-LAAVS. 1. The President shall have a general superintendence of the affairs of the Society during its vacation ; give due public notice of the time and place of meeting; preside at its deliberations ; deliver an address, on some subject relating to Pomology, at each biennial meeting; and appoint all committees unless otherwise directed. 2. In case of the death, sickness, or inability of the President, his official duties shall devolve on the First Vice-President, or such one of the Vice-Presidents as the Society may elect by ballot or otherwise. 3. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys belonging to the Society, and pay over tlie same on the written orders of the President. 4. There shall be a Finance Committee of three members appointed by the Presi- dent at each biennial meeting. .5. The Secretary shall, with the assistance of a reporter appointed by him, keep a record of the transactions of the Society for publication. 6. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of five members, together with the President and Vice-Presidents, ex officio, five of whom shall constitute a quorum, who shall manage the affairs of the Society during its vacation. 7. A Chairman of Fruit Committees, for each State, Territory and Province, and a general Chairman over all, shall be appointed biennially. It shall be the duty of such Chairmen to api)oint four additional members of his committee, and with their aid, and such other information as he can procure, to forward to the general Chairman one month before each biennial meeting. State Pomological Picports, to be condensed by him for publication. 8. A Standing Committee on Native Fruits, consisting of eleven members, shall be appointed by the President, immediately after his election. It shall be the duty of this Committee to report biennially on native fruits, and also to examine, and before the close of the session report on, all new seedling varieties that may be exhibited ; and to make an ad interim report on those that were exliibited in an unripe condition at the meeting of the Society, but had subseciuently attained a state of maturity; and on (V) y[ AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. such other seedlings as may have been submitted to their inspection during the Society's vacation. 9. A Standing Committee on Foreign Fruits, consisting of eleven members, shall be appointed, whose duties shall be similar to those of the committee in by-law eight. 10. A Standing Committee on Tropical and Sub-Tropical Fruits, consisting of eleven members, shall be appointed, whose duties shall be similar to those of the com- mittee in by-law eight. 11. A Standing Committee on Nomenclature, consisting of seven members, shall be appointed biennially. 12. Vacancies occurring in committees shall be filled by the chairman of each, and in case of his death or inability to serve, his place shall be supplied by the President of the Society. 13. The order of business for each meeting shall be arranged by the Executive Committee. 14. The Constitution or By-Laws may be altered or amended, at any regular bien- nial meeting, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. OFFICERS, STANDING COMMITTEES AND MEMBERS. OFFICERS. President : PROSPER JULIUS BERCKMANS. Augusta, Geokgia. First Vice-President : CHARLES L. WATROUS, Ues Moines, Iowa. State Vice-Presidents : Alabama C. C. Langdon Mobile. Arizona W. D. Tulwiler Phoenix. Arkansas W. G. Vincexheller Little Rock. California Luther Burbank Santa Rosa. Colorado Henry T. Wii^liams Colorado Springs. Connecticut J. H. Hale So. Glastonbury. Delaware M. H. Bkckwith Newark. District of Columbia Wm. Saunders Washington. Florida Dudley W. Adams Tangerine. Georgia J. H. Alexander Augusta. Idaho Robt. Milliken Nainpa. Illinois Geo. W. E. Cook Lacon. Indiana Sylvester Johnson Irvington. loioa G. B. Brackett Denmark. Kentucky A. D. Webb Bowling Green. Kansas F. Wellhouse Fairniount. Louisiana R. Maitre New Orleans. Maine Geo. B. Sawyer Wiscasset. Maryland W. H. Perot Baltimore. Massachusetts W. C. Strong Brighton. Michigan T. T. Lyon South Haven. Minnesota J. S. Harris La Crescent. «»'"*^' «■ «■ TKA.V I ^S,"? t:i TXT i> i Experim't Statiou. West Virqima Prof. F. W. Kane - ,', ^ \ Morgantown. Wisconsin Prof. E. S. Goff Madison. Wyoming* . Secretary : GEORGE C. BRxVCKETT, Lawrence, Kansas. Treasurer : CHAS. E. RICHARDSON, 101 Tremont street, Boston, Massachusetts. STAXDIXG COMMITTEES. Executive Committee : President and Vice-Presidents, ex officio. Samuel, B. Parsons Flushing. New York. Charles W. Garfield Grand Rapids, Michigan. Geo. H. Miller Rome. Georgia. David Baird Mandlapau, New Jersey. Wm. C. Barry Rochester, New York. Finance Committee : Edward B. Wilder • . • Dorchester, Massachusetts. H. H. HuNNEWELL Bostou, Massachusetts. Robert Manning Salem. Massachusetts. General Fruit Committee : Chairman, Geo. Y. Johnson, Lawrence, Kansas. Alabama C. C. Langdon Mobile. Arizona .H. W. Adams Phtenix. -, „ ^, ( For Expt. Statlou, Arkansas J. T. Stinson -^ Fayetteville. California Chas. H. Allen San Jose. Colorado Prof. Chas. S. Crandall Fort Collins. * Not represented. STANDING COMMIITEES. ix Connecticut T. S. Gold West Cornwall. Delaware Prof. M. H. Beckwith Newark. r.....^^;!- TTTTArr. \ Depi. of Agrjciilt. , District of Columbia W. A. Taylor - Washiu'^toiJ Florida Geo. L. Taber Gleu St. Mary. Georgia Geo. H. Millei? Rome. Idaho R. Schleicher Lewiston. Illinois G. W. McCluer Champaigu. Indiana PitoF. J. Troup Lafayette. loicd Silas Wilson Atlantic. Kansas S. C. Mason Manhattan. Kentucky J. M. Samuels Clinton. Louisiana R. Maitre New Orleans. Maine W. M. Munson Orono. Maryland Franklin Davis Baltimore. Massachusetts J. W. Manning Reading. Michigan L. R. Taft Agricultural Coll. Minnesota A. W. Latham Minneapolis. ,--.... c. AT rr. \ Agricultural and ^^^^^mnn S. M. Tr.^cy -j Mech-1 College. Missouri Dr. Wm. Trelease St. Louis. Nebraska R. W. Furnas Brown ville. Nevada W. S. Devol Reno. Neio Brunsicick Ormond W. Wetmore Clifton. New HampsJdre W. D. Baker - Quincy. New Jersey Byron D. Halsted New Brunswick. Neic Mexico L. Bradford Prince Santa Fe. New York Charles A. Green Clifton. North Carolina F. W. Masse y Raleigh. North Dakota H. W. McArdle Fargo. Nova Scotia E. E. Favili^e Wolf ville. Ohio W. W. Farnswortii Waterville. Ontario Alex. McD. Allen Goderich. Oregon E. L. Smith Hood River. Pennsylvania C. T. FOX Reading \/nt.uer. ,MiKj. vvrt/vivT w.......... ** Rhode Island L. F. Kinney Kingston. South Carolina Dr. Chas. U. Shepard Summerville. South Dakota E. DeBell Sioux Falls. Tennessee John Wieland Knoxville. I'e.vas R. IL Price College Station. T- , IT /-I TT ( Isle La Motte, \ ermoni Henry C. Hill \ i i rM i ■ { LakeChaniplain. \'irginia W. B. Alwood Blacksburg. Washington E. F. Babcock Walla Walla. Wisconsin A. J. Phillips West Salem. Wyoming* . Committee on Native Fruits : Chairman, Dr. F. M. Hexamer, 52 Lafayette Place, New York. Prof. L. H. Bailey (for Cornell Univ.), Ithaca, N. Y Northern Division. Charles A. Green, Clifton, N. Y Northern Division. * Not represented. AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. J. W. Manning, Eeading, Mass Eadern Division. G. B. Brackett, Deuniark, Iowa Northwestern Division. Henry L. Lyman, Charlottesville, Va East. Middle Division. T. V. MuNSON, Denison, Texas Southwestern Division. Emory' E. Smith, Palo Alto, Cal Pacific Division. Robert C. Berckmans. Augusta, Ga Southern Division. W. A. Taylor (Dept. of Agriculture), Washingtou, D. C Middle Division. Lynus Woolverton, Grimsby, Ontario British Provinces. E. E. Favili.e, Wolfville, Nova Scotia British Provinces. Committee on Foreig-n Fruits : Chairman, Wm. C. Barky. Rochester, N. Y. Charles H. Shinn Niles, Cal. Dr. Wm. Trelease St. Louis, Mo. J. H. Hale South Glastonbury, Conn. J. Van Lindley Pomona, N. C. J. T. Lovett Little Silver, N. J. Prof. E. E. Faville Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Committee on Semi-Tropical Fruits : Chairman, A. H. Manville, Glen St. Mary, Fla. Rev. Lyman Phelps Sanford, Fla. James A. Harris Citra, Fla. Dudley' W. Adams Tangerine, Fla. F. G. Sampson Boardman, Fla. Frank A. Kimball National City, Cal. Alexander Campbell ..Riverside, Cal. John S. Calkins Pomona, Cal. Chas. H. Hovey East Pasadena, Cal. Dr. F. Franceschi (El Montecito), Santa Barbara, Cal. Committee on Nomenclature and Rejected Fruits : G. B. Brackett Denmark, Iowa. Wm. Saunders Washington, D. C. Jno. Craig Ottawa, Canada. L. H. Bailey (Cornell University) Ithaca, N. Y. T. V. MuNSON Denison, Texas. J. J. Harrison Painesville, Ohio. Prof. E. A. Popenoe Manhattan, Kas. Committee on Revision of Catalog-ue : T. T. Lyon South Haven, Mich. L. H. Bailey Ithaca, N. Y. Henry L. Ly'man.... Charlottesville, Va. Louis A. Berckmans Augusta, Ga. C. L. Watrous Des Moines, Iowa. Committee to Confer with U. S. Department of Agriculture, Fob the purpose of revising and publishino the Fruit C'ATALOfiUE as a Bulletin of THE Department : Chairman, G. B. Brackett, Denmark, Iowa. C. L. Watrous Des Moines, Iowa. C. W. Garfield Grand Rapids, Mich. Dr. F. M. Hexamer New York City. Geo. H. Miller Rome, Ga. LIST OF MEMBERS. XI LIST OF MEMBERS. LIFE. Calder, Rev. James. Allan, Alex. McD Goderich. Oiiturio. Allan. David Belmont. Muss. Allan. J. T Omaha. Xi'b. Allen. Abner Wabaniisec Kas. Allen. Edwin New Brunswick. N..J. Alwood. Wm. B. (for Exp. Sta.) Blacksburg. Va. Andrews. Frank W Boston. Mass. APPLETON. FRANCIS H '^^^^,. Arkansas Experiment Sta.. ?'ayt'tteville. Ark. Atkins, Chas. G Bucksport. Maine. Austin. Mrs. Helen V Wincliesti'r. Kv. Babcock, E. F Walla Walla. VVash. Babcock. J. Lyman Norfolk. Va. Baird. David Manalapan. N. J. Baker. Chas. R Brooklyn. X. Y. Barry, William C Rochester. N. Y. Beadle. D. W. . .450 Markham St.. Toronto. Ont. Beal. W. .T Lansing. Mich. Benyhill. J. G Des Moines. Iowa. Berckmans, Prosper J. . .Aiii,'usta. (ia. Black. Chas Hii;litstow!i. N. J. Blanchard. X. W Santa Paula. Cal. Bliss. B. K Boston, Mass. Bourn. Jos. H Providi nrr. R. I. Bridkeman, Alfred Xewl)urgh. X. Y. Brill. Francis Hempstead. L. I.. N. Y. Brown. Chas. E Yarmouth. X. S. BucKLiN. Simon S Providence. R. I. Burnett, Joseph Southboro. Mass. Bush. Raphael Bushbertr. Mo. BuswELL. E. W Xew York. X. Y. Butler. Charles Xew York, X. Y. \ 102 State St.. '/ Harrisburg. Penn. Calkins. John S Pomona. Cal. Campbell. George W Delaware. Ohio. Carey, Otis Foxboro. Mass. Chase, Howard A Pliiladelphia. Penn. Chase. Lewis Rochester. X. Y. Cheney, Ben.j. P Boston. Mass. Clapp. Wm. Channing Boston. ;\!ass. Clark. Edmund S.. 144 Essex St.. Boston, Mass. CoNOVER. Geo. S Geneva. N. Y. Colman. X. J St. Louis. Mo. Cook, David C Chicago. 111. Cook, M. S Avondale. Penn. Cresswell. John A. J. . . .Elkton. Md. Crozier. a. a Ann Arbor. Mich. CuLBERT. Dr. Wm Xevvburgh. X. Y. Cummings, a. P X'^ew York. N. Y. CuMMiNGS, John Woburn. Mass. Davis, Franklin Richmond. Va. Davis. J. C. Bancroft. . . . -* ^^B ^1 ?*'•;, t^ r- ( n ashington, I). C. Devol, W. S Tucson. Arizona. Douglas, Robert Waukegan, 111. DuRFEE, Geo. B Fall River, Mass. Earle. Parker Cobden. 111. Ellwangek. GE0R(iE Rochester. X. Y. Engle. Henry M .Marietta. Penn. EsHLEMAN. John K Downinirton. Penn. Falconer. Wm. . .Dosoris, (ilen Cove. L. I., X.Y. Faxon. M. B Saut;us, .Mass. Field. E. T Middletown. X. J. Fisher. John Batavia. X. Y. I 360 Commonwealth 'l Ave.. Boston. Mass. Force. T. S Xewburgh. X. Y. French, Jonathan Boston. Mass. Fuller. Andrew S Ridgewood. X. J. Furnas. R. W Brownville. Xeb. Gam.mon. C. W Walnut (Jrove. Cal. Gardiner. Robert II (Gardiner. .Maine. Garfield. ('HAS. W Grand U.ipids. Mich. Gay. Leslie F Piru City. Cal. Gerrish. O. K (ieneva. X. Y. Glen, John (i Hochcster. X. Y. Goff. E. S Madison. Wis. Flint. David B. Gold. T. S West Cornwall. Ct. Goodell. H. H. (for Agr. Col.), Amherst. Mass. C4RAVES. S. S Geneva. X. Y. Green, W. J. (for Exp. Sta,). Columbus. Ohio. Grosvfnor C F j 3.5 S. Market St.. UROs^ ENOR, e . Ji -J Boston. :\Iass. Grubb. S. H :ilst ward. Pliiladilpbia. Penn. Guy, T. W Sulpluir Springs, Mo. Hacker, William -) i;|;'ii:,i!:;;;i;;^!: I^^^. Hadwen, O. B Worcester. Mass. Haines. John S Germantown, Penn. Haines. Henry C GermantowTi, Penn. Hance. Ben.i. B Pullman. 111. Harris. Geo. W. (for Cornell U.). Ithaca. X. Y. Harris. James A Citra. Fla. Harris. John S La Crescent. Minn. Harroun. Dr. W. S Santa Fe. X. M. Hart. W. S Hawk's Park. Fla. Harvey. Theo. A.* Haskell. George Ipswich. Mass. Helver. J. W Lockport. X. Y. Hfvamfr Dr F TVr -* •''" Lafayette Place, llEXAMER. U-R. V. m. ^ ^Tj,^ York. X. Y. Hexamer. Mrs. F. M New York. X. Y. HoADLEY. (iEORGE . . .120 Broadway. Xew York. Hoag. C. L Lockport. X. Y. Holmes. Dr. E. S Grand Rapids. Mich. Holton. Warren Hamilton. Ontario. HoNcocK. Caroline G. I gacramento Cal ( for Free Library) f ' ' »acraraenio, Lai. HovEY. John C Cambridge. Mass. Hubbard. T. S Fredonia. X. Y. HuNNEWELL. H. H Welleslej. Mass. HuNNEWELL. WALTER. 87 Milk St.. Boston. Mass. Hunter. John M Houston. Texas. Hyde. J. F. C 31 Milk St.. Boston. Mass. Ilgenfritz. I. E Monroe. Mich. Jeter. Tinsley Bethlchcni. Penn. Kendall. Edward Cambridge. .Mass. Kendall, George F Cambridge. Mass. Kent, Joseph H Russellville. Penn. Kidder. X. T Milton. Mass. King. John A Great Xeck. L. L. X. Y. Kinney. L. F. (Expt. Sta.), Kingston. R. I. KiRKPATRRK. T. J Springfield. Ohio. KoEN. R. B Memphis. Tenn. Kuhn. Hartman Philadelphia. Penn. Lake, E. R. (Expt. Sta.) ..Corvallis. Ore. Langdon. C.C., 2805 Wasliington St.. Mobile. Ala. Lawyer. A. M San Francisco, Cal. Leighton. G. B. F Xorfolk. Va. Lester. J. Erastus Providence. R. I. LiNDLEY. J. V Pomona. X. C. LovETT. J. T Little Silver. X. J. Luke. Eli.iah H Cambridgep't. Mass. Lyman, Henry L Chariot les\ille. Va. Lyon. T. T South Haxcii. Mich. Lyons. Jas. M.. 18 Harrison St.. Taunton. Mass. Mann. William R Sharon, Mass. Manning. Robert Salem. Mass. Marble. F. M Worcester. Mass. Masters. James H Xebraska City. Xeb. Maude. Chas. E Riverside. ( 'al. MacPerron. David Allegheny City. Penn. McCuLLOCH. J. M Cincinnati. Ohio. McLaughlin, Henry Bangor. Maiiif. Meehan. Thomas Germantown. I'enn. Miller. F. R Sugar (Jrove, Penn. Mills. W. II Hamilton. Ontario. MiNOT. C. W Burlington. Vt. MuDD. Henry T PittsthOd. 111. MUNSON. D. O Falls Churcli. Va. Murray. R. D Moultrie. Fla. Newman. J. S Atlanta. Ga. XoBLE. S;iinuel W Jenkintown. Penn. Orton. J. G Bingliamton. X. Y. Osborne. Charles Vassalboro. .Maine. Parsons. S. B Flushini;. X. Y. *P. O. address wanted. — [ Sec'y. Xll AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Pavson. Samvel R Boston. Mass. Pearce. E. D.* Pearson. John M Godfrey. 111. ( 526 EiiKlcwood Ave.. Periam. Jonathan ■, En.iil.-wood. 111. Perley. Samuel F Naples. Maine. Perot. William H Baltimore. Md. Phelps. Lyman Sanford. Fla. Ph(JJNIx. F. K Delavaii. Wis. Pierce. Henut L Boston. Mass. Popenoe. E. a Manhattan. Kas. PuRRiNGTON. E. F West Farniiiigton. Me. C^uiNN. P. T N.'wark. N. J. Richardson. I. D C'larks\ ille. Neb. Ream. Jay A Liberty, Ky. Riehl. E. A Alton. "111. ' RowE, Asa* Rogers. Edmund Law Baltimore. Md. Rumph. Samuel H Marshallville. Ga. Russell. Gurdon W H.irtloid. Conn. Russell. Henry S Milton. Mass. Sadler. Dr. O. W Pittsburg. Pa. Samuels, J. :M Clinton. "Ky. Sampson. F. G Boardnian. Fla. Saunders. William Wasbington, D. C. Sawyer. Geo. B Wiscasset. Me. Scarborough. W Cincinnati, O. Scott. David A Newburgh. N. Y. Selover. Edward C Auburn. N. Y. Shaw. CO Milford. N. H. Shotwell. J. R Rahway. N. J. Shepard. Dr. C. U Suniini'rville. S. C. Smith. B Cuba. Mo. Smith. Ben.i. (i Cambridge. Mass. Smith, W Geneva. N. Y. Smith. Wm. Brown Syracuse. N. Y. Smith. Wm. Elliott Alton. 111. Smith. Wing R Syracuse. X. Y. .Smith, Dr. Erwix F * '^f Stoughton St I \\ aslungton. D. C. Smyth. Frederick Manchester. N. H. South WORTH. C Stoughton. Mass. SpAULDiNG. Dr. C. W River Point. R. I. Stark. Clarence M Louisiana. Mo. Stark. Wm. Henry- Louisiana. Mo. Starr. Robert W Cornwallis. N. S. Stewart. Brice Clarksville, Tenn. Stewart. Henry L Middle Haddara, Conn. ^T-rxranTM TiMf. 'V t For Expt. Station, Sttinson. Jno. T -^ Payetteville. Ark. Streator. George J Garrettsville, O. Strong. W. C Brighton. Mass. Swan, Robt. J Geneva. N. Y. SwiNEFORD. Howard Richmond. Va. Tapt. Edward P Providence. R. I. Tatnall. Edward WiliiiiiiL'ton. Del. Taylor. Dr. Thomas Washintiton. D. C. Taylor. Wm. A..Dep. of Ag.. Washington. D. C. Temple. F. L Somerville, Mass. Temple. John T Davenport. Iowa. Thomas, George B West Chester, Pa. Thomas. Milton Los Angeles. Cal. TowNSEND. B. C Bay Ridge, L. I.. N. Y. Trftfasf Dn Wm > Botanical Garden, 1 RELEASE. DR. W M -^ j,j Louls. Mo. I'ber, Carlton A Virginia Beach. Vsi. I'NiJERWooD. J. M Lake City. Minn. L'tley". H. W Public Library. Detroit. Mich. Van Deman. H. E Parksley. Va. Van (tEldek. Jacob Saugerties. N. Y. Wardwell. W. H Boston. Mass. Ware. Ben.i. P Clifton. Mass. Waterer. HosBA Philadelphia. Pa. Watrous. C. L Des Moines. Iowa. watrous. PHILLIP ^^l^^'^lliJ;:^:-,.. Watson. Wm Bn^nham, Tex. WEBBER, WM. L J Saginaw. Mich. Weld. Aaron I) Boston. Mass. Wellborn. Jesse M Conyers. Ga. Wellhouse, F Fairmount. Kas. Whitehead. John B Norfolk. Va. WicKERSHAM. RoBT. A.. ..Winchester. V.i. WiELAND. John Knoxville. Tenn. Wilder. Edward B Dorchi'ster. Mass. Williams. Henry T Colorado Spg's, Col. Wilson. W. C Baltimore, Md. Wright. Ed Des Moines, Iowa. Wood. Wm. H. S ■ New York City. Yeomans. Wm. II Columbia. Conn. Yerrington. J. M. W Boston. Mass. BIENNIAL MEMBERS FOR 1895 1897. Adams. D. W Tangerine. Fla. Allen. Chas. J Pequjibuck, Conn. Allen, Chas. H San Jose. Cal. Allston, Robt. F. W Tryon. N. C. Alexander. J. H Augusta. Ga. Alexander. Mrs. J. H Augusta, (ia. Alexander. Irwin Augusta, (ia. Bailey, L. H Ithaca. N. Y, Beckwith. M. H Newark. Del. Berckmans, Mrs. P. J. . . Augusta, (ia. Berckmans, Louis A Augusta, Ga. Berckmans, Robt. C Augusta. Ga. Berckmans. P. J. A.. Jr. . .Augusta, Ga. Blackwell, T. J Til usville. N. Y. Brackett. (i. B Denmark, la. Brackett. G. C Lawrence. Kas. Buckwell. a Woodbridge. Fla. BuRBANK, L Santa Rosa. Cal. Bush, Isidor St. Louis. Mo. Card, F. W (for University) Lincoln, Neb. Carter. H. W Millbury. Mass. Chapmak ^ s > 184 E. 2.5th St., <^HAI MAN, i\. o -, T 1 .. ^ /-- i ( Los Angeles, Cal. Collar, H. A Grand Rapids, Mich. Cook. Jas. O Barre, Mass. Cook, G. W. E Lacon, 111. Couch, E, J Ridgefleld, Conn. Craig. John Ottawa, Quebec. Crandall. C. S Ft. Collins. Col. Dean, Wm. N Carmel. N. Y. DeWitt. J. C Cooksburg, N. Y. Fairchilds, H. L Nichols, Conn. Farnsworth. W. W Waterville. O. Francfschi Dt! F * ^' >lontecito. i< ranceschi, dr. J^ J ^.,jjjj, B,„.b.,r,, fal. Faville, E. E Wolfville, N. S. Gammon, E. A Courtland, Cal. Gear, H. A Courtland, Cal. (iREEN, Calvin Saltillo, Pa. Green, Mrs. Calvin Saltillo. Pa. (iREEN. Chas. A Rochester, N. Y. Hale. J. H S. Glastonbury. Ct. Halstead, Byron D New Brunswick. N.J. Harrison. J. J Painesville. O. HovEY, C. H East Pasadena, Cal. Hoy'le. Miss E. A Denver. Col. Hutchinson. B. E Fowler. Cal. INGELS. I Lafayette, 111. Johnson, Sylvester Irvington. Ind. Johnson, J. C Stepney Depot. Ct. Johnson. W. B. K Allentown. Pa. Johnson. Geo. Y Lawrence, Kas. Katzenstein. Geo. B Sacramento. Cal. Kendall. W. S Sacramento. Cal. Kimball. F. A Nation.il City. CaL Laughlin, S. Mc Los Angeles. Cal. Lombard, Geo. R Augusta. Ga. Lombard. G. S Augusta. Ga. Maitre. R New Orleans. La. Manning, J. W Readin;:. :Mass. Manning, Mrs. L. B Readini;. Mass. Manville. a. H Glen St. Mary. Fla. McAkdle. H. W Fargo, N. Dak. McCleur. ti. W Champaign. 111. McInnes. Dr. N Augusta. Ga. Merchant, C. W West Redding. Conn. Miller, Geo. H Rome, Ga. Milliken. Robt Nainpa. Idaho. Monroe. C. J South Haven. Mich. MuNSON. T. V Denison, Tex. MuNsoN, W. M Orouo, Me. Myrick, H Springfield. Mass.. Packer. J. L Corning. N. Y. Parry. Wm Parry, N. J. *P. O. address wanted.— [ Sect. LIST OF MEMBERS. Xlll Parry. Mrs. Wm Parry. Chas Patten, C. J Penfield, J. W PHtENIX. F. S. Price. R. H. . . Rane. p. Wm. Reser. Wm. M Reeves. Elmer Ruedy. Geo. ... Richardson, Chas Rilet. Prof. C. V. Roberts. H Rockwell. J. W. . Rolfs. Prof. P. H. Rowley. B. N Sage. CD Schleicher. R. . . . Shinn. Chas. H.. .. Small. A. L ..Parry. N. J. . . . Cinnaminson, N. J. . .Charles City. Iowa, ...Willoughby.O. . .Bloomington. 111. ...College Station, Tex. . .Morgantown, W. Va. . . . Lafayette. Ind. . . . Waverly. Iowa. ..Colfax. Wash. S 101 Treniont street. ■ ■ / Boston. Mass. , . . Washington. D. C. ..Fellowship. N. J. . . Ridgefield. Conn. \ For Exp. Station. ••■/ Lake City. Fla. . . San Francisco, Cal. ...X. Brookfield. Mass. . . Lewiston. Idulio. . Niles. Cal. . . Kankakee. 111. Smith. E. E Smith. T Spaulding. J. B. Stabler. H. B. . . Stephens. R. U. Stinson. J. T. . . . Stone. Jno. Y. . Storrs & Harrison Taber. Geo. L. Taft. L. R Tallman, G. W. Taylor. F. W Thayer. Dr. W. A. Thanson. Dr. A. L Troup. Prof. J. . . . ViNING. A. W Williamson. W. H Wilson, Silas Woodworth. S. F. Co ..Palo Alto. Cal. ..Colfax, Wash. ..Spaulding, 111. . . Yuba City. Cal. ..Sacramento. Cal. I For Expt. Station. • ■ ( Fayetteville. Ark. . Des Moines. Iowa. . .Painesville. O. . .Glen St. Mary. Fla. . .Agl. College. Mich. . .Griunell. Iowa. ..Lincoln. Neb. . . Cooperstown. N. Y. ..East Avon, N. Y. J For Expt. Station. I Lafayette, Ind. . .Colebrook. Conn. ..Ferris. Cal. ..Atlantic. Iowa. ..Clipper Gap, Cal. ©bituari^ Since the last session of this Society, held at Washington City in September, 1391, the membership has been visited by the angel of death, and we deplore the loss of many valued associates, whose loyal support and good works are interwoven with the history of our association. With sorrow do we place upon our record the names of the follow- ing deceased members, whose hearty cooperation with the Society is sadly missed by their surviving associates: DECEASED LIFE MEMBERS. Fred. L. Ames Boston, Mass. Geo. Bancroft Washington, D. C. Jno. R. Brewer Boston, Mass. Jas. W. Clark Framingham, Mass. Asa Clement Lowell, Mass. Geo. W. Childs Philadelphia, Pa. Arthur Dexter Providence, R. I. J. P. Putnam Boston, Mass. J. J. Thomas Union Springs, N. Y. D. B. Weir Trenton, Cal. E. Williams Montclair, N. J. D. P. Wetmore Clifton, N. B. Jos. I. YouNGLOVE Bowling Grccu, Ky. DECEASED BIENNIAL, MEMBER. Dr. Jay Guy Lewis Sparta, Oregon. (XV) PREFACE. The twenty -fourth session of the American Pomological Society was held at Sacramento, California, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, January 16th, 17th and 18th, 1895, in response to the fol- lowing invitation from the California State Board of Horticulture : "State Boakd of Horticulture, Office of the Secretary, San Francisco, Cal., August 21, 1894. "G^. G. Brackett, Esq., Secretary of American Pomological Society, Lawrence, Kan- sas— Dear Sir: Your letter of August 1st, and cii'cular of announcement that the next session of the American Pomological Society is to be held in this State during January, 1895, have been read at the meeting of the State Board of Horticulture held in this city on the 15th inst., and I have to inform you that the Board at once adopted a resolution approving of the plan in view, and pledging you its offices and support iu making the session a success. The Board will attend to all matters relating to accom- modations, and papers from leading pomologists of this State as contributions to the exercises of the session. "The hotels will give special rates to all visitors showing an American Pomological Society badge, or any of their friends. We can easily accommodate from five to ten thousand people, and will see that they are well provided for with lodgings and board at reduced rates. Also, let me say that all who may visit the coast at that time will have an excellent opportunity to visit the different counties of the State, or the most important horticultural sections. "We have sufficient public-spirited people to insure us in saying that you can expect a good entertainment, and instructive and well-prepared papers will be read by eminent pomologists of the State at the meeting. "There will no doubt be excursions to the different prominent points in the State, to which the members of your Society will be invited, and no member of it can afford to remain away, as a rare treat will await them. "I remain, very respectfully, "B. M. Lelong, Secretary" A large number of circular notices giving the location and date of the session were mailed into every State, the Canadas, and British Columbia. All railway passenger associations directly interested in the passen- ger traffic over the trans-continental lines were persistently and re- peatedly urged to grant a favorable reduction in rates to all persons desiring to attend the session ; but railroad officials throughout the 2 PREFACE. country were inexorable, and refused to grant any other rate than the standard. Several of the valuable papers contributed to the exercises of the session were, owing to the limited time, referred for publication, and will be found in the Appendix to this volume. KespectfuUy submitted. /-, n o a ^ ^ •' Lt. (J. 13RACKETT, /Secretary. [Note. — This Society does not hold itself responsible for the opinions or theories which are expressed in the various papers, or words of the speakers, as they appear in this volume.] PAVILION HALL. IN WHICH SESSION WAS HELD AT SACRAMENTO. TEANSACTIONS OF THE Ameeicai^ Pomological Society, AT ITS TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION'. HELD AT Sacramento, Cal., Januai-y 16, 17 and 18, 1895. Wednesday, January 16, 189.5. The Society assembled iu the State Agricultural Pavilion, at Sacramento, California, and was called to order by President P. J. Berckmans at 11:30 o'clock a. m. The ex- ercises were opened with prayer by Rev. R. M. Stevenson, of Sacramento. The spacious hall of the Pavilion Building resembled an orange grove indoors. The windows were ornamented with the graceful leaves of the California fan palm, and the stage with dracpenas, calla lilies, palms in boxes, and chrysanthemums, roses, pinks, azaleas, and other cut flowers. Inside the main entrance was a booth through which the visitors passed. This was roofed with orange branches laden with fruit. The fruit display occupied the eastern side of the hall, and was inclosed within a higli framework draped in vermilion and ornamented with pine, cypress and cedar branches. The exhibits were by the counties of Napa, Sacramento, Shasta, Tehama, Placer, Butte, El Dorado, Amador, Tulare, Sonoma, Solano, Santa Cruz, Yuba, Colusa, Nevada, and Yolo, and consisted of decidu- ous fruits and vegetables in jars and dried, and of fresh apples, pears, oranges, lemons, limes, figs, olives, pomelos ("grape-fruit"), pomegranates, persimmons, Japanese palm fruit, almonds, walnuts, and chestnuts. The Orange Vale ( Sacramento county) exhibit was the center of attraction. Above the exhibit was the word " Welcome," in letters four feet tall, made of oranges. The exhibit itself comprised almost every variety of deciduous and citrus fruits grown in this colony, which is only six years old. ADDRESSES OF WELCOME. The address of welcome on behalf of the city of Sacramento was delivered by Mr. George C. Katzenstein, as follows : Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Oentlemen : It is my pleasure at this time, on behalf of the local reception committee of Sacrameuto and its citizens, to extend to you a most hearty and cordial welcome to this, the capital city of California. Indeed, this wel- come may be voiced beyond the confines of our municipality ; we may welcome you on behalf of the county, and of even beyond that, and say that we welcome you on behalf of the grand Golden State of California. California is coextensive with the American Pomological Society, which dates back to 1S4S. Since that time, you have had the most illustrious names of the country coiiperatiug with you in this grand work, this grand enterprise of lifting horticulture into a science. (3) AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Since the organization of your Society, California has been born into the world, as it were, and we tall? sometimes of — "The days of old, The days of gold, and The days of M9." Our first era in California was the gold era. We were noted the world over as the producers of gold, and from our mines a billion and a half of dollars have been added to the world's wealth, and it may be a matter of surprise to some of you strangers to know that within the past year, 1894, we contributed again S18,000,000 of bullion to the wealth of the world, and right here in Sacramento county, within a radius of fifty miles of this city, we produced last year over $100,000 in gold. We next came to the days of growing wheat, and California was known all over the country as a great cereal-producing State. Last year we produced in California 30,000,000 bushels of cereals. But now we have come into the third stage, Mr. President — that of horticulture and of fruit-growing. In that way we occupy the unique position of being entirely alone, because we have not a sister or a brother in this entire Union that comes up to the standard of California in the production of a grand variety of fruits. We passed from the gold to the wheat, and from the wheat to the fruit — and the fruit has come to stay. Hence, we look with great interest upon the deliberations of this body, because we look upon you as the Nestors of this industry ; we look to you for advice, composed as you are of the ablest men, men who have made a lifetime study of this industry. Last year we sent beyond the confines of our own State, over and above our own consumption, seven thousand car-loads of fruit to be sold to the people across the Rockies. Eight now our orange crop is moving, and has been moving for the last five or six weeks ; and to console you for the great loss of the orange crop experienced in Florida, cutting otf half of the crop, I tell you, my friends, not to be down-hearted, because California will supply you all you want. We estimate that during this winter ten thousand car-loads of oranges will go to supply the people' on the other side. Look to us for anything you want. California is an empire. It would be possible to build a wall about California and keep us right here upon our own soli and we need ask no favors, no contributions from the outside world. Every vegetable is produced here, every fruit, every cereal ; the woods are all known to us ; iron, coal — all these things are ours within the confines of our own State. The developments of the past genera- tion are but the inception, but the threshold of what we believe to be in store for us in the future. Mr. Chairman, I recognize the fact that you have met here for business, and not to listen to plaudits or talks along other lines. I know that your time Is important, and although I would be delighted to stand here by the hour and tell you what you can see in California, I will not trespass further upon your time, except to again repeat the most cordial and hearty welcome that we are capable of. Like Monte Christo, we will say, "The world is yours" — at least this part of it, and if you do not see what you want, ladies and gentlemen, ask for it, and we will tumble over each other to bring it to you. We want to make you feel welcome, to give you a royal welcome to California. May you make this an era in your history, a red-letter day, one that you will look back to both with pleasure and with profit. Without interfering with your business, the citizens' committee has prepared a little programme. We had calculated to take you to the State Prison [Laughter] and bring you back again, but it seems that they have been l)uildiug a new road there, in the line of improvements, and owing to this liberal dispensation of the elements, this will be impossible. However, we desire to carry out the original thought, and we will take you through. a portion of the orchard district. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. If there is anything else that we can do for you, or that you desire wiiile here, just mention it and we will try and accommodate you. ADDRESS OF WELCOME. Mr. B. M. Lelong, Secretary of the State Board of Horticulture, on behalf of that department of the State administration spoke as follows : Mr. President, Members of the American Pomological Society, Ladies and Gentle- men: Some two years ago an invitation was extended by both the State Board of Horticulture and the State Horticultural Society, asking that your session of this year be held in California. To-night, as secretary of the former and president of the latter Society, and on behalf of the fruit-growers, 1 have the distinguished honor of welcom- ing you to the Golden State; and I assure you that we are gratified at your visit, for we expect to learn much from you, to profit by your experience, and to extend the ac(iuaintance that has been begun by correspondence. We also believe that your visit among us will be productive of much good to yourselves, and that the producers of the East and the West will become united in a closer bond of brotherhood. California has many peculiarities which are not found in any other State in the Union. Embracing over 700 miles of latitude, with an altitude including the lowest and the highest in the United States, from 400 feet below sea level to 1.^,000 feet above, she has a diversity of climate as varied as the continent itself, from that of perpetual summer to that in which the icy bonds of winter are never broken. Her soils and her products, too, are as varied as her climates, and within our borders can be found the products of all the temperate climes and many of those of the tropics. You have all heard of California. Some reports have been good, others bad, others indifferent — and all are true I We hope during your sojourn here to show you some of the better side of California, and leave you to imagine the rest. 1 need not inform you that fruit is the principal product of our State to-day, and our total exports of fruit and fruit products by rail and sea foot up nearly 30,000 car- loads annually, and add to our wealth nearly $20,000,000 each year. Of dried fruits alone in the year just passed, we shipped over 96,000,000 pounds, not including raisins, of which there will be but S.^, 000, 000 pounds, as it has been a poor year for raisins. Prunes, of course, form a large item in our dried-fruit output; l)ut as with raisins, this has been a poor year for prunes, and our output is but .35,000,000 V)Ounds, Among the more important of our dried fruits are peaches and apricots, of which we export large quantities. We have forced a market for these products, not alone in our own country, but in foreign lands. I need not allude to oitr fresh-fruit shipments, for these find their way to all tlie principal points in the Union; but it remained for California to furnish fresh fruit for the English market as a crowning stroke of enterprise. Among our more prominent horticultural and agricultural products [ may mention citrus fruits, of which we shall ship some 6,000 car-loads this season. Of wine we shipped in 1894, 14,260,700 gallons; brandy, 1,300,000 gallons-; — yet we are a tem- perate people. Of wheat we shipped $6,460,928 worth, and flour $2,343,148. We supplied Boston and other points with beans to the extent of 72,000,000 pounds. We shipped 186,666,860 pounds of sugar, besides producing more honey than any otlier State in the Union. But it is not to wine and fruit and honey alone that we devote ourselves: we shipped of the more common vegetables 90,000,000 pounds last year, and of hops 40,000 bales; of butter we produced ,50,000,000 pounds, and cheese 1,5,000(000. 1 have alluded to these facts in order to draw your attention to the diversity and importance of our industries, and esi)ecially to such as we are all interested in; but time precludes even a mention of all. Enough, liowever, has been said to indicate the scope which our debates may lake at the present session. Q AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. There is another feature of California horticulture that you will find of interest, and that is irrigation. From six to nine months in the year rain seldom falls here^ and were it not for artificial means of applying water we could never make summer crops, and over a large part of the State could produce no fruit. To overcome this shortage, we have in our State some of the most elaborate and costly irrigation works in the world. There are at the present time nearly 5,000,000 acres of land under irri- gation in the State, and many of the works represent millions of dollars outlay. But we have discovered the advantage of irrigation, and would not exchange our system for summer clouds and showers. When our crops need water they get it, and we never need worry about a sudden shower spoiling our ripened grain, our drying hay or fruit. People living in a land where rain falls from the clouds are rather inclined to pity us who have to store our water in great reservoirs and apply it to our crops at great outlay of capital and labor, but we who have learned the great advantages of irrigation feel sorry for the ])oor people East whose crops are likely to be spoiled by an inopportune rain, or who look anxiously for clouds when their crops need water. It is to our dry summer that we owe much of our superiority in fruit production, and all of our advantages for drying raisins, prunes, and other fruits. Rain is a very good thing when you have nothing better, but California cannot but feel sorry for those who have to depend upon it. As matters of great interest to the fruitrproducers of the East and those of the West will naturally come before this congress for consideration, I beg your indulgence a few moments longer, that we may inform you of the steps already taken by the pro- ducers of this State, and in which measures both should be united. FOREIGN FRUIT CROPS. It is of the utmost importance to the producers of our country to know from time to time the condition and amount of the foreign products with which theirs compete. To this end we have asked the Department of State at Washington, D. C, to instruct the consular officers throughout the country to report by telegraph the condition and amount of all crops with which those of this country compete. The following memo- rial has been transmitted to Congress : "To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled : Your petitioners, fruit-growers of the State of California, in con- vention assembled at Marysville, this nineteenth day of November, 1891, respectfully represent that their soil and climate are adapted to the successful production and prep- aration of fruit and fruit products of good (juality, and in quantities sulficient eventu- ally to supply the markets of the United States. "That the knowledge of the quantity and quality of foreign fruit products is of great value and importance to the iiorticulturists of this State. "Your petitioners therefore respectfully request your kind offices in obtaining and disseminating such information." FOOD ADULTERATION. One of the most important measures to be considered by this pomological congress is federal legislation against adulteration and sophistication. We have a "bull- butter" bill for the benefit of the pure dairy-made article, an excellent measure which protects producer and consumer alike, and there is no reason why Congress should have stopped at that. All the products of the orchard and farm, and in fact all goods offered for sale to the public, should be offered for what they really are, and anything else is fraud. This agitation originated in the East, but I assure you, gentlemen, that California has heartily indorsed it. To its success both the State Board of Horticulture and the State Horticultural Society have been active, and whatever measures you may take to impress upon Congress the necessity for such legislation will be heartily seconded by us. We have forwarded the following memorial to Congress : "■To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. Congress assembled: Your petitioners, the horticulturists of the State of California, in convention assembled at Marysville, Cal., this nineteenth day of November, 1891, re- spectfully represent that they are engaged in the growth and preparation of fruit and fruit products for the markets of the United States, of good quality and in quantities to largely supply the demand. "That the adulteration and false and irresponsible labeling of fruit products, such as canned and dried fruits and olive oil, have become a serious obstacle to the profit- able marketing of properly prepared and healthful articles of food in this country. "Your petitioners therefore respectfully request such legislation as will prohibit the adulteration of food products in this country, and the importation of such adulterated products." NICARAGUA CANAL. Another matter now under consideration by our Federal Government, and one in which California has a vital interest, is the Nicaragua canal. The construction of this great water-way will bring the East and the West in closer relations, and give to the Pacific coast an easy and cheaper means of communication with the East and the outer world. Practically, our only outlet to the Atlantic now is by a long and expensive trans-continental railroad. At present our shipments of fruit by sea are principally to the west, and our products reach China, Japan, Australia, and the Islands, but in reaching the European markets we are heavily handicapped by the long and expensive railroad route. California wants the Nicaragua canal, and, gentlemen, we hope you will help us get it. The following memorial was adopted and forwarded to Congress : '■'To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress assembled: Your memorialists, the fruit-growers of the State of California, in annual convention assembled at the city of San Jos^, on this IGth day of November, 1892, respectfully represent that they are engaged in the production, preparation and marketing of fruit to supply the demand of this and foreign countries. "That better and cheaper transportation facilities than now exist are of the first importance to the continued growth and prosperity of the fruit industry. "That your memorialists heartily commend to your consideration the making and early completion of the Nicaragua canal, to be controlled by the Government, in the interests of the people of the Ignited States and the commerce of the world." GOOD ROADS. One of the foremost subjects claiming the attention of the people throughout the nation is the betterment of roads. The following memorial was transmitted to Congress : "■To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress assembled : Your memorialists, horticulturists of the State of California, assembled in annual convention at the city of San Jos^, this 18th day of November, 1892, respectfully repre- sent, that the establishment of a 'Division of Roads ' in the Department of Agricul- ture, at Washington, D. C, would meet with their unqualified approval, and be of great benefit to the people in well-directed efforts of road-making, so much needed in this country." Congress has since erected a Bureau of Government Road Inquiry, under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture. We hope time will i)ermit the consideration of this subject and matters pertaining thereto. REGISTKATION OF PLANTS. This is a subject that has attracted the attention of California fi'uit-growers for some time, and the action taken Ijy them is as follows : ''Resolved, That we, the fruit-growers of this State, in convention assembled, do heartily indorse the action of the '.Joint Committee upon the National Registration of Plants,' and their efforts in behalf of the horticulturists and fiorists of this State. We urge them to prepare at an early day, and ])resent to Congress, a bill to establish, under the Department of Agriculture, a division having in charge tiie nomenclature and registration of all commercial plants and plant-life."' AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. INSECT PESTS AND PARASITES. Insect pests are a menace to fruit culture wherever they abound, and are liable to be found wherever fruits are grown. We did at one time suffer greatly from the ravages of a few imported species, but by the introduction of parasites our orchards have been freed of most of them. We claim the distinction of having the best system of quarantine laws against their future introduction and for their abatement, but as new insects are continually appearing, also fungi not before observed in different countries, and as trees from those countries are being imported every year, and as the inroads already made by these enemies to fruit culture there are a serious loss to the growers and have made it almost impossible for them to continue the business, the State Board of Horticulture has caused the inspection of every steamship arriving from foreign countries into our State. Over 600 steamships and sailing vessels are thus yearly inspected, and the number of infected plants on them runs into millions. I speak of this to show you the necessity for Federal legislation to correct the evil. In dealing with orchard pests we are especially proud to tell you that, with the aid of the National Department of Agriculture, we have found the means to keep the most injurious ones in check so that no apparent injury is felt, through the introduction of parasites. The great results accomplished thereby are incomputable. In Massachu- setts over $300,000 have been spent in fighting the gypsy moth alone with artificial means, while by turning to nature's remedies we have conquered several of our foes at a minimum of this outlay. This is a matter of vital importance to all tillers of the soil, however engaged, and all should unite with us in this investigation, for there can be no doubt but that in the course of time the fruit-growers will be able to overcome almost every insect pest by means of their natural parasites. Ladies and gentlemen, we had hoped to be able to show you much of our State dur- ing your sojourn with us, and to that end had planned excursions into our orchards and vineyards and other points of interest. I told you that we had here from six to nine mouths in which no rain fell, but the past two months are not of these, and it has been raining — raining hard and steadily, until the whole country is soaked down to the bottom. This is good for the farmers but bad for our visitors, for our streams are swollen, roads muddy, and our orchards in such a condition that it is not practicable to visit them. However, we vvill do all in our power to make your visit here a pleasant and a profitable one, and 1 assure you on behalf of the societies I represent and our State at large that we appreciate your presence among us, and extend to you all a hearty welcome to the (iolden State. RESPONSE. A response to the addresses of welcome was then made by J. H. Alexander, ex- Mayor of Augusta, Georgia, as follows: I am honored in being called to express to you, very brietly but most sincerely, the high appreciation on the part of the American Fomological Society of the cordial wel- come extended to it on this occasion. It is our great pleasure to congratulate you on the riches of attractions afforded by the Heaven-blessed soil and climate of this land that you possess; and more especially to congratulate and commend you and thank you for the intelligence and energy and care that you have applied to the development of the bountiful resources of this greafc section of our common country. Though but three days in your State, I have already had the pleasure to walk through portions of the renowued Crolden Gate Park, and the elaborate and beautiful grounds on Sutro Heights so generously opened to public enjoyment by a wise and liberal- minded citizen of your great commercial city. In company with and tutored by the distinguished president of this Society, we have noted the rare intelligence and skill TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 9 and wide knowledge applied to the developmeut aud ornameutatioii of these grounds for the instruction and interest of the people. From his great fund of knowledge I have learned how you have gathered here from every resource of nature, trees, shrubs, plants and flowers from all the continents of the earth and islands of the sea. aud wisely used the peculiar advantages of your wontlerful climate to illustrate here the l)est re- sults of Nature's handiwork in every part of the earth. All the visiting members of this Society have come here with appreciative minds, and in the presence of all that is rich and beautiful, the results of industrious labor, sustained and encouraged by the liberal policy of your State government, and fostered by your marvelously fruitful climate, we respond with cordial thanks for your welcome to so much that is delightful to see, and desirable to know and understand. President Berckmans : Since our last meeting we have lost one of our Vice- Presideuts, E. Williams, of New Jersey, who has been a life member of this Society and whose place will be very difficult to fill. There have been several other deaths, which the Committee on Obituary will mention in their report. On motion of Prof. Emory E. Smith, of Stanford University, a recess of fifteen minutes was then taken, for the selection of committees and enrollment of members. At the expiration of the recess the President called the Society to order, when the following INVITATION TO HOLD AN AD.JOURNED SESSION AT PORTLAND, OREGON, was made by Dr. Lewis, of Oregon, a representative of the fruit-growers of British Columbia, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. On motion of Dr. Hexamer, the invitation was referred to the Committee on Invitations. On motion, adjourned to 2 o'clock p. m. AFTERNOON SESSION. Wednesday, January IG, 1895. The session was called to order at 2:20 i*. m., by President Berckmans. The President : 1 will ask Mr. G. B. Brackett to take the chair until we perfect the list of committees. The Chairman: We will now listen to the report of the Treasurer, Mr. Benjamin G. Smith. TREASURER'S REPORT. Statement of Receipts and Disbursements from Sept. 1, 1891, to Jan. 1, 1895. iSqi. Receipts. Sept. 1. To balance, per statement $5,458 09 Items: $5,000 of railway bonds, cost $4,910 83 Cash in hand .547 26 Sept. 3. To F. S. Phoenix, one copy of report sold 1 00 Sept. 23. To R. A. Wickersham, Winchester, Va., life membership fee 20 00 Sept. 25. To .J. M. Samuels. Clinton, Ky., life nienil)ershi]) fee 20 00 Sept. 25. To E. T. Smith, Washington, D. C, life niciiilicrsliip fee 20 00 Sept 25. To C;. N. Shepard, Charleston, S. C, life nienilxTship fee 20 00 Oct. 7. To J. A. Ream, Liberty, Ky., to complete life membership fee 10 00 Nov. 2. To J. S. Harris, La Crescent, Minn., to complete life membership fee K! 00 Nov. 2. To interest on railway bonds 100 00 Dec. 28. To R. W. Furnas, Brownville, Neb., for live copies of report 5 00 Dec. 28. To cash from sale of three copies of report :i 00 iSq3. Jan. 11. To cash from sale of one copy of report 1 00 Feb. 24. To Waller lluimewell, Boston, Mass., life membership fee 20 00 Mar. 17. To Ed. Wriirlit, Des Moines, la., life membership fee ;iO 00 May 2. To interest on railroad bonds 100 00 10 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. June 7. To J. G. Berryhill, Des Jloines, la., life membership fee $20 00 July — . To J. L. Babcock, Norfolk, Va., life membership fee 20 00 Aug. 25. To C. W. Gammon, Walnut Grove, Cal., life membership fee 20 00 Xov. 1. To interest on railroad bonds 100 00 Dec. 27. To cash from sale of reports 2 00 Feb. 27. To F. Wellhouse, Fairmonnt, Kas., life membership fee 20 00 May 1. To interest on railroad bonds 100 00 Nov. 1. To interest on railroad bonds 100 00 iSg4. Feb. 1. To John G. Glen, Rochester, N. Y., life membership fee 20 00 May 1. To interest on railroad bonds 100 00 Nov. 1. To interest on railroad bonds 100 00 Dec. 31. To 107 biennial membership fees, at $4.00 each 428 00 Total $6,760 09 tSqt. Disbursements. Sept. 25. By Gibson Bros., for printing $9 50 Sept. 25. By service at Washington, D. C 10 00 Sept. 25. By expenses at Washington, D. C 48 29 Sept. 29. By Secretary's expense bill for printing, postage, expressage, badges, and sta- tionery 41 90 Dec. 4. By Secretary's expenses for printing 8 50 Dec. 8. By Chas. H. Thurston, stationery...? 1 00 i8g2. Jan. 2. By H. Mitchell, bill for silver and bronze medals, cases and engraving 5163 Mar. 1. By Boston Safe Deposit 10 00 Aug. 9. By G. W. Crane & Co., Secretary's bill for stationery and printing 6 25 Oct. 12. By Hatch & Co., bill for printing, etc 5 24 Nov. 5. By G. W. Crane & Co., Secretary's bill for stationery and printing 2 50 Nov. 12. By Register Pub. Co., on account printing report 400 00 Nov. 19. By F. W. Barry, Beal & Co., stationery 2 50 i8g3. Jan. 7. By G. B. Brackett, Secretary, office expenses 169 69 Jan. 9. By Register Pub. Co., balance on printing report 345 62 Feb. 2. By G. W. Crane & Co., stationery for Secretary's office 5 .50 Feb. 3. By G. W. Crane & Co., stationery for Secretary's office 1 75 Mar. 9. By Boston Safe Deposit 10 CO Apr. 3. By M. R. Warren, for stationery 3 15 Nov. 23. By Secretary's office, postage 4 00 Dec. 19. By G. W. Crane & Co., stationery for Secretary's office 7 00 i8g4. Mar. 8. By Boston Safe Deposit 10 00 Mar. 12. By freight on box to Georgia 1 60 Mar. 12. By Powell & Co., for printing 4 50 t8qs- Jan. 1. By cash paid for postage, expressage, stationery, telegrams, and labor on reports, Sept. 1, 1891, to Jan. 1, 189.5 121 45 Jan. 1. By railroad bonds, at cost of 4,910 83 By balance, cash in hand 567 69 Total $6,760 09 i8qs- Summary of Accounts. Jan. 1. Total receipts 86,760 09 Total disbursements 6,192 40 Balance $567 69> iSgs- Jan. 1. Balance to new account — Dr. To f5,000 in railroad bonds, at cost $4,910 83 To cash balance in hand 5W 6* Respectfully submitted. Benj. G. Smith, Treasurer. Report of Auuitor. I have examined the account of which this is a duplicate, and find it correct and with proper vouchers. Edward B. Wilder, Auditor. Dorchester, Mass., March ti, 1895. The Chairman: The report of the Committee on Native Fruits is in order. Is the chairman, Dr. Hexainer, ready to report ? Dr. Hexamer, New York City : It will be handed in later. The Chairman : The next committee report in order is that of the Committee on Sub-Tropical Fruits, which is in the hands of the Secretary. Will you have it read, or shall it be passed at this time ? It was moved that the report be read. The Treasurer: Before this report is read, I would like to state that there are: TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. H large quantities of past reports on liand, reserved for life members. They are in great demand by agricultural colleges and experiment stations, but we can only let them out to life members. We can furnish all reports from 1871 to 1879 inclusive, excepting 1873. A biennial membership, as is well known, covers one term of two years, and entitles to one copy of the proceedings. A life membership entitles to one copy of the proceedings and one copy of all the back numbers on hand, and a copy of each future issue. They are very valuable to everybody engaged in pomological work. People not acquainted with the tabulated lists will find them invaluable. Fruit that is best adapted to every State and Territory in the Union and in the counties, is indicated in these reports. A good many fruits have been rejected, and new candidates to public favor added when thought desirable. The Chairman : We will now listen to the report of the chairman of the Com- mittee on Sub-Tropical Fruits. FRUIT CULTURE IN THE GULF REGION. BY A. H. MANVILLE, CHAIRMAN, GLEN ST. MARY, FLA. At the twenty-first session of the American Pomological Society, (Boston, 1887,) President Berckmans announced that a Committee on Sub-Tropical Fruits had been added to the standing committees of the Society. Since that time the Society has held two regular biennial sessions, at each of which a report has been made by the Sub-Tropical Committee. (See proceedings as published for 1889 and 1891.) The territory covered by this committee lies within 1,50 miles of the southern boundary-line of the United States, and is embraced in a long, narrow strip stretching along this line nearly 3,000 miles from point to point. This strip is not sub-tropical throughout its entire length, however, and it is naturally and widely separated into two great divisions. The sub-tropical region which follows down the Pacific coast and passes the head of the Gulf of California does not reach the New-Mexican line, and the sub-tropical region that follows the Gulf from the Keys to Mexico stops short at the plains of western Texas. Separated by the arid table-lands and elevated re- gions of western Texas and southern New IMexico, which form the l)ackbone of the continent where crossed by our southern boundary, our sub-tropical regions lie in two segments, one at either end of this line. We have, then, "the sub-tropical region of the Pacific," lying crescent-shaped, convex to the Western Ocean, with its horns on the Golden Gate and the Arizona line, and "the sub-tropical region of the Gulf," likewise crescent-shaped, concave to the Gulf of Mexico, and extending from Cape Sable to the Rio Grande. It has been found impracticable to include in one report these two distinct and remote divisions of our sub-tropical country ; therefore the Pacific region has been allotted to the western section of the committee, namely, Frank A. Kimball, Chas. E. Maud, and Milton Thomas, all of California; and the Gulf region to the eastern section of the committee, namely, Lyman Phelps, Jas. A. Harris, W. S. Hart, H. S. Williams, and the Chairman, all of Florida. As the Pacific division has been hereto- fore unrepresented before the Society in the reports of the Sub-Tropical Committee, a full, initial report by the California section will have especial appropriateness at the Society's first meeting on this coast. (It should be mentioned here that two places on the California section of the com- mittee have been made vacant by death since the present committee was appointed.) The session of the Society next following the institution of the Sub-Tropical Com- mittee was held in Florida, in 1889, and the initial report of the committee was con- fined to the sub-tropical region of the Gulf ; the committee's report at the Washington meeting, in 1891, was also confined to the Gulf region. The report here submitted is the work of the Florida contingent, prepared by the chairman, with the approval and concurrence of the otlier Florida members, and, like its predecessors, is confined to ^2 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. the Gulf region. This section of the committee deals with an area so extensive, and the fruits which come within its scope are so numerous, that, within the necessarily restricted limits, it is obviously impracticable to undertake more than a brief review of the pomological progress made since the Society's last meeting, in 1891. A more extended account of the fruits and fruit-growing of this region is to be found in the reports for 1889 and 1891, as published in the proceedings of the Society; and more specific information regarding the different varieties can be obtained from the Society's catalogue, which now includes the leading varieties of this region, and which, as re- cently revised, exhibits with approximate accuracy their relative value. Generally speaking, the fruit interests throughout the section under consideration have been steadily developed and extended during the past three years ; and this without backset sufficient in degree or extent to be called serious. The greatest activ- ity, as evinced in the planting of new orchards, has Ijeen exhibited in the coast region of upper Texas and Louisiana, where the strides in this direction have been phenome- nal. The same thing is true of a more limited area on the lower coast of the Florida peninsula, known as "the pineapple country." The Orange, of course, heads the list of fruits, whether measured by area planted or commercial value of the product. Year by year the Florida crop increases steadily and with little variation, but in ever-diminishing ratio. In 1885 it amounted, in round numbers, to 600,000 boxes ; in 1894, to 5.000,000 boxes. Within ten years the orange in the American market has changed from a luxury to a staple, and prices have lowered accordingly. 