TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

Illinois Stole Horticultural Society

FOR THE YEAR 1889,

BEING THE

Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting

HELD AT

Hamilton, |leccmbcv \0T 11, 12;

ALSO PROCEEDINGS OF THE

ALTON-SOUTHERN, CENTRAL AND NORTHERN DISTRICT SOCIETIES,

ALSO

Pike County, Marshall County, Richland County, Kankakee and
Warsaw Societies ; also Fruit Growers' Associa-
tion op Southeastern Illinois.

FOR TJ4E YEAH

NEW S E R I E S— V O L . X^fl I

Edited by the Secretary, A. C. HAMMOND, Warsaw, III.

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY.

SENTINEL-DEMOCRAT PRINTING CO.,

PRINTERS, BINDERS AND PUBLISHERS,

102, 104 and 106 piasa street,

Alton, Illinois.

Report To The Governor.

To His Excellency, Hon. Joseph W. Fifer, Governor of Illinois :

In compliance with legal requisition, I herewith hand you the
Twenty-third Volume of Transactions of the Illinois /State Horti-
cultural Society. We sincerely hope that a careful examination
of its contents will convince you that ice have, during the year,
made a marked advance.

The last Legislature {very wisely as we think) granted us an
increased appropriation, §1,000 of which was to he expended in
horticultural experiments. Although the bill was not passed till the
middle of May, the work, as rvill be seen by the report herewith
published, is well begun, and if properly prosecuted, will be worth
millions of dollars to the farmers of Illinois.

We have also doubled the number of copies of Transactions
heretofore published, and these books will go into the hands of men
icho will appreciate and profit by them, and ice are confident, that
the good accomplished will many times pay the cost of publication.

Very respectfully yours,

A. C. HAMMOND, Secretary.

WARS A W, Jan. 24, 1S90.

CNI

CO

Officers For 1890.

President— Jabez Webster, Centralia.
Vice-President — H. L. Doan, Jacksonville.
Secretary — A. C. Hammond, Warsaw.
Treasurer — H. K. Vickkoy, Normal.

EXECUTIVE BOARD.

Jabez Webster, ... President State Society.

A. C. Hammond, Secretary State Society.

Arthur Bryant, President Northern Society

A. Dunning, Vice-President Northern Society.

F. I. Mann, President Central Society.

H. L. Doan, Vice-President Central Society.

E. A. Riehl, President Southern Society.

Wm. Jackson, Vice-President Southern Society.

AD-INTERIM COMMITTEES.

The President and Secretary of the State Society and Presidents and Vice-
Presidents of the District Societies were instructed to perform this work
themselves, or place it in the hands of other competent persons, as the in-
terests of the Society may demand.

ANNUAL MEETING.

Tun Annual Meeting for 1890 will be held in Cairo, December 9th, 10th and
11th, 1890.

Standing Committees.

Orchards — L. R. Bryant, Princeton; A. M. Anderson, Centralia; J. K.
Williams, Barry.

Raspberries and Blackberries — H. L. Doan, Jacksonville.

Grapes — J. S. Browne, Alton ; A. H. Worthen, Warsaw ; Paul Bonvelt,
St. Ann.

Farmer's Kitchen Garden — A. L. Hay, Jacksonville.

Straivbenies— Leon Hay, Kankakee; W. S. Dyer, Springfield; C. H.
Webster, Centralia.

Stone Fruits — G. W. Endicott, Villa Ridge ; Benj. Buckman, Farming-
dale ; J. V. Cotta, Nursery.

Best Evergreens for General Planting — George C. Hanford, Makanda.

Flowers of Easy Culture— G. W. E. Cook, Lacon.

Nut Bearing Trees — J. M. Pearson, Godfrey.

Influence of Root on Tree as Regards Health and Hardiness — Prof. T. J.
Burrill, Champaign.

Pear Culture — George Gould, Villa Ridge.

Spare the Snakes — F. I. Mann, Gilman.

The Horticultural Outlook— H. M. Dunlap, Savoy ; E. T. Hollister, St.
Louis.

The Family Orchard and Varieties — Arthur Bryant, Princeton ; J. T.
Johnson, Warsaw ; Capt. E. Hollister, Alton.

Entomology — Prof. S.A.Forbes, Champaign.

YOUNG PEOPLE'S SESSION.
Influence of Horticulture, Mental and Moral — M. S. Hammond, Warsaw.
The Children's Garden— E. H. Riehl, Alton.

The President and Secretary were authorized to add to this list a number
of Young People who are willing to take part in the exercises of this Ses-
sion. They will therefore be glad to correspond, with this end in view, with
several young ladies and gentlemen who are interested in rural affairs.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LA WS.

AS AMENDED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, 1874.

CONSTITUTION.

I. This Association shall be known as the Illinois State Horticultu-
ral Society.

II. Its object shall be the advancement of the Science of Pomology and
the Art of Horticulture.

III. Its Members shall consist of Annual members, paying an annual
fee of one dollar ; of Life members, paying a fee of twenty dollars at one
time ; and of Honorary members, who shall only be persons of distinguished
merit in Horticulture or kindred sciences, who may, by vote, be invited to
participate in the privileges of the Society. The wives of members shall be
members without fee.

IV. Its officers shall consist of a President, one Vice-President, Secre-
tary, and Treasurer, who shall be elected at the annual meeting, and serve
until their successors are chosen ; also an Executive Board as hereinafter
provided.

V. The affairs of the Society shall be managed by an Executive Board to
consist of the President and Secretary of the Society, and President and
Vice-President from each of the three District Horticultural Societies of the
State.

VI. The Society shall hold annual meetings, and publish its transac-
tions annually ; provided, there are sufficient funds in the treasury to defray
the expenses of publication.

VII. The Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a
two-thirds vote of the members present.

BY-LAWS.

I. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society, call the
meetings of the Executive Board, and, under its direction, have a general
superintendence of the affairs of the Society ; and direction of expenditure
of money ; he shall deliver an annual address upon some subject connected
with Horticulture, and shall appoint all special committees unless otherwise
ordered.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. VII

II. The Vice-President shall preside at the meetings in the absence of
the President.

III. The Secretary shall, upon the direction of the Executive Board,
conduct the correspondence of the Society, have charge of its books, papers,
and reports, and prepare its reports for publication : and shall receive for
his necessary expenses for postage, stationary, printing, expressage, office
rent and salary, such sums as the Executive Board may vote therefor.

IV. The Treasurer shall receive and keep an accurate account of all
moneys belonging to the Society, and disburse the same upon the written
orders of the President, which he shall retain and file as vouchers ; he
shall make an annual report to the Society of the receipts and disbursements,
which, with the vouchers, shall be referred to a special auditing committee
appointed at the annual meeting. Before entering upon his duties he shall
give bond to the Society in the sum of five thousand dollars for the faith-
ful performance ot his duties ; such bond to be approved by the Executive
Board.

V. The Executive Board shall perform all the duties required of them
by Section 4, of the "Act reorganizing the State Horticultural Society,"
approved March 24, 1S74. They may appoint such standing and other com-
mittees as they may deem advisable.

VI. These By-Laws may be altered at any regular meeting by a two-
thirds vote of the members present.

An Act to reorganize the Illinois State Horticultural Society :

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General
Assembly :

Section 1. That the organization heretofore chartered and aided by
appropriations under the name of the Illinois State Horticultural Society,
is hereby made and declared a public corporation of the State.

Sec. 2. The Illinois State Horticultural Society shall embrace, as here-
inafter provided, three horticultural societies, to be organized in the three
horticultural districts of the State, which shall be known as the Horticul-
tural Society of Northern Illinois, now operating in the counties of Bureau,
Boone, Cook, Carroll, DuPage, DeKalb, Henry, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane,
Kendall, Kankakee, Lake, Lee, LaSalle, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Is-
land, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago and Will (23) ; the Horticultural
Society of Central Illinois, operating in the counties of Adams, Brown, Cass,
Champaign, Christian, Coles, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Fulton, Ford,
Iroquois, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, Logan, Livingston, McLean, Mc-
Donough, Marshall, Mason, Mercer, Menard, Morgan, Macon, Moultrie,
Peoria, Pike, Piatt, Sangamon, Shelby, Schuyler, Scott, Tazwell, Vermilion,
Warren and AVoodford (38) ; and the Horticultural Society of Southern Illi-
nois, operating in the counties of Alexander, Bond, Clark, Clay, Crawford,
Calhoun, Cumberland, Clinton, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin,
Green, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jackson,

VIII CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.

Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Macoupin, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery,
Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Kichland, Randolph, St. Clair, Saline, Union,
Wayne, White, Washington, Williamson and Wabash (41).

Sec. 3. The affairs of the Illinois State Horticultural Society shall be
managed by an Executive Board, to consist of the President and Secretary
of said Society, and the President and one Vice-President from each of the
tbree District Horticultural Societies ; provided, that the eligible officers
now elect of the Illinois State and District Horticultural Societies shall be
the first members of the Executive Board created by this act, and shall hold
their office until their successors are elected, as hereinafter provided..

Sec. 4. The Executive Board of the Illinois State Horticultural Society
shall have the sole care and disposal of all funds that may be apportioned
(appropriated) by the State of Illinois to sustain the Illinois State Horticul-
tural Society, and shall expend the same in such manner as in their judgment
will best promote the interests of Horticulture and Arboriculture in this-
State. They shall meet at Springfield on the second Tuesday after the first
Monday in January, 1875, and biennially thereafter. They shall render to
the Governor of the State a detailed statement of all funds received from
the State and all other sources, which statement shall also include all ex-
penditures made by them, and the specific objects in detail for which said
sums were expended. They shall make no appropriation without having
funds in hand to meet the same, and if any debt is created, the members of
the Board shall be held severally and jointly liable for the payment of the
same, and in no event shall the State of Illinois be held liable or responsible
for any debt, obligation or contract made by the Illinois State Horticultural
Society or its Executive Board.

Sec. 5. The Illinois State and the three District Horticultural Societies
shall hold annual meetings, at which their officers for the ensuing year shall
be elected. Within one month after the annual meeting of the District
Societies they shall forward to the Secretary of the Executive Board a report
of their transactions, including a list of officers elected at such meeting.
The Executive Board shall publish annually, at the expense of said Society,
a report of its transactions and such other papers as they may deem of value
to Horticulture and Arboriculture. Eour members of the Executive Board
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Sec. 6. Members of the several District Societies shall be entitled to
all the privileges of the members of the State Society, except that of voting
for officers.

Sec. 7. By-Laws and rules that do not conflict with the laws of this
State may be passed and enforced by the several Societies herein mentioned.

Approved March 24, 1874.

•The Society was first incorporated February 11, 1857— two months after its organ-
ization.

List of Members for 1890.

Auer, Jacob Deer Plains.

Addrich, Henry A Neoga.

Beeby, J. C < Girard.

Bryant, Artbur Princeton.

Bryant, L. R Princeton.

Berry, R. C Batcbtown.

Brown, H. D Hamilton.

Budlong, L. A Chicago.

Buckman, Benj Farrningdale.

Burke, G. W Elm Grove.

Baldwin, W. A Jacksonville.

Beal, L. N Mount Vernon.

Cogswell, C. H Virden.

Cook, G. W. E Lacon.

Cart, J. J Morrison ville.

Cotta, J. V Nursery.

Cottel, J. R Princeton.

Christian, Jacob Mt. Carroll.

Cadwell, F Griggsville.

Coe, Ira Quincy.

Coe, Iro Quincy.

Coquoillette, W. E LaHarpe.

Crain, W. R Villa Ridge.

Duchone, L Lacon.

Dyer, W. S Springfield.

Dennis, C. N .} Hamilton.

Doan, H. L Jacksonville.

Dunning, A Dunning.

Dunlap, Henry M Savoy.

Draper, A. N Upper Alton.

Dodge, Sherman F Hamilton.

Fry, R. T Olney.

Freeman, H. C Alto Pass.

Fitch, J.N Cobden.

Farrand, J. A Griggsville.

French G. H Carbondale.

Freese, Joseph Coatsburg.

X LIST OF MEMBERS.

Gay, C. V Camp Point.

Goff, A. M Eantoul.

Gaston, A. H Lacon.

Green, W. H Bushnell.

Gray, S. S Hamilton.

Goodrich, T. E Cobden.

Hay, George Savanah.

Hollister, E. T St. Louis, Missouri.

Hammond, A. C Warsaw.

Hammond, M. S Warsaw.

Heikes, W. H Huntsville, Ala.

Humphrey, Dr. A. G Galesburg.

Hay, A. L Jacksonville.

Hambleton, B. F Keokuk, Iowa.

Jackson, Wm Godfrey.

Jones, W. E Lincoln.

Johnson, F. C Kishwaukee.

Johnson, J. T Warsaw.

Judd, James T., (Orange Judd, Farmer) Chicago.

Johnson, T. C Warsaw.

Leeper, R. Byrd Paducah, Kentucky.

Leeper, T. F Lima.

Leroy, M Hamilton.

LaMonte, W. H Hamilton.

Mann, F. I Gilman.

McKinney, E. R Lacon.

Mathews, J. B Marissa.

McCluer, G. W Champaign.

Mesler, W. P Cobden.

McWhorter, Tyler Aledo.

Minkler, S. G Oswego.

McSpadden, James T Neoga.

Nehring, W H Strausburg.

Pearson, John M Godfrey.

Parrill, G. W Farina.

I'eunell, F. W Danville.

Poscharsky, F. W Princeton.

Perkins, W. H Quincy.

Rockwell, C. B Hamilton.

Rowley, C. S Lacon.

Riehl, E. A '. Alton.

Reymeyer, Henry Jacksonville.

Shank, Daniel Clayton.

Shank, John Mount Sterling.

Strubler, Phil ..Naperville.

Swindler, H. J Magnolia.

Sweeney, H. T Salem.

LIST OF MEMBERS. XI

Vandeuburg, P. E Jerseyville.

Vickroy, H. K Normal.

Vaughan, J. G Odin.

Voris, F. D Odin.

Williams, J. R St. Louis, Missouri.

Webster, Jabez Centralia.

Wier, W. T South Henderson.

Warfield, B. C Sandoval.

Williams, L. E Keokuk, Iowa.

Wilson, J. P Olney.

Worthen, G. B Warsaw.

Wagner, F. M Quincy.

York, Jasper Olney.

HONORARY MEMBERS.

Brackett, Col. G. B Denmark, Iowa.

Brown, Mrs. H. D Hamilton, 111.

Bryant, Mrs. Arthur Princeton, 111.

Gray, Mrs. S. S Hamilton, 111.

Green, Mrs. W. H Bushnell, 111.

Hambleton, Mrs. B. F Keokuk, Iowa.

Hammond, Mrs. A. C Warsaw, 111.

Johnston, Mrs. T. C Warsaw, 111.

LaMonte, Mrs. W. H Hamilton, 111.

McArthur, Mrs. Rev Hamilton, 111.

Ragan, Prof. W. H Greencastle, Ind.

Rockwell, Mrs. C. B Hamilton, 111.

Speer, Henry Butler, Missouri.

Worthen, Mrs. G. B Warsaw, 111.

PRKMIUNi LIST.

The following premiums are offered for exhibits of horticultural products
to be shown at the Annual Meeting of the Society to be held at Cairo,
December 9-11, 1890. All entries, except Class V, to be confined to the
State.

APPLES.

CLASS I.

1st. 2d.

1. Best five varieties, winter apples, for market $5 00 $3 00

2. Best five varieties, winter apples, for family use 5 00 3 00

3. Best three varieties, fall apples, for market 5 00 3 00

4. Best three varieties, fall apples, for family use 5 00 3 00

5. Best plate winter apples for market 3 00 2 00

6. Best plate winter apples for family use 3 00 2 00

7. Best plate fall apples for market 3 00 2 00

8. Best plate fall apples for family use 3 00 2 00

CLASS II. — FKOM NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

1st. 2d.

9. Best five varieties, winter apples, for market $3 00 $2 00

10. Best five varieties, winter apples, for family use 3 00 2 00

11. Best three varieties, fall apples, for market 3 00 2 00

12. Best three varieties, fall apples, for family use 3 00 2 00

13. Best plate winter apples, quality to rule 3 00 2 00

14. Best plate winter apples for market 2 00 1 00

15. Best plate winter apples for family use 2 00 100

16. Best plate fall apples for market 2 00 100

17. Best plate fall apples for family use 2 00 1 00

18. Best plate Ben Davis ". 1 00 50

19. Best plate Willow Twig 1 00 50

20. Best plate Jonathan 1 00 50

21. Best plate Grimes' Golden 100 50

22. Best plate Minkler 1 00 50

23. Best plate Domine 1 00 50

24. Best plate Roman Stem 100 50

25. Best plate Wealthy 1 00 50

26. Best plate Maiden's Blush 100 50

27. Best plate Snow 1 00 50

PREMIUM LIST. XIII

1st. 2d.

28. Best plate Red Canada 1 00 50

29. Best plate Bailey Sweet 1 00 50

30. Best plate Broadwell 1 00 50

31. Best plate Northern Spy 1 00 50

32. Best plate Cayuga Red Streak 1 00 50

33. Best plate Talrnan Sweet 1 00 50

34. Best plate Salome 1 00 50

35. Best plate Stark 1 00 50

36. Best plate E. G. Russet 1 00 50

CLASS III. — CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

1st. 2d.

37. Best five varieties, winter apples, for market $3 00 $2 00

38. Best five varieties, winter apples, for family use 3 00 2 00

39. Best three varieties, fall apples, for market 3 00 2 00

40. Best three varieties, fall apples, for family use 3 00 2 00

41. Best plate winter apples, quality to rule 3 00 2 00

42. Best plate winter apples for market 2 00 1 00

43. Best plate winter apples for family use 2 00 1 00

44. Best plate fall apples for market 2 00 1 00

45. Best plate fall apples for family use 2 00 100

46. Best plate Ben Davis 1 00 50

47. Best plate Willow Twig 1 00 50

48. Best plate Rome Beauty 1 00 50

49. Best plate Jonathan 1 00 50

50. Best plate Grimes' Golden 100 50

51. Best plate Minkler 1 00 50

52. Best plate Yellow Bellflower - 100 50

53. Best plate Winesap 1 00 50

54. Best plate Northern Spy 100 50

55. Best plate Wealthy 100 50

56. Best plate Belmont 1 00 50

57. Best plate Bailey Sweet 1 00 50

58. Best plate Cayuga Red Streak 100 50

59. Best plate Hubbardstons Nonesuch 1 00 50

60. Best plate White Pippin 100 50

61. Best plate McLelan 100 50

62. Best plate Red Pearmain 1 00 50

63. Best plate Pryor's Red 100 50

64. Best plate Porter 1 00 50

CLASS IV. — SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

1st. 2d.

65. Best five varieties, winter apples, for market $3 00 $2 00

66. Best five varieties, winter apples, for family use 3 00 2 00

67. Best three varieties, fall apples, for market 3 00 2 00

68. Best three varieties, fall apples, for family use 3 00 2 00

XIV PREMIUM LIST.

1st. 2d.

69. Best plate winter apples, quality to rule 3 00 2 00

70. Best plate winter apples, for market 2 00 100

71. Best plate winter apples, for family use 2 00 100

72. Best plate fall apples, for market 2 00 1 00

73. Best plate fall apples, for family use 2 00 1 00

74. Best plate Ben Davis 1 00 50

75. Best plate Willow Twig 1 00 50

76. Best plate Rome Beauty 100 50

77. Best plate Jonathan 1 00 50

78. Best plate Pennock 1 00 50

79. Best plate Domine .: 1 00 50

SO. Best plate Newtown Pippin 100 50

81. Best plate Minkler 1 00 50

82. Best plate Fink 1 00 50

83. Best plate Northern Spy 1 00 50

84. Best plate Grimes' Golden 1 00 50

85. Best plate Smith's Cider 1 00 50

86. Best plate Winesap 1 00 50

87. Best plate Pickett's Late 1 00 50

88. Best plate Rawles' Janet 1 00 50

89. Best plate Yellow Bellflower 1 00 50

90. Best plate Winter May 1 00 50

91. Best plate Pryor's Red 1 00 50

92. Best plate Huntsman 100 50

CLASS V. — NEW FRUITS. lst 2d.

93. Best collection of new apples, not to exceed five varieties. —$10 00 §6 00

94. Best plate Seedling, good enough to be recommended 6 00 4 00

95. Best plate, new variety, good enough to be recommended.. 4 00 2 00

CLASS VI — MISCELLANEOUS. lgt> 2d.

96. Best collection of Pears $8 00 $4 00

97. Best Plate Easter Beurre 3 00 2 00

98. Best plate Winter Nelis 3 00 2 00

99. Best plate Beurre D'Anjou 3 00 2 00

100. Best plate Howell 3 00 2 00

101. Best plate Keiffer 3 00 2 00

102. Best collection of Grapes 8 00 4 00

103. Best plate Concord 2 00 1 00

104. Best plate Niagara 2 00 1 00

105. Best plate Worden 2 00 1 00

106. Best plate Catawba 2 00 1 00

107. Best plate Cynthiana 2 00 1 00

108. Best plate Pocklington 2 00 1 00

109. Best collection of apples, not to exceed twenty-five vari-

eties 10 00 5 00

PREMIUM LIST. XT
CLASS VII — VEGETABLES.

1st. 2d.

110. Best half peck early potatoes $2 00 $1 00

111. Best half peck potatoes for winter and spring 2 00 100'

112. Best half peck onions from seed 2 00 100

Xl3. Best half peck onions grown from sets 2 00 100'

114. Best three heads celery 2 00 1 00

415. Best half peck sweet potatoes 2 00 100'

116. Best half peck turnips 1 00 50

117. Best half peck beets 1 00 50-

118. Best helf peck parsnips 100 50

119. Best half peck carrots 1 00 50

120. Bast winter squash 1 00 50'

121. Best head cabbage 1 00 50

122. Best sample of salsify 1 00 50

123. Best sample of winter radish 100 50^

RULES OF EXHIBITION.

I. All entries must be in the hands of the Secretary on, or before, the
Saturday preceding the meeting. The entry cards will be handed exhibitors
the first day of the meeting.

II. All things must be entered in the name of the grower or manufac-
turer, and a statement to that effect must accompany the application for
entry.

III. All exhibits must be on the tables by Tuesday, December 9th, at
7 p. m., property arranged, and plainly and conspicuously labeled with the
name of the fruit and grower and place of growth, and accompanied by a
list for the use of the Awarding Committee.

IV. All entries shall be limited to the State except New Fruits and
Seedlings.

V. "Plates" of fruits — except grapes — shall consist of four specimens,
neither more nor less. The same variety may compete for different pre-
miums, and different varieties for the same premium, but separate samples
must be furnished for each entry.

VI. Competent committees will be appointed to make the awards, who
will be governed by the following

SPECIAL RULES.

1st. The condition and general appearance of the fruit — which should
be in its natural state, with all its parts — stems and calyxsegment — well
preserved, not wilted nor shriveled.

2d. The size, in apples and pears, particularly, should be average, and
neither overgrown nor small — the specimens should be even in size.

3d. The form should be regular or normal to the variety, and the lot
even.

4th. The color and markings, or the surface, to be in character — not
blotched nor scabby.

5th. When comparing different varieties, and even the same kind,
grown on different soils, the texture and flavor are important elements in
coming to a decision.

In Grapes we must consider and compare the form and size of the
bunches, the size of the berries, their color, ripeness, flavor and condition.

6th. A fruit that has been named and passed upon by a Horticultural
Society shall no longer be considered a "seedling," and a fruit that has been
introduced and named ten years shall no longer be considered "new."

7th. All applications for entry of seedling and new fruits must be
accompanied by a full statement of its origin, habit of growth, hardiness
and productiveness, or no entries will be made.

The Secretary desires to call particular attention to the I. II. and III.
rules of the exhibition, as he has been instructed by the Board to strictly
enforce them.

LISTS

The following lists of apples are recommended for planting in the three
Horticultural Districts of the State.

FOR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

Early Summer — Benoni, Red June, Early Harvest.
Late Summer— Chenango Strawberry, Lowell, Maiden's Blush.
Fall— Jonathan, Mother, Grimes' Golden.
Winter— Ben Davis, Winesap, Minkler, Rome Beauty.
Recommended for trial r-Ye\\ow Transparent, Fink, Niel's Keeper, Pickett,
Craiu's Spice, Indian, Black Twig.

FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

Summerr-Red Astrachan, Benoni, Duchess.
Fall— Maiden's Blush, Wealthy, Ramsdell's Sweet.
Early Winter — Jonathan, Grimes' Golden.
Late Winter— Ben Davis, Willow, Minkler.

FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

Summer— Benoni, Duchess.

.FaM— Maiden's Blush, Cayuga Red Streak, Fameuse, Wealthy.

JFmter— Jonathan, Ben Davis, Willow, Roman Stem, Minkler.

The following list of pears is recommended for general planting.
Pearxr-Tyson, Seckel, Keiffer, Flemish Beauty, Howell.

The following list of vegetables for the farmer's garden was recommended
by the Society at the last annual meeting :

Asparagus, Radishes, Lettuce, Peas, Beets, Onions, Salsify, Cabbage,
Tomatoes, Bush Beans, Sweet Corn, Lima Beans, Cucumbers, Melons, Rhu-
barb, Horse Radish.

XVIII LISTS.

The following lists of trees and shrubs are recommended as suitable for
the purposes named :

FOR LAWNS.

Trees — Elm, Hard Maple, Magnolia Aocuminata, Linden, Tulip Tree,
Catalpa Speciosa, Birch, Mountain Ash, Norway Spruce, White Pine.

Shrubs — Syringa Philadelphus, Snow Ball, Upright Honeysuckle, Straw-
berry Tree, Fringe Tree, Purple Leaved Berberry, Lilac, Flowering Almond,
Spirea Van-Hauttii, Flowering Quince, Hydrangea - P - Grandiflora, Cal-
ycanthus.

Climbers — American Ivy, Scarlet Honeysuckle, Fragrant Honeysuckle,
Clematis Jackmanii, Wisteria.

FOE SCHOOL YARDS.
Elm, Ash, Hard Maple, Catalpa Speciosa, Linden.

FOR THE ROAD SIDE.
Elm, Linden, Hard Maple, Ash, Catalpa Speciosa.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting

OF 'J' 1 1 E

Illinois State Horticultural Society

HELD AT

HAMILTON, DEC. 10, 11 AND 12, 1889.

The Society convened in the City Hall in the City of Hamilton r
December 10th, 1889, with President Dunlap in the chair.

The President invited Mr. Humphrey, of Quincy, to make the
opening prayer, after which Mayor W. C. Bridges delivered an
address of welcome, as follows:

Mr. President, and Members of the

Illinois State Horticultural Society:

In the name of the City of Hamilton I bid you welcome ; but
this word welcome, which expresses so much, expresses but in
part the feelings of the City of Hamilton toward you. YVe trust
that your deliberations here may be full of harmony and result in
profit and credit to the Society, and be of advantage to us all.
And we trust that if ever you are called again to Hamilton, either
individually or as a society, you will feel that there is a warm wel-
come always awaiting you.

Kesponse by President Dunlap : On behalf of this Society I
accept this welcome. We have met the people of Hamilton before
and we knew that in coming here we were welcome. "We knew
that we could not go to any place where we would be more wel-
come than here. "We came to this side of the State, which is some-
what out of the way of most of us, because we knew of the wel-
come we would receive.

Z TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ORCHARDS.

BY F. I. MANN, GILMAN.

An apple is a thing of life. It is the developed protector of the
new life within seed. As its development by nature is for the
purpose of protecting the seed, we should endeavor to know the
relations existing between this development and the seed.

One of the important points in growing apples, is the growing
of the perfect fruit. No matter how large the crop, it is compara-
tively worthless if misshappen and imperfect, which generally in-
timates poor keeping and poor quality. From my own experience,
1 cannot but question but that many of the imperfections can be
overcome by the use of arsenical spray, especially when the im-
perfections are caused by the codling moth and some other ene-
mies.

But the cause of much of the imperfect fruit can be found in
the relations existing between the seed and the fruit. An apple,
like all life, has an uncertain amount of faulty environments to
overcome. The conditions for its development are probably never
absolutely perfect, and it takes more or less vital force to over-
come these faulty conditions. It may be generally supposed that
the parent tree furnishes all this vital force, but such cannot
be the case, or we would raise apples without seed as wTell as with
them. The tree must supply the food for the development, but
it would seem that the vitality is supplied through the seed. A
careful examination of the seed portion of many apples, reveals
much from which to draw conclusions. When the season of poll-
enization is finished, many of the partly developed apples, from
time to time, fall to the ground. Those that fall the first few
weeks are rarely found to enclose fertilized seed. Some of
them may have one or two good seeds, but few, if any, have a full
quota of perfect seed. As the season advances those that drop are
mainly those whose seed have been affected by worms, and those
not having a full number of strongly pollenized seed. Their en-
vironments have been made too acute for their vital forces. When
the growing season is finished, the small apples will be found to
■contain but few seed, as a rule. And if the season has been very
favorable'for their growth, a few will be found of small size without
any seed whatever. The apples that are one half well developed
and one half dwarfed, will be found with good seed in the devel-
oped side and no seed or poor seed in the dwarfed half. Apples
with blemishes will be found not so well seeded as the perfect
ones. When the harvest is done the life of the apple is not j'et
ended . Its purpose is to still longer protect the life it encloses, and
the duration of its existence depends somewhat on having that life
to protect. If the seed is weak, or injured by the admission of
air through a worm hole, the tendency of the apple is to decay
more rapidly. An apple that keeps the best, other things being

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 6

■equal, and the one that grows the best, is the one which has its full
quota of full healthy seeds. It will be held by some that the seed
itself has no effect whatever on the development of the fruit; that
weak or non-fertilization need not result in a poor development
of the fruit; that the sickly apple and weak seed may both result
from a common cause, and that the one is not the result of the
other. Absolute proof on this point it may be impossible to give,
but the circumstantial evidence is very much opposed to this view.
From the fact that apples will not grow without seeds, development
of the fruit is in proportion to the development of the seeds, as to
number and quality; that many apples drop that have no apparent
injury but ouly a lack of fertilized seed ; that in a developing apple
the presence of larva does not seem to affect the develoment until
the seed becomes involved; that trees that are under the best con-
dition for producing good seed are the trees that produce the
most good fruit ; we must conclude that good fruit is more or less
dependent on good seed.

In the production of apple seeds, which are new beings, we should
remember that they are subject to the same laws of re-production
as are other beings ; that a proper diversity in the characteristics
of the parents is essential. This is best obtained by affording na-
ture the greatest opportunity for fertilization by the use of pollen
from different varieties. Trees so situated that they do not receive
pollen from other varieties, will not mature good fruit under con-
ditions as adverse as will trees that do receive pollen from others.

HOW TO MAKE AN ORCHARD.

BY S. G. MINKLER, OSWEGO.

I am called upon to write on orchards. The Secretary did not
say what he wanted me to write about, whether location, how to
plant, or what to plant.

It seems almost superfluous to write on orchards, since there has
so much been written, line upon line, here a little and there a little.
Now that I am not restricted, I will take my text: How to make
an orchard.

First, Location. This should be contiguous to the dwelling;
but we cannot always have things just to our fancy, therefore we
have to take things as we find them. If the ground is not suitable
near the dwelling and you have better further off, choose that.
It should be dry, or made so by tiling. Bear in mind that fruit
trees will not stand wet feet. Exposure. Now, as I said before,
we have to take things as we find them, but would prefer northern
and eastern to southern exposure.

Second, Preparing the Soil. If the soil is not in good tilth,
make it so, as if you wished to raise one hundred bushels of corn
to the acre. But this should be done one \ear previous to setting

4 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

the trees. Too heavy manuring would be injurious, if it should
come in immediate contact with the roots. Plow deep and
thoroughly cultivate.

Third, Distance Apart. Two rods, iovty feet is better; anyone
conversant with tree roots knows that they run a very great dis-
tance from the trunk. If trees are set two rods apart, and well
cultivated for six years, their roots will meet. Then they become
robbers.

Fourth, How to Set. Well, it is presumed that everyone knows
how to set a tree. But I will say this, set two inches deeper than
they stood in nursery. Remember that the ground settles, but the
tree does not. Pack the ground thoroughly about the roots in
setting, too, within two inches of the top; finish with mellow
earth. Then mulch. I will not use the word holes, because
the whole field should be pulverized to the depth you set your
trees.

Fifth, Now Protect your Trees. You know that when people
set trees on a lawn or boulevard, they protect them by hay or
straw rope wound around the trunks from the ground to the limbs.
Now take warning. There are various ways of protecting your
trees. Take long slough grass or rye straw, tie three times with
string — lath may be used, three or four laths fastened by light
wire, or if you want a neat thing, buy wire cloth, cut it of suitable
width, fasten with fine wire. Wiry, most of you have old screen-
doors or fanning mill sieves, or old stove pipes. These will
keep off the mice and rabbits. But protect the trunks of your
trees. I consider this the most essential part of all the
tree-planting. You must protect the trunks from the direct rays
of the sun or you will not succeed in orcharding. I should have
said above to lean the tree about forty degrees to the two o'clock
sun; now drive a stake on the two o'clock sun side of the tree
one foot from the tree; twist a straw or hay band, put it around
the tree, put the ends together and twist hard, then open the
ends and put around the stake and tie firmly. Nowr, you say,
what is that for? Well, it is to keep the tree from rubbing the
stake, and ward off the whifnetrees. You say there is too much
leaning. Better lean to the southwest than the northeast. You
will find that your trees will be erect enough when established.

Sixth, Height of Top. I used to favor low tops for the reason
that it protected the body from sun-scald, but now I want the
trunk of sufficient height to conveniently work the land. Now if
you have complied with former directions, remove the bandage
once a year, say in May, and wash your trees with strong lye.
(The only thing that a man is justified in lying about, if his lye is
only strong enough.) Then replace the bandage or protection.
If you are too lazy to protect your trees and wish to keep the
rabbits off, take from the privy vault, and with an old broom or

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 5

swab smear tbem, say in the fore-part of December. One appli-
cation is usually sufficient, for the year.

Seventh, Varieties. Choose those varieties that do best in
your locality, and get your trees from a reliable source; for it is
a sad loss to pay for a thing, wait iive or six years, and iind your-
self sadly disappointed. Do not plant too many varieties. I
think the list recommended by your society is a good one. Do
not go too fast on Russians at forty cents.

Eighth, After Treatment. The orchard should be kept in good
cultivation for at least six years, with some hoed crop. Cultiva-
tion is one mode of mulching. Use corn one year, potatoes one
year, Hubbard squash one year, pumpkins one year, beans one
year, and buckwheat one year. Now your orchard is six years
old, and has probably come into bearing. If you wish to seed
down, seed with clover, let it lie for mulch. Your orchard is
complete, now enjoy its fruits. Turn in your calves, your sheep,
your colts, and pigs, and you will not be bothered with sun-scald,
codlin-moth, twig-blight, tent caterpillars, or fruit thieves.

Let me say in conclusion that the orchard is the most abused
piece of ground on the farm ; it must produce a crop of apples, a
crop of hay, and afford calf pasture. And nothing returned to
it. Any kind of grass that forms a sod will destroy an orchard
much sooner than plants that do not turf. These turfs in addi-
tion to exhausting the plant food in the soil, exclude the air.
And I attribute the failure of our orchard to starvation.

DISCUSSION.

Dr. Humphrey — I have planted orchards for about twenty-live
years and I think I am now beginning to learn a little about planting
them. I want to plant one next year and see if I can't have apples
of my own raising when 1 grow old. The bare fact stares us in the
face that the orchards of Illinois have wasted away. Does it result
from faults in planting, or is it from climatic reasons ? Last year we
were overloaded with apples in our part of the State, and this
year we are getting them from Iowa. It certainly is not because
we need new varieties, because I know of Roman Stems that are
sixty years old and are still bearing. I also know of many later
planted orchards that are broken down.

Mr. McKinney — Some families of animals are long lived and
some are short. It is the same way with apples, some are short
and some are long lived. We need to plant more new orchards.

J. M. Pearson — I have seen an orchard planted and the first or
second year after planting, cultivated in potatoes. At times such

b TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

a cultivation starts a second growth which is, of course, bad. I
would not have potatoes in an orchard unless they were to be dug
not later than July, then perhaps there would be no longer danger
from cultivation.

President Dunlap — I have frequently manured my orchard trees
by seeding to rye and plowing it under when it got two or three feet
high, and I must say it has had a good effect. The question of pro-
tecting trees both in summer and in winter is an important one.
Mr. Stickney, of Wisconsin, protects his trees with straw, and he
says also that it keeps off the borers, though I don't see how that is
so.

Mr. Dyer — For four years I have been using common axle grease
on my trees to protect them from rabbits and mice. I just rub it
thoroughly on the trunk and the mice and the rabbits never touch
them. I have tried wrapping the trees with muslin, but it is expen-
sive and the rabits soon cut through it. I put the grease on about
the beginning of the winter and find it perfectly satisfactory.

Mr. Webster, of Centralia — I do not think it is best for this So-
ciety to recommend an animal fat for application to trees. We
protect our trees with soft soap and copperas and sometimes a little
carbolic acid. It is cheap and effective. If we want the applica-
tion to stay on all winter we add a little glue. Some have experi-
mented with tar and tarred paper, but we think there is nothing so
good as soap.

Sec'y Hammond — How is the tarred paper an injury? I have
used it and never saw any bad effect from it.

Mr. Webster — We have found that it has a tendency to loosen
the bark. I have seen the bark all come off after it was used. If
it was tied on very loose, it might not be so bad, but if it is tied at
all tight, I have found it to injure the trees.

Mr. Vandenburg — I recommend sweet milk and soot. Ihavealsa
used tarred paper and seen no bad effects. I tie it on loosely with
wire as the wire does not rot like string.

Mr. Pearson — With regard to the distance of trees in an or-
chard, I think that no one distance can be given as satisfactory.
In some cases, with trees that throw out strong laterals, the space
of course, should be greater than for upright growers. I think
the distance should be varied from twenty-five to forty feet.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 7

Small growers should be close to aid in keeping down the
grasses, for one thing. The Pennoek should have much space.
Another thing: We let our orchards get too old. When an or-
chard is twenty-five years old it is time to grub it up. I would
not thank a man for the gift of an orchard twenty-five years old,
even though he let me select the trees. Take such apples as the
Northern Spy and the Newton Pippin, for instance, their time of
bearing would be so short that they would not pay.

Dr. Humphrey — I would like to know what the gentleman in
his report, (Mr. Mann) means by strong pollenization.

Mr. Shank — Tdo not think that the perfect fruit depends on
pollenization. Take the banana, for instance, it never bears
seed, and is one of the most prolific plants that grows. In that
case there is no pollenization. Grapes are also produced without
seed, especially for raisin grapes, and it seems to me that so much
pollenization does not seem necessary.

Mr. McKinney — I am simple enough to believe that the straw-
berry does best with all the pollen it can get; while one particle
of pollen might make a good seed, I think more pollen would be
better.

Mr. Mann — There are conditions of environment with the pro-
duction of perfect fruit, and to make the perfect fruit, I think the
environments must be correct. Of course, in the case of raisin
grapes and bananas, there might seem to be an exception, but I
saw last week a grape that had been cultivated without seed, and
I found it to be a very shy bearer. My information as to the ba-
nana is, that it does have pollen and that the influence goes to the
fruit and not to the seed. I am satisfied that it requires the
strength of the perfect seed to overcome adverse environments
and make the perfect fruit.

Dr. Humphrey — The fruit is a transformation of the flower,
and pollenization has reference to fructification. This must take
place as among the sexes. If the stamens are in different indi-
viduals, the fruit is supposed to be different, that is, there comes
variation from parental forms, while if the pistils and stamens
are in the same blossom, the principle of variation does not hold.
Fructification has more reference to the seeds than to the form of
the fruit growth .

t f

8 TRANSACTION OF THE ILLINOIS

Mr. Mann — We are not discussing the question of form, but we
cannot expect heredity in form from fruit that has no fixed type
in form. We do not expect our apples to reproduce their exact
forms. The influence we are talking about is the development of
the fruit. I have cut many apples, and almost always find poor
seeds in the small ones. Take the Willow Twig, and where one
side of the fruit is not developed, that side will have few if any
seeds, while the other side of the apple will have seeds.

Mr. Webster— We are getting into deep water, and I think
there is no likelihood of our touching bottom. I do not tbink we
are ever going to know much about pollenization., I saw, this year,
an apple one-half of which was sweet and the other half sour.

Mr. Cotta — The trouble with our orchards has been the cur-
culio, principally, though faulty pollenization has been the cause
of some of the trouble. ^The Willow Twig is one of the sorts the
most affected, both with us and in the southern part of Wisconsin,
though that trouble has come mostly from the curculio. I have
seen many specimens so faulty that you could scarcely tell the
variety. I was much pleased with the paper of Mr. Minkler with
regard to the cultivation of orchards. I prefer corn in the or-
chard to anything else.

L. E. Williams, (Lee Co., la.) I wish to say a few words on
shelter of orchards. I know orchards in Lee Co., which are shel-
tered by the Mississippi bluffs that almost always do well. I have
a sheltered orchard, and on five acres I have frequently had more
apples than a friend of mine has had on forty acres unsheltered.
I know, where they are sheltered in Colorado they also do better.

President Dunlap — We are trying to raise apples in Illinois and
not in Colorado. I presume we want to know how to raise them
here.

Mr. Bracket, (Lee Co., la.) Mr. Williams attributes the suc-
cess of his orchard to shelter of the bluffs, but there is one thing
that he has overlooked, and that is the soil. You take south-
western Iowa, where there is no clay sub-soil, and we have there
the most perfect fruit belt in the State. As to the shelter of the
Mississippi bluffs, that section of the country is very limited and
can have no very extensive orchards. When I made our collec-
tion for the New Orleans Exposition I looked around in Lee

bTATE HORTICUI/IUKAL SOCIETY. 9

County, and from the appearance of our fruit I despaired of suc-
cess, but I found plenty in the southwest where there is no clay
sub-soil. Of course the difference in varieties is also to be taken
into account. It is not climate so much as it is soil that affects
the orchards. The Bellflower does well on sandy formation,
but on the clays it is worthless.

Mr. Pearson — Will some one tell me whether the orchard pays
or not ?

Mr. Webster — Yes sir, it pays down in our country. From
Centralia, apples are shipped by the hundreds of car loads. Some
have made this year from their orchards from $150 to $200 per
acre. In some cases the buyer takes the best of the fruit and
leaves the culls to the raiser. Thirty years ago I heard it said that
the apples then being put out would never pay, but the truth is
that apples are worth more in Centralia to-day than they ever
were before. I must sa}', however, that the early varieties do not
pay with us.

Mr. Pearson — Was not this a better year than common with
you ?

Webster — Yes sir, I think so. I know one man who came from
New York and bought fifty-seven car loads and took them East
and canned them and brought them right back to St. Louis and
sold them for New York apples.

Mr. A. Bryant — I cannot answer whether the orchards of Bureau
County have paid or not.

Mr. L. R. Bryant — Our orchards have paid up there, and if I
had a chance to plant I would do so and would expect them to
pay.

Mr. Pearson — As to planting trees forty feet apart, I do not
think I can spare land enough for that. My idea is that a tree in
twenty years will give me all the fruit that it will give profitably.
I know the most of the older trees give fruit only fit for cider.
The young orchards are the only ones that have paid with us.

Mr. Dennis — I heard a gentleman make the remark that the
average age of our orchards was twenty-five years, and he said
that in that twenty-five years they would produce as many apples
.as trees in the East would produce in fifty years ; he thought that

10 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLLIXOIS

the most prolific bearing of our trees exhausted thern just that
much sooner.

Mr. Webster — I have been told by a New Yorker that we acted
on the principle of having a good thing and not wanting people to
know it. He said that New York could not compete with us at
all, that Southern Illinois was wonderful; that they could not
begin to raise apples with us. Of course this year is a little better
than common. Buyers sometimes come to buy Ben Davis straight,
and some plant these altogether. There are many orchards in
Southern Illinois that have no varieties in them but Ben Davis ,
and this proves that when the conditions are favorable you ean
produce perfect Ben Davis without another variety mixed with
them.

Mr. H. Brown, of Hamilton — Will an orchard pay? I will say
it will not. It will not if you go into that business exclusively and
I challenge any man to show that he makes a living out of an
orchard exclusively. He either has a nursery, or a vineyard, or a
corn field, or something of that sort to help out the orchard. I
have been in the business for twenty years. Last year I got over
one thousand bushels, and this year I got twenty-five.

Air. Cotta — Orchards must be made to pay. There are millions
of coming mouths which must have apples, and there is no doubt
but that good apples will give paying prices. There has been large
planting of summer apples, but where are the winter apples coming
from? They must be planted. I have been pegging away for
about twenty-five 3rears and I have suffered very much, but I am
not going to give up. Some one has got to be a missionary and
I might as well be one as any one, if I can make it pay a little.

Mr. McKinney — The first thing to be considered is location, and
another thing is that there has been too much fooling around about
Russian varieties and|he like; I think that must be stopped.

Mr. Pearson — I am inclined to agree with Mr. Brown in not ad-
vising a man to plant an orchard and depend on it for a living, but
I don't know of a line of farming that I would advise him to under-
take ; 3"Ou must learn to diversify. I have wheat in, but I have not
worked in wheat since September, and will not before July. What
must I do in the meantime? I had two rows of Rawl's Janet that I
didn't pick an apple from this year, and yet, they paid me more

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. II

for cider than the land would have paid me for wheat. I had the
boys shake them off and haul them to the mill. My wheat paid
me $7 per acre, and those Janets paid me twice that. "We just
picked them up, rotten ones and all, and made tip top cider.

Mr. Bryant — I knew an orchard where a good many of the trees
had died, but the farm changed hands and the man who bought it
said that the old orchard was the best paying portion of the farm,
notwithstanding the fact that the half of the trees were dead,
and he was making calculations to put out one thousand two hun-
dred more trees.

President Dunlap introduces Mr. Bracket, of Iowa, and Messrs.
Spear, Patterson and Thomas, of Missouri.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RASPBERRIES AND

BLACKBERRIES.

BY P. E. YANDENBERG, JERSEYYILLE.

Mr. President and Friends of our Society :

I doubt whether I can give you anything that will be new to you
old fruit growers, or be of benefit to those that are just starting
out. This is simply a report of a small part of our great State,
and the kinds and ways one man grows blackberries and rasp-
berries in Jersey County. We had a good crop of both black-
berries and raspberries, which, on the whole, was disposed of at
a fair price. Of course there were some that did not realize what
they anticipated, but whether from their own neglect, or from
growing the wrong kinds, has not been made known. We have
had no second growth this fall, consequently wood is matured and
goes into its winter's rest in good shape.

First, Blackberries — I grow only the Snyder for a main crop.
They are early, being nearly gone when wild ones come into the
market. They are hardy and productive, bearing every year in
quantity as you treat them. Trim closely, leave berries on bushes
till ripe and they are hard to beat. I have tried the Taylor.
They are not hardy with me, and are haid on clothes. I let them
go. Kittatinny rusts too badly, and winter kills — that went also.
Early Harvest I had, but was too far north, and that I dropped.
Lawton I tried in a small way and gave that up. Erie, (some call it
the Lawton,) I have not yet tested enough in the cold winters. I
want a late berry, and am going to give Lawton another trial. I
have a friend who grows only Lawton, and will grow no other, and
he is successful both in wintering and with the rust. I think I

12 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

have his secret, and whether I succeed or fail you may hear from
me again.

Second, Hasjiberries — In Raspberries I find obstacles in the way
to perfect success. Turner, or Thornless, for a home market,
cannot be beaten; hardy, rank grower, and immensely productive.

Hansell, the earliest red, stays in bearing a long time; hard}', a
moderate grower and a good shipper.

Brandywine has done very well with me, grows about like
Hansell, a good shipper also. Cuthbert, or Queen of the market,
(as she is rightly named,) is a superb berry, very large, rank
grower and the best shipper of the reds. If it would yield as well
as the Turner, it would be King as well as Queen of the market.

Marlboro is one of the finest of reds, but I have not found it
profitable to extend the planting. Crimson Beauty has the same
good qualities, but it also has its faults.

I like Golden Queen. It has done well, but I have not tested
it on the foreign market. It can grow suckers as prolific as the
Turner and as rank as its parent. Souhegan, or Tyler, stands at
the head of the black-caps. For profit, productiveness and hard-
ness it has no equal.

Hopkins follows after; something similar, though not so early.

Next comes Ohio, a rank grower, very productive, and perfect-
ly hardy, very profitable.

Gregg, I grow only to lengthen the raspberry season. They are
not perfectly hardy.

Third, Planting— Of course the ground is prepared as for any
crop. I then set stakes or lathes for 5 rows, 8 feet apart, then
a 12 foot alley, then 5 more rows, and so on. • Then take a two-
horse plow, with a rolling coulter, open furrows where rows are
wanted as deep as required, and proceed to plant, throw enough
dirt on root to hold in place, take diamond plow and fill up fur-
row and finish off by pressing dirt firm around each. I plant
blackberries 2^ feet, black raspberries 2 feet and red raspberries
1J feet apart in the rows.

Plant only young plants from root cutting when possible.
Blackberries and red raspberries I plant in fall when I can. Black-
raspberry tips I take up in the fall and lay in shallow furrows about
three or four inches apart, cover nicely and mulch. I leave them
there till they grow about 6 inches high, when I plant same as I
planted blackberries. In this way you get a perfect stand and
get a chance to work the old beds.

Fourth, Cultivation — I start cultivating as early in the spring-
as possible, and keep it up till berries begin to ripen, then again
after beries are ripened till about August 15th. If possible I cul-
tivate again once before winter.

The Diamond plow and Planet Jr., cultivator, hoe and fork, are
the tools I use.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 13

Fifth, Pruning — When blackberries and black raspberries
are knee high I pinch the top, when laterals are about 1 foot
long, I pinch them again, I only pinch once on Gregg.

Strong growing canes of reds I cut back hip high. To keep
plantation healthy, keep all suckers cut off with hoe or cultivator.
I think it best to remove old wood soon after berries are off,
it makes nicer work, is easier to keep clean, though I confess I
do not always do it, leaving it till later.

In trimming in the spring I clip off all tips of blackberries
being careful not to leave too much wood on.

Black Raspberries, when they begin to bend to the ground, cut
off.

Reds, I find to cut off one third, and the rankest, about hip
high to be about right.

Sixth, Mulching — must be done with care. I like to mulch after
the fall cultivating, leaving it undisturbed till spring, when it is
all worked up among the canes. Some prefer to mulch about
blossoming time. I have, with good success. I use for this pur-
pose horse-stable manure where plenty of straw is used. Old
straw or cornstalks make excellent material.

Seventh, Marketing — Ours is a home market. Only now and
then when we are sure of a surplus do we ship, and then to small
towns beyond us. We pick every day but Sunday, deliver to our
customers direct from wagons or through our home grocers, taking
orders for crates days ahead, thus having control of our large
pickings in our own hands, to a great extent. With our [tickers
we use the card and punch, writing name of berry on card and
file away for final count. We pay for blackberries 1 cent, for
black raspberries, 1£ cents, and red raspberries 2 cents per quart.

Eighth, In closing, I would state, my berries are all grown on
clay sub-soil with natural drainage, sloping mostly to the north.
I don't think I could grow berries successfully on my farm
without mulching. If any of our friends have had a different ex-
perience I would like to hear from them.

Submitted for your consideration.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Thomas, Lagrange, Mo.— I have grown the Snyder suc-
cessfully for five or six years. Get the ground in good shape and
plant about as you would potatoes. Cut the roots to about four
inches in length and lay off the rows about ten feet apart, with
cross rows three feet. Plant two plants in a hill. This year I
had 100 bushels to the acre, this being the third year. The Law-
ton would not do with us at all, it is too tender and subject to
rust. The Taylor is pretty good after a mild winter, but they are

14 TRANSACTION S OF THE ILLINOIS

too late for our location, for we have to ship north. Thej7 are in
.good shape when the Snyder is going out. My location is on the
Mississippi river, on the second bottom. After I get my plants
out I give them thorough cultivation for two years, and I then
seed down to red clover. Cut the clover about the time the ber-
ries begin to ripen, and leave on the ground for mulch.

Mr. Shank — I am growing fifteen acres of berries. My black-
berries are principally Snyder. I cultivate until they begin to
bend to the ground. I advocate thorough cultivation for both
blackberries and raspberries.

Mr. Jackson — I plant differently. I plant the first two rows
about seven and a half feet apart, and the next row about ten feet
from the second, so that I can go anywhere in my plantation with
•a team, for hauling in mulch or anything of the kind. I have not
had so much experience as the last gentleman, but I had enough
in berries to lose money this year. I do not think any absolute
rules can be laid down for cultivating and pruning, but I cut the
Snyder back to eighteen inches the first cutting, and never prune
more than twice.

President Dunlap — Have any ©f the members experimented
with the Ancient Briton ? I saw some very fine ones in "Wiscon-
sin this summer, and was highly pleased with them.

Mr. McKinney — As to the Ancient Briton, I have had some ex-
perience with it. 'It is occasionally very productive. It is larger
than the Snyder — nearly as large as the Kittaninny. But the
profit in growing it would hardly be worth working for. I do
not think it productive enough from year to year. Once in a
while it bears well and then fails almost entirely.

Mr. Humphrey — I have raised the Ancient Briton a good many
years and my experience is such that I intend to keep raising it,
but not largely. It is too soft to ship, but it is a fmost luscious
berry. I keep, therefore, a few rows and re-set them every few
years. I got my first stock from Mr. Stickney, who used to have
a nursery in this place. I raise it for home use, but not to ship.
I doubt its being as productive as the Snyder, though mine
have done very well. But it is an awful vine. I sometimes think
that it will scratch a man before he gets to it. It is perhaps, a
week or ten days later than the Snyder.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 15

President Dunlap — Mr. Hammond and I saw the Aneient
Briton fruiting in Wisconsin this summer on the grounds of
Mr. Tattle and I never saw as heavy a crop of blackberries as
there was there. He expected 10,000 quarts of berries this
summer. He had grown the Snyder on the grounds there and he
said he thought the Snyder no comparison to it at all, so far as
profit was concerned, and that he had had live crops in as many
years. He covered the vines with a light mulch and said that
one crop of fruit more than paid for the expense and trouble of
mulching. He thought they were as hardy as the Snyder.

Mr. Dennis — We have been growing the Ancient Briton. The
great objection to it is that it is so very tender. You can hardly
carry it to the house without its breaking or bleeding. The vine
is hardy but the fruit is tender.

Mr. H. D. Brown — Let's have the dewberry investigated. In
my opinion the Lucretia berry is a fraud.

President Dunlap — The berries I have seen are insipid. They
are very large and fine looking, but tasteless.

Mr. Shank — It depends on the location where the berry is
grown. I find that on poor soil it is a success, but when they are
on good strong corn land, they are no good; they are like the
Kittaninny. You get fine looking berries, but when you come to
eat them they are bitter.

Mr. Beeby — My experience with, the Lucretia is that if you
don't catch them just at the right time, you are left. Whenthey
are too ripe they are insipid or sour, and two days before that
they are tasteless as a corn cob. I think they are a humbug.

REPORT ON STONE FRUITS.

BY LOUIS FEESE, COATSBURG.

My report on stone fruits will not be very complete, as stone
fruits have not been fruiting well the past years, with the excep-
tion of plums, in this section, Central Illinois.

Peaches this year have, for the first time since '82, borne a fair
crop. Budded peaches were scarce, as farmers and fruit growers
have not been setting many the past eleven years. Have fruited
on our fruit farm this year Oldmixon Free and Stump ; they are too
well known to need description. Fruit from these sold readily at
$2.50 per bushel. The early budded peaches rotted on the trees

1G TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

before they ripened. Seedling peaches sold at $1 per bushel.
They were spotted and scabby, but people were anxious to get
them at that price. The trees havemade a fine growth this seas-
on, and there is a prospect of another crop next season if
Jack Frost does not kill the buds. Have sold more peach trees
out of our Nursery this fall than we have for several years. The
crop we had this summer has encouraged the farmers and
fruit growers and I think there will be a good demand in the
spring for trees. Trees of apricots, Russian and American, have
been largely planted the last few years, but owing to their early
blooming the frost kills them before the fruit sets and so we have
not had any in this part of Illinois. •

Cherries bore a good crop the past season, it being the first crop
that we had for several years. Early Richmond, English Mor-
rellos, May Duke and Montmorency are mostly grown here but
the latter seem to take the lead.

Plums seem to be taking the place of peaches in this section.
Six years ago we set out an orchard of one hundred and fifty trees
of the Wild Goose, Chickasaw and Miner, setting fifty trees of
each kind. We had three full crops in succession of the Wild
Goose and Chickasaw, whereas the Miner has done no good for us.

Have heard it said that Miner trees do better as they grow old-
er. A neighbor of ours has a tree about fourteen years old that
bore good, large, sound plums for several years. The Wild Goose
is certainly a fine, large plum for all purposes, but the Chickasaw
we have is the largest yielder. In the year 1888 we had one hun-
dred bushels of good, sound Chickasaws and fifty bushels of Wild
Goose; the past season we had one hundred and twenty-five bush-
els of Chickasaws and one hundred bushels of Wild Goose. The
Chickasaws we have were brought from the South. They are not
budded, but sprouts . They are distinct from any other Chickasaws
that we ever heard of or saw. It is yellow, with a red cheek, is
not as large as the Wild Goose. It is rich, sweet, juicy and suit-
able either to be eaten out of the hand or for cooking purposes,
ripens about a week later than Wild Goose. It is an enormous
bearer, the limbs being literally covered with fruit. We cul-
tivated our orchards the first two seasons, but since then we have
not worked the ground; neither have we sprayed the trees. We
do not pick our plums when they begin to ripen, but give the trees
a gentle shaking every day and are particular to gather all that
fall. Then we take them to a shed and sort them, putting the
good sound ones in quart boxes and throwing the waste to swine
and chickens. This is what we think saves us from the Curculio
which has not troubled our orchard so far. We sold our plums
here at home, Wild Goose brought us in 1888, §1.75 per twenty-
four qt. case, Chickasaw $1.50 per twenty-four qt. case. The past
season, fruit being plenty, Wild Goose sold at §1.25 and Chicka-
saws at §1 per twenty-four qt. case. We have planted trees of

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 17

the Mariana, Potowatomia, De Soto, Wolf Free, Forcst'Rose,
Robinson and several other new kinds. We have not fruited
them yet. The Mariana bore a few plums about the size of the
Wild Goose, of fine appearance. We have about five hundred
plum trees now growing in our orchard and all are doing well,
making good growth. At some future time we may be better able
to give a more complete report. Our trees were planted sixteen
feet each way.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Gaston — I am familiar with the Wild Goose, the Mariana
and the Chickasaw pluns. I think the gentleman in his paper
refers to the Newman plum. It seems to follow the Wild Goose;
it is a week or two later. I think the name Chickasaw should not
come in here.

Mr. AVebster — We have at Centralia seven varieties of the
Chickasaw plum. They are all more or less profitable. The
Newman is one of our most profitable plums also.

Mr. Shank — I have never seen these plums fruiting, but I have
had nearly twenty years' experience with the Miner. In regard
to the Chickasaw, I think that is the name of a species.

Mr. McKinney — I have had experience with the Miner ever
since it was introduced. I bought them at a dollar a piece from a
man at Galena. It was ten years before they began to bear, and
I am satisfied that the reason they began to bear then was because
there were other plums by the side of them. They were sur-
rounded by Wild Goose, but where they are isolated and the pol-
len from the other varieties does not reach them they do not bear.

Mr. Vandenberg — I would ask if any of the members have the
Wild Goose separate from other trees that are bearing well ?

Mr. Gaston — Where they are planted separate they are a fail-
ure, but where put by the side of the Miner and others they do
well. At Lacon, one of our men has put out 900 different va-
rieties.

Mr. Gay — I have two Wild Goose plum trees, and they are per-
haps thirty or forty rods apart. They both bear well every other
year. There is no other plum tree near them, not nearer than
perhaps half a mile. One of the trees had ten bushels of fruit on
it this year, actual measurement.

18 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

Mr. Shank — If it had not been for the bees, I think Mr. Gay
would not have had any plums.

Mr. Webster — I know of a number of instances where plums
do well and no other varieties near them. I put out trees in 1868,
and those trees have borne enormous quantities of fruit. So, while
it at times appears that trees of various kinds must be mixed, yet
the rule does not always hold good.

Mr. Yandenberg — I know of one hundred trees five years old
that have never borne, and in other places I have seen them scat-
tered and bearing.

Mr. Webster — Most of our plums that are successful are grafted
on the peach, but those I have are grafted on their own roots.

Mr. Shank — It is well known that the cherry will fertilize the
plum, and this might account for the fertilization of Mr. Web-
ster's plums, if any cherries were near them.

Mr. Beeby — A friend of mine has forty acres, and he planted,
I think, a half dozen of Wild Goose, and sometimes there is a
good crop and other years not any, and he has laid the trouble to
the frost and sometimes to the curculio. Some of -the old trees
died and sprouts came up and bore the same kind of fruit, but
there were no plums or cherries near them.

Mr. Gay — My cherry row is about twenty rods from the plums.
My Flemish plum is on its own roots, and the others are on the
peach ; both bear every other year. I do not think they are pol-
lenized by anything else unless it is by an old elm tree.

President Dunlap — I think it is generally understood that
where plums are mixed they do better, generally, but not
always .

Mr. Pearson — I dislike the idea of our talking here for an hour
about a miserable plum that is not fit to eat. Nobody will have
much to do with plums unless they are good ones. I have heard
three varieties spoken of here, and three of that kind is three too
many. For cooking, I think the Blue Damson is excellent. The
boys won't steal it and the curculio won't hurt it. It brings in
the market double what the others bring. I have seen, this past
season, the Miner and the Wild Goose offered at sixty cents a
bushel and no takers.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 19

Mr. Shank — I believe I have struck something practical. You
take the Wild Goose and the Marianna and they have a tendency
to grow like the weeping willow, but I find by tying them up
about the latter part of June with a soft string, drawing the
limbs up in a close form and leaving them so until about the
time the leaves begin to drop, and then the next season trim
them back to where I want them, I find I can give them a desir-
able shape. I also tie cherries in the same way. I trim in June.

Mr. "Webster— It takes some time to find out what to do. AVe
have just found out how to raise Damsons. We think that after
all the Wild Goose is the most profitable. It is very hard with
us to get the Blue Damson free from the borer in the center. I
presume, however, they could be kept off the plums in the
same way as off the apples, with spraying. With us they ripen
too early. After they are gone with us they bring them in from
Ohio, and they sell readily to our people.

Mr. Shank — My experience is that the Damson is very tender.
They run to top very much. The Old Virginia Blue is small, but
it is hardy. I think the Lombard is far superior to the Shrop-
shire. My objection to the Shropshire Damson is, that it is not
hardy enough.

REPORT OF AD-INTERIM COMMITTEE FOR CENTRAL

ILLINOIS.

BY F. I. MANN, GILMAN.

In the interests of this Society, and as member of Ad-Interim
Committee, I attended the strawberry meeting of the Kankakee
Valley Society, at Manteno. I found a gathering of pleasant,
hospitable people, earnest in the cause of fruit growing.
Though the weather was unfavorable, a large number were pres-
ent to sit at the tables spread in the shade of large trees, and en-
joy the strawberries and cream, with a bounteous supply of other
delicacies. After dinner a meeting was held and various subjects
of local and general interest were discussed. A fine lot of berries
were shown for premium by Leon Hay, Len Small, Mrs. Bar-
nard, the widow of our late lamented President, and others.
The Bubach showed up the best, as some very fine specimens
were shown.

The Bubach was very popular with those present, though there
was some complaint that new beds were not prolific. The Seneca

20 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

Queen and Windsor Chief were very handsome plates, and
seemed quite popular with the growers.

It was very much the desire of the committee to attend the
rose and strawberry show held by horticulturists at Lacon in
June ; and excited by the display made at the State Fair by the
Lacon fruit growers, we fully intended attending their Septem-
ber meeting. It is with regret we are unable to give any report
of these meetings, more than to say that they were reported as
being eminently successful, and carried on with some of the old
vigor for which that region was noted.

It was deemed advisable for the committee to go outside its
territory for some observations, and now while the northern
apples are attracting so much attention it was decided to make
there the base of observation, and we have the following report
to make of such a trip :

NOTES ON WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA TRIP.

BY HENRY M. DUNLAP.

The question for new hardy fruits for central and northern
Illinois is one of leading importance at this time, especially the
question of the adoption and value of the Russian fruits to this
State. Knowing that the same questions had agitated the minds
of fruit growers in the more northern States for a longer period,
and in a more marked degree, it was thought to be a wise policy
to see what had been accomplished there before we undertook
the questions in our own experiment stations. Early in August,
therefore, Secretary A. C. Hammond and myself started out for
a trip through Wisconsin and Minnesota, being aided in the
undertaking by railroad passes in Wisconsin over the Milwaukee
& St. Paul and Northwestern lines. The notes of this trip I now
present to you, together with the opinions of leading fruit grow-
ers that we met in our travels.

Arriving in Milwaukee on the morning of August 7th, after a
night's journey on the boat from Chicago, we took an early train
out to Wauwatosa, some five miles distance from the city. At
the depot we were met by Mr. J. S. Stickney, one of the veteran
horticulturists of the State. Mr. Stickney, in his carriage,
drove us into the country, where we inspected a number of apple
orchards and small fruit plantations. Some of the orchards bore
good crops of fruit, and the varieties were mostly Duchess and
Wealthy. In the older orchards were also Alexander, Snow and
English Russett.

Utter's Red, of which we saw fine specimens on the trees, Mr.
Stickney says, is fine fruit for family orchards, but of little value
commercially.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 21

Alexander is fairly well liked, inferior in quality, and trees
blight badly.

Wealthy we saw in nearly every orchard, and with hardly an
exception the trees were loaded with fruit. Mr. Stickney re-
gards this quality of heavy bearing objectionable, on the ground
that its tendency is to shorten the life of the tree, like the Ben
Davis in our own state.

Duchess trees were everywhere loaded with fruit of very fine
appearance, except in the case of Mr. Stickney's own orchard,
where the fruit was badly afflicted with the work of the "little
turk," scarcely an apple on 100 trees being perfect.

The most promising of the new varieties of apples in this lo-
cality, and one that Mr. Stickney regarded very highly, was Mc-
Mahan's White. The tree is round-headed, a vigorous grower,
with dark green foliage, fruit above medium in size, greenish
yellow in color, in season about with Maiden's Blush. Mr.
Stickney has planted largely of this variety, and if it does as well
as its appearance indicates, it will be a valuable acquisition for
that season of the year.

Observing some young apple trees with straw tied up and down
the trunks on the south side of same, we were, upon inquiry, in-
formed that this was to keep off the flat-headed borer and pro-
tect the young trees from the rays of the sun while they were
getting started in their growth. This is an item worthy of trial
at least.

In one orchard were a number of trees of the Kentish Cherry.
Some of the trees were still loaded with fruit of excellent quality
at this date, August 7th. The tree is very similar to Early Rich-
mond in appearance, but the fruit ripens some two weeks later.
It is regarded here as their best cherry.

Mr. Stickney marketed sixteen tons of eiirrants from three
acres of ground this season, at a net profit of $800. The va-
rieties were mainly Prince Albert and Long Bunched Holland.
These two varieties retain their foliage throughout the season
while Fay's Prolific and Red Dutch, (though better in quality
for the table,) grown side by side, were barren of leaves at this
elate. A further objection to Fay's prolific is that its stems are
not sufficiently upright in their growth, reclining too much upon
the ground.

We visited Mr. Bombier's plantation of small fruits and found
everything in fine condition. The Jessie strawberry has done
very poorly for Mr. Bombier. He still prefers the Crescent and
Wilson for market. Of this season s planting we saw the
Bubach in a thrifty condition, but he had not fruited it as
yet. Of blackberries, the Snyder and Ancient Briton were his
choice of varieties with no special preference between them.

Pewaukee was our next objective point, and Mr. Stickney very

22 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

kindly accompanied us on our visit to the fruit farm and experi-
ment grounds of the venerable Mr. George Peffer. At the sta-
tion we were met by his daughter, Miss Kate, who drove us
through the village of Pewaukee to a place recently purchased
by Mr. Peffer and designed for his future home. This is a tract
of land located at the top of a hill overlooking a lake. The
natural beauty of the place has been greatly enhanced by Mr.
Peffer, under the direction of the former owner, by the planting
of shrubbery, evergreen and ornamental trees. Mr. Peffer has
given up many of the labors of his earlier years, but he is by no
means inactive, and his small fruit plantation shows excellent
care. In years past, he has been an enthusiastic fruit grower
and experimenter. He is the originator of the Pewaukee
apple, and has a number of promising seedlings now fruiting
upon his grounds. The Pewaukee he regards as the best winter
apple for Wisconsin, and has great confidence in its future. The
principal objection to this fruit is its tendency to drop its fruit,
and in Illinois this would be sufficient to condemn it for general
planting.

Among the new varieties that Mr. Peffer thinks worthy of
trial is Newton, a seedling of his own raising; season, late
winter.

Clark's Orange, an upright grower, full of fruit at the time of
our visit; season, February.

Pfeffer's No. 20, which we saw in nursery row laden with fruit.
Early winter.

Peffer' s No. 3 pear is a seedling of Flemish Beauty which it
greatly resembles in appearance of fruit. The tree has never
blighted and is a great bearer. Excellent for canning.

The original tree of Gibb's Crab still stood in nursery row.
The variety was selected by Mr. Gibbs from a large number of
seedlings for its quality. It ripens late in the season and is said
to be very superior for cider and for canning; with a few peaches
to flavor, cannot be told from that fruit.

Digressing for a moment from fruits we examined Mr. Pef-
fer's silo which may interest some of our members. The silo is
twelve by sixteen feet on the bottom and sixteen feet deep, and
is slightly larger on top than at the bottom, each side having a
slight inclination of two inches from top to bottom. When the
material with which the silo is filled settles it tightens and more
perfectly excludes the air on sides and corners. The corn fodder
is put in whole, alternating the ends of each layer and every two
feet in depth the position is changed to right angles to the layer
below.

Of raspberries he considers the Nehami to be superior to the
Gregg.

Newman's thornless blackberry he considers of value. There
was certainly an excellent crop of fruit on the canes, but they

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 23

trailed badly on the ground, and this would necessitate mulch-
ins to keep fruit off the ground.

On the following morning we took the train for Madison to
visit the experiment station of the Wisconsin University. This
city is nearly surrounded by two large lakes several miles in ex-
tent, and on the day of our visit was surely cool enough for a
summer resort. At the University we met Prof. Goff whom
some will remember as having attended our state meeting at
Champaign a few years since. In his company we visited the
experiment grounds. These are small in extent as yet, and as
the orchard set a number of years since for experimenting with
the newer sorts has been cut down, there was not much of inter-
est to record in this paper.

In the evening we continued our journey till we reached Bara-
boo, some fifty miles to the northward. Mr. A. G. Tuttle's
nursery is located here, and Mr. Tuttle is also widely known as
an experimenter with the famous Russian apples, from which so
much is expected by many. Mr. Tuttle called for us in the early
morning and we went out to his place about a mile distant. Here
we saw very much to interest us and more than we could well
digest in the short space of one day. We wish to say right here
that Mr. Tuttle, who has reached an advanced age, is deserving
of all credit for the experiments he has undertaken and the sys-
tem with which the work has been done. On his place is an
orchard originally set with Duchess and Utter' s red apples, of
which the former only remains, the Utter having been winter
killed some years since. Where this orchard stands the ground
is very rich. The Duchess in some instances showed signs of
injury, but were laden with fruit. In another orchard were some
eighty varieties of Russian apples, many of them in fruit, two
trees or more of a kind. We first visited the blackberry plan-
tation, the fruit of which they were now busy gathering. He
estimated the crop at 10,000 quarts to the acre. It was certainly
immense in quantity and excellent in quality. The variety was
Ancient Briton, which he regards as far ahead of the Snyder and
Stone's Hardy, both of which were growing upon his grounds.
His system is to give best of cultivation and cover plants in
winter. This latter is done by digging a trench on one side,
bending the plant over with a fork, throwing on a few shovels
of dirt to hold the plant down and covering with a light litter of
some kind.

Mr. Tuttle has discarded what is known as the common vari-
ety of Duchess apples, claiming that other varieties of the
Duchess family are superior in many respects. " However, no one
will know that they have another variety than the common
Duchess, as the fruit in appearance is identical. By the way,
there are several members of this family under different names,
and if you order any of them you will never know but what you

24 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

have the Simon pure Duchess. They are Annisette, Arabian,
Glass Green and AVhite Krim. Mr. Tuttle has tested them all,
and has selected the best, which he is now propagating in his
nursery and disseminating.

The White Transparent (or Yellow, which is the same) is an
apple of good size and a handsome fruit. I understand Mr.
Patterson, of Missouri, has several hundred trees of this variety
in his orchard. The season is summer, and while it is no doubt
of value, I should set it sparingly for market. In a family or-
charctit will no doubt prove desirable.

Early Champagne Mr. Tuttle speaks of in high terms. The
fruit is not large, and would regard its value to consist in
its extreme earliness.

Hibernal, he claims, is a better bearer than Duchess and a
better cooking apple. The fruit is large, and season early win-
ter. Very hardy and free from blight.

Longtield is very hardy, and Mr. Tuttle thinks will take the
place in Wisconsin of the Snow, as it is about the same season.

Eed Wine is a very handsome summer apple, of medium size,
and presents a beautiful appearance on the tree. Wortlry a
place, on account of its beauty in an amateur orchard. Good
for market.

Juicy AVhite, summer, has borne eight successive crops of
fruit. Quality, cooking.

Borsdorf, late winter. Generally free of blight. Fruit

rather small, similar to Gilpin. Quality, fair

Enormous, he thinks, will take the place of Fall Pippin.

Romensko. Large size. Winter. Only fair bearer.

Winter Oporto. Large, not a prolific bearer. Fruit clings
well to the tree.

Beautiful Arcade is a sweet apple, of good size. Season,
summer. Good bearer. Said to be the best sweet apple of
that season of the year.

Charlamoff , a full bearer.

The Annis family of Russian apples are all small and of value
only for northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Would be of no
value here.

Of the old varieties, the early Joe is regarded highly by Mr.
Tuttle.

I was surprised to see so many fine appearing apples among
the Russian varieties, and to note what prolific bearers some of
them are, but was also disappointed to see so many varieties
subject to blight and so poor in quality of fruit. The Alexander
family were especially subject to blight. In the notes made as
to quality of tree, etc., that could not be observed at the time.
The opinions expressed are those of Mr. Tuttle.

Most of the varieties were summer and fall, and the winter

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

25

apples would be of no special advantage to this locality. These
so-called fall and winter varieties of northern Wisconsin become
summer and fall apples when brought this far south. I saw
nothing equal to the Minkler or Roman Stem among the Rus-
sians for an all around winter apple for Illinois.

For early summer the White ( Yellow ) Transparent, Early
Champagne and Red Wine may prove of value to us, but in the
autumn and winter lists a number of the old standard sorts are
far ahead of any Russians I saw for Illinois. For those who
wish to test some of the most promising varieties, those above
mentioned are the best in our opinion ; no notes having been
taken of those whose appearance condemned them as unworthy
of trial.

Mr. Tuttle, who believes firmly in the future of the Russians
for northern latitude, expressed the opinion that probably for
central Iowa and Illinois there were varieties among the native
sorts that would prove of more value than the Russians.

The Hibernal resembles somewhat the Minkler in growth of
tree, but the Hibernal is hardy as iron, and would, in my opin-
ion, be a splendid stock on which to top work our semi-hardy
varieties. I desire to call the attention of those of our mem-
bers, who are using the crab stock for this purpose, to this variety.
The crabs do well for the nursery, but are of too slow growth in
the orchard on which to top work our strong growing varieties.

A little device that interested me was a picking box or form
into which the berry box was placed while being filled with black-
berries or raspberries, by the picker. The box was made of tin
of a suitable size to receive the quart box; the box has a hinged
cover with a funnel shaped hole through which the fruit is drop-
ped into the berry box within. There is a slot on one side for
the strap which goes around the picker's waist. This box pre-
vents waste in picking fruit, and the box being held by a strap
both hands are left free to gather the fruit. Mr. Tuttle has also
a very sensible picking ticket which is hereto attached. The
letters a a a are for one quart, b b b for two quarts, and so on
up to eight quarts for the letter h H h.

k-j

B

B

B

B

B

o

brj

IS

0

Q

W

>

-3

T)

—

B

B

B

B

hH

a

c

a

a

0

C

w

<■

c-~

O

B

w

B

B

B

B

hH

s

0

>T*

is

0

G

td

>

*

z

CO

03

CO

00

CO

00

00

CO

~J

en

Ol

A

CO

ro

—

"** 1

—3

o

0

Q

»

>

o

£5

£5

l-H

^

B

B

H*

o

n;

K

a

Q

W

>

O*

m

s

>-H

1— 1

B

B

B

B

a

c

^

IS

a

Q

WW

t*

.=3

H

The Lucretia Dewberry that we saw in fruit was very fine in
appearance and very poor in quality.

2(5 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLLINOIS

From Baraboo our trip took us westward across the state to La-
Crosse, on the Mississippi river. Mr. Harris, of LaCrescent,
Minn., came over the river in the morning and escorted us to the
fruit farm of Mr. Wilcox, just outside the city. Mr. Wilcox's
fruit farm is situated in between two hills and extends up the sides
of same with opening to the westward. He has used the crab
stock largely for top working purposes, but has abandoned them
owing to poor success. Here we saw McMahon's White again in
excellent condition and of good size. He thinks very highly of it.
The orchard is on a side hill. The Duchess here were very fine.
Whitney No. 20 in fine condition. Early Champagne he regards
with much favor. Here we saw a new seedling apple which in
fruit and tree seems to promise something more than usual for the
fruit growers of the north, and possibly for Illinois. The tree
bears well and the fruit keeps well through the winter. It is
called Wilcox's Seedling and as yet is not on the market. The
Pride of Minneapolis crab, w7ould think desirable as a cider
crab.

Of numerous plums the Cheeny, DeSoto and Polling Stone were
laden with fruit, and according to Mr. Harris are the three best
varieties grown, the Miner being far behind these in bearing qual-
ities. From here we went across the river to LaCrescent and
visited the fruit farm of Mr. Harris, for many years past identified
with the Minnesota State Society of which he has been President.
Here we saw much to interest us, but as his trees were not in
bearing this season the fruit we did not see. He has many new
varieties in the nursery and orchard which will be heard from as
they come into bearing, through the Horticultural press, to
which Mr. Harris is a liberal contributor.

Leaving here Saturday evening we arrived in Minneapolis Sun-
day morning, where we spent the day, being called upon by Mr.
Hilliard, Secretary of the Minnesota Society.

Monday, Mr. Wyman Elliott, President of the State Horti-
cultural Society, called with his carriage ana drove out to the
State University buildings and experiment grounds. The agri-
cultural department of the University is separate from the main
University buildings, being about two miles distant, and is run in
connection with the experiment station work. There are some
forty students taking the Agricultural and Horticultural courses
of study, and this idea of carrying forward the work of this depart-
ment separate from the University proper, is becoming very popu-
lar among the farmers of that state. On the experiment grounds,
which are quite extensive compared with those of Wisconsin, we
found many new varieties of fruit trees and plants, but none in
fruit, most of them being too young to bear. In all probability
many new items of interest will come out of the work they are so
energetically carrying forward, but no items were found of inter-

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 27

est to us for record now. The Weaver Pluin we saw in full
fruitage, mainly free from the curculio's work, due no doubt to
spraying with arsenical poisons.

On Tuesday, in company with Mr. Elliott, Mr. Harris and
Colonel Stephens, we took the train out to Lake Minnetonka,
where we visited the fruit farm and experimental orchards of
Peter M. Gideon, \Jie originator of the Wealthy apple. Here we
saw peach trees in the perfection of foliage and growth, bearing
fine specimens of fruit, and trees twelve feet in height.
This is accomplished by laying the tree down and covering
during winter with hay or fodder. Wood ashes are used about
the roots to keep off the borers. Claimed to have eighty
varieties of peaches growing on the place. Mr. Gideon said the
three best apples for the north were the Wealthy, Peter and
Excelsior, varieties originated by himself.

In the early settlement of the country Col. Stephens, who
was one of our party, had discovered an unknown variety of tree
on a point near the upper end of the lake, which was in early
days used for manufacturing purposes. A section of this man-
ufactured Avood was sent to Mr. Barney, of Dayton, Ohio, who-
pronounced it Catalpa. Col. Stephens had been told that an
occasional stump and young tree could still be found there..
It has often been questioned whether the Catalpa is ever found
in so high a latitude, and the Colonel desired our opinion
as to its genuineness. But the appearance of the country
has so changed that he found it impossible to locate the
spot.

Every fruit farm in Minnesota, judging from the ones we
visited, has resolved itself into an experiment station full of
interrogation points, and they are bound to find fruit for their
part of the country, if research and effort count for anything,
Mr. Gideon has many hundred seedlings set out in orchard for
testing.

Thus you see that others are worse off than ourselves, and we-
have much to be thankful for, after all, but at the same time our
efforts to secure a better winter apple for Illinois should be-
carried forward with vigor.

These notes have spun out much longer than we intended, but
much has been omitted. The conclusion to be drawn from them,
is obvious— that the field is still open for that new apple that
has the quality of the Jonathan, the hardiness of the Duchess,
and the bearing qualities of the Ben Davis.

In passing over the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway,
we were pleased to see the depots, new and tasty buildings,
erected to please the eye as well as for comfort, and the grounds

Elanted with trees, flowers and foliage plants. An example we
ope all our railroads will soon follow. The smooth track,

28 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

luxurious cars and accommodating service, in connection with
the splendid farms, handsome houses, immense barns and
beautiful lakes that are constantly presenting themselves, makes
the journey a constant delight.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Gaston — We have cultivated the Salome apple and my
expectations are fully met with it. I have them here on exhibi-
tion. Its quality is good, and the tree hardy; it is a long keeper.
Then we have the Hennepin, which is supposed to have been
pollenized by the Ben Davis. The Hennepin is a great bearer,
long keeper and rapid grower.

Mr. Shank — I have an apple that I want to present. It is
extensively grown in Schuyler County under the name of Bent-
ley Sweeting. It has been kept two years. It is a vigorous
Dearer, hardy, well-shouldered, like the Early Harvest. I am
growing quite a number of them, and one can get them in Schuy-
ler County. I tried some new varieties last spring, and among
them was the Salome. I lost three out of the five that I put out.

Mr. President — So far as some apples are concerned, theytare
very hard to get to grow when taken from the nursery, but when
they are once established, they are all right. I know that to be
the case with the Willow Twig. That also might be the case
with the Salome. My experience has been that we are as apt to
get the apple we want here in Illinois as any where .

Mr. Shank — I do not believe that an apple will ever be pro-
duced that will be a success over a radius of one hundred miles
in this country. One locality may find what is adapted to its
peculiarities, but in another locality it will fail.

Col. Brackett — The idea of locality is necessary to be con-
sidered. The idea of going to Russia or any other foreign coun-
try for an apple, is absurd. It is assuming that the soil and
other conditions of environment are similar to ours. It is very
important to consider the question of adaptability.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 29

REPORT OF E. A. RIEHL, DELEGATE TO THE MISSOURI
STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mr. President:

According to instructions, I left home on Monday evening,
Dec. 2d, and laid over in St. Louis until the next morning so as
to have a daylight trip and see the country through which we
passed. From St. Louis, west to Pacific, the land is rolling and
fertile, much of it laid out in lots for suburban residence pur-
poses. For some distance from Pacific the road passes through
the rich valley of the Merrimac, containing fine farms. Before
reaching and after crossing the Gasconade river the country
becomes rocky and rough, the prevailing timber being post-oak
and black-jack, no pine is seen anywhere on the line this side of
Lebanon.

Shortly before reaching Lebanon we came to a better soil, aud
when Lebanon was reached we were agreeably surprised. The
town of about 2,500 inhabitants is situated on an elevated pla-
teau having a dark soil like our prairies. The town is well built
and looks prosperous. At the depot we found President Evans
and the local reception committee, who received and conducted
all comers to the homes of the citizens. Those who preferred
to stay at the hotel found their bills paid by the citizens when
they came to leave.

The first day was devoted to decorating the hall, placing the
fruit in position and getting acquainted with each other. The
meeting was opened the evening of the first day and, though held
in the opera house, every seat was occupied, as was the case
every evening of the session. The local attendance was better
than at any Horticultural meeting I ever attended before. This
was owing partly to the character of the people and the fact that
the meeting had been well advertised, but I think mainly to the
program. The Mendelssohn Society were on hand and gave
chorusses, quartettes, double quartettes, vocal and instrumental
solos, which were given between the papers read. Your repre-
sentative was honored with the chairmanship of the committee
that examined the fruits and awarded the premiums. The fruit
shown was the finest I have ever seen, nearly all grown on the
Ozark range, on new land and young trees. Several new seed-
ling apples were shown, some of which promise to be valuable,
especially a seedling of the Yellow Belleflower, grown at Lex-
ington, Mo.

Also a pear shown by Mr. Mulincrodt, of St. Charles, that
keeps longer than any other good pear we have.

As elsewhere, the Ben Davis is the apple par excellence for
profit. There are a number of varieties that are promising, but

30 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

none are well enough tested to be recommended for extensive
planting. The York Imperial is a fine apple, much liked by
growers and dealers, but objection is made to its habit of
growth, which is very upright.

The Mamoth Black twig and Arkansas Black are identical, and
the impression seems to prevail that it is not very desirable.

The W. W. Pearmain does remarkably well in some localities,
and some growers are making it their main variety instead of
the Ben Davis.

There were shown some apples from southern New Mexico,
grown on the high table-lands, that were fairer and freer from
insect marks than any I have ever seen before. In appearance
.and coloring they resembled wax specimens.

The small fruit interest is much larger in southwest Missouri
than we have any idea of. The growers have just formed a
Shippers' Association, and claim to have 900 acres of strawber-
ries for next season's fruiting. As with us, the different
growers prefer different varieties. The Crescent, however, is in
the lead. Capt. Jack, Downing, Sucker State, Haverland,
Bubach and Warfield are favorites with many. The Jessie
seems to be very variable, praised by some and condemned by
others.

Peaches are being largely planted, but as yet catching the
curculio has not entered into their calculation . When asked what
they proposed to do with the curculio, they said they proposed
to plant enough for the curculio and themselves, forgetting that
the curculio, like all other creatures, will increase in proportion
as its food is increased, and ere many years their peaches will
be as wormy as any, unless they start to war on this pest of
stone fruits. They head their trees low, two or three feet from
the ground, and on these cannot well use a catcher. Perhaps
by the time they find out that they must do something against
the curculio, they may have found a way to successfully poison
him without injury to the' trees. Their country and orchards
are new and their fruits comparatively free from insect depre-
dations, but they have the insects with them, as I know, and it
is only a question of time when they will have as many insects
as we and must fight the insects to have good fruit. But they
have a good fruit country, a mild climate, and cheap lands,
where a man can make a home with small means.

Their Society is well managed by the officers, who are all
peculiarly well qualified for their various offices and work
together harmoniously. The members have the good sense to
•annually re-elect thern to the offices they fill so well.

Mr. Riehl — I questioned some of the members present at their
meeting regarding the curculio and their method of treating that

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 31

pest. They .said that they were not bothered with the curculio,
but specimens I saw were clearly so affected. They claim to
have 60,000 peach trees in one orchard in Howell county.

REPORT OF DELEGATE TO STATE HORTICULTURAL

SOCIETY, INDIANA.

BY F. I. MANN, GIL MAN.

This meeting was held in the elegant Horticultural rooms of
the new capital building, at Indianapolis, where I arrived long
enough before the first session to take a view of the fruit on
exhibition, and become acquainted with Secretary Hobbs. While
not so large a display as is usually made at our own meetings, or
as frequently made at the Indiana meeting, the principal kinds
were represented by some very fine plates. Some plates of apples
from the banks of the Ohio river excelled any apples I had ever
seen. A display of California fruits, sent the Society by its
President attracted much attention. In this list was the sweet
orange, navel orange, lemons, citron, dates, olives, and Japan
persimmon.

We found the Society under a little temporary embarrassment
from the absence of its President, Dr. Furnas, who has, during
the past year, moved to California, but the members soon warmed
up to the subject under discussion, and made the general discus-
sion the feature of the meeting, which it seems was anticipated
by the secretary from the small number of papers read at each
session.

Mr. Ragan, who is well known in our Society, made a report on
the Agricultural College of Purdue, in which he grieved over the
small number of students taking horticultural courses. Prof.
Troop, of the Experiment Station, made a report on the experi-
mental testing of varieties, and his list of valuable trees for plant-
ing was very long.

Prof. Stockbridge, Director of Experiment Station, LaFayette,
gave a paper on the changes in Quality and Composition of Fruits
Through Applications to the Soil. After discussing the various
chemical combinations and changes of plant life and fruit develop-
ment, he gave the effects of the application of potash to the soil.
His results showed that this application lessened the proportion
between free acid and the sugar in fruit and hence improved the
quality. Prof. Stockbridge also gave a report of the results of
girdling grape vines on the appearance and quality of the fruit,
and he thought girdling would prove of great benefit. The dis-
cussion following pretty well developed the fact that girdling
would destroy the vine.

32 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

Prof. Ragan gave a paper discussing inany features of horti-
culture— its progress and development, and some things which
could be expected from it.

Mr. Sedgwick, of Richmond, gave his experience with grapes,
and of many kinds placed the Niagara at the head. Pie does not
cultivate, but mulches well and has excellent success.

I found the members of the Society a set of earnest and able
fruit growers, proud of their state and their new State House,
which by the way, is probably the best public building ever built
for the money used. I was under many obligations for the cordi-
ality and hospitality shown me.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. F. I. Mann — A gentleman told me that it was the experi-
ence in California that the thing needed for the codling moth
was to find a parasite for it. He thought that spraying did not
amount to a difference in their fruitage of more than ten per
cent. He said they had sent to Australia and got a parasite for
the scale insect, and they were looking for one for the codling
moth.

Mr. Vandenberg — I would like to ask what is the. best spray-
ing apparatus?

Mr. Gay — First, last, and all the time, thorough cultivation of
the ground and picking up the decayed fruit is the best protec-
tion against the pests. Orchards should be cultivated all the
time.

Mr. Patterson — I am sorry to disagree with the gentleman.
I have picked up thousands of apples which had fallen,
and I have my first codling moth to find on such apples, so I
think it is useless to turn in the hogs ; they would not eat any
worms, if they did eat the apples. I spray my trees with a
coarse spray, large drops, and I spray with Paris Green at the
rate of seven ounces to a fifty-four-gallon barrel of water, which
is below some of the recommended forms. I shall try the spray-
ing again, but I shall be careful. I have a. finer spraying machine
now, and I shall put it on more diluted, if I get courage to put it
on at all. I have tried the paper bonnets, and I have caught ten
to fifteen thousand moths each year. I make the caps of news-
paper and tie them on with soft twine; I thought I must do that

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 33

to save the crop, but for some reason or other I had more wormy
apples than my neighbors.

STREET AND ORNAMENTAL TREE PLANTING.

BY A. DUNNING, DUNNING.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :

The subject that has been assigned to me, Street and Orna-
mental Planting, is one worthy of a more fluent pen than mine.
It is a subject that could be enlarged upon sufficient to constitute
a volume; but I assure you I will be very short and try to come
directly to the point in the endeavor to give some of my ideas on
the subject.

I will divide it into four sections: First, What to plant;
Second, Where to plant; Third, How to plant; and Fourth, the
After care.

What to plant depends very much on the circumstances and
adaptability in reference to soil and the effect sought to be ob-
tained.

For street planting, there is nothing better than elm, ash, linden,
and catalpa. In some, parts of the State where the soil is dry,
the hard maple I would class among the best; but, about Chicago
on our wet, black soil, it is about the poorest tree we can plant.
As to the lawn and grounds, I would increase the list of varieties
in proportion to the size of grounds. If there is room plant even
some of those not generally classed as hardy, and give them a
little protection during the winter, for a few years, and you will
be amply rewarded for the trouble in producing an effect, that can
only be attained by having a large variety.

Where to plant is a subject that has puzzled a good many.
For street and sub-division planting, I would plant a double
row. On streets of sixty-six feet width, I would place the out-
side row eight feet from the lot line, in the street, and the inside
two feet inside, on the lot. Twenty-five feet apart is about
the right distance to plant. I would alternate the outside
row with elm and ash, and set linden and catalpa in the inside row
opposite the spaces on the outside. Of course this may be varied
according to the taste or the circumstances surrounding, but I
like the effect of planting different trees in rotation; it does not
produce the sameness that is obtained by planting one variety.
For the country I would not advise close planting on the streets*
as it has a tendency to make bad roads. Nevertheless plant just
the same and plant largely too. Place the trees in clumps and
groups in the corners of the fields ; and, if you will plant a cluster
at every forty acrs corner, it will serve to mark the boundaries,
besides breaking the wearisome monotony of our vast prairies.

—4:

34 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

When it comes to planting your lawns and grounds, above all
things avoid rows. Plant singly and in clusters; if you are not
an expert, a good way to get at this — if you intend to plant in the
spring — is to commence now. Get a bundle of stakes five or six
feet long, lath will do. Set them in clusters as you propose to
plant your trees. Place them so as to hide unsightly objects, and
yet leave a clear view of points beyond, that may be desirable.
Then from time to time view them from various standpoints, a
window or other place of advantage, and change location as you
find they hide something you wish to be seen fronra salient point,
or leave exposed a view you wish to shield. I venture to say that
between now and the time for planting you will get them very well
arranged.

How to plant. In the first place do not be afraid of getting
the holes too large for the trees. Take a little more time and
have at least three or four inches of space all arouncl to spare,
especially if it is in sod or hard ground. Cut away broken parts
and smooth the ends of the roots with a sharp knife, or shears.
If the ground is dry throw in a pailfull or two of water for each
tree, when it is half filled with loose soil. In the case of large
trees where there is a mass of roots and consequently many cavi-
ties, water is the best thing to wash the soil down among the roots
and make it compact; a very desirable object to attain. Do not
plant to exceed two inches deeper than the tree originally stood.
When you have filled up well around your tree, tramp it and
tramp it hard. The better the soil is firmed around the tree, the
surer its growth.

Now as to fourthly and lastly or After care : This is an import-
ant matter and one that is shamefully neglected all over the coun-
try, from the man who plants an additional shrub in his yard, to
the pioneer on our Western borders, who is trying to perfect a
tree claim. How often do we find a tree set and then left to
struggle for itself with weeds and grass , in connection with drought ,
severe heat and cold. Where it is possible, keep your ground
well cultivated, keep the weeds down and the surface of the ground
well stirred, and you will not lose many trees, if tbey were well
planted, and you will get double the growth you would otherwise
get. Where cultivation is not desirable, mulching cannot be over
estimated. Use almost anything from coarse manure to old straw,
or even weeds ; in fact I am not sure but grass and weeds are the
cheapest, most convenient and just as good, if the mulching is
only done in time. Take your scythe in June and mow all the
weeds along the roadside, and place them around your trees, and
you will find you have " killed two birds with one stone," in that
you have prevented the weeds from going to seed, have secured
an increased growth of your trees, and in many cases have saved
their lives. There is another advantage in this, and that is the
tidiness and better appearance your roadside will present.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 35

Another thing that is of great advantage to trees, that are set
in sod, is to loosen the soil around them with a forked spade in
the spring, for a few years after planting. Some twelve or fifteen
years ago, one day in April, some of our men got out of work and
we set them with forked spades, on a sub-division loosening the
soil around the trees. They went over about half of it, and the
effect has been marked ever since. You can see the exact place
to-day, where they left off. When it comes to the tender varie-
ties, and in fact all large trees, it will be found that a straw or
hay band wound around the bodies will be a great protection. It
will protect the sun-scalds we so often see on the south sides of
the trees, in summer, and from the constant freezing and thaw-
ing in winter, so injurious. The way to get at this is to go to a
hay or straw stack, and wind your bands into convenient lengths,
say twenty or thirty feet, then roll them up into balls and they
will be convenient to pass around the trees. Try it once and you
will find it is not so tedious a job as one would Suppose. Or
again :

These straw bands are easily made with a simple crank with
hook on the end that will turn easily in the hands. Throw down
the hay or straw — if tramped by horses so much the better.
Moisten it, and taking a wisp on the hook begin twisting while an
assistant pays out the straw evenly, walking backward as you
twist until enough for a good ball is formed. Then the assistant
separating the band from the loose straw commences to wind the
ball until the crank is reached where the end may be fastened
until wanted with a wooden pin thrust through the ball.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. H. D. Brown — Have you had any experience in planting
trees on streets in a town like this? I have sold trees for plant-
ing all over this town, and there has been little success with them.

Mr. Dunning — Pains must be taken with each individual tree.

Mr. Vandenberg — I will say that you should not be afraid to
use the pounder, unless the ground is very wet. I have set thou-
sands of trees on streets in St. Louis and seldom lose any of the
trees. If it is properly planted and pounded and mulched, it will
need almost nothing afterward. Plant solid.

Mr. M'Cleur — We set out trees two inches through, and have
a man get down on his hands and knees and work the dirt in
among the roots. The ordinary way of throwing it in and tramp-
ing it, does not get the dirt among the roots and be in contact
with them before they can grow well. I have not much faith in

36 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

pouring in water, as some do. If the ground is dry, and you pour
in water, most of it will go into the soil; and there is also danger
of starting too much of a growth. If the dirt is packed firm it will
do better. With many trees, especially the hard maple, we wash
the trees with some strong alkali — say concentrated lye to keep
out borers. It is cheap and can be put on frequently. Elms-
should be treated in the same way. I would not advise planting
maple but some want it.

Mr. Dunning — Speaking about working in the dirt, that is well
enough, but after that is done, I think a pail of water will finish,
packing in the dirt better than it can be done in any other way.

Dr. Lyons, Hamilton — I have adopted evergreens as ornamental
trees. I planted with care, and lost hundreds of trees. Yet I
thought things were done in the best manner possible, but that
won't save the evergreens from dying. All the water and all the
care in the world will not preserve evergreens if you once let the
dirt dry on the roots. The outside moisture on the roots must
not be allowed to dry, if you want the tree to live. There is a
resinous substance on the outside of the roots, and if the roots
once become dry, water can never penetrate that resinous cover-
ing, and the plant cannot but die. There is not a tree on my
place that I don't prune every year. I have a pair of long shears,
and in some cases I climb the trees. I sent to the State of Maine
before I got an Arbor Vitee that would grow.

Mr. Pearson — The gentleman evidently understands the mystery
of planting evergreens. As he tells you, if the roots dry, they
will never live. There has been through the West almost a furor
for planting evergreens. They are planted because they are rare.
But from my observation and experience I want to say that we
have not an imported evergreen that has proved itself worthy of
planting to stand more than twenty years. The Norway Spruce
which has been at the head of the list, ninety-nine out of every
one hundred of them when they are twenty-five feet high are a
nuisance, if not taken care of. I have some that are thirty years
old and they are worrying me. I know that I must keep the topsy
the upper limbs, trimmed, shorter than the lower ones or else the
tree will be full of holes. I would advise to set out what we have
near us, though we have nothing native with us except the little-

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 37

red cedars which the birds have set out for us. We need not go
to Europe for Norways or Scotch pines. I don't belive there is
a member here who wants to plant Scotch pines. The Austrian
pines hold on a little longer, but they don't look well. We have
a tree that grows in the swamps in this country, and all through
New England. It is the prettiest thing that ever grew, and I
think that when once established it don't require as much care as
the pines, and that is the Hemlock. Down at Jefferson Barracks,
the Government has had them out for many years, and the officers
have taken a fancy to them and they are, some of them, thirty
feet high and are simply magnificent. There is no prettier thing
in the way of a tree, but they are hard to make live. The White
Pine if planted in groups of about a half dozen makes beautiful
groups. They keep their color better than the Austrian and
Scotch. Pruning evergreens seems to have various effects on them.
A friend of mine showed me a Norway that was about the only nice
tree he had. I said that the cause of that was his keeping it
pruned, but I found afterward that the tree had died from the
effects of the pruning. We know that where evergreens are
pruned a whole bunch of shoots start out, and that makes the
limbs thicker, and I have known that to kill the trees.

Mr. Jackson — I do not find any difficulty in putting out Hem-
locks. I have not lost more than one in fifty.

Mr. H.D. Brown — lam glad to see the Hemlock championed. I
have Hemlocks twenty-five years old, and I don't allow any man
to trim them.

Dr. Humphrey — If I have a hobby, it is in setting plants and trees.
I have set five hundred plants and not lost one. I water them
even if it is raining. I invariably put water in the place of plant-
ing. If I have the ground just right, I water once and only once.
If the ground is a little dry, I put in a pail of water and then let it
stand a little while, then put in another pail of water. I put out
the tree and make the ground firm towards the top. I never pound
the roots but pound the ground near the top. Some years ago I
set out ten Willow Twigs, and the roots were dry and I put two
pails of water with each tree, and I have picked seventeen crops
from those trees, and 1 have never lost one of them. In regard to
planting evergreens, I never expose their roots to the air.

38 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

President Dunlap— As to planting trees by the roadsides, I think
they should not be put on the east and south, but on the north and
west. Our soil will not bear much shading, so we should not put
them on the south, if we want good roads ; and then we don't need
shade in the forenoon, and therefore the east side does not re-
quire trees. Then in hot afternoons it is pleasant to have shade
trees on the west, and on the north is not objectionable.

Mr. Pearson — In some of the old countries they consider it quite
an art to make what they call "Pollards" of the trees. They cut
out the top and make the head closer. I have read of Pollard
Oaks in England three hundred or four hundred years old. In
Central Park, New York, are some beautiful trees, some with
beautiful round heads that at a little distance one would not
recognize the tree at all, and yet they are nothing but a common
willow. Such trees trimmed with a round head are ornamental
and are not readily injured by storms. That way of .treating trees
is also common with Lombardy Poplars which is a poor tree.
They cut them back and make a tree with trunk three feet in
diameter, but the head will be close and thick.

TUESDAY KVENINQ

YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE FARM.

BY MISS LUCY BRYANT, PRINCETON.

Farming to-day, with its improved machinery of all kinds for
lightening labor, is not what it was when our parents and grand- ■
parents were young. Work that was heavy drudgery then, re-
quiring much time and patience, is now accomplished with ease
and rapidity.

Owing to these many improvements, the young people of
to-day have much more leisure for social enjoyments and
pleasures than those of half a century ago. However, I am sure
we do not enjoy ourselves more than they did, and perhaps do
riot appreciate our privileges as we ought.

To my mind there has always been a nameless charm connected
with the stories told by our grandparents of the good old days
gone by, when " apple-parings '," "husking bees" and merry-
makings of a similar kind were enjoyed by young and old, and a

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 39

certain warmth and heartiness which then prevailed is missing
from the social gatherings with which we are familiar.

It has been said that the young people of to-day are more
inclined to cultivate their heels than their heads. My dear
friends, let not this be said of us. The long winter evenings on
the farm give much time for study and reading and for im-
provement in all ways. See to it that we do not let this time
pass in idleness, without making some effort to better our men-
tal and moral character.

None of us would care to be called "a drone in the hive," and
we must improve our youth — it will not stay.

Good literature can now be bought so cheaply that the poorest
of us have no excuse for being without good books. Many
farmers' boys and girls are obliged to leave school before they
have acquired as high an education as they desire, and much can
be done to perfect themselves in their studies by spending a part
of their evenings, at least, with their books.

While there is much hard work on a farm and many young
people sigh for release from such a hum-drum life, and long for
the bustle and activity of a great city, they must remember that
there is no trade or employment that can be made successful
without persistent, steady effort, and there is no royal road to
money-making without hard toil, both with hand and brain.

Agricultural pursuits are seldom overcrowded and the induce-
ments to young men to remain on the farm to continue in this
line of business, become greater and greater with the improve-
ments in farming methods.

It seems to me that each one should have some special aim- in
life, should try to find out and cultivate what seems to be their
"one talent," whatever that may be. Of course, if one has no
liking for farm life or work he had better choose something else
more suited to his taste, and then do all in his power to make a
success of the chosen work.

Boys and girls! do not be too anxious to leave the farm, think-
ing it the worst place there is. Many have left home dazzled by
the glamour and bright prospects their imagination pictured, but
were doomed to bitter disappointment and failure.

Commercial and professional classes are now so overcrowded
that success in them has become quite uncertain. Many who are
engaged in clerking and similar occupations, hold positions for
years on a meagre salary, in situations which have become
burdensome to them, simply because they are unable to find
others.

Of course it rests with our parents, in a great measure, whether
our homes are made attractive or not. In the humblest homes
order, thrift and cheerfulness may abound, and where these are
found contentment is seldom missing. Who of us having spent
all of our life in the country would willingly exchange our home

40 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

for the heated, noisy city; could we realize, even in a small de-
gree, the greatness of the change?

There is no life so happy, free and independent, as that on a
farm, and let us hope that agricultural pursuits may hold a prom-
inent and attractive place in the eyes of the youth of to-day, who
are choosing their life work.

THE FLOWERS OF NATIONS.

BY MISS MARY MORRICE, HAMILTON.

Flowers, as symbols and emblems, have played an important
part in the world's history. In studying history we sel-
dom read of a country or nation but had its favorite flower.
They have for ages been used as types and emblems of affection,
loyalty, and the different traits of human character. Thus we
find nations adopting the favorite flower of their greatest mon-
arch, as their national flower, simply because of their love and
admiration for him ; or political parties adopting a flower that
their leader wears, as their badge.

The lotus, a kind of water lily, was the symbolic plant of
Egypt. The waters of the Nile and adjacent rivulets were covered
with these beautiful flowers. The lotus was used by the Egyptians
at feast and funeral. Many of the Egyptian mummies are found
with those flowers in their hands and on their heads. At the
feasts of the aristocrats, jewels carved in imitation of the lotus
were presented to the guests, and at the tables of the middle and
lower classes wreathes of the flower were placed on the guests'
heads. Pillars of houses, furniture, jewels, and the prows of
ships were carved in imitation of "our beautiful rose," as the
Egyptians called it. The sweet-scented heliotrope was also a
favorite with the Egyptians for many centuries.

The Romans dedicated flowers to all their gods, and it is from
them that many of our flowers received the meaning that is now
attached to them. With the Romans the lily was the emblem of
purity, the oak of power, the myrtle and rose of love, the olive
and violet of learning, and the grape leaf of festivity. Thus we
find Athens, the ancient seat of learning, has the violet for its
national emblem.

The lily was the sacred flower of the Jews. Solomon had them
carved on his temple, and they are mentioned in the Bible and
other sacred books very often. The gorgeous sunflower was the
sacred flower in Peru. The Peruvians worshipped the sun, and
they considered the sunflower as typical of their god. At the
feast of the Incas the Virgins of the sun wore wreathes of the
flower on their heads, and golden sunflowers fastened their flow-
ing white robes.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 41

The royal ensignia of Japan is the chrysanthemum. You see
them on the Mikado's state papers, carriages and flags; also on
the soldiers' eaps and uniforms, but the flower of the people is
the blossoms or the cherry tree. In Japan the people call a pic-
nic going to see the flowers, and in June they go to the woods to
see "the snow that does not fall from the skies."

