TRANSACTIONS f>K TITK Illinois ^Me [lorticultui^al ^ocieti) For the Year 1886 BKINf; THK f roQeedings of the 5f^ii""^y-pi^s^ Annaal J^A.eeting JACKSONVILLE, DECEMBER 14, 15.16, ALSO PROCKEniXf;S OF THK ALTON SOUTHERN, CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ILLINOIS District Societies, ALSO, WARSAW HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, For the Year 1886. NEW SERIES— VOLUME XX Edited hij the Secretary, A. C Jf.\MMO\D, ]V((rsinr, Illinois. ^ablisljeb bg tbe ^octctg. J. W. Franks & Sons, » -Printers, Binders and Publishers,- Peoria, Illinois. 1886, LIBRARY NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR. To his Excellency, Richard J. Oglesby, Governor of Illinois: 1 have the honor to present you hereivith the Twentieth Annual Volume of the Transactions of the Illinois State Horticultural So- ciety, hoping that its perusal will demonstrate that its of airs have been manac/ed with strict economy, and the special icork for u^hich it was organized urged forward with energy. It is a i)leasure to he able to report a rapidly increasing interest in our Annual Meetings, as well as in our general icork, and an urgent demand for our Transactions. If the present General Assem- bly, in their wisdom, grants us an increased appropriation — for ■which tve have asked — which your Excellency kindly recommended^ ive shall largely increase the number of our volumes, and do all that our means loill allow in the line of experimentation and various other branches of ivork that tvill, we believe, greatly advance the health and happiness of our people. Very truly yours, A. C. HAMMOND, Secretary. WARSAW, January SO, 1887. Officers for 1887. President — E. A. IIieiil, Alton. Vice-President — Milo Barnard, Manteno. Secretary — A. C. Hammond, Warsaw. Treasurer — H. K. Vickroy, Normal. EXECUTIVE BOARD. E. A. RiEHL President State Society. A. C. Hammond Secretary State Society. D. W. Scott, President Horticultural Society of Northern Illinois. Lkn. Sm.all. Vice-President Horticultural Society of Northern Illinois. Prof. T. J. BuRRiLL, President Horticultural Society of Central Illinois. C. N. Dennis, Vice-President Horticultural Society of Central Illinois. J. S. Browne, President Horticultural Society of Southern Illinois. T. Vj. Goodrich, Vice-President Horticultural Society of Southern Illinois. AD-IXTERI.M COMMITTTES. B}' resolution of the Executive Board the ad-interim work of the Society was placed in the hands of the Presidents of the three District Societies, with authority to appoint, from time to time, such men as may be capable and willing to do the work, with instructions to report to the President, who shall compile the "reports and present them to the Annual Meeting. ANNUAL MEETING. The Annual Meeting for 1887 will be held at Princeton, De- cember 13th, 14th and 15th, 1887. Standing Committees The Influence of Stock on Scion and Scion on Stock— Fvof. T. J. Bur- rill, Champaign; H. Augustine, ISTormal; C. IST. Dennis, Hamilton. OrcJiards — Jacob Auer, Deer Plains; H. M. Dunlap, Savoy; H. Morti- mer, Manteno. The Three Most Important Vegetables for the Home Garden — Jahez Webster, Centralia. Grapes — J. S. Browne, Alton (varieties) ; K. W. Hunt, Galesburg (prun- ing and training); Prof. T. J. Burrill, Champaign (diseases). Strawberries— Wm. Jackson, Godfrey (varieties); H. K. Vickroy, ]^Jor- mal (handling and marketing); G. W. Endicott, Villa Eidge (cultivation). The Decli7ie of Orchards m Illinois — Trot G. H. French, Carbondale; Daniel Shank, Clayton. Stone Fruits — D. B. Weir, Lacon. Floi'iculture ^Misa Alice W. Stewart, Hamilton. [This and the following committee was left unfluished by the Executive Board, with instructions for the Secretary to complete them, but up to the time of going to press the promised names have not been sent in. They will, however, be announced in the programme of the meeting]. Horticultural Adornment of Home — New Apples and Pears — Arthur Bryant, Princeton; T. E. Goodrich, Cobden. Vegetable Physiology — Prof. T. J. Burrill, Champaign. Entomology — Vxof. S. A. Forbes, Champaign. Ornamentation of Public School Grounds— Hon. C. W. Garfield. Grand Rapids, Mich.; Samuel Edwards, Mendota. Hon. John M. Pearson, of Godfrey, was invited to prepare a paper on "AVhat Good is Accomplished by Horticultural Societies." A. L. Hay, Jacksonville, on a horticultural topic of his own selection; D. H. Gray, of Elmwood, on " What I Know About Fruit Growing," and Mrs. L. P. Drager, of Hamilton, on some subject of her own selection, per- tinent to the occasion. Various other topics of interest will be discussed at the Annual Meet- ing by ladies and gentlemen of well known ability, notice of which will be given m the programme, which will be issued early in November. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. AS AMENDED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, 1874. CONSTITUTION. I. This Association shall be known as the Illinois State Hortioul- TUKAL 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 distinguislied 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, and Secretary, who shall be elected at the annual meeting, and serve until their successors are chosen; also an Executive Board as hereinafter provided. V. The atTairs of the Society shall l)e managed by an Executive Board, to consist of the President and Secretary of the Society, and the 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. Tlie 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 tiie affairs of the Society, and dirt'ction of exi)enditure of money; lie shall deliver an animal address upon some subject connected with Horticulture, aiul shall appoint all special committees unless otherwise ordered. II. The Vice-President shall preside at the meetings in the absence of the President. III. The Secretary siuill, \\\)0\\ the direction of the Executive Board, conduct the corresimndence of the Society, liav(! charge of its books, papers and reports, and prepare its reports for publication; and shall receive for his necessary expenses for postage, stationery, printing, expressage, ofiice rent and salary, such sum as the Executive Board may vote therefor. YIII CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. lY. The Treasurer slmll receive and keep an accurate account of all moneys belonging to.tbe 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 sliall give bond to the Society in the sum of five thousand dollars for the faith- ful performance of 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 four of the "Act reorganizing the State Horticultural Society," approved March 24, 1874. They may appoint such standing and other com- mittees as tliey 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 l. That the organization heretofore chartered and aided by appropriations under the name of tlie 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, McIIeniy, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago and Will (23); the Horticultural Society of Central Illinois, operating in the counties of Adams, Brown, Cass, C.hampaign, Christian, Coles, DeWiit, Douglas, Edgar, Fulton, Ford, Iroquois. Hancock, Henderson, Knox, Logan, Livingston, McLean, Mc- Donough. Marshall, Mason, Mercer, Menard, Morgan. ^Slacon. Moultrie, Peoria, Pike, Piatt, Sangamon, Shelby, Schuyler, Scott, Tazewell, Vermilion, Warren and Woodford (38); and the Horticultural Society of Southern Illi- nois, operating in the counties of Alexander, Bond, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Calhoun, Cumberland, Clinton, Edwai'ds, Effingham. Fayette, Franklin. (Jreen, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jackson, John- son, Lawrence, Madison, Macoupin, Marion, Monroe, Monigomery, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Richland, 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 o' the three 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 m their judg- ment 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 fimds received from the State and all other sources, which statement shall also include all ex- CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. IX penditures made by them, and the specihc objects in detail for which said sums were expended. They shall make no appropriation witliout having funds in hand to meet the same, and if any del)t 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 Hoard. Sec. 5. The Illinois State and the three District Horticultural Societies shall hold annual meetings, at which their officers for thp ensuing year shall be elected. Within one month after the annual meeting of the District So- cieties they shall forward to the Secretary of the Executive Jioard a report of their transactions, includnig a list of officers elected at such meeting. The Executive JJoard 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. Four members of the Executive J^oard shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Sec. 0. 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. IJy-laws and rules that do not contiict 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 organization. List of Members for 1887- Auer, Jacob Deer Plain Augustine, Henry Normal Nurseryman. Beal, L. N Mt. Vernon Brown, H. D Hamilton Nurseryman. Brown, R. M Normal Baldwin, S. R Jacksonville Nurseryman & Fruit (! rower. Blackburn, Edward Yilla Ridge Burrill, T. J Champaign Prof, in University of Illinois. Berry, R. C Batchtown Beech,Wm Beechville Fruit Grower. Buckman, Benj Parmingdale Barnard, Milo Manteno Barnard, O. W Manteno Browne, J. 8 Alton Bryant, Artbur Princeton Bryant, L. R Princeton Grain, W. R Villa Ridge Cotta, J. V Nursery Nurseryman. Coggswell, C. H Virden Nurseryman. Cope, Allan Tonti Coe, Ira Qumcy Fruit Grower and Fanner. Doan, F. M Jacksonville Dennis, C. N Hamilton Nurseryman. Edwards, Samuel Mendota Fruit Grower & Nurseryman. French, Prof. G. H Carbondale Galusha, O. B Peoria N'rs'yman & Small Fr'tGro'er. Gray, D. H Elmwood Fruit Grower. Goodrich, T. E Cobden Fruit Grower. Grassley, F. H Jacksonville Gaston, A. H Lacon Forester. Hall, Dr. L Savoy Huber, T Illinois City Halley, Albert , Jacksonville Hammond, A. C Warsaw Hall, H. H Jacksonville Heinl, Joseph Jacksonville Heinl, Frank J acksonville LIST OF MEMBERS. XI Hilliard. rofit hy the experience of those " on tlie spot," who may have wrestled witli this trou])lesonie (juestion for ten, twenty or thirty years or more — and so long as they permit themselves to he imposed u])on hy irresponsihle tree dealers- — who. under the pretense of furnishing northern-grown " iron-clads," till tlieir orders with any and every variety of southern and eastern trees,, fraudently laheled — so long, I say, hut little progress is possihle. A pertinent question arises on this point: Why should dealers — as a rule — prefer to procure their stock from southern and east- ern growers? Because they can huy them tliere for less money. The cost of production is much less in the south and east then in the north, by reason of a more favorable climate — not because those growers understand their business any better, nor can furnish any better trees. I happen to have a little experience with a few of Mr. Moody's trees on whole roots, and I know, several gentlemen whose experi- ence coincides with mine. On account of the claim made by him, "that the Mann apple is as hardy as the Duchess in any part of the United States," — a claim that is being kept u]) to this day — 1 bought, in the spring of 1882, fifty trees of that variety. Their roots were about twenty to twenty-four inches long, with scarcely any brace- roots near the crown or any where else, part of them were forked to- ward the lower end, forming several tap-roots and part had nothing but single tap-roots; they were the worst looking roots I ever saw. I planted them in the orchard and gave them fair cultivation. l)ut had to straighten them up a number of times during the season, as they were swayed about l)adly by the wind. They grew fairly well, however, and I flattered myself that — in time — they might out- grow their intirmities. In the s])ring of 1888 a])out one-half of them were dead; iii the spring of 1884 another lot had perished, and the spring of 1885 revealed the fact that the remainder had "given up the ghost." So ended my investment in the Mann apple, crown- grafted upon whole roots, that was to be as hardy as Duchess in any part of tlu' I nitcd States. I would state that top-worked trees of the Mann, scions of which were cut from the trees received from Mr. Moody have endured these cold winters well. I have not lost a tree of these. Mr. S. G. Minkler sent in a paper on the same subject, which was read by Miss Bessie Kash, Assistant Secretary. 12 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS ORCHARD CULTURE. BY S. G. MIXKLER. You ask me to write on Orchard Culture. That subject is ex- hausted, at least with me. I wrote all I knew years ago, and have learned nothing since. The truth is, we must go back to first prin- ciples, i. e.^ put the ground in its original condition of fertility by clovering and manuring. Then set trees two rods each way. I suppose there are but few who know how soon the roots will meet at that distance — six years. Don't plant on old orchard ground, nor fill in. The elements in the soil that the tree requires are already exhausted. For Heaven's sake, don't be as big fools as w^e have been (pa don me, as I have been), to try to get the most varieties. Am correct? It has been the greatest sin of my life. Russian apples: Brethren, go slow. The country is full of Rus- .sian apples. One man says he exhibited seventy-five varieties of Russian apples at a fair. Don't that beat Brother Budd, of Iowa? Then, we are expecting too much from that direction. Russia's cold and our cold are two different things. It is not the amount or degree of cold that kills; it is the condition of things. I remember of going one year to Freeport to attend our meet- ing. When we arived at Amboy they reported 28 deg. below zero, and the following summer we had peaches. MANNER OF PROPOGATING TREES. Brethren, I think here we have been to extremes. Budded trees, grafted trees, first section, second section, third section; I have tried all of these, and a tree is a tree, for a' that. Some say budded trees, but all there is of that, you have one year's growth when you bud, and you succeed with the bud and root graft alike. Then we go to extremes on seeds. Oh! we must have seed from Russia or some other foreign country. Be careful of high-sounding names: we are often led astray thereby. I have seen in the last few winters a calamity which has oc- curred but once in half a century, and circumstances may never so combine against us again, at least for fifty years more. An informal discussion upon grafting, budding, hybridizing and transj)lanting followed these reports. D. B. Wier — Root grafting has nothing to do with the growth or longevity of trees. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 13 ^fr. Weir here introduced iiiid read a paper upon " Tree Cul- ture," and took the position that one cause of the loss of our orchard trees is due to a radical chanf^e in the kinds, or species of grasses or vegetation growths; many of the original grasses having becouie almost (if not entirely) extinct, while new sorts, less friendly to tree growth, have taken their places. Added to this, we have insect work, climatic changes, and the results of overbearing. But the horticulturist has prol)ably passed the great crisis in his occupation, and the future is pregnant with hope. Mr. Lathrop — I do not agree with Mr. Weir as to the effect of grasses upon our orchards, (to west into our Territories, where tame grasses have never been introduced, what is it there that injures our orchard trees? Mr. Weir — Climate changes. ] )r. Lyman Hall — Some trees are so vigorous in growth as to keep down or kill whatever attempts to grow beneath them, but trees of less vigor cannot do this. Then I take the position that it makes a great difference as to the kind of stock which we do our grafting on, a hardy stock is certainly an advantage. J. T. Johnson — A sound, health}' root is certainly necessary, but my observation leads me to the conclusion that the top controls the root, if not the whole stock. At two years old you cannot tell what was the character of the root used in grafting; a Ben Davis will show Ben Davis roots, etc., etc. C. X. Dennis — (holding in his hand a tree of one year's growth) — This tree was planted April 19, 1886. You see it has made a good growth and (splitting the root and stock) is perfectly sound. I do not know what the root w^as. I use sound roots only, and find no difficulty in growing sound trees. H. D. Brown — (holding up two trees, one a root graft and the other a stock budded tree.) We are sometimes told that a rout grafted tree has a small patch of dead wood at the junction of root and scion, and that the budded tree is sound, but you will observe that such is not the fact. This root-grafted tree is perfectly sound, while the budded tree shows a small patch of dead wood at the point of junction. As a rule I consider root-grafted trees equal to any other. 14 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS J. V. Cotta — The trouble is not in the root. They are nearly always sound. What we need is a sound stock and top. I assert that if we use such hardy stocks as Whitneys No. 20 or Duchess, for three or more feet above ground, the tender top kinds will be influenced thereby, and prove more hard}^ in consequence of this top working. A Member — Do you know of any old trees so top-worked? If so, what are they doing? Mr. Cotta — Yes ! A. R. Whitney, of Lee County, Illinois, has many trees over twenty years old that are top-worked. He has had good success with them. Mr. Lathrop — In 1865 I took roots of hardy nursery trees (two to four years old) out of blue grass sod. These I top-worked, and to-day they are hardy trees. In Iowa we have determined to give hardy stocks a full and fair trial, and we intend to have these stocks grown from hardy seeds and top-worked upon something like " Iowa Blush." A. H. Gaston — Salome is the most wonderfully hardy of all of our orchard trees, even more hardy than Snow. Mr. John Shank — I use only scions from trees in perfect health and condition, and by careful selection of scions, and attention to size and form of fruit borne by the parent tree, I believe that I im- prove the size, form and quality of the fruit. This, I believe, is the true road to success. G. W. Minier — Do you prefer old trees for scions? Mr. Shank — Yes! The oldest sound trees I can find. Dr. Hall — Is the fungi upon the foliage of our orchard trees the result of a loss of foliage? or does it cause the loss of foliage? Mr. Cotta — Fungi is possibly the result of previous injuries. Mr. Milo Barnard — I move that our sessions open at 9 a. m. and at 2 and 7 ^. m. Carried. Adjourned. the STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 15 T V ESD A Y A FTE 1 { NOON. President Brvuiit having arrived, occnpied the chair and read PRESIDEXTS ANNUAL ADDRESS. In response to our call we have assembled to celebrate the thirty-tirst annual session according to our rules and customs. You are expecting an address from your presiding otficer. Speaking in })ublic is not my forte, so I will beg your kind indulgence while I make a few remarks, promising not to consume much of your valu- ul)le time. Tn taking a retrospective view of horticulture and horti- cultural work in this state, considering the crude materials that the founders of our first associations had to work with, and the obstacles they had to overcome, we are almost amazed at the strides this study has taken in the last twenty-five or thirty years, and are led to wonder if the next quarter of a century will see as much advance- ment. From its first organization oiir society has been one of the most successful in the land. Its founders were men who worked for the love of their profession and the good of the community rather than for the gain that was to be derived from it. At that time the nomenclature of our fruits was in a condition that might well be termed cJidotic. Horticulturists were at sea as to what varieties were suitable for our soil and climate, and many were unbelievers in the success of fruit growing iu the west. To correct these errors and solve the pr(»l)lenis of fruit growing in general was the task they had to perform. For proof of how faithfully they did their work. I refer you to the published proceed- ings of this Society, which are eagerly sought for and read by emi- nent horticulturists all over our country. Much of the value of these volumes is due to the editor. Our Society has been very fortu- nate in securing the services of such aide men for secretaries. Men who have spared neither time nor lal)or to make the reports full and of interest to all. We feel that much credit is due thejn for the faithfulness and ability with which they have performed their work, a large jxirtion of it being labor for which they received no adequate .comj)ensation. Tiuit much good has been accomplished by our societ}' through the earnest labors of its members is shown by the quantities of fruit that are grown and consumed every year, and the train-loads of ber- ries that are sent to our principal nuirkets. But the labor of investigation and research has but just begun. Heretofore it has mostly been carried on by individual enterprise 16 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS and expense. This must necessarily be unsatisfactory in many cases, as the time, means and facilities for its proper consummation were lacking. To accomplish the best results and bring them into practical use, this '' art that does mend nature " must call in the aid of science to help solve many of the problems that are constantly presenting themselves- before her. The attention of the members of this Society has been called at different times to the necessity of horticultural Experimental Sta- tions to carry out this work. No one will deny that we have need of some place where carefully conducted expei'iments may be carried on with all necessary mechanical and chemical appliances at hand. It would seem to be time that we as a State were taking some decided action in this matter. Several of the adjoining States are far ahead of us in this respect. And we — one of the largest and richest States in the Union, who have always claimed precedence in horticultural matters — in accomplishing this end, cannot afford to be lagging behind for want of a little energy and push. Heretofore there has been a good deal of talk en this subject, but as yet it has resulted in nothing. I am not now prepai'ed to recommend any special plan or mode of procedure. There seems to be a general feeling that some definite ac- tion should be taken. If we can indicate what we want, and show good reasons for what we ask; make the people and our Representatives see the necessity of this work, and the great advantages to be de- rived from it, I think we shall have no difficulty in inducing our Executive and Representatives to assist us in any reasonable way. A bill for the purpose of establishing " Experimental Agricul- tural Stations," in connection with our Agricultural Colleges, is be- fore the present Congress. This subject seems to be exciting a great deal of interest in many places, and is, evidently, a step in the right direction. One good feature of this measure is, that the experiments in the different stations will most likely be conducted on the same general plan; allowing a systematic cooperation between the different stations, thus making their work mutually beneficial. Whether it is best for us to wait for the general Government to provide the ways and means in this matter, or take hold of it as a State work, is for you to consider and decide. I would recommend that some special time be set apart for the consideration of this subject, with a view to taking definite action in the matter. In former meetings we were wont to recount the profits and successes, which we were liable to realize from fruit-growing; and much of our time was given to indicate the varieties of fruit for market and the best methods of growing it. The day for specula- tion in fruit-growing has gone by. In this business, as in most others, the making of a fortune in a few years is a thing of the past. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 1< While this commercial view of the matter was all right then, and is nou\ to a certain extent, would it not he well to give more consideration to the needs of the family orchard and fruit garden? True, in many jtlaces the markets furnish a large sujtply of fruits in their season, hut the farmer needs his fruit supply at home, where it can he had for the gathering, when wanted. Not to he considered a luxury hut a necessary part of the daily fare, in its season. There are many other suhjects that I might call your attention to, among others, the great destruction of our orchards in the north- ern half of the state, and the couseiiuent discouragement of most of the planters. But 1 will not detain you, merely saying, as we pass, that I have strong faith that we, even in the northern portion of the state, will yet grow apples for our own supply, and that those who plant nou\ will l)e likely to reap a fair reward. As a Society we have not been called to part with any of our active members during the past year, though many of them are pass- ing into the " sere and yellow leaf " of life. This should remind us that we should make special efforts to in- terest the younger members of our community in this work, prepar- ing them, not only to take our places, but to do far better than we have done. Sincerely hoping that, as they have had the ])ioneer work done for them, they may receive and realize more of the pleasure and jirofits of Horticulture than we have done. On motion of C. N. Dennis, E. A. Riehl and Milo Barnard were appointed a Committee on the President's Address. SEORKTARY'S REPORT. The Secretary presented the following report, which was, on motion, referred to the Executive Board: Mr. President and Fellow Members: T will not occui)y valuable time by giving in detail the routine work of the Secretary's office, but only say that it is constantly in- creasing, and that the work of corresjxuulence aiul gathering and disseminating information on some of the many (juestions that in- terest fruit-growers has beeii greater than ever before. But on the whole it has been a ])leasant work, and I only regret that I have not been able to accomjilish more and In'ing at least five hundred mem- bers into this meeting. Tt is to be regretted that our membership, anil conse(|uently the distriijution of our reports, is contiiu'd to less than half the counties in the State. In these benighted counties we find no Horticultural societies, and very few. if anj'. Farmers' clubs. We -dso find tli;it 3 18 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS less then one-fourth of the owners of farms grow an adequate supply of apples or garden vegetables for the use of their families, and less than five per cent, grow the different varieties of small fruit, and perhaps even a smaller number do anything in the line of ornamental horticulture. I know that this branch of our work is by some thought to be of minor importance, but when we remember how barren and cheerless so many of our rural homes are, with no healthful fruit or grateful shade or fragrant flowers to min- ister to the wants of the dissatisfied dwellers therein, we understand the necessity for this work, as well as that of economic horticulture. The necessity for missionary work in these unexplored portions of our State is therefore apparent, and the question, how can it best be done, is now before us. If we have the means at hand to print and distribute five or six thousand copies of our report and put them in the hands of the right men, it would at once arouse an interest in our work. Local societies, either horticultural or agricultural, or agricultural and horticultural combined, should be multiplied a hun- dred fold, and it is the province of the State Society to lend a help- ing hand in this work. It has occurred to me that if the members of the Executive Board were authorized to respond to calls for as- sistance informing such organizations, as well as to visit and encour- age existing societies, it would result in good to the locality visited, as well as the cause in general. Here, too, our ad intermi committee might do good work, and if they could be induced to spend a month each year in visiting these — horticultural — dark corners, instead of the fruit-growing centres, and assist in organizing local societies, and urge fruit-growers and farmers to attend our annual meetings, and bring specimens of fruit and vegetables to our exhibitions, we should soon find the former increasing in number and interest, and the lat- ter something to be proud of. The question of testing the seedling fruits that are springing up all over the state, is one worthy of our consideration. My atten- tion has been called to this subject by the numerous samples of seedlings aud unknown fruits that have, during the season, been sent me with the request to examine and give an opinion of their value. There is probably not a county in the State in which a number of seedling apple trees cannot be found that have stood the test of the late crucial winters and annually bear good crops of fruit, and in some instances very fine fruit. Quite a number of these valuable seedlings were exhibited at our last meeting of the fruit-growers of Southern Illinois, and we hope and expect to again see them on our tables here. In the month of September I received an interesting collection of seedlings from Dr. Hall, of Savoy, which were placed in the hands of one of the members of the Committee on New Fruits, who will doubtless refer to them in his report. Hancock County has given to the world two valuable new apples, the Wythe and Monte Bell'o, specimens of which may be found on our exhib- STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 19 tion tables. These varieties have l)y twenty years' cultivation been jtroved to be hardy, reasonably productive, good in ([uality, and ad- mirably ada})ted to the family orchard. It is very desirable that a canvass be made of these seedlings that have proved to be hardy, productive and fair in quality, and when this is done, as it must and will be in the near future, we shall be astonished at the result. About sixty years ago, a resident of Kentucky concluded to emigrate to Illinois, and among his household goods was a wooden churn, in which he packed a half-dozen seedling apple trees. These trees were planted in the virgin soil of the Prairie State, and in due time bore fruit — one in particular producing an apple of rare beauty and keeping qualities, which was propagated by local nurserymen, and soon became popular in that neighborhood, but for thirty-five years was unknown twenty-five miles from home. This was the well-known, much-lauded and much-abused Ben Davis. I have little doubt but there are seedlings now growing in Illinois that will in time ))ecome as popular as the Ben Davis in its palmiest 419 . 90 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 29 RECEIPTS. Order 243 S S.Vo Order 252 30.95 Order 253 150.00 Received Five Membership Fees 5. 00** Received for Seven 1 Jooks Sold 7 . OO Total .55201 .70 Balance due the Secretary $218.00 The Treasurer submitted the following report, which was, on motion, referred to the following committee: T. G. Goodrich, Ira Coe and .1. \. Cotta: TREASURER'S REPORT. Mr. President and Members of the Illinois State Ilorticultural Society : I present the following report of money received and paid for the year commencing December 10th, 1885, to December 13th, 1886: H. K. Vic'KROY, Treasurer. In account With the Illinois State Horticultural Society. RECEIPTS, Balance from 1885 $ 714.37 Membership fees 7fl . 00 State appropriation 2,000.00— $2,793.37 disbursements. No. of Order. Feb. 20, 1886— James T. Johnson 205 5 14.75 Dec. 10, 1885— James T. Jolnisou 207 63.00 Dec. 10, 188.5— R. W. Niel 208 10.00 Dec 10, 1885— W. R. Grain 200 18.00 Dec. 10, 1885— F. W. Thompson 210 24.00 Dec. 10, 1885— Geo. Gould 211 20.00 Dec. 10, 1885— A. C. Ilanmiond 212 46.00 Dec. 10, 1885— Jules Charpentier 213 5.00 Dec. 10, 1885— L. Hedden 214 0.00 Dec. 10, 1885— J. Webster & Son 215 7.00 Dec. 10, 1885— Jacob Auer 2ir) 7 .00 Dec. 10, 1885— E. A. Rielil 217 14.00 Dec. 10, 188.5— E. Ilollister 218 14.00 Dec. 10, 1885— J. S. Browne 219 3.00 Dec. 10, 1885— R. C. Berry 220 2.00 Dec. 10, 1885— .S. F. Conner 221 2.00— .S260.75 30 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Amount brought forward $260 . 75 Dec. 10, 1885— Dr. H. Schroeder 222 ;] .00 Dec. 10, 188.5— B. Pullen 223 1.00 Dec. 10, 1885— B. F. Primm 224 4.(K) Dec. 10, 1885— John M. Pearson 225 23 . 75 Dec. 10, 1885— E. A. Riehl 226 12.35 Dec. 10, 1885— A. Bryant 227 14. .36 Dec. 10, 1.885— J. S. Browne 228 8.70 Dec. 10, 1885— C. N. Dennis 229 16.55 Dec. 10, 1885— A. C. Hammond 230 12 . 60 Dec. 10, 1885— A. C. Hammond 231 3.90 Dec. 10, 1885— T. J. Burrill 232 8.99 Dec. 10, 1885— Miss Bessie Nash 233 20.00 Dec. 10, 1885— H. M. Dunlap 234 25.00 Dec. 10, 188.5— n. M. Dunlap 235 10.20 Dec. 10, 1885— H. K. Vickroy 236 49.71 Dec. 10, 1885— A. C. Hammond 237 229 . 91 Jan. 8, 1886— John M. Pearson 238 15 . 05 Jan. 8, 1886— J. S Browne 239 13.25 Jan. 8, 1886— A. Bryant 240 9.25 Jan. 7, 1886— A. C. Hammond 241 13.05 Jan. 7, 1886-C. N. Dennis 242 10.20 Jan, 7, 1886— A. C. Hammond 243 S . 95 Feb. 1, 1886— D. H. Barrett 244 10.00 Veh. 1, 1886-F. K. Vial 245 5.00 Feb. 12, 1886— Phil Dallam. 246 19.00 Mch. 18, 1886— L. Woodward 247 50 . 00 Mch. 18, 1886-H. G. McPike 248 50.00 Mch. 18, 1886— J. V. Cotta 249 6. .34 April 19, 1886— C. N. Dennis 250 14.25 April 3, 1886— J. W. Franks & Sons 251 767.22 Feb. 6, 1886— A. C. Hammond .-..252 30.95 June 5, 1886— A. C. Hammond 253 1.50.00 June 5, 1886— C. C. Hoppe 2.54 50.00 Dec. .3, 1886— James Davis 255 23.46 Dec. 8, 1886— Phil Dallam 256 33.75-$l,991 .49 Balance $801 .88 Respectfully submitted, H. K. YICKROY, Treasurer. The report of the Standing Committee on Vegetable Gardening being called for, the following paper by Mr. Andrew Washburn was read by James T. Johnson: STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 31 A'EGETABLE GARDEXIXG. BY AXDREW WASHBURN. }/!)