'While the readjustment of distribution, incident to increased production, was going on, the markets were fluctuating and uncertain. The establish- ment of channels of trade adequate to convey to consumers the enormous output has brought about a greater stability in values; the market conditions are much more satisfactory than at any time since the crop assumed gigantic proportions, and there is every reason to believe they will remain so. With the decrease in value the cost of production has also been decreased, and while there still lingers keen disappointment over the failure of the "bonanza" prices of a few years ago, the industry, as a whole, is in a prosperous condition. The advancement in intelligent and economic grove management has been very marked during the past tew years ; progress in orange culture taking this form rather than the development of new varieties. Throughout the orange belt proper, planting, in locations of comparative frost exemption, tends to late-ripening sorts of the Hart's Late type. Where severe frosts are liable to occur, early-ripening sorts have the preference, notably Boone's Early, a comparatively new variety. The Satsuma, an early-ripening variety of the Mandarin orange, from Japan, where it is called "Oonshiu," is attracting more attention, perhaps, than any other variety. It is now fully demonstrated that it will stand severer winters than other oranges. Upon the sweet^oraiige stock, which it prefers to the sour, it is hardy in north Florida and in other places having the same range of temperature. Upon the hardy, deciduous Citrus trifoliata stock it stands even farther north. In Louisiana, sixty miles north of New Orleans, groves of Satsuma on trifoliata, which have grown to maturity uninjured by cold, are now beginning to bear good crops. These facts are leading to the extensive planting of the Satsuma orange throughout the Gulf region from Texas to Florida. Possibly the most remarkable of varieties new to Florida, and now bearing their first fruit, is the one known as Tangerona, the name under which it was imported some years ago, and which is now bearing in a number of groves. Mr. Phelps, of this committee, says of this variety: "It is a vigorous grower, possessing many of the Mandarin cliaracteristics. Although not especially hardy, the fruit is superior to the Satsuma, coloring up and maturing in October, and so far the earliest orange in the State." TWENTY- FOURTH SESSION. \^ Under date of January 3, 1895, Mr. Jas. A. Harris, of this committee, says: "I concur in the report. ... I think the Pineapple orange the best variety we can grow in any part of the State for winter shipment ; Hart's Late the best late-ripening, and Parson Brown and Boone the best early-ripening oranges. I think King a splen- did orange of the Tangerine variety for a late ripener. I don't think much of the Satsuma, and it is worthless on the sour stock. Villa Franca is the best lemon we can grow." Under date of December 27, 1894, Mr. W. S. Hart, of this committee, says: "I am pleased with the report, which covers the ground satisfactorily. . . . Speak- ing for this section of the State, the east coast, 1 do not place the Satsuma as high on the list of hardy oranges as you do." Other Citrus Fruits. — In south Florida the production of lemons is rapidly increas- ing; the last crop, according to the most accurate estimate obtainable, being 150,000 boxes. The culture of pomelos, to which the name "grape fruit" still cliugs despite the efforts of our pomologists, is being greatly extended. Large quantities are now shipped annually. It is a favorite in market, where it commands a good price. At present it yields a better return than oranges, which is also true of the lemon. Pome- los have about the same range of adaptability as oranges. Latterly a considerable demand has grown up for the little citrus called "Kumquat," diminutive in both tree and fruit; and quite a numljer are being planted for market. Grapes. — Certain popular table varieties of American grapes are produced to per- fection in Florida, where they ripen very early. This industry, which had recently developed into considerable proportions in south Florida, has received a serious back- set by the failure of the product, when placed upon the market in large quantities, to bring a sufficient price to cover the high cost of transportation and leave a profit. Across the Gulf, in the comparatively rainless region of southei'n Texas, below the Guadalupe river, quite a furor has arisen over the culture of varieties of European grapes, which, so far as the experiments have gone, seem to do as well there as upon the Pacific slope. Tropical Fruits. — The extension of railways and railway connections to the lower coasts of Florida has given an impetus to the cultivation of tropical fruits in this region. Pineapple culture has already attained commercial importance, careful esti- mates placing last year's production at 55,000 (barrel) crates, which will be enor- mously increased another season. Deciduous Tree-Fruits. — Perhaps the most remarkable development in fruit cul- ture during the past three years, in the Gulf region, has been in deciduous tree-fruits in that portion of this area lying north of the so-called "orange belt," and above the Florida peninsula and the dry region of southern Texas. Pears, peaches, plums and kaki take the lead, in order as named. With these fruits, orchard-planting has passed the first stage of experiment, and the satisfactory results obtained have induced the devotion of extensive areas to orchard culture. Large (luantiiies of oriental pears, mainly of the Le Conte and Kieft'er varieties', are now shii)i)ed annually from the lower South to the great markets of the country, where they find ready sale at prices that are very remunerative to tlie grower. l\\ addition to the Le Conte and Kieffer, the Smith and Garber are being extensively planted. For this region, these oriental pears are grafted upon Le Conte or Japan pear stocks, as the stocks ordinarily used in other parts of the country do not succeed. Upon the Le Conte or Japan stock, however, they are perfectly well adapted, and it will require but a few years to develop the pear industry of this section into very large proportions. The paper on "Peaches in the (Uiif Region," prepared for this session by G. L. 14: AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Taber, of Florida, deals with this fruit so fully that further mention here is unnec- essary. Quite a number of the Japanese plums succeed in the lower South. Further ex- perience with this fruit in orchard culture is necessary, however, to determine with certainty Its profitableness as compared with other fruits, as well as to determine the comparative value of the different sorts. The last few years have served to straighten out the nomenclature of the kaki, and to determine the comparative value of the varieties for general culture. There is no difficulty in producing the fruit in perfection ; it is easily grown, and thrives every- where. But it is still a somewhat uncertain quantity in market. A most delectable fruit, to those who know it, it is still a question whether "the trade" can be induced to "take hold of it," and whether it can be introduced to the fruit-lovers of the country in a way to bring about its general consumption. — Save a few orange trees about New Orleans and St. Augustine, fruit culture in the southern coast country is new — it is but a few years back to the beginning. To appreciate the progress of recent years, this should be borne in mind. In concluding this brief review, perhaps there is no better way of emphasizing this progress than by pointing out the fact that two of the largest and most active State horticultural socie- ties in this country ai"e to be found in this territory — one in Texas, the other in Florida ; that the society in each of these States will publish in the next volume of its proceed- ings a catalogue of the fruits of its State, modeled after the great catalogue of the American Pomological Society: and that these two societies, acting jointly, have in- vited the horticulturists of all the Gulf coast country, and the members of the Ameri- can Pomological Society, to join, next year, in forming an organization devoted to the promotion of pomology in the Gulf Coast Sub-Tropical Region of the United States. There being no discussion of this paper, the following paper was then read : CALIFORNIA SEEDLING FRUITS. BY PROF. E. J. WICKSON, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, CAL. Seedling fruits have been an important factor in the pomology of the Pacific coast from the earliest times. The pioneer pomologists were the Mission Fathers, who be- gan their work upon the peninsula of Lower California in 1697, and extended it to the territory now known as California in 1769. To what extent these missionaries de- pended upon selection from seedlings to develop the fruit varieties which became characteristic of their establishments in this State, or how far these varieties are due to the introduction of cuttiugs from approved varieties of two centuries ago in Spain, may never be definitely known. The Mission olive and the Mission grape have been tentatively identified with European varieties, to which they do possess at least a strong resemblance. Both these fruits are certainly very far removed from the wild types, and both are fruits most readily grown from cuttings. The same is true of the Mission fig. If it be granted that they did not originate these fruits from seed, it must also be conceded as most probable that the other fruits of the Mission, the oranges, limes, citrons, pomegranates, dates, apples, pears, peaches and plums, were seedlings. The inferiority of these fruits is in marked contrast to the excellence of the Mission olive, grape and fig, and this might be taken to indicate that the fathers were more expert at improving Indians than they were at improving fruits, or else they would have given us varieties of other fruits possessed of as distinctive excellence as must be granted to their olive, grape, and fig. Must we then decide that the earliest growers of seedling fruits on the coast did not improve their opportunities? About a century later than the first seed-planting in Lower California, there was an introduction of seed from the northeast and the northwest. The trappers and TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 15 agents of the Hudson Bay Company started fruit trees from seed in western Oregon, and the Russians on the coast of northern California. These early comers seem to have been content with whatever came from their seed, and possibly, with the excep- tion of a single apple, which can be traced to the Russian settlement, they left no pomological legacy to the present race of fruit-growers. Seedling Fruit by Americans. — With the advent of Americans came not only fruit seeds, but enterprise and ambition directed by pomological love and lore, and for the last fifty years the fruit-growers of California and Oregon have done more in the origi- nation of new varieties from seed than the same number of people anywhei'e else in the world. Of course only a small part of those which have won notice and praise have attained commercial importance, and yet enough have passed this test to make California fruit lists largely unintelligible to Eastern or European pomologists. I be- lieve it is no exaggeration to claim that one-third, and possibly even more, of the deciduous fruits and nuts which we grow for export are of varieties originated here, and unknown to distant orchards or to distant literature. The fact that these varieties are peculiarly suited to our local conditions may somewhat limit their industrial im- portance to the world at large, but does not at all reduce their value to pomological science. Nor does the other fact, that their origin is due to the necessity, which was very early discerned, that our peculiar conditions required new varieties adapted to those conditions, lessen their pomological significance. It rather affords uniciue evidence that pomology is a science, and not merely an arrangement of empirical formulas and rules. It gives the pursuit of pomology new dignity also as an art, because it endows it with creative functions. It is gratifying to us as Californians to be able to claim upon the basis of such achievements as I have hinted at some true affiliation with our distinguished guests, whose reputation is already established in honors for which we are pleading. Possible Parentage of Our Seedlings. — It would be an exceedingly interesting study to trace out the introduction of the best varieties of fruits, from all the (juarters of the earth, and to show that in our seedling fruits, as in our native sons and daughters of the Golden West, there is the choicest blood which flows from all enlightened sources. It would be too great a task for such an occasion as this. It may, however, be con- ceded that for nearly half a century the earth has been ransacked for pomological treasures to bring to California. These trees and vines have bloomed, the winds have blown, insects have come and gone, and though probably not one variety in a hundred of those brought to California can now be found in our commercial orchards, who can say that any one of them has not, during its probation here, given some attribute of its l)eing to some seedling which comes to us with new form and (jualities thought to be original '? California is disposed then to allude to her achievements in the line of new fruits with due humility. She really kuows not what triumph of pomologists long gone to their reward have joined, upon California soil and under California skies, to bring forth the present masterpieces she calls her own. While there have been a number of new fruits originated in California by the most scientific method of cross-pollination from selected parentage, and while the achieve- ments of Luther Burbank of Santa Rosa in this line are perhaps as creditable as any originator in the world can claim, it must be acknowledged that thus far California has accomplished most by the humble and elementary method of recognition of merit in chance seedlings. In early American days, fruit seeds came in luggage of hundreds of gold-seekers. Those who went out from the old Eastern homes to seek fortunes in our gold fiekls very often brought seed from the grand old fruit trees around which the memories of IQ AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. childhood lovingly clustered. Those who, in haste of starting, or thinking that they were going to a barren land, neglected fruit seeds, asked for them in their first letters to the old homes. The result of this general introduction of seeds from varieties most esteemed in the old homes, was the gift to the welcoming California soil of large quantities of seed of the choicest parentage. Thus among the trees that sprang up everywhere in the mining regions of the foothills, and in the earliest settled valleys^ as well, there have been found many excellent seedlings, some of which are now among our most popular local varieties. Early Recourse to Seedlings. — Again, there was a wide planting of seeds at the first because budded trees were either not to be had, or were held at prices which nowadays seem almost fabulous. Certainly forty years ago common budded trees were sold in the city where we now meet at a price for which you could obtain upv/ards of a hundred trees of the same variety to-day. Fruit seeds were proportionately high and in as great request in those days. Early planters have paid in this city 75 cents and $1 per pound for peaches, chiefly to secure the pits; they have patrolled the streets to pick up the pits which were dropped by other fruit-buyers. It is a unique item in our pomological history, that people among whom gold nuggets were treated as carelessly as nickels are to-day, should delight to rake the dust of the streets to discover peach-pits, or should hoard up the seeds of apple or pear until they could intrust them to the soil beside their cabins. And this early pomological fervor was richly rewarded ; the trees attained growth and came into bearing with a rapidity and profusion almost incredible to those who came from less genial climates. Though the planting of fruit-seeds never wholly stopped, it was a matter of minor concern as soon as budded fruit became cheap and plentiful. From 18.55 to 1875 in- centive to growth of seedlings ceased, except with those who loved pomology for its own sake and never lost its inspiration to improvement. The Present Era of Seedlings. — With the uprising of fruit-growing as a great com- mercial industry, about 1875 a new incentive was given, and it was one of quite as engrossing a nature as that of pioneer times. Fruit for shipping long distances, fruit fit to endure the trial of the canning process, varieties which would resist the attacks of parasites and diseases, varieties which would extend the fruit season at both ends by beginning earlier and ending later — all these and other similar considerations de- veloped a discriminating demand for varieties with definite traits and qualities — a demand which we had never known before. It has remained a ruling factor in our development of new varieties ever since that time, and it will remain with us. Of late it has taken the higher form of cross- pollination from selected parentage of specific type, but probably we shall always glean from the field of chance seedlings which has hitherto yielded such a rich harvest. It would carry me beyond all proper limits of this paper to submit to you a list with detailed descriptions of seedlings which have become of importance to us. Such account, too, can be found in our local pomological literature. It would better serve our present purpose to remark briefly upon each of the leading kinds of fruits, and note some things we have gained by new varieties. Apricots. — In apricots we have secured new sorts which open the season two or three weeks earlier than the ripening of those European varieties which are generally trustworthy here. Some of the earliest European varieties are too small for commer- cial purposes, or else they are so shy in bearing as to be unprofitable. The greatest apricot in the State is the Royal, supposed to be from France. We have seedlings which are shipped to Eastern markets from our early-fruit re- gions almost a month before the Royal is ready. The Moorpark Is our grandest apri- cot, when it consents to bear a crop. We have seedlings which combine much of the TWENTY- FOURTH SESSION. 17 glory of the Moorpark with surer bearing, more even ripening, and we have also good seedlings considerably later than the Moorpark. Cherries. — The cherry has always occupied rather a limited area in California, though the product is important and of considerable value. Recent experience shows better success in shipments of cherries for long distances, though there is little war- rant at present in commercial planting of the fruit. Several important varieties have been developed from seedlings in Oregon and in this State, which, like the Centennial and Black Republican, have exceptionally good shipping qualities, and are supplanting old varieties for this purpose. Extra earll- ness, extreme size and other excellence are always shown by other seedlings, but they have never become very prominent, because of the general limitations which beset the cherry in California. Apples and Pears. — In apples we are mainly upon standard varieties, some of ■which are far more prominent here than in the places where they originated. We have several fall and winter apples of our own, however, which have secured a per- manent place in our orchards, such as Skinner's, Marshall's and Cook's seedlings. In pears our commercial ambition has been rather narrow, and has been chiefly to obtain something which would pass for either Bartlett or Winter Nelis, and thus pro- long the market season of these varieties, or escape some of the evils they are subject to in some parts of the State. Our most prominent seedling pear is P. Barry, originated by the late B. S. Fox, of San Jose, and honored with a medal by your Society some years ago. We also have other seedling pears which have attained some popularity. Recently our list of pears commercially profitable has been extending, and the out- look is that we shall grow this grand fruit more intelligently and discriminately than we have hitherto. Plums and Prunes. — Our chief prune product is made from French varieties, which seem to leave little to be desired unless we can get drying qualities associated witli greater size. A constant effort has been made in this direction in this State and Oregon, and I regret to say that some very large seedlings are being offered to prune planters which will be disappointing, because they do not contain sugar enough to yield a sweet dried prune of the P^'rench type which now seems desirable. If the American people want a large, acid prune, these varieties may afford it, but the curer will probably have to trust to quick, high heat in his evaporator to check fermentation during curing. I apprehend that these large, thin-juiced plums will need more energetic treatment than even the glorious sunshine of California can afford them. On the other hand, in shipping and canning plums we have accomplished great things by seedlings. We have originated varieties even earlier than the cherry plum or myrobolan, of far greater size and splendid shipping qualities. We also have, through Mr. Burbank, cross-bred .Japanese plums of decidedly novel features in form, color and flavor. We have, too, seedlings from European parentage which surpass their progenitors in size, keeping and shipping qualities. With these we are growing a large line of old varieties, and can market plums from the trees all during the season from May to November. Some of our new plums of Japanese origin can be safely shipped without refrigeration, so pronounced are their shipping qualities. Peaches. — Californians have done more in originating new peaches than in varieties of any other fruit. The peach has always been our leading deciduous fruit, though it is now closely pressed, if not surpassed, by the plum family, which of course includes prunes. Our origination of new peaches first obtained the notice of your Society, if I 18 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. am uot mistaken, and Briggs's Red May is a memorial of oue of our greatest pioneers in fruit-growing. It would require an elaborate essay and much study to do anything like justice to the character and values of our new peaches. In different periods of our advancement, selection of seedlings has proceeded upon different standards of excellence which seemed at the time of special importance. In pursuit of these ends we have extended our peach season at both ends, so that it now runs from Decoration Day to Thanks- giving. We escaped curl-leaf both by new and selection of old varieties, long before the discovery of the efScacy of fungicides, which now make the achievement less im- portant. We have peaches wholly free from red color in the flesh or skin, so that the canners can have clear juice, and we have others deep red at the pit for the peach- driers. We have clings which for size and for various commercial purposes surpass the old varieties, and have largely replaced them in our planting. For peach-drying, too, we have trained the trees to be sparing of the juice, so we would have less water to evaporate. For general roundness of form, absence of unsymmetrical projections and smallness of pit, we have made many good marks in our work with peaches. Almonds and Walnuts. — In no branch of this effort for improved varieties has our success been more marked than in the development of seedHng almonds. The achievements of A. T. Hatch in this line are too well known to require but a passing allusion. It is not too much to say that this work rescued almond culture to Califor- nia. When he began, the almond, becaui^e of almost universal failure of old varieties, was a hissing and a byword in our horticulture. Nine-tenths of all the almonds planted during the preceding twenty-five years had gone for firewood or wer^ carrying the foliage of the prune to conceal their hated stems. At the present time, through the dissemination of Mr. Hatch's varieties, the almond, in all regions decently adapted to the tree, is productive and profitable and has a future. Of the superiority of these new varieties over the leading imported sorts, very carefully prepared statements of comparative weighings of kernel and shell have recently been published by our State Horticultural Society, and are obtainable by all who have been interested in the subject. The California production of the English walnut is at present largely composed of selected seedlings of local origin, whose history and characteristics are on record. There is now a question whether these varieties are as good as the French varieties, which sell at higher rates in New York. Certainly our seedlings so far brought forward have a rather narrow geographical adaptation, and to the greater area of the State the French varieties seem better. The determination of this question is one of the duties of the immediate future. Small Fruits. — In small fruits we have done less than in orchard varieties. The achievements of Europe and the East during many centuries with the vinifera species of the grape have produced all the variation that could be asked for, and all our time has been occupied in determining the local values of these sorts which are perfectly adapted to our climate. The great progress in the development of new grapes from the species of the regions east of the Rocky Mountains has only a general interest for us. The local demand for such grapes is insignificant. All we can claim in this direction is a sport of the Isa- bella, which, under favorable conditions, attains very great size and retains the old characters of the Isabella. In berries we have recently attained very striking results. The Logan l^erry, origi- nated by Judge Logan of Santa Cruz by crossing a sport of our native blackberry upon a common red raspberry, shows most unique characters, account of which has recently been widely published. I have been personally acquainted with the fruit for several years, and its value, at least for the coast region of California, has not been exagger- TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 19 ated. Mr. Burbank has also done some very important work with berries, the details of which are given in his publications. The Future. — As has been already admitted, the most California can claim in the origination of new varieties has been through constant watchfulness for natural sports and chance seedlings. The notable achievements already made in artificial crossing, which have been mentioned, show that we are entering now upon a higher method, and it is fair to expect that the results will be uniciue and brilliant. We have peerless conditions for scientific cross-fertilization. Our fruit bloom is wonderfully profuse, and the setting of the fruit so sure that one of our greatest orchard expenses is thin- ning. The perfection of the seed is secured under practical freedom from adverse conditions, and so notably is this the case that California is becoming one of the chief sources of seed supply to the country and beyond. Thus far our pomology has been impelled forward so precipitately by commercial enterprise, that we have not had time for leisurely pursuing pomological science. Such a time of quiet work and sublime delight is just now before us. We look upon the first meeting of the American Pomo- logical Society within our borders as fit to mark our admission to a higher degree in pomological work and mystery. The Chairman : We now have this paper before us for discussion. Perhaps it would be interesting to ask the Professor to define the difference between the prune and the plum. Prof. Wickson : We understand that a prune is a plum which will dry with the pit in, without fermentation. We can give you prunes that will not do that. According to our confused nomenclature, they are prunes that will not "prune." Mr. Manning, Reading, Mass. : Please describe the berry which is a cross be- tween the blackberry and the raspberry, to which you refer in your paper. Prof. Wickson : The fruit was originated by Judge Logan, of Santa Cruz, who had growing in his place what is known as the "Aughinbaugh," an improved wihl blackberry of California, and the ordinary red raspberry, the name of which he has never been given. The result is a fruit larger than either. It grows an inch or more in length. It is darker colored than the ordinary red raspberry. It has a peculiar flavor which seems to combine the raspberry and blackberry flavor. It is very pro- ductive and an exceedingly strong grower, making canes as large as one's thumb. Roots run deep as a blackcap, and it cannot be propagated as an ordinary raspberry is. It seems to combine the character of its two parents. It is mostly propagated from tips, although it can be from layers. The last report of the experiment station of the I'niversity of California — which you can all get by sending to Professor Hil- gard — contains a photograph of fruit which we grew, and also a description, giving the history of the berry. I will be very glad to send the report to any of you who will leave name and address. The Chairman: The President's address will now be read. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. BY P. J. BERCKJIANS, PliEMIDENT, AUGUSTA, GA. Ladies and Oentlemen, and Members of the American Pomological Society: In again being permitted to be associated with those whose object in thus coming together is the dissemination of true knowledge, I beg to express my gratification at the au- spicious circumstances which assure the success of this convention. You recognize the necessity of voluntary association, and intercourse with men of education and scientific attainments, in order to add to your own knowledge of what we may have in common interest. Our association may be said to be a large family whose members, although often separated from each other by great distances, have nevertheless occa- sional opportunities for a friendly reunion where they will meet kindred spirits and 20 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. work together in advancing our beautiful pursuit, which is one of the most potent factors in promoting education, comfort, and national wealth. While we miss many of our members and counselors, who are prevented from participating with us in the good work which will emanate from your deliberations, they have given you their aid in presenting papers and reports which show their solic- itude for the welfare of your grand organization, and they regret that the fatigues of a long Journey and a lengthy absence from their homes debar them from the privilege of meeting with you. But to those of us who have come to this land of wonders to grasp the hand of the friends whom we hoped for years past to meet face to face, is given the joyful oppor- tunity of fulfilling that desire, and with their aid so cordially proffered in their warm welcome we look forward with pleasing assurances that our labors for poniological progress will result in the most abundant success for the good of our whole country. It is needless that 1 should occupy your time in elucidating a plan of work — this is practically set forth in the programmes prepared for the daily sessions ; but as you have on a former occasion graciously accepted a few suggestions which I deemed it my duty to make for the welfare of our Society, I therefore desire to again refer to a few sub- jects intimately interwoven with the wonderfully rapid progress of pomology, and also as to the affairs of this association since its last session at Washington, D. C, during September, 1891, where an invitation to hold the twenty-fourth biennial session at Chicago was received from the Director-General of the World's Columbian Exposition. This was accepted conditionally, upon certain promises then made being carried out, and the whole matter referred to a special committee composed of five members, rep- resenting the Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western and Pacific sections. After care- fully considering the subject, it was decided that it would not be advisable to hold a regular business session during the Columbian Exposition, as there were doubts as to securing a regular and full attendance of our members, and also because of inadequate facilities offered by the Exposition, but that a social reunion, where further action could be taken as to the place of meeting for the next session, would be the most prac- tical course to adopt. Subsequent events proved the wisdom of this plan, which was indorsed by the horticultural press ; and at the called session held on August 17, 1893, at the Art Institute at Chicago, the invitation of the California State Board of Horti- culture was unanimously accepted. We i-ejoice that we are atforded this opportunity of greeting our Pacific friends upon their own hearth and forming new friendly ties which shall be as everlasting as are the ethics of our Society. IN KEVIEWING THE AVOEK of the American Pomological Society, since its inception in 1848, and the compara- tively restricted territory which it then covered, we stand amazed at the progress made in this science. In the early history of the Society many problems relating to pomology were unsolved ; scientific investigations had not received the attention which in later years has made clear what was once obscure, and many of the obstacles to successful fruit culture have been gradually removed by systematic scientific work. Our General Government has given material aid towards advancing our methods of production, by diffusing the results of the work of the various scientific divisions of the U. S. Department of Agriculture; but greater benefits have been derived from our State and local horticultural societies, whose work is of more practical value for their immediate sections, and such of our States as have appreciated the value of their fruit products as a soui'ce of wealth have wisely given their aid to its progress. Many States by legislative appropriations and legal enactment have so protected the fruit- growing industry as to have vastly increased their revenue and population and ad- vanced their educational and material progress. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 21 THE MAGNITUDP: of CALIFOKNIA'S fruit INDUSTItY is iu a great measure due to the liberal course adopted by its State government. Older States may derive a practical lesson from these commendable principles, and be more liberal in giving the practical aid they have so far withheld. The establishing of State experiment stations sustained by Federal appropriation is wise in principle: and where such stations are conducted solely with a view of advancing all methods of culture, they have been connected with good results. Unfortunately, partisan political intluence has in several States caused the work of these stations to be of little or no benefit to the people, because of the inefficiency of some of their officers, whose political influence is greater than their scientific attain- ments or fitness for the work expected from them. It is therefore to be hoped that all progressive pomologists will unite their efforts in urging their respective State legislatures to select competent men to be placed in charge of their experiment sta- tions. When this course is pursued, they will receive the sujjport of our most practi- cal and scientific pomologists, as, without their aid, station work would be slow and unsatisfactory to those who expect to be benefited from such institutions. We how- ever owe to the persevering labors of many of the men of the past and present gen- erations the vast number of fruits which have so greatly increased our supplies, and especially to such eminent men as Wilder, Downing, Warder, Barry, and Manning, who opened the door as to the possibilities connected with PROGRESSIVE POMOLOGY. We number now among us as co-workers your own Burbank, whose conscientious experiments have given you such new creations iu fruits and flowers as have never heretofore been achieved. We honor him, and gratefully acknowledge his efforts in advancing scientific pomology. While the object of the American Pomological Society, at its origin, was the ad- vancement of a scientific pursuit, its influence upon fruit culture became so marked that it was deemed necessary to devote a portion of its work to COMMERCIAL POMOLOGY, in order to improve the methods of bringing fruit products before the people, and thus materially aid both in the production of better fruit and educating the consumers as to their special value. The gradual and rapid changes which have taken place in our large market centers denote that this is due to a better knowledge of fruits by those who dispose of our products. Certain varieties of fruits owe the increase in their production to the intelligent manner in which our most progressive commission mer- chants bring these before the purchasing public, and many methods as to the proper handling of fruits for commercial purposes have been adopted from their suggestions and thus greatly benefited the producer. Many varieties of indifferent quality which formerly contributed to the bulk of our market ])r()ducts are superseded by better sorts, and are now seldom seen. In this, commercial pomology has been greatly aided by scientific methods of cultivatiou. COMPETITION IN FRUIT PRODUCTS. The supply of products has kept pace with the gradual increase in the area of fruit culture, but the old methods of both suijply and demand have been revolutionized with tlie advent of California products in Eastern and Western markets. Rapid transpor- tation has solved the problem of increased production in your State, where fruits of endless variety attain to such wonderful i)erfectieing unable to devote either time or money towards the production of new or improved fruits, has found his pursuit made easier and more remunerative from the work of the amateur. He has drawn from the latter the material which has been the basis of his commercial success. Without this great store of pomological wealth, his pursuit would have been prac- tically impossible. While a large number of American nurserymen and commercial fruit-growers have failed to affiliate with this Society, we acknowledge the great aid whicli many of those who have become the leaders in that profession have freely given this organization, and who are to-day its most loyal and active supporters. This Society must retain its original distinctive characteristic, SCIENTIFIC AMATEUR LINE OF AVORK, as pomological progress must in the end come from the work of amateurs, and those who are reaping the harvest should recognize the importance of aiding in its future welfare by becoming active co-workers, and contributing their share towards an or- ganization that has in a great measure been the foundation of the success in their com- TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 23 inercial veuture. Our older members are leaving us one by one, and those that are still remaining look to our younger men to perpetuate the great work which has brought American Pomology so prominently before the civilized world and given such wonderful sources of wealth to this country. We cordially invite the attendance at our session of our young men who look upon fruit-growing as their future vocation. We desire to encourage those who may enter- tain a latent fondness for rural pursuits by listening to the teachings of men whose long and practical experience will aid them to solve hitherto unexplained problems and thus aid them in their prospective career. I earnestly trust that this appeal will meet with a ready and generous response. We need you now, that you may be pre- pared to succeed us in our ENDEAVORS TO PROMOTE HUMAN PROGRESS. We rejoice in the increased strength of many State horticultural societies, and espe- cially at the liberal appropriations which they receive from their respective State gov- ernments ; and as many of these legislative grants are gradually increased, it is evident tiiat this is because of a corresponding increase in their States' revenue. In this way tlie cooperation of their most active aud best citizens is enlisted, as the surest means to improve their productive resources is by a judicious expenditiu'e of public funds. Permit me therefore to urge upon every member present the necessity to use his efforts in bringing before the respective State authorities the importance of sustaining their State horticultural societies by a liberal annual appropriation. It is through such societies that the work of the American Pomological Society can increase in useful- ness— and this is only possible by mutual cooperation. FINANCES. Your finances are in a most satisfactory condition, thanks to the wise and econom- ical management of your Treasurer, Hon. Benjamin G. Smith, whose statements of his duties show a healthy balance. He has safely invested the legacy which Mr. AVilder, our venerated friend and father of this Society, has so generously bequeathed, that the life and usefulness of the American Pomological Society may be perpetuated. Your Secretary deserves your commendation for. the faithful performance of the arduous labors which have fallen to him in assuring the success of this session ; the duties of his office have been no sinecure for the past six months. My work in the furtherance of your success has been abundantly shared by your Treasurer, Secretary, Chairman of General Fruit Committee, and Chairman of Native Fruits, to whom I cordially return my thanks. We also acknowledge the many favors received from the horticultural and agricultural publications, which have liberally no- ticed our circular referring to this session. NECROI>OGY. Death has again invaded our ranks. Our departed friends, who for so many years iiave given us their aid in the promoting of our work, will no longer give us their counsel: but if we are deprived of their presence, we gratefully place on record their good deeds in promoting our i)ursuit. President Berckmans (resuming the chair) took up the regular order of busi- ness, and the following paper was then read by the Secretary : PEACH CULTURE IN THE GULF REGION. l;V (i. L. TABKU, GLKN ST. MAUV, FI.A. For many years the center of the peach-growing industry of the United States has been steadily working southward, and within the past decade new orciiards have been 24 AMERICAy POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. planted on an extensive scale, in sections that twenty years ago were nnsusj)ecte(l of any special adaptability to the growing of this luscious fruit. From time immemorial, scattering peaches (seedlings) have been grown throughout the Gulf region, many of which have done well, proven long lived (often under adverse circumstances), and produced fruit of as good an average quality as could be depended upon, from seed- lings, anywhere. But as for commercial orchards of budded varieties, adapted to the Gulf coast country, there were practically none in existence twenty years ago. Nearly every section of the strip of country paralleling the coast, from Cedar Keys to Corpus Christi, and extending some distance inland, contributes to the fruit lore of the Gulf region traditions of peaches grown from seed, so superior, the "oldest in- habitant" tells us, by way of comparison, that our Javanese Peen-to and its descend- ants, Downing's Honey and its offspring, the Chinese Cling and its progeny ( including the far-famed Elberta), are not worthy to be mentioned in the same breath. Every progressive horticulturist has learned that such "traditions" are by no means un- common. They prevail in all parts of our country, and with all kinds of fruit, and, though always to be taken cum r/rano sails, they are not without value, as showing the adaptability of given fruits to given sections, although oftentimes many years of ex- perimenting and careful testing are necessary to determine the particular varieties that are, par excellence, the ones for quality, vigor, fruitfulness — in a word, for profit. The varieties of peaches that can be profitably grown in the Gulf coast region ai'e for the most part quite distinct from those that would be selected for a commercial or- chard in any one of the older peach-growing States to the north of us ; and not only this, but sometimes a radical distinction as to varieties has to be made for sections but a comparatively short distance apart and in the same latitude. On the highlands of northwestern Florida and southern Alabama the Elberta is demonstrating its adaptability as a money-maker ; while two hundred miles farther east, in the same range of latitude, in a section also well adapted to peaches, this va- riety does not succeed at all. In all sections of the area under consideration where late spring frosts are not common, improved varieties of the Peen-to and Honey types are quite certain, and for the most southern range of this vast territory varieties of the Peen-to type are un- doubtedly the ones to plant. A little farther north, but also in this same Gulf region, certain varieties of the Honey type are still adapted, as well as varieties of the old "Spanish" type, (which produced most of the varieties upon which the traditions above alluded to were founded.) Yet farther north, but still in this same Gulf region, and in some places running down into and overlapping the intermediate section, another type succeeds, a type sometimes called the "Northern Chinese," with the Chinese Cling as the original, and Elberta, General Lee, and others, as improved rep- resentatives. Here also Alexander, Jessie Kerr, Mountain Rose, Foster, etc., are more or less adapted. At least two of the State societies of this Gulf coast region are actively at work upon fruit catalogues, using a system of starring for the different sections, after the plan in vogue with the American Pomological Society, and these catalogues will doul)t- less do much to bring order oat of chaos. The joint meeting announced for 1896, of the Texas and Florida State Horticultural Societies, augmented, it is hoped, by the State societies and iudividual horticulturists of the intervening coast region, can scarcely fail to materially aid in bringing about the desired result of properly listing the different varieties for the different sections. This matter of adaptability is, in the writer's opinion, of such transcendent im- portance that everything else, even cultivation, dwarfs into insignificance beside it. Not that I would underrate the importance of cultivation, by any means. Cultivation is of the first importance if the variety is adapted, but unless the variety is adapted. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 25 it is of no eouseciuence whatever — for wliat use to cultivate a fruit tree tlmt will not bear ? With the Gulf coast country practically debarred by nature from coequality with more nortiiern sections in the production of certain varieties that have become well established and valuable in those more northern sections, and with nurserymen (and the ubiquitous tree agent) naturally trying to dispose of the varieties suited to their own more northern localities, (the only ones they grow, or, in fact, have demand for,) is it strange that so large a percentage of the planting results in failure, and that the pomology of this vast area is so largely formative, in peaches as well as other fruits ? The writer thinks not. If the pomologists of the Gulf coast country work in common for the introduction, Xirotluction, testing and dissemination of varieties suited to the requirements of the (liiTerent sections of this vast and pomologically distinct region, may not the results be as great and of as vast importance to the horticulture of the Gulf coast country as any yet achieved for any equally large territory anywhere ? The writer thinks they may, and will. The President then announced the following SPECIAL COMMITTEES. Committee on Credentials. — Prof. E. J. Wickson, University of California, Berke- ley; Jacob W. Manning, Reading, Mass.; Silas Wilson. Atlantic, Iowa. Committee on President's Address. — Prof. L. R. Taft, Agricultural College, Michi- gan; Prof. Chas. H. Shinn, Niles, Cal.; Prof. C. V. Riley, Washington, D. C. Committee on Exhibition and Aicarding Wilder Medal. — Dr. F. M. Hexamer, New York City; Eben Boalt, Palermo, Cal.; Wm. B. Gester, Newcastle, Cal.; B. M. LeLong, Secretary State Board of Horticulture, San Francisco. Committee on Resolutions.— U. P. Stabler, Yuba City, Cal.; Geo. H. Miller, Rome, ^ ; grapes, 23 against 143^ ; oranges, 7.12 against 4.6; figs, 19 against 113^. In most of these cases there is a corresponding excess of acid in the European fruits. That such considerable differences must influ- ence materlallj' the palatableness of the product as well as its digestibility and nutri- tive value, is manifest. But no less serious, and perhaps more directly affecting the nutritive value, are the differences in the contents of the flesh-forming ingredients — the "albuminoids." Here we have in the case of the apricot, a proportion of 5 for the California product against 2 in the European; in the prune, 5 to 4 ; in the plum, 1 1 against 4. For figs also, the difference is slightly in favor of the California product, while singularly enough, in the case of oranges, the difference is the other way in the proportion of about 11 to 18. Thus, aside from the oranges, all of our fruits thus far examined exceed considerably the European fruit both in sugar and flesh-forming sub- stances, greatly to the advantage of their nutritive value. For the orange, while the sugar is also in excess with us, the flesh-forming ingredients are relatively less. It will thus be seen that both as regards the contents of sugar, acid and albuminoids, there are differences which in some cases amount to over 50 per cent, of the figures found for California fruits. Difl'ereuces nearly as great occur in the ash composition. Thus as regards potash, we find in California prunes only ninety-three pounds of pot- ash per acre for a 30,000-pound crop, while for Europe the figure is one hundred and twelve. For oranges the corresponding figures ( 20,000 pounds per acre) are eighty-six against one hundred and twenty-one ; for figs, the figures are nearly identical. The general result is, that the potash Is uniformly less in California fruits than in the European. For phosphoric acid we find some very striking difi'erences, amounting in the case of the fig to a proportion of nearly nine in the Californian to one in the European. For oranges the difference in the same direction is thirteen to (nearly) eleven ; in prunes, as ninety-five to sixty-eight. We find, then, as regards phosphoric acid, that California fruits draw more heavily upon the soil than do European ones. Since (as I have shown) California soils are rather deficient in that substance, this is a significant indication for the horticulturist. But in this respect even greater signifi- cance attaches to the nitrogen-contents of these fruits, which as already shown is con- siderably greater in Californian fruits in all but the orange. Thus an average crop of Californian apricots takes out of the soil nearly sixty pounds of nitrogen against about twenty-five in the European ; prunes, forty-nine pounds against thirty-seven in Europe. In figs there is only a light difference; in the case of oranges, the Californian takes only thirty-seven pounds against fifty-four in Europe. SOIL INGREDIENTS EXTRACTED BY DIFFERENT FRUIT CROPS. Fruits. Total ash, pounds. Potash, pounds. Phos. acid, pounds. Mtrogen, pounds. Grapes: 8.80 4.90 147.00 4.91 147.30 6.30 189.00 4.86 145.80 5.35 6.07 121.40 4.32 86.40 8.00 120.00 7.81 117.15 5.00 1.52 1.70 Apricots: .86 25.80 2.90 87.00 3.73 111.90 3.10 93.00 .64 19.20 .95 28.53 .68 20.40 1.94 Crop of 30 000 pounds 59.20 Prunes: 1.22 Crop of 3(t.(KK> pdniids 36.60 1.62 Crop of ;?0.(itK_» pimnds 48.60 1.81 Oranges: 2.78 55.60 2.11 42.20 2.27 34.05 4.69 70.45 .67 13.40 .53 10.60 .10 1.50 .86 12.90 2 69 Crop of iojKX) poinids 53.80 1.83 Crop of :JO.(X)o pounds Figs: 36.60 2.27 Crop of 15,000 pounds VaUfor/iian— (White Adriatic)— In each 1.000 lbs.. . Cropof 15.aX)lbs.. 34.05 2.38 35.70 TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 53 Such differfeiices as these should warn us against taking for granted, in our climate and in our soils, the data and rules transmitted to us from Europe and from the East; the more as we have our own data in a much more complete shape than are (thus far) those coming to us from the outside. Our growers as well as our fertilizer manu- facturers must take note that what is true for the humid climates, from which most of our data for these matters are derived, will not apply here. By reason of their com- parative remoteness from the centers of scientific investigation, the products and soils of the arid regions have until now received but very little attention, and what has been done outside of this State has been mostly done in such a scattering and unsys- tematic manner as to convey scarcely any data for deflnite comparison. I am there- fore justified in calling the attention of farmers, and especially fruit-growers, to the fact that Eastern precedents will not serve them in these matters ; and that when fertilizers are ottered them upon the basis of Eastern or European data, they should consult those elicited for them by the State Experiment Station in order to see that their money is spent to the best advantage. Much remains to be done, but what has been done is at least worthy of their close attention. The reports and bulletins of the Experiment Station are sent free to any citizen of California making application therefor. There being no discussion of this paper, the President then announced that an in- vitation had been received through Assemblyman W. R. Guy, of San Diego, California, to visit that city. INVITATION TO VISIT SAN DIEGO, CAL. Assemblyman Guy then addressed the convention, inviting them to visit the city of San Diego, during their visit to southern California. The Pkesident: On behalf of the Society, Mr. Guy, I return you our thanks; and in order to put this matter through the proper channel, I will request the chairman of the Committee on Invitations to take it under consideration and the report will be made to you officially, as soon as possible. The next paper on the programme is "Horticultural Law, "by Prof. Emory E. Smith. Pkofessor Smith : Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen — The paper which 1 will read to you this evening is not prepared with a view to precipitating a political discussion, but because I believe that the tillers of the soil have too long ignored their right in matters of law, and therefore I will give you a few ideas of one who is in sympathy with that class, and has ideas and opinions in matters of law which directly or indirectly att'ect them. Prof. Smith then read the following paper : HORTICULTURAL, LAWS. BY PKOr. EMORY E. SMITH, STANFORD UNIVERSITY, PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA. The period of financial depression through which our country has been passing has been brought about largely by over-speculation on the part of the people and by corrupt and insufficient legislation. The country is also unsettled by the readjusting of the wage basis in all lines of trade, brought about naturally by changed commercial conditions. Lessons are being learned, some of which will not be forgotten in a cen- tury. The veil of self-satisfaction and security which has obscured our vision is being cleft by adversity and internal strife. The tree of state has grown to beautiful pro- portions. Its broad foliage has given shelter and rest to a mighty nation, which has plucked fruits from its l)ranches without a thought for the morrow. Hut can this tree, so great and i)eautiful, continue to thrive upon unhealthy roots in impoverished soil ? Or can it thrive under the unskilled and neglectful husbandman? The farmer of the United States is the root, which, finding food in plenty in virgin soil, developed the great branches, manufactures and commerce. But lax laws have 54 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. encouraged speculatiou which has robbed the soil of its virtue, the professional politi- cian has proven an unskillful and vicious cultivator, and the splendid national edifice founded by the svpeat of the farmer's brow totters to-day, defaced and wrapped in the toils of charlatans and tricksters. The bland confidence and irresolution of the farmer has come nigh to being his undoing, but there is yet time to retrieve in a measure lost opportunities. Why do ruralists shudder at the words, law and politics? It is because we have been enslaved in the injustices of the law, and have been tricked until we have ceased either to believe or to honor the politician. No silver or tariff bill will restore public confidence so long as we are in the grasp of the octopus, the professional politician. The time has come when every tiller of the soil must become a politician. The time has come when the farmers must undo and make laws that will free them from the shackles of "corporate tyranny" and the snares of the speculator. All honor to the patriot, the statesman, the true-hearted politician ; arm yourselves with the ballot, the freeman's scepter; vindicate justice, honor, and truth. Whither does the ship of state drift ? W^ho can answer the (luestion ? Upon the farmer largely rests the responsibility of deciding whether the American nation, freighted with your home and mine, shall repose a bleaching skeleton upon the shores of time, or whether it shall outride the storm and again enter the harbor of peace and plenty, HORTICULTURE AND AGRICUI-TURE. Before proceeding to systematically consider existing laws and those which are immediately desirable, I wish to call attention to the popular fallacy of regarding hor- ticulture as a branch of, or as subservient to, agriculture. Agriculture was originally, in truth, supplementary to horticulture, and each is at the present time an independent and distinct business, although the words "farm" and "farmers" may with propriety be applied to either. The garden from which our great horticultural industries have sprung probably had its origin by primitive man collecting, in a limited space, fruits and nuts, which constituted his food, the idea being suggested, perhaps, by the spring- ing up of seeds cast away in the neighborhood of his habitation. Agriculture, embracing cereals, pulses, flesh, etc., had its origin in "hunger food," man being forced, upon the failure of the natural supply from climatic or other cau.-es, to subsist upon whatever could be found, the use of flesh being probably suggested by the preying of animals upon each other, and the use of seeds probably by the birds of the air. The requirements of horticulture and agriculture in matters of law are in some cases widely different, though not antagonistic ; in the General Government the great principles dealt with are largely identical, and will be so considered. For the sake of convenience, the subject has been divided into four divisions: United States laws. State laws. County laws, and Community laws. UNITED STATES LAWS. Education. — In horticulture, as in every profession and industry, education is the foundation of all true progress. The time has very nearly arrived for the Government school system to participate in direct horticultural education ; and looking to that end, it should be borne in mind that the practical necessities of man must at times take precedence of the purely intellectual, otherwise the latter will eventually be restricted by physical limitations. Where one student can obtain a thorough education at a uni- versity, a thousand go out into the busy world from the public schools. AVhat does it profit the nation or mankind to teach in these schools a curriculum of foreign languages, political economy, etc., giving its children a professional education, when through such a system the cities are congested with impractical youthful energy and the country is infested with and taxed to support half-witted professionals, while useful trades are deserted and broad acres lie untilled ? The first aim of Government education should TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 65 be to make intelligent, self-supporting citizens, and every county in the United States siiould have its industrial school ; and it Is practical and desirable to establish by law one public school in each county where elementary horticulture and agriculture can be taught. Botanical Gardens. — The Government is particularly remiss in the matter of l)Otanical gardens, the necessity and usefulness of which has been recognized by nearly every civilized government. A law should be passed, establishing several such gar- dens with ample support : one in the Northeast, one in the South, one in the central States, and one in the Pacific States. In addition thereto, the gardens at Washiugton should be developed by ample appropriations. These gardens, supplemented by the experimental stations, would form an admirable system. If the appropriations for a few war-ships were transferred to botanical gardens, the money would do civilization infinitely more good. School Grounds. — For years I have advocated the ornamentation of school grounds as a great underlying educatioual principle ; but all means in that directmn have failed, and in my opinion nothing but a mandatory law will accomplish this desirable end. Tariff. — The great political humbug, "tariff tinkering," is rife with evil to tillers of the soil ; markets are unsettled, and produce becomes of uncertain value. General Hancock was laughed at when he claimed that the tariff was a local issue, but such is the fact, and no amount of "tinkering" at the present national policy will settle the prices of our products, or make our rural industries secure. The whole question will have to be arbitrated upon a local, non-political basis, the needs of the chief industries I if each State receiving just consideration. Speculation in Food Products. — It is to be sincerely hoped that a law will shortly be formulated and passed absolutely prohibiting speculation in food products. This is one of the worst evils with which the farmer has to contend. It is gambling in its most harmful form, and should not longer be tolerated by the people. Consular System. — The consular system of the United States is another political humbug, and is a sore burden to the commerce of the country and often a source of mortification and annoyance to travelers. Civil-service principles should be applied to this branch of Government service, so that consular ofticials could familiarize them- selves with the languages, customs and trade conditions of the countries to which they are appointed. These offices, however, on the contrary are not infrequently used as convenient places to stow away friends and political debtors. In recent travels al)road I visited many consular offices, and out of the number I found ten which were al)solutely useless to me as an American citizen or horticulturist. We cannot hope for reliable crop reports or accurate information regarding foreign industries until this vicious system is abolished or improved. Road Laws. — Considering the present development of transportation lines, and the authority vested in the several States, it does not seem necessary or wise for the Gen- eral (Jovernment to do more for rural highways than to disseminate educational re- l)orts, unless simple road coustruction be taught in the public schools. Plant Registration. — For several years the "California Joint Committee on Plant Registration" has urged the establishing of a bureau of plant registration in the De- liartment of Agriculture; it is in the interest of honesty, the simplifying of trade, and the rewarding of genius, and every horticulturist should work for the passing of this law. Rural Postal Delivery.