The national emblem of Germany is the blue cornflower. The
German's great King Frederick was a man of very simple tastes.
He showed this very plainly in his choice of a favorite flower.
He preferred the simple cornflower to the loveliest flower ever
grown. While walking in the country one day, a little peasant
child, not knowing who he was, stepped up to him and gave him
a bunch of cornflowers. The king was delighted ; he thanked the
child warmly and slipped a gold coin into his hand. The flower
of France is the Fluer-de-lis, or flower of the iris. It is a pretty
flower and the Gauls were and are very proud of it. The idea of
the iris as a national flower was obtained from the tomb of a
powerful Gallic or French chief, who had in his day kept the
hated Saxons out of his country. Louis VI had the standards
and nobles' armor covered with the iris, but Charles VI reduced
the number to three, the mystical church number.' This has been
the number used ever since.

The royal badge of England is the rose. It gave its name to
the "war of the roses," in which by doing their best to extermi-
nate each other, the nobles allowed the Tudors to slip into the
throne and tyranize over them for several centuries. Then the
white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster gave way before
the astutely designed party-colored rose of the Tudors.

The thistle of Scotland is a very ancient badge. There is noth-
ing very pretty or remarkable about the thistle, but like the corn-
flower it has a decided tendency to spread, and one don't like to
get too close to it. Its origin dates from the time the Danes in-
vaded Scotland. The Scottish army had encamped on the side
of a heather hill, the dames were on another hill not very far
from them. They thought that they could easily surprise the
Scotch. So they started off and creeping stealthily up the hill-
side were almost at the Scottish camp, when one of them stepped
on a thistle. It was an entirely unexpected foe and he uttered a
cry of pain. This roused the Scotch who fell upon them so
savagely that they drove them out of the country. Hence the
adoption of the thistle as a national flower or badge.

When St. Patrick went to Ireland to convert the people they
gathered round him to hear what he had to say. He tried to
give them an idea of the Holy Trinity, but seeing he had made no
impression on them he picked up a clover leaf or shamrock, and
proceeded to show them. He let the petal in the middle repre-
sent God, the one on the right Christ, and the one on the left the

42 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

Holy Spirit. They understood him and ever after regarded the
shamrock as a sacred leaf.

In olden times Wales was a sort of independent kingdom.
The Saxons were always trying to conquer it, and, after many
failures, finally did succeed. In one of their battles the Welch
took up their position in a leek field. Their leader, St. David,
ordered each of the men to put a leek in his cap, to distinguish
them in the fight. The Welch won the battle, and somehow
thought the leeks had something to do with it. The Welchmen
always wore them on St. David's day, in commemoration of the
battle, and finally adopted them as a national badge.

These flowers, some of them pretty, some otherwise, represent
but very little to us. Indeed, some of them seem inappropriate
and uncouth. But to the nations who wear them so proudly, they
represent some chivalric deed of their fore-fathers ; some victory,
perhaps, which freed their country from cruel invaders, and are
thus made inexpressively dear to their hearts.

This country has not yet decided as to what will be its national
emblem, but let us hope that it will soon decide on some flower,
or flowers, which will not only be appropriate, but one which
the future sons and daughters of this country will be proud to
wear.

A REMARKABLE SEEDLING PEAR.

BY JAMES W. JONES, LINCOLN.

The subject allotted me, I am sorry to say, cannot, by my
inexperience, receive the attention it should have, as this is my
first attendance at your meetings ; but I shall try and give you
the history of one of the most remarkable seedling pears of
the day.

In the early fall of 1834, Mrs. Maria Fleming, with her hus-
band, came from the State of Ohio to the State of Illinois,
settling in what is now (Jorwin Township, County of Logan,
some seven miles west of Lincoln, and brought with her the seed
of one pear, which, after getting settled in their new home, she
planted in a tea cup. She raised a puncheon in the floor, and
placed the cup beneath it, there to stay until spring, when the
cup, with its future wonder, was brought to view, and the three
seeds were transplanted from their former place to Mother
Earth, there to come forth, in due time, to be not only the
wonder, but the delight, of all who see them. From the three
seeds there were grown three pear trees, of which two proved to
be very good pears, somewhat small, but very sweet. The third
tree (.the subject of our talk) proved to be the most profitable of
the three, the fruit being larger and of a better quality, the tree
a more vigorous grower, as time has proven, the hardiest of
any pear tree in our knowledge.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 43*

We shall christen our subject, "The Lincoln Pear," and by our
former statement, you will see that the parent tree is fifty-four
years old. It has always been free from that great enemy to our
most promising pear trees — blight. It is one of the most beauti-
ful and symmetrical growers, can always be distinguished by its
uniform heading, and as to its bearing qualities, we claim for it
that its equal has yet to be discovered.

My father has a tree (a sucker from the parent tree) that is
thirty-six years old, to which we have living witnesses that it has
borne fruit for thirty consecutive years, and in 1888 we are satis-
fied that this tree bore the enormous amount of fifty bushels,
and the fruit was sought after by every person who had ever
been familiar with it.

For quality, it has no superior, and hardly an equal — very rich
and juicy. We also claim more essential points for this pear
than can be accorded any other pear of to-day. We claim for it,
extreme hardiness, that is a prolific bearer, free from blight,
and in size and quality second to none.

Now, Mr. President, you may say that I am trying to boom the
Lincoln Pear, but I am of the opinion that praise beyond true
merit, dwarfs, if not kills, any subject, and I shall only add, that
for the last thirty years the history of our country is not com-
plete without the name of the lamented Lincoln, growing to
manhood in almost obscurity, yet by an all-wise Creator, was,
for his many noble qualities, brought forth to be not only the
wonder, but a guiding star of this, the nineteenth century; and,
just so, in time, will this remarkable seedling pear, for its many
excellent qualities, win for itself admiration from all who may
become acquainted with it.

ANTIQUITIES IN GRAIN AND FRUIT.

BY MISS EDITH GATES, HAMILTON.

In preparing the following essay I have been, to a considerable
extent, a gleaner. Gathering information partly from works
now out of print and some from books of more modern date.

It is hard to tell how long the art of rearing and developing
plants has been practiced, but it has been for many years; still
the origin or native place of many is unknown ; for instance,
grain has been so long in cultivation and has changed so under
different circumstances, that it is difficult to trace it back far, but
it is generally accepted that it was brought from India.

Maize, or Indian corn, was found in America when discovered.
It is now cultivated in the south and east of Europe, but it is
there known as Turkey corn, from it being supposed to have
been introduced by the Mohammedans after their conquest of

4A TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

Constantinople. In the early times in this country the chief
product of the Indians was corn, and it has descended until the
present time when it is still the chief farm product.

Rice is from Asia, and has formed the chief article of food of
China and India for many years. It was raised in large quanti-
ties in Carolina before slavery was abolished. The cultivation of
rice was the most unhealthful work in which the slaves were en-
gaged. It needs a very moist soil, and at certain times of the
year immense quantities of water were allowed to flow over the
rice fields and remain several months. The water was then re-
moved and the slaves were immediately set at work, sometimes
ankle deep in mud, with their heads exposed to the hot rays of
the sun, and it was not strange that many of them would soon
succumb to this exposure.

Although grain has much to do with the food of the world,
fruit is the most agreeable food known. The most important of
our fruits were formerly the product of warmer countries, but by
the art of cultivation they have become acclimated to temperate
regions.

The Greeks and Romans introduced many important fruits
into Italy from the many countries which they conquered. They
also spread the peach, apple, plum, pear, cherry and many other
fruits over Europe, and from Europe they have gradually been
introduced into America. In the time of Elizabeth the cultiva-
tion of fruit advanced very rapidly. The Queen herself being
very much interested in it, set a good example as a horticulturist,
Also great advantage in the cultivation of fruit has been derived
from the establishment of horticultural societies.

The peach is one of the beauties of nature. Its perfect shape,
beautiful color and delicious taste rank it among the highest of
our fruits. According to the earliest history that we find of the
peach, it was a native of Persia. From Persia it was introduced
into Egypt during a war between those two countries, but the
Egyptians regarded it with distrust as they supposed the King of
Persia had sent them to poison the inhabitants. It was intro-
duced into Italy in the time of Claudius, and in England in 1550.
Peaches are often cultivated in large quantities. In Montreuil,
a village of France, almost the whole population were employed
in growing peaches, which has maintained the inhabitants for
ages. They were brought to America in 1680, and they have been
one of the leading fruits in this country ever since.

The cherry was also introduced into Europe by the Romans,
but they appear to be natives of most temperate regions in the
northern hemisphere. It was a great favorite in England in the
time of Henry VIII, when it was cultivated in immense orchards.

The orange is a very useful fruit, and although it is the product
of countries much warmer than our own we are enabled by com-
merce to obtain it almost as cheaply as our own fruit. Ifi some

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 45

countries where the climate is too severe, magnificent conserva-
tories have been erected, and the orange is raised and cultivated
the same as in its natural climate. The first orange tree was
brought to England by Walter Raleigh. At Hampton Court there
are some orange trees said to be 300 years old. These, and also
some in Windsor, are kept in green houses in winter, and wheeled
into the open air in summer.

Grapes have always been considered as one of the healthiest of
fruits. Their earliest history is not known, but we do kn«w that
their cultivation dated back to Bible history. Bacchus who was
imagined to have taught its use in making wine was elevated to the
rank of a god. The vine that is now cultivated in Europe is said
to grow wild on the banks of the Caspian Sea, and, according to
some historians, the Northmen named the region where Rhode
Island is, Vineland, because of the irfinding the grape vine in such
now abundance.

Bananas were first known in Italy. They are now very common
to a great belt of country in the Torrid Zone, in the New World,
where many of the inhabitants use it as the chief article of food.
They were at one time cultivated in England in hot houses, and
were served at the banquet of Queen Victoria, being the rarest
and most delicate dish served. The " plantain" is a rank growth
of the banana. What is called a banana in the northern markets
is simply " plantain." The banana is entirely too delicate a fruit
to be shipped. The orange, also, has a rank growth, called " sha-
dows " or "forbidden fruit." They are palatable, that is if a
person likes Peruvian bark or quinine. They have been found one
foot in diameter with skin four or five inches thick. When the
skin is removed the fruit is found to be about the size of the com-
mon orange, but it is very bitter. This out-growth only applies
to tropical regions, it never occurs in temperate countries.

Apples were brought from the east by the Romans. The
small, wild crab was formerly the only species of apples, but it
has improved under cultivation, until it has gained the perfec-
tion of the present time. Homer describes the apple as being
the most precious fruit of his time.

As our country advances in cultivation, many of the heroes of
the early times are lost sight of, but one which I think deserves
being remembered is John Chapman, or, as he was familiarly
known, Johnny Appleseed, from the fact of his having, from his
early manhood, been a wanderer, spreading the apple seed over
the wide extent of territory in the Ohio Valley. Part of the
time he traveled with a horse and wagon. Once or twice he
used a canoe, but a greater part of the time he went on foot,
carrying the seed in immense leather bags. He got the seeds
from cider presses in Pennsylvania, and he would travel day and
night, planting seed as he went, and placing a rude enclosure
around each planting spot. He continued in this way until his

46 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

death, which occurred in Ohio. From these nurseries sprung
the beginning of the large apple orchards of Ohio and Indiana,
which States were afterward among the foremost in apple
culture in this country.

How happy must have been his life, always intent on making
the wilderness fruitful, never thinking of his personal feelings
or wants.

WEDNESDAY MORNING.

The house was called to order by the President, who iuvited the
l^ev. Mc Arthur to offer prayer.

The President announced the awarding committees as follows:
Class 1, F. C. Johnson, Kishwauke.
Class 2, Frank Cad well, Griggsville.
Class 3, P. E. Vandenberg, Jerseyville.
Class 4, Col. G. B. Brackett, Denmark, la.
Class 5, Charles Patterson, Kirksville, Mo.
Class 6, J. M. Pearson, Godfrey.
Class 7, Mrs. A. Bryant, Princeton.

Mrs. A. C. Hammond, Warsaw.

Mrs. H. M. Dunlap, Savoy.

Committee on Final Resolution. E. A. Eiehl, C. TV. Rowly.

The Secretary read the credentials of Mr. Henry Speer, Dele-
gate from Missouri State Horticultural Society, Prof. W. H.
Pagan from the Indiana Society, and Col. G. B. Brackett from
the Iowa Society.

On motion, these gentlemen and Rev. Mc Arthur, of Hamilton,
were made honorary members of the Society.

Mr. Hay, of Jacksonville — I would like to know if the entire
$1,000 appropriated for the experimental stations have been ex-
pended.

Secretary Hammond — No sir, only about $400.

Mr. Hay — Then I don't think we have the right sort of a com-
mittee. I don't believe in a committee that can't get away with
'•$1,000 in a year. The next thing we know they will be running
•off to Canada with the surplus.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 47

Mr. Gaston — 1 thiDk it would be well to increase the number of
the Ad-interim committee. I think the State work is suffering
for want of more extensive and thorough organization.

PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS.

BY HENRY M. DUNLAP, SAVOY.

Once again we meet around the Horticultural Board to com-
pare notes and talk over the events of the past year. It is well,
perhaps, that our annual history should be made a matter of
record, and, viewed in this light, it may have been wisely pro-
vided by the incorporators of our Society that the President
should deliver* an annual address; it might properly be styled
the President's Message.

This Society, at its last annual meeting, requested the Execu-
tive Board to make some provision for the establishment of
stations for experiments in horticulture. To do this in a man-
ner to insure success and lasting benefits therefrom, the Execu-
tive Board decided that the means at hand were inadequate for
the work. In view of this fact, and the necessity for extending
the work in other directions, and the printing of more copies of
the annual reports, the Board decided to ask the Legislature for
an annual appropriation of $4,000 in place of $2,000, as hereto-
fore received. Some of the officers went before the committees
of both houses, and explained the object of the increased
amount asked for, and the Legislature dually decided to grant
the request, provided that the Society should expend not less
than $1,000 annually in held experiments for the advancement
of horticulture. For this increase in our funds, we are indebted
to the many friends of horticulture in the Legislature, and to the
individual efforts of members of this Society, with their repre-
sentatives, but especially do we wish to thank those members of
the Legislature who made it their personal business to see that
we were successful, and among those it is but justice to acknowl-
edge our obligations to Hon. O. F. Berry, of Carthage, who had
charge of the bill in the Senate, and Col. Chas. Bogardus, of
Ford County, also of the Senate, and the Hon. Win. Oglevee,
of Clinton, and Hon. D. R. Sparks, of Alton, who looked after
our interests in the House. We owe much to these gentlemen
for their efforts in our behalf.

To secure this appropriation was one thing, and to wisely
expend it is another. The Executive Board immediately took
the matter in hand, and decided to establish three experiment
stations in each horticultural district of the State, making nine
stations in all. Rules were adopted and experiments decided
upon. As a report will be made upon this subject, I refer to it
here so that you may be prepared to discuss this question, hav-

48 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

ing all the facts before you. It is for your interests that this
money is to be expended, and while the final decision of the
matter must be referred to the Executive Board, suggestions or
requests will be in order, and I hope will be freely given. I
trust every member will take an active interest in this subject.
Of course some questions will take more than one year to settle,
but if we start right, and spend this money judiciously, I have
no fear but what future legislatures will continue the appro-
priation.

Just now the question of new hardy fruits, especially apples
and pears, is an important one, and having the past season, in
company with our Secretary, made an extended trip through
Wisconsin and Minnesota to investigate the desirability of the
Russian and other northern varieties of apples for Illinois, I feel
constrained to say that the discovery of a hardy variety of winter
apples for this State that will fulfill all the requirements, is much
more likely to be discovered within the borders of our own great
State than outside of it. It is possible that it exists here now.
Many varieties of apples are not propagated outside of the neigh-
borhood or farm of the originator, because no one has taken the
trouble to introduce them. I know of a number of such in-
stances and have heard of many more. In this connection would
it not be a wise act for our Executive Board to appoint a commit-
tee on new fruits, whose duty it should be to visit the grounds of
the originator of a new apple, and investigate its qualities, and
if promising, secure trees or cions for our experiment stations
and report upon them?

If it is also thought best to continue the investigation of
Russian varieties of fruit, would it not be a good plan for the
Societies of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota to pe-
tition congress to send a commission, composed of three horti-
culturists, to Russia to investigate and select the best varieties
they could find for testing? The number of varieties has entered
more largely into previous selections than quality. It is quality
we want and this we should have.

The Horticultural Department of our State Fair is not a credit
to the fruit interests of the State, and this is largely due to the
faulty arrangement of the premiums and the small amount of
money offered. The Stock Breeders and Dairy Associations
look after their interests in this annual exhibit, and it would not
be unbecoming for this society to appoint a committee, or for
the Board to properly bring this subject to the attention of the
State Board of Agriculture and suggest needed reforms. If we
do not take an interest in this subject, who will? While we are
not officially responsible as a society for this exhibit, we should
endeavor to have it represent, as far as possible, the great fruit
interests of the State.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 49

I congratulate the Society on its increased facilities for doing
good, and extending the work to new fields of investigation.
The outlook is much brighter than it was a year ago, and we
should go forward in the work of making our Society a power in
its influence for doing good in the State.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Pearson — I move to refer the report of the President to a
special committee. I do not want it to go to the Executive Com-
mittee.

Motion carried. President appointed Prof. W. H. Ragan, of
Indiana, Mr. S. W. E. Cook of Lacon, and Mr. E. R. Humph-
rey, of Qumcy.

President Dunlap — It is understood that this committee will
report to the Association either to-day or to-morrow.

SECRETARY'S REPORT.

BY A. C. HAMMOND, WARSAW.

Our last volume of Transactions, No. 22, was completed and
sent to those entitled to it on the 11th of February, about the
same date as last year. This prompt publication is very gratify-
ing to our readers and when compared with our neighbors, not
one of whom complete their report before July and some of them
not until September, is creditable to the management and energy
of the Executive Board.

I have, during the season received many congratulatory letters
from officers of other societies, asking how it was possible to get
out so large and perfect a volume in so short a time.

At the meeting of the Executive Board in Springfield, Jan. 15,,
1889, the necessity of doing something in the line Of horticul-
tural experiments was discussed, and although without available
means, it was decided to begin in a small way, hoping and believ-
ing that the Legislature would be made to see the importance of
the work and grant us a small amount of means to carry it on.

Bills were, therefore, introduced by Senator Berry and Repre-
sentative Oglevee, appropriating $4,000 per annum to our Society
instead of $2,000 as heretofore. It was bitterly opposed in some
quarters, but by the persistent efforts of a few true friends, it
finally passed, and on the 17th of May received the signature of
the Governor. This bill provides that at least $1,000 shall be
expended annually in experimenting " in the growth, care and
development of the horticultural interests of the State." All
—5

50 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

has been done in this line that circumstances would permit; a
report of which will be made during this meeting.

WE MUST ENLARGE OUR WORK.

Our increased appropriation gives us the ability to enlarge our
work, as well as increase the labor and responsibility of the offi-
cers and Ad-interim committees, and the next season will, no
doubt, witness a forward movement all along the line. As one
means of extending our work, it will, doubtless, be thought best
to print and distribute a larger number of reports which will do
much to shed horticultural light in those portions of the State
where our work is little known.

It has occurred to me that if the Officers, Executive Board and
Ad-interim Committees were constituted a committee of obser-
vation to look after new and promising fruits ; the behavior of
old varieties under different treatment and on different soils ; to
encourage and assist in the formation of local Horticultural So-
cieties and Farmers' Clubs, and mingle with the farmers in their
Institutes, Clubs and Granges; much might be done to interest
them in the work of tree planting, fruit growing and home
ornamentation.

FLORICULTURE.

The question of Floriculture we are glad to see coming to the
front, and it is our duty as well as pleasure to encourage it, as
its influence upon the rural and village home is of the most ele-
vating and ennobling character.

I hope that I may not be considered egotistical if I speak ap-

Eroviugly of the three Floral Societies of my own County. They
ave been in active existence for several years, and have done
much to create a taste for and stimulate the cultivation of
flowers, and I will venture the assertion that nowhere in the
west can we find three towns of equal size that can boast of as
many cultured, pleasant homes and such a profusion of floral
beauties as Carthage, Warsaw and Hamilton.

How often have the choicest treasures from these floral col-
lections been called to crown the bride and grace the marriage
feast. How many have found their way to the bedside of the
sick to shed their beauty and fragrance there, often in the
humble home of poverty and distress. And when the black
winged angel of death has done its fearful work, how the
crushed and bleeding heart has been soothed by these emblems
of the brighter life beyond, and comforted by the expression of
human sympathy. And methinks I hear the Master say to these
ministering spirits, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of
the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

AH honor to the Floral Societies of Hancock County; may
every town and hamlet in the State emulate their example.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 51

INSECTS AND DISEASES.

The experience of the last year has proven more conclusively
than ever before that insects, scab and rot, will destroy from
half to three-fourths of our fruit, unless we constantly and per-
sistently combat them. The experience of entimologists and
practical pomologists prove beyond question that the codling
moth, canker worm and curculio, our three most destructive
insects, can be controlled by the use of insecticides, and I am
quite positive that diseases of fungous origin, such as Scab,
Grape, Peach and Plum rot, can be overcome by the intelligent
use of Fungicides, when we learn what to use and how to use it.
This question should, and no doubt will receive careful attention
at the horticultural experimental stations for several years to
come, and we may reasonably expect valuable results.

FRUIT EXHIBITS.

Our fruit exhibits, in connection with our annual meeting,
have been very successful and interesting, and should be con-
tinued and perhaps more and larger premiums offered. But it
has occurred to me that if we could make a satisfactory arrange-
ment with the State Board of Agriculture, as is done in Wiscon-
sin, Minnesota, Kansas and some other States by which a great
educational exhibit of horticultural products of all kinds, es-
specially new and unknown varieties, could be made at the State
lair, it would prove a great attraction there, and arouse an in-
terest in horticulture that would greatly benefit the farmers and
horticulturists of the State. And as the most cordial relations
exist between the two Boards, and we are both engaged in the
same common cause, I see no reason why an arrangement of this
kind cannot be made.

OUR BURDEN BEARERS.

I think it proper at this time to call the attention of the So-
ciety to some of the earnest, self-sacrificing men who have done,
and are still doing, the work that has given the Society the high
position it occupies among the Horticultural Societies of the
land.

We have always been fortunate in the selection of Presidents,
and to the good work they have done may we attribute much of
our success. Our present President came to the office under
trying circumstances, but has not proved an exception to the
general rule, and for nearly two years has rendered faithful, un-
remunerated services. During the session of the Legislature he
spent weeks of valuable time watching and pushing our appro-
priation bill, and did much to secure its final passage.

The members of the Executive Board, past and present, are
among our most intelligent and faithful workers. Very few un

52 TRANSACTIONS OP THE ILLINOIS

derstand how much time and thought are required to properly
manage the affairs of the Society, hence their work is not always
appreciated.

The Ad-interim Committees have also done good work for the
Society, and I do not think we can do a wiser thing than to en-
large the committee and extend the work into every county in
the State.

The work of our experiment stations is such that only the
most intelligent, observing and painstaking men can fill the po-
sition of Director. And work as they must, without compen-
sation and largely without appreciation, I think we shall always
find such men to undertake it.

Besides those enumerated above, we find in every portion of
the State men and women who are deeply interested in the
work, and ready to respond to every call of the Society. These
men and women are its life and hope, and it is a pleasure to
know that their number is increasing each year.

RAILROAD COURTESIES.

We appreciate and gratefully acknowledge the kindness of
the railroads which have taken into account the meagre means
we have with which to do so large a work, and granted us
passes, which have enabled the President, Secretary and others
to make valuable investigations at a nominal cost.

We are under special obligations to the Wabash, Illinois
Central, Chicago & Northwestern, and Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul for courtesies extended.

THE PRESS.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the press of our State for their
many kind notices of our work, and especially to the agricul-
tural journals, who seem to thoroughly appreciate our work,
and understand the difficulties we are laboring under. Through
their cordial co-operation, we are able to make public any facts
or notices that we may desire.

THE SECRETARY'S WORK.

When the work of the Secretary's office begins to decline, we
will know that we are retrogating, but at present we seem to be
in no danger of such a misfortune. The determined effort that
was made to secure our appropriation, added to the work of all
the officers, but especially to the Secretary's.

Our Arbor Day work brought a large correspondence, includ-
ing many enquiries as to lists of trees for special purposes,
methods of planting and caring for them, as well as for a de-
mand for our circulars (although a large number were printed)
that greatly exceeded the supply. The number of specimens of

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 53

fruit that have been sent to this office for identification, and of
new varieties for an opinion as to their probable value, has
greatly exceeded that of any previous year.

Our experimental work requires thought and careful attention,
and the general correspondence of the Society is constantly in-
creasing. I refer to this only to show that the people of the
State are beginning to appreciate our work, and that we are
making progress.

OUR RErOKTS.

During the past two years, the demand for full sets of our
reports has been very large from Agricultural Colleges, Experi-
mental Stations, Scientific Associations and Public Libraries,
and it is to be regretted that we have been unable to comply
with these requests in full.

When I took possession of the office, I only found from one
to a dozen copies of the first eight volumes, while of Volumes
XIV, XV and XVI there were from 200 to 300 each. I have,
therefore, been able to only furnish sets beginning with Vol-
ume IX.

It is to be regretted that provision was not made early in
the life of the Society to preserve a certain number of each vol-
ume for contingencies of this kind. I found none of the reports
of our neighboring societies in the library, but now have on our
shelves all of these reports as far back as they can be procured.

Since the last Annual Report the following orders have been
drawn on the Treasurer:

Dec. 13, 1888— J. S. Browne, expense Board Meeting $ 13 SO

" 13, " A. Bryant, expense Board Meetiug and cash ad-
vanced 15 75

" 13, " H. M. Dunlap, expense Board Meeting 10 70

" 13, '• F. I. Mann, expense Board Meeting 11 S3

*' 13, " E. A. Riehl, expense Board Meeting 0 40

*' 13, " Jacob Auer, premium 8 75

" 13, " E. F. Babcock, premium 3 00

13, " L. R. Bryant, premium 14 25

13, " E. W. Bryant, premium 1 00

13, " R. C. Berry, premium 3 50

13, " J. J. Cart, premium 1 00

13, " B. Buckman, premium 6 00

" 13, " L. Hall, premium 75

■" 13, " A. C. Hammond, balance due Secretary 264 09

" 13, " W. R. Crain, premium 10 25

■" 13, " S. F. Connor, premium 50

■*« 13 " G. W. Endicott, premium 100

■" 13, " J. T. Johnson, reporting 20 00

u
■a.

54

TRANSACTIONS OP THE ILLINOIS

Dec.

13, 1SS8-

a

13,

tt

tt

13,

tt

tt

13,

tt

t<

13,

tt

tt

13,

tt

tt

13,

<•

tt

13,

tt

tt

13,

tt

tt

13,

it

tt

13,

u

tt

13,

tt

(t

13,

tt

tt

13,

tt

tt

13,

tt

((

13,

tt

tt

13,

tt

tt

13,

tt

t<

13,

tt

tt

13,

tt

Jan.

16,

18S9

tt

16,

tt

tt

16,

tt

tt

16,

tt

tt

16,

1 1

tt

16,

t<

tt

16,

tt

tt

16,

tt

tt

16,

t<

Feb.

6,

tt

tt

6,

tt

tt

6,

tt

tt

20,

t <

<(

28,

tt

tt

28,

tt

tt

28,

tt

it

28,

tt

tt

28,

tt

Mar.

2,

tt

tt

2

it

Apl.

17,

tt

1 1

17,

tt

May

16,

t<

<t

16,

tt

it

16,

it

a

16,

n

-J.T.Johnson, premium $ 16 25

A. C. Hammond, premium 11 00

Bessie M. Nash, reporting 20 00

A. C. Hammond, Board meeting and cash advanced 16 10

C. B. Rockwell, premium 13 75

C. N. Dennis, Board meeting and cash advanced 22 51

E. A. Riehl, premium 18 50

Frank Harlan, premium 2 00

John Kramer, premium 3 00

J. S. Browne, premium 27 00

J. S Browne, Ad-interim work 17 77

S. G- Minkler, premium 10 50

J. S. Browne (Col. Brackett's bill) 4 15

H. G. McPike, premium 5 00

F. W. Poscharsky, premium 5 50

H. K. Vickroy, commission 44 52

TV. M. Samuels, premium 2 00

Edward Simms, premium. 2 00

J. Webster, premium 14 50

Mrs. C. E. Collins 4 00

-H. M. Dunlap, Board Meeting 13 25

J. S. Browne, Board Meeting 9 85

C N. Dennis, Board Meeting 12 40

William Jackson, Board Meeting 8 95

A. Dunning, Board Meeting 20 00

Arthur Bryant, Board Meeting 16 00

A. C. Hammond, Board Meeting and cash advanced 19 69

F. I. Mann, Board Meeting 11 72

Phil. Dallam, printing 51 00

Levytype Co., pictures 16 00

J. W. Franks & Sons, printing transactions 500 00

Bessie M. Nash, expense reading proof „ 47 50

J. W. Franks & Sons, printing transactions 314 22

J. S. Browne< Board Meeting 6 50

C. N". Dennis, Board Meeting 12 80

William Jackson, Board Meeting 6 20

F. I. Mann, Board Meeting S 10

H. M. Dunlap, expense bill 1& 88

L. Woodard, Northern Society 50 00

A. C. Hammond, expense bill 92 28

Phil. Dallam, printing 22 50

A. C. Hammond, cash advanced for experimental

work 29 71

J. S. Browne, Board Meeting 12 55

C. N. Dennis, Board Meeting and cash advanced;,. 14 40

H. M. Dunlap, Board Meeting ._. 14 OS

William Jackson, Board Meeting „ '. 12 25

" 16, "
" in, it

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 55

May 16, 1889, Arthur Bryant, Board Meeting $ 8 50

16, " F. I. Mann, Board Meeting 5 60

16, " A. C. Hammond, Board Meeting and cash advanced.. 20 95

" 16, " Treasurer Central Society 50 00

" 16, " Treasurer Southern Society 50 00

" 16, " H. M. Dunlap, expense bill 1 5 50

July 3, " A. C. Hammond, on salary 200 00

Aug. 3, " M. Crawford, account experimental work 24 72

Sept. 12, " Phil. Dallam, printing bill 12 50

" 24, •' J. S. Browne, account experimental station 30 77

" 24, " J. S. Browne, Ad-interim work 10 10

" 24, " A. C. Hammond, account experimental station 88 55

" 24, " A. Bryant, account experimental station 10 10

" 24, " A. C. Hammond, Committee meeting and account

experimental station 10 50

" 24, " A. C. Hammond, expense bill account experimental

station ...... 20 65

" 24, " A. Bryant, Committee meeting and account experi-
mental station 8 00

Oct. 26, " J. S. Harris, Trees, account experimental station 10 00

" 26, " A. G. Tuttle, Trees, account experimental station 15 00

'■ 26, i« Elwanger & Barry, Trees, account experimental

station 18 86

" 26, " Klark H. Lewi?, typewriter 50 00

Total, '. 82,639 95

The expenditures and receipts of the Secretary's office have
been as follows :

EXPENDITURES.

Express $ 14 78

Wrapping Paper, Twine and Stationery 4 45

Letter Postage 24 00

Postage on Circulars 39 50

Postage on Books 31 82.

Railroad and Hotel Bills 34 05

Office Table 6 00

Postal Cards 3 00'

Freight and Drayage 6 83

Telegraphing and Telephoning 1 56

Incidentals 4 32:

Blank Books 1 70

Salary ... 400 00'

Office Help 50 00

Total $622 01

56 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

RECEIPTS.

Jan. 16, Part of Order 51 , * $ 6 90

Mar. 2, " 64 92 28

July 3, " 77 200 00

Fourteen Memberships 14 00

Total . : $313 18

Jan. 16, 1889—

a

Feb.l 8, "

a

Aug. 14, "

a

Dec. [2, "

11

Balance due Secretary $30S 83

TREASURER'S REPORT.
H. K. Vickroy, Treasurer,

In account with the Illinois State Horticultural Societt.

receipts.

Dec. 11, 1888— To balance $696 39

" 13, " To Cash—membership fees 8100

State appropriation 200 00

" 1,800 00

M. Crawford & Son returned 1 54

State appropriation 1,000 00

expenditures.

Dec. 13, 1888-By cash, J. J. Cart No. of order, IS $ 1 00

Be nj. Buck man " " 19 6 00

L. Hall " '< 20 75

H. M. Dunlap " " 10 10 70

L. R. Bryant " » 15 14 25

Arthur Bryant " " 8 15 75

E. W. Bryant " " 16 1 00

F. I. Mann " " 11 11 83

C. N. Dennis " " 9 22 51

A. C. Hammond " " 21 264 09

Miss Bessie M. Nash.... " •' 28 20 00

AC. Hammond " " 29 16 10

" " " " 27 11 00

C. B. Rockwell » " 30 13 75

E. A. Riehl " " 31 13 50

J. S. Browne " " 7 13 80

" " " " 35 27 00

" " " " 36 17 77

J.T.Johnson " " 26 16 25

«; " " " 25 20 00

J.S.Browne " " 38 4 15

Jacob Auer " " 13 8 75

W. M. Samuels " " 41 2 00

(>

a

a

a

ti

(i

u

a

a

ik

a

a

(I

a

a

a

u

a

u

a

It

it

il

a

U

a

u

a

a

a

a

a

it

a

u

a

IC

a

t<

a

a

a

u

n

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

57

Deo. IS,

1S8S,

it

i.

«

tt

t<

(«

it

tt

t!

u

Dec. 20,

a

Dec. 22,

(i

it

(.

Dec. 24,

K

u

u

It

u

u

(I

Dec. 26,

u

a

»&

Jan. 16,

1889-

u

(i

M

4.

<<

<C

(.

(<

«

H

u

a

ft

c<

«

«

Feb. 11,

It

" 13,

it

" 14,

a

Mar. 2,

it

" 4,

a

" 4,

It

" 4,

a

" 7,

a

S.

a

a n

a

April 22

(l

" 22

it

May 6,

a

May 16,

a

tt

a

«

a

it

a

May 21,
May 22,
May 24,

By cash, E. F. Babcock No. of

" H. G. M'Pike "

E. A. Riehl "

" S. F. Connor "

" H. K. Vickroy «

'• G. W. Endicott "

" J. Webster & Son "

" F. Harlon "

" F. W. Poscharsky "

W. R. Crain "

" S. G. Minkler "

" R. C. Berry »

" Mrs. C. E. Collins "

" John Kramer "

" Edward Simms "

F. I. Mann "

" C. N. Dennis t;

" J. S. Browne "

" A. Bryant "

H. M. Dunlap "

" A. Dunning "

" A. C. Hammond "

" Wm. Jackson "

" A. C. Hammond "

" Miss Bessie M.Nash "

The Levytype Co "

J. W. Franks & Sons... "

" J. W. Franks & Sons... "

J. S. Browne ','

Wm. Jackson "

C.N.Dennis- "

F. I. Mann "

" H. M. Dunlap "

A. C. Hammond "

A. C. Hammond "

Phil. Dallam "

" L. Woodard "

" F. I. Mann "

H. M. Duulap <•

H. M. Dunlap "

" A. C. Hammond "

" Wm. Jackson "

J. S. Browne "

•' S. F. Connor "

W. H. Schureman "

" A. Bryant "

order, 14

(C

39

u

12

((

23

l(

33

il

24

(C

43

u

32

l(

40

a

22

tt

37

K

17

i.

44

a

34

u

42

(i

52

u

47

((

46

<(

5U

u

45

u

49

tt

51

a

4S

it

53

tt

56

tt

54

tt

55

tt

57

it

58

tt

60

it

59

a

61

it

62

a

64

tt

66

tt

65

tt

63

it

72

a

69

tt

76

tt

73

it

70

tt

67

a

75

tt

74

tt

71

3 00

5 00

6 40
50

44 52

1 00
14 50

2 00

5 50
10 25

10 50

3 50

4 00
3 00
2 00

11 72

12 40
9 85

16 00

13 25
20 00
19 69

5 95
51 00
47 50
16 00

500 00
314 22

6 50

6 20
12 SO

S 10

19 SS
92 28
29 71
22 51
50 00

5 60

14 OS
5 50

20 95
12 25
12 95
50 00
50 00

8 50

58

TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

May, 24. 1SS9, By cash, C. X. Dennis No. of order, 68 $14 40

July 13, " " A. C. Hammond " " 77 v 200 00

Aug. 8, " " M. Crawford & Sons " " 80 24 72

Sept. 28, " " J. S. Browne " " S0)£ 30 77

" " " J. S. Browne " " 81 10 10

" " " A. C. Hammond " " 84 20 65

" " " A. C. Hammond _... " " 82 88 55

" " " A. C. Hammond " " 86 10 50

" " " Phil Dallam " " 79 12 50

Oct. 7, " " A. Bryant " " 85 8 00

" " " A. Bryant " " 83 10 10

Nov. 2, " " A. G. Tuttle " " 15 00

J. S. Harris " " 87 10 00

Elhvanger & Barry " " 89 18 66-

Nov. 9, " " H.N.Lewis " " 90 50 00

Total $3,778.93 $2,639.96-

Balance $1,138.97

Respectfully submitted,

H. K. Vickroy, Treasurer.

REPORT ON FARMERS' KITCHEN GARDEN.

BY J. M. PEAK SON, GODFREY.

Mr. President and Members of the Illinois /State Horticultural
Society :

One year ago, I took occasion to say a few words about the
"Farmers' Kitchen Garden." I did not say much, but, I sup-
pose, because I did not say it very well, your Society has very
kindly given me another chance, vainly hoping that I might
improve. I, too, have had another year's experience, and it has
been very satisfactory. Although none of you doubt it, I wish
to say a few words to prove that, of all things to be had on a
farm, the "Kitchen Garden" is the one thing absolutely
essential.

First — We all need one.

Second — We all can have one.

Third — It costs but little, and yet a farmer cannot, for love or
money, secure the delicious products, unless he grows them
himself.

He may, as he needs, buy a horse, a cow, a bunch of steers,
or hogs, turkeys, chickens, ducks and geese. He cannot help

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 51)

buying the new-fangled tools, if he listens to the oily tongues of
the brazen-cheeked agents, and as for trees and shrubs, he must
buy them, to get rid of the persistent, prevaricating, persuading
peddler. But a "Kitchen Garden,'' he can neither buy, beg,
nor borrow. He must make it himself. I own, it is pretty hard
for some of us, who have almost learned to buy everything and
sell everything, except the farm.

When I say "he must make it himself," I mean to be under-
stood literally. I would not exclude the wife or mother, for she
is part of the farmer, and generally has nothing else to do in the
spring and summer times. I have seen excellent Kitchen
Gardens that owed their good looks to the mother, from the
time the plow left the soil. This makes me think that Kitchen
Gardens are like children, who generally owe their good looks,
whether of form, feature or clothes, to the same good woman.
This makes me think, too, that children, one's own I mean, are
good things to have in the Kitchen Garden. But I would as
soon have the bull or the turkeys in mine as the ordinary "hired
man"; he's no good. One's own children can be utilized and
educated, at the same time, in the Garden.

The Garden must be near the house, where the owner will see
it many times a day, and often improve the waiting moments.
It must be enclosed, at any rate, a part of it. It must be well
manured every year.

It should face the south and it should not have any trees near
it. It should contain, for the ordinary farmer's family, about
one-fourth of an acre. After plowing the work will be done
with hand tools mostly. If you wish to have a garden next
year start now. In our stiff clay soils, several day's time in the
spring can be gained by throwing with the plow the soil into
narrow ridges, say two furrows on each side, and giving surface
drainage to the dead furrows so formed.

Just as soon as the soil will work kindly, in my vicinity about
the middle of March, I plant the Extra Early smooth peas, fol-
lowing them at intervals with American Wonder and Champion.
At the same time set out onion seedling sets, and plant salsify.
This has been my first installment of work for twenty- three
years. I do not advise the making of hot beds as profitable for
any ordinary farmer, but as a means of education for children it
is not surpassed. I learned much myself in this way, and have
found no trouble in interesting my children in their care. But
financially it is better to buy plants. For two dollars I can se-
cure all the early plants of every thing I need. I mention cab-
bage, cauliflower, tomato and sweet potato plants as needful for
every one. Beets, turnips and carrots will do well enough
planted out doors. It will not do to hurry the planting of any of
the bean family, as they are sensitive to cold and are stunted in

60 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

their growth, if not actually killed by it. I would advise a pretty
early planting of the small sweet corn, to be followed about two
weeks later with the larger, better varieties. Of course weeds
are not allowed and the soil must never be allowed to crust over
by heat. In the corners of the garden where the plow will not
reach, you can profitably have a few ever-growing onions,
spinach, sweet herbs and horse radish for the family. Of course
these ways will be ridiculed by the professional market gardener,
but it is none of his business as he is not compelled to follow us.
What would be wise and profitable for him would be folly and
extravagance for us, and vice versa.

Although we cannot hurry up the planting of the beans we
must not neglect them. The bush beans for early, and for late
the genuine lima. We have tried some of the so-called "im-
proved varieties," but have, after trial, been compelled to go
back to our first love, the old large lima. It is on this plant that
you may exercise your patience, ingenuity and skill. I have
secured a good stand by gently helping the baby beans to the
light of this world, with my knife gently loosening the soil
around the swollen seed leaves so that they could open them-
selves to the sun, and even removed the tough skin for the same
purpose. Then, too, the average young lima bean will need
several lessons before he can succeed in climbing; and I have
even been compelled to lash him to the stake, once taught he
climbs hand-over-hand. Don't let more than three plants grow in
a hill, otherwise you will have a crop of all vines. I don't know
wThat to say about late cabbage. For the last few years- the
worms have made cabbage life a burden. Paris green will kill
them, but it must be faithfully applied early and late.

I wish to include among the indispensables Khubarb and
Asparagus. The former, to do well, will ask for the whole
manure heap, and the latter will not be willing to divide the
aforesaid heap. But for the former, it can be helped by re-set-
ting and dividing, and the latter, by giving plenty of room for
the plants. This last, you need make but once in a lifetime.
I know beds in continual use for more than forty years,
and have one myself almost twenty years old, and still doing
well.

This is about all I want to write. I hope some of you will be
foolish enough to ask questions. A nice old gentleman did this
last year, but he died, or will, die after it.

As I close, a vision of green, soft things comes up before me,
beautiful to behold, but still more beautiful to realize, minister-
ing not only to fleshly appetite, but invigorating the senses, and
causing us to render grateful thanks to God, the Giver. I have
said it could not be bought, begged, nor borrowed, and I now
believe its value cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. You

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 61

might as well talk of "buying a sunset," or "purchasing filial
love."

DISCUSSION.

Dr. Lyons — I did not hear any specific directions about raising
lima beans. I have often failed to get a good stand. I first get
my ground in good shape and then I am careful to plant the bean
with the eye down. If it is put down flat, it will rot.

Mr. Pearson — That is all old work. I also am careful to put
loose soil over the beans and to keep it loose. Many times when
a crust forms over the beans they will break their stems in trying
to get to the surface, that is to say, it dies in being born. I have
dug the soil loose and they will sometimes come up with a snap.
I let them run as high as I can reach, and then pinch back.

Mr. Hay — There is a new bean — Henderson's small Lima — that
is very satisfactory. It does not need poling at all.

THE FARMERS' KITCHEN GARDEN.

BY L. A.BUDLONG, BOWMANSVILLE.

There are but few people who do not like all the garden vege-
tables in one form or another, as they are prepared for food ; and
there are no articles of diet that contribute more largely to our
general health, and to depriving the doctor of his fees, than do
they, when they are generally used. Not only are they the most
healthful articles of diet, but many of them are most luxurious as
well; and in times of scarcity are more sought after and command
a higher price than almost any other article of human food. Such
being the fact, do our farmers realize it? Do they realize the
value and importance of a good Kitchen Garden ? Do they realize
that the absence of a Kitchen Garden. and the cultivation of corn
and oats, and the living on "hog and hominy" may be one of the
causes of that complaint which we so often hear, that our farmer' s
boys are leaving our farms, and seeking to live in the cities? The
housewife who said that "the way to reach a man's heart is through
his stomach" knew well the value of a well provided table, in
maintaining a happy home, and were she a farmer's wife might
well say "give me a good Kitchen Garden," and I will be responsi-
ble for the rest. However desirable good gardens are, the writer is

^62 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

persuaded that they are far from being as universal as they should
be on our farms. And especially, is this the case, among our
western farmers. Their attention and time being occupied so
closely, with their broad, and numerous acres, that they hardly
find time to think of the value and importance of the small lot of
land. Our good housewives are always advocates of a good Kitch-
en Garden, and are keenly alive to its importance. They know
the value of it to their tables; that when they are perplexed and
can hardly decide what to prepare for the next meal, (to best please
their "lord and master") how often the Kitchen Garden will come
to their rescue, and contribute largely to a meal that is fit for a
king. We are firmly impressed that there is little that our farm-
ers can do, that will result more to the material benefit of their
families, for the time expended, than to supply them liberally with
good garden vegetables ; and being of this mind it seems that such
a course should be pursued in preparing this paper as might in-
duce the largest number to try the plan. To this end, with your
kind indulgence let us attempt to produce in a farmer's garden
the vegetables recommended last year, in some way that may best
suit our situation. First, let us consider that very little, if any
land is rich enough without fertilizing, to grow an assortment of
good vegetables ; consequently we must use manure and use it
liberally. We will select an acre of our best land, far enough from
our house to be out of the range of our poultry yard, for the
garden and poultry cannot thrive well together, and we want to
save the time and expense of fencing against them, if near the
house; and besides we want room; we are not fitted to enjoy
being cramped up in a small inclosure. Having made our selec-
tion we will fertilize with a good coat of manure, and plow it in
the fall, if possible, and again in the spring, pulverize nicely, and
level the surface as much as practicable.

The vegetables recommended to us by our committee last year are
asparagus, radishes, lettuce, peas, beets, onions, salsify, cabbage,
tomatoes, bush beans, sweet corn, lima beans, cucumbers, melons,
rhubarb, horseradish, and I will add potatoes and turnips. Here
are eighteen different varieties, and the problem to solve is, to. suc-
cessfully cultivate them with ordinary farm tools and get the
best crop at the least cost. . We will plant in rows three feet apart,
some in hills and some in drills. First to be planted in the spring,
are the most hardy sorts which are the asparagus, rhubarb, horse-
radish, peas, onions, radishes, lettuce, beets, salsify, cabbage, po-
tatoes and tomatoes. After marking the ground in rows three
feet apart we will plant according to the following table, which
shows the quantity of each kind of seed needed, the length of row
and what part of an acre it should plant, and the yield to expect,
according to the average of its kind.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

63

Amount of Seed.

Length of

Row it

Should Plant

Amount of
Crop,

2 quarts Early Peas 44 rods 4-80 of an acre 5 Bushels.

Tart of Acre
it Should Plant.

2 " Late " 44

1-4 pounds Onion Seed GO

1-8 " Beet " 33

1-8 " . Salsify ".

50 plants Asparagus

50 " Rhubarb

20 hills Horse Radish

100 Early Cabbage

300 Late "

90 Tomato plants

3 bush. Potatoes 308

2 ounces Radish Seed 6%

2 " Lettuce " 6%

1 pint Early Sweet Corn... 33

2 quarts Late" " " .... 99

2 " Bush Beans 44

2 " Lima " 44

2 ounces Melon Seed 22

2 " Cucumber Seed 22

99

22

44

99

4-80
. 6-80
. 3-80
. 2-80

. 2-80

4-80

• 2-80
•28-80
. 1-80
. 1-80
.. 3-80
.. 9-80
. 4-80
.. 4-80

• 2-80

• 2-80

5

15
7
5

.350 Cab'ges.

■■ 20 Bushels.
... 75

• 40 Dozen.
120

• 5 Bushels.

• 5

• 22 Dozen.

• 10

Peas, onions, beets, salsify, radish, lettuce and beans, sow in
drills. For asparagus and rhubarb, dig a trench one foot deep,
by one wide, till the trench half full of manure, and set the
asparagus so that the crowns of the plants will be from four to
six inches below the surface of the ground, and the rhubarb so
that the crown of the plant will be just under the surface. Plant
in hills three feet apart.

Any part of a horse radish root that has the bark on will grow.
Cut the root in pieces about two inches long. Plant in hills two
feet apart, and four inches deep. Sow cabbage and tomato seed
early, very thick in drills, and when large enough, transplant the
former two feet between each hill, and the latter, f©ur feet. Cut
the potatoes in pieces, three eyes on a piece, and plant fifteen
inches apart. Plant the early sweet corn two and a half, and the
later, three and a half feet between the hills. Plant both as soon
as safe from frost, and follow with three more plantings of the
late, with from ten days, to two weeks, between each planting.
This will give sweet corn every day from the time the first is fit
to cut, until frost comes.

Plant melons and cucumbers from May 25th to June 15th, in
hills five feet apart. Early planting is more liable to be destroyed
by striped bugs and cut worms. By the tenth of July, both
kinds of peas have done bearing; clear away the vines, cultivate

64 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

the ground, and from the first to the tenth of August, cultivate
again, and sow with flat turnip seed. Be careful and not sow it
thick.

The writer remembers asking his father when he was a boy,
what was the proper quantity of flat turnip seed to sow on an
acre? He replied, "The rule is to sow one pound, and when you
have to sow it, you must weigh just a pound, take one half of it,
and start to the field to sow it ; fall over the fence while going,
and spill half of it, and sow the rest." Before we finish planting,
weeds will appear, and as soon as they do, (do not wait until
they have grown two or three weeks) start the cultivator, and
destroy them on all of our plat of ground; the part that is
not planted, as well as the part that is. And all through the
season, as often as any weeds appear destroy them, and do not
allow one to seed on any part of the ground.

Our ground is all planted in rows three feet apart, and being
so, admits the using of ordinary farm tools for its cultivation,
and saves us all the expense and trouble of buying and caring
for a special set of garden tools. A small hot bed would assist
us very much in getting the best results, but as we have under-
taken to make our garden by using such tools and means as the
ordinary farmer has at his command, and as the time and space
I might occupy may be needed for others, I will leave that.
There are also insects and grubs that will need our attention,
but we can hardly take time now to make their acquaintance
and learn their habits.

Our garden may be a little more extensive than will be
needed for ordinary families, but it will be readily seen that any
portion of it may be cultivated as well as the whole. Two hun-
dred dollars expended in a city for vegetables needed for our
tables would not supply us with more than our plat of ground
will produce with an ordinary yield, while but a small portion of
that sum will need to be expended to furnish them for us, on
our farm, and we shall have them fresh and better than they
can be furnished to us in any city. I have endeavored in this
article to furnish a guide that will lead the most inexperienced to
success, and I would urge all to try and attain it; but while
doing so, do not forget the orchard, the small fruits, and some

Elace for flowers that will furnish bouquets and gladden the
earts of our wives, children and friends, making them feel that
the prettiest and best place about our homes are our Farm and
Kitchen Gardens.

Following the paper Mr. Budlong said : I sow lima beans in
drills and plant a variety that does not run so that I do not have to
pole them. I plant the rows about three feet apart, so that lam
able to cultivate them with the ordinary farm tools. Some of

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 65

the remarks in the paper as to time of planting will not apply to
the southern part of the State, as this was written for the north-
ern part. I would add, destroy all weeds both on the implanted
as well as the planted ground.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Coe, of Quincy — As I am on the program for Horticultural
Observations, and part of my paper is on the Kitchen Garden, I
beg to read that part of my paper just here before the discussion
of the Kitchen Garden papers.

President Dunlap — If there is no objection, Mr. Coe may so
read his paper.

Mr. Coe read as follows : The ideal garden should be a rect-
angle, say eighty feet wide and ten to twenty rods long. The
rows should be placed crosswise of the garden, thus making them
eighty feet long and there should not be less than a row of any
fruit or vegetable planted. One end of this rectangular garden,
which may be termed the permanent part of the garden, should
be occupied by one row of each or the following: Currants,
gooseberries, pieplant, asparagus and, if you wish your neighbor's
daughters to visit you, one row of rose bushes, of as good a variety
as possible. If this last row is well cultivated you can raise roses
by the thousand and will find them far superior to those grown
in the sod. Again, one row of black raspberries, one of red rasp-
berries and three rows of grapes, each row being of a different
variety. The following is a good selection : One of the black such
as Worden or Concord, one of the red such as Deleware or Bright-
on, and one of the white varieties, Niagara or Duchess. I would
now plant three rows of strawberries and then the vegetables.
As I nave found by experience that nothing pleases the cook so
well as a good variety, call or send to the seed store for a cata-
logue. Select from this such varieties as you like best, send on
your order accompanied with the money and in due time the
seeds will be sent, which if properly planted, and the plants well
cultivated, will give you plenty to eat of everything in its season.
This style of garden will do for the farmer of 80, 160 or 320
acres of land, with a family of six, eight or ten. It should be
fenced on all sides with good woven wire fence. Remember to
leave at least ten feet between the ends of the rows and the
fence for a " turn row." Now be sure to have a one-horse cul-
tiv ator harrow, and garden culture is made easy.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Coe added — I use a cultivator hoe, and find it very good.
One end of the tooth is cultivator shaped, and it throws dirt to
—6

66 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

the plants. The other end of the tooth is for harrowing, and very
little remains to be done with the hoe.

Dr. Humphrey — I like the papers, but I think there is a
little lameness in Brother Pearson's. He ought to have used
two words emphatically — "early" and "in season." If a man is
going to run a truck patch, it is not like running a farm. I have
a brother that can run a farm better than I can, but I can beat
him in the truck patch. If you don't plant just at the right time,
just when the iron is hot, you lose a good deal. I am also sur-
prised that in neither of the lists are some of the best vegetables
grown. I did not hear anything about spinach, or carrots, or
parsnips.

Mr. Pearson — We plant spinach in the fall, but we are two or
three hundred miles apart. I said in my paper, to work as soon
as the soil works kindly, and with us that is about the middle of
March. I meant to say early, and if the Doctor didn't hear
that, I can't help it.

Mr. Gay — I think one important thing left out was celery.
Some gardeners think it is hard to grow, but I think it is about
as easy grown as radishes, and is one of the best things in the
garden. Another thing I want to impress on the attention of
the members, and that is the having a small hot-bed. It is easily
made, and I do like the hot-bed.

Mr. Beeby — And I want some cauliflower. It is better than
cabbage and is raised easily.

Mr. Vandenberg — As to the garden being away off in the field,
I would say that that is no place for it. If the garden is far from
the house, where it is difficult for the women folks to get to it,
you will frequently go without vegetables for dinner. There-
fore, I say, have your garden close to the house.

Dr. Lyons — Celery is very easily grown and does not require
as much work as cabbage. Plant in rows about^eight inches
apart in well manured soil, then let them alone until August.
About that time take a five-inch drain tile and pass your arm
through the tile and gather the stems of the celery together and
pass them into the tile. Then cultivate until the steins fill the
tile. About the first of September put a little mulch about the
■celery, and that is all that it needs.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 67

Mr. Budlong — I expected my article would be criticised for
what it did not recommend, and I find that considerable is left
out. Celery is one of the things I expected would be mentioned.
I started to write of a vegetable garden containing the number
recommended last year, with two additions. As to celery, I find
it very hard to raise except on ground especially fitted for it. If
the ground is sufficiently moist and watered from underneath, it
may do well. If you water the ground, or if you have sufficient
rains in the fall, you can raise celery successfully, but on the
ordinary prairie soil I would not recommend any man who is so
situated as to be able to buy a few bunches at a reasonable price,
to spend time trying to raise it. As to having the garden near
the house. Of course there are reasons why some may want it
there. If a man wants his wife and children to do the garden
work, then it may be better near the house; and, of course, it is
more convenient in gathering for the table. I think that if any
of you will try the plan of planting the garden away from the
house where you can use the plow and cultivator, you will never
after cramp it up in a little fenced patch near the house. There
is really little more need of the hoe in the garden than there is
in growing corn, provided you have the garden where you can
use the common farm tools.

President Dunlap — Mr. Budlong has about 400 acres in garden
near Chicago, and I presume he is able to answer any ques-
tions.

Mr. Gay — As to raising celery, Mr. Budlong has been talking
about raising it for market, when our discussion is for raising it
in the kitchen garden. I raise it and have little trouble with it.
After I have gathered my sweet corn I put out celery on the
same ground, the ground of course being in ridges and hollows
from the cultivation of the corn. I cultivate the ridges a little,
hoeing in a little dirt until about Sept. 1st. Then I open up a
ditch about a foot wide and two feet deep and put in a frame of
boards about three feet wide and as long as the trench. Of
course the ends of the frame must be kept partly open for ven-
tilation, and you can go and get your celery any time until spring.
There is great difference between celery so grown and that which
is shipped in. I know farmers who stop on their way to town
and buy celery of me, possibly to the amount of $15 per year,

68 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

while it doesn't cost me over, perhaps, $1.00 per year for celery
in my family.

Mr. H. D. Brown — Some one has said something about the
farmer's garden being an acre. I have experienced one " acher"
about the garden, and that is a back " acher." I am in the nur-
sery business, and I know that gardening is hard work, and I
say, therefore, don't expect your ladies to do the work. Another
thing; get your peas, early beans and all such things in early.
Just as soon as you can, get at your planting, and never mind
about the frosts.

Dr. Humphrey — Mr. Budlong, how do you plant and gather
parsnips?

Mr. Budlong — I plant almost everything on level ground, and
I cultivate level. I don't even hill potatoes. I used to hill them,
but I have quit it, and I have got the best results without it.
For the cultivation of all those small roots, I make the ground
as level as possible. I plow the ground in the fall, because the
grub worm whose nature is to hatch in the fall, and then burrow
in the ground, thus stands a good chance of being frozen, being
turned up to the frosts. And if you plow in the fall, plowing
under manure, and the spring is wet, you can then cultivate with-
out plowing; while, if you wait till spring to plow, you may have
to plow when it is too wet. In the spring, if I can, I plow a
second time to bring the manure to the surface, and use a
smoother on the ground. Then for planting small seeds I use a
seeder. I use one putting in three rows at a time. I would not
recommend a machine so expensive as that to our farmers, but
you can put in the seed with your fingers, being careful not to
press the dirt down. I don't know anything that I want the
dirt pressed on. I never touch the ground unless it is in fit con-
dition. ■ You say, suppose the ground is diy, what do you do?
Well, it is seldom but that you can cultivate it to get moist dirt
to the surface, but if it is too dry, I leave it until it rains. My
early experience — some thirty years ago — was in New England
on sandy soil, and there it did not make so much difference, you
could handle the ground almost anytime, and still if I was there
again, I would do as I say now, only handle the ground when it
is in good condition. I think it was in '61, the second year that

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 69

I was on the farm where I am now, I had several acres in beans.
They were up large enough to cultivate, and I got up one morn-
ing, and found that it had been raining during the night, and
threatened to rain more. However, I started the cultivator in
the beans. About the middle of the forenoon it cleared, and
by noon it was bright. The result was that that forenoon's work
cost me, at least, $150, by working when the ground was too wet.
The beans rusted until almost entirely spoiled, and I have never
cultivated when the ground was too wet since. If the ground
turns up slick when it is plowed, it is too wet. As to digging
parsnips, I plow by the side of the row with a common plow,
and pull the parsnips out by the side of the row.

Mr. Pearson— I believe I have not had much experience with
the ground being too dry ; it sometimes damages my back, but
not the soil. But you have got to keep off the ground when it is
wet. I want the ground to work kindly. I would not advise
any farmer in my neighborhood to undertake to run a garden of
an acre. If he has one-fourth of an acre, and handles it well,
he will find it enough. I don't believe, either, in leaving the
work to the wife and children, or the hired man. My enclosed
garden is close to the house, where I must see it at least twenty
times a day, and after the ground was plowed there was no
hired man in it, and I don't believe I was in it more than half
an hour any day, and I have few, if any, weeds in it, either.
Most of my work in that garden was done with the hoe. I know
market gardeners say that it will not pay to use the hoe, but
when I have a garden no bigger than this room, I think I can
use the hoe to good purpose.

SMALL FRUITS FOR THE FARMER'S GARDEN FOR A
FAMILY OF SIX-VARIETIES, CULTIVATION,

AND AMOUNT.

BY J. WEBSTER, CENTRALIA, ILL.

We are living in a progressive age when it becomes the tillers
of the soil, to understand and realize the things around them,
seeking to harmonize their pursuits with the peculiarities of
their surroundings, latitude, soil and climate. It is truthfully
claimed that successful farming is more complex than a majority of
trades, and demands executive ability equal to the management

70 TRANS ACTIONS OP THE ILLINOIS

of any business except one, the nursery business, which we who
have tried, know needs more than the professions.

The practice of gardening must necessarily vary much under dif-
ferent conditions of soil and climate, as also in our own State of
Illinois, Northern, Central and Southern, but some of the rules
laid down are of universal application. The production of a
garden the world over will depend very much on the rain-fall,
or artificial supply of water, and the judicious application of
manure and labor applied at the proper time.

The Greeks borrowed their methods of gardening from the
Persians. In our day and age we have abundant opportunities
of borrowing ideas from a mixed race of people, from every civi-
lized quarter of the globe directly and indirectly through the
Horticultural Journals, from men who are born gardeners; from
men who are gardeners in name; from men who are gardeners
for the love of it ; and the little money and glory there is in it.
Every farmer should be a gardener to the extent of supplying
himself and family with healthy, life-giving, and life-sustaining
vegetables and small fruits.

The pioneers in horticulture are true missionaries, and have
done good work in helping mankind in this particular.

In treating this subject it is necessary to give directions for
starting right. If the new beginner cannot comply in every par-
ticular, let him come as near to it as possible so as to make a start.

After selecting a good piece of ground convenient to the house,
make a liberal application of barnyard manure, ten to twenty two-
horse wagon loads per acre ; this should be spread as evenly as
possible over the intended garden and then broken up fine and
evenly scattered. Plow under to the depth of eight inches.

A heavy clay soil will be benefitted by running a subsoil plow
in every furrow, that will loosen to the depth of four inches
without turning on top ; then drag the entire surface both ways
with an Acme pulverizer until it suits you, so that in early spring
it will be all ready to lay off and plant.

During the winter months post yourself by every possible
means as to varieties adapted to your locality, avoiding the mis-
takes made by others, and making note of the success of your
neighbors.

The next important step is to lay out your ground so that the
greater part of the la7) or m cultivating can be done with tools at
your command at odd times, with one of the farm mules or
horses. Arrange for a "drive" also as hereafter stated for the
convenience of hauling and applying manure.

A convenient length would be six hundred feet. Three rows
of strawberries this length should make an adequate supply for a
family of six persons.

The ground, if possible, should be nearly level, with a fair sur-
face drainage. Plant your rows so as to run parallel north and

STATE HOKTlCULTURAL SOCIETY. 71

south. Two and a half feet from the western line of your
garden stretch your line, walking on it so as to leave a well de-
fined line mark on the soft ground. Plant your first row of
strawberries fourteen inches from plant to plant, two of a stami-
nate variety, such as Sucker State or Minor and three of pisti-
latc varieties such as Wartield or Crescent. If you wish to Keep
the varieties unmixed for future planting, it is necessary to plant
the second row entirely of staminate, and first and third of pisti-
late varieties.

One or twenty kinds may be planted in the same row by leav-
ing a space of three feet between kinds in the same row, and
driving down into the ground firmly a label stake to keep the
plants from mixing by running together. We find it necessary to
go through the rows with a harrow tooth, V shaped cultivator in
the same direction once or more every ten days, from the first of
August to the end of the growing season. This would be the
matted row system of cultivation. Strawberries may be planted
from the twentieth of March to the tenth of May according to
location and latitude.

The road to success lies near frequent, thorough and clean culti-
vation. A half hour may be profitably spent with the hoe quite
often through the summer months.

Between the rows the weeds may be kept subdued with a one-
horse cultivator or small plow, as comman sense and circum-
stances will .dictate. An occasional smoothing and breaking of
lumps is of great advantage in hot, dry weather.

We use a cheap, home-made drag, on which we believe there is
no patent. It is made as follows: Take a piece of cypress, or
pine joist, two by ten inches ; saw six pieces, two feet, ten inches
in length. Lay them down on the smooth, hard ground so as to
lap on each other three inches, like barn-siding ; bolt the pieces
together in this manner, with twenty-four light carriage bolts of
the required length and size; then, with a sawT, rip through the
center, crosswise of the laps. You have now two pieces, one
foot, five inches wide; couple them together with two heavy
strap hinges on top; fasten a short chain by means of a two-inch
auger hole in the front board, to attach a singletree; adjust so as
to drag square, the driver riding in a standing position. A sim-
ilar drag, four feet wide, may be of great benefit in the cultiva-
tion of other small fruits.

Mulching should be done promptly the early part of the winter
when the ground is frozen. Cover so as to entirely hide the plants,
but not too thickly. One good square two-horse load of slough, or
prairie hay, or straw, is enough for one-fourth of an acre. Oat
straw, or forest leaves, will answer, but under no consideration
use buckwheat straw.

Plant your gooseberries five feet from the third row. Plant a
row of Downing fifty inches from plant to plant, a continuous

72 TRANSACTIONS OE THE ILLINOIS

row, the same length as strawberries. Our mode of planting
gooseberries, currants, raspberries and blackberries, is to make
a straight, deep furrow with a one-horse plow, by going twice in
the same furrow, if not wet. Break up the lumps by dragging a
flat stone, or hard piece of wood, eight inches wide, of one hun-
dred pounds weight, up and down the furrows. This will leave
the ground in better condition, and greatly facilitate rapid
planting.

Six feet from the fourth row, plant a row of red raspberries,
two hundred feet in length; the first half of Turner, requiring
thirty plants, and the second half of Cuthbert, requiring fifty
plants. It is necessary to plant raspberries about four inches
deep, covering to the depth of from one to two inches at time of
planting, and well firming the earth about the plants, filling up as
they grow.

Seven feet from the fifth row, plant a row of Souhegan, or
Tyler.

Blackcap raspberry, twenty-six inches from plant to plant,
observing above instructions. Seven feet from your sixth row,
plant another row of raspberries, Shaffer's Colossal, or Gregg,
as your taste may choose. This will give you three rows of
raspberries, two hundred feet long, and if a liberal mulching
of manure, or half rotten straw, is given, and occasional cultiva-
tion through the summer, they will not fail to supply you with
raspberries. It is best to renew them every six years, at least.

On this plot of ground two hundred yards long, there should
be left a ten-^foot wagon drive, to be sown in tame grass. Three
and one-half feet from wagon drive, plant eighth row, on well
manured, deeply-plowed ground; a permanent row of Colossal
asparagus, twenty inches from plant to plant, in a furrow four
or six deep. Five and one-half feet from ninth row,
plant a row of mixed varieties of currants, three and one-half
feet from plant to plant, or four in black soil. Fay's Prolific is
desirable north of Centralia. Victoria, Red Dutch, White
Grape and Lee's Black, are reliable in most parts of Illinois.
Currants require rich, deep soil, with fair surface drainage; are
greatly benefitted by a liberal coating of manure annually.

Seven feet from tenth row, plant a row of blackberries ; Early
Harvest, Lawton and Taylor, south of Vandalia; Snyder, Erie,
Stone's Hardy and Western Triumph, in the north and central
part of the State.

Eight feet from the eleventh row, plant a second row of some
of the above blackberries, as they are a staple fruit for canning.
The first season they need occasional hoeing, and always thor-
ough horse cultivation in early summer. After the first season,
the growing canes are kept topped while the wood growth is
soft, in June and July, to three and one-half feet high. No

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 73

fruit will make a better return in yield and quality for heavy
manuring than the blackberries.

Thus a farmer can have, if he will, on a plot of ground con-
venient to the house— two hundred yards long, by thirty yards
wide, three rows of strawberries, one of gooseberries, two rows
of asparagus and rhubarb, one of currants, two of blackberries
and a convenient drive-way. At first cost, for plants and labor
of not to succeed forty dollars, a supply of small fruits and
asparagus for a family of six persons, the value of which cannot
be measured with dollars and cents.

REPORT OF THE EXPERIMENT STATIONS.

BY A. C. HAMMOND, SECRETARY.

At the January meeting of the Executive Board it was decided
that it was imperatively necessary for this Society to do some-
thing in the line of experimental work. In the face of many
discouragements, and without means to meet the necessary ex-
penses, they boldly assumed the responsibility of establishing
nine stations, three in each of the three horticultural divisions,
and determined to ask the State to grant a larger appropriation
to enable them to properly carry forward the work. And as you
all know, a bill of this kind was introduced in the Legislature
and persistently pushed to a favorable issue.

The following is a list of the number, location and Directors
of the several stations :

No. 1 — Princeton, Arthur Bryant, Director.

No. 2 — Nursery, J. V. Cotta, Director.

No. 3 — Marengo, C. W. Prescot, Director.

No. 4 — Savoy, II. M. Dunlap, Director.

No. 5 — Warsaw, A. C. Hammond, Director.

No. 6 — Oilman, F. I. Mann, Director.

No. 7 — Centralia, J. Webster, Director.

No. 8 — Alton, J. S. Browne, Director.

No. 9 — Odin, J. G. Vaughan, Director. (Mr. Vaughan has
since resigned).

In view of the uncertainty of securing funds for the work, the
only step taken at this meeting, was to instruct the Secretary to
procure trees and cions of promising new varieties of apples
from Illinois, Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri, of which he
could get definite and favorable information. In pursuance of
these instructions, about thirty varieties were collected and
planted or grafted at each of these stations.

Early in May our appropriation bill had so far advanced that
we were confident of its final passage, the President, therefore,
called a meeting of the Board at Normal on the 15th, to perfect
the plans for prosecuting the work.

74 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

At this meeting it was decided to appoint a committee of three,
one from each horticultural district, to take charge of the work.
The Secretary, Arthur Bryant and J. S. Browne were named as
the committee.

The following rules and regulations were adopted for the
government of the stations :

Whereas : This Board having established experiment stations
for the purpose of carrying out an act of the Legislature, appro-
priating one thousand dollars annually for experiments in horti-
culture, it becomes necessary in order to carry the work on in a
systematic manner, that certain rules and regulations be adopted
governing these experiment stations; therefore,

Resolved, . That the following rules be and are hereby adopted
for that purpose :

Rule 1. The experiment stations shall be nine (9) in number,
located in equal number in the three horticultural districts of the
State. Each station shall be in charge of a person designated
by the Executive Board of the State Horticultural Society, and
shall be known as Director of station Nos. 1,2, 3, &c. The Di-
rectors shall hold their positions until their successors are ap-
pointed.

Rule II. Experiments shall be undertaken at these stations
under, and by authority of the Executive Board, or a committee
of the Board appointed for that purpose.

Rule III. A committee of control shall be appointed at the
annual meeting of the Board, consisting of the Secretary 6f the
State Society, and two members of the Board, whose term of
office shall continue until their successors are appointed. No
two members of this committee shall be from the same horti-
cultural district. The Secretary shall be chairman of this com-
mittee and call meetings at such times as are deemed necessary.

Rule IV. The Directors of stations shall report to this com-
mittee and work under their direction. This committee shall di-
rect experiments authorized by the Executive Board and incur
necessary expenses within the limits of the appropriations made
by the Board for that purpose. All purchases shall be made
through this committee.

Rule V. No member of this committee or Directors of sta-
tions shall receive a salary, but actual expenses incurred under
authority of the Board will be paid. The Executive Board shall
audit all bills, but the Secretary may issue orders, countersigned
by the President, for incidental expenses, authorized by the com-
mittee, whenever it shall be deemed necessary.

Rule VI. Records of experiments made and undertaken, and
all expenses incurred, shall be carefully kept by each Director of
a station and records made of same in books provided for that
purpose by the Secretary. Directors of stations shall make
annual reports of experiments made and undertaken at their

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 75

respective stations, on or before the first day of December of
each year. These reports shall be sent to the Secretary and by
him carefully compiled for use at the annual meetings of the
Society, or for publication in the annual reports. Partial
reports shall be made from time to time when required by the
committee having charge of the experiments.

Rule VII. All plants, utensils, &c, purchased for the use of
the several stations shall be the property of the Society and
subject to the control of this Board, except in case of new
varieties of plants and trees submitted for testing by originators
or owners, which shall be subject to such conditions as shall be
agreed upon.

Rule VIII. The Secretary shall, in a book provided for the
purpose, keep a record of all expenses incurred, plants, &c,
purchased and distribution of same by stations; together with a
record of all meetings of the committee of which he is chair-
man. He shall keep a separate record with each station of all
experiments undertaken and made.

On the 16th of May the Committee of Control held a meeting
of which the following is the Report:

The committee met at the Sweeny Hotel in Normal. Present
the full committee.

On motion, it was ordered that the members of the committee
have special charge of the work in their own districts, and that
such experiments as may seem practicable in spraying and sum-
mer mulching be immediately undertaken.

On motion, it was ordered that Mr. Browne be authorized to
buy such strawberry plants as maybe desirable to plant next fall.

After considerable informal talk, it was decided that under
existing circumstances, it would not be practicable to lay out
any elaborate plans. The committee, therefore, adjourned.

On the 24th of September the committee met at the National
Hotel in the city of Peoria. Present, the full committee. On
motion, J. S. Browne was elected clerk.

After an extended discussion it was decided to have the follow-
ing varieties of Russian apples tested at all the stations : Yellow
Transparent, Red Wine, Early Champaign, in the Northern and
Central Stations; also, Hibernal, Repke, Romaneske, Antonovke,
jorto.

ecided that the following varieties of plums and
at all the siations : Plums — Rolling-Stone, Chee-
ney, Desoto. Pears — Tyson, Josephine-de-Malines, Duhamel-
du-Monceou, Souvenir-du-Congress, and Keiffer.

It was the unanimous opinion of the committee, that the
Directors of the various stations should meet at Hamilton at the
time of the annual meeting to arrange a uniform and definite
plan of action for the ensuing year.

and Winter O

It was also c

pears be testec

76 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

I compile the following report, of the work of the various
stations, from the books of the Directors:

STATION NO. 1. ARTHUK BRYANT, DIRECTOR.

The new varieties of apples above referred to were planted,
or grafted in the tops of large trees, and a number of straw-
berries planted. The following orchard experiments are also
recorded : Having twenty to twenty-five young Duchess Apple
Trees that were just coming into bearing I decided to see what
effect the application of manure would have on them, or rather
a portion of them. These trees were near together and enclosed
with an old orchard. But the ground where they were planted
had never been planted in orchard before, but had been in grass
for two years. I applied five good loads of manure to eight of
the apple trees. Eight of the other trees, of about the same
size on each side of those manured, were used for comparison.

The manure was applied the twenty-fifth of May, 1889. As
the summer was a moist one, with a reasonable supply of rain,
there was no appreciable difference in the crop of apples, and at
the present time (September 1st) I do net see that the manure
has had any effect.

STATION NO. 2, J. V. OOTTA, DIRECTOR.

The report of this station is much like the preceding, with
the additional fact that he set the cions in hardy nursery trees,
and now hits quite a number of trees ready to go into experi-
mental grounds. He also budded a number of Okaw Plums,
which are doing well.

STATION NO. 3, C W. PRESCOT, DIRECTOR.

The only work done at this station has been the planting of
the new apples and strawberries above mentioned.

STATION NO. 4, H. M. DUNLAP, DIRECTOR.

After giving the list of new varieties of apples planted and
grafted, and new strawberries planted, which is about the same
as at the other stations, Mr. Dimlap refers to the following
experiment in summer mulching:

Having theee rows of Snyder Blackberries, the third year
from planting, on the first of July I hauled on ten loads of
coarse strawy manure, and covered the ground four feet on each
side of one row, leaving the other two rows with bare culture.
The rains during July were so constant that the rows not
mulched did fully as well as the others. On November 1st,
hauled two loads of manure to each tree in a row of Willow
Twig apples, trees set in blue grass sod. Manure spread broad-
cast as far out as the branches extended.

Mr. Dimlap also reports planting on the twenty-sixth day of
November, nine varieties of Russian apples, four of pears and

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 77

three of native plums, About the same list has been sent to
all the stations, and either planted or heeled in for spring
planting.

STATION NO. B, A. C. HAMMOND, DIRECTOR.

The experiments undertaken at this station were more exten-
sive than at those heretofore mentioned. Thirty varieties of
new apples were grafted in the tops of bearing trees, and twelve
varieties of yearling trees planted.

Two varieties of new pears, seven of plums and five of Russian
apricots were also planted. With very few exceptions, these
trees have lived and made a good growth.

Twenty-six varieties of strawberries have been planted, all of
which have made an excellent growth, and therefore are in good
condition for fruiting next season.

Eleven kinds of blackberries were also planted, only about
half of which lived. They made a fair growth, and will prob-
ably show some fruit next season.

At this station, the question of spraying with insecticides for
curculio and codling moth, and fungicides for apple scab, plum
and grape rot, was given attention.

For the curculio experiment, four plum trees, about twelve years
old, which stood near together, were selected, which will be
designated as numbers one, two, three and four. Number one
was sprayed on the third of May with twelve pounds of salt and
four ounces of London Purple, to forty gallons of water; May
10th, with a solution of one pound Sulphate of Copper, one and
one-half pints of Ammonia and four ounces of London Purple ;
May 25th and June 11th, sprayed with the same solution as May
10th. A careful count on the twenty-fifth of August, showed
fourteen per cent, of the plums stung.

On the third of May, the second tree was sprayed with a
solution of four ounces of crude Corbolic acid and four ounces
London Purple, to forty gallons of water; on May 10th, 25th
and June 11th, it was sprayed with the same solution as number
one. On the twenty-eighth of August, eleven per cent, showed
the mark of the little Turk.

Number three was sprayed the same date as numbers one and
two. The first three times with the London Purple mixture
(four ounces to forty gallons of water), the fourth; a combina-
tion mixture (Sulphate of Copper, Ammonia and London
Purple). This tree, August 25th, showed seventeen per cent,
of stung specimens.

Number four was left unsprayed as a check tree. On the day
that the count was made on the other trees, nearly all the fruit
was on the ground, and not a single plum could be found
unstung. The result of the experiments were practically the
same, as all were the means of saving enough fruit to make a

78 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

full crop. But the difference of six per cent, in favor of the
carbolic acid treatment, and three per cent: in favor of the
saline mixture, seems to indicate that the curculio is repelled by
disagreeable tastes and smells. The combination mixture was
applied, hoping it would prevent "rot." The fruit on the
sprayed trees was nearly exempt, while on the check tree not a
sound specimen could be found; but as part, or all, of this rot
may have been caused by curculio injury, I do not consider it a
fair test.

On the dates above mentioned, May 3rd, 10th, 24th, and June
11th, three rows of pear trees (about thirty in a row) were
sprayed. The first time one row was treated with the saline
mixture, one with carbolic acid, and the third with the London
Purple solution. The three succeeding applications were with
the combination mixture.

A careful examination on the 23rd of August showed an ap-
preciable difference in the condition of the fruit on the three
rows, all being remarkably fine, almost entirely free from cod-
ling moth, and only ten per cent, stung with curculio, and eight
per cent, disfigured with scab. The check tree showed ten per
cent, infested with codling moth, eighteen per cent, stung with
curculio, and twenty per cent, marked with scab.

On the same date a five acre apple orchard, nine years old,
was sprayed, the first time when m full bloom, with London
Purple, four ounces to forty gallons of water. The second,
third and fourth times with the same combination mixture as the
plum and pear trees. On the 8th of October 1,000 apples were
examined, from ten different portions of the orchard, with the
following results : The first 100 showed five wormy specimens,
the second, three; the third, five; the fourth, six; the fifth,
five; the sixth, eight; the seventh, seven; the eighth, nine; the
ninth, four; the tenth, eight; an average of six per cent. The
fruit had so nearly all dropped from the check trees, caused by
insect work, that it was impossible to make a comparative count.
As a preventative of scab, the treatment was not satisfactory,
although there is, no doubt, but some benefit was derived from it.

The first spraying did not injure the leaves in the least,
but the last scorched them so badly that about one-third
dropped from the tree. The weather was hot and the sun shin-
ing brightly when the last spraying was done, which may have
caused the injury. Or is it a fact as some claim that late in the
season the leaves are more easily injured than in early spring?

To test the efficacy of the Eau Celestia mixture for "grape rot"
a vineyard of four rows was selected, and the first and third rows
sprayed four times, on the 3d, 10th, and 24th of May, and the
11th of June. At gathering time the sprayed rows showed a loss
of twenty-five per cent, and the unsprayed sixty per cent. This
experiment (as well as many others of the same kind,) shows

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 79

that this disease which has caused such fearful loss to grape grow-
ers, can be iu a measure, if not entirely, controlled by the intel-
ligent and proper use of fungicides.

From what I have seen of the effect of the Bordeaux mixture I
am of the opinion that it is more effective when used for grape
"rot" and possibly for apple scab, than the Eau Celestia mixture,
but it clings so persistently to the stem of the apple, and grape,
and shows so plainly among the berries of the latter, as to greatly
injure their appearance, and I think it quite possible that sulp-
hate of copper and lime may not prove to be a healthy diet. But
no doubt we will yet learn to so prepare it, that this objection may
be overcome.

On the 30th of May and the 1st of June I mulched an acre, of a
nine year old orchard with straw, using sixteeu loads on a heavy
crop of clover, covering the entire surface ten or twelve inches
deep. The apple crop was very light, scarcely a tenth of a full
crop and I did not expect any results this season, but the hot dry
weather of August and the first half of September caused apples
to- drop badly, when the good effect began to appear. And when
the fruit was gathered the last of September, the mulched trees
yielded thirteen bushels of picked apples while the same number
of trees, equal in every respect, standing by their side only yielded
seven bushels, the balance being on the ground. This, however,
is an incidental benefit. But if, as many of us think, drouth,
lack of cultivation and starvation are the principal causes of
the deterioration and death of our orchards, we here find the
remedy for them all.

If this experiment is persistently followed up at least at one
station in each district and its influence on the growth and health
of the tree; retarding blooming; increasing or preventing insect
depredations; the quality and general appearance of the fruit
as well as causing it to cling to the tree, carefully noted, a fund of
information may be gained that will be of incalculable benefit to
the Pomologists and farmers of the State.

STATION NO. 6, F. I. MANN, DIRECTOR.

Apple trees set in the spring of 1889: Ellis, Arkansas Black,
Sims, Black Twig, Dark Red Seedling, Light lied Seedling,
Ozark, Elkhorn. These have all grown, and most of them have
made a good growth and ripened well, and are in good condition
for winter.

Varieties top grafted : Glendale, Woodmansee, Babcock No. 4,
Babcock No. 3, Wetwood, Wilkinson Seedling, Jordan's Seedling,
Jones Seedling, Babcock No. 7, Trumble Co. Beauty, Babcock
No. 5, Duncan, Johnson Seedling, Coffelt, Babbit, Carson, Belle-
ilower Seedling, Nero, Leeper's Beauty. These have all made a
good growth and have ripened their wood well, except Duncan,
Babbit and Nero, the latter making the largest growth. (This

80 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

list of varieties is nearly a duplicate of that found in all the
stations. — Secretary.)

Strawberry plants: Bubach No. 5, Haverland, Pearl, Warfield,
Miami, Eureka, Daisy, Viola, Crawford. Nearly every plant has
grown, and seems to be in good condition to test as to fruit in a
small way next spring.

STATION NO: 7, J. WEBSTER, DIRECTOR.

In addition to planting and grafting the same list of apple trees
and about the same of strawberries as the other stations, three of
the highly recommended new peaches, Thurber, Wheatland and
Chinese Cling, were planted.

STATION NO. 8, J. S. BROWNE, DIRECTOR.

After giving the list of apple trees planted and grafted, Mr.
Browne makes the following report :

Experiment ivith Sulphate of Copper for Grape Mot. — The pro-
portions used were nine pounds of sulphate of copper dissolved
in twenty-seven gallons of water, and thirty pounds of quick-
lime in six gallons of water. After the lime had cooled it was
thoroughly mixed with the copper. The mixture was put on the
vines with a Eureka Sprayer. The first application was made
soon after the growth had started, say about two inches of new
growth; the second, when about one foot of new growth had been
made; the third, just about the time the first blossoms opened:
the fourth, when the grapes were about the sixteenth of an inch
in diameter; the fifth, when the grapes were about the size of
peas. In addition to this the vines were carefully gone over and
all the rotten grapes picked off twice when the grapes were the
size of peas or larger. The first rotten berries appeared a few
days after the spots on the leaves (which always go with the black
rot) showed themselves, which was when the berries were the size
of peas. In picking the rotten grapes it was noticed that when a
leaf was found spotted, rotten grapes were almost invariably found
near it.

The vineyard experimented on contained four hundred Con-
cords with Wordens scattered through, one hundred Moore's
Early and one Pocklington. Last year nearly seventy per cent,
of the grapes in this vineyard rotted, the greatest loss being in the
Concord. The Pocklington all rotted outside of a few bunches
that were bagged; the Noah mildewed in the bunch; Moore's
Early, very little rot. The product from the five hundred vines
was about two hundred and forty ten-pound baskets.

This year the Pocklington and Worden were entirely free from
ret; the Noah free from rot or mildew; the Concord rotted not
to exceed five per cent. ; Moore's Early not more than three per
cent. The product of the same vineyard was about eight hundred

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 81

ten-pound baskets. I think better results would have been
obtained had I sprayed the vines, posts, and every thing as soon
as the vines were tied up and before growth started, and also had
the fourth spraying been done just as soon as the fruit had set
instead of waiting later.

The cost of material used on this vineyard was seventy-five
pounds Sulphate of Copper, at seven cents per pound — $5.25;
two and a half days' labor, at $1.50 per day — $3.75; total for the
five hundred vines, $9.00.

On the other side the putting on of this application is a very
disagreeable job. The lime does not lose all of its custic proper-
ties by mixing it with the copper and more or less of it gets on the
person, and while wet with the mixture a very little rubbing takes
the skin off. The rain does not take all of it off and some of the
bunches look as though they had been whitewashed, particularly
the stems of the bunches. If a less quantity of the lime would
decompose the copper it would be better.

REFORT OX STRAWBERRIES FOR 1889.

Capt. Jack, the best for market, so far very productive,
medium size, good shipper, good quality, a seedling of the Wilson
and an improvement on it owing to the large amount of fruit set,
only a moderate grower, it requires a very rich soil; when the
conditions it requires are given, no berry in the hundreds tested
have given so large a return. Sharpless has out-lived its useful-
ness. Bubach has again proved itself the most productive of the
large berries; its greatest fault is that it is a little soft for a
market berry, not of the best quality. Lida deserves to be more
extensively tested; very productive, berries above medium, last
berries as large as the first, only a moderate grower, firm, not of
the best quality. Jessie, very much over-praised. Gandy, very
late, strong grower, large size, good shipper, good quality and for
so large a berry, productive. Mammoth, worthless. Monmouth,
a few very large, very early berries, but not enough to be worth
the trouble of growing. Jewell, so poor a grower that it is of no
value for any but the amateur. Jucunda, rusts so badly that it is
no longer of any value. Cohanzick, worthless. Garibaldi, worth-
less. Haverland, very productive, strong grower, good quality,
a little soft, but in a test to see how long a number of varieties
would keep in good condition the Haverland at the end of five
days was in perfect condition all the others were rotten at the end
of three days. The fruit stalk is too weak to hold the load of
fruit. It must be mulched. Berry medium to large and holds its
size to the last. Gold, nothing remarkable about it; late, good
size, fairly productive, good quality but only a moderate grower.
Cumberland, too well known to need describing. Burt, do not
think this is Capt. Jack under another name, while it is similar to
it in growth and bearing qualities it is not nearly so large growing

—7

82 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

side by side. Great Ontario is so near like the Sharpless that for
all purposes they are the same. Louisa, Hampden and Pineapple
do not show any qualities that would make them worthy of farther
trial. Pearl deserves a farther trial. Cloud, too small and un-
productive.

STATION NO. 9, J. G. VAUGHAN, DIRECTOR.

Mr. Vaughan planted and grafted the same list of new apples
previously referred to, but when later in the season he learned
that it was the intention of the Board to test the different small
fruits, he resigned as he was not prepared to engage in that kind
■of work.

Dr. Humphrey — I make a motion that the President appoint a
committee to thank the decorators of the hall.

Carried. A. L. Hay, W. H. Green and Henry Speer were ap-
pointed.

■ Mr. Eiehl, of Alton — I think our Experiment Committee is on
the right track, but I think it is too eart^ for us to make any criti-
cisms of their work. I think, however, that the work is properly
begun.

Secretary Hammond — The committee will be glad to hear sug-
gestions.

Mr. Shank presented a petition protesting against spraying
trees until after the bloom has fallen.

Mr. Pearson moved that the petition be referred to the com-
mittee on Experimental Stations.

Carried. Adjourned.

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

HORTICULTUPvAL OBSERVATIONS.

BY IRA COE, QUINCY.

The first observation is that on my farm there has not been a
large crop since 1880. I have the old Wilson variety. Other
strawberry growers in the vicinity of Quincy have had varied suc-
cess; some have made money occasionally from the Downing,
others from the Crescent, and all are trying more or less of the
new varieties that prove to be defective in some way.

The following are some of my observations on the nature and
-character of the strawberry : A great many are healthy in foliage

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 83

and prolific in plants; some lack vitality and will not do well un-
less the weather is suitable and they are planted in congenial soil ;
many varieties have an abundance of large fruit; others have a
large berry, but are shy bearers, while many are too tender in
bloom and plant.

I have known the strawberry to be winter killed. When killed
the crown turns black, and the bloom, when it comes out in the
spring, is black before the petals are opened.

I know of only one or two varieties that are sure to bear the
first year after planting. Usually the second year we have the
best crop.

The first season of growth most varieties seem to exhaust their
vitality in producing plants, the fruit buds being imperfect in de-
velopment. This is especially true with stamnite varieties.

The cause of imperfect fruit in 1889 was a dry fall, winter and
spring, and a heavy frost followed by four or five days of heavy
winds.

When fruit buds are properly developed take the crown of a
plant, strip off the leaves downward to the roots, and the last
leaf taken away will show the miniature bloom just ready to come
out.

I notice that when we have good growing weather for wheat,
grass and clover in the fall, this is just what we need for a good
crop of berries the next season. Water is the best manure for
the strawberry, and land can be too rich in nitrogen as well as too
poor for want of it.

The Experiment Stations could do no better thing for the berry
grower than to devise some way to cheaply saturate the sub-soil
Avith water, thus to bridge over the dry spell, especially in fruit-
ing time.

We observe the best soil for the strawberry is an alluvial mix-
ture of clay and some sand, with good drainage for the surface,
with sub-soil completely permeated with water — water so near the
surface that by digging three or four feet anywhere it can be
found. If there is too much sand the capillary attraction will
not be sufficient to bring moisture to the surface. Alluvial soil is
good without this sub-irregation, but this kind of soil can only be
found in low ground. A man having such ground can positively
make strawberry growing a success, if he makes it a specialty.
The only drawback is that late frosts in the spring are apt to be
more severe than on high ground.

Such men as Mr. Crawford, of Ohio, and other strawberry
specialists are aware of these facts, and any new strawberry being
introduced which originated in such soil, under such favorable
conditions will most surely be a failure when planted on high, dry
ground.

To illustrate : In 1887 my brother and I sent to Mr. Bubagh for
his No. 5 strawberry. I planted on high, dry bluff land, rich and

84 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

good. My brother planted on his sub-irrigated land — all were well
cultivated ; result — I had scarcely any berries on the plants left for
fruit, while my brother had plenty, and five times as many plants
besides.

So when you invent in strawberries, find out, if possible, on
what kind of soil they have been grown to produce such wonder-
ful results as advertised. If, like the Jessie, they were grown
near some lake, on rich sandy loam with water near the surface-
away up north in Wisconsin, where nights are cool, and where
celery, cranberries and huckleberries flourish, be careful how you
invest, — such strawberries will not thrive here in Central and
Southern Illinois, on our high, dry land. Strawberries originated
east are a failure here.

Strawberries can be too thick as well as too thin in the matted
row. Strong growing kinds, like the Warfield No. 2, should be
planted about like corn, say, three feet one way and four feet the
other.

The Warfield No. 2 seems to be, so far as tried, the most satis-
factory of any new variety. But where is the stamnite variety/
equally as good to go with it as a polenizer ?

To make money in strawberry growing, we must have an early
variety to successfully compete with the old Crescent. I observe
that many large farmers, near our large cities, are growing, or
trying to grow, strawberries for market. It is hardly possible for
them to grow large, fine fruit; hence we have a surplus of small
berries (the large quantities of which spoil the market for good
berries). In short, it would be best that such quit the business
and attend to their regular farm work. They would find just as
much money in something else, and on the other hand I have
found, from costly experience, that the regular fruit or berry
grower should not try to grow oats, wheat, corn, hay or barley.

If the berry grower has these crops to look after, the berries
are sure to be neglected right at the most critical time, when every
one is busy with haying or harvest, and no extra help can be hired.

No Horticultural Society should encourage Tom, Dick and Harry
to engage in fruit growing for market by publishing in the books,
papers or circulars, accounts of enormous yields of fruit, and big
money for the same.

The nurserymen anxious to sell their products, their catalogues
so full of choice fruit-trees and plants, with glowing desciiptions,
are calculated to excite and mislead the uninitiated.

The tree agent is another source of fabulous falsehood concern-
ing the profits of fruit growing for market.

The cultivation of the strawberry can be made very simple and
easy by the use of the cultivator-harrow.

I tried the wheel hoe, in the berry patch, this last spring; there
is so little to do with the hoe after using the harrow, I didn't
like it.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 85

We find in fruit growing there is no ""excellence without great
labor." And yet we have no use for too much of the "main
strength and awkwardness." The proprietor must know just how
to do this kind of work so that hired hands can be properly in-
stucted. Too much "putter" or 'fussy particular" will not do.
In fact if we are close observers and examine the subject of
growing the strawberry for market in all its bearings, we find a great
field for thought and reflection. There is so much in it that I sug-
gest the following definitions for your consideration : Strawberry
culture is a science and an art. As a science, it treats of the na-
ture, relation, properties, classification and propagation of straw-
berries, nature and character of the soil and conditions of the clim-
ate or weather. As an art it treats of the planting, hoeing, culti-
vation, picking, boxing, assorting, marketing and the application
of the money when you get it, to practical purposes.

I observe a few, who planted largely of the Snyder blackberry
when first introduced, made money. I, too, have made money on
some fruits which were new to the locality and for which there was a
lively demand. My observations lead me to believe that for the hor-
ticulturist to make money he must be wide awake, be the first to
plant largely of anything new that is an assured success, be sure the
conditions are favorable as to the climate and soil and that there is a
good demand for the fruit when grown. Plant largely too, of the
old standard, reliable varieties of fruits of all kinds. In short,
we must be well posted, send for and read all the Nurserymen's
Catalogues we can get, compare one with another and try a little
of whatever seems to be most promising. If you fail don't curse
the propagator, for he is as apt to be fooled as any of us. Con-
verse with people from all parts of the country about fruit. In
fact, to be "first in war, first in peace," first in the cause of trying
to make your head help your hands, and "first in the hearts of your
countrymen," we must join the State Horticultural Society. 1
observe that black raspberries are more liable to summer killing
than winter killing; that lack of moisture in sub-soil will cause the
side of canes toward the sun to dry up completely and become
lifeless. Weeds too, are a great thing to kill out or starve out,
black raspberries. Raspberries or blackberries will ripen earlier
on high land than on well protected, well drained, alluvial low
ground. Blackberries, though they grow well on low ground, are
more liable to be winter killed. A good way to fix Blackcap
Raspberries is to tie the bearing canes out from between the rows
with short pieces of binding twine to the main stalks in the center
of the row. With us the Turner red raspberry takes the lead
for hardiness, all others being more or less tender.

I notice that land once covered with oak timber, or timber land
generally, is better for fruits than prairie land. Timber land will
grow higher colored and better flavored apples, and bright red
apples sell the best.

8Q TRANSACTIONS OF TOE ILLINOIS

It is a fact, gentlemen, 'I never had nice apples, plums, straw-
berries, or anything nice in the fruit line but what I could have
sold as many more had I had them. Dealers like to handle large
lots of nicely grown fruits of all kinds.

The "coming" apple, of a bright red color, to take the place of
the old Ben Davis, is bound to come from the south. To have a
good crop of apples the "off" year we must have a large variety.
A good plan to keep up the orchard is to plant some trees every
year and to plant some of the new kinds of red apples. Plow the
orchard in the fall to catch all the water possible in the sub-soil.
We can cultivate an orchard too much as well as not enough.

We observe that insects were very numerous this season and
took entire possession where unmolested. I am now almost con-
vinced that insects are the cause of more scabby, knotty, rotten
apples, and more rot in peaches and tender skinned plums than
all other causes combined. Peaches rotted badly this year because
the insects stung them and the moist, hot weather prevented the
wound from healing or drying up. My neighbor, Mr. Chase, had
a few plum trees of what he called the Jefferson or Lombard
varieties (greenish purple with some blue bloom, and sweet like
the California plum). These trees hung very full of plums at
first, but as the season advanced they commenced falling off, —
"rolling" as he said. At the time of ripening I called to investi-
gate and found but few perfect plums on the trees. The rot, I
think, was certainly caused by the stings, bites, or punctures of
insects, as all the rotten fruit on the ground which we examined
had a worm. The rotten ones on the trees hanging close together
showed signs of insects having crawled in between, made a sort of
harbor and stung the whole cluster. I observe that to have fine,
large, Wild Goose plums the trees should not be too close to-
gether, and the ground beneath and around should be clear of
brush, weeds and trash, then spray with London Purple. I am
more thoroughly convinced than ever that it is a bad plan to have
peach, plum or apple trees in a raspberry or blackberry patch.
Peach trees standing in the patch bore no fruit, while on those
just outside there was plenty.

To cheat the birds out of their share of grapes we must grow
the white varieties. The idea of pruning, cultivating, pinching,
tieing and working with a vineyard three years for one crop of
grapes, to sell for about two-cents per pound, is surely discour-
aging.

There is a man living near Golden, in Adams county, who has
a cave for an apple cellar. Late in the spring when the market is-
quite bare of fruit we see his Willow Twig apples for sale at the
stores; fresh, crisp and good. Remember: castle in the air, cas-
tle in the ground. I have had it in mind for some time that the
best plan for a fruit cellar, or cold storage, would be to dig on
top of a ridge close to the side of the hill a deep pit or cellai

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 87

30x40 feet (or as large as desired), and 20 feet deep. Connect
the bottom of this with a good sized sewer pipe to the bottom of
the hill for drainage and to let in cool air — the longer this pipe
the better. This from Fruit Grower's Journal: Have a good
wall on all sides, build a cider house or packing room on top with)
a tight floor, leaving a place for an elevator. Have two floors in
the cellar, both made of narrow plank laid open. In such a cellar
we would have a cool, moist, uniform temperatuie summer and
winter, and in my opinion just as good as cold storage for keep-
ing apples or any kind of fruit from rapid decay. With such a
cool place we could pick berries of all kinds on Saturday, keep
over Sunday, and have them in prime condition for Monday
morning sales.

In conclusion, gentlemen, please " shoot at the bunch" as 1
have tried to do. My great desire would be to have the observa-
tions, in brief, of all the members of this Society on fruit grow-
ing. We must go on experimenting and investigating until we are
practically independent of California, or any other state, for all
kinds of fruits which can be grown in the temperate zone.

VINEGAR MAKING AND THE NECESSITY FOR A

VINEGAR LAW.

BY L. R. BRYANT, PRINCETON.

Vinegar is defined as diluted acetic acid, and as it is legiti-
mately produced, is obtained by the fermentation of fruit or
vegetable juices, which, originally or by reduction, contain
saccharine matter or alcohol in the right proportions, to form,
acetic acid enough to give vinegar of proper strength.

It is, therefore, made from a variety of substances, such as
malt, molasses, sour beer and wine, waste honey, sorghum
skimmings, and some economical housekeepers even have a jar
into which they put apple cores and peelings, grape skins,,
drainings of molasses jugs, yeast, and sour fruits of all kinds,
and from which they extract what they think is fine vinegar..
But the most of the vinegar used in this country is obtained,
ostensibly, from corn and from the apple. That obtained from
corn and called Alcohol, Whisky or White Wine Vinegar, is
made by first distilling a low grade of alcohol, and then reduc-
ing it to the right strength for fermentation. Vinegar made
from the apple is called Cider or Apple Vinegar, and of course
in its purity is made by the fermentation of cider.

Acetification, or the making of vinegar, is produced by
exposure to heat and air, and the different processes are only
different ways of doing this. The old-time process of making
Cider Vinegar, and not obsolete yet, by any means, is the filling

8S TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

of casks two-thirds full of cider, and leaving them in a warm
room with the bung out.

Then there are the high tub generators, filled with beech
shavings, through which the vinegar material is allowed to drip
slowly. This process is used by most Alcohol Vinegar makers.

There is also a new plan of close reversible generators,
claimed to make a stronger vinegar, with less waste of material,
than in the old way.

Between Alcohol and Cider Vinegar, there is perhaps little
choice, as far as wholesomeness is concerned, when both are
properly made, but when it comes to richness, flavor and
pleasant aromatic qualities, Cider Vinegar stands far ahead.
Alcohol Vinegar is used by pickle manufacturers, ostensibly be-
cause it is of greater or more even strength, but really, probably,
because it is the cheapest; but for domestic purposes, did you
ever hear of any one educated to use good Cider Vinegar that
did not prefer it to any other, ever afterwards?

Under these circumstances, one would naturally suppose, in
such an apple-producing State as Illinois, and especially in the
great fruit-growing sections, Cider Vinegar would be used
almost exclusively. Yet I have it on high authority, that right
here in this section, where we are now holding our annual meet-
ing, that less than ten per cent., and probably not over five per
cent, of the vinegar sold is pure Cider Vinegar. And yet the
same authority estimates that 100,000 bushels of apples went to
waste in this county in 1888. The same condition of affairs
may be found all over the State in a greater or less degree.
Apples rot on the ground whenever there is above an average
crop, and the sale of pure Cider Vinegar is very limited.

I think I am not far out of the way, in estimating, that of the
vinegar sold in Illinois for domestic purposes, three- fifths or sixty
per cent, is sold as White Wine Vinegar, and the other two-
fifths or forty per cent, is sold under the name of Apple, Fruit
or Cider Vinegar, all of it claiming to be Cider Vinegar. Now
if a quarter of this two-fifths, or ten per cent, of the whole, is
Pure Cider Vinegar and the other three-quarters is spurious, see
what that means. Three-fourths of the people who buy and
pay for Cider Vinegar get an imitation article, liable to be an
injurious one also, for manufacturers who adulterate in one way,
may in another. Then, again, the makers of pure Cider Vinegar
are cheated out of three-fourths of the trade they ought to have,
and even more than that, for I am sure that if good pure Cider
Vinegar could be had for a certainty when called for, the demand
would be increased to one-half of the whole amount used, if not
more. Think of it! Manufacturers of pure goods cheated out
of four-fifths of their legitimate trade! Three-quarters, or
more, of the consumers who desire Cider Vinegar, have palmed

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 89

off on them a cheap imitation article, or a compound of drugs,
injurious or even poisonous !

Perhaps you think I am exaggerating the amount of adulter-
ation and its injurious results. Let us see what others say.

First, I quote an extract from a letter in the Chicago Tribune,
dated April 3rd, 1889:

"A bill is now pending in the Legislature of this State to pre-
vent poisonous adulteration or foul mixtures of the vinegars
placed on the market of this State. These spurious and vile im-
itations are composed of water, coloring material, with various
organic and fermentative substances, rendered sour by the addi-
tion of sulphuric acid. This acid is a poison to the stomach,
corroding its coats, creating an irritation, and a confirmed dys-
peptic is the result. In view of these facts why are our legisla-
tors indifferent and ignore the bill? Can it be that they are
unfamiliar with the nature and action of these slow and injurious
poisons? Or can it be that the adulterators' money is the vile
bane to human health and hapiness? '

Corroborative of these assertions is an extract from the Mil-
waukee letter to the Chicago Daily News of Nov. 14, 1889: "It
was asserted that impure and poisonous vinegars were being
made in Milwaukee, and that the manufacture was to be stopped.
Nothing has been done, and the presumption is that poisonous
vinegars are being manufactured still and the manufacturers are
safe from prosecution. Local chemists here recently made a
test analysis of four samples of vinegar, and an extract from
their report is as follows: 'Out of four samples of vinegar re-
cently purchased in Milwaukee, and submitted to us for exami-
nation, one was found to approach somewhat the genuine article,
not, however, being as represented, pure Cider Vinegar. Three
were found to be manufactured from sulphuric acid and water,
one being colored to resemble cider vinegar. These were all
represented to be the pure article; and, in one case, the pur-
chaser was informed that it was unadulterated and an exception-
ally pure vinegar. This was one which was made from sulphuric
acid, commonly known as oil of vitrol, a highly corrosive poison,
and contains many impurities, among them arsenic and lead.
Even when highly diluted this acid destroys tissue, and when
taken internally it corrodes and destroys the stomach and the
mucous surfaces of the internal organs. It may require many
months to accomplish this, but it acts surely, even if slowly.
Any arsenic which may be contained in the acid is of course taken
into the system. Thus we see the danger arising from using
these compounds sold as vinegar.' "

A prominent horticulturist in an adjoining State, whom all of
you know by reputation, and most of you personally, a man care-
ful in his statements and a close investigator, writes me : "I have
found only one barrel, not made in this county, that was Cider

90 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

Vinegar, most of it being made of sulphuric or muriatic acid.
Comparatively little is made in this county." And, again : "I
don't know so well about your State, but if one tenth of the
vinegar sold there for domestic use should be found true to name,
I should be surprised."

The following is from the" report of the Food and Dairy Com-
missioner of- Minnesota, where they have just put a vinegar law
in force, giving the result of an analysis of vinegars in Minneap-
olis: "Of fifty-five samples sold as Cider Vinegar, eleven were
pure, thirty-one were colored low wine vinegars, containing. in
some instances a small proportion of apple solids or cider vine-
gar, nineteen were below the legal limit of acidity. Of the
colored low wine vinegars a considerable number were branded' y
— well, I will not state here what — but there were two brands,
the sale of which has been pushed in this State.

In regard to the character of the vinegar sold in our own State
it is not necessary for you to accept my statements, or that of
others, just visit the grocers in your own town and obtain
samples of imported vinegars and test them yourself, and if the
result does not surprise you I am much mistaken.

Now you will notice that two kinds of fraudulent vinegar are
spoken of in these reports, one colored alcohol or whiskey
vinegar, and the other sulphuric acid vinegar. Do not mis-
understand me. I do not charge that all imitation Cider Vinegar
contains sulphuric acid; indeed, until lately, I did not believe it
was used to any considerable extent, and even now, probably the
larger part of the spurious Cider Vinegar is Alcohol Vinegar,
colored. Nor do I assert that these imitation goods, unmixed
with injurious acids, are necessarily unwholesome. The fraud is
bad enough as it is ; the consumer is entitled to receive the kind
of vinegar he calls and pays for.

This is a matter of vital importance, not to Cider Vinegar
makers alone, it concerns the orchardists as much, and the
reasons are very apparent. An increased demand for pure Cider
Vinegar will necessitate the consumption of large quantities of
apples that are now allowed to rot on the ground, and in these
late years, when so much of our fruit is imperfect, the utilizing
of the second grades of apples, often makes up the difference
between a loss and a profit to the orchardist.