•. President and }r('mbers of the Illinois Horticultural Societt/: In compliance with your Secretary's request for an article upon ^' Vegetable Gardening,*' I have written the following few items from a gardener's " way of looking at it," at the same time thinking that he who grows vegetables '' only for home use " may gather from it something that may be helpful to him in providing for his family some of the good, fresh vegetables that will add so much to their health and comfort. To grow vegetables successfully requires very rich ground, and the profits of the crop can usually be determined by the amount of manure used and the previous careful preparation of the land. Par- ticularly is this true of the early maturing vegetables, and land can hardly be made too rich to grow early cabbage, cauliflower, onions from setts for bunching, beets, etc., and the main reliance to fertil- ize our land must be upon manure from the stables. This, when de- composed and heavily applied, and thoroughly incorporated with the «oil, gives the desired fertility to a great extent, and a good mechan- ical condition to the land that well fits it for vegetable growth. Added to this, I have found profit in using some good commercial fertilizer to give the crops a quick and vigorous ''send-ofP." As the scope of an article of this kind must be necessarilv lim- ited and can not cover the whole range of vegetables in all their varieties, I shall speak more particular^ of early cabbage and its culture as given by market-gardeners, for this is a crop second to no other in importance in the market-garden : and if any gardener would establish a reputation with his fellow " truckers '" as being a gardener "as is a gardener" he perhaps can do it more easily by making a success of growing early cabbage and celery than in any other wiiv. Many who raise but few cabbages for family use often mani- fest their surprise and seem to think that there must be some slight ot hand ])erformance that enables gardeners to have cabbage in the market before their plants even make a show of heading, though they planted the earliest and most forward plants they could raise or buy, and tended them, as they supposed, in the most approved manner. Land, to be piantcil with cabbage, cauliflower, (»nion setts, beets, etc., for the early market in summer, should be plowed in the fall. and manured at the rate of not less than seventy-five to one liuii- dred two-horse lojids ]»er acre of well rotted manure. In the spring the same ground should have an application of some good commer- cial fertilizer at the rate of one thousand pounds or more j)er acre. I shall use a fertilizer that comes from our packing house, consist- 3iL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS ing of the offal of the slaughtered hogs, which is thoroughly cooked, submitted to a great pressure to extract the grease, and comes from the press almost devoid of moisture, and all of which, even the bones, crumble very easily. This we haul after the packing season begins and mix with its own bulk or more of earth, and is shoveled over once or twice as opportunity permits in order that it may be thoroughly mixed. And this we apply in the spring by the aid of a Kemp's Manure Spreader (which, by the way, is a most excellent implement.) The ground is then thoroughly cultivated and har- rowed, marked off and planted; and this can usually be done as soon as the frost is out of the ground and the land in dry enough condi- tion to work. For early cabbage we plant the Early Jersey Wakefield variety, in rows three feet apart, and the plants sixteen inches apart in the rows. For second early, Henderson's Early Summer is grown in rows three feet apart, and twenty inches apart in the rows. Later varieties for succession are grown on less highly manured ground, and given more room. Formerly we wintered over fall grown plants in cold frames, but many times we lost a large per centage by ex- treme weather, mice, etc., and by many going to seed after setting in the field and forming no heads; 7Wir, most gardeners, in the vicinity of Bloomington, grow their plants in hot-beds, or forcing-houses, sowing the seeds about the first of February in shallow boxes, and transplanting the plants in similar boxes in about three or four weeks; after which they are placed in cold frames and hardened off. In transplanting, we row them both ways, in the boxes, in rows, about two and a half inches apart each way, and when ready for planting in the field, they are thoroughly watered and taken to the field, in the boxes, and a knife drawn each way between the plants, and the plants taken up with a block of earth attached to them, and in this way they hardly feel the change, seldom wilting at all, and start im- mediately to grow. I think this way of planting, rather than the way we formerly pursued of planting with the dibber, will make nearly a week's difference in the maturity of the crop. Then, with good cultivation, which means that no weeds are to be allowed to grow, and the ground well stirred with a cultivator at least once a week, we usually begin to cut cabbage and cauliflower (which we grow in the same way) from the first to the tenth of June, and the land is cleared in time to be followed by celery, or some other crop that will mature in the fall. Land that has been used for cabbage one season, is planted the next with onions, sowing three drills with seed, and planting every fourth drill with onion sets, radishes or beet plants, which we grow and handle in the same way we do cabbage plants. These are marketed in bunches as soon as they are large enough. By the side of the rows of sets, etc., as near as it will do (say about three inches), we plant celery, which can be done at any time when the weather is favorable. The onions, from the seed, are STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 33 off in August in time to give the celery a chance to make itself. In this way by growing the first season cabbage and celery, and the next season onions and celery, we expect to obtain our reward for the heavy manuring tlie ground receives for the first crop. I have had the best success in growing vegetables from seeds purchased of the smaller seedsmen, who grow the seeds they sell. As a rule the seeds purchased of the larger dealers are less sure to germinate, slower in germinating when they do grow, and not as true to name. The list of vegetables cultivated for the last few years comprise nearly all the varieties of vegetables of merit, though the praises of some new varieties are being extensively advertised, and probably some of them deservedly so. As I grow vegetables for market. I am somewhat shy of the newer varieties, and ])lant sparingly of them at first, and with reason, for I have been often deceived, and prefer to plant those kinds that stood the test of other 3'ears, and have proved themselves to be worthy of cultivation. Of the newer varieties tried this year 1 will speak of the Beauty torn -to. which resembles very much the Acme in color and shape, with me, growing a little larger and being some later, and on the whole not as profitable as the Acme for the market gardener, who cares more for earliness than size. Still I think they are a variety of considerable merit, and shall plant some again, for they may do bet- ter next time. This region suffered very severely from drouth the past summer. With the exception of a few light showers, we had no rain after about the first of June. The effect of this dry state of the atmos- ])here has been to burn up the grass, and to shorten very much all the late vegetables. Late potatoes, cabbage, turnips and celery being almost failures. And this calls our attention to the need of artificial watering. If any of the members of this society have had any exjie- rience in watering small fruits, or vegetaljles. that was attended with success and profit, I know there are many who would lie glad to know of tlit'ir experience. DiscrssioN. iJr. Hall — I have a neighbor who sets onions in the fall — say October 1st — for the crop of the coming year. Mr. Webster — In Southern Illinois we often ])lant a crop of onions in the fall. We grow this way both the summer and winter varieties; but when very young the two sorts look very much alike. Mr. Grain — Plant onions in the fall, on carefully prepared land, but always mulfh thfni for winter protection. 4 34 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Mr. Brown — Let us know how to grow celery, without so much hard work. Mr. Doan — Yes! Let us hear how the famous Kalamazoo mar- ket gardeners grow celery? Mr. Browne — At Kalamazoo it is grown On reclaimed swamp- lands^ so near the water level that the supply of moisture is constant. It is cultivated in rows, and in order to have a succession of crops is planted at several periods of the season. As the plant grows the earth is kept drawn up to the stalk, and when of sufficient size a board is set at each side of the rows to protect and to bleach it for market, Mr. Doan — A cheap process is to keep the earth drawn up dar- ing the growing season, and in the fall tie the tops lightly and re- move to the cellar for winter use. Mr. Webster — I have no difficulty in growing celery for family use. For protection from the sun, I plant alternate rows of celery and butter beans, — this (with us) is essential to success. When the plants are large enough we remove to the trenches and plank up or mulch for bleaching. When the season favors, we have good suc- cess. I get the best results from growing the half dwarf. Moisture is the great need of the crop, but we should never handle it while wet. Mr. Mason — I grow celery from plants set in old bottomless tin cans. As the plants grow I draw the can up with the plant, keeping the dirt drawn up after it. In the fall we remove to boxes, and put into the cellar for winter. " The nearer the pump, the better the celery." Mr. Hay — I know a man — Mr. Holly — who can grow celery, but he won't talk celery. Men that succeed don't seem to talk much. ("I am always talking.") I can raise, but cannot keep it. Mr. Hay presented a request from Dr. P. G. Gillett, Superinten- dent of the Illinois Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, inviting the Society to visit the Institution to-morrow at 7:30 a. m., which invi- tation was accepted, and notice given that street cars would call ac- cordingly at Pacific Hotel and "The Park" for the accommodation of all the members. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 35 A1)-1NTK111M REPORT— NORTHERN ILLINOIS. BY MILO BARNARD, MANTENO. Mr. President and Members of the Illinois Horticultural Society: Being one to whom the Ad-interim work for the Northern i)art of the State was assigned, and unable to find a substitute, 1 was forced to undertake the work myself. The year 1880 has been, taken as a whole, rather encouraging to the horticulturist, mainly, of course, in the small fruit line, as this, including the grape, is now our main dependence for home- grown fruit. Strawberries were a grand success, both in quantity and quality — shortened slightly in some localities by the drought. l\'uspl)erries yielded fairly, but the weather was too dry for a full rrop, except in favorable locations. Currants and gooseberries did well, when Ihe currant worm let them alone; but this pest was more destructive in my locality than T ever knew them. Blackbarries, while green, were a sight to see. Never before had we seen such a pros])ect for fruit; but the drought continued, and after a few pick- ings the Ijerries were hard, dry and tasteless and not half their usual size. Where the ground was heavily mulched, the crop was fair to good, showing the great benefit derived from this mode of culture. But the grape was our trump card, excelling all other kinds of fruit, both in quantity and quality. Never since the oldest inhab- itant settled this country have we grown such a grape crop. It made no diffprcnce where the vines were, or how trained, or whether they had any training or j)runiiig, or left to take care of themscdves, they were all loaded with fruit, on stakes, trellis, trees, fences, build- ings, or on the ground, it was all the same. The dry weather and scorching sun, that dried n\) the blackberries and wilted the corn leaves, seemed only to make the gra])e laugh and grow fat, for the absence of moisture not only prevented mildew and rot, but added a sweetness and richness never known before. Tt was not only the hardy varieties, such as Concord, Moore's Early, Martha, and those of like hardiness that did well, but the hybrids and more tender sorts did ecpudly well, retaining their foliage uiitil killed by frost and ripening splendid clusters of fruit. This season has abundantly proved that at least two of onr most common kinds of fruit, the grape and the blackberry, require exactly ojjposite climatic conditions for their jierfect develo])ment — the grape requiring dry. hot weather, the blackberry moist and co(d. Here is certainly proper and legitimate work for an Ex j)eii merit Station, to teach us how to obtain both of these conditions at the same time, on the same farm. 36 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS But what shall I say of the apple, the king of northern fruits? What of our ruined orchards and blasted hopes? I have this much to report, that our trees are still dead. While thinking of this mat- ter and wondering if the old story could be retold in any way to make it interesting or profitable, it was suggested by members of our Society that a visit be made to the Experimental Station, either in Iowa or Michigan, and pry into the working of the institution a little, with the view of pressing the claims of Illinois for a similar establishment, providing it seemed to be a good thing. And it seemed to be the wish of those I consulted that I should go. I therefore, on October 14th, paid a visit to Prof. Budd, of Ames, Iowa, thinking their locality, climate, and soil being similar to ours, their experiments would be more advantageous than would those of the Michigan College. I found the Professor in his school-room, teaching horticulture to one of his classes. He bade me be seated until they finished the lesson. He then took me in hand, and I soon realized the feelings of the man who said that Prof. Budd did not take to horticulture, but horticulture took to him, as naturally as the sparks fly upward, for he seems a living, walking cyclopedia of horticultural knowledge, with the history of every tree and shrub on his grounds at his tongues end. I think Iowa is to be congratulated on having the right man in the right place, for if he is not earning his passage money I know not who is, for a harder worked man lives not in Iowa, and from present appearances, and in all human probabilit}^ the work he is inaugurating will in the near future be worth millions to his adopted State. The Agricultural College of Iowa was founded in the year 1869, on the European plan as far as experiments are concerned, the ex- penses at first being all paid from the interest on the fund with which the college is endowed, this being divided amongst the horti- cultural and other divisions of the farm and college work by a board of trustees. The horticultural department has about the same relation to the agricultural that it usually does on a farm, or about the same as at our University in Champaign. And the Professor said he could do nothing in the way of experiments with such a small and uncertain amount of means; so he went before the Legislature and succeeded in getting an appropriation of $1,500 — half to be used in horticul- tural work; the other half to go to the agricultural department. With this small sum of $750 he has done all the work in his line, or until he had trees, scions and plants to spare. He is now able to add to this fund by sale of stock. To the question, what actual benefits have the people at large derived from this institution, he said they were deriving great benefits from the students who have taught scientific and practical horticulture, and have gone out into all 2)arts of the State and the Northwest to put in practice the knowl- STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 37 edge gained, for the nuitnal benefit of themselves and those amongst whom they cast their U)ts. And a further benefit is derived from the new varieties of trees (new to this country) now growing in an experimental way at the eight hundred sub-stations in Iowa. Some of these fruits will un- doubtedly prove valuable, and all parts of the State will soon be sup- plied with at least a few varieties suited to the different localities. And while we freely admit the money value of this Experimental Station, it is to the people at large that we should look for improve- ment in the future. It is undoubtedly coming and soon will be real- ized, for we are hiying a foundation on which will be reared a super- structure that will be worth millions in the Northwest, to say noth- ing of enhanced comfort, health, beauty and refinement that must necessarily follow a successful and enlightened horticulture, and which can not be computed in dollars and cents. In relation to the eight hundred sub-stations I will say that eighteen are under the supervision of the State Horticultural Society (all others report to Prof. Budd), the members thereof selecting the localities and the parties to conduct the experiments, who are sup- plied with stock best adapted to the different parts of the State from the home station at Ames, the different parties being required to give good care and culture and report success from time to time, and in certain cases to furnish scions or plants for other parties. And the professor further says there is, in his opinion, great things in store for Southern Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, as far south as tile apple tree is liable to winter-kill, in seedlings grown from cross-fertilization, using the hardy Russian stock as a foundation and building u])on it with our long-keeping winter varieties. In this way he thinks we can get a winter apple of sufficient hardiness for the localities above mentioned. They have only recently, within a year or two, started on this branch of work. Question — Has experience suggested any changes that would be beneficial in starting a station of this kind? Answer — Yes, if the State could be induced to appropriate 84,000 or $5,000 for this purpose if would be eminently beneficial. Then something could be done proportionate to the needs of a State like Illinois, and the i)arties ccniducting the experiments would not be hampered for means, and could make available the benefits aris- ing from such a station much sooner than they could if compelled first to earn the greater portion of the money with which to ])rose- cute the work. As my visit to Ames was to investigate the practical workings of the institution, it will not be expected that I can say much in de- tail about varieties, but will say in a general way that the i)rofessor is growing a large amount of stock; doing all the wi.. in com|)any with President Wilson, we went to Grand Army Hall, where the meeting was held. Here I was duly introduced to the meeting as an accredited delegate from the State Society of Ill- inois. We found A. E. Van Deman, of Geneva, Kansas; J. C. Plumb and J. K. Jewett, of Wisconsin; and that old veteran, Peter M. Oideon. of Minnesota (the originator of the Wealthy Apple), as visiting delegates. Iowa is divided into twelve districts and a direc- tor assigned to each district, who reports the status of horticultural interest in his district; and were I to follow out the report of each, my paper would he far too long, so I will generalize. Apples were re|)orted as more or less injured throughout the State, and very badly so throughout the eastern and northern portions. There was a portion of the southwestern, and e.^tendiug u]) into, perhaps, southern central Iowa, where they had an abundant crop of fruit; but in most of the State very little, aiul in some parts none. The State is also divided into tliree districts. Northern, Central and South- ern, with standing committees to report varieties for cultivation. These reports brought out much discussion, as the northern district reported only Duchess, Whitney and Tetofsky: and after being dis- cussed from the stand-point of natives and Russians, and an addi- tion made to the committee, it was referred back for reconsidera- tion and finally reported and adopted with the addition of Wealthy to the list. Central list was for Sununer: Duchess, Sops of Wine, Benoni, Coles Quince, Sweet June. Fall: Wealthy, Fall-Orange, Dyer, Famuse. Autumn Strawberry. Flory BellHower, Jiowell and Maiden's Blush. Winter: Willow, Ben Davis, Pewaukee, Ro- man Stem, Jonathan, Walbridge, Seever, Sheriff and Tallman's Sweet. 48 TKANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS This report was adopted but was objected to by some as recommend- ing some varieties that would not stand the exposure on the prairies, although good in favorable localities, and being too extended. Southern, Summer: Duchess, Red Astrachan and Whitney. Fall: Lowell, Fall Orange, Wealthy and Famuse. Winter: Roman Stem, Grimes' Golden, White Pippen, Ben Davis, Janet, Jonathan and Willow. Now please remember that these reports are all from a latitude quite a number of miles north of where we are to-day, and an almost entirely prairie country. They have suifered severely but are not disheartened, and are offering magnificent premiums for new, good and hardy varieties. Plums: Miner, DeSoto, Forest Gar- den and Wild Goose. Cherries: Early Richmond and English Mor- relo most generall}^ favored. Grapes: Concord, W^orden, Moores. Early, Martha, Pocklington and Coe. StraAvberries: Crescent, Chas. Downing, Wilson, Glendale and Red Jacket. Raspberries: Greg"', Tyler, Souhegan, Turner, Cuthbert. Shaffer's Colossal, Mammoth Cluster and Doolittle. Blackberry: Snyder. Currants: Red Dutch, White Dutch, White Grape, Victoria, Fay and Long Bunch Holland. Gooseberries: Haughton and Downing. Pears had stood the winters but succumbed to blight. And a word in regard to recommending lists for planting. It has seemed to me impracticable, unless taken with a great amount of consideration, and I was more firmly impressed by seeing the energy with which these reports were attacked by members from different localities, even in one State, but when we consider that they are liable to be seen and followed by amateurs, far beyond State limits, may they not do more harm than good. M. Vincent said, in a paper, that hardiness is capable to withstand blight and drouth as well as ex- treme cold, and much can be determined by leaf and bark as to their capabilities. C. G. Patten and R. P. Speer read very able and care- fully prepared papers on Plant Breeding, claiming that by cross-fer- tilization, judiciously and carefully managed, a race of fruits can be produced which will be hardy and productive, drawing their conclu- sions from the reports of able scientists, tracing the breeding of an- imals and plants for ages past, and reasoning from what has been to what may be. In propagating grapes, W. C. Haviland makes cuttings in the fall, buries them, lops downward, with about four inches of dirt over the butts, and when ready to plant, takes them up and soaks them from twelve to twenty-four hours before planting. Iowa being so predominantly a prairie State, very naturally much stress and study is given to planting windbreaks, especially evergreens, for protection and ornament, and this is something deserv- ing much more attention on the prairies of Illinois than it receives. During the meeting, intelligence was received of the death of the veteran horticulturist, Suel Foster, of Muscatine, and resolutions of respect were passed, and t would recommend that, at this our first STATE HOIiTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 49 meeting, since the occurence of the loss of one so well known, par- ticularly in the north part of Illinois, that saitahle resolutions be placed upon the records of our society and forwarded to the family. And, finally, any one who can obtain a copy of their transac- tions, or attend one of their meetings, can find much to instruct, and will be convinced that Towa horticulturists are alive, energetic and bound to succeed. DI8C'USSI0X. Mr. Lathrop — I am scirry to say to the rest of the world that the north third of the State of Iowa can name only four apples which are hardy enough for that section of the State, and these four are only fall apples, when grown in Central Illinois. But I am pleased to report that Iowa is experimenting, and will yet surely succeed in growing an abundance of apples. We have been stimulated by the good results obtained by that faithful veteran in horticulture, Mr. Peter Gideon, of Minnesota, and I would commend the example of that enterprising State in making liberal appropriations for experi- mental work. Mr. Stark, Mo. — Mr. Gideon is evidently on the right track, and now has varieties that he considers more hardy than Wealthy. Mr. Dennis read from the report of the Towa Horticultural So- ciety the resolutions of respect to the memory of the late Suel Fos- ter, as adopted by that body, and moved that so much of said resolu- tions, as may be found applicable, be spread upon the records of this society. They are as follows: IN MKMOHI.V.M. WiiEUKAS, The sad intelligence reaches us that God, in His inscrutable providence, has called to his reward our long eminent co-lab(irer. lion, Suel Foster, of .Muscatine, one of the founders of the Iowa State Horticultural Society, and ex-president and director and honorary meniljer from its organ- ization. One of the eminent pioneers fast passing away, whose loss will fall heaviest in the cu'cle of church and family, where his life was exemplary and engaging, therefore, be it JiStatc Horticidtardl Society: At a regular meeting of the City Council, held at the City Hall, the following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That the representative from this city to the State Horticul- tural Society extend an invitation to said Society to hold its next annual meeting in the city of ('arthage. S. W. Mkuhill, City ("lerk. I will withdraw the invitation to Hamilton in favor of Carthage. 56 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS President Bryant — I have just received a communication from Princeton, inviting the Society to hold its next annual meeting in that city, and as it is some time since we have met in that j)art of the state I hope it may be favorably considered. A ballot resulted in favor of Princeton by a small majority. President — T now desire to introduce to the Society Mr. G. J. Kellogg, a delegate from the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Mr. Kellogg — I consider your time worth ten dollars a minute, and will not therefore occupy much of it. Thirty years ago I thought 1 knew all about growing apples, but now I find that I know but little, and I have come all the way down into Illinois to learn Horticulture. Upon the tables in the adjacent rooms I find an immense collection of the luscious fruits which you produce; but among these beautiful and tempting specimens I find that little devil (pardon the expression), the curculio; either devil or curculio are very hard names, but I only wish that some one could give it a name that would kill it entirely. ' On motion of Mr. Cotta, Mr. Kellogg was made an honorary member of the Society. The following report, by Hon. Samuel Edwards, was read by Mr. James T. Johnson. STRAWBERllY CULTURE. BY SAMUEL EDWARDS. Early spring, as a general rule, is the time to plant strawberries, though the work is successfully done at any time after the fruit is gathered until October, — if there is an unusual amount of rain, — September, better than earlier. When to be grown in matted rows, with a little pains in direct- ing and layering the runners, they may as well be set at four feet apart in the row as one foot — the distance generally recommended — thus making a very material saving in cost of plants and planting, so much that it is advisable to renew them every two years, being cheaper than to clean out old plantations. Crescent is still the variety most commonly seen, but the past season Bubach's No. 5, and Warfield's No. 2, were abundant in the Mendota market from the originators, and by their large size, fine appearance and good quality, caused much excitement. They sold readily at fifty per cent, more than other varieties. Seeds of them were planted and we may look for greater things than these. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 57 Descriptions of the two varieties named are enclosed, to be in- corporated ill this report; als(j an iii(|iiiry from W. H. Holmes, Esq., of Davenport, Iowa, as to the amount of unleached ashes that can be readily used on strawberry plants. My own experience has been only with the leached ashes, liberally applied and result satisfactory. PiiiNCETON, III.. Nov. 17, LS86. Dear Friend : Your card askiiij? for a full descrii)tion of my No. 5 strawberry is received and I am sorry I can not give you a fuller descrip- tion than the one in my circular, although I liave received many en- couraging letters eulogizing its line growth and the highly i)romising ap- pearance of the plants and berries. Even from Florida, where very few varieties succeed, the plants and berr es are both doing liiu'ly, and the party thinks there will be a great demand for plants and berrie§ wiien the public become acquainted with them, and I have been informed that there is but one variety that, so far, has been a real success in Florida. J. G. liUBACH. Sandov.'\l, III., Nov. 2d, 1886. Mii. Samuel Euwakds:— Dear Sir : Yours of October 30th at hand, asking for a history and de- scription of my new seedling berry No. 2, and plants of same. I found the plant growing near my barn, with a good many others, from seed scattered there by cliance. From the lot of plants I i)ieked out seventeen and set them out in my garden, and in 1884 they all fruited for tiie tirs,t time. This one Tcall AVarheld's No. 2, and the other I call No. 1. I will now describe my No. 2— the one I think the most of: Plant, strong grower, making plants as freely as Crescent, with long roots going down deej) in the soil, well calculated to stand drouth. The jdant is a pistilate, the leaves are of a yellow hue, compared with Crescent— as much difference in color as the foliage of the Old Mixon and Crawford's Late Peach. The blossoms are dark yellow in the center, the darkest color I ever saw, and in that re- spect different from any I remember of seeing. The blossoms are protected by leaves from late frosts. Looking down the rows in spring, (>ne can't see so many blossoms as Crescents. Jiut open the leaves and you are satisfied with its setting fruit. The berry is as early as Crescent. It beats Crescent in first picking. Crescent only beat it one picking, and after the fourth time going over the vines, my seedling gained on that variety. Hut to come back to the description. It is larger than Crescent, of a dark, glossy, red color, quite acid; like the Wilson when it first colors, but it gets dark red and sweet when fully ripe like that variety, and flavor so much like Wilson that some of our old berry-growers thought they were Wilson's in 18S5. 1 let the berries of my No. 2 stand on the vines live days and then picked all that were ripe, put tliem in cases and sent them up to H. D. Woolsey, Polo, 111.; made an X on the cases and wrote Mr. Woolsey to know tiie result. He wrote me: "They arrived in line condition and sold for twelve and a half cents per ({uart as soon as tliey arrived." I did this to test them. I never tried to sliip the old Wilson so ripe. The men who handled my i)erries— and I sent them some fine .tucker State and Minor's Prolilic -pronounced my Seedlintr No. 2 the i)est of all. As Delano ^ Son of Princeton word it: "None of the others stand ui)and look bright as long as your No. 2." I have live acres of them to fruit next year, and all that have seen them say I have the finest patch in the country. 