— 'Many arguments can be adduced to show the advisability of establishing rural i)ostal delivery, the most weighty of which is the intellectual and commercial l)earing which the extension of the postal service would have upon the rural districts. In Postmaster General BisselTs report recently submitted to the President he says: "Avoid expeusive experiments like the postal telegraph, rural 56 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. free delivery, etc. Develop the postal service on existing lines of administration, viz. : extend free delivery in the cities that now enjoy it. Accord it to towns already entitled to it under the law. Quicken railroad transportation." In addition, he ad- vises the increase of postage on second-class matter. In other words, Mr. Bissell pro- poses, as the policy of the Government, to sacrifice the farmer and fruit-grower; to deny him the right even of experiment; to build up the towns and cities to the de- struction of the rural districts. The Government has no right to discriminate in the privileges accorded her citizens, no right to destroy farmers to fatten manufacturers. The dweller in the city has no inherent rights as a citizen that the ruralist does not possess. If it should be necessary to increase letter postage to inaugurate free deliv- ery for all, let it be done at once, in the interest of a sound, impartial governmental policy. The "ten-block system" of numbering country houses, invented by A. L. Bancroft, of San Francisco, removes the last obstacle to rural postal delivery, and the time is opportune to enact a new free postal delivery law. Forestry. — No one is more distinctly interested in forestry legislation than the farmer. Our water-sheds are being denuded and timber resources are dwindling away under lax legislation, and no renewal system has been devised. We are fast becoming the prodigal son of history; a dangerous course is being pursued; we are not ci'eatures of to-day alone, for our actions are inseparably connected with the future prosperity of the country. Let the farmer therefore urge forestry laws. Immigration. — The increasing tax for public institutions and the labor question seriously confront the farmer. Lax and vicious immigration laws have congested the country with the pauper and criminal rabble of foreign lands; the laborer has become demoralized, and it is in vain that we look for efficient, reliable and steady help. The ceaseless inpouring of illiteracy, pauperism, anarchy and criminality is crushing the spirit of the independent American workman, and our franchise is fast becoming a by- word of contempt. I have stood at Castle Garden and watched the human scum pour- ing in by the hour, with the mockery of an examination only to stay it. When visiting Palermo, Sicily, a high city official informed me that the worst element was encouraged to emigrate. I asked him where to; he answered with a single word — "America." The farmer should work for an immigration law based on consular certificates, intelli- gence, clearly-defined occupation and means of support ; and the law should be en- forced by Americans. i7'?7£?a<2'()H.— The development of irrigating systems I believe to be a matter for private enterprise, rather than for the General Government. Pure-Food Laws. — All pure-food legislation is in the interest of the farmer, and laws relating thereto should be heartily welcomed and encouraged. It is hard to con- ceive of an honest man advocating the selling of foods under false names, and it is fair to presume that such a person is interested in their adulteration. STATE LAWS. Taxing OrcJiards. — In constructing the constitution of California it was not fore- seen that horticulture would become the chief industry of the State, and the language used has made it possible to tax fruit trees and vines. Many of the political adminis- trations since have been extravagant to the last degree, and all efforts to have this tax removed have met with failure, owing to the alleged necessity for revenue. At the last general election, the people approved by vote an amendment removing the tax from fruit-bearing trees under four years and grape-vines under three years of age. Taxing fruit trees and vines is like taxing imdug gold, and is as unjust. An increased tax has to be paid on the enhanced value of the land, and then the growing crop itself is taxed. The wheat-grower plants his crop every year. The wheat crop may or may not prove valuable. The same is true of the fruit crop, but the increased land value and tree tax has to be paid. Neither crop is a certain or permanent improvement, and therefore neither should be taxed. TWENTY- FOURTH SESSION. 57 State Boards and Commissions. — Several hundred tlioiis.iiul dollars could be saved the State annually by abolishing useless State boards and commissions and combining those of a scientific character with established institutions of learning, thus taking them entirely out of politics and political patronage. The long lists of complimentary commissioners could well be abolished and the remaining boards and commissions then reorganized as bureaus, each with its secretary, or chief officer, and all under the De- partment of State. An honorary commission, to be elected by the people, could be created, with power to remove bureau officers for specified cause, the Governor retain- ing the power to reappoint, under civil-service regulations. This would greatly reduce the political pasture, but would be a good thing for the tax-paying fruit-growers. Irrigation Laics. — The "Wright irrigation law" and its amendments have been of vast importance to the horticulturists of California, and have given an impetus to irri- gation in other parts of the country. All legislation tending to alter or supplement these laws should be carefully watched by the fruit-growers. State District Fairs. — The annual appropriation for the State and district fairs is $68,000: for the State fair, $20,000; for district fairs, 848,000. In addition, S5,000 is appropriated annually to promote citrus shows. In some cases much, and in others practically all of this money indirectly goes to promote horse-races and gambling, to the neglect and subversion of farm and orchard produce, manufactures and live-stock exhibits. A law should be passed prohibiting horse-racing at State and district fairs, other than speeding of stock on legitimate exhibition, (and then not for money or gambling purposes), under heavy penalties, or the appropriations should be stopped altogether. Under such a law, the crowds of promenaders, gamblers and thugs would not be so great, but the producers of the districts and the bona fide investigators would show an increasing interest and would reap the result of the money expended in their interests. Insect Pests and Diseases. — In laws relating to the destruction of injurious insects and diseases, and the prevention of their importation and distribution, California ex- cels. The law guards the gates by land and by sea, and permeates every county and community. Had such laws been in operation a few years sooner, millions of dollars would have been saved the fruit-growers. The collection and dissemination of infor- mation relating to squirrels and gophers and rabbits should be added to the duties of the State quarantine officer. Pure Food. — A pure-food bill should be prepared and put in operation at once. It is in the interest of everybody but the manufacturer of adulterated goods. This law should include butter and cheese and the olive-oil law, which is, in its present form, inoperative. In the State of New York the cheese laws, establishing grades, etc., have been eminently successful, the old expensive system of inspectors having been superseded by a board of arbitration. The United States Supreme Court has re- cently rendered a decision sustaining the constitutionality of the Massachusetts law, prohibiting the sale of oleomargarine or any imitation, colored to represent butter, in that State. It also covers imitation butter brougiit into Massachusetts from other States. This lav^' wisely does not prohibit the sale of the objectionable article, but compels its preparation in a different color, and it has to be sold for what it really is. Fertilizers. — Caiifornians are beginning to realize that they have been following a assed compelling manufacturers of fertilizers, whose goods are manufactured or sold in Cali- fornia, to furnish a guaranteed analysis, and in case of proven fraud, an indemnity of at least twice the purchase value of the material used, to be paid to the farmer. -58 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Honest Phckino of Fruits. — Califoruia is aud must always be preeminently a hor- ticultural State. Considering this, it is of the greatest importance that the honesty and reputation of our products be maintained. Every fraudulent can of fruit, or box of dried or ripe fruit, that is shipped out of the State, is a direct blow at the prosperity of the whole. When in London. England, some time ago, I carefully examined all of the California canned and dried fruit then on that market. Of one brand of peaches stamped "Standards," I secured five cans. Three of them contained discolored "mush." The other two were fair "seconds." The prunes I found were "skin aud bones"; the apricots were second-grade "chips" — both of the latter packed in wooden cases without lining. No decent American market would receive these goods, and it was "dumped" in London to sell for what It would bring. It was an insult to every California fruit-grovver, and a crime against the whole State which should be punish- able by law. In the California Fruit Grower of January 5th a prominent Eastern commission house complains bitterly of extensive frauds iu packing California raisins. Unscru- pulous packers and dealers are destroying our industry — more surely than hard times or freight rates, as both of the latter may in time be remedied, but a lost reputation is slow to recuperate. There is a remedy: a law should be passed, establishing grades for ripe and dried fruits, nuts, raisins, and canned goods. Every packer should be required to affix the grade, his name and place of business, conspicuously and securely upon each package. Frozen oranges and damaged fruits would have to be sold as such. In this way the criminal can surely be brought to justice, the honest packer vindicated, and the reputation of our products maintained. Fences. — The stock laws should be so strengthened that the fruit-grower would in no case have to build fences other than to keep in his own stock. The building of fences is in most cases an unnecessary and unjust drain upon the resources of the country. Road Law. — The amendment to the general road law, to be presented to the pres- ent Legislature, should be passed. It compels each owner of property fronting ou county roads to keep the roads in front of his property free from weeds and brush. COUNTY LAWS. Co-operating with State Laws. — County boards of supervisors can make effective or nullify many State laws. Particularly is this true of those relating to horticulture. One county in which the quarantine laws are not enforced is a menace to the orchards of the whole State. It therefore becomes necessary to exercise vigilance in securing county officials who will properly enforce the laws. Permanent Roads. — The value of smooth, well-graded roads cannot be overesti- mated in fruit-growing districts. Bonding is the usual way of raising funds to build permanent roads — and money cannot be better spent. The value of land is increased, the county is more desirable as a place of residence, and crops are moved to market in better condition and at less expense. Roads in fruit districts should all be thor- oughly sprinkled during the summer. This has proven a marked success in a number of localities, and the expense is less than the harm done the fruit without sprinkling. Tramps. — Indiscriminate charity is one of the worst curses of modern society. The fruit districts everywhere are overrun with tramps and vagabonds. Every county should adopt a system of road or wood-pile work, with branches iu every community, where vagrants could be compelled to work for every meal, or go to jail on hard-tack and water. Under such a system, " Weary Waggles" would soon emigrate to greener pastures, and the really worthy could be assisted. TJie Ten-Block System. — The ten-block system of naming roads and numbering county houses should become a law in every county. It is practical and easily under- stood, and an entire stranger can drive to any part of the county without asking a single question. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 59. COMMUNITY LAWS. In communities customs, rather than law, prevail. Co-operation. — Cooperation is the key-note of modern progress. A table with three legs is about as secure as a fruit-growing community with two-thirds of the growers in a combine. It depends upon which point the pressure is brought to bear, as to whether it will hold up or not. Coojperate first among yourselves, secondly with tiie established laws and customs of trade. Organize in granges and associations for self-improvement and protection, for upon the intelligence, integrity and stability of the individual is based all human law, and in the individual is vested the weal or woe of the community, the county, the State,, the nation. The following paper was then read by Mr. Katzenstein : HOW TO PRODUCE NEW TREES, FRUITS AND FLOWERS. BY LUTHER BURBANK, SANTA ROSA, CAL. When the honored president of this venerable American Pomological Society — wiiich has done more than any other American institution for the advancement of scientific horticulture, and is everywhere acknowledged as the highest court of appeals in nomenclature — invited the writer to prepare a paper on this subject, the fact was fully appreciated that the great trouble in producing such a paper is, that the subject cannot be even outlined — only touched upon; for to treat it properly would take up the entire time of this convention; and in condensing material, which could only be elucidated in many volumes, to the dimensions of a convention paper which shall in any manner fitly represent the subject, some of the most salient points only, can be mentioned. In order to restrict its length, it will be necessary to confine our investi- gation mostly to its biological aspects. In pursuing the study of any of the universal and everlasting laws of nature, whether relating to the life, growth, structure and movements of a giant planet, the tiniest plant, or of the psychological movements of the human brain, some conditions are necessary before we can become one of nature's interpreters or the creator of any valuable work for the world. All scientists have found that preconceived notions, dogmas, and all personal prej- udice and bias, must be set aside, listening patiently, quietly and reverently to the lessons, one by one, which Mother Nature has to teach, siiedding light on that which was before a mystery, so that all who will may see and know. She conveys her truths only to those who are passive and receptive. We^are obliged to put ourselves in tlie condition of a sensitive electric induction coil, for, if we try to bend and twist the laws of nature to our ideas of a fact, we have the whole universe against us ; while, if passive and receptive, accepting truths as suggested, wherever they may lead, we have the whole universe in harmony with us. If we will be obstinate and at war with her, all our knowledge must be second-hand, imparted to us by some one who is willing to listen patiently, passively, and receptively. When we look backward, piercing far, far beyond the first faint glimmerings of the dawn of human history, when kind Mother Nature was the only historian, faith- fully writing the history of the universe on the rocks and in the stars, we see man, even then, groping forward and upward for more light; and from that search for light came the dawn of human history. After ages of darkness, and of following blindly here and there the various faint phosphorescent lights which too often lead but to deceive and disappoint, but with a slow and constant movement upward and onward, until first, perhaps, the seers of India caught faint gleamings of the future light; then the Egyptian, Plumician and Assyrian sages, the Jews, and perhaps many other Eastern nations, from the land of Isis and Osiris to the ice-bound land of Thor, 60 AMERICAN- POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. had crude, half-prophetic dreams of the coming day. Later, the Greek and Roman poets, sages and philosophers caught intuitive glimpses of the approaching eastern morning light of science. But during all the ages since the dawn of human history, torches, lamps, tapers aud candles of many kinds and styles have been recommended and used to light the path of the human race in its ever onward, upward growth. The virtues of each kind were proclaimed from the housetops — some clinging to one, others as faithfully following some other, sincerely believing that theirs was the best and only true light. So earnest were the members of each in this abiding faith in their own chosen light, that each believed that all others were but a reflection from their own, aud during the dark ages commenced hurling the lamps, candlesticks aud snuffers at each other until the earth was loathed in human blood; pandemonium was rampant, and it seemed for a time that all the lights would forever be extinguished. How fearful to contemplate the mental slavery, torture, darkness and uncertainty which man has endured when he might have been basking in sunshine with birds, fruits, and flowers. Yet, the result of all this conflict of honest opinion has no doubt stimulated the search for a still better light, for the greatest steps in the search of a universal light aud freedom were yet to be taken : towards the close of the past century the ever-growing hxunan mind had discovered the great fact of the indestructibility of matter; but it remained yet for the piercing intellects of the first half of this century to demonstrate, beyond the least shadow of doubt, that the same principle applies to force also. Man had at last discovered the everlasting and universal law — nature's law of compensation. Yes, at last, man had a solid foundation for science, having discov- ered that he is part of a universe which is "eternally unstable in form, eternally Immutable in substance." These, the grandest and the most far-reaching and tran- scendent generalizations ever conceived by the human brain, were independently and simultaneously flashed on the minds of several seekers for truth in different fields of research : thus, as in many other cases, the intuitive insight of poets and sages had foreshadowed that which science has been able to demonstrate, aud art to reproduce in tangible form. We are just now thoughtfully turning the first few leaves, and slowly learning to read the star and rock history of nature, which had so long been ours, but sealed be- cause we could not read until the increasing light of science had made its lessons plain; and even vrith the morning light we have, it is only by the steady application of the powerful productive, analytical and constructive forces of the mind, that still greater knowledge and results of transcendent value can be obtained. It requires a persistent desire and determination to learn the truth before any new lessons from the book of nature can be perceived ; but a fact once acquired, though often trodden under foot and. denied its right to existence, keeps asserting itself, still lives, and will for- ever live. We may admire a beautiful picture, or other work of art, which has thrilled thou- sands with delight and admiration — the artist may have performed the manual part of the work with pen, chisel or brush In a month, a day, or an hour, perhaps. How often do we stop to think of the days aud mouths and years of quiet application aud patient self-denial and sacrifice in order to grow to the ability to produce the work? We say quiet application, for all growth, all valuable work, is performed quietly. Where there is noise, blare, crash, and racket, destruction, not construction, is the common result. After the luxury of making others happy — the sweetest and purest of all human joys — comes the luxury of thinking and inducing others to think. Knowing well that both these luxuries are highly esteemed by those who are engaged in the ever-charming search for horticultural knowledge, and that you have the ability to sympathize with and respect the views of life which others may have garnered by searching in other fields, we make no apology for the thoughts which we bring to you to-day. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 61 The study of scieuce — only another uame for knowledge — in all its branches has a direct, positive and powerful tendeucy to enlarge, elevate and purify all human thought and action. The serenity produced by the contemplation and philosophy of nature is the only remedy for prejudice, superstition, and inordinate self-importance, teaching us that we are all a part of Nature herself, strengthening the bond of sym- pathy which should exist between ourselves and our brother man, and giving us a strong desire to prevent pain and add pleasure to the life of every creature, whether man, or our less evoluted helpers and fellow-passengers on the tide of time, the so- called dumb animals, many of whom can speak fidelity, patience, firmness, pathos or love as distinctly and as eloquently as we can with our more-or-less clumsy and uncer- tain words, and many of them highly appreciate the humorous side of life, enjoying a joke quite as well, though not laughing quite as loudly, as ourselves. A knowledge of the harmonies of nature will give us a higher appreciation of the work which plant and animal life are performing for us. As the telescope and micro- scope have infinitely extended our views in regard to the extent and perfection of cre- ation and man's place in nature, we are constrained to have a less sublime self-conceit, and the idea dawns upon us that the universe was perhaps not created for the special use and benefit of man alone, when the facts in the case are just as clear that it was created for the special use of frog:s. Ignorance clings with remarkable tenacity to isolated facts or fancies, venerable dogmas and petrified errors, and allows for no variations under varying conditions. Knowledge sees that every fact and every branch of science is intimately interwoven with and dependent upon every other fact and every other branch of science; so that wlien we take up the critical study of plants we find that some knowledge of physiology, chemistry, geology, astronomy, paleontology, microscopy, electricity, magnetism, and even the laws which govern the production of music, light, and color, are necessary. We may ask, for example, what have the infinitely rapid vibrations which produce the sensations of light, heat, and color, or the slower ones which produce musical sounds, to do with the production of new trees, fruits, and flowers ? We reply, that in intelligently handling, combining and guiding the existing forces of nature, we must know something of their character and the conditions through which they exhibit them- selves. The sound-waves, as we all know, are slow, traveling only one-fourth mile to a mile per second, while the luminous and electrical waves have, in the same time, traveled 193, 000 miles. All static substances, when subjected to a certain degree of force — and force is an unseen substance as real as matter — give out vibrating, magnetic, luminous, heat, light, or sound-waves — sometimes one, sometimes all, according to the character of the substance, its environments, and the degree of force to which the substance is subjected. Thus the luminous waves, which we receive from the sun, are a compound of waves, as various in length and rapidity as there are substances in the composition of the sun. Light and color have their origin in the vibrations of the substance of any luminous body. When these compound luminous waves of the sun come in contact with any substance whose composition makes them synchronous or accordant with all the lumi- nous waves, they are all absorbed and while is produced. If, by its character, only a part of the luminous waves are accordant, these are ab- sorbed, the discordant ones being transmitted producing, according to the character of the substance, different colors and shades of color. All these different waves have been as accurately measured, both as to length and rapidity, as has the distance be- tween Boston and New York, or the rapidity of the locomotives whicii pass from one city to another. Science has tauglit us that all we see and hear and know and love is liie action of one single all-pervading force, whose effects are revealed to us, in all the infinite forms ^2 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. of still as well as active life, by its passage through different organisms or forms of matter with different degrees of intensity. We all know that our mental and physical action is manifested permanently only when we can digest and assimilate food. The best food for all the higher forms of life, and especially man, is always that which is most complex in composition, and most unstable in its chemical condition; in other words, charged with latent chemical force, like meat, eggs, bread from grains, which are only the eggs of wheat, rye, oat, corn or other plants finely ground and with the coarser outer protecting shells carefully sifted out. All these substances, when well cooked and prepared for food, 'are in a peculiarly unstable chemical condition, ready to fall at once into the chemical transformations which we call fermentation, combustion, or decay. When these unstable and complex substances are absorbed, by man or beast, they produce action by the liberation of these forces according to the organism and the force of circumstances surrounding it; in other words, its envirouT ment. In plants and the lower forms of living nature a less complexity of combination and preparation is necessary, and yet in all we see the same universal force, which, working. through different channels, is exhibited in the growth of crystal forms, oft hidden from the light of day; in the thunder-peal or the blinding flash; in the danc- ing dewdrops; the rainbow; the waterfall; the twinkle of the distant suns which dust the evening sky ; in childhood's rippling laugh ; in the magnetism of a sweet, shy glance from the sunlit eyes of a healthy, happy girl; in pathetic mother-love, or the beneficent and ever to be revered work of a Newton, a Helmholtz, a Tyndall, or a Humboldt, nature's own interpreters, the electric lights of the human race. The impulsions from the action of all these outside forces are received at the grand central office or station of the brain, where each impulse reinforced is forwarded at once to the outer stations of the brain substance, and those in synchronous unison with the exciting force respond as a piano responds to the touch of the performer, re- turning their impressions to the central station in force according to their harmony with the outside exciting cause, some of these outside impulsive forces appealing to one brain area, others to other areas. The sum of all these reports is the conclusion arrived at, and action or further reflection is accordingly taken. When a part or all of these brain areas are weakened by disease, damaged, de- stroyed, or act with unrestrained destructive force, the harmony of coordination is disturbed, and by this excessive and unregulated cerebral action some form of insanity, in its manifold forms, results. To keep all this sensitive motive apparatus in condition to perceive, receive, report and coordinate all these reports so as to give the order which shall produce results, power must be supplied. This is furnished by the latent forces being liberated from beefsteak, bread, fruit, and numerous other substances, by the chemical processes of digestion and combustion, the resulting force being coordi- nated, harmonized, combined, individualized, and exhibited as before stated, by that most marvelously complex organ or engine of force, the human brain. The facts which support in general what has just been read are as solid as the foundations of the earth, and as numerous as the sands of the sea ; and should be widely diffused in the interest of progress, in place of the many crude and pernicious ideas which have been almost universally taught, before the light of science had been directed to the subject. We can now perceive that plant and animal life is actuated by the same force which impels blazing suns, circling planets, and space-exploring comets. All move in certain lines or orbits, which, when once established, are very persistent; but numerous out- side forces are always acting on them. These, if long continued in some new direction, may and will produce what may be called a vacillation, aberration, wobble, or, as it is usually termed, a sport, when suddeirly exhibited in plant or animal life ; yet the forces which culminated in the sport may have been acting for a long time. By continuing TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 63 the application of these impulsions, or pressnres, a new orbit or direction of the life- forces is produced, which can, with some difficultj', be fixed in plants reproduced from seed, if new outside or old inside forces do not still prove too potent. But in those re- produced by the division of the mother plant, we find that every part of the plant by its inherent constitution follows vtiih remarkable uniformity the orbit, line or direction in which its forces have been fixed either purposely by forces steadily applied by the human brain, or by the sum of forces which have been brought to bear upon it, by the struggle for existence, or by both combined. We have cultivated wheat, corn, rice, and other abundant grain-producing plants for centuries, selecting, often perhaps unconsciously, those plants which produce the largest and finest eggs most abundantly, so that our grain plants have been urged and forced by selection and cultivation to produce a great abundance of nutritious eggs. While, by the same means, our cabbage, beets, potatoes, and numerous other plants have been induced to engage in producing nutrient tubers, immense leafy buds, mon- strously enlarged roots, or delicious juicy coverings, or other appurtenances to their eggs, which, in themselves, are in these cases often rejected as food. Some plants produce enormous hard-shelled eggs, others soft shells and exceed- ingly minute. Some can be kept in good condition for a long time, others quickly spoil, especially in warm weather. All these plant-eggs, which differ so wonderfully in size, form, and somewhat in chemical composition, will hatch and produce plants if only placed- in the proper conditions of temperature and moisture — impelling forces, which accelerate the partially latent life-forces into vigorous action. A few plants do not produce eggs, having found it more profitable or even neces- sary, under certain peculiar environments in which they find themselves placed — for instance, where the proper conditions for hatching are absent — to rejiroduce them- selves, or to allow themselves to be dissected and reproduced by division. The habit of propagation by seeds thus being bred out of plants, as in sweet potatoes, yams, horseradish, and, in a less marked degree, in most bulbous and tuberous plants and some fruits. In the special work of producing new and valuable species, races, and varieties of plants, and generally in improving those already in existence, those who take it up earnestly will find, like Agassiz, that they have "no time to make money" except in- cidentally. It never has and probably never will be a generally paying business in the usual sense in which that term is used. The ever-present delight of working in harmony with Nature, in coining new types of fruits and flowers, and the occasional successes she allows her co-workers to obtain, must always be the principal reward, with the added satisfaction of knowing that the new creations would never have ex- isted but for our faithful, patient, persistent exertions, and that they will add some beams of light and happiness to the human race, and make lives yet more joyous and gladsome, long after those who produced them shall have been forgotten. As we have before stated, in another publication, there is no possible room for doubt that every form of plant-life existing on the earth is now being and has always been modified, more or less, by its surroundings, and often rapidly and permanently changed, never to return to the same form. When man takes advantage of these facts, and changes all the conditions, giving abundance of room for expansion and growth, extra cultivation, and a superabundance of the various chemical elements in the most assimilable form, with an abundance of light and heat, great changes sooner or later occur according to the susceptibility of the subject; and when added to ail these combined governing forces we employ the other potent forces of combination, and selection of the best combinations, the power to improve our useful and orna- mental plants is limitless. Crossing gives the raiser of new plants the only means of uniting the best qualities of each, but just as often the worst qualities of each are combined and transmitted, so 64 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. that to be of any value it must be followed by rigid and persistent selection; and in crossing, as in budding or grafting, the affinities can only be demonstrated by actual test. This often involves long, tedious, and expensive experimenting. The experi- menter in producing and fixing valuable variations in plants, especially from unculti- vated ones, soon learns that their old habits, like ignorance when found in the human race, is very persistent; but the victories of science over the prejudices of the human race are not more striking than its victories over uncultivated plant-life. Both must be acquired by patient persistency. All wild plants of any species are under almost identical environments, having their energies taxed to the utmost in the fierce struggle for existence. Any great va- riation under such circumstances is not likely to occur, and is much more likely to be stamped out at once by the struggling competitors, unless the variation should be of special use in competition, in which case it will survive and all the others may eventually be supplanted by it. Thus we see how new species are often produced by Nature ; but this is not her only mode. Crosses and hybrids are very often found growing wild where two somewhat similar species grow contiguous, and if the com- bination happens to be a useful one, as it often does, the new creation is encouraged by Nature; then time and environment fix it and man comes on the scene, perhaps ages later, and discovers it, and, not knowing all the facts, wonders where the con- necting links have gone. It is botanically classified as a new species — which it is, most certainly. In cultivated plants the life-struggle is removed, and here we find variation is al- most the rule rather than the exception. Varieties are the product of fixed laws, never of chance, and with a knowledge of these laws we can improve the products of nature, by employing nature's forces, in ameliorating old or producing new species and varieties better adapted to our neces- sities and tastes. Better food, more sunshine, less arduous competition, will of them- selves produce variations in individual plants, which will be more or less transmitted to their seedlings, which, selected consecutively through a certain number of genera- tions, will become permanent. Environment here exerts an influence as in all chem- ical, cosmical, and celestial movements. These small increments from impulsive forces may produce a gradual or a sudden change, according to circumstances. The combustion of food liberates the moving force, environment guides it as it does the planets. When once the persistent type is broken up, old latent forces may be liberated, and types, buried in the dim past, reappear. This, called atavism, is a concentration of ancestral forces — reverberating echoes — from varieties long since passed away, ex- hibiting themselves when from some cause, for instance crossing, present forces are in a state of antagonism, division, perturbation, or weakness. These echoes, if col- lected and combined with the various more lately acquired impulsions, may, by cross- ing and selection, produce combinations of superlative importance and value. In species which have been crossed, important results are more likely to occur im- mediately if the attempt has not been made to bridge too great a chasm, so that no thorough combination and amalgamation can be obtained. But long-continued culti- vation eliminates even this difficulty, so that crosses, once utterly impossible, become possible, and the best qualities of two or more species may be combined to produce new species. Can anyone doubt that even new genera can also be thus produced if concentrated forces are long enough applied ? Botanical classification is a convenience, a necessary tentative staging, by which to erect a part of the grand structure of a general knowledge of nature ; but we have long since learned that species or genera are rarely well defined; the connecting links are still left in a surprising number of cases, though some have dropped out in the long, fierce struggle of the ages. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 65 But it must ever be borne iu mind that crossing is only one of the means used in the production of new species and varieties : long-continued selection of the plants which nearest approach the type desired must be continued until it is obtained iu some one individual plant; after which, if it is to be reproduced from seed, all plants which show a tendency to revert or sport in any direction must be rigidly excluded until none but the type desired shall appear. After a few more generations, if the desired type is constantly reproduced, the variety may be said to be fixed; that is, for all practical purposes. But when a valuable variety is produced in families which are propagated by division, the necessity for constant diligence and unremitting vigilance is obviated, for its individual character and destiny has been fixed by the forces which culminated in its production, and, except under great and unusual pressure, will continue to ex- hibit its individual characteristics, even though divided into ten thousand pieces and each of these into ten thousand more. Those few who are still in doubt as to whether environment can change the form and character of plants, animals, and solar systems, are prone to give far too little time for such changes. We find in the paleontologieal chapter of the book of nature that some of the wild plants in existence now have existed almost in the same form since long before the dawn of human history, having had their orbits, character and habits even then well fixed by untold ages of almost unchanging environments. After a million years, perhaps, of this fixation of character by environment, is it logical to suppose that new environments for a few years, or centuries even, could induce them to change? This matter seems always to have been overlooked by those who still hold these views. Another conclusion which is often jumped at is, that if a man who is versed in the science of biology cannot in the laboratory produce a living, growing plant or animal from his chemical constituents, then science must certainly be at fault. Would it not be asking man to perform the miracle which nature was perhaps a thousand centuries in performing? But though we cannot now create new fruits and flowers in a mo- ment, yet, if you will give us time, with even the present knowledge of the laws by which nature produces them, we will give them to you of any form, size, color or fragrance desired. That you may know that the writer does not stand alone in these views, we quote from Bernard, one of the most eminent of modern biologists : "When the progress of general physiology has shown the experimentalist the special or organic elements upon which he acts, and he shall have learned to master the conditions of their activity, then we will have ac(iuired the power of scientifically modifying and regulating the phenomena of life; he will extend his dominion over living nature, as the natural philosopher and the chemist have acquired their power over the phenomena of inert nature. "By modifying the inner nutritive and evolutive mediums, and by taking the or- ganized matter in some degree from its birth, we may hope to change its evolutive direction, and consequently its final organic expression. In a word, 1 think that we can produce scientifically, new organized species, in the same way that we create new mineral species ; that is to say, we can cause the appearance of organized forms, which exist virtually in the organogenic laws, but which nature has never yet realized." It is only a short time since these words were written, and almost while they were being penned veritable valid new species were being produced by a knowledge of these very laws ; species which no botanist would question if found growing wild; species which reproduce themselves from seed, generation after generation, with as little variation as the wild ones produced by the hand of nature without the aid of man. Old beliefs, founded on the shifting sands, are fast falling into ruins, while struct- ures built on the sure foundation of wisdom, experience, and accurate knowledge, which is science, will stand forever. We are just learning that truth can stand alone; that knowledge is better than law : that jewels of thought are of more value than -5 QQ AMERICA !sr POMOLQGICAL SOCIETY. jewels of gold ; and that one new fact is worth many old ceremonies with all their fuss and feathers. Facts are living souls ; ceremonies are ceremonies — the old clothes of facts. The days are past when horticulture can keep step with modern progress as a pro- ductive art without the aid of science. The days are past when any art or labor can evolve the highest results without invoking its all-powerful assistance. The various candles and the highly polished candlesticks of silver and brass, on which we had placed our confidence so long, seem somehow to be losing their brilliance before the approaching dawn: even the soundest belated sleeper, who cared for no light, is awakening under the great white radiance of the approaching eastern light of tlie ^.orld — the dawn of science — under whose beneficent light even in the turbulence, commotion and unrest of the waking hour which ushers in so many changes, sees the world advancing and growing brighter, and happier, and better. Science brings peace and good-will to man, with better homes and food and cloth- ing, better books and schools and libraries; and better laws and better health and better hopes ; and more warmth and light and hope. All the ages past have not shed as much light on the book of nature as has the last half-century of the morning light of science. Some who are still caudle-blind cannot see the approaching flood of light, while others, who stand on the mountain-heights of human knowledge, are even now bathed in the first rays of the approaching day. To one who can see no farther than the span of his individual life, these matters may be of little import, but to him who can, with broader vision, see beyond his own little sphere of action, a wider signifi- cance is given, suggesting the words of a late writer on electricity : "The present is an epoch of astounding activity in physical science : progress is a thing of months and weeks and days. The long line of isolated ripples of past discovery seem blend- ing into a mighty wave, on the crest of which, one begins to discern some oncoming magnificent generalization. The suspense is becoming feverish, at times almost pain- ful. One feels like a boy who has been long strumming on the silent key-board of a deserted organ, into the chest of which an unseen hand begins to blow a vivifying breath. Astonished, he now finds that the touch of a finger elicits a responsive note, and he hesitates, half delighted, half affrighted lest he be defeated by the chords it would seem he can now produce almost at will." Brother pomologists, nature-lovers, as we close this already too long paper we can be sure that goM work never dies ; the cycling generations pass through the hand of nature, of which man is a wondering part, a speck floating on "the surging tides of time," and the lives of the long list of poets, sages and philosophers, who have dimly seen the coming day, have scattered seeds of knowledge and happiness, which are just now ripening into fruit in our own. All past progress has been, all future progress must be, obtained through science, whose clear light has yet more victories in store over prejudice and superstition — twin children of ignorance. Let us be brave har- vesters in the broad fields of thought. Let us grow upward as we stand in the rosy morn of science, drinking in the beneficent, ever- streaming light of wisdom and knowledge. Then followed a paper by Prof. Geo. Husmann, of Napa, California: OUR WINTER FRUITS. Perhaps the greatest charm which our climate possesses to the enthusiastic horti- culturist is the ease with which nearly all the fruits and flowers, as well as vegetables and other diversified products, can be grown in the same orchard and on the same ground. And yet, there is such a diversity of climate and soil, that nearly every little valley has its own, and excels in certain qualities. In reality we have neither north nor south in this State, and though citrus culture was first largely entered into and TIVEMTY-FOURTH SESSION. 67 fostered in the southern counties, yet it is a well-known fact that the earliest fruits of any kind, including oranges, come from Yacaville, in Solana county, one of the coun- ties north of the bay of San Pablo. To cite a remarkable instance of the wide differ- ence and climatic influence: Yacaville and Napa are only about twenty-one miles apart in a direct line, intersected by several chains of mountains, yet the same varieties of fruit ripened at least a month earlier at Yacaville than with us. And again, here in my own county I saw perfectly sound Bartlett pears brought in in October, when the general crop in the valley was disposed of in August. The first mentioned came from Atlas Peak, nine miles from Napa, from a mountain ranch ; and I have seen tomatoes from there in December, vines grown in open air, with ripe, green fruit and blossoms at the same time. The wide field which thus opens to the intelligent horti- culturist to lengthen out the products of the season, will at once be perceived, when we take into consideration that our mountain nooks are almost free from frost the year round. Fresh grapes were picked from the vines and marketed in San Francisco in January, from Wright station, Santa Cruz county, and sold at San Francisco at from $1.25 to §1.50 per 20-pound box. These are only a few incidents from many similar I could name, and which must be seen to be believed and appreciated. But let us look a little closer into the different species of fruit. How often do we hear the assertion that California apples will not keep and are too sweet, without juiciness or flavor. Oregon and even Eastern apples have been largely imported and sold here at figures much above our home product ; choice apples, well kept and packed, seldom sell below $1 per 40-pound box in our principal markets, often at $1.50. And yet, as chairman of the Committee on Apples at the Midwinter Fair, at the end of March, I had ample opportunity to convince myself of the superior keeping qualities of our apples. We had before us over 160 plates of apples, from all parts of the State, com- prising about thirty varieties, and I have never seen a better preserved collection any- where, East or West. We had even Fall Pippin and Alexander in eatable condition, and such varieties as Yellow and White Bellfiower, Rhode Island Greening, Jonathan, and other early winter apples, were almost as fresh as from the trees. The poorest keeper of all seemed to be the White Winter Pearmain, yet that variety was repre- sented in more samples than any other variety, showing that it is held in high esteem generally. Only one sample was in fine condition, and that came from Atlas Peak, Napa county. Smith's Cider in fair condition; also Ben Davis. The numerous samples of Newtown Pippin and Esopus Spitzenburg were all fine, juicy, and spicy ; also Winesap, Baldwin, Roxbury Russet, and Westfield [Seeknofurther]. Among the long-keepers, Willowtwig, Lawver, Gilpin, American Pippin [Grindstone] and Winter May looked as if they would keep three months longer. Hoover was also very much admired on account of its handsome appearance and good quality. All these apples had been kept in the usual way, as was shown conclusively by the county exhibits, where the same apples kept for several months in prime condition. And yet it is generally asserted that California apples will not keep. As we have abundant crops every year, and the trees are very healthy, I can see no reason why the State should not become one of the first in the Union to produce this staple fruit, and export it largely. All that is necessary is to keep the trees healthy by cultivation, hold the codlin moth in check by spraying, and to prevent over-bearing by proper thinning, as they are apt to over-bear. Even the windfalls sold for $10 per ton, picked uj) and sacked under the trees, and hauled on common farm wagons to the dryer. That the climate is conducive to the production of fine varieties from seed, is fully demonstrated by the fine seedlings we already have, although little attention has been given to the subject: Skinner's Seedling, Marshall's Red, Yiolet, Markley's Red, Sex- ton's Golden Seedling, Calistoga. Beauty of Alameda, Cook's Seedling, Excelsior, and Acme. California is preeminently the home of the pear; we have no blight to cut otf our 68 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. trees prematurely, and trees in old orchards, planted thirty and forty years ago, have reached a height of forty feet, with a diameter of two to three feet, bearing fine crops every year. Yet so far, only one variety is planted generally, the Bartlett; until its fruit, fine as it is, has become a drug in the markets, here and at the East. When fine Bartletts sold in the streets of San Francisco, thirty to thirty-five for five cents, and were sold from the trees, the purchaser picking them, at $4 per ton, it would seem that we had enough of Bartletts, without the millions of young trees yet coming into bear- ing. And yet the [Beurre] d'Anjou, [Beurre] Clairgeau, Louise Bonne [de Jersey], Winter Nells, Glout Morceau, [Beurre] Hardy, Easter Beurre, and the host of others, do equally well. Yet we see very few pears in our winter markets, when Glout Mor- ceau will easily keep until January, and Easter Beurre until April. We have varie- ties enough to keep the markets supplied from July to April, yet we see nothing but Vicar [of Winkfield] and Pouud in the latter part of the season. Surely no compli- ment to the taste of the consumer, when such pears as Glout Morceau, large as Bart- letts, and as attractive in appearance, while better in quality, if well ripened, hang on the trees in the orchards yet. Only a few have tried growing pears from seed — and with eminent success ! Mr. R. S. Fox, of San Jos^, produced the R. S. Fox, P. Barry, and Colonel Wilder, pears worthy of the illustrious names they bear, and keeping well into winter. Our veteran pear-grower, A. Block, of Santa Clara, has presented us with the Acme and Superb, and received a Wilder medal by your Society in 1885. Kennedy, Santa Ana, Napa Seedling, and Santa Rosa Seedling, are all first-class pears. And yet how little are they esteemed! It is very seldom we see them, even at exhibitions. Truly, "a prophet is without honor in his own country." And yet, no fruit ships with less risk, and arrives generally in better condition at distant markets, than the pear ; none ripens better on the way, and has a more attractive appearance. The quince is another fruit which has found a most congenial home here, and no- where have I seen larger crops or smoother and more beautiful specimens than here. While the orange quince has been most generally planted. West's Mammoth, grown from seed by W. B. West, of Stockton, is by far the finest and largest, and specimens six inches in diameter and weighing over a pound are by no means rare. There is but little use made of them, and they can yet be found on the trees in abundance ; yet they are quoted at Chicago at §2.50 to $3.. 50 per barrel, at New York ,^2.50 to .^4.50 per barrel. There is absolutely no risk in shipping them, and such quinces, as could be sent from here would command the highest prices. Japanese persimmons are an- other class of fruit which can be safely shipped in winter, when yet quite hard, and ripened in the fruit-stalls or warehouses, where they would no doubt command high prices. Here they can be seen in almost every dooryard, small trees bearing heavy crops of most attractive fruit. They are yet a comparative novelty in Eastern mar- kets, and, although they are too sweet for some palates, would no doubt be appreciated by many, while their beautiful color and appearance would attract the eye. I need hardly refer here to our oranges and lemons, already so largely and favorably known, but will call attention to another fruit of the citrus family, the pomelo, or "grape-fruit," which is grown in perfection in this State, and seems to find a quick sale at remunerative prices. It is not the purpose of this paper to give elaborate descriptions of fruit; these you, the veterans of American pomology, are better qualified to give than I can be. You can help us effectually in clearing up the confused nomenclature of our fruits, and I hope much from this occasion to bring about so desirable a result. My aim was to show you some of the unlimited capabilities of the State, not alone in the produc- tion of fine summer and autumn fruits, and how much our diversified climate favors a fruitrsupply for the entire year. The general tendency of our fruit-growers has been to run into specialties, plant them in unlimited quantities, and thereby glut the market TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 69 at certain times, leaving it comparatively bare at other periods. Our apricots, peaches and plums, as well as our Bartletts, are fruits which change rapidly, and will prove a total loss if delayed only a few days, besides necessitating a heavy freight charge for refrigerator cars. The fruits I have named are not so perishable, and could be fifteen days on the way without serious loss, and for that reason alone deserve more attention at the hands of California growers than they have so far received. They would also extend the time of packing and picking into a season when competent help could be secured easily, instead of a general rush during a few months. Hoping that this will lead to a general discussion of so important a topic, and that we will be assisted in it by you, so eminently qualified to advise, I leave the subject to your further consideration. The President : This completes our programme for this evening's session. We are re(iuested to urge your attendance to-morrow night at the informal reception at the Crocker Art Gallery. It is hoped that everybody will be present and respond to the courtesy of our hosts. On motion, adjourned to meet at 9 : 30 a. m. the following day. MORNING SESSION. Friday, January 18, 1895. President Berckmaus called the meeting to order at 10 a. m. Mb. Miller : Your Committee on Kesolutions requests that if any member of the Society has any resolutions that he wishes to place in the hands of this committee, that it be done during this forenoon's session. We wish to have all the resolutions in our hands at this time. Mr. Katzenstein : I will announce on behalf of the local Committee of Arrange- ments, that Governor Budd will be present at this morning's session of the convention, at eleven o'clock. I also urge that all interested in the subject of Pomology should join the Society. The proceedings of this session are being stenographically reported, and will appear in full, together with the papers read, in the report of proceedings, and all members will be entitled to a copy. This publication will be well worth the price of membership, and cannot be obtained in any other way than by joining the Society, as they are not sold. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NEW FRUITS. The report of this committee was read by its chairman, Dr. F. M. Hexamer. Banana Apple. — Originated on farm of C. E. Blackwell, Titusville, Mercer Co., N. J., about twenty years ago, and has had no formal introduction, though well known in the neighborhood. The fruit is large, roundish conical, with a deep calyx basin, which is somewhat irregular ; calyx closed. Some russet patches in and around the basin. Color when ripe, a yellowish green, with a pale copperish blush on sunny side, and more or less marblings of a still lighter shade. Sparsely marked on the sur- face with minute dots. Stem a half-inch in length, in a basin of average size, rather deep and a little irregular. Sweet; good for family and market. Season, January to March. Wading River Siceet, or Winter Stceet. — Originated at Wading River, Long Island, about twenty-five years ago. Tree a strong grower and annual bearer. Fruit large to very large, roundish oblate, tending tp narrow at calyx end. When first picked the skin is light green, in places almost white, thickly marked with white specks at 70 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. calj'x end, which gradually disappear as fruit ripens. On sun-exposed portions is a thin, crimson blush. Stem about three-fourths of an inch long, in a deep, narrow cavity; sometimes russeted. Calyx closed, in an average basin, sometimes smooth, sometimes corrugated. Very good. Season, November to February. Found only on Long Island. Valuable for market and family. Reuben. — A Long Island apple; origin unknown. Large, long conical, narrowing at the calyx end. Yellowish green when picked, becoming yellow when ripe. Crim- son and lead-colored spots are sparsely present on the stem end — most of the skin being clear. In quality very good, either for home or market. Flesh white, crispy, fine grained, sub-acid nearly acid, and juicy. November to January. The stem is slender, little over half an inch long, in a somewhat irregular and russeted cavity. Calyx closed in a small, iri'egular and shallow basin. Granny Payne. — Found growing wild on farm of Benjamin Payne, at Wading Elver, thirty years ago. Fruit is large, almost identical in shape with Rhode Island Greening. Yellowish green when picked, becoming yellow when ripe. Skin thinly sprinkled with areole dots which are brown surrounded by white, and is rather rough. Very good. Valuable for market and family. Season, October to December. Stem rather thin, short, in a deep and narrow cavity. The calyx is open or partially closed in a rather large, moderately deep and corrugated basin. Starr Apple. — A chance seedling, introduced by Wm. Parry, of Parry, N. J. Comes into bearing very young, and bears annually, having no off years. Large, measuring sometimes 12 inches in circumference. Greenish yellow with handsome blush. Sub- acid. Good for family or market. Season, September. Tlie Bey PeacJi. — The late E. Williams found this, a seedling, growing in the yard of a Mr. Dey. of Newark, N. J. ; hence its name. Tiee is productive. Fruit of medium size. Freestone. Good quality. Columbian Raspberry. — Originated by J. T. Thompson, of Oneida, N. Y. Seed from a Cuthbert planted in spring of 188.5. A Gregg blackcap was growing near the Cuthbert bush, and the Columbian is supposed to be a hybrid between the two types. Resembles Shaffer; rather better in quality, equally or more productive. Does not drop from bush when ripe. Good for canning. Alice Grape. — A chance seedling found growing on the farm of Ward D. Gunn, of Clintondale, Ulster county, N. Y. In 1884 the original vine was removed and planted in a vineyard, and others were propagated from it. Cluster of good size, many- shouldered. Berry medium size ; color red. Seems to be hardy and productive. Is of excellent quality, and has a remarkably firm skin, making it a good keeper and shipper, and also enables it to resist frosts in autumn. Respectfully submitted. F. M. Hexamer, Chairman. The President: It is not necessary to submit this report to a vote on adoption, as these reports are usually published in our proceedings as coming from the standing committees. REPORTS FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. [Submitted by the Chairmen.] FOR THE NORTHERN DIVISION. BY CHA8. A. GREEN, ROCHESTER, N. T. Dr. F. M. Hexamer, Chairman — Dear Sir: In reply to your favor asking for in- formation in regard to new fruits, I will say that the Wilder Early pear fulfills its promise, as a very early pear of supft'ior quality, bearing annual and heavy crops, and keeping better than most early pears. In size it is about the same as the Winter Nells, Lawrence, Tyson, but was larger the past year than ever before, showing that it im- proves in size with good culture. Royal Church Raspberry is valuable for the home TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 71 f?arcleii, beiug of fine quality, large size, almost as productive as the Philadelphia, vig- orous and hardy plant, but is too soft for market. The Loudon Red raspberry so far as we are able to judge is a good market red raspberry. I see no weak point in it. It is of very large size, productive, good color, firm, and does not drop from the bushes. The plant is vigorous, and as hardy as the Cuthbert. These are the three fruits which we have introduced, and which we know the most about. There are several new per- simmons which will soon be introduced, and it might be wise to call attention to the value of the persimmon as a home and market fruit. One variety, very large and of fine quality, comes to us from Kentucky. We are propagating it from seed, and shall graft a number in the spring. The Logan Berry is a cross between a red raspberry and a' blackberry, originating in Santa Cruz, Cal. It is of the size and shape of the largest blackberry; color bright red. The bush would not be recognized as a black- berry bush, as the plants are covered with soft, fuzzy spines in the place of thorns. Its liardiness has not been tested here. It ripens with strawberries, and is probably akin to Burbank's May Berry. FOR THE NORTHERN DIVISION. BT .1. S. HARRIS, LA CRESCENT, MINN. Br. F. M. Hexamei\ Chairman — Dear Sir : Since the meeting of the Pomological Society in 1891 we have had two seasons of light crops of apples, and have not had any that are better than the Peerless, Okobenu, Patten's Greening, and Catharine, which were reported upon in 1891. Have fruited sufficient to warrant their being presented at this time, except a variety of Minnesota origin, which has been named '•Sorree." This variety appears to rank with the Wealthy in hardiness. The tree is a sturdy, symmetrical grower; does not commence fruiting as early as the Wealthy, but evidently will prove much longer lived. The fruit is large; form, round ; color yellow, and the skin quite thickly set with light gray dots; has a rather short stem in a narrow, deep, broadly russeted cavity; smallish closed calyx, in a medium narrow, considerably ridged basin. The flesh is golden yellow, nearly fine; crisp; flavor an agreeable acid, slightly sub-acid. Season, late autumn. Is superb for the kitchen. Our apple-growers are not losing sight of the importance of growing seedlings from the hardier old varieties and the newer Russians, and improving the size and quality of the Siberian species by crossing or hybridizing. As fast as such trees fruit we are gathering them into our experiineut stations, to give them a thorough trial, and out of the many thousands that are now coming on we believe that some committee in the near future will be able to report a hardy adapted list just suited to this climate. Of seedlings from the Russians, the most that have thus far fruited are from the Olden- burg strain. A few of them are showing keeping qualities that will lengthen out the season of fruit until midwinter, but they show very little improvement in flavor for dessert purposes. Not any better new native plums {P. Americana) have come to my notice than the De Soto, Hawkeye, Rolling Stone, and Cheeney, except one of the New Ulm seed- lings, (page 162, last report,) which has been named "New Ulm." This is a large, oval, mottled red plum of excellent (juality, that is proving hardy and productive. The Townsend plum, which is a seedling of the P. domestica, is promising. It is al)out the size and appearance of the Lombard. The tree originated at Baraboo, AVis., and appears to be hardier and the flavor of fruit better than the Lombard, and is a few days earlier in ripening. The North Star currant is being planted in the North- west, and promises to become the leading variety. The bush is a strong grower (equaling the Long Bunch Holland), is a heavy producer of large fruit, and better in (piality than Fay or Victoria. The Princess strawberry, that originated in Minnesota, is holding its own for hardiness, productiveness, and large size of fruit, and is much esteemed by many for home use: but it is too soft and sour in flavor to suit the market. 