Railroad freights have been so reduced on cider apple stock
that when one section is short they can be shipped in from other
points cheaply, and it only requires the securing to Cider Vinegar
makers, their rightful trade, to put thousands of dollars into the
pockets of fruit growers for what is now, in many cases, a waste
product. By reference to the report of the Secretary of this
Society for 1886, you will see that he estimates only forty-three
per cent, of the entire apple crop of this State was marketable.
An explanation of the causes of this state of affairs in the

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 91

vinegar market may be interesting. To give this we must go
back ten years. Previous to 1879, makers of Alcohol Vinegar,
were obliged to buy tax-paid alcohol from the regular distillers.
This prevented any injurious competition with Cider Vinegar.
About that time, however, some of the Alcohol Vinegar makers
obtained the passage of a law, permitting the manufacture of
a vinegar by the vaporizing process, in which is distilled a low
grade of alcohol, or low wines, supposed to be of too low a
strength for any use except vinegar making. This is allowed to
be done without any government supervision except the chance
visits of Internal Revenue officials.

It was soon found that this opened the way for fraud in giving
a chance for making high wines and smuggling them on the
market, and some firms were not slow to work this gold mine.
Under this new system vinegar was made so cheaply, that soon
the market was overstocked with alcohol or "White Wine"
Vinegar, and so quantities of it were colored, branded, and sold
as Cider Vinegar. Efforts were then made by distillers of high
wines, and Cider Vinegar makers, to obtain a repeal or some
modification of this law, but they were unsuccessful.

Later, matters have grown worse, competition has been so
great that the quality and strength have been lowered, until now
quantities of acid vinegar are sent out. You can have no idea,
without investigation, how much of this absolutely poisonous
vinegar there is on the market. I confess I had not begun to
realize it until recently, and the more I look the matter up the
more I am convinced of the extent of this iniquity.

Recourse has been had in New York, Massachusetts, Con-
necticut and other States, to State laws regulating the manufac-
ture and sale of vinegar, and while I do not believe in making
special laws to regulate every little wrong, I do believe that the
only way to regulate this particular evil is through our State
Legislatures, and I also believe that this whole matter of adul-
teration of foods, will in time, and of necessity must, be regu-
lated by law. Our State has at this time a vinegar law, but it is
inoperative, as no provision is made for enforcing it.

The vinegar laws of New York and other States prohibit the
manufacture, sale or exposure for sale of all acid, poisonous or
injurious vinegars; of vinegar below a certain strength, and the
branding or sale of any vinegar as Cider Vinegar, except such as
is entirely the product of the juice of the apple. The enforce-
ment of the law is placed, in some States, in the hands of the
Dairy Commissioner, and in others in Vinegar Inspectors,
appointed by the cities. There is nothing in these laws to
interfere with the legitimate manufacture of wholesome vin-
egar, and the effect has been good wherever such laws are
enforced. A correspondent in Connecticut writes me that the
"new Vinegar Law is doing much good; I do not know of any

92 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

vinegar other than Cider Vinegar being sold in this part of the
State."

In New York, I am informed that the first law passed was
deficient, and was amended last winter, and is not in full
operation yet, but still, "There has never been so little spurious
vinegar on the market as this season."

An attempt was made at the last session of our own Legisla-
ture, to have such a law enacted in this State, but, owing to
causes which it is not necessary to specify here, the bill was
killed in the committee to which it was referred, and never
came to a vote.

A law of this kind would protect not only the horticulturist,
but the orchardist and the Cider Vinegar maker. It is of vastly
more importance to all consumers, which of course means the
whole community. It would protect the consumer from paying
full price for half strength, or for vinegar which was hurtful to
the health. It would protect the honest retailer, who desires 'to
handle "straight goods," from the competition of those who
handle the inferior article. It is, therefore, not a matter of
class legislation which we are considering — it affects the health
and pockets of the whole community.

Of course there will be the old worn-out cry of "monopoly"
by the monopolists themselves, which the Cider Vinegar men
are supposed to be trying to establish, and so put up the price of
vinegar; but that is so foolish an argument, and so easy to
dispose of, that it is not necessary to waste much time on it.
Sulphuric Acid Vinegar is dear at any price. No one will buy
and use it knowingly, and it is a crime to force it on any one
without their knowledge. The sale of good, pure vinegar,
under its proper name, is not proposed to be interfered with.
Why, then, should Alcohol Vinegar makers oppose the passage
of this proposed law, which will not interfere with them in the
manufacture of their legitimate product, branded and sold
under its right name?

The fact that they do oppose it so strongly, proves that the
coloring of their vinegar, and branding and selling it as Cider
Vinegar, is a very large part of their business. All the "White
Wine" Vinegar men would have to do then, would be to make a
pure article, brand and sell it under its real name, and convince
people that it was as good or better than Cider Vinegar.

But this paper is growing long, and probably tedious. I have
aimed to be careful in my statements, and give only facts sus-
ceptible of proof; now the question is, "What are you going to
do about it?" Are you going to sit still and submit to having
this State made the dumping-ground for all the poisonous,
inferior vinegar which the laws of other States will not allow to
be sold there? Are the people in this State to submit longer,
to be cheated, swindled and poisoned, just to fill the pockets of

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 93

unscrupulous men? Are the fruit growers going to look idly on,
and be robbed of a market, for what in the best of years is a
large proportion of their crop? If not, it is time to be stirring.
Our next Legislature will meet a year from next January, and it
is none too soon for this Society, as a body and as individuals, to
take action. The endorsement of such a movement by the
Illinois State Horticultural Society, will give it a prestige which
it could perhaps attain in no other way, but this must be fol-
lowed up by active work to reach success. A concerted, indi-
vidual action is what will tell finally. Nothing influences "our
member" so much as a little practical talk, or a letter from a
constituent.

The Cider Vinegar men will be on hand and, undoubtedly,
will make the fight alone, if necessary, but their opponents will
have the biggest odds and will make hot work against the cider
men alone, but the latter with the assistance of horticulturists
are sure of winning if the work is properly organized. " What
are you going to do about it?"

DISCUSSION.

After reading his paper Mr. Bryant remarked — I have some
samples of vinegar here with which I might make some experi-
mental tests, if it is desired. Society moved to see the tests.
Mr. Bryant, taking two test tubes, proceeds: I have here two
samples of vinegar ; one of them is pure cider vinegar and the
other is doubtful. The test is what number of grains of soda an
ounce of the vinegar will neutralize. The more citric acid the
more soda it takes to neutralize it. I have the soda here in liquid
form and putting it in the tube with the vinegar I note to what
degree on the tube the contents are a pink color. You see that in
the pure cider vinegar I have put in much more of the soda than I
did in the other and yet its color is not changed. This weaker
vinegar was sold as a pure cider vinegar, but it is not up to the
standard of strength of any State having a vinegar law. Now I
will give you a test for sulphuric acid which is found in many
vinegars. I put vinegar in this tube and then introduce a small
quantity of chlorate of barium, and if sulphuric acid is present
the contents change to a milky white and there is a deposit of
sediment. You see this weak vinegar becomes milky, which
shows that it contains sulphuric acid. In a little while there will
be sediment at the bottom. The better vinegar is still clear and
would not give any sediment.

94: TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

Mr. Budlong — Have chemists found that there is always some-
thing injurious in the white wine vinegar?

Mr. Bryant — I do not know that there is anything injurious in
white wine vinegars, if they are properly made, but what we want
is a law to see that all vinegars are properly made.

Mr. Williams, of St. Louis — The question of strength can easily
be tested by the user; can the user also readily detect the sul-
phuric acid?

Mr. Bryant — I suppose you can readily obtain the chlorate of
barium at any drug store. The test is easily made with it.

Mr. Webster — I think it would be well for this Society to
recommend to the Legislature the desirability of a law to protect
us against spurious vinegars. I therefore make a motion to
recommend the enactment of a vinegar law to prevent the manu-
facture and sale of sulphuric acid vinegars.

Mr. Leeper — These recommendations have been before the So-
ciety before, but we want to get this question before the people.
Everyone who knows anything about it knows that nine-tenths of
the vinegar sold by the groceries as cider vinegar is not cider
vinegar at all.

Prof. Ragan — That was a valuable paper, both from a sanitary
and an economic standpoint. We know that people buy these
compounds in the market because they are cheaper. I am glad
that .the question has come up and hope that your laws may be so
amended as to be fully operative and benefit us all.

Mr. Hay — I want to say that I am down on all new laws. I
know that our tobacco laws have made many boys want to smoke,
and I know that many of the whisky laws have made men take to
drinking. I am in for the enforcement of what laws we have, but
I don't want any new ones.

Mr. Patterson — I know people of wrhom I asked ten cents a
gallon for good cider vinegar, and they just laughed at me be-
cause they said they could get good vinegar for five cents a gallon.

Mr. Budlong — I have heard the remark made that this question
has come before the Legislature several times and has been re-
ferred to a committee and gone no further. I desire to say that
one reason why it has gone no further is that the farming com-

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 95

munity has been asking for too much. It may be well enough to
ask for a law against adulterated vinegar, but it is useless to ask
for a law against wine vinegars.

President Dunlap — The motion before the house was not for
the suppression of wine vinegars, but against the adulteration of
vinegars. Motion carried.

■'o1

REPORT ON GRAPES.

BY A. H. WORTHEX, WARSAW.

Seeing my name on your program as one of the Committee on
Grapes for 1889, I presume I shall be expected to say something.
But while appreciating the honor, and thanking you for the same,
I do not understand just why you did it, when there are so many
larger grape growers than I am. I really do not feel competent to
"wrestle" with a subject so much bigger than myself, and when
anything has gotten away with me as effectually as grape growing
has, I do not like to take my revenge by "going around and talk-
ing about it," and I am so much more accustomed to the use of
the "plow share and pruning hook," I exchange them for the pen
"with fear and tremble" as to the result. While it is true, con-
sidering that I have been a "laborer in the vineyard" for over
twenty years, that I should know "something about" grapes, I am
really astonished, when I think of the amount of information that
has been poured into me during that time, how little I know. And
when that is spread over this great field, you will find it "decidedly
thin." Perhaps in this as in political appointments, "locality"
had to be considered. In that case, I assure you that you made
no mistake, as my "locality" is without any doubt the "paradise
of the fruit grower." You will not consider this extravagant
praise, when I tell you that last year there were more than two
hundred wagon loads of Ben Davis apples grown here. Most of
them were marketed, as the producers had an abundance of other
vegetables that they preferred for winter use.

I never expected to have an opportunity to "talk back" at you,
so I will take advantage of this call, to do a little skirmishing
around the outskirts of your encampment before I "open" on you
with "grape." But if I should attempt to "get even" with the fra-
ternity, for what I have suffered in that direction, I would occupy
the entire three days of your meeting. I have no fruit to sell, as
a party did at one of your meetings that I attended several years
ago, and who, unfortunately, was on the program to "open the
battle" on the morning that I was present. "I was a stranger
and they took me in," and seated me near the platform, and I
afterwards discovered that the "reserved seats" were nearest the

96 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

door, and were occupied by all the old members of your Society,
who seemed to have considerable outside business to attend to.
While I have fully recovered, I can never forgive you for what I
suffered on that occasion. Like an alarm clock, he had been set
to "go off" at a certain hour. He made a big racket, and when
he was done all that we knew more than when he started, was,
that it was time to go home. The lady members sat gasping and hold-
ing their smelling bottles, the gentlemen holding theirs with "nary
smell" left, and I, with the perspiration streaming from my face,
and wishing I had brought nry gun. I do not see this "silvery
tongued orator" here to day. And "you don't have to tell" what
you did with him. But noticing his absence, I fully realize that
when a person inflicts a long winded article upon you, that life
with him is very uncertain, and he should be prepared for the
worst. Wherefore I think it safer, thus early in the entertainment
to "thank you for your liberal patronage and kind attention."

I first became interested in grape growing "way back in the for-
ties." Among my large library of Sunday School books, was one
containing a picture of two figures of extraordinary muscular de-
velopment, tottering along the road, carrying a pole, on which was
hung a single bunch of grapes. Although there were no affidavits
from prominent horticulturists that it was an actual photograph,
and that it was the only bunch on the vine that two men could carry,
I believed it, and was seized with a desire to grow something like
it. Before we shed our fine feathers, we are apt to swallow every-
thing offered us. But from subsequent experience, I am certain
that it was taken from the illustrated catalogue of some enterpris-
ing nurseryman of that period, who had a new seedling he was sell-
ing his neighbors. How many times since have I taken the same
old bait. The dollars I have spent in buying new and untested
varieties; how I wish I had them back again, so that I could in-
vest in some of those just introduced.

For the past eight or ten years, grape growing has been a very
precarious means of making a living, and never again will we
experience a " grape boom" like that of '65 and '66, when law-
yers, doctors and merchants planted vineyards, expecting as soon
as they came into bearing to retire from business, and pass the
remainder of their days spending their income in " having fun."
Then every grape grower was a millionaire — " in his own mind."

About this time the Concord was introduced. The praises of
the Iona and Isabella were being sung from one end of the land
to the other, and parties pushing these varieties, claimed that
the Concord was " unfit to eat" and would not make wine when
ripe. These are no longer heard of, while the Concord has been
the most popular of all. It has been such a favorite, that, no
doubt, five times the amount of money has been sunk in plant-
ing Concords, than in any other variety. But few of the many
seedlings placed upon the market every year prove of any value

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 97

for general planting, and are only grown for the sake of variety.
There are one or two seedlings of Elvira being tested, that are
both good wine and table grapes, and almost rot proof. The
Etta, especially, shows many good qualities. With nearly every
new variety, colored plates mis-representing the grape are sent
out, some of them looking like a bunch of bananas. But itis
seldom that I have been able to grow a bunch equal to the pic-
tures, and instead of requiring two men and a pole, one small
boy has gotten away with the largest of them without any diffi-
culty.

If I were appointed a committee of one to tie the "blue
ribbon" on the "champion liar," I would pass by all the old
soldiers, fishermen and hunters, and tie it on some of the intro-
ducers of new fruits, and for once, I think, there would be no
" kicking" over the award.

The past season has been one of the most disastrous to the
grower, and one of the most favorable to the development of
grape rot within my experience. The rot has been so universal
that even the newspapers were full of it, and grapes, except
where protected by paper sacks, or treated with rot preven-
tatives, were an entire failure. We used, at the Golden Bluff
Vineyards, this summer, as a rot preventative, the Bordeaux
Mixture, six pounds Sulphate of Copper and four pounds Lime
to twenty-two gallons water, using the " Eureka Sprayer." I
went over my vineyard seven times, doing the work myself, so
that I know it was thoroughly done. 1 went over them the first
time, about a week before the buds opened, and afterward once
every ten to twenty days, until the grapes began to color. Three
of four times within twenty-four hours after I finished, we were
visited by drenching rains that washed off most of the mixture,
but I fought it with good success, until the middle of July, when
the grapes were about full grown, and the bunches so compact
that only the outside of the bunch could be reached with the
Spray, while the rot Spores would get inside.

Saturday, July 13th, was a cloudy day, extremely hot and sul-
try, succeeded by a week of hot, muggy weather, with frequent
showers. Previous to this we had had two attacks of rot that I
checked at once by spraying. I noticed the first indications of
the third attack on the following Monday, and by the 20th of the
month the loss at the Golden Bluff Vineyard was from fifty to
sixty thousand pounds of grapes, the Concord showing less
resistance to it than any of some thirty varieties.

In my own vineyard, I succeeded in saving about 8,000 pounds
of Concords, 3,500 pounds Norton's Virginia, 1,000 pounds
Herman, and some 9,000 pounds of fruit on many other
varieties. In an ordinary season, I believe a crop of grapes can
be saved by spraying, and in this unfavorable season, it proved
a sure preventative of mildew.
—8

98 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

In 1888, while we had no Concords that escaped the rot, good
crops were grown in other localities, under equally as unfavor-
able conditions, by the use of the rot preventatives, and I am
confident that the experiments being made under the directions
of the Department of Agriculture, will give us something better.

My expense, including labor, for treating about seven acres,
was sixty-five dollars. The crops in the other vineyards near us
were an entire failure, so that we'feel somewhat encouraged,
although the results have not come up to our expectations. But
for that matter, they never do. The grape grower, like "Pip,"
always has "great expectations." He has but little else to
"brace him up." Without that, life would indeed be to him a
"dreary waste." If he has anything else at harvest time, it is
something he has caught from the neighbors. He "rises with
the lark," "works, as well as sprays," during the day, and at
night "sleeps the sleep of the innocent" that he is. But he is a
"stayer." x ou'll find every one of them just where they started,
but with more experience and less hair. While I have lost much
of my affection for my first love, it still clings to me and squeezes
me tighter each succeeding year and it is a question whether I
have the vineyard or it has me. I realize, when too late, that the
greatest mistake of my life was, that when I was "discharged"
from the army I didn't "go off" in some other direction.

But are not the fruit growers, as a class, "grievously
affected?" I often wonder why it is that we have almost every
thing on our trees and vines except fruit. The horticulturist
not only has worms, but a great many other things to make him
unhappy, such as sun scabs, borers, curculio, rot, rust, blight,
the bark louse, the gall louse, fleas, and an endless list of
noxious insects and diseases. And last, but by no means least,
the traveling "tree agent." He, like the poor, we have always
with us. His mission on earth seems to be to lead the "coy and
unsuspecting granger" astray. He not only "sticketh closer than
a brother," but if you patronize him, sticketh harder. Remove
t]ae tape worm "from our midst," and there is nothing so hard
to get rid of as the agent.

I add a few notes made during the ripening season. The first
to ripen with me is always the Hartford. While many are said
to ripen earlier, none do. It is closely followed by Moore's
Early, which, though of better quality, is not productive
enough. Nearly all the other varieties ripen about the same
time as Concord, or within a few days of it. Vergennes, one of
the new grapes, is of very good quality, red, with a tough skin
like a plum. It no doubt will be a valuable keeper. Oriental,
a seedling of Catawba, with same color and flavor, larger berry.
Peter Wylie, medium-sized bunch, sometimes double-shouldered,
being same size and flavor, identical with the Deleware; color,
white. Eldorado, of the finest flavor, white; bunch, large;

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 99

berry, medium; a beautiful grape. Duchess, almost identical
with the above. Empire State is of very fine quality, white;
bunch, long; usually shouldered, productive. It is difficult to
believe that a grape of this character can be the offspring of
two such parents as Clinton and Hartford, both black and
inferior. My Lady Washington is spurious, but have eaten the
grape which lacks flavor, and is neither as handsome or desira-
ble in any respect as the last three. Jefferson ripens after
Concord some eight or ten days ; a good-sized, handsome bunch ;
color red, with good, but peculiar, flavor. Niagara did not
bear; believe it spurious. Brighton, large, copper-colored;
large bunch; excellent quality; reliable. Bacchus is a very poor
Clinton. Etta, a seedling of Elvira, white; bunch and berry,
medium; good quality; ah improvement on the parent. Pock-
lington, a large, thrifty, productive white grape; one of the
most reliable of the white grapes; quality better than its parent
(the Concord). Woodruff, a handsome, red grape; bunch,
medium ; berry, large ; quality only fair, but I think it will prove
hardy. The older grapes, such as Salem, Massasoit, Senasqua,
Elvira, Delaware, Nortons, Cynthina, Herman and Martha,
have done fairly well. Dracut Amber is handsome, but worth-
less, and I should imagine it to be of extremely aristocratic
parentage. Skin tough, of a catty flavor, that none but people
of the most intense "feline" tastes can appreciate.

It is best when one wishes to grow grapes for home use, to
plant only the old, well-tested varieties. If you will invest in
the new, high-priced novelties, buy only of the originator, or
old-established nurserymen. Even then you will not always get
them true to name, as the latter are themselves often victim-
ized. When you buy a new grape, you will, when it comes to
bearing, three times out of four, regret that the seller didn't
substitute a Concord for it. And thousands of them are sold
every year for new varieties, at from seventy-five cents to one
dollar each. But when you find a nurseryman that will do
this, his name is never "Dennis." Perhaps it will be in the
hereafter.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON GRAPES.

BY GEO. W. ENDICOTT, VILLA RIDGE.

Mr. President and Members of the Illinois Horticultural Society :

Our worthy Secretary has called on me for a report on grapes
from Southern Illinois. In complying with his call I want to say
that Southern Illinois is a large territory for one man to make a
report on, so that any thing I may offer will only include Pulaski
County, and only that portion of said county that is designated
as God's Country.

100 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

The growing of grapes at this place has assumed quite gener-
ous proportions in the last few years. The acreage is now about
three hundred and fifty acres, and one hundred acres more will
be planted next spring, with a strong probability that the plant-
ing will continue. The quantity as well as the quality has been
improving in the last three or four jrears. Growers are fast
learning the condition and requirements of the vines necessary
to success, and of course are applying them.

The black rot, that scourge of many grape growing countries,
seems to be disappearing from this place, at least it has been
growing less and less destructive for the last three or four years,
until this year there was no rot on our standard sorts, such as
Concord, Worden, Catawba, Ives, Perkins, Cottage, Elvira and
Norton. Some one may say, "Oh, you had a favorable year for
grapes and that is the reason there was no rot." Now that may be
a fact, but if it is, all our former ideas are overthrown in regard
to what constitutes a favorable year for grapes.

It rained on forty-two different days from June 7th to
August 2d inclusive, and many days it rained all day and all
night; mercury at 75 to 98 degrees and the vineyards just reeking
with hot vapor day and night for sixty days during almost the
entire period of growth. This state of the atmosphere has been
considered the best possible for fungoid disease to get in their
most effective work, but strange as it may seem we never had so
fine a crop in quantity and appearance, and the quality was
number one on almost every variety we had in bearing here,
(about ninety varieties). The greatest part of the crop sold as
market grapes; about five hundred tons were shipped from Villa
Ridge alone, besides those shipped from other stations. A con-
siderable quantity was also sold in local markets and made into
wine, and almost every grower was well pleased with the crop.
Many growers sacked a part of their amateur collections, and
when done in time this is a sure preventative for black rot and
keeps them in fine condition for exhibition purposes, but it will
not pay for the general markets.

Of course I am expected to say something about spraying with
some of the copper solutions as recommended by scientists and
experimenters. I have only used two of the preparations, the
first was the copper and ammonia as sent out by the authorities
at Washington ; this I applied every seventh clay after the bloom-
ing was over till I made four applications. This I am sure
would prevent rot. The ammonia burnt the foliage on the
Aestavelis or Hybrids, but did not harm the Labruska foliage,
but it left some smutty streaks and spots on the fruit that
spoiled its appearance.

I would not recommend this preparation when we can get the
Bordeaux mixture ; this I used m the same manner as the above
on another lot of vines of the same varieties, with no bad effects

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 101

on foliage or fruit so far as I could see. I feel sure this will pre-
vent rot. As I have some Telegraph vines that rot every year, I
gave one vine live sprayings with the Bordeaux mixture, and the
adjoining vine I did not spray ; there was not a sound grape on
this vine except six bunches which I had sacked early; they were
line, and the vine sprayed had not a] rotten berry on it. If
anything could be conclusive by one year's trial I think that
would.

' It may be expected that I will say something about varieties ;
this I must respectfully decline, as each locality must find out
by experience what will suit them best. I will say, however, that
many of the new kinds are very promising here. And my
honest belief is, after visiting nearly all the grape exhibitions in
the Mississippi valley for the last ten years, that Villa Ridge can
eclipse any exhibit grown between the Rocky and Allegheny
mountains.

Next in order was the election of officers, which resulted as fol-
lows :

President — Jabez Webster, Centralia.
Vice-President — H. L. Doan, Jacksonvil'e.
Secretary — A. C. Hammond, Warsaw.
Treasurer — II. K. Vickroy, Normal.

The President announced that the next business in order would
be the location of the next Annual Meeting. The Secretary read
the following invitation : .

To the Members of the Illinois State Horticultural Society assem-
bled at Hamilton — Greeting :

On behalf of the fruit growers of Southern Illinois in general,

and Villa Ridge in particular, I heartily extend to your Society a

special invitation to hold your next Annual Meeting at Cairo, 111.

I think our people will make it pleasant for all visitors to the

uttermost parts of "Egypt", and if we fail to show you the

"Queen of Sheba" you can at least say that you have been to a

country where one little railroad station can load and ship fifty

car-loads of tomatoes in one day, and another one makes a daily

shipment of forty tons of grapes, while Cairo is ready to show

you the longest steel bridge in the world. To say more would

be superfluous, so after my best wishes to your Society I will

again kindly invite you to come.

Geo. W. Endicott.

102 TEANSACTIOXS OF THE ILLINOIS

Mr. McKinney presented an invitation for the Society to hold
its next meeting with the Marshall County Society, at Lacon.

After considerable discussion, a ballot resulted in the choice of
Cairo.

WEDNESDAY EVENINQ

FLOWERS— THEIR INFLUENCE AND ASSOCIATIONS.

BY MRS. F. L. FULLMER, HAMILTON.

Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Illinois State Horti-
cultural Society:

The realm of flowers is as varied and infinite as its blossoms-
are fragile and evanescent. And while we leave to the Botanist
the analysis, classification, habits and functions of plant life, and
to the Committee on Floriculture the instructive dissertation upon
that branch of the subject, we propose sinrply to touch upon the
influences of these refining messengers of nature, and the tender
associations connected with them. Some one has styled the
flower "a living creature with histories written on its leaves and
passion breathing in its motion: a voice rising from the earth;
a new chord in the mind's music.*' Born of the inspiration of
this poetical idea of the flower, are the humble thoughts we gar-
land together this evening. It would be a voluminous task to ex-
haust the subject under which we write, and so we must be con-
tent with exhausting our audience. We find that flowers are
associated by ancient custom with the most entrancing tales of
genius, the richest essence of poetry. "We find them consecrated
in all ages to our religion, our fancies, and even to our super-
stitions. They are also s}'mbols of the flowers that bloom in the
garden of the heart ; flowers purifying life, expanding the soul,,
and drawing more closely the bonds of nature to the human
heart. Through their mute influence lessons of purity are un-
consciously taught, and untold pleasures are conveyed. To the
flowers we owe our ardent love of bright colors. We have a dis-
tinct, childish recollection of looking forward to a time when we
might wear a dress stamped with variegated "Touch-me-nots,"
a hat plumed in "Princess Feather,'" and a parasol, modeled after
an immense Sunflower; which at the present day would be
stunningly esthetic, not to say Oscar Wilde-ish. Nor have we,
in all the years that have intervened, been able to tone down
that love born of the flowers, the love of color. There are those
in the world who ardently admire the brilliant hues of a flower,.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 103

who are charmed with a gay plumaged bird, or a gorgeous sunset,
and yet are ready to lift their hands in holy horror at sight of a
lady adorned with a bright ribbon, a gay feather, or a dress of
some vivid color. We are free to confess that in the matter of
color we were wont to deplore our taste as being at fault, until we
came to read the profound opinion of Euskin, on the subject. He
says, "The fact is, we, none of us, enough appreciate the noble-
ness and sacredness of distinct colors. Nothing is more common
than to hear it spoken of as a subordinate beauty; nay, even as
the mere source of sensual pleasure, while the fact is that of all
God's gifts to the sight of man color is the holiest, the most di-
vine, associated with profound and noble thought." So much
for the wisdom of Ruskin.

We find that the love of color, by which "Beautiful Venice, the
bride of the sea," is known above all other cities in Italy, was not
grauted her in the days of her reckless festivity. Her resplendent
vestments of purple and gold were given her when first she rose
in all her majestic purity from the sea.

The coat of many colors was the touching symbol of Israel's
love to his chosen son. 'Tis said of Fra Angelica, the celebrated
artist, a man pure in heart and life, that his pictures were like
rare pieces of jewelry, and the colors of his draperies as rich and
various as those of a painted window. The other extreme is
recognized in Salvator Eosa, a study of whose character reveals
the fact that he was given to dissipation and revelry, and that his
pictures seemed to borrow from his life the same gloomy shades
of color. At last we come to think that not to the coarseness of
plebian tastes but up to the rainbow hues and down to the flowers
may we trace this sacred love of color.

As the eye grown dim with age, falls tenderly upon a tasteful
knot of old-fashioned blossoms, the soul is carried back, by the

Sower of associative imagination, to the scenes of childhood.
aek to the humble cottage or the pioneer cabin. There are the
treasures of a mother's well kept garden, called by their old-
fashioned names. The border of Pinks, the Marigolds, the
Touch-me-nots, Holly-hocks, the Bachelor's buttons, with rich
little clumps of Johnny-jump-ups weaving their bright Mosaic
hues among the rest ; the whole made odorous with Sweet Brier,
Sweet Basil and Old Man. With this fragrant day-dream from
the Spice Islands of the Past is wafted memories of youth, and
bright eyes, and festive scenes, and ripples of laughter. Too
soon the vision changes, and the air is filled with a mournful
fragrance which speaks of blight, of disappointments, of deso-
lation, and of buried hopes, waiting to be called from the dust
of the tomb, to the splendor of Immortality.

Can we not each recall some sacred, voiceless influence, some
tender dreamy association connected, it may be, with a bunch of
Pansies, or of Forget-me-nots, a withered Eose, a spray of Mig-

104: TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

nionette, or, perchance the oppressive odor of a Tube Rose,
bringing back the flower-laden casket and the icy "touch of a
vanished hand?" Through such influences the rough nature is
softened and subdued, the finer sensibilities are touched.

We have among our treasures, the remains of an old-fashioned
Cinnamon Rose, tacked on a slip of letter paper, every petal
has dropped away, only the stem and the heart of the rose
remain ; and yet, that sacred souvenir is fragrant with the mem-
ories of twenty-five years ago, when a home-sick girl-wife, living
among the lovely hills of Iron Ridge, Wisconsin, received a
letter, and found enveloped in its folds, this rose that had
bloomed under the window of her old home in Illinois. As she
kissed the sacred blossom, and inhaled its fragrance, the magic
wand of fancy was touched; the little room in which she was
sitting faded from her sight, and she was spirited away to her
girlhood's home. Old associations came thronging up; the
limpid waters of the brook gushed and bubbled at her feet ; the
birds were singing in the maples ; the bees were humming in the
garden; the dear home voices, it seemed, had grown more musi-
cally sweet than ever before. Time flew on rosy wings ; moments
sped into hours, when, lo! she was telephoned back to this
mundane sphere by the familiar interrogation, ■" Say, how long
before dinner will be ready?' ' " Bless my soul, is it noon? Why
I've been 'way down in Illinois, just got back. Can't we manage
with a lunch now, and take the banquet later?" While thus the
flowers we cherish to-day with tenderest care, may wither and
perish to-morrow, yet the associations connected with them, and
their pure, sweet influences are the immortelles we carry in our
hearts through life. Mrs. Hemans sweetly tells the story of a
dying girl, from which we quote this passage :

"Mother, be comforted that now I weep no more. God hath
purified my spirit's eye. And in the folds of this consummate rose
I read bright prophecies. I see not there, dimly and mournfully,
the word 'Farewell' on the rich petals traced. No; in soft
veins and characters of beauty I can read — 'Look up ! look
heavenward!' "

"Blessed God of Love! I thank Thee for these gifts, the prec-
ious links whereby my spirit unto Thee is drawn ! I thank Thee
that the flowers, of earth higher than earth can raise me! Are
not these but germs of things imperishable that bloom beside the
immortal streams? And, oh, by what strange spell is it, that
ever when I gaze on flowers I dream of Music?"

T'was the angel of the flowers, through the starry eyes of the
Pansy, that made beautiful the life of the sickly weaver, Hugh
Sutherland. Poor Hugh! friendless and lame, apprenticed to
the loom, how cheerless the outlook, until, to use the language
of the poet, "Heaven took the task upon itself, and sent an
Angel down among the flowers." A few sickly Pansies first at-

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 105

tracted his attention; nursing and watching them in his leisure
moments, he came at last to love their velvet eyes better than
human things. And soon with Pansy growing came the taste
for Botany, and with the knowledge of Botany came fame, and
honor, and higher than all, a reverence for the Great Botanist
who sent the voiceless Pansy on its holy mission of love.

Years ago, in a city not a hundred miles removed from Ham-
ilton, a lady was standing at the open window of her princely
home, when her attention was attracted by a little child, whose
bare feet and scanty garments betokened her poverty. The
child was gazing with intense admiration upon the paradise of
flowers spread before her. A rose tree, with one choice, creamy
bloom, seemed to charm her most, and with an assurance,
strangely in keeping with her humble appearance, she stepped
inside the enclosure, advanced to the window, and said, "Please,
lady, may I pick that big white rose?" "Why, the idea of such
impudence ! Indeed you cannot pick the choicest flower in my
garden," replied the lady. And, without making any concilia-
tion for her brusqueness, she saw the child move away with
crestfallen look, and eyes brimming with tears. She was
scarcely out of sight, however, before the woman's "good
angel" began to chide her. Pleading eyes and "phantom foot-
steps" haunted her all day. "You might have tilled the little
faded apron with flowers, and the hungry child's heart with
rapture, whispered reproving Conscience."

That night, in troubled sleep, the proud woman dreamed of
her lost Daisy, a precious human flower, who, years before, had
been transplanted in the land of fadeless bloom. Strangely, the
vision pictured her darling, standing, with bare feet and worn
garments, outside "The Beautiful Gate," not asking for admis-
sion, but only for one of the myriad roses that deck the heavenly
bowers. To her humble request, the angel guarding the gate
made answer, " Child, go back to Earth, and ask your mamma
for the White Rose she refused the little orphan yesterday."
Startled by this dream so real, the mother awoke, only to be
followed another day by the same picture of sorrow. Anxiously
she watched for a glimpse of the child, that she might make
some amends for her rudeness. At last an opportunity offered;
she saw her passing and with a cry of delight exclaimed, "Come
here darling, you shall have the big White Rose, and a whole
basket of lovely flowers beside." The thin lips quivered, tears
streamed from her eyes as she answered, " I don't want any
flowers now, mother's dead, she could'nt see them; I wanted the
rose for her. Yesterday they covered her up under the ground,
and now they are going to bind me out. Will it hurt me to be
bounded out?"

Need we say, they didn't bind her out, Heaven had given that
Creamy Rose, a sweet mission of charity, through its voiceless

106 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

influence, a woman's proud heart, was stirred to its profoundest
depths, and the homeless one found a sacred refuge in that
bosom, which proved a source of mutual happiness, in after
years.

"If thou hast crushed a flower,

The root may not he blighted;
If thou hast quenched a lamp,

Once more it may be lighted;
If thou hast bruised a vine,

The summer's breath is healing,
And its clusters yet may glow,

Through the leaves their bloom revealing,"

In conclusion, we ask, who among us would separate the flowers
from all the myriad associations that are round about them?
Who decry their influence upon the human heart? Surely not
the voice of human love ; surely not the nature delicately tuned
to the finer symphonies of the soul. Rather let us render rever-
ence and praise to " Nature's God " for the bright realm of
flowers, the humblest blossom of which is so skillfully touched
with his unrivalled pencil.

Not without meaning are the lines of the Irish poet:

"Long, long be the heart with such memories filled !
Like the vase in which roses have once been distilled.
You may break, you may shatter the vase if you will,
But the scent of the roses will hang 'round it still."

'&

OUR NATIONAL FLOWER.

C. N. Dennis — On the 12th day of April, 1861, a shot was fired
at Fort Sumpter to destroy that flag. .That shot struck at not
only that flag, but at the hearts of thousands of heroic boys in
blue. There was a certain number of stars in that flag at that
time, but after four years the flag was left untarnished, and now
others have been added until the number is forty-two. In the
discussion to-night as to the national emblem, there is a differ-
ence of opinion as to what that emblem should be. Some think
that it should be a single flower, and others want a boquet. I
have been requested by two ladies of Hamilton — Mrs. Lamonte
and Mrs. Railsback — to present to this Society, in the name of
the City of Hamilton, this wreath of forty-two distinct flowers,
representing our idea of what that emblem should be. And it
gives me great pleasure to present to you this wreath emblematic
of their idea.

President Dunlap — On behalf of the Society I accept this
wreath from the ladies of Hamilton, and especially thank those

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 107

two ladies who prepared it. It is certainly a piece of beautiful
workmanship. The beauty of the flowers is enhanced by the art
of the ladies. Again I thank the ladies in the name of the
Society, and accept it for the Society.
Mrs. Lamonte then read the following paper:

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

In presenting the following argument in support of the "com-
bination" as the national floral emblem, I am filled with diffi-
dence, born of a knowledge of my inability to properly present
such proofs as I have :

Yet trusting you will accredit me with a desire to do my duty
in the matter, I will, with your attention, proceed to outline the
argument. For the sake of convenience we may divide it into
two parts :

1st. Why the floral emblem should not be a single flower.

2nd. Why it should be a combination.

1st. Why it should not be a single flower. What law compels us
to have a single flower for a national emblem? AVhence comes
the idea of a single flower? Does it spring from American
patriotism; or is it in emulation of the old world example? If
so, would it not be well to caution our people as to its advocacy?

The old world is fathering too many ideas noAv, which are
being copied by our people, and in designating the character of
our national emblem, let us be purely American and as free from
the trammels of European sentiment, as were our forefathers a
century ago. To those who would copy from Europe, let me
put this question: When something over a century ago, Otis,
and Patrick Henry were electrifying the people of the colonies
with their passionate eloquence, in favor of revolt, — there was
born an idea, Patriotism.

Was it borrowed from Europe? Later, when the British were
driven from our shores, and we formed the idea of having a
Republic, did we model after Europe? Did we go to Europe
for our flag? and let me ask, is the "bald headed eagle" a
native of the old world? Does any state in Europe or Asia
have such a motto as E Pluribus Unum? Ah, no! the senti-
ment is foreign to monarchial governments. It is American, of
American soil, and American inspiration. And shall we, at this
late day, declare our poverty of idea, prove so recreant to our
American thought as to urge as our floral emblem a single
flower, because other nations have so adopted?

Why, the single flowers of European states are symbols of
hate, superstition, blood, tyranny, and many of the baser passions
which are incompatible with American ideas and thought. Eng-
land's rose, born of hate and baptised with blood, tells of a fra-
tricidal war; the sacred lily of the Chinese unfolds to us the

108 TEAKS ACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

dense superstition of his land ; the lotus flower symbolizes the
mystic philosophy of Egypt; and the "Fleur de Lis" of France
is abandoned by all the advanced republicans of to-day as
a symbol of liberty.

Shall we, then, in view of these quoted facts, emulate Europe
in the matter? Can we readily concede that our floral emblem
should be a single flower, because all the European nations have
a single flower? How cheap, how inglorious is such an argu-
ment.

Another great objection to the single flower idea, and one
which will prove a bristling wall of opposition is State pride. It
may be urged in opposition to this statement that our pride
should be suppressed in the matter, but it can hardly be allowed
as a point in the discussion, because of this accepted precept,
while we are a homogenous people considered as a nation exter-
nally, internally considered, the relation of the States to the
nation are decidedly Homologous.

In view of this fact it is absurd to ask the States to surrender
their pride when one or many of their sister States are
clamoring for national recognition in a matter equally pertinent
to the"" State or States asked to keep silence. Negligent, indeed,
would be the State that would not by every honorable means
seek aggrandizement in any matter that would shed such honor
alike upon her escutcheon and her citizenhood.

Who is there in our State who does not share the honor of his
selection with Melvin W. Fuller? who does not feel proud that this
man now occupying the most eminent position among his coun-
try's officials, was electedfrom the yeomany of American citizen-
ship? Who blushes with shame for their State pride when
Lincoln's greatness is named; who hang their heads when the
brilliant Douglass is quoted ; who trembles with guilt at the name
of Grant and Logan, now glorifying history's page and worn in
the hearts of all? And what Illinoisan would bury his State
pride, and not strive to place among the honored emblems of his
country a floral emblem from Illinois? And yet we are only one of
many. The citizens of our sister States would be, and are, equally
anxious to secure this honor.

This State pride is a fact; it may be a question in ethics, if it
be right to indulge in it, but our province is to discuss the char-
acter of the floral emblem, and not violations of the ethical or
moral code, and when facts are presented they should be
weighed carefully, that we may determine judiciously. And, as
before remarked, it is a fact; it exists, and will be a mighty
factor in the contest (if our national emblem is to be a single
flower) that will be long and profitless.

Already in the field as candidates for the honor, are some sixty
blooms, and the one which wins the victory must take the palm
from many handsome favorites. It would have to outride in popu-

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 109

|
lar estimate the claims of the Arbutus of the New England States ;
it would have to wrest victory from the Orange blossom of
Floridian groves; from the coral-blossomed Cypress, with its
tendrils draping in living Arabesque, the stumps and trunks
of trees of southern swamps; from the Honeysuckle, which
adorns, with its fragrant blossoms of pink and white, the home
of the aristocrat and the home of the peasant; from the stately
Magnolia that sheds its perfume in glen and grove; from those
desert children of the southwest, the Cacti, whose thorny
spines and grotesque leaves bespeak not to the traveler the
beauty of their blossom ; from the Rhododendron that waves its
pink plumes in the brakes of the northwestern wilds ; from these
and many others will the champion be forced to wrest victory.

Why it should not be a single flower. I do not wish to be
thought pedantic, and yet at the risk of being so considered,
shall ask you to pause with me sufficiently long to consult a dic-
tionary on the meaning of the word "emblem."

Says Webster of this word: "Emblem, a picture, representing
one thing to the eye and another to the understanding, A
painted enigma, or a figure representing some obvious history;
instructing us in some moral truth.

"Second, emblem, a painting or representation intended to
hold forth some moral or political instruction ; ail allusive pic-
ture; a typical designation."

These definitions are not obsolete, they are extant, and by
them are measured all the emblematic tokens of the time. The
flags of the nation are designed in accordance with these mean-
ings, and the insignia of all social orders in Christendom are
allusive representations of a truth but partly expressed.

The initial which we jot down at the foot of the notes which
we daily write, as well as the monogram that adorns the corner
of the sheet, are in keeping with the terms of these definitions.
With a definition accepted and acted upon so universally as this
one is, may we not, with perfect propriety, use it as the means
whereby to judge the emblems of our country, now in use, and
such others as may in the future be adopted?

With this as a guiding means in studying our flag and seal, we
learn that the emblematic truths expressed are mainly political,
relating to our ability as a nation; three thoughts being promi-
nently brought forth — namely, plurality, strength and unity.

In analyzing the flag, we obtain the following results:
Plurality is indicated by the collective number of stars and
stripes ; strength by the stars held in the firmament of blue and
the stripes joined together; unity by the stars and stripes
in their entirety as the national flag; teaching to the world our
motto, "E Pluribus UnumV

On our national seal the same cardinal truths are found —
plurality, strength and unity. In the numerous arrows clutched

110 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

in the eagle's talons, we read the thought, plurality; in the
talons which clutch them in a bundle, we read strength, and in
the motto near the outer edge of the seal, unity.

From the foregoing analysis of our standard and seal, it
requires no great powers of discernment to see that in the
coming floral emblem, in order that it may rank as a compeer
with existing insignia, it must give expression to that trinity of
truths which so clearly express our estimate of the union, unity,
strength , plurality.

These then being the thoughts which our floral emblem should
convey, the question arises as to the capability of a single flower
expressing them. In proving that none have as yet been found,
it will only be necessary to hastily examine the qualifications of
such flowers as are figuring prominently before the people for
this honor.

The simple Golden Rod and the many hued Aster claim the
characteristics necessary to show plurality, but these claims will
not stand intelligent criticism, if Webster's definition is to be
adhered to as a guide, inasmuch as they lack the ability to impress
the beholder with the truth they wish to convey. Though the
Botanist and student may see in the bloom of the Golden Rod a
collection of individual blossoms, and in the Aster, petals differ-
ing in order, yet to the great bulk of our countrymen whose un-
scientific minds are unused to Botanical analysis, these blossoms
will be but a single flower expressing nothing save the senti-
mental fancy of a thoughtless people.

Of the other aspirants for this honor, the Trailing Arbutus, that
vagrant of the rocks that fights for life with the chilly winds of
a New England spring; the stately Sunflower, that follows its
god from east to west ; the ox-eyed Daisy, the Violet, that borrows
its color from the skies that it constantly seeks ; that pet of the
flower-garden, the Pansy; of these nothing can be said individ-
ually in favor of their candidacy, possessing no properties which
would fit them for its occupancy, they would soon disappear from
the race were it not for the unthinking sentimentality of those
people who press them forward. The summer past evinced the
fact that little hope may be held for the ultimate supremacy of
any single flower.

At the fairs, recently held throughout the country, polls were
opened and votes recorded of the favorite flowers as cast, with
sixty candidates in the field. The battling of ballots was neces-
sarily heavy but not decisive, the results being in line with the
argument advanced in the first part of this paper, — that state
pride will actuate the mind of the voter, man being prone to
favor that with which he is most familiar; which in this case
would be the flower of his garden, his glen, or native prairie.

Thus we are led to believe that no plant will be found in the

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Ill

United States whose blossoms will contain all the requirements
necessary to eligibility for this position.

At this point we will, for the sake of brevity, close our argu-
ment on this issue and consider the single flower in the last
possible position which is left open to it as a candidate,— that of
an historical emblem.

Were there in our country one blossom that had connected with
it some historical romance, pertinent to the history of our coun-
try, it might consistently be voted a national emblem ; but no
such flower exists within our borders. Every avenue of approach
is, I think, effectually closed to the single flower.

To summarize, the single flower is an idea borrowed from the
Old World. It typifies Hate, Tyranny, Superstition, Slavery,
and hence should be abandoned by an American. Second, it lacks
the ability to impress the observer with the primal truth of our
national motto, ikE Pluribus Unum" and on this ground should
be rejected. Its advocacy will result in sectional feeling, which
will be detrimental to our national interests.

The cluster (or combination in any form) not only escapes these
objections, but has many qualifications that are generally realized.
It symbolizes brotherly love; it will serve to break up sectional-
isms. A son of the South and a boy of the North, if they saw in
the floral emblem of their nation buds lying peacefully together,
that represented their States bound together as a cluster, would
recognize the three requirements of the floral emblem — unity,
strength, plurality.

And, finally, it is purely American ; no other nation having for
its floral emblem a cluster of flowers. As we have been the
pioneers in all else during the last one hundred years, let us also
iead the way in this.

After reviewing the field carefully, and considering what we
owe to ourselves as a nation made up of a number of individual
States, each an empire in its own right, each differing from the
other in customs, laws, traditions and tastes, I am impressed with
the conviction that there is lack of wisdom in expecting forty-two
States to unify on a single blossom as a national floral emblem ;
that the better way is to have a cluster; that, each State may, in
purity and love, offer Columbia a flower plucked from its soil,
endeared to it by ties stronger than chains; she, in her apprecia-
tion, gathers them in her arms and weaves them together in
garlands — spray, wreath or boquet, as pleases her fancy — and her
heart goes up to God in adoration for a nation so fashioned that
no petty jealousies or sectional strifes compel one single selec-
tion. But in this, as in all other things, we are truly American,
and offer as a grand climax of all other emblems, the combina-
tion; each State adds her star to the constellation of brilliancy,
and a flower, "God's Messenger," is sent to make up the grand
galaxy of the national floral emblem.

112 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

H. D. Brown — Mr. President, the program for this evening
says that the discussion of this question was to be opened by a
paper by Mrs. Lamonte, and they have brought out an eloquent
man to introduce the subject. But, ladies and gentlemen, I am
surprised that the gentleman who introduced the subject should
take the position he does, because he is a Republican, and ought
to be opposed to State rights. Now, Mr. President, the
position that these folks take is the rankest sort of State rights.
How would Iowa look and feel if she should happen to select
a Daisy as her flower, and Texas should happen to come out as a
Sunflower, and cover everything, like a great big, ugly Demo-
crat? No, gentlemen, we have turned over the last leaf in this
State rights business, by burying the man who did so much in
stirring up strife on State rights — Jefferson Davis — and we don't
want to start the discussion of State rights again.

(

OUE NATIONAL FLOWER.

BY MRS. H. D. BROWN, HAMILTON.

What shall be our National Flower is a question which has
been before our people for the past year or more. It is a
curious fact that almost every civilized country, with the excep-
tion of the United States, has adopted a National Flower. We
find, on looking into this matter more closely, that the discus-
sion on this subject was begun in the Boston Daily Globe, May
13th, 1888, by a signed editorial from the pen of Jean Kencaid.
Since that time the discussion has spread all over our country,
crossing over the Atlantic, where the English papers have taken
the matter up. But we, as Americans, feel the choice of a
National Flower should be left solely to the people of the
"United States of America."

All nations have their flags and many have adopted a National
Flower. England has the Rose, Scotland the Thistle, Ireland the
Shamrock, (which is a species of white clover), France the Fleur
de Lis, Germany the Corn Flower, (which is a small blue flower,
a species of pink.) Prussia the Linden, Spain the Pomegranate,
Wales the Leek, Italy the Lily, Saxony the Mignonette, Egypt,
Lotus, Canada the Sugar Maple, Athens the Violet. The special
flower of the Hindoos has always been the Marigold, while the
Chinese proudly display the gorgeous Chrysanthemum, in which
there has been a great improvement the past years. There are
others but we will not Aveary you. It is unnecessary for me to
repeat that each of the foregoing has been adopted as the
National Flower or emblem of the nations I have mentioned.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 113

But as the adoption of a National Bouquet or Floral Emblem
has been advocated by some would-be-florists in this vicinity, let
us examine their suggestions carefully and without prejudice.

They claim it will be much better for each State to choose its
favorite flower and to combine them in one National Bouquet,
or in some other form that may suit them better, the whole to
represent the National Floral Emblem of the United States. The
plea made by the advocates of this is that each State will be rep-
resented by a flower, in the same manner as she is by the stars
on our flag, and the Union of the stars and the combination of
flowers is symbolical of our Union of States; that there will be-
no cause for jealousy, etc.

Now, kind friends, this looks very well on paper, and it sounds
very poetical from the lips of its advocates, but it is very im-
practicable, as I will endeavor to show you, for in that grand old
flag we all know that each star on its field of blue has an equal
position with the other, and the star that is placed there for
Rhode Island is as large as the one for Texas, and equal in every
particular, but it could not be so in combining forty-two flowers
in a "Floral Emblem . ' ' The forming or arranging of a bouquet of
flowers is artistic work of which only an artist in flowers is capable
of making a success, and while one person may pass through a
flower garden and gather a bunch of flowers which to the eye has
a ragged uncouth look, another gathering from the same garden
combines grasses, leaves and flowers in such a manner that the
bunch of flowers becomes a thing of beauty.

In a National Bouquet, as each State is to choose its own
flower, suppose Illinois chooses the Rosin Weed flower, Kansas
the Sunflower, Maryland the Marigold, New Mexico the Yellow
Dahlia, California, Pyrethrum, and so on, each choosing some
gorgeous yellow flower; such an event may happen, and Oh!,
what a great yellow block the National Floral Emblem would be..

As every artist among flowers knows how difficult it is to
choose among many flowers, leaves and grasses a combination of
colors to make an artistic effect, they will at once see that it
would be almost impossible to take forty-two flowers selected by-
some one else and form a combination pleasing to the eye.

It is to be supposed that no State will choose a leaf or grass-
for its flower, and without these grasses and leaves the National
Floral Emblem would be anything but pleasant to look upon. If
a committee could be appointed to choose each State's flower,,
these obstacles might, in a measure, be overcome ; but would
any citizen of any State be satisfied to have the flower of his
State chosen by a committee of citizens of other States. There
are several other reasons which we will not stop to enumerate
why a combination is impracticable. But, the question arises,
how shall we choose a flower which shall be satisfactory to the
greatest number of the people of the United States?
—9

114 TRANSACTIONS OP THE ILLINOIS

1st. A National Flower should be a native of the United
States.

2nd. A National Flower should be one common to all the
States.

3rd. It should be one that is useful in a bouquet, and one
that is, also, useful as a decorative plant or flower, or one to
commemorate some historical event and, also, one that the most
humble citizen can procure without great trouble or expense.
It should not be chosen simply from sentiment, but if we do,
let us leave the choosing to love-sick John as he goes to see his
best girl Mary on Sunday evening, and we may rest assured that
he will choose understanding^, for he would undoubtedly choose
tulips, or as he would pronounce it hvo lips.

The Trailing Arbutus or Mayflower has many advocates. It
is, as we understand, a native of the most sterile mountain
states, and we, as citizens of the Western States, are not very
familiar with it.

The Golden Kod, a native of the central portion of the United
States, is often voted for and seems to be quite popular. It is
of graceful feathery form, and very effective for decorative pur-
poses.

The Yucea is a native of the western plains, will grow in any
part of the United States, and its large spikes of white flowers
are, indeed, beautiful.

The Sunflower has also been suggested, and as a National
Flower, it would have its advantages. It is a native of every
State in the Union, therefore every citizen could easily procure
them. There are many varieties under cultivation; " they range
from the size of a small double Dahlia to fifteen inches in diame-
ter." This plant has no historical reminiscences clinging to it,
nevertheless it is held in veneration by the pioneers of the far
western, treeless plains, for the amount of fuel it furnishes them
during the cold winter blizzards so common there. There is
also a new variety which was used very extensively as a decorative
plant at fashionable entertainments in New York and Philadel-
phia the past season.

The Apple Blossom is, also, often mentioned, and it is well
worthy of much thought; also the Corntassel or flower, for it is
commemorative of the fact that the United States is able to feed
the world.

The leaves and flowers of the Oak, as tree or shrub, a native
of all the States, should be thought of, for who does not have
•a thrill of patriotism rush through them at the mention of the
famous Charter Oak. We must not forget to mention that the
leaves, too, are fine for decorative purposes. And, now, that we
are beginning to inform ourselves on this matter of a National
Flower, and think of casting our vote for any particular one, we
find there is a great number which are very suitable and worthy

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 115

to take the place, and we hope the people of this country will
vote intelligently, and while we have our choice we are willing
to submit to the will of the majority, knoAving that all will
acquiesce, as in the election of our chief magistrate, and while a
combination of flowers, or a National Bouquet at first glance
seems very appropriate, upon closer investigation it proves a
delusion and a snare; for, kind friends, let us take a glimpse of
the future. Suppose each of the forty-two States has chosen
its favorite flower. Some one must be commissioned to arrange
them ; a committee, or at least one delegate, from each State
would have to be chosen. A Republican State would, undoubt-
edly, send a Republican delegate, and a Democratic State a
Democratic delegate, that is, each State would send a man most
available as a party worker without much regard to his ability
or taste to arrange the flowers. It is a well known fact that the
party in power would dictate the position in which these State
flowers sliould be placed. Serious contentions would arise and
the hydra-headed monster of State's rights would come to the
front as in " days of j'ore." But in choosing one flower for our
whole Nation no such contentions could arise, and we would
have — Oh, glorious thought! One united country. One grand
old flag, and one beautiful "National Flower."

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DECORATIONS.

Your Committee to inspect Floral Decorations would respect-
fully report that we have examined the beautiful and elegant
decorations so tastefully arranged in the City Hall of Hamilton ;
so kindly provided for us by the citizens of this place, and
arranged for our use and comfort by them and the members of
the Warsaw Horticultural, and the Montebello and Warsaw Floral
Societies.

Among this fine collection was some beautiful work, not

showing by whom produced, consequently we may not be able to

give proper credits in all cases. First we notice the words over

the platform :

"welcome

state horticultural society,

1889."

Sheaves of grain and beautiful plumage are shown on either side
of the platform, and fine collections of grains and grasses, with
the bright-colored flowers, and fine evergreen background, with
the national flag in the center, constitute, as a whole, a very
pleasing effect.

116 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

To specify, we "would name a fine design of Chrisanthemurn ,
•with center of Fucias, by Mrs. N. Lyon.

Harp of a Thousand Strings, composed of a variety of most
beautiful flowers, Eoses, Verbenas, Geraniums, Smilax, &c,
placed upon an easel of cane, produced a fine display, being the
work of the Montebello Floral Society.

The Warsaw Floral Society furnish a Floral Scythe, remind-
ing us of Father Time, the great destroyer; the entire scythe and
snath was gilded, and the blade covered with white flowers, and
the snath with a fine bouquet of flowers ; altogether a thing of
beauty.

Mrs. Umshler furnished a fine design, composed of fruit,
flowers and vegetables, very artistic, from fresh specimens.

A most beautiful wreath of flowers, composed of forty-two
varieties, to represent the national emblem, the elegant work
of Mrs. Lamonte, was presented to the Society in a happy and
most eloquent address by Mr. C. N. Dennis.

All of which is most respectfully submitted by your committee,

A. L. Hay,

W. H. Greene,

Henry Speer.

Mr. Hay — Ladies and gentlemen, standing on this platform in
the presence of these assembled fair ones, and looking at these
flowers and flags, and all the beautiful things gathered here it
seems to me that the most beautiful of all is that grand old flag.
I wish now as I stand here before it to speak a word of praise for
the thousands of fallen heroes who gave themselves that that flag
might be preserved to us. I will say that there is not a person
here whose heart is not wrapped in that flag, and we believe that
the stars in its bright blue sky shall continue to come forth until
there are one hundred of them, and one hundred and fifty millions
of happy people shall live under it. As to those decorations
of flowers, it is not possible to do them all justice. The
names of many of those who brought them are not attached
and your committee has no means of knowing to whom
our thanks are due. This magnificent harp is the work of
the M. F. S., and if the ladies of that Society have as many
strings to their bows as has this harp, they are in good luck.
Here are various collections of flowers, fruits and vegetables,

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 117

many of them overflowing with beauty and grace, but that which
rejoices us most is the kindly treatment we have all met at the
hands of the people of Hamilton and vicinity. We thank you.

Prof. W. II. Ragan, of Indiana, being called upon for his
promised paper, spoke as follows: "It does not seem ap-
propriate for me to say a word. You have certainly reached
a climax in your exercises, and the only really proper thing
would be to adjourn, but since I have come several hundred
miles to attend your meeting I will have to beg your atten-
tion for a few minutes. I do not call your attention to the
bubject announced for me in the program, for I had not time to
prepare it. It was my privilege recently to attend a large porno-
logical meeting where was exhibited many fruits that are too
tender in our latitude, although they are grown several hundred
miles north of us. I think I can explain that to you and also
what a good thing yo\i missed in not adopting a resolution intro-
duced into one of your Society Meetings to have Lake Michigan
removed to 30111* western border. I will say now that the
fruit exhibited I referred to was the Michigan exhibit at Detroit
last fall, and it consisted largely of the fruits grown in the ex-
treme northwestern portion of Michigan."

The Professor now presented a paper of great interest, show-
ing the origin and movement of a "cold wave" across the country,
which he illustrated with numerous charts. The manuscript has
not been furnished for publication.

Mr. Sparks — Last September, at a meeting held at the home of
Mrs. Lamonte, a paper was read, which was about to draw out
discussion, and a motion was made to postpone discussion to
some future day and to discuss it in other horticultural societies.

The Secretary of the State Society was present and it was
agreed that the question of a National Emblem should be dis-
cussed at this meeting, but no fair opportunity has yet been
afforded.

President Dunlap — I think there will be an opportunity afforded
to-morrow for any discussion that may be desired.

Mr. Green — I move that the subject brought before us by Prof.
Ragan be referred to the Experimental Stations.
Carried. Adjourned.

118 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

THURSDAY MORNING.

Called to order by the President. Opening prayer by the Rev.
Mr. McArthur. Report of Committee on Experiment Stations:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EXPERIMENT STA-
TIONS—WHAT IS BEING DONE.

BY JAMES T. JOHNSON, WARSAW.

The very important character of the subject assigned, and the
single feature of it, to which I am expected to address myself, is
in a measure embarrassing, for the reason that I shall find it
exceedingly difficult to confine my remarks to a part of a subject,
i. e., "What is being done."

Possibly, you will expect me to speak only of what is known
as "The Hatch Experiment Stations," now conducted by the
several States, under the law of Congress known as "The IJatch
Bill." And yet it is probable that others will expect some notice
taken of the earnest, practical and intelligent experimenters who
are working independently (and successfully, too).

The experiment stations of the States are, of necessity, general
in their character, and can give but a limited portion of their
time to horticulture, or to any one subject.

Thus far, the most important part played by these stations in
horticulture, has been in the study of plant diseases and para-
sites, and in the examination and test of proposed remedies.
And in all matters that require scientific investigations, or
thorough chemical tests, their work has been eminently success-
ful, and will so continue to be, as this is a work that the
organized station only is prepared to do.

The experiments with the varieties of grains, of grasses, of
garden vegetables, and of very many plants, are being carried
forward by these stations with evident advantage to the agricid-
tural interests of the whole country.

But in horticulture, more and better results need to be secured,
to meet the wants and the expectations of our people.

It is hoped — we are told — that such will jTet be the result, and
claimed that our stations are yet in their infancy, and hardly in
condition for their most effective work. This is correct reason-
ing only in part, and while we are ready to admit that they are
doing a work that the average unscientific farmer is not prepared
to do, yet to us it is plain that in the matter of the production
of new varieties of fruits, and in settling the question of their
adaptation to our soil and location, we need the work of the

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 11D

specialist, the expert specialist, "The specialist, both born and
educated. "

When Prussia found a " Krupp," she took possession of him
and gave him to the life work, for which, by both nature and
training, he proved to be so eminently fitted, and left the venture
of finding another Krupp to some one with less foresight than
Von Bismark, and in this matter we should wisely profit by
their experience.

We recognize the importance which attaches to a knowledge
of the fact that we have many varieties of soil, and that a better
knowledge of this is possible, and advisable, and Ave admit that
but few of our people are prepared to enter into chemical tests
of the composition of these soils, and that this our stations can,
and ought to do, and are doing, and by which knowledge the
enterprising and industrious farmer will be enabled to maintain,,
or to renew the fertility of his soil.

We know also that in the study of rusts, smuts, blights, rots,
mildews, etc., etc., and in the control of these, and of injurious
insects our stations are making great progress, and further that
the most careful tests are now in progress, which are destined to
show the difference in the value of the different breeds of our
domestic animals of the same species, for the different uses of
man. Also to show the effect of the use of different kinds of
food, and of the same kinds of food in different conditions, as
to its results in the production of meat, of milk, of wool, etc.,
as well as its digestibility.

But of all the many experiments that come in the line of work
for our general experiment stations, none is so difficult for them,
or yet so tedious or slow of results as those that pertain to fruit
growing, to the originating or producing of new varieties by
cross fertilization, (or otherwise, as it is indeed already claimed
to be possible to improve old varieties by selection, culture,
etc.,) and the testing of new varieties after being produced. In
the whole study and practice of horticulture, difficulties and
problems, (old and new), continue to present themselves, such
as our general experiment stations can hardly ever hope to solve;
problems that can better and more surely be worked out by our
born and educated specialists — possibly I should say fruit — cranks.

The peculiarities of the results of location, and that without
any evident effect of the character of either the soil or forma-
tion, does and will continue to confront us, and to thwart in a
a great measure our efforts in the future as it has done in the
past. And yet, (without being able to tell the reason why), we
are compelled to admit that this peculiarity does exist, and that
Ave haAre no right to ignore the fact, and could not if Ave avouM.

Some have learned — and it is someAvhat strange that thousands
have not learned ere this — that it is of no practical value, (and
practical Aralues should be our aim), for us to knoAv that Bald-

120 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

win arid Greening apples do well "away down east," so long as
we continue to grow apples in Illinois; and some of us have
learned full well that what is most certainly true as to the local
character of the varieties herein named, is equally true of
hundreds of other tested fruits, including everything from
the apple down to the end of our whole list of fruits.
And we hope that the practical men who have planned our
local experiment stations — nine in number for a -single State — had
this all important idea in view, and the more closely they fol-
low its teachings the shorter and the more sure will be their road
to ultimate success.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EXPERIMENT STA-
TIONS—WHAT CAN BE DONE.

BY ARTHUR BRYANT, PRINCETON.

With the increased appropriation to our Society by the Legis-
lature have come new responsibilities and duties to be performed.

One of the conditions when the increase was granted, was,
that at least $1,000 should be annually expended in experimental
work. It has been made my duty to tell: " What can be done
at these experimental stations that have been formed by the
Executive Board."

It will not be a difficult matter to tell what can or may be
accomplished in this line, but I think it will take much more
thought and study to say what is best to do, or rather to under-
take to do, at the present time, and with the present means at
command.

At the outset the Board saw that the limited amount of money
would not admit of any very elaborate, extended or costly work
being undertaken.

Three experimental stations were established in each district
of the State (nine in all), and it was decided to confine the
experiments mainly to the testing of new varieties of fruits, the
spraying of fruit trees for the destruction of insects, and such
other work as could be carried on at the different points without
any great expense ; the main idea being to keep the work within
the means provided, and still show the greatest and most prac-
tical results. With some it may seem that the experimental
work has been spread over too much territory, and it would have
been better to have confined it to fewer points.

The fact that our State extending through so many degrees of
latitude, and having so varied a soil and climate, could not
depend on a single experimental station, and secure results that
would be satisfactory to other portions of its territory, induced
the committee having the matter in charge, to accept the present

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 121

plan of conducting the business. At present I see no occasion
for changing this feature materially.

The experiments which have been begun should, as far as pos-
sible, be carried through to definite results.

The committee in charge should insist on a careful record
being kept of all work done at the stations, and have it reported
as frequently as necessary or desirable.

These reports will be a most essential part of the work, and
should be full and explicit, giving in detail the methods and
results obtained.

I will give a few suggestions as to what may be done in this
experimental work, with this qualification, that I am not sure
that this is all which should be undertaken now.

More thorough tests in the spraying of fruit trees with arseni-
cal and other poisons.

There seems to be no doubt of the value of this method of
treating our trees, for the destruction of many of their insect
enemies, both of leaf and fruit. However, there seems to be a
great difference of opinion among those who have used these
poisons, as to how strong they should be applied, and their
effects on the foliage; claims being made that the injury to
foliage is much greater when they are applied late in the season.
These are all proper subjects of farther investigation.

In the Centra] and Southern districts the spraying and other
applications for the grape rot should be continued. Climatic
conditions not being so favorable for this disease in the north-
ern portion of the State, its effects there are not so serious.

The effect of various methods of cultivation on our different
kinds of fruits, also the application of commercial and home-
made fertilizers, showing results as to their increased growth,
fruitfulness and maturing of wood growth, often called hardi-
ness. The testing of summer and winter mulching on our
orchards and plantations of small fruits, hoping thereby to en-
able them to withstand summer heat and winter cold, and thus
increase their fruitfulness, are all subjects worthy of considera-
tion.

At some future time should the affairs of the Society be in a
condition to justify, it would be eminently proper for it to insti-
tute a more extended and scientific line of experiments. This
work would imply the employment of persons with scientific
knowledge and a sufficient amount of funds, and should not be
undertaken until there is a good prospect of carrying it through
successfully. But I will not consume more of your time, feeling
that whatever disposition is made of this matter by the Exec-
utive Board will be for the best interests of the Society, and
also an honor and credit to the State.

122 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Gaston — I think these experiment stations will be of value
if rightly conducted. Every fruit seems to have a special place,
and it certainly will be profitable to have experiments intelligent-
ly conducted to tell us what fruits are adapted to the different
localities. I have been running a small experiment station for
the last ten years, and I find I have gained a premium on one of
my seedlings. Mr. McKinney is an experimenter in strawberries
and has shown that we can do well out our way. You fellows
will have to look out or you will get beat in your nine experi-
ment stations. You have got the Marshall County Society to
buck against.

Mr. Thomas — Has any one had experience in spraying small
fruits, especially for the midgets in the strawberries?

President Dunlap — I think spraying them would be very ob-
jectionable, from the fact that it is so short a time from the set-
ting of the fruit until it is ripened that you could not depend on
the rains washing it off. I would say this, that those experiment
stations are not for the purpose of stopping individual investi-
gation, but to encourage it, and we hope that those outside will
do all they can. The object of the stations is that the Society can
have places to make experiments and call on these men for re-
ports, and get the reports whether the experiments are a success
or not ; individual experimenters do not report if they do not suc-
ceed.

Mr. Webster — I think private experiments are very well as far
as they go. While they may not reach the results of the experi-
ment stations, yet they will be of great benefit. I have done
much experimenting and others in my vicinity have, also. I was
the first person who made extended experiments in seedling straw-
berries in Southern Illinois, and now they are grown by the thou-
sands of acres. Though many claim that it has hurt the trade,
I do not think so.

Mr. Williams, of St. Louis — These experiments are well in
many ways. Statistics as to temperature, rain and sunshine,
may be much more thoroughly gathered at these State stations
than by individuals.

Mr. Thomas — Have the experiment stations tried the fertiliz-
ers on small fruits? We know that a few years ago the Jessie was

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 12&

lauded as the coming berry, arid I investigated it and found that
at Janesville where the Jessie originated, there is a large chemi-
cal fertilizing establishment, and I thought that might have
something to do with the success of the berry.

President Dunlap — These stations have been in existence only
about six months, and have not had time to experiment much.

Mr. H. D. Brown — I know it is a fact that a nurseryman will
have a stock on hand and he has not time to experiment. He has
got to get rid of it. As a friend of mine once said, if you have a-
lot of stuff on hand, you want to run it off before you know much
about it. For instance, I have a lot of Walbridge apples up
here and I wish I had pushed them off faster. I think the ex-
periment stations are the places to try new varieties.

Mr. McKinney — I think the nurserymen should know just what
they are doing and what they are selling; and I think the experi-
ment stations should test everything.

Mr. Cotta — One thing has been overlooked, and that is the in-
troduction of new varieties. If a man does not wish to have his
product get on the market, he can say so to the experiment sta-
tions and not a plant need go on the market without his con-
sent.

Mr. Webster — The public should be protected from sharpers.
I have been imposed upon, perhaps to the extent of $1,000 in the
last ten years — perhaps not intentionally — but fruits are largely
local in character, and what might be good for one part of the
country, might be of little value in another part of the State.

President Dunlap — I think it would be well to have the reports
of the stations sent out and published frequently and generally
circulated, as we want to get the people to depending on them.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NEW APPLES— CLASS

IV.

In the absence of all description of tree as to hardiness, bear-
ing, &c, your Committee on New Apples was obliged to be
governed wholly by the appearance, size and quality of the speci-
mens on exhibition, in making the awards.

We found Moore's Sweet, a well known old variety, entered as^
a seedling. We also found the old familiar variety, McLellan,,*
among those entered as new varieties,

124 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

For the best plate of new apples, we gave the first premium to
"Nero, a seedling of the Gilpin," exhibited by Mr. E. A. Riehl, of
Alton. This apple is of good size, fine appearance, dark red,
regular form, and in flavor resembles very much the Gilpin.
Said to be a good keeper.

We awarded the second premium to Mr. A. C. Hammond, of
Warsaw, for the Shackleford, a seedling of the Ben Davis, re-
cently introduced in Missouri.

Mr. Hammond exhibits a fine, large apple, said to be a seedling
of the Yellow Belleflower ; but, in the absence of all knowledge
of the tree, we could not recommend it for cultivation, and
neither do we feel justified in recommending any of the seedlings
which were on exhibition without further knowledge of the tree,
as to hardiness, &c.

Best Collection of New Apples not to Exceed Five Varieties
(three entries) — First premium to A. C. Hammond, of Warsaw.
Second premium, J. Christian, Mt. Carrol.

Best Plate Seedlings (four varieties) — First premium, J. V.
Cotta, Nursery. Second premium, A. H. Gaston, Lacon.

G. B. Brackett, Committee.

Col. Brackett — Your committee has found it difficult to make a
report on new fruits, because of a lack of history of the fruit.
We would suggest that in presenting new varieties of apples, it
would be well to have a report made of the characteristics of the
tree. It is impossible to have an intelligent opinion of an apple
without also knowing the habits and make-up generally of the
tree. And we would not recommend that the apples placed in
your exhibit as new varieties be put before the public in your
list "without further knowledge of the trees from which they
come.

President Dunlap — I think the suggestions of the committee
are all right, and I recommend them to the Society.

Mr. Bryant — I move that the report be accepted, and that
those who can bring a proper statement be allowed to do so.
■Carried.

TOP-GRAFTING FRUIT TREES.

BY J. V. COTTA, NURSERY.

No well informed horticulturist will question the fact that the
well-being and consequent longevity and profitableness of a fruit
tree depends very materially upon the manner of its propaga-
tion, especially in the North; and it is likewise a well known fact
that no amount of care and cultivation given a tree after being

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 125

placed in its orchard home, can ever atone for a mistake made on
the point under consideration in this paper.

I need not point out the premature decline or the altogether too
frequent destruction of fruit trees throughout the vast region of
country north of the fortieth parallel and west of Lake Michigan
— a region otherwise unequaled on the face of the globe for the
universal fertility of its soil, and the almost limitless productions
of its farm crops, and its domestic animals, for that is an old,
old story. But that in such a wonderful country like this our
fruit trees should be the only products of the soil which do not
attain a normal length of life, and which, in fact, may die during
any season and at any size, is certainly a question worthy our
most serious consideration. The test winters of 1855-'6, '56-'7,
'72-,3, '77-'8, '82-'3 and '84 '5, and several others almost as
severe, should be ample proof of the fact that the great majority
of our trees, as commonly propagated, are lacking in that consti-
tutional hardness so necessary to resist the extremes of our
peculiar climate; and unless we can produce trees that will
pass such test winters unharmed, we have no good reason to
expect any better success in the future than we have had in years
past.

In considering the practicability of improvement in hardiness
of the pear, plum and cherry by top-working, I can only say that
there are no pear stocks available as yet, by the use of which the
hardiness of the varieties in cultivation could be improved. The
same may be said of the cherry. Nor is there any improvement
in the hardiness of the European plum, in its numerous varieties,
to be looked for, since all of these have shown a want of affinity
for our hardiest American plums, and in all attempts made in top-
working the former upon stocks of the latter, the scion has
invariably outgrown the stock. We have quite a number of
native varieties which are worthy of propagation by the common
methods, and therefore we shall have to dismiss the consideration
of these fruits in connection with the problem at hand, and
confine ourselves exclusively to the king of fruits, the apple.

Half a century of apple culture in the West and North presents
to the investigator a veritable "checkerboard" of successes and
failures, of hopes and disappointments, and why? Is the climate
at fault? I say verily, nay ! For He who created this magnifi-
cent country, knew full well what sort of a climate to furnish for
it. Has it not been entirely our own fault that we have suffered
so many disappointments, and will it not be our own fault again,
if we suffer any more such disastrous results as the winters men-
tioned have brought upon us?

Is it not a fact, that attempts of growing varieties not adapted
to the localities where planted, inadequate methods of propaga-
tion, neglect of proper care and cultivation and fertilizing of the
soil, and more or less neglect and abuse of the trees, have charac-

126 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

terized the general management of orchards throughout the
western country ? Experience is a pretty correct teacher, if an
expensive one, and her mandates may not be set aside with im-
punity. Some twenty-eight years ago, we flattered ourselves with
having a goodly number of "iron-clads," but later winters have
reduced that number to the Duchess and a very few other
Russians, and the crabs. One entire splendid assortment of
American varieties have come to grief more or less.

When I arrived in Northern Illinois, thirty-five years ago, low-
headed trees were claimed to be "just the thing." Those that
•"knew" anything about apple culture were fully satisfied that
trees must be headed near the ground. Well, the winters of
1855-'56-'57 "wiped out" any amount of them. Those low-
headed "pets" were killed fully as dead as their taller stemmed
brethren. But history will repeat itself, and we find that two
"leading horticulturists," in recent communications in a leading
western agricultural journal, advocate the planting of "maiden
trees;" that is, yearlings to be headed back so as to branch close
to the ground. I would like to have these gentlemen explain, if
they can, how such trees are expected to resist the effects of such
test winters as those mentioned, which destroyed nursery trees
throughout the northwest by millions ; or, if they should escape
long enough to bear fruit, what is to hinder them from splitting
and breaking down, the same way their "illustrious" predeces-
sors did years and years ago? Another "leading" frcit grower
has of late years advocated the setting out of the root graft in the
orchard at once, so as to prevent injury from transplanting.
Well, a sweet time he and his followers will have, to keep their
bearings when cultivating their trees. I fear they will have to
bring their compasses, quadrants and lanterns into requisition.

Various other theories have been advanced as "specifics" for
successful apple cultivation ; such as grafting on short root sec-
tions and long scions, so as to compel the scion to strike roots of
its own ; whole roots are advocated in order to retain the whole
vitality of the stock, which is "fallaciously" claimed to be de-
stroyed by the use of sectional cuts. It seems these men do not
realize the fact that a piece of root is just as capable of repro-
ducing a properly constituted root-head to the tree, as a piece of
top-shoot or scion is of reproducing a complete top. Budding has
been claimed by some to produce hardier and better trees than
•root grafting ; but where is their proof ? The use of French crab
stock is another hobby ; when it should be known that that term
is a misnomer, and those are simply seedling stocks from seedling
parent trees and no crabs at all ; moreover these imported stocks
are far less hardy than our own. Others again appear to stake
their entire hope on the Russians, but even on this point we find
but small encouragement. The Northern Iowa Horticultural
Society, two years ago, after extensive trials for seventeen years,

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 127

adopted a small list for general cultivation in their district, but
at their last meeting they rescinded that action as premature.
Whereupon they appointed a committee, with Prof. Budd as
chairman, to make a selection for trial only. This committee se-
lected eighteen varieties, nearly all of which are summer and fall
apples, and this out of some 400 varieties. The Wisconsin State
Horticultural Society, at their last meeting, described nine
Russian varieties, with no other recommendation than such de-
scription would carry; one of these nine is described as being
"tender North, unless top-worked on some hardy stock."

Now while there are a limited number of these Russians that
really possess valuable traits, such as superior hardiness, pro-
ductiveness, fine size and handsome appearance of fruit, of fair
and even good quality, the great majority of them, however, pos-
sess serious faults, among which unproductiveness, tenderness,
inferior quality and predisposition to blight may be mentioned,
while nearlv all of them mature their fruit in summer and fall;
no satisfactory late keepers having as yet been found among
them that could compare favorably with our own native winter
sorts.

The growing of seedlings is looked upon by some as our only
hope; well, while commendable progress has been made in this
direction, the final result is yet too remote to be of immediate
practical use. It should not be overlooked that nearly all of our
approved native sorts were unnamed seedlings once, and that
we shall be obliged, for many years to come, to place our main
dependency for winter and spring apples entirely upon our native
assortment of keepers ; and as these have all proven more or less
defective in endurance of the vicissitudes of our climatic con-
ditions when growrn by root-grafting or budding, the only feasible
way left us, if we would grow such trees possessing a hardy con-
stitution, is to grow these by top-working upon congenial "iron-
clad" stocks.

Of Siberians that have given the best results as stocks, I
would name Whitney, Milton, Virginia, Shields and Orion; and
among Russians the Duchess, Charlamoff, Hibernal, Enormous
and Green Streaked will be amply sufficient and entirely satis-
factory for all practical purposes. There is not a variety — no
matter how vigorous a grower, — but what will produce a perfect
union with some of these "iron-clads," and I am fully convinced
that if our northern nurserymen would take hold of this matter
in good earnest the result would, in a very few years, be a most
gratifying one. By this process of double working — if proper
attention be paid to the affinity of the different varieties for one
another — we can have good, healthy, hardy and profitable trees
of nearly all of our old favorites — trees, that will endure our
severest test winters, remaining vigorous and productive for a
much longer period than if propagated by any other known

128 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

method. With such trees to start with if the orchardist will,
afterward, take reasonable care of them by proper cultivation
and fertilizing of his orchard — if he will give attention to the
shaping of his trees (the umbrella form being decidedly the
best) — if he will protect the trunks against rabbits, mice and
borers as advised in Mr. Minkler's paper — if he will not butcher
his trees by barbarous or untimely pruning — if he will wage a
determined warfare against insect pests and, finally, handle and
market his firuit in a careful, and judicious manner, the results
will be most gratifying, No money in apple culture, do you say?
If so, what do you call the returns of one old tree near Polo,
which in '86 yielded forty-five bushels of marketable apples,
which sold for $1.25 per bushel; making $56.25 as the gross
receipts for one year's crop of one tree. Sir. Whitney, of Frank-
lin Grove, has repeatedly realized from top worked Red Astra-
chan trees $30 per tree from one year's crop, when root grafted
trees of the same ages, and with the same treatment, have not
paid for the use of the ground occupied. In my own experience
I have suffered as serious losses from winter-killing of root graft-
ed trees in the nursery as, perhaps, any one of our northern
growers. During the winters of '82-'8<3, '84-85 alone, over 40,000
of them were ruined, while my top-worked trees of the same
varieties, of the same ages from the root- graft standing in the
same blocks, and under the same cultivation, escaped without
the loss of a twig or even a bud. I might go on, citing numer-
ous other instances of the same sort, but having already intruded
too much upon your valuable time, I must leave this matter in
your hands and only say: if these statements shall be instru-
mental in leading others to give this matter fair and impartial
trials, I shall feel amply repaid for writing this paper.

DISCUSSION.

After reading his paper, Mr. Cotta exhibited several top-
worked trees, with one, two and three-year old heads, to illustrate
this mode of propagation. He also called attention to the
necessity of forming the heads of these trees as near to the point
of union as possible, in order to prevent their growing dispropor-
tionately tall, and stated that all forks of the one year headed
trees should be cut away and the central or leading shoot cut
back to about a foot from its base. With this properly attended
to, the second year's growth will form a fine, symmetrical head.
If the removal of forks and the heading back of tall-growing
leaders be once or twice repeated afterward, the tree will easily
acquire the required umbrella shape, with the lower branches
spreading out nearly horizontally at a height of five to six feet

STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 129

•

above the ground and Avill easily bend under a heavy weight of
fruit, without breaking.

Question — Why do you top-work your trees at such a height as
four feet? Why would not two or three feet high answer every
purpose as well?

Mr. Cotta — The "dead line," if I may use that term, extends
from one to two and even three feet above the ground, at which
point the greatest injuries are always noticeable, and I want to get
the heads of my trees as high above this danger line as possible
consistent with a good proportion to my trees. Besides this, I
want as much of the iron-clad timber in the trunk as I can get.
And I am satisfied that a height of four feet answers the purpose
in view better than any other.

Question — How do you prevent sun-scalding with such tall
stems?

Answer — The varieties I use for stocks are not subject to this
difficulty like half-hardy varieties, but it is a wise plan to pro-
tect the stems of these trees against rabbits, mice and borers, as
suggested by Mr. Minkler in his valuable paper, and in so doing
you will guard against all danger of sun-scald.

Question — How can we know what varieties will, and will not
produce a good union with one another?

Ansiver — That is a pertinent question. I have been testing a,
good many varieties since 1882 and don't know it all yet, and am
still testing. I have quite a number of kinds that produce as-
even a growth as the trees I have shown you. But I have also*
some kinds that I have not yet learned to mate properly. This
question should be taken hold of by our experiment stations-
and nurserymen generally, and I am confident that we shall suc-
ceed.

FRUIT GROWING COMBINED WITH FARMING.

BY WM. JACKSON, GODFREY.

Mr. President and Members oj this Society :

It has been a general opinion frequently expressed that "Fruit
Growing combined with Farming" is not usually successful.
I am free to admit that so far as my observations have extended
that such has been the rule. But at the same time I am satisfied

—10

130 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

that "Farming combined with Fruit Growing" may, with proper
management, be made very successful.

There are many advantages to be derived from "Farming com-
bined with Fruit Growing," and probably they appear more
prominently to the grower of small fruits than to the orchardist.
One great advantage, and probably the greatest one, is that the
small fruit grower is able to concentrate all his force at a given
point when necessary. I think there is no difficulty in managing
a small fruit farm of thirty or forty acres in,connection with the
same amount, or possibly a little more devoted to farm products,
with very little, if any, more hired help than would be necessary
to successfully run the thirty or forty acres of small fruits alone.
I, however, wish it understood that my allusions in this matter
are confined to the growing of small fruits, plums, cherries and
pears particularly. With apples I have had but little experi-
ence, as I have always thought that a fruit 'so universally grown
as the apple was not of much use to the professional fruit
grower, and I must say from what I have seen of apples in
general, I have been led to think that a curse has been left upon
them by our first parents that all the efforts of their offspring
have been unable to remove, and I know that at the present day
the apple is a frequent source of discord and profanity.

Another benefit to be derived from farming combined with
fruit growing is that the person so engaged has a greater diver-
sity of crops to depend upon ; crops that will find employment
for himself and help, and be a source of income during the
winter months, at a time when otherwise he would be living on
the profits, (if any), of the past season; or, as is frequently the
case, anticipating the crops of the following year. He can also,
at the same time, retain such help as he may desire to assist him
in harvesting and disposing of his farm crops during the winter
months, thereby avoiding the disadvantage of having to take such
Tielp in the spring as may be available, whether suitable to his
purpose or not. On the amount of land specified he would be
able to grow enough wheat to produce a sufficient quantity of
straw to use for mulching, bedding for his stock, and for many
other purposes for which straw is needed. He could also raise
enough corn, oats and hay to feed all the stock that it would be
necessary to keep for his calling. That there are not many fruit
growers who have this amount of land of their own necessary
for the purposes mentioned, I admit, but I have had no difficulty
so far, in being able to lease land at a fairly reasonable rate to
produce the crops named to meet all my demands. And though
it may not at first sight appear to be a strictly Christian principle
to take crops from my neighbor's land to enrich and improve my
own, I do not think that public opinion has anything to do with
a matter of this kind so long as the parties interested arc satis-
fied.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 131

But, Mr, President, there are a great many other things neces-
sary to success in "Farming combined with Fruit Growing."
Good tools are essential; also a proper place to keep them, (the
latter I am sorry to say I have not got) ; more than an average
amount of good temper, (I am doubtful about that, also) ; and,
above all, a large amount of faith in that Providence who I
think does just about what is right. If the individual man would
do the same, success would be certain. Added to all this, I think
that it is necessary for a person engaged in fruit growing to have
a fair amount of brains, and at the same time know how to use
them.

Though it is my impression, that under ordinary circumstances
"Farming combined with Fruit Growing" may be made both
successful and profitable, I do not expect it to be understood
that I have been uniformly successful. If I had the necessary
qualifications to write an amusing article on this subject, I know
nothing that would be more suitable for the purpose
than my own mistakes. In fact I know that I have ob-
tained more sound information from noticing the mistakes and
short-comings of nryself and others, than from any other source.

In order, Mr. President, to partially explain and bear out the
foregoing statements, 1 will, at the risk of being accused of
egotism, again state that what I have said before as well as the
following, has been proven by practice. I have at present under
cultivation fully one hundred and five acres of land in crops
about as follows: Thirty-five acres in fruit and vegetables,
twenty-nine acres in wheat, five acres in timothy, three acres in
rye, to plow under in spring for corn, and ten acres in clover.
I had this year upwards of forty acres in corn that I think will
average over forty-five bushels to the acre. I had the corn re-
moved from a portion of the land and have seeded it to wheat.
A part has also been fall plowed preparatory to seeding to oats
in the spring. While I do not believe in oats as a paying crop,
I think that it is necessary at the present time to proceed in this
manner to get a part of the land in proper shape for future
crops. The above figures, however, are by no means arbitrary,
especially in regard to farm crops, but may be changed as pru-
dence or necessity may require. For instance, I do not expect
to have at any future time forty acres of corn; as a crop it
takes too much labor to attend to it properly, and it is too bulky
for the money there is in it. In regard to the amount of hired
help that I have found it necessary to employ to take care of
this amount of land, I will state that I had three men during the
busy season, and I employ one man at present. Two of those
men were with me from the 1st of May till the last of Sep-
tember. With this help I have been able to keep everything m
good order and make some improvements. I do think, how-
ever, that I have been so far very fortunate in getting suitable

132 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

men for my purpose ; men who were fully competent for the
work that I had for them to do. I was perfectly satisfied with
their work. I paid them good wages; paid them every week and
only required of them a fair day's work.

I offered them inducements to take an interest in the work on
the place and had no difficulty whatever, when in consequence
of a storm or for any other cause, in getting them to work a
little harder, or stay a little longer, as the case might require. I
do not remember an emergency of this kind occurring except
once during the time we were cutting wheat on the 29th of June,
and then I had to turn in and bind a station in very heavy wheat.
This fact is still very firmly fixed upon my mind, but I changed
the order of things next day by hiring an extra man till we got
done harvesting.

"While it may be possible that Madison County is especially
favorable for raising farm crops suitable for the purpose stated
in this paper, I do not claim that it is so. It may, also, be pos-
sible that climatic condition or quality of soil in different parts
of the State might make it necessary to raise different crops.
But in my opinion with ordinary care the result would, prac-
tically, be the same. I think success,' as I have before stated, is
largely due to the taste and inclination of the individual, with
possibly a certain amount of determination. As an illustration
I will state that I started fruit-growing with no experience what-
ever, having been for forty years engaged in a calling that was
foreign to husbandry altogether, and I remember that at the
beginning I hustled things considerably, but I held on, till now
I can say that my success has almost exceeded my expectations.

This article may not be altogether shipshape, but the ideas
embodied have been obtained by hard work and personal obser-
vation. I have always considered that one fact was worth a
dozen theories. A great deal more I know might have been
said on this most important subject, but if what I have said shall,
at this or some future time, induce an abler mind to finish what
I have begun, I shall feel amply repaid for the time and trouble
it has cost me to write this.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SPRAYING FRUIT TREES.

BY L. E. BRYAXT, PRIXCETOX.

When the Spraying of Fruit Trees with solutions of arsenical
poisons was first advocated for the purpose of destroying the
canker-worm and other pests that work on the foliage of the
trees, its beneficial effects were apparent very soon after the
applications were made. The dead worms could be found in
numbers within a day or two, on the ground or on the leaves of

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 133

the trees. The efficacy of spraying to destroy the canker-worm
is unquestioned.

With the more extended use of poisons to prevent the ravages
of the codling-moth, we find more uncertainty as to their effect.
And this is necessarily so from the nature of the enemy we are
fighting; its work is done before we know, for a certainty, that
it is on hand, ready for business, although it must be confessed
that the " exceptions" are only numerous enough to " prove the
rule" and it generally is, with us, on time.

My own experience in fighting the apple-worm has been con-
fined to the past two seasons, and from this short experience, I
could keep very close to the facts, and still land myself on either
side of the fence I wished.

To illustrate: in 1888 I sprayed the trees in three orchards, all
of them three and some four times at intervals of about a week.
Not a very long time elapsed, after we had finished, until I heard
that my men were saying that I had sprayed my trees so much
as to injure them, and as a consequence the apples were all drop-
ping off.

This was true to the extent that in places the leaves were some-
what scorched, and in one orchard of Willow Twigs the apples
did nearly all drop off. Now, if this one orchard had been the
extent of my operations, I could hardly have escaped ascribing
the spraying as the cause of the mischief, but when I looked
around and found the same variety in an adjoining orchard, that
had the same treatment, or a little more of it, loaded with the
fairest fruit they had produced in years, I concluded I must look
elsewhere for the causes and could not land on the non-spraying
side of the fence just yet, and denounce spraying as only an
in jury to trees.

As the season advanced, I found my apples generally fair,
smooth and with scarcely any wormy ones among them. This,
certainly, looked encouraging, and spraying seemed to be a
success. But one thing rather bothered me; an orchard which
we did not spray at all, seemed to be almost as free from worms
as the others, and as apples came into market and to the cider-
mill, the general remark was " no wormy apples this year," and
these apples came from persons who did not spray — many of
them had, probably, never heard of such a thing — and if they
saw the work in operation would inquire if we were sprinkling
the trees because it was so dry and the trees needed watering !
Clearly 1 was still astride the fence, and not ready to drop on the
other side and call spraying a perfect success, without further
investigation.

|H In 1889, owing to rainy weather, we were late in commencing
operations and sprayed our orchards only twice, and portions but
once. The results seemed as diverse as the previous season. In
common with many other sections of the State a large propor-

134 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS -

tion of our apples — especially late varieties — were small, scabby
and cracked, but as this was so universal, spraying, probably,
did not affect it one way or the other. In one orchard a number
of Duchess and Fourth of July trees bore a full crop of fair,,
sound apples, with scarcely a wormy one in the lot. The few
Transcendant Crabs and Maiden's Blush were comparatively
free, while of later kinds in the same orchard, quite a propor-
tion were wormy. One orchard, mainly of winter apples, which
is entirely isolated from other bearing trees, seemed to be very
free from wormy apples. This was sprinkled twice, and at the
same time as the other orchards.

These are the facts as I observed them ; now what caused the
difference in results? Did it "just happen so," or can we find a
cause for it? Perhaps you will be interested in the deductions
which I made.

The isolated orchard was free from worms last year, (1888)
which we can credit to the spraying that season, or the light crop
of '87, or both, and consequently there was little to breed a crop
this season, and what few eggs were deposited were kept in sub-
jection by the spraying.

The early apples in the other orchard were near trees which
were not sprayed either season, but the fruit was matured before
the second crop, which entomologists tell us is the most numerous
and destructive, had got in their work, but the later kinds in the
same orchard did afford the moths the opportunity to deposit
their eggs, and consequently the wormy apples.

My conclusions, therefore, are that spraying apple trees with
arsenical poisons is beneficial, and not at all injurious, if properly
and intelligently done. I would spray two or thiee times in the
course of the season, at intervals of about a week, commencing
just about the time the blossoms fall, and ending before the apple
gets heavy enough to hang downward. This I am convinced will
keep the canker-worm in subjection, and materially lessen the
ravages of the codling-moth, and I believe if it could be univer-
sally done, would well nigh exterminate it.

A word of caution here. Do not go on the principle that the
more of a good thing the better, or you may burn the foliage of
your trees severely. One pound of London Purple to 160 gallons
of water is strong enough for the first application, and unless tbe
weather is damp or rainy, I would advise weakening succeeding
applications to one pound to 180 or 200 gallons of water.

At some future time I intend to try the experiment of.a mixture
of a solution of London Purple with an emulsion of kerosene.

My apparatus for spraying is simple. Two wagons are fitted^
each with a 160 gallon cask mounted on its side, and a Field's
Force Pump, which can be changed from one cask to the other.
In operation, the poi«on is put in the casks before filling with
water, and by the time the wagon gets to the orchard, the con-

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 135

tents are well mixed, and the "swash" of the water caused by
the motion of the wagon and the shape of the cask, keeps the
poison from settling. One rig is at work in the orchard while
the other is filling. In this way a large number of trees can be
gone over in a day. I use the same rig for spraying potatoes,
using a broad spray, keeping the hose as close to the ground as
possible, and giving it a quick side motion, covering four or five
rows at a time.

The orchardist who can produce fair fruit free from worms is
reasonably sure of a good price, and, as matters look now, spray-
ing is the only way to secure such fruit.

ON SPRAYING FRUIT TREES.

BY J. G. VAUGHAN, ODIN.

While I am not an expert on this subject, my own experience
and my own observation of others is offered, in the hope of
adding something to the common fund, where, I apprehend, some
exact knowledge is now needed.

That the use of insecticides has become an absolute necessity,
few intelligent fruit growers will now deny; but many of the
earlier attempts were so unsatisfactory, that many refrained from
any effort for fear the injury to the tree would outweigh the
benefit to the present crop of fruit.

My experience is confined to the use of arsenic; the first expe-
riment being on twenty large apple trees, in 18<S6, in the propor-
tion of one pound to one hundred gallons of water. This was
very effectual in destroying the canker worm and codling-moth,
but was equally fatal to the trees. After a lingering illness, they
all died.

In 1887, one pound was used to two hundred gallons. This
destroyed the insects, but scorched the leaves badly, and some of
the most exposed branches died the following season.

In 1888, one pound to four hundred gallons destroyed the
insects, and damaged the foliage slightly. Whether a weaker
solution would not have been equally efficient, I am unable to
say; but, "as a burnt child dreads the fire," we this year did not
spray at all, but had an injurious number of the codling-moth.

My experience with arsenic in my own orchard, and observa-
tion of others who used Paris Green or London Purple, leads me
to believe that the use of either of these of the strength com-
monly recommended, is very injurious to our fruit frees. Even
where the trees are not killed outright, the injurious effects are
plainly visible in the shortened and stunted growth of the cur-
rent season, particularly on those branches most exposed in
spraying, probably because they received more than their share
of the poison. It was also plainly noticeable the following

136 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

season in the unfruitfulness, and in many cases in the death, of
many of these branches, while the remainder of the tree appeared
perfectly healthy, and was loaded with fruit.

Believing that every such application of poison is injurious to
the tree, whether the effects are immediately visible or not, I
would urge extreme caution in using no more poison than is
absolutely necessary to destroy the insects, and equal care in
spraying to distribute evenly, so that every part of the tree re-
ceives only its proper share. If the trees are sprayed north and
south the first time, by all means let the second spraying be done
east and west, the better to distribute the poison equally; the
first spraying not to be done until after the bloom has fallen, to
save the bees; the second, ten days later.

Scattered as our fruit growers are all over our State, probably
most of them purchase their poisons of retail dealers, and when
everything else is so adulterated, how are they to determine
whether their Paris Green or London Purple has five, or fifteen,
or thirty per cent, of arsenious acid, or whether their arsenic is
fifty or one hundred per cent, pure? Until we have some definite
mode of ascertaining the strength of our different poisons used,
we need not wonder at the widely different results from the same
prescription.

Instead of this haphazard mode of proceedure, I venture to
suggest that the members of this Society (either individually or
collectively) might, through one of their officers or agents, con-
tract with some responsible wholesale druggist for such poisons
as might be ordered (cash to accompany order) within a given
time, to be put up in five, ten or twenty-five pound parcels,
actual weight and exact per cent, of arsenious acid to be guaran-
teed in "plain English" on the outside of every parcel, and sent
direct by express to wherever ordered. Whether the cost would
be a few cents more or less to each individual would be a matter
of small consequence compared with the loss of his crop from
using an insufficient amount of the poison, or (what is more
likely to happen) his trees are injured by an overdose.

In either case the mistake is discovered too late to be rem-
edied, and the next experiment is quite as likely to be unsatis-
factory for want of the same knowledge.

Hoping these few suggestions may receive your favoroble con-
sideration, and that you will remember the thousands of
orchardists in our State who lose at least one-half of all their
fruit by injurious insects, I hope this season will not be allowed
to close without pointing out clearly how so great a loss may be
safely averted.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Dennis — I have seen statements with regard to foliage be-
ing killed late in the season when the leaves were more mature.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 137

I have thought that the facts in the case were different from that,
and I want to know whether I am right or wrong.

Mr. Green — This matter of spraying apple trees 1 have taken
much interest in. Last season I sprayed my trees when in bloom,
using a solution of London Purple — one pound of purple to one
hundred gallons of water and I had perfect apples ; not five per
cent, of imperfect ones, and my apples kept first rate. As to the
idea of spraying the tree after the bloom falls, I don't know
about it. This year I was unable to attend to my work when the
trees were in bloom, and I did not get them sprayed, and my ap-
ples are poor, but as they were all bad in that part of the coun-
try, I do not know whether it was on account of not spraying or
not. I have felt great interest in this matter of preserving our
trees; apple trees are dying all over the State, and not ten per
cent, of the trees alive on my place ten years ago are alive now.
I believe there is a disease passing over our part of the State and
passing westward. I believe it is something similar to the blood
poisoning of the animal, and I believe that where a limb is taken
off and the bacteria gets into the tree, disease is produced. I
have not time to discuss that fully, but I furnished a paper last
year published in the proceedings of the Central Society, and I
wish our experimental stations would take the matter up and see
what there is in it. The trees in our part of the State which
have been out only three or four years are as much affected as
the older ones. The question is asked, did the spraying affect the
trees badly ! It did not. Occasionally the trees seemed a little
scorched.

Mr. Speer — As to using arsenical poisons it is well to be very
careful. A pound of arsenic to four hundred gallons of water is
entirely too strong ; a pound to one thousand gallons is fully strong
enough. I have burned the foliage with too strong a solution.
However, there was so much rain this season that it is hard to
say what the result of spraying might have been. The spraying
was very unsatisfactory to me this year, but I thought I saw less
of the codling moth where I used spray than on my checks. An-
other point is, you want to use a very fine spray; a weak solution
of arsenic put on foliage so that it comes in coarse, large drops,
will burn the foliage, while a fine spray of the same solution would
not.

138 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

Mr. Webster — I am satisfied that many reports of arsenical
poisoning have been misleading. Most of us use London Pur-
ple. We use one-half pound of the purple to one hundred and
twenty gallons of water. In regard to the strength of the purple,
we find that when it is fresh it is stronger. Those who have used
it when new, find one-fourth of a pound to eighty gallons of water
sufficient, and that is too strong for peaches. Poisons will an-
swer the purpose a great deal weaker than we first supposed. I
think as to burning the foliage, the clearness of the atmosphere
has much to do with it. Our best results have been on cloudy,
still days, and I believe that rightly applied two ounces of purple
to a barrel of water is plenty.

Mr. Shank — I think also, much depends on how you put the
spray on. I think it only needs a kind of mist or smoke. I find
further, that a little pump called the "daisy" is the most pract-
icable. It only costs $2, and I can take that and a pailful of water
and spray a tree twenty-five years old to perfection, and you
don't have to haul so much water. I think that one-half pound
of London Purple is about right for two hundred gallons of
water. I do not think it is worth while to spray on the blossoms.
1 will say, for apples put it on when they are about the size of
peas.

Mr. Cadwell — The first I sprayed was three years ago. I knew
nothing about it and thought I would try it. We used Paris
Green the first year, using one pound to one hundred gallons of
water and burned the foliage a little. We were pretty well satis-
fied with it. The canker-worm had got into the orchard and we
found it necessary to do something. We commenced to spray
about the time the blossoms began to fall, and having seventy-
five acres to spray, we were quite awhile at it, although some
days we sprayed as many as twenty acres. Prom the size of the
trees, some parts of the orchard required more of the solution
than other parts. We used as high as twelve hundred to fifteen
hundred gallons of water in a day. At the end of the season the
moth were scarce and the canker-worm had disappeared ; but the
canker-worm appeared the next season, except where we sprayed
first; in that locality we have not been bothered with it again.
The second season we used London Purple, as we had heard of
the danger in handling Paris Green. We bought the purple of

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 139^

the same firm, (Richardson Drug Co., St. Louis,) and we used
about the same amount of purple as of the other. That year,
also, we had few worms. Of course we could find them by hunt-
ing, but they were rare, and it was hard to find their work in the
orchard. If I could always spray just when I wish, it would be
just when the blossom has done its work and begins to drop. As
to injury to the foliage, we have at times injured it, apparently,:
but we could not tell why, as it would be a few trees in spots;
however, we could not see that where the foliage Avas scalded
that the trees were damaged. Last season a druggist came to me
and others in the neighborhood, and said as we used a large
amount of poisons he would like to get it for us, that he could
get it a little cheaper, and all that, and so we ordered through
him. We got the purple and used it a little weaker than we did
the first year. We- also had a little of the first year's purple left
and we used that on an eighty-acre orchard about ten miles from
the main orchard. We commenced the spraying work with that
old material. There the canker-worm died as before, and when
we gathered the fruit this fall it was far freer than other orchards
in that locality. On the second of May we commenced on
the large orchard, and we begun that with the fresh purple, and
were at it longer on account of the rains, for if we saw an ap-
pearance of rain we quit for fear of its washing off, so that we
were up to about the 16th of the month getting done. We saw
few trees with the foliage burned — perhaps a half dozen in that
season — but we had plenty of codling moth. We could not
see that the application did any good. The eighty-acre or-
chard was benefited, for there we could see the canker-worms
dead under the trees. We came to the conclusion that bogus
material was sold to us, so that it is very essential to see that we
have uniform poisons. Our trees have grown well. In our lo-
cality the blue grass takes the orchards if they are not culti-
vated, though we don't like to plow too much. We are on the
Illinois bluffs — the one hundred and seventy-five acres — and
we don't cultivate that as much as we would like to do, on
account of the washing of the soil. We believe that apple
growing pays, and we expect six or seven thousand barrels of
apples in one orchard next year from the present condition of
the trees.

140 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

HARVESTING AND MARKETING APPLES.

BY J. R. WILLIAMS, ST. LOUIS.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Those who study the influence of occupation on character
generally agree in this : That the calling of* the husbandman is
especially conducive to good morals. In theory all farmers are
honest. The dweller in town who, on opening his barrel of
apples, finds it contains, about the region of the equator, nothing
but "culls," or finds his berry boxes built in flats with the lower
story unoccupied, will be apt to think this theory entirely too
poetic. However this may be, it is not thought to be the prov-
ince of this paper to consider the subject of "Harvesting and
Marketing Apples" from the moral standpoint. My purpose is
to consider it from the standpoint of the counting-room; that
is, to make the balance sheet, at the close of the season, show a
fair margin of profit.

Before passing to the more practical part of the discussion,
allow me to point out some causes of loss in this business that
do not seem to me to have received sufficient attention. We
have, all of us, learned that it does not pay to try to deceive our
customers by smuggling in worthless fruit under cover of the
good, in the vain hope that the cheat will not be discovered.
We have learned that it does not pay to put large and small
apples of the same kind together. A fine apple looks better
alone than with a finer apple beside it. We have learned that
stained and unsightly packages are expensive luxuries. We have
not — some of us have not — learned that added cost does not neces-
sarily mean added value; that is, market value.

Many men have a vague idea that fruit, small and misshapen
in the orchard, may, by putting upon it the cost of labor in pack-
ing, the cost of packages, the cost of transportation, &c, become
grateful for this kind treatment and reward its benefactor by
coming out of the packages large, smooth and fair to see. It
seems incredible that men will entertain such whimsical notions
about business matters, but we frequently see them packing, with
great care, fruit which they declare to be "hardly worth pick-
ing."

Again, many imagine that in the city where no fruit grows,
any kind is eagerly sought after and even the poorest specimens
find a ready sale. The truth is that many growers have learned
that it pays to send only the best to market, hence the city house-
wife knows as much as her country cousin about good fruit, and
is as unwilling to accept any other.

Some of the suggestions I have to offer are the outgrowth of
several years . experience in a manufacturing business. Such a

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 141

business tends to develop a class of ideas somewhat different
from those usually held by the farmer. Some of these ideas 1
have found useful for application to the business of farming
and fruit-raising. I offer a single example: We, at our shops,
find that it does not pay to turn out any work that has any
unsightliness in appearance to apologize for, or any defects in
material or workmanship to be corrected. If any of our pro-
ducts develop unforseen defects we are anxious, at any cost, to
replace them with work that is satisfactory to our customer;
our idea being, to keep our customers in such a frame of mind
that he is willing to buy our goods again and to recommend them
to his neighbors. If, in a manufacturing business, it pays to
take such pains to please " the trade," I claim that it will, also,
pay in the apple business. Now as to suggestions in detail:

HARVESTING.

Before picking, allow your apples to get ripe enough to have a
good color. Determine first of all that you will not send to a
distant market anything that grades below "choice." Instruct
the pickers to waste no time nor labor on specimens they know
to be below this grade. It does not pay to hand-pick culls
merely to give the tree a tidy appearance. The small specimens
of early varieties, if allowed to remain on the trees, will grow to
full size.