58 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS I have kept them eight days in good condition, without ice, and they were in a better condition on the seventh day than Crescents were on the third. I sent my berries last season to S. A.McFarland, of ]Mendota, III., and expect they will sell them next year. I have been in the berry business twenty years, and have tried nearly all the seedling varieties, and like this seedling so much better that I am growing only enough of other varieties to fertilize it. Yours truly, B. C. Warfield. Davenport, Ioava, Dec. m, 188H. Samuel Edwards, Esq.:— Deca- Sir: Have you any experience in the use of stronr/ ashes on strawberries. For the first time in my life I can get all the land will bear, and wish to know the greatest amount I can safely apply to a square rod or on an acre, spread now, so as to be leached in by snows and rains before planting in'April next. Will harrow m at once, if ground permits, as it notv will. Also, how much safely to bearing plants, as soon as frost leaves in tlie spring, provided 1 brush off what falls on leaves. I knoiv I can safely sow one and one-fourth bushels per rod on growing plants, but do not know how much more I should immediately stir in shallow and replace the mulch. * Yours truly. Wm. H. Holmes. DISCUSSION. D. H. Gray — 1 renew my strawberry beds but seldom make ii new plantation. I do this as a matter of economy. My custom is to remove my rows by tipping new plants. To do this I run my plow where T want to turn the plants under, and on the opposite side I run near enough to clean the row of all except the plants I wish to preserve. I think my plantation gets even better as it gets older. My own soil seems to need but little fertilizing, only enough to keep the soil loose, and straw seems to do this best. Mr. Coe — We have settled down on the Crescent as the best for both, market and family use. Mr. Gaston — I wish to say a good word for Bubach'sNo. 5. It is very large, handsome, and I think it is the coming berry. Mr. Doan — Drouth is the great drawback to strawberry cul- ture. As soon as it stops raining we resort to irrigation. For this purpose we prepare large pools of water and use a steam engine to force the water to the top of an elevation, from whence it is dis- tributed wherever it is needed by iron pipes. We undoubtedly im- prove the quality and vastly increase the quantity of the crop, and it pays well for the expense. J. Webster — At Centralia we grow strawberries abundantly. We mulch them at the beginning of winter with wheat straw or STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 59 coarse prairie hay. The hay is preferred, even if it cost four or Hve doHars per ton. We are always careful to avoid straw that contains weed seeds. Oat straw is objected to on this account. Formerly it cost $80.00 per acre to establish a strawberry plantation. Now it costs only about §45.00. We grow in what is called matted rows. Mr. W. R. Grain — What berry do you use to fertilize with? Answer — Miner's Prolific. Question — Do you grow the Wilson ? Answer — Yes; but Crescent mostly. Crescent is very much more productive. Question — How about Downing? Answer — It rusts badly. We have discarded it altogether. We change our beds often, though some old beds do well. The Crescent and Wilson, when planted near each other, do not do well, as the Wilson loses its vital force, being robbed by the Crescent. Mr. 13. C. Warfield — I find Sucker State a good fertilizer for my new berry. Mrs. A. G. Randolph, Mrs. W. C. Hooker and Mrs. Dr. E. M. Robbins, delegates from ''The Ladies' Floral Guild," of Carthage, were introduced by President Arthur Bryant, and on motion made honorary members. A paper by 0. W. Barnard was read by his brother, Milo Bar- nard : THE DECLIXE OF THE APPLE TREE IN THE NORTHWEST. BY O. AV. BARNARD. In approaching this subject the writer has little confidence or assurance that what he may say will greatly l)enefit the interest af- fected ; but he may make suggestions that will lead abler men to point out the pathway that leads from the wilderness. The calamity that has befallen the apple trees of the Northwest is simply appall- ing. The vast region lying north of the fortieth degree of north latitude, and west of Lake Michigan, has been virtually denuded of its bearing trees. No individual interest in this region has met with such a reverse during the present century. It would be no easy task to estimate with exactness the jtecuniary value of the apple trees thus destroyed, and when we consider the value of the fruit they might 60 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS bear were thev healthy and prolific, we are astonished at the magni- tude of the sum. Its value would be sufficient in each of the States devastated to endow a college every five years. It seems to me a use- less waste of time to discuss the cause of the decline of the apple tree, when the cause is so apparent it can be given in half a dozen words : tianf of adaptation to its environments. The apple trees of Western Europe are not adapted to the climate of the vast region lying be- tween the Lakes and the Rocky Mountains. This point may as well be conceded, and forever settled. To replant our orchards with the same kinds of trees would simply be inviting a like disaster in the future. But some one says, " The dead trees bore abundantly in the past, and why not replant with the same varieties? '^ I reply by say- ing that the hardiest live but fifteen or twenty years, whereas in New England trees are yet prolific at a century old ; and in New York, Michigan, portions of Indiana, Southern Illinois, and Missouri, Ar- kansas and Tennessee, and other portions of the United States, the varieties that have failed in the Northwest are considered hardy and prolific, and of reasonable longevity. Such haphazard planting may give us some fruit, but it is extremely uncertain and unsatisfactory, and a scientific and enlightened horticulturist should be able to give us trees sufficiently hardy to live lonr/er than one or two decades. The varieties we have, seem to have come to us by chance, and some of them in certain sections of the United States happen to be adapted to the climate, and therefore give reasonable satisfaction. This is comparatively a new country, and it is not long since the whole con- tinent was a wilderness, consequently all the improved varieties of fruit trees and plants had to be brought here from other parts of the world. But w^iere is the pomologist, the horticultural society, or the State (with the single exception of Iowa) who has ever gone or sent their agents abroad over the world with a view of making judi- cious selections of apple and other fruit trees, adapted to the various localities in this country, since its settlement by white men? Echo answers, where ! It is true that one tree has come to us by chance, which liapjpens to be adapted to our locality, and is therefore hardy and prolific. I refer, of course, to the Duchess. The doctors of divinity have their institutions of learning, where the young are taught by experts the principles of their profession ; the doctors of medicine have their's in like manner, as also have the doctors of law ; but where, save the single instance just mentioned, have we institutions that teach in like manner pomological science to the young? It is a fact that our State agricultural schools give some instructions in pomology, incidentally, and the Illinois Univer- sity has made one grand experiment. Its professors procured all the varieties of apple trees they could hear of in the United States (sev- eral hundred) and planted them on the University farm, and the trees pretty much all died, and there the learned professors stopped short, which circumstance reminds me of the doctor who had a very STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 61 sick patient, whom he called to see, telliiif^ him he had just one more chance for him — that he had mixed together all the kinds of medi- cine that he knew the names of, and he must take the dose, and if that didn't cure him he could do no more. I don't wish to be un- derstood as saying anything disparaging of the agricultural univer- sities, for T think they are doing a noble work ; but I do wish to be understood as saying this : that neither the universities nor horticul- tural societies have given attention to the apple tree of this region commensurate with its value to the peo))le. It is conceded by all that the ai)ple stands at the head of the list of horticultural ])roducts of the north temperate zone; therefore, when the bearing trees of a half dozen States have been destroyed by the rigors of the climate, it would seem that the people should become suflficiently aroused to take some action, and such action as its im- portance demands, individually, or through the horticultural socie- ties, or their representatives in the State Legislature. It is not the province of this paper to point out any precise line of action, but to call attention to the importance of some course of procedure. The people of Iowa, through their Legislature, have made a beginning by procuring trees and seeds from the high lati- tudes of Russia, and started an experimental nursery, under the care and direction of a horticultural genius at Ames, in the central part of the State; but what has Illinois done, with all her wealth and learning and horticultural wisdom? If anything, it has failed to reach the writer of this paper. It is true that the people of the cen- tral and southern portions of the state do not feel the weight of this calamity as they do in the northern section; and to the members of this Society, from this section, should this appeal come with full force. They should see that some one is fouiul with the natural ability, and proper educational qualitications, and the necessary zeal for the apple, capable of studying the habitat of the apple trees of the world, and sujjplied with ample means, and set to work to solve the intricate proljlem of the apple tree for the Northwest. As it may be the work of many years, a commeiicement can't be made too soon. And if we will make a beginning here, and now, and persever- ingly pursue the course, I think that Yankee ingenuity will be equal to the emergency, and. that success will ultinuitely crown our efforts, thus supplying millions of families with an abundance of the best of fruit and adding untold wealth to the country. Hut before this can be accom]ilishe(l the new horticulture will have been ushered in and the old have passed away, and new men and ne\v methods taken their places in a horticulture based upon scientific principles, in v/hich guess-work and experiment are not necessarily resorted to. President Hryant — Before adjournment. 1 will name the follow- ing additional committees: 62 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Essays — G. W. Minier, J. S. Browne and James T. Johnson. Obituary — A. L. Hay, C. N. Dennis and T. E. Goodrich. Final Resolutions — T. E. Goodrich, H. D. Brown and H. K. Yickroy. Awarding Committee — Class I, (except Seedlings and New Fruits) Charles Patterson, H. W. Lathrop, and H. K. Vickroy. Seedlings and New Fruits — E. A. Riehl, Jabez Webster and J. W. Robison. Class II — D. H. Gray, J. V. .Cotta and B. C. Warfield. Class III and V — H. Augustine, C, N. Dennis and F. I. Mann, Class IV— T. E. Goodrich, H. H. Hall and H. D. Brown. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. House called to order at two o'clock. Hon. G. W. Minier, Chairman of the Committee on Student's Essays, presented the following REPORT. To the Illinois Horticultural Society: Your Committee, to which was referred the Essays on Horti- culture, beg leave to report: We find but two Essays. One on "Grafting" and one on " Strawberry Growing for Home Market." While we commend both, merely asking them to cultivate more assiduously the art of style. We give the first premium to the author of the article on " Graft- ing," Leon Hay; the second premium to the author of the essay on " Strawberry Growing for Home Market," H. F. Hill. Geo. W. Miniee, James T. Johnson, J. S. Bkowne, Committee. STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 63 Mr. G. W. Minier, President of the American Forestry Con- jifress, addressed the meeting as follows: Mr. President, Lac/ies, mid Gentlemen of the Illinois State Hortirultural Society : For many years I have interested myself in the subject of Forestry. It is well known that I have viewed the constant destruc- tion and rapid decline of our forest area with no small def^jree of alarm, and that it is but recently that I have returned from a visit to Colorado, in attendance at the annual session of the American Forestry Congress, and, I presume, that it is also known that T have been honored with the Presidency of that Association. And now, fellow-citizens, I have a message to you from the people of the great West. They say to you, if you ever expect to see the great American Desert you must come very soon, as they have determined t(; spoil it by making it all into parks, fruitful fields and orchards, and the energy manifested by these people warrants the assertion. They will do it! They are utilizing all the available water of their springs, creeks, and even rivers, for irrigating their farms and orchards. As our Congress viewed the grand success of these enter- prises, many were the ' exclamations of surprise. Their irrigated Helds were covered with golden grain, their orchard trees loaded with the most ])erfect and beautifully colored fruit, bending to the very earth. (Jne of the greatest surprises to the tourist in Colorado is that they cannot estimate distances, as what appears to be only a mile away may ju'ove to be forty. But to go on and relate how we visited Colorado Springs and drank of its famous waters, how Prof. Budd hunted plants and 1 caught bugs, how we visited the celebrated Garden of the Gods, and saw Mother Hubbard and the Major Domo (which is to me only a yellow rock^; how we admired the so-called kissing lambs, aud how we did not overturn the l)alancing rock of the Poet's Mountain, on the top of which is the lone grave of a noble woman. Mrs. H. H. Jackson, the poetess, buried there by her own request; and how I toiled up the mountain to reach that sacred spot, and reverently contril)uted a specimen of feldspar to the already six feet of this substance that covers the grave, may inter- est you, but this is not forestry. (-'ongress has passed laws for the jireservation of timber, laws which say that no green timber shall be cut. Hut what of that. The cow-boys just set fire to the grass, it runs through the forest and kills the trees, and the wily cow-boy cuts all the timber he wants. Next year this Forestry Congress will probably meet at Lincoln, Nebraska, and we want a number of delegates from Illinois. 64 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Mr. Lathrop — The preemption laws and the timber claim laws are to-ilay in danger of repeal from efforts of ruthless speculators. If you could ride with me for forty miles across a treeless prairie, with not even a riding switch to be found, it would not be necessary to appeal to you to sustain the timber laws. The following resolution was offered by Hon. G. W. Minier and unanimously adopted: The planting of trees and conservation of the forests of Illinois are considerations of deep importance, and as they are not on our programme I ask to submit the following resolution: First: That it is the sense of this convention that the planting of forest trees should be encouraged by every laudable means, and the preser- vation of our forests should be constantly encouraged. Hecond: We commend the setting apart one day in the early spring as Arbor Day, in which the young of both sexes may vie with each other in so pleasant and useful a task. RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. BY D. H. GKAT. Mr. President., Ladies and Gentlemen: As a member of your committee on the general subject of rasp- berries and blackberries, I have varied a little from the uniform method in furnishing a paper, having confined myself to the topic of PKUNING. I considered that you would allow this digression on the part of one in a committee of three, since variety at least would be secured. Another motive was to introduce the subject before this body, that after your free discussion of it something more definite might be furnished the beginner than the following, taken from one of our leading agricultural papers: '' It is advisable to frequently cut back the growth of blackberries and raspberries during the summer season, as it will very greatly increase quantity and quality of the fruit." When the plant of the black cap family has stood a year in the row a vigorous shoot will start up from the crown, reaching the height of eighteen inches somewhere about the last of May in this latitude. At this time it contains from three to seven auxiliary buds and a terminal bud. The tip of the stock contains the opening terminal bud, pushing on by its own growth, leaving behind it a stock set with dormant auxiliary buds protected by leaves. As the STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 65 stock advances in growth the auxiliar}^ buds are set closer together. Tf the terminal bud is not disturbed the stock may attain to eight or ten feet in length. The auxiliaries are dormant fruit buds. But if the terminal bud be removed as early as the first of June, an organic change takes place, the dormant auxiliaries changing from possible fruit buds to tern)inal buds. These new terminal buds shoot out from the main stock as the original stock came from the crown of the plant, form- ing new stocks with auxiliary buds set closer than on the original stock. These new stocks are called laterals or main branches. The terminal buds on the laterals may be removed in July, and a similar change will take place in the plant. To show the value of judicious ]>runing T direct attention to the original stock. Tf the hrst stock is left undisturbed during the growing season, and only four stocks allowed to the plant, they may average eight feet in length. Each stock will be found to contain at least fifty-two possible fruit buds; the plant, two hundred and eight. Allowing ten berries to the bud we have a promise of two thousand and eighty berries to the plant. Allowing twelve plants to a square rod, and a berry to cube three-eighths of an inch, we have in round numbers one hundred bushels jier acre. I have made the above estimate, not to show the result in the calculation, as that is not critically correct, but it is near enough to show that the safe maximum yield is promised in the plant when it is left to its natural form of growth. That this has not been realized in plants left to their natural form of growth, is no proof against the l>romise. All promises are conditional. Some of the conditions of this promise the grower may meet, as training the long, h)anchJess f^tocks near the ground, for protection from the winds, and to secure moist atmosphere, and the training in straight rows that the ground may l)e cultivated near the plant. The conditions are difficult and •■xpensive. It is to secure by an economical method of reaching the conditions in the promise of the plant, that we resort to summer pruning. First Method. — When the original stock has reached the height of eighteen or twenty inches, which it does about the 1st of June, the terminal bud is pinched out and the organic change men- tioned takes place. The auxiliary l)uds become terminal, and shoot out from the main stock, forming branches. All buds that do not form a branch, die. The change in the plant at this stage is verv rales involved I consider applicable to all varieties of raspberries and black- berries. The cane varieties, as Turner, Cuthbert, etc., multiply so ra]>idly that summer pruning is hardly advisable after the first year, certainly not after the second year of fruiting. The Snyder Blackberry will, on good soil, admit of the first method for several years, but if the plant should become feeble through any cause, it is better not to disturb the terminal bud during the growing season. After a block of blackberries has fruited three or four years it can be greatly renewed by omitting summer i)runing and growing branchless stocks. These stocks, if closely set in the row, will not average over four and a half or five feet in height. If rut back to three feet the following spring, they will average ten buds to the stock. These l>uds will come nearer meeting their promise of fruit than buds on branches, because of a short and direct sap line and thickness of stock, furnishing protection from severe winters and dry summers. In addition to these two reasons I will add that careful ol)servation has found the statement to be an estab- lished fact. <'utting back matured wood decreases the nuiuber of fruit buds and thus relieves the plant of a burden. Summer pruning, nijiping or cutting of branches, or removing the growing terminal buds iii any way, always increases branches and l)uds, and so adds a burden to the plant. Summer pruning should l)e ]iracticed intelligently and with care, or not at all. The time for cutting back the matured wood, is said to be any time after the fall of the leaf, and before the opening of the })ud 68 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS in the following spring. I should prefer warm days in the month of March, unless the Tree Cricket, Buffalo Beetle and insects of that class have been at work depositing their eggs within the branches of the plant, then I should prefer to cut back in the fall, as the dying of the pith in the severed wood destroys the vitality of the eggs. If left until spring, many little pieces containing eggs will fall where it will not be convenient to gather them up to burn, and being shaded, will retain moisture sufficient to save the vitality of the egg until the season of hatching. Cutting out the dead wood, or stocks that have fruited, as a rule, this should be done as soon as possible after the fruit is gath- ered, as the winds lash the growing wood against the dry, hard thorns, doing injury to the new wood, often destroying terminal buds, causing little branches to start when not wanted. It is not necessary to remove the old wood from the field to protect against an increase of injurious insects, as no eggs contained in it can live longer than the time it takes for the pith to dry. It rarely happens that an insect deposits an egg in fruiting wood. As the old brush makes the best of mulch for the plants, if pressed down among them it is probably more than time lost to remove and burn them. The following on the same subject was read by the writer: KASPBEKRIES, BLACKBERRIES, CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. BY HOWARD DOAN. Mr. President: According to the programme of this meeting, I have been ap- pointed to prepare a paper on gooseberries, currants, raspberries and blackberries. I shall briefly give a few remarks on the varieties most suited to our section. Gooseberries generally bear abundantly in this section; the variety most planted being the Houghton and Downing; the de- mand is a very limited one for a marketable crop. Currants are not as much used now as in former years. I de- pend on the Red Dutch for main crop as being most productive. The Cherry and White Grape varieties succeed well. Fay's Prolific will come into bearing next season, so cannot report as to yield. Currants require a clean culture and an occasional mulch of manure. Raspberries were an abundant crop the past season, the red varieties being unusually full and })rices correspondingly low. I plant the following varieties of red: Turner, Marlborough, Brandy- wine and Cuthbert, the last two varieties on -account of their firm- ness, being well suited for shipping. The Cuthbert raspberry, last STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 69 fall, was affected with rust, which caused the leaves prematurely to shrivel and drop off. I sent a few of the leaves to Prof. Burrill, and in reply received the following: " The rust on the Cuthbert raspberry is a well-known fungus called Uredo rubonim, but believed to be an early state of another species Fhraf/midiuin speciosum. This latter is black, powdery, but thinly scattered over the under side of the leaves. I see nothing of it here.'' Black caps require clean culture for success. The following varieties being most generally j)lanted for market: Tyler, Ohio, Mammoth Cluster and Gregg, the last named variety winter kills badly with us and is giving way to other varieties. Blackberries do well where carefully cultivated and judiciously trimmed. The only variety marketed here to any extent is the Snyder, which seems to be iron-clad, and has not failed in eight yeai's to bear abundantly. They must be cut back severely and kept so to get the best results. Dry weather is the greatest enemy to be feared and blights many a fair prospect; this, I am glad to say, we have overcome, b}' irrigation, successfully. I do not deem it necessary to say anything regarding the man- nier of culture, as the methods used by horticulturists are pretty much the same. Clean culture, judicious trimming and proper fertilization generally tell the tale. President — Mr. Dennis will now read the AD-INTERIM ilEPORT FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS. BY C. B. ROCKWELJ.. Mr. President: The object, as 1 understand it, of ad-interim work is to find the exact condition of all fruit. As a member of this committee I have visited the principal fruit farms, or talked with their owners, in Hancock and Adams counties. I will try to give this society their condition. Strawberry plants have not made a very good growth, owing to the extreme dry weather in July and August. Old beds did not n)ake any growth whatever. I do not think that there was twenty- tive per cent, of the usual acreage planted. Black raspberry canes made a fair growth where they were well cultivated. I have examined them with some care and find the tops of the canes very much injured. The upper sides of them where they turn over are dead. They will have to be cut back very severely; and, should we have a very cold winter, many growers think the old plantations will have to be taken out altogether. I think the cause was the extreme heat. I do not know of any increase in their acre- age. The principal varieties are (jregg and Mammoth Cluster. Red raspberries made a fair growth and I do not think they are injured in the least. 70 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Blackberries have made a good growth and are in a fine condi- tion. The Snyder is the principal variety grown. Grapes have never been better than they were in 1880, both as to quality and quantity. They were sold at extremely low prices, yet they paid the grower as well as any other crop. The vines are in very good condition. I am informed that there will be several thousand planted the coming spring. Peaches — There has been quite an interest taken by fruit growers in this locality ; and, as a result, there are several peach orchards of from one hundred to one thousand trees. Some growers have done more work and taken more pains with their trees than others, and as a consequence their trees are in much better condi- tion. T know that the prevailing opinion is that a man would be a fool to plant them in Central Illinois, but I have as much faith in them as in apples if planted upon good land and properly taken care of. Apples — Hancock and Adams counties have been noted for their large apple orchards. It was only a few years ago that thousands of barrels of first-class apples were sold annually. Where are they now? Fifty per cent, or more of the trees have been cut into firewood, and many more will be this winter. Still, in the south half of Hancock and the north half of Adams county, there are some bearing orchards that are in very good condition, and have this year yielded from eighty to one hundred l)arrels of prime apples per acre. The orchards which bore these apples are situated upon dry, rolling ground, and have been in clover which was not removed from the ground. I examined the orchards of Mr. T. F. Leeper, which are on high bluff land, and found them to be in first-class order. His apple.s were of extra quality. His trees were thrifty, showing they were upon good land, and that they had received good care and cultiva- tion. Not a borer to be found in 1,700 trees! I have examined some orchards situated on prairie land, where all that is left of a once thrifty orchard is a few dying trees, Apple trees that are not more than ten or twelve years old are in a fair condition, while there are many orchards of four to eight years old that are perfect models of what an orchard should be. I would like to ask a question. Will some of the wise members of this Society tell me just what constitutes an apple; how much lime, potash, etc., is required? If we know what these constituents are we might use them to advantage, as far as soil goes toward mak- ing our trees ever fruitful. I believe that the main cause of our old orchards being unfruit- ful is that they have exhausted the elements in the soil that go to make this fruit. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 71 WEDNESDAY EVENING. House called to order at 7 p. m. Mr. Dennis made the following REPORT OX PRESIDENT'8 ADDRESS. We, the Committee on the President's Address, be^ leave to offer the following report: We have carefully considered the recommendations therein con- tained, and we think his suggestions, in regard to the establishing of Experimental Stations, of the utmost importance; and we warmly recommend that definite action be taken thereon at the present meeting. We also consider his suggestions, in regard to getting the young people interested in horticulture, of the greatest importance, and hope that the members of this Society will do all they can towards interesting the rising generation in this calling. W^e also urge vour favorable attention to the recommendation in regard to the Family Orchard and Vegetable Garden. And would also offer the following resolutions prepared by Prof. T. J. Burrill: Whereas. The Illinois State Horticultural Society has repeatedly ex- pressed its earnest interest in Agricultural and Horticultural Experiment Stations, and does now entertain the liveliest and highest appreciation of the practical importance and urgent need of such institutions; therefore. Remlved, That we heartily endorse the bill now before the Congress of tlie United States for the establishment of at least one such Experiment Station in each of the several States and Territories of the Union. Resolved. Tliat we respectfully, but earnestly and urgently, solicit the efforts of the Senators and Representatives from Illinois in aid of the early passage of this exceedingly important measure. Resolved. That a copy of tliese resolutions be sent as soon as possible to each of the Illinois Metnbers of Congress and to the Committee on Agri- cultural of each House. C. N. Dennis, E. A. RiEHL, MiLo Barnard, Connnittee. The resolutions were adopted and ordered printed by a unani- mous vote of the Society. Mr. J. W. Robison — The Hatch Bill now before Congress is more objectionable than the Vest Bill, and neither fully meet the needs of the country. 72 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Mr. Latlirop — If we can get the Hatch liill it is better than no bill, hence I favor it. Mr. Robison — I do not oppose. I only ask that the bill be amended, so as to fix the stations only where the people want them. It may not always be best to have them established in connection with our Agricultural Colleges. President — The Society will now have the pleasure of listening to a paper on HOME ADORNMENT. BY MRS. A. G. RANDOLPH. With the products of the garden adorn the home. Make it it beautiful with God's lovely gifts. To make a thing beautiful to others as well as to ourselves, is to make it restful and pleasing to the eye and grateful to the fancy. To gain a degree looking towards perfection in this art we must study to combine color to the best advantage, and to pay attention to form and perspective. The requisites of mind are observation, patience and painstaking, with a reasonable degree of that delicacy of perception we call " taste.'' Home is where the greater number of mankind live, move and have their being; where clusters everything sacred to our earthly affections. It is a nursery for that which is good or that which is evil, and in the degree that we are able to make it attractive for them we love, to introduce pleasure without trespassing upon danger- ous grounds, puts into our hands one of the most powerful agencies for Ijaffling the wiles of the Evil One. Such a home acts like a great moral magnet, drawing the mind from the scenes of life's combat with a gentle influence w^iich is irre- sistible. The poets of all countries sing of the " Home of our Child- hood,'' and if with this song of the soul can be linked the memories of things good and beautiful, two things that are never forgotten, there is laid away a store of good things, " Like pictures hung on memory's walls," for many an hour's pleasant thought for our exiled ones. In securing this love for home in those around us we are laying the foundation for true patriotism, for without love of home there can be no true love of country, and, at the same time, we are admin- istering a powerful antidote for the migratory, restless spirit of youth, which is such an enemy to a thorough education and true refinement. Then let us make our homes beautiful by all the art that our Creator has given us, using his gifts with ready hands and thankful hearts in profusion. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 73 In these days of estheticism and cheapness of pictures, f ac-similes of works of art, and tlo\Yers in such perfection, titfrt- is no excuse for neglect of thi-s home de})artnient. nay, to neglect this would seem like a direct sin of ingratitude. Dugald Stewart- says of Milton's Mind Creation of Paradise, *' The jiower of imagination is unlimited. She can create, annihilate and disperse at pleasure, her woods, her rocks and her rivers. Mil- ton could not copy his Eden from any one scene, but would select from each the features which were the most eminently beautiful." So we can bring into our homes all the beauty which art and nature have bestowed. Culling from earth, air and sea until like Milton, who made of Paradise a home for man, we can of home make a Paradise for him. We niav, by willful or enforced blindness, live in a world devoid o\ both beauty and brightness. In our large cities we often see homes made in underground hovels, huts and cellars, hotbeds of vice and drunkenness, whose inmates grow to be barbarous in their ideas, uncouth in their manners; in their dress ragged and untidy; coarse antJ brutal in character, without the least desire for, and a total ignorance of, a better life. So we see that the wealth, stability, virtue and future hope of our country lies in the homes of industry, beauty and honest thrift. To make a home attractive seems to be the especial province of woman, her husband, sons and daughters being her "Advisory Hoard." And to the yard, garden and house constitutes the three tlivisions of one perfect whole, for it is hard to conceive of a home without a yard and garden. Let us consider them in their order. This home is wholly ours, free from debt or mortgage; the pigsty, the henhouse and barn; those home-like and homely adjuncts placed in a retired position and their occupants kept apart from lawn and garden; our lawn smooth and grassy; not too much shrubbery; a cool, inviting atmosphere of shade must prevail, shade in which to swing a ham;nock, or place a rustic seat; a spot for lawn tennis or croquet. Our iiovver garden must have a sunny place, if where all who pass by can enjoy our beauties, all well, yet we must not sacrihce sunshine and good drainage — two things essential to success in floriculture. Here we may be able to revel among the beauty and enjoy the health which a little time and labor each day will be ours, gathering daily inspiration for beauty and health for tlie future from our two- fold benefactor; when we can, by taking a little thought,<,have sum- mer all the year around by forecasting a succession of bloom, and having a reserve corps to carry into the conservatory or bay window when relentless winter drives us into the house. If we cannot afford elaborate designs from the hands of the landscape gardener, let us endeavor to cover up all deformities of straight lines and acute angles by a luxuriousness of growth and a 74 TKANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS profusion of bloom. As we pet and train our costly exotics, let ns not forget the tried and true friends, the annuals, who repay us so bountifully for a little trouble, especially those which were a delight to our young hearts — our mother's favorites, Clove Pinks, Sweet William. Hollyhocks, China Asters, Four OVlocks. and even that, perhaps too-highly scented Marigold. Near by this spot of loveliness we would have our fruit and vegetable garden, so as to combine, as near as possible, the useful and the beautiful. From this source we would bring to our home table fresh, crisp vegetables and luscious fruits in their season, to- gether with a gem from the flower garden, crown our board with beauty and lift our souls above the mere pleasure of appetite. And we would remember to be as nice as the lower order of God's crea- tures, and " lay by a store to eat in winter hours." Thus having taken a hasty glance at our surroundings, let us approach that "sanctum sanctorium" of earthly bliss, the house and its appoint- ments. Dr. Fallows describes this place as being "crowned with clambering vines, amid the cooling shade of trees, surrounded by a verdant lawn, with golden fruits, pendant berries and clusters of purple grapes — a place grand with pictures, refined by books, and gladdened with song ; homes in which there are no scorching blasts of passions nor polar storms of coldness and hate ; homes in which the wife and mother will not lose all her attractive charms by unre- mitting toil and drudgery, nor where the husband and father starves his brain and dwarfs his soul by hours of over-work; homes in whith happy children may see the beauty of love and the beauty of holi- ness. Angels from the fruits and friendship and flowers of the hom*^ of the Upper Paradise would be lured to dwell in these earthly Edens." In this quotation the eminent doctor leaves flowers out of the earthly home and classes them among the heavenly adornments. This is hardly as it should be, and is no doubt an oversight, for were we to leave flowers out of our homes, angel visitants, although they would come and be helpfully near us, would so miss the lovely flow- ers that they would not be lured to stay long, and we would thus lose two of the most helpful mediums between ourselves and heaven, for flowers are as necessary to the perfection of home as they are to the perfection of a plant, and through them we gain a certain spiritual vision which helps to more perfectly understand and respond to the commands and infinite love of our Creator. Especially is this true when we place them under the microscope. A world of grandeur is opened up. to our vision. It is said that there is nothing more exqui- site than flowers when subject to this criticism. Try it ; examine each leaf, stamen, pistil and petal.. Take a stamen of the common scarlet cypress vine, place it under a moderate glass ; what a won- der ! "It looks like a delicate shell carved out of a single ruby, stud- ded over with pearls of the purest shimmering white, like Venus rising out of her jeweled shell." Try the petal of a pure white ro.