72 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Grape culture is a jjreat success iu many sections of the Northwest. The newer va- rieties, Brighton, Moore's Diamond, and Niagara, are growing in favor. A new red raspl)erry originated at Janesville, Wis., named Douden, is attracting considerable notice, and as far as tried is promising well. In Wisconsin and northern Iowa the Wolf River and Northwestern Greening ap- ples are bearing to considerable extent, but I do not think they will long remain pop- ular, because better ones are to follow close after them. FOR THE MIDDLE DIVISION. BY H. E. VANDEMAN, PARKSLET, VA. Dr. F. M. Hexamer, Chairman — Dear Sir: In response to your request, i sub- mit the following report for the Middle Division. APPLES. Avista. — Introduced by A. J. Phillips, West Salem, Wisconsin. Medium size; oblate conical; greenish yellow; mild sub-acid; season, winter iu the north. Tree remarkably hardy and a constant bearer. Alden. — Introduced by A. J. Phillips, West Salem, Wisconsin. Size medium to large; conical; rather dull color; flavor rather poor, sour; season, winter. Tree hardy iu Wisconsin. Blaine. — Specimen from E. P. Smith, Gresham, Oregon, where it originated. Me- dium size ; oblong ; golden yellow, nearly covered with stripes and splashes of carmine ; flesh white, with slight pinkish stain, fine grained ; quality very good, or best ; season, winter in Oregon. Brightwater. — Introduced by G. F. Kennan, Brightwater, Arkansas. Large: roundish conical; dull crimson stripes and splashes over greenish -yellow ground, with some mixed russet; flavor sub-acid; quality fair; season, winter in northern Arkansas. Bryant. — Originated by E. W. Bryant, Vienna, Virginia. Fruit medium size; flat; surface smooth, striped with red; mild sub-acid, very good; season, winter in Virginia. One of most promising winter apples brought to my notice for many years; should be generally tested. Dickey. — Specimens from A. D. Kline, South Salem, Ohio, where It originated. Medium size; flat; shaded and splashed with red over a yellow ground ; fine-grained, tender flesh ; rich sub-acid ; season, winter in Ross county, Ohio. Dudley. — Specimens from W. M. Munson, Orono, Maine. Similar to Oldenburg, its parent, in size, color, and quality, but in Maine it is a winter apple. Early Breakfast. — Specimens from Uriah Thomas, lola, Kansas, but originated in Indiana. Large; flat; red striped; flesh very tender; of high quality ; season, early summer in central States. Lankford. — Originated in Delaware. Large; oblong; green, with blush; flesh fine grained, juicy, very good. Keeps late in Delaware. LeMgh Greening. — Specimens from Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, where it origi- nated. Large; flat; green; quality good; appears to be later, and better in appear- ance, than Rhode Island Greening. Lily of Kent. — Originated in Kent county, Delaware. Large; round; greenish yellow, with dull blush; flesh fine grained, juicy; season, late winter in Delaware. A regular bearer. Ferry. — Originated in Ross county, Ohio. Medium size; flat; red: very product- ive. A late keeper in southern Ohio. Rebel. — Originated in Virginia. Medium size; flat; red, high colored; choice, high quality; season, fall in Virginia. Worthy of extended trial in the North. Worszt (No. 451 Russian list). — Large; oblong, with deeply-set calyx; very bril- TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 73 liant red striped ; quality fair to good ; season, August in Iowa and Nebraska. Oue of the best of all the Russian varieties. Tacob. — Originated in Pennsylvania. Large; round or oblate; crimson stripes over yellow ground; flesh slightly tinted with red, tender, juicy; mild sub-acid, aromatic; high quality; late winter in Pennsylvania. Original tree over 100 years old; a depend- able and highly prized variety. PEARS. Fitzwater. — Originated in New York. Small; obtusely pyriform; yellow partly covered with russet; flesh very fine grained and melting; season, winter in New York. It closely resembles Lawrence in every respect, but is claimed by the introducer to be of distinct origin. Longworth. — Originated at Dubuque, Iowa. Medium to large: pyriform; greenish yellow with blush and scattered russet patches; flesh rather dry, but fine grained; sea- son, September in Iowa. Said to be valuable for the far North because of its hardi- ness. Max. — A seedling of Flemish Beauty grown in Ohio. Size medium; roundish pyriform; yellow with bright blush; flavor vinous, sub-acid, good; ripens in Septem- ber in Ohio. Mission. — Originated at the old Mission near Capistrano, California. Size medium; acutely pyriform, long; yellow, nearly covered with russet; flesh very fine and buttery; very mild or sweet; ripe in September iu southern California. Victor. — Originated in Pennsylvania, but only locally known until taken to Mis- souri by Samuel Miller and introduced by him through Stark Bros., of that State. Large; pyriform; greenish yellow with blush; flavor mild sub-acid to sweet; season, September in Missouri. Tree said to be little aftected by blight. QUINCES. Johnson. — Originated in Pennsylvania. Large; flat, with little or no neck at stem: bright yellow when ripe; quality good; ten days later than orange. PEACHES. Crothers. — Originated near Neosho Falls, Kansas. Large; round; red and white, very beautiful; flesh white, red at stone; freestone; of highest quality; season late, about with Sal way; one of the very best late peaches in existence, and should be gen- erally tested. I have long known this peach, and first sent it out for trial in 1880. Ouadalvpe. — One of the Spanish type. Originated with G. Onderdonk, of Nur- sery, Texas. Medium size; roundish conical, with distinct point and suture; dull ■creamy white; flesh white, a little red at stone; cling; late, August in southern Texas. Oro. — Brought to notice by C. S. Bell, of Oroville, California, where it originated. Large; roundish conical; yellow with red blotches; flesh dark yellow, red at seed, rather tart flavor; freestone; late, September at Oroville, California. Quality. — Originated with J. W. Kerr, of Denton, Maryland. Medium to large: round; white with red cheek; flesh white, red at stone; of very high quality; season medium. One of the most promising new peaches every way. Robena, — Originated at Washington, D. C. Large; round; yellow with red cheek; flesh rich yellow, red at stone; tender, juicy; quality best; freestone; season very late; first of October at Washington, D. C. Well worthy of general trial. Rose. — Originated with C. Onderdonk, of Nursery, Texas. Size medium; round, with conical tendency; the greenish white surface almost entirely covered with dark red; flesh greenish white; flavor rather tart but pleasant; freestone; season medium. It belongs to the Spanish ty])e, and is valuable as being the earliest of that class whicli is well adapted to the far South. Stinson. — Originated in Mississippi, and brought to notice by Dr. H. E. McKay, of Madison Station, Miss. Large; oval; creamy white with purple blush; flesh white, 74 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. with red streaks and very red at stone: mild sub-acid; quality good; season very late» October in Mississippi; a cling. Zane. — Originated on Wheeling Island, in Ohio river, and brought to notice by Joseph Morrison, of Cadiz, Ohio. Medium size; roundish oblate, vfith depression at apex; yellow, with dark red blush; flesh yellow, red at stone; flesh tender, juicy, yellow; quality very good; freestone; season a little past the middle. PLUMS. Orace. — Originated with W. R. Grace, of Garden City, Kas. Belongs to Ameri- cana type; medium to large; oblong; red; skin not bitter; sweet, vinous flavor; cling- stone; ripens in September in Kansas. Gold. — Originated by Luther Burbank, of Santa Piosa, California, from a cross of Kelsey fertilized by Burbank. Of Japanese type; large; round; yellow, with pink shadings; flesh very yellow; firm; rich, sweet, high quality; ripens early in September at Santa Rosa, California. Harloto. — Originated with S. C. Harlow, of Bangor, Maine; belongs to European type. Large; oval; purplish red; flavor, mild sub-acid; season a week earlier than Bradshaw, which it resembles in appearance. Jessie. — ^Introduced by Martin Nursery Co., of Winfield, Kas. A wild variety, of Americana type : fruit medium to large; ovate; red; mild sub-acid; good quality; ripe August 1st in southern Kansas. Longworth. — Originated many years ago with Nicholas Longworth, near Cincinnati, Ohio. Resembles Lombard, but is better quality; size, medium; round; purplish red; very mild and pleasant flavor; season, September in Ohio; very productive and de- pendable. Perfection. — Originated by Luther Burbank, from seed of Kelsey, pollinized by Burbank. Of Japanese type; fruit large, heart-shaped; dark red; sweet and rich. (luality; ripens in August at Santa Rosa, California. Sophie. — Originated with J. W. Kerr, of Denton, Maryland, from seed of Wild Goose, which it resembles in size, shape, and color, but is much firmer and later. Medium size; ovate; red; flesh firm; flavor tart; quality very good; ripens September 1st to 15th in Maryland. Theresa. — Originated at Bloomingburg, Ohio, and named for Mrs. Theresa M. Morris. Fruit medium size; oval; reddish purple; very mild, sweet flavor; quality good; ripens early in August in southern Ohio. Whitaker. — Originated in Texas, and introduced by Dr. Whitaker, of Tyler, Texas. A seedling of Wild Goose, and so closely resembles it that some persons think them identical. Fruit medium ; oval ; red ; sweet when fully ripe ; ripens in June in north- ern Texas. CHERRIES. Bing. — Originated in Oregon, and introduced by Seth Lewelling of Milwaukee, Oregon. Very large ; roundish heart-shaped ; almost black ; flesh firm, meaty ; flavor vinous, sweet; high quality; season, medium. A most promising variety. Hoskins. — Originated with C. E. Hoskins, of Newberg, Oregon. Large; round or slightly heart-shaped ; purple ; flesh firm ; flavor sweet, rich, good ; ripens July 1st to- 15th in Oregon. Matilda. — Originated with C. E. Hoskins of Newberg, Oregon. Medium to large; broadly heart-shaped; nearly black; firm; sweet; season early, June 15 in Oregon. JH/ercer.— Originated in New Jersey and introduced by J. H. Black, Son & Co., of Hightstown, N. J. Medium size ; heart-shaped ; red ; firm ; rich, sprightly flavor ; very good ; ripens middle of June in New Jersey. Quaker. — Originated by C. E. Hoskins of Newberg, Oregon. Medium size; heart- shaped; dark purple; firm; sweet; of high quality ; ripens July 1st to 15th in Oregon. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 75 Vesta.- — Origiuated by C. E. Hoskins of Newberg, Oregon. Medium size; heart- shaped; nearly blaciv ; firm, sweet; season early, middle of June in Oregon. GRATES. Critic. — Originated with J. S. Breece of Fayetteville, North Carolina, from seed of Jefferson. Bunch and berry somewhat like Delaware, being medium in size and of red color; flavor mild sub-acid or sweet; a little foxy. The vine is robust, and little aft'ected by mildew or rot. Hosford. — Originated by George Hosford of lona, Michigan. Of Vitis labrusca type. Cluster, very large: berry, large; round; black; flavor rich, sweet, vinous, very good ; a little earlier than Concord. Well worthy of general trial. Lawrence. — Specimens from R. B. Clark of Fay, Pennsylvania, hear which place it was found growing in a fence-row, about fifteen years ago, and was transplanted to a garden. Cluster, large ; berry, medium to large ; dark purplish or black; sub-acid; not high quality; rather late. Vine very vigorous and free from rot and mildew. May prove valuable for market. Ohio. — Originated with K. H. Hunt of Euclid, Ohio. Cluster, large; berry, me- dium; black; mild"Havor; fair quality ; early. May prove valuable for market. STRAWBERRIES. Columbian. — (Perfect.) Origiuated in Tennessee. Medium to large ; broad coni- cal, rather irregular ; light crimson ; inclined to be soft; mild flavor; very early, said to be earlier than Crystal City. Thought to be valuable as a very early market variety. Oreenville. — (Imperfect.) Originated with E. M. Buechly, of Greenville, Ohio. Large; regular, conical; dark scarlet; firm enough for shipment; good quality; season medium. The plant is vigorous and healthy. Ho^yoke. — (Mount Holyoke.) Medium size; conical, regular; dark scarlet; not very firm : high flavor ; season medium. Makes a good strong plant. Hugo. — (Victor Hugo.) Medium size; regular, bluntly conical; dark crimson; firm; high flavor ; season, medium ; plant stocky, but thrifty. It seems to be one of the most pnmiising new kinds. Murray. — (Imperfect.) Introduced by J. S. Westbrook of Faisou, North Carolina. Size, medium to large; broad conical, irregulai'; light crimson; firm; tart, acid; not high quality. Esteemed for its earliness and good shipping qualities. Omega. — (Imperfect.) From John Wilcox of Bridgeton, New Jersey. Large; blunt coin"cal, irregular; light crimson ; a little soft; of fair quality ; late. May prove valu- able for late market. Shuster. — (Imperfect.) Large ; conical, irregular iu very large specimens; light crimson; rather soft; flavor pleasant but not rich. Very thrifty and productive and one of the best for near market or family use. Witliams. — Large; regular, long, conical; dark scarlet; firm pleasant flavor, not rich ; season medium. A good grower and productive. Woolverton. — (Perfect.) Origiuated in Canada. Large; regular, conical, long; dark crimson : firm ; good ((uality ; season, medium. One of the very best so far as tried. BUFFALO BERRY. (Shepherdia argenta. ) Unnamed varieties have been examined in western Colorado in the wild state, and received from Agnes M. Johnson of Laurel, South ])akota, and while they are all of small size, (about 1,4 inch in diameter,) the fruit is of a pleasant tart flavor and very palatable when made into jelly or otherwise preserved. The bushes bear heavily and are entirely hardy in the colder parts of America. Worthy of cultivation and im- provement. 76 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. PERSIMMONS. ( Diospyros virginiana. ) Many varieties of this native American species are worthy of cultivation, and among those so considered and given varietal names are the following: Early G^oMere.— Introduced by E. A. Riehl of Alton, Illinois. Large; 2 inches in diameter; roundish oblate; dull yellow; few seeds; very sweet; ripens before frost. Golden Gew.— Originated with Logan Martin of Borden, Indiana. Medium size, \% inches diameter; oval; dark orange or dull red ; few seeds; high flavor; season early, August and September in southern Indiana. Kemper. — Originated in Tennessee. Large ; oblate ; orange red ; rich sweet, sugary ; season medium. Marion. — Originated on the farm of J. H. Marion near Fulton, Missouri. Large ; 2 inches diameter; roundish oblate; dull orange; has few seeds; sweet, sugary; ripens in October in Missouri. Also two unnamed varieties from J. L. Normand of Marksville, La. One is very large and early, the other small but seedless, and of superior quality. CHESTNUTS. , Bayer. — Originated near Wyoming, Delaware, from seed of Ridgely. Of Spanish type. Large; fair quality. Felton. — Originated at Felton, Delaware, by J. W. Killeu. Of Japanese type. Large; good quality; very productive. The original tree is of thrifty growth and very productive. A'j7^-lb. cans of fruit. From this time the increase was very gradual, up to and including 1887, when the amount of fruit canned was 773,500 cases. From this time forward the increase was (juite rapid until the year 1893 was reached, when the number of cases of fruit packed in the State exceeded 1,600,000. In order to convey some idea of the relative value of the canning industry in connection with commercial fruit-growing in California, we have estimated the amount of green fruits of all kinds used by our canners in making their large pack in the year 1892, and find that the very considerable quantity of fresh fruit required was about 80,000,000 pounds. The estimated output of dried fruits in the State for the season of 1893 was 93,000,000 pounds. To produce this quantity of cured fruit some 400,000,000 pounds of fresh 84 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. fruits of all kinds were required. This, added to the quantity used by cur canners' gives us a grand total of 480,000,000 pounds of fresh fruits disposed of by these two industries. FREIGHT RATES ARE REASONABLE. The prime factor in the successful marketing of California's fruit crop lies in the matter of transportation. The rate of freight has been gradually reduced from SI, 200 per car in 1876 to $250 per car to Chicago and $300 per car to New York, the fruit be- ing sliipped in ventilated cars and given freight-train service. These rates are quite reasonable, taking into consideration the service rendered and the distance the fruit has to be hauled. What California fruit-growers and shippers most need is quicker time — say five days from Sacramento to Chicago, and about seven days to New York. VERSATILITY OF OUR SOIL. We will not occupy your time by enumerating the great range of varieties of fruit that may be grown in this State, but will mention the olive, the fig, the raisin, the apricot, the almond and English walnut as constituting quite a list for which we have few if any competitors in the States to the east of us. Florida comes into competition with us in the production of oranges and lemons, and one or two of the Pacific Coast States to the north of us compete in a small way with our prunes. With our better class of dried fruits we meet with a very light com- petition from the producers east of the Rocky Mountains. Hence, with quick transit and reasonable charges, California as a fruit-producing State is certainly in a position to hold her own with the fruit-producers of the world. Mr. J. W. Williams, Fallbrook, Cal. : I am afraid our Eastern friends here will get a wrong impression from the paper just read. I am afraid they will get the im- pression that a man to succeed in fruit-growing in California must own a large area and must engage in fruit-growing on a large scale, or else it will be a failure. I am not prepared to dispute that proposition in this part of the State, but we do not hold to that proposition in southern California, where we ai-e encouraging the intensifying of horticulture by urging men to plant smaller areas, to possess smaller holdings, and with this intensified horticulture I believe they will make California the ideal home- land. That is what we are striving for in southern California. We find many people who could not by any possibility engage in horticulture on an extensive scale, and who are driven out from the East by ill-health, owing to the climatic conditions pre- vailing there, with a family of children, who might become independent with a small holding, in almost any branch of horticulture in this State, whereas they would be driven out of it if compelled to own thousands of acres. So, I wish to say to you, gentlemen, that there is a portion of this State where you can succeed by small hold- ings, and we are building up our part of the State by encouraging such investments. Mr. B. N. Rowley, San Francisco, Cal. : In preparing that paper, I had no idea of inviting anybody to settle in California to grow fruit, or become fruit-growers. Neither did I anticipate that I was setting a basis on which they could cultivate. I simply was dealing with facts. You find both small and large orchards ; you find large orchards that are successful and small orchards that are unsuccessful, and nice versa. I simply presented the facts, without regard to whether the orchards were small or large. Prof. Geo. Husmann, Napa: I cannot but indorse the views of the gentleman from Fallbrook. I think the proper sources of success and ideal homes are small hold- ings devoted to specialties, instead of the immense holdings we have now. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 85 REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON AWARDS. The following supplementary report was tlien presented by the Committee on Awards : Special honorary mention is due to the Orangeville Colonization Company, of Sac- ramento county, for a highly meritorious exhibit of 35 kinds of dried fruits and nuts, showing careful culture and skillful preparation ; also for a large display of oranges. F. M. Hkxamek, Chairman. INVITATION TO "VISIT THE ROOMS OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. Secretary B. M. Lelong, of the State Board of Horticulture, then extended, on be- half of the State Board of Horticulture, an invitation for the Society to visit the rooms of the State Board, at 230 Sutter street, during their visit in San Francisco; and also to visit the California State Board of Trade rooms, at 575 Market street, where they would see a represeutative exhibit of California products. President Berckmans : I have on my desk a lot of literature in regard to the Cotton States and International Exposition, at Atlanta. Georgia. That exposition is very anxious that California should be represented by its fruits and wines, dried fruits, nuts, and other articles derived from the manufacture of fruit. They have requested me to put this In the hands of Mr. Lelong, your Commissioner, who has kindly con- sented to take charge of this matter. Therefore, anything relating to the proposed exhibit can be referred to him, who, in his official capacity, will see that everything is satisfactorily attended to, so far as the Atlanta Exposition is concerned. I am as- sured by the directory that they will give you every facility to bring your products prominently before the public. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. BY U. B. STABLER. YUBA CITY. CAL. The Committee on Resolutions desires to submit the following resolutions: Whereas, This Society has from its inception devoted its energies to the task of organizing and developing American pomology, and to improving its processes and simplifying and purifying its nomenclature, as well as to encouraging the origination and introduction of valuable new varieties of fruits; and Whereas, The National Department of Agriculture has, since its organization as such, established a Division of Pomology for essentially similar purposes, and equipped the same with ample facilities for work of this character, backed by the needful appro- priations for the performance of such work ; and such Division having adopted for its guidance in such matters the "Rules of Pomology" framed and enacted by tliis Soci- ety ; and, having a corps of experts in constant session, has entered upon the work of renovating and improving our somewhat crude and unsystematic nomenclature, and, if practicable, eliminating from our present catalogues more or less of tlie apparently worthless material with which they are at present cumbered* — hoping at some not remote period to be able to elicit therefrom a catalogue or bulletin adapted to general circulation ; In view of these conditions it is deemed to be of the utmost importance that, espe- cially in nomenclature and the description and estimation of varieties, there be entire unanimity of action between the two. As a means to so desirable an end, therefore, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to confer with the constituted authorities of the Department of Agriculture, and especially with those of the Division of Pomol- ogy, with the purpose, as far a practicable, to arrange for such concerted action, in any and all matters of mutual interest. Your Committee recommends the adoption of the above resolution ; and the attaclied letter from the Department of Agriculture is submitted, so far as it pertains to tlie matter in hand : *Thp author of the presimble and resolutions explains that this phraseology is to be understood as applying only to varieties occurriiit; in current ponioloirical works, and in nursery eataloi^ues. — Sec'y. 86 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. "United .States Department of Agriculture. Division of Pomology. Washington, D. C, December .5, 1894. '•'■Mr. T. T. Lyon, South Haven, Michigan — Dear Sir: Your letter of November 30th received, and contents carefully noted. I laid the portion pertaining to the ac- tion that should be taken at the meeting of the American Pomological Society before Secretary Morton yesterday, and explained the full purport of the same. . It meets with his hearty approbation. "At present, I do not see my way clear to attend the meeting of the American Pomological Society, on account of the pressure of current work and the preparation of my annual report. Should I be unable to attend, I hope you will do your utmost in having the preamble" and resolutions passed. I know of nothing that would place this Division and the Society in closer touch than such action. 1 am sure our interests and labors are the same, and I am anxious that the best feeling shall exist between us. " I suggested to Secretary Morton the propriety of your beginning work either on the pear or peach, my preference being the pear, as your next work. He informed me that from lack of funds this work must be discontinued until the next appropriation bill has been passed. He is perfectly willing that the work shall then be resumed. I am yours truly, S. B. Heiges, Pomologist." METHOD recommended FOR THE COLLECTION OF MATTER FOR A REVISION OF THE CATALOGUE. It shall be the duty of the standing fruit committee of each State, Territory, Prov- ince, or District, at least six weeks prior to the occurrence of the biennial session of the Society^ 1st. To report to the chairman of the Committee on Revision of Catalogue any changes found desirable in the starring for his State. 2d. The names of such varieties as are no longer desirable therein. ^ 3d. The addition and starring of any desirable new varieties. 4th. Such changes or improvements in other particulars as shall to them seem de- sirable or important. The revising committee to place such revision in the Secretary's hands in time for consideration at the first session. Such revision shall be considered either in open session, or through a committee. In case of action by the Society involving modification or addition, the whole to be re-referred to revising committee, and, after completion, placed in the Secretary's hands for publication. Your committee recommends the above suggestions, submitted by T. T. Lyon, of Michigan. On motion, the foregoing resolutions were unanimously adopted, and the commit- tee provided for therein ordered appointed by the President. The following paper was then read : NEW FRUITS IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. BY C. S. WATROrS. DES MOINES, IOWA. It is upon the theory that every struggle for bettering the condition of any part of humanity is of interest to all good men, that this paper is prepared. In it I shall at- tempt briefly to recount something of the past struggles, the present condition and fu- ture prospects of the attempt to secure the most useful varieties of fruits for the people living within a belt of a few hundred miles i)i width along the forty-third parallel, be- tween the Great Lakes and the Great Mountains, In no other part of the earth has so much effort been put forth to produce fruit from trees and plants not indigenous to the region, either in variety or species. No other such vast empire has been so quickly settled by an eager, pushing race of hard-working and hard-fighting men, accustomed to abundant fruits in their old homes, and impatient of any delay in surrounding themselves with the same comforts and luxuries in their new ones. As this region TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 87 began to be opened up, the practice of cheaply propagating the apple by root-grafting was well under way, and such trees as the old favorite sorts were almost cheaper than seedlings. All fruit trees and plants promising success were abundant. The new land was rich, and money easily earned. This empire of the prairie has doubtless been, and yet is, the richest field for the talent of the "tree missionary" that the earth has ever offered or is likely to offer. The richest blessings showered upon the lives of the people, the fertile soil, the celerity and cheapness of transportation, and the low price and abundance of nursery stock, have been the greatest hindrances to the advance of a rational pomology, based upon scientific principles. Despite the fact that the wild fruits of the region, especially the apple, the plum, and tiie gooseberry, have been found to be finer than the primitive species of these fruits anywhere else, while the cherries, grapes, currants, raspberries, blackberries, etc., have been found of great excellence, almost no attempts have been made towards their civilization by the rational means of crossing, selecting the most promising, cross- ing and selecting again, and still pursuing that course as do the breeders of race-horses and prize cattle. Too eager for present results, the effort has been rather to naturalize rather than to develop; rather to utilize the discoveries of other regions than to utilize the free gifts lliat nature has bestowed upon our own. Fruits native to our seaboard and foreign lands have been planted literally by the million. Vast sums have been freely spent, and we might say freely wasted, in these attempts — and the work coutiuues. In lS.55-6, and again in 188.3-4, the besom of destruction swept the whole region, and the losses have never been counted. The last wholesale attempt to naturalize the fruits of another region has been to force the fruits of Russia to so change their constitu- tional habitudes as to thrive under the changed conditions found in another continent, and in a region more than a thousand miles nearer the equator. For more than a dozen years this fad has been worked for all that could be made of it in either cash or glory. But time has done its work, and with unimportant excep- tions these fruits are now discredited in all latitudes below the forty-third parallel. North of this parallel a few varieties of these apples and cherries are yet planted as makeshifts until better adapted varieties can be originated. Overall this region, from the lakes to the mountains, and for ten degrees of latitude southward from our northern boundary, the necessity of a new race of fruits, to the manner born, is fully recognized by the most advanced pomologists. In 1884 the Legislature of Iowa granted to its State Horticultural Society an addi- tional appropriation of $1,500 for the special purposes of testing new fruits and for the production of new varieties by crossing and hybridizing within the State. But the supreme confidence felt by the friends of the Russian fruits that they would be found sufficient without further search, and their determination that nothing should be al- lowed to interfere with their general introduction all over our own and adjoining States, has greatly hindered the scientific work of producing new varieties by crossing and selecting. This glacial ice-cap of Russianism is now, however, rapidly receding to the northward under the light and heat of the sun of experience. Though the friends of true pomology are more determined than ever to push for- ward their work, the results have not yet reached the stage where proclamations are in order. Surprising variations have been discovered among the native apples of the region, some having been found measuring as much as two and three-quarter inches in diam- eter, growing on trees perfect models of beauty and iiealthiness. Several hundred hybrids have been secured between some of these finest natives, and various cultivated descendants of the European species. These hybrids will be grafted into bearing trees the coming spring, and fruited. The most promising of them will be used as 88 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. mothers of new crosses, using in preference as the male element, large, sweet, red, juicy, winter-keeping apples of the old sorts. The reason is obvious, since the natives are all medium or small, green or yellow, and sour. A few weeks since at its meeting, our Society set apart 551,000 for use this year, so that if the present season proves favorable, several thousand more original crosses will be made, and this repeated each favorable year until a vast number are available for fruiting, selecting, and again and again crossing. Also, many crosses upon the Olden- burg and other apples especially adapted to the region have been made according to the same principles. The same line of work with the native grapes of this region is under way along the lines of advance so brilliantly illuminated by the successes of Professor Munson. In the case of plums, the problem is fast solving itself, by pure seedling produc- tion, though some hybrids already exist and many others will be secured as rapidly as possible. In many places several varieties of the Japanese plums are flourishing vigorously, though without much fruit as yet. Their remarkable similarity in leaf, bud and twig to many of our natives, seems to point to them as the proper foreign sort to be used in breeding up more rapidly the best forms of our natives. Already we have pure natives, hardy, fruitful, of fine quality, and fully adapted to every part of this great prairie empire. The number of such varieties is already large, and in- creasing year by year in accelerating ratio. At the last meeting of the Iowa Horti- cultural Society native plums were commended as sufficient for all needs, and all foreignei's so far tested, except possibly some Japanese, were condemned as worthless in comparison. No voice was raised in opposition to this judgment. Among the many promising newer sorts may be especially mentioned Hammer, Ocheeda, Van Dieman, Eockford, New Ulm, Wood, Comfort, and Stoddart (or Baker). These for the North ; while Milton and Charles Downing, approaching more nearly the Chickasaw type, seem especially valuable south of the forty-second parallel. The man who has done the most for the origination of valuable new plums in the Northwest, is H. A. Terry, of Crescent, Iowa. No adequate reward for his labors will ever reach him in this world. Let us hope that such men may have their better rewai-d hereafter. Among promising new apples may be mentioned Patten's Greening, originated by C. G. Patten, of Charles City, Iowa; the Ishewood, and Brady, fine, large winter apples, brought to notice by H. W. Lathrop, of Iowa City, Iowa ; and an extremely promising winter-keeping seedling of large size and fine quality, resembling Tulpe- hocken in size and appearance, introduced by Abner Branson, of New Sharon, Iowa, under the name of Good's No. 10. Wisconsin has been famous for valuable seedlings for many years, but is not doing as much in systematic crossing as Iowa. The most promising cherry native to this region seems to be the so-called Sand cherry of our western plains. This proves abundantly productive on the prairies, of dark-red fruit, nearly or quite as large as Early Richmond. Some hybrids of this are already in existence. An earnest attempt will henceforth be made to cross-breed this with both plums and cherries in cultiva- tion, to infuse greater acidity and character into the fruit, and to decrease the size of the pit. If these things can be done, a long step will have been taken towards set- tling the cherry question for this upper valley. The questions about successful varieties of small fruits of all the useful species are rapidly settling themselves. In this paper I have spoken of Iowa especially, because here the storm and stress of inaugurating the new work have been greatest. Though State aid has been more generous here than elsewhere, the hindrances from the introduction of foreign fruits have been far more difficult to overcome. Over all this region the good work is now advancing along these lines, and it needs no prophetic eye to see that the next gener- TWENTY- FOURTH SESSION. 89 atiou may reasonably fear fewer losses and hope for far greater pomological successes than the jiresent pioneers. The labor of civilizing the native apples of this region must not be underestimated, but no trained mind can for a moment doubt our final success, providing the work is rationally and zealously carried out. Every fruit of the temperate zone has come from a humble origin, in the same manner as every cultivated grain and favorite breed of animals. It seems to me a reproach not to be borne, that stock-breeders should be able to point proudly to their scientific successes, while pomologists must admit that most of their fruits are without pedigree, and that they have just begun to walk in the path of scientific improvement. Unless 1 greatly misinterpret tlie spirit of the times, the next quarter-century will see this reproach wiped out. The meeting then adjourned until 2 o'clock p. m. AFTERNOON SESSION. FiUDAY, January 18, 1895. President Berckmaus called the meeting to order at 2 o'clock p. m. Professor Riley announced that instead of the paper on Fig Caprification, which he had been announced to deliver, he would give some remarks on "Economic problems in Entomology as applied to California Pomology." He then read the following: SOME ENTOMOLOGICAL, PROBLEMS BEARING ON CALIFORNIA POMOLOGY. liY C. V. UILEY. ril.l).. WASHINGTON, 1). C. Mr. President, Fellow - Members : Europeans, and Indeed most foreigners, honor the people of these United States with the title of "Americans" as a token of our pre- •emineuce among the various nations of America, in most things that go to make a people materially great. This preeminence they especially recognize in our practi- ■cality. "What a wonderfully practical people you are!" is one of the commonest remarks one hears, expressed with admiration and appreciation in most cases, but not infrequently with an intimation that, inversely, we are lacking in the higher refine- ments and subtler thought that belong to some of the older communities. Yet it may be (luestioued whether there is, or can be, any higher form of organized society than that which most effectually masters the material difticulties to its onward development, and thus ministers to the health, comfort, happiness and moral well-being of the great- est number: and this, after all, is the essence of practicality. ADVAXCES IN AMEKICA : FUTURE PROBLEMS. In the field of Economic Entomology, so far as it relates to the protection of our cultivated crops and domestic animals from insect injury, or the practical side of the subject which most concerns the average man, our leadership is also usually admitted ; and it is true that some of the more important and epoch-making discoveries in aj)- plied entomology have originated in America. Indeed, we already possess the means of satisfactorily controlling a large number, if not the majority, of our insect enemies. Nevertheless, routed on one fiank, these diminutive enemies renew the attack from ■some other side, and no class of men have more constantly to do battle with them than the professional fruit-grower, and in no part of the country are his efforts more ■necessary than in the State of California. While the American Pomological Society is essentially national, and not sectional, in its character, yet it would seem but just and proper, at this our first meeting on tlie 90 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Pacific coast, to dwell more particularly on some of the problems which confront the Calif oruian pomologist in his warfare against injurious insects. It may be ti'uly said that the past quarter of a century has been distinguished in the annals of Economic Entomology by the discovery of far-reaching remedies and the true beginning of national investigations. Many problems yet remain to be solved, how- ever, so that there is plenty of work to engage the best energies of our specialists for many years to come. There is, for instance, abundant opportunity for the improve- ment of remedies already known, and of insecticide appliances; while there will al- ways be need of investigation of new enemies, since these are, in our comparatively new country, constantly making their appearance, either from change of habit, or of food-plant, by some hitherto harmless species, or else from importation from other countries. We have a large number of special workers connected with the diiferent State agri- cultural experiment stations whose efficiency will necessarily increase, and whose labors may confidently be depended upon to help to solve some of the problems that yet con- front us. Unfortunately, in all the newer sections of the country there is an immense amount of preparatory work to be done, of a purely technical and descriptive nature, the temptation to which, I fear, is far gi'eater among the majority of those holding these experiment station positions than is otfered by more practical work, which is alone of direct value to the cultivator. Really practical work will fall under three categories, as follows : 1. The ascertaining of every detail in the life-history of any species at present in- jurious or likely to become injurious, and of which there remain yet unascertained or mooted points. This involves : ( rt) The careful study of the natural enemies of such injurious species with a view to encouraging them in their good work. (6) Preventive measures, either by taking advantage of weak points in the life- habits, or by quarantine and other preventionary measures against the introduction of new species. a. Thorough and careful experiment with insecticide substances. 3. The invention of new apparatus, or the improvement of that already in use, either for the application of insecticides, or for the direct trapping and killing of the insects to be dealt with. These chief categories might be almost endlessly subdivided so as to cover the various special phases of the work, but they will serve my present purpose better on this broader ground. ENCOURAGEMENT OF OUR INSECT FRIENDS. In relation to the first category, it is hardly necessary to impress upon a body of intelligent fruit-growers how absolutely essential it is that everything connected with the life-history and the individual life-development of any injurious species be thor- oughly studied as a preliminary to any intelligent treatment having in view the pro- tection of our plants against its attacks. There is almost always to be found some weak spot, by taking advantage of which we easily overcome our foe, and without the knowledge of which we are impotent before it. No fact, however seemingly insignifi- cant, should be overlooked, and not only must the insect's life, as it appears at the time and point of actual damage, be studied, but every fact in reference to the species, its original home, its spread, its natural enemies wherever it exists, must be ascer- tained and recorded. Investigations of this kind are often attended with extreme difficulty in the accurate ascertaining of every possible point connected with the life of the insect, and occasionally such knowledge makes the question of remedies seem only more complicated. TWENTY- FOURTH SESSION.. 91 Nor need I dwell at length among Californians as to the importance of subdivision a of this category, viz. : the encouragement of the natural checks to the increase of an injurious species. The importance of these natural enemies has long been recog- nized by practical men, and by all scientific men who have given the subject any thought; for it is a trite truism that, were our plant-feeding insects not hemmed in by a check here and a check there and a counter-check in another place ; were it not, in other words, for the parasites and predaceous species which are constantly decimat- ing their ranks, they would practically veto all successful agriculture and horticulture. The reciuirements of success, however, in this as in all other departments of applied entomology, are thoroughness, full and complete knowledge of all the facts in any particular case, and often concerted action and cooperation. The problem is, in fact, not so simple as it seems, as will appear by some of the requirements of success, which I lake the liberty of quoting from a recent paper* : "There are but two methods by which these insect friends of the farmer can be effectually utilized or encouraged, as, for the most part, they perform their work un- seen and unheeded by him, aud are practically beyond his control. These methods consist in the intelligent protection of those species which already exist in a given locality, and in the introduction of desirable species which do not already exist there. "The first method offers comparatively few o]iportuuities where the husbandman can acccmiplish much to his advantage. That a knowledge of the characteristics of these natural enemies may, in some instances, be easily given to him, and will in such instances prove of material value, will hardly be denied. The oft-quoted experience which Dr. Asa Fitch recorded, of the man who complained that his rose bushes were more seriously affected with aphides than those of his neighbors, notwithstanding he conscientiously cleaned off all the old parent bugs (he having mistaken the beneficial ladybirds for the parent aphides), may be mentioned in this connection. . . . The experience with Vedalia in this State affords one of the most striking illustrations of what may be accomplished under exceptional circumstances by the second method of utilizing beneficial insects. Yet we can hardly expect to succeed in accomplishing nuich good in this direction without a full knowledge of all the ascertainable facts in the case and a due appreciation of the profounder laws of nature, and particularly of the interrelations of organisms. Year in and year out, with the conditions of life un- changed by man's actions, the relations between the plant-feeder and the predaceous and parasitic species of its own class remain substantially the same, whatever the fluctuations between them for any given year. This is a necessary result in the econ- omy of nature ; for the ascendency of one or the other of the opposing forces involves a corresponding fluctuation on the decreasing side, and there is a necessary relation between the plant-feeder and its enemies, which, normally, must be to the slight ad- vantage of the former and only exceptionally to the great advantage of the latter. "This law is recognized by all close students of nature, and has often been illus- trated and insisted upon by entomologists in particular, as the most graphic exemplifi- cations of it occur in insect life, in which fecundity is such that the balance is regained with marvelous rapidity, even after approximate annihilation of any particular species. Eut it is doubtful whether another ecjually logical deduction from the prevalence of this law has been sufficiently recognized by us, and this is, that our artificial insecticide methods have little or no effect upon the multiplication of an injurious species, except for the particular occasion which calls them forth, and that occasions often arise when it were wiser to refrain from the use of such insecticides anil to leave the fieUl to the parasitic and predaceous forms. "It is generally when a particular injurious insect has reached the zenith of its in- crease and has accomplished its greatest harm, that the farmer is led to bestir himself * Pri'daccous ;iiul P;ir;isitic Insects in Al)l)li('(l Kiitoinoloi;)'. ('. V. Hili'y. InMCt Life. 92 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. to suppress It, and yet it is equally true that it is jnst at this time that nature is about to relieve him in striking the balance by checks which are violent and effective in pro- portion to the exceptional increase of and consequent exceptional injury done by the injurious species. Now the insecticide method of routing this last, under such circum- stances too often involves, also, the destruction of the parasitic and predaceous species, and does more harm than good. This is particularly true of those of our Coccidie and Aphididse and those of our Lepidopterous larva? which have numerous natural enemies of their own class; and it not only emphasizes the importance of preventive measures, which we are all agreed to urge for other cogent reasons, and which do not to the same extent destroy the parasites, but it affords another explanation of the reason why the fight with insecticides must be kept up year after year, and has little cumulative value. Tmportdtion of Bei^eficial Insects. "But the problem of the wise encouragement and employment of the natural ene- mies of injurious insects in their own class is yet more complicated. The general laws governing the interaction of organisms are such that we can only in very excep- tional cases derive benefit by interference with them. The indigenous enemies of an indigenous phytophagous species will, ca'te?'is j^ai-ibiis, be better qualified to keep it in check than some newly-introduced competitor from a foreign country, and the peculiar circumstances must decide in each case the advisability of the introduction. The multiplication of the foreigner will too often involve the decrease of the indigene. If a certain phytophage is generally disastrous in one section and innocuous in another by virtue of some particular enemy, it will be safe to transfer and encourage such enemy ; and this is particularly true when the phytophage is a foreigner and has been brought over without the enemy which subdues it in its native home. Icerya had some enemies in California, presumably American, but they were not equal to the task of subduing it. Vedalia, in the leerya's native home. Australia, was equal to the task and maintained the same superiority over all others when brought to America. The genus was new to the country, and the species had exceptionally advantageous attributes. But there is very little to be hoped from the miscellaneous introduction of predaceous or parasitic insects for the suppression of a pliytophage which they do not suppress in their native home or in the country from which they are brought. . . . In no such cases should we expect the predaceous or parasitic forms to sub- due their hosts more effectually in America than they do in Europe or Australia, or other parts of the world, except in so far as they were relieved, in the introduction into America, of whatever enemies they possessed in their native home. . "There are two other laws which it is worth while to consider in this connection. One is, that while a plant-feeder's natural enemies are apt to cause its excessive abundance to be followed by a corresponding decrease, yet this alternation of excess- ive abundance atid excessive scarcity will often be produced irrespective of such natural checks. An injurious insect which has been on the destructive march for a period of years will often come to a sudden halt, and a period of relative, and some- times complete, immunity from injury will follow. This may result from climatic conditions, but more often it is a consequence of disease, debility, and want of proper nutrition, which are necessary corollaries of undue multiplication. Frequently, there- fore, it may be inaccurate and misleading to attribute the disappearance of a particular injurious species to some parasitic or predaceous species which has been let loose upon It, and nothing but the most accurate observation will determine the truth in such cases." Effects of Extremes of Temperature. We have had some very striking illustrations in point during the last two or three years. For instance, the destruction of timber, especially spruce pine, by the ravages of a little Scolytid beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, has been phenomenal of late years TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 93 over large areas of the Atlantic coast, and especially in Virginia and West Virginia. Indeed, this injury was so serious that not a sound tree could be found in many sec- tions, and in 1892 every tree seemed doomed. Yet, in 1893 not a single living specimen of this little beetle could be found. This was not only noticed by lumbermen and by all who investigated the subject, but was particularly proven by the researches of Prof. A. D. Hopkins of the West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, and by those of Mr. E. A. Schwarz, whom I had commissioned to investigate the facts. The clearest explanation of this sudden change was that the species was practically killed out by the exceptionally cold winter of 1893, as such was known to be the case with regard to several other insects. Now it so happens that Prof. Hopkins had, the year previously, made a special trip to Europe for the purpose of introducing one of the most persistent enemies of the Dendroctonus in the form of a rather bright colored red-and-black beetle, known as Ckrus formicarius. His mission had been successful. Now, following so closely on the introduction of this predaceous species, how easy it would have been to attribute the sudden decrease of the bark-borer or the Dendroc- tonus to the work of the introduced Clerus, had not the decrease been so sharp and so general and extensive as absolutely to preclude any such possibility. In like manner, and doubtless from the same exceptional cold, a particular scale- insect ( Aspidiotus tenebricosus) which was very injurious to the shade maples of the city of Washington was almost completely killed off. Many of the trees were dying from its attacks in 1892, and on some of the streets the park commissioners had severely pruned the trees and treated the trunks and larger branches with a thick covering of whitewash. How easy it would have been for those who had not looked deeply into the facts to have connected the sudden decrease or almost entire disappearance of this particular species the following year, either to the treatment given or to the working of natural enemies (since such were also at work), had it not been that the same de- crease, almost to extermination, was noticeable all over the city and on trees that had not as well as on those that had been treated. "The other law that is worth considering In this connection has shown that, as a rule, the animals and plants of what is known as the "Old" World — i. e., of Europe and Asia — when introduced into North America have shown a greater power of nuilti- plication than the indigenous species, and in a large number of instances have taken the place of the native forms, which have not been able to compete with them in the strug- gle for existence. The converse proposition holds equally true, viz.: that our species when taken to Europe do not hold their own against the European indigenes. This is still more true of the species introduced from the Old World, as well as from America, into Australia, where the advantage of the introduced forms, as compared with the indigenous, has been in many cases still more marked. All other things being equal, therefore, we should expect the species which are beneficial in Australia to be less so when brought to this country, a deduction which brings out still more clearly the ex- ceptional nature of the case of Vedalia and Icerya, just as there some notable excep- tions, as in the case of the Grape Phylloxera, in the introductions between Europe and America." As bearing on this particular point, it may be interesting to note that while in Europe and America the families of predaceous insects are exceptionally free from the attacks of other insects, and even of birds and reptiles, by virtue of some nauseous or acrid secretion or other protective property, such is not the case to the same extent, so far as observations go, in Australia. Thus the ladybirds are known to have such relative immunity in Europe and America, while in Australia, according to the best of authority, and as Mr. Koebeie's owu observations show, they are much more liable ( in the larva state) to hymenopterous parasites, and, what is more interesting tons, are very prone to be attacked in all stages by birds and especially by the voracious English sparrow; whereas, no one has reported this bird as feeding upon ladybirds 94 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. either iu America or Europe, and no trace of such was found in a very large numljer of stomachs examined and reported on by the Department of Agriculture.* It often happens also that unusual heat produces similar effects, as does unusual and exceptional cold. I have known species, especially iu the family of plantrlice ( Aphididie), which consists in the main of very tender-bodied, minute insects with great powers of multiplication, and which includes some of the very worst enemies to our cultivated crops, to be completely annihilated during a hot summer spell, when the thermometer ranged above 100° F. Most of the species of this family, indeed, naturally disappear during the hottest weather, having alternate generations which are capable of living during this period on the roots of plants underground, or under other conditions which shield them from the intense heat. It has been very commonly remarked also iu southern California that the Black Scale { Lecaniiim olea) often dies out in your interior valleys during protracted heat and drouth; and other similar cases might be mentioned. It is manifest, therefore, that the successful utilization of beneficial insects is by no means a simple matter, and that discriminating knowl- edge is required to insure success and to prevent false conclusions being drawn. Tlie Missions to Australia. I have drawn attention to these facts because of the unusual interest manifested by the people of California in the introduction of beneficial insects from abroad as a result of the exceptional success of Mr. Koebele's first mission to Australia, and the resultant introduction of Vedalia cardinalis. In cooperation with the State Board of Horticulture and at its own solicitation Mr. Koebele, as an agent of the Department of Agriculture, was sent on a second mission to Australia and New Zealand, with the idea of introducing beneficial species that might kill off the Black and the Red Scales, as the Vedalia did the Fluted or White Scale. Through his indefatigable efforts a large number of species were sent over, especially of those belonging to the ladybird family {Coceinellidce). To give you an idea of his activity in this regard, I append a ist of the species that were studied and for the most part sent over: Coccinella arcuata Fabr. Lipernes subviridis Blackb. Coccinella conformis Boisd. Boculus fourneti Muls. Coccinella antipodum White. Boculus conrexiis Blackb. Coccinella abdominalis Say. Platyotnus lividigaster Muls. Coccinella kingi MacLeay. Novius koebelei Olliff. Coccinella repanda Thunb. JHoriiis bellus Blackb. Heda testudinaris Muls. Erithionyx lanosus Blackb. Halyzia pascoei Crotch. ■ Scymnodes koebelei Blackb. Haiyzia galbula Muls. Scymnus notesceiis Blackb. Halyzia edwardsi "Muls. Scymnus flavifrons Blackl). Verania Jrenata Er. Scymnus sydneyensis Blackb. Verania lineola Fabr. Scymnus whittonensis Blackb. Orcus clialybens Boisd. Scymnus queenslandicus Blackb. Orcus ausiralasia- Boisd. Scyinnus ((ustralasia' Blackb. Orcus mumeralis Boisd. Bhizobius boucardi Crotch. Orcus bilunulatus Boisd. Rhizobius ventralis Erich. TricJiorcus cinctus Blackb. Rhizobius debilis Blackb. Anisocerus affinis Crotch. Rhizobius satellus Blackb. Cryptolcemus montrouzieri Muls. Rhizobius fugax Blackb. Rhizobius speculifer Blackb. Rhizobius dorsalis Blackb. Rhizobius cyaneus Blackb. Gymnoscymnus 4-maculatus Blackb. Rhizobius toowombw Blackb. Cycloscymnus minutus Blackb. Rhizobius co'cus Blackb. Cyrema nigellunt Blackb. Rhizobius avrantii Blackb. Serangium maculigerum Blackb. Rhizobius ( h irtellus Crotch. ?) Serangium Mrtuosum Blackb. Rhizobius ijulcher Blackb. Midas pygnunis Blackb. Rhizobius australis Blackb. *The Insectivorous Habits of the English Spnrrow. By C. V. Riley: in Bull. I. Div. Econ. Omith. and Mammalogy. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 95 lutenlionally avoidiiit; all reference to the controversies which have resulted from this second mission of Mr. Koebele's, it is but just to put on record in your proceedings the fact that the fruit-growers have been at odds and practically divided as to the re- sults: one class having blind faith in the efficacy of the introductions, and discoimte- nancing all insecticide methods of treating fruit trees; the other, on the contrary, urging and adopting active remedial measures, pending the insufficiency of the intro- duced species. Personally 1 have all along hoped for possible good results, but pend- ing their fulfillment have urged that the introduced species be encouraged in every possible way in special orchards set apart for their multiplication, and in which no insecticide methods should be employed ; while elsewhere, and until definite results are obtained, active spraying and fumigating should be caiTied on whenever such measures are deemed necessary to save the crops. The following letter, hitherto un- published, will prove of interest in this connection : "September 16, 1893. '•'John Scott, Esq., Ilort. Comm'r Los Angeles Co., Los Angeles, Calif. — Dkak Sin: I have your letter of September Sth. 1 regret very much that Mr. Cooper has seen fit to refuse to allow Mr. Co(iuillett to inspect his orchard, for his reasons do not com- mend themselves to me. I have received Mr. Koebele's report of his inspection of the orchard. . . 1 have always hitherto been able to place implicit confidence in his statements of fact. Hence I see no reason for doubting the existence of the state of affairs which he reports, namely, that llldzohius ventraUs has multiplied very greatly, and exists in thousands in Mr. Cooper's orchards. Mr. Cooper, as you state, promises to distribute from this abundance sometime during the present mouth. "It has taken -this Rhizobius considerably more than a year to reach its pres- ent abundance in Mr. Cooper's orchard, which is still not entirely free from the Black Scale. You can see from this that it would be unwise to cease spraying and fumigating for the Black Scale at present through the State. E\en those persons to whom Mr. Cooper .sends the colonies he promises will probably find it best to spray or fumigate all the trees except the comparatively few upon which the Rhizobius is to be colonized. This will give the insect a good chance to obtain a foothold and to mul- tiply. The sensible course to pursue is that which 1 recommended a year ago when I was asked for my opinion, namely, to set aside certain orchards in which the insects might be given full opportunity to multiply, and carefully to avoid spraying or fumi- gating these orchards; but until some one of the insects has shown itself to be per- fectly effective and a rapid multiplier, the general discontinuance of insecticide methods would be unwise. 1 would particularly recommend this course now, because, as you suggest, there can be little advantage gained by the distribution of the insect at this late season, even under the most favorable circumstances, so far as the coming crop is concerned. " To reply to the more specific question as to what my opinion is as to what may be expected in the next year or even the next two years, from the work of Rhizobius, I would say that it is somewhat unsafe to predict as to the future of any of these recent importations. It is very evident from the facts, so far as I have been able to ascertain them, that each of the several species sent over in such large numbers by Mr. Koebeie has acted very differently in different localities, and that those which the State Board and Mr. Koebeie were confident of, have not fulfilled their expectations. I have my- self always felt that a repetition of the experience with Vedalia and Icerya could not be had in the case of the Red and Black Scales ; and because 1 have dared thus to express my own judgment, based upon scientific evidence, so far as it was obtainable, I have been pretty roundly abused, especially of late, by those connected with the State Board of Horticulture. . . I have striven in every possible way to make Mr. Koebele'5 last mission a success, notwithstanding my doubts as to the outcome, feeling that there might be some unforeseen element in the problem that would i>rove of benefit. Thus, I particularly charged Mr. Koebeie, in sending over predaceous insects, to avoid send- ing over the parasites that affected them in Australia; while I charged Mr. Coquillett repeatedly to leave no stone unturned to make the mission a success. The results have shown how carefully Mr. Koebeie has striven to carry out his part of the instructions, and I feel sure that Mr. Co(iuillett did likewise. This was my only hope of good, and it is the only hope I still have, namely, that some of the species introduced, being brought over without the parasites which served to decrease their numbers abroad, might become more efiicient here than in their own home. "Pardon these generalizations, but they are rather necessary in order that you may understand why it is difiicult to predicate absolutely with regard to these importations, 96 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. and why I say in answering your question that it is this uncertain element which nec- essarily must qualify my opinion. While from the general facts I should hardly expect Rhizobius to accomplish any conspicuous good, yet we ought to relax no effort to give it every opportunity. The fact that it is evidently a slow breeder, and that Mr. Coop- er's place seems to be the only one in which it has obtained a foothold and multiplied, though it was disseminated in other places, would not justify us in hoping for very much so far as widespread usefulness is concerned, within tlie next year or two years. "At the recent meeting of the Association of Economic Entomologists at Madison, Wis., I read a paper on the general subject of Parasites and Predaceous Insects in Ap- plied Entomology; and as the question is a complicated one, it will give me pleasure to send you a copy of this paper as soon as it is published. I take pleasure in sending you by accompanying mail a copy of my annual address as president of the Entomo- logical Society of Washington, which was also on the subject of parasitism in insects. Believe me, yours very truly, C. V. Riley, Entomologist.'' So far as I have been able, from reports on both sides, to form an intelligent and unbiased opinion, there are but two, or at most three, of the long list of species enu- merated which are to-day, after three years' trial, giving any degree of promise, and these are three of the seven species of Rhizobius, viz. : R. ventralis, R. dehilis, and R. toowornho'. These seem to have done remarkably well in the olive orchards of Mr. Elwood Cooper, at Santa Barbara, which, according to all reports, have been measur- ably cleared of the Black Scale by their agency. The reports of their work in other localities are coutiicting, and on the whole the adverse are probably more numerous than the favorable reports. How far these conflictiug reports are due to locality, or pe- culiar atmospheric conditions ; how far they are based on erroneous conclusions, or are influenced on the one side or the other by interest or prejudice, it is not easy to state, and is one of the questions upon which I hope to getpersonal and ocular experfeuce during my present visit with the Society. One thing, however, is certain, and that is that not one of the introduced species has done for either of the scales mentioned what Vedalia did for Icerya; and this verifies the only positive opinion which I have felt justified in expressing beforehand. Neither the Black nor Red scales are kept in any such complete subjection by these or any other predaceous insects in Australia or New Zealand, and if they act differently with us it will be by virtue of the fact that through Mr. Koebele's abundant precaution, which I urged upon him repeatedly, they have been brought over without the parasites which are known to affect them, especially in the larva state, in their native home. The two chief species of Orcus, viz., 0. chaly- beus and 0. australasue, which figured so prominently in the early history of their in- troduction, and which the secretary of your State Board heralded in advance as perfect antidotes to the Red Scale, have scarcely been heard of lately, and have, I believe, nowhere done any special good except perhaps in a most limited way in the Kerchival orchards near this city, in which they were first colonized and cared for. Introductions Which Should Be Made. There are specific eases in which no doubt need be entertained as to the good which would follow from the introduction of beneficial species, and two cases which more particularly interest the people of California may here be indicated : The successful introduction and colonization of the caprifig insect ( Blastophnga psenes) from Smyrna into those sections of the State where the Smyrna fig is grown without its intervention could not prove otherwise than beneficial. Likewise, in the Mediterranean country a \\XX\e moih. {Erastria scittila), Avhose larva is very effective in destroying the Black Scale, is, in its turn, affected by parasites, and its careful and successful introduction, without the parasites that serve to check it in its native home, would be very desirable and could not fail to be productive of good. I have called attention to both these cases in the last report which, as Entomologist of the Department of Agriculture, it has been my pleasure to make, as I had previously done in numbers of Insect Life. These special cases, like that I have referred to, on behalf of the national Depart- TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 97 mentof Agriculture, and urged upon the State authorities, viz., tiie introduction of the European enemies of the Gipsy Moth in Massachusetts,* will be more apt to result in benefit than more general or miscellaneous introductions; for it must not be forgotten that there is always danger attending introductions even of beneficial insects, lest, unconsciously, there be brought over with tliem some uudesired and undesirable in- jurious species. No one can more fully appreciate the desirability of this mode of warfare against injurious species than myself, whenever the facts justify it or permit it; but unfortu- nately, as explained elsewhere, whenever the importance of the matter leads to legis- lation, what are denominated political methods are apt to affect the results, too often with nnfortunate consequences. We should be on the alert for special cases where the introduction or dissemination of beneficial species promises good results, and do our best to encourage an intelligent appreciation of such cases, while discouraging all those of a sensational nature as likely to do more harm than good. PREVENTION : INSECTS TO BE GUARDED AGAINST. While, therefore, the question of encouraging our friends among the insects is by no means as simple as it at first appears, and should always be most carefully and in- telligently considered, there can be no question whatever as to the great importance of preventing the spread or the introduction of injurious species ; and in this connec- tion the people of California deserve especial credit for the efforts they have made to protect their fruit-growers fri m foreign importations. Not only has the State suffered perhaps more than any other State from such foreign importations, especially among the scale-insects, but no State in the Union has more intelligently legislated against them, or has to-day more effective quarantine laws, carried out by a quarantine offi- cer and his subordinates as effectively, I believe, as it is possible, in the nature of the case, to do. With the utmost vigilance and the very best laws, however, cases will escape detection and new pests may be expected. Yet how much good may be done by any community where public sentiment supports prompt and radical measures, is very well illustrated by the experience at Riverside, where the orange trees have been, from the beginning, kept remarkably free from the worst scale-enemies that affect them in other parts of the State by prompt remedial measures, including sometimes a sacrifice of large numbers of trees. To accomplish this effectively, a sufficient num- ber of local insectors are kept constantly at work. We have within the past year had graphic illustrations of the danger even in our own country of the introduction of injurious species from one section to another. The San Jos6 scale, which is such a plague to deciduous trees and which was till lately confined to this State, was first detected a little over a year ago on pear trees near Charlottesville, Virginia, and has since been found in a number of places upon the At- lantic coast, rapidly multiplying and doing an immense amount of injury. It had, in fact, been disseminated from the celebrated nursery of one of our New Jersey membei's at present with us, before its presence was detected, and it is now doubtful whether the national Department of Agriculture or the different State authorities with all their efforts can suppress it. Another species {Diaspis landtvs), very common on a number of plants in the West Indies, has also suddenly made its appearance at a number of places in the East, doubtless brought over on plants from the West Indies, and I deemed it of sufficient importance to fully illustrate and characterize it in the last of my official writings. And so the list might be extended. It may be well to mention here a few of the more injurious fruit insects whicli would prove more particularly dis.astrous to the people of California if introduced, and for the introduction of which the quarantine officers should be particularly on the * Insect Life, vol. III. p. 474, Aug. 1891. —7 98 AMERICAN' POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. alert; for to be forewarned is to be forearmed! One is what has been called the Peach Ceratitus, though, if it ever gets here, it will be known as the Orange Maggot. It is known, entomologically, as Ceratitis capitata, and I briefly alluded to it at our 1891 meeting. It affects the orange very much as the Apple Maggot att'ecis the apple. The larva riots in the flesli, not only of the orange, but of the peach and apricot, causing the fruit to rot, and already does great harm to the peach crop in the Bermu- das, whither it has been introduced probably from the Azores, since it is known there and in Maderia, Mauritius, and the Cape Yerde Islands. It. or a very similar species, occurs also in fSoutli Africa, as the following extract from a letter received in 1892 from P. MacOwen. F. L. S., the government botanist of the Cape of Good Hope, indicates: "At the Cape we have so fre(iueiitly found assistance from your published studies in economic entomology, that it seems natural to ask your advice. 1 hope you will in- dulgently consider an application to you as simi)ly the inevitable penalty of becoming famous. Throughout the Eastern province, which, unlike our West, has very dry winter and summer rains, tlie fruit is destroyed by the larva of Ceratitis citrii^erdu, which some years exists in such numbers that it is scarcely possible to find a peach or apricot which is not full of 'worms.' The peach especially is the object of attack; of late years the orange has suffered, but not so universally. Fortunately it has not occurred, so far as my knowledge goes, in the Western Province, where the winter (June, July, August) is wet and cold, and perhaps is unsuitable for its hibernation. It may, however, be imported hither at any time, and often, in the earth of nursery stock." It is evident from all that is known of it that it would thrive in this section, and an allied species, Trypita lugenx, which is known to injure oranges in Mexico, should be still more sharply looked after. Another species is the Apple Maggot (Trypeta pojuenella), the maggot-like larva of which riddles apples and pears, causing them, also, to drop and rot. This species is most injurious to-day in parts of New England, but is gradually jnaking its way westward. A third, and most of all to be dreaded, is the well-known Plum Curculio. Who can estimate the immense harm to those sections of the Pacific coast, especially to the north, that would result from the introduction of this insect? Its work is so well known to Eastern pomologists, and it so effectually vetoes the growth of plums and other stone fruit in many sections of the East, that to mention the possibility of its introduction is sufficient. Then there is the Japanese Fruit Worm, which is alluded to in our Proceedings for 1891; (p. 41.) I am often asked whether any of these species, all of which affect the fruit itself and undergo their transformations beneath the ground, could live upon the Pacific coast, and I answer that I know of no reason why they should not. For, although the prolonged drouth and general aridity of the fruit-growing sections in the soutliern portion of this State would naturally affect the development of some of the Eastern species of insects, which transform below ground, these conditions necessarily change by irrigation, which would supply the requisite amount of moisture conducive to the transformations. It is true that the introduction of these fruit-inhabiting species is not so great as the introduction of those that affect the stems and roots; since the movement of fruit is eastward rather than westward. Nevertheless, no Eastern fruit should ever be allowed to come into the State for whatever purpose without being carefully inspected, for besides those already mentioned there are the Plum Gougers {Anthonomus prunicida and A. scuteUaris), the Quince Curculio {Conotrachehis cra- ta>gi\ the Apple Curculio {Anthonomus quadrigibhus), and other Eastern fruit pests to be dreaded. Then there is the Bean Weevil {Bruchus ohtectus) and many others. As to the further introduction of scale-insects, or those which by their nature are so readily brought over from foreign countries and other parts of our own country, the TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 99 danger is coustaut, as evidenced by the reports of the quarantine officer, who frequentlj' has to announce new forms discovered upon plants shipped from foreign countries. And when I witnessed last spring, during a trip to the West Indies, the injury which the so-called blights were doing to the lime plantations in Montserrat, I could not help feeling that of all scale-insects which you yet have to carefully guard against, the two chiefly concerned in this blight, namely, the Purple '^q,2\^ {Mytilaspis citricolu') ^\i& what may be called the Orange Scale {Cldondsins citri), are the worst. Both species also occur in Florida, and the former has, according to report, already been i,ntroduced on one or more occasions into California. The latter species would be, in my judg- ment, by far the more dangerous in this particular climate. Without enumerating other cases, and not wishing to occupy more of your time on the present occasion, I will continue my remarks in so far as direct remedies are con- cerned, or the battle with our insect foes by the insecticide methods, at the contem- plated adjourned meeting at Los Angeles, it having been already intimated that our friends have expected me to say something on that occasion, on the subject. SUPPLEMENTAL, REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON INVITATIONS. The Committee on Invitations then reported that the members who desired to visit southern California could leave San Francisco Friday morning at 9 a. m., remaining in sleeping cars until 10 a. m. Saturday morning, at Los Angeles. SOUVENIRS. Mr. Katzenstein then tendered to the members of the Society, on behalf of the ladies of the Reception Committee, souvenirs of the meeting, in the shape of baskets and boxes of fruit, which were then distributed. The President called upon Prof. Riley to respond, expressing the thanks of the members for the pretty courtesy. On motion of Prof. C. V. Riley, a rising vote of thanks was tendered the ladies for the courtesy. REDUCED RATES. A representative of the Southern I'acific Railroad Company then announced the rates of fare to various excursion points, and gave time tables and routes of trains. The reception for the evening at the Crocker Art Gallery was again announced by Mr. Katzenstein. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. Your Committee on Resolutions beg leave to offer the following : Resolved, That our heartfelt thanks are due to the Reception Committee and the citizens of Sacramento city, for their hospitalities so cordially extended and so elegantly carried into effect. Resolved, That we highly appreciate and thank the horticultural societies and in- dividuals making exhibits of pomological products, and especially the State Horticul- tural Society, for the magnificent and lil)eral serving of elegantly prepared dried fruits, thus affording us a grand opportunity for studying the wonderful varied gifts of Pomona to the Golden State. Resolved, That the reception tendered our Society by the State authorities in the magnificent capitol of California and also the queenly reception given by the ladies and citizens of Sacramento in the Art Gallery, were an unbounded success, and a grateful remembrance of them will long remain witli us. Resolved, That we extend our thanks to the Southern Pacific Railroad for the ex- cursion given us to Folsom, thus enabling us to view the orchards and vineyards of Sacramento Valley and the picturesque scenery and wonderful water-power of the American river; and we also desire to thank the railroad for their generous ofl:'er of reduced rates to various points of interest. Resolved, That special thanks be tendered to the press of Sacramento city for their courtesies and their elaborate reports of tiie proceedings of the convention. 100 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. ■ Resolved, That our thanks are due to our honored President for the courteous and able manner in which he has discharged the duties of his oflQce, and to the authors of the many able and instructive papers given to the Society. Resolved, That we will always carry in our hearts a warm affection for our pomo- logical friends of California, and cherish in our memories a grateful recollection of their efforts to interest and instruct us. We desire also to express our most grateful thanks to the ladies for the beautiful taste displayed in the decoration of the hall in which we have held our sessions, and also for the substantial and handsome souvenirs so generously distributed to our members. . Finally, we trust that we will carry from this meeting a new inspiration and a lirm resolve to be more diligent laborers in the wide domain of pomological research. Respectfully submitted. Geo. H. Miller, Chairman. The foregoing resolutions were unanimously adopted, by rising vote. CLOSING REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT. The President : I now desire to express my personal thanks to the members of the convention for their kindness and leniency in any shortcomings of which the chair may have been guilty. I can also say that the very spirit of which I spoke in my introductory remarks has pervaded the whole of our session. You have acted to one another as brothers, and it has been nothing but an harmonious session. For all of this I heartily thank you. We are now on the point of adjournment, but we all hope to meet at Los Angeles on Wednesday, January 30th. The session of 1897 will be announced as soon as the Executive Committee can come to a decision as to what would be the most desirable place for holding that session. I now pronounce the session adjourned, to meet at Los Angeles on Wednesday, January 30th, inst. THE FINAL RECEPTION. Given by the Citizens' Reception Committee of Sacramento, on Friday evening, January 18, 1895. The members of the American Pomological Society were tendered a reception at the E. B. Crocker Art Gallery, and the lofty and beautiful rooms and spacious vesti- bules were filled with the chivalry and beauty of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. As the guests thronged up the broad stairs of the edifice and entered the door they were met by a committee of handsome young ladies, composed of the Misses C. Root, B. Stanton, B. Hawk, M. D. Smith, T. A. Heilborn, B. Wagner, I. Stauffer, L. Krebs, and Mrs. A. Casselli, who decorated each guest and Sacrameutan as well with button- hole bouquets. After an inspection of the elegant interior the visitors were conducted to the min- eral cabinet room, and witnessed a fine display of stereopticon views of Yosemite Val- ley and Alaska, given by kindness of Rev. A. C. Herrick. Before the exhibition commenced the president of the Museum Committee stated that he had been urgently requested by visitors to make a few remarks explanatory of the building and its acquisition. It had been the intention to dispense with all speech- making, and he desired his hearers to understand that the few facts he presented were not uttered in a spirit of boastfulness, but for their personal information. ml ^ r' ^ M 1 iff'* i¥ ' * 4f '■' f^'^ * \ ' i tfill i*:-i.. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 101 It was too evideut that Qalifornians were accredited with being possessed with alto- gether too large a supply of this quality, especially in the far East, but nevertheless it was deemed expedient to give a brief history of the Art Gallery and the founding of the Museum Association, and the relation of the city of Sacramento to each. After a few brief facts recited relative to these subjects, Rev. Mr. Herrick took the floor, the hall was darkened, and a very brief explanaticm given of the many striking Yosemite and Alaskan views presented, through the agency of an electric stereopticon. During the entertainment the words of the national anthem, "America," were thrown upon the curtain, and, by request were sung by the entire audience, with spirit, and followed by applause. At the conclusion of the showing of views the visitors filed upstairs and partook of a lunch, which was served in the study-rooms, while th^ cabinet-room was again occupied by such as could not gain admission at first, and the views were again shown. Catalogues of the various works in the gallery were furnished the guests, who strolled slowly through the long galleries admiring the paintings, and listening to the orchestra that played in tlie School of Design room. Everything possible was done by the Directors of the Museum Association to con- tribute to the entertainment of the city's guests, nor did one incident occur to mar the pleasure of the evening. Even old residents were forced to confess that the reception was a fit amplification of California's open-handed generosity, and that the old-time spirit of the argonaut had not departed with his personality. A striking characteristic of the affair was its easy, informal character, and the en- tire absence of fussiness and eft'ortfulness. A notable feature also was the quiet and graceful manner in which a large number of ladies and citizens made it a pleasant duty to act as hosts, and support the Citizens' General Committee. The guests lingered until a late hour, and reluctantly departed from the gallery. ADJOURNED SESSION. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SESSION HELD AT LOS AISTGELES, GAL., 0\ JANUARY 80. 1895, As PER Adjournment of the Twenty-fourth Session of the Soctett. HELD AT Sacramento. Cal.. on January 16. 17 and 18, 1895. The session was called to order at 10 o'clock a. m., at the assembly-room of the Los Augeles Chamber of Commerce, by L. M. Holt, Presideut of the Southern California Pomological Society, who introduced Hon. W. C. Patterson, President of the Chaml)er. Mr. Patterson, in a brief and appropriate address, welcomed the members of the Society to the hospitalities of the city and the sunny clime of southern California. This was followed by an address of welcome by L. M. Holt, as follows : ADDRESS OF WEIiCOME. BY- L. M. HOI.T. PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA POMOLOCilCAL SOCIETY. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. Mr. President, and Members of the American Pomological Society — Ladies and Gen- tlemen: Object-lesson teaching is considered the most effective method of imparting instruction. It is probably this fact, taken in connection with the desire of the mem- bership to see various parts of our common country, that induces the Society to hold its biennial sessions at such widely located places between the two great oceans as may be selected from time to time. As fruit and fruit-culture are your main topics for study, you naturally hold your meetings in localities where orchards and vineyards do most abound, and where people devote their energies largely to this line of thought and action. This year you have come to a State which, while young in the fruit busi- ness, is making rapid strides in that direction, and our success so far has not only sur- prised the people of the country at large, but also our own people, who have never been charged with lack of local patriotism. It might be further noted in this connec- tion also, that while the founders of the American Pomological Society were at work laying the foundation for future usefulness in 1848, California, the country that was destined to become eventually the nation's orchard, was being transferred from the Mexican Government to a position beneath the stars and stripes, that it might be de- veloped and made ready for your inspection nearly half a century later. Viewing the subject from these points of view, we feel that no apology is neces- sary for the action of the Southern California Pomological Society in inviting you to visit this end of the State, and hold here in Los Angeles an adjourned meeting of the Society, and for making the further suggestion, that the members while here make a tour of our fruit-growing sections under the guidance of a joint committee of arrange- ments appointed by the Southern California Pomological Society, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the Farmers' Institute and tiie Southern California Horticul- (102) TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 103 tural Society. This proposed trip is suggested in order that your study of the fruit business may be continued from an object-lesson standpoint, with a view to giving you new and profitable, as well as interesting, ideas for your future consideration. Before entering upon this work, pardon me for laying before you a few facts which may be of value to you in the prosecution of your observations. The people of this country are becoming a fruit-consuming people. As an illus- tration of this statement, let me call your attention to the fact that the United States in the year 1884 imported fruits of varieties not grown in this country to the extent of .■iiiS, 500,000, and in the year 1893 these importations had increased to $8,850,000 — an increase in one decade of over one hundred and fifty per cent., while the population of the country had increased only about twenty-four per cent, in that same length of time. During the same decade the importations of fruits of those varieties grown in Cali- fornia had only decreased from S17, 000,000 in 1884 to $15,000,000 in 1893 — only $3,000,000 ; and this decrease was in the price, rather than in the amounts, of the imports. But even at this rate of decrease it woukl require seventy-five years for the fruits produced in the Ignited States to supply our own peojjle and entirely cut off all imports from foreign countries. The increase in the production of oranges in the United States during the past ten years has been one of the wonders of the fruit industry, and yet the importation of oranges, which in 1884 was $3,900,000, had only decreased in 1893 to $1,700,000. Had the judicious system of marketing the orange crop adopted in this State last season been adopted ten years ago, the probabilities are that not only would our orchardists have received better prices for their fruit, but the importations from for- eign countries would have shown an increase instead of a decrease, for by the present system oranges are being sold to millions of customers who ate no oranges before. The older Spanish civilization of southern California dates back more than a cen- tury, while the newer and more vigorous American civilization dates back but little more than a quarter of a century. Under the Spanish-Mexican regime the leading industry of the country was stock-raising — cattle, sheep, and hoi"ses. However, a few orchards and vineyards had been planted and a beginning of fruit-culture had been made. It had been demonstrated that the grape would grow here to perfection ; at least so far as one variety, the Mission grape, was concerned. It had been dem- onstrated that the orange would grow and flourish. Some other fruits had been tried on a small scale for home consumption ; but as we had only a local market, the production necessarily had to be very limited. Twenty years ago the orange crop was small. It partially supplied the Pacific coast markets, the remaining supply coming from Mexico and the islands. The crop was estimated and sold by the thousand. It was so small that it seemed best to count the oranges. A few years later the more vigorous American methods of doing busi- ness, stimulated by the building of railroads, caused more orchards to be planted ami new varieties — including the now justly celebrated Navel — to be introduced. The annual crop increased and the fruit was then estimated and sold by the box. It was sufficient then to count the boxes. A few years later still, after Riverside and the foot-hill country from Pasadena eastward to Redlands had begun to send their oranges to market, the crop was estimated and sold by the car-load. It was easier and more comprehensive than counting the boxes. In twenty years' time the orange crop of southern California has increased from almost nothing to about 7,500 car-loads — or 3,350,000 boxes — estimated to be worth this season free on board the cars, $3,500,000. Florida had a few years the start of us in the orange business. It was nearer to market, and hence had that one advantage which we did not enjoy. But on the other hand, we had a superior summer climate, and possessed some advantages not enjoyed by Florida; while i>oth countries had, like ail other countries, some drawbacks which 104 AMERICAN- POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. were common to both. For instance, Jack Frost occasionally by turns visits both States. Three years ago he paid this State a very unwelcome visit, while this year he has appeared as a tenderfoot in Florida. The fruit-growers of both States have had to take their medicine — and sometimes it has been very bitter. But California is a mountainous State, and herein it has a great advantage from the cold business standpoint. Destructive frosts occasionally visit the lower lands of the valleys, while the sloping lands around those valleys are free from such frosts. An orange may freeze solid in one locality, and yet the tender twigs of the lemon tree only two or three miles distant may not be touched. There are in southern California many bearing orange orchards which are more or less subject to loss by frost every winter; and yet there are many other bearing orange orchards located on the sloping foot-hills which have never yet been visited by injurious frosts. But it is something of a comfort to know that southern California contains enough good orchard laud lo- cated within the warm belt along the foot-hills where damaging frosts are unknown, to raise enough oranges to supply the present demand for that fruit in the United States. While some of the colder sections of the valleys of southern California are subject to injurious frosts, so far as the orange and the lemon are concerned, still we have some advantages which cannot be overlooked. We are not compelled to rely upon the fickle clouds to supply the moisture with which to mature the crops. In countries dependent upon the rainfall, it either always rains too much or it does not rain enough. To this rule the exceptions are so rare as not to be worth mentioning. It is just as necessary to give a plant or a tree the right amount of moisture at the right time as it is to give a horse or a man the right amount of food or drink at the right time. Crops dependent upon rain rarely get the moisture as needed, but when de- pendent upon irrigation they can always get it when required. Hence we find that irrigated countries support a much more dense population than can be supported in countries dependent on rainfall. Here, in the irrigated region, we find that ten acres is enough ; while there, where irrigation is not practiced, we find that a quarter of a section is not enough : but in some localities where the rainfall is particularly fickle, and where there are no irrigation facilities, any amount of land seems not to be too much. The lemon question has been a more difficult one to solve. We could raise lemons, but we did not seem able to cure them properly for market ; and when we did occasion- ally get a batch cured properly, the Eastern consumer being prejudiced against them, the middlemen took advantage of the prejudice to make money at our expense. Car- loads of California lemons have been bought at low figures, repacked in foreign boxes, and sold as foreign fruit at high figures; the manipulators getting the profits, and the orchardists getting — left. It is only a few years — less than a decade — since Cali- fornia and Florida learned the simple process of how to cure the lemon. Since that time thousands of acres of lemons have been planted, and at last southern California is beginning to put a first-class lemon in the Eastern market, in first-class condition, and we are beginning to command for them fair prices. Notwithstanding all this im- provement in the crop and increase in production, the importation of lemons from the Mediterranean has increased during a decade from S2, 600,000 in 1884 to 84,900,000 in 1893. The demand for lemons in the United States is increasing very rapidly, and there must be a more vigorous increase of production than we have had yet if we ever expect to supply the American market with this variety of American fruit. It has generally been considered that a country that would produce in perfection the citrus fruits would not produce successfully the deciduous fruits. If this state- ment may be considered as being the rule, southern California is certainly a notable exception. I speak for southern California, and not for the whole State, so as not to come in conflict with anything you may have seen or heard further north. The TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 105 peach, the pear, the apricot, the prune and the grape are as much at home here as are the orange and the lemon ; while the apple in the valleys near the coast and in the interior mountain valleys having an altitude of from 3,500 to 4,000 feet above sea- level will compare favorably in tlie marltets or under the critical examination of pomological experts with the apples from the most favored apple countries. This was IEECT KEMEDIES AGAINST FRUIT INSECTS. And now, having devoted more time than was originally intended to this subject of caprification, the remarks upon the subject of direct remedies against injurious in- sects, which I promised to deal with, must necessarily be brief; but this is hardly to be regretted, as I treated of them at greater length in the paper presented to you in 1891. The most valuable of the direct remedies against those insects which interest the pomologist fall into two classes, viz. : (1) the different forms of arsenicals, used as insecticides against those mandibulate species which take their food by mastication, and (3) the various washes, oil emulsions, and the gas treatment, against those like the scale-insects, which take their food by suction. The use of arsenicals is now so well known, and former experiences have been so widely circulated by the national Department of Agriculture and the different experi- ment stations, that it is unnecessary to waste your time in details. The chief advance in their use since our last meeting in Washington is the discovery in connection with the work of the Gypsy Moth committee, in Massachusetts, of the value of arsenate of lead. This was found to be less caustic and injurious to the foliage than Paris green, or London purple, or other forms of arsenic, and to adhere more readily thereto. Ex- periments at Washington, however, carried on by Mr. C. L. Marlatt, leave some doubt yet as to whether it is as satisfactory otherwise as some of the older formulae. For the same reason it is not my purpose at the present time to enter into details in reference to the well-known insecticides of the second class, namely, the various oil emulsions, resin washes, linie-sulphur-salt wash, the carbonate of potash, or the bisulphide of carbon — all of which are excellent for special purposes. I yet have faith that thp kerosene-whaleoil-soap emulsion will prove valuable to you, properly applied ; and it must not be forgotten that washes have an advantage over gas treatment, in that they do not so fully slaughter the friends which can fly away. I wish to call at- TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 119 teution, rather, to the fact that there is plenty of opportunity for further experiment as to the manner in which these various insecticides act under different conditions. We must know the effect of a specific insecticide, or a certain mixture, upon the vital- ity of a given plant at a particular time of day, at a particular season, with a particular sun exposure, and under certain conditions of the plant, both as to vigor and exposure. We must know how different species of plants are affected under the same conditions. We have much to learn yet as to the possibilities of combining a fungicide and an in- secticide. In some cases this combination may be made with great advantage, in other cases it is just as clear that no advantage has been derived. But what I wish particularly to call your attention to is, that all these different insecticides will act somewhat differently according to the varying conditions indicated, and that there is especially a conflicting experience between the States east of the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific coast. The kerosene emulsions, and especially the whale-oil-kerosene emulsions, have proved of the utmost value in the warfare against the scale insects of the East; while some of the washes, especially your winter washes, which have, according to the best of evidence, given satisfaction to you, have proved, by contrast, of much less value with us in the East. This has been particularly noticeable in a series of experiments which 1 have conducted during the past two years, through Messrs. Marlatt, Coquillett and Pergande, and the results of which are embodied in a paper by the former {Insect Life, vol. VII, pp. 115-12G). Some of the reasons for these varying experiences are not far to seek. As a State, California has many pecul- iarities, especially this the southern portion of the State. It is essentially the land of scale-insects ; and why ? In the East the majority of our most injurious species pro- duce but one generation annually, and the periods of hatching and of developing, and the stages in which hibernation takes place, are pretty definitely marked. Thus, for a period of about two weeks, generally in the month of May, all the young will hatch from eggs that were hibernated under the female scale. And by spraying the plants affected during this comparatively brief period, when the young and tender insects are so easily destroyed, the plants are, for the most part, easily protected. The species which hatch out very irregularly and produce more than one generation annually are the exception there. Here with you, on the contrary, all your most injurious species go on multiplying the year round, and there is scarcely any definite demarkation be- tween thg different broods, or the periods of hatchings, or the diffei'ent stages of de- velopment. There is hardly any absolute period of rest, properly speaking, to be compared with the winter period of from four to nearly eight months in the East. In short, the manner in which your vegetation is affected differently from what it is affected in the East by the various insecticide applications, may be very well illus- trated by the manner in which your tender plants and flowers resist a degree of frost whicJi would destroy the same plants and flowers in the East. This is in part due to tiie habits which the plants have acquired here on the Pacific coast, because it has been proved by experiment that the Eastern plant brought here will be cut down by the side of your own individuals, which will resist; but it is also largely due to the dryness of your atmosphere. Thus, where conditions are so different, experiences will differ ; opinions will differ ; and as a rule those are best and most to be relied on which are unbiased. If in the discussions that are apt to characterize your meetings these facts are borne in mind, you will be apt to be more considerate of opposing views. Finally, in view of the entomological controversies that have characterized your writings and discussions, let me say that if you are valiant and unswerving in defend- ing the right; bold and uncompromising in exposing fraud and wrong, you will go forward to ultimate success, overcoming your tiny, but formidable foes, and with these defeated and water controlled from your rocks and mountains, I know of no country on this mundane sphere that will sooner reward the labors of the intelligent pomologist, 120 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. or may sooner be made an earthlj paradise — a veritable Elysium — than this portion of southern California. 1 have stood on the top of Pike's Peak and thrilled with pleasure at the grand view of plains and mountains on every side ; I have looked down from the Drachenfelz into the picturesque valley of the Rhine ; I have witnessed some of the most impressive of the Swiss scenery ; I have gazed in admiration from the Malvern Hills at the beautiful and peaceful English scenery, stretching in the distance below ; I have traveled in the lovely Lake District of that country, and in the Trossachs of Scotland ; I have looked down upon the lovely and thickl3'-populated valley of the Seine from the top of the Eiffel tower: but nowhere has it been my lot to view a fairer and more delightful country than that which meets the eye from the top of Mount Lowe, or which more nearly approaches what may be called the "garden spot of the world." At the conclusion of Prof. Riley's ])aper the Committee on Awards reported, as follows : REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AWARDS. BT DR. r. M. HEXAMEK. NEW YOKK CITY. Your committee on fruits exhibited awards the Wilder silver medal to the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, for a grand and magnificent collection of fruits and other products from the seven counties of southern California. In furnishing this continuous objectrlesson of the various products of these counties, the Chamber is do- ing an excellent work, which is worthy the attention and imitation of other localities. Los Angeles county displays many striking features on the main floor : Walnut tower, ear of corn, bottle of wine, kiosk of dried fruits, general display of fruit in glass and vegetables. San Diego county has a general display, comprising raisins, dried fruit, olive oil, honey, citrus and deciduous fruits, amoug the former the Bonnie Brae lemon by H. L. Griffin and grape-fruit by C. H. Stewart. San Bernardino county has a general display of citrus fruits, nuts, dried fruits, sugar, and minerals. Amoug the former that deserve special mention are the oranges from Wm. C. Fuller, Colton, and lemons from O. C. Dussusoit. Orange county has a general display of fruit in glass, deciduous fruits, and mam- moth vegetables. Riverside county has a general display of citrus fruits, dried fruit, nuts, and grains. Special mention should be made of the Navel oranges and grape-fruit. Among the locality exhibits deserving special mention, Cahuenga should be cred- ited with the best semi-tropic display, made by Jacob Miller, consisting of cheri- moyas, coffee, pepenos, strawberry and lemon guavas, and bananas. Ontario should receive due credit for her display of Washington Navel oranges and Eureka lemons. Pomona locality makes a display of general products, principal among which are the olive-oil exhibit of J. L. Rowland, and olive exhibits of John S. Calkins and of Rev. C. F. Loup ct Son. Duarte locality makes a meritorious display of citrus fruits, principally by William Chippendale, J. A. Maddock, P. M. Douglas, and A. C. Thomson; also a fine line of dried fruits by Bliss Brothers. Redondo Beach is represented by the Redondo Beach Floral Company with a handsome display of carnation pinks. Pasadena is represented by a display of general products, principal of which are the citrus fruits, crystallized fruits, tropical fruits, and nursery stock. The leading of these exhibits are four different varieties of eucalyptus, by Sharff & Shorting. Long Beach deserves special mention for a diversified exhibit of products so near the Pacific beach. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 121 Among the individual exhibits deserving special mention are the displajs of crys- tallized fruits made by Barnard & Deusmore and Bishop «& Co., of Los Angeles. A display of water lilies by E. D. Sturdevant, of Cahueuga. A display of palms and dracinas by L. Stengel, of Los Angeles. The Los Nietos Walnut Grovpers' Association should receive due credit for their magnificent display of English walnuts. H. R. Smith and S. H. Loveland, of Vernon, special mention for their display of apples. The Piru rancli makes a fine display of oranges, lemons, grape-fruit, and olives from young trees. The Rosecrans ranch, a special mention for general display of citrus and deciduous fruits, nuts and vegetables raised without irrigation. Among the additional special exhibits made at the Chamber of Commerce were 40 varieties of eucalyptus and 20 varieties of Australian wattle by Sharif & Shorting, South Pasadena; Washington Navel oranges, A. H. Fox, Etiwanda; Eureka lemons and seedling oranges, Henry Clausou, Colegrove ; dried fruit. Eureka lemons and Washington Navel oranges, E. T. Byram, Glendale. Three boxes of fruit were re- ■ceived from Orange county. Stone Eureka apples, by A. Dornian, Rivera; is pronounced by experts of the American Pomological Society to be the Missouri Pippin. Washington Navel oranges, Mexican limes, pickled olives, by C. F. Loop, Pomona. In conclusion Dr. Hexamer said : The more I see of your country, the more I be- come impressed with your boundless resources and the excellent fruit that you produce. You have everything here that the heart could wish for; and yet you are almost un- known to us in the East. You have either not enough consumers or there is some- thing wrong with the ways and means of bringing your products to the notice of the people in the East. If we all knew, as I know now, the abundant and inexhaustible resources of your country, your fruits and your wines, you would get a market and a fair profit. A raisin-grower offered me yesterday raisins at two cents a pound, for which I pay twenty-five cents a pound in New York. I cannot close without expressing my deep feelings of gratitude for the universal kindness and courtesies which have been showered upon the members of this Society by the citizens of Los Angeles, and of every place they have visited. The President: I can heartily indorse the sentiments expressed in the closing remarks of the committee, and feel confident that they express the sentiments of every member present. On motiou, the Society adjourned to meet in 1897. Note. — During the evening the visiting members were pleasantly entertained at the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, by the members of the Chamber and promi- nent citizens of Los Angeles. Secketary. APPENDIX. FRUIT REPORTS. COMPILED AND PRESENTED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GENERAL FRUIT COM- MITTEE, FROM ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING CIRCULAR. [Copt op Circular.] Mt Dear Sir : I address you for the purpose of gathering the most correct advices concerning the progress of fruit-culture in your State. It is the duty of the committee to prepare for the next volume of Transactions a report that shall, as fully as possible, cover the extent of territory represented in this organization. That this report may be of real value in its record of the progress and standing of Anier.ican Pomology, will you kindly report to me by mail any facts, observations or opinions worthy of record, for the locality which you represent. To aid you in formulating your report along the lines of greatest interest. I append the following cjueries for your guidance ; (a) What efforts are making by individuals or organizations to improve fruits by crossing, hybridizing or selection, and can you give any record of valuable results ? { 6 ) What progress has been made in combatting insects and diseases, and are there any new or dangerous enemies of this character that menace the pomologist ? ((') Has any recent legislation been enacted for or against the best interests of fruit-growers? (d) Have you noted any modittcation of types of fruits as a result of climatic or other conditions peculiar to your location '' (e) Have you any illustrations of progress in feeding fruit crops, with reference to securing perfection of specimens or increase of yield ? (/) Can you mention any points in the propagsition of varieties that have proved especially useful ? (g) Which of the newer varieties of fruits are particularly promising within your district ? (A) Can you give anything new or interesting in the way of pomological statistics, for your section ? (J) Do you note any tendency to a decline in any branch of fruit culture? If so, can you ac- count for it ? (k) Have you any new points in hardiness of varieties, either as a result of importations or niodiflcation^of conditions ? Please send your reports to me promptly by October 1st and I shall feel greatly obliged, and will • iideavor to compile a report tli.it will be a credit to ourselves and of real value to the Society. Faithfully yours, Chas. W. Garfield, CfKtirman of General Fruit Committee. REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GENERAL FRUIT COMMITTEE. To the President of the American Pomological Society — Sir : It had been my hope, during the long interval since the publication of the last report from this committee, to secure a mass of valuable matter from which to condense a report of more than or- dinary value to the membership of our Society. I am, however,, seriously disappointed owing to the meager returns in answer to my circular letter of queries sent out first in August, 1893, and again in July, 1894. From the experience I have had in the attempt to get information from the members of this committee, I trust you will par- don me if 1 make a few suggestions that m.ay, if acted upon, assist my successor in securing what I have failed in getting from the printed list of membership in this committee. It seems to me of the utmost importance that eacii State, Territory and Province should be represented on this committee by some person who is in touch with the pomology of the locality he represents, and who is affiliated with our Society so closely as to be willing to make some sacrifice, if necessary, to have his section fairly repre- (125) 126 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. seuted in the report of this committee. To this end, every member appointed upon this committee shoukl formally accept the appointment and agree to perform the duties thereof to the best of his ability, before his name shall appear in our volume as a member of the committee. If the Society is to be vphat its name implies, it must see that all sections are as fully represented in our reports as possible. Our field is the United States and Canada, and we are falling short of our duty if we do not secure reports of pomological progress from every section of this territory. It is with chagrin that I present you with the meager amount of information herewith attached. I am greatly indebted to the gentlemen who have responded so fully to my requests for information, and whose names appear in the following pages. Faithfully yours, Chas. W. Garfield. Grand Rapids, Michigan. STATE REPORTS. ARKANSAS. BY PROP. JNO. L. STINSON. CHAIRMAN STATE FRUIT COMMITTEE, FATETTEVILLE. In giving a report from this State, little can be added to what has already been given in former reports. However, progress can be reported, and eveO' year shows a marked advancement in the fruit business of the State. Especially has this advance- ment been very rapid during the last few years. The State has such a variety of soils and climates that all fruits of this latitude find a congenial home within its borders. The list of different fruits grown has been given in a former report. During the winter of 1893-4, a State Horticultural Society was organized, and it is in good working order. Two meetings have been held, both of which were well at- tended. The first annual report of the Society was published this year, and consists of 300 pages. Also, county horticultural societies are organizing, and they are reported as being well attended. In making the corrections in the fruit lists for the State, only a few were made, and which were considered very necessary. They were based upon reports from a considerable portion of the State, reported by counties. An effort is making to secure a complete fruit list from all sections of the State. We hope to have it completed in time for the next report of the American Pomological Society. There are many new seedlings in the State worthy of trial elsewhere. The north- west section of the State is noted for the number of fine seedling apples produced. Some of them are very valuable here. They have been fruited for a number of years, and have been planted quite extensively. Many of the obstacles to successful fruit-growing in this section are fast being over- come. More attention is given to care and cultivation, and more thought is put into the business. Owing to the great variety of soil and climate, much care is necessary in the selec- tion of varieties. The practice of buying nursery stock from the "tree agent" is de- clining, and it is purchased directly from the nurseries where the varieties best suited to the locality and first-class stock can be obtained, in place of varieties entirely un- suited to the soil and climate. In this climate, where there is seldom a failure of fruit crops, it is evident that land devoted to fruit yields returns many times greater than if planted in field crops, and it is a paying investment if given proper attention. In visiting orchards in this section of the State we find many trees dying. Tliis is attributed to the lack of properly feeding the trees. The land has been grown in field crops until too poor to raise FRUIT REPORTS. 