If baskets are used, have them lined with old carpet or some
soft material. Many pickers use a bag slung over their shoulder,
which I think preferable to a basket. Do not pick apples while
they are wet, nor allow them to get wet after you take them in
hand. Do not put them on the ground, but in boxes, for con-
veyance to the place of packing. Bushel boxes measuring seven-
teen and one-half inches long, fourteen inches wide, and twelve
inches deep with gains cut in the ends for handles are most con-
venient for this purpose, as they fit into a farm wagon box and
are easily lifted in and out. Provide each picker with a piece of
chalk with which to mark his name or number on each box he
fills. This relieves the man who collects the boxes from the ne-
cessity of keeping any record of his load and admits of the
record-keeping all being done at the place of packing.

PACKING.

Make it a rule to pack your own fruit so that if you have to
consign it to some distant market, you need not fear the compe-
tition of other packers.

Use only new, clean barrels of full three bushel measure. At
your place of packing, whether it be barn, shed or tent, pro-
vide a bench or trestle of proper height to bring the top of the
boxes on a level with the top of a barrel ; thus most of the apples
can be put directly into the barrel without the use of a basket.

142 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

When a basket is used, use one that will turn inside a barrel and
have it lined as mentioned above. Remember that apples should
be handled as little as possible, and as careful as if they were
eggs. They should therefore be packed as soon after picking as
possible. It is claimed by some that apples should be put into
bins or piles to sweat and shrink before packing, but the injury
caused by the extra handling more than outweighs that caused
by the sweating, and if they are pressed into the barrels as they
should be, they will not shrink enough to allow any of them to
"get away."

Put up every package as if you meant it for your own use.
The proper method of filling and heading is well known and
needs no description here. Mark your name neatly on each
barrel.

SELLING.

Sell your apples when they are ready for market. I hold that
it is the business of the farmer and orchardist to produce crops,
and the greater singleness of purpose with which he devotes
himself to that business, the better it will be for him. Watch-
ing markets and distributing products to supply those markets is
a business in itself. There is always sufficient competition
among dealers to enable the producer to get what his crop is
worth if he lets it be known that he has something to sell.

If possible, sell your fruit at home. Consigning fruit to com-
mission merchants is apt to be unsatisfactory to all concerned.
Many commission merchants are entirely responsible and trust-
worthy, and many are not. The large commercial houses have
their keen and vigilant "credit men" who are constantly on the
alert to detect any decline in the standing of their customers, but
the man in his orchard has very limited means of informing him-
self on these matters. If you have no more than a hundred barrels
you will have no difficulty in inducing buyers to visit and inspect
your crop, especially if you have been marketing previous crops
in the proper manner.

We have found it a good plan when several buyers are after
the crop, to set a day convenient for all, on which we agree to
sell the crop without reserve. Then when the manner of pack-
ing, the terms of payment, etc., are fully understood by all,
we invite sealed bids for the crop, the highest bidder taking
it.

If you have to send your apples to market by rail, insist on
having a clean car. Lay the barrels on the side lengthwise of the
car, covering the entire floor with the first layer, break joints
with the second layer, and so on until the car is full. When
that car is unloaded, if you were not already supplied, you would
be willing to buy some of those apples yourself.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 143

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Brown — I have not seen many men heading up apples, and
I want to know whether they put their best apples at the bottom
or not.

Mr. Williams — We are not picking any but choice apples, and
of course putting smooth apples at the bottom ; but they are not
better than the rest.

Mr. Leeper — I put my best apples in the bottom, and my
smallest apples are in the middle of the barrel.

Mr. Cadwell — In picking our apples, we lay them on the
ground, because we can get away with them with less labor, but
we do not put them on the bare ground if we can help it. If
there is any grass in the orchard, we put that under them. Then
we can have the sorters get around the pile and handle them with
speed. As to putting the best apples in the bottom, if you do
not you will get scolded by the commission men ; they will tell
you that they want to see your best apples. The purchaser
expects the best apples where he can see them. It is not every
man who buys a barrel of apples who is going to look at both
ends of the barrel, but if he is buying a car-load, he will. If the
packer uniformly puts his apples up in an honest manner, and
the buyer knows him, his goods will pass better on the market
than they will if his character as a packer is not known. In your
treatment of the orchard, if you use the spray and prune well,
keeping all the dead wood cut out, your percentage of number
ones will be much larger than if you neglect the trees. This
thing of packing from the trees was not practiced until five or
six years ago, but experience has shown that leaving the apples
long in piles has a tendency to discolor the fruit, and the policy
now is to pack from the tree, and thus you preserve the color of
the fruit. As to selling to commission men, if you take the
reports, or, rather, the circulars certain to be sent you from
Chicago and elsewhere, or if you listen to what they tell you, you
can get rid of your apples, and your money, too. I can point out
firms that will give you very little for your apples, and others
who will do as well for you as your own brother would. You
need not be robbed, if you will only inform yourself as to who
will handle them properly. Another thing: If you will store in
cold storage, those who want number one fruit won't object

144 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

much to the charge for cold storage. And if you will let such
parties know about your fruit, they will come and see it, and will
give you a fair price for it. If you have a lot of fruit where not
more than one-fourth is number one, just pack it straight. Don't
try to take number ones at all, but just pick them and send them
off, and if you don't get much money for them don't grumble,
but try to do better next time.

Mr. Williams — Since I wrote that paper I saw a notice in the
Farmers'' Review about forming a company to distribute
oranges throughout the Northwest, and I wrote to a party at
Jacksonville, Fla., about it. Their plan is to group together the
fruit growers of a section, so as to bring the buyers to the fruit.
Now, it seems to me it might be well to get the growers together
in a section of the country — as in the neighborhood of Centralia
or Jacksonville — as it is better to sell apples in large than in
small lots.

Mr. Leeper — I think the suggestion a good one. I know an
orange company which has been paying a man $1,200 a year for
buying oranges in Florida, and I think it would pay the farmers
of Illinois to band together to sell their products.

REPORT OF AWARDING COMMITTEE— CLASS I,
NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

Best Five Varieties of Winter Apples for Market — First prem-
ium, Jacob Christian, Mt. Carroll; Second, L. R. Bryant,
Princeton.

Best Five Varieties of Winter Apples for Family Use — First
premium, Jacob Christian, Mt. Carroll; Second, S. G. Minkler,
Oswego.

Best Three Varieties of Fall Apples for Market — First prem-
ium, Jacob Christian, Mt. Carroll; Second, S. G. Minkler, Os-
wego.

Best Three Varieties Fall Apples for Family Use— First prem-
ium, Jacob Christian, Mt. Carroll.

Best Plate Fall Apples for Market — First premium, Jacob
Christian, Mt. Carroll; Second, L. R. Bryant, Princeton.

Best Plate Winter Apples for Family Use — First premium, L.
R. Bryant, Princeton; Second, Jacob Christian, Mt. Carroll.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 145

Best Plate Fall Apples for Market — First premium, Jacob
Christian, Mt. Carroll.

Best Plate Fall Apples for Family Use — First premium, Jacob
Christian, Mt. Carroll; Second, L. R. Bryant, Princeton.

Best Plate Ben Davis — First premium, L. R. Bryant, Prince-
ton.

Best Plate Willow Twig — First premium, J. V. Cotta, Nur-
sery; Second, Jacob Christian, Mt. Carroll.

Best Plate Jonathan — First premium, S. G. Minkler, Oswego;
Second, L. R. Bryant, Princeton.

Best Plate Grimes Golden — First premium, Jacob Christian,
Mt. Carroll; Second, S. G. Minkler, Oswego.

Best Plate Minkler — First premium, L. R. Bryant, Princeton;
Second, S. G. Minkler, Oswego.

Best Plate Domine — First premium, J. V. Cotta, Nursery;
Second, S. G. Minkler, Oswego.

Best Plate Wealthy — First premium, Jacob Christian, Mt. Car-
roll.

Best Plate Maiden's Blush— First premium, Jacob Christian,
Mt. Carroll; Second, S. G. Minkler.

Best Plate Snow — First premium, Jacob Christian, Mount Car-
roll; Second, S. G. Minkler, Oswego.

Best Plate Red Canada — First premium, L. R. Bryant,
Princeton.

Best Plate Northern Spy — First premium, L. R. Bryant,
Princeton; Second, S. G. Minkler, Oswego.

Best Plate Cayuga Red Streak — First premium, S. G. Mink-
ler, Oswego.

F. C. Johnson, Committee.

REPORT OF AWARDING COMMITTEE— CLASS II,
CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

Best Five Varieties Winter Apples for Market — First premium,
A. C. Hammond, Warsaw; Second, J. T. Johnson, Warsaw.

Best "Five Varieties Winter Apples for Family Use — First pre-
mium, C. B. Rockwell, Hamilton; Second, J. J. Cart, Morrison-
ville.

—11

146 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

Best Three Varieties Fall Apples for Market — First premium,
A. C. Hammond, Warsaw; Second, C. B. Rockwell, Hamil-
ton.

Best Three Varieties Fall Apples for Family Use — First pre-
mium, Benjamin Buckman, Fariningdale ; Second, C. B. Rock-
well, Hamilton.

Best Plate Winter Apples for Market — First premium, Benja-
min Buckman, Farmingdale; Second, F. I. Mann, Gilman.

Best Plate Winter Apples for Family Use — First premium,
Benjamin Buckman, Farmingdale; Second, W. E. Jones, Lin-
coln.

Best Plate Fall Apples For Market — First premium, C. B.
Rockwell, Hamilton; Second, Benjamin Buckman, Farmingdale.

Best Plate Fall Apples for Family Use — First premium, Ben-
jamin Buckman, Farmingdale; Second, C. B. Rockwell, Hamil-
ton.

Best Plate Ben Davis — First premium, J. T. Johnson, Warsaw;
Second, J. J. Cart, Morrisonville.

Best Plate Willow Twig — First premium, F. I. Mann, Gilman;
Second, J. J. Cart, Morrisonville.

Best Plate Rome Beauty — First premium, J. J. Cart, Morrison-
ville.

Best Plate Jonathan — First premium, J. J. Cart, Morrison-
ville; Second, Benjamin Buckman, Farmingdale.

Best Plate Grimes Golden — First premium, Benjamin Buck-
man, Farmingdale; Second, F. I. Mann, Gilman.

Best Plate Minkler — First premium, J. J. Cart, Morrisonville;
Second, Benjamin Buckman, Farmingdale.

Best Plate Yellow Belleflower— First premium, Benjamin Buck-
man, Farmingdale; Second, J. J. Cart, Morrisonville.

Best Plate Winesap — First premium, C. B. Rockwell, Hamil-
ton.

Best Plate Northern Spy — First premium, W. E. Jones, Lin-
coln; Second, Benjamin Buckman, Farmingdale.

Best Plate Bailey's Sweet — First, J. J. Cart, Morrisonville.

Best Plate Hubbardston Nonesuch — First premium, A. C.
Hammond, Warsaw.

Frank Cadwell, Committee.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 147

EEPORT OF AWARDING COMMITTEE— CLASS III,
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

Best Five Varieties Winter Apples for Market— First pre-
mium, J. Webster, Centralia; Second, E. A. Riehl, Alton.

Best Five Varieties Winter Apples for Family Use— First pre-
mium, R. C. Berry, Batchtown.

Best Three Varieties Fall Apples for Market — First premium,
J. Webster, Centralia; Second, R. C. Berry, Batchtown.

Best Three Varieties Fall Apples for Family Use— First pre-
mium, J. Webster, Centralia.

Best Plate Winter Apples for Market— First premium, E. A.
Riehl, Alton; Second, J. Webster, Centralia.

Best Plate Winter Apples for Family Use— First premium, J.
Webster, Centralia; Second, J. W. Parrill, Farina.

Best Plate Fall Apples for Market — First premium, J. Web-
ster, Centralia; Second, R. C. Berry, Batchtown.

Best Plate Fall Apples for Family Use— First premium, R. C.
Berry, Batchtown; Second, E. A. Riehl, Alton.

Best Plate Ben Davis— First premium, J. Webster, Centralia;
Second, R. C. Berry, Batchtown.

Best Plate Willow Twig— First premium, R. C. Berry, Batch-

pr(

alia

town; Second, J. Webster, Centralia

Best Plate Rome Beauty — First premium, J. Webster, Cen-
tralia; Second, R. C. Berry, Batchtown.

Best Plate Jonathan— First premium, J. Webster, Centralia;
Second, R. C. Berry, Batchtown.

Best Plate Domine — First premium, R. C. Berry, Batchtown.

Best Plate Newtown Pippin— First premium, J. Webster, Cen-
tralia; Second, E. A. Riehl, Alton.

Best Plate Minkler— First premium, J. Webster, Centralia.

Best Plate Grimes Golden— First premium, J. Webster, Cen-
tralia.

Best Plate Winesap — First premium, J.* Webster, Centralia;
Second, Jacob Auer, Deer Plains.

Best Plate Rawl's Janet— First premium, R. C. Berry, Batch-
town; Second, J. W. Parrill, Farina.

P. E. Vandenberg, Committee.

148 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

REPORT OF AWARDING COMMITTEE— CLASS V.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Best Collection of Pears — First premium, Mrs. P. F. Con-
nable, Hamilton; Second, A. C. Hammond, Warsaw.

Best Collection of Grapes — First premium, Benjamin Buck-
man, Farmingdale; Second, Mrs. N. Lyon, Hamilton.

Best and most Artistic Display of Fruits, Flowers and Veg-
etables— First premium, C. B. Rockwell, Hamilton.

Best Collection of Apples not to Exceed Twenty-five Va-
rieties— First premium, Benjamin Buckman, Farmingdale;
Second, S. G. Minkler, Oswego.

Chaeles Patterson, Kirksville, Mo., Committee.

REPORT OF AWARDING COMMITTEE— CLASS VI,

VEGETABLES.

Best Half-peck Early Potatoes — First premium, F. W.
Poscharsky, Princeton; Second, S. G. Minkler, Oswego.

Best Half -peck Potatoes for Winter and Spring — First
premium, F. W. Poscharsky, Princeton; Second, F. W.
Poscharsky, Princeton.

Best Half-peck Onions from Seed — First premium, G. W.
McCleur, Champaign; Second, E. A. Riehl, Alton.

Best Half -peck Onions Grown from Sets — First premium,
E. A. Riehl, Alton; Second, C. B. Rockwell, Hamilton.

Best Three Heads Celery — Second premium, F. W. Pos-
charsky, Princeton.

Best Half-peck Sweet Potatoes — First premium, E. A. Riehl,
Alton; Second, E. A. Riehl, Alton.

Best Half-Peck Turnips — First premium, E. A. Riehl, Alton.

Best Half-Peck Parsnips — First premium, C. B. Rockwell,
Hamilton; Second, Miss Clara Smith, Hamilton.

Best Half -Peck Carrots — First premium, C. B. Rockwell,
Hamilton.

Best Winter Squash — First premium, C. B. Rockwell, Hamil-
ton; Second F. W. Poscharsky, Princeton.

Best Sample of Salsify — First premium, E. A. Riehl, Alton.

Best Sample of Winter Radish— First premium, F. W. Pos-
charsky, Princeton.

J. M. Pearson, Committee.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 149

REPORT OF AWARDING COMMITTEE— CLASS VII,

CANNED FRUITS.

Best Jar Red Raspberries — First premium, C. B. Rockwell,
Hamilton.

Best Jar Black Raspberries — First premium, C. B. Rockwell,
Hamilton.

Best Jar Cherries — First premium, Miss Clara Smith, Hamil-
ton.

Best. Jar Plums, &c. — First premium, C. B. Rockwell, Hamil-
ton.

Best Display of Canned Fruits and Jellies — First premium, C.
B. Rockwell, Hamilton; Second, Louis Duchesne, Lacon.

Mrs. Arthur Bryant,
Mrs. Henry M. Dunlap,
Mrs. A. C. Hammond,

Committee.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Johnson — There is much uncertainty in the statements
made by the committees. You will notice in the reports that the
kinds of apples to which the premiums are awarded are not
given.

Mr. Bryant — There has been considerable complaint as to the
enforcement of rule seven, and I would suggest that the words
in rule seven: "or no rewards will be made" shall be changed to
"or the fruit will not be entered." Motion carried.

Adjourned.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

HOW SHALL THE FRUIT GROWER MAINTAIN THE
FERTILITY OF HIS SOIL.

BY E. A. RIEHL.

The question as stated implies that fruit growing exhausts the
soil. I think, however, that fruit growing exhausts the soil far
less than common farming. To be sure, if the same ground be
kept a long time in the same fruit, be it strawberries, raspber-
ries, blackberries or any other fruit, the crops will become less

150 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

and less, and finally fail altogether; not because the soil has be-
come exhausted of the elements of fertility, but because the
plants have become enfeebled by age, and are infested by the in-
sects and fungoid diseases peculiar to them. I believe with
proper rotation, the occasional turning under of green crops, and
the application of the barnyard manure made on the farm, a fruit
farm can be kept up indefinitely. I have experimented a little
with artificial fertilizers, but so far have not found them to pay
on my soil, the lowest formation of the Mississippi valley. In
'87 I fertilized alternate rows of sweet potatoes with phosphate
and ground bone, putting it on at the rate of about five hundred
pounds per acre. At digging time these rows did not show the
slightest increase, the yield being eleven to twelve bushels per
row in the fertilized and unfertilized, alike. In the fall of '88
I applied finely ground bone, phosphate and castoria on alternate
rows of strawberries leaving rows on each side without any fer-
tilizers. Last spring the rows fertilized made more foliage and
the berries were larger, but later than where not fertilized. The
castoria gave the best result, the ground bone the next and the
phosphate the least. It is probable that the bone will show the
best result next spring. The phosphate and ground bone cost
about $40 per ton in St. Louis, and the castoria $15 per ton, so-
that for the result so far obtained the castoria is by far the cheap-
est and best. Barnyard manure is the cheapest and best when
made on the place, but have my doubts about its paying to haul
it far. I save and use all I can make, giving the ground a heavy
coat as far as the manure on hand will go, as I find this method
to give better results and for a greater length of time than light
applications. In fact, light applications produce but little effect,,
and that little very soon disappears. I think I can still see the
effect of the manure where applied heavily more than ten years
ago. But I do not keep enough stock to go all over my land in
this way, and hardly think many fruit growers are so situated as-
to do so. What to do to fill out this shortage may be what I am
expected to tell. My soil has an abundance of lime and potash,
and it is time and money thrown away to apply fertilizers contain-
ing them. I would not haul the best ashes ever made a half
mile, if to be had for the hauling. TV hat my soil needs is decom-
posed vegetable matter. The best is clover, but the southern
cow-pea; buckwheat and rye are also good; an occasional crop of
these turned under will keep our soil in first class condition.
When I bought my place twenty-six years ago, there was on it
a field that had been cleared long before ; this was in strawber-
ries in '85 and '86. In June of '86 as soon as the crop was picked
the field was plowed, turning under the old strawberry plants
and the old mulch of straw, and sown to cow-peas; these made a
heavy growth and were turned under in the fall. The ground was
then sown to rye, which was also turned under in the following

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 151

spring, when about three feet high; and as soon as sufficiently
decayed was ridged and planted to sweet potatoes, which yielded
about two hundred and twenty-five bushels per acre. In '88 it
was again planted to sweet potatoes and produced equally well.
Last spring this field was again planted to strawberries, which
are as tine a stand, and promise as good a crop this season as any
I have ever grown. In 1891, as soon as the crop is off I propose
to repeat this proceeding, and by so doing expect to keep the
land in good condition, and I think any one on similar soil can
do likewise.

CULTIVATING AND MARKETING TOMATOES AND

SWEET POTATOES.

BY T. E. GOODRICH, COBDEN.

Tomatoes — riant in rows in hot bed, one and one-half ounces
of seed for each 1000 plants desired. Here we plant from Eeb-
uary 3d to March 1st. When the plants begin to crowd or show
the second pair of leaves, transplant to three inches apart each
way. AVhen the plants become large enough for the leaves to
reach across the rows, transplant to six inches. If early plants
are desired an extra transplanting will be beneficial.

To prepare the plants for setting in the field, cut the soil both
ways in the center of the rows with a long butcher knife, after
which the plants can be removed with a six inch block of earth,
by using a spade.

Plants will block out better if the ground is thoroughly
drenched with water the day before. Set in the field five feet
apart each way, and cultivate as for corn. Stake and tie as
often as necessary.

The usual packages for shipping tomatoes are fourth bushel
boxes, and half bushel crates containing four baskets.

Sweet Potatoes — In selecting seed reject all crooked and un-
usually long potatoes, and plant those showing a tendency to
become short and larger in the center, with a rapid taper
towards each end. Place in a hot bed horizontally one-half
inch apart, drench with water, cover three inches with earth,
then one and a half inches of sand. When the plants are four
inches above ground, they are large enough to pull for sets.
Ridge the ground with a two-horse plow, four feet or less apart,
and with a spade plant on the ridges, eighteen inches apart.
Keep free from weeds and grass. A sweet potato scraper,
drawn by a mule, will be of great assistance until the vines
cover the ground, after which little attention will be required.
Digging can be done with a spade, if only a small quantity is
grown, or with a plow with the mould board removed, and a
rolling cutter to cut the vines.

152 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

I use a digger, consisting of two rolling cutters and two plows,
throwing the dirt in opposite directions, and two lifters that

Eass under the ridge, leaving the hills to be easily lifted out by
and.

The potatoes designed for table use are separated from the
seed, and both corded in bins in the potato house. Great care
should be observed in handling to prevent marking. A slight
bruise, or a scratch of a finger nail, imperceptible at first, will
become black and unsightly, and greatly impair the sale.

No vegetable depends so much on its good looks for a quick
sale at a high price as a sweet potato.

The house is kept as near a uniform temperature of fifty to
fifty-five degrees as possible.

The crop is marketable from November to April in barrels
and kegs lined with paper to keep out the cold, and shipped in
refrigerator cars.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Gaston — The tomato is a great success with us at Lacon.
We have had one hundred acres planted out, and the farmers
have raised as high as three hundred bushels to the acre. Last
year they got twenty-five cents a bushel and this year twenty

cents.

Mr. Budlong — If I understand the gentleman who gave us the
paper, he transfers directly from the seed-bed and puts the plants
in the ground three inches apart. I have the best success by
planting first in the seed-bed and then using four inch pots.
They are not expensive ; they can be had for about $8 per thou-
sand. With those we can take the plants into the field and trans-
plant without danger of losing them, although the sun may shine
brightly, provided you do not let them stand too long in the pots.
If you let them stay too long, there will be only a mass of roots in
the pots, and then when you transplant there will not be mois-
ture enough to sustain the plant. The better way in such a case
is to break the ball of earth, and that retards the taking out of
moisture so readily. Tomatoes, in my vicinity, if set out in the
ordinary way, in two or three days would, at least one half of
them, be cut off by the cut worm.

Mr. Riehl — What do you do with the cut worm?

Mr. Budlong — I don't do anything that entirely eradicates it,
but I have less trouble than formerly. I raise tomatoes on sandy
soil, principally. For some later varieties, I use wetter soil. Some

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 153

twenty years ago I read an article written by a woman, and that
gave me more information than I have ever got any where else
about the cut worm. It stated that the egg was deposited in
August, and one peculiarity was, the eggs were deposited only on
poor land. Rich land seems to be offensive to the fly. I was
fixed for that, as I was on poor land. Another thing was that
when the grub hatched, it went right into the ground and did not
feed in the fall at all, and of course the best way to dispose of
him was to plow in the fall, and if there was freezing weather in
the fall it would finish him. Further, I found that if the grub
was in the ground when the warm weather came he wanted
something to eat. And I found that if I allowed the tomato
ground to grow up in weeds, and then just before planting, plowed
under the weeds, I was furnishing him just the food he wanted.
So I do not allow any weeds to grow on the ground. I take as
much pains to keep the ground that I do not want to plant early,
free of weeds, as I do the ground I am planting. So I am
not much troubled with the worm. That method is the best,
and in fact, the only method I know of to get rid of the cut
worm.

Mr. Hay — Take your strawberry boxes to the tomato field, and
cover your plants with them; you will be astonished at the good
they will do. On behalf of all those who are going east on the
next train, I want to thank the people who furnished us a
carriage to get here. Next, I want to thank the ladies who
decorated this hall. Audi want to thank the good people of
Hamilton, by whom we have been entertained so nicely since
we have been here.

Mr. Dennis — I wish to offer a resolution here that I want a

vote taken on before these parties leave.

liesolved, That it is the opinion of this Society that Chicago
is the best place to hold the World's Fair in 1892. Therefore,
we would urge our members to use their influence with our
Senators and Representatives to locate said World's Fair at
Chicago.

Resolution adopted.

154 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

THOUGHTS FOR THE FUTURE.

BY MRS. E. A. BLACKSTONE, LACON.

However much we may wish to put off the inevitable, or to
drive away the truth that stands at the front of all others,
nevertheless the Nation's greatest sorrow is upon us. It has
shapened into a prohibition measure and demands to be met; it
asks, "Am I my brother's keeper," and answers, "You are."

Therefore as tillers of fruit and edibles, I would stir up the
pure minded of this Convention to the pleasing task of action.

The field is wide, and even now, laid open as never before for
future horticulturists to work; much depends upon them for
the peace, pleasure and happiness of all classes.

The very earth calls loud and strong, "Dig me, plant me; my
waste places are desolate, and my people are clamorous who pos-
sess me; I am yielding annually an increase which satisfies not
an appetite, but destroys."

We are lovers of the delicious, lovers of the excellent and of
the beautiful ; if then we substitute that which is pleasing who
shall demure?

Truly horticulturists may be called philanthropists, and he
who plants most and well, the greatest benefactor of the public.

The demand is great, the supply scant. Professionals are not
meeting the wants, who then is to give the increase desired?
Who cannot be an amateur in a small way? In this ample

I)rairie State none need be without fruit. That is a beautiful
aw in some places : all must plant the seed by the wayside : it
is a sweet lesson to teach young children.

Again, I insist as in vegetable gardening, soil must be rich, to
gain good results, all kinds of trees must be well cultivated,
opening the soil in early spring; and heavy mulching is always
productive of large and luscious fruit, especially peaches.

If something could be said or done at this convention to urge
people to double their efforts in planting trees next spring, and
then urge the necessity of good care, much would be accom-
plished, for, without trees, we might as well expect figs from
thistles.

You may smile, for I smile as I write, as I see a visionary pic-
ture of a land flooded with fruit appeasing the appetites of the
millions, and satisfying the cravings of our hungry boys who
shall do our voting in the nineteenth century. Verily we shall
all be looking forward to the Tree of all trees, the Tree of Life
bearing twelve kinds, yielding her fruit every month.

Mr. McKinney — A fine collection of fruit from Calhoun County,
which has been delayed in transit, has just arrived, and I move

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 155

that a special committee be appointed to examine it and report
to the Society.

Motion carried and L. E. Bryant appointed.
NEW SMALL FRUITS.

BY H. K. VICKROY, NORMAL.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I really have nothing new or valuable to report in the new
small fruits. Those of recent introduction that I am testing, I
have not fruited ; therefore, I cannot give a just report.
Among those that have been before the public for several years,,
the Warfield's No. 2, seems to betaking the lead, and, I think,
is entitled to that place. This variety, aside from being a
very desirable variety for home consumption, is an excellent
shipper. I have seen no other variety, after being shipped long
distances, open out so bright, keep so long, and hold its bright
color. These are very desirable qualities in a market berry.
The fruit is not so large as some of the other newer varieties, but
is of very uniform size, which adds much to the appearance of
any fruit.

Bubach's No. 5 is a very vigorous plant, free from blight
or rust; and, in fact, the plant is all that can be desired.
The fruit is large, of fine appearance, and of good quality. This
variety has not been very productive in my vicinity. My experi-
ence with it is, that it is more productive the second and third
years after planting than the first. Possibly, this variety may
bear neglect better than some others, and produce good crops.
I think it very desirable for family use.

Jessie is a good plant, but a very shy bearer; fruit very uneven
in size, but of good quality. I have heard but few very favora-
ble reports of this variety.

Haverland resembles Crescent in plant, and is very prolific.
The fruit is as large as the Crescent, and fine in appearance, and
of good quality. It is worthy of further trial.

The Itasca and Logan I have fruited, and can see nothing in
them to recommend them. Fruit is uneven in size, which is very
objectionable.

The Parker Earle I have not tried. It is highly recommended;
and, if there is anything in a name, we know it will be a success
anywhere.

The Burt proves to be the Capt. Jack; it is — well it is so good.

The Miami is a fine plant, but I have not fruited it.

The Eureka, Mammoth, Monmouth, Cloud, Ohio, Pearl and
a host of others, will soon be dropped from the lists and
forgotten.

156 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

I know little of the newer varieties of raspberrtes from per-
sonal experience. The Hilborn and Palmer, in the black caps,
I think, are leadiDg, and from what I have heard of them, I think
worthy of extended trial.

I know of no variety of blackberry I could recommend in place
of the older varieties.

Currants and gooseberries are not much grown in my neigh-
borhood. The Fay Currant is not proving as prolific as
anticipated.

I wrote to a number of prominent small fruit growers in dif-
ferent sections of this and other States, and have received
answers from a few of them.

Mr. K. D. McGeehon, of Atlantic, Iowa, writes: "Yours of
the 25th received. The frosts of last June destroyed all
my small fruits, and I can say nothing about them from personal
knowledge ; but, from what others tell me, the Bubach's No. 5
and Warfield's No. 2 are a success wherever tried throughout the
"West. The Jessie is not, only in certain localities."

Mr. Benjamin Buckman, of Farmingdale, 111., writes: "I can
not send you any reports of new small fruits, for the reason that
I never plant the new varieties until they are pretty well known
to be valuable. I don't think the Jessie has come to stay, the
way the frost cut the bloom in the spring. The old White Grape
Currant has borne better than the Fay. I have half an acre of
huckleberries. I don't know the variety. They are called here
the 'High-Bushed.' They bore finely — very full — but are slow in
coming into bearing."

Pt'Mr C. H. Cogswell, of Virden, 111., writes: "The Agawam,
Barnard, Erie and Ancient Briton blackberries have all given
great promise, both in productiveness and quality of fruit. Last
winter having been so mild furnished no test as to hardiness.
The Agawam is a large and good berry, but suckers too freely.
Erie has done very well so far. They don't sucker much. If
they prove hardy, I think they will be quite an acquisition. The
fruit is much larger and sweeter than Snyder, and has less core.
The Jessie Strawberry made a fine, strong growth, _ and produced
some fine, large fruit. Gandy is hardy, and a prolific runner and
bearer, fruit nearly as large as the Jessie, but later; desirable.
Warfield No. 2 produced the finest-appearing fruit, and
of very uniform, even shape, with dark, glossy color, which
make them very attractive. Bubach's No. 5 blossomed
profusely, but set little fruit. Whether this was due to lack of
proper fertilizers, or to late frosts and cold, protracted rains, I
am not sure. I have fruited the Fay's Prolific Currant, which,
undoubtedly, is a fine, showy currant, of good quality; but so far,
does not seem to be a prolific bearer. During a protracted rainy
spell, about the time of ripening, it showed signs of what ap-
peared to be mildew. Industry Gooseberry bore but few spec-

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 157

imens, but they were large and fine. I might mention the huck-
leberry. Some years ago, I obtained some upland 'High-Bush'
huckleberries from the Adirondack Mountains. This year they
bore quite full, or, at least, some of them, and I feel inclined to
increase my little patch."

Mr. Webster, of Centralia, writes: "The Big Bend Straw-
berry, a staminate variety, from St. Louis County, Mo., is
promising well. It is of the Wilson type. It makes but few
plants the first year; is a vigorous plant, with dark, healthy
foliage. It makes very large stools. Woodruff also promises
well. It is a fine variety to plant with Warfield's No. 2
ana Crescent. Scott, a new staminate variety, is being largely
planted here. It was found growing with Wilson and Crescent.
I am very favorably impressed with its good qualities."

Matthew Crawford's report: "I think all small fruit grow-
ers should try a few of the new varieties. In so doing, you
will derive a great deal of pleasure in watching them and antici-
pating something better than we have."

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Gaston — I fruited the Warfield this year, and I put a box
in an open shed to see how it would keep, and it kept well,
although it was the hottest kind of weather. I find, too, that it
bears first-rate. I have Bubach's No. 5, which is a good
bearer, but a poor shipper. I have adopted the Glendale for a
late berry. I am disappointed in the Jessie, as it don't bear well
enough.

NEW ORCHARD FRUITS.

BY W. H. CRAIN, VILLA RIDGE.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Illinois State
Horticultural Society :

I have been notified by our worthy Secretary of being placed
on the list to furnish a report on new fruits. This subject I
consider to be a very important one, and should be dealt with
very cautiously, as all horticulturists know there has been more
deception perpetrated by the introduction of new fruits than any
other one thing in existence. And yet it is a necessary evil that
horticulturists are compelled to give their patronage to, in order
to maintain and improve our long list of fruits and berries.
There are many things to be considered in planting new fruits.
There are many honest men propagating new varieties of fruits,
and recommending them to the public, who believe their fruit
will prove just what it was on their experimental grounds, but
when changed to some different climate, the purchaser, nine

158 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

times out of ten, only waits a time of patience, to meet another
•disappointment.

Many would say that experimental stations will cure all this,
but that is another mistake. While we are free to confess that
the experimental stations have been the source of bringing to
light many valuable theories to enhance the interest of both
agriculture and horticulture, and should have our hearty support
for its further extension, when we consider the arena of Illinois
— the difference in climate, and the many different soils contained
therein — could we recommend a variety of apples grown at
Galena, and valued highly for hardiness of tree, but with little
regard to quality and size of fruit, to a fruitgrower in the vicinity
of Cairo, where any variety of apple stands the winter, and the
points sought for are size of fruit, color, and freedom from
speck or rot? Or, could we recommend for Northern Illinois a
variety of apples grown very successfully in Southern Illinois,
but with a very open, porous growth of wood, and tendency to
hold its leaves and continue to grow until late in the season, with
any good result therefrom?

While it is apparent to all fruit growers that many of our old
standard varieties are deteriorating, and it is now very certain
that some means will have to be adopted to revise our old
varieties, or seek some new ones to take their places — in my
opinion, the latter is the only certain way out —we must not be
too hasty in grabbing up everything offered, or take all the fellow
has, in order to get a corner on our neighbor. There are some
varieties of fruits and berries that are adapted to extreme cli-
mates and many different soils, but such is not a general rule.

I would recommend that before investing very heavy in any
new fruit, to first learn whether or not it has been tested in like
soil and climate as that to which you are planting on. Too much
care cannot be exercised in this matter, for if there is anything
on this green earth that would make one of our large-hearted,
whole-souled, good-natured horticulturists lose his good temper,
it is to nurse, with the greatest care, some new and highly rec-
ommended strawberry, to be attacked by rust, or the berries
turn to buttons, just at the time he expected to gather a crop of
fine fruit; to have his pear trees blight about the first time they
are well set with fruit; apples to speck and fall about the time
the fruit is half matured; or peaches to become covered with
rotten specks a day or two before the time he has arranged to
-commence shipping.

I beg leave to report the following list of those we think worthy
of farther trial:

APPLES.

r Mother — Tree, hardy, good grower; fruit, size medium, color,
bright red, striped on yellow ground; free from rot, quality ex-
cellent.

STATE HORTICULTUHAL SOCIETY. 159

Black Twig— Tree, a rapid, upright grower; twig coarse and
dark; fruit, color and quality much like Winesap, but large.

Stump — A new variety here, has been fruiting three jrears; tree,
good grower and hardy; fruit, very large; color, red striped;
quality, excellent; season, Aug. 1st; a perfect beauty.

Picket's Late, Sparks, TerriPs Late, Fink and Cash all fruited
well this season, and have given good satif action. Egyptian Queen
continues to give us those fine specimens of fruit, but rather ashy
bearer.

Grain's Spice — Fruited well this season, and continues to hold
out in all its good qualities.

The Keifer and Le Conte still maintain their reputationas good
growers; almost free from blight; the fruit generally smooth and
fine in appearance: quality, only medium.

Koonce has proved, so far, to be entirely free from blight, and
a good grower; fruit, medium in size; quality, good; season with
Early Harvest.

PEACHES.

Elberta — Very large yellow free; hardy in bud; heavy bearer;
good shipper; standard of excellency; season with Oldmixon.

Kilbourn ripens with Hale's Early; large red ad heres some to
stone; hardy in bud; rots some in a wet season.

Reed's Golden — Large yellow free; good bearer; hardy in bud;
good shipper; season with Early Crawford.

Hyatt — White, with red blush; size, medium; half cling; sea-
son, early; ripens irregular; quality, poor; not desirable.

Texas~-A fine family peach ; large, white free; very hardy in
bud and a prolific bearer; ripens with Early York.

Endicott Seedling — A seedling from Oldmixon; large red, the
shape of Oldmixon; free, but ripens with Hale's Early.

GRAPES.

Empire State — Early and a profuse bearer of the finest quality,
equal to Deleware; good grower; fruit rots a little in wet seasons.

Moore's Diamond — A good grower; medium in size; heavy
bearer; branches very large ; quality of fruit, excellent.

Niagara — Did well the last two years; bunches and berries
large and fine in appearance; quality only fair.

Downing — Good grower; shy bearer; fruit and bunches very
large; quality good, but subject to mildew.

Pocklington — Slow grower; quality, poor; fruit and bunches
very large; season late.

160 r TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

STRAWBERRIES.

In regard to the new varieties of strawberries grown here for the
past three years, I will say that May King, Warfield and Jessie
are the most favored. We have had a severe drouth here the
past two seasons while the berries were maturing and the test has
not been a fair one.

As to cherries, plums, raspberries and blackberries, we have
nothing new worthy of reporting.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Thomas — I have grown the Moore's Early for five years,
and have had none of them rot. The Niagara rotted some this
season, but I attributed that to the heavy rams we have had,
and I advise in planting for market, to plant Moore's Early. It
is very hardy, at least in five years I have not had them winter
killed. It is not so productive as the Niagara, but it is fine and
comes early.

Mr. Baxter — We have raised grapes at Nauvoo since 1858.
We have 500 acres in grapes and have tried everything, but have
not found anything to resist the rot. Moore's Early and Ives*
Seedling are good grapes. Of the Norton, we raise a moderate
crop in a fair season. Ives' Seedling beats everything on the
list for a grape year after year. We have lost only one crop of
that in nineteen years. The Early Victor is not giving satisfac-
tion ; it is not a vigorous grower, is a shy bearer and a small
grape. The Empire State I have had for three years, and it has
rotted the three years.

Mr. Kiehl — As to the Moore's Early being a poor bearer, I
will say that they need special treatment. There is some diffi-
culty from using too large canes. The Keifer and Carver's Hy-
brid Pear are mentioned. In some places the Keifer has been
run down on account of its quality, and I have done that myself;
but this year I have grown some of the Keifer, and I took them
from the stem and ripened them in drawers, and found them a
very good pear, and other parties who came to my house and
examined them pronounced them the same. They are very pro-
ductive, and the only trouble I see is that they are likely to
produce too much fruit, and when they overbear they are insipid.
It is very large and beautiful, and such a pear as it is is a
good thing, and I wish I had thousands of them growing. The

STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 161

Garber is, perhaps, a better pear. I used to think so sure, but I
am not so sure now. The Leconte I am disappointed in, in one
respect. It was said to be free from blight, but in that respect
it is the worst I have had. So far as winter is concerned I found
them perfectly hardy. It is not a pear of Southern origin. It was
started in Pennsylvania and taken to Georgia and then brought
back here. It is hardy if grown in the right place ; that is in the
right latitude.

Mr. Dennis — Do you know anything about the Idaho?

Mr. Riehl — I have tasted it, and I think it is a pear of excellent
quality.

Mr. Shank — I have had some experience with the Leconte,
and to make a long story short, it is not worth anything. In
relation to the Keifer, it is a poor grower, and has a tendency to
overbear. For bearing and for quality it is about like the Ben
Davis for an apple. I have had some experience with pears. I
planted an orchard of them about sixteen years ago, and many
of them are standing yet, and have borne for twelve years. I
made the assertion once that to get anything out of the Lucretia
dew-berry you had to take it where it is adapted to the con-
ditions, and I say so yet. One of those is, it must be on poor
ground. Two years in succession I have had the Pocklington
and they have rotted.

Mr. Thomas — I have been growing pears a number of years
and I don't put anything on the trees. I just plant them on the
east side of a wall where they get no afternoon sun, and they do>
not blight. I tack them right up fast to the wall.

Mr. Dennis — We must remember that Mr. Thomas is very pecu-
liarly situated between the Mississippi and Wyaconda rivers, and
thus has low ground on two sides to draw off the moisture and
prevent rot. I believe that the Keifer as a dwarf is not practi-
cable, but if you want to plant it as a dwarf, plant it deep.
I have it and it has grown eight or ten feet in the last two
years.

Mr. Riehl — The fact of the matter is, that with these varieties

the wood is of such a different structure to the quince, that

they do not unite well with the quince stock. If you will first go

and put on a pear that unites as well with the quince stock and

—12

162 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

then put your graft on that, you will have no trouble. I find
that it is a simple matter of starvation to put them directly on
the quince.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PRESIDENT'S AD-
DRESS.

Your Committee, to which was referred the Address of the
President, would respectfully report and recommend :

That the Annual Address of the President, at future meetings
of this Society, be placed upon the programme for the first day
of such meeting. As we regard well made points (as in the pre-
sent address) should be presented and discussed while the
attendance of members may be greatest.

That we consider the ground taken by our President in regard
to the possibility of our having untested fruits in our own State,
"that will fulfill all the requirements" of hardy winter apples
for our State, as well as ideas conveyed in respect to a proper
exhibit of fruits at the State Fair, with the suggestions for com-
mittees and remedies, as good, and recommend they be favorably
■considered by the Society.

In the matter of investigation of Russian varieties of fruits,
we would recommend a correspondence of officers of our Society,
with those of the State Societies of Indiana, Wisconsin and
Minnesota and, if necessary, a personal conference upon the
subject — that in case it was found best to ask Congressional aid,
the matter would be in form for speedy action.

W. H. Rag an,
Geo. W. E. Cook,
S. R. Humphrey.

Adjourned.

THURSDAY EVENING.

FLOWERS AND FRUIT.

BY PROF. T. J. BURRILL, CHAMPAIGN.

The primary office of all flowers is the production of seed
through the process of fertilization. The primary office of all
seeds is the reproduction of plants through the process of gen-
eration. The primary office of all edible fruits is the dissem-
ination of seeds through the agency of animals. _

Here are three propositions which we will undertake to
elaborate and explain. Before, however, entering upon the

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 163

direct discussion, it is proper to state that a fruit in the botanical
sense is any ripened ovary and its contents. The pod, with the
included seeds of a garden pea, is a true fruit, and so is a tomato
and a cucumber; but the horticultural usage of the term is much
more limited. This does not even include all edible fruits, for
the three examples just given are called vegetables, while other
true fruits, like wheat and buckwheat, are known as grains. In
this article the term fruit is used in a sense closely similar to the
usual horticultural interpretation, meaning all true fruits, or
fruit-like structures, which are eaten by man and animals for the
substances they contain, outside of the seeds themselves. This
includes apples, peaches, plums, cherries, grapes, blackberries,
raspberries, strawberries, melons, squashes, tomatoes, egg
plants, &c. Even the red pepper is probably to be included,
though I am not aware what animals feed upon them in their
natural state.

Our task will be simplified if we consider the third proposition
first. A little thought will suffice to show that the production of
edible fruits cannot be essential to the production of seeds, for
the vast majority of the seeds of plants are natural without such
accompaniment. In fact, seeds borne within fleshy fruits must
usually be separated from the pulpy mass, in order to insure their
germination. They are usually destroyed if allowed to remain
within this fermentable substance until decay takes place. It
may have been supposed by some, that edible fruits were first
produced directly for the good of man or the animals which fed
upon them ; but this explanation is no longer acceptable to
modern thought. In nature, everything is thoroughly selfish.
Plants have no interest in animals, save as the latter, can serve
their own purposes. Animals have no benevolent tendencies
toward plants, and never care at all for them, except as their
own interests are subserved. Why, then, should wild fruits be
developed? The fleshy part is not useful towards the perfection
of the seeds, neither can it serve any other directly useful office
for the plant. The facts in the case give us the best answer.
When grapes or strawberries are swallowed by birds, the seeds
pass the digestive processes unharmed, and are scattered far and
wide over the face of the earth. The fruits of the Crab Apple
and hawthorns are devoured by deer, cattle, &c, and the seeds,
in a similar manner, are safely scattered over wide areas. Those
•of pumpkins and squashes, in their wild conditions, secured dis-
semination in the same manner. In accordance with this idea,
we find that fruits only become edible when the seeds reach
maturity. Before this time, they are not only uninviting, but are
hidden among the foliage by taking its tint of green ; but when
the seeds mature, they color up so as to be conspicuous, soliciting
attention. This method of securing the dissemination of the
seeds, though resulting in the same thing, is by no means

164 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

uniform as to the part of the plant which thus becomes palatable
to animals. In peaches, cherries, &c, it is the ovary itself. In
apples, pears, &c, it is mainly the united leaves of the calyx, or
outer part of the flower. In the strawberry, it is the tip of the
stem (receptacle of the flower). In the cashew nut of the tropics,
it is a part of the stem below that which produces the flower.

If these things are true, we can assert that the edible formation
is the result of a process of natural selection favorable to the
plant as a species, because it secures the perpetuation of the
species through the broadcast sowing of seeds. We can also
assert that man's selection, in a similar way, must be capable of
securing special developments from plants with or without seed
production. This last statement is very likely to be considered
debatable. Can man gather now, or at any other time, grapes
from thorns, and figs from thistles? We know that we do not,
but we do not know that it is always to be impossible. These
edible parts have been produced in nature in connection with the
seeds, because, as we have said, the plants were thereby ben-
efitted. But in the man's selection, this need not be the case.
The adage, "What man has done, man may do," is serviceable
here. The cabbage, the cauliflower, the Kohl rabi and Brussel's
sprouts, are examples of what he has done, for all of these
originated from the same weed-like plant, which still preserves
its natural character on the sea coasts of Europe. There is no
probability that anything valuable can be thus obtained from
every plant, neither that any one thing can be secured from two
or more sources, for all that can be done is to watch closely for
any variation suggestive of utility, and then by repeated sowing
and selecting, perfect the type. Who knows but that from a
rose bud something as good as a fig can be obtained ? Who knows
what may be accomplished from many plants in this same direc-
tion by the future horticulturists? The process, if successful,
will doubtless take long and patient watching and waiting, but
the accomplishments ©f the past, both by nature and by art, are
surely worthy of recognition and repetition. Our cultivated
fruits are now widely different from their wild progenitors.
There is no end to perfection. They are still susceptible to im-
provement.

Our second proposition may be quickly disposed of. It cannot
be that any seed was directly and primarily made to be eaten.
There is no possible good which could come to the fruiting plant
to be robbed of its most precious treasures with no return.
There is no possible return, if the seed is stolen and destroyed.
There may be instances, it is true, in which the sacrifice of some
seeds may be of advantage to others, as when a squirrel gathers
nuts, and, after carrying them away, fails to eat them all; but
this is a hazardous experiment, not likely to be of efficient
service. In fact, the seeds which are now prized by man for

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 165

food have been greatly changed by him from the wild condition,
in which the richly-stored, but small-sized, grains were clearly
useful to the plant only for its perpetuation. We have said seeds
were primarily for the purpose of reproduction by generation to
distinguish this method from that bv division, such as occurs in
artificial cuttings, grafting, &c, and in nature, by runners, bulbs,
&c. This peculiarity of reproduction by seeds, is of prime im-
portance, but, probably, only because of the mode of their pro-
duction from fertilized flowers, hence we shall turn to our first
subject.

Many have supposed that the fundamental and most essential
offices of seeds are to rapidly multiply the individuals of a species
from generation to generation, and to preserve the latter during
winter, or when the growing plant could not survive. These are,
indeed, important services, but they are just as well performed
in some cases by other means, with greater economy. Flowers
are exhaustive growths. The bulblets of the Tiger Lily are, for
these purposes, as good as seeds, and since no flowers are
required, the method of production ought to be better for the
plant, if, indeed, the seed is not otherwise useful. Top-onions
afford another instance; the brittle branches of some willows
give us another, not to speak of runners, stolons, bulbs, &c. — a
long list of various forms.

But, since hundreds and thousands of plants are normally
reproduced from seeds, notwithstanding the expense of the
flowers, to one otherwise naturally multiplied, there must be
some good reason for it, which we should be able to find. Can
we do this?

The only marked difference in the production of a seed from
that of a bulb, is in the fact that the former is a product of fer-
tilization, while the latter is not. Can we find why this should
make the seed specially valuable? The most striking fact in the
organic world is the differentiation of individuals in regard to
sex. This differentiation occurs in nearly all animals, and in
many plants. But many other plants, and vastly the greater
number, have the sexual separation only in the organs of the
flower. If sex separation is the important thing its prevalence
indicates, why should not most plants also have this distinction?
By looking again, and gaining better knowledge of flowers, we do
find an explanation of the apparent anomally. The fact is,
flowers, though possessing both kinds of organs, are most won-
derfully fitted for cross-fertilization, thus making the rule general.
We must, therefore, amend the first sentence of this paper, if we
would be critically exact ! Flowers have for their primary office
the production of seed tl trough cross-fertilization .

Here, then, we arrive at the marked difference between the
seed in general, and the sexual reproduction forms. With this
explanation, our second proposition assumes a higher meaning,

166 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

and the whole phenomenon of seed formation is more satisfactorily
explained. Reproduction of seeds is highly beneficial only
because of the crossing of the flowers. Nature gives us, then,
a very emphatic hint, which we will do well to heed still more
fully than we now do. Practical experience has abundantly
proved the value of artificial crossing of the pollen from one
plant to the pistil of another of the same species, and it appears-
that the greater good comes from the greater dissimilarity of con-
ditions under which the two parent forms have been grown.

The correctness of the conclusions here announced can hardly
be disputed, for they are founded upon the broad and general
facts of nature. That ready and abundant proof is not at hand
in art, if, indeed, such a state of things exist, is only because the
variations, good or bad, are usually of small, even minute, amount
for any one generation. The practical horticulturist must not get
discouraged through want of immediate and brilliant success in
improving the object of his special care. Let him study well his
subject, master fully the problems of plant life and well being,,
then "learn to labor and to wait."

THE EELATION OF BEES TO HORTICULTURE.

BY C. P. DADANT, HAMILTON.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

The relation of bees to horticulture can be divided into two
main parts: the relation of bees to flowers, and their action upon
fruit.

The sole natural food of the honey-bee is taken from the blos-
soms and is composed of nectar only for the adult bee, and of
nectar and pollen for the growing larvae. If we believe that there
is a purpose in everything in nature, we will soon find the purpose
of bees and other insects. They are created undoubtedly, to help
in fertilizing the flowers. The pollen, which is the fecundating
dust of flowers, would not in all cases reach the germ if it was
not for the busy insects, who, while in search of honey, shake a
portion of this upon the pistil, carrying it also from one blos-
som to another. Pollen exists in such abundant quantities, and
the amount of it needed to fertilize the blossoms is so small
that there is always plenty, and the only requirement is that it be
properly distributed. The incessant travels of the insects over
the blossoms not only help the distribution, but also furnish to
one blossom the pollen of another, thus preventing excess of
consanguinity that would often prove fatal, and help to create-
new varieties.

A very clear evidence that the honey exists in the blossom to
attract insects for blossom fertilization lies in the fact that those

STATE HOKTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 167

flowers that yield no honey, and therefore are not visited by in-
sects, have to produce enormous quantities of pollen to secure
fruit fertilization. Among these we will cite corn and rag-weed.
And these plants have to be congregated in large numbers in order
to secure fertilization even then ; for the winds may blow the pollen
away from a single plant, so that it gets none of it. Many have
probably noticed that a single corn stalk, in a field, will often
prove barren after having bloomed profusely, owing to its pollen
having been blown away, without reaching the female blossom.

It is not the bee alone who is needed for the fertilization of
flowers, but other insects as well. For instance, red clover whose
corolla is usually too deep for the bee, needs the agency of the
bumble-bee, in order to become fertile. It is well-known to ag-
riculturists that the first crop of red clover gives much less seed
than the second crop, but they do not all know the reason of
this is that the bumble-bees are more abundant in summer than
in spring.

Do bees or insects in general ever damage blossoms by too
frequent travels over them? No, indeed, for in this case they
would long ago have destroyed white clover, smart weed and
Spanish needles which yield more honey than other blossoms and
are therefore oftener visited by bees.

The relation of bees to fruits is a very much vexed question,
owing to the fact that a great many horticulturists are prone to
regard the bee as an enemy, without investigating the question
thoroughly. During seasons of scarcity of blossoms, dry seasons
especially, bees feed on the juices of different fruits, but always
on damaged fruit. The nutriment that they get therefrom is
always of very poor quality, as the juices of damaged fruits are
generally more or less fermented already, when the bee appro-
priates them, except perhaps in cases where the fruits have just
been punctured by birds. Fruit juice is also much inferior to
the nectar of blossoms, and can never take the place of honey
in bee-economy.

Can bees injure sound fruits? No, emphatically no. If they
could tear the skin of our tenderest fruit they could readily open
the still more tender corolla of the red clover, close to the sweet
nectar and thus appropriate an endless supply of honey at a time
when there is nothing else. The mandibles of the bee are not
made to puncture anything, they are of a round shape, and en-
tirely devoid of teeth. But facts are better than any theory.
We own a vineyard of eleven acres in connection with our large
apiaries, and have made a number of tests, among which was
one public test before the teachers and pupils of the Hamilton
school, and the result of all these tests has invariably been the
same. The bees have failed to puncture any sound fruit. For
the lover of bee-culture and horticulture combined, who wishes
to investigate further, I will mention the Report of the Com-

168 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

inissioner of Agriculture for 1885, page 336, in which experi-
ments are related in regard to this question.

The relation of bee-culture to horticulture might also be men-
tioned in view of the comparison between the products of both
industries. Honey is classed among fruit preserves, jellies,
jams, etc., in the agricultural and horticultural fairs, and there
is room for both the products of the bee-keeper and those of the
fruit-grower, side by side. Honey does not interfere with fruits
on the markets, nor does it help, to any great extent, at present,
in the preparation of fruit preserves. The only purpose for
which it has been used largely, in connection with the products
of horticulture, is the manufacture of wine. In our large vine-
yards, before mentioned, we have found great profit in using
honey for wine-making. Especially in wines that require sweet-
ening is honey invaluable, its flavor being, in the opinion of
many people, an adjunct which renders it superior to sugar for
this purpose. We are not the originator of this method, for
many old works favor the use of honey in wine-making and
speak highly of wines thus made. The proof of the pudding is
in the eating, and we should be very glad to see a number of our
horticulturists try this and report after trial. Honey being now
cheaper than sugar, its cost is not an objection, and wines thus
made are more valuable, especially for medicinal purposes.

KEPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FINAL RESOLUTIONS.

liesolved, That the Society tender its sincere thanks to the Re-
ception Committee of the citizens of Hamilton for the hospitable
manner in which they have received and cared for us during our
stay here.

To the Warsaw and Montebello Floral Societies for the beauti-
ful and artistic manner in which the hall was decorated. Also to
Mrs. Dr. Lyon, for cut flowers and varieties of Chrysanthemums.

To the ladies and gentlemen for the most excellent vocal and in-
strumental music with which they have entertained us.

To the various railroads and hotels who have granted us re-
duced rates, to V. R. Faught, of Hamilton, for Rustic Work and
Immortelles. . E. A.Riehl,

C. S. Rowley,
W. S. Dyer.

Committee.

REPORT ON FLORICULTURE.

BY MRS. R. T. CONABLE.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is an old and familiar saying, that distance lends enchant-
ment; and I am thoroughly convinced that it is sO, for when I
was informed, some weeks ago, that I was to give a report on

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 169

Floriculture, it appeared an easy task, as well as a pleasureable
one. But now, as the time draws near, I feel as if I could not
give you anything that would be new or of interest to you. In
looking over the Horticultural transactions of previous meetings,
and being a constant attendant at this one, I find the ladies
have so ably discussed the flower question, that I am almost
afraid that what I may say will prove to be a repetition; if so, I
beg pardon. Flowers are the tie that binds or unites the Hor-
ticultural and Floral Societies, for first we have the flowers and
then the fruit. If we could have a theory that the perfume of
the flowers was condensed into the flavor of the fruit, and could
substantiate it, what a beautiful theory it would be, but it would
soon be shattered by comparison, for if we compare the delicate
blossom of the crab-apple, and the bitter-apple, or the delicious
plum and its ill-scented blossom, we will find that changing the
form materially alters the value; but this is a digression. Flor-
ists should class the season just passed, as being one of flowers,
both of natural and artificial. The early spring favored the
planting of seeds, slips and bedding plants, and with the warm sun-
shine all kinds of flowers begin to materialize on the ladies' hats
and bonnets, and the frequent showers during the heated term
caused all vegetation to make rapid growth. It was particularly
noticeable in the Geraniums. Ihe foliage was rank, the trusses
being unusually long, and the flowers abundant, large and full.
It has been my experience in the cultivation of flowers, that there
is no plant more remunerative for blooms, or more easily tended
than the Geranium commonly known as the Fish. Of these
there is an endless variety of colors and shades, and, by proper
management, they will bloom all year round. Then there is the
Lantanna of different colors, always ready with a bloom, Sum-
mer or Winter. All that is required is a position where the sun-
light will fall directly upon them, and sufficient moisture to
keep the leaves from withering. For a delicate and fragrant
button-hole boquet, I would like to suggest the light shaded
Lantanna, with the dark and light, purple Heliotrope, with one
or two Rose Geranium leaves. Try it and see if the effect is not
beautiful. Appearance is one of the most essential consider-
ations in regard to the desirableness of plants, and is a matter
which we should not forget in our arrangement and care of
window plants. Dust being one of these first and greatest ene-
mies during the winter months, they should either be protected
or given an occasional washing with milk-warm water. Also
water the plants freely ; do not allow the soil to become dry and
hard, stir it up every now and then, so it will not become baked,
as it will from repeated waterings. To have many flowers you
must have many shoots to your plants, and by priming often,
always from the top, you increase the lower growth and have a
well rounded bush, more flowers, and the blooms will be larger

170 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

and richer looking. In observing these precautions you will be
doubly repaid for the time spent in caring for them. Not alone
in the pleasure that is derived, but the important sanitary value
of flowers and plants, makes them a feature of floriculture which
calls for special attention. One of the most important of late
discoveries in chemistry is that made by Prof. Wontogazza of
Pavia, to the effect that ozone is generated in immense quan-
tities by all plants and flowers possessing green leaves and aro-
matic odors, such as Hyacinths, Mignonnette, Heliotrope, Nar-
cissus, and the Cherry-laurel. Many others, equally fragrant,
throw off ozone largely on exposure to the sun's rays; thereby
making them powerful disinfectants and deodorizers. It is the
belief of chemists that whole districts can be redeemed from
the deadly malaria which infests them by simply covering them
with aromatic vegetation. The bearing of this upon floriculture
in cities is very important. Experiments have proved that the
air of a city contains less ozone than the surrounding country.
Plants and flowers and green trees, then, are a necessity. Let
this be a plea for the little flower pot, or tin can, whichever it
may be, if there is any one here who objects to them as always
being in the way.

"And now the summer days are dead,

And we have ice, frost and snow
To hide the Sun and cover the Earth,
And cold, fierce winds blow."

And as old Boreas will be King for the next few months, we
will have the entire care of the delicate plants, for which we
prepared in the early fall, by shifting into new pots of soil, and
arranging for light and warmth to keep Jack Frost's icy fingers
from among the flowers, but if, like a thief in the night, he
should chance to slip in and touch the treasured ones, the thaw-
ing out should be gradual ; first sprinkle the foliage with cold
water, and as the temperature rises do not let the ascendency be
too fast, and for several hours not be allowed to rise above an
ordinary heat. Permit the sun's rays to strike upon them with
gradual increasing heat, and it will aid their recovery in a great
measure. Avoid handling the frozen plant, as the injury will be
much greater if the leaves become bent or broken. After a few
days cut back the frozen parts, to the harder wood, just beyond
the leaf bud, not allowing the sap to oze from the lacerated
parts but immediately touch with some of the soil. The plant
will soon begin new growth, and will be doubly dear on account
of the sad experience. Another important thing is the pulling

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 171

of the flowers, for this is the case in which " the more you give,
the more you will receive, and be doubly blessed for a single
flower."

"In all places, then, and in all seasons,

Flowers expand their light, and soul-like wings ;
Teaching us by most persuasive reasons, —

How a-kin they are to human things,
And with child-like credulous affection
We behold their tender buds expand,
Emblems of our own great resurrection,
Emblems of the bright and better land.

DISCUSSION.

Mrs. Clapp — My experience in keeping flowers from freezing,
is to wrap them up, not closely, but with a light cover. I have
been very successful.

Mrs. Gray — I have been very unsuccessful this year with my
flowers. They were all frosted this fall with the first frost, so
that I have nothing to say.

Mrs. Lamonte — My flowers are not quite so fall of bloom as
usual this year, but they have done fairly well. Early in the
spring I put all my house-flowers out in the garden. I did not
care to keep them in the yard as the sheep and geese sometimes
get in the yard. My flowers were a success in the garden. I
gathered a great many blossoms during the season.

President Dunlap — To what do you attribute the bloom ; was
it the extra cultivation, or the absence of sod?

Mrs. Lamonte — The garden was rich, but I used only common
garden soil, no fertilizers. I worked them well and it was just
giving the roots plenty of room, and the season being moist
enough to make them grow nicely.

President Dunlap — My wife has gone home, so I will venture
to say a word about flowers. I think they will do better if they
are in large beds than in small beds with blue grass sod around.
I think the sod absorbs the moisture and thus they can't do so
well.

Mr. Thomas — Outside of roses, my experience with flowers is
very limited. I believe in very vigorous pruning to get fine
roses. In order to prune properly, you must be a judge of the

172 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

plant and what the plant will be able to carry successfully.^" I
take out all the old wood, of course, and quite a number of the
young shoots; do not leave too many of the living shoots.

Mr. Brown — I don't see why we don't have more roses. I cut
them right back to the ground and manure them well. I sold a
man a Jacquimenot last spring and it did so well that he says now
that he would not take $20 for the bush. I do the pruning about
this time of the year and then cover them with manure. I think
Mrs. Lamonte's idea of having them in the garden is a good one;
if they are where you can plow them it will be all the better.
The roses are the next best thing to the verbena. I cut the ver-
benas back also. This season I had bloom on my verbenas to
the middle of November by covering them of nights.

Mr. Cook — I pride myself on my roses, and at the time of our
Rose and Strawberry Show at Lacon last June, I think I had an
exhibition as fine as could be found in the United States. I had
a case as wide as this room and twice the length of the
room. It was an extra season for roses with us. Some were
counting the roses on one bush to get an estimate of the number
and they calculated that on one hedge were over 10,000 blooms.
One trouble with our growing roses is that too many do not
know how to treat them. Now I take the Calla Lily and put it
right out in the ground with the cabbage, and re-pot it in the
fall; that will make it grow. With my roses I believe in fall
trimming. I shall go through them when I get home. The sap
had not gone down enough when I came away to put them in
shape for trimming. My June roses, I shall cut out about one-
third of this year's growth; my hybrid perpetuals, I shall cut
back about two-thirds. For some winters I have not protected
my roses at all. I lose more by drouth than from cold. I prefer
to go to the henery for fertilizers. I take it through the summer
and sift it, and when I want it it is in good shape. I put it
around the bushes and then cover with straw or other litter, or
anything that can be spaded in. I cultivate around the
roses the same as I would around the cabbage. If you are buy-
ing flower seeds, do not buy the cheap, mixed packages. Buy
good high priced seeds if you want anything satisfactory.

Mr. Brown — How far apart do you put your roses in the hedge?

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 173

Mr. Cook — I have been putting them about three feet, but
after this I shall put them four feet. Too close, they shade one
another too much.

• President Dunlap — What do you do with the rose slug?

Mr. Cook — I do not pay any attention to that until the buds
fall, and then when I see any indications of slug, I take a spoonful
of white hellebore and put it in a bucket of water and sprinkle
the bushes with it. The slug has been very bad this year; last
year there were not a half dozen bushes affected with it. It
takes a year or two to get rid of it.

Mr. Gaston — Our Central Horticultural Society meets at Lacon
next summer, and we invite all the ladies of the Mississippi Val-
ley to come over there and see Mr. Cook's roses.

Mrs. Lyons — I have had little trouble with my flowers; never
have them frosted. I keep a great many in pots, and bury them
in pots.

Mr. Riehl — I find that as to the rose slug, Paris Green will dispose
of it. One other point is the matter of water. It is often thought
necessary to water them. As it is usually done it is worse than
useless. If done at all, it should be done thoroughly. Ten times
the water that is usually applied is what should be applied. This
summer I struck a plan that was a success. We had a lot of as-
ters suffering for water, and I took a light drill and punched the
bed full of holes six or eight inches apart, and that let the water
down about a foot, and the ground showed moisture on the top
for several days, and the plants did not need more water for a
week.

Mr. Cook — As to watering roses, you want to wait until the
ground is real dry, and then drench it. Ladies often water their
flowers every day, and the consequence is that their flowers do
not develop. The fault is in too frequent watering. My objec-
tion to the Paris Green and London Purple is that they discolor
the roses. The preparation I use does not hurt them.

Mr. Shank — I think an emulsion of kerosene and milk is bet-
ter on roses than any poison. It has no effect on the pollen,
but is death to the slug. Simply take about half a pint of coal
oil in a gallon of milk and put it in a pail of water, and apply

174 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

it with a sprinkler. It has been suggested by some parties that
they have had no trouble about roses freezing, but we have
trouble in that respect and we are further south too. The
trouble may be from our freezing and thrawing. We cover them.
I dig on the side I want to lay the rose, being careful not to cut
tiny main roots. I dig at an angle so that I can bring the bushes
over easily. Then with a pair of heavy gloves on I can pull the
"bush over, and throw on a shovel of earth and cover it.

Mr. McKinney — Be careful in using the kerosene. I have
tried it, and tried it weak, and spoiled the roses. It is oily, and
oil of any kind injures them. In regard to varieties, I do not
want this discussion to go over without mention of the Cocodia;
I have a stand of it and it kept blooming all winter, and it is
very beautiful. I had by the side of it a Pearl of the Garden.
If you want blossoms all the time, you must buy Tea Koses,
putting them out in the spring and they will give you roses all
the time ; put them away in the cellar for winter.

Mr. McCleur — The gentleman spoke about kerosene emulsion,
but with his method of putting it on he is likely to injure his
plants. In using kerosene it must be so thoroughly mixed that
it will not float on the surface. By simply pouring the milk and
kerosene together, the kerosene will float and injure the leaves.
They can be mixed but it takes time to do that.

Mr. McKinney — A half -pint of coal oil to one gallon of milk.
You can thoroughly mix them by agitation, and then pour it
instantly into about three gallons of water and put it on with a
fine rose sprinkler. I do not suppose, however, that you will
just stand there and keep pouring it on. I do not believe that
any spraying is necessary more than just a fine mist.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DELAYED EXHIBIT.

Your special Committee on Delayed Fruits would report as fol-
lows: Jacob Auer, of Deer Plain, Calhoun Co., exhibited four-
teen plates of apples composing twelve entries, which we find to
be fine specimens, of uniform shape and very free from imperfec-
tions, although showing somewhat the effects of the delay in
transportation. From a necessarily brief inspection of the fruit
with which they would have come in competition, if received in
time, we think they would have received a fair share of the

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 175

premiums. And in view of the fact that the delay was probably
no fault of the exhibitor, would recommend the award of first
premium on article 66, class 3, Smith's Cider, on which, there
was no competition, and a special premium of $3 on the exhibit.
We also find samples of Leeper's Beauty, sent by Y. Byrd Leep-
•er, of Paducah, Ky., which are fine looking, showey specimens
and remarkably smooth, but we would judge lacking in quality;
and in absence of further knowledge, make no recommenda-
tion.

Respectfully submitted

L. R. Bryant, Committee.

Mr. Bryant — I have an important matter to bring to your con-
sideration, but it is in the shape of a resolution :

Resolved, That the thanks of the members of this Society be
and hereby are tendered to our retiring President for the able
and courteous manner in which he has performed his duties.

Mr. Dennis puts the question : Carried.

President Dunlap — I thank you for this mark of your esteem.
I am sure I have never presided over a meeting where I did it
with more pleasure than I have in this. It has been no effort on
the part of the Chair to conduct these meetings. It reflects
great credit on everyone here for the manner in which you have
aided me in the performance of these duties.

Moved that all unread papers be referred to the Secretary with
power to dispose of them as he sees fit. Carried.

Adjourned.

176 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

DEFERRED PAPERS.

Part of these papers were not read for want of time ; others
did not come into the hands of the Secretary in time to appear
in their proper places:

A COLD WAVE ILLUSTRATED; OE, HOW A BLIZZAED

GETS AMONG US.

BY W. H. RAG AN, INDIANA.

It is a wise design of nature that provides for the constant
changing and shifting of our atmosphere, without which stag-
nation and death would result. There are three principal causes
which operate to produce atmospherical disturbances — the rotary
motion of the earth on its axis, the daily fluctuations of tem-
perature due to the sun's heat, and the varying density, or weight
of the earth's atmosphere. The first is constant, and, without
the co-operation of one or both of the others, could only produce
a regular shifting of the atmosphere with reference to the earth's
surface, and that without violence. The second would produce
local currents from the land to the sea, or from elevated to low
lands, or the reverse, as the alternate conditions of heat and cold
would succeed each other, by day or by night.

The third is, therefore, the great disturbing cause — the unequal
weight or the atmosphere in adjacent regions for all important
movements of the atmosphere result from differences of pressure.
The direction of such movements is from the areas of high
towards the areas of low pressure. If it were not for these
causes, atmospheric disturbances would be unknown, and the
climate of a given place would be almost entirely determined by
its altitude and its latitude.

An area of low pressure, or technically a cyclone, is a mass of
air, of hundreds or thousands of miles in diameter, which has a
great motion from the right to the left, and towards a common
center or point of minimum pressure. It also generally has a
progressive motion, and brings to the places over which it passes,
clouds, precipitation, changes of temperature, and sometimes
violent atmospheric disturbances. This great cyclone, or meteor,
with its rushing currents, 'sweeps over the country for miles,

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 177

gathering the warm, humid surface atmosphere, and carrying it
to a common center, where it is thrown upward and outward,
where the cooling process condenses the accompanying moisture,
which is in turn precipitated to the earth, in the form of rain,
hail, or snow.

Conflicting currents of different temperature, usually on the
southeast margin of this great swirling mass of low pressure
atmosphere, and perhaps hundreds of miles distant from its
center, generates the destructive tornado, which we so often hear
improperly called a cyclone. A tornado is impossible, except as
the accompaniment or picket-guard of a cyclone.

It will be seen by what has been said, that a cyclone, or area of
low barometer, must necessarily be followed and displaced by an
anti-cyclone, or high barometer, as the latter constantly rushes
towards the former, in the effort of nature to re-establish an
equilibrium of atmospheric forces. There, is, therefore, a con-
stant succession of atmospheric changes taking place, though
these changes are by no means of equal degrees of energy. For-
tunately, the extremes are but seldom reached; extremes which
would result in violent and destructive storms and tornadoes.

I have already said that these varying conditions were wisely
conceived by the Creator, for the purpose of purifying and ven-
tilating the atmosphere. For our present purpose, this may be as
far as we need inquire into the causes that generate, or give rise to,,
a low barometer or cyclone,

THE BLIZZARD OF JANUARY 6 -10th, 1S86.

Having said this much, by way of introductory, and for the
purpose of giving a clearer understanding of the subject in hand,
I will now illustrate my theory of storm movements, especially
of that class of storms for the designation of which _ we have but
recently coined the fitting term "blizzard." For this purpose, I
have chosen the severe and somewhat peculiar cold wave of
January 6-10th, 1886.

In reference to this noted storm, the Director of the Indiana
Weather Service, in his reports for the month of January of
that year, has the following: " The cold wave of the 9-13th, in
some particulars, was the most remarkable known for years.
This was true as regards its wide-spread distribution in the
southern portion of the United States. The weather records
of Florida show that they have had no such unusually low tem-
perature since 1835. The zero line dropped down into Texas,
and extended far into the Gulf of Mexico, including all of
Florida. The wave passed down from Manitoba over the west-
ern plains to Texas and Louisiana, gradually diminishing in
severity as it spread eastward. It did not strike us (in Indiana)
with the violence of that of Jan. 1st, 1864, nor did the temper-
ature fall so low as on Jan. 5th, 1884; but like each of those
—13

178 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

noted storms was borne to us by west or southwest winds. This
storm is, therefore, noted, not so much for its intense severity in
Indiana as for its having penetrated the extreme south as it did."

The atmospheric conditions that precede a blizzard — indeed
constitute the preliminary features of it — are a low barometer,
centered well south and moving northeasternly. As a rule, we
have from six to ten low pressure movements during a month.
Almost without exception these pass out of the territory of the
United States through the lower St. Lawrence valley. Just why
this is so need Dot now be considered. Usually these centers' of
low pressure arise in the Rocky Mountain regions of the United
States, or enter our territory from Manitoba, and, passing through
or near the great lakes, follow the St. Lawrence to the north-
east. Conditions of this kind may bring us, in the Central Mis-
sissippi Valley, thunder storms, heavy rains or snow, wind, and
even tornadoes, but will not give us a genuine blizzard in all its
fury with a resultant temperature of from ten to thirty degrees
below zero. If, however, an area of low barometer enters the
territory of the United States from Mexico or the Gulf of Mexico
and passes northeasterly toward the mouth of the St. Lawrence,
and if this be during the winter months, we may have a severe
cold wave extending far into the south and borne to us in the
latitude of Indiana and southeasterly, by winds from the west or
•even the southwest.

In some particulars, the storm under consideration excelled
any on record. This is especially true in regard to its extent
and unusual severity in the extreme south. When we refer
to the record of the Signal Service we ascertain the causes
of the unusual distribution of cold. As stated above, certain
barometric conditions are the prelude to such storms.

In this case (and this is but the type of all such storms) a low
barometer of unusual energy came within the range of obser-
vation near Las Animas, Cal., at '6 o'clock, p. m., Washington,
time, on Jan. 6, 1886, from which place it moved southward into
the Gulf of Mexico, where it was central at 3 o'clock, p. m., of
the 7th. From there it was deflected to the left, being noted
eight hours later over the mouth of the Mississippi river, and
thence passing northeasterly, following the Gulf and the Atlan-
tic coasts, it reached the mouth of the St. Lawrence at 7 a. m.
of the 10th.

An area of low barometer may be illustrated by, if not com-
pared to, a vigorous blaze, as a burning building, which creates
a rarified condition of the air and a consequent rush of surround-
ing atmosphere to fill the void. In the northwestern portion of
our continent, in the elevated regions of the Rocky Mountain
chain, we have a comparatively constant high barometer. When
a low starts up, a corresponding high, from this region of con-
stant high, flows in to fill the vacuum.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 179

Farther north, in the artic region, may be found, as a constant
or passive element, a low temperature. Without a disturbing
cause, this low temperature will hover about its proper latitude.
When, however, a low barometer, which is always accompanied
by high temperature, arises, a high barometer moves into its
wake, thus inducing currents of cold air from the arctic region,
with a resultant lower temperature. If this low barometer
passes through the central or northern portions of the United
States, it is easy to understand why it would not draw a volume
of cold air into the southern portion of the country. But Avhen
the reverse is the case and the low barometer passes well to the
southward, as was true of the storm under consideration, and
especially if the low has unusual energy, we may, certainly, ex-
pect the whole country to be overspread by a sheet of cold.

There are natural causes which direct and control the move-
ments of such storms, when once inaugurated. If not, their
movements would be direct, and they would sweep down upon
us of the Central Mississippi Valley from the north rather than
from the west or southwest. Hudson Bay and the Lakes, to
the north of us, with their stores of summer heat, ward off these
storms, pushing them, as it were, to the westward and against
the Rockies, where they follow in the lee of the mountains,
which turn upward and beyond the reach of interference the
warm currents from the Pacific, and, facilitated in their move-
ments by the great treeless plains, they reach the track of pre-
ceding low barometer. As the low almost invariably move to
the northeast, the high, with its cold, naturally follows. Thus
we have the phenomenon of cold weather coming to us from
the west or northwest.

ILLUSTRATING THE STORM.

I will now hurriedly illustrate, by the use of a set of tri-daily
Signal Service Charts, the movements of the storm under con-
sideration. ,As already stated, this ink-spot on the chart in east-
ern Colorado marks the center of the low barometer, at 3 p. m.,
of Jan. 6th. The dark wavy line across the upper portion of
the chart indicates the line of zero temperature at that hour.
The almost unchanged position of the zero line in the lake
region during the prevalence of this storm, will illustrate the
beneficial influence they (the lakes) exert upon the climate, a
fact which gives to Michigan and the surrounding territory its
just renown as a superior fruit-growing section. Turning to our
next chart, which represents a period eight hours later, we find
that the center of the low barometer is now near Fort Sill in the
Indian Territory, and that the zero line has dropped down from
Fort Custer to Denver, while all the Gulf region is basking in a
temperature much above the frost point.

180 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

The next chart, which is for 7 a. m., of the 7th, represents,
as you will see, the center of the low barometer as near Indian-
ola, Texas, and the zero line at Sante Fe and Fort Elliott, but
almost unchanged as to the Lake Region. The temperature of
the Gulf Coast is forty degrees and upwards.

This chart, which is for 3 p.m., shows the low center to be in
the Gulf of Mexico, immediately south of Indianola, and off the
north of the Rio Grande. The zero line has also dropped down,
and that too against the modifying influence of the afternoon
sun, from Fort Elliott to Fort Sill, while the temperature of the
Coast responding to the combined influence of the sun and the
presence of the low barometer, which you have already learned
m variably brings higher temperature; has risen to sixty and
seventy degrees. The orange orchardists of Florida were yet un-
conscious, unless warned through the Signal Service, of their im-
pending doom.

At 11 p. m. we find the low area covering the mouth of the
Mississippi. The zero line has spread eastward to Fort Smith,
Arkansas, from which point it extends almost due northward to
St. Paul and the St. Louis rivers, where it turns eastward
through Lake Superior into Ontario. The temperature has
fallen in Texas to thirty degrees at Indianola and Galveston, but
is still sixty degrees in Florida.

The chart for the morning of the 8th represents the low cen-
tral at Montgomery, Alabama, and the zero line extending from
the Rio Grande below El Paso, Texas, by way of Palestine, Little
Rock, Keokuk and Lake Superior. Temperature of Floriafrom
fifty to seventy degrees, while all of Texas is below twenty de-
grees. Texans will remember this as their coldest morning.

Eight hours later, (the heat of the day), the low is in eastern
Georgia, while zero has extended eastward to the Mississippi
river, but is receding in western Texas. The orange orchards
are still unharmed in Florida, but are suffering in Louisiana.

At 11 p. m. the low has reached the mouth of Chesapeake Bay,
and the zero line now takes in Memphis and northern Missis-
sippi. The Gulf Coast from Pensacola westward has a temper-
ature of twenty degrees and lower, but in east and south Florida
it is still above fifty degrees.

The morning chart, 7 a. m., of the 9th, shows the low center
on the New Jersey coast, and zero extending from Santa Fe via
Denison, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and thence northward to Cin-
cinnati, Chicago and Lake Superior. Jacksonville and Cedar
Keys have a temperature of thirty degrees, while Sanford and
Punta Rassa have forty and fifty degrees respectively. At this
observation we note the greatest barometrical gradient that oc-
curred during the storm, the readings being 28.8 inches at the
center of the low, in New Jersey, while on the northern border

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 181

of Minnesota it was 30.8 inches. The disparity of readings was
unusual, which gave the storm its peculiar force.

The 3 p.m. chart represents the low as central on the coast of
New Hampshire, with the zero line comparatively unchanged.

The night observation of the 9th shows the low area in Cen-
tral Maine, with zero extending still more to the eastward. The
temperature is rising rapidly in Southern Texas and the south-
west, but still falling in Florida, having now reached thirty de-
grees in the central portion of the peninsula.

Our next chart represents the storm at its maximum. This
is the morning of the 10th. The low barometer has now reached
the mouth of the St. Lawrence, and the zero line extends from
Utah, through New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Ala-
bama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia, and the line of thir-
ty degrees across Florida as far south as Punta Rassa.

Our last chart is a review of the movement of the low baro-
meter during the storm. The series of ink-spots beginning in
Colorado, and ending near the mouth of the St. Lawrence river,
represents the center of the low at the tri-daily observations,
from the origin of the storm to its close. It will be remembered
that we are considering the movements of a storm of unusual
character. Most storms pass more directly across our territory,
the terminals generally being the eastern slope of the Rocky
Mountains and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Signal Service pre-
dictions are based on this general rule. Again, the estimated
velocity of movement is based on the knowledge of the aver-
age hourly progress of such storms. The high per cent, of
correct predictions (about eight-five) inspires us with confi-
dence and we have learned to consult the daily weather pre-
dictions with some expectations of their subsequent verification.
When one fails, however, we are inclined to criticize meteorolog-
ical science and to insist that, after all, it is mere guess work.
But the fair minded and intelligent observer must realize, from
what has been said, how utterly impossible it would be to correct-
ly anticipate the direction and force of a storm of the charac-
ter of the one we are considering, where there is such a wide de-
parture from the uniform rule. When the telegraph and Signal
Service shall have extended their dominion over British Amer-
ica and Mexico, we shall know more of the laws of storms affect-
ing our continent. Then we shall be more surely warned as to
their character and the probable time of their arrival amongst us,
but, certain facts concerning them will, doubtless forever, re-
main beyond the ken of human knowledge.

As already stated, this storm was very disastrous in its effects
in the extreme south. Florida orange orchardists suffered im-
mense loss, while the whole of the Gulf coast experienced a
cooling off almost or quite unparalleled in the memories of the
present generation. While this is true as regards the character

182 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

of this storm in the south, many have occurred of greater vio-
lence in the north. Indeed, only two weeks later we were warned
to " hoist the cold wave flag" and notified that at St. Paul they
were having several degrees lower temperature than they had
during the time of the storm under consideration, but we (in
Indiana) did not realize its increased severity, while in Florida
they were scarcely disturbed, the temperature there changing
but slightly from the normal. On consulting the Signal Service
records for this second storm we discover that the low barometer,
the disturbing cause, originated very near the location of the
preceding storm, viz., in Colorado, but instead of the very un-
usual route taken by the first it followed the more general course,
in an almost direct line towards the Gulf of St. Lawrence,
hence the succeeding high barometer and cold wave were only
invited as far south as the track of the preceding low.

In the present state of meteorological knowledge, there exists
no known preventive against the sweeping disaster of such storms
as this. A single one may, however, suggest itself to the thought-
ful. Extensive tree-planting on the great plains of the west
will certainly have a salutary influence in modifying and retard-
ing the free and unbroken sweep of these disastrous storms.
Perhaps the people of no portion of the United States are more
deeply interested in the remedy than the people of these great
plains themselves. The simple thought of a so-called "norther"
is a terror to the inhabitants of the Llano Estacado. Let them
hasten the day when the dry and leafless Yucca stalk shall give
place to the comforting forest of living trees. Then horticul-
ture will, indeed, have contributed its share towards " temper-
ing the winds to the shorn lambs" of our whole country.

A PEN SKETCH OF PROF. S. A. FORBES— FOURTH

STATE ENTOMOLOGIST.

BY DR. F. W. GODING, RUTLAND.

The special qualifications of our several State Entomolgists
have been varied. There is no doubt that Walsh, the friend
of Darwin, was the most scholarly, and perhaps the near-
est a philosopher, at the same time ranking high as an ento-
mologist. LeBaron, the friend of Harris, possessing consider-
able literary training and a peculiar mental aptitude for the work,
if not wholly original, was of such a character as to place him
among our best independent and closely observing naturalists.
Thomas, with his vast fund of entomological learning, will stand
among our eminent entomologists rather as a judicious compiler
and wise teacher, though we cannot forget his fine original work
among the Orthoptera and Hemiptera. Prof. Forbes, our pres-
ent State Entomologist, has qualifications different from any of

Wf?!:"

P HPf

PROF. S. A. FORBES

FOURTH STATE ENTOMOLOGIST OF ILLINOIS

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 133

his predecessors in office. With but limited opportunities for ac-
quiring a classical training, he obtained, by individual effort, its
equivalent— a thorough, practical understanding of the prin-
ciples of scientific knowledge. His labors, it may be said, are
wholly original, carrying him and his students along strange
pathways, many times treading byways almost unknown to other
scientists, yet ever keeping in view the advancement of the in-
terest of his fellow man. While our other official entomologists
were known as entomologists only, Prof. Forbes is known and
recognized as one of our most eminent scientists in the broadest
sense — a master investigator, a matured philosopher.

Stephen Alfred Forbes was born in the year 1844, in Stephen-
son County, Illinois. In early life he attended the district school
of the neighborhood until he was fourteen, when he entered the
preparatory department of Beloit College. Ill health com-
pelled him, after a year's study, to return to his home, where he
continued his studies under the tuition of an elder brother, Col.
Forbes, now of Princeton. When but seventeen he enlisted as
a private in the 7th Illinois Cavalry, being regularly appointed
to the rank of captain before he was twenty-one, and placed in
command of a company. In 1862, while acting as orderly for
Gen. Rosecrans, he was captured by the rebels, and spent four
and a half months in the prison pens of Macon, Mobile and
Richmond, saving himself from utter despair and consequent
mental and physical wreck by the persistant study of a Greek
grammar, a copy of svhich he had by some means obtained.
After being exchanged he returned to his regiment, and re-
mained in the service until the close of the war, being mustered
out at Nashville, Tennessee. He was engaged in the battles of
New Madrid, Corinth, Port Hudson, Franklin and Nashville, be-
sides many small skirmishes, and accompanied Gen. Grierson in
his memorable raid through Mississippi.

At the close of the war Capt. Forbes returned to his home,
where he began the study of medicine, spending a year at Rush
Medical College, Chicago, and two years under a preceptor,
studying and practicing. Dr. Forbes now laid aside his military
aspirations forever, and from thenceforth he has been identified
with the cause. of education. While reading medicine his atten-
tion was attracted toward botany, and he became so intensely
interested in the study of nature that he determined to devote
himself to scientific pursuits. That his choice was a wise one all
will admit who are acquainted with the recent history of scien-
tific progress. Dr. George Vasey was at that time in charge of
the museum at Normal, and had a growing reputation as a
botanist. To him the young aspirant for scientific knowledge
appealed for aid and advice, as did he to many other eminent
batanists through the medium of a correspondence. Dr. Vasey
recognized the powers as yet undeveloped in the young man, and

184 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

rendered every assistance in his power, ever remaining a warm
friend. When the doctor was called to Washington as Botanist
to the Department of Agriculture, in 1873, Prof. Forbes suc-
ceeded him, increasing largely the collections, especially in
zoology and cryptogamic botany, at the same time organizing the
School and College Association of Natural History for the col-
lection and exchange through the museum of natural history
material.

He also organized the Summer Schools of Science at Bloom-
ington, having the assistance of such scholars as Dr. Burt
G. Wilder, and Profs. Barnard and Burrill, each of whom
taught the specialties in which he had become eminent, Prof.
Forbes teaching zoology! These schools eventually created the
State Natural History Society which has occupied such an emi-
nent place among gatherings of its class, the success of which is
wholly due to Prof. Forbes' unremitting and self-sacrificing
labors.

When the State Museum at Springfield was projected, Prof.
Forbes assisted in its establishment and organization, furnishing
all the specimens in zoology and botany. About this time he
effected a complete re- organization of the museum at Normal,
converting it into a Laboratory of Natural History, under
the supervision of the State Board of Education, he receiving
the appointment of Director. Having received the necessary ap-
propriations from the State Legislature, he began a systematic
zoological survey of the State, publishing the results in the Bulle-
tins of the Laboratory, of which two volumes are complete, the
third in course of publication. These Bulletins contain lists of
plants, insects, birds, reptiles, batrachians, fishes, etc., and many
exhaustive papers on the food of birds, fishes and insects, show-
ing their inter-relations, and being the first effort to obtain an
exact knowledge of such food habits, one thus being able to dif-
ferentiate between noxious and beneficial species. Prof. Forbes
is also preparing for publication a series of illustrated reports on
the botany and zoology of the State which, when completed, will
be an elaborate treatise on the natural history of Illinois. The
first of these volumes, on the birds of the State, is now ready for
distribution, and the manuscript of the second is jnore than half
ready for the press.

In July, 1882, Prof. Forbes was appointed State Entomologist
by Gov. Cullom, and continues to perform the duties of that office in
connection with those of Director of the Laboratory. "In this posi-
tion he has gained the confidence of the agricultural interests by the
skill with which he has managed the economic problems that pre-
sent themselves in the conflict between the vegetable and animal
worlds." As State Entomologist he has published five reports
and one volume of "Miscellaneous Essays," all of which have
appeared in the transactions of the State Board of Agriculture.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 185

Probably one of the most startling, at the same time, the most
valuable contribution to our knowledge of insect life, which has
appeared in entomological literature, is his elaborate article on
contagious diseases of insects, which shows that a disease, in
many respects similar to cholera, is very destructive to our great-
est corn pest — the chinch bug — and may be communicated to
perfectly nealthy individuals destroying large numbers of them.
Experiments have proven that such a warfare is feasible, and no
doubt great benefit will follow its general application. In this
discovery alone Prof. Forbes has been instrumental in rendering
to the agricultural world more benefit than the combined efforts
of all other entomologists ; for here he will be using the most dead-
ly weapon, and a natural one, that is possible to bring against
animated nature. The Reports of Prof. Forbes are peculiar in that
they embody, as a rule, original work only. Thus he has added
directly to our knowledge of the life histories of, and remedies
for, the corn-root worm, chinch bug, strawberry insects, of which
he has published the most elaborate treatise extant, cabbage
worm, wheat and corn insects, together with hundreds of others.
But to obtain an adequate idea of the value of his discoveries
one must read his published reports and papers — the latter of
which have appeared in the various scientific and agricultural
periodicals and publications.

Having been called to the chair of Entomology and Zoology, in
the Illinois State University, January 1st, 1885, Prof. Forbes re-
moved the State Laboratory to Champaign, where it is now
located. There he has organized and built up a zoological de-
partment in the University, equipped an elegant biological labora-
tory, and collected the best working library of natural history
this side of the Alleghanies.

The Professor was^ married in 1873 to Miss Clara S. Gaston, of
Normal, and has five children.

Prof. Forbes' labors have been recognized in many ways by in-
stitutions of learning, and scientific societies. He received the
degree of Ph. D., from Indiana State University in 1884. In 1887
he received the first class medal of one of the leading scientific
societies of France for his publication on the food of birds,
fishes, and insects. He is a member and secretaty of the State
Natural History Society, Fellow of the A. A. A. S., active mem-
ber and ex-president of the Cambridge Entomologist Club,
American Ornithological Union, corresponding member of the
Chicago Academy of Science, Davenport Academy of Science,
active member of the State Microscopical Society and Fel-
low of the Royal Microscopical Society. He is original mem-
ber and ex-president of the Western Society of Naturalists,
vice-president of the Association of Ofiicial Entomologists, and
honorary member of many Horticultural Societies, etc., etc.
Prof. Forbes' field of labor is continually enlarging so that now

186 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

his studies cover the entire subject of the zoology of Illinios. In
his work he is ably assisted by young men who are budding into
scientific prominence. Profs. H. Garman, C. M. Weed, John
Marten and C. M. Hunt have already shown their ability to sec-
ond the efforts of their wise chief. With what has been done, and
what is now being done by our corps of scientific workers, we can-
not help but feel that Illinois stands at the head as a promoter
of scientific investigation and education.

DEATH OF J. AMBEOSE WIGHT.

BY THOMAS GREGG, HAMILTON.

Mr. President: There died recently in another State, a gentle-
man who, perhaps, never in his lifetime was a member of this
Society, yet who, in the earlier years of our State, contributed
greatly by his energy, his influence and his pen, to its horticul-
tural development.

The name of J. Ambrose Wight is familiar to all the elder
horticulturists of the State and the Great Northwest, as one of
the originators and first editors of that sterling pioneer among
the rural papers, the Prairie Farmer. He and his co-laborer,
John S. Wright, about half a century ago, began to issue that
sheet, at a time when the farming interests of these rich prairies
were in their infancy, — and even when the point at which they
lived was but a village; and Mr. Wight lived to see the former
assume gigantic proportions, and the latter to become avast city.
He was never, as 1 have said, identified with or enrolled as a
member of this Society, as he left the State before it had an
existence, for another field of labor. But for many years in the
past, when the fathers of many now present were active workers
on the stage, his influence was at work plodding, hewing, lead-
ing and developing in the vast field, which has produced such
immense results. His labors were co-equal, if not anterior, to
those of the Bryants, and Whitney, and LeBaron, and Dunlap,
and Hull, and Flagg, and many others, who, like him, have been
called to their reward, and whose names have graced our annals
and been preserved in our memorials. Through their labors —
through his labors — as contributors, and as editor to give them
place, this Great Northwest has been largely developed, and
brought from its rude state to the position of a mighty empire.
How many orchards, let us imagine, have been planted and cared
for — how many evergreens made to bless our prairie homes with
their living green — how many flowers caused to blush around
us, — under the devoted energy and influence of this noble man,
just now gone to his reward, and the co-laborers to whom we
have alluded. To his and their influence, it is no detriment to
say, we of to-day owe much of our knowledge of the " Art that

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 187

does mend Nature. ' ' We give due reverence to them ; we mourn-
ed their loss as they were called one by one away. They all de-
served honored places in our memorials. Let not the name of
J. Ambrose Wight be forgotten because he made his later home
in another State. His works yet live, his influence is yet seen and
felt all over this great land.

EDUCATION IN FLOWERS.

BY MISS BLANCH GRIFFIN, CARTHAGE.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Education is, properly, to draw forth, and implies not so much
the communication of knowledge as the discipline of the intellect,
the establishment of the principles and regulations of the heart.
In the study of flowers, we draw near to nature's heart, and
are drawn from out ourselves.

To him who, loving nature, walks forth and communes with
her, she speaks or teaches a various language. What is the
language nature teaches to us — to you ; to me ; to the child just
learning to notice the lines and varied hues of the flowers spread
so beautifully around us?

In this utilitarian age, we are wont to be greeted by the ques-
tion, "What benefit to be derived therefrom?" Not less are we
greeted by this question when we speak of floriculture than any
thing else. There is much benefit in it. There is health, health
physically, mentally and morally. Physicians prescribe it to
recuperate the body; scholars recommend it to invigorate the
mind ; and all are drawn nearer the great source of all good as
they come into sympathy and daily contact with his immediate
handiwork. What is physical health but a normal education of
the physical being? What is mental health but a proper discipline
of the mind? or moral health but a proper establishment of cor-
rect principles?

So if, in the study or care of flowers, the body, mind and
heart are uplifted, and made nearer the perfect being we would
wish to be, it has seemed to me, there is much of education in
flowers. Flowers, or floral culture, mark the difference between
civilization and refinement; between barbarism and brutality.
The higher the civilization, and the greater the attainments in
culture and refinement, the greater is the appreciation of
flowers.

To prove there is physical health, and consequently physical
education, in plant study, turn with me, if you please, for a short
time, the pages of history. As the tourist, visiting the Eiffel
Tower, may behold the surrounding country spread out as a map
before him, and may note the peculiar elevations and depressions

188 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

of country, so we, from the eminence of our position in the
nineteenth century, may behold the peculiarities of the nations of
antiquity.

Plants are known to have been cultivated from the most remote
historic ages. Probably, in the earliest ages plants useful for
food alone were cultivated. The cultivation of flowers, although
less ancient than that of some of the plants most necessary for
the supply of urgent wants, nevertheless dates from a remote
antiquity, and has always existed in every country entitled, in any
measure, to the credit of civilization.

It is a well-established fact that only after the selection and
cultivation of those plants which yield man an abundant supply
of food, that population augments and civilization takes its rise.

Egypt, once mistress of the world, with her teeming population,
that existed in the narrow valley of the Nile, the immense stand-
ing army maintained, the extraordinary works of engineering and
architecture, indicate an advanced state of agriculture, of which
floriculture is an important and necessary adjunct.

In Babylon, a dense population was supported in the plains
bordering the Euphrates.

The Scriptures make frequent reference to the operations of
the plant cultivators of Palestine. The hill-sides were covered
with vines and olives. Some cereals were cultivated. The large
number of inhabitants that Palestine supported under the Jews,
is the wonder of all modern travelers, who are struck with the
desolation of the country. The means of cultivation, however,
disappeared with the inhabitants.

History tells us that the old Romans considered the cultivation
of plants and flowers as a fit pursuit to be directed by men of
wealth and learning.

Cato, who died 150 years B. C, was the first and most cele-
brated agricultural writer. He has given us minute details in
regard to the cultivation of many plants.

Turn to Spain, and we find during the time of the Moors, the
valley of Granada to be one well- cultivated garden.

As far back as the sixteenth century, we find England paying
much attention to plant culture.

So we might go on, learning of the nations of antiquity in
regard to plant and flower culture, but those of which we have
spoken are sufficient to prove to us that with the advancement of
civilization, we find the advancement of plant or flower culture.
And that, to all these nations there has been a benefit physically;
a drawing out of the physical powers, and hence, according to the
definition, & physical education.

That definition also states that education is a discipline of the in-
tellect. Teachers at the present day study and hear much of psych-
ology. It endeavors to teach what faculties are earliest developed
in the child's mind; what faculties are later developed; and gives

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 189

due consideration to the best methods for utilizing these faculties.
The most important physical question is involved in determining
the relative activity and development of the several intellectual
powers in the successive periods of life.

Object lessons learned in childhood are never forgotten. Chil-
dren love to study of flowers, and we are but children of larger
growth. The capacity or power of the mind is increaaed by its
repeated exercise. It is a law that every act of the mind leaves,
as a necessary result, an increased power to act in like manner,
and to act again. In harmony with the law, the physical feelings
may all be cultivated by proper exercise. Applying the definition
of education, and the reasonings of psychology, do we find any
mental drill in the study of flowers?

In examining or studying a flower, for instance, the violet or
rose, the mind perceives the perfect plan on which it is con-
structed. (Nature's plans are always perfect.) Following the
law that the mind tends to act again in like manner wherever the
same mathematical precision, perfect symmetry of proportion
and constant regularity, or exquisite harmony, is presented, in
whatever form, the mind instantly perceives it. Hence, not only
the student of botany, but of the other sciences, and of mathe-
matics, by the laws of association, may find much mental drill in
the study of flowers. We are much inclined to view the work-
ings of nature from the inside of four walls, and thus to reason
and theorize, instead of learning directly from our teacher.

Over twenty centuries ago, Aristotle instigated this niethod of
reasoning. For several hundred years we find this method
robbed of its veneration for nature, and perverted by many un-
warranted interpretations holding the intellect in thraldom. In
the sixteenth century x we find Francis Bacon, with intellect keen
enough, with spirit bold enough, to refute the methods taught,
to claim it should not be abstract truth, but fruit for which we
should aim. We find before Bacon's time scholasticism, like a
huge break- water, skirting the sea of thought. For three centuries
it had broken the wave of every advancing opinion. But as the
fifteenth century drew to its close, the sea gave indications of an
approaching storm — the sky was overcast by portentious clouds,
wave after wave came rolling shoreward from the ocean of free
thought, and at last the surge of the reformation burst with terri-
fying roar against this time-worn scholasticism, tumbling it out
of the way. Then thought advanced. Why? Because, from
henceforth, nature was the teacher. Individually, we need to
consider that thought. Goto nature. Study her forms. "Be-
hold the lilies of the field ; they toil not, neither do they spin, and
yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these."

Is there no moral education in flowers? He who cares for
flowers, lives in direct communication with nature. To him she

190 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

gives her choicest gifts, and we are led through nature up to
nature's God. Behold the flowers nodding at our feet, which a
kind God has poured abroad with such profusion. All these
countless ministers of God teach their endless lessons of peace,
purity and love. Fresh, sweet flowers chase away the gloom and
sadness from many an invalid's cheek, and bring the smile of
happy contentment and sweet resignation. They are showered in
profusion when the wedding bells peal their merry chime. They
are placed on the caskets of our loved ones as they lie in quiet
rest, or sleep in "the silent halls of death."

Our nation has set apart a day to decorate and strew flowers on
the graves of our countless dead, those noble souls who went
down in death, that the nation might live.

We should not be ashamed to confess that the leaves of that
great book of revelation which God opens every morning, and
spreads in the valleys, on the hills, and in the forests, are rich in
marvellous lessons we could read nowhere else.

"Give fools their gold, and knaves their power;

Let fortune's bubbles rise and fall;
Who sows a seed, or trains a flower,

Or plants a tree, is more than all.

"And, soon or late, to all who sow,

The time of harvest shall be given ;
The flowers shall bloom, the fruit shall grow,

If not on earth, at last in heaven."

MEETINGS OF TKE EXECUTIVE BOARD.

Springfield, Feb. 28, 1889.
The Executive Board of the State Horticultural Society con-
vened at the Revere House in the City of Springfield, Feb. 28th,
1889. Present: H. M. Dunlap, President; A. C Hammond,
Secretary; C. N. Dennis, F. I. Mann, Wm. Jackson and J. S.
Browne.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 191

President Dunlap — The rules of the Board of Management of
the State Experiment Station provide that one Director shall be
appointed by the State Horticultural Society. It will, therefore,
be our duty to-day to appoint some one to this position, and I
think we should also outline the work that we desire to have
done.

Mr. Dennis — I want to see the questions of the effect of stock
upon scion, and of seed from perfect and imperfect fruit, upon
the hardiness of trees, thoroughly tested. It will take time to
secure results, and I should like to see the work begun at once.
Another valuable experiment would be to graft some varieties of
poor quality, say Ben Davis into Duchess, Wealthy, Grimes'
Golden, Jonathan and Priors' Red, to decide whether it will im-
prove the quality of the fruit, or hardiness of the tree.

Mr. Browne— I should like to have seed selected from a long
keeping, hardy variety, like Priors' Red, from a long keeping
tender variety like Smith's Cider, from an early hardy variety
like Duchess, from an early tender variety like Red June, from
the Wild Crab, and from defective apples. Grow them sepa-
rately and graft all to Ben Davis. When they come into bear-
ing we would readily see whether seed and stock had any influence
on the keeping qualities or flavor of the fruit, or hardiness of the
trees.

Mr. Jackson— I think we should work on general principles
until we get the work well under way, but there are some special
lines that seem to demand immediate attention. Among these
are spraying fruit trees for insects, and investigation of the black-
berry rust.

Mr. Dunlap presented the following elaborate diagram of a
plan of experiments that he thought might be advantageously
adopted. He said it would take years to complete this series of
experiments, but we should lay the foundation deep and broad,
with an eye to the superstructure that was to be reared thereon
in the future.

192

TRANSACTIONS OP THE ILLINOIS

DIAGRAM OF HORTICULTURE EXPERIMENTS.

o

o
o

•4-J

a

S CO*

S8.SS

cd X3 ®
cs'+2 "sh

-l-i Sh o3

02 ® >

O co^

■ O g o3

! 2 » -« »

■Wu'O

O O *H •

Sh V .- m

oiuflO-H
a — i— c h • ,

o o
co n>

S „

"S'o

co to

«M O

OH

cd o

Sh tP

CD Sh

CO

&J3

T3
CD
CD

CO

• CO

CO CD

13 ••-

CD « —

J* £.2

fc^_ Sh C3 Sh

r?o s- as
<~i -^ u a

© <*H «4— I <*H

EHOOO

n rt CD

si

CO •-

P <*H

2a

o

o

_ a

o ooo <

CO
CD

a,
a

—

Sh

CD

a

S

3
Sh
. CD

CD73 .

^ a s
'EL02 S
£7-* o
cd cd >
«^ ^

03 0 u
O u CD

art a

CD CD C3

EHiHO

CD

b€

c3

a
O

a

Sh

a
O

CD

bfl

~o

CO
CO
CD

a

CD

CO
CD

1— <

CO

>

•l-H

Si

^2

CD

4-»

cS

c3

a

o

>

-*J

a

ft

TJ

©

£

rs

03

Sh

CD

<

'T1

Ph

£

CO

si

a
a
Pa

CD

CD

•2bD

CO S

3.5

CD -^

CD —j

Sh Sh

Sh T3

.

O c3

3 O

CD

wcaoo

Sh

3

a

co o3

'O

CD

• « a

*3

CO "- 1—

a

3

-^ F3 t3 S-'

a

O

a

02

traw,

ornstal

mall gi

lover.

arnyar

irtilize

p

bi)

>>

CO CD CO O^ <£

o

t3
O

-*->

,a -a a Ja „a

^_i -i— _- *— __ ^_,

a

o

fc

Sh

££££££

CD

, y

bis bio

<D

„; bo

* a

a a

3

-4-J

r^ 03

-a ^a

I— <

si3

Si CJ CD

— <

•

CD ^

CO

-u>
CD
CD
CO

a

h- 1

mul

Winter
mul

° S-
Sh CD

o3 >
CD O

55

Grasses

Mixed

Under

5 8

CD CD

<4H

o

co

CD

a

CD

a

CO

CD

Sh
3

a
a

a

CD

a

-4-»

03
CD

EH

T3

a .

03 »

co a

O o3

CD

Sh
3

O

Xfl

Y

S CD

g s

as

.« a a

Sh .11 CD
CD "H

ft ti

M o

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 193

Mr. Maun — I move that the outline of work presented by the
President be adopted and that we request our representative on
the Board of Directors to carry it out as nearly as possible.

Motion adopted.

On motion, the Board proceeded to the election of a representa-
tive on the Board of Directors of the State Experiment Station.
After several ballots Mr. H. M. Dunlap was declared to be elected.

Mr. Browne — I move that a committee of three be appointed,
who, in connection with the Secretary, shall have a general super-
vision of the experiment work to be done at the nine branch sta-
tions provided for by the Board at its last meeting, with power to
act, and that the President and Secretary be authorized to draw
warrants to pay necessary expenses.

Motion adopted, and J. S. Browne, C. N. Dennis, and Arthur
Bryant named as the committee.

Mr. Dennis said that the day that we had recommended for Arbor
Day was "Good Friday" and that the Governor had been requested
to name a different date. lie, therefore, moved that a committee
of three be appointed to wait on the Governor, and request him
to name the 26th of April.

The motion was adopted, and C. N. Dennis, F. I. Mann and
A. C Hammond appointed.

The following bills were allowed and ordered paid:

J. S. Browne, expense bill 9 G.50>

C.N.Dennis, '• " and cash advanced 12 80

Wm. Jackson, " " 6.20

F.I.Mann, " " 8.10

H. M. Dunlap, " " and cash advanced 19.88

H. M. Dunlap, President.
A. C. Hammond, Secretary.

o

NORMAL MEETING.

Normal, May 15th, 1889.
The Executive Board of the State Horticultural Society con-
vened in the Sweeny Hotel, Normal. Present: H. M. Dunlap,
Arthur Bryant, C. N. Dennis, F. I. Mann, J. S. Browne, Wm.
Jackson and A. C. Hammond.
—14

194 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

After a long and earnest informal talk in relation to the best
anethod of conducting the Horticultural Experiment Stations, the
following rules were adopted :

[See rules on page 74.]