^e STATE HORTICnLTUKAL SOCIETY. 75 the delicate handiwork of a supreme worker is written in iinmiistak- able lines. All this rare beauty may be ours if we will. None are too poor to possess it. The owner of a few feet of soil or a sunny window may i)e the owner of these. Every true lover of flowers who is blessed with the means to become their possessor, will gladly divide with her less fortunate but not less loving neighbor. You may have a large, hungry, healthy family, and your heart and hands full (for it is sweet to labor for those we love), but while we toil we need not drudge, for nothing can prevent us from communing with lovely thiHiiirhts. nor "chain the mind if we choose to hold sweet converse with angels." So we can be planning a time when we can turn from all needful labor to a window full of plants — water them, loosen the soil about the roots, remove the faded leaves — and almost insensibly the tired feeling will go out : our hearts will grow lighter and our souls will grow brighter, and with renewed zeal we will return to our work. Taking care of these creatures is truly the pleasantest work that has been given us. Slowly mankind are beginning to realize that ample bank stock, broad acres and great herds do not always bring the comforts of a truly refined home. Yours may be an humble cot- tage, yet vines will clamber over it, and flowers bloom around it. and where these are, comfort and happiness are almost sure to be found within, while the richest palace looks poor without them. Plants in your home, beside being a thing of joy, acts as a puri- fier of the atmosphere, by giving out those elements which are necessary to us. and taking up those poisonous to our natures. Thus the " laws of compensation " and nature's economy, carrying on their perfect work, set aside the verdict of the joy-killer who sees harm in everything pure and good. Let us embower our homes in them, love them as God's most beautiful eartlily gift, care for them with a feeling akin to care of our little ones, use them in profusion and at all times, for they are ever a])pro]n-iate. Let us wreath fresh ones for the bride; carry them as gifts to adorn the sanctuary; festoon the bier of those who have crossed the dark river, who have gone to celestial gardens; make our festal boards bright with their beauty and sweet with their fragrance; send them to friends as tokens of love and esteem, for they have a language of their own, and with them exi)ress an appreciation for ileeds of bravery. Yet far above the enjoyment to ourselves we have ascertained that we have, each within us, the germ of holiness yet lingering, untouched l)y the giant power of selfishness. Shall we throw off the shackles of custom and fashion, and rise in our might and make a new vow unto the Lord that while we live we will dedicate ourselves to the work of making happy homes, not merely in our daily duties and home adornments, but by the cultivation of the truly great vir- tues of contentment, industry and patience, and the most precious of 76 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS all, charit}^ which, all around seeing in our lives, shall so strive to imitate that our earthly homes shall become like unto that final home where love reigns supreme. REPORT OF THE DELEGATE TO THE MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. BY E. A. RIEHL. Mr. President^ Ladies and Gentlemen : Your delegate respectfully reports that he left home on the evening of December 6th, and proceeded to Lexington, Missouri, via St. Louis, and arrived on the morning of the 7th, where a goodly number of the horticulturists of the State of Missouri were already congregated, and gave your delegate a hearty welcome. The greater part of the first day was given up to arranging the display of fruit and receiving old and making new acquaintances. We found a most excellent display of apples of some four hun- dred plates, some fifty varieties being entered for premiums. Among the most successful exhibitors we noted the Lafayette County Horticultural Society, of Lexington, which carried off the lion's share of the premiums, and made a large and fine exhibit be- sides. The officers of the State Society had gathered and exhibited a, fine cellection of some one hundred and sixty plates of apples. We noted that, no premiums were offered for large collections, but instead a first and second premium of one dollar and fifty cents re- spectively for all exhibits of the leading varieties. In this way a large display of many varieties is secured, and the money does not go to some one person who has collected a number of varieties from any and every possible source, but to the many different growers who have grown them and taken the trouble to bring them to the meet- ing. This seems to be a much better plan, and I think it well worthy of adoption by our Society. The Grano, a new apple that is attracting much attention among the growers of Western Missouri, was on exhibition. We found it a very highly colored apple, smaller than Ben Davis, and, to our taste, no better in quality. We learned from those who are best acquainted with it that it is an apple of much promise, being an annual and heavy bearer, the tree much resembling the Ben Davis and possessing its good qualities. We were told the speciuiens ex- hibited were not up to size, owing to drouth and heavy crops. There were on exhibition several new seedlings of handsome appearance and fine quality that may prove of value when thoroughly tested. In all the discussions on apples, the fact that the Ben Davis was the best, well-tested commercial apple was strongly presented. Many wanted an apple of better quality, but as yet the Ben Davis is by far STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 77 the most desirable apple of its season for shipping. The Jonathan, for an earlier market, was generally and highly recommended by all who had any experience with it. The Lawver and Huntsman on ex- hibition were very fine and great favorites in some localities, but they succeeded in only a few localities. ^Ir. M. G. Condon, of Westport, Mo., reported using wire net- ting, such as is used for door and window screens, to prevent rabbits and mice from injuring apple trees. The price of such netting is said to be one and one-half cents per square foot, and lasts many years, requires no tying, and will spread with the growth of the tree. The Crescent was on every list of the three best strawberries for general cultivation furnished by the members. Cumberland, Sharp- less, Capt. Jack, Miner and Downing were the other favorites. The pajiers read were excellent and the discussions following were prompt and interesting, which is, no doubt, owing to the fact that most of the members are also members of local societies, of which there are thirteen in active operation in the state. Tiie meetings were made pleasant with music and recitations at fitting periods between the more practical papers. The attendance of ladies was a notable feature, some of them taking part in the dis- cussions and reading the papers they contributed. We have had an idea that we in Illinois were doing greater things in the way of fruit-growing than was being done anywhere else in the west. But such may not be the fact long, if it is now. We learned of many large enterprises in the way of fruit-grow- ing on the western border, and one company claim to have forty thousand (40,000) peach and twenty thousand (20,000) apple trees planted in orchards in Howell County, near the Arkansas border, and are planting more as fast as they can clear and prepare the land. The horticulturists of Missouri are an intelligent, Avide-awake body of men, working with a will and harmony that is a pleasure to see, and have a Goodman for secretary, and if we do not look sharp will, in the near future, leave us in the rear. A pleasanter and more profitable meeting it has never been our lot to attend. REPORT OF DELEGATE TO THE INDIANA STATE HORTI- CULTURAL SOCIETY. HY .TABEZ WEBSTER. To the President of the Illinois State Horticultural Society: Your appointed delegate took the train on the morning of Dec. 7ih for Columbus, Ind., to attend, as recjuested, the twenty-sixth an- nual meeting of the Indiana State Horticultural Society, arriving at Columbus shortly after 5 P. m. Quite a number of horticulturists being on the same train, I. with them, repaired to the St. Dennis 78 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Hotel, where we found fifty or more horticulturists assembled, liav- ing only a short time returned from the afternoon session. Shortly after 6 o'clock we repaired to the Court House. The evening session was promptly called to order by that sterling friend of horticultur- ists. President Sylvester Johnson, who introduced to the audience a gentleman from the "Wooden Nutmeg" State, Hon. B. G. North- rup, of Clinton, Conn. This gentleman delivered a lengthy yet very interesting address to a large and appreciative audience. The sub- ject of ■' Village and Town Improvement '' is one of which he is very familiar and well qualified to speak on. The speaker, in a very pleasing manner, showed how the acquired love of home adornment, and love for the beautiful in nature, had beautified mankind in a sanitary point of view, besides increasing the permanent value of real estate more than double. He also stated that very many in- stances had come under his observation, where, through the persist- ent efforts of a few ladies and gentlemen of taste and refinement, many very undesirable towns and villages, with very discouraging small beginnings, had been made attractive and desirable places for persons of wealth, refinement and taste, and at the same time made all rich and poor more happy, contented and prosperous, increasing the value of property ten-fold over the cost of improvement. MORNING SESSION, I)E<\ 8. A bill was presented for the ajiproval of the Society, asking ap- propriation from the State for establishing experimental stations of horticulture. President Johnson recommended horticulturists throughout the country personally writing to our members of Con- gress, and he firmly believed" this method was calculated to do the most good. A. G. Chandler, of Indianapolis, read a paper, '" The Old Grape- vine on the Wall," which was very interesting and instructive, and caused a lengthy and spirited discussion on grape growing in Indi- ana, grape rot remedies, etc. The reader, apparently one of the successful growers, gave in detail his methods. He claims he has no rot, while his neighbors all around him have rot. He does not cul- tivate only the first and second year of planting; sows the ground to red clover between rows, which he claims should not be nearer than ten by twelve feet, and prefers more room as vines get older. He trims very little in early winter, trains high up, does no summer pruning except to thin out overloaded canes at the time of early de- velopment of bloom, mulches heavily with bagassa from sorghum cane mills. He claims it is the cultivation and constant disturbing of the roots, and heavy pruning that develops the conditions that cause rot, and says he has no rot. His neighbors, who cultivate and prune heavily, all have rot. STATE HOKTIGULTUKAL SOCIETY. 79 Other speakers recoiuiueiided a liberal use of air-slacked lime, 111 niching heavily with stable manure, light pruning, and training high to wire on top of stakes eight feet high. Nearly all recom- mended earlv winter pruning and laying vines on ground in winter. One grower succeeds with tender kinds by covering them with a long wooden trough, made of three boards, eight to ten inches wide, any length desired, and placing it over two or more canes wheu trimmed and laid on the ground, then covering in zero weather with slough hay, straw or corn fodder. AFTKKNOON SESSION, DKC. 8. During the dinner recess the apples, pears and other fruits were examined by visitors. There was a small display of very good fruit, considering' the season, including a basket of very tine assorted varieties from Kansas. I had not the time to notice any varieties of new or special merit if any were there. We next listended to Dr. A. Furnace, of Danville, Ind., on •• I'ractica! lllustriitions in the work of Budding and Grafting, Mak- ing of Cuttings of Soft Wood Plants, etc." Having a supply of roots, scions. cuttings,willows, etc., and a sharp knife on the table, the doctor made a very minute and interesting exhibition of the art of propagating, including tying with willows, bass bark, etc. Next came a paper by E. Y. Teas, of Dunreith, on ''Small Fruit Growing as I saw it in Surry and Kent Counties. England." Descriptions of the landscape, the people, gardens and nurseries, handling large crops of Carter's Prolific Red Raspberry, profits of business, etc.; enormous quantities disposed of in Covent Garden Market, London. The English, or European Sparrow was discussed at great length, a mass of evidence accumulated against the Sparrow from all parts of Indiana, the United States and Europe. President Johnson stood out single-handed and alone for the rights of the S{)arrow. and it is thought it may take another year to convince hini that the Furopean Sparrow is fast [>ecomiug a nuisance. From the evidence, the Sparrow was proven to be a very de- structive grain and fruit-eating bird, filthy in its habits, driving away our native song and insect-eating birds, and had never been known to eat insects when grain or fruit could be had, except when feeding their young. The Indiana Horticultural Society believes the time is now already come when some active steps should be taken by the people of Indiana and of the United States^ to prevent them, if possible, fnmi becoming a national nuisance to the horti- cultural and agricultural interests of our country, as thev have been, and still are, to the people of England and other European countries. Farmers in Indiana stated that along side their hedges and fences, in many places a strip two rods wide, in their grain fields, was cleaned of every vestage of grain by sparrows. 80 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Reports were given of cherries, raspberries, strawberries, grape* and early apples being destroyed by great flocks of them, near the towns and cities, it being the opinion of a large majority present that if unmolested, they would become a national scourge, to people in country and town. Cases of parties shooting and dissecting their stomachs were given, sixty grains of wheat having been found in one bird in one hour after daylight, and not one insect. EVENING SESSION, DEC. 8. A committee appointed to present petitions for National Horti- cultural Experiment Stations, which calls for fifteen thousand dol- lars per annum, the work to be carried on in connection with the Agricultural College. The Society recommended that individual members petition our Representatives and Congressmen to bring about the desired changes. Next came election of officers for the ensuing year. Sylvester Johnson, of Iverington, Ind., was duly elected President. C. M. Hobbs, of Bridgeport, Secretary. A paper on "Effects of Commercial Fertilizers in Floyd County " came next, which developed the facts that in many places the application of two hundred pounds per acre on corn, wheat and grass had increased the crop that year double that where none had been used on same kind of soil and preparation for planting, and after cultivation four hundred pounds is necessary for potatoes per acre to produce beneficial results. For corn and potatoes it was recommended to be applied in hills at time of planting, or very soon after plants are up. At this time President Johnson stated that he was obliged to attend court in the morning. Other members also left to make connection with trains. Vice-President .Jesse C. Stevens took the chair, and the discussion of the "Ornamentation of School Property " was continued by Prof. W. H. Ragan and others. Many members joining in the discussion believed it nearly impracticable to do much in the way of ornamenting public school property until the youth attending our schools have laecome better acquainted with it at home. MORNING SESSION, DEC. 9. The meeting was called to order at 8:40, Vice-President J. C. 'Stevens in the chair. After a short discussion Prof. F. M. Webster, of Purdue Uni- versity, read a valuable paper on " Insects of the Year," illustrated with drawings on canvas, and answering many cjuestions. Prof. Burrill and some other speakers were kept away by sick- ness. It being the opinion of the President that the session should now close, at 9:15 a. m. the meeting adjourned, to meet at the new State House in Indianapolis one year from date. STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 81 Mr. Rielil — Our fruit exhibition in the adjoining rooms is un- expectedly good, but there seems to be some disscatisfaction with the premium list as it now stands, and I think it would be well to revise it, and drop the collections, and offer premiums for a larger number of plates. It will always be the case that one man will exer- cise more care and judgment in collecting and arranging his fruit then his neighbor, and will therefore secure more premiums. But if anything has been done in this Society in the interest of rings, I have not discovered it. Mr. Kellogg, of Wisconsin — I would advise you to retain the collections of five and ten and not depend on plates alone. If you do, you will find your exhibition unsatisfactory. Mr. Shank — I think we are on the right track. Under the present arrangement only two premiums are offered for seedlings. Mr. Coe — I ajiprdve of the suggestion of Mr. Rielil, and move that the premium list be referred to the Executive Board for revision. Motion carried. Mr. Gray — The blanks furnished Assessors, for collecting crop statistics, are so arranged that nothing in the horticultural line is called for but orchard crops. This, of course, gives the grower no definite idea of the area or quality of the several fruits grown. They might be so made as to give the acreage, and, i)erhaps, quantity grown, of the different orchard fruits and berries. I think the Sec- retary of the State Board of Agriculture can and will help us if the proper effort is made on our part. On motion. Mr. Gray was appointed a committee to draft reso- lutions relative to this subject. Oil motion, the subject of hardy apjde trees was takt^i up for discussion. S. I. Merida — We have trees, and plenty of them, that can stand all the rigors of our climate, but they cannot stand the negligence of those who plant and pretend to care for them. Mr. Charles Patterson, Kirksville, INIo. — An ordianl that is neg- lected will not even produce good scions, let alone profitable crops of fruit. 82 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Mr. Augustine — Some varieties are good in one locality, some in another, then there are varieties that once did well, but now have degenerated. Changes are constantly occurring, yet every farm should have an orchard, and if you can ascertain what is suited to your location, we, as nurserymen, will endeavor to grow you the trees. A. H. Gaston — The Duchess stock, top-worked, is the road to success. J. Webster — Then Ave have a hard road to travel. The Duchess, top-worked, does badly with me. The stock and scions do not form a perfect union. I would prefer seedlings for stock. Mr. Augustine — We have a sufficient number of apples now that will stand anywhere in the state. Mr. H. D. Brown — I sold 1,100 Ben Davis to one man and they were well cared for, he did not lose one per cent. Many trees die of bad management. Mr. Lathrop (of Iowa) — Like produces like. We may raise hardy trees when we use only hardy seeds. A few choice, hardy winter varieties are wanted. We must work for them. For in- stance, we take a Duchess tree and top work a portion with Jonathan. This will produce cross fertilization. Plant these seeds and good re- sults are likely to follow this course of procedure. It will take a little time, but the labor will not be lost. Possibly we may obtain something among all of the Russians, but it is quite as possible to obtain something by chance; but cross fertilization and selection is the scientific road to improvement. Mr. J. W. Robison — Many of our mqst valuable and hardy trees are from the south, and some of our most tender ones are from Russia. Mr. D. Shank — Each locality must determine by actual trial what varieties are suited to their special conditions of soil, climate, etc. I think this is about all we can hope for. Adjourned. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 83 THURSDAY MORNING. The Society having accepted an invitation to visit the Blind Asylum this morning, were met at the Pacific Hotel, at eight o'clock, by Mr. A. L. Hay, and conducted to that Institution. The visitors were highly pleased with the proficiency of the pupils, especially in reading and music. The singing of one young lady atid the performance of another on the organ was greatly admired. At ten o'clock the President called the house to order, and in- vited Mr. Kellogg, of Winconsin, to invoke the divine blessing. The Secretary read a letter from Hon. E. YanDeman, Pomolo- gist of the Department of Agriculture, expressing regret that he could not be with us. On motion the "Decline of Orchards" was taken up and dis- cussed. Mr. Kellogg — There are many causes that have combined to kill our trees, and they may be enumerated as follows: Malform- ation of tree, malpractice in transplanting, starvation and neglect, insect depredations, over-production, lack of vitality, and winter killing. Many otherwise sensible men seem to think that when a piece of land is worn out and good for nothing else it can be planted with apple trees, and, without any fertilization or cultivation, be made profitable. Another class of men dig a hole as they would for a post, jam in the roots, prune with stock, and expect their trees to bear fruit. I do not believe in the new theory of low ground for orchards. Until we get hardy, new varieties, or Russians, adapted to our climate, I would advise ]>lanting those varieties that have heretofore succeeded best. Mr. H. D. r?rown — Many ruin trees by severe cutting back. It is best to leave a tree as the head forms at two years old. Messrs. Augustine, Lathrop and Webster, each said by so doing you get a dozen limbs or branches, while five is enough. Too thick a top will not perfect the fruit; besides, fungi are invited to come in and possess tjie tree. 84 TKANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Mr. T. F. Leeper — I am interested largely in growing apples. Now if you plant a tree what is the object? To make money? If so, why prune it to death? Why not let it grow and make money? The President now called for the AD-INTEKIM REPORT FOR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. BY T. E. GOODKICH. Alton is one of the oldest cities in the State of Illinois. Tradi- tion saj's that years ago when any one was locating St. Louis they always said, " A little town on the Mississippi river near Alton." Be that as it may, it has long been one of the most celebrated fruit regions of the Mississippi Valley. It has been noted, and justly so, for its rich grapes and luscious peaches. Built upon a high lime- stone bluff, too high, it was thought, to be scaled by frost; sheltered to the west by the Mississippi and its bayous, and still farther to the west by its cotemporary, the Missouri; ample protection was prom- ised to the tender buds of the orchard, a promise that nature has sometimes failed to keep. It was with pleasure that I accepted an invitation to be present at the September meeting of the Alton Southern Illinois Society. Secretary Riehl's expression was, ''Come among us; see what we are doing and how we are doing it." The meeting was an exhibition of fruits and flowers, followed by the usual discussion. Although the day opened raining and unpropitious, so much so that more than one- half of the membership were unable to be present; yet the exhibit, as regards quality and nomenclature, would have been a credit to a county fair. Let me digress far enough to say that fruit exhibitors at agricultural fairs ver}^ often fail to accomplish the good they might, for the simple reason that the specimens are too often incor- rectly named. Sow is one to learn new varieties, or a beginner the old ones, with any degree of accuracy from such tables? There is little dan- ger at a stock show of a Holstein receiving a premium for a Devon, or of a Chester White being labeled Berkshire; but in a fruit exhi- bition mistakes are much more easy. The members of the State Society could do a great educational work by assisting in this matter at their respective county fairs. It is important also that consumers learn the names of the best varieties; but how are they to do so it growers are incapable of correctly labeling their packages. The fruit farms around Alton and Godfrey seem larger and their products more diversified than those of other parts of the State. Perhaps this is the more correct plan, for a greater acreage would naturally lead to a more extended rotation. It would also afford better facilities for the growing of the grain and provender required STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 85 by the animals on the fruit farm. At Cobden there are a great many growers, and the average acreage to each farm is not very great. Consequently the same land is cropped over and over again; and as we are dependent almost exclusively on commercial fertilizers, our lands become very much worn. The past was an " off year " with peaches at Alton, as it was with tlie entire State; l)ut the peach men were proving their faith by their works, and were putting the orchards in contlition to bear a crop next year. Mr. E. A. Riehl has a beautiful young orchard, his treatment of which is somewhat peculiar. Every one that has owned a peach tree knows how frail and brittle the wood becomes, and how easy the branches split down at the shoulder. To form a firm, strong union where the limb joins the trunk, too strong to split, Mr. Riehl draws the limb down and ties it to a stake; and thus warned of the future weight of fruit and sleet, nature fortifies itself against accident by building on successive layers of wood until the junction is too strong to be broken. Mr. K. grows, so his neighbors say, a fine quality of peaches which he insists can only be done by thorough and systematic cur- culio-killing. His trees are trained high enough to admit of the free use of a curculio-catcher. The orchard was ]ilanted to sweet pota- toes and was thoroughly clean. A large vineyard, on an eastern ex- posure, was in a thrifty condition, and was trained to wires on high stakes. The Pocklington he was discarding on account of the uneven- ness with which the l)unches ripened, and would supplant it with the Niagara, a variety he considered very promising, and of which he should plant largely on account of its vigorous growth and firm large bunch of good quality. Mr. Riehl has extensive plantings of several varieties of raspberries, of which he seems to prefer the Taylor. Not the least profitable part of this large farm seemed to be the apple orchard, planted on deep bottom soil, the product of which was shipped larg«dy by river, the landing on the farm affording ample facilities. The work of insect destruction is here greatly aided 1)V a tlock of sheep in the consumption of large quantities of fallen fruit. On !Mr. F. Hayden's place the general plan seemed to be to plant as closely as possible without crowding, and |u-event waste space, [f so, the plan is admirably carried out ahd is an instance of " the little farm well tilled." The orchards, with the exception of the peach, had borne fair crops, as also had the vineyard, and made a fair net return. Adjoining is the place of Dr. Roberts, of which his wife has sole management, and to whom I am indebted for an explanation of her methods and plans. A gooseberry plantation is a promising feature as it is a branch of lujrticulture that as yet seems not over done. An interesting experiment was a thrifty Duchess pear orchard, kept in 86 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS short grass, with a narrow border surrounding each row of trees, and kept well cultivated by hand. The trees were in a thrifty, vigorous condition of both leaf and limb, nearly free from blight, and were bearing satisfactory crops of fruit. A corner of bottom land was planted to asparagus. The principle industry of the place was the grape, and in the two vineyards were 7,000 vines, nearly all Concords. Both vineyards occupied very steep hill sides, each row in the center of a narrow terrace, formed by plowing and sodding. These vine- yards were never plowed, but were worked with hooks by hand. This mode of cultivation is, I believe, quite general at Alton. Vice-President J. S. Browne showed me, on his grounds, a Kieffer pear tree, four years old, that was, for its age, well loaded with good sjiecimens of fruit. The tree was well maintaining the rep- utation of this variety for fruitfulness and vigor. The fruit was neither as large or as highly colored as its widely-scattered portrait, yet was of fair size, though not large, and good shape, and a few days longer on the tree would tend, doubtless, to greatly remedy both defects. The tree was exceedingly vigorous, and full of glossy dark green foliage. A well-kept vineyard, the satisfactory net profits of which Mr. Browne attributes to thorough under-draining, thus, in his opinion, relieving the ground of excessive moisture, allowing the vines to start earlier in the spring, and secures the fruit a greater freedom from rot. Under-draining is well worthy the consideration of fruit growers every where. The place is so near the city that Mr. Browne is enabled to sup- ply himself with several hundred wagon loads of stable manure yearly, at little more than the cost of hauling. H. G. McPike is a business man of Alton, with a beautiful home in the suburbs, where he cultivates fruit more for a gratification of his rural tastes than the pecuniary result. Gentlemen of means and leisure have it in their power to render great assistance to the sci- ence of horticulture. They can experiment with new varieties, new methods and uiachinery. Thousands of dollars are annually lost to the fruit growers and gardeners of Illinois by drouth. Now, if some rich, public-spirited man would demonstrate a cheap, practical plan- of irrigation (something really efficient and within the reach of com- mon men), the benefit would be very great. William Jackson, of Godfrey, leaves his pear trees in sod, and secures greater exemption from blight. He spoke well of the quali- ties of Kieffer pear if ripened off the tree. He makes a specialty of the Sharpless strawberry, and spoke well of that variety. Every one readily concedes that this variety has several most excellent qualities. It carries well, sells well, and when kept up to its best is certainly large and fine. The dark red of the berry contrasts well with the bright green calyx, and it is very handsome fruit. But if the soil be impoverished, or the rainfall insufficient to develop berries, then the calyx, which is generally as large for a small berry as a large one, STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 87 loses its bright green and assumes a faded brown, is no b)nger attract- ive, and in the nuirket is passed by for some other variety. (Juite a number of gentlemen have told us they had discarded it for this reason. All around Alton the planting of peach trees still continues, and on some farms quite extensively. This is the more remarkable when it is renieml)ered that the past was the third consecutive failure of the peach crop. The planting of trees under such circumstances is conclusive proof of an abiding faith in that fruit. The wisdom of this is at once conceded. Fruit growers must look ahead a series of years, have faith in their business, and plant with confidence. The year's sliipi)iug from Cobden, with the exce})tion of apples, peaches and cherries, has been about an average one. It was an off year with the apples, and the crop has been light. Last winter's cold destroyed the peach prospect, thus making the third consecutive failure. The question now forcing itself upon the attention of the peach men is ; Will the trees, after three years of such hardship, be in a fit condition to bear a crop when the season permits them to do so? Old trees will be three years older than when they last bore, and three years is a long period in the life of a peach tree. Peach wood is never very strong, and goes to decay very rapidly, especially under three as cold winters as the })ast. In consequence of repeated fail- ures, a large portion of the peach land was withdrawn from peaches and given to small fruits. But when the entire South began plant- ing strawberries in such an exceedingly liberal manner, many of our growers plowed up their strawberries in turn, and planted the land to the two crops that are now the staples, viz., sweet potatoes and tomatoes. The cro]i of the former is estimated at 25,()(HI busiiels, and will be forwarded to market during the winter in refrigerator cars. Of tomatoes, the two shipping societies have shipped 262,000 one-third bushel boxes; by refrigerator, 11,000 more, making a total of 27:5,- OOO boxes, exclusive of those shipped by express. This amount would be in round numbers about 91,000 bushels. The pear crop is seldom an entire failure. Death by blight is constantly decreasing the nunil)ers of l)earing trees, and about enough are planted each year to take their places. A consideral)le portion of the crop this season was marketed in small barrels hold- ing about one-half the usual size. It is the principal package used by the Western New York growers, and seems to be steadily grow- ing in favor with all who have tried it. There have been shipped from this point this year about 450 cars, containing about eleven million pounds of fruit and vegetal)les. Competition has l)een very great and prices low. California, the Middle aiul Southern States, have all poured in a flood of fruit upon Chicago, ami we hope that prices have reached their lowest. 