127 them ; then fruit crops are expected to do well, and as a result it is no uncommon thing to see orchards dying at a very early age. Growing cow-peas in orchards has been successfully practiced. By this means the fertility of the soil can be kept up, and in many cases built up. The peas are drilled in rows about two and one-half feet apart. This is found preferable to sowing broadcast, as they can be cultivated once or twice. This gives the soil a stirring at a time when the trees need it most, thus killing the weeds and affording a mulch for the soil during the hot weather. Growing corn with cow-peas sown broadcast is to be recommended, as by this means a crop can be obtained and the original fertility of the soil can nearly if not entirely be kept up, providing the peas are not picked and the corn-stalks are left on the ground and the whole turned under. This does very well where the soil is fairly rich, but for poor soil cow-peas alone are best. Spraying to prevent damage from plant diseases and insects injurious to fruit is practiced to a considerable extent in late years. It is now considered a necessary part of the business by many of the fruit-growers. Apple scab does considerable damage in nearly all sections of the State. Some varieties are reported as injured to a greater extent than others, but nearly all varie- ties are reported as injured to some extent in certain localities. The disease is pre- vented by the application of fungicides. Bordeaux mixture is generally used, and is considered as the best fungicide. COIiORADO. BY D. >i. (i^.IME^^, DENVEll. Dear Sir : Replying to your circular and list of questions, I can say there are practically no efforts making to improve fruits by crossing, hybridizing, or other means, in the State. Spraying with insecticides is practiced so some extent, and where the work has been thoroughly done the results have been gratifying. Fruit trees and the maple have been attacked the past season by some species of scale insect. This is the first appearance of this kind that has been noticed. There is a law in the State that reciuires the commissioner of each county to appoint an agent, at S3 per day, to inspect orchards, etc., and when needed, to compel the owners to spray them. But it is not properly enforced, hence is practically a failure. Varieties of Fruit. — All such as tree-peddlers recommend are particularly promis- ing in the estimation of the purchaser. These men are the acknowledged authority with the general classes of planters; but their standing as such is approaching an end. Standard fruits, as the apple and pear especially, are not so large in size as those produced in other States, but their texture is more firm and crisp. Strawberries grown under irrigation are large and of fine quality. Orapes. — Our altitude is too great and nights too cool to afford best results from the culture of this fruit. Growers who irrigate lightly produce the best fruit. Blicjht. — Apple trees of Russian origin are quite liable to this disease. Fruit-tree planting is rapidly increasing. All varieties, regardless of adaptation or market value, are planted. The first bulletin of our Agricultural College names nearly three thousand sorts of apples and pears planted in the State. Small Fruits. — Around Denver the culture of blackberries and raspberries has declined. Attacks of "rust" render the blackberry unfruitful. The raspberry is not sufficiently productive to cover the cost of maintaining a plantation. As our system of irrigation lines enlarge, humidity in the atmosphere increases. This increased humidity averts to some extent the injurious tendencies of the arid climate, by checking rapid evaporation from trees, etc., while in a dormant state. On account of this, varieties are now perfectly hardy which, under conditions prevail- ing fifteen years ago, would winter-kill, or rather, "spring-kill." 128 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. In my own experience, I have succeeded in having regular crops of peaches by wrapping the trunks and unprotected branches of the trees with gunny-sacks ; while without such protection the trees killed to the ground. CONNECTICUT. BY T. S. (iOLD, WEST CORNWALL. Dear Sik: Through the work of the State Experiment Station, the practice of spraying to combat insect depredations and fungous diseases has become quite general, and results beuelicially to the fruit-grower. Paris green effectively holds in check the codliu moth and Bordeaux mixture prevents an occurrence of injury from "leaf spot" and "cracking" of apples, pears, and quinces. The "peach-yellow" law that was passed by the last State General Assembly has been thoroughly enforced, and gratifying results are noticed. Commercial Fertilizers. — The results from using such as contain potash have been beneficial in peach-culture, and no large orchardist would now neglect their use, both to increase quality and quantity of product. An interest in horticultural jiursuits is increasing, and especially in peach and small-fruit culture. GEORGIA. BY G. H. JIILLER, CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE FRUIT COMMITTEE. ROME. Owing to the fact that our State extends from 50 degrees and 30 minutes to the 3,oth degree of latitude north, and varies in elevation from a few feet above tide-water to near 3,000 above, there is a vast difference in the climatic influences upon fruit as cultivated in the several sections of the State. There is scarcely a fruit cultivated in the temperate zone but will find a congenial home somewhere in the State. But owing to the range of climatic influence to which I have referred, and the varied character of the soils, the planter must exercise especial care in selecting varieties suited to his particular section. Our State Horticultural Society, recognizing this fact, has endeavored to aid plauters in their selection by publishing in its reports a list of varieties that are adapted to the different sections. Of the species of fruit, the peach, pear, grape, plum (of the Japanese and Chicka- saw type ), and berries, succeed ( in proper locations ) all over the State. The apple can be grown quite successfully in the northern part of Georgia, but as one travels southward from the mountain regions the degree of success attending its culture diminishes, until in the coast region and southern Georgia but few varieties can be recommended for general culture — and these mostly early apples. Plums of the European type do not succeed in the coast and southern sections, and can only be recommended for amateur culture in favored locations in the northern and middle regions. The grapes mostly planted are those of the Labrusca type ; but those of the Vulpina (or Rotundifolia) type succeed in all parts of the State. Some varieties of other types do very well, among which we might name the Nortons (^stivalis), Elvira (Riparia), Berckmaus, Goethe, Triumph, and Wilder (hybrid). Cherries of the Duke and Morello classes will succeed in favorable localities in the mountain and middle sections of the State, but south of that all classes are unreliable. The quince is but little grown except for home use. Of other fruits the mulberry (notably the Hicks variety) is being largely planted for poultry and hogs. The fig succeeds in the southern part of the State; the Japan persimmon in the central and southern parts. And here I wish to call attention to the good work President Berckmaus (of this State) has done in correcting the nomen- clature of the Japanese persimmons. FRUIT REPORTS. 129 ^Pecans succeed well in all sections, but fOr commercial planting alluvial or river- bottom lands are preferred. The groves planted are very largely seedlings, grov\'n from the best selected nuts of the paper-shell type, but there is a growing demand for grafted trees of the best varieties. The English walnut and its sub-varieties succeed well, but their culture is principally confined to amateurs. Almonds, apricots and nuts are only occasionally successful in favorable locations. Small fruits (strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries) may be classed as suc- ceeding well in all sections of the State, with the exception of blackcap raspberries, the canes of which are very likely to die out during the second year, an effect caused by our long summers. They will, however, succeed on the mountain lauds in north Georgia, and in locations that are partially shaded. Statistics. — We are uiiable to give exact statistics in regard to fruit-growing in (ieorgia. In several localities immense peach orchards have been planted in the last few years, some individual orchards consisting of over 100,000 trees, and aggregating probably two and a half million trees. In most of these orchards the Elberta is the leading variety. In some sections grapes have been planted largely, and in their sea- sou they are shipped in car lots to the Northern and Eastern markets. The introduc- tion of Japanese plums has given a new impetus to plum culture, aud they are now being planted (juite extensively. New Va?'ieties. — A number of new varieties have been introduced that have origi- nated in this State, but we deem it best not to report on them until they have been more fully tested. , Obstacles to Fruit Culture. — The main obstacle to successful fruit-growing may be summed up in one word — 7ieglect. The cultivator who would succeed must wage a warfare against injurious insects and fungous diseases, and the enterprising orchard- ists of the State avail themselves of all the recent improvements in spraying mixtures, and methods of applying them, with satisfactory results. They fully recognize the fact that thorough cultivation, judicious priming aud careful management are all im- portant, necessary factors in successful fruit-culture. INDIANA. BY PROF. W. H. RAOAN, GREENCASTLE. The crop of 1893 may safely be regarded as the most thorough and complete failure on record ; and that of 1894 has been but little better. Small-fruit plantations and vineyards have been somewhat more satisfactory in their behavior. As it formerly was. — Until recently we enjoyed the proud distinction of producing the larger fruits in the highest degree of perfection. No State, east or west, has ever produced finer apples, and more easily, than Indiana formerly did, but now we look to other sections for our home supply. Why this change ? — Civilized- man is a despoiler of nature. When our forefathers first looked upon this beautiful land of ours, they saw a wild, unbroken forest extend- ing in one vast expanse from the Ohio river almost to the Great Lakes. This was then the home of wild and ferocious animals and still wilder untamed man. To subdue this wilderness was the work of a generation of stalwart ancestors. The task was under- taken. Slowly and single-handed at first the trees were felled and the clearings were begun. Soon isolated "openings" appeared, humble pioneer homes sprang into ex- istence, and domestic seeds were planted. In the front rank of this worthy procession of planters was "Johnny Appleseed," the orchard-planter of the AVest — our oldest pioneer. Where these openings appeared in the deep, dark primeval forest, seeds were planted that failed not to flourish, for congenial conditions were ever present. These little —9 130 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY^. clearings, belted on every side by almost impenetrable forests, were the farms of that day, while the half-dozen or twenty fruit trees that stood just back of the garden, and in which perhaps the domestic fowls found their summer homes and their winter shelter, constituted the pioneer's orchard. These trees grew in a virgin soil. They were stran" gers alike to boreal blasts and blistering, parching heat. They were subject to no con' tagions, for none could penetrate their better than armored surroundings. Under such conditions they, like Mr. Finney's turnip, simply "grew and grew," rarely failing to yield bountiful harvests. Subduing the' Forests. — Time passed; the settlements became more numerous and the clearings larger. By-and-by the farmer could get a glimpse of his neighbor's operations through the rifts that appeared in the surrounding forests. Dayliglit and gentle breezes were admitted from the open fields of his neighbor. Ravines were cleared and water-ways opened up to facilitate the drainage of nature's reservoirs — the saturated humus and decaying debris of the great forest that was. Slowly but surely the fountains were dried up; the sun's blistering rays fell directly upon the naked surface of a soil partially exhausted by bad culture; sweeping winds played unrestrained where former shelter prevailed, and the atmosphere that once carried a high per cent, of humidity is now known to be greatly deficient in moisture. Loss of Birds. — Nor is that all. In subduing the forests we destroyed the homes and breeding-places of our allies, the native birds. Like the forests, these have dis- appeared, while foreign noxious insects, diseases and pests have been introduced, for no quarantine has been enforced against them. These have flourished and fairly reveled in the feast we have prepared for them, and now, when we begin to catch the alarm, we find ourselves bound hand and foot as it were. Having failed to heed the warning of wisdom when we heard her first gently whispered accents, we are now vainly exclaiming, what are we to do? There is an old adage that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cin-e. While this is true, it will hardly save us now, for we have already reached the period when heroic remedies alone can serve our purpose. The disease is so fastened ujion our vitals that we cannot throw it off by the use of a simple emetic. Our orchards are lousy with pestiferous insects, fairly inoculated with contagious fungi and para- sitic disease, and blistered and scalded with scab and blight. There are pests that prey upon the roots, that bore and blister the trunks, that gnaw and suck the branches, that consume the foliage; there are other pests that attack the blossoms, that sting the young fruit, and that successfully dispute our right to sample the ripening crops. Not Beyond Hope. — 1 have already said that civilized man is a despoiler of nature. Those who have carefully observed the picture — and it is not overdrawn- — will admit the fact. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread"' (and fruit as well), is the edict of holy writ, from which we may not escape. Nature builds in perfect sym- metry. All her works are complete. When our forefathers first saw this beautiful land there was here existing a perfect equilibrium of Nature's forces. Wild Nature was perfectly adjusted to herself. The curses of civilization were unknown. But they are sure to follow when man has disturbed, as he certainly will, the rest of forces that exist where nature alone is supreme. There are metes and bounds beyond which we may not go. There are forces in nature which we cannot overcome. These have their maximum in other lands than ours. Puny man may not pull down the giant moimtain, nor fill up the deep sea. But he can despoil the native forests, and by a bad system of tillage exhaust the fertility of the plain and slowly but surely reduce it to the conditions of a desert waste. Some Immtitable Conditions. — These comparatively immutable and favorable con- ditions are found in the alpine, the coast and the interior lake regions of our country, represented by the whole Pacific coast section, the Ozark region of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, the vicinity of the Great Lakes, the table-lands of the Appa- FRUIT REPORTS. \2,\ lachian moimtaius, and the States and Provinces surrounding the Gulf of St. Lawrence. From these sections the great fruit show of the recent World's Fair principally came. These are the present fruit-growing sections of our country, simply because nature has placed factors there that man could not remove or destroy. Central Indiana. — Geographically we occupy an inter-continental region. AVe have no mountain ranges or deep bodies of water near us to temper and modify our climate. Hence our climatic conditions are the more easily affected by our united in- fluence. From these causes we are the greater sufferers. Near the Great Lakes, and among the hills bordering the Ohio river, the fruit-growers are more highly favored. It is true, they too are scourged by disease and insect pests, but their climatic condi- tions have been far more constant and enduring than ours. A Revival Possible.- — I have perhaps discussed this branch of the subject as far as may be profitable, and will now give some attention to the possible revival of orchard- ing in Indiana. I believe there is hope left us, but this means thorough, intelligent and unceasing work. But this is to be no single-handed job. It means thoroughly organized and united effort, and the strong arm of the law must be our ally. We must invoke science, art and law, if not gospel, in our behalf. We must resolve to banish from our land every vestige of disease and rot that now besets and distracts us. No noxious insect, contagious disease or consuming fungi shall exist, if we would succeed. Science is now doing much to teach us the way. Intelligent experiments are being made, under the fostering care of the Government, through which remedies are being discovered and tested, and art is making possible and practicable their application. Through the intelligent use of insecticides and fungicides many of the worst pests and diseases may be checked if not wholly controlled. Much may also be expected from the introduction and encouragement of friendly insects and birds. Their Application, — But I do not believe the successful application of such scien- tific remedies will be made until we can secure the hearty cooperation and aid of every citizen ; for it is not alone the man that plants trees who should be made responsible for the lack of proper sanitary conditions in their surroundings. It is the duty of the government. State and National, to provide thorough and efficient means for the en- forcement of such rules and regulations as will compel, if necessary, the proper ob- servance of healthful sanitary regulations. No festering, seething hot-beds of disease and contagion should be allowed to exist, and wise and judicious quarantine regula- tions must be rigidly enforced against the introduction, from whatever source, of pests and disease. Where Law is Needed. — If our health authorities v^'ere to permit the dead carcasses of small-pox or yellow-fever patients to be cast into the alleys and gutters to fester and rot, they would be foolish indeed; and yet immediately across the fence from our cherished orchard our neighbor may with impunity permit his neglected trees to lan- guish," die and decay of foul and contagious disease, and we are without remedy of law. Care in Spraying. — But we cannot trust to auy haphazard, single-handed work as sufficient. Nor do I believe that small orchardists or amateur growers can safely and successfully attempt to spray their trees with remedies of the nature of which they can know but little, and with instruments complicated and delicate in their charac- ter. There can be no doubt or uncertainty as to the efficiency of such remedies, but they must be scientifically and intelligently applied, or they may prove not only ineffi- cient, but positively harmful and dangerous. For these reasons, I believe that we will have to depend upon professional operators, who, with their equipment of instruments and prepared remedies, will undertake to do the work at stated intervals for neighbor- hoods and communities. In California, where spraying for insects and fungi is quite generally practiced, it is mainly done by experienced parties who make it a business, at so much per tree or acre. But with us it is used by amateurs, who often do not appear to realize that London purple and Paris green are virulent poisons. 132 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Reforestation. — It is ueither practicable nor desirable to get entirely back, in the work of reforestation, to primitive conditions, as that would mean degeneracy, or at least retrogression, in our civilization. But part of this great fight that is now on will consist in a careful preservation of the still remaining natural forest, together with additions by judicious planting. There is no doubt that we have denuded too large a proportion of our former timber area. The worst result of this denudation is seen and felt in the climatic changes that have accrued. These have been fully indicated in the preceding discussion of this branch of the subject. The diseases and noxious insects that have grown upon us are largely due to favoring climatic changes incident to the destruction of our forests, but even more so to our own neglect and carelessness in first permitting them to steal upon us like a thief in the night. What is now de- manded of us is to reclaim what we have lost, and this includes wise and judicious care and preservation, by adding to our forest domain. KANSAS. BY G. C. BRACKETT, LAWRENCE. There has been no effort made to improve fruits in this State by crossing or hybrid- izing. But by selection from promiscuous seedlings, some valuable additions have been made to the list of almost all classes. Such, however, mainly have only a local adaptation. Satisfactory progress has been gained in combatting most of the classes of insects damaging to fruit-culture, and a great saving of crops has resulted. The apple curculio, so far, has resisted all efforts for its suppression, and has become prevalent and very damaging. The failure to control it is probably due to ignorance of its natural habits, and mainly of a vulnerable period in its life when it can be successfully attacked. Efforts, though not general or extensive, for the control of fungous diseases are be- ing made, and promise beneficial results. This being u new line of work, causes hesi- tation with many culturists. Yet the masses are realizing the importance of an early and prompt attention. So far the greatest injury has resulted from the class of fungi popularly known as the "apple scab," and "rust" on the raspberry and blackberry, and which quite recently have developed to such an extent as to severely damage the crops of fruit. Legislation so far has been only for the protection of trees and crops from abuses and pilfering, and the protection of planters from the schemes and frauds of tree-dealers and misrepresentations of nursery stock ofliered. The law makes all such a misdemeanor, and subjects the perpetrator thereof to severe penalties in fines and even imprisonment. No special attempts have been undertaken in feeding fruit trees with reference to securing perfection of specimens or increase of yield of fruit, other than enriching the soil with crops of red clover turned under, and in some instances by the use of barn- yard manure — both of which have paid the culturist well. There is a noticeable decline only in peach and apricot culture in the northern half of the State, owing to the uncertainty of their crops, caused mainly by severe cold spells and late spring frosts. The hardiness of pear trees has decidedly improved within the last ten years, and large plantations are being made for commercial purposes. Pear-blight, which prevailed so extensively in former years, has greatly diminished, and a far better fruitfulness has been attained even in some varieties heretofore con- demned. STATISTICS. Through the courtesy of the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, 1 am able to submit the following statistics : Number of fruit trees in beari?ig : 1893. 1S94. Apple 7,0.i6,S20 7,106,544 Pear 149,067 170,736 Peach 4.401,013 3.786.660 Plum 729,753 727,180 Cherry 1,353,055 1,293,714 FRUIT REPORTS. 133 Number of fruit trees not in bearing : Apple 5,351,330 5,051,374 Pear 336,424 337,938 Peach 1,628,617 1,442,360 Plum 366,338 343,893 Cheny 523,815 474,405 Number of acres in vineyards 6,903 6,843 Number of acres in small fruits : Blackberries 3,344 3,587 Raspberries 3,364 3,535 Strawberries 3,513 ' 1,403 MAINE. PROF. W. JI. MUNSON, EXPEKIMENT STATION, OROXO. The starring of the catalogue for the State of Maine was found to be verj' faulty. This fact was no doubt partly due to the widely varying conditions in different parts of the State. Varieties which may be of merit in the southern part of the State are often worthless in the middle and northern counties; while some sorts meriting two stars in Aroostook county are scarcely known in York. Many varieties starred in the present catalogue have been nearly or quite super- seded by more valuable sorts, though doing as well as formerly; e. g., Hovey straw- berry, Knevett raspberry, Dorchester blackberry, etc. So far as known, the only systematic efforts being made for the improvement of fruits are being conducted at the State Experiment Station. The work in this line having been recently inaugurated, no results have as yet been reported. The importance of spraying fruit trees to prevent the ravages of canker-worm and codlin moth has been fully demonstrated, and many of the more progressive growers are beginning to follow this practice. The eye-spotted bud moth has been trouble- some in some sections of the State, but the most serious insect enemy with which the orchardist has to deal at the present time is the apple maggot {Trypeta pomonella). The range of varieties subject to its attack is being widely extended, and many varie- ties heretofore the most popular are rendered worthless by reason of this insect. As yet, no satisfactory remedy has l)een discovered. It is, however, considered very im- portant that all affected fruit be destroyed, that the number of insects may be held in check. In many sections of the State the orchards are seriously troubled with ap]ile scab {Fusiclaclium dendriticum) — so much so that some varieties (notably those of the Fameuse type) are comparatively worthless. Pear scab {Fusicladium pyrinum) \» also very troublesome. Important results have been obtained from the efforts made under the auspices of the experiment station for the control of these diseases.* Plum-growing, formerly of considerable importance, has been almost abandoned in many sections of the State because of the ravages of the black-knot {Plcncrightia morbosa). A movement is on foot at the present time to secure the passage of laws for the contiol of this disease. Legislation for the best interests of the fruit-growers has not been commensurate with the importance of the industry. The annual stipend of the State Pomological Society, however, has been increased to $1,000, and the reports of the Society are printed at the State's expense. The most successful orchardists are lirmly convinced that the best way to insure success with certain valuable apples of questionable hardiness — e. g., the Baldwin — is by top-working on seedling stocks. Budded trees frequently suffer during severe winters. Naturally, seedling trees vary greatly both in hardiness and in habit of *This work is ilctMili'd in lic'i). M;iiiic Exp. St:i. ISiH. 'ii-.' mikI 'StH. 134 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. growth. It is therefore suggested that semi-tender varieties be worked on budded trees of Pewauliee, Ben Davis, or other sorts of known vigor and hardiness — thus se- curing uniformity in the orchard. Of tlie newer apples, Dudlej^'s Winter — a seedling of Oldenburg, originated by J. W. Dudley, Castle Hill, Aroostook county — is one of the most valuable iron-clad varieties. This variety is being disseminated by Chase Brothers, of Rochester, N. Y., as "North Star" — an unfortunate circumstance, as there is another variety bearing that name by right of priority. Hayford Sweet is another valuable iron-clad variety, originating with C. Hayford, Maysville, Aroostook county. It is in itself a valuable fruit, and it succeeds admirably where the Talman Sweet fails. Rolfe and Russell are also deserving of special mention. Other orchard fruits are not extensively grown. Of the newer pears. Admiral Farragut, Eastern Belle, Fulton, Indian Queen andNickerson are promising. Because of its productiveness and extreme hardiness, Moore's Arctic plum (a native of Ash- land, Aroostook county,) is planted more extensively than any other variety in northern Maine. The Japanese varieties. Abundance and Burbank, are on trial to a limited extent, but they can succeed only in the southern counties. The culture of small fruits, especially of currants, gooseberries and strawberries, is increasing in importance. The cool, moist climate of Maine seems favorable to the culture of the English gooseberries, and so far as tried they have done well. Of the newer strawberries, Haverland, Michel's and Burt are promising. The varieties most largely grown, however, are Bubach, Crescent, Sharpless, and Wilson. MASSACHUSETTS. BY W. C. STROXG, WABAN. Not being the appointed reporter for our State, I have taken no notes and can only give a general statement. During the past two years we have had no new fruits of marked superiority. Our crops have been full, and, notwithstanding the extreme drouth of the past summer, our apple crop has been abundant, and remarkably fine in (luality. This is not alto- gether due to the use of insecticides, for it has been true that neglected orchards have been exceptionally free from injury and have produced unusually fair fruit. Still, we recognize the fact that we can secure sound fruit only by spraying. The dry season caused a considerable percentage of the apple crop to drop, and thousands of bushels went to loss because the cider-mills were unable to take care of them. For clear, fair appearance, and excellence in quality, Mcintosh is esteemed as one of our best win- ter varieties. In past years pear-eulture has held high rank, especially in the eastern portion of the State. Formerly there were many orchards with from fifty to two or even three hundred varieties. All this is now changed. In the sharp competition with other kinds of fruit, brought in from every clime, the pear has fallen in public esteem, and only a very few leading varieties will return remunerative prices. The Bartlett is still the most profitable kind, though at much less price than formerly. Second-rate pears like Boussock, and even Sheldon, have sold in Boston as low as 50 cents per bushel, and later, the Lawrence at 7."^ cents. Bosc is more popular, and sold at $1.25 to$1..50 at wholesale. The lesson is plain: but few kinds are wanted; the market will take only the best; the Kieffer and LeConte are not for our market. The Marshall continues to be the most promising strawberry of recent introduc- tion. It is not only of largest size, vigorous, productive, and staminate, but, what is unusual in this combination, it is of vei'y good quality. If another season of very general trial in all conditions shall sustain its present reputation, it will be regarded as the most valuable of recent introductions. Timbrell is excellent in quality and FRUIT REPORTS. 135 otherwise promising. Mary is a late, productive and very large variety, but decidedly laekiug in quality. The numerous other novelties can only interest the amateur. Under high culture the raspberry is one of our most profitable fruits. Our local markets require sujierior quality. The ordinary dry and seedy berries are unsalable, but the large and juicy fruit, if fresh and plump, will command a full price. But fruit of this quality cannot be transported for long distances ; it must have a quick sale, and hence the competition for local markets is limited and the returns are very satisfactory — yielding a gross sale of .'f?l,000 per acre in some instances. It is doubts ful if this rate could be maintained on a large scale. The North Star currant is of the same character as the Victoria, but it is of even stronger' growth than this strong variety. We could have wished that it had also in- creased the size of its fruit. It is sufficiently productive. Over-productive small fruits, like the Beder Wood strawberry, are worthless — they will not pay for thin- ning, and hence are small and inferior. The Crosby peach bids fair to endure our climate and give us regular annual crops. For the hardier and early varieties of the grape our soil and climate seem well adapted. We exhibit some of the finest specimens of these. Yet it is true that only by skillful culture in favored localities can these results be obtained. The shortness of our seasons, the liability to mildew, the ravages of the rose-bug, and the abundance and low prices of the imported fruit — all these reasons have discouraged our grape- growers and decreased the culture. The transportation and the keeping qualities of this fruit are in marked contrast with the raspberry. Even of the blackberry we may say that the really delicious, melting specimens are home-grown. Our wise fruit cul- tivators will study to supply a large local demand for the choicest perishable fruits, which do not require premature picking for long transportation. They can thus give a fresh and far superior (juality, which will insure remunerative returns. MICHIGAN. BY PROF. L. R. TAFT, OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Ne'ic Varieties. — The experiment station and several individuals have a number of seedlings of various kinds, but as yet none have been found that are more promising than the older sorts. Spraying. — The use of spraying compounds for both insects and diseases is on the increase, and the results have been favorable where the applications were properly made. While there are few if any that are really new, several seem to be more trouble- some than formerly. Among them are the anthracnose of the grape and raspberry. The canker- worm is becoming quite widely distributed, and was very destructive in sections of nearly every county in the State the past season. These diseases yield to Bordeaux mixture, while the canker-worm can be kept in check by spraying with Paris green. Legislation. — About the only legislation with which the fruit-grower is especially concerned is an act passed in 1893, which includes the black-knot of the plum in the same law witli the iieach-yellows. Fertilizers. — The use of wood ashes or of the potash salts and ground bone to fruit trees has been found, by growers who have tried them, to increase the hardiness of the trees, especially of the peach, and crops have been obtained from trees thus fertilized when others similar in other respects gave little if any fruit. There were also bene- ficial effects upon the size, color and quality of the fruit, and from tlie fact that the trees were thus supplied with needed plant-food they were able to carry a much larger crop of fruit and at the same time develoj) fruit buds for the next year's crop. For the past five years the peach crop in favorable sections near here, where the trees were fairly well cared for, has been fully ecpial to that obtained in Berrien and Van Buren counties, on the shore of Lake Michigan. 136 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. About the same interest is taken in this section as formerly, except, perhaps, in the apple crop. The crop has been light for several years, and the orchards are neglected. Moreover, they are getting old, and many of them have passed their usefulness; while few orchards of any size are being planted. There is also perhaps less being done than a few years ago in the way of growing black raspberries for evaporating. Where the more hardy Russian varieties of apples have been tried they seem to possess greater hardiness than most of our common sorts, and they may prove of value, especially in the northern portions of the State. MINNESOTA. BY .1. S. HAKRIS. LA CRESCENT. Among the obstacles that the fruit-grower of Minnesota finds continually rising up to oppose his progress toward successful orcharding, are the lack of a sufficient num- ber of adapted varieties for planting in the more trying localities, where mildew and scab, twig or fire-blight, frozen sap-blight, sun-scald, bark-burst, black-heart, root- killing, and insect enemies prevail. Happily, through the untiring perseverance of our pomologists, and the faithful work being done by our experiment stations, and the educating influence of the State Horticultural Society, varieties belter adapted to our conditions are being found, and the outlook for the future is veiy much more encour- aging. Previous to 1893 the apples produced here had always been noted for their smooth- ness, high color, and freedom from blemishes; but during that year mildew on the stems of leaf and fruit, and scab on foliage and fruit, were first noticed, and prevailed to such an extent in certain localities and on certain varieties as to awaken fears of great injury from that source. But still, as this occurred in a season of excessive moisture in soil and atmosphere, prolonged warm and cloudy weather, which is unusual in this climate, and did not affect a number of varieties of Russian origin, or seedlings of those varieties, and did not renew their appearance in the season of 1893, we are led to hope that all fears of danger from that source will prove unfounded. Fire, or twig-blight, has been very annoying in some localities for a considerable number of years. When it first made its appearance it was confined chiefly to the crabs of the Siberian species, in orchards on quick, fertile soils, in close, sheltered localities; but it has continually taken a wider range, vuitil now there is no variety, not even the hardiest Russian, that is absolutely proof against it. Soil, location and exposure are found to exert an influence, favorable or otherwise, and better orchard- sites are chosen than formerly; and the less blighting kinds are used. Frozen sap-blight frequently occurs on varieties that make a late fall growth in seasons when the first autumn frost is very severe, and sometimes wiien copious Sep- tember rains and warm weather follow a long period of drouth, causing a late flow of sap, and starting a new growth that is injured by the following severe cold. Our dry atmosphere, hot sunshine and occasional severe drouths are favorable for the development of sun-scald. Tliis malady in many localities has become a serious obstacle to contend with. The bark first loses its elasticity, then becomes deadened, and the growth upon the south side of the tree ceases. The appearance of the trees is thereby greatly marred, decay soon attacks the injured parts, and the tree will in a few years be blown over or broken down. The same trouble is also occasioned by the bright sunshine of February and March, when the ground is frozen and covered wjth snow, reflecting the heat, warming the south side of the trunks of trees, thus drawing out the frost in the daytime, freezing again at night, and causing extra evaporation while there is no flow of sap to fill its place. There are many practical methods of preventing this trouble: among them are the training of trees to very low heads; FRUIT REPORTS. J 37 leaning them a few degrees to the south and west; setting up a strip of board on that side, or placing lath screens about the trunk. Keeping the ground well mulched iluring drouths also tends to prevent the trouble. Black-heart in trees is another of the most serious difficulties met with here. Con- 4siderable numbers of trees of the more tender varieties are affected by it before they leave the nursery, others become so because of the great loss of roots by careless dig- ging. When planted they are not in a condition to start into immediate vigorous gi'owth, and if they make any growth the first year, it is so late in the season that the wood does not become mature ; has not sufficient vitality to cari\y it safely through the succeeding winter, and when not killed outright becoines diseased beyond recovery, or dead at the heart. For this climate only the most robust trees, with an abundance of roots, are safe for planting. Perhaps the most serious obstacle to successful fruit-growing here is the conduct of bogus nursery firms who send their smooth-tongued agents among us to sell their wonderful novelties, propagated by methods which they claim make tiiem absolutely hardy. The average farmer bites at the tempting bait. But he soon finds out that he has been swindled, and for a time becomes discouraged, declaring he will never pur- chase another tree ; but he finally relents in time to be taken in by another shark, who hails fi-om some other point, with later and more wonderful discoveries. But in spite of all the obstacles to be overcome, we are making some progress in pomologj'. Certain individuals are meeting with gratifying success with some varie- ties. Horticultural organizations are awakening and educating the people on the sub- ject. Our experiment stations are at work testing the newer Kussian varieties and their seedlings, crossing and hybridizing to produce new and better varieties. Insects are beginning to be troublesome. The most damaging at present to the apple are codlin moth larva, and the curculio, or apple-gouger. With the first, spray- ing with solutions of Paris green, one pound in two or three hundred gallons of water, is proving beneficial, and we think its use will soon come into general practice. It does not appear to be as effectual a protection against the curculio, which causes so much knotty, ill-shaped fruit. Recent observations indicate that the keeping of hogs in the orchard is a better preventive than the use of poisons, and nearly as effectual for codlin moth. Our law-makers have seldom shown a disposition to encourage horticulture, and there has been no recent legislation for its advancement. The only State aid received is the sum of $1,000 annually, and the publication of our annual reports. This small amount leaves us nothing to use in defraying the expenses of discovering and caring for new seedlings, or ascertaining what varieties of Russians are most liable to prove desirable for propagation here. The United States Department of Agriculture allowed us a special agent, under the. Division of Pomology, two months in 1890, and three in 1803. That proved of nuich advantage to us in ascertaining the comparative value of some of the Russians, and in hunting up seedlings and placing them on trial: but the Russian varieties are found here under so many different names that rapid advancement can hardly be ex- pected until their nomenclature is straightened out. It also led to an awakening of interest in the planting of seeds to originate new varieties, as well as to quite an in- crease in the number of members in the State Horticultural Society. Could the work of an agent, or any other pomological missionary be followed for a few years, it would prove of great benefit to Minnesota and the Dakotas, and would no doubt rei)ay a hunilredfold the cost, and our i)eople would no doubt soon produce an abundance of good fruit. The soil and climate of this region bring to the highest state of ])erfection all kinds of fruit that can be produced here, not only as to form, but beautiful color and richest tlavor. 138 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. * _^___ At the State Experiment Station, St. Anthony Park, with Prof. S. B. Green in charge of horticulture, we have trial orchards in which are planted about 300 varieties of tree fruits ; the trees range in age from six to fifteen years. About one-half of these are Russian sorts; some twenty-five per cent, of new seedling and crab varieties, with a considerable assortment of pears, plums, cherries, etc. Auxiliary to this is the sub-station, located at Owatonua, Steele county, under the supervision of E. H. S. Dartt. This is specially designed for the purpose of testing the adaptation of Russian and other hardy foreign varieties, and for gathering and putting on trial all seedling fruits which have already been or which may hereafter be originated, as fast as trees, cions and plants can be securetl. The trial orchard there now contains 75 varieties of apples of Russian origin; 40 of western seedlings, and about 30 of native plums. In the nursery are many hundred seedlings that are growing from careful selections. In addition to these stations, the State Horticultural Society has designated about a dozen of the best horticulturists in different parts of the State-to work on special lines. Among the most promising of the newer varieties of apples of Russian origin are the following: Glass Green, Borovinka, Charlamoff, Romenska, Czar's Thorn, Grand- mother, Krimnskoe, Anisovka, Green Sweeting, Varonesh Runette, Breskooka Cross, Zuzoff's Winter, Hibernal, Red Repka, Good Peasant. The Lieby and Hibernal are doubtless the same variety under different names, and the Borovinka and Glass Green will pass anywhere for the Oldenburg. Among the newer seedlings Patten's Greening bids fair to stand first in value for hardiness and freedom from blight. Peerless, Avista and Okabeua are being propa- gated quite extensively, but have not fruited long enough in different localities to de- termine their value. Avista is a long keeper of very fair quality, and should it prove adapted to our climate over any considerable part of the State, will fill our greatest want for a good winter apple. Longfield and McMahon are gaining in favor wherever the Wealthy succeeds. Over only about one-third of the State has any American va- riety been found to stand long enough to bear fruit; the hope of the remaining vast region lies in the finding a few of the hardiest Russians and seedlings yet to be pro- duced from them. Pears have generally been considered a failure here, on account of blight and lack of hardiness. Several Russian varieties are now on trial, but do not give much prom- ise of success. The best varieties of the native plum {Prunus Americana) are brought under cultivation with very fiattering results ; and as some effort is making to improve them by selection, crossing and hybridizing, we iiope soon to produce an abundance of this fine fruit. All of the small fruits succeed well here when given winter protection, and produce fruit of largest size and finest (piality. Grape-culture is I'eceiving considerable attention, and all varieties that ripen with, or earlier than. Concord, can be grown here with almost certain success. • The Fruit Crop of 1892. — In those parts of the State where the apple crop was not severely affected by mildew, or leaf-scab, brought on by the unfavorable weather con- ditions that prevailed in the earlier part of the summer, it was the largest and best ever produced in the State, and instead of being importers of apples, several counties had a surplus of tiiousands of bushels that found a market in other States. Probably one-third of the entire crop was of the single variety, Oldenburg; while next in quantity was AVealthy, about one-sixth,^ and the remainder of the crop was divided among a considerable number of varieties. The native plum crop was almost a failure, being greatly injured by scab on leaf, and a snow-storm and hard freeze that occurred about the time the trees were iu full bloom. Currants and gooseberries were a light crop in some places from the same cause. Strawberries and raspberries gave almost an average crop. Blackberries surpassed FRUIT REPORTS. 139 anythiug ever before known in the State ; while grapes were a full average crop, and even late varieties ripened well. Fruit Crop of 1S93. — Of no single class was the fruit crop of 1S93 a good one, ex- cept grapes. Apples did not exceed one-fourth of a crop, and the quality was the poor- est ever Icnown here. Strawberries, one-third of a crop; raspberries, three -fourths; currants and gooseberries, one-half; plums, three-fourths a crop, but smaller in size and poorer in quality than the average. Grapes were a very full crop, and reached a degree of excellence scarcely ever surpassed. MISSISSIPPI. BY PROF. S. M. TRACY. STARKVILLE. Dear Sik: Practically nothing has been done in this State for the improvement of fruits by crossing, hybridizing, or .selection, excepting, perhaps, with strawberries. In combatting diseases, Bordeaux mixture is coming into very general use both for grapes and apples. Paris green and other insecticides have been used sparingly. No modification of types of fruit as a result of climatic or other conditions peculiar to locality has been noticed, excepting with grapes, many varieties of which, like the Delaware and other weak growers, are here so much stronger and more prolific that they can scarcely be recognized as being the same variety as when grown at the North. Many vines of the stronger-growing varieties will bear three to five pounds of fruit in eighteen months from planting, and ten to thirty pounds in thirty months. Among the new varieties of grapes particularly promising are Letorey, Gold Coin, Empire State, W. B. Munson, Mrs. Munson, Green Mountain, Moyer, Big Red, Her- man, Jaeger. There are no statistics available, but I am confident that tlie acreage in fruits has fully doubled within the last five years. No decline in any branch of fruit-culture has been observed, excepting that of the ]iear, owing to the unusual prevalence of blight in the Gulf coast region during the last two years, which has somewhat discouraged planting. Hardiness of varieties is a matter which we are not obliged to consider in this locality. . MISSOURI. BY L. A. GOODMAN, WESTPORT. The fruits of our State are improving each few years as new ones come before us for testing; but I am sorry that each one of these new fruits is not the result of crossing, hybridizing, or breeding, but is a chance seedling. A great deal of pains in the matter of selection has been taken, and a number of extra good apples have been found, like Gano, Shackleford, Minkler (or rather its seedling), and two or three that have not been named. The destruction of insects and fungous diseases by means of spraying has been successful. But there are doubts as to the proper strength of solution, the time and number of applications, and the best implements to use and cheapest manner of ap- jilying. Still, our people are learning sonu»thing each year in thisnew line of require- ments, if some direct and positive legislation on this subject were enacted, I feel sure that these, our worst enemies, could be controlled, and in time this State would be nearly as free from them as it was forty years ago. United and systematic action must be had, to do the best work and accomplish the best results. As to the modification of fruits by climate and soils : We liud some of our northern winter fruits becoming fall fruits and others changing their (puility very materially. For instance, the Ben Davis, on the red soils and mountain regions of 140 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. southern Missouri, is a very much l)etter apple than it is in any otiier part of the country. Also, that if we want good apples here in the West, they must be of west- ern sorts; and not the Spitzenberg, Rhode Island Greening, Newtown Pippin, or Canada Red of the East. Some of the newer sorts and some of the older sorts are successful in this region. The best feed for fruit is ashes, lime, and ground bone; and the I'esults fully justify their use. But of how to feed the trees as we feed our cattle, we know abso- lutely nothing. The more special points of propagation have been nearly lost sight of in our haste to make trees and plants. We must adopt the best in all things. The best seed from the best and most perfect fruit, from the hardiest and most productive trees, and grafted with cions from perfectly hardy and healthy trees, and then I feel sure that the results will justify us in saying that we will have better trees. I am sorry that I cannot give you some statistics of our fruit interests, they have developed so wonderfully during tlie last few years. Our crop runs up into millions of dollars each year, and we hope ere long that we will be near the first of the States in the value of fruit crops. The peach is failing in the northern portion of the State, where once peaches grew abundantly. But the southern slopes of the Ozark Mountains are the home of the peach, and there hundreds of thousands of acres are being planted. We find much to encourage us in the fruit business in Missouri. NEBKASKA. BY PROF. F. A. TAYLOR. LINCOLN. Very little systematic work is being done in the line of improvement of fruits by crossing, hybridizing, or selection. Everything is comparatively new, and the present attempts are to get something started. Later on, the effort will be to get something better. Much attention has been given to spraying to control injurious insects and fungous attacks, and with a fair degree of success; the success depending, seemingly, upon the intelligence and persistence employed. No new species of insects have appeared in the orchard. But the apple maggot has been brought into the State in apples shipped from the East. It is not known to have appeared in any of the home-grown apples. There has been no State legislation of a special character affecting the horticultural industry, excepting a material reduction in the support of the State Horticultural Society. NEW JERSEY. BY DR. BYRON I). HALSTED, NEW BRrNSWICK. New Jersey has nothing unusual to report. She grows fruit largely and well, as a visit to her several annual fairs will clearly indicate. Some individual efforts are being made to improve orchard and garden fruits by crossing. Occasionally a new peach or apple is produced, but the greater number of new varieties are among strawberries. Considerable progress is made in overcoming the natural enemies to fruits. As regards the insect pests. Prof. J. B. Smith, Entomologist to the experiment station, writes as follows: "A number of new and dangerous insects have made their appear- ance in New Jersey during the past year. The most important of these is the San Jos6 scale, which attacks fruit trees of all kinds, and which has been distributed pretty generally south of the central portion of the State. This is the greatest menace of fruit-growing in the eastern United States that has appeared within recent years." The importation of the pear midge into Connecticut ten or a dozen years ago intro- FRUIT REPORTS. \^\ duced a very troublesome insect, and tliis has spread so that it covers the entire north- ern portion of New Jersey, and extends south to 40° 30'' of north latitude, and west nearly to the Delaware on that line. In the eastern portion of the State there has ap- peared for the first time as an injurious insect a borer (^l^rriYi^s acutipennis), which works between the bark and the wood of the pear tree, and in a very few years girdles completely large bearing trees so that they die. Young trees set out one year are usually dead the year following, owing to the attacks of this borer. It is as yet con- fined to a limited district. Progress in combatting insects has been general throughout the State. Spraying extends in every direction, and the intelligent culture of land as a means of checking insect increase is also spreading. At the New Jersey station this feature has been a special study, and the cultivation of orchards and the use of salt fertilizers like "kainit" has been advised, in many cases successfully, as against some of our most serious pests. A large number of New Jersey fruit-growers are using fungicides. Excellent re- sults are being obtained with the Bordeaux mixture and the ammoniacal carbonate of copper compound. Both are often used upon the same crop, as for example, the first upon grapes early in the season, and the carbonate later. Some pear-growers are now getting good crops, whereas before spraying was instituted their profits were small. An effort is being made, with good prospects of success, to get a law making treat- ment for insect pests compulsory when proper complaints are made. Apples and pears within the State seem to be influenced by climate, and old growers remark that some winter sorts ripen earlier than formerly. There is likewise a modi- fication in shape and color noticed in some orchards. Considerable progress is being made in the perfecting of specimens and increasing the yield of fruit by the use of plant-food, and by judicious pruning and thinning. Commercial fertilizers are now largely used in the orchard and preferred to barn-yard manure. One large grower of strawberries states that the application of 200 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre just before blooming increases the yield over twenty-five per cent. Scarlet clover is held in high favor by orchardists, especially for green ma- nuring light soils. Among the newer sorts of apples the Beauty of the West. Williams [Favorite], Yellow Transparent, Wealthy, Star and Grimes's Golden are excellent. The Green Mountain grape and Lovett's Early and Swindle strawberries are highly prized. The Golden Queen raspberry is worthy of mention here. Japanese plums are receiving attention. Some new sorts of fruits originating within the State, and not yet on the market, are promising. There seems to be no decline in fruit-growing in New Jersey, excepting possibly of peaches. Some diseases of the trees are complained of, but a fruit-rot at time of ripening, and broken markets due to large shipments of soutliern-grown fruit, are the chief reasons for the decline. Apple-growing is profitable to those who care well for their orchards; otherwise poor results are obtained. The twig or fire-blight has been unusually bad this season, and the pear, apple and quince trees have suffered so much as to discourage the faint-hearted. In the southern part of the State, raspberries and blackberries are much affected with anthracnose, and, together with the insect ene- mies, these small fruits are grown with difficulty. Japan pear set^dlings are largely used for stock, with good results. Much attention is being paid to nut-bearing trees, especially chestnuts, English walnuts, and filberts. NEW YORK. BY CUAS. A. (IKEKN, KOCHESTERi Notwithstanding some discouragements, I can report progress in fruit-culture in New York. The partial failure of the apple crop of late years has been one of our greatest drawbacks. Tiie partial failures are conceded to be owing largely to the apple- 142 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. scab fungus. Early sprayiug with the Bordeaux mixture has giveu partial relief. The present crop of apples in New York State will probably exceed the estimate, as the fruit, though scattered and being largely on the inside of the trees, has assumed more than the ordinary size, as is usual where the crop is a light one. It is conceded that orcharding of all kinds cannot now be conducted along the same lines pursued twenty years ago. If we have not skill enough to produce a good crop of fruit, it might be as well to devote the land to other crops. The Hubbardston apple has proved one of the most reliable bearers within the past few years. Pear-culture is receiving more attention. The land is througlily drained before planting, if not naturally dry. The ground is kept under clean culture and the soil dressed annually with a light application of yard manure or other fertilizer. Both the standard and dwarf pear trees I'eceive a pruning each year, which consists of cutting back the past season's growth from one-half to three-fourths of its length, depending somewhat on the vigor and growth of the different varieties. In order to secure fine specimens, even with good culture and judicious pruning, it is deemed necessary to thin out the fruit in June. While peaches are considered an uncertain crop, they are deemed by many the most profitable of all fruit crops. Indeed, it is getting to be understood that the most money can be made by growing the crop that requires the greatest skill and attention. New and hardy varieties of peaches are being introduced, like the Crosby, which gives promise of yielding well, while varieties tender in the bud, like the Crawford, are barren. The Elberta peach is being planted, and promises to be a favorite. There are new varieties of peaches galore, almost every farmer having a new peach. This is owing to the fact that the peach more often reproduces itself from seed than other fruits. Apricot-culture in this State has been greatly neglected, and yet there are old trees in every town which, without attention, bear good crops every year. The question is being raised, why should we not grow apricots V I shall expect to see this fruit more largely planted within the next few years. It is exceedingly productive in Switzer- land, within sight of the snow-clad mountains. It seems to have no enemy there. There has been a great revival in plum-culture here within the past few years. Such enormous crops are produced as to cause a reduction in the price of fruit. Those who pack their plums in small baskets in attractive shape realize profitable prices. Many farmers market their plums in bushel baskets, leaving the speculator to carry off more than half the profit. Quince-culture seems to be the most difficult branch of fruit-culture in which to reach eminent success. Not only must the soil be naturally adapted to the quince, and be made very fertile by frequent applications of yard manure, but the methods of cultivating, thinning, pruning and marketing require special study. Those who suc- ceed with quinces find them more profitable than other fruits. The ordinary shiftless cultivator has a poor opinion of the quince orchard. Grape-growers have become discouraged by the low prices ; and yet I think that grapes will pay a fair margin of profit at the prices of the past two years. The diffi- culty is, that the present low prices do not meet the expectations of the planters of vineyards. They planted expecting to make a fortune within a few years. Notwith- standing the complaint of unprofitable prices for the grape crop, it will be difficult to buy a good vineyard at a very low price in New York State. These remarks about low prices will apply to prices of all fruits. We have in the past been receiving such extravagant prices that we become too easily disappointed when prices are reduced to their proper level. Wheat-growers used to estimate that it cost eightj-five cents a bushel to grow wheat, but they continue to sow wheat when it sells for only fifty cents. It must be remembered that low prices for fruit mean a much larger consump- tion, and larger consumption means higher prices, other considerations being equal. FRUIT REPORTS. J 43 The geueral disseuiination of scientific and practical instruction on fruit-culture by specialists at horticultural meetings, and through the horticultural press, is having marked elTect upon our fruit-growers. Too much credit cannot be given to the Divi- sion of Pomology at Washington, or State experiment stations, to our teachers at Cornell University, and to the horticultural and agricultural press, for the efforts they have so successfully made. I am informed that Mr. Moodey & Sons, of Lockport, N. Y. , refused $48,000 for their fruit upon the trees of 100 acres. It was their opinion that they could realize more than this sum by gathering and marketing the fruits. The question of cold-storage for fruit-houses has ever been an interesting one, and one which excites general comment. It has come to be understood that cold-storage as ordinarily produced by almost air-tight buildings, or ice, is not successful, owing to the inability of keeping an even temperature. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been lost in building cold-storage houses, though occasionally one has been a partial success. A successful cold-storage house is one where the temperature is controlled by machinery. NORTH CAROLINA. BY PROF. W. F. MASSEY. RALEIGH. In compliance with your request of July 10, 189.3, I beg leave to make the following report for North Carolina. In regard to the improvement of fruits by crossing, hybridizing, or selection, I would say that the leading line of work in my department at the North Carolina Agri- cultural Experiment Station is ci'oss-fertilization with a view to improving our fruits. This being a matter in which much time is needed for results of value, I am not yet able to report any except that with strawberries. Out of a multitude of seedlings few have been retained for further tests, and but one (which we have named Raleigh) is considered of sufficient value to place in the hands of horticulturists elsewhere for further trial. The multitude of new strawberries is now so great that the list should not be burdened with any more unless they possess extra merit. We hope hereafter to be able to report progress in other directions. We have erected a glass grapery, in which the best varieties of Vitis vinifera are growing for the purpose of cross- fertiliza- tion. The object in this is rather difl'erent from that heretofore sought in this line at the North, our purpose being to secure late-ripening grapes for the South, to continue the season after the crop grown for Northern shipment is cut. At present we have no grapes after the last week in August until the Scuppernong and its allies come in. Good grapes ripening here in September and October are badly needed. An experi- ment in building a board shelter on the west side of front of a long grape trellis, with a projecting coping, showed that the shelter was fully as effective in preventing black rot as careful spraying with Bordeaux mixture was on the remaining part of the trellis, while vines unprotected and unsprayed lost their entire crop. But the shelter, during my absence from home, also proved a good shelter for a multitude of things, which so injured the foliage tliat the grapes did not ripen so well as on the exposed trellis. The most perfect crops of grapes and the best-paying ones were grown by bagging the biniches. The bagging made the grapes later, but their perfect (piality sold tiiem at fancy prices. At a farmers' institute in the eastern part of the State, a German showed a plan for treating grape cuttings, a sort of root-grafting, which he claims gives him good results. He gets roots of wild vines from the woods, and cuts the roots of the size of a lead-pencil to the thickness of a little finger, into pieces three or four inches long. In the center of each piece of root he makes a slit. He then takes cuttings such as are ordinarily set in the open ground, cuts the lower end wedge-shape, and in- serts it through the slit in the piece of root crosswise the root. These are now planted deej)ly as ordinary cuttings, and he claims to get a much greater growth the first season, and that a perfect union takes place between the root and cion. 144 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. The culture of the grape for early shipment north has been very profitable here until lately. There is at present a decided decline in interest. This is owing to the fact that large plantations are now made of Ives and Champion grapes. The increas- ing number of grapes of better quality has made these unprofitable, and some have neglected their vineyards, while others are still reaping profit by grafting over the in- ferior sort with Delawares, Niagaras and others that bring higher prices. In the sand-hill region, between the Peedee and the Cape Fear rivers, seventy-five miles south of Raleigh, grape rot has not made any serious progress, and large plantations are being made, particularly in the neighborhood of Southern Pines, where nearly 1,000 acres have been planted in grapes in the past three years. In the same neigh- borhood, over 50.000 peach trees have been planted in the past two years, and from .5,000 to 10,000 pears, and probably 300,000 blackberries. Plums both of the Ameri- can and Japanese types are being largely planted, and profitable crops have been grown. The Kaki or .Japanese persimmon has been profitable with those who have tried them for market. A great deal of interest has been taken in the culture of figs in eastern North Carolina within the past few years. Our experiment station has propagated and distributed over 6,000 fig trees of all the most noted varieties of the south of Europe. The last hard winter was a severe test upon them, and much dam- age was done. There seems to be little difference in the hardiness of the varieties. Brown Turkey, Early Violet, Osborn's Prolific, and Negro are probably the most productive, and the Celestia should also be included. White Genoa, White Adriatic and San Pedro are the most tender in winter. We have hundreds of seedlings from imported Smyrna figs, which we hope may develop something of value. The Satsuma or Oonshiu orange, which stood two winters here, was entirely killed by the last hard winter, but on the coast near Wilmington they still thrive. In regard to the catalogue of fruits, there is no doubt that great improvements may be made. I will at once go over the list with all the information at hand, and send you the result as soon as possible. The following report by Calvin J. Cowles, of Wilkesboro. may be interesting to the Society : The failure of the apple and peach crop in this county, reducing the first named to one- half and the last to one-fourth of a crop, may be attributed to the frosts of 17th, 18th and 19th of May, 1893, winding up with the severest of all on the 24th. The ex- tremely cold weather of the winter had, however, paved the way for the destruction of our peaches, for the trees assumed a sickly appearance and blossomed languidly, thus falling easy victims to " .Jack Frost." The blackberry was very nearly a total failure on the ground where peaches were cut off for the reason last given — winter-killed. The brushy mountain section of our State — Sauratown and Pilot Mountains in Stokes and Surry. Fox Knobs in Yadkin, Brushy in Wilkes, and Alexander and South Mountains in Burke — is the natural home of the apple and cherry, where they find soil that develops giant trees — thermal infiuences insuring a crop eight years out of ten, and a summers sun that imparts ripeness and richness unsurpassed. And yet the lands in this favored region are incredibly cheap — not more than $2 to $5 per acre. While all of these mountaineers have orchards, yet there is not to my knowledge, a single commercial plant ; not a single orchard producing fruit for shipment; not a place where a man could buy in their season 100 barrels of apples ready packed for shipment to market. In the olden time it was customary for evei-y farmer to have an orchard of peach and apple trees about the house, and many of them had a still-house on the "branch," and very little attention was paid to the quality of the fruit grown so it yielded cider FRUIT REPORTS. I45 pleutj- ami iiiatle good brandy, and in these old orchards the High Top Sweet, Potts, Horse, Rawle's Genet (syn, Xeverfail) and Liuibertwig, with a sprinkling of sweet apples, constituted the majority. Here and there were exceptions, however. But with the advent of railroads things are changing, and rapid changes are ex- pected in the near future. People who come among us tell of successful orcharding in western New York and Michigan on land costing SlOO per acre, and some say we have land suited to the perfect development of the Newtown Pippin (syu. Albemarle Pippin), a fruit always in demand at a high price; so there is talk of big orchards, and if the times ever improve so that people can form plans and execute them, large orchards of the best fruit will ret^ult. There never has been a disease among apple trees in this quarter, till latterly we have been troubled with a twig-blight destroying the new growth on ends of branches, from some mysterious cause. I say mysterious, for as yet no one has been able to ex- plain it. I ventured to suggest to the Department of Agriculture at AVashington that it was tjie nK)th of the apple saw-fly. but Prof. Howard informed me that I was prob- al)]y mistaken, for that insect was not believed to be in this part of the world. At any rate, we have a troublesome and dangerous pest in some sort of an insect that is destroying some trees and alarming us about others. NOVA SCOTIA. BY PKOF. E. E. FAVILLE. WOI.FVILLE. But little effort has as yet been made in the work of improvement of fruits by crossing and hybridizing. The greatest improvements have been confined principally to chance and selected seedlings and sports. Among the small fruits during the past season there have been a few crosses made by a few individuals in different parts of the Province, and favorable results are expected. Among the most notable sports is the Banks, a sport from the well-known variety the Gravenstein apple, possessing all of the good (lualities of the parent. It develops a brilliant red color, firmer flesh, and more regular form, thus giving it better market ciualifications. We have been afflicted with nearly all of the common species of insects that are injurious to fruits common to these latitudes. A marked progress has been made dur- ing the past few years in providing economic means for their destruction; the life- history, habits, etc., of insects being practically well understood, and the best known remedies properly applied, such as the arsenic solutions and the emulsions. In diseases, those of a fungous character are more prevalent, which may be quite liroperly attributed to the moist climate, which is very favorable to their development. The black-knot, pockets and rot on the plum, rot on the peach, and scab on the apple and pear, are the worst; but they are fast becoming better understood, and are being treated with the copper sulphate and carbonate solutions as prescribed by the experi- ment stations of Canada and the United States. During the past few years many varieties of apple trees of bearing age have been attacked by a disease which causes the bark to separate from the wood at their base in early spring, causing their destruction. Healthy trees are afflicted as well as others. The cause and remedy have not yet been found, although a special committee was delegated by tiie Fruit Growers' Association, in 1891, to investigate the cause and sug- gest a remedy, but failed in l)oth. The disease is locally called the "collar rot." The apple-tree canker has also afflicted many orchards, with disastrous results. Recent legislation in the" Province, in connection with the efforts of the Fruit Growers' Association, has resulted in the establishing of a School of Horticulture in Wolfville, an educational center of the Province. The number of pupils in attend- ance during the year 1894 was sixty-six, thirty-three of whom completed the first 146 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. year's course. A large number of practical fruit-growers atteuded during the winter session, endeavoring to secure all the information possible. The modifications and characteristics that can )>e ascribed to climate are : 1st. The hardiness and vigor of apple trees, as is proven by the long life and large size of trees in many parts of the Province, especially in the Annapolis valley, where many trees are known to be well along into the second century of existence. 2d. The firmness and excellent keeping qualities of fruits, making them carry well and stand marketing. 3d. The high color and rich flavor which can be claimed for all varieties suitable for the seasons, which are rather short for some kinds. There has been a decided advance in the progress of feeding fruit crops. The lack of natural manures in abundance has evolved the use of artificial fertilizers as a necessity throughout the country. A number of companies have been formed for the manufacture of fertilizers. Numerous individual experijiients have been carried out with profitable results, furnishing data for the practical fruit-grower. Not only has the quality of fruit been improved, but the yield as well. Judicious feeding of fruit soils is the key to success. Muriate of potash, bone meal and nitrate of soda are the fertilizers universally employed to meet the demands. There is nothing new in the propagation of varieties, unless it may be in the effect of the stock on the cion, wiaich in many instances is quite noticeable. In top-working apple trees it is found advantageous to select the stocks of the later sorts of winter fruits, in order to get a full color and better maturity, as the early stock seems to hasten the ripening of both fruit and wood. Among the new fruits in apples, Ontario is promising to take a first place. Belled Boskoop, so far as grown, is doing well. Princess Louise has not been grown with us long enough to determine its worth. If its Fameuse blood does not render it suscepti- ble to the black-scab, it may prove of great value, as its quality ranks with the best. Moore's Arctic plum is very hardy, and is grown successfully and extensively all over the Province. The export of apples from the Annapolis valley up to November 1.5, 1894, exceeded 350,000 barrels. Planting of large fruit areas is going on each year. Large plum orchards have been put out, and canning factories have been erected and operated with success. Peaches are being introduced and grown to quite an extent in some parts. The early, hardy varieties, as Alexander, Early Rivers, and Canada, are giving good continuous crops. Pears are receiving more attention, and small fruits have increased from small begin- nings of ten years ago to be a staple article of our commerce and production. This is especially true of cranberries. There is not a county in the Province where cranber- ries cannot be raised, and this industry is progressing at a very rapid rate. I know of no decline in fruit-growing. Almost all fruits suited to the length and heat of our seasons can be classed as hardy through the central and western portions of the Province. In the eastern and northern sections, and on the eastern seaboard, fruits of English and Scotch origin are apt to succeed better than most of the Russian and American varieties. This is doubt- less owing to the similarity of climate and maritime atmosphere. OHIO. BY W. W. FARNSWORTH, WATEKVILI.E. A great many private individuals are raising new seedlings and selecting those which they consider valuable for further propagation. Among the most valuable of these productions I will mention Campbell's Early grape, by Geo. W. Campbell, Dela- ware; Greenville strawberry, Eldorado blackberry, Ohmer blackberry, and Eureka raspberry. FRUIT REPORTS. J 47 Spraying with insecticides and fungicides has given the horticulturist control of in- sect pests, and such fungous attacks as cause blight, rot and mildew. Bordeaux mix- ture as a fungicide has proven very efiBcieut, and Paris green when added to it becomes an effectual insecticide. The vineyards around Euclid, in the Cleveland section, have suffered considerable loss from the ravages of an insect {Fidia viticida) which attacks the roots of the grape-vine. No practical remedy has yet been determined. Legislation has provided a law for the purpose of destroying the diseases known as black-knot of the plum tree and peach-yellows. While this is a step in the right direction, it is evident that it will reI A It I E T T A . The improviug of fruits by crossing or hj-bridizatiou is not carried to the extent in this State which it is in some others, although new varieties are brought out continually, but more by selection than by other methods. The progress in combatting insects and diseases has been quite rapid of late ; very few progressive pomologists are behind in this matter. I notice a disease (a few cases) in peach trees that is new to me : a large proportion of the tips of the branches all over the tree turn yellow, and in a few years the entire ti-ee assumes a golden yellow, and gradually dies. It is quite different from the usual peach-yellows. The only cases noted are at this point. The only legislation by the State is a law for the stamping out of peach-yellows, which is but little observed or enforced. Not much of special feeding for the perfection of specimens has come under my observation, but the tendency to app'ly commercial fertilizers instead of stable manure is apparent. Among the new fruits are the Ida and Lancaster cherries, the former originated by Mr. Cocklin, Bowmansdale, York county. Color amber, fully as large as Black Tar- tariau; ripens with Gov. Wood; qualitj' No. 1. The other, originated by Daniel Smeyck, of Lancaster. Color red, nearly as large as Tartarian; ripens a week later; firm; sub-acid; an excellent shipper. Both are of the Bigarreau type. Albright peach, referred to in my last report, is quite an acquisition. Originated in York, not New York, as I am made to say in my last report. There is another new late white peach, also originated in York, said to supersede Albright, but not yet disseminated. Nothing specially new in statistics, except that from present indications ours will be a peach-exporting State in the near future, as Delaware is declining in that line. I see no tendency to a decline in any branch of fruit-culture in the State; it seems to me rather the other way. There is not the interest manifested as to the point of hardiness here as in the more rigid climates, hence have nothing special to report in this line. The Japan plums seem very popular, but are not yet sufficiently tested and classi- fied to make a reliable report. aUEBEC. BY JOHN CRAIG. OTTAWA. Just at the present time I do not know of any individual efforts being put forth in the matter of development of fruits by crossing or hybridization, outside the Dominion Experimental Farm system. Among crosses which have beeu made we have a number of promising hybrids be- tween black and red raspberries. These are from purple to purplish black in color, and are propagated either by suckers or tips. One of these is a week to ten days later in ripening than any other cultivated varieties which we have on the grounds. We also have a number of interesting hybrids between the Manitoba black currant and a seedling of Downing gooseberry. Among twenty-five to thirty offsprings of this cross there are many gradations iu foliage between the currant and the gooseberry, some being smooth and others quite thorny. The first fruit does not set well. Thousands of hybrid raspberries have been discarded las worthless.* There is a rapidly growing intelligent interest by the farmer with regard to the best means of combatting the fungous diseases which attack large and small fruits. *Some valuable results h.ive boen obtained in the production of an early variety of wheat by crossing the early Russian varieties with the Red Fife. An undoubted hybrid has jilso been obtained between rve .-ind wheat. 152 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Spraying to preveut apple-spot {Fusicladiuvi) has been on the increase the last four or five years, and at the present season probably fifty per cent, of the best fruit- growers of Ontario and Nova Scotia are spraying to prevent this malady. Bordeaux mixture and ammoniacal copper carbonate are the two specifics used. Bordeaux mix- ture, on account of the possibility of using it with Paris green, is the favorite. The most serious and destructive disease attacking grapes grown in eastern Canada is that known as bird's-eye rot, or anthracnose. This is not amenable to remedial measures in present use. I do not know of any treatment which can be called effective, or even moderately satisfactory. It is largely a trouble peculiar to certain varieties, and more noticed on vines growing on light soil than on heavy clays or loams. Brant, Creveling and Lindley are subject to attacks. The Legislature of the Province of Ontario has passed laws referring to the de- struction of trees affected with black-knot, or with peach-yellows. Wherever these laws are enforced much good results, but in some instances they are more or less a dead letter because of troublesome details connected with their enforcement. The most striking feature coming under the head of modification of types is noticed- in the peculiar manner of growth in this climate of a number of our half-hardy trees and shrubs — more particularly the latter. Our climate, having heavy snows and se- vere frosts, has a most distinct dwarfing effect on shrubs of this class. Shrubs are often hardy to the limit of the snow-line, and frequently never attain a greater height than that allowed by one snow-fall. A good example of this is found in the Japanese quince, which flowers and fruits abundantly only when it has such protection. Prunus Pissardi and a number of weigelias are prominent examples of this class. Striking examples of the effect of thinning and picking apples, and the effect on the keeping qualities of the apple which the time of picking exercised, were obtained at the Experimental Farm last year. Wealthys picked just at the time when the seeds had colored kept twenty per cent, better than those which were picked ten days later. Successful results have been obtained in propagating cherries at the Experimental Farm by grafting at the collar on stocks which had been planted the previous year in the situation in which they were intended to remain. Morello cherries grown in this way are more fruitful and more vigorous than if propagated by grafting in the propa- gating-house during winter and transplanted to the orchard from the nursery-row. A number of lilacs have been grafted at standard height on green ash stocks, and so far most of them have succeeded. This was done to obviate the sprouting tendency, and the habit of the lilac when on its own roots. A large number of varieties of the Mo- rello cherry have been budded on the Bird cherry stock {Primus Pennsylvanicn). It has not, however, proved successful in a number of instances. Some of the difficulties are, that the stock grows too rapidly and too late in the autumn, and it is difficult to accurately determine the correct time of budding. It also gums where cut off' at the bud. Among new varieties of apples the following may be mentioned : McMahan White, which is found to be hardy in all fruit-growing portions of Canada. Although not an apple of high quality nor a first-class shipper, yet it will likely be popular. Season here, early winter. Royal Table, an apple which appears to have come to us from Germany by way of Russia; is an apple very promising in many points. The tree is hardy, and a good grower, and the fruit is about medium size; greenish ground over- laid with red on one side ; is of fair quality, and will keep with ordinary care till April. The tree is an early and prolific bearer. Baxter, a large, handsome winter apple of Canadian origin, is also being widely planted. During the last season it has shown a tendency to blight, however, and its popularity may be checked on account of that defect. I regret that I cannot furnish you with any reliable pomological statistics, but may FRUIT REPORTS. 153 say iu a general way that the increase of the interest in fruit-growing in the Dominion, taking it as a whole, is very gratifying. In different localities it is shown in different ways; for instance, Nova Scotia is moving in the line of further advancement in the culture of pears and peaches. Quebec and New Brunswick are extending the culti- vated area of small fruits. VERMONT. BY DR. T. 11. IIOSKINS. NEWPORT. We have no horticultural or pomological organization in Vermont, and very small prospect of one. Nearly all our enterprising farmers and orchardists have gone West. I am doing what 1 can with the iron-clads here iu the elevated region of northeastern Vermont, and should have very little to report were it not that I am having very good success with the Russian tree fruits — apples, pears, plums, and cherries. A few natives have also pi-oved hardy and valuable, the best being the Bethel and the Scott's Winter apples. No plums, pears or cherries, other than Russian, have been more than moderately successful, in favored spots. We have no peculiar troubles. The "railroad worm" is a recent addition to our ■orchard pests; especially attacking our winter sweet apples. No sufficient remedy is known. Only such modification of types are worthy of mention as we note in our few suc- cessful native seedling sorts, which are rather siftings, than true modifications. We find that good antl careful culture is rewarded here, as elsewhere, with superior products. We fiud a decided advantage iu the use of short roots and long cions in the propa- gation of orchard fruits. A tree is no hardier against climate than its weakest spot. Wealthy, Scott's Winter, Bethel, Shiawasse Beauty, Isham Sweet, McMahon, and the whole line of Russian tree fruits, are proving satisfactory as to hardiness ; and many of them valuable as domestic and commercial fruit. Only a small percent- age of the Russian apples prove to be long keepers ; but of these there are several of great merit and value, so far as can be judged in the time they have been under trial. Nearly all the winter Russians of value are from the Bndd-Gibb importation of ten years ago. Of the best one of these the true name is yet in doubt. It much resembles the Baldwin. No statistics, other than those of the last U. S. census, are available for Vermont. The valuations, as indicated by the stars of the American Pomological Society's lists, are generally accepted as true. No decline in fruit-culture with us, but a very moderate increase. Many fruit trees are planted, but most of them die, or become of small value from neglect. Enough trees have been sold by peddlers to the farmers of Vermont iu the last thirty years to have covered the State with orchards; but comparatively few remain alive, and most of these are in bafl condition. The average American farmer is a very poor 01- chardist, and shows little tendency to improve in that direction. TEXAS. liV Dlt. W. W. STF;LL. PARIS. The following is sulmiitted iu answer to circular received. Of new native fruits, I would ask for special attention to the following ])r(iuiising sorts : The Becker api)le and ]>anana pear for the coast region, and Cow Creek i)ear for the northwest. (Jrover Cleveland and Large June apples, Dallas l)lackberry, Stell's Improved mulberry, Austin's Imjjroved dewberry, and the last twelve varieties of l^eaches in the catalogue list I send you, are of great merit and should be extensively cultivated. 154 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Synouynis, I Ihiuk, are about the same in Texas as in other .States, and as found in the catalogue of this Society. Most of the soil in the State is suitable for the culture of some kinds of fruit. In- sects and fungous diseases are quite prevalent and destructive, but are to a considerable extent being overcome by the recent introduction of methods for combatting them. Many horticulturists are making persistent war on the above-named prolific causes of fruit failures by using Bordeaux mixture, Paris green, London purple, etc. But I know no one brave enough to attempt to counteract the late spring frosts and freezes^ which are producing more failures than all other causes combined, not only in Texas, but throughout the entire Southwest country. Cultivation .should be thoroughly done, early in each season, and never later than August. Late culture causes a second wood-growth when the fail rains set in, and makes the tree much more susceptible to injury in its wood, and especially its fruit- buds. Pruning should be done, or begun, when the tree is quite young, and kept up an- nually. The tree should have a low head and short trunk, to prevent sun-scald and the effects of high winds. Considerable advancement has been made in the horticulture of this State. WASHINGTON. BY T . SMITH. COLFAX. In reporting for this State it should be borne in mind that its climate embraces^ many different conditions. My own experience in the State during twenty years past, in the eastern portion, will be made a part of this paper. I am located among the the Palouse hills, on the highest altitude in the State, ex- cepting the mountain regions farther south and west. In the deep valleys along the rivers the warmer climate enables some fruits to ripen into maturity, that will not do so always at this point. The valleys of the Columbia and Snake rivers, and the Yakima, protected by the Cascade range of mountains, will grow all classes from the apple to figs. The cool air of the higher altitudes requires to be successful, such va- rieties as will ripen early in the season, and culture has a marked effect in attaining the result — as, the distance between trees, listing of the soil, and amount of fruit. borne. All the popular varieties of apples, pears, plums and cherries are being distributed by tree-peddlers and nurserymen without much regard or knowledge as to adaptability to soil and climate in which they are to be grown. Western Washington, that takes the sea breezes and is guarded on the east by the Cascade range, has rather a moist climate, which is warm and will grow all kinds of these fruits to perfection, so far as appearance is shown, except grapes and peaches. Prunes succeed in any portion of the State, and may be grown profitably in large quantities, excepting perhaps in the high altitudes, and many planters are engaging in their culture. Enterprising men are annually setting large (juantities of fruit trees of all kinds in the State, and it is fast becoming noted for its adaptability to such uses. Varieties of fruit which will ripen well are raised without irrigation, by thorough cultivation, and such are of the highest (juality. Strawberries do not succeed on high altitudes, except on warm, moist soil, and when given much care and attention. Of nuts, the black walnut, butternut and hickory nut are proving successful. The chestnut, pecan and English walnut I believe will succeed in the Sound and Coast country, and may on the lower altitudes under irrigation. Of the newer varieties, many which are being tested are largely worthless. The Wealthy apple becomes a fall apple and of very good quality ; while the Yellow Transparent is very poor. The Concord grape is also poor in this climate. FRUIT REPORTS. 155 Some seeclliugs have been raised from seeds of choice fruit, and some of them will doubtless prove valuable. Several have already gaiued popularity among planters in the Walla Walla region. The Palouse apple is being disseminated from here. It is a very good fall and early winter variety. A sweet variety, far better than the Tal- man, originated at this place. The tree is a good, upright grower. I have in my orchard a seedling that resembles the Yellow Belltiower; but it is firmer, and a better keeper. The tree is an upright grower, and bears crops of fruit regularly. The Idaho blackcap raspberry originated here ; succeeds well in the mount- ainous regions. With me the ends of the canes winter-kill, but enough sound wood escapes to bear a bountiful crop of large berries, darker colored, and not so soft as the Shaffer. It is a long-season variety. Varieties of the hardiness of the Blue Pearmain and Late Strawberry apples are not injured by our winters, and even the more tender sorts are not always injured, which is due to the altitude they occupy and the j)i"otection which surrounds them. The winter of 1893-3 was the most injurious of any known. But the damage did not reach the roots, and many trees recovered. Bartlett pear trees that were killed nearly to the ground are now growing and fruiting. Insects injurious to the fruit interests are becoming prevalent, through importation of trees and fruit. Stringent laws have been enacted to suppress them and to protect the industry in the future from their spread, and to prevent the introtluction of fun- gous diseases. A State Board of Horticulture has been organized, and is required to hold meetings in different parts of the State with the fruit-growers. Heretofore there has been a good market for our fruits within the State; but the increased acreage, with an abundant fruitage, will compel shipments to outside mar- kets— and this will force the necessity of planting such varieties as may be most easily and safely handled and most profitable for such purposes. Ftirthermore, it will tend to the establishing of large evaporating and canning establishments in different parts of the State. The fruit industry of the State bids fair to become an important factor in its future development, and it may yet furnish the best prepared prunes for commerce, as well as the best of apples, pears and clierries known in the markets. VIRGINIA. BY PROF. WM. B. ALWODU. EXPERIMENT STATION. BLACKSBURli. I have gone over the catalogue of fruits, and made such alterations and additions- as I deem proper. There are still some erroneous entries left in it. Our fruit inter- ests have really never been carefully studied, and I hope in a few years more to be able to revise the catalogue properly and correctly. Concerning the questions submitted in the circular, I will answer as follows: There has not been any particular effort made by individuals or organizations ta improve fruits by crossing, hybridizing, or selection, but we are studying varieties carefully, and collecting native seedlings of merit for further study. We are able to successfully combat practically all fungous diseases of grapes and pome fruits, excepting fire-blight, etc. The same is practically true of insects. There is nothing new in this line excepting the appearance of the San Jos»5 scale-louse on the apple in threatening numbers, and an unusual spread of a leaf-spot on the apple. Of the newer varieties of fruit particularly promising, I will name : (Jrapes — Niag- ara, Oreeu Mountain, Gold Coin. There are a number of varieties of apples, pears, and peaches, but which are. not sufficiently tested. Pomological statistics are unknown in the State. There is no decline in the fruit industry, but on the contrary an increased and growing interest is manifested, and the future has a promising outlook. 156 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. STATE REPORTS BY VICE-PRESIDENTS. COLORADO. BY HENRY T. WILLIAMS. COLORADO SPRINGS. The fruit interest of Colorado has Ijeconie, in late years, decidedly encouraging, and, for a State of such altitude, really of great magnitude. The hope of the orchard- ist, which languished fifteen or more years ago over the prospect of ever establishing a successful fruit farm, has now brightened, and in very many portions of the Slate there are successful orchards yielding very lucrative returns. As a rule, in all altitudes exceeding 6,000 feet orcharding may be considered im- possible. In altitudes of 5,000 to 6,000 feet the hardy varieties of standard fruit give considerable encouragement, but have the disadvantage of being long in coming into bearing ; while in altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 feet or less, every encouragement exists, and in such belts are now located all the successful fruit districts of the State. All kinds of small fruits are successfully grown in all regions below an altitude of 5,000 feet. Blackberry and raspberry plants require a winter protection, which is generally given them by covering them with earth after being laid down. Horticulture, until within the last ten years, has been limited to the regions around Denver, Littleton, Boulder, and Canon City, the last being located in the Arkansas river valley. Very few experiments were made outside of these localities, as the peo- ple generally had no confidence in succeeding elsewhere. But the last ten years have developed an extensive interest, and while other localities have been added to the fruit area on the eastern slope of the mountain range, an unexpected surprise has occurred in the capabilities of the western slopes, where nearly all the classes of fruit which are adapted to the Middle States are being successfully grown. In the warm, mild valleys of the Grand, the Uucompahgre and the North Fork of the Gunnison, orchards have been cultivated for more than ten years, without the failure of a single crop, and are yielding returns exceeding the average per acre of either California or the East. The warm westerly winds prevailing over those sections, from early spring to fall, protect the fruit from the danger of spring frosts, and fur- nish exemption from dangers incident to such altitude in other portions of the State. With the discovery of the adaptability of these new sections on the western slope to fruit of all kinds laised in temperate climates, there has been great activity in the planting of orchards, until in the vicinity of four places — Grand Junction to (ilenwood Springs, Delta to Manitou and Paonia along the valley of the North Fork of the Gun- nison— there have been planted upward of 20,000 acres of fruit, which bids fair to, be still farther increased. In the western fruit sections, water for irrigation purposes is plentiful ; fruit trees come into bearing young ; insects are not prevalent; the fruit is a high quality in color and flavor, and, owing to a nearness to the mountain markets, exceedingly remuuera- tive returns from the sales of the product are realized. A properly grown orchard of bearing age is as fully profitable as any in California or the Eastern States. Here the peach is at home, and apples, plums, pears, grapes and the small fruits are highly successful. On the eastern slope, in the valley of the Arkansas river, from Canon City east- ward, is found the greatest encouragement and progress in fruit-culture. Here are the oldest apple orchards in the State. These trees were hauled in wagons from Cheyenne, over two hundred miles distant, and planted, before any railroad had been built into the State, when the Mexican and Indian occupied and roamed over the ground, and the orchard of Jesse Frazier, near Florence, remains as a monument and witness to his FRUIT REPORTS. J 57 faith iu fruits. The belt of fruit-culture has extended north along the base of the mountains, until successful orchards now grow west of Greeley and Fort Collins. Aside from the subject of standard fruits, it may be said that in small fruits abun- dant encouragement exists in nearly all parts of the State, especially the strawberry, which is the favorite fruit of the people, and is usually found for sale in the markets from February to June. The consumption of fmit in Colorado is enormous. Not more than one-third or one-fourth enough fruit is raised in Colorado to meet home demands. Vast quantities are brought in from ueighboring or distant States. During the fruit season the ob- server witnesses the constant arrival of strawberries from the South and East, during a period lasting several months, closing with the home supply, ripening as late as .July. During the summer the importation of fruit from California reaches millions of pounds, and during the fall great activity exists in importations of Idaho prunes, Ore- gon and northern California apples, Iowa grapes, and Michigan and New York apples. The domestic product of the State has been estimated at SI, 7.50, 000 per annum, and adding to this the importations of fruit of all sorts from outside of the State, it is found to reach an annual expenditure of nearly §5,000,000. An interesting experiment has been made at Littleton, by Messrs. Stark Bros., where, contrary to all methods adopted in the State, a large and successful apple orchard of 14,000 trees- has been planted and maintained to fruiting by plowing and soil-stirring to a depth of 18 to 22 inches, without the aid of any irrigation. The results of fruit-culture in Colorado are now becoming apparent in the reports of crops, received from those who have raised successful orchards. These reports are exceedingly interesting, and are helping to overcome many doubts about the suitable- ness of the State for profitable fruit-growing ; aud it need hardly be said that with such remunerative prices as usually exist in these markets, all home products of fruits realize profits much exceeding those of the most celebrated fruit districts of the country. Judge W. B. Felton, of Canon City, Col., one of the oldest and most successful orehardists of the State, furnishes the following figures of the sales from his orchard for one year, 1893: Cherries $33 05 Apples, early $169 86 Pears 174 19 " late 5,777 59 Grapes 322 06 Other fruits 187 38 Total 66,545 13 Expenses 1,535 87 Leaving a net profit of $5,019 26 Of these nine acres, only five were set with winter varieties of apples; these paid •I?!. 155.50 per acre.* These figures exceed the average in returns even of sub-tropical products from the same area in any State. Mr. Fentou says, relative to his experience with different varieties: "About 400 Ben Davis trees in my orchard have averaged me about $33 per tree, and the Wal- bridge $14 per tree." The vicinity of Canon City is especially favorable to strawberry culture. Here the crop has been estimated as worth 8480 per acre. The apple orchard of Jesse Frazier, near Cahon City, has yielded regularly for many years over $8,000 per annum, from less than thirty acres. Six miles south of Fort Collins is an apple orchard belonging to McLennan, con- taining but 20 acres, the crop of which has brought $6,000 in one season. The productiveness of fruit trees in favorable locations is also remarkable. In the Kockefellow orchard, also located near Cafion City, there are Winesap apple trees yielding six barrels to the tree, which sold for $6 per barrel. An entire row of 171 *ln 1889 the proccods from Ww. saiiii- uroa were $6,023.89. 158 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. trees in this orchard averaged three barrels of apples each, selling for $3.75 per barrel in the orchard. On the western slope, excellent results have been attained, though all orchards are still young. Near Delta, Mr. T. S. Ward, having an orchard of apple trees nine years of age, reports gathering an average of 600 pounds of apples to the tree, which sold on the ground for $3.40 per 100 pounds, or $;20.40 per tree — equivalent to nearly $1,000 per acre. Plum orchards in the valley of the North Fork of the Gunnison have been yielding similar results — $1,000 per acre. This greatly exceeds the average estimate for the State in 1894, which was only $300 per acre. Near Grand Junction is a mixed orchard of fifteen acres, seven years old, belong- ing to Richard Orr, which in 1894 cleared the sum of $5,000 to its owner. A peach orchard of fifty acres in the same vicinity, belonging to Messrs. Rose Bros., in 1894 netted the sum of $350 per acre. A plantation of two and one-half acres yielded a crop which brought to its owner $2,600. The average return in this vicinity for two hundred acres of apple trees has been $400 per acre, and for peach, $375. A most healthy and favorable interest in fruit-culture exists iu Colorado, and is leading to excellent results. Greater experiments, and a wider range of fruit localities has been discovered. The early fruitfulness of trees is noticeable. Superior flavor, color, and marked keeping qualities characterize all classes of fruits grown on Colo- rado soil. MISSOURI. BY HON. N. J. COLMAN, ST. LOUIS. The report for the State of Missouri must of necessity be brief, but not for want of material, or of interest in the work, or of growth in horticulture, or of lack of en- thusiasm. Missouri horticulture is of steady, permanent, intelligent growth. There is growing up in our midst a " Western horticulture" that will spread, and enthuse and enlighten our people more iu the next few years than has been done during the last half-century. Our fruit-men are beginning to watch and inquire into every important and unim- portant factor that enters into the propagation, growth, cultivation, protection, or marketing of our fruits. We are beginning to examine the soils where our orchards grow; to watch the fungous diseases and insect enemies; to study the different plans of cultivation and pruning; to correct the use of so many varieties of fruits; to seek the adaptation of different varieties to different locations and soils; and to observe the markets of the country closely. While other kinds of business may be failures, we are glad to say that the fruit- growers of Missouri have come out of this series of hard times and failures with a firm conviction that their calling is a safe and sure one, and although it may not make millionaires of them, it will surely give them a safe and sure income, and a final com- petency. We can say to those who wish to enter into the fruit business anywhere, that here in Missouri we have choice lands, the best of locations, valuable markets, close and quick communication, cheap railroad rates, the lands lowest in price, the highest lands in value, the richest soil, choice climate, perfect adaptability, and prospects equal to any of our sister States. Orchards of apple, peach, pear, plum, and cherry, and vineyards also, are being planted by the tens, hundreds and thousands of acres iu single orchards, and are paying profitably. All over the State the timber is being cut off the lands, and the virgin soil at once planted to orchards, and we feel sure that these orchards will occupy the same position that our orchards did forty years ago. A neio idea seems to have taken possession of our Western men, and that is that the ■orchard should have all the fertility the land affords, and that it should not be robbed by continual cropping. FRUIT REPORTS. 159 Many of our fruit-men are studying intelligently the newer varieties, watching closely the development of the fungous diseases, acquainting themselves with the habits of insect foes, experimenting with all that is new, old, good, bad, or indifferent. In fact, the horticulturist of Missouri is trying to step upon a higher plane of thought and labor than that only devoted to niaiuial labor, or drudgery. Large commercial orchardists are keeping as strict watch over their business enter- prises as any merchant, lawyer, or manufacturer can possibly give to his work. They are taking it up as a business enterprise, and following it in a business-like way, and not as a side issue, and the results are justifying this expenditure of time, labor, brains, and money. What the result of this systematic system of orchard-growing will be, we can only partially comprehend, but we may be sure that it will result in increased knowledge, positive results, and be the means of making the business a true "science of horticulture," which now it hardly deserves the name of. Some practical results have been developed, even in these the last three seasons of severe trial and failure. Even during the present year some apple orchards have paid their owners as high as $300 per acre, and many of them have paid from .fiSO to $100 per acre. Peach orchards paid last year all the way from $60 to $300 per acre. While these higher prices are the exception and not the rule, yet they show what can be done by what has been done. Why should we not expect results, and especially im- provement and increased knowledge, when we have such workers and thinkers as Samuel Miller, J. C. Evans, L. A. Goodman, Herman Jaeger, Mary E. Murtfeldt, and Jacob Rommel, in Missouri ; and C. V. Riley, B. T. Galloway, and M. G. Kern, who were formerly residents of Missouri. I have to add one other means of development beyond this, and that is the work of the Missouri State Horticultural Society and its band of members, who are laljoring as a unit for the advancement of this cause all over the State, and sending out valuable knowledge far and wide. No better work has been or can be done for the State than that by the Missouri State Horticultiii-al Society during the last twelve years, in enlisting the people in this cause, in developing the fruit interests of the State, and in scattering valuable knowledge over the land. If we can learn how to breed our fruits with skill and intelligence; if we can learn how to feed our trees and vines and secure positive results ; if we can learn how to care for, cultivate, and develop them as their necessities demand, then we can say in truth and in fact, "Horticulture is a science,'' but until then we must watch, wait, aud work until this end is accomplished. MINNESOTA, BY .T. S. IIAKUIS. LA CRESCENT. The outlook for an unusually large crop of fruit in 1894 was, at the opening of spring, very promising. Apparently no injury from the previous winter had occurred on trees, shrubs, or plants. Vegetation started earlier in the spring than is usual here, and fruit trees and plants blossomed a little earlier and more profusely than is com- mon. We had one of the driest summers on record. The drouth was nearly continu- ous from May until September, except light local showers, few and far between : the soil was seldom moistened by rain to the depth of two inches. In addition, there were a few days of the most excessive heat ever known here. The outcome of the fruit cro]) is about as follows: Strawberries were good in some places, and nearly a total failure in others; average for the State, .'JO per cent, of average crop. Raspberries, occa- sionally a plantation gave a full crop; others failed after the first or second picking ; average yield, not more than 60 per cent. — (luality often poor. Currants were very generally a fair crop ; they are not extensively raised since the advent of the currant worm. Gooseberries, light crop ; not much grown. Blackberries, quality of fruit very 160 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. poor, aud the yield less thau oue-fourth of a crop. Grapes, quality very fine, and the crop about full average. Native plums, both wild and cultivated, the largest crop ever produced in the State: the size and quality of fruit were somewhat affected by the drouth. The apple crop was not 20 per cent, of a full crop, except in a few limited localities, aud in no part of the State very much over a half-crop, and of inferior quality. The condition and failure of the apple crop was not primarily occasioned by the drouth, because the injury occurred before that had set In. The leading cause was a spur-blight that struck the trees during the last week of May and soon after the young fruit had formed, killing a considerable portion of the fruit spurs entirely, and blast- ing much of the fruit upon those remaining. Within a day or two of the same date, the foliage and new growth of the trees that blossomed heavily began to show signs of twig- or fire-blight, and thousands of trees were permanently injured by it. The cause of this is very generally laid to a light frost that occurred about that time; bub I do not think the trouble should all be charged up to that particular frost, or other fruits besides the apple would have suffered in a like manner, aud I have frequently known heavier frosts that greatly damaged other fruits without seriously affecting the apple — while this frost did not damage the other fruits. I lay the trouble to a bacte- rial or fungous disease that found at that time favorable conditions to get in its deadly work. These favorable conditions were thus brought about: First, the dry condition of the soil the previous autumn and early winter placed the roots of the trees in an unfavorable condition, and without feeders to draw sufficient nourishment from the earth in early spring. Second, there was a spell of unseasonable or very warm weather in March, and again in April, with atmospheric conditions unusually favora- ble for starting the fruit-buds, the flow of sap, and even leaf-growth ; and each of these spells was followed by a period of low temperature and drying winds. Third, the vitality of the trees was too severely taxed by the unusual quantity of bloom, and the light frost and unseasonable weather following, all combined, left the trees with- out any reserve force to resist the insidious foes, bacteria. The interest in fruitrculture in this State is still growing, and as most of our people accept the frost theory regarding the failure this year, it will not be very much set back. There is a large increase in the number of orchard trees planted each year. But with the increase of interest among the people there is a corresponding increase of swindling nursery firms and tree-peddlers, and probably in no year of the past his- tory of the State have the unsuspecting farmers been victimized by agents claiming to represent nurseries from other States as in 1894. Hundreds of our people have been induced to Invest largely in varieties that are entirely unadapted to growing in this climate, and their certain failure will somewhat incumber future progress. And there is no remedy for it except the slow one of horticultural education. Still, the outlook is encouraging. Our Experiment Stations are doing good work. The classes in the Farm School who are taking lessons in horticulture are larger than ever before. The membership of our State Horticultural Society is growing rapidly, and is exerting more and more influence for good. We have faith in Minnesota, and we intend at no very distant day to get up near the head of the class in apple-growing. NORTH CAROLINA. BY J. VAN LINDLEY. POMONA. I will only give briefly the cause of our fruit failure in 1894. The month of Febru- ary was warm, which brought out vegetation and the bloom of most fruits. The warm weather, which was very unusual, continued up to the morning of March 35th — fully six weeks of growing, summer weather. Pears had shed their bloom. The Kiefter and LeConte were as large as peas. Large oak trees were about in full leaf. Peach FRUIT REPORTS. \^\ aiul plum trees had made a growth of two or three inches, and everything looked in a very flourishing condition. In this condition it was caught by one of the most disastrous freezes ever known In the South. On the morning of the 26th the mercury, which stood at (55 the day before, fell to 26 degrees above zero; on the 37th it stood at 18 degrees, and on the 2Sth at 20 degrees. The result was, all vegetation was killed. All Kieffer pear trees under three years old were killed to the ground. We had one orchard of 5,000 Kietfer, two years old, growing tinely, and they were beautiful trees. They were all killed to the ground, and 1775 were killed outright, and never sprouted, while the others sent up shoots from the stump and made a nice growth. Ten-year-old Kietfer pear trees had two-thirds of the top cut back. Nursery stock suffei-ed the greatest. Fully three-fourths of peach, cherry, plum and apricot buds were killed completely. Apple and pear seedlings just up two or three inches were all killed. Peach seedlings were killed to the surface of the ground but grew out again, and I had a good stock of them. The tops of one-year-old apples did not seem to be aifected, l)Ut near the ground the bark split so they had to be cut back. Some peach orchards of bearing trees were entirely killed. The above is sufficient to give you an idea of the damage done in what is known as the Piedmont belt of North Carolina. In the western or mountain section a partial crop of apples is reported, and a gootl crop of blackberries and strawberries was re- ported from the east and southeastern portions of the State. The section lying between Goldsboro and Wilmington, along the line of the At- lantic Coast Kailroad, has become a great strawberry country. At present there are about 1,500 acres devoted to its culture. J. S. Westbrook, of Faison, N. C, is one of tlie leaders in this industry. Some ten years ago the growers of this fruit commenced with the old Wilson's Albany, which was good at that time; then came up the New- man, Crescent, Hoffman, Sharpless, Westbrook, Murray, and Michel : all paid well. But now about all have given way to the Lady Thompson, which originated in that section. It is a perfect bloomer, large and early, an abundant bearer, strong grower, and one of the best shippers. It about doubles on the price of all other varieties in tlie New York, Philadelphia and Washington markets. Mr. Wesibrook began to ship the Lady Thompson April 6th, and shipped continuously until 22d of June. The first shipments brought 60c. per quart, and a good fancy price was received all through the season. Profits over this entire scope are hard to get at, but run from 825 to .$500 per acre, according to variety and manner of cultivation. They saved their crop from the freeze in 1S94 by having a windrow of pine-straw raised between the berry-rows, suf- ficient to cover the plants. They do this every year, as a protection from freezing, and this year they profited by it. When they received the Government weather report notifying them of the cold wave they at once gathered hands and covered the plants with the pine-straw and saved their crop. I know of no section where strawberries are paying better. The land is easily cul- tivated, and responds quickly to manure, and judging from what the growers are doing I do not think there is a place in the South better suited to grow strawberries for profit than is eastern North Carolina. In Moore county, the country along the Seaboard Air Line Railroad centering at a town known as Southern Pines is becoming a great fruit center. It is high, sandy land, at an elevation of 600 feet. The natural forest is of what is known as the long- leaf pitch-pine. There, peach, pear, plum, grape and blackberry seem to be at home. It is (juite a new section, settled during the last eight years mostly by New England l)eople. There are several hundred acres in grape, about 60,000 peach, planted in the last three years. But so far, grape-culture takes the lead. The freeze last spring greatly discouraged the growers, but after finding out that such a freeze did not occur oftener than once in twenty-five or thirty years, they saw fruit-culture would be as safe there as in any other section of the country. When the freeze came, the vines —II 162 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. had grown ten to fifteen inches long, bundles of fruit had formed, and tlie fieeze Icilled all the fruit and the new growth of wood; but they came out again and made a full half-crop of grapes, and brought fancy prices, ranging from 8c. to 20c, per lb. for the later sorts. All were well pleased with the result, and planting continues. The Niag- ara and Delaware are the leading grapes for that section. The Delaware is usually a weak grower, but in that soil it is a strong grower, and seems peculiarly adapted to that deep, sandy soil. Blackberries were not damaged, so a good crop was marketed at a fair price. Wilson's Early is the great market blackberry for that section. Min- newaski is late, and a tine berry, but is too soft for shipping. Many of the new Oriental plums, pears aud other fruits are being tested here with fine results, aud 1 hope by the next meeting of the American Pomological Society to be able to give a full list of all the fruits succeeding in this State, as I am sure that the present generation will never see another freeze as severe as we had last March. OREGON. BY PROF. E. R. LAKE, CORVAI.LIS. The past two years have been notable ones in the history of Oregon pomology. The rapid development of commercial fruit-culture ; the public discussion of many important questions pertaining to the various phases of orcharding ; the unusual activity among all horticultural organizations; the bringing out of several new and promising varieties of fruits, together with the promulgation and enforcement of laws' enacted for the prevention and suppression of insect and fungous orchard pests, have been alike prime factors in the progressive movement of all matters horticultural that has been so noticeable in this State during the past two years. Heretofore, cultural problems have been the important topics in our general discussions, though the sub- jects of harvesting, packing, transportation and marketing have been given some attention. At present as in the past, the strictly scientific phases of pomology are given very little consideration, except on the part of a few of our most enlightened and progressive orchardists. In general, it may be said that our real work in ad- vanced pomology has just begun. Until within the past year very little thought has been given to such matters as the fertilization of fruits and soils; drainage, and lis effects on the soil, trees, and fruit; the curing of certain fruits, as prunes, aud a mul- titude of kindred problems. Our first commercial orchards were planted, and the harvest from them reaped, under the most propitious circumstances. High prices, freedom from pests, ample markets within easy distance, aud a non-discriminating public taste, were all sufficient incentives to early orcharding in Oregon. But with the passing away of these condi- tions, the industry has been placed upon an entirely different basis. It is not enough that we plant such varieties and in such quantities as come to hand, nor that we plant indiscriminately on all soils. Orchard sites must be selected, aud the soil properly prepared. Varieties must be carefu^ly and wisely chosen for the purpose in view, and, above all, the trees and soil must be well cared for after the orchard is set out. A few of our older orchardists have safely passed all these preliminary stages, and are now devoting some attention to the improvement of old and the development of new strains or varieties of our leading fruits, apples, pears, plums, and cherries. As a result of the later labors in these lines, we have had brought out recently the follow- ing varieties: The Marion Red and Willamette apples; the Dosch aud Pacific (?) prunes; the Lambert and Hoskins cherries. The Apex gooseberry and the Magorn strawberry are new acquisitions among the small fruits. The work of the local aud State societies has been a source of much benefit to the horticulture of the State. Nearly all of these organizations are educational, but there are one or two "unions" which have for their chief aim the marketing of the products FRUir REPORTS. \^2> of their members. During the past year one of these made a successful issue iu main- taining the price of small fruits in the local markets. This success has so encouraged the growers that stronger organizations will be formed with the same end in view — the judicious shipping and marketing of the fruits of a section. The effective work of our State Board of Horticulture in educating our orchardists and others to the importance of a vigorous warfare against the insect and fungous foes of the orchard and garden has been the means of bringing about much aggressive ac- tion in this direction, notwithstanding the law under which the Board labors is very crude. However, enough has been done to demonstrate the importance of the work, and enlist the earnest support of our most progressive pomologists and horticulturists in the enactment of more stringent quarantine and disinfection laws. The sentiment of our best orchardists is favorable to the most rigid laws for the protection of this in- dustry. In the matter of cultural methods a steady movement toward clean cultivation has been going on until, no intelligent orchardist presumes to practice other- than clean cul- ture, except perliaps during the first two years, wlieu such crops as strawberries, cab- bage, corn, carrots, beets, potatoes, tomatoes and peas and a few other similar crops may be grown in such a way as not to lessen the thoroughness of the cultivation. The preliminary experiments of growing some mulch or soil-fertilizing crop iu the orchard, such as crimson clover and vetches, are just being inaugurated, and the inter- est centered in the outcome of this step is very keen. A winter-growing crop in our mild, open, rainy climate with the nitrogen-storing properties of the clovers, would be a boon to the Oregon orchardist. While the total income from our fruit crop for the past year was considerably lowered as a result of the financial situation, a much greater loss to the small-fruit growers was occasioned by the damaging floods of the Columbia river and its tribu- taries in June and July. These floods cut off transportation facilities, and nearly a total loss befell the strawberry-growers of Hood River and some other sections. The fruit crop, in general, has been good. Only one variety was below the average in yield — the Italian prune. This variety was almost a failure in many sections of the State, while in other parts a fair crop was had. A frost just at blossoming-time, together with a long-continued rain, was the ascribed cause for this partial failure of the Italian prune. It is the first time in thirteen years that this variety has yielded less than an average crop. Small fruits were al)undant. The apple crop, though good as to yield, was very poor in quality, being most seriously artected witli codlin- moth larvie and scab. The bulk of the apple crop of the State is jn-oduced in the old orchards, which are generally given very little care. The young orchards, under the new-blood or- chardists are just coming into bearing, and as an illustration of the difference between the old-style and the new-style orcharding, orchardist and ways of marketing, we (piote from the Rural Northwest of Dec. 1, 1894 : "A lot of apples just received were going off rapidly at $1 and SI. 2.5 per box, while others, considered good, were slow at 50c. The former were tastefully wrapped, in paper-lined boxes, and guaranteed free from worms, while the latter were of the ordinary kind.'' New plantings during the past year have been largely prunes and apples, with the tendency towartl apples at present. The next few years will undoubtedly witness the planting of large areas of apple orchards. The acreage of young bearing apple trees is very small compared with the total orchard acreage of the State, and now that the old orchards are rapidly passing beyond the period of productiveness, young trees must be planted to take the place of these old ones as well as to meet the increasing demand for good apples. Our leading market varieties include : Apples. — Spitzenberg, Northern Spy, Baldwin. Newtown Pippin, Tompkins King, Ben Davis, Astrachan, Bellflower (Yellow and Wliite), Gravenstein, Blue Pearmain. Winesap, Jonathan, Golden Kusset, Ked-Cheek Pippin (syn. Monmouth Pipi)in). 