In order to be able to conform to these rules, the appointment
of the Committee on Experiment Work, made at the January
Meeting, was, on motion of Mr. Browne, reconsidered.

On motion of Mr. Mann, the Secretary, Arthur Bryant, and
J. S. Browne were named as the committee.

On account of the extra amount of work imposed upon the
"Secretary, it was, on motion, ordered that his salary be increased
one hundred dollars per year.

On motion, the Secretary was instructed to procure suitable
blank books for the use of the station directors.

On motion, the following bills were allowed and ordered paid:

J. S. Browne, Expense Board Meeting $ 12 95

C. N. Dennis, " '' '• and cash advanced 14.46

H. M. Dunlap, cash advanced 14.08

Wm. Jackson, Expense Board Meeting 12.25

Arthur Bryant, " " " 8 50

.F. I. Mann, " " " 5.60

A. C. Hammond, " " " and cash advanced 20 95

M. M. Dunlap, " " " 5 50

H. M. Dunlap, President.
JL C. Hammond, Secretary.

o

HAMILTON MEETING.

Hamilton, December 11th, 1889.

The Executive Board of the State Horticultural Society con-
evened at the Riverside Sanitarium Hotel. Present: H. M.
Dunlap, Pres.; A. C. Hammond, Sec'y; Arthur Bryant, A.
Dunning, F. I. Mann, H. L. Doan, Wm. Jackson and E. A.
Eiehl. (Proxy for J. S. Browne.)

The Secretary presented four bids for printing, which were
carefully canvassed by the Committee, after which it was decided
to award the contract to the Sentinel-Democrat Printing Co.,
Alton.

i On motion, a committee was appointed to examine the report
-of the Secretary and Treasurer. The President appointed E. A.
Eiehl, F. I. Mann and H. L. Doan.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 195

i

December 12th, 1889.

The Board met pursuant to adjournment. Present, all the
Board.

On motion, T. E. Goodrich was appointed Director of Horti-
cultural Station No. 9, to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Mr. Vaughan.

On motion, it was ordered that the President pay the hotel
bills of delegates from other States.

The Committee on Secretary's and Treasurer's Reports
reported that they had found them correct.

Mr. Eiehl moved that the President be instructed to appoint a
delegate to the Iowa Meeting. Carried.

On motion, L. R. Bryant was appointed a special committee to
examine the delayed exhibit of Jacob Auer. Mr. Bryant reported
the exhibit a very creditable one, and recommended that a special
premium of four dollars be awarded him. Carried.

After consultation with the Board, the President called a
meeting of the Executive Board at Sandwich, Jan. 7th, 1890. It
wTas also decided to call a meeting of the Directors of the Experi-
mental Stations at that time.

On motion, the following bills were allowed and ordered paid:

A. Duuuing, Board meeting $ 18.75

F.I. Manu, ad-inlerim work 3.60

W. H. Ragan, expense bill 21.70

A. C. Hammond salary and expense bill 308 83

H. M. Dunlap, Board meeting 5.50

H. L. Doan, " " 6.60

F. I. Manu, " " S.75

E. A. Riehl, " " 15 50

Wm. Jackson, " " 14.70

F.I.Mann, " " 13.65

E. A. Riehl, expense as delegate 9-95

A. C. Hammond, board meeting 8.00

A. C. Hammond, expense bill 4. SO

C. W. Frescott, experiment work 7.40

Phil Dallam, printing bill 2S.00

J. S. Browne, experiment work 12.32

H. K. Vickroy, commission 56.29

J. Webster, experiment work 4.55

A. C. Hammond, ad-interim work 3S.78

H. M. Duulap, " " 38.84

H. M. Dnnlap, experiment work 18.95

F. I. Maun, experiment work 6.55

196 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

A. Bryant, board meeting $ 13.35'

C. N. Dennis, expense bill 4.45

J. T. Johnson, Asst. Secretary 10.00

H. M. Dunlap, delegates' hotel bills 6.75

J. V. Cotta, experiment work 31.15'

H. M. Dunlap, President.
A. C. Hammond, Secretary.

o

SANDWICH MEETING.

Sandwich, January 7th, 1890.

The Executive Board of the State Horticultural Society con-
vened at the Sandwich House with the following members
present: H. L. Doan, acting President; A. C. Hammond, Sec-
retary; Arthur Bryant, F. I. Mann, E. A. Kiehl and William
Jackson.

Mr. Riehl moved that the hours of convening the sessions of
our Annual Meetings be fixed at 9 a. m., 2 p. m., and 7 p. m.
Carried.

He also moved that Profs. Forbes and Burrill be invited to
read papers at our Annual Meetings, and spend as much time
with us as possible, and that we hereafter pay their traveling
expenses. Carried.

On motion, it was ordered that the Awarding Committees shall
hereafter consist of three persons.

On motion, it was ordered that a sum, not to exceed $400, be
offered for premiums at the next Annual Meeting.

On motion, the Board proceeded to revise the premium list.
(See premium list).

On motion, the President was authorized to appoint a com-
petent person as Superintendent of Exhibits at the next Annual
Meeting.

On motion, the Secretary was instructed to procure an engrav-
ing of Prof. Forbes for insertion in the next volume.

The Board now proceeded to the appointment of the Stand-
ing Committees. (See list).

Sandwich, January 8th, 1889.
The Committee^met pursuant to adjournment. Present — the
same members as yesterday.

Mr. Riehl moved that the Ad-interim work be placed in the

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 197

iiands of the President and Secretary of the State Society, and
Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the District Societies with
instructions to perform it themselves or employ other suitable
persons. The reports to be compiled by the Presidents of the
District Societies for the Annual Meeting. Carried.

On motion, Rule of Exhibition IV. was stricken out and re-
placed with the following: All entries shall be limited to the
.State, except New and Seedling Fruits.

On motion, it was ordered that the old members, hereafter, be
handed their Badges as soon as they arrive at the meeting. .

On motion, the Standing Committee on New Fruits was dis-
pensed with, and the Committee of Control instructed to inves-
tigate and report on the subject.

On motion, it was ordered that a committee be appointed to
confer with the State Board of Agriculture in regard to pre-
miums on Horticultural products at the State Fair. Motion
adopted and H. M. Dunlap appointed.

On motion, it was ordered that the usual appropriation of
$50.00 be made to each of the three District Societies.

On motion, H. M. Dunlap was elected his own successor, as
Director of the State Experiment Station.

Ordered that 3,000 copies of Transactions be printed, instead
of 1,500, as heretofore.

On motion, it was ordered that the reports of Local Societies
be restricted to ten pages each.

Ordered that Vol. XXIII.be distributed as follows: 300 to
the Legislature, 100 to each District Society, 25 to each Local
Society, exchange with other States 150, Agricultural Colleges,
Experiment Stations and Public Libraries 200, State Board oi
Agriculture and State Officers 100, Newspapers 75, Members of
the Board 25 each, Directors of Experiment Stations, who are
not members of the Board 25 each, and 25 to each Farmers' In-
stitute until the supply is exhausted.

The Secretary read a communication from the State Grange,
which was ordered to be placed on file.

On motion, it was ordered that the recommendation of the
date for Arbor Day be left in the hands of the Secretary.

On motion, it was ordered that the Secretary be allowed $50 00
for office rent, lights and fuel.

198 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS

Arthur Bryant was, on motion, elected a member of the Com-
mittee of Control from the Northern District, and E. A. Riehl
from the Southern.

On motion, the Directors of Experiment Stations were in-
structed to test the question of top-working apple trees on hardy
stocks, and the efficacy of different applications to prevent the
ravages of borers.

Mr. Dunlap was. instructed to test the question of spraying
grape vines with fungicides as a preventative of rot.

On motion, Mr. Cotta and Mr. Mann were authorized to test
the Eussian question as they have a number of trees already
planted.

On motion, the other recommendations of the Directors were
referred to the Committee of Control.

On motion, the President was authorized to appoint delegates
to Horticultural Societies and kindred organizations.

The Secretary presented the following report of expenditures

for experimental work up to date:

18S9.

Feb. 2S, Expense of Springfield Board meeting $ 35.8S

Mar. 20, Trees, express, labels and postage 29.71

May 18, Blank books, postage on trees and printing 4.40

" 16, Expense of Normal Board meeting 72.25

" 18, Plants and express ■-... 16.15

Aug. 3, Strawberry plants and express 30.32

Sept. 24, Expense of Committee meeting, at Peoria 30.82

" 24, Trees 43.66

" " Expense of Station No. 1, A. J. Bryant, Director 10.10

" 2, J. V. Cotta, " 31.15

" 3, C. W. Prescott, " 7.50

" 4, H. M. Dunlap, " 1S.95

" 5, A. C. Hammond, " 88.55

" 6, F. I. Mann, " 6.55

" 7, J. Webster, " 4.55

" S, J. S. Browne, " 33.77

" 9, T. E. Goodrich, " 4.25

Expense of Directors' meeting 96.21

t.

Total $ 561.77

Leaving a balance of $438.73 of the $1,000 appropriated by the
Legislature, to be expended in horticultural experiments, under

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 199

the direction of the Executive Board of the State Horticultural
Society during the fiscal year which expires July 1st, 1890.

The following bills were audited and ordered paid:

A. Bryant, Experiment work $ 5.6J>

A. C. Hammond, " " 9.05--

A. C. Hammond, " " 19.67

J. S. Browne, " " 22.50

T. E. Goodrich, " " 23.90

H. M. Duulap, " " 7.21

H. L. Doan, Board meeting 21.91

F. I Mann, Experiment work 10.25-

E. A. Riehl, Board meeting 23.00

A. C. Hammond, Office rent, fuel and lights 50.00>

T. E. Goodrich, Experiment work 4.25

Wm. Jackson, Board meeting 22.70

J. V. Cotta, Experiment work 7.03

H. L. Doan, Acting President.
A. C. Hammond, Secretary.

TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

ALTON-SOUTHERN ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

REPORTED BY

F. C. RIEHL, Secretary.

OFFICERS FOR 1890.

President,
Vice-President,
Second Vice-President,
Secretary, -
Treasurer,
Librarian,

E. A. Riehl, Alton.
Wm. Jackson, Godfrey.
J. G. Vaughan, Odin.
J. S. Browne, Alton.
S. F. Connor, Alton.
H. G. M'Pike, Alton.

CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES.

Orchards,
Vineyards,
Small Fruits,
Vegetables,
Ornamental Planting,

Jas. Davis, Godfrey.
J. S. Browne, Alton.
Wm. Jackson, Godfrey.
J. M. Pearson, Godfrey.
H. G. M'Pike, Alton.

CONSTITUTION.

I. — This organization shall be known as the "" Alton-Southern
Illinois Horticultural Society."

II. — Its object shall be the advancement of Horticulture.

III. — Its members shall consist of persons elected by a majority
of the votes cast, who have paid an annual fee of Fifty Cents;
and of honorary members of distinction in Horticulture and
Agriculture.

IV. — Its officers shall consist of a President, two Vice-Presi-
dents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Librarian; all of whom
shall be elected at the first regular meeting in the year, and shall
hold their office one year, or until their successors in office are
chosen.

V. — The officers of this Society, and the Chairman of the
Standing Committees, shall be chosen by ballot, at the regular
meeting in January, and a majority of all the votes cast shall be
necessary to a choice.

VI. — There shall be the following Standing Committees: 1.
On Orchards. 2. On Vineyards. 3. On Culinary Vegetables.
4. On Small Fruits. 5. On Ornamental Planting.

VII.— The Society shall hold monthly and other meetings and
exhibitions, as it may direct.

VIII. — This Constitution may be amended at any regular meet-
ing, by two-thirds of the whole number of votes cast, one month's
notice having previously been given.

204 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN

MONTHLY EXHIBITION.

To increase the interest in the Society's work, will be paid
for exhibits of fruits, flowers and vegetables exhibited at the
meetings, under the following

EULES:

1. Premiums will be paid for meritorious exhibits of fruits,
flowers and vegetables shown at the monthly meetings of the
Society.

2. To be awarded by the committees appointed to examine
and report on same.

3. Premiums to range from one dime to one dollar.

4. Not more than five dollars to be awarded at any meeting,
unless otherwise voted at a previous meeting.

5. No premiums to be awarded except when there is not less
than fifteen dollars in the treasury.

6. No premiums to be paid except to members.

7. Premiums not called for within thirty days to be forfeited.

8. All exhibits must be correctly labeled, and a list furnished
to the Secretary, or no premiums will be awarded.

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 205

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Wm. Armstrong Alton.

Wm. Barter Attila, Williamson Co.

J. S. Browne Alton.

J. C. Beeby Girard.

Mrs. Geo. Churchill Godfrey.

N. Challacombe Mellville.

Mrs. C. E. Collins Alton.

F. I. Crowe North Alton.

S. F. Connor Alton.

D. W. Collet Upper Alton.

Mrs. L. J. Clawson Upper Alton.

Geo. W. Copley Godfrey.

O. C. Dickerson Godfrey.

Jas. Davis - Godfrey.

W. H. Fulkerson Jerseyville.

S. G. Gardner Kane.

E. Hollard Mellville.

Wm. Hyndman Godfrey.

G. W. Hilliard Brighton.

A. Howard North Alton,

Wm. Jackson Godfrey

Wm. Jackson, Jr. Godfrey

Dr. E. C. James Upper Alton.

Mrs. J. B. Lathey Upper Alton.

Mrs. E. C. Lemen Upper Alton.

E. H. Lahee Alton.

Col. J. R. Miles Miles Station.

T. R. Murphy Upper Alton.

H. G. MTike Alton.

J. M. Pearson Godfrey.

E. A. Riehl Alton.

F. C. Riehl Alton.

Jno. Riggs Godfrey.

Ed. Rodgers Upper Alton.

Robert L. Smith Mellville.

O. A. Snedecker Jerseyville.

Edward Simms Upper Alton.

D. Q. Trotter Piasa.

G. W. Tindall Upper Alton.

P. E. Vandenburg Jerseyville.

Mrs. T. P. Yerkes Upper Alton.

J. II. Yager Alton.

206 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society.

Reported by F. C. RIEHL, Secretary.

FEBRUARY MEETING.

The Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society met at the
office of H. G. M'Pike on Saturday, Feb. 9th, 1889.
Meeting called to order by President Wm. Jackson.

ORCHARDS.

Jas. Davis — All orchards are in the very best condition at pres-
ent. Thmk I never saw peach buds in as good shape at this time
of the year as they are at present. If we get no late spring frosts
those who have good trees may expect a fine crop of peaches.
The coddling moth has now become so plentiful here that I
think apple growing must soon become a total failure with us, un-
less we resort to spraying. Now is the time for pruning all
orchard trees.

E. A. Riehl — I have been cutting out the dead limbs of my old
pear trees. Think this will help them. But this should not be
done oftener than once in four or five years on old trees and never
on young ones. Are any of you acquainted with the Le Conte pear ?
I have a young orchard of them and they grow finely, but seem
very subject to blight. I have also been informed that they are
'liable to rot at the core before ripening.

J. S. Browne — I have one tree of Lo Conte, which is now five
3'ears old and about fourteen feet high, and has as yet borne but
two pears. I think it grows so fast that it has not time to bear.
But the pears have a fine appearance and are of good quality.

Mr. Riehl — In our location we must grow early pears for profit.
For with these, as with grapes, eastern and northern growers
supply the market with large quantities later in the season and

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 207

prices rule lower, while early ripening varieties bring high prices.
I have tasted the Idaho and liked it very much ; it is large and
handsome; think it much better than Keifer.

F. I. Crowe — What does it cost to spray?

Mr. Browne — Hardly anything after you have the apparatus.
Spray as soon as the flowers drop, and then about ten days later.
For spraying plums a much weaker solution must be used than
is used on apples. Am afraid we cannot use the spray on peach
trees at all. The leaves are too tender. They tried it in Southern
Illinois and all the leaves dropped off the trees.

Mr. Riehl — It may have been caused by their using a poor pump.
It will not pay to use anything but the best apparatus. If the
pump has not a pressure of nearly one hundred pounds to the
square inch, the spray will be too coarse, and will collect in drops
on the lower edge of the leaves, thus burning and causing them
to drop off. The Nixon Machine Company have now brought
their prices down to a very reasonable rate. I believe their' s to
be the best pumps and nozzles made.

VINEYARDS.

Pruning should all be done by this time.

Mr. Pearson— I have in a row of perfectly healthy Nortons'
Virginia, two vines that suddenly died last summer and became
black down to the roots. What was the matter with them?

Mr. Riehl — There is a beetle, black, and about two inches in
length, that sometimes gets under a vine and eats off the roots.
Perhaps if you will look you may find them at the bottom of this
mischief.

Mr. M'Pike — I think blue grass the best preventive for rot.
My Concords, where in blue grass, were good, even last year.

Mr. Browne— I shall set out next spring 800 Moore's Early
and Brighton. Have found them the best of all early grapes.

REPORT OF CULINARY VEGETABLES.

BY J. M. PEARSON, GODFREY.

Mr. President: — I do not intend, in this report, to lay down
rules calculated to guide the professional market gardener. I
will try, however, to write something that will put the farmer
and fruit grower in remembrance of some things necessary to be
done to insure a continued supply of fresh vegetables, for

208 TRANSACTIONS OE THE ALTON-SOUTHERN

family use, during the summer months. First, a small enclosure-
is necessary, for otherwise domestic fowls will destroy all early
plants. This enclosure need not be large, as later in the season,,
with plenty of other things in sight, the damage is small. The
fence must be as open to the sun as possible, and still keep out a
hen. I have often been surprised to note the difference in
growth of plants, early in the season, made by the shadow of a
very light fence. There is an alternative to this, and that is to
fence in the fowls, but they don't like it as well as to roam
"fancy free." The soil must be rich ; give it plenty of manure
• — old and well rotted if possible. Peas, seedling onions, beets
and salsify, should go into the ground as early as possible. You
need not wait for the ground to be warm and dry. I generally
plant in the first half of March. I do not believe it will pay you
to make a hot bed. It is cheaper to buy cabbage and tomato
plants than to raise a few. The same will be true of sweet
potato plants. If you have not already an asparagus bed, pre-
pare for one as soon as the ground will work easily; buy young-
plants; do not take old ones, as a gift. Give them plenty of"
room. Radishes and lettuce may be planted with the first things.
I would plant Landreth's Extra Early pea first, and follow it
with American Wonder one week later, a double row, one foot
apart, planted thick, and about one inch deep, will do. For an
ordinary family, I would plant my rows about five rods long.
Two plantings of American Wonder, and then one of Eugenie or
McLean's Advance. Next month will try and go farther along.

Mr. Browne — I think that, as a rule, asparagus should be
planted about four by three feet.

Mr. Riehl — My vineyard is planted eight by twelve feet, and
there is a hill of asparagus between every two grape vines, and I
believe the roots of the asparagus cover all the ground. By using
plenty of manure, they may be planted closer, but if not manured
they must have plenty of room.

Mr. Pearson — I have found that heavy mulching makes the as-
paragus come later ; hence if your bed is large enough I would ad-
vise mulching every year. Cover one half this year and the other
next so that you can get them early and late. Eugenia is a me-
dium late pea of the finest quality, but is not a sure crop. Peas
should always be picked before they are fully grown. If a pea
cooks yellow it is no longer fit to eat. This is the sole cause of
the great superiority of French over American canned peas.

Capt. E. Hollister — I think the Cow Pea ought to be more
generally planted than it is. It is unsurpassed as stock feed and

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 209*

also good for table use. Besides they are a benefit to the
ground.

Mr. Riehl— I would not add Eugenia to the list of peas, as some
people, following our advice, might be disappointed should they
fail to get a crop, but would add McLean's Advancer instead. I
think the Mammoth Sandwich Island salsify should supercede
every other variety that I have yet seen. Northern potato grow-
ers now very frequently resort to the expedient of salting their po-
tatoes to keep them from sprouting. Persons buying northern
seed should be careful not to get these, or the}7 will fail to get a
stand. We can get new potatoes several days earlier by taking
the seed and spreading it out very thin on shelves or the floor of
a light cellar. They will start short, thick sprouts, and these will
grow as soon as put into the ground.

Mr. Browne — This is the only way to get a stand on late po-
tatoes in this locality. I get my seed from St. Louis about May
1st, and spread it out on the barn floor, leaving it there until after
my strawberries are gone. Then plow up the patch, cut my
potatoes with one sprout to every piece, paying no attention to
eyes that have not sprouted. Then I plant them on the straw-
berry ground that has been plowed after the second crop has been
picked and have never failed to get a crop.

ORNAMENTAL PLANTING.
Mr. Pearson — Has anyone had experience with the English Fil —
bert ?

Mr. Browne — Two years ago I planted five, the last one of these
is now barely alive. They mildew badly.

Mr. Riehl — I got some from Philadelphia a few years ago, but
they all died. Am now trying to grow them from the nuts.

This brought up a general discussion on nut-bearing trees. No-
two trees bear the same nuts, showing that, with these, as with
fruit trees, seedlings never come true.

Everybody can and should have about the yard one or two wal-
nut, pecan, hickory and chestnut trees.

Mr. Riehl — Has some young hickory trees, which are large
enough but have yet shown no signs of bearing. Think he will
try the effect of girdling.
—15

210 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN

Mr. Pearson— There will be a good many peach trees planted
next spring. Would it not be well to give a list of the best va-
rieties ?

Upon this suggestion the following list was recommended:
Amelia, Early York, Oldmixon, Stump the World, George the
4th, Salway, and Great Western instead of Heath, it being of the
same color and quality and a better bearer. Parks' Cling similar
to Heath in season aud quality, but it is not white ; hence people
prefer the Heath. Salway is about the best very late freestone
peach we have that ripens here.

Mr. Hollister then gave an interesting talk on peach and orange
growing in Florida.

The committee appointed to pass on the apples tested at the
last meeting reported as follows :

REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF ARKANSAS APPLES.

BY E. A. EIEHL.

Mr. President: Your committee to whom was referred the col-
lection of seedling and new apples shown at our last meeting from
Mr. E. F. Babcock, of Little Rock, Ark., beg leave to report as
follows:

We found this a very interesting collection, of twenty varieties,
being seedlings and varieties but little known, some of which
promise to be valuable as good winter apples, of handsome ap-
pearance and fine quality. Some of the varieties your committee
do not think of good enough quality to recommend them for trial,
in the absence of any knowledge of the habit of the tree, &c.
Besides, we already have so many varieties of apples that we
think none should be recommended for trial, except they have a
high standard of quality in combination with other desirable
characteristics. We, therefore, only notice and recommend for
trial the following:

Arkansas Black, very large, dark red, almost black, sub acid,
crisp, quality best, apparently a late keeper.

Crawford, very large, golden color, quality best, very
promising.

Red Russett, an apple resembling Pryor's Red, medium size,
quality best.

Kossuth, red, large, sweet, very good.

No. 2, yellow with red cheek, medium size, acid, crisp, very

No. 1, light red, medium in size, quality almost best.
Arkansas Beauty, pale and red striped, very large, quality best.
No. 4, yellow with blush, medium size, spicy, very good.

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

211

The Treasurer made the following report, which was submitted
to an Auditing Committee, consisting of John M. Pearson,
E. A. andF. C. Riehl:

TREASURER'S REPORT.

S. F. Connor, Treasurer, in account with Alton-Southern Illinois Horticul-
tural Society:

Cash on hand January 1, 1SS8 $42.90

Cash on sale of fruits and flowers 7.10

Cash dues from members 10.00

Dues from State Horticultural Society 50.00

$110.00

CREDIT.

By Postage $ 20

By Express on books 60

By Premiums paid 21.20

" » " 14.10

Cash on hand 73.90

Alton, Jan. 1, 18S9.

$110.00 $110.00
Respectfully submitted,

S. F. Connor, Treasurer.

The sum of one dollar for each meeting was voted to the Sec-
retary to pay him for the lead pencils, scratch books, &c, used
in compiling the report.

-o-

APRIL MEETING.

The Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society held a Basket
Picnic at the residence of Mrs. E. Hollard, in Upper Alton, on
Saturday, April 20th.

The meeting was called to order at 11 o'clock by President

Jackson.

ORCHARDS.

Mr. Davis — The prospect for a large crop of all orchard fruits
is better than it has been for many years. Pears, peaches, plums
and cherries are splendid, almost without exception. Peaches
are fuller than I ever saw them. Apples, where not very
full last year, are full of bloom. My Smith's Cider and Astra-
chan were full last year, and hence" are blooming very lightly.

212 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN

»

Messrs. Hilliard and Pearson — Reported very light bloom on
Damson plums.

Mr. Browne — It will soon be time to begin spraying, and it
may be well to warn people against making their mixture too
strong. One pound of London Purple to 300 gallons of water
is plenty for apples. Am afraid we cannot use it on peach trees.
I sprayed one of mine last year and it is barely alive now.

Mr. Jackson — Had the same experience with two trees that he
sprayed. It not only caused all the leaves to drop off, but
actually killed the ends of all the small twigs.

Mr. Browne — In Southern Illinois, last year, they tried spray-
ing peach trees with a solution of one pound of London Pur-
ple to 300 gallons of water, and even then some of the leaves
fell off. Think we had better keep the spraying nozzle off the
peach trees until we know more about it.

Mr. Pearson — Does spraying prevent the falling off of young
apples that usually takes place soon after the fruit is set?

Mr. Jas. Davis — No! This occurs only when the tree is full,
and the young fruit that drops off is not injured by insects. All
fruit trees do this when overloaded. It is nature's way of dis-
posing of superfluities.

Mr. Pearson — Has anything been done towards securing scions
of the new apples that were recommended at our January
meeting?

Mr. Browne — Messrs. Hammond, Riehl and myself have pro-
cured scions from Messrs. Babcock, Samuels and Kennan, and
have distributed them at nine different points in the State.

VINEYARDS.
Mr. Browne — Vineyards are in good condition. Now, before
they come into bloom, you should go through, and wherever
there are two shoots starting from the same cane pinch off
one. The grapes will be much better if this is done. Early
Victor, especially, is liable to overbear if not thus treated.

Mr. Pearson — Do you intend to spray them for the rot?

Mr. Browne — Yes; I have procured a pump, which cost about
$25, and shall use the Bordeaux mixture.

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 213

Mr. Jackson — Is not this rather expensive?

Mr. Browne — I think not ; if by an expense of $30 or $35 we
•can save an entire crop of grapes, it will certainly pay, and some
one must try the experiment. We have found that it does not
pay to bag grapes for market. If the bags are put on right and
in time, they will preserve' the grapes, but even then the skin is
,so tender that they will hardly bear handling. For family use
and for exhibition, bagging is all right, but for market purposes,
we must find some other means by which to get ahead of the rot.
Think Moore's Early and Worden are about the best market
grapes we have. Generally speaking, "W hite grapes are not so
good for market as Black ones.

SMALL FRUITS.
Mr. Davis — Small fruits, like orchards and vineyards, are in
the very best condition. If the season remains favorable, the
question this year will not be how to get fruit, but where to find
a market.

Mr. Jackson — On March 15th I burned off an old patch of
Sharpless and Miner strawberries, and they are now apparently
in splendid condition for a crop.

Mr. Jno. Riggs — Mr. Vandenberg, of Jersey ville, has a patch
of red raspberries, principally Cuthbert, that are nearly all dead,
though the plants look strong and healthy. AVhat is the cause of
this?

Mr. Browne — It is caused by a beetle that bores into the cane
a few inches above the ground and deposits its eggs in it. This
causes the immediate death of the cane.

Mr. Jackson — I have a patch of Brandywine Raspberries that
are dead, but they were not killed by Xhe beetle. What caused
this?

Mr. Browne — Guess your patch is an old one, and they have
exhausted the nutriment in the soil. .

Mr. Jackson — I think this is the true solution, and I believe
that this is one of the principal causes of rust on strawberries.
When the patch gets old, the plants, having exhausted the plant
food in the soil, become weak, and hence fall easy victims to the
disease.

214 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN

Mr. D. M. Hazlett — I think this quite probable; we find it so
■with human beings. An unhealthy man, if he go among con-
tagious disease, is almost sure to fall a victim to it, while a man
of good health and regular habits can go among it with impunity.

Mr. Pearson — This is all wrong. In the first place, I don't
think the condition of blackberry plant has anything to do with
its being infected with rust. This rust is a living germ that is
borne by the winds and lights upon the leaf, and if it once takes
root, it grows and spreads over the whole plant. So, also, with
animals. I can inoculate and give any man the small pox, I care
not how healthy he may be. About thirty per cent, of the hog
family will not take pluro-pneumonia, but you can, by inoculation,,
give it to any of them. So, also, with the lump jaw on cattle. I
can make it grow on the hip or flanks. So with the blackberry
rust; if it once gets rooted in the leaf, the plant is doomed, be
it ever so healthy.

Mr. Jackson does not think it necessary to grub up a plant that
has rust. Cut it off with a hoe, and leave them lie.

Mr. Davis — I prefer to grub them up and carry them just as-
far away as possible. Two years ago I noticed one rusty plant in
a small patch of Kattatinnys, but paid no attention to it. The
next year the whole patch was rusty.

Mr. Pearson — We can, as yet, come to no definite conclusions
on these things ; all that we can do is for each to give his own
observations, and, after a while, the sum of our experience
thrown together, may light us to the right path.

REPORT ON CULINARY VEGETABLES.

BY J. M. PEARSON, GODFREY.

Only once in twenty-two years has the season been so favorable
for early vegetables. I planted peas March 14th, and we have
had no weather cold enough to hurt them, and they are now more
than twelve inches high, and all other things are proportionately
advanced. Early sweet corn has been out of the ground for more
than a week. For the coming month, I would plant peas for a
late crop, successive plantings of sweet corn, Egyptian, or
Stowel's, at intervals of two weeks, cucumbers, melons,
squashes and beans. Of squashes, I prefer, after four years
trial, for winter, the "Essex Hybrid." It keeps well, and is, I
think, superior to Hubbard. The Boston Marrow is best for fall

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 215

use. Sweet potato plants and tomatoes can be set after May 1st.
Remember that success in a vegetable garden depends largely on
the timely use of hoe. Keep the ground well stirred; do not wait
for weeds to appear, but cultivate often.

The proceedings were here interrupted by the announcement of
dinner, and, after prayer by Rev. D. M. Hazlett, the contents of
the dinner baskets were brought forth and quickly disposed of.

The President appointed J. S. Browne, E. A. Riehl and Jas-

Davis a commmittee to arrange a premium list for display of

strawberries, cherries and flowers at the June Meeting, and the

sum of twenty dollars was voted to be awarded in premiums at

said Meeting.

o

JUNE MEETING.

The Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society gave a
basket picnic at the residence of Mr. Wm. Ilyndman, near God-
frey, on Saturday, June 1st.

Mr. Hyndman is one of our most enterprising and successful
horticulturists. Though he has been but a few years in the
business, his small place of ten acres is amply stocked with all
kinds of small fruits. It is a model of neatness and order, and
might furnish an example to some of our older members.

There was a large attendance, but the weather was so cold that
many appeared with their overcoats on, and those who came
without, lamented their neglect. The shortness of the minutes
may be partly attributable to this fact, as a cold body and a loose
tongue seldom go together. Some corn in Godfrey and vicinity
was reported as having been severely frost-bitten on the night of
May 30th.

Society called to order at 11:30 by President Jackson.

ORCHARDS.

Mr. Davis — Prospect about the same as at last meeting. Every-
thing full except Damson Plums; of these, there seems to be a
total failure.

Mr. Riehl — The peach trees have a good crop of fruit, but a
better one of bugs, and the same may be said of apples. Both
will need a good deal of thinning.

216 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AI -TON- SOUTHERN

Mr. Hilliard — My apple trees are all full, and am thinning
them.

Mr. Browne — My peach trees are not all full. Stump and
Oldmixon, especially, are very thin.

VINEYARDS.

Mr. Browne-— Now is just the time to put on bags; it should be
done immediately.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SMALL FRUITS.

BY E. A. RIEHL, ALTON.

Mr. President and Gentlemen: I have been too busy to make
■any observations except on my own grounds. Of strawberries
the crop is poor, most of the later part of the crop being buttons,
the cause who can tell? May be that it is owing to unfavorable
weather at the time of blooming. When the first blossoms came
out the weather was warm, later the weather was cool and un-
seasonable. The first berries were the only perfect ones we got.
All varieties were alike. My son had a small patch in a sheltered
nook on the face of the bluff facing south and there was the best
crop on the place. Of the newer ones, Bubach and Haverland,
seem to be valuable. Hart's Minnesota is a large, productive
berry of good quality, rather soft, but would be good for a local
market. Jessie, Belmont, Ontario and Monmouih are not pro-
ductive enough.

I would advise all our growers to cultivate their berries well
and put down all the early runners, for we may have a dry
summer and fall, and if so it will be the early made runners that
will fruit next year.

Raspberries look well and the crop promises to be good.

Of blackberries the crop promises better than for several years.
There is also more rusts among the plants than I have seen for
years, which should all be cut out as soon as discovered. We
need better varieties of the blackberry, we have none that are en-
tirely satisfactory. The Kittatinny is tender and too subject to
rust. The Lawton is rather too tender and too apt to turn red
after picking. The Snyder is all right except that it is too small.
A really good blackberry that is hardy, healthy and productive is
■wanted and if early so much the better.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Browne — I do not think that the strawberries were injured
by frost or dry. weather. I think the thrips are to blame for the
.trouble. They are very thick this year. Prof. Forbes, of Cham-

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 217

paign, offers as a remedy Bird Lime, or oil sprayed on the plants,
this makes the leaves sticky and the insect when he alights
on it is held fast and dies. On some plants sprayed with oil
they found thousands of these insects dead a short time after-
wards. This insect sucks the nutriment from the plant and eats
the pollen, so that it cannot pollenize. Hence the strawberry
buttons which we have in such abundance.

Mr. Yandenburg — If this be so how does it come, then, that the
berries are good on the outside of the row and poor in the middle?

Mr. Browne — The berries are bound to be better on outside of
row, notwithstanding the insects, as the sun can getatthem there;
hence I do not believe in having wide rows. Put the rows close
together and have them narrow, not over a foot, then the sun can
get at and ripen all the berries alike.

Mr. Armstrong— Does anyone know anything about the
Eureka strawberry ?

Mr. Browne — No more than that the nursery men who have it
to sell are making a big fuss over it. We have it, but have not
fruited it yet.

Mr. Davis — Shall still plant Downing in preference to every
other variety.

REPORT ON CULINARY VEGETABLES.

BY J. M. PEARSON, GODFREY.

The work of June is to take care of what has been done, rather
than to plant more. Sweet corn is almost the only thing we need to
plant. Turnips will be sown in July and August and cabbage
plants set in July. We have succeeded with the curled Savoy
by setting the last of June. The late rains have started millions
of weeds, and these must be killed and the ground kept loose.
Lima beans often need help in starting their race up the poles ;
tie them with a wilted straw. Pull up the old pea vines and throw
to the hogs, and do not let a crop of weeds take their place. If
rich enough it will be a good place to sow a few turnips by and by.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Jackson — Thinks it not too late yet to plant peas.

Mr. Kiehl — If the weather remains wet it is not too late yet,
but should it become dry, as is likely, they would not mature.

218 TRANSACTIONS OP THE ALTON- SOUTHERN

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FRUIT EXHIBITED.

The collection of strawberries on exhibition is very fine in ap-
pearance. For size and shape, they are all that can be expected,
Dut the flavor is not so fine as it would have been had we had
lotter weather for the past week. We recommend the following
awards :

For Largest and Best Collection — First premium, Wm. Jack-
son, twenty-five varieties; Second, J. S. Browne, fourteen
varieties.

For Best Quart, Size and Shape, Considered — First premium,
J. S. Browne, on Sharpless; Second, Wm. Jackson, Jersey
Queen.

For Best Quart, Quality and Size, Considered — First premium,
E. A. Eiehl, Belmont; Second, E. A. Riehl, Great Ontario.

For Best Quart for Market — First premium, J. S. Browne,
Jessie; Second, Wm. Jackson, Jersey Queen.

Best Quart for Family Use — First premium, Wm. Jackson, on
Golden Defiance; Second, John Riggs, Miner.

Best Quart of New Variety for Market — First premium, J. S.
Browne, on Jessie; Second, J. S. Browne, Haverland.

Best Quart of Seedlings, Good Enough to be Recommended —
First premium, E. A. Eiehl on his "No. 2."

Best Quart of New Variety for Family Use — First premium,
J. S. Browne, on Jessie; Second, Wm. Jackson, Belmont.

Best Quart of Capt. Jack — First premium, J. S. Browne;
Second, P. E. Vandenburg.

Best Quart of Miner — First premium, Jas. Davis; Second,
John Riggs.

Best Quart Downing — First premium, Wm. Hyndman;
Second, F. I. Crowe.

Best Quart of Sharpless — First premium, J. S. Browne,
Second, F. I. Crowe.

Best Quart of Bubach — First premium, J. S. Browne; Second,
E. A. Riehl.

Best Quart of Monmouth — First premium, J. S. Browne.

Best Quart Jessie — First premium, J. S. Browne.

Best Quart Cumberland — First premium, J. S. Browne.

Beautiful specimens of "Willow" apples, in fine condition,
were shown by Mr. Vandenburg; Winesap and Newton Pippin,
by Mr. Hyndman, and Gilpin, by N. Challacombe.

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 219

JULY MEETING.

The Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society met and en-
joyed the cordial hospitality of Mr. Win, Armstrong, on Satur-
day, July 6th. Mr. Armstrong's pleasant home is situated on
State Street Hill, in the northern limits of Alton city, and stands
in a fine natural grove ; some of the tree trunks are covered with
a fine growth of American Ivy, and are very pretty. The hand-
some grounds are enclosed with hedges of arbor vita?, Pyrus
Japonica and Russian mulberry. Altogether it is an ideal su-
burban home. Mr. A., on being asked if he was not a happy
man, said that he did not know, but those who knew him sup-
posed him to be so; and surely he should be so, if happiness is
ever attained on earth.

The day was perfect and brought out a large attendance.

ORCHARDS.

Mr. Riehl — The apple crop seems to be short on most varieties,
peaches are generally better, but where very full last year the
crop is light. Early peaches have rotted badly and sold poorly.
I consider early peaches a nuisance and shall never grow any
more. Pears are fine, not overloaded, but have just a good crop.

Mr. Hollard — Apple crop very light.

Mr. Hilliard— Prospect for a crop of apples with me not
so good as at the time of last meeting. The early varieties
are very full and small. Winter varieties not full, peaches are
loaded with fruit and bugs. Apples were considerably damaged
by hail.

Mr. Browne — With me everything that bore excessively last
year is light this, and vice versa; pears all full except Seckel,
these almost a failure. Messrs. Challacombe, Copley, and Dr.
Roberts have converted their apple orchards into the wood pile,
think they will pay better there than anywhere else.

Capt. E. Hollister — We have on the stand to-day some very
nice looking peaches, but their excellence is confined to looks.
Bite one, and your vision of bliss is quickly dispelled, eat half a
dozen and the probabilities are that you will soon have cause to
regret it. I have found all these early peaches a nuisance.
They always rot badly, and later in the season would be pro-

220 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON- SOUTHERN

nounced unfit to eat. I believe there is money in growing
peaches here. Alton peaches have a reputation in Chicago, but
if we send them much such early stuff we will soon lose our
good name. Nearly all these varieties, Amsden, Alexander, etc.
are seedlings of the Hale's Early and are all alike. Georgia and
other southern peach-growing states have made the same mis-
take, and are suffering for it. About the first good peaches we
get are Troth, Early York, George the Fourth, and Mountain
Hose.

Mr. Riehl — I agree with Capt. Hollister in his remarks, but
think Early York better than Troth, but I think Amelia and
Plater's St. John earlier and better than any others that have
been named. Have grown them and know them to be good.

Mr. Pearson — This gives me a chance to say what every man
so dearly loves to say. I told you so. I have always held that
these early peaches were a nuisance, and think the best thing
you, who have the trees, can do, is to grub them out. If you
market them people get so disgusted with them that they will
not buy good peaches when they come to market. Truly Alton
peaches have a good reputation in Chicago, which you cannot
afford to lose. Last year I had a talk with one of the leading
fruit men there, and he asked me why they were receiving no
more peaches from Alton. I told him that we had not had a
crop since 1881, and hereupon he said that they had no good
peaches since then. You cannot afford to put your good name
in jeopardy by sending them such stuff as this.

VINEYARDS.
Mr. Armstrong — My grapes are in about the same condition as
last year, they have rotted badly. I have not sprayed.

Mr. Browne — Should some leaves be affected by the rot, there
is where it makes its first appearance. The fungus winters in
the ground, in the spring it comes out and settles upon the
leaves where it is first noticeable in the form of little brownish
black spots, sometimes these are so thick as to utterly destroy
the leaf. It grows to maturity in the leaf and then goes to the
young grapes. I have sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture, using
nine pounds of copper sulphate, and the same quantity of lime
to thirty-one gallons of water, and I am perfectly satisfied with

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 221

the results. Am confident that I have saved my entire crop of
grapes with it. To insure success you must begin spraying very
early, as soon as the leaves come out. Think it requires about
four applications; first, as soon as the leaves show; second, a
week or so later when the leaves have matured, again as soon as
they are out of bloom, and lastly, about ten days after the fruit
has set. I am confident that it is a success and it is inexpensive,
but must be done in time, if not done in time it does no good.
Care should be taken not to get it on too thick ; if allowed to
collect in drops on the grapes it injures the skin, and renders-
them unfit for market.

Dr. H. N. Roberts — I have sprayed my vineyard four times
with the Bordeaux mixture but cannot make so favorable a
report. Until recently my grapes looked fine, but since the last
heavy rains they are rotting badly, especially one patch where
the soil is very rich. Here they are nearly half gone. I did not
begin spraying until after fruit was set, and probably this is the
cause of my ill success, still I am sure that it has done some
good. '

Mr. Jackson — Have not sprayed and my vineyard is in much
better condition than last year. Goethe is almost free from rot.

Mr. Browne — Goethe mildews, and grapes that mildew do not

rot. Have found that thick skin is no protection against rot.

Vergennes, which is thickest skinned of all, is most subject

to rot.

SMALL FRUITS.

Mr. Riehl — Raspberry crop has been fair, and prices low.
Blackberry crop promises to be very large, whether the profits
therefrom will be likewise remains to be seen. Rust was very
bad early in the season but we took it all out, and have had none
since. I think the wet weather has helped us to get rid of it.
Kittatinny, of course, showed most rust. Snyder a little and
Taylor none.

Mr. Browne — My strawberry crop was the best I have had for
ten years. Wilson, Jr., is the best blackberry out, but has two
bad faults, it is tender and is affected by insects. Wilson, Jr.,.
and Wilson Early are identical.

Mr. Jackson— Lawton and Erie are also the same.

222 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON- SOUTHERN

Mr. Riehl — I have tried the Lucretia Dewberry over which so
much fuss has been made, and I am disgusted with it. It is a
fine, large berry, but in flavor it is flat and not fit to eat.

REPORT ON CULINARY VEGETABLES.

BY J. M. PEAKSON, GODFREY.

Mr. President : The work for the gardener this month is small ;
late cabbage may yet be set. Turnips should be planted. The
Amber Globe is better than Purple Top. I have this year used
a drill and like it very much. Sweet corn, for late use, can be
planted, and if we get a few showers in August, will make a
crop. Remember that the salvation of late cabbage depends
upon killing the worms and frequent cultivation. Kill weeds.

Question — What is best for killing cabbage worms?

Mr. Pearson — Paris Green or London Purple ; use about the
same proportion as for potatoes. It can be used with impunity,
as cabbage grows from the inside. The poison only reaches the
outside leaves, and even this is almost sure to be washed off by
rains. When the millers disappear there is no use applying more
poison. Cabbage should be hoed very often, every day or two if
possible.

Mr. Jackson — Has found common road dust a good remedy for
cabbage worms.

Mr. Pearson — I have a motion to make. The Illinois State
Horticultural Society has received from the State $1,000, to be
expended in horticultural experiments; the results of these
experiments, they say, will be published in their annual report.
I think we should have these results sooner than this, we want
to receive the benefit of these experiments as soon as possible.
Therefore, I move that this Society request the Secretary of the
State Society to publish results as soon as they have been ascer-
tained and send them out in pamphlet form, to the district socie-
ties, and the local papers.

Motion carried.

Mr. Browne — I think this is the Society's intention, and I
should have said before that what I have told you to-day, in
regard to grape rot, is some of the first fruits of these experi-
ments. Let us give the Society credit for all the work it does.

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 223

AUGUST MEETING.

The Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society met at E. A.
Riehl's on Saturday Aug. 10th. The muddy roads caused by late
rains kept many from coming in vehicles, but the trains from Al-
ton and Jerseyville brought many passengers, and the attendance
was unusually large. It was a nice cool day, and many seemed
to prefer walking about admiring the views, boating, etc., to at-
tending the business session.

ORCHARDS.
Col. Miles— I shook all my early apples and fed to the hogs.
Late ones do not promise very well. Apples have never paid me
and I intend to grub out all my trees, and convert them to the
wood pile.

Mr. O. A. Snedeker — I cut down an old orchard, and then
found that I could not sell the wood, but finally I found a brick
burner, whom, with hard begging, I persuaded to come and haul
it off. So if the Colonel expects to get rich off his old trees he
will probably get left instead.

Col. Miles — Thanks, Brother Snedeker, for your kindly
warning, but if I were a young man again, I should plant apple
trees. There have been none planted in this region for many
years, and the old trees are all dying out and in a few years there
will be a lack of this good old king fruit.

Mr. Riehl — Showed and passed around specimens of the Jef-
f eries apple, now just in season. This is the best late summer ap-
ple we have. It is a mild sub acid, very agreeable to taste,
apples always fair size and perfect in shape. Always bears full.
A splendid apple for market or family use. The condition of
apples generally as regards insects, I think, depends much on cul-
tivation. Where well cultivated the fruit is pretty good, where
the ground was not stirred and the bugs remained undisturbed
fruit is very poor. Pears are very nice.

Question — What is the proper mode of cultivation for pears,
and what varieties are most profitable?

Answer by Mr. Riehl — I would cultivate for about four years
after planting, then seed down and leave it so, only mowing off
the grass once or twice a season. Cultivation encourages blight,

221 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN

and should be given up as soon as the trees have got a fair start.
Have not had a plow in my orchard for fifteen years. I have just
planted an orchard of Le Conte. I do not consider it a good or
profitable pear; the tree is very subject to blight and the fruit
rots at the core before ripening. But it is a fine grower and
makes good roots. Hence I plant it and then after a year or two
will graft over with any other desirable kind. Bartlett is per-
haps the best paying of all, but with me Howell has always done
just as well. We need a good early pear. All fruit, to be profit-
able with us, must be early. Our market is in the north and
west, and we must get our fruit there before they have their own.
A very good early pear is the Tyson. The Keifer is not a good
pear for eating, but is unsurpassed for canning. Clapp's Favor-
ite is no good; it rots at the core.

Mr. Jackson — What is the best to seed an orchard with?

Answer by Mr. Riehl — To insure a stand it is best to mix several
kinds of seed and sow thick. The kind of grass in an orchard
matters but very little, just so it covers the ground and kills out

the weeds.

VINEYARDS.

Mr. Browne — Grapes have rotted very little since last meeting,
not more than two per cent. I have a splendid crop.

Mr. Riehl — Have done no spraying. My grapes are nearly all

gone. Jewell and Cynthiana have rotted but very little, nearly

all others have rotted. Am not yet convinced that spraying will

save them; we must experiment another year yet to be sure.

Our friends, Hayden and Browne, are very fortunately situated,

and no doubt their success is due partly to this fact. My grapes

have not paid for work done on them and will dig out most of

them.

REPORT ON SMALL FRUITS.

BY E. A. EIEHL, ALTON.

The harvest is past, and now is a good time to consider
if we have learned anything and what had best be done in the
future. In the way of strawberries we have no new varieties
that can be recommended for extensive planting in place of old
well tried sorts. Each planter should keep on planting those va-
rieties that have proven most satisfactory with him, planting
a limited area only 'of such newer varieties as promise well. I
will, another season, make increased plantings of Bubach, Haver-

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 225

land and my own seedlings, but the main stand-by, as in the past,
will be Capt. Jack. In the way of growing I know of nothing
new, but have somewhat changed my methods. I plant in checks
of three feet, and cultivate both ways early in the season and later
only one way. I like to have my runners root early because I
believe a plant made early in the season will be surer of bearing
a good crop than one made later, I know that some varieties like
Cumberland Triumph and Downing will give no fruit at all on
late rooted plants.

I have noticed that the earliest and best berries grow on
isolated plants and I think we will have better success if our rows
are not so wide as we have been in the habit of growing them,
and I propose to trim my rows down in the fall so they shall not
be over eight inches wide. Prices have fallen so low for ordi-
nary fruit that only that of the best quality will pay the grower.
The time has gone by when quantity counted for more than
quality. By quality I mean size and sound condition when it
arrives on the market, not high flavor; few of the general public
appreciate superior flavor enough to make it worth while to grow
fruit with flavor in view. Large size and good carrying qualities
are the main requisites. Of course the grower must also have a
plant that is healthy and productive.

Of raspberries I have found the black caps more profitable
than the reds. Tyler and Gregg are all the varieties one need
to plant for market, they cover the whole season and are, all
points considered, the best we have, though not perfect. The
future may give us something better. The Tyler is early, very
productive and hardy, but might be larger and of better
flavor. The Gregg might be more hardy.

Of blackberries we have had the best crop that we have
had for years, but prices were very low. We need a better
blackberry than any of the old sorts, all have some fault.
Those wTho this year saw my new one think it a very promising
variety. I have grown it in a small way for some six or seven
years during which time it has behaved so uniformly well that
I am now propagating it as fast as I can and will plant it ex-
clusively, and in a couple of years when I can show you a good
large plantation of it in bearing, I will ask you all to come and
see it in fruiting time and give your verdict as to its value.

DISCUSSION.

Question — What is the difference between Sohegan and
Tyler?

Mr. Riehl — They are so nearly alike that one name might do
for both. Those who have both can tell no difference between
them, but say they would rather plant Tyler. Tyler pays better
—16

226 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN

than Gregg as it is earlier and does not run out as Gregg does
after three or four years, but it is too small and sour. We do
want a larger and better berry to take its place.

Mr. Jackson — I have a new berry, the Hilborn that has these
qualities. I think it is the best berry I have seen.

Mr. Riggs — Raspberries have paid poorly this year, but the
red paid me better than black caps.

Mr. N. Challacombe — How soon after the crop is off may rasp-
berries be pruned?

Mr. Riehl — They should be pruned before the berries ripen.
Begin in May and prune the young shoots back to 14 inches,
never higher, go over them several times and do the same with
all young shoots that grow up. The old wood may be removed
in fall or early spring as preferred.

CULINARY VEGETABLES.
Mr. Browne — Late potatoes are doing finely with this wet
"weather. Have both Lee's Favorite and Early Ohio, and like
the former much the best.

Mr. Crowe — Differs with Mr. Browne. Has always realized
best results from Early Ohio. Never use home grown seed.
I have tried it and find that it does not pay.

Adjourned to meet at the residence of E. H. Lahee, in Upper
Alton, in September, date to be announced later.

At 7 p. m. the doors were thrown open and the young folks
joined in a merry dance to the excellent music of Prof. Pierce's
string band. At 11:30 the party broke up and all went home
with a happy consciousness of having spent a pleasant day.

-o-

SEPTEMBER MEETING.

The Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society met at the
residence of Mr. E. H. Lahee, in Upper Alton, on Saturday ^
September 7th.

The weather was fine ; there was a good attendance and the
cordial manner in which we were entertained by the genial host
and hostess made the day one of the pleasantest that we have
spent this year.

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 227

Mr. Lahee's is one of the nicest of the many beautiful homes
of Upper Alton. The large grounds are studded with shade
trees of many varieties, and intersected by fine gravel drives.
Wherever one turns, the eye meets some pleasant sight.

Mr. Lahee has one of the finest and best arranged vegetable
gardens that I have ever seen. It consists of raised beds in
squares of about 10 by 16 feet. Between the beds are paths run-
ning in every direction so that one may work and walk about
in the garden without stepping on anything. The squares are
bordered with blue grass sod. On north side of garden are sev-
eral terraces of grapes circling in the shape of a half moon.

Meeting called to order at 12:30.

ORCHARDS.
Mr. Davis — We shall have a few poor apples. Market now is
very poor for good apples, and cider apples it does not pay to
handle. The cider establishments in Alton are paying seven
cents per bushel.

Col. Miles — Has a lot of poor apples that are falling very bad-
ly. Has turned the hogs into orchard; thinks this the best mar-
ket he can get.

Mr. Armstrong — When is the best time to set out young peach
trees?

Mr. Davis — About the first of November, just before the
ground freezes up, is the best time. It may also be done in
the spring, but fall planting is the best as the ground is always
in better condition, and will pack well around the roots during
the winter.

Mr. Pearson — When may winter apples be picked to keep
well? I have some nice Winesapsthat are full now, but at pres-
ent rate of falling they will be all on the ground by Oct. 1.

Mr. Riehl — I think apples might be picked now and would keep
all right, but ought to be left on until Oct. 1. Apples that are
falling now will not keep well. I want also to say here that
I have grown about every variety of quince that has been sent
out and have found nothing so good as the old Orange, provided
you can get it true. The season is about past now and we have
had part of a crop of peaches. Would it not be well now for
us to consider what varieties have paid us best?

228 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN

In the discussion which followed: Oldmixon, Stump the
"World and Smock seemed to be the universal favorites. These
are about the only kinds that have paid well this year. The crop
generally has been much short of what the spring promised.
Fruit generally badly affected by insects, and the very frequent
rains have caused much rot. If by any chance, peaches should
escape being killed this winter, we must be prepared with our
curculio catchers for a vigorous siege against the bugs next
spring.

Mr. Ehiel — Likes Van Zant Cling very much. It bears full
aud is a fine peach. It can only be got of the Stark nurseries at
Louisiana, Mo. Piquet's Late is a fine late free and promises
well. Salway, ripening a little after Smock, is another good free.

Mr. Davis — Showed and very highly recommended a new seed-
ling. Thinks it is a seedling of the Stump ; much like it, a little
handsomer, a little larger and a little more acid flavor. Thinks
it an improvement on the Stump.

Mr. Riehl — If I were to plant another peach orchard I would

plant largely of clings. They grow better, handle better, ship

better and are better in every way. They sell just about as well

as frees if of good size. Clings are always better flavored

than frees, and after people learn how to get them off the stones

they prefer them.

VINEYARDS.

Mr. Browne — I am perfectly satisfied with the results of the
year's experiments in spraying. In some places where I did not
think it so important and did not follow up the spraying as close-
ly as generally, the rot was worse. Feel sure that if spraying is
properly done it is a perfect remedy. It is a very disagreeable
job, though, and if not very carefully handled the lime is liable
to take the fungus off the man as well as vines.

SMALL FRUITS.
Mr. Riehl — Do not mulch strawbeiTies until the ground
freezes so that you can drive on the patch with wagons. We
need not mulch here to prevent winter killing, as it does not get
cold enough to hurt berries. Our mulching is done to keep
the berries clean and to keep the moisture in the ground when
the crop is ripening. Our soil does not heave enough to make
it necessary to mulch early for this.

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 229

VEGETABLES.

Mr. Pearson — If the weather stays wet potatoes must be dug
soon, or they will commence growing. As long as the soil is dry
at the bottom of hill, there is no danger. If we wish to get any
late cabbage this year we must fight the worms; they are unusu-
ally bad this year.

Mr. Kiehl — People need never be bothered with these pests if
they would only use a little Paris Green. I wish to state dis-
tinctly that there is no danger whatever in using it. The cab-
bage always grows from the inside and the leaves with which the
poison comes in contact will all fall off. Besides there is a sort
of oil on the cabbage leaf and with the least rain or even a heavy
dew, the water will collect in drops and roll off taking the poison
with it. The work of destruction for the bugs is done in a few
hours. If put on in the morning one day is sufficient. I have
used it for years and we are all alive yet. Also when the slugs
get on my rose leaves, I use a little Paris Green and this puts an
end to the slugs. It is an efficient remedy for all such pests.
For little things like these I prefer to use it dry with plaster or

lime.

o

JANUARY MEETING, 1890.

The Alton- Southern Illinois Horticultural Society met at the
store of Mr. A. L. Floss on Saturday, Jan. 4th.

ORCHARDS.

Mr. Pearson opened the discussion on Orchards by stating that
the buds on almost all kinds of fruit trees were swelling, owing
to the extremely warm weather of the past month. All fruit
is in* a very critical condition. It is now so far forward that
should we get a snap of only reasonably cold weather all buds
would be destroyed. The only hope now for a crop next year is
that it will turn moderately cold and stay so for a month or two.

Mr. Riehl reported pansies, sweet violets and Pyrus Japonica
in bloom.

Mr. Pearson asked why it is that the apple growers of South-
ern Illinois receive so much better prices for their fruit than we
do for ours. They sold all their crop this year for an average of

230 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN

$1.25 per barrel on the trees, while we were glad to get 75 cents for
ours packed and delivered in town. Is this because their apples
are so much better than ours, or because they have their reputa-
tion better established than we?

Mr. Riehl — This is owing partly to the fact that our apples are
not as good as theirs, and partly because we haven't got them in
such quantities as they have in Southern Illinois. We grow too
many kinds of fruit and cannot give apples the attention which
is required to ward off the attacks of curculios. And nowhere
in this vicinity are there enough apples grown to pay buyers to
build packing houses and engage in handling them. Down there
they grow them by the hundreds of acres, and the Eastern fruit
dealers know that they can go there and get all they want.

Mr. Pearson — It is a fact that buyers in St. Louis will not
touch apples that are brought in there on the steamer Spread
Eagle; these apples all come from this section and buyers say
they are not good.

Mr. Connor — It is true that the apples grown here are not
good. All who have been buyers here know this, and many of
them have ceased handling them as it don't pay. There are yet
a good many apples grown about Upper Alton, and Mr. Ed.
Rodgers, who handles them, is about the only man hereabouts
who is making any money out of apples, but he has to sell cheap
and buy accordingly.

Mr. Riehl — There has been a great deal of talk about the
Keifer Pear, and it is generally condemned as a very poor fruit
for quality, and consequently for market, being only good for
canning, but I am not ready to grant this. This pear has a ten-
dency to overbear, and then the quality is apt to be poor, but
when thinned so the pears become of good size and properly
house-ripened, it is a very good pear. Its season of ripening is
very much in its favor, as it ripens when the varieties usually
grown have entirely disappeared from the market. These qual-
ities are bound to make it a good pear for market. Wish I had
1,000 trees in bearing.

J. M. Pearson — I, too, had some very nice Keifers grown on
young trees. I tried to sell them early in the fall, but when
people learned of what variety they were, they did not want them

ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 231

(another instance of what slander can do). I put them away in
the cellar, and when well ripened, 1 put some in my pocket, and
gave them to friends here in town, and they ate them, core and!
all, calling them very good pears.

The Treasurer, Mr. S. F. Connor, read the following report:

TREASURER'S RErORT FOR 1889.

To January 1st, 1889, amount on hand $ 73 90

To surplus of subscriptions to December meeting of State Horticul-
tural Society :.... 2 8a

To dues collected 11 50

To sales of fruit and flowers 15 20

To State Horticultural Society 50 00

$153 40
CR.

By premiums $47 35

By dishes , 10 90

By F. C. Riehl, order 7 00

Printing 2 75

68 00

To balance oh hand $ 85 40

The Society then proceeded to the election of officers for the
year 1890, with the following result:

President — E. A. Riehl, Alton.

First Vice-President — Wm. Jackson, Godfrey.

Second Vice-President — J. G. Vaughan, Odin.

Secretary — J. S. Browne, Alton.

Treasurer — S. F. Connor, Alton.

Librarian — H. G. M'Pike, Alton.

Chairmen of standing committees were chosen as follows:

Orchards — Jas. Davis, Godfrey.

Vineyards — J. S. Browne, Alton.

Vegetables — J. M. Pearson, Godfrey.

Small Fruits — Wm. Jackson, Godfrey.

Ornamental Planting — H. G. M'Pike, Alton.

Committee to Procure Places of Meeting and Prepare Pro-
gramme for the Year — J. S. Browne, E. A. Riehl and Dr. E. C.
James, of Upper Alton.

The sum of one dollar was voted to the Secretary for each
meeting he reports.

TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING

OF THE

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS,

HELD IX

NORMAL, MAY 15 AND 16, 1889.

REPORTED BY

A. C HAMMOND, Secretary.

OFFICERS FOR 1890.

President, -
First Vice-President,
Second Vice-President,
Third Vice-President,
Secretary, -
Assistant Secretary, -
Treasurer,

F. I. Mann, Gilman.

- H. L. Doan, Jacksonville.

G. W. E. Cook, Lacon.

- Miss Lucy Gaston, Lacon.
A. C. Hammond, Warsaw.

- Miss Besssie M. Nash, Warsaw.
W. H. Schureman, Normal.

Next Annual Meeting it Lacon ii May or Juke.

List of Members for 1889-90.

Augustine, H Normal.

Bryant, A .' Princeton.

Beeby, J. C Girard.

Browne, J. S Alton.

Burrill, Prof. T. J % Champaign.

Cook, G. W. E Lacon.

Dennis, C. N Hamilton.

Doan, H. L Jacksonville.

Dunlap, H. M Savoy.

Dunlap, R. L Savoy.

Forbes, Prof. S. A Champaign.

Gaston, Miss Lucy Lacon.

Gaston, A. H Lacon.

Gray, D. H Elmwood.

Green, Miss Julia Lacon.

Hammond, A. C Warsaw.

Jackson, Wm Godfrey.

Mann, F. I Gilman.

McCleur, G. W Champaign.

Minier, Geo. W Minier.

Nash, Miss B. M Warsaw.

Packard, A Bloomington.

Swarts, D. H London Mills.

Schroder, D. H - Bloomington.

Schureman, W. H Normal.

Vickroy, H. K Normal.

236 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING

OF THE

Horticultural Society of Central Illinois.

WEDNESDAY, A. M., AUGUST 15.

The Sixteenth Annual Meeting of the Horticultural Society of
Central Illinois convened in the parlors of the Presbyterian
church in the city of Normal.

President Dennis called the meeting to order, and invited Kev.
T. N. McVetey to invoke the divine blessing.

Dr. E. C. Hewitt, of the Normal University, welcomed the

Society to the beautiful city of Normal, in his usual eloquent and

forcible style, but as the address has not been furnished the

Secretary, only the following brief and imperfect synopsis can be

given :

ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

BY DR. E. C. HEWITT, NORMAL.

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Horticultural Society of
Central Illinois:

I take pleasure in offering you these words of welcome to-day,
and assure you that the people of Normal are glad to see you, and
will deem it a pleasure to show you our public institutions, our
extensive nurseries, and fine stock of various kinds.

I feel that it is not entirely inappropriate for me to address
you, for I do not look upon you as strangers. Years ago the
State Society met here a number of times. Then we numbered
among our citizens such men as Phoenix, Fell and Overman,
honored names which are no longer with us, but whose work and
influence will Ions remain.

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS 237

I came from a portion of the country where trees were con-
sidered enemies, and the great question was how to destroy them,
but even there, there has been a change of sentiment, and they
are beginning to understand the importance of preserving them.

Without trees, fruits and flowers, this world would, indeed, be
a vale of tears, and life scarcely worth the living. Our farmers
have been very negligent in this particular, but they will yet learn
that there is profit in them, and that where fruit is largely used as
an article of diet, the bills for pills and quinine are greatly
reduced.

Horticulturists are, as a rule, intelligent, educated men, always
interested in educational questions. We, therefore, hope to see
you at the University, and I cordially invite you to vi^it us before
you return to your homes.

RESPONSE BY PRESIDENT DENNIS.

Several other points desired this meeting, and the question may
be asked, Why was Normal selected? First, we knew that we
should receive a cordial welcome, and, second, that the influ-
ences that have gone out from this University will have prepared
the way for an interesting and profitable meeting. If, as the
Doctor remarked, "brevity is the soul of wit," I will be even
more witty than he, and we will proceed with the programme.

SECRETARY'S REPORT.

BY A.C. HAMMOND, WARSAW.

Few persons comprehend the immense quantity and the great
value of the horticultural products of our State. Our orchards
annually yield millions of bushels of apples ; the berry plan-
tations are so extensive that special trains run to accommodate
the business ; the rich fruitage of ten thousand vineyards is found
in every western market, wThile the products of unnumbered fruit
and vegetable gardens add to the luxuries of the farmers' homes
and the estimate of $10,000,000 as the annual value of these pro-
ducts, sold and consumed at home, in the entire State, and
$3,500,000 in Central Illinois, I think a very reasonable one.

We, therefore, see that the value of our horticultural products
is enormous. But aside from this question of dollars and cents
there are questions of the highest importance connected with
fruit growing, forestry, gardening and ornamental planting.

That every farm in Central Illinois should be surrounded with
these evidences of refinement, an orchard, garden, lawn, groves
and ornamental trees, all will admit. Why then do we so often
find them wanting? Why is the orchard going to decay, and no
effort made to renew it? Why is the garden neglected, and the
grounds about the house uncared for, untidy and repulsive?

238 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

■

Why are so many farmers' tables bare of refreshing fruits and
health-giving vegetables? Why is fruit culture, vegetable gar-
dening, and ornamental planting so generally neglected by the
men who should be specially interested in it? The answer is
found in the fact that the great majority of our people consider
horticulture a business of little importance and unworthy of
attention, when it interferes with tneir regular farm work. It
has also been thought unworthy of the fostering care of the
State, and the miserable pittance of $2,000 which is annually
being doled out to the State Horticultural Society to advance
this great interest in a state of the magnitude of an empire, has
been supposed to be all that was necessary. The remedy is edu-
cation. And here the importance of horticultural societies,
state, district and local, becomes apparent.

Were it necessary to prove this proposition, I would refer you
to the two best known and most successful local societies in the
west, those of Alton and Warsaw, and the influence they have
had, not only on the communities where they have done their
active work, which are noted for their horticultural products,
and handsome, tasty homes, but upon the horticultural interests
of the entire west. It was my good fortune to attend one of the
meetings of the Marshall County Horticultural Society, last
February, probably the youngest in the state, and I found an
intelligent and cultured gathering, including a goodly number of
young people. They were exceedingly enthusiastic and earnestly
seeking for horticultural knowledge. It is safe to predict for
this society a bright future, and that in a few years we will find
better orchards, better fruit and vegetable gardens, more hand-
some lawns and pleasant homes, more groves and shelter belts,
more attractive school grounds, and more intelligent, contented
and happy young people in that community than where these
educational influences do not exist.

I have made this allusion to show what can and should be done
in every county in the state, and is it not the duty of the vari-
ous districts, as well as the State Society, to use their influence
'to encourage the organization of local societies?

Arbor Day is another educational influence of no mean order..
The State Horticultural Society and the educational department
of the state have taken a lively interest in this work, and it is a
pleasure to know that during the two years Arbor Day has been
celebrated a marked improvement has been made in the sur-
roundings of the school houses and rural homes of Central Illi-
nois. This is as it should be, but the work is just begun and
must be prosecuted year after year. The time may come when
a sufficient number of trees may have been planted, but every
returning Arbor Day will suggest the necessity of a general
clearing up and ornamentation of the grounds about the school
house, church and home.

SOCIETY OP CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 239

Our work is not a selfish one, for all will admit that the safety
and mainstays of our republic are our schools, churches and
farmers' homes. It is therefore our duty as good citizens and
lovers of humanity, to bring them up to the highest point of
usefulness and make our country schools and churches and
especially our rural homes, so pleasant and enjoyable that the
boys and girls and young men and maidens will be unwilling to
leave them for the allurements of the city.

We have no disposition to underrate the value of the cities.
The spirit of enterprise they show is commendable in the high-
est degree, and some of the noblest men that have blessed our
nation were residents of the great cities, yet it is a sad, but
undeniable fact that in the great city of the west, the 4,000 by-
ways to hell, known as saloons, can control more votes than all
its educational and religious institutions combined.

How important then that the rural districts rear up a gener-
ation of earnest, honest, cultured men, who will hold in check
this vast army of intemperate, ignorant and often vicious men,
who would gladly undermine the very foundations of society and
launch our government upon the strong sea of anarchy and con-
fusion.

In the palmy days of the Roman empire, when nearly every
citizen was a land owner, and a majority of the people were
dwellers in the country, every man "was a patriot," the govern-
ment was stable and the people contented and happy, but with
increasing wealth they became luxuriant and effeminate, rural
life became distasteful, the rural homes were exchanged for the
more exciting life of the city, public men became corrupt, social
life impure, and the end we all know.

If history does not "repeat itself" in the new western world, it
will be because our country homes keep pace with the advance of
taste and esthetic culture, and our rural people are intelligent,
prosperous and happy.

But it may be asked what can the Horticultural Society of
Central Illinois do to advance this desirable end? Much, every
way. First, as already referred to by aiding in the organization
of local societies, and encouraging and instructing in tree plant-
ing, especially on Arbor Day. Also by its members giving active
encouragement and support to the farmers' institutes that are
annually held in almost every county and district in the state.
These meetings may be made a power for good, and if properly
conducted, many a plodding farmer will be made to see that he
is wasting his opportunities and be persuaded to make a "new de-
parture" by adopting improved methods of culture, improving
his stock and adding to the comforts of his home ; and many^ a
young man will be enthused with an ambition that will urge him
onward and upward till he should gain a noble place among the
world's great workers.

240 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

We should be able to devise some means to increase the at-
tendance and interest at our Annual Meetings. At some of
our Meetings within the last five years we have had an at-
tendance of five or six hundred, at others scarcely a tenth of this
number. This seems to indicate that the local interest and at-
tendance will be very good in some places and in others quite
unsatisfactory. Hence the necessity for care in the selection of
place of meeting.

REPORT OF TREASURER.

F. C. HEINL, JACKSONVILLE.
RECEIPTS.

By cash from Lyman Hall $ 37 70

" " " H. K. Vickroy 50 00

By fourteen membership fees .•- .' 14 00

f 101 70

$101 70

DISBURSEMENTS,

Miss Bessie Nash $ 20 00

A. C. Hammond 12 85

H. M. Dunlap 2 25

Lyman Hall .'.. 3 94

Phil. Dallam 6 75

$45 79

$45 79

Balance in hand of Treasurer $55 91

CHERRY GROWING.

BY A. H. GASTON, L A C O N.

In the flora of America the cherry tree occupies an important
place.

There are several distinct species of the cherry family. The
Wild Black and the Wild Ked Cherries are forest trees;
they grow large and the timber is valuable for inside finishing
and cabinet making purposes. The fruit is of no special value
except for food for birds. The stocks of these two varieties,
especially the Red Cherry, are valuable for grafting or budding
our Dukes and Morellos on, as the stocks always remain larger
than the grafts or buds. They are a great improvement on the
little old Dwarf Mahaleb stocks which are short lived and ought
not to be used for propagating purposes. The wild cherry pits
are easily gathered and can be planted in the fall [or spring.

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 241

With good care they will grow large enough to bud like peach
trees the first summer. The next spring they can be cut off and
the growth thrown into the buds. With good care and a favor-
able season, the growth will be from three to five feet, or large
enough to set out at one year old and they can be grown at a
trifling cost. These two varieties of wild cherry trees do not
sprout at the roots.

The peach, plum and apricot being of the same affinity, it is
possible that they might all be budded on the wild cherry stocks
and be an improvement on our present system of propagation.

Our experience and observation have been that the Early
Richmond and English Morello are the two most valuable of the
sprouting or Morello family, and they grow much larger and are
longer-lived and bear better on the wild cherry stock than on the
Mahaleb.

The Duke family of cherry trees has several members in it.
The Governor Wood and Yellow Spanish are sweet and good and
they do not sucker, but are not hardy enough to stand the rigors
of this climate. The sprouting Black Morello is not worthy of
further cultivation.

The Early Richmond or English Morello on their own roots
are much longer-lived and bear better than when grafted on the
Morello or Mahaleb stocks. The Early Richmond and English
Morello should be grown largely for commercial purposes.
When canned or dried they can be shipped to the four quarters
of the earth. We ought to raise more fruit of all kinds so as to
supply the home demand and have a surplus to ship to foreign
countries. The balance of trade has been against us for some
time and we are growing poorer each year. If we go into fruit
growing of all kinds on a large scale so as to supply foreign
countries the balance of trade will turn in our favor and we will:
grow richer and more prosperous, besides giving employment to-
the idlers and tramps of our nation.

<

DISCUSSION.

Dr. Schroeder — Two cherries, the Montmorency and the Osthei-
mer, that have lately been added to our list are very valuable.
The Montmorency is twice as large as the Early Richmond and
endures our winters well. The Ostheimer is of German origin,
but was taken to Russia many year ago and brought to this coun-
try by the Mennonites. It is perfectly hardy, does not sprout,
and may be considered a valuable fruit.

Mr. Augustine — Has any one tried the Wild Cherry as a stock?
I have found it almost impossible to make the seed grow. It is
also difficult to bud and transplant. The Mazzard is tender, the
—17

242 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

Morrello sprouts, I have therefore concluded that the Mahaleb is
:the only satisfactory stock.

NEW AND OLD INSECTS.

BY PEOF. S. A. FORBES, CHAMPAIGN.

The American Plum Borer. — Euzoph era semifuneralis , Walk.
— (Stenopty cha pdllulella, Hulst.) — Order, Lepidoptera. — Fam-

ily Pyralidce.

Although various boring insects have occasionally attacked the
plum these have been species whose principal injuries are done
to other trees, and no distinctive plum borer has hitherto been
known in this country. Among these incidental enemies are the
peach borer {San nina exitiosa), the flat-headed apple tree borer
\Chrysobothris femorata) , the so-called pear-blight beetle {Xyle-
boru pyri) and one of the twig borers {Ela phidion parallelum).
Somewhat recently a newly imported European bark beetle
{Scolytus rugulosus) has attacked a variety of fruit trees, the
•plum among them; but by none of these insects has any constant
and serious injury been done in Illinois, so far as I am now aware.
In a species first described (in this country) in 1887, and whose
immature stages have remained unknown until the present time,
we have our first example of a borer devoted, so far as we know,
rto the plum alone. This species was first reported to me as an
injurious insect Aug. 31, 1887, in a letter from Mr. Buckman,
Farmingdale, Sangamon county, Illinois, accompanied by a few
borers found in young Chinese plum trees {Primus Simonii) , one
of which was already nearly killed by them. The attack was de-
scribed as most general near the forks of the tree, especially at
the bases of the lower limbs, but the larvre were sometimes found
an inch or less within the earth. The smaller ones were near the
surface of the bark, sometimes just under the thin outer film, but
others were next the wood. As many as fifty were taken from a
single tree, the bark here being killed in large irregular patches.

By the following year it was evident that this was, a very de-
structive species, several trees having been destroyed by it.
These were mostly, however, the Chinese plum already mentioned,
and eastern varieties, Lombard, Gage and Hulling's Superb; but
the Weaver plum, a Western variety, was also injured. Living
borers received from Mr. Buckman Nov. 3 were about half an
inch in length, of a greenish dusky color, with only a few scattered
stiff hairs springing from small dark specks. The head was reddish
brown, witn a darker triangular patch in the middle, and the top
of the segment behind the head — the cervical shield, so called —
varied from yellowish to pitchy, more or less shaded with brown,
but with a median yellow patch. This borer has, of course, the

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 243

three pairs of legs and the fleshy prologs (ten in number) of a
caterpillar. From the peach borer, whose structure is similar, it
may be distinguished by its dusky color (the other being white),
its smaller size when full grown, and with a glass, by the hooks
on the prolegs. In the peach borer the ends of the soft, stump-
like prolegs are provided with small brown hooks arranged in
two opposite curves, discontinuous at their ends, each of a sin-
gle row; while in the new plum borer the corresponding hooks
form a complete ring, nearly covering the end of the leg.

Kept in a breeding cage and supplied with chips and twigs of
plum-trees, our larvae spun small webs in which they passed the
winter. By May 3 a part of them had pupated ; and May 28 and
May 29 two winged moths emerged, all the others failing.

These moths were small gray insects, the extended wings
measuring about eight-tenths of an inch. (The fore wings were
reddish behind (within), each with a large blackish gray patch
just beyond the middle. The hind wings were plain).

Other moths of this species were taken several times at the
electric light in 1886, 1887 and 1888, the dates of their occur-
rence ranging from May 5 to August 24. The greater part, how-
ever, were collected in May and June, — and this is doubtless the
period of the greatest prevalence of the winged form. The
time and place of oviposition are unknown.

In brief, the species is apparently single-brooded ; passes the
winter as a larva in the tree, pupates in May; emerges in May
and June, and may continue to lay its eggs through July and
August.

Numerous experiments with insecticides for the destruction
of the larvae and the eggs are reported by Mr. Beckman, but all
without encouraging results. Unless the period of oviposition
is so long as to make preventive measures impracticable, it is
probable that the washes of soap, soda, carbolic acid and the
like, which protect the apple tree against the common borers,
may be used to advantage on the plum in summer as a defence
against this new enemy.*

DESCRIPTION.

Larva — The general appearance of this larva is that of a dusky,
somewhat hairy caterpillar, paler beneath, with reddish brown
head, darker in the middle, and a paler, variegated cervical
shield.

Principal hairs conspicuously long and slender. The head is
brown, with a lateral black blotch behind the eyes, smooth, much
darker on the slightly depressed frontal area, this bordered by
depressed black sutures, outside which, at a little distance, is a

* I have found mention of the larval habits of only two other species of the genus
(both exotic), one (E. cinerosella) living on wormwood (Artemisia) in Europe, and the
other (E. zellerella) bred from dates.

244 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

V-shaped fine white line. Antennae three-jointed: first joint
very large, broadly conical; second thick oval, with a very long,
stout hair at outer side of tip ; the third minute. Ocelli five,
black, placed behind the antennae, in a curve opening down-
ward.

Labrum broadly emarginate, with rounded lobes. Maxillae
and labium pale beneath, with dark sutures, strongly contrasting
with adjacent parts of head. Mala and palpi brown. Labial
palpi minute. Maxillary palpi three-jointed, large; first joint
nearly as thick as the palpiger, and about as broad as long;
second joint cylindrical, width two-thirds the length; third joint
tapering, about two-thirds as long as the second.

Body with six conspicuous rows of long, pale hairs, longest on
the posterior segments, one hair of each row to each segment,
each borne on a minute black pilif erous tubercle scarcely as large
as the spiracle. One row above spiracles, another equally dis-
tant below, and two subdorsal rows. Other smaller hairs irreg-
ularly distributed.

Cervical shield yellow, smooth, with a few scattered hairs and
two curved brown blotches, one on each side, separated by a
yellow median spot. Anal plate coriaceous, brown, heart-shaped,
with six long stout hairs at its posterior margin. Posterior seg-
ments without spines or tubercles at hinder margin, differing
here from the peach borer. Spiracles black, nearly circular,
anterior pair but little larger than the remaining eight, last pair
not exceeding the eighth in size.

Thoracic legs pale reddish brown externally, paler within,
with dusky tips. Each proleg except the last pair with a com-
plete close circlet of large hooks, and several smaller ones be-
sides, and also a horny black central disk or tubercle within the
ring. Last pair with a single half circlet of very strong, close-
set hooks.

Imago — Expanse 20 to 25 mm. Head and thorax dusky gray,
with bright bronze reflections. Abdomen similar, and also
brightly bronzed, but with edges of segments pale. Fore wings
light gray with brownish red and black markings. Posterior two-
thirds of basil field brownish red with scattered reddish scales
along the costa also, the reddish tint deepest along the middle of
the wing. Basal line near the middle of the wing, white, some-
times obsolete posteriorly, making, when complete, two external,
and three internal angles. Middle field black mixed with gray,
except at posterior margin, where it is largely suffused with red-
dish orown. White scales usually forming distinct discal spot,
in one case broadly ringed with black. Outer line variable, wnen
distinct with two internal and one external angles. Commonly
distinctly bordered with black within, and followed without by a
reddish shade (except near costa, where this merges in black)
which is broadly bordered by light gray. A marginal black line,

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 245

commonly broken by the veins. Fringe dusky, with white line
at base. Hind wings smoky, with black marginal line and dusky
veins, and fringe with white basal line followed by a dusky band,
beyond which it is paler. Surface of hind wings considerably
bronzed, the fore wings less so. Beneath wings fuscous bronzed.
Outer field of fore wings somewhat paler; hind wings gradually
darkening outward.

Antenna? dark; proboscis gray; palpi dusky bronzed.

Described from twelve Illinois specimens.

Distribution — Columbia, S. A., (Zeller), Florida, Texas, Illi-
nois, Colorado, Utah, Washington, pretty general throughout
the eastern United States and Canada. (Hulst).

LITERATURE.

The species was first described in 1863 as Nephopteryx semi
funeralis by Walker in the British Museum Catalogue, Part 27,

S. 58; and again in 1882 according to a note kindly sent me by
Ir. Hulst, as Euzophera impletella, Zeller,* this description
being based on specimens from Columbia, S. A. In this country
it was described by Hulst in 1887 in Entomologica Americana
(vol. Ill, p. 137) as Stenoptycha palluleUa.

The original description of the genus was given by Heinemann
under the name Stenoptycha, in 1865, in his work on the Lepid-
optera of Germany and Switzerland§, but as this generic name
was pre-occupied by Zellert, the genus was re-christened Melia
by Heinemann, on a later page of the same workt. Melia proved
however, also to be pre-occupiedH , as noted by Zeller in 1867, and
the current Euzophera was then finally proposed.

THE FRUIT BARK BEETLE.

/Scolytus rugulosus, Rtzb; order, Coleoptera; family, Scoly-
lidoe. It is now quite generally understood that Columbus was
not the only European discoverer of America, certain Icelanders
and Norwegians, at any rate, having found our shores before his
time. The entomologist, also, knows that this continent has
been many times discovered since by adventurers from the Old
World, none of them aware of the successes of the other; and it
is now my duty to report upon one of these insect explorers
which has recently found its way across the sea, and has also dis-
covered by experiment that the plum, peach, pear and apple

•Hort. Soc. Ent. Ross., Vol. XVI, (1882) page 234.

§Die Schmetterlinge Deutsclilands und der Schweiz, page 190 (1805).

tStett. Ent. Zeit., 18(53, page 154. Zeller's use of this name for a genus of Pterophoridaa
is also illegitimate, as it has already been applied by Agassiz to a Medusa. (Contr. N,
H. Amer, Vol. II, page 149. 1SB2.)

t 1 c. p. 209.

ITUsed previously in Muscidaj, Pyralidae, Crustacea, Mollusca and botany.

246 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

trees of the New World are not less healthful and delightful food
than those of its native home. This modern Columbus made its
advent here so modestly, and with so little disturbance to those it
found already in possession, that its very presence was not ob-
served until it had spread, quite gradually, along our eastern
border.

It was first reported in America eleven years ago from Elmira,
New York, where it had begun operations as a peach bark beetle;
and in 1880 it was again mentioned as from Fair Haven, New
Jersey, where it had for several years destroyed all the cherry,
peach and plum trees set out on a particular lot. It was also
noticed at about the same time in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania,
and in the District of Columbia, as a cherry pest. In Maryland
it had attacked the peach, and last year its work on the apple in
Virginia was reported by Dr. Lintner, State Entomologist of
New York. I can find no published mention of its occurrence
west of these tide-water States.

In Illinois it was first detected by us in June, 1888, at Albion,,
in Edwards county, burrowing the twigs of cherry trees; and
next it came to us from Villa Ridge, Pulaski county, where Mr.
Geo. W. Endicott had noticed it in the trunks and larger
branches of the Chickasaw Plum. In the Old World, besides the
trees mentioned, it has been found injurious to the quince.

The method of its injury is well shown by the plum branch sent
me by Mr. Endicott, the bark of which is profusely perforated
with small holeb scarcely larger than pin pricks, thickest on the-
old leaf scars, but about equally distributed elsewhere. The bark
is everywhere completely undermined by rather regular galleries
made by the female beetle, which excavates the bark for the
deposit of her eggs, and continued by the larvse, which live upon
the inner layers of the bark and the outer parts of the sap wood.

According to the European accounts of its life history, the
adult beetle emerges from the tree and begins to lay its eggs in
May, and the female, penetrating the bark and mining beneath
it, lays eggs to right and left as she goes. The young larva?, as
they hatch, move out in parallel lines, completely deadening the
bark as far as their work extends. Observations in this country
throw some doubt upon this life history, and make it seem prob-
able that there are two broods, the beetles emerging in early
spring, but upon this point I am not yet prepared to report.

The adults have wings, but seem not to use them freely, since
the local spread of the species has been very slow so far as no-
ticed. Our breeding cage observations go to show that the beetle
often re-enters the same branch from which it has just emerged,,
though this may be thoroughly dead and dry.

The number of kinds of fruit trees which it may destroy, and
the thorough-going character of its work, make this an insect
well worth watching ; and the fact that it distributes its attack

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 247

over the entire tree, from the main trunk to the smaller twigs,
makes it probably impossible to reach it by washes or to dislodge
it by hand, or, indeed, to save a tree which is once infested by it.
Prompt destruction of all such trees, so as to destroy the insect
with them, seems the only measure worth discussing Unques-
tionably, whatever the details of the life history may prove to be,
infested trees cut up and burned in winter will contain the beetle
in some one or more of its stages.

ARSENICAL POISONS FOR THE PLUM AND PEACH CURCULIO.

The following report of results of my recent experimental work
on the common peach curculio is intended to correct and com-
plete a reporter's summary of remarks made in August, 1888, at
a meeting of the Central Illinois Horticultural Society, at Cham-
paign, as republished in the last report of the U. S. Entomolo-
gist, page 75. The experiments there alluded to were not gen-
eralized by me, but were described as merely preliminary to
a much more elaborate series which I have since carried
through.

The object of these experiments has been to ascertain some
details of the food and feeding habits of the curculio. and to test
its sensibility to arsenic poisons when distributed on the trees
which the insect frequents. In the case of the peach, it was im-
portant also to find what amount of these poisons the leaves,
might receive without marked injury.

FEEDING EXPERIMENTS.

June 15, 1888, plum curculios confined with plum leaves,
June 16, one observed making a deep, sharp, oblong excavation
in the midrib; similar work on other midribs, petioles and stems.
Beetles, also seen gnawing the surfaces of the leaves, especially
the fresher terminal ones. Leaves removed, and green plums-
substituted. June 19, plums peppered with holes, some contain-
ing eggs, others not. July 2, fresh lot of beetles imprisoned
with both leaves and green plums. The next day both had been
eaten, the plums perhaps the more freely.

Several examples taken April 14, 1889, before peach trees were
in bloom, were proven by dissection to have last fed on dead
vegetation, as shown by the absence of chlorophyl and the pres-
ence of some of the fungi of decomposition. Curculios confined
April 19, with both dead and living peach leaves, fed only on the
latter, not having touched the dead leaves at the end of
three days. Peach blossoms being placed in the cage, with fresh
leaves also, April 22, both were freely eaten at once, the blos-
soms being, however, evidently preferred. Both calyx and

248 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

corolla were perforated with small round holes, and eaten away
from the edge.

Three specimens taken in Southern Illinois were dissected
April 23, and found to contain vegetable tissues, chiefly of leaves
(as shown by the fragments of spiral vessels), without fungi, and
with more or less chloryphyl. Vegetable hairs and peculiar
pollen grains, not those of fruit blossoms, were also recog-
nized.

Thinking it possible that the curculio might feed on flowers
somewhat indiscriminately, we put a number under a bell glass
with roses in full bloom. The next day, May 19, the petals were
much eaten, and two days later, calyx and peduncles had likewise
been attacked. The rose leaves were not injured. When rose
blooms and peach leaves together were offered the imprisoned
beetles, they fed freely on both.

Again, May 23, curculios were confined with both bush honey-
suckles and snowballs in blossom. The next day the honeysuckle
blossoms were eaten, and on the second day those of the snow-
ball also. On the other hand, beetles shut up with peach leaves
and peony flowers, ate the peach at once, as usual, but refused
the peony entirely, not having eaten it at all after ten days.

INSECTICIDE EXPERIMENTS.

•

My first experience with insecticides for the curculio alone
were made July 6, 1888. Two lots were placed under glass, with
leaves and green fruit of the plum, the food of one being
sprayed with Paris Green, one pound to fifty gallons of water,
and the other not. The first beetle died in the poisoned jot
July 9, and the next day all were dead, the check lot continuing
without loss. July 28 a similar experiment was made with Paris
Green, one pound to one hundred gallons, applied until the
leaves began to drip. The poisoned beetles commenced to die
the next day, and five of the six were dead on the 31st. In the
check lot of six, on the other hand, only one was dead.

An experiment begun with one pound to 200 gallons was
unavoidably suspended in two days, before results were
reached.

Next, April 19, 1889, a lot of curculios, greatly exhausted by
long confinement in transit, were divided into five lots — the first,
of twenty-four, a check; the second and third, of twelve each,
the fourth, of nine, and the fifth of twelve. The food of the
second lot was treated with Paris Green mixed with water at a
rate of one pound to one hundred gallons; that of the third, with
a pound to 200 gallons; the fourth, a pound to 300, and the fifth,
a pound to 500 gallons.

The previous hardships of the check lot caused many of
them to die, most of them having been insensible, in fact, when

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS

249

first released ; but the effects of the poisons were nevertheless
evident, as shown by the subjoined table:

Paris Green Experiment No. 1, April 19, 18S9.

Check lot. 1 lb. to 100 gals.

1 lb. to 200 gals.

1 lb. to 300 gals.

lib to 500 gals.

Died.

Number used, Number used,
24. 12.

Number used,
12.

Number used,
9.

Number used,
12.

Apl. 22
23

3

3

1
2

2

2

2

2

2

3

24
25

i

2
2

1

3
4
2

1
3

26

3

1

27

2 2

1

1

1

29

2

1

1

Total-

10

1

12

. 9| ' 12

May 4, this experiment was repeated with a fresher lot of
beetles, with more marked results, curculios commencing to die
two days after treatment in all the poisoned lots but one, all of
one lot being dead in nine days, and in ten days, all of every
poisoned lot but a single beetle. In the check lot, meanwhile,
only one had died.

Paris

Green Experiment No. 2, May 4, 1889.

Check lot.

1 lb. to 100 gals.

lib. to 200 gals.

1 lb. to 300 gals. 1 lb. to 500 gals.

Died.

Number used
12.

Number used
12.

Number used
12.

Number used
22.

Number used
22.

May 6.

O

O

1
1
2
3
1

2

1

" 7

4
2

2

" 8..

2

1

" 9.

3
1

3
4
6

2
1

3

" 10..
" 11

1

4
4

" 13

4

5

" 14-

1

1

Total....

1

12

12

22 j 21

In both the above experiments, as also in the following, peach
leaves were used as food, and these were sprayed but once.

All strengths of the poison mixture here killed the beetles feed-
ing on it, the difference being seen in the rapidity with which
they took effect. In four days from poisoning, the ratios killed
were forty-two per cent, in lot two, thirty-three per cent, in lot

250

TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

three, twenty-seven per cent, in lot four, and eighteen per cent,
in lot five.

Finally, May 17, a still more extensive experiment was begun
with London Purple, 347 curcuhos being divided into five lots, as
before, their treatment diifering from that of the foregoing only
in the substitution of London Purple for Paris Green. The results
were rendered, however, somewhat less satisfactory by the late-
ness of the season, which probably accounts for the number of
deaths in the check. Other parallel observations led to the con-
clusion that spent adults, doubtless the earliest to emerge, were
already beginning to die spontaneously. The experiment was
continued for eight days, when all the curculios of the first lot
were dead, and nearly all of the other poisoned lots, a fourth of
the check having also perished.

London Purple Ex

periment, May 17, 1889.

Check lot.

lib. 'to lOUgals.

1 lb. to 200 gals.

lib. to 300 gals.

1 lb to 500 gals.

Died.

Number used,
47.

Number used
100.

Number used
100.

Number used
50.

Number used
50.

May 19..

35
18
18
10
5
6

37
19
10
11

7
5

16

12

" 20-

4 6

" 21-

" 22

1

2 4
9 10

" 23-
" 24..

5
4

7
3

8
5

Total...

10

92

89

411 45

EFFECT ON THE FOLIAGE.

It is well known to fruit growers that the leaves of the peach
are much more sensitive to the scorching effect of the arsenical
poisons than those of the apple or plum, and it is important to
know just how strong a mixture of the common arsenical insecti-
cides that tree will bear under favorable, and also under unfavor-
able, conditions. My experiments on this point are incomplete,
but they are given here for what they are worth :

First, two branches of a peach tree were sprayed, May 18,
with London Purple mixtures, a pound to 100 and a pound to 200
gallons, respectively. A week later no noticeable difference
could be made out between the condition of the two branches, the
tips of the leaves in both being somewhat deadened and dry.
May 20 identical applications were made, with no apparent effect
on the foliage by May 22. Heavy rains followed, and no further
observations were made.

June 6, two other branches were sprayed as before. A heavy
rain followed June 8, and more upon the 9th. On the 10th, the

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 251

effects of the poison were somewhat apparent on both branches,
reddish discolorations occurring where the fluid had gathered in
drops, and also along the margins of the younger leaves. Further
rains occurred on the 16th and 17th. On the 18th, the discolored
spots had increased in size, those on the branch sprayed with the
stronger solution being somewhat larger and more numerous. No
leaves had fallen, but those worst affected were easily detached,
and doubtless would have fallen eventually. This loosening of
the leaves was evidently due, not to damage to the petiole, but to
premature ripening of the leaf, * consequent on the chemical
injury to the blade. June 8, two other branches were sprayed as
before, substituting Paris Green for London Purple in both
mixtures. Light rain followed the same day, and more on the
9th. On the 10th a scorching of the leaves was somewhat
evident, a little more so where the stronger mixture was used,
while on the 18th the condition of the foliage was practically the
same as on those branches treated with London Purple — if any-
thing, a little less severely injured. There was also a barely per-
ceptible difference in favor of the weaker mixture. Supposing
that all the worst injured leaves were rendered practically useless
to the tree, the loss of foliage would probably amount to four or
five per cent.

There can certainly be no further question of the liability of
the curculio to poisoning by very moderate amounts of either
London Purple or Paris Green while feeding on the leaves and
fruit of peach or plum; but much additional experiment is
needed to test the possibility of preventing serious injury to these
fruits by this means. The pupal hibernation and late appearance
of a considerable per centage of, the curculios make it possible
that sprayings must be several times repeated, and perhaps car-
ried further into the season than is consistent with safety ; and
the limit of tolerance of these poisons by the peach under ordi-
narily trying circumstances has not been clearly ascertained.
Further, the observations above reported on the food plants of the
curculio make it likely that, in nature, a smaller proportion of
the food of these beetles comes from the peach or the plum than
has hitherto seemed probable, and that poisons there applied
would kill less certainly. It seems worth while to make the
attempt to attract the adult to flowering plants in the orchard
other than the peach, with the hope of poisoning it there
(especially late in the season) without using these dangeious
insecticides on fruits afterwards to be eaten.

DISCUSSION.

Dr. Schroeder— I am afraid that there may be danger to the
land, connected with the use of arsenical poisons. Is it not pos-

♦Ascertained by studying sections of the petiole.

252 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

sible that trees and plants may absorb the poison in sufficient
quantities to be dangerous?

Prof. Forbes — Prof. McMurtrie mixed arsenic with earth in a
flower pot, and grew potatoes in this poisoned earth, but a care-
ful analysis failed to show the least trace of poison.

Mr. Doan — Why do we not find the thrip in our strawberry
plantation this year?

Prof. Forbes— We find plenty of them at Champaign.

Dr. Schroeder — Does not the poverty of the soil have some-
thing to do with this insect question?

Prof. Forbes — All insects do more injury where the soil is
poor.

Mr. Minier — I think that we have learned that a rich soil and
careful, thorough cultivation is the best preventative against in-
sect depredations.

On motion of Mr. Schureman, it was decided to fix the hours
of meeting at 10 a. m. and 2 and 7:30 p. m.

o

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Mr. Hursey — I think that the speakers got the cherry a little
mixed this morning. The wild red cherry is probably a valuable
stock, but the black is of little value.

Mr. Minier — The wild red cherry is rarely found as far north
as this, but I have found it growing in Scott County. If Mr. Gas-
ton has found a stock that will succeed as well as he thinks this
will, we owe him a vote of thanks.

Mr. Gaston — Arthur Bryant, Sr., speaks of this cherry as a val-
uable stock, and we have two at Lacon that are doing well on it.
We, therefore, think it the coming stock.

PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS.

BY C. K. DENNIS, HAMILTON.

Another year has rolled around, the time for our annual meet-
ing has arrived and finds me booked for an address. In order to
attend the meeting I came from a distance, and was much im-
pressed with the beauty of the country. Looking as far as
one could see, the eye was met with field after field of wav-

SOCIETY OP CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 253

ing grain, dotted here and there with horses and cattle, orchards
and groves, and tasty houses from which children were going to
school. And if we could look within I trust we would find
books, magazines and music. I could but think, why should any
one who has a home in Illinois leave it for Oklahoma or Florida,
and I said to myself unless Paradise is on earth one need not leave
Illinois to search for Elysian fields.

But let us return to the subject of the meeting. The members
of this Society are from New England, Ohio, Indiana and Ken-
tucky, and as a matter of course each one remembers his favor-
ite fruits, and it has taken years to convince them that the trees
so good at home could be a failure in Illinois : and thus the first
lesson in horticulture in Illinois was to unlearn the lessons learned
at home, and when the trees began to succumb they began to cry
out that horticulture in Illinois was a failure. The adage that
"experience is a dear school," is just as true now as ever, but
what remedy can we urge? — Systematic experience with thor-
ough results. The State Board asked for an appropriation and
failed, but tried again and with favorable results. The State
Board may outline work, but tests must come from producers.
The Board must look well to what experiments they undertake.
While the State Societies have their work to do, the local So-
cieties also have their part, and in every state why might we not
have a monthly report to the State Society? The Grange was
a good thing in some ways, but when they turned into bankers
and railroad men, they killed the goose that laid the golden egg.

But I am taking up your time, and will close, asking every one
to help make this a profitable meeting.

On motion, Mr. Minier, Mr. Browne and Mr. Vickroy were ap-
pointed a committee on the President's Address.

EXPERIMENTAL HORTICULTURE.

BY PROF. T. J. BURRILL, CHAMPAIGN.

Horticulture is by no means a modern art, if we use the word
in a very general sense, for every nation and people of which
history tells have appreciated fruits if not flowers, the edible
things of a garden if not the ornamental features of a lawn and
of a landscape. Many of the kinds of plants we cultivate were
in use at the dawn of history. Of the origin of quite a number
of them we are still ignorant, no wild specimens of them having
ever been known to civilized man. Onions, and beans, and cab-
bages, oranges, and apples and grapes had an existence as culti-
vated plants before letters were invented, and before man as an
individual had legal possession of land. There were, too, in the
remote past, enthusiasts in the appreciation and admiration of
the plants to which we owe the existence of our society and

254 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

largely on account of which we assemble to-day. No references
in regard to material things occur earlier in ancient history than
those concerning the lily and the rose; and no one to-day shows
a livelier appreciation of their beauty than some of earth's ear-
liest poets. The Romans upon festive occasions made profuse
use of flowers, some of which were brought in ships from distant
places to be strewn on the streets before the returning hero from
the bloody fields of battle. Cleopatra gave entertainments with
the floors of her palaces covered thick with roses. The gardens
and olive groves were sacred places when Christ was upon earth,
and in the stretch of ages before Noah planted a vineyard, Cain,
the first born, became a tiller of the ground.

Yet horticulture, as we know it, is a modern art. Especially
is it true in our country that great attention has been paid to it
only in the last half century. The men are mostly still living
who were pioneers in American horticulture as a business, and
one whom we all recognize as the father of landscape and decor-
ative gardening in our country was born in Newburgh, N. Y., in
1815. There was not even a nursery which we would call worthy
of being cited before the beginning of the present century.

James Vick began his seed business in 1855, carrying his little
papers to the post-office in a basket upon his arm.

Peter Henderson came to the United States in 1840 and wrote
his first book in 1866 — " Gardening for Profit."

The Ellwanger and Barry partnership — the real beginning of
the great nurseries near Rochester, N. Y., — was formed in
1840.

William Prince's Treatise on Horticulture, published in
1798, is said to be the first upon the general subject printed in
America.

The first State Horticultural Society was founded in 1829, and
that at the outset for the purpose of purchasing and keeping up
Mount Auburn cemetery near Boston.

Hovey's Magazine, the first distinctively horticultural peri-
odical in America, was begun in 1835. Downing's Horticulturist
in 1846. The first article in the former is about pears in which
twenty-three varieties are named, among them the Bartlett, and
of this it is said, "The two trees growing in the garden of E.
Bartlett, Esq., Roxbury, from which have originated all the
trees in this vicinity were selected in England in 1799. * * *
It is very singular that no other person (to my knowledge) has
imported and fruited this variety in the country."

In the first volume of Downing's Horticulturist is a critique
by H. W. Beecher, on a controversy between Mr. Longworth of
Cincinnati and C. M. Hovey of Boston, running from 1842 to
1846 in the magazine of the last named gentleman, upon the
question as to whether strawberries were ever sexually distinct,
and so whether it was ever worth while to plant two kinds near

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 255

V

each other for the purpose of proper fertilization. The reviewer
pronounces strongly in favor of Mr. Longworth and the neces-
sity of planting fertilizers with special (pistillate) kinds.

Without attempting to even summarize the progress that has
been made during the last half century in our country in hor-
ticultural science and art, it may be asserted that this progress
has been exceedingly great. During this time nearly all existing
societies and associations like our own have been formed; nearly
all horticultural business enterprises of which we know have
sprung into existence. Before this time no markets were
regularly supplied with horticultural products, and few families
thought of buying, except as rare luxuries, fruits for the table
or flowers for decorative purposes. The trade in perishable
fruits and garden producls to-ctay — this day — is greater than that
of the whole country during Washington's administration of
eight years. This statement is not based upon actual figures,
but is, nevertheless, readily believed. Marvelous advance has
been made both in the materials of tne art and in the popular
appreciation of its products. Ours is a day of intense horticul-
tural activity, such as never before was witnessed in any age or
country, if we judge by the number of men and women employed
and the total aggregate of sales made. I will not pronounce so
confidently upon having so much more love for and interest in
the work for its own sake, so much better and fuller recognition
of the beauties and charms connected therewith, than had our
fathers and mothers a generation ago, or even than had the an-
cients when architecture was young and when the trades of the
tailor and dress-maker were unknown. We certainly are not
devoid of a sense of the luscious savor of fruit nor of the sweet
fragrance of flowers. Happy they who confine profitable busi-
ness and a high taste for the pure and beautiful in the daily
association with trees, and vines, and herbs and flowers —
Nature's bounties and benedictions, art's treasures and triumphs.

The interests and delights in horticulture being thus universal
with man in time and space, during all time and in every land,
the art being old as well as new, but new emphatically in the
extent of its practice, and especially in our country new in a
business way, with every indication of wide and great increase
in the amount of financial transactions connected therewith,
coupled with the rapidly increasing ability of our people to pay
for the gratification of taste and the indulgence in luxuries, and
above all the growing habit of all classes and grades of Ameri-
cans to make daily use of the products of the fruit plantations,
gardens and greenhouses, all serve to impress upon our minds
the unmeasured importance of experiments and investigations
tending to improve in every feasible way the practice and ma-
terials of the high-born art and new-born business. Progress in-
deed has been made in the past, but when we review the

256 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

methods by which this has been mostly accomplished, and with-
this inquire into the possibilities remaining for more exact and
more enlightening studies, we gain expectations and hopes un-
surpassed in any of the callings or avocations of man. As horti-
cultural science and art have been improved within our memo-
ries, so in the near future may we confidently look for advances
proportioned to the attention and ability bestowed upon them.
In the recent establishment of endowed experiment stations we
certainly have hopes of better studies opening the way to more
direct and better founded progress. Tnese stations will, by no
means, do all the work to be done. Amateurs and lovers of art
will hereafter, as heretofore, have open eyes, deft hands, and
warm hearts, prime essentials in labors of this kind. Indeed it
is to the general interest for, and love in the pursuit upon which
we must, after all, base our main dependence for progress,
rather than in labors of government employes, however faithful
these latter may be. Certainly private individuals must not
and will not relax their efforts because of the establishment of
stations whose business it is to experiment. One cannot take
the place of the other, neither should the latter be allowed to
usurp if they could, the privileges and opportunities of the
former. Our other functions and faculties know hunger as well
as those of the stomach. As we never hope to be able to have
others eat for us, so we should never ask others to observe and
think for us. Let each member of our organization become
filled full of the idea that if he wants to keep up his interest and
enjoyment in horticulture, he must establish in himself and for
himself an experiment station and keep it running whether or
not men are hired on salary to do work of similar character.
Let us also be well possessed of the idea that advance must come
in the future as in the past from amateur and voluntary efforts,
that the government stations are to stimulate this rather than
discourage and interfere, if the most good ia to be secured.

What then, we may inquire, is the proper aim and function of
the new experiment stations in regard to horticulture?

Without pretense of being exhaustive and without descending
to details I venture an answer. Before this, however, let
me say that nothing need be excluded in this station work. Any-
thing whatever, may be undertaken of which there is reasonable
prospect of usefulness, provided that the time and strength of
the establishment is not frittered away or prevented from accom-
plishing its more important ends. No fear need be entertained
that its efforts to advance in any line' will clash with those of pri-
vate individuals striving in the same race. The track is wide
and long, room enough for all contestants. But the stations can
do some things better than can be done by individuals. To these
they should first and foremost direct their attention, letting,
others take second place.

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 257

1st. The stations should undertake things too unwieldy from
any cause for accomplishment by individuals. Under this head
come those that cost too much for ordinary private enterprise,
those that necessarily run so long a course as to discourage indi-
vidual attempts, those that by reason of complexity of details
cannot be well done in any other way.

As an example, I name experiments in timber-tree plantation
— groves for shelter and ornament and trees for summer firewood
may be tested by any farmer, but to make a valuable addition to
present knowledge in growing in quantity trees for general or
special purposes as timber, requires too much outlay of money,
and too long a course of watching and waiting for private means
and private patience. Yet it is a matter of prime importance
that such knowledge be secured, and when secured may be util-
ized by the hundreds and thousands who could not find out the
facts for themselves. Contrast with this the competitive tests
between two varieties of strawberries, or, if you please, between
dozens of varieties upon the same soil and conditions. Two
years may be sufficient for this, while for the former a half cen-
tury would be a short time. Again, one experiment carefully
completed may be practically sufficient for the State and century,
while, however, through the latter trial the same kind of thing
would be needed in a large number of places and at constantly
recurring short intervals of time. Supposing abundant tests
had been made a few years ago between Hovey's Seedling, Bos-
ton Pine and Longworth Prolific, how much would these tests be
worth now? With varieties of apples the illustration would not
hold so well, but I have little doubt other things can easily be
found more specially germane to the station in contrast with the-
individual theory, comparing varieties of anything, important as-
this is acknowledged to be.