88 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS But prices on all goods are low; cloth, iron, wheat and meat are all produced at small profit. Large quantities o£ fruit have been shipped from the South, that from unfavorable weather, jolting, length of time in transit, and other causes, have arrived in bad or- der and have been a loss to the grower. It is fair to suppose that u part of these lands will be planted to other crops. Low prices will teach us a lesson, if we are in a position to profit by it. If in a time of depressed market, we have learned to keep down the cost of production, and can keep it down after fruit has advanced in price, this Avill of itself m.ake a profit. The prospect of the next five years, as compared with the last five, is more pleasing. With a possible lower freights, and more favorable seasons, the future of fruit-growing in Illinois seems more hopeful. A continuation of the same report which has been sent in was read by J. S. Browne. AD-IXTERIM KEPORT FOR SOUTHER?>J ILLINOIS. BY JAMES DAYIS. Mr. President and Members of the Illinois State Horticaltaral Society : Leaving Godfrey on the morning of October 21st, I arrived at Villa Ridge the same day, where I found orchards in good condition; the apple and pear crop light; peaches a failure — the third entire failure in eighteen years. This is about the only point I visited where peach orchards are being planted. Strawberry growers are very much discouraged with the past two seasons. Kentucky and Tennessee have ruined their early market and Centralia their lat«'. The beds look very poor; there was no rain from early in June until late in September; old beds badly burnt out, and in some fields of new the plants have made little or no growth at all, but few more plants now than the^e was when planted last spring — probably fifty per cent of a crop next year. The Perkins grape succeeds here very well and is fast taking the place of the Ives. At Anna the conditions and results are about the same as at Villa Ridge; apples and pears a light crop; strawberries have suf- fered from the drouth and will not yield more than fifty jier cent, of a crop next year. At Makanda Dr. F. M. Agnew puts the situation thus: There are few old peach orchards in this vicinity, what trees there are over ten years old are practically worthless. The younger orchards were badly damaged by the January, 1880, freeze, when the mercury went down to 28 degrees below zero. Still, on examination of the STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 89 tsees, he thinks the new growth will be sufficient in strength to support a crop, as they supported such un exceediniifly heavy sleet last winter, also in tlie spring, without much ilamage; certainly heavier than anv possible crop of fruit would be. Strawberries brought from 812.000 to §18,0()(» in cash to this place last summer under the most unfavorable circumstances. Rerries from Mississipjii. Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and from A'illa Ridge to ( 'entralia. were on the Chicago market on the siime day; something unknown before and not very likely to happen again. I do not think that ten, twenty or forty-acre beds of berries will ])av. The general farmer has no business with more than from one to four acres, V)ut as a variety of crops and producing cash when badly needed, it is of great advantage, and think the future will witness little diminution of the present acreage. At Centralia Mr. J. Webster's views of the past season may be summed up as follows: The past season has been a very unfavor- able one here, as elsewhere, for fruit-growers. The strawberry crop was a large one, and although it paid better than the preceding one, the net returns, after picking and boxes were paid for, was very small. I heard of no one losing, neither did I hear of any one coming out much ahead. Many growers quit picking, on account of the low prices, too soon: others because they could not get boxes. The proprietor of the box factory here had all the mill men bound by a contract not to sell boxes to anybody but himself in this local- ity, and as he could not make boxes fast enough, those who did not take the precaution to supply themselves beforehand could not obtain any. It was estiuuited that at least five more cars could have been shipped could boxes have been obtained. To prevent this happening in the future a Fruit Package Association has been formed by the growers in this vicinity. As to varieties the Crescent still holds its own, none of the recently introduced varieties have created a revolution here as yet. Miner's Prolific is the principal variety used as a fertilizer, some, however, are using the Wilson. WarfiehVs No. 2, which originated near here, I think, will prove to be a valuable shipping berry. Pilackberries were almost ruined by the drouth, the Harly Harvest, however, matured most of its crop before the dry weather set in; Taylor set an immense crop, but, where not well mulched, failed to bring it to maturity. Early a])))les were of fine quality, and paid reasonably well; all varieties promised to yield a large crop until about the 10th of July, when the drouth, coupled with insects and frequent wind storms, so destroyed the croi) that not one barrel was marketed where a hundred should have been. The same may be said of pears. The prospect for strawberries next year is nearly up to the aver- age of the past season. Some of the new patches are extra fine, many of the old ones that have been cultivated promise to yield as much next year as they have this, others that have had no cultivation 90 TKANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS will probably give three or four good pickings. I am inclined to think that the new fields will overbalance all that have been ])lowed under. As to acreage, some growers have planted more and very few less, some new men have started in the business, and a very few have quit: so that the acreage, if anything, has beeii increased. Mr. B. Pullen thinks that the acreage has decreased, and that the poor results of the past two seasons have so discouraged growers that it will be still farther decreased. This much is certain: either the acreage must be lessened by one-half, or a berry that will market better than the Crescent must be generally grown. He thinks that the severe winters that so damaged the orchards in the northern part of the State did not pass Centralia by without leaving a renjinder. though unsuspected at the time. This, coupled with the exhausted condition of the trees from bearing such an extra large crop last year, was enough to destroy the finest prospect without the drouth. Never in his experience has the Codling Moth been so destructive ; hardly an apple could be found that did not show its mark. The President now called for the paper, CAX THE NURSERY BUSINESS BIO MADE PROFITABLE AVITll TREE PEDDLERS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD? BY C. N. DEXNIS. Can the nursery business be made profitable with the tree ped- dler in every neighborhood? Yes. Now, 1 do not know who asked this question, or why it was assigned to me, but I presume that the real cjuestion is, The tree peddler in his relation to the nursery busi- ness ; and this necessarily involves the planter. And first, we may as well admit the fact that the tree peddler is abroad m the land, for he will meet you with a cordial shake of the hand on the street; will visit you in your homes; will even buzz you at church and con- vention, and will almost, if not quite, kneel by you and sing his little song in your ear when you are laid on your bier; ajid secondly, that he has come to stay (perhaps the same one only for a short time in the same neighborhood). The time has passed when the enterprising business man sits quietly down and waits for trade to come to him, and consequentl}^ the drummer is on every train, the insurance man, sewing-machine agent and musical-instrument peddler in every town and lightning-rod and tree peddlers in every neighborhood. Why /*• this? Because of the almighty dollar. ''For where the carcass is, there will the vultures be." But there are many benefits arising from all these, and particularly the tree peddler. Whittier says: " Give fools their gold and knaves their power, Let fortune's bubbles rise and fall ; Who sows a lield, or trains a liower, Or plants a tree, is more than all." STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 91 In one sense tree ped«llers are a blessing, as they unqnestionably induce the pLinting of many trees that would not otherwise be planted, and very many ( {)orhai)s not all ) are a blessinaying a faiii-y pric<' you find out you are swindled, learn by the lesson and be more careful next time. But, returning to the subject, the uuvn that has the ability ami energy to handle a cori)s of tree-peddlers and at the same time grow a good nursery stock can nuike the l)usiness profitable; or, if a man is doing a strictly wlujlesalc business, the more tree peddlers the better. But a small nurseryman doing a retail business only will be 92 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS seriously interfered with. The public will get more real satisfaction when situated so that it is practicable to go personally to the nursery and see the stock before buying. But buy the best you can under existing circumstances, plant carefully what you buy, tend and pro- tect well after planting; and if you have not had unreasonable ideas you will, when fruitage is reached, approximate your expectations. But if any one says to you, " Mine frent, py dis dwenty-tollar over- coat for four tollar," a positively blight-proof pear, a strictly cur- culio-proof plum, or a peach that will bear every year and not winter- kill in Northern Illinois, say to him, "Get thee behind me, ." Mr. Wilkinson offered the following resolutions, which were adopted : Whereas, All men handling nursery products are as a rule classed as nurserymen; and WkEKEAS, There are four distinct classes: First, nurserymen tl:at grow their stock; second, agents employed by the nurserymen; third, the local jobber; fourth, the traveling broker; and Whereas. Under the present lack of system one class deals unfairly with the public, and the other three classes suffer as if equally guilty; therefore be it t Resolved, That it is of vital importance to both nurserymen and planter to adopt such rules as will restrict crooked dealings; and where any is practiced, that it may rest on the proper person. Resolved, That our President appoint a committee of three to draft resolutions and present at the next regular meeting of our Association. Resolved, That this question may be by said committee furnished to the Prairie Farmer and other papers, in view of drawing to their aid, by dis- cussion, all points bearing on the question. The President named the following gentlemen as the commit- tee: C. N. Dennis, Henley Wilkinson, Jabez Webster. Mr. H. D. Brown — The nurseryman who does not deal with tree peddlers will '' get left," and the one who employs the peddler will make the money. Mr. Augustine — I will employ only men whom I know, and let them take orders only on commission in my own name, and then I can know how these orders are filled. Mr. Patterson, of Missouri — I have tried this plan but have been outgeneraled by the tree peddler. They come from all direc- tions. They come at nnusual seasons. They use methods that are dark. They have ways which are past finding out, and by hum- bugging and lying they are constantly injuring our business, and defrauding those who should be our customers. STATE HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 93 Mr. Webster — I kiiuw of no other business in wliich tliere is so much fraud and dece{)tion practiced. \ have adopted the phm of selling to local dealers, who sell direct to farmers. These men go over the same territory, and sell to the same parties year after year, which is a guarantee of honest dealing. But they cannot compete with the peddlers. Mr. Kellogg — Tne chain nursery humbug of Ohio is the mod- ern tree peddler's glory. The agents of these nurseries tried their game in our State, but our people learned of their misrepresenta- tions and refused to take the trees, and the agents made no effort to compel them to do so. Mr. Robison, Kansas — Tree peddlers are possibly a blessing in disguise, as they induce men to plant trees who would never go to the nursery and get them. In our State they are liable to prosecution if they effect sales by misrepresentation. One of these agents came into our County and showed orders with my name at- tached. I persuaded the parties who had been victimized to apply for a warrant, when the fellow took a hasty leave. The Committee on Awards in Class IV made the following re- port, which, on motion, was adopted: REPORT OF COMMITTEE OX CLASS IV— VECxETABLES. Your committee find forty entries in this class, three of which embrace respectively, twenty-one, twenty-two and thirty-two varieties of vegetables. The growers of Jacksonville, Hamilton and Alton have nuxde a friendly but very spirited competition. Best Displai/ — Albert Halley, Jacksonville, tirst premium; Henrv Hcmple, .tacksonville, second premium. Best Half Peck Early Potatoes — J. S. Browne, Alton, first premium; C. B. Bockvvell, Hamilton, second premium. Best Half Peck Potatoes for Winter and Spring — J. S. Browne, Alton, first premium; A. L. Hay. Jacksonville, second premium. Best Half Peck Seedling Onions — C. B. Rockwell, Hamilton, first premium. The committee find three entries of onions, but under the rules of the Executive Board we can award Init one premium. There is evidently a misap])rehension on the part of two of the exhibitors, who have exhibited each one peck of sets, that is, small onions for setting to grow onions, while the Executive Committee designed the exhibition of edible onions grown from black seed. 94 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Best Half Peck Turnips — E. P. Jones, Jacksonville, first prem- ium; J. S. Browne. Alton, second premium. Best Half Peck Beets — Henry Hempel, Jacksonville, first prem- ium; Henry Rehmeyer, Jacksonville, second premium. Best Half Peck Parsnips — Albert Halley, Jacksonville, first premium; Henry Hempel, Jacksonville, second premium. Best Half Peck Carrots — Henrj Hempel, Jacksonville, first premium; Henry Rehmeyer, second premium. Best Winter Srj^nash — C. B. Rockwell, Hamilton, first premium; J. S. Browne, Alton, second premium. Best Three Heads Celery — Albert Halley, Jacksonville, first premium; J. S. Browne, Alton, second premium. Best Head Cabbage — Albert Halley, Jacksonville, first prem- ium; E. P. Jones, Jacksonville, second premium. T. E. Goodrich. H. H. Hall, H. D. Brown, Committee. THURSDAY AFTERNOON. The house came to order at two o'clock. The first business was the following KEPORT OF AWARDING COMMITTEE, CLAS« II. Your Committee on Fruit Exhibits, Class II, report the follow- in": awards: 'O Best Plate Winter Apples for Family Use — R. W. Neil, Huey, Rhenish May, first premium; E. Blackburn, Jacksonville, Newtown Pippin, second premium. Sixteen entries. Best Plate I'all Apples for Family Use — E. A. Riehl, Alton, Rome Beauty, first premium; A. C. Hammond, Warsaw, Maiden's Blush, second premium. Twelve entries. Best Plate Ben Davis — L. Redden, Villa Ridge, first premium; Edward Blackburn, Jacksonville, second premium. Twelve entries. Best Plate Willoir Twig — Jacob Auer, Deer Plains, first premium; R. W. Neil, Huey, second premium. Eleven entries. Best Plate Pome Beauty — E. A. Riehl, Alton, first pi-emiam; W. R. Crain, Villa Ridge, second premium. Five entries. Best Plate Jonathan — J. Webster & Son. Centralia, first premium; T. Huber, Illinois City, second premium. Seven entries. Best Plate Grimes' Golden — C. B. Rockwell, Hamilton, first premium; A. C. Ham]nond, Warsaw, second premium. Five entries. Best Plate Newtown Pippin — E. A. Riehl, Alton, first premium; W. R. Crain, Villa Ridge, second premium. Six entries. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 95 Brxf Phtfr Rairlrs' Janef — L. Redden, Villa liidge, first preinmm; Jacob Auer, Deer Plain, second ])remiiini. Eleven entries. /ic.s/ Plat)' Wine Sap — L. Redden, Villa Ridge, first premium: J. Webs-ter & Son, Centralia, second premium. Ten entries. Best Plate Yelloir Belljloirer — .Tacob Auer. Deer Plain, first premium: C. B. Rockwell, Hamilton, second premium. Seven entries. Best Plate Smith's Cider — E. A. Riehl. Alton, first premium; ]{. W. Nicl. Hney, second premium. Four entries. Best Plate \Vi/fJie — A. C. Hammond, Warsaw, first premium; J. T. .lohnsoii. Warsaw, second premium. Two entries. Best Plate Bed Canada — A. C. Hammond, Warsaw, first premium: J. T. Johnson, Warsaw, second premium. Two entries. Best Plate Pnjor's Red — L. Redden, Villa Ridge, first premium ; R. W. Niel. Huey, second premium. Six entries. Best Plate Domine — T. Huber, Illinois City, first premium; L. \\. Brvant, J*rinceton, second premium. Five entries. Respectfully submitted. D. H. Ghat, J. V. COTTA, B. C. Warpield, Committee. REPORT OF AWARI)IN(J COMMITTEE CLASS I. Your Committee, to whom was referred the awirding of premi- ums on Collections of Apples, in Class I, have performed that duty and made awards as indicated below. Among the apples on exhibition, we have found such varieties as Gano, York Imperial. Huntsman. Luwver, Missouri Pipitin, Clay- ton, Ingraham and Woodmansie, shown by Stark & Co., of Jjouisiana, Mo., and which are very fine specimens of those varieties. Largest and Best Displai/ — First i)remium, A. C. Hammond, Warsaw; second premium, J. T. Johnson, Warsaw. Four entries. Best Colleetion of Shoiv Apples — First premium, A. C. Ham- mond, Warsaw; second premium, J. T. Johnson, Warsaw. Five entries. Best Colleetion Winter Apples for Northern Illinois — Firsf pre- mium, L. R. Bryant. Princeton; second premium, T. Huber. Illinois City. Two entries. Best Five Varieties Winter Apples for Central Illinois, for M((r- y^Y/ — First premium, A. C. Hammond, Warsaw: second jiremium. J. T. Johnson, Warsaw. Four entries. Best Five Varieties Wi)iter Apples for Southern Illinois, for Market — First premium, R. C. Berry, Batchtown; second premium, R. W. Xeil, Hucv. Five entries. 96 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Best Three Varieties Fall Apples for Central Illinois, for Mar- ket— First premium. A. C. Hammond, Warsaw; second premium, James T. Johnson, Warsaw. Four entries. Best Three Varieties Fall Apples for Southern Illinois, for Mar- ket— First premium, W. R. Grain, Villa Ridge; second premium, E. A. Riehl, Alton. Three entries. Best Collection Seedlings, or New Apples — First premium. W. R. Grain, Villa Ridge; second premium, L. Redden, Villa Ridge. Five entries. Best Plate Seedlings, Good Enough to be Recommended — First premium, W. R. Grain, Villa Ridge; second premium, L. Redden, Villa Ridge. Six entries. Best Plate New Variety, Good Enough to he Becommended — First premium, W. R. Grain, Villa Ridge; second premium, L. Redden. Villa Ridge. Seven entries. Best Plate Winter Apples for Northern Illinois — First premium, T. Huber, Illinois Gity; second premium, L. R. Bryant, Princeton. Two entries. Best Plate Winter Apples for Central Illinois, for Market — First premium, G. B. Rockwell, Hamilton; second premium, A. G. Hammond, Warsaw. Three entries. Best Plate Winter Apples for Sonthern Illinois, for Market — First premium, R. G. Berry, Batchtown; second premium, L. Redden, Villa Ridge. Six entries. ' Ghakles Patterson, H. W. Latheop, H. K. ViCKROT, Committee. Report adopted. EEPORT OF AWARDING COMMITTEE— CLASSES III AXD V. We, the committee to whom was referred Glasses III and V, beg leave to report that we have carefully examined the exhibits in these classes, and made the following awards: Best Plate Quinces — E. A. Riehl, Alton, first premium. Best Collection Grapes — E. A. Riehl, Alton, first premium; Dr. H. Schroeder, Bloomington, second premium. Best Plate Grapes — E. A. Riehl, Alton, first premium. Dr. Schroeder entered the Princess for the best new grape, and the Minerva for the best seedling grape. The former we find to be a very pleasant, mild-flavored grape, and the latter a very good new seedling. Best Display Evaporated Fruit — G. B. Rockwell, Hamilton, first premium; J. S. Browne, Alton, second premium. Best Gallon Pure Cider — W. R. Grain, Villa Ridge, first prem- ium; A. G. Hammond, Warsaw, second premium. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 97 Best Sample Cider Vinegar — J. Webster & Son, first premium; G. W. Hilliard, Brighton, second premium. H. Augustine, C. N. Dennis, F. I. Mann, Com in it fee. We further report that Stark & Co., of Louisiana, IMo., and H. D. Brown and C. N. Dennis, of Hamilton, deserve great credit for the very fine display of nursery stock and samples of the different modes of propagating and making good and health}- trees. Jose])h Heinl also made a fine dis])lay of evergreens. H. Augustine, F. I. Mann, Committee. Report adopted. EFFORT OF THE CO^fMITTEE O^' SEEDLINGS AND NEW FRUITS. Your committee awarded first premium on CoUect ion of Seed- lings to W. R. Grain, of Villa Ridge, on a collection of thirteen varieties; the second to L. Redden, of Villa Ridge, for a collection of six varieties. There were on exhibition three other lots containing more plates, but the smaller collections were of better quality and appearance, and seemed to possess more value, so far as we could judge. The first premium for Nrir Variety, good enough to recommend^ we have awarded to \V. R. Grain on a plate of Sparks" Late, a large, to very large, yellow apple of spicy, aromatic flavor, crisp flesh and very good quality; the second to L. Redden, for a plate of Johnson, a dark red apple, firm in flesh, above medium in size, fine-grained, spicy, very good flavor. An apple entered by Mr. John Shank in this class, the commit- tee think is an old variety known as the Red Winter Pearmain, and in some sections as Red Winter Pip))in. We do not think it prop- erly belongs to this class, but if it did we consider the varieties to which we have awarded the premiums as of better quality and greater promise. For best Seedling, good enough to recommend, we award first premium to W. R. Grain for a plate of Spice, dark red, white flesh, good quality; the second premium to L. Redden for a plate of Red Seedling, medium size, red to dark red, yellow flesh, crisp and aro- matic. E. A. RiEHL, J. W. RoBISON, Jai^kz Wkhstkr, Committee. Report adopted. 8 98 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS SOME COMMON INSECTS INJURIOUSLY AFEECT1N(; THE YOUNG APPLE. TREES IN THE ORCHARD AND NURSERY. BY CLARENCE M. WEED. Those members of this Society who have attended its meetings for the past decade, or who have studied the reports of its excellent Secretary covering this period, can scarcely have failed to notice the frequency with which the subject of the successful production of apples has arisen for discussion. And it is a subject well worthy of the earnest consideration of this body of intelligent horticulturists, for it were a shame indeed were we to allow a host of injurious in- sects, a tribe of parasitic fungi, or even the icy hand of old Jack Frost himself, to drive from our tables and to banish from our hearthstones the genial presence of this king of fruits. For the present dead and dying condition of the apple orchards of Illinois various people have assigned various causes, the reason being, as usual in such cases, largely attributable to the personal bias of the one giving it; but I believe that he who finally solves this difficult problem must use as factors in the solution a judicious com- bination of these various reasons, giving each its due importance and not allowing any one to so predominate that the others shall be ex- cluded from consideration. It is the purpose of the present paper to contribute one of the factors which must certainly enter into the final solution — that of the relations of insect depredators — a few facts of observation find experiment gleaned from the current fund of entomological knowledge, note slips and correspondence of the State Entomological Office, and a personal examination of a large number of apple trees, both in the orchard and nursery, in various parts of Illinois during the last two years. More than this it does not pretend to do, but I firmly believe that the successful orchardist must take into account some of the facts here noted, and must make a part of his scheme of operations some of the remedies here sug- gested. It is a common maxim that we should take heed to the begin- nings of things; and, trite as it may seem, it is eminently applicable to the cultivation of an apple orchard. The tree that is to success- fully withstand the extremes of summer's heat and winter's cold must be one that, from the very commencement of its growth, con- tinues to develop normally and symmetrically, without any drain upon its vitality on account of the injuries of insects that suck its life-sap from root, stem or leaves, or gnaw at its lungs bv eating the foliage. The principle underlying this statement is obvious to all, STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 99 for if when young and starting up, the vitality which is to enahh.' it in future years to withstand the extremes of temperature to wliieli it is to be subjected, and bear fruit at the same time, it is required instead to use this surplus energy in battling with present foes, the result can only be a weakling that will be killed by the first hard winter. The successful stock l)reeder recognizes this principle and never thinks of allowing his animals to shift for themselves for the first portion of their lives, and then expecting to bring them into the best condition by after treatment. He rather attends to their wants from the first, and aims to keep up a healthy, continued growth. So must it l)e with our orchards. We can not carelessly stick the trees in the earth, allow them to be robbed of their nourishment by vege- tation covering the ground, the sap sucked from their roots by plant lice, the wood and l)ark of their stems eaten by borers, and the breathing pores of their leaves greedily devoured by a host of leaf rollers, crumplers and skeletonizers, and expect by any after system of renovation to produce a successful orchard. To the victor belongs the spoils; and without overcoming these pests our orchards will be but hollow mockeries. It is to the nurseryman that the fruit grower must look to be assured that the trees he plants, until to the time of planting, keep up tliis continued healthy growth which is so desirable. And still more important is it that the nurseryman should be able to assure his customer that the trees he sends out are not infested with the hibernating stages of these various noxious insects, so that the planter shall know that he is not adding new enemies to the already large number ])resent in his neghborhood. There is very little doubt that several of our worst orchard pests have been and are being annually dissemenated through the agency of young apple trees from nurseries. Hence it is a duty which the nurseryman owes both to his patrons and to himself to see that these pests do not multiply on his grounds, and to take all needful measures to insure that the stock sent out be free from their various hibernating stages. An acre of young apple trees is said to be worth from five hundred to a thousand dollars, and it would seem as if every nurseryman could well afford to expend a few dollars each year to free his stock from insects. In many instances this is absolutely necessary, or else the insects get such a start as to check the growth almost entirely. Viewed from a slightly different standpoint — that of his repu- tation— this subject is one of vital importance to the professional nurseryman, and one which he can by no means afford to neglect. No intelligent fruit-grower (and it goes without saying that the great majority of fruit-growers are intelligent) cares to have new enemies imported into his neighborhood; and if he receives from any given nurseryman a consignment of infested trees, neither the planter nor his neighbors will be very likely to patronize that nurs- eryman again. Prof. Forbes informs me that he has heard of several 100 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS instances of this kind, where the trees received were so infested tliat the receiver was strongly tempted to burn them, and naturally enough his feelings toward the firm sending them out were not cordial. THE WOOLLY APHIS. Fig. 1." Schizoneura lanigera^ Haus. There are frequently found on the limbs and trunk of young apple trees, masses of a white woolly substance, very similar to what has been so common daring the last few years on the limbs of soft maple trees infested by the maple bark louse. If one of these masses be examined, there will be found beneath it one or more small yellowish plant lice. These are what have for a long time been popularly known as the Woolly Aphis (Schizonenra ht- nigera). There are two forms of the insect, one attacking the roots, tbe -WOOLY Aphis, enlarged and natural size. presence of which may be easily detected by the knotty appearance of the roots infested, and one attacking the twigs and trunk. These latter are the ones most commonly seen, and secrete the most of the woolly substance just mentioned. In either situation the effect of their presence is to weaken the vitality of the tree by sucking its sap. The eggs are laid in autumn on the bark, and remain in this condition through the winter. Hence the insect is very liable to be disseminated through the agency of young nursery trees. This pest is very common in some of the nurseries of this and adjacent states, and is doubtless being continually reintroduced into a great many localities. I have seen young apple trees that were being heeled in, preparatory to transportation, that showed at nearly every node on the trunk the white woolly secretions of the insect. EEMEDIES. The same ground should not be planted to apple stock twice in succession, on account of the too favorable opportunities thus given for the undue multiplication of this and other insects. Though ro- tation will not wholly prevent the ravages of any of these pests, it will help so to do, and should be practiced wherever possible. In his STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 101 excellent treatise on " Insects Injurious to Fruit," Mr. William Saun- ders says: "The most successful means yet devised for destroying these root-lice, is the use of scalding hot water, freely ])oured around the roots of the tree. If the trees are remaining in the soil, the roots may be laid bare, and the water used nearly boiling, without injury; but where they have been taken up for the purpose of transplanting, and are to be dipped in the hot water, the temperature should not exceed 150° Fahr., — under these circumstances, from 120° to 150° would suffice for the purpose. A mulch placed around the trees for some time previous to treatment, has been found useful in bringing the lice to the surface, where they can be more readily reached by the hot water." Frof. Forbes has recommended that the roots of infested nursery trees be "puddled" with the kerosene emulsion be- fore sending out, and that if the lice are seen upon the trunks, these be also treated with the emulsion, applying with a brush, sponge or cloth. A strong solution of tobacco water would probably answer the purpose equally well. APPLE PLANT LOUSE. The apple plant louse (Ap/iis mali)^ an insect which is familiar to every observing horticulturist, has for several years past proved a serious pest in certain Illinois nurseries. The eggs are laid in the fall in crevices of the bark of the trunk and limlss, and the young lice hatch very early in the spring, usually about the time the leaves begin to unfold. The lice from these eggs soon mature and give birth to others, which in turn produce still more, multiplying with prodigious rapidity, so that as fast as new leaves expand there are new colonies to occupy them. These insects get their food by insert- ing their beak in the leaves and sucking the sap, the effect on the foliage being to cause it to curl up, a process which greatly protects the lice and renders the application of insecticide substances more difficult. These pests