164 • AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Pears. — Bartlett, Nelis, "White Doyenne, Summer Doyenne, Vicar [of WinkfieldJ, Anjou, [Duchess d'] Angouleme, Flemish Beauty. Plums. — Columbia, Yellow Egg, Peach, Bradshaw, Pond's [Seedling], Green Gage, Washington. Prunes. — Italian, Coe's Golden Drop, [Silon] d'Ageu. Golden. The German is going out of favor fast. Peaches. — Alexander, Holis, Crawford (Early and Late), Salway, Golden Cling, Foster, Muir. Cherries. — Napoleon (syn. Royal Ann), Bigarreau, Lewelling, Black Tartarian, May Duke, Late Duke. Blackberries. — Lawton, Kittatinny, Evergreen. Raspberries. — Cuthbert, Hansel, Gregg. Currants. — Cherry, Fay, White Grape. Gooseberries. — Oregon Champion, Industry. Stratcberries. — Wilson, Sharpless, Clarke, Everbearing. Dewberry. — Lucretia. Grapes. — Concord, Delaware, Moore's Diamond, Worden. In the southern and northeastern part of the State the foreign varieties of grapes are grown. English walnuts and almonds also thrive in some favorable sections of southern Oregon. Chestnuts and filberts will do well in all parts of the State, except, possibly, in portions of the plateau of eastern Oregon. The very widely different climatic and soil conditions prevailing in the different sections of the State, afford very unusual opportunities for choice in the kinds of fruits one desires to grow. STRAWBERRIES AND THEIR CULTURE, AT HOOD RIVER, OREGON. By T. R. Coon. The growing of strawberries at Hood River has attracted some attention, from the fact that the principal part of the crop has been shipped long distances. It is said of strawberries, that few crops can be more easily grown in all climates and on any kind of soil. Yet one needs but to read the various strawberry reports to learn that most varieties do not give equally good results in all sections of the country. What is good in one place is bad in another; so that each variety is, by turns, praised and condemned. It would seem, therefore, that success requires the right berry for the right place. While it is easy to produce fine berries for the home market, it is rare to find the conditions favorable to the production of berries that will stand long shiprhent. The Hood River growers appear to have the right combination. Our ber- ries arrive in Denver and Omaha in prime condition. Many varieties have been tried, but the so-called "Hood River strawberries" are of a single variety — an, Oregon seedling. The climate of Hood River is doubtless favor- able for the growing of firm berries, but climatic conditions are not alone sufficient to insure good shipping qualities, for most of the varieties said to do well elsewhere, re- fuse to make good shippers at Hood River; and the berry that does make a good shipper at Hood River will not ship if grown in a, less favorable climate. It would seem, however, that a suitable climate is of the first importance. Hood River, being east of the Cascade Mountains, has a dry climate. There is seldom any rain during the strawberry season. The temperature is cool both day and night. Dew is seldom seen. Most growers know that rainy weather makes sad havoc with berries and that heavy dews are about as bad. They know also that a still, cloudy day, especially if warm, is sure to make soft berries, and the too fierce rays of a midday sun are not to be desired. Probably the climatic conditions most favorable for the production of firm berries are bright weather, cool but even temperature, and a dry atmosphere. It is probable that the dryness of the air during the night-time has much influence in pro- FRUIT REPORTS. Ig5 moting firmness. It is a noticeable fact that at Hood Kiver during the night-time, a constant flow of cold, dry air moves down the little mountain valley ; and it may be that this cool breath of old Mt. Hood, which so gently faus away the dews of night, leaves its seal of beauty on the glossy berries so much admired in the distant markets. It is found that the finest as well as firmest berries are grown where the sunlight and air have free access. (Jreat masses of plants may give large, fine-looking berries, but they will lack color, firmness, and flavor. On this account, the Hood River berries are grown in hills. The hills are also preferred because tlie pickers are more apt to see and gather all the ber- ries each day. This is a matter of the utmost importance, for if over-ripe berries are permitted to remain on the plants from day to day, some such are pretty sui'e to go into the boxes designed for long shipment. To prevent this, pickers are required to pick off every berry that is red or pinkish in color, packing for shipment only those which are large and perfect. Not only must the berry retain a portion of the stem, but the pickers must not gather by handfuls, as the warmth and perspiration of the hand will soon ruin the berries. The better plan is to pick the berries one at a time, and place, stem downward, in tiie box as carefully as possible. The packing-house is dry and cool, being often embowered by natural shade, and 'well ventilated. The ber- ries are set on shelves and allowed to cool for some time before being placed in the crates. The best crates are those which have tight covers, so as to exclude dust. As to ventilation, if the berries are all sound and of the proper degree of ripeness, and if they are both dry and cool, there is no need for much ventilation, for, indeed, too much ventilation would only serve to shrivel the fruit to such an extent that it would pass for dried fruit after five days' journey, whereas the intention is to deliver the fruit in the market in a fresh condition. No refrigeration has been employed in shipping berries from Hood River. Com- mon express cars have carried the fruit in most cases. The Ijelief appears to be general among Hood River growers that it is a mistake to pick berries before they are fully colored. If they possess firmness at all, they will stand shipment if not picked till fully red. Whoever would ship berries long distances will find that it pays to employ only those pickers who are conscientious and skillful. Indeed, the best picker is she who fills a box of berries much as she would arrange a beautiful bouquet intended for a friend. The time seems to have come when strawberries can be shipped across the conti- nent with satisfactory results. But the conditions of success must be studied and the requisite skill employed. VERMONT. » BY T. H. HOSKISs. NEWPORT. "The progress in orcharding in this State, as well as in other things, is very slight. Some new orchards have been planted, especially upon the islands in Lake Champlaiu and near its eastern shore, during the past four or five years. This lake region is our chief orchard section — narrow at the north, and widening, somewhat, to the south ; and also branching up into the river valleys. On the east side, in the valleys of the Connecticut and its tributaries, the same condition exists — but without the advan- tages connected with the proximity of a large sheet of water, and commercial orchards are there rarely to be found far from the river-banks, where rail transportation is afforded to Massachusetts markets. In the middle mountainous region of the State, commercial orcharding on any con- siderable scale is hardly yet feasible, and is limited mainly to local re(iuirements; though some fruit is evaporated, or dried, for sale. The leading ai)i>les are every- where Baldwins, Rhode Island Greenings, and Fameuse. Spraying is but little practiced as yet, aside from some of the orciiards of the 166 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Chauiplain section, where it is proving very successful iu renewing the value of the orchards of the Fameuse, which were being made valueless by the scab fungus. But Its importauce is becoming rapidly realized. In northeastern Vermont, in the valley of Lake Memphramagog and its tributaries, covering about one-quarter of the State, most of which is elevated from 800 to 2,000 feet above sea-level, there are at present scarcely any orchards of much size ; although many of the farmers have small orchards, chiefly of Oldenburg, Tetofsky, Yellow Transparent, Scott's Winter, Bethel, and Magog Red Streak — the last three named being native varieties, and, with the Newport Winter Sweet, constituting the whole available list, aside from the more recent imjiortations of Russian tree fruits, for which we are so much indebted to Professor Budd, of Iowa, and the late lamented Mr. Charles Gibb, of Montreal, one of our Canadian members, whose place is now worthily taken by his and Prof. Budd's former pupil in horticulture, Mr. John Craig, now at the head of the Dominion Experiment Station at Ottawa. Until recently, all of the lastrmeu- tioned portion of the State has had to depend for its tree fruits upon other sections ; and even yet the home supply of winter apples is insufficient to meet the demand. With regard to other tree fruits, it is to be remarked that plums are grown in ex- cess of the local demand in the Champlain valley, and are exported somewhat freely in favorable seasons to Massachusetts markets. The Lombard is the leading variety there at present, but Japanese varieties bid fair to take a prominent position among our mar- ket fruits. Besides these, we find quite a number of Russian plums and cherries, which are proving hardy, prolific, and of marketable (luality. The Russian pears are also proving to be quite hardy against winter's cold — productive and of good quality for all uses. So that it is probable that within a few years all portions of Vermont will be able to at least supply the home demand for all the ordinary tree fruits of New England. It is not yet time, however, to make selections from these new-comers, or decide upon their respective domestic and commercial values. But it is no small gain to find that there exists so large and varied a list of useful varieties of tree fruits suited to a large area, embracing not only northern Vermont and the Province of Quebec, but also all northern Maine and the Province of New Brunswick — heretofore practically destitute of nearly all the desirable fruits of this class. As regards the Russian tree fruits, it seems to me worth suggesting to the Society the importance of establishing some system of nomenclature for them which will eliminate the unprouounceal)le features at least. If, as I am told, the Russian lan- guage is far from being as rough and unpronounceable as it looks in print, then let us have these names spelled in much closer accordance with the true sound, as expressed iu English orthography. WASHINGTON. Pomolog-y — Its Influence on and its Adaptability to the State of Washingrton. BY .JNO. T. BLACKBURN, PRESIDENT STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE, VA8H0N. WASH. The cultivation of fruits is attracting increased attention from all parts of the civ- ilized world to-day. In sections of the globe where, toiling with other rural pursuits under extreme temperatures of very hot sun in summer and blizzards in winter, it is generally the ambition of the farmer at some near future time to locate in sections where his table may be constantly supplied with a variety of fruits from his own garden. The business of fruit-culture is fascinating to those who are making it an occupa- tion, and are located in favorable sections, where the climate is mild and there are good commercial advantages. As the climate is the most influential element in the fruit sections of the world, the Pacific coast, possessing a mild climate and evenness of temperature, has naturally become a leading fruit section of the United States. The influence of the Japan current, which causes the temperature of Washington (being FRUIT REPORTS. 167 as far north as Maine) to be like that of Virginia in winter and the summers to belike those of Massachusetts, creates an even temperature which exists on the entire Pacific coast. While such as oranges, lemons, and raisins and general orchard fruits are pro- duced in our sister State south under a higher even temperature, the apple, pear, prune, and small fruits are grown to high degrees of perfection in the different sections of the State of Washington. The mean temperature here is 37 degrees during the mouth of January, the coldest month in western Washington, and 72 degrees in .July, tile warmest month in eastern Wasliington. In the deeply friable soils west of the Cascade Mountains, and the humid atmos- pliere, cherries, plums and nearly all the small fruits grow to more than natural size, possessing a fine flavor. Many of the pears considered almost worthless in Eastern States, as the Louise Bon de Jersey, and others, are grown here to large sizes, very juicy, and are delicious. In fact, it is difficult to find any of the cultivated pears which would not grow well and mature fruit of excellent quality under these conditions. East of the mountain ranges, where there is less rainfall but where the volcanic ash soils admit of an abundant supply of water for irrigation, the most tender varieties of peaches, apricots and grapes are now being grown in large commercial quantities. The more hardy fruits also do well, and in many of the upland sections, lands of higher altitudes than the irrigated sections; these are especially adapted to the production of good keeping, and fine-grained winter apples. Averaging fruit crops as a whole, annual yields are always fair, though naturally most any variety may fail to yield a full crop in some local section during a certain year ; and on the other hand, cue thousand pounds Napoleon ( syn. Royal Ann) cher- ries, the same amount of Italian prunes on a single tree, or ten thousand pounds Lawton blackberries on one acre during one season, may be cited in numerous cases, but the more moderate annual crops are generally produced. Aside from the fitting conditions of temperature and moisture, the soils are very tliversified, from the deep, rich muck and alluvial valley soils, to the clay loam and mineral formations of lime and limestone, of which there are large deposits and of easy access. The elements of nitrogen and phosphorus are abundantly available to plants and trees, from many sources. With trees in bearing for more than twenty-five years, and with the planting of commercial orchards at the rate of from ten thousand to fifteen thousand acres a year, fruit-culture here is past the experimental stage. Continued experiments are being made as to the best methods of distributing these choice fruit products in the different markets of the country, so as to reach the many million consumers most directly, from the bearing orchards. The State of Washington will soon produce its portion of the fruit crop along with other paj'ts of the Pacific coast to supply the required twenty million dollars annual imports of fruits from other countries. As one vast body lying west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, extending the entire length of the United States and bordering on this western ocean, we are uniting to give not only to other portions of the United States, but to foreign countries, the very best qualities of all that which is known under the name of pomology; and we are Ijecoming particular that the State of Washington shall not discredit any other jiortion of this coast by exporting any of these, "Nature's richest gifts," inferior or l)eueath fine (lualities and high grades. The influence which jiomology has on any section, and particularly noticed in this State, is its natural drawing power in attracting further immigration, and means to engage in the industry. The conditions of climate, soil and commercial advantages favorable to pomology are also favorable to other occupaticms, and agreeable for many who are averse to blizzards and extremes of temperature; and perhaps, while not di- rectly engaged in the culture of fruits, they locate because fruit is abundantly supplied. The cultivation of fruit orchards enhances the value of real property in many cases more than ten-fold. On the dry desert lands, a few years ago, scarcely then worth entry, 168 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. ditches were constructed from abundant supplies of water; the leading varieties of peaches, prunes and apples were planted ; and when at the age of from one to six years, prices per acre of from $500 to $800 have been paid for quite extensive tracts. Aside from creating that which is valuable commercially, friiit-growiug is a fasci- nating occupation to those engaged in it, who are generally industrious, progressive and law-abiding people. It is the occupation admitting of lands being divided into small tracts, which in time will naturally cause the l^uilding of more substantial roads and afford better administration to the wants of the social order. Communities in this State, where from ten- to twenty-acre bearing orchards exist as the property of indi- vidual homes, evince indications of greater comfort than is generally shown on the larger farms where grain-raising and other industries are carried on. Deterioration of the soil, fruit pests and diseases of trees must be guarded against by the fruit-growers of this coast. Legislation protects pomology here by making provisions for disinfecting orchards and preventing the importation of infested fruit trees. While fruit trees are being planted very fast, and shipped in from different sources, our boards of horticulture require that they be disinfected so as to be entirely free from any insect pest. The gypsy moth, which has already cost the State of Mas- sachusetts over $350,000 in State appropriations, must be kept as far away from this coast as possible. Peach trees, cions or seed grown in any of the infected peach dis- tricts are prohibited from being sent here, and our own nurseries are carefully guarded, so that clean and healthful trees are distributed. While lime is furnished at low rates on Puget Sound by one of the best equipped lime-kilns in the world, and the elements of nitrogen and phosphorus abound so liber- ally, it is noted from the experience of the many years of fruit-raising on the Atlantic coast, that the essential element of potash must also be supplied where continued fruit crops are expected during a long course of years. It is our aim to have continued through many generations the privilege of furnishing portions of our own country, less favored in this respect, with the delicious fruits with which we are now so bounti- fully blessed. WISCONSIN. BY PROF. E. S. GOrr. AGRICULTUIIAL EXPERIMENT ! successful method has been put into practice for combatting this insect on any large scale. The apple maggot, Tripeta pomonella, has appeared in the vicinity of Baraboo, in, Sauk county, and is becoming quite a serious pest in a few orchards in that vicinity. I have not learned of its introduction elsewhere in the State. The apple-tree bark-louse. Mytilaspis pomorum, has not become generally dissem- inated in Wisconsin as yet, though it has been extensively introduced in the eastern and southern parts. The Pear is not grown in this State to any large extent, not so much because the trees are unable to endure the winters, as that they are liable to destruction by blight. In the localities most favorable to the apple, the hardier sorts of pears succeed fairly well, but the culture of this fruit is nowhere attempted upon any large commercial scale. Peaches and Quinces are not adapted to our climate. Trees of these fruits are oc- casionally found in the more favored sections which sometimes bear fruit, but the latter occurrence has now become so rare that it is regarded as a fit subject for newspaper comment. At an earlier period, when the forests had been less cleared away, peaches and quinces grown on Wisconsin trees are said to have been less rare than now. There is little hope that even the hardiest varieties of these fruits will ever prove suc- cessful in Wisconsin. The Plum and Cheri'y ave receiving more attention, both for home use and market, than formerly. In the portion of the State bordering on Green Bay, plums are being found quite successful, and the planting of this fruit is extending rapidly. The hardier European plums succeed well here, and the curculio causes little injury. Indeed, in the peninsula lying north of Sturgeon Bay it is maintained that this insect is entirely absent. Messrs. Hatch cV: Gott' have planted, the past season, a plum orchard of ten acres near the city of Sturgeon Bay, entirely of European and Japanese varieties. Should a fair proportion of the varieties in this orchard prove successful, plum-growing is likely to become an important industry in that locality. The native plums are being tested in a small way at several localities, but I know of no extensive planting of this fruit. The Early Richmond and English Morello cherries are being grown on a market scale in a few localities. The Russian cherries are being tested at several points, and so far as they have fruited appear promising. FRUIT REPORTS. 171 Small-fruit Culture has made rapid developmeut in Wisconsin during the last dec- ade. With winter protection, which with proper knowledge and implements can be very cheaply given, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries succeed admirably in seasons of normal rainfall, and the excellent markets afforded by the large and rapidly growing cities of the North and W^est render these fruits generally profitable to the grower. In the vicinity of Sparta and Eipon many hundreds of acres are now devoted to these crops, and many other districts far more than supply their local demand. The most serious drawback to the profitable growing of these fruits has been the severe drouths that occasionally visit us in summer, and attention is being turned to irrigation in a few localities; though as yet the artificial use of water has not passed the experimental stage. Currants are grown on a commercial scale in a few localities, and their culture has been generally proved profitable. Gooseberries have as yet been little grown, though I think more attention is being given them than formerly. The earlier grapes, with winter protection and spraying, do well in localities witli a southern exposure that are not much subject to untimely frosts. Miscellaneous Papers. (Prepared for this report on invitation.) SUB-TROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUITS SUITABLE TO SOUTHERN FLORIDA. BT E. N. REASONER, ONECO, FLA. Most iniportaut of cultivated fruits of the South is the orange, the best known of ail the Citrus tribe. Since 1865 its planting has been steadily on the increase, on all sorts of soils, and with the greatest variance in culture. Seedlings, used only at first, are now never planted, and only the very choicest sorts, worked on the most approved stocks, are in demand. Sweet orange roots have been so injured by Mai de goma (foot-rot), that their use has been entirely superseded by sour, the bitter-sweet, rough lemon, pomelo, and the trifoliate. Sour orange on rich low land is probably the leading stock for the upper range of counties, while in south Florida proper, rough lemon is used almost exclusively, on all soils. This is a rampant grower on either high or low land, and very prolific. Less nitrogen should be used in fertilizing trees on this stock, as it is very susceptible, and when young is apt to make spongy fruit. This fault is overcome with age. North Florida will probably be the only part of our State where Citrus trifoliata will be used as a stock. The pomelo in suitable land is a good stock to bud upon, but is not a general favor- ite. These stocks mentioned are used for all classes of citrus, and not for the orange alone; lemons, limes, pomeloes, shaddocks, mandarins, citrons and kumquats being grown on the same sort of stocks and in the same way. In oranges the varieties now mostly in demand for planting are Parson Brown, Nonpareil, Early Oblong and Boone's Early for first ripening; for medium, Jaffa, Jaffa Blood, Ruby, Majorca, Homosassa, and Washington Navel ; for latest, Hart's Tardiff and Bessie. Of the Mandarins, China, King, Cleopatra, Dancy Tangerine and Satsuma are the leading sorts. Since their first appearance in the markets as "kid-glove oranges," this class of fruit has kept a leading position. The very best prices are gotten for them, and yet they are as vigorous and prolific as the commoner orange or lemon. During the last ten years lemon culture has taken an established place among our horticultural pursuits, and as the tree is more tender than the orange, its growth is confined to this section of Florida. Vast groves of from 75 to 200 acres are now in bearing, being usually situated on the richest and best of "hammock" land. Tlie product increases in quality with richer soil, careful fertilizing, and irrigating during the dry spring weather, making it rank with the finest of imported fruit. Our best sorts are Genoa, Villa Franca, Belair, and Sicily. Akin closely to the lemon is the almost tropical lime, with thin skin and intensely acid juice. It is too tender a fruit tor distant shipping, but is planted on our rocky keys more extensively than any other citrus, seemingly better adapted to such environ- (172) MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. I73 meuts, where plows are unknown and all work is manual. The common West-India seedlings are mostly used, seed being sown where the tree is desired. Tahiti and Sour Eangpur are two very large and superior sorts ; the first similar in appearance to a lemon, the latter to a mandarin. Pomeloes (still known as "grape-fruit") are in growing demand, and now whole orchards are planted to these alone. This large, slightly-bitter fruit is now well known to all Northern markets. A number of varieties are now grown, both yellow and pink-tieshed ; the newest, and probably the best, being seedless, and so named. Shaddocks are but an enlarged and coarser variety of the pomelo, and are not de- sired as a market fruit. The kumqiiat is the Citrus Japonica, introduced but a few years ago; the fruits, round or oblong, are small, like plums, and are eaten with their skin ; preserved, they are delicious, and at present high prices are gotten for the product. It has long been our desire to get the best type of commercial citron. Private and governmental agencies have signally failed, until this past autumn the Department of Agriculture has probably succeeded in introducing the best known sorts from Corsica. A common spi'eading variety has been grown for many years, but the dried product has been inferior. The citron is as tender as the lime, and its culture is limited to ex- treme south Florida. As a whole, the citrus will always prove the leading feature of Florida horticulture. Aside from the citrus, the pineapple, guava, cocoanut, banana, mango. Avocado pear, olive, etc., take rank in order named. Pineapples are mainly produced on the lower keys and southern portion of the Indian river region, but a large amount comes from the lake region — some protected from the weather by latticed shelters, but the majority raised in the open air. They are admitted to be much finer than West-Indian, being more carefully cultivated, se- lected and packed for shipment. The main supply is from the ordinary Red Spanish, l)ut this sort is fast being relegated to the background, and Queens, Porto Ilico, Black Jamaica, Abbakas, Smooth Cayenne, and a host of others are planted as ciuickly as they can be propagated. They ai-e of larger size, sweeter, and more delicately flavored than th^ Red Spanish, and strictly fancy prices are obtained for them. Pines are shipped in crates about twice the size of a standard orange box, and many thousands were sent out of Florida the past summer, their principal ripening season. A few fruits are obtained at all times of year, and of course during winter bring large prices. The quality then, however, is vastly inferior to those of summer, as moist, warm weather is essential in ripening perfectly flavored fruits. The soil largely used for pines on the Indian river is of the poorest white sand — spruce-pine land. The lake region furnishes good high iiine land of fair quality, and on the keys the rocky surface is slightly covered witii decayed leaf-mould ; rich humus, very porous, and almost al- ways dry. The guava in Florida is aptly likened to a peach in more northern climates, being scattered over all south Florida; seedlings self-sown are growing along roads and fences. A summer fruit, ripening from July to October, it is very useful in cooking and in jelly-making. Guava jelly is known everywhere, and witii our home-grown sugar may be produced as cheajily as in the tropics. Hardier species are grown than the common guava: Cattley, with small red fruits often called strawberry-guavas; and Chinese, with yellow, sweet fruits, very similar to Cattley. These are grown almost as far north as the orange. Fresh fruit is forwarded in baskets or carrier-crates, keep- ing about like strawberries. Cocoanut-growing is confined to the warmer portions of our seacoast, and has been l)ushed the last few years to a remarkable extent. Large areas fronting the ocean and gulf are now luxurious with the waving, plume-like leaves of this elegant palm. The nuts are available every day in the year, and "Floridas" will soon eonunand a place in market reports. 174 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Bananas may be seen from the single plant at a negro's door in north Florida, sel- dom fruiting, being so often frosted, to acres of "walks" in our southern counties. Only the finer sorts should be planted for market, being as easily grown as the com- mon; and now we have a number of superior strains for selection. Cavendish and Hart's Choice are the two main varieties, the first-named being dwarf and less liable to damage by storms, but of a tenderer nature than the latter, which, although as easily frosted, recovers more quickly than most others, ripening fruits in ninety days from the bloom's appearance. Rich land is necessary for successful banana culture, and if not naturally so, can be easily fertilized. A moist situation is usually chosen, but deep planting on high land gives fine results. Of quick-growing tropical trees the mango, of India, produces one of the most de- lectable fruits of the earth. It thrives on high, light sandy land, and in from three to five years bears in abundance. Commercially its cultivation is yet in its infancy, but we have shipped a very fine lot of fruit lo distant points successfully for several years. There are as many sorts as of the apple, but ordinary seedlings are still grown. The tree can be inarched, but neither budded, grafted, nor grown from cuttings ; hence pedigreed seedlings of best strains are usually planted. No. II is the pale-yellow, largest sort, much esteemed, but rare yet. Apricot, highly-colored red and yellow, is a superior sort, while the common "Turpentine" is large, dull green, and somewhat acid. This fruit is largely used in cooking, and makes a delicious preserve. The canned fruit is very fine, and if abundant would sell readily. Avocado, or Alligator pears, are a vegetable marrow of about two pounds weight. The tree is tropical, large and quick-growing, bearing heavily in propitious seasons. The fruit is round or pear-shaped, a thick, meaty marrow covering the large seed, of the size of an egg. The skin is easily removed and the fruit eaten at meals with any dressing one chooses. The pears sell well in New York, where they are sent from the West Indies. As yet this State has exported but few, the home demand being larger than the supply. Olives grow readily, but have not borne well for us, and are as yet more of an ex- periment than are other fruits. The best sorts are being tried extensively, and with age we consider will bear as abundantly as in other parts of the world. The leading Californian and Mediterranean varieties are all introduced. Among less-known sub-tropical fruits grown here are loquats {Eriohotrya Jajionica), Surinam cherries {Eugenia MicJieli), pomegranates (Punka granatum), jujubes {Zizy- j)hus jvjuba), and others. All these are capable of withstanding more or less frost, and grow readily in our sand. Each one is valuable and worth extensive planting. Some really excellent fruits strictly tropical in growth, fruiting to a limited extent, are sapodillas {AcJiras sapota), sugar-apple {Anona squamosa), cherimoya (^4. cheri- molia), sour-sop {A. muricata), papaw {Carica papaya), star-apple {Chrysophyllum cainito), Otaheite gooseberry {Cicca disticha), rose- apple [Eugenia jambos), mango- steen {Oarcinia mangostana), mammee - sapota {Lucuma mammosa), egg-fruit [L. Rimcoa), mammee-apple {Mammea Americana), Spanish lime [Melicocca bijuga), ceri- man {Monstera deliciosa), and tamarind {Tamarindus Indica). These are from all over the tropics of both hemispheres. Our list, perhaps, may not contain all it should, but these are well known to most Floridians, while new fruits are being yearly added to our collections from all over the world, and to enumerate every individual species of fruit plants now established here would reciuire very careful compilation. MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 175 REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN FRUITS. SOME NOTES PREPARED BY PROF. WJI. A. TAYLOR, DIV. OF POMOI.O(;Y. WASHIXOTON. I). C. "Duraccia" — Specimens from E. E. Goodrich, Santa Clara, California. Mr. Good- rich states that this variety was brought to him in the form of cions some years since J)y a man from a little village near Lucca, Italy. His friend, Signor Barzellotti, of Florence, thiJiks it Is the cherry called "Pistojese," found in perfection at Pistojaand in that vicinity. A heart-shaped Bigarreau above medium in size; smooth, glossy, finely pitted ; very dark purple, almost black ; cavity large, regular, deep, smooth ; stem medium, three-fourths to one and one-half inches long, very slender; suture deep, extended lieyond apex ; skin thin, tough; stone medium, plump ; flesh red with lighter veinings, very fii'm, meaty, partially adherent; rich, sweet, delicate; very good to best. Season July l.T to August 1 at Santa Clara, California. Mr. Goodrich writes that he is satis- fied it is not a cherry for his locality, though its peculiar character makes it a possible success elsewhere. It is used in Italy for brandying, the solidity of its flesh making it specially suited to that use. Specimens received by delayed mail from Mr. Goodrich, July 21. 1894, after being fifteen days in transit were in excellent condition, less than 12 per cent, of them show- ing any signs of decay. The variety is being tested in several Eastern States. Since the last formal meeting of the Society, held at Washington, D. C, 1891, sev- eral of the Department importations of citron varieties from the Mediterranean region have fruited. As the results thus far attained are somewhat disappointing, a brief statement regarding them may not be out of place. Trees of the following varieties were imported and distributed to growers and experiment stations in Florida and California: In 1890, from Naples. Italy, three va- rieties, labeled Amalti, Calabria, and Sorrento; from Palermo, Sicily, five varieties, laiteled Citrus Medica, Icompio, Macrocarpa, Pereltone, Ponio d' x\damo; from Ca- tania, Sicily, four varieties, labeled Cedro Vero, Limonziaua, Pereltone, Testa di Turco. In 1891, from Bastia, Corsica, one variety not labeled, but distributed by the Depart- ment under the name "Corsican," and reported to be the best variety of the citron of commerce grown in Corsica. The importations were all made through the Ignited State consular officers at points named. Several of the reputed varieties of these importations have been fruited, on buds set in 1890, and of these, the three from Naples, labeled Anuilfi, Calabria and Sorrento, «nd the one from Palermo, labeled Pereltone, prove to be spurious, all four being in- ferior lemons. Pomo d' Adamo and Macrocarpa have fruited, and are promising. The variety from Palermo labeled "Citrus Medica" is evidently a true citron, but the tree proves tender and subject to sun-scald at Myers, Florida. The "Corsican" has not yet ma- tured fruit, but is apparently a true citron. No definite report concerning the char- acter of Cedro Vero, Testa di Turco, Limonziana, Icompio and the Pereltone from ?■ 5 Hollv South Carolina Maryland (?) . * * - * North Carolina Massachusetts Massachusetts * * * Hunt Russet ( 15 ) * * * Hurlbut * Iowa Blush * * Pennsylvania . Pennsylvania . * * * * — X. Hampshire. * * * Jonathan * Julian * ^ North Carolina * * * Delaware * Tennessee .... * * Key Fall * * South * ( •' ) * * Pennsylvania . Penn'a (?).... * — * Lady France * * New York .... * * Late Strawberry * * * , N. Carolina (?) Russia (?) * * Little * * * * * * Lowell * Russia # * * Mc\fee . Keiifiirkv * * * AIcLellan * * McAIahon * * — * Alaiden Blu^h * Pennsylvania . Italy * Mala Carle * * * Alann * Massachusetts N.Hampshire. * * * * * * Mason str:inir*'r Vfirtli <'-ivn1!Tisi * * J * Maxey * { '■ ) * * Melon * Mexico Michael Henry Pippin * Milam * Mildeii * New York . . . . * * V Tl-iniiwhire ♦ . « * Minkler (7)7. :-.•;::: * - * 15. Listed from "63 to Massachusetts. '75 as Golden Russet of I 16. Syn. of Lady Sweet, q. v. 198 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Additions to and Rejections from the Apple List — Continued. Names. Origin. * 5 6 to 00 ~1 JO •> ^ ^ Jo (5 to j> # t<5 1 S o a" •§. a •pa * Missouri ( Pippin ) * Monmouth New Jersey. . . (?) * * Moore Sweet * Mother Massachusetts Mass. (?) * * * ISIyev yniipartil ( 17 ) Virginia (?)... Neverfail ( 1« ) * Newtown Pippin ( 19 ) New York New York .... * Newtown Pippin, Yellow ( 19) . . * * Newtown Spitzenburg (20) Neiv York Pippin ( 31 ) * North Carolina England * * * Northampton Pennsylvania . N. Carolina(?) New York .... New York .... * * * Oakland ( V ) Georgia Oglesby Virginia * * Ohio Nonpareil ( 22 ) Ohio * Ohio Pippin ... . Ohio (?) * Oldenburg ( 23 ) Russia * * Orange Winter ( 24 ) . * Ortley New Jersey. . . * * Otoe * * Peach (of Montreal) Peaked Swci'tinw - * Peck Pleasant Rhode Island . * * Peniixijlntiiia Rid Streak (25) * Perry Russet Illinois * Ohio * Pickard * * * Pilot * Pittsburg New Jersey (?) * Plumb Cider * * Porter Massachusetts * * ' New York . . . . * — South * * Prvor Red * * Pennsylvania . * Ralls Genet ( 27 ) * Pennsylvania . * * * Russia America * * * Red Canada * Red Cathead * * Red Crab Kentucky ( ? ) . * * * Red June ( '^Q ) ( "') 1 * * Red Stripe Indiana ...1... * ... 17. Syn. of Ohio Nonpareil, by which name it "was displaced in '69. 18. Syn. of Kails Genet, q. V. 19. Separated from Newtown Pippin in '62. 20. Listed as Vandervere from '52 to "71. and changed to Spitzenburg in '91. 21. Syn. of Ben Davis. 22. Listed as Myer Nonpareil from '62 to '69. 23. Listed first as Duchess of Oldenburg. 24. Name has since been changed to Newell by Wis. Hort. Soc. 25. Syn. of Wine, q. v. 26. Syn. of Dyer, q. V. 27. Diiplicated in '89 by synonyms Neverfail and Royal lanette. 28. Syn. of Summer Rambo, by which name it was supplanted in '71. 29. Listed as Carolina June from '56 to '91. MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 199 Additions to and Rejections from the Apple List —C'ont mted. Xames. Origin. la, Is 1 J.. ... ■^ ^ ^ * '^ -^ 1 c ^- ^ ^ < ^ •A 5 ill' ^ ^ i ^ 35 5 "f Ohio u Republican Pippin * Rhodes Oran.t;e , * - j * T?lir.rlo Talnnrl * * ... * Richard Graft * Ridge Pippin 1 Robey Seedling 1 * ... * * — ,* I...I * Ohio * Ohio * South * * Ohio * Massachusetts * 1 * — ::: ::: :::i:::i * . ...1.. * 1 * _ ...1.. * 1 * ...1.. Pennsylvania . ... * * * 1 * * — Pennsylvania .... Pennsylvania . * * * * * * ... — * * — Ohio Massachusetts ... « * North Carolina ... * _ * Ohio * * Stevenson Winter . * Virginia * * ... ^ '' ) * * ... * * Summer Kinu * Summer Paradise America ... .^. .. * America * * — * * (V) ■... New York(?). ... * . * New Jersey. .. * * Summer Seek-no-furtlier . * * * * Swaar Swain New York . . . . * America i 1= - -... * Sweet Belle-et-Bonne (■'■) America * Ohio * Pcnn'a (?) 1 « * Switzer * 'I nunton Tcwksbury * Tetofsky 1 . ... * * # Russia — * « ■"r * Tinmouth Vermont ...1.. 1 i ...' 30. Syn. of Buncombe, q. V. 31. Syn. of Ralls Genet, q. )\ 32. Erroneously substituted for Newtown Spitz- enburg. q. v.. in iU. 33. Syn. of Early Pennock. 3-4. Listed as Ruinhoiir Franc from "62 to '71, but replaced in '77 by Western Beauty, also known as Siimintr Huinbo. 200 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Additions to and Rejections from the Apple List — Concluded. Kames. Origin. * c fe ^ >4 K ^ 5 3C a. 5 .?' * Tolmau Sweet (35 ) Rhode Island . New Jersey. .. (?) 1 * Tompkins Kiug * * * - * Tovvnsend Pennsylvania . Ohio Transparent Zoar * — * Trenton Early (?) * Connecticut. . . * ' * Utter Wisconsin .... * Vaiidevere (N.Y.) ( 36 1 * - Delaware * * * * Victuals and Drink New Jersey. . . Virginia ( ?). . . * Wat,'ener New York .... * Walbridge ( 37 ) * * * Warfield Iowa * Washington ( Strawb.) * Washington Royal Watch Willow New York .... * ^Massachusetts Pennsylvania . Pennsylvania . Virginia * — * Water * * AVaugh ( Crab ) * * Wealthy * Webb Mississippi (V) Virginia * Wellford ( Yellow) * * * Westfield Connecticut. . * * * Wliite Doctor . ... * * * Wliiti' -hmcating England * * W liiti' P.-iradise * (?) * * Wliiti' Haiiibo Pennsylvania . (?) * * - * White Winter Pearmaiu (?) * * Williams (Favorite) Massachusetts * Willis Sweet * * Willow Twig * * Wine Delaware New Jersey. . . Pennsylvania . * * * Winesap * * Winter Paradise * — * Wolf River * (?) * * Wythe * Yates * Yellow Bellefleiir * Yellow Tn>'('strie F.n s C -w « o !^ O i? s «• O o O * o ■C w o O o 5.: Wi fq fc; ^ w. «! «; C/Q ^is »^ «q Ci «? «; W; ^i. vS "^ O •^ Number names added 32 12 10 2 14 115 1 15 41 71 43 40 9 9 32 1 1 6 1 4 14 '>H q 11 i 0 31 Number names catalogued . . 32 44 53 55 69 178 178 174 175 188 259 293 322 321 330 337 337 337 369 339 ]SrOTES ON Excursions of the Society in California, AND RECEPTIONS BY ITS CITIZENS. PREPARED BY THE PRESIDENT. Those who attended the American Pomological Society's sessions at Sacramento and Los Angeles, California, participated in the various excursions throughout that State, and were the recipients of the many courtesies received from its citizens, will long and pleasantly remember these events. The records of the Society would be in- complete without a brief review of these memorable days. Arriving at Sacramento the Society became the guests of the California State Hor- ticultural Society, and the three days" sessions held in that city, Jan. 16-18, 1895, were made enjoyable by the many courtesies tendered by the citizens, who were incessant in their efforts to do honor to an organization whose interests in promoting fruit cul- ture are so closely identified with their chief industry. During the session at Sacramento, invitations were received to visit Santa Rosa, San Jos6, Fresno, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Pasadena, Eiverside, Pomona, Redlands, and other cities in the State — all of which were grate- fully accepted. An invitation to hohl an adjourned session at Portland, Oregon, could not be accepted, owing to the incessant rainy season. EXCUKSION TO FOLSOM, THROUGH THE AMERICAN RIVER DISTRICT. This district is about twelve miles wide and thirty miles long, containing many different kinds of rich soils. Thursday forenoon, January 17th, the Society was, on invitation of the Citizens' Reception Committee and the Southern Pacific Railway managers, given a free excur- sion up the American river valley, known as the "American River District," to Folsom. Leaving the depot at Sacramento early in the morning, the trip was made through continuous orchards and vineyards which skirted the road on each side, without a stop, to the famous " Natoma" vineyard. This vineyard contains two thousand acres, and ranks in size next to the celebrated Leland Stanford vineyard, which is located about one hundred miles north of Sacramento, and is the largest plantation of the kind in the world. The next stop was made at Placerville, where a free lunch was served to the ex- cursionists. "This district presents many points of interest to the visitor. Here are the extensive hop-fields of the Pacific coast, extensive orchards of oranges, almonds, apricots, cherries, prunes, peaches, etc. It contains the most extensive vineyards of that fine dessert grape, the Flame Tokay. Opposite Natoma, and on the other side of the river, is Orange Vale, the modern colony of California, with three thousand acres in ten-acre orchards and homes. Here, it is claimed, has been demonstrated the fact that an extensive acreage is no longer necessary to support an average family, (301) 202 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. and that with the ordinary conveniences provided, and land well selected, a comfort- able home and living can be made upon a ten- or twenty-acre piece of land. Here all kinds of fruits that are or may be grown in California are successfully grown. Or- anges, lemons, olives, figs, persimmons, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, pears, plums, prunes, fine varieties of table grapes, pomegranates, almonds, walnuts, chest- nuts, peanuts, and all kinds of garden vegetables, are adapted to the climate and soil." In this valley were some of the richest and most extensive gold fields in the early days. Many of the old diggings are being re-worked, and yield fair returns. "Beyond Natonia the groimd between the road and the river, which is close at hand, is torn up by the operations of the old placer gold miners. It is covered with mounds and hillocks of gravel, cobble-stones and boulders taken out of the deep holes, from which hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of gold-dust has been washed in pans, cradles, and sluice-boxes. Some of the most extensive of these mines are now in operation. "Folsom, twenty-two miles from Sacramento, is picturesquely situated at the foot- hills, on the bank of the American river, and is one of the oldest mining towns in the State." At San Francisco Gov. Budd tendered his private yacht for an excursion on the bay to the members of the Society, an honor which was highly appreciated. A few days were spent in the city, during which some of the members visited the University of California at Berkeley, where they were hospitably received by Professors Hilgard, Wickson, Shinn and Hayne, and were there shown the elaborate collections of olive oils and wines which are systematically and scientifically tested, and special bulletins, issued giving every possible information as to the best methods of manipulation. Ar- rangements were made with the Southern Pacific Pv. R. Co. for a special train of two Pullman cars to take the Society over their Coast Division, under the personal con- duct of their genial District Passenger Agent, Mr. Thurston. At Palo Alto some of the delegates were driven in carriages to the Stanford Uni- versity and the famous stock farm of Mrs. Leland Stanford. Prof. Emory E. Smith, of the University of Palo Alto, who had for the previous week given his constant at- tention to the members of the Society, and through whose efforts a great part of the success of the Sacramento session is due, escorted a few of the members to various noted places at Menlo Park, where the first extensive horticultural work of California was inaugurated. There, wonderfully rich collections of trees and plants elicited great admiration. Arriving at San Jos^, a night's rest was enjoyed at the home-like Hotel Vendome. The next morning the vast fruit packing-houses were thoroughly inspected, and there were seen immense quantities of dried fruits, which showed the enormous product of the orchards of the famous Santa Clara Valley. Everything in the packing and can- ning houses is conducted upon the most elaborate scale and perfect system. Through the courtesy of Prof. Allen, Gen. Heard and other friends, the process of packing, etc., was fully explained to the visitors. Leaving San Jose, Pacific Grove was reached shortly after midday. The historic old town of Monterey was visited, but the grounds of the Hotel Del Monte offered the greatest attraction. Those who had seen the famed gardens of Europe freely ex- pressed their opinion that they rivalled anything of a similar character found in the Old World. Here every tree and plant which can be cultivated in the genial climate of the Pacific coast is found. The architectural features of the landscape gardens are perfect, and impress the visitor with profound admiration both for the natural beauties of the grounds and their tasty grouping. The return trip was via Santa Cruz, where the superintendent of the electric rail- road personally guided the delegates over its line and the principal points of the city. Lunch was partaken at Felton, and the grove of the Giant Redwoods inspected. EXCURSIONS. 203 A touching ceremony was there performed. One of the largest of the redwood trees was dedicated to the memory of Marshall P. Wilder, the founder and for forty years the honored and beloved president of the American Pomological Society. The mem- bers, with uncovered heads, reverently tendered this tribute of their affection to the man who above all others placed American pomology in the enviable position which it occupies. Another tree was also formally dedicated to the President, P. J. Berck- maus ; and the Treasurer was authorized to procure suitably inscribed plates to be permanently attached to the respective trees. Returning to San Francisco, a few of the members took a short trip to Santa Rosa, but owing to the inclemency of the weather the proposed visit to the experiment grounds of Mr. Luther Burbank had to be given up. However, the courteous enter- tainment from the reception committee made the visit one of great pleasure. The President and several officers of the Society on invitation attended a meeting of the California Horticultural Society, where they were most cordially and courteously re- ceived ; and after taking part in the discussions a final parting took place with our San Francisco friends. Ou January 37th a large number of the members left for southern California by special train, first spending a night and day at Fresno, where they were most hospita- bly entertained. Here they were given an opportunity of seeing the great raisin in- dustry, the immense orchards, vineyards and wineries all in most perfect order. On leaving Fresno the members were greeted by a committee of citizens from Bakersfield, who accompanied them on the journey southward. Stops were made at Lindsay, Porterfiel, Pozo, and at night at Bakersfield, where early next morning the members were driven through the immense territory of the Kern County Laud Com- pany. A most interesting day was passed in seeing the elaborate irrigating plant by which more than 30,000 acres of barren desert had in a few years been converted into a wonderfully rich and productive series of ranches. Here cattle and horses are raised in great numbers; but one of the most interesting sights was the elaborate exhibit of fruits, cereals, vegetables and textile products of Kern county. This exhibition has been inaugurated by the land company, and in point of variety, quality and attractive- ness is worthy of all praise. The members were presented with souvenirs in the shape of boxes of exquisite dried and candied fruits, all being of home production. After an evening entertainment the friends of Bakersfield escorted the members to the railroad station and parted with the most pleasing remembrance of generous hospitality and friendly attentions from the citizens. Again, early next morning, January 30th, several citizens of Los Angeles, repre- senting the Southern California Horticultural Society, Chamber of Commerce, Farm- ers' Institute, and Southern California Pomological Society, extended the hand of welcome to the excursionists and escorted them from the depot to that city, where an adjourned session was held and new friends made. The exhibit of pomological prod- ucts at the Chamber of Commerce was most elaborate, and systematically arranged. During the evening an informal reception was tendered to the delegates by their en- tertainers, in the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, where all were made welcome and a pleasant hour spent in conversation with the hosts and the sampling of their best pomological products. On the 31st, a special train again carried the delegates to Santa Barbara, stopping on the way at Ventura, where a couple of hours were greatly enjoyed through the courtesy of the citizens, who had provided carriages for their guests. Arriving at Santa Barbara, the party was welcomed by the mayor and a large delegation of citi- zens, and after partaking of an elaborate lunch at the Arlington Hotel a number of carriages conveyed them through that beautiful city, then along the sea beach to "Montecito," a paradise of horticultural wealth and the abode of cultured people. On the 1st of Februaiy, after a formal and heartfelt return of thanks to friends of 204 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Santa Barbara, the journey was continued to Santa Monica and Riverside, wliere again they were greeted by many friends and former associates. On February 2d a visit was made to the orange packing-houses, where the golden fruit was being pre- pared for market; and to many of the Northern and Eastern members the sight was a novel one and most interesting. The immense orange and lemon groves, as well as the beautiful avenues and the irrigating facilities, make Riverside a most charming and prosperous community. Every possible attention was shown by the citizens of Riverside, and, regretting that the time was so limited, the party left this charming spot and kind people. Pomona and Redlands were next visited, and the latter place, which had been cre- ated in the short space of four years, elicited the wonder of the members. Here is an example of what the soil and climate of southern California can accomplish when aided by intelligence, horticultural knowledge, and wealth. The magnificent grounds of the Messrs. Smylie were without a parallel in what had been seen previously, and not surpassed in taste and elaborate details as well as variety of products. On February 4th, the party were the guests of the friends of the various horticul- tural societies and Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles. Under their courteous guidance, Pasadena, that queen of the valley, was visited, and the drive through this surpassingly beautiful spot was a continuous source of pleasure. Then a short ride to Altadeua, and an excursion to Mount Lowe, where many of our members remained until night. An informal gathering in the parlor of Hotel Green was highly enjoyed, and there the Society had an opportunity to return its acknowledgments to the friends for a most enjoyable day. February 5th saw the delegates on their way to San Diego. The railroad passes through some rich sections of country, especially Annaheim and Santa Ana, where large orchards of pears, prunes and walnuts were found in excellent condition. At San Diego the delegates were met by a reception committee and escorted to the famous liotel. El Coronado. After lunch, an excursion was had on the bay in a steam launch, and a reception at the Chamber of Commerce in the evening, where speeches and re- sponses were in order. On the morning of the 6th the genial friends and associates Mr. Frank Kimball and Warren Kimball gave the delegates a drive through the very extensive lemon and orange groves above National City, and at midday all partook of a lunch upon the lawn of Mr. Warren Kimball, where, among the great olive trees, warm words of thanks were expressed to the Kimballs and other hospitable friends, and where also most of the members of the American Pomological Society took leave of some of their companions, who for several days lingered among the pleasing scenes and the balmy climate of southern California ere a final departure. Then a return trip to Los Angeles en route homeward, carrying with them the remembrances of a glorious country and generous people, and of a month of continual pleasure in that land of sunshine. 4 ' # H l-H q o ^ > 5 ffi t:H,^ L.^gisla- ture 32 Final 99 212 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Resolutions — Continued. Report of the Committee on Revision of the Fruit Catalogue, and publication thereof 85 Revision of the fruit catalogue : Remarks of the President 80 Reviewing the work of the Society 30 Road laws 55. 58 Rules for exhiljiting and naming fruits 2 5 S. Scientific amateur line of work 22 School grounds 55 Seedling fruits by Americans 15 Se86lons — Morning 3. 31, 69. 102 Afternoon 9. : 2. 89, 106 Evening 31, 45 Small fruits 18 Soil ingredients extracted by different fruit crops 52 Souvenirs presented to *he Society , 99 Some of the latest results in spraying for harm f ul fungi '. 26 Some entomological problems bearing on California pomology 113 Special committees, list of 25 Special mention of fruit exhibits 45. 47. 121 Speculation in food products 55 State boards and commissions 57 State district fairs 57 Statistics of Kansas horticulture 132 State Reports by Vice-Presidents 156 State Reports — For Colorado ,156 Missouri 158 Minnesota 159 South Carolina 160 Oregon 162 Vermont 165 Washington 166 Wisconsin 168 Strawberries, varieties — Columbi:in 75 Greenville 75 Holyoke 75 Hugo 75 Strawberries —Continued. Murray 75 Omega 75 Shuster 75 Williams 75 \A'oolverton 75 Strawberries : Their culture at Hood River. Oregon 1 64 Strawberry — List for Oregon 164 Sub-tropical fruits : Their culture in the Gulf regions 11 Sub-tropical fruits suitable to soutliern Flor- ida : 172 Summary of the additions to and rejections from the apple list 200 T. Tables showing additions to and rejections from the apple list 194-200 Tables — Summary of numbi'r of fruit auiil- ysesv 51 Taxing orchards 56 Tariff 55 The orange 12 Tlje preij«nt era of seedlings 16 The fiituri' 19 The ten-block system of postal delivery 58 The increased output in California 83 The latest results in spraying for harmful insects 185 Tramps 58 Transactions of the twenty-fourth session, at Sacramento. Cal 3 Treasurer's report 9 Tropical fruits 13. 109 Typical cluster of table grapes 178 U. United States laws 54 V. Versatility of California soil 84 W. Walnuts 18 Wilder medals awarded by the committee... 46 Silver medals 46 Bronze medals 46 2706 08E ACME BOOKBINDING C.n 'NC. WAY 1989 CHARLESTOWN, MASS.