2nd. This station should make prominent in its work those-
things which require for their successful prosecution kinds andr
amounts of apparatus and other equipments not usually poss-
essed by private parties. To this end the purchase of costly in-
struments by the station ought not to be considered extravagance.,
provided that by their use important ends can be reached.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Gaston — Professor Burrill has advanced some excellent
thoughts. We must advance, and only by carefully conducted
experiments can we learn the value of any new variety of fruit.
Individual experiments should be encouraged, as they will render
valuable aid to the public stations.

Mr. Minier — Horace Mann once told me that in Prussia and
Germany the roads were lined with fruit trees. The passer-by
—18

258 TRANSACTIONS OE THE HORTICULTURAL

was allowed to gather the fallen fruit, but that which ripened on
the trees was sold.

Dr. Schroeder — I hope sometime to see the idea of planting
fruit trees by the roadside carried out in this country. When in
Germany some years ago, I was pleased to find the roads in per-
fect condition, with grassy sides, and planted with fruit trees
sixteen feet apart. The fruit of these trees was annually sold at
auction and the money it brought kept the roads in good repair.
A wonderful work has been done there in improving and orna-
menting them. No weeds are allowed to grow, and insects hav-
ing no place to harbor do not increase rapidly. Every teacher
there has a special education for his business and is expected to
continue it through life. He earns at first, perhaps, a hundred
dollars a year, after a few. years perhaps two hundred, and after
he has taught a few years longer he is appointed minister of
education. These teachers are required to teach the natural
sciences, and take their pupils to the field to study Botany, En-
tomology, &c.

NEW FRUITS.

BY E. K. m'kIKXEY, LACON.

The subject I have chosen is not only broad and deep, but
significant at this time, and although I may not say anything
new, perhaps I may impart a little of my enthusiasm to some
one else, and that will double the great factor in the production
of new fruits. We are undoubtedly entering on a new era in
fruit growing, and it will be well to stop and take a retrospective
view of the field. Forty or fifty years years ago the great cry
was, " We can't grow fruit in this part of Illinois and the West;"
and tree planters were scarce, and only a few were bold enough
to lock issues with the unfavorable outlook, and plant here and
there an orchard, or a few peach and cherry trees, and these only
along the timber belts. The timorous ones looked on, shook
their heads and said, " You'll see, they're throwing away their
time and money, only to reap disappointment and failure." But
it was not so. Failure did not prove the end of it, for success
came to nearly all of these early planters, and there was a more
hopeful outlook than at first, and men began to multiply their
orchards on the face of the Illinois prairies, and fruit became
more plentiful and reasonably cheap, and they got careless and
thought that all they had to do was to plant an orchard and turn
the pigs in and let it go, and the fruit would come almost of
itself. But a change comes; the old orchards that were planted
and cared for by the few early ones, became of age and declined

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 259

in productiveness, which together with the go-as-you-please
system of the later planters, and a succession of unfavorable
seasons, is again causing the cry that you " can't grow fruit in
the West," and this brings us to the issue before us. Now, how
can we do better than to investigate the field of new fruits?
Every one will admit that there is a demand for fruits better
suited to our climate, in all the different species and kinds which
we try to grow, and we do but try, in a great measure, for our
failures are more numerous than our successes.

If we look around at our orchards we shall see that a great
number of the kinds we have tried are found wanting. A few of
the varieties of forty or fifty years ago still give us a little fruit,
but orchards of that age are fast becoming numbered with the
past, and the few varieties that remain we do not consider good
enough or productive enough to be utilized by our present tree
planters. Of new apples how few there are that till a place in
our needs.

Have Walbridge, or Pewaukee, or Wealthy, or any of the
newer apples that are before the public, come up to the expec-
tations of the planters? Of course the nurserymen trumpeted
their praise, but where are the great orchards, bending under
their loads of fruit that these "Climate-proof" sorts were to
produce? And when the whole parade of new apples shall have
been tried in the crucible, shall we have anything more reliable
than the Winter Pennock,Vandcvere Pippin, Yellow Belleflower
or Rawle's Janet? And if we do go over to the Russians we get
nothing better than the Willow Twig in quality, and not half so
good in tree, for if the winters do not kill them, the insinuating
blight does, so then in spite of all the hue and cry about all the
new and hardy varieties of apple, we are succeeding in bringing
forth failures as often as ever we did. I tell you the outlook of
the apple problem is not good, and unless something happens
we shall be obliged to import our apples from more favored
climes. It is not my intention to give anyone the " blues," but
let us open our eyes to the situation and make a beginning in the
direction of raising new sorts.

Of course, anyone is ready to adopt any new fruit that is
brought and forced upon their attention, if they can be made to
see good in it. But did it ever occur to very many of our fruit
planters that perhaps they might be able to originate something
new in the way of new fruit themselves, for somebody else to
" catch on" to? Now that this can be done and how, I will try
to set forth :

Take a bushel of Yellow Belleflower, or other good apples. I
mentioned the Yellow Belleflower from the fact that the flowers
are imperfect, or lack pollen under certain circumstances, and
consequently its seeds is more likely to be crossed with some
other sort, and consequently more likely to sport, as it is called,

260 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

ie., more likely to differ from the original. Now pick out twenty
or thirty of the best specimens of this bushel of apples and save
their seeds. Do not let the seeds get dry, but keep in damp soil,
or sow them at once, and when the young plants appear, very
carefully tend them so that they will grow strong, and if growth
enough is made you may get cions to graft in the next spring
after sowing the seed, and if these grafts are made in bearing
trees, you may be tolerably sure of getting fruit the fourth year,
or even sooner. My plan would be to let these seedlings grow
two years, at which time a tolerable clever nurseryman or or-
chardist could be able to select the good sorts from them. Now
this is not "guess work." I know of an orchard that was grown
from seed in the manner above described which, I verily believe
has more good, hardy trees, and more good, fine large apples in
it than an orchard of the same size, and planted with the same
number of varieties selected out of the named varieties, would
bear. What has been done can be done again, and improved
upon too. The same course proposed for the improvement of
the apple can be pursued for the improvement of other fruits.
A continual breaking into habits and characteristics will cause
changes to take place that cannot be arrived at by any sudden
process, and if it is a fact, as some claim, that the plum and
peach have been hybridized, the door has already been unlocked
that shall open to the touch of the skillful hand that shall have
the boldness to enter its almost sacred portals, and I say all
honor to him who shall give us the first lesson. Poets sing and
great men write about the mighty pen, but who is able to fore-
see the mighty changes that may be wrought by the subtle touch
of the experimenter's tiny pollen brush? A dip in the pollen of
this species and a touch of the brush to the stigma of that flower
and lo ! a change in nature has occurred that may change whole
districts of fruitless lands into ruddy orchards or fruitful vine-
yards. Truly the pen is mighty, but the little pollen brush con-
ducted by the same ingenious mind can produce mightier results
for man's blessing, and is not so dangerous to his peace and hap-
piness.

Leaving the apples, the next most important fruit, in my
opinion, is the strawberry. A great jump from the high-headed,
lordly apple down to the lowly, grovelling strawberry. But stop
a minute and try your hardy apple tree mettle with the ice-defy-
ing strawberry. Let old winter blow ever so fiercely, and shut
down ever so firmly, with his icy grasp, the strawberry, if prop-
erly mulched, comes forth unscathed, while if even the Kus-
sians are not hedged in with a well ripened growth they will
show their weakness in their wrestle with old Boreas. But what
of the improvements in this best of all natures, which we call
small fruits? Are we getting ahead any, or was the Wilson the
limit? Verily it has taken a long time to beat it, if it has been

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 261

•done. Why, they raise good Wilsons yet, and yet I never grow
it to my satisfaction, but it's a grand starter if we only take ad-
vantage of its best condition.

A dozen Wilson plants and a dozen plants of, say Bubach 's
No. 5 planted together and you have conditions for producing
seed that will be a mixture or cross of these two sorts, for you
see the Wilson will furnish the pollen and the Bubach the pistil,
and so the change in nature occurs, and possibly an overturning
of old systems of strawberry growing. I will give a little experi-
ence that may keep others from making the same mistake that I
made twenty or thirty years ago. I thought I had struck the
right track. We did not have the large Distillates like the Bu-
l>ach and a few others we have now, but had to content ourselves
with such sorts as Green Prolific, Russell's Prolific, Hovey, etc.
In trying my experiment, I reasoned that if I planted Wilson
and Green's Prolific (pistillate) together, I should be likely to
have a cross of the two sorts. So I planted ten or a dozen pair
of the different sorts, a pistillate and a staminate in isolated
spots, so that the pistillate should not be fertillized by pollen
from any other sort but the one I had chosen. But my experi-
ment was a failure, from the fact that some of the plants did not
bloom at all, while in other cases the two sorts did not bloom at
the same time. Then there were not enough pollen producers to
furnish pollen enough at the right time, so I did not get a single
good berry in all my little patches. You see I had not learned
the power of the little pollen brush.

Experiment No. 2. A dozen years ago I planted a patch of
seedling strawberry plants, perhaps fifty different varieties.
When they came into bearing I could pick as many quarts and as
fine berries, that would average up in size of berry with a patch
of the same size and planted with the same number of sorts of
the same named varieties. So you can see that we need not lose
money in trying seedlings.

One more experiment. In the fall of 1887 I planted a plant of
the Bubach No. 5, in my greenhouse, and at the same time I
planted a few plants of the Lacon. The next spring I caught
ripe pollen on the Lacon at the right time for the Bubach pistil.
The side of the Bubach, touched with the pollen, filled up and
ripened seed, from which I had the good fortune to raise four
plants, three of which are now showing fruit. One is pistillate
and one is staminate; the other has not shown its eye yet. The
point I wish to make by this experiment is, get your plants
under control, so that you can keep bees and insects from them,
that they be not fertilized by other pollen than you want used,
and you can get the cross you want. And thus I might go on
through the whole list of raspberries, blackberries, or any kind
of fruit the experimenter wishes to try.

And now, dear friends, I surely believe this whole business is

262 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

in our hands, and so fixed by a benificent Creator, and the reve-
lation is already made that we have control of the production of
new and improved varieties of fruits. Only let us be judicious
in the selection of the varieties that will be most likely to bring
the results we wish to accomplish, and success is certain. The
process may be slow, but if we spend our whole lifetime in the
gradual changing of poor fruits into good ones, our work will be
successfully accomplished, and our children "will rise up and
call us blessed."

And, in conclusion, let me urge upon every one who would
like to have more and better fruit of any name or denomination,
to begin this year to try experiments. Raise seedlings from the
best things you have at hand and in the right season. Try cross-
ing varieties, taking notes of all your operations, and my word
for it, if you are not an enthusiast now you will soon become
one, and every spare moment will find you prying into everflower
of your seedlings, and watching the unfolding of every leaf as it
expands, anxious to catch the first signs of the change that has
been bronght about by your skill and devotion to the improving
of the fruits at hand and under your control.

And so, by each one putting forth a little effort at first, we
shall become a great aggregate in bringing out new and greatly
improved varieties to take the place of those that have been
weighed and found wanting; and we shall have honor, and not
only honor but fame, and wealth will flow to him who is the suc-
cessful one. And then we shall be helping the world back to
to Eden, for surely in Eden there were the best of fruits and fair-;
est of flowers, for was it not all pronounced good by the great
Creator?

If I could say something, or if I have said something, that
shall induce the friends of horticulture to take a new hold on
this the noblest callings, then I shall be satisfied in this my feeble

effort in putting my thoughts on this great subject before you.

i

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Augustine — Mr. McKinney says that we are sounding the
praise of Pewaukee and Wealthy and that they are failures.
This is certainly a mistake, for when in Wisconsin and Minne-
sota last fall I saw some beautiful orchards of these varieties,,
bending beneath their load of fruit.

Mr. Dunlap — I am that glad Mr. Augustine has become con-
vinced that we can grow apples. A few years ago he was very
despondent. I believe that in twenty years our orchards will be
better than now.

SOCIETY OF CEXTKAL ILLINOIS. 2G3

Mr. Periam — The paper is a valuable one. We must experi-
ment and investigate. Here is where our experiment stations
may do very valuable work. An individual may spend a life time
in the work and leave the experiment unfinished. If the man
having charge of a station dies, his successor may take it up and
complete it.

On motion of Dr. Schroeder, a vote of thanks was tendered to

Mr. McKinney for his able paper.

CULTURE OF STONE FRUITS.

BY G. W. MIXIER, MINIER.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Were we called upon to say what body of men have been doing,
and still are doing, the most practical good for the masses,
would we, could we honestly leave out of that catalogue, the
agriculturist and horticulturist?

''The Farmer Pays for All," is the telling title of a picture
which you all have probably seen. But horticulture is the refine-
ment of agriculture, and they should be honestly combined.

Agriculture is the foundation of good society, and horticulture
is the religion of farming, which smooths and ennobles rural life.
So far are these two noble occupations from being antagonistic;
they are mutually helpful. They are, or ought to be wedded.
Bachelordom and spinstership are not normal conditions of man-
kind, although they do, sometimes, make a precarious livelihood.
So farming and gardening may struggle on without being united
in holy wedlock, but it is not handsome, delightful nor profit-
able.

And now, ladies and gentlemen of the "Central Illinois Horti-
cultural Society," a few thoughts are submitted to you by your old
friend, on the trite subject of raising stone fruits in Central Illi-
nois. By stone fruits I mean such as hard seed, inside the peri-
carp. You will excuse me for neglecting the use of technical terms.
Your professors in your university may attend to that and I will
confine myself to practical work. Horticulture is an art that
mends and adorns nature, but does not mar her. Some years
since, in the City of Washington and before that body of thought-
ful men, "The American Forestry Congress," I said it is prudent
to plant indigenous, not exotic trees.

This called out the good matured but severe criticism of my
warmest friends, but is now, I believe, admitted by all to be but
good, practical common sense, and is no heresy in tree planting.

I was never in my life accused of being too orthodox, even in
matters theological, and may, perhaps be almost a heretic in tree

264 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

planting and fruit growing. We are obliged to adopt exotics to
get our finest and most wholesome stone fruits. That peerless
fruit, the peach, is an exotic. Therefore we must study its habits.
As we know it cannot endure very severe cold, we must in some way
protect it from the wintry blast.

It must be sheltered from the blizzards of Boreas and the
frosts of Zero. If some sheltered nook, suitable in soil, eleva-
tion and freedom from water, cannot be found, then resort to
root pruning and gently bend the tree to earth and fasten it
there until April with gentle winds and showers assures you that
both Boreas and Zero are conquered, and not to be feared for
the next nine months. This is practicable. I have tried it suc-
cessfully for the last three years.

The plum is indigenous, and may be relied on to give fruit,
with proper clean culture, but must have society, companions of
like nature and similar habits.

Dame nature plants her plums in clumps . ' ' The plum thicket' '
is a familiar childhood phrase. When man attempts to advise
or thwart nature, he is sure to make a failure. " Experience,"
says Poor Richard, " keeps a dear school," but most of us have
to graduate in her college. Plant a single tree? Never. A
clump, all of one variety? No. Varieties will aid each other
in fertilization. What is necessary for the peach and plum is
also for the Apricot, which the great botanist Linneus thinks to
be a sport of the plum or JPrunus Americana. But what of the
Russian Apricot and Prunus Simoniaf

Treat them and all foreigners, (exotics) with all courtesy, care
and generosity, but put your faith and works (for faith without
works is dead) upon your immediate friends, the indigene.

ENEMIES.

On Monday of the present week I visited the grounds of a
most practical horticulturist. He lives in a very modest style,
some five or six miles from my residence. A quiet man with a
very breezy name. Pointing to a Wild Goose plum tree, said he,
"I shall have plums this year. Clean culture, and plenty of
wood ashes will fix the little Turk." This is really a remedy
easily applied. You know he (the little Turk) is a very modest
fellow. He would rather not be introduced to the proprietor of
the orchard. Jar the tree. He hides his face and long snout
under his belly, and drops to the ground where your poultry and
pigs may find him, and by scattering shelled corn under your
trees, and repeating the process every day for a few weeks you
may rely upon fruit. Don't be too modest in your work. Shake
off every plum that you can, and you will be delighted to see the
hogs devour them. They seem to take them as an appetizer.

A digression just here will, I trust, be pardoned. I never was
an admirer of swine, and yet must argue with a celebrated

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 265

American author, that there is a great deal of human nature in
a hog, or else a great deal of hog in human nature. How eagerly
each works for himself. There is, it must be granted, one trait
in a hog that is praiseworthy and might be worthy of imitation
by men. He will plunge into the real estate business, and if by
good luck, pluck, or audacity, he gets more on his sides and back
than his neighbor, he don't put on airs, and don't seem to esteem
himself any the greater for his success.

Our friend and neighbor, Mr. Geo. W. Orendorff, has got up
a devise to intercept the curculio in his mischievous habits, to
which I call especial attention. Every step in the direction of
fruit culture is a blessing ; and every man or woman who aids in
fruit raising ought to be classed among philanthropists.

"Never surrender," must be the motto of the horticulturist,
clean surface cultivation his practice, and on Heaven's assurance
his faith may rest: " In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat."

In conclusion, Mr. President and members of this society, will
you permit me to make the following confession :

I was a teacher of schools until 1850. In the adjoining city of
Bloomington are many who still express thanks for what I taught
them. From childhood I have been a lover of Nature, and early
resolved to be,

" Slave to no sect, to seek no private road,
But look through Nature up to Nature's God."

I became a member of the agricultural and horticultural socie-
ties of your State to learn the arts of agriculture and horticul-
ture. And when my friends, as they sometimes do, admire the
trees which these hands have planted and cultivated, and thank
me for the fruit they eat at my board, I say, tacitly, these friends
don't know that they are not so much indebted to me as they
are to the agricultural and horticultural societies of Illinois.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Augustine — Mr. Minier tells us that plum trees should be
planted in groups. What is the advantage of this method?

Mr. Minier — Some varieties of plums are not self-fertilizing,
and while one or two trees may be fertilized by bees, we are
never sure of a crop unless they are planted near other varieties.
Nature plants in groups, and it is always safe to imitate her
methods.

Mr. Gaston — Many years ago I sold a Wild Goose plum to a
man in Putnam County and by accident he set it near a thicket
of wild plums and for years it has borne enormously. Prof.

266 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

Budd, and Messrs. Minier, Wier and Gaston approve of this plan,
so it must be right.

President Dennis — Several years ago I tried the experiment of
smoking plum trees with coal tar to drive away curculio. Ihad a
crop of plums, and concluded that I had discovered a long-sought-
for-secret, but found that others had plums without smoking.

Dr. Schroeder — Will any branch of fruit growing pay with the
present low prices and uncertainty of crops?

Mr. Vickroy — Yes, if properly managed, it will pay moderately;
perhaps as well as any ordinary business.

Dr. Schroeder — I do not agree with Mr. Vickroy. With straw-
berries, blackberries and raspberries at one dollar per crate, and
grapes at one or two cents per pound, it is a losing business. In
the Lake Erie region they grow immense quatities of grapes, but
do not realize any profit from them.

Mr. Dunlap — The time has been when the farmer could raise a
little more fruit than was needed for home use, and market it
profitably. That time has passed, and commercial fruit growing
has gone into the hands of the specialists, but every farmer should
plant for home use.

o

EVENING SESSION.

The evening session was held in one of the halls of the Nor-
mal University, and was largely attended. The first paper was

on

WINDOW GARDENING.

BY MISS JULIA GREEN, LACON.

In reading a very fine article on education in a number of The
Chautauquan, I was much impressed with the story of the
sorrows of a widow, whose boys, one after another, ran away
from home to go to sea. She had always entertained a great
horror of the sea, although none of her relatives were sea-faring
men. She had always taken pains to tell the boys of the dangers
of the deep, of the terrible storms, and of the hardships and
privations to be endured by seamen.

Living in an inland town, she had never given them the oppor-
tunity of reading or listening to sea stories. She was at a loss to
know why her sons were attracted to the life after all this, until

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 267

her clergyman, a wise old man, pointed to a very handsome and
valuable painting in her living room, saying, "That is what
caused your boys to run away to sea." The picture was one of
her wedding presents, and represented a fine ship in full sail. It
had hung where her children could always see it and admire it,
and it made an impression upon their youthful minds that nothing
could efface.

We read, in our school days, of a battle that was lost "all for
want of a horse-shoe nail;" but, although they see the impor-
tance of the horse-shoe nail, how many realize what effect upon
our characters, and our whole lives, a mere picture may have?
One who has grown in a rocky, sterile, mountainous country,
differs as much in character from one who has always lived on
rich, fertile plains as the native places of the two differ.

If such things affect a human life to such a degree, what will
not the constant association, either in the taking care of plants or
simply seeing them, do for one? A person cannot live in a home
where there are house plants, and not be influenced for the better
by them.

I think there is a whole sermon in this fact. Everyone
who has a window admitting even an hour's sunshine should have
a plant or two. It does not require technical knowledge and
elaborate information to be successful with house plants, as many
suppose. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow," and
apply your knowledge thus gained to the care and cultivation of
plants. It is not so important to start the plants when the signs
are right, or to plant them in the moon, as it is to use a little
common sense, put them in good earth, set them in a sunny
window, and water them regularly. Drowning them one
day, and drying to death the next, does not insure thrifty
plants.

House plants, like most things in this world, will reward you
according to the care bestowed upon them. There is no plant
more satisfactory than the geranium. For winter blooming, slip
them in May, and not later than the first part of June, notwith-
standing that the books say September. For convenience, start
the slips in one box. As soon as they begin to grow, transplant
them into the pots you wish to put into the windows, and do not
transplant again until you put them in the ground the next May,
w7hen you take slips again. When you transplant the old plant
from the pot to the garden, set it, pot and all, on the spot in
which you intend to put it, and leave it a few days. In that way,
it becomes used to the new place, and when it is removed from
the pot to the earth its growth is not checked. Try to set them
out just before a rain. If it is not convenient fo do so, pour a
quantity of water on the roots before they are entirely covered.
Then finish filling around with earth. In this way, the earth will
not dry out and bake hard around the roots.

268 TRANSACTIONS OP THE HORTICULTURAL

The calla is another beautiful plant that pays well for good
care. To make it thrive and bloom, set the plant every day in
scalding water, and pour some over the roots. It requires to be
pretty wet all the time.

Do not crowd your window. One handsome plant is worth a
dozen crowded into the space one should occupy. Never turn
your plants, if you want them to be strong and nice-looking, and
never move from one window to another. Do not wash them to
death. Do not make the mistake so many amateurs make, of
putting in too large pots. Give them, as near as you can, their
natural condition, and let them alone.

FRUIT AS AN ARTICLE OF FOOD.

BY MISS LUCY GASTON, LACON.

I know a lady who has the reputation of having not only a
single hobby, but a whole stable full of them. A hobby is not a
bad thing to have, in the modern acceptation of the term. One
who is not specially interested in one thing or more, as the case
may be, cannot accomplish the results of the more interested
neighbor. The writer has been charged with having a hobby, and
we will now enjoy a canter along a road which has but few
travellers. Many questions likely to be discussed in a Horticul-
tural Meeting are of special interest to those only who are en-
gaged in fruit growing, but those questions which relate to fruit
as an article of food are of interest to all.

Upon the quantity and quality of our food depends, in a great
degree, our being, as well as the condition of our health, both
physically and morally. Let us suppose a man surrounded by
natural influences ; let him have access to all fruits and grains for
food, and also have at his command small animals. To him the
use of these animals would never occur; every sense of the body
and mind would attract him to the fruits and grains, and in them
he would find his highest satisfaction. Compare an orchard, or
vineyard, or the waving fields, with cattle and pig pens; from
which would we naturally choose our food? View with me
baskets of apples, peaches and pears, or go to the leafy bed where
the strawberry hides its radiant face. Now let us go to the
slaughter pens. Man can live without orchards or vineyards, but
without slaughter pens, never. Hear the dull thud as the indo-
lent porker or the gentle sheep pays the penalty of being good to
eat. Perhaps, if we go to the butcher shop the flesh will be more
appetizing as it is there displayed for sale. Here in array are
displayed those mysteries of childhood days — sausage, head-
cheese, (which accomplishes the purpose of making cheese of the
head that partakes of it) and bologna, the whole family of which
we would be glad to see confined to its native land. If left un-
biased by previous habits, which would we take? Both, do you

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 269

say? But it is a fact ; meat is conceded to be a necessity, and
fruit a luxury.

At one time a tropical climate existed over the earth, even to
the poles. Everywhere the original man lived upon wild fruit,
which he gleaned from the trees ; but in the absence of his nat-
ural food, rather than starve, he killed an animal at his command
and partook of its flesh, with which he saved life. This necessity,
rather than adaptability, led primitive man to the consumption of
meat. But there is no further necessity for continuing the flesh
diet in America, as we can live on bread and fruit nearly the
entire year, and a wise adoption of a bread and fruit diet would
result in great benefit to mankind. Thus, one would become
warm without being excited to intense heat, and would be less
liable to be affected by contagious diseases; the muscles would
attain their highest power, the whole appearance become beauti-
ful, and nature would reach its highest perfection. Chronic dis-
eases may be cured, and many diseases which have their origin
in a fatty condition of the food may be relieved by a fruit diet;
and although so simple and easy a treatment, we are safe in pre-
dicting for it no great popularity. There are many, we fear, who
will choose rather to be sick than deny themselves, rather than
substitute fruits for meat, pies, &c. We will eat, and we suffer,
too; enjoying our good dinner from 12 o'clock to 1, suffering
with headache till the next meal, when we will try to eat some-
thing to keep our strength up. Happy is the individual who will
give this method a trial. The man or child who does not thus
diet may be reasonably well, but doubtless we are safe in saying
that they would be as well on less. In my experience as a
teacher, I could but notice the difference in the aptness to learn
between the light and the heavy eaters. The pale, heavy com-
plexion, which is caused by a lack of nourishing food and a
neglect of exercise, and the rough, pimply skin, may be replaced
by one of smoothness by following a fruit diet. A fatty diet will
cause even a monkey's face to break out in eruption.

The bread and fruit diet is now in much more general use in
Germany than one might suppose; because of its cheapness,
many are forced to it. Sweet brown bread and fruit ! What
meats can compare with them? Much nervous force is used in
digesting food not needed; might not this be better spent? God
pity the man who is content to spend his God-given powers in
eating and sleeping. Is not the life more than meat? The won-
derful possibilities of this kind of a life may be seen by noting
the effect upon a gentleman of Cincinnati, who, although eighty-
three years of age, knows not what suffering is, having never felt
an ache or a pain. He uses no meat nor grease, and has not for
fifty years, and attributes his freedom from sickness to his ab-
stemious habits. Gladstone, too, gives all the credit of his won-
derful power to his simple manner of living. What does Paul

270 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

mean when he says, "I keep my body in subjection in all things,"
but that he has the mastery in these things. It is said, that as
the brute is lower than man, to partake of the flesh has a ten-
dency to lower man, and he who uses a great deal of meat is
more brutal, as the animal seems to become a part of him. One
writer says that actual hunger three times a day is impossible.
Dr. Tanner's experience in his two fasts of forty days each, as
well as the one hundred days' fast of George Francis Train,
shows that people are not in so much danger of starving to death
as one might suppose by missing a meal.

Hygiene is becoming a popular study in this day and age,
and who will not say the forerunners are now among us for
a better manner of living? Do not the shattered nerves make
demands that cannot be ignored? To make this change, there
seems to be necessary a certain purity of character — those whose
habits are corrupt find it hard to change. The ideal fruit for
man is ripe, uncooked fruits. These especially excite him to his
highest attainments. Dr. S., of Chicago, says meat-fed children
are liable to be cross. A family of children fed upon meat were
quarrelsome, and when put upon a grain diet became cheerful,
and were also more than ordinarily exempt from colds. But
very few older people will give up that to which they are accus-
tomed. This is seen in tobacco users. The rising generation
must not be an inferior one, which it will be if a change is not
adopted. The jTouth of our day are inferior physically to their
parents, and should change their habits of living. Being in har-
mony with nature will do much to bring us into communion with
nature's God.

All having the care of children should strive to know the action
of different kinds of food. The late discovery of a natural cure
for drunkenness is worthy everyone's investigation. Drunken-
ness is a disease, and the sooner we recognize this the better.

It may not be best to place a ban upon all meats, but the meat
for the family should be well chosen. Ignorance on these ques-
tions is the mother of ill health. I have always had a special
liking for those varieties of fruit put away by my horticultural
father, and with maturer years have come some strong convic-
tions, which I have tried to present to you, and which you may
take for what they are worth. Horticulture ought to enjoy
Divine approbation, and as fruit was in the Garden of Eden, so it
may be on our tables.

Dr. S. H. Peabody,Kegent of the University of Illinois, now
favored the audience with an entertaining and elaborate paper
on the "Mission of the Sunbeam," which was highly appreciated
by all who heard it. It has not been furnished for publication,
and a synopsis cannot be given that will do it justice.

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 271

THURSDAY MORNING.

Vice-President Gray called the house to order and invited
Rev. Mr. Kerr to invoke the Divine blessing.

President Dennis having been called away by important busi-
ness, Vice-President Mann took the chair and presided during
the day. The chair announced that the first business would be the
election of officers. This occupied but a few minutes and
resulted as follows :

President — F. I. Mann, Gilman.

First Vice-President — II. L. Doan, Jacksonville.

Second Vice-President — G. W. E. Cook, Lacon.

Third Vice-President — Miss Lucy Gaston, Lacon.

Secretary — A. C. Hammond, Warsaw.

Assistant Secretary — Miss Bessie M. Nash, Warsaw.

Treasurer — W. H. Schureman, Normal.

The Marshall County Horticultural Society extended the So-
ciety a cordial invitation to hold its next annual meeting in
Lacon, some time in June. On motion, the invitation was
accepted.

REPORT ON RASPBERRIES.

BY LEWIS DUCHESNE, LACON.

Mr. President and Fellow Members :

The general crop of raspberries for the past year, both of red
and black, was poor, as compared with former years.

The condition of the plants of Black Caps was, and is now,
very unfavorable. The plants of Red raspberries are fairly good.

The canes of the Black Caps were severely killed back by drouth
and will produce a very light crop the coming season.

Red raspberries have done much better here than the Black
Caps, as they have withstood drouth and severe winters. We
find that a plantation of Red raspberries will outlast a plantation
of Black Caps, and prove the most profitable for a series of years.

I have tried applying earth from the middle rows* to the base
of the old plant, and found it to be of the greatest benefit. I dis-
covered this by accident, in the blossoming season. Having at
that time to straighten up a few plants, I thought to make the
bushes stand up, I would use earth instead of using stakes. I piled
up a flat mound about four inches high and two feet in diameter,
pressing the earth solidly amongst the base of the canes. This
sustained the plants in an upright position, but its greatest bene-
fit was, that wlien the fruit ripened, while on other plants the

272 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

later berries were dried up and unfit to market, the fruit on these
particular plants was carried through in good shape, the later
berries being fully as good as the first, and much superior to that
borne by any of the other plants not so treated . The new canes made
also a better and healthier growth, and they withstood the winds
and the storms in good shape. The regular cutting back of grow-
ing canes has been my practice, sometimes the lateral branches
being stopped; or cut back, also. This refers to the Black Caps.
The following varieties of black raspberries are the best for
this county, so far as tested: Mammoth Cluster and Gregg. The
Doolittle is very hardy and early, but the fruit is not long enough
in season, the first few pickings being very good, the balance too
small to gather.

The following varieties of red raspberries are used here: The
variety on my grounds is the Cuthbert, and it has proved entirely
satisfactory, being a large berry, productive, and sells readily,
making its cultivation very profitable. The plants have with-
stood the winters' cold and summers' heat very satisfactorily, and
produced very fine crops of excellent fruit, which I have sold
readily in our home market at profitable prices. The Thwack
variety and Shaffer's Colossal have proved good and reliable on
the grounds of Mr. Rowley. The Turner is early and produc-
tive, but rather soft for market, and has been injured in this
locality by cold and drouth.

In my opinion, the best manure for the raspberry is good,
clean cultivation on good soil. I do not think it advisable to
disturb the plants by any pruning or cutting out of old wood at
the close of the fruiting season. The land should be occasionally
cultivated by shallow plowing, but no late stirring of the soil is to
be done, as it induces too soft a growth for the plants to go into
winter with safety. The old wood, I think, should not be taken
out until early spring. Cutting back the canes should, in my
opinion, be deferred until the new growth has started in the
spring. Cultivation by the plow should be shallow, not too close
to the row, and the land left flat as possible.

DISCUSSION.

Prof. Burrill — There is a general complaint of the failure of
raspberries. They often leaf out and bloom, and then wither
and die. Some of our growers have supposed that it was caused
by drouth, but we have the same loss in wet seasons. We often
find brown spots on the leaves and young canes; this is a fungus,
and the spores germinate very rapidly, especially in damp, foggy
weather. I am not sure that this is the cause of the difficulty,
but suspect that it may be.

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 273

Mr. Gray — I have had this same experience with Mammoth
Cluster and Doolittle. The fungus first made its appearance
after a very heavy crop. I did not get a bushel off of three
acres. The Snyder Blackberry suffered the same way. I think
I shall be compelled to give up growing cane fruit for two or
three years. The Miller cricket has been a great pest in my
raspberry plantations.

Mr. Doan — After two or three heavy crops, plantations become
exhausted, and are liable to be attacked by this fungus, but if
heavily manured or mulched, are more likely to escape.

THE LIFE OF AN APPLE TREE.

BY F. I. MANN, OILMAN.

In the present condition of apple tree growing, it would be
well for us to consider some things in its construction other than
the apparent surroundings and conditions. That our so-called
varieties undergo change in certain characteristics as they become
older, I think can hardly be denied, and it is important that we
investigate some of the causes which lead to these changes.

"Whatever definition we may give to life, or however we may
consider it, the element of greatest importance is the tendency to
continue existence. A new life may be born, but if it has not in
itself the desire or tendency to continue its existence sufficiently
strong, the life is given up. This tendency to continue existence
is termed vitality, but we should not confine this use of the
term with the one simply meaning thriftiness or an apparent life
force. The thriftiness may be due only to perfectness in envi-
ronments, and not to any strong tendency to exist. It is not
necessary here to consider any of the causes that modify this ten-
dency to exist in the reproductions of the new individual, such as
the conditions that would give strong vitality, or the contrary.
It is sufficient for our present purpose to consider that every new
life has a normal amount of vitality, or tendency to continue its
existence for a somewhat certain period of time, known as the
period of longevity. A child is born with a tendency to live
three score and ten. Its environments largely determine whether
it lives so long. But we could not consider that it had any ten-
dency to live for two hundred years, whatever its environments
might be. So we may consider the horse as having a tendency to
live for a score of years; the kine, sheep and swine, each its own
period of life; the clover, with continuance of but two years, and
other plants and animals having their own period of longevity,
ranging from a century and more down to but a few moments.

Life is a property only of an individual. It is something that
is brought into existence only through the production of a new
—19

274 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

organism. It is something not possessed by species, genus or
variety, nor by nations, States or towns. It is something given
only with the hereditary force of parental blood. It is bestowed
only upon the individual of parental production. A new life is
Drought into existence only by a blending of parental individual-
ties into a new and different individual, whose life is then com-
menced to continue for a generation.

In the nursery there are two distinct divisions of propagation.
One is from seed where there is true reproduction, or the forma-
tion of new individuals. The other is by division, or a continua-
tion of an individual previously formed. In the latter common
method of propagation, there is no true new individual formed,
and hence no new life commenced. In case of propagation by
cuttings and layers, it is simply a continuation by division of the
once formed new individual, which has its tendency to live for
only a generation, and commencing with its formation.

In the case of propagation by grafting and budding, the matter
is somewhat more complex, inasmuch as a new, true individual
is used as a part of the new division, and from which new life is the
influence manifest upon the old.

The development of a single bud from an individual, gives us
only a continuation of that individual, or only a branch of that
individual, so to speak, which is subject to the same laws govern-
ing its life and vitality as though it had remained on the indi-
vidual ; excepting such modifications as may be made by its new
environments. If, for instance, an individual in the vegetable
kingdom is born whose generation is fifty years — that is„ its
normal tendency is to exist such a time — and after forty years
have passed we take a bud and develop it into another tree, or
really into a separate branch of same tree, what have we done to
overcome its tendency to decline with old age, as if left on the
old tree, only so far as any temporary influence, due to root, new
soil might be felt? Aside from these influences, nothing has
been done to check the encroachments of time, and when the
generation is ended to which our branch belongs, it will succumb
to its enemies. Such are the laws of life and death.

Among these causes that modify the life of the divided twig or
bud, are soil, climate and the new individual to which it has been
joined. An individual moved to a more favorable soil would, to
a certain extent, have its length of life increased. Nature, her-
self, has adopted this plan for continuation in her process of
division by runners, layers and sprouts.

Probably the influence of greatest importance is the blending
of new life with the old, as in case of budding and grafting.
Here the old life is worked on the new individual, recently pro-
duced from seed. There is a blending of vital forces, and the
youth and vigor of the root or new individual is felt by the old

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 275

blood of thebud orscion. Whether there is any influence extending
from root to branch, fruit or leaf, as to their form, is not a
matter of importance in this connection. From the fact that old
buds or scions put on roots of stronger vitality make stronger
trees; that these roots are modified in their habits of growth, and
that old buds worked on new blood prove strengthened, would
indicate that there was an influence, so far as vitality was con-
cerned. The top-working of old varieties that are in their
decline, upon some of the newer sorts, is followed by increase in
vigor and growth. If the old were worked upon old sorts, the
change would probably be but little, if any.

Now, if you will grant for the present that vitality is the essence
of life, that it is the property only of the individual, and comes
into existence and goes out with the individual, we will make the
application to apples. Our commonly called varieties of apples
are not varieties at all, strictly speaking. We could make any
arbitrary division we choose for variety, such as red apples, striped
apples, large apples, etc., and ascribe our different sorts into such
and such a variety. If we had red apples that would reproduce
only red apples from its seed, we could say of the different indi-
viduals or kinds, that they belong to the varieties of red apples.
But we have no such divisions that separate our different so-called
varieties. Our red apples have but little tendency, if any, to re-
produce red apples from seed; nor have any of our so-called va-
rieties much of any tendency to reproduce any of their character-
istics with certainty. A feen Davis is no more apt to produce an-
other Ben Davis, than is a Willow Twig; is no more apt to pro-
duce a tree in appearance like a Beji Davis than like a Tallman
Sweet. In fact, we can make no specific prescription from which
the seed might not vary.

The sorts of apples, then, are not varieties, and we must con-
sider them only as individuals, capable of being multiplied by di-
vision, and each division having the identical characteristics of the
original, and partaking also of its vitality, modified as above con-
sidered. We should, then, expect our individuals, or so-called
varieties, to be subject to the same laws of maturity and decline,
as all other individuals. If the normal life of an apple tree is
forty or fifty years, we should expect those varieties or indi-
viduals produced thirty years ago, to be reaching a ripe old age,
and in a condition not to withstand successfully the trials that
younger blood could meet.

Where are the varieties of fifty years ago? Gone. Where
are varieties of twenty-five years ago ? Going. Much of our hope
for the future should rest in the production of new individuals
having qualities we want, and that they be thoroughly tested as
soon as is possible, and disseminated, that the orchards may re-
ceive as much of the lifetime of each individual as may be possi-

276 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

ble. The importance of thus bringing out new apples and test-
ing early, is a matter of importance which the Horticultural So-
cieties at present realize more than ever, and have already begun
a more systematic work in this direction.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Gaston — This is a wonderfully important and interesting
question, and one that should be carefully investigated. Whether
the top makes the root or the root the top is a matter of contro-
versy. I claim that the top makes the root.

Prof. Burrill — If this proposition, that every tree is a distinct
individual and has a life race to run, and then deteriorate and die,
is correct, we certainly should know it, as any effort to restore
these decaying trees, will be useless. Mr. Knight, a horticultural
writer of a hundred years ago, proclaimed this same doctrine,
and named the Kibstone Pippin as an apple that had run
its race; but the fact that this variety is cultivated to-day
spoils his theory. Yet I think there may be something in
it. Certain varieties of potatoes and other vegetables seem
to prove it. Have these individuals fullfilled their destiny?
Some of our German scientists tel^ us there is no such
thing as bud variation. If this be true, when we get a
strawberry or other plant established, it remains the same
indefinitely. Oar careless method of selecting potatoes and
other seeds has a tendency to make the varieties deterio-
rate.

Mr. Periam — That there is such a thing as "heredity" in vege-
table as well as animal life, few will question, hence the import-
ance of healthy, vigorous parentage. This question of bud vari-
ation is one of exceeding importance, and should be better un-
derstood.

SMALL FRUIT FOR THE FAMILY.

BY D. H. GRAY, ELMWOOD.

As Mr. Gray failed to furnish a copy of his interesting address,
the Secretary can only give the following synopsis :

As I understand this question it refers to the growth of small
fruits by the family as well as for the family, and the children
take as much pleasure in watching its growth and development,

SOCIETY OP CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 277

and hunting for the first ripe strawberry as they do in eating
it.

The more acid fruits, such as gooseberries and currants, are
healthy and grateful to the palate, and should be used in every
family. Currants planted in the open ground seldom bear well,
but if planted along the garden fence, where they are shaded
part of the time, they will do much better.

The strawberry is the most delicious of the small fruits, and
fortunately easily grown. The farmer may plant and cultivate
like corn, and late in the fall mulch heavily with rotten straw
and secure good crops. Sharpless, Downing, Crescent, Bubach
.and Warfield I consider the best varieties. Mt. Vernon is a late
berry and will extend the season ten days.

Raspberries follow strawberries very closely and fill the gap
between them and blackberries. The planters should select
those varieties that are found to succeed best in his neighbor-
hood.

I consider Stones' Hardy blackberry much better in quality
than Snyder, and after the second year is more productive. It
should be more largely planted.

A few cherry trees are indispensible to every fruit garden. I
would plant Dyhouse and Early Richmond. A whole colony of
robins nested in my trees this spring, and I thought I should
be compelled to destroy their nests to save the cherries, but
found they were catching cut worms, and concluded they would
pay for the cherries they ate by destroying insects.

Grapes, of course, will not be neglected. Plant Moore's Early,
Concord and Niagara.

Plum trees should be found in every garden. They grow very
rapidly, and if planted in groups bear heavily. The curculio is
not an unmitigated evil. It often thins my plums so that the
crop is more valuable than it would be otherwise. Damson and
Lombard will do well if grafted on the Minor or Wild Goose
stock.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Augustine — Would you have the group all of one variety,
•or should different kinds be used?

Mr. Gray — The Wild Goose do well if planted alone, but the
Minor are deficient in pollen, and must be planted with some-
thing else.

Mr. Dunlap — I have a group of Wild Goose, Minor and Chick-
asaw that bear well, but single trees do not. We have a fine
•collection of fruit in the other room, and I move that a com-
mittee be appointed to examine and report on it. Motion

278 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

adopted, and Mr. Gray and Mr. Minier named as the com-
mittee.

Mr. Browne — Why does Mr. Dunlap recommend growing seed-
lings of the Crawford, while it is one of the tender varieties?
Why does he say plant seedlings at all, when we were told this
morning that the seedling differed so widely from the parent
tree ? Why not advise the farmer to buy their trees, so that they
may know what they are planting?

Mr. Dunlap — The Crawford is more ^kely to reproduce itself
than any other variety. I find that seedlings are much more
likely to bear than budded trees. I have a cherry orchard on
Morello and Mahaleb stocks. For several years those on Morello
bore best, but I ridged the orchard up and the Mahaleb has now
taken root above the graft, and they are alike productive. If
sheep are kept in the orchard you will have no trouble with
sprouts.

Mr Augustine — Morello sprouts so badly that trees on this
stock are not fit to plant near the house. I am glad to know
that if trees on Mahaleb are planted deeply they root above the
scion and make good trees.

Mr. Mann — I have trees on both stocks. On Morello they
bear the earliest, but those on Mahaleb have the best fruit; I
very decidedly prefer the latter.

Mr. Gray — In discussing this question of different stocks it is
quite possible that we may not understand all the conditions
connected with it, such as soil, location and moisture. Cherry
trees are not suitable for the lawn.

Mr. Augustine — I would like to hear from the orchardists pres-
ent, in regard to their experience with Russians, and the hardy
varieties.

Mr. Dunlap — A year ago last winter I said in a paper read be-
fore the State Society that the Russians had disappointed their
friends. Mr. Tuttle, of Wisconsin, who saw the article in print,
wrote me that he thought I was mistaken on that point, but a.
farther correspondence showed that the fruit was all gathered
from his trees August, 15th. It is therefore seen unnecessary to-
give them farther thought as winter varieties.

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 279

AFTERNOON SESSION.
GARDENING FOR THE AMATEUR.

BY J. S. BROWNE, ALTON.

3lr. President: In compliance with a request of your Secre-
tary to write a paper for this meeting of your Society, under the
head of "Gardening for the Amateur," I wish to call your atten-
tion to some things, that, though they are not new, are not as
generally known as they should be.

To the amateur I will say, by all means make a hot bed ; the at-
tention it wrill require is small when compared with the benefits
that will accrue from it. It is not necessary to dig a hole in the
ground, as many do, to put the manure in, but instead, make the
bed on the top of the ground three feet wider and longerthan the
frame, then bank up all around to the top of the frame
with manure. After the season is over the manure, with w7hat
soil may be left in the bed, should be turned over, and this com-
post used for the soil the next year ; any surplus makes a first class
fertilizer for anything.

For early lettuce make a bed about the middle of January, or
first of February. As soon as the lettuce has grown about three
inches. high commence on one side, and with a knife cut as much
as may be required for a meal, taking care to cut above the crown
of the plant; continue this from day to day, and by the time the
bed has been cut over, that which wTas cut first will be ready to
cut again, and so on until the season is far enough advanced,
when these plants that you have been browsing off for the last
six weeks, may be taken up and planted out in the garden and
will have headed out long before seed planted outside. Those
who have never eaten this young lettuce do not know what good
lettuce is. This spent hot bed will make an excellent cold frame
for transplanting tomatoes, egg plant and anything that requires
transplanting before putting out into the open garden. Radishes
are far better when grown in a hot bed than wrhen grown in the
open ground. Beckert's Chartier will be found one of the best
for this purpose.

If very early egg plants are desired plant seed about first of
February. They should be transplanted in the bed at least twice
giving them plenty of heat; it wTill seldom be found necessary to
take the sash entirely off; plant into the open ground just before
or when strawberries are beginning to ripen — nothing is gained
by planting earlier. Thoroughly wet the soil before planting out
and as they make lots of fibrous roots, a sharp spade should be
pushed down between each plant when they can be taken out
with a large ball of earth.

In order to get early cucumbers, nutmegs and watermelons,
take pieces of sod, cut about four inches square by three inches

280 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

thick, putting them in a hot bed with the grass side down ; plant
the seed in these — a gain of two weeks may be made by this
method.

To get the best results with cauliflower the sun should never
be allowed to shine on the curd ; to prevent this bend the inside
leaves over the curd until the main stem breaks — this must be
done every day or two. Perhaps the better way is to slip a rub-
ber band over the hand, then gather the leaves together into the
hand when the band can be slipped over the leaves holding them
together over the curd; or the leaves may be gathered together
and tied with a string. Henderson's Early Snowball is the best
I have tried. With ordinary care ninety-five per cent will head.
No person who likes celery should be deterred from raising it by
thinking it is something difficult to grow; it is no more trouble,
until it comes time to handle it, than cabbage, only don't expect
to raise good celery (or anything else for that matter) on poor
ground. Plant the seed as soon as the ground will work well,
in April, being careful not to get it too thick; cut off the plants
two or three times about two inches from the ground before
transplanting to where it is to grow permanently. This will
make the plants more stocky and they will have better roots.
The red celery is far more solid and of better quality than any
other kind. I do not remember of having a single hollow stalk
since we have been growing the red varieties. Henderson's New
Rose will be found one of the best of this class.

Those who are fond of summer squashes, such as Bush Scal-
loped and Summer Crookneck, will find the Vegetable Marrow
much the better. For winter nothing is better than Essex Hy-
brid ; it has all the good qualities of the Hubbard, and is no
trouble to grow.

For extra early peas plant some seedsman's "first of all"
(and every seedsman has a " first of all," though none of them
are much of an improvement over the old Dan'l O'Rourke),
but plant early in some spot where they will get the afternoon
sun as well as the forenoon. No matter whether the soil is in
good condition or not, plant them early even if the ground is so
wet that you have to sit on the fence and put them in with a
shot-gun, for if not early they are not worth planting at all.
After the soil gets somewhat warm the wrinkled peas will grow,
and wheu one can get a sweet wrinkled pea, who wants a smooth
white one such as all the extra early ones are?

McLean's Little Gem is one of the best early wrinkled peas.
It is of as good quality as the American Wonder and a far better
yielder. For a late pea of the same quality the Stratagem will
be found as good as any. A pea should show no white when
cooked. I know it is a little more trouble to prepare them for
the table when taken before the pods are well tilled — more pods

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 281

have to be handled for the same amount of peas, but, then, all
things that are worth anything cost some trouble.

In planting lima beans, watermelons and nutmegs, take the
seed between the first finger and thumb and push it into the soil,
with the germ down, about an inch and a half, then smooth the
earth over them with the hand, not pressing it down over the
seed; if the seed is of any account you will have no trouble
about getting a stand ; and another thing — it will come up very
much sooner planted this way than when thrown in and covered
with a hoe.

All small seeds that are slow in germinating, such as celery,
carrots and parsnips should be sprouted before being planted.
A good way, I have found, is to soak the seed for twenty-four
hours in tepid water, then mix with some moist, finely sifted
dirt, put in a closely covered vessel and leave in a moderately
warm place until the sprouts begin to show when it should be

{)lanted; though I have planted seed with sprouts half an inch
ong and had good success. By following this system the seed
comes up before the weeds and it is no trouble to keep clean,
while, if planted without preparation, the weeds come with or
before the seed, and make it cost more to clean than the crop is
worth.

ROSE CULTURE.

BY G. W. E. COOK, LACON.

We are told in the long ago, the Goddess Flora, while walking
one day by herself in a forest, came upon the dead body of a fav-
orite nymph; one whose personal beauty, chastity of mind, with
perfection of heart, had never been surpassed, making her a favor-
ite daughter of the Dryads. Flora felt the only balm for her
grief at the loss of so dear a friend would be the ability to raise
from the precious dust a flower which should surpass all others in
loveliness; assured of the assistance of Venus, with that of the
graces added to the promised influence of all the gods, to assist
in the transformation of the lifeless form to that of a plant whose
bloom should exceed in every characteristic all other known flow-
ers. The zephyrs came with that perfect condition of atmos-
phere whereby the blessings of Apollo might fall in rays of peace
and harmony. Bacchus with streams of nectar, for its nourish-
ment, Vertumnus enveloping the new creation, with mantle of
rarest perfumes, while Pomona as her offering spread the virtue
of propagation among its branches. The grand finale being a
diadem from Flora's own hand, designed and prepared by a band
of celestials which should forever signify to the world, "The
Rose as the Queen of flowers." So beautiful was it, the angel
of flowers sought its shade for rest, and slumber. One day
awakening from a refreshing sleep, and proceeding in the dis-
charge of his duty of bathing its opening buds with dews from

282 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

heaven, he was so charmed by its loveliness of color, form and
fragrance, he implored the gods for power to bestow an added
grace. The petition was granted.

"And o'er the rose
A veil of moss the angel throws,
Robed in nature's simplest weed
Can then a flower that rose exceed?"

Solomon sang its praise, the Holy Land derives its name from
it, the gods sought its aid, the first bloom being secured by Cupid
as an offering to Hypocrates, the god of silence, that the lover of
his mother Venus might not be divulged, and even to-day our
lovers whisper "under the rose." By it Auriana told to her
lover of her love and grief; returning it divested of its leaves and
thorns he cheered her troubled heart. Neither poet with language,
nor artist with color have exaggerated its loveliness. With it the
pious hand beautifies the house of God. Love brings it in
wreaths, joy and revelry it crowns, grief lays it reverently upon
the tomb, wealth and luxury strew it everywhere, allegory sings
it in the painted song of morning, it cheers the poor and sick,
mingles with our tears and sorrows, and revels in our worldly
paths. From the gathering of the Bacchanalian songsters, from
the place of honor above the heads of royalty at the feast, to the
modesty and purity of the home and tomb it has a place — " the
queen of flowers."

The Eose must have plenty of sunlight and air; these with
good soil and proper care will ensure you success with any variety.
Any well prepared garden soil will grow roses nicely, but not to
perfection. A great demand is made upon the plant when the
highest grade of tree, form, color and fragrance are expected.
Good strong, rich loam with leaf or wood mould, well rotted
fertilizer from the cow stable or hennery, with an allowance of
sand for ventilation, with little fear of fertilizing too highly,
makes a proper soil for roses. Liquid fertilizers applied at any
stage of growth will keep the soil and plant in profitable con-
dition.

Fall planting, with extra protection, will prove the most suc-
cessful I believe. Still I will take and set a rose whenever I can
get it. In bedding roses, all ragged, bruised or withered parts
should be cut smoothly off to the solid wood or root with a sharp
knife, and all roots with a tendency to grow downwards
shortened. Make the pit for setting larger than actually re-
quired, with depth sufficient to be able to fork up loosely the
earth; (and with profit) work in decayed fertilizer below where
the plant may rest. Wet the earth thoroughly, but not to excess,
as you fill in around the plant, pressing the top earth down with
the foot until there is no danger of the plants loosening or lean-
ing from effects of the wind. It is a good plan to dampen all

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 283

plants when taken out for setting. As to place and arrangement
in clusters, hedges or jingle trees, the taste and fancy of the
owner must decide. Hedges are easily cared for, and admit of
all sorts, color, kind or habit; with plenty of ground, they will
repay all the care and labor bestowed upon them. For single
trees, the habits of the plant must be studied; ingenious pruning
with the habit of the plant must decide the effect to be produced.
In clusters, the centers should be. .kept high, the effect of the nat-
ural habits of the plants from outer edge to center being far
more pleasing than any results from pruning can give. Start
with an outer row of the Little Button or Burgundy Rose, raising
by half a dozen additional rows, to a center tree of George the
4th, Lady Douglas, or some pillar rose; but a limited use of the
knife will be needed, if any. If you must cut, let your knife and
fancy run free upon single stands. Propagating I do not consider
profitable, to the amateur, (except for the pleasure and satisfac-
tion it affords) while varieties are so numerous, and obtained at
so little cost from reliable salesmen.

A description or discussion of seedlings, cuttings, suckers,
layers, budding, or grafting, would not be profitable here. Al-
most any person having either to give would most likely be able
to furnish prescription for treatment. With me, fall pruning, as
fall planting, has proven the greater success, cutting away all, or
the most, of the old wood, tipping the tender ends of the new
growth, and in case of Hybrid Perpetuals, cut back from one-
third to one-half of all new growth. In hedge growing, I follow
the natural tendencies of the plant, without any endeavor to keep
a uniform height. The knife destroys the effect when in bloom.
Protecting in winter, we find, is forcing itself upon us with each
year. Hill up the earth slightly around the plant; a box, barrel
or keg set over it, filled with hay or straw, a board over the top
to keep out snow and wet, gives plenty of air, protects as
securely as any plan tried.

The rose yields to cultivation as promptly as any plant grown,
while with much more certainty than most others. When quantity
without regard to quality is desired, and the wish is for distant
effect, the knife may be dispensed with entirely; good soil,
proper care in all directions, judicious irrigation and use of knife,
will insure perfect results. The rose will feel at home, and do
its own house-work.

We should not expect too much from a plant the first year.
We should be satisfied with possession, forego the bloom by
pinching all buds and supeifluous growth, quietly awaiting with
careful attention for its full perfection by the third year ! Then
would we find far less poor varieties, and fewer florists to con-
demn for putting inferior sorts upon our hands. You will find
from experience it does require that length of time to test a plant
in all the qualities we expect from it — the first year the perfection

284: TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

of the plant itself ; the second, the bloom; the third, a perfect
plant, perfect bloom, true in color and shade, with purity of fra-
grance. Should we demand all these at once?

We are furnished in the endless varieties something suitable
for all that fancy or taste may call for. To be sure, a rose is a
rose; but do we not want our particular rose for our particular
purpose? We can raise the tall and drooping varieties for a
graceful clump or stand, or fancifully cut or carve, until the
faithful plant is completely subjugated to our ideas of what we
require to suit our improvements upon nature, whether standing
in its own dignity, bound to the trelles or pillar, or waving
loosely in the hedge.

What roses shall we cultivate? What kinds are best? Which
are the prettiest? Would you have any butperpetuals, &c, &c?
Who can answer the thousand and one questions in regard to
roses?

I can only say, can any one turn aside from many of our old
faithful, single season varieties? What collection can be the
worse for having a season of bloom from the old Hundred Leaf?
The Damask, the Episcopal, George the 4th, Lady Elps-Parsons,
the Old Cabbage, the York and Lancashire, with many others.
Are they not a fitting prelude to a summer gladdened with the
successive bloom of the Le France, Gen. Washington, Gen.
Jacquimenot, Mad Plantier, Hermosa, Coquette of the Blanches,
Coquette des Alps, Mrs. Chas. Wood, Victor Verdier, American
Beauty, Bon Marche, Baroness of Rothchilds, and the family of
gigantic flowering Neyrous which with our climbers — Greville
and others — to which may be added the large family of mosses,
both single season and perpetual, which give us a perpetual
season of sweet surprises from frost go, to frost come, of this
beautiful queen of flowers, each variety in its season and place,
each in its own independent beauty, careful to repay us for care
bestowed, which they will do if we but give them a home to live
in when we ask them to tarry with us.

ORCHARD FRUITS ON THE FARMS.

BY H. M. DUNLAP, SAVOY.

Mr. President : The subject of my paper implies tiiat the far-
mer's orchard and not that of the commercial orchardist will re-
ceive attention. No subject should be of greater interest to the
farmer than this of orchard fruits, but if we are to judge of the de-
gree of interest by outward manifestations, such as practical tree
planting and careful culture, we are forced to the conclusion that
the interest with many is largely theoretical if it exists at all. It
is said that man is a victim of circumstances, and to a certain de-
gree this is true, but when we see so many farm homes on the

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 285

rich and fertile prairies of Illinois, destitute of fruit and orna-
mental trees, it strikes us rather forcibly that the farmer is at
least a victim not of circumstances but of neglected opportunities.

Now I know that it is easy to invent excuses that farm crops
demanded our time and that our attention was called in other
directions, so as to preclude the planting out of trees and making
the necessary enclosure to keep out live stock. You know very
well that a visit to Neighbor Brown's in strawberry time is a
very pleasant affair, and that you can easily consume from four
to five pounds of his best Concord grapes at a sitting. Oh no !
you haven't time to attend to these things, but Neighbor Brown
has, and his fireside during the long winter evenings, you will
confess, is a very hom-elike and attractive place to sit and con-
sume Jonathan apples and drink cider made from his best Roman-
ites. Is it possible that you are so blind to your own interests,
and those of your family, as to assert that you cannot afford the
time necessary to the planting out of a few fruit trees for family
use? Do you bring up your family ^to hard labor, on a diet of salt
pork and potatoes, expecting them to follow your illustrious exam-
ple as tillers of the soil? If this method is followed you are likely
to be disappointed for they will leave the home and farm at the ear-
liest opportunity. Make home attractive, surround it with orna-
mental trees, plant out an orchard and fruit gardens, take care of
them and get the children interested in caring for them, and you
will have the question of how to keep the boys and girls on
the farm mostly solved.

Many farmers are deterred from planting fruit trees and plants
through ignorance of the culture necessary, and an idea that they
are undertaking something beneath their dignity, and, as some
express it, they have "no time to fool with such stuff." The latter
class we hope, will run afoul of some tree peddler who will deliver
him Ben Davis apples for Russians, for he deserves no better fate.
To those who wish to learn, we advise them to read the horticul-
tural reports or subscribe for some good paper on the subject. •
While there is much to learn it is still a very easy matter to make
a success of fruit by ordinary methods of careful culture, a know-
ledge of which every farmer is possessed of.

The widespread destruction of apple orchards in central and
northern Illinois has discouraged many, and up to this time pre-
vented the renewing of the old orchards. Since the bountiful
crop of last season, when the old trees bore such fine fruit, many
have regained confidence, and many orchards will be set out in
the near future. No live man of business sits down and folds
his hands when disasters come. On the contrary, he lays again
the foundation of a new business more carefully, and with the
knowledge which comes of experience, avoids the errors of the
past, rejecting all experiments and foolish ventures. So must
the fruit grower return to the work of renewing the orchards

286 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

upon the prairies of Illinois. Fruit has been grown here and
can be again. Many promising varieties hav^e been found want-
ing, while the most expensive have often proven the most worth-
less. Our methods of culture, or rather non-culture, have done
more injury than good, and our selection of orchard sites has
often caused a failure. But we must not give up.

What would have been the results had the capitalists and
citizens of Chicago said after the great fire, "There is no use to
rebuild, another fire may come and burn us out again."

Instead, they builded again, laying the foundations broader,
deeper and more substantial than before, and on them erected a
city ten times more beautiful, useful and valuable than the old
wooden structures of the past. To-day these blocks of stone
and granite stand as fitting monuments to the enterprise and sa-
gacity of the people of that great city.

Our orchards, like the old wooden buildings of Chicago, a
heterogeneous mass and tangle of good, bad and indifferent va-
rieties, have met with disaster as destructive to them as the fire of
Chicago was to the wooden buildings of that city. Does it not
behoove us by energy, careful selection and good culture, to
replace the orchards of Illinois in such a manner that they shall
stand living monuments to our judgment and common sense?

How we are to do this is the question which now confronts us
as individuals and as members of this Society. There are many
questions to be settled and many errors to be avoided. There
are those who, havingsome pet theory, endeavor to convince the
public that their way is the highway to success. Budded apple
trees and Hardy Russians have their exponents — the tree peddler
becomes the missionary and the farmer the ready victim.

Let us leave experiments to those who can afford to make
them, or if we undertake a new thing let us be sure our facts are
in accord with the theory before we risk too much.

The apple is the most important of the orchard fruits of this
section. The site for the orchard is the first thing to be settled.
One says plant them on the highest ground, another says plant
them on the low ground and you will succeed. I have seen good
orchards on both locations, and my observation has convinced
me that both may be right or wrong according as other con-
ditions are present or absent. Ground that will best resist sum-
mer drouth will insure the best orchard, and the cultivation and
care of the ground has much to do with this question. So select
good soil, prepare it in the best manner possible with the plow
and harrow, and then set your orchard trees at distances, two
rods apart each way. Fall plowing is best when it can be done.
When the ground is in good condition in the spring plant your
trees, never putting them in when it is muddy.

I have fifty acres of young orchard, a part of which was set
four years ago. Some of the trees bore apples last season.

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 287

Since planting out it has been in corn every season. The width
of the planter being three feet six inches, gives about four feet
six inches between the rows of trees and the rows of corn on
either side, thus preventing injury, to a great extent, from cul-
tivation. In cultivating tree-rows I use a five shovel cultivator
drawn by one horse. In order to keep up the fertility of the
soil, I use barnyard manure, and two years since I sowed rye
after the last cultivation of the corn, and the following spring
when rye was some two feet high it was plowed under with bene-
ficial results. The present season I shall renew this treatment
of sowing to rye, raise one more crop of corn, and then seed to
clover for two or three years. In setting the trees I incline them
to the southwest at a considerable angle. This is on account of
the prevailing winds being from that direction. In the course
of four or five years they assume an upright position. I have
noticed orchards set in an upright position which, at ten years
of age, leaned badly to the northeast, exposing the trunks to the
burning rays of the sun, causing "sunscald." I believe in low
headed trees and, therefore, have all my trees branch at from
eighteen inches to two feet from the ground. Branching that
low they subserve two purposes, keep the deadly single tree off
the trunk of the tree, and protect the trunk from the sun.
The second season after planting I was surprised to find my
young orchard badly infected with both round and flat-headed
borers. Many of the trees were injured to such an extent, about
fifteen per cent, of the trees were replaced, and since I have kept
up a systematic warfare upon the borers until now I have them
practically eradicated. Not having been troubled with these
pests before, I did not notice their work until some of the trees
broke off at the ground. I immediately went to work with a
knife and wire, cutting them out or punching them to death in
their holes. The last of May I went over the trees with a wash
compound of water, lime and soft-soap. In the spring and in
Sept. I examined the trees, also. The round-headed borers live
in the tree about three years, and are easily detected by the rust-
colored sawdust that is pushed from the opening in the bark.
You "know the workman by his chips."

The flat-headed borer requires a sharper eye. No chips are
seen and no apparent opening occurs in the bark, a broAvn dis-
coloration is the only sign. They complete their work in about
one year and while less numerous than the other species,
have been, in my case, more injurious. The round-headed
borer is usually found about the surface of the ground while
the flat-headed species usually work higher up on the trunk.
Large numbers of nursery trees are infested with these in-
sects and it is important that the fact is known to tree
planters so they may be on the watch and the proper remedies
applied.

288 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

Coming to the question of varieties, which is a very important
one, I would say in general terms select such as have given the
best results in the past and whose record of hardiness has with-
stood reasonable tests. To more specifically invite your atten-
tion and provoke discussion, I herewith enumerate the list for
Central Illinois recommended by the State Society at its annual
meetings of '87 and '88.

Summer. R. Astrachan, Benoni, Duchess.

Fall. Maiden's Blush, Wealthy and Ramsdell's Sweet.

Early Winter. Jonathan, and Grimes' Golden.

Late Winter. Minkler, Willow, Ben Davis.

For summer the Sops of Wine, and Golden Sweet also do well.

To the fall list could be added many good varieties as Haas,
Fall Orange, Snow, Stannard and Bailey's Sweet.

For winter, the Rome Beauty, Rawle's Janet, White Pippin
and Roman Stem are in many cases desirable.

For a list of ten varieties for Central Illinois I would select for
a farmer's orchard of fifty trees as follows :

Summer. Two Benoni, two Duchess, two Red Astrachan.

Fall. Two Snow, two Maiden's Blush, two Wealthy.

Early Winter. Five Jonathan, five Roman Stem.

Late Winter. Fourteen Minkler, fourteen Willow.

The Golden Sweet for summer, Ramsdell's Sweet for fall and
Tallman's Sweet for winter are in my opinion the best sweet ap-
ples for this section of the state, and two trees of each could
profitably occupy a place in the family orchard.

The Early Richmond Cherry is the only cherry that gives sat-
isfaction in this section. Grafted or budded on the common
Morrello stock, the trees will bear two or three times as much
fruit as when budded on the Mahaleb. This latter is the stock
usually made use of by nurserymen, and the trees improve in
bearing with age. If set deep, or ridged up after setting, they
are soon on their own roots, and bear as well as on the Morrello.

The pear trees should be seeded down to grass early, as they
seem to be benefitted rather than injured by blue grass. They
appear to blight less when in sod than when under cultivation.
The list of pears given by the State Society is a good one for this
section — Flemish Beauty, Howell, Tyson, Seckel and Keifer.

For peach trees, I would recommend the planting of pits from
the Crawford and other standard varieties.

Meeting as we do in this city of nurserymen, this subject should
bring out discussion. I have found that the people are more to
blame than nurserymen in the selection of varieties and the intro-
duction of novelties. People insist upon being swindled, and
will insist upon having something out of the usual line, at fancy
prices. There is no nursery so well established but what some
conscienceless tree peddler can come and sell trees right under
his nose to his immediate neighbors at double the prices for

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 289

which they could be had at their home nursery. No nurseryman
but would be glad to confine his apple list to a few standard va-
rieties, but he has to meet the demands of his customers, hence
the long list of varieties.

To the farmers I would say, make your arrangements to set
out fruit trees upon the farm, and when set out take care of them
and give the proper cultivation. Subscribe for some horticul-
tural paper, and when convenient, join a Horticultural Society.
It will pay you every time. • Send your orders direct to your
nearest reliable nursery; or, better still, go yourself, and rely
largely upon the nurseryman's advice as to varieties, &c. It is
not the best-looking nursery trees that are the best to plant.
For instance, the Minkler, Willow and Roman Stem are poor
growers in the nursery, but excellent varieties in the orchard.

THE STATUS OF HORTICULTURE.

BY C. S. ROWLEY, LACON.

The stone age held the world captive a good long while, but
finally gave way. Then we had advancements, and this I believe
is called the iron age. Steel superceeds iron as an improvement,
and in connection with steam was until recently the universal
motor of the world. But electricity is stepping in now, and ere
long we confidently expect to see it take the place of steam.
Away back in the history of the world, Galileo was imprisoned
for declaring the earth moved on its own axis. To make such a
statement at that time was the rankest heresy. Ignorance, and
what was worse than ignorance alone — superstition — barred the
door to every advanced idea. Those were called the "Dark
ages." So we see, by reading history, the world has not only had
its stone age, its bronze age, its iron age, but also has had its
dark age.

Among the great improvements made of late years, we could
name many things which, had they been merely hinted at in the
old dark age in which Galileo lived, the unlucky heretic who
dared to utter them would have been torn in pieces for his au-
dacity.

Thus we see that the world's history has been progressive,
step by step, up to the present time. The history of horticulture
is written on the same plane. Think of the oiden times, at the
close of the last century, when a China Rose brought the great
sum of $2,500, and Tulips were sold at fabulous prices. Old
Nero, that cruel-hearted emperor of Rome, gave one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars for flowers to decorate a supper.
"Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast," and flowers
had charms to please the savage eye of Nero.
—20

290 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

The Fleur-de-Lis. or Iris, is the national flower of France, and
dear to the heart of every Frenchman. The Shamrock, or clover
leaf, is the pride of Ireland. Scotland owns allegiance to so
humble a plant as the Thistle. But what the national flower of
America is I do not know, unless it may be the modest, sweet-
faced little Pansy. These subjects are mentioned to show in a
slight degree how the march of horticulture has been kept, and
the importance it bears in history, and the affairs of the world.
Other things are moving rapidly onward, and the science of
trees and plants is in the swim. It is keeping abreast with the
times. It is due to the eminent men who have toiled late and
early; it is due to their indomitable pluck and perseverance; it
is due to their magnificent powers of brain and hand that horti-
culture is where it is to-day. Does not this show us most clear-
ly that ours is a God-given calling, and therefore destined to
succeed, and perhaps beyond our wildest dreams?

Excelsior is our motto. The wilderness must bloom; the
desert must be abolished ; each thorn must bear its flower, and
each flower perfect a fruit. Our forests must be protected, and
new ones reared. The millions that go abroad each year for the
products of the forest must be kept at home. This great land is
broad enough, and has ample resources to produce everything
our people need, and some to spare. This business of import-
ing our requisites from foreign countries — and especially the
timber and fruits indigenous to our own climate — must be
stopped, and instead of importers we should become exporters.
That is the direction to which our efforts should be turned, for
no other country on the globe can show such grand horticultural
results as we can, and no other has the resources that America
can boast of. Illinois has done her share in the past, and will do
itjn the future. Our appropriation from the state is but $2,000
a year for this great and important work. We have done all we
could on so small a sum, but it will not be long before the
appropriation is doubled, at least we hope so, for this good work
must not be stifled for lack of funds, especially in a wealthy
state like this, and one where the work we are doing, and con-
template, is so much needed.

Here in the beautiful city of Normal, and within the great
center of the nursery business of the state, and close by the
"Evergreen City" of Bloomington, we are met to show the peo-
ple that we are in earnest; that the spirit of horticulture is still
alive, and that the Central Society has not been idle, nor lack-
ing in loyalty to its charter. No better time could have been
chosen for this gathering than the magnificent month of May — a
period just midway between spring and summer, the season of
the year when the budding hopes and aspirations of the horti-
culturists swell with the expansion of the buds and flowers of
nature. We cannot look about us for a moment, on any street,

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 291

in any doorway, or the yards of the most humble homes, but can
be seen the resultant labors of past and present horticultural
workers. Wherever blooms a flower; wherever grows a tree, or
shrub, or vine, there is the handiwork of some good disciple of
"the art that does mend nature." His works go to the palace
of the millionaire, and to the humble home of the poor. The
bountiful fruits his persevering skill has nurtured into perfection
impart the same richness to all; his flowers smell as sweet to the
poor, and bloom as beautifully as for the rich.

Horticulture has its advocates and champions all over the
world ; it leaves its good mark wherever it goes, and it goes
everywhere. Civilization and horticulture go hand in hand.
The savage nations have no other horticulture save that which
nature first bestowed upon them. This was the case with
America, and especially so in Illinois. The first settlers found no
fruits worthy the name. They were taxed to all their ingenuity
to get them started, and even then it was slow and unsatisfying
work, because they were so much in the dark. They had not
the methods nor knowledge we possess to-day. Their growing
intellect taught them to believe that vast possibilities lay hidden
in the future, but how to get at them was the all perplexing ques-
tion. It was this great ambition to unlock the secrets so strong-
ly guarded by nature that perhaps gave rise to the science of
horticulture. This desire gave an impetus to experiments by
planting seeds, and trial after trial, until finally a surer ground
was reached, and budding, grafting, layering, cross breeding,
hybridizing, and every other expedient that could be thought of
was put into execution. The mind of man is far reaching. It is
not possible to subdue the ambition of a thorough horticultural
student, for we are all students in nature's school. No man is
higher than another, except he gets there by the hardest study
and application.

It is only a few years ago, comparatively speaking, when it
was the solemn declaration of people hereabouts, who no doubt
were sincere in saying so, that these prairies could not raise
fruits. Mr. F. K. Phoenix, the founder of the greatest nursery
in the world, and he built it up right here in this section, came
down in withering scorn on these laconic grumblers, and resent-
ed the accusation as a slander on the fairest land that God ever
made. Mr. Phoenix was right. The prairies can grow fruit, and
they are doing it right along, with splendid success, year after
year.

Above all, if horticulture is a failure, from whence comes this
enthusiastic Central Society, to say nothing of that grand old
paterfamilias — the Illinois State Horticultural Society? Then
look at the local and county organizations all over this beauti-
ful prairie state— the prairies which could not grow fruits.
This does not look like a failure; not by any means. We are

292 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

going forward, and not very slowly either. The movement has
been similar to the march of a great army through a wilderness.
The pioneers went first. They had literally to fight their^ way
through. Ignorance had set down square on any advanced ideas
of such a sort, and superstition was there to oppose them ; yet
they struggled on. After the pioneers came the sappers and
miners, and they made roads and bridges, so to speak, preparing
the solid road bed over which the great army is now passing.
Beit where now is all that wilderness which so fearfully opposed
the pioneer? It has been made to blossom like the garden,
ignorance and superstition have long since lost their
malignant influence, and the grand army is moving steadily
onward. We are still wresting the hidden secrets from nature's
book, and page after page of its hieroglyphics are being trans-
lated every year into plain English, so that he who runs may
read ; and horticulture, the grand old God-given attribute of all
that is good, and high, and noble, is flourishing through all the
land.

VEGETABLE GARDENING.

BY MKS. E. A. BLACKSTONE, LACON.

It evidently began with our first parents, and has been pre-
served through all ages and generations down to the present.
Adam began with a wooden plow, while we, in the last few years,
have developed into the advantageous Fire-fly. 0£ the merits,
profits and advantages of this yearly comfort, it is useless to
speak, but the best ways and means of producing the best yearly
product, engages the minds of all lovers of esculent food. A
somewhat long and varied experience teaches me that well en-
riched soil and early planting, with good, clean culture, give
the best results. I insist, plant early; with potatoes, very early,
the last week in February, if possible; surely as early as the first
week in March, or second; a good way (none better) enrich the
soil, and plow early in the fall. Mark out and plant early in
spring. All potatoes, late and early, should be planted in March.
As the best kinds to be used, I should recommend, for winter
use, the Snow Flake and White Star; for early use, Early Gem
and Early Telephone, the last a new variety propagated from the
Snow Flake and Peach Blow. By all means, destroy the potato
beetle. The best, cheapest and most convenient recipe I have
found is London Purple (one-fourth) and good wood ashes,
finely sifted, (three fourths) mixed well, dredged on with boxes
of tin holding a quart ; I use baking powder cans. The potato
bug and drouth are the two great enemies of the potato grower,
so plant early, and you head them off, to a certain extent.

Onions, radishes, lettuce, peas, and many other vegetables,
give the best result when put in as soon as the ground can be
gotten in order. "The early bird catches the worm," so the best

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 293

prices and profits catch the early gardener. True, some things
require a succession of plantings through the season, but it is
true, and most of us are learning the fact, that potatoes are no
longer a success in this locality unless put into the soil early. I
have found the tin-can irrigation a good one. This consists in a
small puncture in the can filled with water, set in the hill or by the
plant, being filled two or three times a week. Besides the
leakage, the water draws the night dews

One of the best luxuries which so many amateurs leave for the
professional to raise, is celery. It is of easy culture, and may be
grown in hills successfully, the same as potatoes, the golden
self-bleaching being the best variety, only the plants must go
into the ground early.

Sweet bell-peppers should be more grown. They are one of
the finest fall table relishes we have.

Every vegetable garden should have a bed of mints, summer
savory, thyme, sweet marjorum, sage, &c, which add so much to
the seasoning and excellence of well cooked food. For the eni-
belishment of tables and garnishing dishes, nothing surpasses the
crinkled leaves of parsley. I have found great pleasure in raising
water cress, egg plants and many other novelties.

One of the greatest mistakes which many make is in using poor
seed. I always plant the largest and best varieties. Potato
tubers I divide in four pieces, cutting them lengthwise. The first
that ripens should be saved for seed. The earliest and largest
radishes should be marked; the finest stalks of lettuce saved; the
finest pumpkins; the same of all kinds of melons. These should
be of the first. In fact, that which is first is strongest and best
in the vegetable kingdom, as well as in the animal. In this age
we depend too much on the seed-grower, and are losing in conse-
quence.

It may not be out of place for me to say that we should take
courage. We have been passing through a crisis as all countries
do, but I apprehend a change in the near future climate, and shall
be disappointed if peaches and other fruits do not succeed. I do
not like to prophesy, but facts tell. About eight years ago I read
a well authenticated article, that in the history of the world every
eighty years there were seven years of disasters, storms, earth-
quakes, cyclones, floods and other disturbances. Every close ob-
server will remember that the last seven years has brought to them
scenes which they have not heard of in any previous history of
their lives. Last summer was almost a peifect season. The
most goutv grumbler cannot complain of the past winter. Be
encouraged; let us begin anew; plant trees, dig, hoe, spade, plan
and work, as though Illinois was a young Dakota just admitted.

Before closing I want to give a picture of a garden cultivated
nearly fifty years ago : Looking, as I now do through infantile
•eyes into the long ago, a veritable garden of Eden. Drawing the

294 TRANSACTIONS OP THE HORTICULTURAL

curtain aside, in the northeast corner we see a large peach tree
which the owner called the red-cheeked orange; the cheek was of
the deepest carmine, the flesh was the deepest chrome. Now
draw the curtain middleway to south, there stands the lemon-lime,
looking much like a large lemon in size and color, and were used
for the winter preserves. Now shove the rings together; see the
beauty of all beauties — the red clingstone. No pen can describe
nor artist's brush paint the richness of that tree, as it stood there
with its five or six bushels of luscious, juicy fruit. Thus far I
have only told what this fruit was to the eye; what must it have
been to the taste? Ask the old schoolmates, Mort and Ruben,
Clemmie and Frank; they, with me, have not forgotten, nor will
forget. Opposite the lime-peach, about middle way, was a plum
thicket — the blue damson, the green gage, the big blue horse plum,
the yellow preserving, the sloe and a few native wild, stood to-
gether, budding, blossoming and ripening. The fruit was large
and abundant. A worm in one was a curiosity, and a dozen little
heads might be seen examining the rarity.

There were beds for flowers. Such flowers ! Were there ever
such poppies, such sweet-williams, merigolds, nasturtium? Alas!
like the judge's strawberries, they were child's eyes that looked
at them. Conspicuous among these was the tomato, cultivated
for its beauty, but too poisonous to eat. In the north corner was
a raspberry plat, mostly wild blackcaps, some red and a few
yellowcaps. To the south a wild strawberry bed. All around
next the fence were currants and gooseberries, so abundantly full
every season they dried on the bushes. Now and then an old
Morello cherry tree grew close to the fence, so full of the ripe
black fruit and so superior to many of tne new. Here, the birds of
every name, warbled and sung, flitting about in tree and bush,
building their nests. What a picture of peace, happiness, comfort
and prosperity is brought before us. It brings youth back with all
its freshness, and we can almost feel the soft touch of beautiful
hands that are now at rest. With reverence and sadly we draw
the Curtain, leaving it hung on memory's wall, which no time can
ever erase.

It was my mother's garden.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FRUIT EXHIBIT.

Your committee takes pleasure in calling the attention to the-
display of twenty-four varieties of apples exhibited by G. W.
McCluer of the Experiment Station at Champaign. The apples,
which were in excellent condition, we are informed, have been,
kept in an ordinary cellar without special care.

D. H. Gray,
G. W. Minier,

Committee.

SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 295

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FINAL RESOLUTIONS.

Your Committee on Final Resolutions ask leave to report the
following:

First. Our thanks are tendered to the citizens of Normal and
vicinity for the hospitality in entertaining the members of our
Society.

Second. We give thanks to the press of Bloomington for their
judicious and timely reports of our proceedings.

Third. We congratulate this Society on its good fortune in
having so many members who are willing to make personal sacri-
fice to attend the meetings and encourage each other in their gen-
erous and unselfish labor.

Fourth. We hope that this meeting and its proceedings will
foster orchard planting, floriculture, and gardening, and last,
but not least, the planting of fruit and ornamental trees on all
our roadsides.

Fifth. To the officers of the Society for the generous and im-
partial rulings, and labor, in promoting the interests of the Agri-
culturist and Horticulturist of Illinois.

D. H. Gray,

G. W. MlNIER,

Committee.

TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL MEETING

OF THE

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS,

HELD AT

SANDWICH, JAN. 8 AND 9, 1890.

REPORTED BY

E. W. GEAVES, Secretary

OFFICERS FOR 1890.

President, -
First Vice-President,
Second Vice-President,
Third Vice-President,
Secretary,
Treasurer,

A. Bryant, Princeton.
- A. Dunning, Dunning.
J. V. Cotta, Nursery.
F. C. Johnson, Kishwaukee.
E. W. Graves, Sandwich.
L. Woodard, Marengo.

List Of Members.

Austin A. B., General Nursery Downer's Grove.

Ballou ST. E., M.D.Phd., Sandwich.

Bailey Luther, Gardener Sandwich.

Bryant Arthur, General Nursery Princeton.

Bryant H. G Princeton.

Bryant L. R , Cider and Vinegar Princeton.

Christian Jacob Mt. Carroll.

Cotta J. V., General Nursery Nursery.

Dunning A., General Nursery Dunning.

Graves E. W., General Nursery Sandwich.

Graves H. C. ...Sandwich.

Hanson Henry Franklin Grove.

Hazelton W. C Forest Glen.

Huber T Illinois City.

Johnson F. C Kishwaukee.

King John Sandwich.

Kleinsmid Geo Sandwich.

Mander Edgar Sandwich.

Minkler S. G Oswego.

Moore J. L., Farmer Polo.

Orr A. W., Florist Sandwich.

Periam Jonathan Englewood.

Piper D. J., Orchard and small fruit Forreston.

PrescottC. W., General Nursery Marengo.

Rice A Rockford, 804 N. Main street.

Seely J. S Oswego.

Whitney A. R., Cider and Vinegar Franklin Grove.

Whitney N. A Franklin Grove.

Woodard L., Pickler Marengo.

"300 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

.Twenty-Second annual meeting

OF THE

Horticultural Society of northern Illinois.

The twenty-second annual meeting of the Horticultural Society
•of Northern Illinois convened in the A. O. U. W. Hall, at Sand-
wich, Wednesday, January 8th, at 10 o'clock, with President
Bryant in the chair.

The meeting was opened by prayer offered by Rev. D. B. Spen-
cer, after which an adjournment was taken until 2 o'clock, the
intervening time being spent in a social way.

-o-

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

Promptly at 2 o'clock the President called the meeting to order
and introduced Dr. G. H. Robertson, who delivered the follow-
ing address of welcome :

DR. ROBERTSON'S ADDRESS.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

The pleasant duty has been imposed on me to extend to the
members of your Society in behalf of our people a cordial wel-
come. It is a courteous ceremony rendered necessary by long
usage on such occasions, yet I am confident you will feel assured of
your hospitable reception without this formal proffer of our good
will. Our little town is somewhat boastful of its hospitality, and
may sometimes, in its ambition, forget its limitations. It has
welcomed conventions, societies and organizations of various
sorts, and of both sexes, and acquitted itself with credit, at least

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 301

in its own estimate, but I believe never before has been so aspir-
ing as to present an invitation to an association of such import-
ance and covering an area of half of a great state. It is possible
those of you who had to do with the conduct of affairs may have
had in contemplation a little needful missionary work. Our town
is not yet forty years old and, perhaps, is not able to exhibit the
taste, the luxuries and refinements that belong to cities of more
wealth and years, yet we venture to suggest that in one of the
departments included in your varied and extensive program,
arboriculture, Ave can show commendable zeal and advancement.
It is fortunate our trees are mostly deciduous and that you have
visited us in midwinter, else you might not have been able to see
the town through the shadowed density of its embowerment. I
must also conclude from your program that we can boast of one
citizen who can raise pears and another who cultivates a garden
for the sake of its economy. It is a matter of congratulation
that we have one man, who, after a prolonged season's battle
with purslane and pig weed, with potato bug and corn worm,
with the mild provocations of the neighbor's chickens, and the
courteous visits of itinerant dogs, can find, as he carries his
dilapidated cabbage into his cellar, that the balance sheet, with
a proper entry of the value of his own time and work, is still in
his favor.

As to floriculture, we have little to present at this season, ex-
cept what may be seen nourished in the warm environment of our
comfortable homes. There is a well authenticated incident told
of one of our people who, having secured a valuable bulb, plant-
ed it with great care and watched for its coming with trembling
anxiety, and having, in his despair, appealed to a lady friend for
counsel, she discovered that the ambitious bulb was sending
down its stalk toward China. He had planted it wrong end up.
We are reasonably skillful in raising potatoes and soft maples,
and have some success with geraniums and chrysanthemums, but
if you can give us a little encouragement in our attempts with
the cinneraria and ranunculus we shall appreciate your friendly
visit. Indeed, we are sure that when we have heard the con-
densed results of your experiences through the past year, as given
in your pleasant interchanges, the balance of the ledger will be
on our side.

Horticulture, that gives the name to your association and
specifies its ends, both as a science for profit, and as an art for
beauty, is the oldest occupation in the world. Our original and
venerable ancestor, as we read in the most ancient words, was
engaged in it in his earliest years. He was placed in a very
beautiful and extensive garden "to dress and to keep it." As
far as we know, he was successful, and enjoyed the work, until,
unfortunately, he became too much interested in the Pyrus Malus,
a tree of which we have here probably the most extensive cul-

/

302 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

tivators in the country. His experiences in this direction were
quite different from those of our friends, the Graves'. We are
told he quit the apple business very suddenly, and went out to
do general farming. He had the largest and, probably, the
most refractory and unmanageable farm ever owned by any of
his descendants. It is an employment that has its special fasci-
nations, that calls out and disciplines many of the best faculties
of the mind, and yields ample returns in enjoyment and material
profit. It brings you near to nature, where you can watch her
in some of her most secret and loving ways, where you can
study her mysterious and matchless work, where you can feel the
throbbings of her heart. In the structure of a leaf, in the un-
folding and coloring of a flower, an art and a skill are manifest
that rival all human effort. How the wealth of her interest and
the quickness and tenderness of her sympathy are shown in her
ready responses to all your intelligent solicitations. The essen-
tial, ultimate secret of your success lies in your intimate acquain-
tance with her spirit and her hidden processes. How often you
have found that you could woo her into most attractive and help-
ful moods by kind and gentle persuasions, while she turns upon
you in wrath, if you would traverse her plans or cross her pur-
poses. God's ways with growth and decay, with tree and leaf,
with plant and flower, with the blossoming and the fruitage, are
the limitations of farm study, the boundaries of your art, the
law of your work. It was accounted as the signal proof of Solo-
mon's superior wisdom that he knew all the plants and trees of
garden and field, " from the hyssop that grows on the wall to the
cedar of Lebanon."

Horticulture has had its attraction for men in all ages, and the
wisest and princeliest have found delight and instruction in its
pursuit. The festive and magnificent old monarchs, way out on
the banks of the Euphrates, spent their leisure hours on their
return from bloody conquests in their hanging gardens that
revealed their beauty and shook their odors from the lofty sum-
mits of their palaces, the wonder of the world. In such a place
can one find the recreation of a passing hour, a respite from
weary care, a study and an employment for a busy life. Here
the poet can find inspiration for his sweetest song, the philoso-
pher food for his most profound reflections, the devout per-
suasive call to the most profound worship.

Were we to press the subject to its limits, we might recall the
fact that the gardens of earth wrought into forms of beauty by
human hands, with their stately trees, their cool, shaded bowers,
their placid waters flowing along banks robed with green and
fragrant with flowers, the fruit hanging ripe and golden from
many a bough, these Edens of earth are the types and the pro-
phecies of all that is bright and beautiful in the land beyond the
flood. It has already been sufficiently indicated that horticul-

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 303

ture is both ancient and honorable. Pursued as a science it is
a most useful industry, enlarging the number and improving the
quality of those products of the earth that add immeasurably to
the satisfaction and comfort of human life. As an art it culti-
vates the taste, refines the sensibilities, and educates the spirit
in its higher realms of grace and beauty. It is a higher depart-
ment of agriculture, requiring a special training, a more careful
study. The luscious peach, the juicy apple, the strawberry that
in its exquisite flavor suggests the utmost limit of excellence,
may not afford the solid nourishmentof the wheat loaf, but they
enlarge the range of human enjoyment and give life a new inter-
est. The pansy, creeping low on the ground, its flower looking
up into your face as if in recognition, the climbing clematis,
with its exquisite shading and delicate beauty, may not fill the
place of the plain corn-dodger in an hour of hunger, but they
thrill the spirit with a new joy, and reflect upon the inmost soul
their own colorings of beauty. They speak a new language, and
tell of the far off realms of beauty, after which we all yearn.
Horticulture, the science and art you pursue, like music, like
painting, like architecture, indicates in its advancement the
march of civilization. In its continued and wonderful achieve-
ments, it is contributing to the enlargement and wealth of human
life. Each fruit made choicer or more plentiful as a luxury for
our tables, each flower made more perfect by your skill, each
shrub and tree that shows a more graceful sweep of its boughs,
or a richer foliage under improved cultivation, touches a higher
range of sensibilities, reaches purer and better impulses, expands
the meaning of life. First in the order of things must come the
prime necessities of existence, and next should come its finer
equipments, its more elegant adornments. There is a natural
hunger that must first be satisfied, but there yet remains a hunger
of the spirit that yearns for a better nourishment. In these
surroundings and embellishments of life, secured to us by your
skillful, patient work are we cultivated into a higher apprecia-
tion of beauty, and the chords of our spirits attuned to higher
harmonies.

As leaders in this department of the world's varied activities,
as captains in this division of the great army of progress, we bid
you welcome. This earth that waits for man's coming grows
fairer as you go and yields choicer products from its bosom,
Nature is exhaustless in her resources, magnificent in her riches,
and bids the touch of skillful fingers to unlock her treasures
and reveal her unrivalled loveliness. Her flowering and her
fruitage to-day are but the prophecies of what she will disclose
in the coming years, when your persuasive caresses have tempted
her to fuller revelations of her boundless possibilities.

If you can stimulate us to a higher ambition in this line of
effort, if you will leave us some word of truth that will help us

304 TRANSACTIONS OP THE HORTICULTURAL

in our work, your presence with us will have brought its full
recompense. Again, as the representatives of Northern Illinois
in this mission of love and faith, in behalf of the city of Sand-
wich and its surrounding population, I bid you welcome.

The President responded briefly in behalf of the Society, after
which Professor Cook read his paper entitled

HORTICULTURE IN SCHOOLS.
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I live in a city whose motto is "Urbs in horto," a city in a
garden, but fortunately my dwelling place and the school with
which I am connected are in the garden part of it.

With us of the annexed portion of Chicago, the motto might
more appropriately be, "Hortus in urbe" a garden in a city.
Horticulture and the schools are in close proximity in that city
whose motto is not an unapt one. The present paper is only in-
cidentally written for this occasion. It is rather the product of
an idea changing to an opinion, and then to a firm belief after an
experience of twenty-one years in high school teaching.

Our schools can and ought to have a more practical scientific
side than they have presented to the public in the past. The
schools absolutely need an experimental field. Horticulture, like
all other occupations that would be in line with the march of
progress, needs experimental development. These remarks are
not addressed to those teachers who know that they already know
all there is to be known in regard to the improvement of the
schools, nor yet to those market gardeners who will not permit
themselves to understand the difference between a cucumber and
a pickle. They are addressed to this body of earnest men and
women whose very presence attests the fact that practical im-
provement will be heartily welcomed. They are addressed to a
class, of whom Francis A. Walker says in an article in the Prince-
ton Iieview, "they are unlike the cultivators of the soil in any
country of Europe except Switzerland, and perhaps Scotland:
they have at no stage of our history constituted a peasantry in
any sense of the term. The actual cultivators of the soil here
have been the same kind of men precisely as those who filled
the professions or were engaged in commercial and mechanical
pursuits. Of two sons of the same mother, one became alawyer,
perhaps, or a judge, or went to the city and became a merchant, or
gave himself to political affairs and became a Governor or went
to Congress ; the other stayed upon the ancestral homestead or
made a new one for himself and his children out of the public
domain farther west, remaining through his life a plain, hard
working farmer. And those who have come to us from foreign
countries have caught the time, the step, and the spirit of the

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 305

national movement with wonderful ease. As recruits received
into an old regiment with veterans behind, before and on either
side, with examples everywhere of the right way of doing things
and breathing atmosphere surcharged with soldierly instincts,
are soon scarcely to be distinguished from the heroes of ten cam-
paigns; so the Germans, the Scandinavians and though in less
degree the Irish and French Canadians who have made their
homes where they are surrounded by the native agriculturists
have become in a short time almost as good Yankees as if they
had been born upon the hills of Vermont."' They are addressed
to the fathers and mothers of our school population, to the fos-
ter parents of Horticulture in our State. What can be more
appropriate than that the children of such parents should be
wedded and dwell together in harmony under the same vine and
fig tree? How can such a desirable union be brought about?
It can be, but before answering the question practically and in
detail bear with me a few minutes for a rapid survey of the ten-
dency of past and present thought bearing on school matters.
Bacon says, "Ars est homo additus naturae" which may be freely
translated "Art equals nature plus man." He also says, "A gar-
dener takes more pains with the young than with the full grown
Elants ; and men commonly find it needful in any undertaking to
egin well." "The school is a workshop of humanity" writes
Comenius, "it is to bring man to the ready and proper use of
his reason, his language and his artistic skill." Milton would
have children "turn from the verbal toils to the study of things."
We of modern times have begun the study of things, but not yet
as practically as might be. Education has become very general,
therefore fashionable, so far good ; but education turns its back
upon the farm and factory, in that far, bad. Educated men crowd
into professions, pulpits and politics, and hurried on by the desper-
ate scramble of the many for existence, too often turn out dema-
gogues, swindlers and thieves. So what with the bustle and ex-
citement of these lightning times and the fashion set by educated,
young men, the farm and factory fall into dishonor; for thirty
years the tendency of population has been from the country and'
toAvards the great cities. Statistics show that occupancy of the
public lands, under the homestead laws, has almost ceased, while
the great human herd made up of educated adventurers, of hon-
est, but improvident laborers, of the aimlessly idle, of the vicious
vagabonds and the villainous tramps crowd desperately towards
the centers of population as if , as Cicero says, "To die in a body
were better than to live in quiet apart." The schools must do
their share in turning this tide. In these days farming demands
brains and in the south and west, industrial enterprises offer the
largest returns for labor scientifically directed. It is the duty of
the thoughtful farmer and the thoughtful teacher to join in a cry
against the idea that education and industrial pursuits are uncon-
—21

306 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

genial and that educated men must perforce squeeze themselves
into overcrowded professions. There is a demand for educated gar-
deners, farmers and manufacturers. They are needed primarily
at their homes and at their work and then in the legislatures of
their respective states; and too, though it might be humiliating to
them, they are sadly needed in our National Congress.

These practical men, farmers and gardeners, need a practically
scientific education. They need to study the forms of animal
and vegetable life. In a word, Biology. This comparatively new
subject, which after three centuries of preparation in physics and
chemistry has been fully reached by the scientific mind only dur-
ing the past fifty years, is now beginning to be realized in its full
import in our system of higher education.

Biological chairs have been founded and laboratories and schools
of biological research have been established in connection with
several of the old .European Universities. And although we in
this country have had chairs and schools and museums of natural
history, yet the provision made for biological study in the organi-
zation of the Johns Hopkins' University at Baltimore marks a de-
cisive step forward in the educational treatment of this important
subject, but it is not alone at Johns Hopkins' University, it is not
alone in colleges and high schools that this subject can be taught,
but also it may profitably be taught in the common district school
and in the every day life of the child.

The insects, and the lower and higher forms of life, that are
destructive to agricultural and horticultural products, are legion,
unfortunately so, but their insect enemies are also many, and to
study both. friends and foes is the province alike of the college
and the common school. The children must be allowed to retain
their original love for all forms of animal life, in so far as is con-
sistent with their safety. The unnatural repugnance to a slug or
a snail does not exist in babies, nor children rightly brought up.
Unperverted children are naturally fond of all the lower forms of
life. What is easier and more delightful, then, than to guide the
child-mind in a channel of observation that shall lead him to
study nature as he himself finds it?

This feeling of fondness for animal life should be cherished and
encouraged, and made available as an impulse in early study.
Children, at the home and in school, from babyhood to manhood,
have received more or less of false impressions, and one of them
is dread of so small a thing as the larva of a codling-moth emerg-
ing from a bitten apple. A baby will place his tiny finger upon
it, and laugh to see it curl up. He would also pat a rattlesnake
upon the back, and laugh to hear its rattle. Here, evidently,
teaching is needed. Dread of the deadly serpent must be incul-
cated, and a natural curiosity in regard to living things must be
rightly guided, a task for both mother and teacher. ''The diffi-
culty for the teacher in this case," says the editor of the Popular

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 307

JScience Monthly "is not real or intrinsic in the conditions of the
case ; but, as we have had occasion again ana again to notice, it comes
from the stupid ignorance and fussy meddlesomeness of parents, who
bully the teachers at every deviation from the 'horrid grind' of
book lessons and recitations in the schools. The fact is, if we
ever get the study of nature in the schools, it can only be by
breaking down the superstitions by which they are dominated;
the deadly order by which nature is kept out, and by a larger rec-
ognition of individual aptitudes, and much freer opportunity for
the observation and study of natural objects."

In this connection, it is well to remember that the average child
has what Martin calls "the only absolutely necessary faculties for
the scientific investigator," viz. : "love of his work, perseverance
and truthfulness." If the child has a mind capable of making an
observation, and retaining the fact, the garden and the farm give
him unlimited opportunities. His field of study is as wide as
God's animate creation, nor need the child nor the man be an
original thinker in order to get good out of a course of study that
can be formulated and practically applied in our schools, by a
series of observations and experiments upon natural objects sup-
plied by the farm and garden.

As Prof. Martin, of Johns Hopkins' University, says: "That
an army to attain its best success needs, indeed, that every
man be brave and loyal ; but it is b}r no means requisite that
every soldier be a Brigadier-General. So in the army of science
there is place for soldiers of all ranks and capabilities, and at any
rate we know this, that nature reveals her secrets, which are her
rewards, on no system of purchase or favoritism. What a person
deserves, that he gets. Every drummer boy who enters her
service carries the marshal's baton in his pocket."

A course of study that shall start with the drummer boy of the
district school, and end with the field-marshal at the head of the
scientific department of a univ3rsity, is the dream of the present,
the reality of the future.

Botany, as taught in the better high schools, starts with the
planting of the seed, and watching its development by observing
the changes as it germinates and grows, sections being made,
and microscopical examinations conducted in the class room in all
stages of its growth to the mature leaf and hard woody fibre.
Plants are analyzed, and all plants from which seeds can be
gathered are available for class use. In a city, where can a
sufficiency of plants for class use be obtained, if not in the garden
and orchard? I believe that the future will develop the fact that
a school in which botany is rightly taught, must have access to
the garden.

The simple analysis of plants is elementary work on which
pupils could be profitably employed a part of the time during
their seventh and eighth grade work, or at the ages of twelve to

308 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

fourteen, thus laying the foundation for a more extended course
in flowering plants than is now possible in the high schools, and
giving more time for microscopic work, thus allowing us of the
high school to go on with Cryptogamic's Botany, or to build the
basement story of the structure, above which would come the
elaborate experiments in cross-fertilization, &c, of the agricul-
tural college, and the original lines of investigation of the
scientific department of the university, making a super-structure
that would be a national blessing. Horticulture can furnish the
school with the plants, and the school in turn would yield her
best thought for the benefit of the garden and the J arm, and
higher and better than all, the minds of our youth would be
drilled to think consecutively, to draw logical conclusions, and to
be better and more useful citizens.

Parallel to this course in botany, is another, in which the re-
ciprocal usefulness of school and garden is equally apparent.
Zoology, the study of animal life, can and ought to run parallel
to botany, the study of plant life. The following is a course of
study for seventh and eighth grade work which can be practically
employed here in Illinois. Such courses have already been made
for those who live upon the sea-shore, and in some respects, per-
haps, the sea-side schools have the advantage of us ; but available
specimens are in abundance about us for guiding the child-mind
and creating a habit of observation. The prairies of the west
furnish an abundance of animals, as of plants. The thing for
Young America to do is to observe what is going on around him,
whether he live upon the desert, the prairie, or the sea-coast.
But, in order to lead pupils, the teacher himself must be
equipped, and must have prepared his work for the class. The
questions of each recitation must be naturally led, from the
simple to the complex; the recitations must be naturally ar-
ranged, and the course of study must follow the same law.
This kind of questioning is the peculiar characteristic of the true
science lesson. Each question, each recitation, each new topic,
must be an important part of one complete course of study.

Let us begin our study of animal life in the seventh grade with
the common earth-worm, first noticing its external characteristics,
and drawing it in parts, and, as a whole, using it as s. topic for
oral description by each member of the class, closing the recita-
tion by a talk to the class in regard to its habits, under what
circumstances it is beneficial, and when injurious to vegetation,
of course bringing out the fact that it is a strict vegetarian, not
particular whether its morsel of food be dead or living vegetable
matter, whether its meal comes from the embryo shoot of a
Canadian Thistle seed, or a young seedling turnip or cabbage. I
think that in the common school about five recitations can be
profitably spent in this bit of fish-bait. Finally place the animal,
together with five or six others, in a tin can well packed with

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 309

earth, and watch him dig. The a leave hiin for future obser-
vation.

I have described somewhat in detail this first work. The rec-
itations should be conducted throughout the course on quite a
similar plan. First, open and draw the animal for correct form
and relation of parts to the whole, then talk about him getting
the ideas of the young observers, and finally, a summing up of
the class observations by the teacher, and his statement of its
habits, the whole to be reviewed and written up by the class in
after-recitations.

Next in the course is a bivalve shell, either a fresh-water clam
shell or an oyster shell. We will get both, if we can, and com-
pare them. Notice, it is the shell, and not the animal.

Next in order is the living snail, then the snail shell, followed
by all the shells the pupils can bring into class, arranging them,
and making a simple classification.

The next available animal comes the cray-fish ; or, as he is fre-
quently called, the craw-fish. Study him as minutely as the age
of the youngsters will permit, and group around him as a
memory nucleus, the crabs and lobsters.

Next comes the locust, or a common grasshopper, the first in
the order of insects that we study.

What a field of vast research here opens up, only the salient
points of which can be noticed by our young observers ! Insects
destructive to garden plants can be taken as specimens through a
long list, spending one or two recitations upon each, the order
being locust, beetle, butterfly, moth, and during the course at
least one, as, for instance, the common cabbage butterfly, must
be carried through the process of transformation from the egg to
the larva, the pupa and the imago. Kept through the winter in a
warm place, the butterfly will emerge very early in the spring.

Never shall I forget the surprise and satisfaction with which a
class observed the unexpected appearance of four or five little
ichneuman flies coming from a little round orifice in the back of
a pupa of the cabbage-butterfly. We had preserved several
chrysalids late in the fall, and in the latter part of February the
butterflies had commenced to make their appearance, when the
class were treated to this ocular proof that insects may prey upon
each other.

The study of the locust wrould include a few of the common
varieties of the grasshopper and cricket. Under the beetles we
would include the common June beetle, potato beetle, the pea
and bean beetle, and the striped squash beetle. Under the head
of butterflies and moths, we may use in class work, besides the
cabbage butterfly, the codling moth and the five spotted hawk
moth, the progenitor of the tomato worm. Next in the course
comes the fly and the bee, and finally a general classification of
insects.

310 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

Our pupil may now be said to be prepared for good and
thorough high school work, in which the microscope must begin
to play its important part. Parallel to the high school work
in Botany and Zoology would come a course in Chemistry, in
which the poisons used in the battle against insects would be
studied and their method of application brought out.

A pupil thus trained in his early years has powers of observa-
tion which is now almost unknown, even inside our college
walls, but can such training be done with the school divorced
from their natural companion, the garden? The schools need
the experimental garden. May the time soon come when it will
be truthfully said that the garden needs the school.

discussion. -

Prof. Forbes — Thought the paper a very good one and paid a
glowing tribute to W. C. Flagg; referred to him as being very
instrumental in the organization of the several Universities in
the several states of the United States, and that he was a horti-
culturist to whom we might all look back to with pride. Said he
thought by asking for the natural sciences to be taught in our
common schools we would get them, and that they were cer-
tainly worth the asking. He had always been successful in his
demands on the Legislature in that direction, generally getting
what he asked for. Anything that brought these matters up for
discussion before the people was a grand good thing.

Mr. Hammond — Commended the paper very highly and con-
sidered that our common schools lacked the proper instruction
on horticultural subjects.

President Bryant — Thought the subject of horticulture was
much neglected in our common schools, and that it should be
agitated and brought before the people for their consideration,
which, if properly done, something would be accomplished in
that direction.

SYNOPSIS OF RECENT WORK WITH ARSENICAL INSECTICIDES.

BY PKOF. S. A. FORBES.

When, in 1885, I began work on the arsenical poisons for the
codling moth and curculios, these insecticides had been already
before the horticultural public for several years, but not a line had
been published in the nature of a full report of precise experi-
ments, and no one had as yet acted on the idea that elaborate and
exact experimentation was necessary. To throw some Paris Green

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 311

or dissolved arsenic on a tree ; to observe at the end of the season
that the fruit was less wormy than on trees not so treated ; and
to report the result in this vague, general way, seemed to satisfy
the workers of that day. Parallel with my own first work, how-
ever, a similar, but smaller series of precise experiments was
made during the same season at the New York Experiment
Station, the general result in both cases going to prove that at
least seventy per cent, of the loss commonly suffered by the
fruit grower from the ravages of the codling moth, or apple
worm, might be prevented, at a nominal expense, by thoroughly
applying Paris Green in a spray with water, once or twice in
early spring, as soon as the fruit is fairly set.