have various insect remedies which prey upon them, and greatly aid in keeping them in check. In the orchard at the oi)ening of the season, the lice usually get the start of their enemies for a short tiuie, but ))y uiidsummer the latter have as a rule so mul- tiplied that the iujuries of the former are reduced to insignificance. But the environments of the nursery are not so favorable for the in- crease of these- predaceous insects as those of the orchard, 'and the lice are usually not so (piickly checked. Various insecticides have been recommended for the extermin- ation of these pests, the most promising of which for use in the nursery seem to be a strong solution of tobacco water. The lice affect especially the teruiiual leaves, and doubtless the young trees could be cleared of them by dipping the tips in vessels containing the tobacco water. This process is not so impracticable as would at first 102 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS appear, as some trials of the method which I made in the nursery during the hist summer showed. Where the knxf -rollers are present at the same time, the liquid may be made to also serve, as suggested by Prof. Forbes, for the application of the arsenites by stirring in London Purple or Paris Green in the usual proportions. On young trees in the orchard these pests may be killed by spraying with kero- sene emulsion or tobacco water, being careful to apply the spray to the under surface of the leaves. THE LEAF CRUMPLER. PJijjcis indigeneUa^ Zeller. v This is one of the most conspicuous of orchard pests, and is very abundantly distributed throughout Illinois and adjacent states. I have found it the past season in all the nurseries and orchards that I have examined, in at least a dozen counties of the State. It is often v^ery seriously destructive, but is so easily subdued that there is no excuse for the orchardist or nurseryman who tolerates it. If any of my readers will take the trouble to examine the trees of the next apple orchard they visit, I doubt not that they will find. more or less abundant, on the twigs certain masses of brown and withered leaves, attached to each other and to the twigs by means of silken threads. If these leaves are pulled apart there will be found within them a long, crumpled horn-like case, aiul if the examination be carried still further, within this case there will be found a brown wrinkled worm. This is the creature that years ago was named by Mr. Walsh, the first State Entomolo- gist of Illinois, the Rascal Leaf- Crumpler, liecause of its habit of and devouring the ^^S2> crumpling leaves. Early the flower Apple-Lkaf Crumplbr— a, worm case; b, case attached to limb ; c, head and anterior next spring, just as and leaf-buds are be- ginning to expand under the un- _ certain rays of the April sun, segments ]of caterpillar enlarged; rf, perfect these little creatures will opeil Up ™° ■ the mouths of their cases and move to the nearest bud, where they will break their long fast by devouring the unfolding leaves, a process which is continued for a few weeks, or until the larvoe become full grown, usually some time STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 103 in June. They then pupate witliin their cases, and about a fortnight hiter emerge as small grayish moths. These moths soon di-posit their eggs for another brood of larva}, which eat the foliage and construct the silken tubular cases just mentioned. By the time the leaves l)egin to fall, these larvae are from one-third to one-half grown, and thev })repare for winter l>y fastening their cases to the twigs by silken ro})es in the manner mentioned above. Thus there is but one brood in a season. Besides the apple, this insect feeds upon the quince, plum, cherry, peach and crab-apple. IXTRODUCTION INTO NEW LOCALITIES. I know of no other orchard insect that is so generally liable to 1)6 continually introduced into new localities through the dissemin- ation of young fruit trees as this, the peculiar winter habit of the species being such that unless the trees are examined with especial reference to it before they are sent out, a few of the larvs are almost certain to adhere to them. Hence, both the one sending and the one receiving young fruit trees should be careful to pick off and destroy anv superfluous-looking leaf masses that may be attached to them. It may be urged that this pest is so generally distributed that it would make no difference if a few more were brought into each locality every year, but it does make a difference, for it disturbs the balance which nature has adjusted between these pests and their various enemies, and adds new energy to the work of destruction. REMEDIES. As has been stated, there is no excuse, save that of gross neg- ligence, for the horticulturist who allows these pests to become destructively numerous on young trees, either in the orchard or nur- sery. The larval cases are so easily picked off at a season of the year when the ruralist has abundant leisure that, if he takes any interest in his trees at all, he can easily find time to attend to them. I have l)een in several young orchards the past season, where these insects were suthciently numerous to seriously check the healthy develop- ment of the tree, and I doubt not that a similar condition prevails in hundreds of young orchards throughout the State. In some in- stances trees were so infested that there was a larva lying in wait for nearly every bud; and it is needless to state that the effect of past injuries could be easily traced in the diminished vitality of the tree. Doubtless the method frequently recommended by entomological writers, of placing the picked cases in an open field, away from trees, where the larvae will starve, and their parasites, of which several si)ecies are known, escape, is preferable to that of burning. Or, if the trees are infested with any other of the several leaf-eating species, they may be killed by spraying with arsenites, as advised elsewhere in this paper. 104 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS In the nursery it is preeminently necessary that these pests should he destroyed, and the nurseryman owes it both to his patrons and himself that the work should be thoroughly done. No other leaf-eating insect is so liable to be disseminated by means of young trees, and every time specimens are introduced into a new locality, even though the species may be already present, the work of destruc- tion is given a new impetus. It is difficult to convince those most interested, of the easy practibility of picking these cases off nursery stock. I have in mind an instance where a nurseryman of unusual intelligence, whose stock was infested by the leaf-crumpler, who was advised by one of the leading entomologists of the State to put boys in the field to pick the cases off, but who regarded the idea as non- sensical and impracticable. And he was only convinced of the ease with which the work could be performed when shown the results of a practical experiment made to test the matter, in which a boy was placed in one of the infested fields of apple stock to gather all the cases on the young trees. In two hours, thirty rows, three hundred yards long, were gone over, and a half peck of the larval cases gath- ered. When shown this half peck of destroyers, our friend was con- vinced, and at once hired boys to go over his fields; and afterwards expressed himself as surprised and pleased with the result. THE APPLE-LEAF SKELETONIZER. This insect is one of the most destructive species with which the nurseryman has to contend, rivaling in the extent and seriousness of it, injuries that species which, I think, must head the list of leaf -eating nur- sery pests — the lesser apple leaf -rol- ler ( Teras Miniita^ Robs.} It seems very generally distributed throughout Illinois, having been ob- served, during the past season, doing serious injury to apple trees both in the orchard and nursery in McLean, Cham- paign and Morris Counties. It was first reported from this State, a quarter of a century ago, and does not, as yet, seem to have become destructably nu- merous either in the Eastern or far Western States. THE APPLE-LEAF SKELETONIZER. The life history of the species may be briefly stated as follows: The small, purplish, grey moth, expanding scarcely half an inch, lay their eggs, probably on the leaves or tender twigs of the apple late in the spring or early in summer; the larvae soon hatch and begin STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 105 eatiug the parenchyma of the upper surface of the leaves, as they grow ohh'r s])iiining a slight jiroteetive silken web on the leaf be- neath which they continue their destructive work. When full grown they vary from an olive or pale green color to brown, are about half an inch long, and have four black shining tubercles ou the back just behind the head. About midsummer the larviu pu])ates in slight cocoons, formed usually on the leaf, and about two weeks later the moths emerge. Eggs are laid by these for the second brood of larva?, which form cocoons before winter sets in and hiber- nate as pupate, the moths from them emerging the following spring. But this species is very irregular in its development, it being easy to find larviv of nearly all ages almost any time during the season. The second brood is more numerous than the first, and consequently the injury is most noticeable during September and Octo1)er. The fact of the two brooded ness of tiie insect is one of the discoveries of the office during the past year, it having been heretofore supposed to be single brooded. It is jirobable that, left to its own resources, this insect would spread very slowly, but that there is great danger of its being carried from place to place through the agency of man there can be little doubt. ?]specially is it liable to be introduced with trees from the nursery, unless great care be taken to thoroughly strip them before sending out, and also to see that no dead leaves cling about the roots or get into the packing boxes. A case in point is that of a fruit grower in Sangamon County, Illinois, who purchased trees from nurseries infested by the species and was afterwards greatly troubled by their presence. So far as can be learned the insect had not been observed before in the locality in c^uestion. REMEDIES. Concerning remedies Prof. Riley says: "A little handpicking at the proper time would do much to prevent its injuries, and I in- cline to believe that it may be extirpated by dusting the tree with air-slacked lime." Prof. French has added the recommendation that the arsenites be used, which have also been recommended by I^rof. Forbes, who has in addition recommended that the fallen leaves be burned to destroy the puj)ate. Hut none of the writers seem to have known of any practical experiments made to test the value of the substance recommended. Early in .July the past season I made, under the direction of Prof. Forbes, some experiments with Paris Green on skeletonizer larvae infesting nursery trees. The result showed that spraying with Paris Green in the jiroportion of one ounce to eight gallons of water efEectuall.y destroys the larva- without injury to the tree; and from some partial exp?riments made at the same time, which were inter- rupted by a heavy rain storm, 1 incline to believe that half this 106 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS strength of solution would be sufficiently effective. The spraying o£ large-sized nursery stock, though under the present system attended with mechanical difficulties which are elsewhere discussed, would certainly repay the cost. For young trees in the orchard such spraying is a very simple matter, and its neglect where needed is in- excusable. THE LESSER APPLE LEAF-ROLLER. Teras Minuta, Robs. This insect has been known as a serious pest in Illinois for more than twenty years, and I think must rank first in the list of leaf- eating nursery insects. Commencing as soon in spring as the leaves begin to put forth, and affecting almost wholly the terminal portion of the young tree, the amount of damage which these larvae are capable of doing during the season is simply immense. Of course the effect of their injury is to stop that straight upward growth which is the sine qua non of the successful nursery tree, and to cause the tree to throw outside branches, giving it a stunted, scraggy- appearance that greatly lessens its value either for planting or dis- tribution. This pest seems pretty generally distributed throughout Illinois, as we have obtained it in Cook, McLean and Marion coun- ties. LIFE HISTORY. The Jife-history of this species is very remarkable because of the different colors of the moths of the different broods, the moths of the two summer broods being orange and those of the autumn brood gray. This is an instance of what naturalists call dimarphism, and is the only instance of the kind known in the family to which the insect belongs. Briefly summarizing our present knowledge of the species as re- gards the apple, its life history may be outlined as follows: The eggs are laid in spring on the unfolding leaves, the larvae soon hatching to devour the tender foliage of which they form a protective case, in which they continue feeding for about a month, when they pupate within the folded leaves, and a week or more later emerge as yellow moths. These moths lay eggs for another brood of larvae, the im- ages from which appear in August, being again of the same yellow color. These in turn lay eggs for a third brood of worms which de- velop during September, and emerge as glistening reddish gray moths in October, to pass through the winter in various rubbish heaps, fence corners, and similar places of protection and conceal- ment, and deposit eggs on the unfolding leaves the following spring. Thus is completed the remarkable cycle of insect life — one of the most curious to be found recorded in the literature of entomology. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 107 REMEDIES. The depredations of this insect upon young a))ple trees are very difJicult to contend witli on account of the concealed ))osition of the larva and its habit of attacking the young terminal leaves. The application of arsenical solutions is |)rol)al)ly as promising as any remedy of the kind that can be recommended, but 1 believe that the most effectual means of preventing their injuries in the nurseries is to put boys in the field, show them the concealed larva' in the rolled leaves, and direct them to crush all that they can find. This is not such an endless task as would at first appear, and if the larva^ of the first brood are then destroyed, the outlay will be tenfold repaid. That it is eminently practicable on a large scale has been demon- strated the past season by one of the leading nurserymen of the State, who found that the expense of going over a badly infested field once did not exceed 6ne dollar per acre, and that the outlay was abundantly re])aid by the continued vigorous growth of the trees. In a recent letter the gentleman informs me that he intends continuing the practice "more vigorously in the future than in the past." This insect also infests cranberries, and it has been recommended that some form of light trap be used for attracting the moths in cranberry fields. I can see no reason why the same means should not be successfully employed to lessen the numbers of the moths in nurseries. It would seem that such traps might be employed on the warm, damp nights of early spring, when the hibernating gray moths are abroad for the purpose of depositing their eggs. For this purpose there are several forms of patented light traps; or an)' one with a little ingenuity can rig one up to suit himself. The operation of spraying nursery stock with the arsenites or other insecticides is much simpler than is generally supposed. For stock of one year's growth, all that is necessary is to go through the field, lengthwise of the rows, with a wagon containing a barrel of the solution, with a hand force i)um[) and spray-nozzle attached, straddling about every tenth row, and spraying the five rows on each side. In this way a field can be gone over easily and rapidly, and sprayed for the leaf-roller, skeletoiiizer and crumpler at com- ]>aratively little expense. I presume that for two or three-year-old trees it would be difficult to straddle the rows with an ordinary wagon without injuring them, but this difficulty may ))e easily avoided b}' leaving every eleventli row vacant, so that the wagon can pass through at any time. The spraying apparatus described by Prof. Forbes for use in spraving orchards would l)e just wh;it is needed for this purpose, so I will not go into further detail lunv. The same appartus can be successfully used in the application of insecticides to young apple trees, although in this case for a small orchard all that is necessary 108 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS is the pump, nozzle and an ordinary water pail or similar vessel. If Paris Green is used, mix in the proportion of one ounce to three gallons of water, or one pound to fifty gallons water. London Pur- ple may be used in the proportion of one ounce to five gallons of water, or one pound to eightj^ gallons water. SUMMMARY. Briefly recapitulating the facts concerning the pests above dis- cussed, we get the following: (1) The Woolly Aphis attacks the trunks and roots of the trees, and should be killed by hot water, to- bacco water or kerosene emulsion. (2) The Apple Plant Louse infests the foliage; it is difficult to combat this insect in the orchard, though spraying with kerosene emulsion or strong tobacco water helps, but in the nursery, dip the tips of the trees in one of these solutions. (3) The Leaf-Crumpler is one brooded, and lives over winter on the bare twigs, and should be then picked off. (4) The Leaf-Skeleton- izer is two-brooded, and lives on the upper surface of the leaves under a slight web; spray infested trees with Paris Green. (5) The Lesser Leaf-Roller is three-brooded; it folds and devours the young terminal leaves; crush the first brood, by the hand, or spray with Paris Green. The owner of a young orchard will also be wise to heed the two following general suggestions: 1. Examine all trees, before planting, for adhering insects, and destroy any that may be formed. 2. So far as possible, keep the trees from leaf -eating insects for the first few years. One or two arsenical spraying, in May and June, will greatly aid in accomplishing this. 1 think that the following rules, for the management of nursery stock, will also commend themselves, without further explanation, to the practical common sense of those intelligent nurserymen who ap- preciate the necessity of fighting their insect foes. 1. So far as possible rotate nursery crops with each other and with other farm and garden crops. 2. Give clean culture, keep premises clean; so far as practicable, burn fallen leaves. 3. Stamp out the beginnings of injury, especially during the early part of the growing season. 4. Thoroughly strip all trees before sending out, and if infected with Woolly Aphis, treat so as to destroy the pests. 5. Examine all importations from other nurseries, and, if any signs of insects are present, either burn the trees or treat them so as to destroy the pests. Mr. Kellogg — In the press of business, the best paper I have heard, during this meeting, was passed over last evening without a STATE HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 109 word of commendation, and I will only say that such a paper as that read by Mrs. Randolph is an honor to any Society, and you may well be proud of it. In Wisconsin, we are getting the ladies interested in our Society, and find that it is increasing in profit and interest. Mr. Gray — The paper referred to, suggests, to my mind, the figure "of apples of gold in pictures of silver," and I feel that " golden silence " will be the proper setting for this beautiful picture. Prof. Forbes having arrived, now presented his paper on THE ARSENICAL POISONS AND THE CODLING MOTH. HY PROF. S, A. FORBES. From the summary of the Assessors' Reports contained in the Croj) Report of the State Department of Agriculture for August, 1884, 1 leani that the value of the average annual crop of Illinois for the five years preceding 1884 was about four and three-quarters mil- lions of dollars. From observations and experiments presently to be detailed we may infer that about fifty per cent, of the possible apple crop of the State is sacrificed each year, on an average, to a single injurious insect, — the apple worm or codling moth (Carpocapia pomonella, L.). That is to say, if it were not for this insect we might reasonably expect the apple orchards of this State to yield ap- proximately twice their present income. To this codling moth, con- sequently, we may reasonably attribute a loss to the farmers of Illi- nois of, say four and three-quarters millions of dollars each year. I would like next to show you that a considerable percentage of this loss is preventable. A part of the apple crop reported, however, is doubtless obtained from neglected orchards, already too badly damaged to repay especial attention; and in many cases, also, where the trees are heavily laden, the apples remaining uninjured after the codling moth has done its worst may amount to more than half the fullest crop permissible. For these and other modifying circumstances we will make the liberal allowance of fifty per cent., reducing our estimate of the loss due to the apple worm to one-half the value of the average apple crop, or $2,375,()0() per annum. It is my ])urpose in this paper to demonstrate to you that at least seven- tenths of this loss may be prevented l)y a single remedial measure, so simple that any one may apply it, and without cost, so far as its effect on the codling moth is concerned. To prove this will be to show you how, at a nominal expense, we may save to the farmers of Illinois at least a million and a half of dollars every year in the value of the average apple crop. I read to you last year a paper giving a report on some pre- liminary experiments made with two arsenical poisons and with 110 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS lime, for the codling moth and the cnrcnlios, the general result of these experiments going to show that about two-thirds of the ajiples subject to loss through the codling moth, and one-half those liable to be destroyed by the curculios, might be saved b}'^ spraying eight times with Paris Green. Last year was, however, an exceptional year, the apple crop being very unusually light, following a good crop of the year before. Moreover, eight times spraying was clearly an excessive use of the poison, the arsenical compounds being pre- sumably ineffective against the second brood of the codling moth and certainly dangerous to health, if not to life, if used on the apple after midsummer. Our work of last season was consequently incon- clusive with respect to some important points, and I made this sum- mer similar experiments, on a larger scale, intended to complete and test the evidence of the year before; to try arsenic in solution in comparison with London Purple and Paris Green; and especially to test carefully and thoroughly the effect of a moderate number of sprayings with poisonous insecticides applied onl}^ so early in the season that there could be no possible question of danger to the con- sumer of the fruit. I used this year Paris Green and a solution of arsenic in comparison on eight selected trees. Two of these were sprayed with a solution of white arsenic and six with Paris Green in water, — two of the six sprayed once — May 11; two, twice — May 11 and 24; and two three times — ending June Tj. Companion trees were selected as checks upon each of those thus treated, the check tree being, of course, left unpoisoned. The Paris Green mixture was of the same strength as last year, — three-fourths of an ounce by weight, of a strength to contain 15.4 per cent, of metallic arsenic, being simply stirred up in two and a half gallons of water. The arsenic solution was made by boiling one ounce of arsenic in one quart of water, and adding this solution to twenty gallons of cold water. The method of procedure was pre- cisely as last year, the trees being thoroughly sprayed with a hand force-pump, and with the Deflector Spray and Solid Jet-Hose Nozzle, manufactured by the Lowell Faucet Company, Lowell, Mass. The character of the season was the precise opposite of the year preceding. Then a scant crop followed an abundant one; now an •extraordinarily abundant crop followed a very scanty one. The ratio of insects to the apples exposed to their attacks must have been, consequently, doubly diminished as compared with that of 1885. Further, our experiments were last year limited to early apples, no late fruit being available; while this year only fall and winter varie- ties were used. In these, finally, an additional brood of the codling moth probably developed, making three in all for the season, while last year we certainly had but two up to the time of harvesting our experimental fruit. After spraying, the apples which fell both from the poisoned trees and the untreated checks were regularly picked up at intervals STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Ill of about two weeks, until Octol)er -ith. These lots were each exam- ined for c-o(llin<^ moth injuries, as were also the picked ap])les gath- ered from the trees October 4th. From the data thus recorded, tables were prepared, such as I published in your last year's report. As these tables are, however, very unsuitable for public exposition, T have converted the essential facts contained in them into graphic diagrams, by means of which the comparisons between the poisoned trees and the checks can be readily made by every one. As this year's experiments are really continuous with those of the year preceding, I have brought my last year's results into this discussion, preferring to present the whole sub- ject to you in a complete and finished form, even at the expense of some slight repetition of matter already published. We begin the discussion with Diagram I (P.), exhibiting the result of the spraying of two trees eight times with i*aris Green in 1885, as compared with two other trees selected as checks. After spraying three times (.June 9th. 20th and 30th), the apples were first picked up July l()th, and already fifty-nine per cent, of those fallen from the check trees were wormy. Passing across the page from one open band to another, we see at first a little rise in the in the ratio of injury, and then a falling off to fifty-one per cent. July 31st — the lowest point of the season. This decline coincides with the interval between the first and second broods of the larva?. Our notes show that at this date no full-grown larvte whatever were found, and only a few very small ones at the blossom end of the apple, — evidently the young of the second brood. The averages of injuries to fallen fruit now increased rapidly to the end of the season (which for these apples closed Se[)tember 10, when all remaining were picked). The highest point of injury, it will ])e noticed, was eighty-one per cent., while the i)icked apples showed, September 10, a damage of seventy-three per cent. Taking together all the apples fallen from the trees, sixty-five per cent, of them are seen to have been damaged by the aj)ple worm; or. finally adding fallen and harvested ap[)les in one grand total, which includes the entire product of the trees, we conclude that sixty-nine per cent, had been infested by this insect. These data give us our standard of comparison. Looking now at the solid bands representing the codling moth injuries to the treated trees, the first thing that strikes us is, perhaps, the close corres])ondtn(e of the two sets of bands, — all the U|)s and downs of the longer columns being repeated in the shorter. This is evidence that the two sets of trees were good companion lots, both being apparently affected in the same way by the same conditions. Next we notice that the ])oisoned trees suffered much less from the codling moth than the others. Beginning at about seven per cent, the bands representing injury rise to twenty-five ])er cent., fall again to thirteen per cent., and culminate, September 3, at thirty-six IVZ TKANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS per cent. The damage to the picked fruit stands at a ratio of twenty-one per cent, as compared with seventy-three per cent, on tlie other two trees, a difference of fifty-two per cent. Taking all the apples from these trees together, and comparing with the entire crop of the check trees (last column, Diagram VII), assuming, as we evi- dently have a right to do, that as great a portion of the fruit on the experimental trees would have been destroyed as on the check trees if the former had not been sprayed, we shall find that of the apples thus exposed to damage by the codling moth almost exactly seventy per cent, have been saved by our treatment. Or, taking the picked and fallen apples separately, and making in the ratios exhibited by our diagram certain mathematical corrections, without which our computation will be misleading,* we find that eighty-six per cent of the apples which would have fallen from the trees on account of damage by the codling moth have been preserved to ripening; and that the ratio of damage to the picked fruit on the poisoned trees is only forty-tw^o per cent, that on the others. It will be readily understood that the ratio of injury in the fal- len apples is so much less in the beginning of the season than later, because in spring the tree casts its aborted fruit, Avhether this is in- jured by insects or not. When this blasted surplus has been mostly ♦Ratios are comparable, oi course, only when reckoned on the same base. For the check trees the ratios of damage to the fallen apples were calculated on the total number fallen, and for the picked apples the f'asis of the reckoning was the number remaining on the trees at the end of the season. Since the treatment of the experimental trees kept from falling a certain number of the apples which would otherwise have fallen, it is evident that ratios computed on the fallen and picked apples on these trees are not comparable, without correction, with those obtained from the checks. The number of fallen apples being relatively smaller, the radios of injury calculated on that number will be too large; while with the picked apples the case will be reversed. The ratios were consequently corrected throughout by the use of the following formulte: FALLEN FKUIT. c Formula — (1) x =- (a-\-x) h — c ( 2 ) ?/ = h— , a-y X a = Fallen fruit, experimental tree. 6 = Fallen fruit, ratio of injury, check tree. c = Fallen fruit, total injured, experimental tree. X = NumVier of apples saved from falling. y = Ratio of saved apples to total losable. — = Corrected ratio of injury, fallen fruit, experimental tree. a PICKED FRUIT. / e. Formula —( 3 ) s = ('c? — x) e — /(4)^=- [The above (three and four) are the correct formulaj. Those actually used substituted s for * in both cases. Not having picked all the apples on the trees, I could not subtract x from d.J d = Apples picked, experimental tree, e = Ratio of injury, check tree. / = Total injured, experimental tree, s = Number picked apples saved from becoming wormy. t = Ratio saved apples to total loiable. o " — 05 O ▲ o r _ p A * 11 to 1 y: .1 L KEEN 0 5 2 U, 1 < — CO 5 -^ o 1 o 1 1 lo 1 w 1 CO • CO >> p • bJD < op CO CO • e2 CJ "5 c CO 00 00 !Z5 < oo 00 5?i H Q o o o o to o CD OO o oo o lO m. o 1 '^^ o '-0 ■ 1 to o o (.V t— 1 to L 1 CO CM _>^ =3 o6 fcJD CO Z3 CO -t-J O CNJ O CO o -♦— ' o 1— • -o CD o -•— ' O 1— S CD ^ CO X a. C i«=! ^ o ^ 5? Oh a:) o 03 CXD O CO O ■n o >* o O CO LTD CM O CM LO 1/5 o CO 3 CM 3 O CN oo en CO Quo O CM o O ± O in CJ I H W PS < > I— « o 1—4 af 1 1 in 05 o OS IT) 00 Jz; K S OS e x lO tf to U-D CNI :^ F -| 1 2; .Oh as a, CO m o Sir ^N i ▲ 0^ •^5 -1 1 *" 1 ^5 r -j r n "^ - r - 1 |_ 1 1 1 1 1 n ,1 nrrn i n |i OC CD • o 1 a6 c fcij -.J to < 00 o CsJ CO cy2 o O OJ 3C to 00 00 o a, vT H I— I K O >- <1 ' ^» ,^ r 1 C* )~ X — (JO < »-tl I 1 l^ 1 1 i- R ■ io ! 1 ZZ 1 ~ ■— lo l-t o li^ m lO ^ ,— -+ It) cc ^ CO »'^. c» 1 !>} 1 lO H 1— ( ^ — — — T— 1 1 1 1 1 t '^ E '^ Ul LZ O O I 0) (D O c C t c 0) O c -2 s '-a O -a 2 uaji^j p9>{0y Q891 9881 a. 12! CU <5l a: w 00 Ph P3 o o X < C3 C3 to 03 o o OO l-O CD to CD lO ^ u-5 OO C3 CO CM o CM IL II r ] 1 n I 1 1 1 — - ■ — - — — 1 1 — • CO* ^ • J> ^' 0:5 • ^ CV^ CO ^ - O ^ ^• c^ i ^ h-H >. >^ >^ bjO e- m o- 3 r-i^ 3 " -T3 ,_^ Z3 ^ 3 .^ ^H H lo lO H K CS o ^H LO M tn i-O ^T 00 00 I— 1 O '^ w ^ hH »o ^ CO ■ o X CO s lO ^ Cvj 2^ e o in 1 1 r ~| — — — — — — 3 July 24. JulySL Sept. 3. » '-a o E R R A T A Page 109. line 11, for Carpocapia read Carpocapsa. Page 112, line 2, for twenty-one read thirty-one; line 5, for VII read I. Page 113, line 3 from bottom, for fifty-hve read fifty-eight; lines 9 and 13, for Famuse read Fameiples contained very young larv», although the majority were one-third to two-thirds grown. The notes of the assistants are sup- ported bv alcoholic specimens. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 115 being four per cent., and the picked a])ples three per cent. Or, stated in another form, the i-atio of benefit shown by the picked fruit was ninety-tivp per cent., while ninety-one per cent, of the apples liable to fall from codling moth injuries were preserved to ripening by the Paris Green. This tree was low and broad, and not too leafy, and was thus more thoroughly sprayed from the ground than the other experi- mental trees. There is also a possible lack of proper correspondence between the tree and its check, to be taken into account in connec- tion with this remarkable and exceptional result. For a summary exhibit of the final issues of the Paris Green ex- periments for both years, we may refer to Diagram VIII, where it will be seen, in a word, that, for 1885, eighty-seven per cent, of the fruit ex})osed to damage by the codling moth was preserved to ripen- ing by the poisons applied; and that fifty-eight per cent, of the picked fruit had been thus preserved; or, that taking picked and fal- len fruit together, sixty-nine per cent., which would otherwise have been sacrificed, had been saved by our remedial measure. During 1886, again, seventy-three per cent, were saved from fal- ling by a single spraying, seventy-seven per cent, by two, and about seventy-two per cent, by three. The difference ujifavorable to the last was doubtless due to accidental differences in trees and treatment. The benefit to the picked fruit apparent, from a single spraying, stands at forty-seven per cent., and that from twice spraying, at ninety per cent., while that from thrice spraying falls away, again, to seventy-seven per cent. Or, summarizing still more briefly, we may say, in general, that the results of once or twice spraying with Paris Green, in early spring, before the young apples had droO])ed upon their stems, resulted in a saving of about seventy-fice per cent, of the apples exposed to injury by the codling moth. ■ I wish especially to emphasize the fact that the results now ob- tained are drawn from computations so made that they may be expected to hold good without reference to conditions, other than variations in the treatment itself. I cannot enter here into details of the method by which these conclusions have been reached, and will only say that the ratios just given are really the ratios of apples effectively poisoiied by the Paris Green treatment as applied by us, and that these ratios will, evidently, not vary either with the abundance of the a])|)les or with the abundance of the codling moths. This view is, in fact, substantiated l)y the essential agreement between the re- sults' of last year and this under conditions as widely different as it would be possible to find by ten years' waiting. Further, it is esi)ecially to be noted that the final summaries of injury are much greater in our experiments than they would have been if all the trees in the orchard had been treated, as in the prac- tical application of this method in the field. Since we purposely left as many trees untouched as we sprayed, and since, in our experiments of this year, the trees under observation were surrounded by other 116 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS trees heavily laden with apples, to which we gave no attention, there were necessarily bred in these trees an abundance of codling moths of the first brood, which, spreading to our experimental trees, must have greatly increased the ratio of injury by the later broods. We have next to determine the time of the year at which poisoning is the most effective; whether, in fact, it takes principal effect upon the first brood or the later ones. A moment's reflection will show that if only the first brood of the larva? was directly dim- inished in a certain ratio, the second brood should show a siirilarly diminished ratio, since these descend from the first; whereas, if l)oth first and second broods are directly poisoned, then the ratio of dam- age to the second brood should be greater than that to the first; or, in other words, the percentage of benefit to the picked apples should be greater than that to the fallen. Our data for the present season do not apply to this question, since all the sprayings were made in May and early in June while the apples were still very small; and it is incredible that the poison should have remained upon the fruit through all the vicissitudes of weather and time for the two months and more, that elapsed before the appearance of the second brood of larv*. The results of last year, however, when the spraying was continued until September 3, give us important information. Refer- ring to Diagram I it will be seen that the benefit to the picked apples, instead of being greater than that to the fallen fruit, was last year about twenty-seven per cent, less, so that certainly no appreciable effect was produced by spraying during the life of the second brood. The greater injury to the picked fruit is readily accounted for by a circumstance to which I have already alluded, viz., that our experimental trees were surrounded by others upon which no experi- ment was tried, and were consec[uently subject to invasion by codling moths of the second brood reared upon these unpoisoned trees. Not only do these experimental facts point to the inefficienc}^ of Paris Grreen as against the later broods of the codling moth, but it is plain that the result was what we must have expected a jjrm-i. As the codling moth of all broods deposits the egg habit- ually on the blossom end of the apple, the poison taking effect only in case it reaches the surface of the apple between the calyx lobes, it is evident that there is little probability of effectively poison- ing the fruit when the apple is full grown and pendent upon its stem. Furthermore! wish to emphasize especially the point that spra fl- ing after the apples hare begun to hang downuards is unquestionably dangerous, and should not be permitted under any circumstances if the fruit is afterwards to be used. The results of the chemical analysis reported to you last year show that even heavy wind and violent rain are not sufficient to remove the poison from the fruit at this season, and remembering that the stem end of the apple pre- sents a large conical pit by which the poison could be received and STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 117 held, where neither r;iiii nor wiiul could dislodge it, we have ad- ditional reason for this absolute prohibition of the use of any poison dangerous to health excei)t when the fruit is young. I made this year some furtber experiments, intended to test the relative efficacy of Paris Green and a solution of arsenic, as applied to the Codling Moth, spraying two trees with the standard arsenic solution, in comparison witii two others sprayed with I^iris Green. The results are shown in Diagram IX, where the broader, heavy bands indicate the effect of thrice spraying with Paris Green and the narrower heavy ones that of thrice spraying with arsenic* The o])en l)ands represent a complete check derived from four trees not sprayed. It will be seen at a glance that, so far as these experiments are concerned, the advantage remains decidedly with the Paris Green. f It will be rememl)ered that I made a similar comparative experiuient last year with Paris Green and London Purple, finding there, also, that the former poison was decidedly the more efficient. As only a single tree was treated with London Purple, and as I see no sufficient rea.so)i wby this substance should not act as efficiently as Paris Green, I think that this result should not be insisted on. The facts, as made out, are illustrated by Diagram X, of which the open bands represent the check tree, and the solid ones that poisoned with London Purple. For the purpose of completing this exhibit of our experimental results, I have added Diagram XI, representing the lime experiment of last year. In this the solid bands represent, as usual, the treated tree, and the open ones the check, the damage from the codling moth being actually a little greater upon the tree sprayed with lime than upon its companion. I have now merely to recall the results with respect to curculio injuries to the apple, derived from our last year's work, by which, it will be remembered, it appeai'ed that about half the damage done by curculios was prevented by the Paris Green. We kept a similar ac- count of the curculio injuries this season, l)ut their numbers were so completely insignificant as to give us no sufficient basis for compu- tation, neither check nor experimental trees showing usually more than one or two per cent, of injury. It consequently remains for us to determine another year the effect upon curculio injuries of sjiray- ings made only early in the season, while the fruit is small. As the curculio's work is distributed over a much greater interval than that of the first brood of the codling moth, the arsenical poisons, early applied, are much less likely to affect it in any important way. I I think we are justified, however, in this important conclusion: that the incidental benefit to the crop by such protection against the • 1 he white arsenic, as analized for me by Prof. McMiirtrie, proves to have been of excellent quality, containiug ninety eiglit iier cent, of arsenious acid. t We furtlier noticed a decided scorcliing of the leaves on the trees which were si)ruyed with arsenic, while those to which the I'aris Green were applied were entirely uninjured. 118 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS curculio as our sprayings gave, and especially such prevention of damage to the foliage as we know to be thus afforded, will fully com- pensate for the small expense of the Paris Green application, which, made on a large scale, with suitable apparatus, only once or twice a year, must fall below an average of ten cents a tree. I believe, gentlemen, that I have now furnished you proof of the proposition made in the beginning of this paper, viz.: that at least seventy per cent, of the loss commonly suffered by tbe fruit- grower from the ravages of the codling moth or apple worm may be prevented at a nominal expense, or, practically, in the long run at no expense at all, by thoroughly applying Paris Green in a spray with water, once or twice in early spring, as soon as the fruit is fairly set, and not so late as the time when the growing apple turns downward on the stem. Finally, I ought to add that our results are confirmed in general by the only other experiment that I know of, in which the apples were examined witb sufficient care and detail to permit a calculation of ratios of benefit. Last year, at the New York Experiment Sta- tion, Mr. Goff, one of the officers of the station, sprayed three times with Paris Green six trees, and brought them into comparison with four check trees not sprayed. The results of his experiment, as given in the Fourth Annual Report of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 218-220, were to the general effect that six- ty-nine per cent, of the apples were effectively poisoned, and that the loss by the codling moth was consequently diminished in that ratio. The whole number of apples examined in the course of his observa- tions was 9,198. Mr. Patterson — I sprayed a number of trees last year and found very few codling moths or curculio previous to August, but a late brood took the fruit. I wish to ask Prof. Forbes if it is safe to spray late enough to keep in check these late broods. Prof. Forbes — I do not think it safe to spray an orchard after the fruit has turned down, as a sufficient amount of poison might collect in the basin around the stem to endanger life or health. Mr. Robison — In your experiments with insecticides for the destruction of codling moth do you notice any appreciable dimijiution of curculio? Prof. Forbes — Yes; last year they seemed to decrease about fifty per cent. Mr. Wier — My conclusions are that the leaf louse and tarnished plant bug cause greater injury to the apple than the curculio. The STATE HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 119 punctures made by these insects form a nidus for a fungus growth, which is the principal cause of deformity in the apple. Mr. Webster — When in Central Iowa last fall I found the apple crop entirely spoiled by these insects; and as they had no fruit the year before in which they could breed, it was a question in my mind why they should be so numerous. Mr. Lathrop — AVhen our cultivated fruits fail I think they breed in the crab apple and wild plum. Prof. Forbes — Prof. Burrill has been investigating this subject of the deformity of the apple, and has come to the conclusion that it is not entirely due to insect de])redations. Perhaps if he was present he could explain to Mr. Webster that the injury to the apple crop was not caused entirely by insect depredations. Mr. Augustine — The leaf roller, the skeletonizer and some other pests of this class, can not be reached with these poisonous applications. In the nursery we destroy them by hand-picking. I did this in my nursery at an expense of three dollars an acre. We who have heard the very interesting papers of Prof. Forbes and Mr. Weed can readily understand what a vast amount of work has been been done by our State Entomologist and his able assistants, and I move we show our appreciation of this work by a rising vote of thanks. Motion carried. In response to a call for a report of the Committee on Utilizing Fruits, Mr. J. T. Johnson read the following: UTILIZING FRUITS. BY R. W. NIEL. I have l)een called ui)un by the Secretary of this Society to fur- nish a paper on " Utilizing Fruits," and shall endeavor in a brief way to give you my experience as a horticulturalist. I will begin with the apple. And the first thing is to raise the best for market and family use. We must raise the apple that the people want. It must be one of good color and good size, not too sour nor too sweet. We have too many varieties that do not pay for planting. T will name a few that I would plant for winter use: lien Davis, Rome Beauty, Willow Twig, Wine Sap, Rhenish May and Neil's Keeper, in the })lace of Janet. 120 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS We must take good care of the orchard to have good fruit. I woukl cultivate well until the trees begin to bear, then keep the land in clover and orchard grass, which I cut once or twice in a season. After the hay is off I pasture the orchard with pigs and sheep until the fruit is gathered. I have sheep and calves in the orchard through the winter. It is a good plan to pasture an old orchard through the summer. I feed the most of my hay in movable racks on the ground to sheep and <3alves. This feeds the land and the land feeds the trees, which helps them hear better and more fruit. I spread manure from the barn thinly around the trees any time in the winter when the ground is frozen or dry. The next thing is careful pruning. This I consider the hardest thing to do in fruit-raising; to train a tree right and have the fruit so the sun can get to it some time in the day to color it and give it its best flavor. In regard to gathering fruit, it shoukl be carefully done; care- less work spoils the fruit and ruins the trees. I begin to gather in the first or second week of October on my winter apples, and pile them on the ground close to the trunk of the tree on the north side, so the tree will protect them from the sun. After laying in the piles two or three weeks, I commence to barrel them, being careful to keep all inferior apples out. By inferior, I mean all specked and all that fall under an average of two inches. I would not leave the barrels in the orchard to get wet. I did that once too often. We then pick up all, and use what is large enough and sound to dry, and the small ones go to the cider mill, or to the stock. If I have many rotten apples, I put them in a large hopper and let them leach out and make vinegar. It must be done under shelter, to keep the rain off of the apples, and off of the barrels. When apples are cheap, it pays to feed them to stock. All stock will eat them. I think them worth ten cents a bushel to feed, if we do not feed too many at a time. My way of keeping apples in the winter is to put my barrels in the cellar as soon as they are barreled, leaving the top hoop unnailed, ready to be repacked. I think a great many of the apples that are shipped are gath- ered too green. Our best eating fruit (the peach), we have had no crop since 1883. We had about 1,200 boxes that season. I am almost oat of practice in handling peaches, still I live in hope of raising some yet. I had a few for home use last summer. In handling this fruit, to get money out of it, it must be handled with great care. It must be gathered when the bloom shows on the red places. It should never be gathered too green. Their bloom shows first on one side and then spreads over the whole peach. Still the peach is firm. There is a point that is hard for a STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 121 new beginner to learn. But we have got to learn it, or we will sliij) stuff that we get nothing for, and the market is ruined for good fruit, and the coinuiission man is blamed for it. I have raised and shipped a good many thousand boxes, and I know that the people will pay a good price for good fruit, while the green stuff makes them sick. In packing. 1 always sort out all that are small and specky. If three in width and five in length does not fill one half the box, they are too small to ship, and had better be left at home than put on the market. I generally dry all that are too small to ship. The following, on the same subject, was presented: UTILIZIXG FRUITS. BY F. C. JOHNSOX. Utilization of fruits is a subject that interests every fruit- grower, and especially every ap])le-grower, as in every orchard there are culls, and in some orchards a large portion of the fruit is not choice enough for market. As being the most profitable way to realize from surplus apples I would suggest the making of same into cider and vinegar. Cider-vinegar making requires little skill, and, in a small way, it requires only a small capital invested in the business. A requisite to success in vinegar making is a building for storing and airing the cider. This need not necessarily be a very expensive building, but should be built so as to be as warm as possible and exclude the light. To make vinegar of cider, simply put away the cider, leaving the bung out of the barrel, and let it stand until wanted for market; then siphon off carefully, rinse out the barrels, and |)our away the sediment. The result may be hastened by keeping a little fire in the building during cold weather. Vinegar barrels will answer for storing cider for vinegar, but liquor barrels are the best for this purpose. Will cider-vinegar making pay? is a question often asked, and I will answer, it will and it will not. A few barrels of cider set out in the sun and made into vinegar, in that way will make very little money for the owner. On the other hand, there is no question but cider-vinegar, made as it should be, is much superior to factory vinegar. And it is simply a question of competition between good goods and poor goods, and in the end good goods will surely win. Mr. Buckman — Can cider be kept in a cemented cistern under ground? Mr. Hay — A man in this county filled a cistern with cider, and in a year found it an excellent article, and sold it to good advantage. 122 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS Mr. F. C. Johnson — In answer to questions, it takes two years to make vinegar, by the slow process, from cider, without the addi- tion of water. The addition of a small per cent, of vinegar will greatly advance the work. The following short but valuable paper was now read by the Secretary: HOW TO PRODUCE NEW APPLES. BY CHAS. PATTEESON, KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI. In the first settlement of the country, a large number of seed- ling orchards were planted, for various reasons, which are now super- seded. From these the majority of our standard varieties were selected. Importations from less favored countries than ours, pro- duced by far less intelligence than we possess, should be encouraged, but can not reasonably be expected to fully meet our wants. Expe- rimental productions, and plantings by a few patriotic men like Pro- fessor Budd, Mr. Gideon and others, are necessarily too limited and slow for our demands. We want not only almost an entirely new assortment of iron-clads for the north, but there is an unanimous and almost urgent demand for more satisfactory varieties in the more favored districts elsewhere. And to meet these wants is the object of this humble paper. Let our nurserymen procure small quantities of such seed as they would expect best success from; plant it and select the best seedlings for growing into trees. Sell one or more of these with every bill, or throw them in as a present. In this way we could have one hundred thousand bearing seedling orchard trees in a few years, and could reasonably expect some of them to prove valuable, and which we would not fail to hear from in the future. Mr. Lathrop — This is a subject worthy of our attention. Years ago, an Iowa lady, being East, saved seeds from some of the popular varieties of that time. An orchard was planted with trees grown from these seeds, and the fruit is following the type of the varieties from which the seeds were taken. Among them is a Striped Rambo which is very promising. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 123 THURSDAY EVENING. Mr. Dennis offered the following resolutions which were adopted by the Society: Whereas, There is a demand from societies, libraries and citizens of Illinois and sister states for a much larger number of copies of the tnins- actions of our Society than can be published with the amount that lias usually been appropriated; therefore, be it Resolved, Tliat we, as members, pledge ourselves to use our best endeav- , ors, by writing to our several Representatives and Senators, urging the ap- propriation of the sum of 84,000 per annum, that a sufficient inimber of copies may be printed to sui)ply tlie demand. The Secretary read the following: Central Asylum for the Insane. A. L. Hay, Esq.: Jacksonville, 111. J/»/ />ea7' eems to be but little that can be done. Wrapping the diseased part with a cloth, or, ])erhaps, by shading with boards, may protect the tree from further injury. Young trees may, perhaps, be saved in this way. The time to remedy the evil is when the trees are set, and the manner in which they are subsequently trained. Setting the trees so that they lean towards the south-west is a good means of prevention. Our honorable Secretary says that trees set with an in- clination of thirty degrees to the south-west are not likely to be troul)lf'd with sun-blight. It may be objected that we do not want our orchard to grow up with the trees leaning over so far. Our prevail- ing winds are from the west, and the tendency will be to bring the trees nearly perpendicular by the time they are firmly rooted. If we seek for the reason why so many trees lean to the north-east, I think it will be found in the fact that they were set vertical at first, but the winds had turned them from this position. Another point is trimming. As a general thing fruit trees, aside from cutting away the sjirouts around the body of the trees near the ground, need very little pruning. They should be so headed back that they will throw out branches not very far from the ground. It is evident to me that we can not keep the limbs up high enough to allow the ground to be readily plowed close up to the trees with- out inviting disease. I saw an orchard near Cobden that contained scarcely a sound tree. The owner evidently wanted to plant the 154 TKANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS ground to coru or some other crop, and had cut off such limbs as were in his way regardless of size. Some of the limbs thus cut away were three and four inches in diameter, and four or five to some of the trees. Of course you will say no wonder the trees died. I might speak here of a feature in an orchard in Centralia that at first puzzled me for an explanation. The trees were Ben Davis, and had been set about eight years. Nearly every tree had a patch of dead bark near the ground, sometimes on one side somtimes on another, sometimes nearly round the tree. Otherwise the trees were well kept and smooth. I learned afterwards that for two or three years after the trees were set, apples were so low that it was thought it would not pay to try to raise them for market, and these trees were left to shift for themselves. As a result water-sprouts grew up rbund the bodies till they were about as large as the original trunks. At about this time apples were commanding a better price, and the neglected orchard was put in shape by cutting away those sprouts, many of them an inch or more in diameter. The result was what I saw. The dead stumps of these sprouts had communicated their decay to the parts adjacent, giving us these patches of dead bark. TWIG BLIGHT. So far as observed in the orchards in this State, trees have not been affected very badly by this disease. The greatest number that have been noticed were in some of the orchards in Jackson County. In a trip from Carbondale soiilhwest to the mouth of Cedar Creek, a great deal of this was noticed. In some orchards every tree would be injured — some badly so; while in other orchards only a few trees would have the ends of the twigs dead. Rarely v/as an orchard found with none of the disease. They were much worse here than anywhere else in the State that I have visited. In Topeka, Kansas, twig blight was doing more damage than at any other point noted. Some trees were found so badly injured that most of the top would be blighted. In one yard, kept moist during dry weather by spraying, the trees were looking well with the excep- tion of considerable twig blight. Last year the owner cut off the blighted twigs, saying that there was much less of it this year. This suggests the remedy, cut off the diseased portions and burn them. PEAR BLIGHT, While on the subject of twig blight in apple trees, I may as well say what I have to say of its near relative, pear blight. It is not necessary to discuss the causes of these diseases, as these have been amply discussed before in this Society, further than to say that STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 155 both are fungoid diseases. All I desire to say here is to give a few notes of observation. It is pretty generally conceded now, I l)elieve, that much cultivation invites this disease, especially in the hilly por- tion of Southern Illinois. John Clay, of Cobden, has an orchard of Bartlett pears of about two acres. For the past two seasons these trees have borne about 500 l)oxes of tine pears each year. The trees are smooth, but little blighted and vigorous. His manner of treatment is to plow six furrows one way in each space between the rows, in the fall, and two years from that plow six furrows in each space across those first plowed. This leaves quite a space near each tree that is never plowed after the trees are first set. Besides this, a» often as they seem to need it, the trunks are scraped so as to remove loose bark, and the trunks and large limbs whitewashed with a mix- ture of lime and soft soap. The trees, it should be said, were of the dwarf f(n"m. COLD WINTERS. While sun-blight and the borers that follow probably kill more orchard trees in Southern Illinois than any other cause, there is no question but the rigorous climate of the Northern part of the State, combined with other causes, have been far more destructive. Last year Mr. Hammond sent circulars over the State, one question of which read, "What per cent, of apple trees are dead, or in a dying condition?" A summary of the answers received gives North- ern Illinois fifty-six. Central Illinois forty-five per cent.. Southern Illinois fifteen. " On the supposition that the causes operating in Southern Illinois were equally destructive in the Central and North- ern part of the State, this would give us forty-one per cent, killed by the climatic influences in the Northern part and thirty per cent, in the Central. This is })robably a smaller estimate than represents the real condition, as my observation is that there is less sun-blight in those sections than with us, and 1 see no reason why destruction from insects should be greater. But why repeat what is already so ' well known? The conditions that have been given in the last year's volume of transaction may be summarized as follows: An early fall of snow on unfrozen ground, this remaining on for al)out three weeks. It is noted also that trees that bore heavily suffered more than those not bearing, or bearing only lightly. It is noted also that in 1855^ when the trees were badly killed, that the snow fell on unfrozen ground and was followed by extremely cold weather. To this I would add, that the summer of 1884 was hot and dry, and followed by a wet fall. I have found that in one instance at least nursery stock put forth a set of leaves after this wet weather set in. These items may serve as pointers in searching for the causes that are to be put with the cold weather, and some of them may aid us in our search for a remedy. 156 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS From the first I have l)een inclined to the opinion that, while location as to high or low land, clay soil or loam, timber or prairie land, do have their influence in the ease with which trees may be grown, we must look for much of the trouble in those causes that have operated to make a considerable portion of this State a prairie. Beginning in Ohio and going west, we find through the latitude of Central and Northern Illinois, a gradual diminution of trees till we come to the plains, where we find only a few stunted cottonwoods along the streams. At first it is a falling off of certain kinds, then others, till in Illinois about the only trees to be found over the up- lands are oaks; beeches, hard maples, chestnuts and many others have disappeared. It is evident that where causes have operated to pre- vent the natural growth of those trees, it will be more difiicult to grow the more tender fruit trees. As evidence of this, we do not hear of apple trees being killed by cold weather, where beech and chestnut are indigenous, though the thermometer goes lower every winter than in any portion of Illinois. Now, why is a portion of this State a prairie? First, allow me to quote a little from " Forests of North America," one of the special reports of the last general census, the words probably from the pen of Prof. Charles S. Sargent, of Harvard. He says, in speaking of the regions into which the United States may be divided: ''The western third of the Atlantic region is subjected to very different climatic conditions from those prevailing in the eastern por- tions of the continent. It consists of an elevated plateau which falls away from the eastern base of the Rocky mountains, forming what is known as the Great Plains. This great interior region, on account of its remoteness from natural reservoirs of moisture, receives a meager and uncertain rainfall, sufficient to insure a growth of herb- age, but not sufficient to support, outside the narrow bottoms of the infrequent streams, the scantiest forests. This treeless plateau ex- tends north to the fifty-second degree of north latitude. It follows southward the trend of the Rocky mountains into Mexico, extend- ing eastward, at the point of its greatest width, in about latitude 40° north, nearly to the ninety-seventh meredian. This whole region is generally destitute of forest. The narrow bottoms of the large streams are lined, however, with willows, poplars, elms and hack- berries, trees adapted to flourish under such unfavorable conditions. These diminished in size and number with the rainfall, and often disappear entirely from the banks of even the largest streams toward the western limits of the plateau, south of the forty-fifth degree of latitude. North and east of these central treeless plains, a belt of prairie extends from the sixtieth degree of north latitude to Southern Texas. The average width east and west of this prairie region, through much of its extent, is not far from 150 miles. Its eastern extension, between the fortieth and forty-fifth degrees of latitude, is much greater, however, here, reaching the western shores of Lake STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 157 Michigan, and forminfi^ a great recess in the western line of the heavy forest of the Athmtie region with a depth of nearly 6(H) miles. The transition from the heavy forest of the eastern and central por- tions of the Atlantic region to the treeless plateau is gradual. The change occurs within the prairie region. Here is the strip of dehat- able ground, where a continuous struggle l)etween the forest and the plain takes place. There is here sufficient precipitation of moisture to cause, under normal conditions, a growth of open forest; but so nicely bahuiced is the struggle that any interference quickly turns the scale. Trees planted within this prairie belt thrive if protected from tire and the encroachment of the tough prairie sod, and so ex- tend the forest line westward. If the forest which fringes the east- ern edge of the prairie is destroyed it does not soon regain possession of the soil, and the prairie is gradually i)ushed eastward. " The eastern line of the plain where arborescent vegetation is confined to the river bottoms, and which divides it from the prairie where trees grow naturally to some extent, outside of the bottoms, and where they may be made to grow under favorable conditions everywhere, is determined by the rainfall enjoyed by this part of the continent. The extreme eastern point reached by this line is found, upon the fortieth degree of north latitude, near the northern boun- daries of the State of Kansas. North of the fortieth degree it grad- ually trends to the west, reaching the eastern base of the Rocky mountains, in about latitude 52°. This northwestern trend of the eastern plain line may be ascribed to the comparatively small evap- oration which takes place during the shorter summer of the North, and to a slight local increase of spring and summer rainfall. South of the fortieth degree the plain line gradually trends to the south- west under the influence of the Gulf of Mexico, reaching its extreme western point in Texas upon the lOOth raeredian. " Other causes, however, than insufficient rainfall and a nicely l)alanced struggle between the forest and the plain have prevented the general growth of trees in the prairie region east of the ninety- fifth meridian. The rainfall of the region is sufficient to insure the growth of a heavy frost. The rain falling upon the prairies of Min- nesota, Wisconsin. Iowa. Illinois and Missouri, equals in amount that enjoyed by the Michigan jieninsular and the whole region south of Lakes Ontario and Erie, while prairies exist within the region of the heaviest forest growth. It is not want of sufficient heat, or of suffi- cient or equally distributed moisture, which has checked the general spread of the forests over these prairies. The soil of which the prairies are composed, as is shown by the fact that trees planted upon them grow with vigor and rapidity, is not unsuited to tree growth. It is not, perha])s, improbable that the forests of the Athin- tic region once extended continuously as far west, at least, as the ninety-fifth meridian. Although circumstantial evidence of such a theory does not exist; and the causes which first led to the destruc- 158 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS tion of the forests in this region, supposing that they ever existed, €an not, with the present knowledge of the subject, be even guessed at. It is, however, fair to assume that forests once existed in a re- gion adapted by climate, rainfall and soil, to produce forests, and that their absence under such conditions must be traced to accidental causes. It is not difficult to understand that the forest, once de- stroyed over such a vast area, could not easily regain possession of the soil protected by an impenetrable covering of sod and subjected to the annual burnings which have occurred down to the present time; Avhile the force of wind, unchecked by any forest barrier, over such an area would, even without the aid of fires, have made the spread of forest growth slow and difficult. The assumption that these eastern prairies may have once been covered with forests is strengthened by the fact that since they have been devoted to agri- culture, and the annual burning has been stopped, trees which were formally confined to the river bottoms have gradually spread to the uplands. Small prairies situated just within the western edge of the forest have entirely disappeared within the memory of persons still living: the oak openings — open forests of large oaks through which the annual fires played without greatly injuring the full-grown trees — once the characteristic feature of those prairies, have dis- appeared. They are replaced by dense forests of oak, which only re- quire protection from fire to spring into existence. In Western Texas the mesquit, forced by annual burning to grow almost en- tirely below the surface of the ground, is, now that the prairie fires are less common and destructive, spreading over what a few years ago was treeless prairie. The prairies then, or the eastern portions of them, situated in the region of abundant rainfall, are fast losing their treeless character, and the forest, protected from fire, is grad- ually gaining in every direction; regions which fifty years ago were treeless outside the river bottoms now contain forests covering ten or even twenty per cent, of their area. These eastern, well-watered prairies must not, however, be confounded with their dry western rim adjoining the plains — the debatable ground between forest and plain — or with the plains themselves. There is no gradual, con- stant spread of forest growth upon the plains. They are treeless, on account of insufficient moisture to develop forest growth; and while trees may, perhaps, if planted, survive during a few years beyond the western limits of the prairie as here laid down, the permanent estab- lishment of forests there does not seem practicable." This long quotation tells us, probably as well as it can be told, the reason, so far as known, why a portion of our state is a prairie, as well as some points about the treeless plains that I want to use later. While this does tell us the reason, it does not tell us some ])oints that we want to know. While prairie fires and the tough prairie sod may prevent the spread of oak forests, it is not a reason why they are oak forests instead of forests -of beech_, chestnut, hard STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 159 maple and basswood, trees that form the greater part of the forests of this same Atlantic region, in the same latitude, farther east; and this, it seems to me, if found, will be the rejison why fruit trees can not be grown in Central and Northern Illinois as successfully as there. The author tells us that Illinois and the adjoining states has a rainfall equal to that enjoyed by the Michigan peninsula, but not- withstanding this it is a prairie, while nearly the whole of this peninsula was once, if not now, covered with forests. From my ob- servations I think that along with this amount of rainfall should be taken into account irlieu it fnlls. Usually, we would say that a given •state, as Pennsylvania, with a given rainfall, has its hillsides and its valleys covered with a heavy growth of diversified timber. The same' table, we may supjjose, says that Illinois has the same, or nearly the same rainfall, hence her hills and valleys and plains should be covered with like forests. But such is not the case, and the reason seems to be that the greater share of the rainfall is during spring and fall, there being, perhaps, not every year, but every few years, not far from two months when no rain falls, or so little that it does not effect tree growth. During the wet spring and early summer the trees made rapid growth, which would be about as much checked ear diseases. This list does not include those rot producing species that attack and destroy the ripened fruit. 