Since the conclusions of my report were published, as Bul-
letin No. 1 of the office, and also as an article in my fourth
report as State Entomologist, a number of Agricultural and
Horticultural Experiment Stations — organized under the opera-
tion of the Hatch Act — have taken up the subject of the appli-
cation and utility of the arsenical insecticides; have experi-
mented carefully in the scientific spirit; and have reported the
results of their work with a fullness and system which enables
us to discuss them in comparison with each other, and with
those of earlier work. As the usefulness of these insecticides is
undoubtedly the most important, purely practical subject now
before you, I have thought I could do you no better service at
the present time than to summarize for you the results of this
more recent work, so that all might see just what has been ac-
complished, and what remains to be learned hereafter.

THE COMPOSITION OF THE ARSENITES.

The poisonous nature of these substances makes it important
that all should know just what they are. Two recent analyses
made in the Minnesota and Vermont Stations give the composi-
tion of unadulterated Paris Green and London Purple. London
Purple is essentially composed of arsenic and lime, and Paris
Green of arsenic and copper oxide. In the former, we may say
in general terms, that the arsenic ranges from forty to forty-five
per cent., and in the Paris Green from fifty-five to sixty; while
the lime in the London Purple varies from twenty to twenty-five
per cent., and the copper oxide in the Paris Green averages
about thirty per cent. The other ingredients of these sub-
stances are of no horticultural interest. Of the various adver-
tised insecticides, slug shot and the so-called peroxide of
silicates are perhaps the most widely known. These have been
shown by the above analyses to depend for their efficiency
almost entirely on about one and one-half per cent, of arsenic,
mixed with plaster of Paris in one case, and with land plaster in
the other, the arsenic being sometimes present as such, and

312 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

sometimes as Paris Green. These substances are about the
equivalent of a mixture of two pounds of Paris Green to a
hundred pounds of plaster.

COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES OF ARSENICAL POISONS.

It is now generally admitted that a solution of white arsenic
as so much more liable than London Purple or Paris Green to
injure the foliage, even of the apple (varying in the gravity of
the injury according to circumstances not yet well understood),
that it is no longer recommended for this purpose. Its only
advantages are cheapness and convenience of application, since
it does not require stirring, but the London Purple costs no
more. Mr. Gillette, of the Iowa Experiment Station, believes
from experiments made this summer, that white arsenic, if
stirred up in water and applied while fresh, before solution has
taken place, is much less liable to injure the leaves.

It is commonly known that London Purple is more convenient
of application than Paris Green, on account of its greater fine-
ness and lightness, and it is also decidedly cheaper; but Cook
of the Michigan Station, and Gillette, of Iowa, are quite of the
opinion that it is more caustic to vegetation. Weed, of Ohio,
on the other hand, considers it less likely to scorch the tree, as
stated in his Bulletin No. 3, issued in May of last year; and
Popenoe, of Kansas, finds no great difference between the two.
My own experience has gone to show that Paris Green is prefer-
able in this respect. Doubtless, further careful experiments on
this point will be necessary, carried out with reference to vary-
ing conditions of tree, weather, season, and time of day.

MIXTURES AND APPLICATION.

These poisons, as is well known, may be applied either dry or
wet, the advantage of the latter mode being, according to Riley,
especially evident in dry weather. The poisons may be, also,
much more cheaply applied and quickly prepared with water
than with any dry diluent. Eiley advises adding two or three
pounds of starch to each barrel of the water mixture, (to pro-
mote its adhesion to the surface and to assist in the suspension
of the poison in the water)- He also thinks that sifted wood
ashes stirred in with the poison lessen its caustic action on the
leaves.

Dry poisons are to be preferred in rainy weather especially,
because they may be applied without heavy apparatus which it
would be difficult to drag through the field when the ground was
soft. Dr. Riley also believes the dry arsenites much less liable
to injure the foliage. Flour, he finds the most satisfactory
diluent, having the advantage of adhesiveness, but being expen-
sive, it may profitably be mixed with one third wood ashes.

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 313

Road dust is a poor substitute. Various other adhesive sub-
stances may be used advantageously, especially in wet weather,
dextrine, gum-arabic, slippery-elm bark, or rosin, about two
pounds of either to twenty-live of the poison mixture being a
good average.

Gillette reports experiments intended to test the difference in
effect of a fine or coarse poison spray. He finds little difference,
so far as injury to the foliage is concerned, between a fine spray
distributed with a Nixon nozzle and a solid stream thrown with
force, provided that in both cases the leaves be equally moisten-
ed. Doubtless a slight moistening can be more equably dis-
tributed as a fine spray than in coarse drops.

STRENGTHS OF MIXTURES.

Riley finds the proportions of Paris Green to the dry diluent,
whatever that may be, to vary from one in twenty to one in thirty-
five, and recommends about one in thirty as efficient. Of Lon-
don Purple he advises the use of about one pound in forty-five,
the diluents being fifteen pounds of wood ashes and thirty of
Hour, with a little less than two pounds of some adhesive
substance.

Cook uses for the apple, cherry and pear one pound of Lon-
don Purple to 200 gallons of water, but finds this too strong for
the peach. If the application is repeated, he would then use one
pound to 300 gallons. For plums he does not now use London
Purple at all, but would apply Paris Green, one pound to two or
300 gallons of water. For the peach, only Paris Green is appli-
cable, and this in strength no greater than one pound to 300 gal-
lons of water.

Gillette, of Iowa, recommends for dry application one pound
of the arsenical poisons to fifteen of land plaster or plaster of
Paris. His wet mixture advised in 1888 was one pound of Lon-
don Purple to 100 gallons of water as a maximum for apples,
and one to 160 as a minimum. Of Paris Green he would use
for apples one pound to 120 gallons as a maximum, and one
to 180 as the minimum, but in 1889 he reduces this minimum to
one to 160. For the plum he recommends Paris Green in pro-
portions varying from one pound to 160 gallons of water, to one
pound to 200 gallons. If weaker than the latter ratio he believes
that heavy dews or light rains would compel repetition.

In his cherry experiments for the destruction of the curculio,
Weed, of Ohio, in 1888, used one pound of London Purple to
100 gallons of water; and for the apple one pound of London
Purple to 100 as a minimum, and to 130 as a maximum, Paris
Green one pound to 100 gallons. In 1889, he found one pound
of London Purple to 160 gallons of water effective for the
cherry.

314 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

Jabez Webster, of Centralia, as reported in the Ohio Experi-
ment Station Bulletin, observed that one. pound of London
Purple to 100 gallons of water was too strong for some varieties
of apple, and that it would kill the peach or plum. One pound
to 160 gallons he considered safe for these latter fruits, and effi-
cient if twice applied.

Of the dry application Riley finds one pound of Paris Green
to thirty of the dry diluent as efficient as the stronger mixtures.

APPARATUS.

In the College Bulletin, No. 53, published in 1889, Prof. Cook
especially recommends as a cheap and excellent pump, a brass
hand force pump, sold for 82 by Mr. J. K. Compton, Leslie,
Mich., too small for orchards, it serves very well for a few trees
or garden use. For a large orchard he says, in 1888 that he
knows no pump comparable with the Victor Field Force Pump,
a geared machine running by horse power, and capable of being
attached to the hind wheel of any wagon. This pump costs 830,
and is made by the Field Force Pump Company of Lockport, N.
Y. Their smaller pump, the Perfection, selling for 812, is prac-
tically known to many of you. Both these pumps keep the mix-
ture stirred automatically by pumping back a small stream into
the barrel through a separate tube. Cook rejects the Cyclone
Nozzle so generally recommended by the U. S. Department of
Agriculture, because the spray is not thrown with sufficient
force. He recommends, particularly, the Nixon Nozzle, and the
Graduating Spraying Nozzle sold with the Field Force Pump.

Dr. Riley describes at length and figures, 1887, in a bulletin,
entitled "Our Shade Trees and their Insect Defoliators," the
apparatus used by the Agricultural Department in their experi-
ments, and especially recommends, on another page, the Nixon
Nozzle as being better adapted to very high trees than their
Cyclone pattern. All speak of the Nixon pumps as thoroughly
well made and serviceable. At the Ohio Station, Weed has
found the "Perfection" pump, already referred to, worthy of
special mention. The "Climax" pump, of the Nixon Company, he
finds a good practical machine. Gillette, of Iowa, says of a pump
sold by W. M. Johnson, Wilmot, Ohio, for 82 and 82.50, that it
is a very satisfactory instrument where light spraying is needed,
as in greenhouses or on low out-door plants and bushes. The
Victor pump, already mentioned, does excellent work by horse
power for extensive operations as in large orchards. It will
spray one side of a row of trees as fast as a horse can walk,
though if the trees are large, it may be found necessary to go
twice on each side. The graduating nozzle is to be chosen
instead of the "Boss." The Nixon field machine, he has found
similarly serviceable for work on a large scale, and their barrel
machine he considers the best he has ever tried for spraying

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 315

large gardens, and orchards of medium size. The best nozzle
tested by him is the common Nixon, and he mentions also the
"Pacific Cyclone Spray Tip," highly recommended by
orchardists in California.

TIME OF THE YEAR. '

Cook insists especially upon the point that care should be
taken to postpone the spraying until after the blossoms have
fallen, in order to avoid poisoning bees and other useful insects
which visit the flowers. He thinks, also, that less damage has
been done by the arsenical insecticides when applied in May
than when used in June and July. In late application, he con-
sequently reduces the strength.

REPETITIONS OF SPRAYINGS.

Cook remarks, with respect to apples, that if no heavy rain
follows, one application should be sufficient, but if it does, espe-
cially if the trees bear sparingly, it will often pay well to spray a
second time two weeks after the first. He doubts if a third spray-
ing is profitable, even after heavy rains.

Popenoe made, in Kansas in 1888, some elaborate experiments
designed to test the benefit of repeated spraying. An average
of his percentages drawn up from ninety-five trees showed a
gain of only three and two-tenths per cent, by a second spraying
made nine or ten days after the first.

TIME OF DAY.

All that mention the matter are agreed that the best time to
apply the dry poisoning is early in the morning, when the plants
are still wet with dew. Dry and windy weather are unfavorable to
an even and economical application. The wet poisons, on the
other hand, may best be distributed in the afternoon, or at least
after the dew has disappeared. Dry weather is most favorable
for these.

EFFECTS ON THE TREE.

Apple. The exceedingly variable action of the arsenites upon
the foliage of the trees treated with them has led to a variety of
experiments to determine, if possible, the conditions governing
this matter. Prof. Cook, for example, sprayed last June, fifteen
apple trees, and estimated several days thereafter the amount of
leaf injury exhibited. Only three of these trees were noticeably
hurt, and these were very badly scorched, the mixture being a
pound of London Purple to a hundred gallons of water, applied
late in June, a rain following the next day.

By far the most elaborate study of this subject reported by any
one, is that made by Popenoe, of Kansas in 1888. With a view

316 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

to determining at once the comparative effects of London Purple
and Paris Green mixtures of various strengths, and also the re-
sisting power of the various varieties of apple, he treated ki
May, 1888, no less than four hundred and sixty-eight trees, spray-
ing sometimes once and sometimes twice; his London Purple
mixtures being a pound to sixty-four gallons of water and one
pound to 128 gallons, and the Paris Green preparation varying
from fifty gallons to 320 gallons to a pound. Careful estimates
•of the foliage destroyed were made for each tree by the same ob-
server at the same time. From his tables I collect the follow-
ing general results : In the first place the Winesap was worse
affected of the eight varieties sufficiently tested, the loss aver-
aging twenty-eight per cent, of the leafage on twenty-four trees
of that variety. Tnen came the Gilpin, with twenty-two per
cent., the Talman with fifteen per cent., the Johnson with
twelve, the Yellow Bellflower eleven, the Huntsman ten, the
Wagener nine and the Janet eight. Eighteen trees treated with
the weakest London Purple mixture — a pound to 128 gallons —
averaged only a loss of twenty-five per cent. ; while twenty-seven
trees treated with a mixture of twice that strength lost eighteen
or nineteen per cent, of their leaves. The damage by Paris
Green varied from seven per cent., where a pound to 320 gallons
was used to twenty per cent, where a pound was used to eighty
gallons. A second spraying rarely increased the damage ma-
terially. As between Paris Green and London Purple the differ-
ence is scarcely discernible.

By some of these experimenters it is believed that the injury is
due to the absorption by the tissue of the leaf of the dissolved
portion of the poison — an idea which would explain the greater
damage done when the application is followed by rain, unless,
indeed, the latter is copious enough to wash away the insecticide.

Gillette experimented in 1888 especially with white arsenic, dis-
solving it by boiling and applying in strengths varying from one
pound to 200 gallons of water to one pound to 800. Notwith-
standing the apple leaves received a continued wash of rain, for
twenty-four hours three days after the application, the solution of
one pound to 250 gallons of water scorched at least one half of
the leaf surface and a fortnight later ninety per cent of the leaves
fell from the tree ; while one pound to 400 gallons scorched the
tips and edges of the leaves. In another experiment made this
year even one pound to 1200 gallons damaged nearly every leaf.

Plum. Cook sprayed eighteen plum trees with London Pur-
ple with the following results: Six treated with one pound to 200
gallons of water were uninjured after ten days; five sprayed with
a pound to a hundred gallons were somewhat hurt ; three others
much hurt ; and three more — the spraying followed next day by
rain — were very badly damaged, as was also a single tree
sprayed July 10 with only one pound to 200 gallons. Weed

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 317

found in 1888 a pound of London Purple to a hundred gallons to
injure the foliage of some trees, and consequently determined to
use thereafter one pound to 200 only. The damage to plums and
peaches in Mr. Jabez Webster's orchard has already been men-
tioned under another head. Gillette's white arsenic solutions
left hardly a green leaf upon the plum when used of a strength of
one pound to 250 gallons, while one to four or five hundred badly
scorched the leaves, and one to 800 damaged them so severely as
to forbid the use of this insecticide. Three weeks after applica-
tion in another experiment, there was scarcely a green leaf left on
the plum when the strength exceeded one pound to 600 gallons.
Even one to 1200 took off about half the leaves and left the re-
mainder looking sickly and somewhat burned, and a pound to
1500 gallons damaged the leaves quite seriously. One pound to
200 not only destroyed every leaf but killed the small twigs also.
Cook, in 1888, sprayed plum trees with London Purple, one
pound to one hundred gallons, three times in succession during
the month of June, quite without injury to the foliage; but later,
as seen above, experience led him to abandon the use of London
Purple for this fruit.

Cherry. The cherry is the hardiest of fruit trees with regard
to injury by the arsenites, and seems not to have been hurt at
all by a London Purple mixture of one pound to a hundred gal-
lons of water, used by Weed in 1888 in his elaborate experi-
ments ; and Cook had substantially the same experience in that
year. Sixteen cherry trees sprayed in May and June of 1889
were not at all injured, except one treated July 8th with one

f>ound of London Purple to 200 gallons of water. Here the
eaves were only slightly damaged. On the other hand, eight
trees treated with a mixture of twice that strength, June 7th
and 12th, were not hurt at all. The injury noticed seems here
connected with the later date of use.

Peach. The peach has thus far proved far the most sensitive
to arsenites of all our fruit trees, — so sensitive, in fact, as to
make it doubtful if these poisons can ever be used with any suc-
cess for this fruit. London Purple is certainly so caustic to the
leaves as to forbid its use under any circumstances. My own
experiments made last June, and reported in "Insect Life,"
were not decisive, but had at least a temporary value. They
showed that one pound of London Purple to 100 gallons of
water was somewhat more injurious to the leaves than one to
200, but that both did considerable injury as the result of a
single spraying. Paris Green seemed somewhat less harmful,
corresponding mixtures of the poison causing a loss of no more
than five or six per cent, of the leaves. Cook applied poisons
to thirty-two peach trees in June and July, 1889, all the London
Purple mixtures, one pound to 100 gallons and one to 200 gal-
lons, doing great injury, as did also water poured off from Lon-

318 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

don Purple and a white arsenic solution, a pound to 300 gallons.
Paris Green mixtures, on the other hand, of a pound to 100 gal-
lons did but slight injury, and a pound to 200, 250 and 300 gal-
lons did none at all. He concludes that Paris Green only should
be used, and this no stronger than a pound to 300 gallons of
water. These experiments, it will be noticed, are opposed to
the conclusion of Mr. Jabez "Webster that a pound of London
Purple to 160 gallons may be applied to the peach without de-
stroying the foliage. Mr. Gillette found white arsenic in a solu-
tion of one pound to 1,500 gallons of water strong enough to do
serious injury to the peach.

Pear. I notice only a single experiment with the pear — one
made by Mr. "Weed in Ohio in 1888 — where a pound of London
Purple to 100 gallons of water seemed to be somewhat injurious.
The addition of half a peck of air-slacked lime to the mixture
had in his experience the advantage of partially protecting the
foliage.

The fact may be worth noticing that Cook found the willow
uninjured by a single spraying with a pound of London Purple
to 100 gallons of water, while maple and elm were slightly dam-
aged by a similar application. In Gillette's experiments a pound
of arsenic to 200 or 250 gallons burned the edges of the elm
leaves a little. Box-elder was badly damaged by a solution as
weak as a pound to 400 gallons, and even one to 500 spotted and
scorched the edges of the leaves a little. The latter strength
burned badly the leaves of the honey locust, and it somewhat
injured the foliage of the silver maple, while one pound to 800
gallons badly scorched the poplar. These results simply empha-
size the conclusion that the use of arsenical solutions should be
abandoned for practical work.

EFFECTS ON INSECTS.

No new observations have been made with respect to the effect
of these poisons upon the apple worm itself. The habits of the
insect make it, in fact, certain that it can be poisoned only in the
young, larva state, before it has penetrated the apple.

Numerous elaborate experiments made by myself last June with
the plum curculio, showed (1) that the beetle feeds freely on the
various parts of the blossoms of the peach and on the leaf and
fruit and on rose blooms and flowers of .the snowball and honey-
suckle. Peony blossoms, on the other hand, were not eaten at
all. Specimens taken in early spring showed that even dead
leaves might be eaten as a last resort. Poisons applied to beetles
in confinement demonstrated that leaves sprayed but once with
Paris Green or London Purple would kill practically all the bee-
tles feeding upon them within ten days. Even a pound of Paris
Green to 500 gallons of water, accomplished this purpose, the

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 319

only apparent difference between this and stronger solutions
being that the former was somewhat less prompt in its action.
Weed has also recorded the results of a single observation upon
the food of the curculio in the cherry tree, a specimen in con-
finement feeding for several days upon the green fruit, gnawing
pits in the surface. Practical experiment with London Purple on
the scale of orchard practice made in Cobdon, Union County, by
Mr. Theodore Goodrich and my brother, Col. H. C. Forbes, were,
as reported to me by the latter, thoroughly unsatisfactory, the
mixtures used defoliating, or at least badly damaging, the trees,
and not protecting the fruit. It is proper to say, however, that
these experiments seemed to me to be premature for the peach,
since too little has yet been learned with respect to that fruit, of
the kind of poison, the times and conditions of application, and
the strength of mixture most likely to yield good economic
results.

THE EFFECTS ON THE FRUIT.

Apple. In addition to the numerous results on the apple
hitherto reported I mention two, first a brief account given by
the Agricultural Experiment Station of Vermont with respect to
the unfavorable result of an experiment with London Purple,
Paris Green, and white arsenic, a pound of each to sixty gallons
of water, applied when the apples were as large as small marbles,
and before they had turned downward on the stem. No benefit
was derived from the application of the poison, those which had
received it being in some cases worse affected by the apple
worm than the check trees not treated. It is probable that this
result was due to the late period of application.

A much more elaborate and thoroughgoing experiment, or
series of experiments, was made by Popenoe, of Kansas, last
year, as already described under another head. The product of
thirty-two Winesap trees, variously sprayed, is brought into com-
parison with that of thirteen unsprayed trees of the same variety,
with the general result that the greatest saving of apples in any
lot was only about half the number which would otherwise have
been destroyed, the average saving being about one-fourth of that
number. Indeed, the average loss by insect injury on the whole
number of trees sprayed with the arsenites amounted to thirty-
five per cent, of the entire yield.

These elaborate and careful experiments bring out interesting
facts. While the practice of spraying, he says, "is a most
important and valuable method in the protection of early ma-
turing fruit, its value for late fruit is lessened by the appear-
ance of a second brood of the larva?, which have now the free-
dom of the orchard ; and it is after all to these that we are
indebted for the greater part of the damage to our winter fruit.
The argument follows, that even with the most careful and

320 TRANSACTIONS OF TiLE HORTICULTURAL

thorough work with the spraying engine, the long recommended
practices of daily gathering and destroying the fallen fruit, and
of trapping and destroying the larva? and moths by all possible
means must still be made use of; and these not only by the in-
terested orchardist himself but also by his neighbors, else is his
own work but partly repaid.

Plum. Cook's reports concerning the plum have varied from
year to year, his latest announcement being that Paris Green
only should be used for fear of damage to the foliage, but that
this would probably be ineffective if very frequent rains occur,
requiring then, at best, to be so often repeated that cheaper and
better protection may be had by the jarring method.

Weed makes a somewhat different report saying, that in 1888
trees sprayed four times with London Purple were almost free
from curculio injury, hanging so full that the fruit was arti-
ficially thinned to prevent their breaking; while a large propor-
tion of the plums on the check trees were destroyed. Further
experiments another year led him to conclude that a sufficient-
ly large proportion of the plum crop can be saved to insure a
good yield when a fair amount of fruit is set. Check trees in
1889, for example, did not bring a single plum to maturity,
while those sprayed with a pound of London Purple to 160 gal-
lons of water, and again, twice with a combination of London
Purple and the Bordeaux mixture yielded an immense crop, the
fruit being purposely thinned fifty per cent, on many of the
trees, and then being so plentiful tnat the limbs bent to the
ground or broke.

Cherry. Cook reports in general terms a successful experiment
with cherries, made in 1888; but Weed in 1888-9 worked much
more extensively on that fruit than has any other entomologist.
Owing to frequent rains, he made three applications of a London
Purple mixture — one pound to 160 gallons of water. Examining
24,000 cherries from the treated trees and as many from those not
treated, he found that seventy-five per cent, of the loss which
would otherwise have occurred from the curculio had been pre-
vented by the London Purple, followed by a combination of the
London Purple and Bordeaux mixture — as already mentioned.

ACCIDENTAL POISONING.

It is well understood by orchardists that the deadly poisons here
discussed must be used with a certain caution. The spray or
powder should always be thrown with the wind, and it is well to
handle the apparatus with gloves, particularly if the soluble
poisons are usea. Analyses were made for Weed, in Ohio, by the
chemist of the State University. Two quarts of cherries sprayed
with London Purple three weeks before, were carefully picked
and thoroughly washed and the substances washed off were tested
for arsenic; but no trace of it could be found. It is worthy of

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 321

notice that only a third of an inch of rain had fallen between the
last spraying and the picking of the fruit. Weed concludes that
spraying may be continued until within three or four weeks of
ripening.

Cook has made some careful experiments with respect to the
poisoning of pasture under the trees sprayed — some chemical and
others practical. First carefully cutting the grass under a large
tree which had been heavily sprayed with a mixture of twice the
usual strength, he found by analysis that 2.2 grains of arsenic had
been sprayed upon this grass, about one-fifth the poisonous dose
for a cow and one-tenth that for a horse. In a similar experiment
he cut the grass under a tree and fed it to his horse without any
subsequent sign of injury. Three sheep were similarly treated
with the same result. I cannot, however, endorse the conclusion
reached by Cook that these experiments conclusively prove that
there is no danger to stock from the poisoning of pasturage.
Arsenic is a cumulative poison, and a daily feeding for two or
three weeks upon grass which had been sprayed with arsenites
might have very different consequences from a meal or two.

In this connection, it may be well to note the poisonous doses
of these substances for man. They vary, for arsenic, from one-
eighth to one fourth of a grain for a two-year-old child, to one or
two grains for an adult, the corresponding fatal doses for Paris
Green and London Purple being two or three times as much.

Although not strictly related to my subject, I will not close
without calling attention to an important matter with respect to
the uses and effects of these insecticides contained in Bulletin
No. 10 of the Division of Entomology of the U. S. Department of
Agriculture, published in 1887, the subject being "Our Shade Trees
and their Insect Defoliators." Particularly interesting, from our
point of view, are the differences in effect produced upon dif-
ferent trees of the same species, the various methods described
for the preparation and application of the poisons, the elaborate
illustrations of the apparatus used, and the comparative notes
with respect to the effects of the different poisons under
experiment.

BORDEAUX MIXTURE.

The numerous objections to the use of the arsenites in the-
apple orchard give particular interest to any hint of a less dan-
gerous substitute. The so-called Bordeaux mixture, essentially
blue vitriol and lime suspended in water, has come into promi-
nence as a fungicide, and has been lately used in a spray upon
trees to prevent the formation of the scab of the apple and the
rot of the plum. Its effect to check mildew of grape is well
known to horticulturists. Observations made by Lugger, of
Minnesota, and Garman, of Kentucky, make it likely that it will
be found to have an insecticide value also. Weed, of Ohio,.
—22

322 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

mixes it with London Purple for the apple or plum, hoping by
that means to combine fungicide and insecticide properties in the
same fluid, and to accomplish two purposes with one spraying.

LIME.

My own experiments with lime as a protection against the
codling moth have already been reported in the transactions of
this Society, the result being altogether unfavorable. Weed has
made a thorough trial of it as a means of protecting cherries
against the curculio, applying the lime wash four times, strong
enough to whiten the leaves and fruit, with the effect to save about
forty per cent, of the cherries, which would otherwise have been
infested, as shown by the condition of that fruit on the check
trees. Experiments on the plum gave a similar result. As this
was only about half the saving effected by the similar use of
London Purple, the method was abandoned.

CARBOLIC ACID.

Cook used a mixture of crude carbolic acid and plaster, a pint
to fifty pounds, with apparent success in 1888, and failure in 1889.
He seems to believe on the whole, however, that it is as useful as
London Purple.

In conclusion, collecting, summarizing and collating the Exper-
iment Station Reports of Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa, Kansas, Minne-
sota and Michigan, and reports of work done in Illinois, and at the
IT. S. Department of Agriculture, we find:

(1) That white arsenic in solution should undoubtedly be aban-
doned as dangerous, if not destructive, to foliage, although it may
perhaps be used in simple mixture, either dry or with water. If
its application be followed by rain ; however, it would probably
even then take disastrous effect.

(2) There is, as yet, no general agreement with respect to the
comparative merits of London Purple and Paris Green, and
more experiment will be needed on this point. The weight of
the evidence, is, however, to the effect that London Purple is the
more caustic, and that certainly it will not do for the peach.

(3) Dry mixtures of the arsenites seem less injurious to the
trees than wet, and are to be preferred in rainy weather. They
should be applied in the morning, before the dew dries away.
The water mixtures, on the other hand, are cheaper and com-
monly more convenient, and are especially advantageous in dry
weather. They may be best distributed in the afternoon. They
will last longer on the tree if two or three pounds of starch be
added to each barrel. The strengths of the water mixtures vary
in the practice of different stations as follows: For the apple,
Paris Ureen in proportions varying from 100 to 160 gallons of
water to the pound, or London Purple in mixtures of 100 to 200

SOCIETY OP NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 323

gallons of water to the pound; or, if we follow Prof. Cook, 300
gallons for a second application. For the plum, 200 or 300
gallons of water to the pound of Paris Green; or, if London
Purple be used — a dangerous practice for this fruit — 160 to 200
gallons to the pound. For the cherry, 100 to 200 gallons of water
to the pound of London Purple, or 300 if applied the second
time. For the peach, London Purple should probably be dis-
carded, and Paris Green used at the rate of not more than a
pound to 300 gallons of water.

(4) Reports do not precisely agree with regard to the number
of sprayings advisable, Cook spraying twice if heavy rains
require, but limiting himself to this number; Weed spraying
three or four times in his experiments; and Popenoe finding that
a second spraying produced but trifling additional effect. Clearly,
here, more experimentation will be required.

(5) Elaborate, but still imperfect, experiments intended to test
the resisting power of the tree, scarcely do more than show
that great caution must be used in applying the arsenites, and
that several conditions, most of them undetermined, influence the
effect of the poison on the tree. Indeed, some experimenters
have reported that not only trees of the same variety and age
treated in precisely the same way, at the same time, may show
widely different amounts of injury, but that different sides of the
tree, and even different branches of the same side, sometimes
show similar differences. With regard to the principal kinds of
fruit trees, it is clear that the cherry is the hardiest of all in this
respect, and the peach the most sensitive, the plum being,
further, more easily injured than the apple.

(6) We now know that the plum or peach curculio can be
killed by poisons not strong enough to do serious harm to the
tree, whether plum or peach, at least under favorable circum-
stances. Probably we ought not to go farther than this at the
present time. I think that the most important additions to our
knowledge on this subject are those which show the varieties of
food and the feeding habits of the adult curculio. 1 ought to add,
that even if poisons are found thoroughly destructive to the
insect, and safe for the tree, their application may nevertheless
be ineffective, on account of the number of repetitions which
would be required. A part of the curculios — how large a part
has not yet been ascertained — certainly pass the winter in the
earth as pupse, and appear long after the older members of their
brood have begun operations on the fruit ; it is quite possible,
consequently, that spraying must be kept up so long to protect
against these late comers as to make it too expensive for the crop,
or even to endanger poisoning the fruit when ripened.

(7) Popenoe's experiments seem to show that, however effec-
tive for early apples, spraying with poisons will not alone
accomplish the purpose for late varieties, since it cannot be used

324 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

against the second brood of apple worms. He seems to me,
however, to leave out of account the fact that the number of the
second brood would be very greatly diminished by early spraying,
if this was thoroughly, persistently and generally performed;
since, whatever the per cent, of reduction in the first brood, the
number of the second must be correspondingly reduced, as it
descends immediately from the first. That the cherry and plum
may be protected from one-half to three-fourths of the curculio
injury to which they are subject, by a use of arsenites which
could hardly be considered excessive, seems well settled, espec-
ially by the reports of Weed and Cook.

Finally, subjects for experiment are suggested by the partial
results already obtained with the Bordeaux mixture, either alone
or with London Purple, and with carbolic acid and plaster, a pint
to fifty pounds.

DISCUSSION

L. R. Bryant asked in regard to the effects the spraying would
have on the apple as it grew larger.

Prof. Forbes — We sprayed eight times and were unable to see
that the last brood was any way affected by the late sprayings, and
concluded that five times was as good as eight. The right time to
spray is just after the blossom is fallen, when the apple is about the
size of a pea. The weather, no doubt, has something to do with
the injury of the foliage, but have not as yet made any experi-
ments to ascertain what it has to do with it.

Mr. Goodrich — My experience in spraying the peach for the
curculio was more negative than favorable. I used London Purple
as it did not clog the machinery so bad. I sprayed twice, and
when ready for the third time, found that the leaves were drop-
ping badly and did not spray again, there being about as many
leaves on the ground as on the trees. The poisons vary in
strength and think perhaps the solution I used was a little too
strong. Three ounces to fifty gallons I think is strong enough for
the peach, as it is very sensitive. My experiment killed con-
siderable of the fruit but enough remained for a full crop.

M. L. Dunlap — The percentage of arsenic in poisons is a very
important thing and the compounds used should, I think, be ana-
lyzed, so we may know the per cent, of arsenic they contain. I
believe we should have them analyzed by some one and stamped
so that we will know how to make our solutions the right strength.
Paris Green and London Purple may be bought at different times

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 325

and at different places, and one never knows the strength his so-
lution is going to be from time to time.

Prof. Forbes — I think the spraying should cease about a month
before gathering the fruit, though the boys who sprayed our trees
this year ate the fallen apples all through the spraying season and
no bad results came from it. I have doubted some whether spray-
ing the peach could be made a success, for the reason the curculio
sometimes comes at more than one period of the season. It seems
that some fail to transform in the fall, and remain in the ground
in the pupa state over winter, complete their growth in the spring
and emerge from the ground at a later season than those that trans-
formed at the usual season.

Mr. Orr — What time of day did Mr. Goodrich spray?

Mr. Goodrich — I preferred in the morning after the dew was
off.

Mr. Orr — Did not the little drops of water which formed on the
foliage from the spraying machine cause little lenzes through
which the sun shone and burned the foliage?

Mr. Goodrich — That might be the case sometimes, under some
circumstances, but I think the Paris Green did the injury in my

case.

-^

Mr. Coe asked Prof. Forbes if he had tried spraying flowers,
such as dahlias, etc., with Paris Green?

Prof. Forbes — No I have not. Hellebore is used in such cases.
Paris Green should be avoided where children are liable to come
in contact with it.

ORCHARD AND CULTURE.

BY J. V. COTTA, NURSERY.

Mr. President and Members of the Northern Illinois Horticul-
tural Society :
The growing of an apple orchard would seem to be such a
simple matter that any person of ordinary intelligence might be
expected to make a fair success of it, and if a new beginner, or
even a person of some experience in this line, should wish to be
particularly well informed, he would not only have access to
the works of Warder, Downing, Thomas and other competent
writers, the reports of our Horticultural Societies, but also the

326 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

agricultural press, from which he might draw a large amount of
information; enough, it would seem, to enable him to meet every
emergency. Yet, after all, such has been the experience of half a
century of attempted apple culture — not only in Northern Illinois,
but throughout the north and west — that I venture the assertion,,
that, should any man, from any part of our country east and south
of Lake Michigan, attempt to grow an apple orchard in this section r
or anywhere north and west of this, though he avail himself of all
the knowledge obtainable from the books or the press, he would,
in all probability, make a miserable failure of it, unless he be
possessed of that practical information obtainable only from
those who have wrestled with this problem right here on the spot
for a series of years.

Do not misunderstand me. I fully appreciate the merits of the
elaborate works of those excellent writers. No other country
possesses a better horticultural literature than America does,
let, notwithstanding all this, those eminent men reasoned and
wrote from the standpoints of their own experiences, and had not
the practical knowledge of the intricate difficulties which half a
century's experience has developed; hence they could not give
such advice as a novice out here would need. Moreover, the
incalculable damage inflicted by recent test winters, has thrown
the problem back upon the experimental stage, out of which we
are but slowly emerging.

There are all sorts of theories advanced as to the real causes of
the difficulty, while some of the remedies proposed are simply
ridiculous. For instance, one writer proposes that the root graft
should be planted out into the orchard, where the tree is to grow,
so as to prevent the necessity of transplanting, which, he claims,
is the cause of black heart. Others advise the planting of the-
one-year-old tree, which is to be headed back to within eighteen
inches from the ground, as a prevention of sun-scald. Others,
again, claim that two-years is the greatest age admissable for the
planting of a tree in the orchard. Still others claim that the
growing of seedling stocks from seeds obtained from the cider
mills has gradually deteriorated the constitutional vitality to such
an extent, that the whole race of apples has become enfeebled,
and is no more able to stand the severity of the climate.

Now, such theories may appear plausible enough, but what are
the actual facts? If it be true that transplanting causes disease
and death, how does it come that millions of nursery trees that
had never been transplanted have been destroyed by hard
winters ? How is it that the low-headed trees planted years and
years ago have perishe*d? And again, how is it that tj?ees which
were three, four, or even five years old when transplanted, have,
on an average, been every whit as valuable, or as worthless, as
the case may be, as any that were set out at the age of two
years ?

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 327

It is claimed, further, that twenty years is about the age at
which apple trees cease to be profitable; at this age they should
be dug up, and new orchards — previously planted — should take
the places of the old ones. Advocates of this theory seem to
forget the fact that test winters have destroyed tiees of all ages,
and under all conditions, both in orchards and nurseries, and
no one knows beforehand when the next severe winter may
repeat the mischief.

As to seed deterioration, the advocates of that idea cannot
prove the statements they make. The fact is, seedlings of the
present day are as sound, as robust and as vigorous as seedlings
grown fifty years ago, and for use as stocks for propagation, are
as valuable as those grown in the days of "ould lang syne," even
if they were grown from cider-mill seed. The analogy existing
in the laws wnich govern improvement or deterioration, both in
animal and vegetable life, hold good as regards the production of
new specimens or varieties, but do not exist in connection with
the principles of propagation, as practiced in our nurseries, as
compared with the growing of live-stock on our farms.

In animal life we do not propose to graft the body of one indi-
vidual upon the legs or feet of another, as we do with trees. Nor
do we keep our animals, whether thoroughbred, grade, or scrub,
out of doors, rooted to the spot, in all sorts of weather, through
heat or cold, wet or dry, as we do our trees. You all will admit
with me that if we would house or shelter our fruit trees as we do
our animals, we shoukFhave no more of winter-killing. Such a
remedy would certainly be a sure cure for that difficulty.

Why horticulturists will thus beat about the stump in this
matter is a thing I do not understand, unless this be attributable,
like other short-comings, to the imperfections of the race. But
it does seem to me that the lessons of the past ought to teach us
the fact that whatever other causes may contribute to the un-
timely destruction of our trees, the severe winters we are subject
to from time to time are the most direct and prominent ones. To
prevent recurrences of these is beyond human power ; to prepare
our trees by proper management to resist their damaging effects is
our mission.

No one, who has any experience with top-working such varieties
as are not perfectly hardy in this climate, will have failed to
notice the remarkable improvement in the capacity of trees thus
grown, to resist the injurious effects of hard winters over those
grown by the common modes of root-grafting or collar-budding,
provided, always, the former were worked upon true "iron-clad,"
congenial stock; and it is my honest conviction that apple
orchards can be successfully grown with most of our old, favorite
varieties by this means. The past has shown that it cannot be
done otherwise ; especially as the Russians have disappointed us.
Some of these latter, however, will make excellent stocks for

328 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

top-working ; and so will also some of the Siberians, and between
these two races there is no variety of our native sorts but what
may be properly mated with some congenial stock. By this
means, namely double-working, we practically do away with the
*'dead line" — if I may use that term — or that belt on half-hardy
trees between one and two or three feet above the ground, where
the severest injury is always located; and thus, trees are grown,
which do possess the hardiest constitution attainable by any
given variety.

An essential adjunct to an orchard is a good windbreak on the
south and west, partly to protect the trees against ex-
cessive cold wind-storms, but especially to prevent the fruit from
being blown off by the strong southwest winds of our summer
months. Norway Spruce and White Pine being the most desirable
trees to plant for this purpose. These may be planted in single
rows, with trees eight or ten feet apart, or in double or triple
rows eight to twelve feet apart, with trees at same distances in
the rows, planted in break-joint style. Belts of trees on the
north and east sides of an orchard are not to be recommended,
as they would do more harm than good by holding the heat gen-
erated by the sun's rays too closely about the trees.

For the orchard site, select, if possible, some elevated and
naturally well drained location, but avoid barren hillsides or
gravel knolls. Any good corn land will answer. If not naturally
well drained, it should be underdrained with tile to the depth of
at least four feet. A northern slope is preferable to a southern
one, for obvious reasons. Thorough preparation of the ground
by deep plowing and thorough harrowing is essential. Level
lands should, by repeated plowings, be thrown into ridges, upon
which the trees should be planted. Distance between trees, two
rods ; time to plant, spring.

In digging — no matter how carefully done — trees loose a por-
tion of their roots, a fact which deranges the balance that exist-
ed in the structure of the tree. This balance should be restored
I>y judicious pruning as follows: Cut away all forked or close-
growing, upright branches and leave but one central upright
shoot for the leader; cut this leader back to five or six inches
from its base ; and select three or four branches — not too close
together — to form a well balanced head, and cut these a few
inches lower than the leader and remove all other useless twigs.
Trees without branches will form good, well balanced tops if
headed back to about five feet above the ground. (In subsequent
prunings, for three or four years after planting, always remove
the forks and prune towards securing an open, well rounded,
symmetrical head, by shortening disproportionally tall and strag-
gling shoots and ingrowing twigs.) Make all cuts smooth and
close. Never leave any stubs. Cut all bruised and broken roots
back to sound wood from below, so the cut surfaces may rest up-

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 329

on the ground. The new roots issuing from these cut surfaces
will at once grow downward and anchor the tree firmly in the
ground.

Plant carefully, in holes large enough and deep enough to per-
mit every root to be straightened out in its natural position. Set
the tree not over two inches deeper than it stood in nursery. Work
finest surface soil among the roots and when the hole is even full,
press the loose soil firmly down with the foot ; and if the soil be
rather dry pour one or two pails of water in the depression thus
made. Let this water soak away, and allow the ground to settle
naturally and then fill up a little above the level. Do not omit
to lean the stem of your tree at an angle of about fifteen degrees
towards the south-south-west, to brace against the prevailing
winds, and as a prevention against sun-scald.

Cultivate corn among the young trees for five or six years after
planting, then seed to clover, which should not be removed, but
be left on the ground as a mulch. Never permit a dense grass
sod to take possession of your orchard, for this would mean star-
vation to your trees. The grass would absorb most, if not all of
the moisture yielded by the summer showers, leaving the deeper
lying tree roots without nourishment. Trees cannot mature a
a crop of fruit and retain their vigor in such a condition. Pro-
tect the stems of your trees against rabbits, mice and borers by
wrapping them with burlap, wrapping paper or screen wire,
which would also protect them against sun-scald. Destroy
noxious insects by spraying with Paris Green or London Purple,
and on this point consult carefully the reports of experiments
which you will find in the Transactions of this Society.

Do not forget to keep up the fertility of the soil by an oc-
casional top dressing of well rotted barn yard manure and wood
ashes — if these be available. When you notice that your trees,
after coming into bearing, make a smaller annual growth than nine
to twelve inches in the main shoots, you may know that they re-
quire extra care and the restoration of their waning vigor.

After bearing several crops of fruit — and sometimes even be-
fore this — you will notice more or less stunted, half-dead or dead
twigs and branches in the inside of the heads of your trees. To
retain these worthless branches is a severe drain upon the vitality
of trees. Prune these out during mild weather, from November
till March, when the wood is not frozen. Avoid cutting off large
limbs. A light annual pruning, as advised already, will avoid the
necessity of removing large branches. Wounds, over one inch
in diameter, should be covered with shellac or oil paint after the
surface has become seasoned by contact with the air, say one or
two weeks after pruning.

Old trees, which are still fairly sound, but have grown too tall
to admit of their fruits being gathered with comfort or economy,
may be headed back and renewed at an accessible height. Time

330 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

for doing this work and treatment of wounds, same as above.
Time for removing water-sprouts or suckers, and for heading
back irregular shoots, June.

Now, if you don't succeed in apple culture after following
these hints and directions, you have permission to quit the
business.

DISCUSSION.

L. R. Bryant — I think when you cut off large limbs from
orchard trees the wound should be covered with wax, paint or
something to prevent the tree rotting.

L. Woodard — I have found if trees are trimmed at the proper
season of the year, the wood will heal over without rotting. If
they are cut when the sap will ooze out and keep the end of the
wood wet, it will of course rot ; and if it is waxed over so the
wood does not dry out, it will also rot.

J. V. Cotta — I think if you give the wound time to air-dry be-
fore applying the wax, paint, or other covering you will have no
difficulty with rotting.

Mr. Kleindsmid — I always make sure to get good roots on my
trees and see that they are properly pruned, leaving the ends
smooth and making the cut so it will be on the down side.

BEST NEW APPLE, AND BEST WAY TO PROPAGATE IT.

BY D. J. PIPEE, FORBESTON.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, of the Horticultural So-
ciety of Northern Illinois:

As my subject is "The Best New Apple" we should try and
find the best way to propagate and grow it. I have been experi-
menting in growing apples for more than thirty-six years.

I have root-grafted different varieties of the apple with fair
success for quite a number of years until 1885, and then came
the first draw-back ; when I lost some of my root -grafted trees by
freezing. We then set windbreaks of willow, lombardy poplar
and locust, which are good for the summer season, yet this
windbreak did not prevent my trees from freezing. Some years
later I visited Mr. Cotta's place and found a good windbreak
around his young orchard then in fine condition, but a few years
later he lost more heavily than I had in the root-grafted trees.
This loss of apple orchards in 1882 appeared to be a general
complaint, and about that time I lost both old and young trees,
except of the Whitney and Duchess. Previous to the last named

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 331

date I had top-worked quite a number of seedlings, most of
which froze in the trunks, and the whole tree would die out-
right.

Previous to that time the idea was that seedlings would stand
any amount of freezing, but the winters of '82 and '83. pretty
thoroughly settled the point in my mind that we must have
something we could rely on, something that had stood the test.
On examination we found that the Duchess and Whitney had
passed through those two trying winters and had come out as
bright in the spring as they had gone into winter the previous
fall. Had I taken Mr. Whitney's advice and set all No. 20, I
would be much farther ahead with my orchard to-day, as my in-
tention was to re-graft with such kinds as I wished.

I have never lost any of the Whitney or Duchess, neither have
I ever lost any kind that I set on those two stocks, but I have
lost quite a number of trees where I used the Walbridge for
stocks, as they would freeze so badly in the trunks that the
whole tree would die. I have left only three Salome out of seven-
teen worked on the Walbridge, and only one of those is sound
in the trunk. Out of forty Wythe I have only about a dozen
left that were on Walbridge stock. I have since used the Whit-
ney and Duchess to work less hardy kinds on and find no trouble
about the trees being killed by freezing.

I have some Salome worked on the Whitney and they are as
fine young trees as can be found. I do not fear of their freezing
to death. I have some Salome apples here on exhibition that
are as fine apples as can be found, and I care not whether you go
to Michigan or to the state of New York to get the specimens.
If I had ten thousand barrels of such apples as the Salome they
would be ready sale. I claim the Salome is the best* new apple
we have at the present time, as it will keep a whole year; it is
ready for use in November, after being gathered, and is a keeper
of the first quality. The Wythe comes next as a first-class
apple.

Mr. Hathaway, the originator of the Salome, says he has kept
it over the second winter in a common cellar in good condition.
Work the Salome on the WThitney and you will have no trouble
in growing as fine apples as anyone wants.

I have set in orchard thirty-one varieties : "First Early," a
new seedling, the earliest aj3ple there is in Northern Illinois. It
is ahead of anything. Astrachan, Excelsior, or Yellow Transpar-
ent, are two weeks behind it in ripening. In size it is about as
large as Rambo or nearly as large as Excelsior, of better quality
than any of our present early apples and a much better keeper;
I have kept them one month in fine condition after being
gathered. It is a very mild sub-acid.

Of the thirty-one kinds I have set I would not recommend
over six for early : Red Astrachan, Excelsior, Yellow Transparent,

332 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

Tetofsky, Sweet June and my new earliest of all. Second early,
Duchess of Oldenburg, Gravenstein and Strawberry.

Third, Jeffries, this is the best of all the fall apples and is as
good as a pear, Shiawassa Beauty, Snow, Maryland Redstreak,
Hoss, Maiden's Blush and Victor.

Winter. — Perry Russet, Salome, Wythe, Willow, Grimes
Golden, Tallman Sweet and Roman Stem.

BENEFITS OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

BY LEN SMALL, KANKAKEE.

How am I to describe the benefits of local Horticultural
Societies ? If I should say they are social, intellectual, educa-
tional, physical and financial, it would almost cover the ground.
But if we say that Horticultural Societies tend to improve and
strengthen every beneficial trait of character in men and women,
we have a truer definition.

Martin's old civil government which we used to study told us
that "men are social beings; that society is a necessity; that,
without society, government would not exist." Difiiculties
between men are usually caused by misunderstandings, or look-
ing at things from different standpoints. Intelligence and
social acquaintance, does more to promote peace than all the
improved means and weapons of war, scientific and ingenious
man can produce. The local horticultural organization will
bring together people that would never meet under other cir-
cumstances; people of every religious faith and political belief.
There are but few purposes for which associations are organized
that have for their object a field so large, so varied, and one
which can be made so interesting to so large a number of people.

No one will deny that Horticultural Societies have done much
towards awakening people to the beauties, the benefits and
necessities of horticulture. A person cannot be an active
member of a live Horticultural Society, and listen to the dis-
cussions, without thinking; and, as a noted scientist once said,
thought, is the channel through which all knowledge comes. By
attending Horticultural Meetings, many persons who never
cared much about trees and flowers, have become interested in
them, and when a person once begins growing and caring for
trees and flowers, especially if their efforts are stimulated by a
local society, they are likely to succeed. The members of a
local Horticultural Society, by availing themselves of the expe-
rience of their neighbors, may be able to save much valuable
time, labor and money, as millions of dollars have been thrown
away by the purchase of trees and plants unsuitable to the
climate and soil.

There is not a county in this State that a Horticultural Society
could not be made a success in, if there are as many as three

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 333

•well-posted, persevering horticulturists to take the lead. Make
the meetings interesting, and enough so to insure an atten-
dance; and the best way to accomplish this is to give each and
every person who can be induced to attend something to do.
From the first meeting, see that every member has some special
■work to perform. Those who don't take an interest in norti-
cultural subjects, appoint on committees to provide for the
meeting or music. Assign duties to each one who is competent,
such as studying up and writing a paper on asparagus culture,
or any particular variety of fruits, flowers or insects, or on
planting, &c.

It is a good plan to have an exhibition of fruits, vegetables
and flowers, and it sometimes helps to bring out an attendance
to have an occasional basket-picnic meeting, the dinner to be
provided by each member bringing provisions in baskets.

A library would be a valuable feature in all local Horticul-
tural Societies, containing a few standard works on pomology,
forestry, botany, small fruit culture, landscape gardening, &c.
In addition to these, many of the State societies, and other hor-
ticultural institutions, will donate their reports.

And don't forget to have a manual on parliamentary practice,
and conduct the meetings accordingly. It will give them an
appearance of their real importance, and insure respect. A
knowledge of parliamentary rules will not be found objec-
tionable. The utility and importance of horticulture requires no
elaborate exposition or commendation at my hands at this time
and on this occasion.

On motion, Society adjourned until 10 o'clock Thursday morn-
ing.

o

THURSDAY MORNING SESSION.

The chair called the meeting to order as per adjournment, and
the following report was submitted by the Treasurer and accept-
ed, after which President Bryant gave his annual address.

1889.

Jan. 10. To balance on hand. $132 71

" 10. To memberships 31 00

Mar. 10. To A. C. Hammond 50 00

Jan. 10. By A. Bryant, per bill $2 50

10. By J. P. Streeter 4 25

" 10. By E. W. Graves 31 60

10. By Exchange on Drfts 25

By balance on hand 175 11

$213 71 $213 71
Respectfully submitted,

L. VVOODARD.

u

334 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDEESS.

It is nearly a quarter of a century since a small band gathered
together to organize this Society. They were men full of zeal
and earnest purpose, who thought that Horticulture had a
mission to perform, in giving to this western world trees and
shrubs to beautify the landscape — the luscious health-giving
fruits to tempt the palate, and the beautiful flowers to please the
eye and refine the taste.

Believing that in union there is strength, they organized this
Society, and as students and workers in this cause they felt it
their duty to show by their works the faith that was in them.

And right well they wrought, for I do not believe that there
is«any area of territory in the United States, of equal extent,
that is better supplied with trees, shrubs, flowers and the general
comforts of life than this District of Northern Illinois.

We may seem to be claiming a great deal for the influence that
this Society exerted in the horticultural interests of this country
at that time, but you must remember that the Northern Society
was a giant in numbers as well as zeal.

"We find on record, at one of its meetings, its membership
numbered 145, with a score or more on its honorary list. But
with such men for leaders as Kinnicott, Ellsworth, Scott, and
half a score of others I could name, who have gone to their re-
ward, with twice that number of others who have grown gray
in the services, are still with us, what other results could we ex-
pect? Coming here when it took resolution and energy to leave
their eastern homes, and push out into a new and unsettled
country, and face its hardships and privations, they put much of
their zeal and vim into their norticultural work, and we are now
reaping some of its benefits.

But we, like others, have had our reverses, for there is no in-
dustry that has not its seasons of depression and failure. This
is so in all agricultural and horticultural pursuits. With the ex-
tended planting of the different grains and fruits we have in-
creased the difficulties of their production. Our lands as they
become older have lost some of their original strength and fer-
tility.

The soil is filled with the seeds of troublesome and noxious
weeds that are hard to eradicate. Insect enemies have increased
to a wonderful extent, sometimes destroying the whole crop, so
that the person who endeavors to till the soil to-day must use
much more judgment and skill to produce the same results than
they did some twenty years ago.

Some portions of this state and the west have much greater
advantages for growing fruits, especially for market, than we
have, but they have their adverse seasons and failures. On the
farm and village lot we can grow the hardy fruits and vegetables

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 335

that are to be used in the family, much better than they can be
bought in the market, in fact with most farmers the supply would
be scanty and uncertain if they depended on purchasing it.
With us many of the small fruits can be grown for market at a
profit near our small towns and villages, and although our pres-
ent apple orchards are nearly all gone, I feel confident that
even now a market orchard planted in this portion of Illinois,
using good judgment and discretion in the selection of varieties,
and care of it afterwards, would be as likely to pay as any other
business venture. But this question of the profit in dollars and
cents that we make from our horticultural work is not all that is
to be considered.

Is there not great benefit in the increased comforl and pleasure
that we take in our homes, when surrounded with pleasant lawns,
spreading trees and beautiful flowers, with abundance of health-
giving, appetizing fruits in their season, all having a tendency to
make life more enjoyable and therefore longer; Is this not
profit in the true sense of the word? If not, what is it?

The successful maintainance of organizations of the people
for legitimate purposes, aid greatly in developing the better
traits of human character, as well as the resources of the
country. Foremost in adding to the beauty of this earth of
ours, also in increasing the love of the beautiful in nature, are
our Horticultural Societies. In them we have facilities for
systematic and united action.

We are all teachers and students together, each bringing his
experience, successes or failures, to add to the general fund of
knowledge. Friendships formed here are often of the most
lasting character, continuing until the close of life.

Much has been written in our agricultural papers as to what
we shall do to keep our boys on the farm.

There is no question that, as a rule, the homes of our rural
population are superior to those of any other people. Much of
this is due to the respect and esteem that we, as an enlightened
people, give to woman. She is intuitively a lover of the beau-
tiful, whether it be in nature, dress or homes. Through her
oftentimes comes the suggestion or inspiration that surrounds
the home with trees, fruits and flowers. Young people brought
up with these surroundings will certainly have a higher sense of
true man and womanhood than where these advantages do not
exist. If this be true, what nobler work can this Society have
than to assist these home mothers to cultivate in their children
a love of the good, the beautiful and the true, and thus lead
them up to a higher and better life?

During the past year the State Society has secured an in-
creased appropriation which will enable it to extend its work in
many directions.

336 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

A certain portion of this fund is to be used in experimental
work. Results in this direction are as yet not very apparent, as
the work was not begun until there was a prospect of getting
means to carry it on.

We hope much good will come from this source, especially in
the testing of new fruits in the use of the different insecticides,
various methods of cultivation and many other matters that
need careful work and reliable records. The members of this-
Society can do much as individuals to help along this enterprise,
and I hope that each one will take a special interest in its workr
thus rendering its labors much more effective.

Reports from the Secretary and directors of the different sta-
tions will be found in the forthcoming volume of Transactions.

The work of the Ad-interim Committee has been very much
neglected in this district for the last few years. Rightly handled
this committee should be of great benefit to this Society in
working up the horticultural interest of this district. Could it
not also be a valuable assistant in the experimental work, look-
ing up new fruits and other matters of interest in horticulture?

There will probably be a large increase in the number of
printed volumes of our reports this year. These reports are of
great value to any one who plants a tree or cultivates a garden.
These volumes should be thoroughly distributed among our peo-
ple and I hope that each member will consider it his duty to in-
duce at least one person to join our Society and get these valu-
able reports.

But I must draw these remarks to a close. We have a full
program and should enter upon our regular work as soon as pos-
sible. There is a good prospect for a pleasant and profitable
meeting, and I have no doubt that our work will be agreeable
and interesting to all.

Next in order was the election of officers for the ensuing yearr
which was taken up and disposed of with the following result :

President — A. Bryant, Princeton.

First Vice-President — A. Dunning, Dunning.

Second Vice-President — J. V. Cotta, Nursery.

Third Vice-President — F. C. Johnson, Kishwaukee.

Secretary — E. W. Graves, Sandwich.

Treasurer — L. Woodard, Marengo.

Mr. F. C. Johnson, of Kishwaukee, and Mr. Rice, of Rock-
ford, extended an invitation to the Society to hold its next meet-
ing at Rockford. On motion of Mr. Dunning, the President
and Secretary were instructed to locate the next meeting at Rock-
ford, provided they found on looking the matter up that the in-

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 337

ducements offered were sufficient to justify its going there. If not,
to locate the meeting where they deemed best.

DO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES PAY?

BY SAMUEL EDWARDS, PEORIA.

The first meeting of the horticulturists in this State, with more
than local attendance, was convened at the solicitation of the late
lamented Edson Harkness, then of Peoria county, who died many
years since in California. It was held Oct. 13th, 1847, at Farm-
ington, Fulton county, and took the name of Illinois Horticul-
tural Society, Dr. Hannaford, president; C. R. Overman, secre-
tary.

Some forty varieties of apples, three or four of pear, and
orange quince were on exhibition. An able address was given by
Edson Harkness, devoted mostly to orchard-fruits and hedging.
Mr. Harkness and the Messrs. Overman, of Fulton county, were
propagating the Virginia Thorn, and had had fears that the Osage
Orange being introduced by Prof. J. B. Turner, was not hardy
enough to withstand our winters.

John Hancock, of Tazewell county, had samples of the latter —
had been growing them several years — claimed to have been the
first introducer of it in this State. Isaac Merriam, of Tazewell
county, was sanguine in the hope that the quince would be suc-
cessfully grown.

Interesting discussions were had on best mode of propagating
fruit trees and orchard management, ravages of insects and how
to control them.

Small fruits, which have since then justly occupied so much at-
tention, were not discussed. Elijah Capps, of Fulton Co., Bar-
tlett Walker and Mr. Godfrey, of Knox Co., Mr. Watson, of Hen-
derson Co., W. J. Phelps, Peoria Co., Boyd Bros., Mr. Dewey,
H. S. Hiatt and James Bull took an active interest in the meeting,
and there was a large attendance of farmers' families from the
vicinity. Adjourned to meet at Peoria in Sept. 1848, but of this
no account has been made public. The 160 miles round trip to
Farmington with wife and little ones in wagon, has always been
considered a paying one.

A meeting of pomologists was held at Princeton, Dec. 18 and 19,
1850. Edson Harkness, chairman, F. K. Phoenix, secretary. The
two-days' sessions were occupied mostly in discussing varieties of
apples, and forming a permanent organization. Adjourned to
meet at Princeton, Oct. 1st, 1851.

The appointment was met by a general attendance of fruit-grow-
ers from Northern Illinois: also R. Avery, of Iowa, J. C. Bray-
ton, of Wisconsin, and W. M. Wylie, of Michigan. John H.
Bryant, chairman, Samuel Edwards, secretary. Two days of
—23

338 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

active work — mostly on apple-list, insects, blight, and organiza-
tion of Northwestern Fruit-Growers' Association. Dr. J. A. Ken-
nicott was President. ; R. Avery, E. Harkness, and Dr. L. S. Pen-
nington, Vice-presidents; F. K. Phoenix, Corresponding Secre-
tary; L. Edwards, Recording Secretary; A. Bryant, Treasurer.
The second annual meeting of the N. W. Fruit-Growers'
Association was held at the Court House, Dixon, 111., Sep-
tember 29 and 30, 1852, with members in attendance from
Indiaua, Iowa. Ohio and nineteen counties of Illinois, and large
numbers of the citizens of Dixon and vicinity. At the sugges-
tion of President Kennicott, a committee was appointed, which
reported resolutions of respect and condolence on the recent
death of A. J. Downing, "the father of American Pomology — a
national calamity."

Henry Shaw read an able and interesting paper on the educa-
tion of the laboring classes for their vocations, which was
warmly received, and, on motion of C. R. Overman, a copy was
requested for publication. The subject was earnestly and ap-
provingly discussed by President Kennicott, F. R. Elliott, E.
Harkness, O. B. Galusha and Mr. Huntington.

President Kennicott made a plea for the organization of a
State Board of Agriculture, and a committee was appointed —
<D. R. Overman, Dr. L. S. Pennington, A. R. Whitney and
Henry Shaw — to attend, as delegates from this Association, the
convention to be held at Springfield on the third day of the next
session of the Legislature, for the purpose of obtaining action
on the subject by the Legislature.

Arthur Bryant introduced a resolution, and was appointed
chairman of a committee, with power to select his associates, to
memorialize the Legislature to enact a law making fruit-stealing
larceny.

Most of the time was spent in discussing the list of apples and
l>est mode of propagation. Dr. L. S. Pennington, Adnah Wil-
liams, Cyrus and Arthur Bryant, and S. Edwards, advocated
top-working some varieties of apples as being more hardy and
coming into bearing earlier than root-grafts. Mr. Williams was
in favor of the mode for general practice — believed that trees
worked thus were better worth one dollar each to the planter
than to plant root-grafted trees, receiving with them a dollar
each as a gratuity. There are, he believed few exceptions to
the rule.

One hundred and ten varieties of apple and some fifty or sixty
of pear, a few specimens of peaches and quinces, Catawba, Fox
and Isabella grapes, one variety of plum, and one variety of
each, gooseberry, raspberry, and strawberry in cans, forty va-
rieties of dahlias were exhibited. Dr. J. A. Kennicott was
elected president; R. Avery, A. Bryant, W. H. Loomis, vice-

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 339

presidents ; F. K. Phoenix, corresponding secretary ; S. Edwards,
recording secretary; A. Bryant, treasurer.

The third annual meeting was held in the City Hall, Chicago,
Oct. 4th, 1853, President J. A. Kennicott in the chair. Sessions
were held four days; 143 members enrolled from New York,
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and nineteen counties
of Illinois. There was a large exhibit of apples, two collections of
eighty-six varieties each, and one of ninety-eight, pears one lot
ninety-eight varieties, peaches twenty varieties, plums five
varieties, orange quinces, nectarines, apricots, almonds, and five
varieties of grapes.

Varieties of apples, grapes and pears were discussed largely,
peaches, plums and the small fruits to a less extent. The late
J. A. Wight delivered an excellent address on the elevating in-
fluence of horticulture which was published in the Transactions.
On motion of E. Harkness, a committee was appointed to me-
morialize Congress for the transmission of seeds and scions by
mail on same terms as printed matter.

The magnificent display of fruits, floral decorations by the
veteran Samuel Brooks ; presence of so large a number of earn-
est men in the work — Charles Downing, Dr. Jno. A. Warder, A.
H. Ernst, Smiley Shepherd, Dr. John A. Kennicott, C. and A.
Bryant, C. R. Overman, L. Ellsworth, Wm. Stewart, M. L. Dun-
lap, L. Montague, E. Harkness, Wm. Bebb, E. Ordway, O. W.
Brewster, A. Williams, John Bellangee, P. B. Spaulding, D. F.
Kinney, James Smith, Isaac B. Essex, Dr. O. Everest, B. B.
Drake, I. F. Willard, C. Tolman, B. Treusdell, A. S. Coe, W.
C. Pearsall, J. P. Eames, and others, who have crossed the dark
river, to meet with us no more except in precious memory — the
occasion was one to be reverted to with fond recollection by ail
who were present. Arthur Bryant, president; R. Avery, J. C.
Brayton, and W. H. Loomis, vice-presidents; F. K. Phcenix,
corresponding secretary; J. T. Little and S. Edwards, recording
secretaries; A. R. Whitney, treasurer.

The fourth meeting was held at Burlington, Iowa, Sept. 25-28,
1855, called to order by President A. Bryant. It was the most
largely attended, more from the Eastern States, and had the
finest display of fruits ever gathered at a meeting of the associa-
tion. Some 275 varieties of apples, 195 pears, eighteen plums,
eighteen peaches, only Catawba and Isabella grapes.

A collection of over 100 varieties of fruits Dr. E. S. Hull sent
by express from Alton failed to arrive. In addition to the large
display of pears on the tables, trees of bearing size in the city
were loaded with fruit, and much time was devoted to discuss-
ing varieties, blight and mode of culture.

A. Frost, of Rochester, suggested as a remedy for blight,
where a tree died of it, to send to Rochester and buy two more
in its stead — a policy it was my misfortune to adopt. (Of some

340 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

1,500 trees, mostly standards planted at different times from
fifteen to forty-three years since, not one per cent, remains. No
tree gave more satisfaction than White Doyenne on native thorn
root which was free from blight and bore fine crops of perfect
fruit, until over thirty years old. To those who are tempted to
indulge in the luxury of planting pear trees on the prairies, my
advice would be to let "the other fellow" who has the blight
proof trees to sell, plant them and gather in the sheckles from
sale of f rait.) They have been planted so long, if there have
been success it should be reported.

P. Barry, of Rochester, delivered an address on the progress
which fruit culture has made in the United States during the
past twenty-five years; advised low-headed trees, originating
from seed of new varieties. Complimented the apples and
pears on exhibition as "the finest he had ever seen in his
travels at home or abroad."

Apples, plums, peaches, cherries, gooseberries, strawberries,
the apple tree bark louse, taxation of nursery stock, and the
swindling operations of tree peddlers received attention. A
committee of three on the last-named topic made a report of
seven pages, from which the following extract is taken: "Let
not eastern nurserymen complain of the impositions practiced
upon people in their names. The fault is with the system itself
— the vicious practice is sending out traveling agents. Had they
but appointed local agents instead, there would be a wide and
easily-recognized distinction between the two classes.

A splendid banquet at the Barret House, presided oyer by
Governor Grimes, was given by the citizens of Burlington.
President, M. L. Dunlap ; Vice-Presidents, A. G. Hanford, C.
R. Overman, S. Foster; Corresponding Secretary, Charles
Kennicott; Recording Secretaries, H. S. Finley, S. Edwards;
Treasurer, A. R. Whitney.

The fifth and last meeting of the N. W. Fruit Growers'
Association, at Alton, was called to order by President M. L.
Dunlap, September 29, 1857. The minutes were kept by a
short-hand reporter, employed by President Dunlap, who had
known him in that capacity at Springfield. The attendance was
good, and this noted home of fruits, flowers and hospitality was
at its very best.

Discussions on the various orchard and small fruits were valu-
able. Dr. John A. Warder delivered an interesting address. (Our
reporter used freely of some intoxicant the last day, and the record
was never seen by the public.) C. R. Overman, President; G.
B. Brackett, N. J. Colman, Wm. Stewart, Vice-President; S.
Edwards, Recording Secretary; A. R. Whitney, Treasurer.

A proposal from the Illinois State Horticultural Society to dis-
band, and in future to act with their organization, was accepted,
thus terminating the existence of the first horticultural society in

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 341

the great Northwest, occupying extended territory. Its reports
are out of print, and with the hope that this brief, imperfect
sketch of the transactions of horticulturists a generation since
may prove acceptable, it is prepared.

Of the work done up to the present time by its progeny, the
state, district and local societies, you are well advised in their
published reports. How have they paid? Their membership
being of those engaged in horticultural pursuits, each one has
contributed something to the common fund of experience — the
best of all teachers.

Much of the excellent work done by the late State Entomolo-
gists, Walsh, Le Baron, Thomas, and Prof. Forbes, may be
claimed as the result of their official appointment at the instance
of the State Horticultural Society. Through your Society Dr.
Henry Shinier, of Mt. Carroll, made known his discovery of the
Acarus preying upon the oyster-shell bark-louse, which was so
much dreaded by orchardists. For many years the lice have been
seldom heard of, and so far as they are concerned, apple-growers
can sleep well o'nights, as Dr. S. assured us the Acari would take
care of them.

The planting of hedges, evergreen screens and timber has been
promoted greatly ; judicious selection of varieties of orchard fruits,
modes of propagation and management — the era for feasting the
millions on strawberries, grapes and other small fruits, has been
greatly hastened by the labors of horticultural societies. In some
instances they have enabled us to revise what was formerly re-
ceived as horticultural gospel. It has been said by them of
olden times : "Plant orchards on high, rolling land." The new ver-
sion says: "If it has a tenacious subsoil near enough the surface
to dry out in a dry time, don't plant there at all ; if you have level
land, with good, natural under-drainage, plant there every time."

Many valuable institutions of our State, to-day, in no small de-
gree owe their inception, or their interests have been directly pro-
moted, by horticultural societies. They were largely instrumental
in securing legislative action for the endowment by Congress
of the State Industrial Universities, and paved the way for
the Farmers' Institutes — those valued schools for the masses
— the enactment of laws for protecting insectivorous birds
and for destroying noxious weeds. Aside from and above all
considerations of dollars and cents, a greater compensation is
returned in the good fellowship established and maintained by
them.

THE PEAR.

BY DR. BALLOU, SANDWICH.

The pear is one of the most cherished of our long list of fruits,
and is truly one of God's blessings. It originated in Arminia,
and it soon made its pilgrimage over all Europe and finally

342 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

throughout the North Temperate Zone, where the soil was com-

Eetent for its growth. The pear tree has a tendency to assume a
eautiful pyramidal form. It is said that the pear tree requires
more time before fruiting than the apple tree, but modern po-
mologists have greatly accelerated the fruiting of pears.

In Europe pear trees are said to have survived centuries. The
tree may be multiplied indefinitely by layers, cuttings, budding
and skillfully grafting on its own stock, which is now common
and usually very successful. The pear tree is a very symmet-
rical grower, and as a standard will assume its own beautiful
and natural figure in opposition to any amount of restraint, except
the distorted expalier. To give the pear tree a shape that the
owner may be proud of there should be no clashing or crossing of
limbs, for the straight and symmetrical shoots display the fruit
more strikingly to the eye when the maturing stage of ripeness is
going on. Meantime when a decayed limb is discovered the
owner should at once remove the unsightly member for the con-
tinual health of the tree. This method should obtain in refer-
ence to any fruit tree, for they are a burden to the growing tree.

Our progenitors required the whole of their long lives, to eat of
the fruit of the tree they planted. But by the modern arboricul-
ture the youth may pluck the fruit of the tree he planted when a
child.

There has been a great and beneficient revolution in a half
century in the culture of the pear tree in the methods which have
hastened its fruiting, for modern culture has shortened the space
of time more than four-fifths. The methods of the propagation
of the pear on account of its early fruiting has been a gratifica-
tion to all fruit growers. Mr. Perkins, of Boston, was the first
who produced the pear by grafting on the quince — the scion
being of pear stock. Marshall P. Wilder, of Boston, and Mr.
Manning, of Salem, and Mr. Hovey, of Cambridge, commenced
the cultivation of quince-rooted pear trees, which may have been
seen forty years of age. Pear culturists, indeed, have learned,
that the office of the quince is entirely as of root, and not a&
trunk. It is thought, moreover, by eminent pomologists, that we
shall arrive at a point of superiority in the propagation of the
pear, which will enable nurserymen to wholly dispense with the
quince, root and branch.

The Huguenots bore a prominent part in the introduction and
propagation of pears in our country. In preparing for their exile
doubtless they selected seeds of their notable varieties and
planted them around their homes in a free country, on Long
Island, New Kochelle, Michigan and in Illinois.

There are many points which are little understood, although
discussed for a long time by men of talent and close observation.
Among these are the decline of certain highly esteemed varieties
which cannot longer be grown in localities where they formerly

SOCIETY OP NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 343

ranked as the highest and the best, the excellence of many varie-
ties in particular places, and their inferiority when in other loca-
tions. Perhaps the soil may have lost some of its most vital ele-
ments, which enter into the pear, therefore those varieties which
have gone into a decline for want of proper nourishment must be
supplanted by other varieties and with, other stimulating elements-
in such varieties of compost that will supply newer and stronger
elements of nourishment.

PREPARATION OF SOIL.

The pear culturist should understand that the soil upon which
he is to establish pear culture must, in all respects, be such as will
furnish elements for the pear. The soil should be such as will
secure an excellent drainage. Then the thorough pulverizing,
deepening and mixing of the soil properly, which will insure a
healthy and vigorous growth, adopting the best system of fertil-
izing, trimming and cultivation can but secure success. The
gratification and delight that one feels in growing a beautiful tree,,
and of having been the instrument of supplying the elements that
are to mingle with the virgin soil, and cultivating intelligently
with proper methods and resources, the cultivator ought to achieve
success. The soil should be made suitable by deep plowing one
year before the pear stock is planted ; the ground having been
plowed and harrowed well it is best to sow peas upon the pear
plat in order to keep down the weeds. Early the next spring the
ground should be plowed very deep, turning the rich mold over
so that the digging of the holes and drainage may be easily made.
The ground being acceptable for planting it will give the owner
complete success.

DIGGING HOLES.

The soil having been wrell prepared the digging of holes for
trees is a work of skill as well as most labor is in the routine of
pear culture. The holes should be dug deep and large, as the
most generous views of the pear culturist wTould dictate, taking
care only that they shall be roomy, not less than twice the diame-
ter of the spread of the roots to be planted in them, nor of a less
depth than six inches below the normal bottom of these roots.

DIGGING TREES.

The owner is often disappointed and chagrined at see-
ing a sickly tree linger feebly through three or four seasons
of pining. Yellow leaves and sickly branches would often be
averted, if some person interested in the life and growth of a tree
and with skill to direct, were present at its digging. The culti-
vator is responsible for the failures if not present at the digging
of trees. The proprietor or a faithful laborer should be held re-
sponsible for trees which are denuded, limbs broken and roots

344 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

destroyed. It is an undeniable fact that the failure of pears is
for the lack of skill in digging trees. The nurseryman is usually
sincerely desirous that his trees should be carefully taken up that
they may appear in good condition. But petty questions arise
regarding the expense of increased labor in digging trees and
carefully packing them, therefore his reflection is that he "guesses
they will do pretty well."

SOILS FOR PEARS.

The soil for pear production must be dry and either deep or
capable from its subsoil of deepening without destroying its
excellence, and of a looseness of texture sufficient to allow the
free extension of the small roots, which, at their terminals ends,
are spongioles which drink of the moisture, and, at the time of
the rising of sap, the veins distribute the moisture through all of
the limbs and terminals of the limbs. A soil of free loam having
a large preponderance of sand without being light is preferable,
as it is easily worked, when at times a clayey soil would be a bed
of mortar. A noticeable instance of this difference is seen in the
fact that the winter blight of the pear has never been known on
soils that are rich, but on the light soils of New Jersey and Long
Island, which seem peculiarly adapted to the growth, productive-
ness and longevity of the pear. While the winter of 1855 de-
stroyed many thousands of pear trees on strong soils in the coun-
ties of Central New York, in the neighborhood of Syracuse this
was especially remarkable. In Illinois the pear grower can find
many locations where excellent soils can be selected for pear
orchards, for we have many localities where we have a heavy
loam, composed of course granulated sand, fifteen to twenty per
cent, of clay and the remainder of vegetable matter. This strata
of subsoil of sand and clay extends to the depth of three or four
feet. A bed of gravel we know by digging our wells the lower
and valuable stratum is there, thus affording excellent drainage.
Our soil, in many localities, is well adapted to pear culture, as we
have many elevated prairie lands that are capital locations for the
cultivation of pears.

MANURE FOR PEARS.

It is a general feeling among fruit growers that manure which
will produce a good crop of corn or potatoes will perfect a crop
of fruit. It has been tested thoroughly that well rotted stable
compost is without doubt the safest, and ordinarily the most con-
venient form of nourishment for pear trees. Commercial fertil-
izers of many kinds are doubtless useful, but not for pears in
bearing, for the shoots and limbs feel the stimulating food, and
the wood growth becomes the chief factor, and the pears be-
come stunted and shriveled and most of the fruit falls to the

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 345

ground. Stable manure, muck, forest leaves, and other organic
matter will enable a hungry soil to long retain these fertilizing
agents, applied to impoverished lands. Well rotted manure
should occasionally be spread around pear trees, especially if the
fruiting season is drouthy and hot. Charcoal dust, plaster, or
partially dried muck, wood ashes, soap suds, are vastly more
appropriate than commercial fertilizers. Guano is used in tree
culture. There is no doubt about the stimulating properties
of Guano. It may be adapted to wood growth, but for pear
culture it seems to aid in shrivelling the fruit.

FOR MARKET CULTIVATION.

The Bartlett is worthy of cultivation, for it possesses qualities
which have secured for it high esteem (September).

Belle-Lucrative — The fruit grows in clusters, and the tree is
very productive, thinning being often necessary to prevent
injury from over-bearing (October).

The Bloodgood, developed on Long Island, and was named
from the proprietor of the Bloodgood Nurseries, and considered

to be a seedling (July).

The Buffum — The pears are excellent; seldom defective: a
native of Rhode Island (October)-

The Columbia — This variety originated in Westchester Co.,
N.Y.; supposed to be from seedlings planted by the Huguenots.
Keeps from November to January.

Doyenne Bousock — This was imported from France by Wm.
Kinrick, in 1841 (October).

Flemish Beauty — The Flemish Beauty is one of the most
notable pears in the whole roster (October).

Lawrence — This is a native variety, and ranks high with all
cultivators of the pear (December).

Seckel — This variety has won and retained the highest pop-
ularity, in spite of the smallness of its fruit. September to 1st
of November.

Winter Nelis — I am decidedly of the opinion that there is no
pear in existence its eqaal in quantity or qualities of fruit (Dec-
cember).

Beurre D'Anjou — For this noble pear we are indebted to Col.
Marshall P. Wilder, who imported it from France (December).

Beurre Diel — Named in honor of Dr. Die! (December).

Easter Beurre — This pear keeps late, and of late years has
received extraordinary attention (March and April).

Louisa Bonne de Jersey — This excellent pear has a rosy cheek
when ripened (December).

Urbaniste — This pear is a favorite wherever it has fruited
(October-November).

346 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

White Doyenne — The pear needs no special advertising. The
tree grows vigorously.

Church — The original tree still stands in New Rochelle,
(September.)

Dearborn seedling — This pear is very juicy and palatable.
It has grown for forty years around Boston (August).

Howel — The Howel has borne large crops on my premises.
There are no defects in the fruit (October).

Madeleine — The pear is a particular favorite in Sandwich, for
it is delicious, melting and juicy (August).

Noveau Poiteau — A vigorous, handsome tree, the fruit of
which Colonel Wilders description in 1850; is not too highly
colored. In size, it equals the Bartlett (November).

Oswego Beurre — It originated in Oswego, New York, by Mr.
W. Read. Its great hardiness, long keeping and excellence,
make it worthy of cultivation (October).

Howell — The Howell should stand first rate among its fellows
(October).

Sheldon — Native of New England; medium to large, when
matured the cheek a rich, deep reddish brown, and a remark-
ably smooth skin (October).

Waterloo — A beautiful, excellent Belgian pear; skin with
deep crimson blush (November).

GATHERING, MARKETING AND FRUIT-ROOMS.

t Undoubtedly, there is nothing more essential in the cultiva-
tion of this fruit than the variation of flavor and texture in the
same varieties on different soils. This causes the vexatious
contraditions respecting the value of any, or every variety.
One pear-culturist will aver that the Louise Bonne deserves un-
bounded execration, and another, all the adulation which words
can express. The Louise Bonne de Jersey and the Beurre Diel
are particularly noted for their superiority on sandy loams,
while the Onondaga and Virgalieu are best on strong clay soils.

THINNING FRUIT.

Excellent soils, fine cultivation, healthy trees, and the many
other requisites of pear growing, will often fail of producing
fine fruit, if all that sets is allowed to remain on the tree. Any
pear tree is liable to set so copiously that its fruit may, without
thinning, not reach full size. Oftentimes, two years after
planting, some varieties will commence bearing, and not more
than two dozen specimens should be allowed to ripen annually
on each tree, until the fifth year. The time for thinning is when
the pears attain a size of about three-fourths of an inch in
diameter. Meantime, many fall soon after forming. It is not
until then the healthy and perfect ones can be distinguished. It is

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 347

prudent that not more than one-half of the thinning should be
clone at once, and those remaining should be undisturbed until
we ascertain the imperfect fruit to be removed.

GATHERING.

It is found by experience that there are but few of the finer
varieties that are not improved by gathering before they are
fully ripe. It has been found that not a few have been dis-
carded as unworthy of cultivation, which, by early picking,
improve so as to rank among the first in excellence. It is well
known that several varieties rot at the core when left upon the
tree until fully ripe which will keep well for weeks when picked
earlier. Among these are the Flemish Beauty, Beurre Diel, and
frequently, by watching, the Louise Bonne de Jersey. It still
holds as a maxim that pears are fit for picking when the cleav-
ing of the stem from the spur, without breaking, when gently
raised. Some varieties should not be left so long even as this.
The fruit should not be picked on a wet or cloudy day, or in
early morning, when the dew is upon the leaves and fruit, as its
flavor is much impaired by the moisture, and its keeping
properties much injured. If it is necessary to gather it under
such circumstances, it should be exposed to the light and air
until it is thoroughly dry. Pears picked in the middle of a
sunny day are greatly superior in flavor, and keep better. Early
gathering is only necessary for summer and autumn varieties.
On the other hand, the late-keeping and winter kinds should be
picked as late in the season as the frost will allow.

MARKETING PEARS.

In the marketing of fine fruit for indifferent prices, large
numbers of pear cultivators have experienced great disappoint-
ment. This has always been entirely due to improper gathering
and ripening. Market men will not buy fruit already ripe, to be
kept for several days, for sale to the retailers, who in turn must
keep it on hand for sale as long as they can for their consumers ;
nor will the retailers buy pears entirely green, as few of them
are sufficiently acquainted with the varieties, to be certain how
they will ripen up in color and in flavor. Some of the fruits
should ripen in the hands of the large dealers, that they may be
exhibited as samples, being put into their hands when green and
hard. One of the great mistakes frequently made by pear grow-
ers is to send the fruit to market after ripening, in such a con-
dition that it will not bear transportation, and often reaches its
destination badly jammed, if not a mass of rotteness. It is an
error for the grower to market his own fruit, for retailers in
such cases will not offer more than one-third or half of the price
they expect to pay when their trade demands an immediate

348 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

supply. Summer and autumn varieties must be picked and sent
to market when green and hard, must be packed tight in barrels
or in cases, with coarse matting around the sides, top and
bottom, so they cannot shake about nor bruise.

COLORING AND RIPENING SUMMER AND AUTUMN PEARS.

While many varieties will ripen upon the tree with rich golden
or crimson colors, like the Bartlett and Sekel, all varieties of
pears will attain a richer tint as well as a higher flavor by a little
attention. For the attainment of the best result, darkness and
warmth in the masses of fruit are necessary. Fruit picked green
should be exposed long enough to become perfectly dry, and is
then packed in cloth-lined barrels and cases.

RIPENING OF WINTER PEARS.

The Winter Nelis, the Lawrence, Beurre d'Hiver, and others,
attain their delicious maturity in the early part of December, in-
stead of keeping sound and hard until February. The Easter
Beurre, Glout Morceau, Doyenne d' Alencon. lose a great quan-
tity of their juice by evaporation, and resemble a potato kept
one year quite as much as a pear.

FRUIT ROOMS.

For effecting proper conditions of ripening, very expensive
structures, fruit nouses, and rooms have been erected, and it is
but just to say, in many cases, resulted only in disappointment.
The only sensible way of preparing safe depositories for storing
pears, of long keepers, fruit rooms should be built of double
walls, confining a stratum of air between, which is sometimes
more perfectly accomplished by the use of dry tan, charcoal dust,
and similar substances. There should be but one window, and
that filled with double sashes. Ventilators should be provided,
which should be allowed to change the air of the room only suffi-
ciently to prevent it becoming feculent and damp. No decaying
fruit should be permitted to remain in the room, nor any vege-
tables or substances having odor. A gentleman who had ex-
pressed great disappointment with the flavor of several varieties
of pears, was greatly surprised by having the cause of the infer-
iority of his fruit pointed out. He at once commenced removing
from his fruit-room all the materials belonging to the har-
ness and lumber room, the decaying matter accumulated in cor-
ners and boxes, and finished with thoroughly cleansing and white
washing the walls. The pears, ripened in the room thereafter,
were not only a source of gratification in their fine flavor; but of
suprise at the means of their perfection. Other fruits may be ex-
posed on shelves, but pears should be inclosed in boxes with tight-
fitting covers, or if the quantity is large, in well made barrels

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 349

headed up. A fruit-house, thus arranged and managed would be
a profitable adjunct to a f ruitery. But for most amateurs, a dark
closet in the house, or a room fitted up in the cellar, or even
the cellar itself, kept cleanly and sweet will suffice. For small
quantities of pears, cheese-boxes with covers, have been found
cheap and convenient. These should be always freed from the
odor of cheese, by cleansing in hot water, with soda or potash.
Mr. Barry, the eminent pear culturist, after many years of experi-
ence, found the most effective means of preserving winter pears
to be : late gathering, packing away carefully none but sound
fruit, in close barrels, leaving them in an open shed, only pro-
tected from rain and rays of the sun, as long as the tempera-
ture is above freezing point. There are many forms of fruit-
rooms. The structure may be on a large scale, or only a small
room, of but a few feet in size. The side walls, and the lower
and upper floors are made double, being filled in with sawdust.
The upper floor, consisting of a single layer of boards, nailed on
the underside of the joists, with sawdust piled on loosely, a foot
or more in thickness. Above this, is an open space or garret,
under rafters and roof, with holes in each gable end, to admit a
free circulation of air. The main room is divided into two com-
partments. The fruit-room and ice-room by a partition. The
partition unites the walls on both front and rear, but a small
opening of a few inches, is left both above and below it — that is,
between the whole length of the lower and upper edges, and the
floor and ceiling. The ice, as represented, is piled up in a com-
pact mass, in the right division and covered in the usual manner
with straw.

DISCUSSION.

It will be seen from reading over Mr. Edwards' and Dr. Bal-
lou's papers, that there is some difference of opinion regard-
ing the success of the pear. This comes from the fact, no
doubt, that there are certain localities in Northern Illinois in
which the soil and surroundings seem to be adapted to the
growing of the pear. No doubt Dr. Ballou is situated in one of
those places, as he has evidently been quite successful. There is
also a small pear orchard about a mile and a half north of Sand-
wich, of twenty-five or thirty trees, which has been in existence
for twenty-five years or more and has borne more or less every
year, but a good many of the trees have been replaced from time
to time. Some of the first trees planted in the orchard are still
there and they bore a full crop this year. Mr. Pratt, the owner,
sold over $80 worth of fruit from the orchard this year, one tree
having borne eighteen bushels.

350 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

Mr. Piper — I grew the Bartlett for three years with good suc-
cess some years ago, since which I have failed entirely.

Mr. Minkler asked what the climatic influence was on the pear
in different soil.

Dr. Ballou did not think it made much difference. Said he
would avoid planting on stiff clay and that he always gave special
attention to pruning off the dry limbs in the spring.

Mr. Minkler — I think one great trouble with our pears is the
extreme sudden changes from mild weather in the winter to ex-
treme cold. The cold weather would not hurt the trees if it did
not come on so suddenly.

Dr. Ballou — I always regret to see warm weather in the winter
and always consider it a bad omen. It starts the sap circulating
and it is liable to turn cold suddenly, thus hurting the tree and
fruit. I had fifty dwarfs and fifty standards in my orchard
to start with and I now only have four dwarfs left while my
standards have done nicely. I do not consider the quince stock of
any value for a pear root, as it is not hardy or in any way adapted
to our soil. The Dearborn Seedling is one of my best varieties.
The fruit is delicious and it bears well; though not heavy crops
every year, it always bears some. The Madeleine is a very good
variety also, the fruit always perfect and the best. The tree is
reasonably hardy but was hurt some when the theremometer
went thirty-four below zero a few years ago. It has since re-
covered and gone on bearing. Remember and feed your pear
trees. Put on some muck and well-rotted stable manure and
take as good care of them as you would of your horse. The
Duchess is a vigorous grower and for that reason kills back
easily. Was the first variety to go among my standards.

Mr. J. V. Cotta — My experience has been that the blight does
not kill the pear all at once, but starts in at one place on the
tree, and as the poisonous sap from the diseased part circulates
through the other portions of the tree, the whole thing becomes
diseased and dies. The pear root should not be drowned out.
It runs down deep into the ground and should have very deep
drainage, much deeper than other trees.

Dr. Ballou — As soon as the least blight appears, it should be
removed by pruning the diseased part from the tree. When I

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 351

first came to this section, a good many years ago, I shipped in
$800 or $900 worth of pear trees from the east and retailed them
out to the farmers and people in this vicinity, and many of them
have made quite a success in growing pears. I have certainly
been successful and shall plant more trees.

Mr. Woodard — I have tested the pear pretty thoroughly in the
vicinity of Marengo, and know that it is not a success there.

Mr. Bryant — 1 think there are a few parties who make a suc-
cess of growing the pear, in certain localities where the soils
and conditions seem to be especially adapted to its growth.

STRAWBERRY CULTURE.

BY D. J. PIPER.

The bright little strawberry so modestly blushing in its lowly
bed — the loveliest of all Pomona's sweet gifts to mortals — is still
an object of admiration by all lovers of the beatiful in nature,
and is a most delicious morsel to the palate of the surfeited epi-
cure and the starving beggar alike. Its presence upon the table is
welcomed with delight by all and an appreciation of its important
position as an article of diet has been for many years, and still is
increasing. Hence, there has arisen an almost universal desire
among the growers of fruit, unpredecented perhaps in the his-
tory of any other species of fruit, for a knowledge of the best
conditions for, and modes of its culture, and of the varieties best
adapted to grow for distant markets, for near markets and for
the grower's own use.

I can answer the question to a certain degree by saying, have
the strawberries well ripened for your own use, well colored for a
near market aud only about half ripe for a distant market and
they will color inside of twenty hours. All these subjects have
been so thoroughly and so frequently discussed that there is but
little left to be said, except that scarcely any two writers agree
upon all points and the seeker after information can after all do
little better than to read all the literature within his reach, treat-
ing upon these matters, inform himself as to the probable integ-
rity of each writer, the place, the soil, the mode of cultivation
given in each case, with results in quality and quantity of fruit.

If he then use his best judgment in the selection and cultiva-
tion of six varieties, and finds them all to meet his reasonable ex-
pectations, he may consider the day of miracles is not yet passed
or that investments in lottery tickets are tolerably safe ones.
Yet one or two among his six sorts would probably be among the
very best for his use. I have always insisted and must still repeat

352 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

with emphasis, that success with any variety which is adapted to
to the soil in which it is placed, depends more upon the prepara-
tion of the soil previous to planting than upon all other circum-
stances combined.

No amount of manuring or cultivation after planting can atone
for previous neglect. The soil must be made rich, fine and friable
to the depth of twelve or eighteen inches if possible. This in
most cases can only be done by several plowings. My plan of
setting the plants is to mark off the ground as I would for corn,
and set the plants in the hill system as I would plant corn. Cul-
tivate both ways until the plants run, which they will do, and
cover the ground entirely if let go. Then I cultivate only one

In growing the strawberry, I have tried many different kinds,
and find most of them produce well, when I have prepared the
ground well previous to planting. There is such a thing as
having the soil too rich, unless you stop the increase of the
young plants by cutting off the runners. I have had single
plants that a bushel basket would not cover. Some say that a
variety will run out; so do I say so.

In the case of the Wilson, we cannot grow such crops of the
Wilson as we used to do. I care not how you cultivate, and
this will hold good in every case. The old must die, and the
new or young must f ake its place. Plants have a certain age to
live and produce, and then die, and I think the heavier we crop
them, the shorter their lives will be for production; hence we
must grow new plants from seed again, and we again have the
proper vitality to produce what we cannot get from the old and
worn-out plants. I care not whether you take corn, wheat, oats
or barley in the cereals. You may take the tubers, and from
six to ten years is about as long as you can grow any one variety
with reasonable success. Take any species of plants that you
can grow from seed, and you have got to renew it by planting
seed and growing young plants, and there is not any fruit-
growing plant that can be more readily grown from seed than
the delicious strawberry.

I have been experimenting in this direction ever since 1865.
I have grown thousands of new seedlings, and by screening or
sorting them from time to time, have succeeded in producing
the most wonderful strawberry for vigor of plant, hardiness of
constitution to withstand excessive drouth and extreme cold
weather, and produce enormous crops of large and uniform
fruit. It is, namely, the Pacific. Again, I say it is the greatest
strawberry in existence.

In my experimental lot, some three or four years ago, I had it
upon ridges like sweet potatoes, and the ground was apparently
as hard as a brick bat. I had enormous crops of Pacific, more
than double that of my other sorts on the thirty-five varieties.

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 353

The past season I gathered eleven hundred quart boxes of
Pacific from thirty rods of ground, and they had not been culti-
vated for the two years previous.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Bryant asked what the best fertilizer was for strawberries.

Mr. Piper said that hog or stable manure was the best. If
that was not to be had, lime and ashes, equal quantities of each,
made a good top-dressing, which should be worked in. Straw-
berries should be protected with a light covering of straw in the
Avinter, to prevent their freezing and thawing.

Mr. Coe — I have found corn stalks to be the best covering.
On motion, Society adjourned until 2 o'clock.

-o-

THURSDAY AFTERNOON SESSION.

Meeting convened at 2 o'clock, as per adjournment, and Mr.
H. R. Cotta's paper was called for and read.

RASPBERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES.

BY H. R. COTTA.

With raspberries and blackberries, as with all other fruits, we
must not expect profitable returns unless we work for them. On
the other hand, I find them quite profitable where proper atten-
tion is given.

I drove by a small field of Turner in this city a few days ago.
The plants had been set some years ago in squares, and are still
cultivated both ways. Each plant stands in a block of sod about
two feet square. I suppose if I had talked with the owner of
that field about the profitableness of that crop, he would have
told me it did not pay to raise raspberries.

In this section of the State, raspberries have been neglected,
and blackberries left to care for themselves. There is not one
grower in ten who will give his raspberries and blackberries as
good cultivation as he does his corn.

To succeed in this industry, we must give as close attention to
every detail as we would if managing a store. Do not attempt
to grow berries unless you can attend to them when they need
it any more than you would attempt to fatten your live stock
on half rations.
—24

354 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

Any good corn land that is not too low can be made to pro-
duce profitable crops of raspberries and blackberries. Prepare
the ground as well as possible, setting the crown of the roots
about three inches below the surface of the ground. Black-
berries and strong-growing raspberries, like Shaffer's Colossal,
should be placed three by eight feet apart; black cap rasp-
berries, two and one half by six feet apart.

Cabbage, potatoes, corn, or some other hoed crop, should be
planted between the rows of berries the first year, which will
partly pay the expense of cultivation, and of the berry plants.
Cultivation should be done frequently and thoroughly, and
the weeds kept down.

After the first year, there will not be room to raise any other
crop with the berries, but the cultivation must be kept up year
after year as long as you want profitable crops of fruit. In small
fields and gardens, mulching may be done in place of culti-
vation, where cultivation is not convenient. The first year
I pinch off the tips of the largest canes when they are
about eighteen inches high, and the following spring I
cut back the side branches. After the first year, I nip
■off the ends of the young canes when they are about two feet
high, with my thumb and finger, going over the same field two
■or three times, at intervals of a week or ten days, as the canes
are not all tall enough when I go through the first time. The
trimming of side branches or laterals I do in the spring after
new growth begins; then I leave them eighteen to twenty-four
inches long, except when they are injured, when I cut the
injured part all off. After the fruit is all gathered, the old canes
should be cut out at once, or may be left till the following
spring.

If you have a number of pickers, it is necessary to have some
one in the field to watch them, and watch them closely, too, so
they will pick all the ripe berries, and only the ripe ones, never
putting dirty or moldy berries in the box. This is important.
Always use new, clean boxes, of uniform size, to market your
fruit in.

Now, as to varieties, don't plant too extensively of some new
variety that will produce "fully five times as much fruit as any
other," unless you wish to be disappointed. Stick to the old
standbys that have been doing well in your locality, or one similar
to yours, until you have proven the newer to be at least as good
as the older kinds. If you wish to keep up with the times, try the
best of the new kinds in a small way, as now and then there is
something valuable among them. The best early black caps '
with us are Tyler and Souhegan, which are nearly identical,
and hardy and prolific. The best medium is Ohio; hardy, very
prolific, and fine-flavored. The Gregg is the largest, and latest
to ripen, but lacks in hardiness.

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 355

Of red-suckening varieties, Turner for early, and Cuthbert
for late, have taken the lead. Marlboro, Hansell, Reliance,
Scarlet Gem, and many others, have not been satisfactory.
Shaffer's Colossal is a dark red berry, and propagates from
tips. It has been more profitable for local markets than any
other raspberry with us, and is rapidly growing in favor
throughout the country.

Snyder, Ancient Briton and Stone's Hardy, are the best
blackberries, but to insure a good crop every year, they must be
covered in winter. Blackberries were an abundant crop through-
out Northern Illinois last summer, better than for a number of
years. The canes of many kinds of raspberries were injured
more than blackberries last winter.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Cotta — I learned at the Wisconsin State Horticultural
Meeting that they are quite successful in that state with black-
berries. By protecting them in winter they are able to get good
crops.

Mr. Minkler — I have found that dry seasons are very detri-
mental to the blackberry and that they need plenty of moisture.
If you can see they are well provided for in this respect, you will
get good crops.

Mr. Rice said that he had learned that the protection of
a fence was a good thing for blackberries, and recommended, for
family use, that a row of plants set along the east or south side
of a fence would give good results.

After some music, Mr. Minkler read the following paper, which
he preceded by a very happy and pleasant talk, urging the Society
to get the ladies interested in the work. Said we could not make
it a success without them, and that no enterprise would be a suc-
cess without the ladies are interested in it and take a part.

STARVING ORCHARDS.

BY S. G. MINKLER, OSWEGO.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :

You ask me to write a paper and leave me to select the subject.
As I have a mania for orchards I will say something on that sub-
ject.

Five million fruit trees are starved to death ! Now there has
been, and is, a great ado about iron-clads, hardy varieties, that

356 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

will stand all sorts of abuse and starvation. The United States,
England, Wales, Germany and Russia have been ransacked over
and over again to find the desideratum that will stand blue grass
sod, horn-p running, cattle-browsing, and the gnawings of calves,
sheep, rabbits and mice, and bear a heavy crop every year. Yes;
and the people to tickle you, have just the thing you want : The
hardy Russian at fifty cents each — all Ben Davis ! What is all
this hue and cry about? and what is the cause? I say — Starva-
tion!

You have taken all you could from the orchard for the past
thirty years and made no returns whatsoever. You have not even
applied the scriptural injunction, to "dig about and dung it."

You ask what is the cause of the trees dying. I say, Starva-
tion. The past two or three years or more you have gathered
heavy crops, exhausted the vitality of the trees, and nothing to
recuperate them but blue grass sod and drouth. How has it
been the past season? The early apples were fair and nice be-
cause we nad plenty moisture ; the latter part of the season was
dry, and the blue grass absorbed what little moisture there was ;
hence the crop stopped growing and you see the result — starva-
tion!

Brethren, have any of you succeeded in raising a good crop
of corn or other cereal for twenty-five years in succession on blue
grass sod, without making any returns after planting?

You say they winter-killed. I say, they are starved to death,
and you did not observe it till spring. Of course the vitality
was somewhat, I will say, much weakened — had not strength
enough to send the blood (the sap) to the extremities; so they
died down, as we say. The same cause in gangrene — the blood
did not flow to the extremities. Why, brethren, I have been just
as mean as the rest of you, and had to suffer the consequences.
When I go through the orchard the trees cry, "Blue grass! blue
grass !" Where I manured heavily last year the apples were fair
this fall. Now I will make an assertion — that there is not an
orchard in this county, of one hundred trees, that has been kept
in continuous cultivation for the first seven years of its life.

IRON-CLADS OR HARDY VARIETIES.

The Duchess seems to be standard for comparison in the apple,
as the Concord in grapes, or the Seckel m pears. I will admit
that the Duchess, the Red Astrachan and the Alexander, (the
latter is worthless), are Russian; the only three varieties that
Dr. Warder speaks of as Russian. Then we have the Northern
Spy, the Fameuse, E. G. Russet and Whitney No. 20, which are
all hardy in stock, suitable to top work such varieties as you
choose — provided you do not starve them to death.

I am aware, sir, that we have a fickle climate. It is the sudden
extremes from heat to cold. If it would remain cold from the

SOCIETY OP NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 357

beginning of winter till spring, I care not how cold, if thirty or
forty degrees below zero. Why I have known it in the state of
New York not to thaw at the eaves of the house for six weeks,
and there was no complaint of winter-killing of apple trees.

The calamity that has overtaken us has happened once in
fifty years I Well, what shall we do under the circumstances?
Or what would you do if a crop of corn or potatoes should fail?
Would you plant again? Certainly you would. Then plant an-
other orchard. Do not try to renovate the old one by planting
where trees are missing; it will prove a failure.

Brethren, do not expect something for nothing. I have said
the orchard is the most abused piece of ground on the farm.
What do you say, friends? It is said that experience is a dear
schoolmaster ; nevertheless you have learned some things that
will be beneficial to you. You have learned what varieties to
plant that are adapted to our soil and climate and what the
market demands.

Now, Mr. President, if this paper solicits discussion I will be
satisfied. It is the discussion that is valuable and not the paper.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Goodrich, from Southern Illinois — We find it impossible
with us to get fertilizers enough for our orchards, though we ship
it in large quantities from Chicago, St. Louis, and other places
wherever it is to be had. I would like to ask Mr. Minkler where
we are going to get the necessary fertilizer.

Answer — Sow your orchard ground to clover, and when you
have a good strong growth, plow it under. Then seed it down
to buckwheat, and plow that under.

Question — What varieties of apple are the best to plant?

Answer' — Ten varieties are plenty for family or market use.
For summer, Benoni and Early Harvest; for fall, Duchess,
Cayuga Ked Streak and Maiden's Blush. The Cayuga Eed
Streak is the best. It is always marketable, and will always
pay. The Duchess is a Russian variety; very hardy; what
you would call iron-clad; a good bearer, and sells well.
For winter, Jonathan, Grimes Golden, Minkler and Ben
Davis. The latter, though despised by some, is always a
good seller and a profitable apple. The hard winters of
a few years ago killed them out over this part of the
State, but that may not happen again in fifty years, and we can
afford to lose them once in a while.

358 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

«

THE DIFFICULTIES AN HONEST AGENT ENCOUNTERS

IN CANVASSING.

BY A. D. LOUCKS, CHICAGO.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

When I was honored with a request to prepare a paper to be-
read at the Twenty-third Annual Meeting of your Society, the
subject upon which I was to write was chosen for me. I make
this explanation to dispel from your minds, any suspicion that may
have arisen from reading its title in the program, that I am desir-
ous of posing either as a martyr or a saint. Working for succes-
sive seasons in the same section, and representing a responsible
and reliable firm, well known throughout that section, upon whose
support I could depend in my endeavors to convince purchasers
that all of our interest was not confined to getting their orders and
collecting payment therefor, I have not experienced the hard trials
of many of my fellow workers. Still, it must be confessed that,
even under the most favorable conditions there are more difficul-
ties to be overcome in making sales of nursery stock than exist in
any other branch of trade. There is nothing to be gained by clos-
ing our eyes to the fact that the dear public does not welcome our
endeavors in its behalf with that confiding spirit which would tend
to lighten our burdens ; in fact, there exists a positive distrust of our
honesty of purpose that is both disagreeable and, at times, posi-
tively disheartening. This should not be, and in asking why it is
so let us be honest with, and to ourselves. A profession that deals
with the beauties of nature, should be a source of joy to all parties
concerned. There are faults upon both sides. Do not many nur-
sery-men, in their anxiety to increase the amount of their sales,
neglect that protection of their reputations which greater care in
selecting agents to represent them would insure? We have all
seen advertisements for nursery salesmen that read "experience
not necessary." Viewed in the broad light of results to be at-
tained, is there any other business in which experience is more
necessary than in this, the prime object of which should be
to make oases of Nature's desert places: to make bright and
beautiful that which is bare and unattractive? Experience through
which alone can come that knowledge of causes and effects rela-
tive to the growth of plant-life under the varying conditions of
climate, soil, etc., which, practically applied, succeeding years shall
but round out the design, and make more beautiful the effect. See
that new place, the house completed and furnished: everything
being done by the owner with the intention of making it a home,
in the best meaning of the word.

He secured the services of an architect of reputation to design
the house: he decided upon heating apparatus, furnishings, etc.,,

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 359

only after thorough investigation. The grounds are now ready
for the nursery-man. I can assure you he is there on time. Sup-
pose him to be one of the "experience-not-necessary" kind of
agents. He has a catalogue and a plate book. He has no practi-
cal knowledge: has confused ideas of the contents of his catalogue
and has to read the name under each plate before he can tell what
it represents, but he possesses unlimited gall and the gift of gab»
The owner of the place knows little more, perhaps not so much.
His family have procured several catalogues. Catalogues describ-
ing stock adapted to a range of country extending from the Arctic
Circle to the Torrid Zone. This is necessarily so, as catalogues
are for general purposes and wide distribution. From these cata-
logues they have made up a list, not two articles in ten of which
should be planted in the section of the country where their home
is located. They do not know this nor does the agent (experience
not necessary.) The agent agrees with them, enlarges upon their
their ideas, crowds upon them all he can of everything possible and
goes his way rejoicing in the consciousness of having made a large
sale.

A year's time elapses and now look at that place. The stock
was delivered and planted. Stock, the majority of which would
grow luxuriantly — somewhere else. A grievous disappointment
has resulted: another bitter enemy of nursery-men been made.
Hard and long continued work will be necessary by the ablest of
salesmen to overcome that prejudice and secure an order that shall
right the wrong committed in the beginning.

"Experience not necessary" to sell nursery stock ! Well, Idon't
know that it is to sell the stock ; but to have each place wherein it
is planted a living,. glowing advertisement of the firm from which
it came, experience seems to me to be the most important factor.
The itinerant dealer in nursery stock needs attention, as one who
has done as much, if not more, to bring the nursery business into
bad odor with the public than any other. In this class are many
reputable dealers and it is needless to say that in what follows I
do not refer to them, but to the tramps in the trade who dare not
remain in one section long enough to have the stock develop its
true character. We have seen many of them around Chicago and
the usual term of their existence is two seasons, fall and spring
deliveries. But another crop springs up to take the places of those
gone before, and the same dear old public listens to their claims
and believes their promises. And their claims as to what they
have done in the past, and their promises as to the future, make
an advertisement of the powers of a "seventh daughter of a
seventh daughter" seem very truth in comparison. No salesman
who cannot or will not make such promises but has lost many
valuable orders by reason of them ; and I can readily understand
how an agent, selling on commission, brought into competition

3(50 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

with those pirates in trade might be tempted for self-preserva-
tion, to forsake the realms of truth and no sales, for the region
of fiction and temporary profit. And the worst of it is that their
victims never discriminate between them and reputable salesmen
and firms, but include all in one loud and long tirade of abuse.
Why cannot nursery-men combine and refuse to sell to any but
the reputable dealers, in the class of which I have been speak-
ing, and so compel the others to get all their stock, instead of a
portion of it, from along the roadside? They are a curse to the
business and a stumbling block (and no easy one to contend
against, I can assure you) to every salesman who is endeavoring
to do business in such a way as shall be a credit, not only to him-
self, but to the firm he represents.

The time is not far distant when reputable nursery-men will
have to face these questions and adopt radical measures in the
treatment of them. The situation is not getting better, but worse.
Could they but go among their customers they would perceive this
themselves. It is of vital importance that some movement be
made, some course pursued, which shall once for all, lop off these
fungus growths that threaten the veiy existence of our business.
I am aware that such treatment may for a time decrease sales, but
lam fully convinced that it will be but a temporary decrease; and
as the public realizes the change, and the reason for it, confidence
and sales will grow apace, and the end justify the means fully and
completely.

Bona fide co-operation on the part of nursery-men, and a
thorough education of the public as to their duty in the premises,
will accomplish the purpose sooner than we may deem possible.
Our profession, properly appreciated, is full of glorious possibil-
ties and rich in grand achievements. There cannot be anything
more gratifying than to see some place which two or three years
previous was a barren spot, now transformed into a little "Gar-
den of Eden," each shrub and tree bearing witness to the good judg-
ment that placed it there, and all uniting in one harmonious whole.
Honesty, energy and perseverance, coupled with a thorough
knowledge of our business will surely win.

The salesman who can bring to his firm not only the orders but
the confidence of his customers, gains doubly for his employers.
He can have no higher plane of action than the gaining and re-
taining of the confidence of each of these parties between whom
he acts. Let us aspire to that high plane, and grasp every line
leading upward to it. We may not always attain it or keep upon
it, but all shall be better for every effort we put forth in our en-
deavors toward it.

After some more music, the following paper was presented:

SOCIETY OP NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 361

LANDSCAPE GARDENING IN ITS APPLICATION TO

PUBLIC PARKS.

BY J. A. PETTIGREW, SUPERINTENDENT LINCOLN PARK, CHICAGO

To the landsca
the times are hig
public parks are

To the landscape gardener and the aboriculturist, the signs of
the times are highly encouraging. On every hand we find that
public parks are being established, or that the preliminary steps
are being taken, having this end in view. A wave of sympa-
thetic feeling on this subject is sweeping over the country. The
American public, energetic and progressive in public work, now
demand that places shall be set apart for rest, recreation and
instruction. It behooves us, then, to be up and doing to meet
this popular demand to educate ourselves in the work necessary
to meet these requirements, to be able to grasp the possibilities
of the art in its application to the designing and planting of
public parks.

It is to be hoped the day is not far distant when state govern-
ments to preserve spots wealthy with nature's beauties, will
preserve them by providing for their purchase and maintain-
ance, and dedicating them to the public use. What opportunity
would then be presented for the grandest conceptions of the
designer! Imagine a tract in the Adirondack region — its nat-
ural beauties harmonized and made available by the hand of a
genius.

A paper on this subject must, of necessity, be brief, and
limited to a few general ideas. No arbitrary rules can be framed
for guidance in landscape gardening; location, climate, topo-
graphy and surroundings of the site chosen for a park — all have
to be studied by the designer.

Should the ground to be improved be possessed of any natural
beauty, endeavor to give full expression to it. Masses of wood-
land may be the natural adornment of the landscape, covering a
larger space than can be embodied into a harmonious feature.
The treatment of this requires taste and judgment. Such should
be cut up into groups, carefully designed to retain any desirable
natural feature already possessed.

The thinning in the groups or masses should be done grad-
ually; light and air introduced will encourage feathering out.
This elimination, continued judiciously from year to year, finally
will tend to give each tree a certain individuality, without im-
pairing its blending in the group.

In the formation of groups from natural woodland, greater
skill and judgment is required than in planting groups on new
ground. While desirous of saving fine specimens in opening the
mass, yet it must not interfere too much with the object to be
attained, which is to produce banks of foliage as points of rest
for the eye, with a promise of more beyond, as evidenced by the

362 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

green sward sweeping round the edge, as though leading to
beauties as yet unseen. Avoid tameness in the arrangement of
groups; the outline should range from a graceful curve to a bold
point or a deep recess. Occasionally, a fine specimen maybe left
to stand alone in the lawns or open spaces, or from some point
to give greater boldness to its outline.

Should the trees be bare of foliage on the outline (as thickly
grown forest trees are apt to be) the effect can be removed by
planting low-growing trees and shrubbery in front of defective
spots.

One of the natural features of the spot may be a rocky glen or
ravine, with possibly a trickling rill or rippling brook in the
bottom. We will suppose its sides and top here and there
clothed with beeches and maples, or the tulip tree, while on the
rocky faces, the white birch mingles with the juniper or the
Scotch pine; for the undergrowth, we have the red-bud, the
Florida dog-wood, and many others equally beautiful.

The top of yonder rock, though sparse of soil, seems to be a
home for the Houstonia, while from a seam in its face hangs a
clump of the nine barks. Clematis is here, too, accompanied
by the pink cone flower and the Campanula ; lower down in the
moisture revel the Maiden-hair and Shield ferns. That pillow
of polypod indicates where a fallen limb is mouldering. Nature
seems to need no assistance here, yet a delicate hand may
strengthen and add in the direction that it points.

Should the ground selected for a park be flat and bare of nat-
ural beauty, the tameness may be relieved by artificial eleva-
tions; gentle undulations are preferable, No such incongruity
should be attempted as the imitation of the picturesque or
grand; such efforts will fail from puerility.

The undulating character of the ground may be apparently
heightened in effect by planting as much as possible on the
elevations. In forming undulated ground, the designer should
aid to produce the same effect as intended by the ideas pre-
viously expressed on the grouping of trees.

On ground of this nature, the formation of an artificial lake is
of great assistance, the excavated material being available for
the forming of undulations, aside from the natural beauty of
water tastefully introduced into the landscape.

Avoid tameness in the line of the shore; make a sweeping bay
here, and a bold promontory there. Off from a promontory or
a point, an island may be introduced, which will add to the
boldness of the effect. From any one point of vision, the eye
must be led to believe that more remains to be seen, a belief
which will be verified by a change in the position of the
observer.

The elevations of the banks of the lake should approach in
character the nature of the surroundings, occasionally relieve

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 363

the shores and banks with apparent out-croppings of stone
ledges, half-sunken boulders, or tree stumps, which, half seen
through the foliage of creeping vines or ferns, greatly soften the
often too hard lines of the shores of artificial waters.

A clump of rushes may be used to tone down a projecting
point. A quiet cove may be made more natural by a patch of
the water lily, or of the lotus.

The prominent features in a landscape are wood, water and
green sward, and their harmonious arrangement constitutes the
charm of pleasing scenery.

The location of park driveways depend so much on the envi-
ronment of the park, that much cannot be said thereof. It can
safely be depended upon that the surrounding property to a
city park will be made available for residence. In such a case,
the driveway should be of sufficient distance from the park
limits to allow of breadth for effective and massive planting of
trees and shrubbery around its borders, where abutting on resi-
dence property. The ideal park of the people conveys the idea
of retirement and seclusion from bricks and mortar; therefore,
street life should be made invisible, if possible, from the
interior of the park.

The driveways should, in graceful, sweeping curves, give
commanding views of the principal points of interest in the
park, and at the same time these curves should not be allowed
to approach each other so nearly as to slice the landscape into
strips alternately of gravel or grass and trees.

In planting observe unity in grouping, let some designs be ap-
parent. Should the driveway sweep boldly around a point, let
that point be clothed with a heavy group of trees; the object of
the sweep of the road is then explained. On that piece of road-
way, slightly curved, permit the eye to wander across the vista to
the irregular outline of the groups of foliage beyond, or delight
itself in the reflection of the pendulous branches of the elm or
the willow on the placid bosom of a lake. If your roadway is
carried through a piece of dense greenery, let it be to emerge into
a view of charming openness and beauty.

Unity or harmony in planting consists in the blending of the
trees of the groups with each other, so that incongruous associa-
tions and violent contrasts may be avoided ; the oak will not bear
close association with the birch, yet may be connected by some
other form of growth intervening, which is in harmony with both.

Coloring in groups should also be studied ; light and shadows
too have their part in Nature's harmony. As an example; note
the effect in winter of an association of the white birch with the
pine.

Evergreens and shrubbery may occasionally be used in the fore-
ground of groups, but in the way of an attachment to, rather
than as a part of the group.

364. TRANSACTIONS OP THE HORTICULTURAL

Trees of a sweeping habit such as the weeping birch, elm, ash,
or some of the maple should be employed apart from groups as
single specimens; in open glades they are effective from any
point of view.

In parks of large extent a portion may be set apart for natural
woodland scenery, seemingly unrelieved by art, wnere the grassy
glades and knolls are ignorant of the existence of a lawn mower,
but are cunningly planted with native flowers and shrubs, and
strewn with half concealed rocks and stumps covered with native
creeping vines.

There the delighted botanist can ramble and feast on a col-
lection of native plants, seemingly natural to the situation, yet
carefully nurtured and their wants attended to although the evi-
dences of it are concealed.

Where the true groups and masses are arranged in a pic-
turesque and irregular manner and a luxuriance of shrubs,
brambles, and undergrowth of native species abound, such an ar-
rangement can only be attempted in parks of large size, for
while a source of delight to the lover of nature, yet such are not
adapted for large congregations of people bent on pleasure, and
from such must be protected. Probably four-fifths of the park
visitors are pedestrians, therefore the matter of good walks and
their location is an important one. The designer must be a stu-
dent of practical utility as well as of natural beauty, he must go
•even further ; he must be prepared to do violence to his taste
sometimes for the sake of utility, and especially so in the laying
out of walks, for it is a lamentable fact that in a public park the
sovereign people are apt to be inappreciative of fine effects if it
interferes with their complete freedom and enjoyment.

Nature, it is said, abhors a straight line, yet paths may not be
too much curved or winding, if trails through the grass are to be
avoided. Walks should be well drained, firm and dry, and should
be broad and hospitable, leading from the entrance, and carried
in the same spirit by convenient routes to the points of special in-
terest in the park, where large numbers are liable to congregate;
side paths may be branched from these (trunk) walks leading
through the park in graceful sweeps and curves. Shade on the
side paths is indispensable, therefore they should be carried where
shade can be found or if wanting, where it can be planted without
marring any intended effect.

Floriculture at the present time occupies a conspicuous po-
sition in park mis-adornment. With questionable taste our parks
are filled with gymnastic caricatures of the art ; it is hard some-
times to tell where the menagerie ends and where the flower
garden begins. The Saviour said that Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like the flowers of the fields, yet to what a state
of degredation have they been subjected by some modern florists
in the prostitution of his art. He hesitates not to employ them

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 36S

in delineating a lion's tail, or to give color to a ball player's cap,
and in other monstrosities even more absurd.

Floriculture being of necessity more or less artificial in its re-
quirements and display, when employed in park adornment^
should have a portion of the ground set apart for its use, and
should be confined and screened within those bounds by judicious
planting of trees and shrubbery. Nothing would seem to be in
worse taste than to see artificial and formal beds of flowers
scattered throughout the park.

Floral displays are confusing and unintelligible when seen from
any great distances, therefore to be appreciated must be brought
close to the eye, and concealed from distant views. Where the
florid style of the art is employed, meaning thereby the massing
of colors in ribbon or parterre work, such embellishments as
vases, fountains of statuary, terrace work or stone balustrades
are permissible.

The conservatory or palm house may overlook the parterres
from a broad terrace from which a commanding view of the par-
terres may be had.

The old fashioned but delightful herbaceous borders should
not be forgotten, but rather, in our estimation, should take pre-
cedence over the modern style, a winding irregular border round
a space rectangular or nearly so in its outline, at the back low
trees and choice shrubbery. The front may be promiscuously
planted with herbaceous plants graduating from the tallest at the
back to the lowest in the front, reinforced by annuals and bulbs
in summer, a foreground of lawn and a broad walk form the
ground work of interesting and effective floral adornment.

Much remains to be said on the subject. The practical details -
have not been touched upon in this paper; the habits and quali-
fications of the various trees, shrubs and evergreens have been
scarcely mentioned; the ideas expressed have not been sufficient-
ly elaborated ; yet if it should promote discussion of the subject
in the least degree, it will not have been unproductive of good.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Woodard — I consider the paper just read a very valuable
one, and the more that we can have of the kind the better.

Mr. Dunning — The subject is a broad and professional one, and
one that requires a great deal of study. Mr. Pettigrew is a very
practical man, and has done some very valuable work in the
changing and re-modeling of Lincoln Park until now it is one of
the finest in the world. It will pay any of the members of this
Society or any person who contemplates starting a park to visit it. -

366 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

Mr. Periam — I find in my travels over the country that most
every town has a park, but very seldom find one that is kept up
at all ; for some reason they are all left to run down and are of
no pleasure or benefit to anyone. It is but little expense to keep
a park up in shape, and it would be a source of pleasure to every
one.

Mr. Austin — It is not near as much trouble and work to keep a
park in shape as one would suppose. We have a small one at
Downer's Grove, and the expense of keeping it up is but a trifle.
There are no parks in the world equal to or finer than those of
Chicago.

On motion of Mr. Periam, Mr. Sanders and Mr. F. C. Johnson
were appointed as delegates to the American Horticultural Socie-
ty, to be held in Texas this winter, and the Secretary was in-
structed to furnish them with the necessary credentials.

On motion of Mr. Dunning, a committee of three was appointed
on final resolutions by the Chair, namely: Mr. Coe, Mr. Dun-
ning and Mr. L. E. Bryant.

After some discussion on general topics, the Society adjourned
until 7: 30.

o

THURSDAY EVENING SESSION.

President Bryant called the meeting to order at 7 : 20, and the
Committee on Exhibits reported as follows :

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EXHIBITS.

William H. Hamen, Franklin Grove, fine specimen Grimes'
Golden Apple, considered one of the best specimens of the season.
D. J. Piper, Forreston, plate of Salome Apples, best specimen
exhibited.
Dr. Ballou, Sandwich, nine plates of apples, unnamed.
L. R. Bryant, Princeton, specimens of pure cider vinegar.
A. W. Orr, florist, Sandwich, exhibit of plants and flowers.
Palms, following varieties: Chaemerops Excelsior, Areca Lu-
tesaens, Curculigo Recurvata, Lantania Borbonica, Bracena In-
diviscia. Collection of Primula Chinensis, specimens of ferns
and other plants, bouquets of carnations and roses.

A. R. Whitney,
Andrew Dunning,
W. C. Hazelton,

Committee.

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 367

Mr. Periam offered the following resolution, which was unani-
mously adopted :

Resolved, That in the paper of Mr. Samuel Edwards the Socie-
ty has received much valuable information, particularly in what
relates to the early history of horticulture in the West, and that
the thanks of the Society are hereby tendered to our venerable
friend and co-worker in horticultural art and taste, and that the
Secretary be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to
his name at Peoria.

Following the adoption of the above resolution the Congrega-
tional choir, of Sandwich, rendered some excellent music, after
which Mr. Coe read the following paper:

THE VILLAGE GARDEN AS AN ECONOMIZER.

BY E. G. COE, SANDWICH.

The village garden is either a nuisance and source of wrorse
than useless expense, or it is a joy and source of profit, to its
possessor. To make it the former, the recipe is simple, and the
powers of nature join to make it a complete success. If you care
to try the experiment in a practical way, so as to know just how
perfect a nuisance your garden can be made to your neighbors
and yourself , put a man and team upon it with a plow while it is
just reasonably sticky. Then let it lie until it dries into chunks.
Now plant and sow it. You may be sure that kind nature will
see to it that there is a growth of vegetation there, and if your
vegetables come up, they will have plenty of company. Do not
spend your valuable time, too much of it, with the hand-plow,
hoe or rake. There are plenty of dry-goods boxes which need
holding down, and the elements will take care of your garden. If
you happen to be attacked by a spasm of industry, you may,
when the weeds have fairly covered the ground, give it a good
hoeing; but be sure to do so just before a rain, and leave the
ground well covered with what you have cut up. In this way, the
weeds will increase and multiply; and, while you may get a few
messes of lettuce and peas, you will be certain to have a fine crop
of weeds, which will seed the grounds of everyone on your block,
and you can tell your fellow loafers that you know that it does
not pay to make a garden in a village, and demonstrate the truth
of your assertion by showing them your own.

To make a garden a source of joy and profit, is not so simple a
process. It requires some thought, some calculation, and a fair
amount of work. Nature is just as ready to help in this as in the
former, but her forces are blind, and need guidance.

Take the same piece of ground with which you made such a
success in the way of a nuisance. Instead of a team and plow, give

368 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

the man a spading-fork ; or, what is better, take the fork your-
self. If you have a piece four rods by eight, it will take a couple
of days to turn it up and thoroughly pulverize it. When this is
done, you have a seed bed from eight inches to a foot deep, every
particle of which is ready to furnish food for plant life. After a
very wet winter, or one of little frost, it pays to loosen the
ground below the spading. Do not sow a seed upon any part of
it until after it has lain a day or two exposed to the atmosphere.
If nature is kind enough to send you a good rain upon it before a
seed is put in, so much the better. Do not rush in the seed if it
happens to look rainy. The elements of the plant food in the
air, carried down by the rain, combine with those in the earth,
but do not spring into activity and fly away when the shower
ceases, and the subtle chemistry of nature takes time for its pro-
cesses. The seed sown after the rain is over is liable to outstrip
in growth and product the one which lies and soaks, and then has
to push its young plant through a hard crust.

A piece of ground even smaller than this has in it room for a
row of raspberry bushes, three or four grape vines, and currant
bushes enough to supply a fair-sized family with all the "lazy-
man's" fruit which it needs. Do not wait a year or two to set
these. They grow rapidly in our soil, and if you have never
tried it, you will be surprised to find how soon they will supply
your table.

Do not plant too large a portion of your garden for early vege-
tables, nor too much of any one kind of seed. It takes but a few
square feet to raise enough of the first crop of onions, lettuce,
peas or radishes, and all the surplus is a dead loss and a nuis-
ance. Put in few enough so that you can afford to lose them by
a late frost if it should come, but enough to furnish your table
well while they are young and tender. "A little at a time and
often" is a good foundation rule to follow in your garden during
the season. Beans and corn planted so early that they come up
yellow and stay so can hardly be expected to yield much of a crop
or to have it ready for use before that which is planted when the
ground has become warm and danger of frost is past.

A little watching will show how long it takes from the planting
to the time when each kind of vegetable is ready for use. Make
a note of this and let it be your guide in putting in the three or
four later crops of those things of which you need a succession
during the summer months. Last year we had four plantings of
peas, no two of which lapped each other enough to allow the
earlier to grow hard, yet from the time the first were ready to use
until late in the season there was scarcely a day on which there
was not an abundant supply for the table. The same was true of
beans and corn; and the lovers of the "Native American" suc-
cotash and of the separate grains can guess how large a place they
filled in the economy of the household.

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 369

No garden ever reaches its zenith as an economizer which has
not in it a strawberry bed. It need not be a large one, but it will
save more fifteen cents, York shillings, dimes and nickels, than
any other known piece of earth of its size. The old parsnips,
too, such as our Holland Dutch ancestors grew and absorbed on
the shore of the Zuyder Zee, with turnips on the ground used for
early vegetables, are not to be left out.

As for potatoes, we try to plant enough to last until the high
prices of the new crop have gone by ; then trust to others to
raise our supply for winter.

Celery has grown to be a necessity, and we must raise it, or
pay so much for it that it cuts us short in something else. I
wish some one who knows just how would give us a season's
lessons in growing and handling it.

At least one quarter of the plat should be kept for flowers.
There should be room for beds of nasturtions, verbenas, phlox,
tulips and pansies, and four-o'clocks, such as our grandmothers
used to cultivate, and the dahlias, eutoccas, gypsopilas, and all
the other things which flower lovers have invented and im-
ported, should have a place; especially, you cannot affiord to
leave out the tube-rose, a few years since such a rarity, now
as easily propagated and cultivated as a bed of onions.

Such is the village garden when reasonably handled, and from
it a family of four or five can gather all the vegetables and
small fruits which it needs during the year. Do you ask
where the economy comes in?

First, It takes up, absorbs and utilizes all the kitchen and
chamber slops of the household, which otherwise are a trouble
to dispose of, and which, if not properly cared for, are liable to
become a nuisance and breeders of disease, especially during the
summer months. If properly distributed the slops of an ordi-
nary sized family will furnish all the fertilizing needed for the
village garden.

Second, The family which has in its own garden a continuous
succession of seasonable small fruits and vegetables, forms the
habit of eating them more freely than when it depends upon
the vegetable peddler for its supply, and so saves not only the
dollar or more which it would pay to him each week, but also
cuts down the bills at the butcher shop and the grocery store.

Third, It saves the often over-worked house wife the bother
of the vegetable cart being late, or having sold out just the thing
she wanted for dinner.

Fourth, It saves pantaloons and time, for the man who has a
good vegetable and flower garden becomes interested in it, and
instead of being obliged to sit around town and tell and hear of
his neighbor's faults and shortcomings, finds something to take
up the hours after his day's work in the shop or elsewhere is-
—25

370 TRANSACTIONS OP THE HORTICULTURAL

done; and there is not one man in a hundred who does not waste
time enough to plant such a garden and keep it in order.

SMALL FRUITS FOE A FAMILY OF FIVE.

BY W. C. HAZELTON, FOREST GLEN.

One would think when he sees the large number of farms des-
titute of all signs of small fruit, except perhaps a few scrubby
currant bushes, that the owners of these farms looked upon the
culture of small fruit as a difficult science — as something beyond
them and altogether out of their line : all well enough for hor-
ticulturists to attend to, but not worth while to bother them-
selves about.

Could the farmers of Illinois understand that no more skill is re-
quired in raising a hill of strawberries than a hill of beans, that
raspberries and blackberries can be grown just as easily as corn
and potatoes ; it seems as though there would not be such a lack
of fruit in their gardens. And I believe our Society can do no
better work than to show how easily and cheaply these fruits can
be had. In discussing this question of fruit for the farmer's gar-
-den (or for anybody's garden), I would not urge too strongly the
claims of the different varieties. When a family has once learned
that fruit is just as essential on the table as potatoes, the question
of variety will take care of itself.

To any one who desires to supply his family of, say five or six
persons, with an abundance of small fruit, I would say go or send
to the nearest nursery-man and get 200 strawberry plants ; 150
raspberry plants ; half as many blackberry plants ; about the same
number of gooseberries; three dozen currant bushes and a couple
dozen grape vines. If in doubt as to what varieties will suit you
best, let the nursery-man select for you. The chances are he
will make a better selection than his customers. But be sure
•and send to the nearest reliable nursery-man. Don't send to
Canada, or New York, or New Jersey, or any other "foreign"
market. I speak from experience. I well remember the plants
I ordered, a thousand miles from home at fifty cents each; and
the utterly unsatisfactory results. I don't do that way any
more. Now I order my plants from a neighboring nursery-man
at fifty cents per hundred, and get such as are adapted to my
own locality.

As to cultivation there are no rigid rules to be laid down.
Any one who can cultivate ground so as to produce a good crop
of corn and potatoes, can successfully grow small fruits. The
preparation of the soil is much the same. If a little more care
and a little more fertilizing is used so much the better. A plat
of ground forty feet wide, and 300 long, will afford ample room
and enable one to do most of the work with horse and cultiva-
tor. One reason I apprehend why so few raise small fruit is a

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 371

dread of the labor it involves, and where all the cultivation is
done with spade and hoe, it is certainly no light task. But
where small fruit is set in rows, permitting the use of horse and
cultivator, there is little more labor required than in cultivating
an equal area of corn. If I could select a plat of ground for the
culture of small fruits for a family of six, I would make it forty
by three hundred feet, and plant in rows for convenience in work-
ing the horse and cultivator. In this I would set two rows of
blackberries five feet apart and sixty plants in the rows. Two
rows of strawberries three feet apart, and three feet in the row,
requiring two hundred plants. Leaving a space of six feet for
the future resetting of these plants ; I would next plant two rows
of raspberries five feet apart and four feet in the row, requiring
one hundred and fifty plants. Next a row of gooseberries five
feet in the row or sixty plants. And in the last row of the plat
I would plant thirty-five currant bushes five feet apart,
and twenty-five good grape vines. This would require 590 plants
all told, at a probable cost of ten dollars. With these plants
well set out and an occassional half hour's work with the
horse and cultivator, and an hour's work with the hoe, during
the growing season I would expect to furnish my family of six
persons with an abundance of fruit and have some to give my
less provident friends.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Piper — I think Mr. Hazelton is on the right track, and if
his ideas and plans were carried out, there would be no trouble
in raising an abundance of fruit for any family.

Mr. Dunning — I think if the farmers, and people in general,
throughout the country, knew how easy it was to raise and care
for a garden of small fruits, which would supply their families
with an abundance, there would be a great many more gardens
of the kind than there are.

Mr. Coe — I think the paper recommends plenty of ground for
a large family, and believe that, ordinarily, there would be
plenty of fruit for home consumption, and enough to pay for all
trouble and expense.

THE GARDEN IN THE HOUSE.

BY MRS. M. J. CUTLER, KANKAKEE.

Madge and Jerry went to housekeeping. Hundreds had done
the same thing before them, and why should not they follow a
good example? True, they had little knowledge, and less expe-

372 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

rience, but so. had the aforesaid hundreds, and what is the lack
of knowledge or experience to count against a long life before
one in which to acquire both? So, with a delightful bliss that
comes of ignorance, the little old farm-house under the hill had
new tenants in the spring.

And now Madge, with all the varied days of spring, summer,
autumn and winter coming regularly each twenty-four hours,
found herself haunted with the constantly recurring question,
"What shall I get for dinner to-day?" Now Jerry had started
with the good resolutions that many have, and plowed a spot for
a garden, getting some seeds at the nearest store, and, with a
great deal of eclat, getting everything into the ground just in
time for the rain storm about the last of March, for the weather
had been delightful for a few days, and the ground was easily
worked. Potatoes, peas, beans and onions, radish, lettuce,
turnip, beet, cabbage and parsnip seeds, were all put in
delightful rows, and duly covered and marked, so that much
was off his mind until gathering time should come. A goodly
appetite had come with every hour's work, and, with that best
oi relishes, hunger, he was glad to welcome the noontime .

Madge, with praiseworthy industry and skill, had prepared a
tempting-looking dinner; the tomato soup, from her own
canned tomatoes of last summer, had just the appetizing quality
for such a bright spring day; the bread was delicious, the meat
about right; but the potatoes — what was the matter with the

J)otatoes? Some were all done to pieces, and some seemed a
ittle hard. The discussion on their demerits resulted in the
opinion that there were two kinds of potatoes grown together,
one kind cooking much sooner than the other. "For," said
Madge, "part of them are smooth and hard, and part are all
lumps and watery, when I peel them."

"I wish I had known it before planting," said Jerry, "for,
though they did not all look alike, I never thought they would
cook differently. You will have to separate them before cook-
ing. But, Madge, what kind of a pie is this? "

"I made it for an apple pie," said Madge, meekly.

"Did you use half water?"

"I never put a drop of water in," stoutly replied Madge.

And, truly, the fluidity of that pie was something remarkable.
The bits of apple seemed floating around in it still uncooked.

"The grocer said this was a very fine kind of apple, such a
good keeper. Here it is spring, and they are as sound as ever.
I confess, I do not care for them to eat, they are tasteless, but I
thought anything would make a pie."

O! innocent Jerry; don't be deluded in that way again.

"These were said to be Willow Twigs. I'll get some others
to-night."

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 373

So, another day Madge exerted all her skill on another pie.
The pieces she cut quite fine, to be sure and have them cook
through. A tea cup of granulated sugar was spread over them,
some nutmeg grated evenly on, and some bits of butter put
around, and a nice crust firmly crimped on.

"Now the oven must be just right, surely, or the crust will
bake before the apples are done," thought Madge, from her
previous experience. So she adjusted everything with the
greatest care, and the pie looked so nice, it was with an air of
exultation she put it on the dinner table. But lo ! and behold,
it was but a counterpart of the first; the same overflowing
fluidity, the same obstinacy to cooking soft, and the same want
of flavor.

"Well," said Jerry, "I think you'll have to give up that you
can make an apple pie. The grocer said these Ben Davis apples
were all the rage now; they are such good keepers."

"I think they will keep here," said Madge, "unless a small
boy or two get into the cellar."

"How would those Roxbury Russets do that Neighbor Stone
gave us?"

"O, they would never cook; they are harder than a brick."

"You might try some baked. Mother used to have nice baked
apples."

"O, no apple is good baked after they ripen in the fall," said
Madge.

Nevertheless, a few days after, having nothing else for dinner,
she thought she would try those uninviting Russets, and, taking
out the core at one end, she filled them with sugar, for Jerry
had a sweet tooth, she knew, and, putting them in a not very
hot oven, awaited the result with some solicitude. They did
look nice about an hour afterward, and surely had a fine fra-
grance, so she set them away to cool with a pleasant anticipa-
tion of success. And how delicious they were! a light brown
color all through, and so rich, and such an exquisite flavor!

"Now," said Jerry, "life is worth living. These are better
than mother's."

"How I was deceived in them," said Madge, "they were so
hard and brown. I trust to appearances no more."

"Not even in lettuce?" said Jerry.

"No, not even in lettuce, though you must agree that the let-
tuce was as tough as it looked."

Now Jerry's lettuce was a total failure. The idea of crispi-
ness had never entered its head. Indeed, it had no head, only a
few oblong, leathery leaves. And a catalogue of flowers and
seeds that had somehow found its way into the house, could
give no information in regard to it.

"Isn't it time for string beans, Jerry," said Madge one day,
"I am getting tired of potatoes only."

374 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

"You cook them in so many delicious ways," said Jerry,
"that they take the place of all other vegetable. If you lived
at Mrs. Drune's awhile, you might well long for something else.
I was there two months, and she had fried potatoes three times
a day every day I was there, and you may judge from that there
was not much variety in anything else. Some fried meat and
poor bread was the regular fare. And I don't wonder they were
all cross and selfish. No one can live on such food, and have
good health, either physical or mental."

"That explains about Joe Crawldon," said Madge, "I have
heard it intimated that he was going to lose his farm. He has
lost all interest in it, and I've always heard he had so much
ambition when young. He has such a nice farm, it does seem
strange that he cannot have everything comfortable and beauti-
ful around him, but Troll and I spent the day there several
years ago, and the dinner was the poorest I ever sat down to.
There was salt-rising bread in the first place. Now, when made
exactly right and fresh, it is eatable, but that was like chips ;
some milky butter, a few little pieces of fried salt pork, swim-
ming in grease, and a tablespoonful of green gooseberry sauce,
completed the dinner for us. There was also tea ; but, as Troll
and I never used it, it was no addition to our dinner."

"And not even fried potatoes?" said Jerry.

"Not even a potato. It was too early for their new potatoes,
probably, and I suppose the old ones were gone; but did you say
there were beans in the garden?"

"O, I was in hopes you would forget about them. The peas
are looking nicely, and will soon be ready for use; but, I am
sorry to say, there are no beans."

"What is the matter?" said Madge.

"Why, I suppose," said Jerry, with an unwilling tone to his
voice, "it may not have been just the right time to plant them
when the peas were planted."

"Why, no; how could you?"

"I'll never do it again, and I can plant now for summer use.
But the radishes were nice, you must admit. The round white
ones are the best; they are so sweet, and not a bit strong. I'll
have only those next year; the seed came from Germany. And
the strawberries are getting ripe, with promise of a large yield.
What shall we ever do with so many?"

"We can send some to Mrs. Drune that you said never had
such things ; maybe it will suggest to them that they can raise
them, too, and they are so easily canned, I can put up some for
winter."

So, one day Jerry came into the kitchen when the deed was
done, and said, with astonishment: "Why do you turn your
strawberry cans all upside down?"

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 375'

"So the strawberries will not all rise to the top. By turning:
them two or three times while cooling, the berries are all mixed
through the juice, and look as round and plump as when fresh.
Otherwise, they are in a solid mass in the top of the can. And
if any mold forms on them, it does not waste so many, either;
but I haven't left much chance for mold, for I let them stand
five or ten minutes when first filled, and they settle down more
than any other fruit. Then 1 unscrew the top, and fill up with,
some hot, and they are so much nicer."

And Madge surveyed, with a very pardonable pride, the row
of tempting-looking fruit cooling on the table.

The strawberries mostly disposed of, the gooseberries were
more trouble, for they were more remarkable for their acidity
than for anything else, and no amount of sugar would sweeten
them. Why they should be so much more sour than those of
the same kind at her mother's, Madge failed to ascertain.
Whether the locality, time of gathering, or mode of cooking,
still remains a mystery; but the gooseberries were rejected
thereafter, and their place more than filled by the wild fruits of
blueberry and huckleberry, for Jerry was sure a huckleberry pie
was about the best thing manufactured in the kitchen. His
taste had been put to a severe test once when working for
Farmer Rode, for Mrs. Rode thought the berries were so sweet
they only needed a sprinkling of sugar, and consequently it was
entirely impalatable to Jerry. Now Madge knew that all fruit

Eies needed a tea cup full of sugar to two of the fruit, no matter
ow sweet it might be, and so, though most of their summer
fruits they used uncooked, her huckleberry pies, just from the
northwest corner of the cellar, were simply delicious.

The work Jerry put into the garden each evening was return-
ing him a hundred fold, in the pleasure of watching things grow,
in the pride of having everything so nice, and in the enjoyment
of the table. No day passed when there was not something for
dinner, fresh, tender and sweet. There was some discoveries
made too. The different kinds of peas were not equally good.
Another year would find a different variety. The turnip seed
planted in March, he did not care to hear mentioned, and the
onions were that variety, they were appropriately named multi-
pliers, which would take some work to eradicate from the
garden, so persistent were they in spreading. The late beans
had proven a good investment, and some planted later still were
ready for fall use. And Jerry was getting seeds for another
year. Some cranberry beans at one of the neighbor's had pleased
him wonderfully, he was sure he had never eaten anything so
rich and sweet in the shape of a bean before, so he put on his
memorandum to send to Vick for a quart, and to get the poles
ready during the winter.

376 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

The fall found some experiments with apples very satisfactory,
and the most delicious pie that ever Madge had the pleasure of
making, was of apples from Indiana east of Danville. They were
hard and green, coarse-grained, exceedingly brittle and juicy,
but delicious to eat, and similar in taste to the Albermarle
Pippin, of Virginia, the Pippin however not ripeningtill spring,
and these being gone by December. . The Baldwin and Rhode
Island Greening shared quite equally in merit for their cooking
qualities ; Madge preferring the Baldwin for eating as not being
so acid as Jerry's Greening.

Jerry had learned something before the 25th of July about
turnip planting, so he was ready on that day to try again another
crop, and the winter' found their cellar so well supplied with
vegetables that Madge found it easy to answer the still daily re-
curring question: "What shall I get for dinner to-day?"

GRAPE CULTURE.

BY PAUL BONVALLET, ST. ANNE.

Gentlemen — By request of Mr. A. Bryant I have the honor to
present you the following report on grape culture in Kankakee
county, the result of many years experience.

We are situated in the southeastern part of the county. This
locality is yet sparingly settled, it is composed of wild prairies
and sandridges varying from ten to forty feet in height. The soil
in the prairie bottoms consists of a black sandy loam resting on
quick sand and is consequently quite cold, when drained it is
well adapted for gardening and general farming. The ridges are
composed of a deep, yellow sand and are covered with young oak
timber, the large trees — some of them measuring from two to
three feet in diameter — were cut down many years ago.

On one of these sandridges my father, with a capital of several
thousand dollars brought from France, was induced to plant a
vineyard about twenty years ago. At that time all kinds of
produce, especially fruits, were selling at very high prices. It
was then claimed by some horticultural reports that such a time
would never be known when the supply of fruits would exceed
the demand, and that Concord Grapes would never retail for less,
than 15 cents per pound.

The soil of our sandridges is of the very best to be found for
grape culture; as it is quite dry in summer the young vines will
not grow very much until they are deeply rooted, and it will take
several years before they are fairly established ; when well started
and if properly treated they bear good crops of superior quality
every year. The high situations are quite exempt from late frosts,
except last season when a freezing wind took away about four-
fifths of the crop. The proper distance for setting the vines is
about 8x10 feet apart. They are trained on a single wire about

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 377

•five feet from the ground and are cultivated twice during the sea-
son with a one-horse plow, the soil being quite free from weeds,
except an abundance of sandburs that are sometimes a protection
against intruders. The pruning is done during the fall, and the
vines are laid down and covered with wild hay, supplied from the
prairies close by. There are some seasons when this protection
may be unnecessary, but as the weather cannot be predicted,
we think it is safer even for the hardiest varieties. We have test-
ed many varieties; among the most successful are the Con-
cord, Martha, Delaware, Perkins, Hartford Prolific, Isabelle,
■Catawba, several of the Roger's hybrid, and many others, but for
profit the Concord is yet the leader. Owing to the healthy quali-
ties of the soil, and with proper cares, we have very little trouble
with diseases. After many years of experience, a great deal of
perseverance and many disappointments, we have at last suc-
ceeded in raising fine crops.

The next thing of importance is to dispose of the crop. Being
only 55 miles from Chicago, it is our main shipping point. Our
soil being warm and dry our fruits always mature a few days be-
fore other points on the same latitude, and about two weeks be-
fore Michigan fruits — we generally commence shipping as early
as August 15th. Hartford Prolific, Perkins and Martha, be-
ing the first varieties to ripen, are sold at a fair price, but they
cannot be disposed of in large quantities, the demand for these
varieties being limited. There are some new kinds of early grapes,
such as Moores' Early, which seem to be promising ; also Champion
and others. We do not know yet how they will be appreciated
on the market, but one decided fact is that one hundred baskets
of black grapes will sell more readily than ten baskets of white
ones; red grapes are also preferred to white ones. After the
earlier kinds come the Concord, the only grape yet known that
can be disposed of in large quantities and at a fair price, at the
same time come the Roger's hybrids. No. 4 being the finest
black grape grown here and No. 9 the most beautiful red; No. 15
and Salem are also very fine. All of these Roger's hybrids are
larger, more showy and of finer flavor than any other varieties.
^Nevertheless they are not appreciated up to their full value on
the market.

As fast as the crop ripens the ripest fruits are gathered and
hurried to the market. The first consignments (provided they
are sent to reliable commission houses) will realize about 60 to 75
cents per basket in small lots; transportation, commission and
packages to be deducted from these figures. The first shipments
of Concord will sell for about 50 to 60 cents per basket in any quan-
ity. It has to be shipped as fast as it ripens, as prices will de-
cline every day, and when Michigan fruit arrives the market will
very often drop down to 15 or 20 cents per basket; then we have
to stop shipping, Michigan growers having the benefit of cheap

378 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

transportation by water. The crop not always maturing evenly,
a good part — sometimes half of it — remains in the field. We have
to resort to surrounding towns that generally are supplied by
local fruit dealers and gardeners, consequently large quantities can-
not be disposed of in this way, the balance has to be made into wine.
Very good wine can be made in this locality, but the trouble is
that this is not a wine-drinking country, the people being divided
into different classes: the temperance people, the ordinary
drinkers, who prefer poor whiskey to anything else, and the more
refined consumers, who will have nothing but imported goods;
manufactured in Europe with potato alcohol, worth over there
about 20 cents per gallon, or pure wines produced by 30 cents a
day labor — it is quite a task for the American producers to com-
pete with that. The market is also well supplied with wines
coming from California, where it is said to be a drug on the mar-
ket. Hence, wine making is not to be recommended as a general
industry in this country. If people would drink more wine and
less whiskey it would be, according to the laws of evolution, a
great step toward true temperance, which consists, according to
some wise people, of putting a bottle of wine on the table and be
contented with half of it or less.

I beg leave to call the attention of all the fruit growers and ship-
pers to the fact that the present commission system is far from
being satisfactory, buyers having all the advantage over ship-
pers.

It is urgent that shippers should unite to make a reform of some
kind. The auction system as adopted by California fruit shippers
seems to be the best; it brings all the buyers together and compels
them to compete for the goods. Under the present system they
have perfect control of the market. The way the goods are scat-
tered on South Water street it is impossible to ascertain the extent
of the supply, and the commission men are left to believe or dis-
believe the misrepresentations advanced by the shrewd buyers.

I invite fruit snippers to discuss the above question, which is
in my opinion one of great importance.

HORTICULTURE AT THE UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION AT

PARIS, FRANCE, 1889.

BY LEON HAT, KANKAKEE.

As the Universal Exposition of Paris is now over, and its
x thousands of wonderful and interesting objects have been seen
by millions of people from nearly all over the world, most of
whom have taken back with them information which will prove
of much use to them and their community, and others who were
unable to attend have pretty thoroughly posted themselves by
reading a few of the many articles which have continuously

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 379

appeared in all the leading periodicals, all of which will be addi-
tional strokes from the steam engine impelling the ball of
progressive civilization; but, no matter how much has been
written about it, or even if all has been put in print, the half
will never be known to the same person, though he may have
attended and studied article after article from beginning to end.

Respecting the horticultural display alone, of which, if all
there is to be told, like of many other things that were there,
was in details, it would fill volumes. Only a very few of the
most important will be briefly mentioned.

Among the first, was the holding of a grand horticultural
exhibit every two weeks, which lasted from three to six days,
according to the length of time the products would keep fresh,
and it took many expert horticulturists the remainder of the
time to make preparations for the next one. Here could be seen
in their due seasons the choicest vegetables, fruits and flowers,
not alone of France and her colonies, but also what could be
gathered from all over the world.

Some of these displays were entirely, or partly, devoted to one
or a few special classes of flowers or fruits. At several, there
were profusions of orchids, and other very choice flowers, perhaps
the greatest display of the kind ever held. At another, beginning
September 5th, solely devoted to grapes, was noticed among the
numerous fine specimens a few bunches of white, black and red
grapes, which must have weighed several pounds each, and the
berries, of which were oval, measured over an inch at their
longest diameter. By much care exercised in keeping the bloom
on the fruit, its natural beauty was preserved.

Of the choice things from our country which outrivaled any
other fruit of its kind seen there, was the Kelsey's Japan plum.
The few specimens resembled very much, in shape, a peach,
about two or two and one-half inches in diameter, with the
cheek exposed to the sun of a clear, rosy hue, gradually chang-
ing to a clear yellow on the other.

So much was there at these displays that no one but an expert,
devoting all his time for the few days they lasted, could have
done them justice.

The main horticultural department was situated on and
occupied nearly all of the beautiful site of the Trocaderc*
Grounds, of about thirty acres in area. It slopes to the east,
and faces on the other side of the river Seine. The Champ de
Mars are the grounds on which was the main part of the Expo-
sition. Aside from containing the pavillions, in which the
semi-monthly displays were held, may be mentioned the
exhibits of growing fruit trees exposed by the nursery-men, the
various modes of grafting, training and rearing trees; green
houses containing plants and fruits which could not be grown in
the open air climate of France; about all the tools and imple-

4380 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

ments used directly and indirectly in this business; flowers,
shrubs, trees and other plants used in landscape gardening, and
so arranged in the grounds, which were already a park, so as to
present the best display; as soon as a showy bed of flowers was
past its season, it was immediately replaced by another of equal
or prettier colors or design; the magnificent rustic forestry
pavillion, built of branches or roots of all the varieties of wood
grown in France, and containing inside a sawmill at work,
panoramas of various forest sceneries of France, and a display
of numberless wooden articles.

This pavillion was certainly worth several days studying it
thoroughly. In short, it may be said that on these grounds
could be found about all what is common and what is rare in
the horticultural line. Giving credit to whom credit is due, the
French people do certainly know how to tastily arrange an hor-
ticultural exhibition.

Notwithstanding that such a large and magnificent site was
devoted to horticulture, including forestry, each nation had its
•own horticultural and forestry exhibit in its division or special
pavillion. What could not keep fresh in its natural state, was
either canned in glass jars, or imitated by wax models or plaster
•casts, a brief description of which would be even too elaborate.

A machine which I believe there are none like it yet in the Unit-
ed States, and which would prove of considerable use to some
market gardeners, and to canning factories, is a green pea-
•sheller manufactured by two firms of France. The first having
heard of it directly through a standard authority as being suc-
cessfully used in some large canning factories of Paris ; but,
owing to the fact that at several times workmen have broken
them to pieces on the ground that they take away the work of
the poor, it is kept out of view of everybody, although it would
not be a difficult matter to procure one. This shelier is made
■entirely of wood, and does not corrode the peas.

Those manufactured by the other firm were placed on exhibition
.and could be found at work every day, but as it is a new invention
and owing to the fear of imitation the working parts were kept
out of view. While it does not do perfect work yet it is practical ;
but very few peas remain in the pods and but a small number are
broken. The machine sorts the small peas from the large ones
and each sample is delivered through different spouts in separate
measures as clean as can be done by hand. From what I saw
these shellers do and from notes furnished by the exhibitor, their
•cost at Paris, and capacities are as follows:

First. Small size shelier about three quarts per minute. Price
160 francs, about $30.

Second. Medium size shelier about twelve quarts per minute.
Price, 850 francs, about $165. This machine shells about as
fast as seventy women could working by hand.

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 381

Third. Large size sheller for factory use, about fourteen
bushels per hour. Price 2,000 francs, about $380.

While these large machines would be practicable for canning
factories, the small size would be very well adapted for market
gardeners, who supply the local markets, and the medium size
for supplying the wholesale trade. Yet I would not advise any
one to purchase one with the expectations of realizing large
profits before it would be tested by some expert, society, or other-
wise. While they bid fair to become in general use they hare yet
room for improvements. Although there are many agricultural
experiment stations in the United States, we are in need of some
specially adapted for testing agricultural implements.

France, whose agricultural implement interest is, perhaps, not
the hundredth part of ours, has one, and although but recently
established, is doing a grand work for its country.

While at the Paris Exposition the horticultural display as a
whole was perhaps the greatest ever held, yetof all its fine garden
vegetables, choice fruits and exquisitely beautiful and fragrant
flowers, with a few rare exceptions, and aside from quantity and
neatness in arrangement I have seen nothing superior to what
we grow in the United States, and in 1892 we ought to see a
horticultural and forestry display at Chicago with renewed ex-
hibits and a rustic forestry pavillion superior to all that has pre-
viously existed.

After the reading of the preceding papers the choir rendered

some more good music, after which the President called on Jona-
than Periam for his address.

THE MISSION OF HORTICULTURE.

Mr. Periam, of the Prairie Farmer, Chicago, was called on
for his paper on "The Mission of Horticulture." Mr. Periam
coming forward spoke extemporaneously, apologizing for not
producing a paper, saying that he had of late years trusted so
much to stenographers that he had gotten out of the habit of writ-
ing. In this case he had not the privilege of selection. He had
found himself down on the program to answer to the subject. It
was too broad for a paper and of course could not be properly
discussed in a half hour's speech: he therefore would not attempt
to cover the subject, and of course might not keep strictly to the
specific subject, but would endeavor to do so correlatively.

Some of the missions of horticulture are to introduce better
methods of art ; to grasp whatever science may give us from time
to time; to improve processes and cultivation, and as religion
carries the human family to higher and higher planes of life, so
does horticulture carry to higher and higher planes of excellence,
in thought and practical cultivation, now leading every depart-
ment of agriculture.

382 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

Let me define the word agriculture. It has to deal with every-
thing the earth produces: husbandry, stock raising and farming,
the dairy, poultry, bees, silk, and the cultivation of other fibers;
this is one of the two general discussions. Horticulture is the
other division, and as my good friend, the late and lamented Dr.
Pardu, once said, the butt end of agriculture; just as Brother
Minier, also well known in the horticulture of Illinois, once hap-
pily put it, "Horticulture is the fine art of agriculture, and flori-
culture the religion of horticulture." Horticulture therefore is
still more universal in its missions than is agriculture. It has to
deal with every tree of the forest, to train them into forms of
beauty as well as use. For did not Mahomet say, "He who plant-
eth a tree watereth the earth;" had not Zaraster, the Persian, and
Confucius, the Chinese, still earlier enunciated the same senti-
ment.

Did not the great Humbolt within the last century write,
"Man first destroys and then again builds up forests." Horti-
culture has to do with all the fruits of the earth, with all vege-
tables, with all flowers, and last but not least, the very earth itself
in transforming barren tracts into things of beauty through land-
scape gardening.

Looking at horticulture in its missions, in these lights, I am re-
minded of the lines where the poet Milton, in Paradise Lost,
makes Eve say :

"0 flowers, which will in other climates never grow,
Who now will rear ye to the sun ?
From thee, from thee, how can I part ! "

Yet we have this comfort. Inasmuch as every succeeding epoch
of the earth has been more perfect than the preceding, as each
recurring civilization has been superior to that past, so it has been
of the advances in material art in horticulture within the last
hundred years.

What may not the mission of horticulture climb to in the years
not far distant. The art has already been separated into separate
divisions of industry. Nothing in its history has so helped good
work as this. Let us hope that the near future will see it so
rounded out in its entirety, each working out its own separate end
and all assisting each other, that the next fifty years may see it
the most complete, as it is the most fascinating, to which the
mind of man can be turned.

The men and women of Illinois, within the last 50 years, have
raised the profession to a high plane. All honor to such men who
have gone before us as Father Shepherd, Judge Brown and Dr.
Hull, who have died in later years, and to those of the old guard who
are still with us. May they still be spared many years in the good
work to which they have devoted their lives . Our good friend , Sam-
uel Edwards, has devoted his life to one of the missions of horti-
culture, beautifying the prairie with trees. Mr. Petigrew, whose

SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 383

paper you listened to this afternoon, has another mission in hor-
ticulture— landscape gardening; Brother Whitney to commercial
orcharding; Edgar Sanders to floriculture; Mr. Dunning to the
products of the garden ; Brother Minkler to fruits for the palate
of man; Brother Cotta, Graves and a host of others to the pro-
duction of trees and plants for the masses of people. So, Mr.
President, ladies and gentlemen, you cannot fail to see that the
good work to success has been pretty well covered. Yet I believe
we are only on the threshold of possibilities in the art that but few
have ever dreamed of.

One of the missions of horticulture, or rather a mechanical art
connected with horticulture, has been through the canning of fruits
and vegetables, and enables us to have the fruits of every climate
on the earth daily on our tables, if we wish for and can pay for
them. Another mission is the preservation of fruits in their
natural state for months beyond their season. Still anotheris the
means of rapid transit by railway.

We have anticipated the ripening of fruits for months in the
north, so that we now have strawberries at the time of this meet-
ing, in Chicago. So with all other fruits; and the compensation
to the south is that later we send them of our own productions to
lengthen their season. For instance, the south sends cabbages by
the car load, as early as April and May, and we in return send
them cabbage by the car load in September and October. So
California, that wonderful land of fruits, sends us her nectarines,
apricots, peaches, plums, cherries, pears, grapes, oranges,
etc., months in advance of their ripening here.

Does it hurt us? No, high and low get a taste, at high prices,
and only become more eager for fruits natural to our climate
when ripened. The sun is now advancing upon us from the
southern hemisphere, cutting a swath daily twelve miles wide,
until at length in September his mission will have been finished in
the far northern wilderness, ripening the fruits natural to each
climate. This is the sun's mission in horticulture, and well does
he accomplish his work of fructification and ripening, a work with-
out which all the several missions of humanity, of all animated
nature and of every plant, flower, tree or seed, would be in vain.

The Secretary read the following letter he had received from

Mr. Ragan :

Greencastle, Indiana, Jan. 6, 1890.

E . W. Graves, Secretary Northern Illinois Horticulture Society,
Sandivich, Illinois.

Dear Sir — It is useless for me to predict a good meeting of
your Society this week. That is a foregone conclusion. With the
material your section affords it could not be otherwise. I do not
state it in the spirit of flattery but in good hard earnest, when I

384 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL

assert that Horticultural meetings held within a hundred miles of
Sandwich excel in character all others which it has been my good
fortune to attend.

The recent state meeting at Hamilton was only a sample of
their general character. Hope yours may not fall below the
general average.

Please extend my warmest regards to numerous friends whom
you will have present, and say to all such that we will be glad to>
offer them front seats at our great Texas meeting, of which the-
inclosed printed matter will convey only a partial hint.

Hastily yours,
W. H. Ragan.

The Committee on Final Resolutions reported as follows, and

after the adoption of same the Society adjourned, sine die.

Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be tendered to Mr.
A. W. Orr for the display of plants in the hall; to the choir that
has furnished us music ; to the generous citizens who have kindly
donated us the use of their hall, and for the hotels which have so-
well provided for our temporal wants.

A DELAYED PAPER.

The Secretary regrets that this report was not received in time
to appear in its proper place, in the Transactions of the State
Society, but thinks it better to publish it here, than allow it go
over to the next volume :

REPORT OF DELEGATE TO IOWA HORTICULTURAL

SOCIETY.

BY C. N. DENNIS, HAMILTON.

Meeting was called to order Tuesday morning Jan. 21st, 1890, at
10 a. m. by President Wilson, with about fifty present, and after
invocation by Rev. Brown proceeded to work on the program,
being reports of the different fruit districts. Crops were bounti-
ful in all southern half of State except extreme southeastern ;
northeastern suffered badly from drouth, and a late frost cut off
much of the strawberry crop throughout the north. Trees and
plants were reported in better condition than several past sea-
sons. The Society is wide awake, and notwithstanding the many
and severe vicissitudes they have to contend with are not discour-
aged and are experimenting with Russian and Seedling apples,
pears and cherries, also with native plums, and are getting some
really good ones that will succeed in the extreme northern part.
With their push and perseverance I think they will succeed in
solving the problem. One man said "when a tree died he planted
two more better ones." Summer apples were in excess of de-
mand and many were allowed to rot on the ground in Southwest
Iowa. A very fine exhibition of apples was on tables, consist-
ing of nearly all of the well known varieties from Southern Iowa
and Russians from the north, a very fine display of Florida fruits
from ex-Secretary Adams and some splendid cider vinegar from
C. Patterson, of Missouri, and some elegant flowers and plants
from florists in Des Moines.

I think Northern Illinois can get valuable assistance from
Iowa experiments and fruits, and other parts of the State, from
some of their plums, such as Early Red, Hawkeye, Patton's
Choice and Wolf. The Russian Mulberry and Lucretia Dew-
berry got no encouragement. What Illinois needs most is some
of the young blood with the energy and push of the Iowa horti-
culturists.
—26

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Fruit Growers' Association of Southeastern Illinois,

Organized December 31, 1889.

REPORTED BY N. XI. BURNS, SECRETARY.

OFFICERS FOR 1890.

President, -------- Israel Mills, Clay City,

Vice President Clay County, - Thomas Lowry, Flora.

" " Marion " - Allan Cope, Tonti.

" " Jasper " - Wiley Henry, Newton.

Richland" - R. T. Fay, Olney.

Wayne " - E. C. Kramer, Fairfield.

Secretary, N. M. Burns, Clay City.

Assistant Secretary, ----- J. R. Brown, Hosier Prairie

Treasurer, - R. Smith, Flora.

+.

Pursuant to the call made for the purpose, orchardists from
Clay, Richland, Marion, Wayne and Jasper counties met in the
Opera House in Clay City, at 1 o'clock p. m., on Tuesday,
December 31, for the purpose of organizing a Fruit-Growers'
Association.

Israel Mills was elected President, pro tern, and N. M. Burns
Secretary, pro tern.

A committee, consisting of R. T. Fry, of Olney; C. T. Evans,
of Xenia and Anthony Doherty, of Clay City, was appointed to
draft the Constitution and By-Laws for the Association.

338 TRANSACTIONS OF THE FRUIT GROWERS'

The committee brought in a Constitution and set of By-Laws,,
which included in the organization the five counties named
above, and provided for the election of a President, one Vice-
President from each of the counties, a Secretary, Assistant-
Secretary and Treasurer.

After a discussion, which was participated in by Gen. L. B.
Parsons, R. Smith, Thomas Lowry and Dios Hagle, of Flora;:
Judge Kramer, of Fairfield; John Pritchett, of Xenia; R. T.
Fry, of Olney and Israel Mills, of Clay City, the Constitution
and By-Laws were adopted, with a few changes.

CONSTITUTION.

Article 1. This Association shall be known as the Fruit-
Growers' Association of Southeastern Illinois, and shall embrace
the counties of Clay, Jasper, Marion, Richland and Wayne.

2. Its object shall be to promote the science of pomology and
the art of horticulture, and to advertise the fruit interests of the
district named in the articles.

3. Its members shall consist of annual members, paying an
annual fee of one dollar; of life members, paying a fee of ten
dollars, at one time, and honorary members, who may, by vote,
be invited to participate in the privileges of the Association.
The wives and daughters shall be members without fee.

4. The officers shall consist of a President and one Vice-
President from each county represented, and a Secretary,
Assistant-Secretary and Treasurer, and an Executive Com-
mittee, to consist of the President, Vice-Presidents and
Secretary. The Executive Committee shall have the manage-
ment of the affairs of the Association.

5. The Association shall hold semi-annual meetings at such
time and place as may be determined by the Executive Com-
mittee.

6. The officers of this Association shall be elected at the reg-
ular meeting in January of each year, after 1890, and shall hold
their offices for one year, and until their successors are elected,,
and a majority of all votes cast shall be necessary to a choice,
and that the vote shall be by ballot.

7. This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting
by a two-thirds vote of the members present.

BY-LAWS.

1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Asso-
ciation, call meetings of the Executive Committee, and, under
its direction, have a general superintendence of the affairs of
the Association, and direction of the expenditures of its money?

ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS. 389

lie shall deliver an annual address upon some subject connected
•with horticulture, and shall appoint all committees, unless
otherwise ordered.

2. The Vice-Presidents, in the order of their appointment,
shall act in case of the absence or disability of the President,
and shall, by correspondence and personal intercourse with
horticulturists of their several localities, endeavor to organize
local associations, obtain accurate information of the condition
and progress of horticulture therein, and report semi-annually
in writing to the Association.

3. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of the Associa-
tion, attend to its correspondence, and prepare its reports for
publication.

4. The Assistant-Secretary shall assist the Secretary to record
and prepare for publication the proceedings, and in his absence
to discharge the duties of his office.

5. The Treasurer shall receive and keep an accurate account
of all moneys belonging to the Association, and disburse the
same upon the written orders of the President and Secretary,
which he shall retain and file as vouchers; he shall make an
annual report to the Association of the receipts and disburse-
ments, which, with the vouchers, shall be referred to the Execu-
tive Committee for settlement. Before entering upon his
duties, he shall give a bond in the sum of two thousand dollars
for their faithful performance, such bond to be approved by the
Executive Committee.

6. The Executive Committee shall be subject to the direction
of the Association, and manage all its affairs.

7. The By-Laws may be altered at any meeting by a majority
vote of the members present.

We had a very enthusiastic meeting, but the time was too
short for much good work to be done, except the organization,
but we expect to have a two days' meeting in February, when
we shall do some earnest work.

Our success in fruit growing has been so marked that our
people are greatly encouraged, and we expect our Society to
take a prominent place among the horticultural societies of the
State.

390 TRANSACTIONS OE THE KANKAKEE

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Kankakee Yalley Horticultural Society,

FOR THE YEAR 18S9.

Reported by LEN SMALL, Secretary,

FEBKUAKY MEETING.

Dr. Pottenger gave a short talk in place of an essay. He
spoke of the organization of this Society years ago when he and
Milo Barnard first advocated the Society. He is now extensively
engaged in grape-growing and is experimenting with many varie-
ties. In answer to questions he said, "Prune grape vines in the
fall after the leaves fall naturally." He usually grafts grapes in
the spring.

Mr. Cunningham opened the discussions on "Farmers' Kitchen
Gardens." He named the following varieties which he can recom-
mend from experience: Grapes — Concord, Moore's Early, Hart-
ford. Kaspberries — Miami and Gregg. Blackberries — Snyder-
Strawberries— Crescent, Sharpless, Manchester and Windsor
Chief. Currants — Ked and White Dutch. Tomatoes — Acme,
Turner's Hybrid, Livingston's Favorite and Trophy. Cabbage —
Wakefield, Fottler's All Year Kound.

President Stroud — I don't want so many varieties.

Mr. Enyart — The most essential thing in having a good garden
is regular cultivation. Set apart one day of each week to 'tend
the garden.

W. S. Hawker — I use a little hot bed to start cabbage and let-
tuce. Tomatoes do better in a pan in the house. I consider the

VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 391

working of the garden nine points out of ten. Set apart every
Saturday afternoon to cultivate the garden. I pay but little atten-
tion to varieties.

O. W. Barnard — The garden spot should be free from trees.
Cover the ground in the fall with well-rotted manure; plant every-
thing in rows two to two and a half feet apart ; cultivate with horse.
Immediately after a rain loosen the soil. I planted corn last year
the 7th of April that was ready for the table July 10.

Chas. Pottenger — I plant in rows and use a cultivator called the
horse hoe.

A. Mellen — Plant early and in rows, not beds.

Mrs. Mary J. Barnard being asked in regard to floriculture said:
Eternal diligence is the price of flowers. Perennials are less
trouble than annuals. There are a few annuals, however, that I
generally grow, such as verbenas, petunias and phlox Drummondi.

o

JUNE MEETING.

As previously announced the June meeting of the Kankakee
Valley Horticultural Society was held at the pleasant grounds and
residence of M. R. Peters, Manteno, Saturday, 15th. Although
rain prevented many from attending, the attendance was fair,
over a hundred being present.

The tables were spread under the large decidious trees in front
of the residence, and did credit to the Manteno and other lady
members of the Society.

Immediately after dinner President Stroud called the meeting
to order. The Manteno Glee Club rendered some excellent music.
Prayer was offered by Rev. McAwen.

COMMITTEE REPOKTS.

Flower Committee — Mrs. Milo Barnard reported that flowers,
and especially roses, are doing well, and that their cultivation is
becoming very general.

Vegetable Committee — T. C. Dickinson reported early vege-
tables were badly damaged by cut worms, and in many places en-
tirely destroyed. As a partial remedy, he suggested planting two

392 TRANSACTIONS OE THE KANKAKEE

or three times as many seeds as we expect to save plants. Po-
tatoes are looking well. Messrs. Lee, Barber and Hume all made
favorable reports of cabbage and other vegetables.

Tree and Fruit Committee — Dr. Small reported that plums,
cherries and apples in his immediate vicinity give promise of the
best yield we have had for years.

F. I. Mann, Gilman — In the southern and western part of the
state a short crop is expected. Around Gilman we expect a good
yield.

O. W. Barnard — I have traveled over Kankakee county con-
siderably and I have never saw more fruit on the cherry, apple
and peach trees than there is now.

Small Fruit Committee — Leon Hay reported small fruit as a
whole, a success, although the strawberry slug is doing consider-
able damage.

Leon Hay, essayist and entomologist, was called on, and re-
sponded with a talk on strawberries and their insect enemies. Of
varieties he places the Crescent at the head, but also spoke highly
of Bubach No. 5, and others. He then gave an instructive talk
on the many insects injurious to strawberries, exhibiting pre-
served specimens in alcohol, and described the habits and history
of each.

o

AUGUST MEETING.

The August meeting was held at Park Hall, Bonfield, Saturday,
the 10th. A nice display of horticultural products was made.

Flowers — Mrs. Mary J. Barnard "by request gave a few hints
in regard to the culture of the various flowers on exhibition. Of
dahlias and gladioluses she said the bulbs were as easily kept during
winter as potatoes if thoroughly dried before being placed in the
cellar. Hybrid perpetual roses she had found hardy enough to
stand out of doors if simply thrown on the ground and covered
with any loose material over winter. Mrs. Brainard also read an
excellent paper on flowers and their culture, which we regret was
not handed in for publication.

Vegetables — T. C. Dickinson in answer to questions named Al-
aska, American Wonder and Champion of England as the three

VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 393

best peas for a succession for family use. Of the Early Ohio po-
tato he said: I consider it the earliest potato. The tops are
small and have but few flowers. For planting cut them into four
pieces. Plant twelve inches by three feet; cover four or five
inches: cultivate once a week and pull the weeds.

In discussing the fruits on exhibition some controversy was had
in regard to the origin and introduction of the Duchess of Olden-
burg apple. On motion, the Secretary was instructed to make a
short written report of the history of the variety at the next meet-
ing. C. Boswell spoke highly of the Red Astrachan as a hardy
and productive apple of good quality. J. Fundy, L. P. Henry,
Len. Small and others, gave favorable accounts of the Duchess.

-o-

OCTOBER MEETING.

A general discussion on "Ornamental Planting for Farmers"
was indulged in. Although different views were taken it was de-
veloped that the Society is heartily in favor of more general
planting by farmers, believing that not only the individuals them-
selves but the entire people as well as coming generations are to
be benefitted, and morally and intellectually improved thereby;
that a taste may be cultivated for such work by reading horticul-
tural literature, seeing handsomely laid off grounds and by plant-
ing a few flowers or trees.

W. S. Hawker said that he had been unsuccessful in trans-
planting evergreens and thought both the season and the soil
should be considered.

G. G. Barber — The roots of evergreens should be kept moist.
Take up a ball of earth with each tree or at least keep the roots
from being exposed to the sun and atmosphere. Dig a large hole
to plant in, much larger than necessary to hold the roots.

The President said : I have been quite successful with ever-
greens, having lost only three or four out of thirty or forty planted
last spring.

Secretary — In regard to the season, I have found that ever-
greens can be most successfully transplanted just as they com-
mence to grow which is usually during the early part of May.

394 TRANSACTIONS OF THE KANKAKEE

W. S. Hawker spoke of a new strawberry bed which had failed
to produce fruit. The plants for this bed had been taken pro-
miscuously from a bed three or four years old, which when plant-
ed consisted of Crescent, with Sharpless every few rows for a
fertilizer. It was supposed that the Crescent had increased so
much faster than the Sharpless, that none of the latter had been
transplanted into the new bed. The Crescent having no fertilizer
had become unproductive.

-o-

DECEMBER MEETING.

Leon Hay, in response to a request to give the Society a report
of the horticultural display at the Paris Exposition, said that the
fruit and flower display was renewed every two weeks during the.
Exposition; that he saw nothing in that, however, that was su-
perior to the production, of our own country. One bunch of
grapes was shown that weighed six or seven pounds. The arti-
ficial fruit was so perfect that an ordinary observer could not dis-
tinguish it from the genuine. The forestry display was very
elaborate, especially that made by Norway and Sweden. Only
the Eepublics of the world exhibited at this great show. He
spoke of the roads of France made of flint rock. They are hard
and smooth at all times of the year, and are lined with trees ten
or fifteen feet apart.

Paul Bonvallet, of St. Anne, gave a short talk on grapes. Of
some forty varieties that he has grown he recommended the Con-
cord for general planting and profit. Martha and Delaware have
been fairly successful with him. The grape crop of the past sea-
son was light but of fair quality. He has lately experimented by
grafting a number of foreign varieties on strong stocks, and this
season grew some fine specimens equal to California fruit. He
prunes his vines in the fall when laying them down and covers
them.

A. Mellen stated that some fifteen years ago he planted Miner
and Wild Goose plums. For about eight years the Wild Goose
bore but little and the Miner were a failure. He then planted
among them wild plums and since then the yield has been satis-
factory. He has marketed as much as a bushel per tree some sea-

VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 395

sons, besides what were consumed at home. He thinks the Miner
almost entirely fails to fertilize its own blossoms and the Wild
Goose does but little better when planted alone.

George Gray, of Iroquois county, did not consider the horticul-
tural outlook very bright in his county. They have been rather
unsuccessful with both tree and small fruits. Grapes, when taken
care of, have done better than most other fruits.

396 TRANSACTIONS OF THE MARSHALL

PROCEKDINQS

OF THE

Marshall County Horticultural Society.

ORGANIZED APRIL 28, 1888.

I 13 MEMBERSHIP UP TO DEC.3I, 1889.

OFFICERS FOR 1889.

President — E. R. McKinney.
Vice-President — A. H. Gaston.

Secretary — C. S. Rowley.
Assistant Secretary — Gr. A. Bangs.

Treasurer — Mrs. H. Soeenson.
Assistant Treasurer — Mrs. L. Duchesne.

SECRETARY'S REPORT.

BY C. S. ROWLEY.

The Marshall County Horticultural Society has had a steady and
healthy growth since its organization (April 28, 1888) and now
numbers 113 members — not enumerating the honorary members.
We hold two regular meetings each month, usually at the homes
of the members. The dates of the meetings are the first and third
Thursday evenings. In addition to these regular meetings, the
Society holds two semi-annual fruit and flower exhibits — one
usually in June, at which strawberries and roses are exhibited, and
another in October, at which all fall fruits, flowers and vegetables
are shown. Premiums are awarded consisting of ribbons, no cash
premiums having yet been awarded. These exhibits are all well
attended, and very fine displays of horticultural products are

COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 397

made. The Society also holds an annual business meeting, con-
sisting of papers, recitations, president's annual address, reports,
and election of officers. This meeting is usually held in February.
We were represented at the Central Society's meeting in Normal,
several members preparing papers for that occasion. We also
sent three delegates to the State meeting at Hamilton.

The Society made an exhibit of fruits at the State Fair at Peoria,
as a county society, took the highest premium — and five others.
We believe we are the first county society to become incorporated,
as we shall have reached that before this is in type. We also think
we are the foremost county society in Illinois — so far as member-
ship and vim are concerned. We have passed strong resolutions
condemnatory of the unscrupulous class of tree agents, but have
no war to make on the honest men or women engaged in solicit-
ing for the sale of nursery stock, a calling which is honorable and
right.

We also claim to be the only horticultural society — state or
county— that has its own official organ. All our proceedings, notices,
etc., are now made public through the medium of the Fruit
Grower and Horticulturist published monthly at Lacon, 111. By
this means we can communicate with the world, if need be, with-
out cost, as this magazine publishes our work free of charge. The
Central Society meets with us next May or June, at its annual
meeting.

We are earnestly striving to further the interests of horticulture
in general, over the County of Marshall, and the people of our
county take a great interest in our welfare. Our membership is
composed of the best elements of the people of the county. We
are a healthy, prosperous Society, both financially and horticul-
turally; we pay all our bills promptly, and have good credit. We
intend to exist as long as possible, and do all the good we can.
We hold no secret meetings, and at almost every one of our regu-
lars there are one or more papers read on horticulture, floriculture,
gardening or forestry. None of our officers receive any salary,
except that the Secretary is paid fifty cents for each meeting he
officially attends.

In conclusion : We promised last season to make a better show-
ing of our work for 1889, and we leave the reader to judge whether
or not the Marshall County Society has kept its word. We think
we have.

P. S. By request of the Secretary, I sent manuscript enough for
a good showing in the Transactions, but am informed since, that the
Executive Board has refused to allow anything more than a few
pages from local societies a place there. I make this announce-
ment for the information of our people, and to show why so large
a society as ours is cut down to so scanty a representation in a
volume paid for by all the people of the State of Illinois.

398 TRANSACTIONS OF THE PIKE

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Pike County Horticultural Society.

FOR THE YEAR 1889.

REPORTED BY

ROBERT ANDERSON, Secretary.

The Pike County Horticultural Society has but little to report
at this time. Our fruit crop for the year 1889 was very small.
It came nearer being an entire failure than anything we have
had for several years. It is true, there were two or three ex-
ceptions— Mr. Cadwell, Mr. Walker and Winn Bros., had fair
crops.

We were not as successful in combating insect ravages as we
ought to have been, owing, we think, to commencing to spray
too late. Some think the London Purple we used was not as
good as it should have been. We are determined to begin
earlier the next season. The above refers to the apple crop.
The pear crop was, on the whole, good; small fruits, about a
half a crop.

The Annual Meeting of the Society will be held in March, at
Griggsville. We hope to have a good meeting, and an increased
membership.

We have just closed a farmers' institute, held under the
auspices of the Illinois Valley Fair Association and the, Pike
County Horticultural Society. The meeting was well attended
for two days, and several excellent papers were read on agricul-
ture and horticulture.

COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 399

SMALL FRUIT FOB THE FARMER.

I'.V II. I.. Im>\n, JACKSONVILLE.

I have been invited by one of the members of your Society to
talk a little about small fruits for the farmers. Of course in
handling the subject I shall be brief, as the farmer ueeds bnt
few varieties, and these of the hardiest kinds and easiest eul-
ture. For market, we would pursue different methods of
cultivation, and also plant a larger Dumber of varieties, Buch as
the markets require, and bring the best results for profit.

The strawberry yields fairly well in mosl localities, the yield
being proportionate to the carefulness of culture and fertility of
ground. It is best to plow the ground intruded for straw-
berries in the fall, as late as possible before freezing weather
Bets in, which destroys many insects that might be injurious t<>
plant life, and Leaves the ground in better condition to work
next spring, thus enabling you to Bet your plants earlier. The
earliest Bet are generally the best, making better growth, and
being better aide to resist dry weather. In our locality, the
Crescent, fertilized with the Capt. dark, or some other strong
pollenizer, gives the best results.

Plant these varieties in alternate rows, having at least th
and a half feet between the rows, and plants in row- eighteen
inches apart. Plant in <_rround freshly plowed and finely pul-
verized; also as smooth and level as possible. You cannot have
your ground too well prepared, the success of planting will
mainly depend on this point . Do not touch the ground unless
in the right condition; after planting, go along the row and
>ress with hand-roller, or tread with feet, the Bide of each
i>lant. When the plants commence to grow, keep them well
lord, and cultivate the mound between row-.. We cultivate
after every rain, until the ground freezes. I do not mean to
restrict you to two varieties, as tastes differ. If you want
large berries, try some Bubach No. 5, Cumberland Triumph,
Miner or Sharpless; there are plenty to pick from, and each
year brings out new candidates for public favor.

I would recommend for black raspberries, the Tyler and
Ohio, their season being in the order named; for the red
varieties, the Turner and Brandywine. these being hardy and
reliable varieties. We plant in row- eight feet apart, and
thirty-six inches in row. Plant the black cap raspberries in
furrow-, covering with about live inches of earth, hoeing in the
earth as the plants grow, so by the time your furrow is level
with the ground, your plants are six inches deep, and are not as
likely to heave out by the action of the frost. After the first
season, the plants must be topped when two feet high, in order
to throw out laterals which produce the crop for next year.

400 TRANSACTIONS OF THE PIKE

Of Blackberries, we plant only one variety, the Snyder, find-
ing it iron-clad in our locality; and, if trimmed properly,
carefully tended and judiciously thinned, will bear good-sized
berries, and be a remunerative crop to the f rait grower. Plant
early, plant deep, and thoroughly cultivate, until fruit com-
mences to ripen.

I will not take up your time any longer, and in this brief talk
I have only aimed to give you a short list of varieties which have
proved good and reliable, after a trial of many years in
many localities.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Richland County Horticultural Society,

FOE THE YEARS 1889 AID 1890,

REPORTED BY

B. T. FEY, Secretary, Ohiey, Illinois.

LIST OF OFFICERS FOR 1890.

President — J. P. Wilson.
Vice-President — W. T. Ritter.
Secretary— ~R. M. Fry.
Treasurer — T. M. Shields.

On the 25th day of May, 1889, was organized at Oluey the
Richland County Horticultural Society. The following named
gentlemen were elected officers: President, J. P. Wilson; Vice-
president, J. L. Zook; Treasurer, R. A. Hunt; Secretary, R. T„
Fry.

The second meeting was held July 6th for the purpose, mainly,
of perfecting arrangements for an exhibit at the county fair to be
held in September. A committee of one from each township
was appointed to look after the display from his township.

Another meeting was held August 31st, at which committees
made report and further arrangements made for the exhibit,
which was pronounced the finest display of fruits ever exhibited
in this county. This work gave the young society prominence
and paved the way for the first annual meeting which was held at
Olney Jan. 14 and 15, 1890.
—27

402 TRANSACTIONS OF THE RICHLAND

TUESDAY MORNING, JAN. 14.

President J. P. Wilson called the meeting to order at 10:30
o'clock.

W. F. Ritter made report of his experience in growing rasp-
berries. Mr. Ritter, said: I have tried nearly all the varieties,
both old and new. I have paid out considerable money for new
varieties and I am disgusted with the glowing reports made by
nurserymen's catalogues of the new varieties, for I have found
fully nine-tenths of all that is said of them to be untrue. I
have found Souhegan, Chapman and Tyler to be practically the
same berry with me. The earliest berry I have found to be
Davidson's Thornless, but it is not a heavy bearer. All the ber-
ries are taken in two to four pickings. Mammoth Cluster I
consider best quality of any berry I have ever grown, but not
reliable for market.

T. W. Hutchinson — What varieties would you recommend for
early and what for late ?

Mr. Ritter — Souhegan for early and Gregg for late. The
Gregg I consider the most reliable berry for us. It is, in fact,
to the raspberry family what the Ben Davis is to the apple
family.

J. F. Decker, giving his experience on pruning raspberry vines,

said: I have tried both fall and spring pruning and have

become fully convinced that spring is the proper time to prune.

I have noticed that vines stand winter better when not pruned in

fall. I prefer two or three canes to the hill. M. J. Harris

favors but one cane to the hill but says he does not always practice

it. Mr. Ritter thinks one cane enough and says the berries will

be larger.

o

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The President called the house to order at the appointed time
and M. J. Harris, of Calhoun, made the following report on
strawberries :

My first experience cultivating strawberries was with the old,
well-known and once popular Wilson. It was once a noble va-
riety, giving good growth of plant and an abundant supply of
fruit. It is now enfeebled with age and in this locality is unprofit-
able. It is a very good fertilizer for pistilate varieties, but it is

COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 403

of late years so poor a grower that I have discarded it.
Sharpless makes a satisfactory growth of plant, is free from
rust, resists drouth and the alternate freezing and thawing of
winter better than most varieties, but with me its yield of fruit
is light. It will give a few kingly berries and a good many small
ones. I have grown it on land of ordinary fertility and on land
very rich, in matted rows and in hills. It is a poor cropper;
however it is a good fertilizer for many pistilate varieties.
Glendale, like Sharpless, gives a few large berries, (but of
poor flavor), and a good many small ones. Its foliage rusts
some. Its season is late. I regard it as being unprofitable in
this locality, but I think it a good fertilizer for Windsor Chief
and other late blooming pistilate varieties. Windsor Chief on
well fertilized heavy soil makes a satisfactory growth of plant
and yields an abundant supply of fruit, but on thin land it is a
poor grower and its yield of fruit is light. Its fruit is above the
average in size but of poor flavor. Considering it unprofit-
able I have long since ceased to grow it. Haverland.
This variety is a seedling of Crescent and is much like
it in plants and habit of growth. Last year during
the drouth, at and before fruiting time, on my trial bed
containing twelve varieties, Haverland stood the drouth best of
all. Like Crescent it is wonderfully productive. Its fruit aver-
ages larger and is more firm than Crescent. It continues a long
time in bearing. It is a pistilate variety. Its season is early to
medium. It sends out more fibrous roots and takes better hold
upon the soil than any variety with which I am acquainted and
of all varieties it is the least injured by the white grub.

J. L. Zook spoke very highly of Bubach No. 5. He said it did
splendidly for him. Had planted on very rich soil and received
a large crop of very large handsome berries.

The subject of apple orchards was then introduced by R. T.
Fry as follows :

"The apple," says Downing, "is the world-renowned fruit of
temperate climates." The origin of the cultivated apple is un-
known, but was probably introduced into Britain by the Romans
in A. D. 59, to whom twenty-two varieties were known. In 1688
only eighty-seven varieties were known. At this time there are
not less than 5,000 varieties, with several hundred new varieties
coming to the front each year. We have quite enough varieties,
it would appear, and yet, perhaps, the universal and ideal apple
for market is yet to be originated.

In a paper of this kind it is not expedient to try to cover any
considerable part of the subject, and I will only touch lightly
upon a few or the many interesting facts connected with apple
growing in our famous apple region.

404 TRANSACTIONS OF THE RICHLAND

It is now quite generally understood at home and abroad that
Southern Illinois is the most favored region for growing fine
flavored, excellent keeping and shipping, handsome "red
apples." This favored region has for its center a place situated
less than fifty miles from where we are now assembled. Our
people are now fully satisfied that our claims have not, and can
not be overestimated, and they are determined to make this the
garden spot of the west. We hope to see within five years our
cheap land sell at from $75 to $100 per acre. Hope is made up
of desire and expectation, so that we not only desire it, but ex-
pect it. Land has increased one-fourth in the past six months,,
aud the demand is increasing every day.

To grow an orchard requires time, money and eternal vigi-
lance. If you are not willing to wait eight or ten years for re-
turns, and are not willing to invest money for trees, labor and
fertilizers, and give the trees attention from the first of Janu-
ary to the last of December each year, you must let some one
else grow the orchards.

After the orchard is grown our work is only begun. The
trees must be kept free of the many insects which prey upon the
fruit and foliage. The amount, in value, of fruit destroyed by
the injurious insects in the United States each year is estimated
at $200,000,000. It is estimated that the codling moth alone has,
in recent years, destroyed one-half of the apple crop. But along
with the marked increase of insects, there has been increased ac-
tivity on the part of cultivators and the national and state gov-
ernments are devising means and remedies for destroying these
pests. The borer needs special attention, because of his deadly
work, and the large number of young trees which have been set
within the past year. This insect enters the tree and cuts into
the solid wood near the surface of the earth. It is a dangerous
enemy, for while there is very little external evidence of his work,
it may have perforated the wood internally in all directions and
reduced it to a mass of powder. If the body of the tree is care-
fully washed in May with soft soap, lime, sulphur and carbolic
acid, from the ground about a foot high, the borer will do very
little, if any, harm to our trees. Spraying for codling moth will
be treated of later, so I will not speak of it here.

We are frequently asked if there is not danger of overdoing
the apple business. We desire to say, most emphatically, that
we do not believe that there is any danger of ever overstocking
the market with select winter apples. But two sections, besides
ours, are known as large fruit producing sections, viz: New
York and Michigan. These sections in 1888 produced a large
crop — New York produced one and one-half millions barrels,
and Michigan one million ; or only two and one-half millions
in both; of which 1,300,000 barrels were exported, leaving
only 1,200,000 barrels for home demand, or one-tenth of a

COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 405

barrel to each family in the United States. To supply one
barrel to each family in the United States requires 14,000,000
barrels, or at least five times as many as were produced last
year.

It is a well known fact that the old orchards of New York are
failing, and in a few years will be gone entirely, and the new ones
are not as good bearers as the old ones, and the fruit inferior,
so that we will not long have a serious competitor in supplying
the apple trade with perfect "red apples." The export trade is
increasing and it is evident even now that we have exported
more apples of the crop of '89 than we ought to have done.
The favorite apple in the foreign market is the "King of Tomp-
kins County" and "Ben Davis," the former selling at 64.85 and
the latter at 64.75, November, '89, in Liverpool. The foreign-
ers will buy our apples at these enormous prices in preference
to their own at half the price.

Mr. T. W. Hutchinson — My orchard contains Ben Davis, Jona-
than, Willow Twig, Gilpin, Rome Beauty, Winesap, and about
twenty varieties that were chosen because they did well in Ohio.
The Ohio selections are all worthless here, except the Maiden's
Blush and Winesap. We need a list of discarded varieties.
Apples that do well fifty miles north of us are nearly all worth-
less here. The Ben Davis is by far our best variety for com-
mercial purposes. The Maiden's Blush does well for early
autumn, and there is a season after it is gone and before winter
apples are mellow that is best supplied by Jonathans. These
three are the only varieties that I would like to plant in large
numbers in this locality, The Winesap does fairly well but it
produces so many water sprouts that it is twice as much work to
raise a tree as it is to raise one of the other three varieties, and
my trees have not produced half as many apples as the Ben
Davis, and don't sell as well. The Willow Twigs in my orchard
have two defects only. The first is their habit of growing in-
numerable branches. I think that if the limbs were cut back a
little they would grow about as tight as a cabbage head. The sec-
ond and real defect is that when they are old enough to produce
three or four bushels to the tree they begin to rot on the trees.
I hear of fine orchards of this apple less than twenty miles to the
west of us, while from the county joining us on the east, Law-
rence, they report still more rot than here. The Rome Beauty
is, perhaps, our finest apple, but it is a shy bearer in this local-
ity. The tree stands the winter well, but any injury to the tree

405 TRANSACTIONS OF THE RICHLAND

in cultivation does not heal readily and sometimes kills it, and
often becomes a permanent injury. The apples after the blos-
soms fall are little larger than a grain of wheat, and make little
growth for two weeks. They seem to be waiting for a frost and
even a chill often takes off nearly the whole stand and the rest
of them keep falling the whole season. I hear of only one
orchard of this variety that is considered profitable in this vicin-
ity. We want at least one other kind of winter apple for this
region. Our success will depend upon planting large orchards
of the three or four varieties that do best here, and those who
have planted whole fields of Ben Davis have had the best success
of any hitherto.

My orchard brought me fifty dollars per acre net this year and
would have brought three times as much if it had all been Ben
Davis. Several hundreds of acres of apple orchards have been
planted this year in Richland county, and the question is being
asked whether we shall not over-do the business? I think not.
The apple producing region is limited. The old orchards in the
north and east are fast disappearing and they can never compete
with us again.

Except in the strip of land that is protected by the temperature
and fogs of the great lakes, and most of that will be used for
fruits other than apples, we shall have a country two hundred
miles wide to north of us and one still wider to the south that
can be supplied with apples from the great apple belt in which
we live more easily than from any other source.

Again, there are many competing lines of railroads between
this region and the ports on the lakes, from which apples are
already being shipped direct to Liverpool and other cities in
Europe. The freight from Detroit to Liverpool for barrelled
apples is low and it will always cost less to transport a barrel of
apples than it will to carry a barrel of flour. If Southern Illi-
nois had a million barrels of apples they could be laid down in
Europe at fifty cents per barrel and perhaps a little less.

Again, the high color of our red apples is quite superior to
apples grown in any other region of which I have any knowl-
edge, and I have observed the color of apples from Maine to
Michigan. Even the man who is surest that there is nothing in
color goes to the store and buys the red apples himself. High
color will always be an element of value.

COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 407

Mr. Hitter — I am decidedly in favor of high top trees. I want
them high enough to plow under with a team. I prune my trees
to suit me, preferring those one year old. When the young tree
has attained the proper heighth as a straight switch I pinch out
the top bud and then it throws out limbs. I leave but three
prongs or main limbs — one extending northwest, one southwest
and one east. This mode of pruning gives me an open topped
tree and the apples color up well. I have found the Ben Davis
to be the most profitable apple with me.

The subject of fertilization of bloom in the apples was dis-
cussed for some time, and it was quite generally agreed that a
mixture of varieties in the orchards would give better results
than to plant a solid block of one variety. That those who plant
an orchard of Ben Davis should plant every fifth or sixth row
with some other variety which blooms at the same time or a little
later than the Ben Davis.

Spraying— Mr. Slanker gave his experience as to the spraying
of trees to destroy the apple worm. He said from his observa-
tion fully seventy-five per cent, of his apples were saved by
spraying.

Mr. Hutchinson — My trees were badly affected with canker
worm and have noticed that all were killed within twenty- four
hours after one application of the poison. I am satisfied that
I would have had no apples in 1888 had it not been for spraying,
whereas I had a fair crop of tine apples while my neighbors, who
did not spray, had none.

Varieties — It was unanimously agreed that the Ben Davis is
the most reliable and profitable apple to grow. As to the next
best, however, no agreement was reached. Some favoring the
Jonathan and others Rome Beauty or Willow Twig. AH of the
above apples do well on most of our land.

The M inkier and Akin Seedling had many warm friends.
These are both very fine apples, not only fine in appearance but
of extra fine rich flavor. The Akin Seedling originated in
Lawrence county and is being planted quite largely in that
county and Richland, and promises to be a valuable apple. The
tree is an upright, vigorous grower and comes into bearing from
the sixth to eighth year.

408 TRANSACTIONS OF THE RICHLAND

REPORT ON BLACKBERRIES.

Mr. Ritter — I have had considerable experience with black-
berries. Began with Snyder. It is a good bearer but does not
stand drouth well, yet I have found it the most profitable berry
with me.

Peach. T. M. Shields— I have found Heath cling and Heath
free to be most hardy with me. The general opinion was that
peach growing is profitable, provided the right varieties are
planted and proper care is given them. Many small orchards of
peach trees have been planted in the past two years, and the
crop will be quite large in another year.

J. P. Wilson — The pear crop the last season was quite good.
In fact, not only for the season just past but for several years,
pears have done fully as well as the apple or any of our other
fruits. The one great cause of discouragement in pear cultiva-
tion, the blight, having shown itself but very little as compared
to former years. I have made it a point to watch the fruit as it
came to market on all occasions when I could do so. The result
of my observations has been that we have one drawback to suc-
cessful pear culture that is worse than the blight. And that is a
lack of knowledge on the part of many who grow them as to the
proper care of trees, and I am constrained to think that many
of them do not know what a good pear is, for we so often see
pears in market that say as plainly as though they could speak,
"See what a plight I am in, but it is not my fault." Such fruit is
so very unsatisfactory to the consumer that they have become
disgusted and quit buying pears of any kind. It is in pear grow-
ing as with anything we undertake. We cannot reasonably ex-
pect to succeed unless we learn something of the nature of the
thing. Many of our intelligent people who are trying to grow
pears (at least I suppose they are; they are buying trees and
planting them) do not know the difference between a standard
pear and a dwarf. Many think that dwarf is some kind of a,
small-growing kind that will bear quickly. They do not know
that the root of one is pear and the other quince. Now let us
look at the roots of the pear; what do we see as to character?
we find a few large long roots reaching far down into the earth,
so we see that if the tree is to be healthy and live to an old age

COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 409

that the ground must be well drained, not only on the surface
but underneath as well.

The meeting from first to last was a grand success. It was
evident from the discussions that our Society is destined to be
an important factor in the development of the fruit industry,
already large. The closest estimate places the value of the
apple crop of Richland county for the year 1889 at $150,000, and
the value of other fruits at $50,000, thus making the value of
our fruit crops $200,000. When we consider that perhaps four-
fifths of our orchards are not yet bearing, it makes a grand
showing.

. The display of fruit at this meeting was very fine. The sam-
ples of Akin's Seedling, Minkler, Ben Davis and Rome Beauty
attracted much attention, particularly the first two named. A
number of unnamed varieties were also exhibited, which showed
good keeping qualities.

410 TRANSACTIONS OF THE

PROCEKDINGS

OP THE

Warsaw Horticultural Society.

FOR THE YEAR 18S9.

Reported by JAMES T. JOHNSON, Secretary.

N

STATED MEETINGS THIRD WEDNESDAY II EACH MONTH.

Day by day new evidences present themselves, showing the high
standing to which the ever popular old "Warsaw" Horticul-
tural Society has attained, and the dignity and consideration
accorded to its deliberations, by the gardeners and fruit growers
of every section of our country. And the wonderful reputation
which it has thus attained is an ample reward to all of its
members.

From a vast amount of interesting proceedings of the year,
we are permitted to condense only the following :

JANUARY MEETING.

Society Hall, Warsaw, 111.
C. C. Hoppe, Treasurer, reported a creditable surplus on hand,
to which members present added liberally.

A. C. Hammond, from Committee on "Orchards," reported
weather unusually mild and favorable.

H. D. Brown, from Committee on "Berries," reported some
plants not well rooted, probably a result of drought and insect
injuries.

WARSAW HORTICULTURAL. SOCIETY. 411

James T. Johnson read the following paper:

RETROSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE.

If our fruit crops were always good, and prices so remun-
erative that the producer could soon retire from the busi-
ness, probably he would never tell the world what brought him
success. But when it brings him failures, as, alas, is too often
the case, it sets him gossiping with his neighbors. "Misery
loves company;" he must unburden the mind, and learn what
has been the experience of others. So much for adversity, "a
blessing in disguise," one that causes us to ascertain our faults
and short-comings, and to remedy them. Thus are horticul-
tural societies organized and promoted.

Failures are due to many causes; as, drought, wet, cold, heat,
insects, fungi, &c, but probably the three worst enemies the
horticulturist — no, the fruit grower and gardener — has, is ignor-
ance, laziness and neglect; and until these are remedied,
failures will continue.

When too hot and too dry at the same time, as in 1887, berry
crops and the like suffer the consequence, and must, unless
intelligence and industry can prevent. And the consequences
of a season like 1887 extend to the next year. Another trouble
is, our markets are almost inexplicable. Sometimes our crops
are poor and our prices poor at the same time. (This was the
case with our berry crop of 1888.) Why is this? Is it over-
crops elsewhere, or is it manipulators and trusts? The short
crop with us was probably a want of vitality in our berry canes,
and vitality seems wanting in our markets; but, what is the
cause?

Of grapes, we have this to say, and nothing more : The crops
of 1888 and '89 promised well, but alack a day! the rot came, and
the grapes went — verily ! the way of the fruit grower seems hard
hereabouts. It may be all wisely designed to test the capacity of
the fruit culturist to hold on, and labor, learn and wait.

But again; the apple crop (of this vicinity) in 1888 was satis-
factory— that is in yield and quality — but what of the prices?
the profits, they were a total failure, they were no compensation
to our producers. The crops were immense, quality fine, but no
demand, no pay in sixty cents per barrel, surely the tenacity of
the horticulturist has been sorely tried. And yet we, the true
horticulturist, will not be found wanting. With increased mil-
lions of people to furnish with satisfying and health promoting
fruits, we must be content to go to work, to make new and fre-
quent plantations, and learn, labor and wait, and success, in
reasonable measure, is assured us.

412 TRANSACTIONS OF THE

FEBRUARY MEETING.

The February meeting was held at the City Hall, Hamilton.

The subject of "Vegetable Gardening" was taken up as a
timely topic, and was very fully discussed by C. C. Hoppe.
The speaker said many encouraging things, and said them in
his usual clear and forcible style, demonstrating the value and
utility of the vegetable garden, and adding many useful hints
for the season.

-o-

MARCH MEETING.

The March meeting was held at Horticultural Hall, Warsaw.
"The outlook for tree planting" was ably discussed, and a valu-
able paper read by C. N. Dennis. All agreed that the outlook
— in spite of discouragements — was really favorable for tree
planting.

-o-

JUNE MEETING.

The June Meeting was held at City Hall Hamilton, jointly with
Montebello Floral Society, and the Business Men's Association
of Hamilton.

The hall was made beautiful beyond description by the ladies
of Hamilton and vicinity. One lady alone (Mrs. L. Lyon) exhib-
iting forty-four named varieties of geraniums. There were ger-
aniums of every hue, and color, variegated, double, single or fra-
grant.

Mayor Bridges gave an address of most hospitable welcome.

President H. D. Brown responded, tendering the gratitude and
appreciation of the Warsaw Horticultural Society.

On the condition of orchards, A. C. Hammond led a discussion,
eliciting the fact that a short crop of apples was in prospect for
1889.

On the subject of floriculture and on small fruit culture, papers
were read creditable in the highest degree both to the locality and
to the individuals who gave them, and duly appreciated by the
large attendance at this excellent meeting.

WARSAW HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,. 413

AUGUST MEETING.

The August Meeting was held at the apiary of (that prince of
beekeepers) Mr. C.P. Dadant, and was made the occasion of one
of the grandest picnics of the year. Messrs. Dadant & Son hospita-
bly entertained the Society, and ably and eloquently explained bee
keeping in its effects upon horticulture.

Mr. Jonathan Periam, of Chicago, gave a lengthy talk upon the
effect of combines and trusts upon horticulture, after which the
Messrs. Dadant further entertained the audience by running
their factory, showing the process of manufacturing founda-
tion, and of extracting honey.

INDEX.

— ■*• —

Page.

A Cold Wave Illustrated, or How a Blizzard Gets Among Us 176

Address of Welcome, State Society 1

of Welcome, Central Society 236

of Welcome, Northern Society ... 300

President's Annual, State 47

President's Annual, Central 252

President's Annual, Northern 334

A Pen Sketch of Prof. S. A. Forbes 182

Antiquities in Grain and Fruits 43

Apples, Discussion on 28, 357

New 158

Apple, The Best New and How to Propagate it 330

Growing in Southern Illinois 405

Tree— The Life of an 273

List for Central Illinois 288

Apparatus for Applying Arsenical Poisons 314

Arsenical Insecticides 310

Poisons 137

Poisons, Danger of Poisoning by 320

Poisons, Discussion on 137

Poisons, Effect of on Insects 318

Poisons, Effect of on Foliage 250

Poisons, Effect of on the Fruit 319

Poisons, Effect on the Tree * 315

Poisons for the Plum and Peach 247

Poisons on the peach 324

Poisons, Time to Apply 324, 325

A Remarkable Seedling Pear Tree 42

Arkansas Apples, Report on 210

Ballou, Dr. N. E., Paper by 341

Blackberries, Varieties of. 11

Blackberries, Discussion of. 14, 355

Blackstone, Mrs. E. A., Paper by 154, 292

Bordeaux Mixture as an Insecticide 321

Bonvallet, Paul, Paper by 376

Box for Picking Fruit 25

Brackett, Col. G. B., Made Honorary Member 46

Bridges, H. C., Address by 1

INDEX. 415

Page.

Browne, J. S., Paper by 279

Brown, Mrs. H. D., Paper by 112

Bryant, Artbur, Report by 126

L. R., Paper by 87, 132

Miss Lucy, Paper by 38

Budlong, L. A., Paper by 61

Burrill, Prof. T. J., Paper by 253, 161

Carbolic Acid as an Insecticide 322

Catalpa on Lake Minnetonka 27

Celery, How to Grow 66

Cberry Growing 240

Wild as a Stock 241, 252

Codling Motb, Parasite for 32

Coe, E. G., Paper by 367

Ira, Paper by 82

Committee on Awards, Appointment of 46

on President's Address, Appointment of. 49

on President's Address, Report of. 162

on Final Resolutions, Appointment of. 46

Conable, Mrs. R. T., Paper by 168

Constitution, State Society VI

Alton-Southern Society 203

Richland County Society 401

Cook, G. W. E., Paper by 281

Prof., Paper by 304

Cotta, H. R., Paper by 353

J. V., Paper by 124, 325

Crain, W. H., Paper by : 157

Currant Growing, Profits of. 21

Varieties of 21

Cutler, Mrs. M. J., Paper by 371

Dadant, C. P., Paper by 166

Death of J. Ambrose Wight 186

Dewberry, Discussion of 15

Diagram of Horticultural Experiments 192

Directors of Experiment Stations 73

Doan, H. L., Paper by 399

Dunlap, H. M., Address by 47

H. M., Paper by 284

H. M., Notes by , 20

H. M., Response by 1

Duchesne, Lewis, Paper by 271

Duchess Apple, Varieties of 23

Dunning, A., Paper by 33

Education in Flowers 187

Edwards, Samuel, Paper by 337

41(5 INDEX.

Page.

Election of Officers 101

Endicott, Geo. W., Paper by 99

Evergreens, Discussion on 36

Executive Board, Meeting at Springfield 190

Board, Meeting at Normal 193

Board, Meeting at Hamilton 194

Board, Meeting at Sandwich 196

Experimental Horticulture 253

Fertility of Soil, How to Maintain 149

Flowers, Discussion on 171

and Fruit 162

Their Influence and Association 102

The, of Nations , . 40

Forbes, Prof. S. <L, Paper by 310, 242

Frese, Louis, Eeport by 15

Fruit as an Article of Diet 268

Bark, Beetle 245

Growing Combined with Farming 129

Picking Ticket 25

Fruits to be Tested at Experiment Stations 75

Fruit Tree Planting by the Eoadside 257

Fullmer, Mrs. F. L., Paper by 102

Garden, How to Cultivate 68

in the House 371

The Tillage, As an Economizer 367

Gardening for the Amateur 279

Gaston, A. H., Paper by 240

Miss Lucy, Paper by 268

Gates, Miss Edith, Paper by 43

Gideon, Peter M., Visit to 27

Green, Miss Julia, Paper by 266

Gregg, Thos., Paper by 186

Goodrich, T. E., Paper by 151

Goding, Dr. F. W., Paper by 182

Grape Culture 376

Grapes, New, Discussion on 159, 160

Grape Rot, Spraying for 97

Gray, D. FL, Paper by 276

Griffin, Miss Blanche, Paper by 187

Hamilton Meeting of the Executive Board 194

Hammond, A. C, Eeport by 49, 237

Harvesting and Marketing Apples 140

Hay, Leon, Paper by 378

Hazelton, W. C, Paper by 370

Hewitt, Dr. E. C, Address by 236

Horticulture at the Paris Exposition 378

INDEX. 417

Page.

Horticultural Observations _ 82

Horticultural Societies, Benefits of. 332

Horticultural Societies, Do They Pay 337

Horticulture, Status of 289

Horticulture, in Schools 304

The Mission of 381

Humphrey, Mr., Prayer by 1

Injury by Rabbits — How to Prevent 6

Insecticide Experiments 248

Invitation to Cairo 101

Jackson, Wm., Paper by 129

Johnny Apple Seed, Sketch of. 45

Johnson, James T. Report by 118

Jones, J. W., Paper by 42

La Crescent, Minn., Visit to 26

La Crosse, Wis., Visit to 26

LaMonte, Mrs. J. P., Paper by 107

Landscape Gardening in its Application to Public Parks 361

List of Experiment Stations 73

of Garden Vegetables 63

of Members State Society IX

of Members of Alton-Southern Society 205

of Members of Central Society 235

of Members of Northern Society 289

of Officers State Society IV

of Officers Alton Southern Society 202

of Officers Central Society 234

of Officers Northern Society 288

of Officers Fruit Growers Association of Southeastern Illinois 387

of Officers Marshall County Horticultural Society 396

of Officers Richland County Horticultural Society 401

Lists of Trees and Shrubs Recommended XVII

Location of the Annual Meeting 101

Loucks, A. D., Paper by 358

Mann, F. L, Report by 2, 19, 31, 273

Marketing Apples, Discussion on 143

McArthur, Rev., Prayer by 46

McArthur, Rev., Made Honorary Member 46

Minier, G. W., Paper by 263

Minkler, S. G., Paper by 3, 355

Minneapolis, Minn., Visit to 26

Minnesota Experiment Grounds, Visit to 26

Minnesota University, Visit to 26

McKinney, E. R., Paper by 258

Morrice, Miss Mary, Paper by — — 40

Mulching Apple Trees, Effect of. 79

418 INDEX.

Page.

New Fruits, Report on 258

New Pears, Discussion on 161

Normal, Meeting of the Executive Board 193

Notes of a trip to Wisconsin and Minnesota 20

Nutbearing Trees, Discussion on 209

Officers of the State Society _ >. IV

of the Alton- Southern Illinois Horticultural Society 202

of the Horticultural Society of Central Illinois 234

of the Horticultural Society of Northern Illinois 288

Orchard Culture, Paper on 325

Fruits on the Farm 284

Fruits, New ;. 157

How to Make 3

Orchards, Discussion on 219, 223, 227

Do They Pay 9

Starving 355

In Southern Illinois . 10

Ornamental Planting, Discussion on 36, 208

Our National Flower 106, 112

Peach Trees, Laying Down in Winter 27

Peaches, Discussion on 210

New 159

Pear, The, Paper on - 341

Pears, Discussion on 349

List of 345

New 159

Pearson, John M., Report by 58

Periain, Jonathan, Talk by 381

Pettigrew, J. A., Paper by ,. 361

Piper, D. J., Paper by 330, 351

Plum Borer, American 242

Plums, Discussion of. 17

Pollenization, Discussion on 7

Premium Lists XII

President's Annual Address, State Society 47

Annual Address, Central Society 252

Annual Address, Northern Society 334

Profits of Fruit Growing . _ 265

Ragan, Prof. W. H., Made Honorary Member 46

Prof. W. H., Paper by 176

Raspberries and Blackberries 353

and Blackberries, How to Market 13

and Blackberries, How to Prune 13

Raspberries, How to Plant 12

Discussion on 402

How to Cultivate 12

INDEX. 419

Raspberries, Report on 271

Relation of Bees to Horticulture 166

Report of Awarding Committee, Class I 144

of Awarding Committee, Class II 145

of Awarding Committee, Class III 147

of Awarding Committee, Class IV 123

of Awarding Committee, Class V 148

of Awarding Committee, Class VI 148

of Awarding Committee, Class VII 149

of Committee on Fruit Exhibit, Central Society 294

of Exhibits, Northern Society 366

of Committee of Control of Experiment Stations 75

of Committee on Decorations 115

of Committee on Delayed Exhibit 174

of Committee on Experiment Stations, What Can be Done? 120

of Committee on Experiment Stations, What is Being Done 118

of Committee on Final Resolutions 168

of Committee on Orchards 2

of Committee on President's Address 162

of Committee on Raspberries and Blackberries 11

of Committee on Small Fruits 224

of Committee on Spraying Fruit Trees 132, 135

of Delegate to the Indiana Horticultural Society 31

of Delegate to the Iowa Horticultural Society 385

of Delegate to the Missouri Horticultural Society 29

of Experiment Stations 73, 76

on Farmers' Kitchen Garden 38, 61

to the Governor Ill

on Grapes 95, 99

on Orchards 206

on Strawberries 81

on Stone Fruits 15

of Secretary 237

of Treasurer, State Society 56

of Treasurer, Alton-Southern Society 211

of Treasurer, Central Society 240

of Treasurer, Northern Society 333

on Vegetables i 207, 214, 217

Response to Address of Welcome !.... 237

Riehl, E. A., Paper by 149

E. A., Report by 29

Rose Culture 281

Culture, Discussion on 172

Rowley, C. S., Paper by 289

Rules of Experiment Stations 74

of Exhibition XVI

420 INDEX.

Page.

Eussian Apples, Varieties of. 24

Sandwich Meeting of the Executive Board 196

Secretary's Report, State Society 49

Small Fruit for the Family 276, 370

Fruit, Discussion on 213

Fruit for the Farmer's Garden 69

Fruit, New 155

Small, Len., Paper by '. 3^2

Speer, Henry, Made Honorary Member 46

Spraying Apple Trees, Effect of. 78

for Curculias, Report on 77

Pear Trees, Effect of. 78

Grape Vines for Black Rot, Effect of 78, 80

Springfield Meeting of the Executive Board 190

Stone Fruits, Culture of 263

Standing Committees V

Strawberry Culture 357

Strawberries, Discussion on 401

Street and Ornamental Tree Planting 33

Sweet Potatoes, Cultivating and Marketing 151

Tomatoes, Cultivating and Marketing 151

Top Grafting Fruit Trees 124

Transactions of the State Horticultural Society , 1

of the Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society 201

of the Central Illinois Horticultural Society 233

of the Northern Illinois Horticultural Society 300

of the Fruit Growers Association of Southeastern Illinois 387

Transactions of the Kankakee Valley Horticultural Society 390

of the Marshall County Horticultural Society 3S6

of the Pike County Horticultural Society 398

of the Richland County Horticultural Society 401

of the Warsaw Horticultural Society 410

Treasurer's Report State Society 56

Alton- Southern Society 211

Central Society 240

Northern Society 333

Tree Agent, The Difficulties of an Honest 358

Turnip Seed, Quantity per Acre 64

Tuttle, A. G,, Russian Apple Orchard 23

Vandenburg, P. E., Report by 11

Vaughan, J. G., Paper by 135

Vegetable Gardening 292

Vinegar, Discussion of 93

Law, Necessity for 87

Making 87

Vineyards, Discussion on -.-.....'. 221

INDEX. 421

Page.

Vickroy, H. K., Report by 56, 155

Webster, J., Paper by 69

Williams, J. R., Paper by 140

Window Gardening 266

Wisconsin University, Visit to 23

Worthen, A. H., Paper by 95

Young People on tbe Farm 38

Young Peoples' Session 38

'K^^7

SECE

lEWiE

HP • ; it t f f:f !

■

(fit

uiiiin

wmm

ifitlf

IlilllitlilliliiKlilii

■

;:.; ;;i ■'!'■■!" ■■';'::■:■: .. :: :Ur ': ::i :; ii :: !"= '■ : :i'::- ■" :': >• ■' : :■' :-i ;:; <' " :■: >| -■' "'i :■: :-! :•• ::: ::; ■■: ':.' i": ?; ::: ?; >>

m