1G8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS The most generally known of these diseases is the BLIGHT. (Caused by Micrococcus amylovorus Burrill). Prof. Burriirs remarkable discovery of the bacterial nature of this disease, since fully corroborated by the investigations of Prof. J. C. Arthur, of the New York Experiment Station, has set to rest the endless discussions and wild speculations formerly indulged in concerning it; and, from being the most mysterious, it is now per- haps the best understood of plant diseases. Its appearance and ef- fects are too well known to need description here. While no specific has yet been found for it, its ravages need not be greatly dreaded in regions where soil and climate are favorable for pears. Such treat- ment of the orchard as will secure a moderate healthy growth, thoroughly matured before cold weather, together with a prompt and judicious use of the pruning knife on the first appearance of the disease, will usually be sufficient to keep it in check. In some sea- sons, owing to climatic conditions or other causes, the disease seems to be unusually virulent. At such times the orchard may receive some injury even with the best of care, and it is these nnusually try- ing seasons in which the blight sweeps away neglected or over- stimulated orchards. On strong, moist soils the safest treatment is to seed down the orchard at an early age (preferably to clover), and subsequently apply such fertilizers, if any, as may be needed to keep up healthy growth. After the blight makes its appearance in the spring, the trees should be examined regularly, as often as once in two weeks, till after mid-summer, so as to remove any blighted twigs before the disease extends to the trunk or principal branches. Some varieties seem to resist the disease better than others, but per- haps this immunity is due to accidental rather than inherent causes, as experience in regard to this varies greatly in different years, and all varieties seem to be subject to at least occasional attacks. ROOT ROT. {Folijporus versicolor Fr.) This obscure and little known disease has occasioned the loss in Southern Illinois of far more trees than the blight. It was first de- scribed by Dr. Hull in the Transactions of this Society for 1868 ( Vol. II, p. 37), and but little has been published concerning it since that time. Its presence is usually first indicated by the short, thick growth and peculiar reddish color of the new wood, and the yellowish red or bronzed color of the leaves, together with a decided tendency to over-production of fruit buds. On examining the roots of such trees they will be found enveloped by numerous white-felted fungus STATE HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 169 tlireads, which become more and more abundant and compact till the roots finally all die and rot. In the last stages a tree can be puslied over or pulled n]i by the hand, even while the top still shows signs of life. Examination of these white fungus threads shows them to be the mycelium or vegetative under-grown part of some of the fleshy fungi usually known as ''toad-stools." These plants, so commonly occurring on dead wood and other decaying vegetable substances, very rarely attack living plants. A few of them are, however, known to be parasites, and it seems that another, and that one of the most common, must be added to the list, ior Pali/ jiorns rersicolor is frequently found developing on trunks of trees that have died of root rot in such a manner as to leave little doubt of its connection with the white threads on the roots. Trees planted in new ground that is full of decaying roots, chips, etc., the usual nidus of this fungus, are more apt to be attacked than those in older land that is free from decaying wood. This shows the probable source of contagion. The disease also -spreads slowly from tree to tree, probably from the contact of the roots, so that in the course of years considerable areas are completely denuded of trees. It is useless to try and fill such vacancies, for the new trees are usually destroyed by the disease before they become well established. Although so destructive in its results, this disease develops (juite slowly, several years often elapsing from the time a tree is attacked till it finally succumbs. In fact, on moist, rich soils, and Avith liberal culture, the tree is often able to outgrow the fungus, making new roots faster than the old ones are destroyed. Under such circumstances the disease does but little damage. It is in grassy and neglected orchards, and especially on poor, dry hillsides, that it is most to be feared. Removing the e.irth from the crown and large roots of the tree when its diseased condition is first noticed and applying a liberal dressing of lime, often proves an effective remedy. The best safeguard is, however, to give the orchard such treatment as will induce a continued luxuriant growth; but un- fortunately this is the very condition which renders it most liable to •serious injury from blight. In fact these two diseases are the " Scylla and Charyljdis" of pear-growing, for in seeking to avoid the one we are liable to subject the orchard to serious loss from the other. Apple and cherry trees suffer equally with the pear from this disease, and the same or a similar fungus attacks the roots of many other trees and shrubs. LEAF-BLIGHT. {Morthiera Mespile^ Fckl.^ Following German authorities, Prof. Arthur calls this disease '• leaf-brownness," and uses the term "leaf-blight" for the scab 170 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS fungus {fnskladhim) when it develops on the leaves. The falling of the leaf, due to Morthiera, has, how^ever, so long been known as leaf-blight in this State and elsewhere that it seems best to retain its use in this connection, especially as the damage it causes to the foliage is far greater than that of any other fungus. The disease hrst manifests itself as small black spots, often sur- rounded by a reddish border scattered over the surface of the leaf. Minute pustules containing the curious compound, flaggelate spores characteristic of this species, are soon developed in the center o£ these spots; and the leaf turns yellow and falls. This premature falling of the leaves often causes great damage. I have seen an orchard of three thousand Louise Bonne trees as bare of leaves by the Fourth of July from this cause as they should have been at Christmas. The fall rains brought out a new set of leaves, and such fruit buds as were already formed bloomed, thus destroying all chance for a crop the following year. Some varieties are much more subject to this disease than others. Out of an experimental orchard of a hundred and twenty varieties, planted at Colxlen some years since, all but ten or twelve were so badly affected by it as to be discarded as worthless. Of the varieties in general cultivation Lawrence, Anjou and Duchess may be mentioned among those most exempt. Bartlett and Seckel some- times suffer from it quite severely. The fungus also develops on the fruit, causing it to fall prematui-ely, and in many cases inducing the unsightly cracking of the surface so destructive to some varieties. No remedy is known for the leaf-blight, but, as a general rule, trees standing in sod are less affected than those under cultivation. It is greatly affected by climatic conditions, being worse during damp, hot weather. By a careful selection of varieties, and the early seed- ing of the orchard, serious loss from this cause can be avoided, ex- cept in occasional unfavorable years. In many parts of the country young seedlings suffer so severely from this disease that it is impos- sible to raise healthy stocks for grafting. It does not attack apples, but quinces and some other pomaceous fruits suffer from what is probably the same fungus. The leaf-blight of the apple, supposed to be connected with the so-called " red cedar apples," is an entirely dif- ferent fungus. THE SCAB. (Fusicladuim pyrinum Fckl. ) ■ This ubiquitous disease has received comparatively little atten- tion from either fruit growers or botanists, but the damage it has caused in the past dozen years entitles it to the foremost place among pear diseases. A hundred times as much has been written about blight as about scab, and yet of what avail is it to plant an orchard, and by care and watchfulness, steer it past the danger of blight on one hand, and root-rot on the other, if, when it comes into bearing. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 171 the fruit is to be inerustecl by this disgusting parasite that destroys not only its good looks, but, what is more to the point, its market value. Its appearance on tlie fruit is, unfortunately, too familiar to need description. It also developes on the leaves and young stems, forming small, brownish, more or less, distorted blotches. The mi- croscopic structure of the fungus is very sim])le. It consists of short, branching, coloress threads within the tissues of the host, which throw up immense numbers of short colored upright branches, which push through the epidermis and bear on their summits the very abundant, brownish, usualh' simple, spindle-shaped conidia or sjjores. It occurs throughout this country from California to the Atlantic Coast, and has long been known ia Europe, but it is still a matter of doubt among botanists whether or not it is specifically distinct from the apple scab fungus. ( FnsiclarUHm (/endrificuDi ). In either event they are so nearly alike that, for practical purposes, they may be considered as identical. It is undoubtedly affected by climatic con- ditions, as it is much worse in some seasons than in others, yet it is able to exist where ever pear trees can be grown, and methods of culture seem to effect it but little. Many remedies have been pro- posed, but, so far as known, none have been demonstrated to have practical value. Although the fungus is abundantly supplied with easily germin- ating spores, the disease usually seems to spread, rather slowly, from one part of the orchard to another, or to adjoining ones; but when once established, it reappears year after year with the greatest per- sistence. It is for this reason that young orchards, especially if somewhat isolated, are more apt to escape injury than older ones in thickly settled communities. This fungus, as also the Morthiera of leaf-blight, belongs to the so-called "imperfect fungi." That is, the form with which we are familiar is supposed to be but one stage in the development of the ])lant. and that when its life history is fully known, it will be found to be connected with some more com})lex and highly developed form occurring on the same, or, possibly, on a different host. The impor- tance of knowing the complete life history of plants that are capable of doing such extensive injury, can not be over-estimated, for, until this is known, we can never be sure we are not overlooking some simple and practical means of controlling them. We see here only another instance of the need of thoroughly equipped Experiment Stations, officered by men cai)al)le of carrying on the ilelicate investi- gations necessary for a full understanding of the uumy insiduous diseases by which our crops are injured and our profits wasted. 172 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS REPOllT ON PEARS. BY L. C. FRANCIS. My experience with pears is confined to growino^ for family use. I commenced Avith raising my own trees, using tlie White Thorn for a stock. The trees grew thrifty and bore well, making good-sized trees, but eventually died of blight. I afterwards planted Dwarfs, these also had their day and died of the blight. Some twelve years ago I planted some dozen or two of Standard trees and a few Dwarfs, comprising the Virgaleau, Bartlett, Tyson and Louise Bonne. Wishing to test the iron theory as a preventive of blight, I thoroughly mixed with the soil, for some five feet in diameter and eighteen inches deep in each hole, something over half a bushel of scales and fine slag from the iron works, the trees were carefully planted in this prepared soil, and made a fine healthy growth, per- fectly free from blight, Some five years having passed and but little indication of f ruitf ulness, in an evil hour I tried the disbarking, or ringing, so successfully practiced by Mr. Spaulding, to increase their fruitf ulness. I did it cautiously and at the time of year recom- mended. Some of the trees came into bearing immediately, in others it was necessary to repeat it the next year; the ringing having been done so cautiously (not more than one-sixteenth of an inch having been taken out) that the bark grew over immediately. One- eighth of an inch in width was then taken, which had the desired effect, and more too. Within a couple of years the first bearing trees began to color their leaves prematurely and failed to start in the spring, others followed, until more than three-quarters of the trees were dead. There was a swollen place where the ringing was done, bridged over by warty granulations, showing an unhealthy condition of things. My soil is rich prairie, Mr. Spaulding's, oak barrens or a timber soil. Whether this made the difference in the effects of the ringing process upon the trees I will leave others to decide. AD-INTERIM REPORT FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS. BY J. G. THOMPSON^. Mr. President and Gentlemen: The closing month of the year is again upon us, giving us a short respite from the arduous toils, that are ever the lot of the hor- ticulturist, in which we can balance up the result of the season and see what the bottom figures indicate. There are, however, other things than figures representing dol- lars and cents that should be taken into account in this connection, viz., the experience which every one gets in the course of the season who works with his eyes open. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 173 This, although sometimes dearly bought, results profitably in a long run, if pro{)erly headed, no matter what the bottom figures may indicate. Although it adds vastly to our gratification when the figures indicate a pretty good balance on the right side, for I take it for granted that but few of us spend our time in hard labor just for the fun of the thing. The great question then comes up; "What are the results of the season's operations? how much cash have we received?" Geuerally speaking, we nuiy say that the fruit crop through Central Illinois has been one of great abundance. The show of blossoms in the spring was wonderful. Every tree and shrub, whose nature it is to bear either fruit or flower, seemed to exert themselves to see Avhat they could do in that line, and such a magnificent sight as they presented is seldom seen. But with the dropping of the blossoms came the inevitable cold storm and wind, and took the lion's share, but still there was plenty left. Then, among the apples, came the Codling Moth and took his share, which, as usual, was a large one, and still there was enough left. Then came a series of wind and hailstorms at in- tervals, which so reduced the crop that when })icking time came there were not many to pick. It seeujs rather curious that a section of country so celebrated for its agricultural products as Central Illi- nois should be obliged to depend on other sections of the country for our winter apples, but such seems to be the case. We are either too far north or else we are too far south, as both conspire to feed us on their apples. But I anticipate that this problem will be solved when that other and greater question is ])ermanently settled: "What shall we i)lant in order to be reasonably certain of a good {)roductive orchard?" Hundreds are asking that question to-day, and are wait- ing for an answer. Most of the old standard kinds have gone back on them, and the new kinds they are disposed to handle with care, and they are standing with open mouths awaiting an answer. I have visited a few orchards this fall, and have noted those that seem to succeed best in this latitude. One, a few miles south-east of Urbana, which once contained forty acres, embracing most of the standard varieties of twenty-five years of age. Now all there is left of that once valuable orchard are the Rawles' Janet, Willow Twig, a few Limber Twig, Jonathan and Gilpin. These all have good crops, especially Willow and Janet, and very free from worms.' I might here mention that there was a heavy wind-break of soft maple, running north aiul south through this orchard. The two rows next the wiiul-break, on the east, were Willow Twig, and the owner told me that they had never borne a crop of fruit worth men- tioning, Avhile those more exposed never failed of a fair crop every year. I might mention that these trees were set too near the wind- 174 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS break, which might in a measure account for their barrenness, but I noticed in distant parts of the grounds, where all else were dead and no protection, the trees were bearing a good crop. The owner, in reply to my question as to what varieties he considered most desir- able, said he would plant nothing but Willow Twig, Rawles" Janet, Jonathan, Limber Twig and Gilpin for a commercial orchard. In another orchard, originally composed of 800 trees of the lead- ing kinds of years ago, I found the Tallman Sweet doing the best of any. in the orchard, every tree (twenty-five^ being in good condition, and, as usual, bearing a good crop. Next in health and con- dition was Vandevere Pippin, while Rawles' Janet were nearly all dead, and those that were alive were mostly in feeble condition, while Baldwin, Milam, Maiden's Blush, Yellow Bellflower and a number of other varieties were all gone. I think the early varieties have done better than the later ones; they were ofE and out of the way of several severe wind and hail storms that beat off a great part of the late fall and winter varieties. Of the pear, it is hardly worth while to say much, there are so few trees left, and but very few are being planted. It was thought a few years ago that the Keiffer was going to solve the whole pear ques- tion, but I hear of very few being planted in the West. Has any one tested them sufficiently to determine as to their value here? Cherries were an abundant crop, and very free from worms, but prices were ruinously low, so that, after paying for picking, crates, freight, commission, etc., if the grower could get enough money out of one-half of his crop to pay for the sugar to use with the other half, he might consider himself quite lucky. While on this cherry question I would suggest, would it not be a wise idea for some of our horticultural doctors to expend some of their surplus genius — if they have any to spare — in bringing out a cherry that a body can sit down and eat with some degree of satisfaction, without continually making faces during the operation. The May is all right as a cherry for cooking and all culinary uses, but for eating in its fresh state I must say it is a very poor excuse. Still, it is about all we have in that line, and we have to make the best of it. Grapes have done extremely well. The vines of almost every kind of bearing age were loaded with fruit of fine quality, free from rot and mildew. This was owing, no doubt, to the dry season, which, although of very great benefit to the grape, was not so much so to many other things. Notwithstanding the great noise and bluster with which many of the new varieties have been pushed forward, but few of them have thus far proved to be anything like what they were represented to be. If those who invest in them would give them the extra care and attention that is given them by their intro- ducers, perhaps they might in many cases do much better than the majority have done. But as a general thing, those who plant grape- vines want something that can rough it and take care of themselves STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 175 siininier and winter, and at the same time yield a crood crop of fruit. On this account the oUl reliable Concord still takes the lead as the grape for tlie masses, although even the Concord amply repays for good care in a more certain and better crop than can be depended upon in the old slipshod ])lan. Probably about the earliest variety of quite good cjuality is the Champion, which has given very good satisfaction. But better still is the Moore's Early, which is probably one of the best for early that, has thus far appeared. Cottage and Wyoming Hed are very well spoken of by those who have grown them, as also is Brighton. The strawberry market was altogether overstocked, and the prices ran down to pretty near zero, and the growers are asking the question, " How long can we stand this kind of thing ? "' and Mr. A. is thinking to himself that the other fellows will soon give it up, and give him a chance for better prices, and at the same all the other fellows are thinking the same thing, and I expect we will all keep on in about the same old way till some of us give it up because they " have to," and the rest will have a better chance. As to varieties, the Crescent is in the lead. Capt. Jack, Cumberland Triumph, Sharpless, Miner, Wilson and many others are grown more or less by different parties with good results. The canes of raspberries were somewhat damaged by the winter, especially Gregg and Cuthbert — the latter being quite severely, so as to materially lessen the crop of fruit. But the Gregg, notwith- standing it was somewhat damaged, bore a good crop. I have been at work among my raspberries of late, and I find the Gregg pretty badly damaged from some cause. It certainly cannot be the cold weather; but what can it be? Another thing I noticed, and that is this: All the canes that have taken root at the tips are sound. Souhegan is all right, and is probably the best early black cap we have, and Gregg for late. Of the red varieties, the Turner stands first on account of har- diness, although Cuthbert gives good satisfaction with some growers; but I know of one plantation where it has badly winter killed the past two winters and the owner is going to abandon them. Shaffer's Collossal is an enormous bearer and grower, and is valuable for family use, but not a good market berry. It has the good quality of producing a good crop of fruit from young shoots thrown up from the gpound, even though it does get winter killed, and everyone should plant at least enough for family use. Blackberries were an enormous crop — in fact there was too many of them — more than the market demanded, and in fact more than could be sold at any price, and bushels of the finest fruit fell off and rotted on the ground. The clamorers for cheap fruit certainly ought to have been sat- isfied the past season; but I found some customers who thought that $1.25 per crate for strawberries and blackberries was too high. But 176 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS T have an idea that it makes a difference whether a man is selling or buying. Snyder is the almost exclusive variety raised, although Stone's Hardy is raised by some and yields well, but not better than Snyder. Ancient Briton is very hardy and prolific, but too poor in qual- ity to be of any value. Wilson, Jr., is too tender for our winters, while there are those that are as good and that are far more reliable. Now, then, in view of the ruinously low prices that have ruled for berries the past season, what are you going to do about it? After paying the boxmakers and pickers, freight and commis- sion, etc., the figures on the profit side of the ledger dwindle down to a very small item, even if it does not get over on to the other side. There are, however, plenty of things that may interfere to re- duce the crop, such as severe winters, insects, late frosts, hail storms, etc., so that it is probably not good policy to borrow much trouble over something that may never transpire, but work on and labor rather to raise better fruit instead of more of it, and try to create a de- mand for quality, instead of the quantity that can be procured for a given amount of cash. A PEN SKETCH OF DR. WILLIAM LE BAK0:N. BY F. W. GODING, M. D. William Le Baron was born in North Andover, Mass., October 17, 1814, beiiig a son of Dr. Lemuel and Martha Le Baron, the former a physician of considerable note. His paternal grand- father was a minister. The corresponding maternal relative, Dr. Thomas Kittridge, a surgeon whose fame extended from Maine to Washington, and was one of a long line of intelligent physicians. From the genealogy of the family it is evident that the subject of our sketch inherited studious habits and scientific tastes. His life study was decided upon from earliest childhood. His early education was acquired under the iron rule of Dr. Putnam, whose school for boys was famed in those days, attracting from far and near many who afterward attained distinction in their several vocations. Among his schoolmates he was beloved and re- spected, one of whom says in speaking of him: "He was the boy with the best judgment among us. In any dispute we always called upon William to decide, for he was always so fair and so true that we were willing to abide by his decisions."' From childhood he evinced a strong love of nature, devoting every moment of leisure to studying her in the various branches. First ornithology and then botany attracted his attention; and hav- ing made an exhaustive local collection of specimens in each of these STATE HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 177 departments he turned his attention to entomology, to which he ever afterward remained faithfuL After studying under the tutorship of his nncle, Dr. Joseph Kit- tridge, he hegan the practice of medicine in his native town, remain- ing there several years; suhsei|ueutly, however, he completed his medical studies, graduating from Harvard Medical College in 1837. In 1841 he married Sarah Jarvis Carr, of Ellsworth, Maine. Three years later he removed to Geneva, Kane County, Illinois, where the remainder of his life was spent, with the exception of the last year, when he resided in Chicago. While in Geneva he con- tinued in practice, attaining a high degree of eminence. In 1850 Dr. Le Baron made his advent into the scientific world, publishing an article in the old Prairie Farmer on "The Chinch Bug," which was, at that time, making serious ravages in the wheat crop, then the most important iiroduct of the State. In this article, which Avas republished in Fitch's Second New York Entomological Report, he gave the first scientific account of the life history of this important pest. Of this paper Dr. Fitch says: " Little requires to be added to this account." The same is true of the many scientific papers written by Dr. Le Baron. His exhaustive researches into the habits of the chinch bug, and practical suggestions (in this and sub- sequent papers) as to their extermination, attracted the attention of the leading entomologists of Europe and America. In 1865 he accepted the editorship of the entomological depart- ment in the Prairie Farmer^ to which paper he had contributed at intervals for years. When called to the office of State Entomologist by Gov. Pal- mer, in 1870, to succeed the lamented Walsh, he was taken entirely by surprise. From that time he devoted his whole attention to this work, that lay nearest to his heart, until his health gave way under the severity of the strain. One of th*^ first moves made by him, after his appointment, was the ])urchase of the VV^ilsh collection, which secured to the State one of the finest and most accurately named col- lections of insects to be found in America. Recently his own private collection has been presented to the State Labratory of Natural His- tory by his family, tliough he had, during his term of office, augment- ed the collection belonging to the State University. But this is not all; his hiljors l)eing of an original character added directly to our knowledge of insect life, and his name will be handcid down to pos- terity as one of the most eminent of our economic entomologists. Dr. Le Baron died in Elgin, 111., October 14th, 1876, leaving a wife and five children. The doctor's standing as an entomologist will be based on his four Annual Reports, three of which have appeared in your Trans- actions. These reports are replete with valuable information, the last being a m(tnograi)li of the (yoleo])tera, and the one to follow to have l)een a similar work on the Diptera, his speciality. 13 178 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS All who are conversant with his writings readily perceive that he was a man of fine literar}' attainments; a finished classical scholar, he showed a remarkably fine discrimination in the use of words, and, as a consequence, his meaning was always perfectly clear. He was an active member of the Unitarian Church, being Trus- tee both East and West for many years. For nearly a quarter of a century he was a member of the Board of Education of Geneva, be- sides holding other positions of trust. In conclusion, as a neighbor, I would say, that more important than all, was the good he did in the community by the example he set, and the high moral standard he held up for all to attain to, who were in any way connected with him. A knowledge of his keen dis- crimination between right and wrong exercised a restraining influ- ence upon all who knew him. In his death, Illinois lost one of her brightest sons, and science one of her most gifted devotees. A complete list of his entomological papers may be found in Eji- tomologica Americana, page 125. NEW FRUITS, TREES AND PLANTS. BY JABEZ WEBSTEK. J/r. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen of the Illinois State Horticultural Society : I, as one of your committee to whom has been given the task of reporting on New Fruits, Trees and Plants, at this, your thirty- first annual meeting, respectfully ask leave to report the following, hoping the very poor and incomplete report we lay before you may bring out criticisms and discussions that will give us useful infor- mation. The season just past has been very discouraging to horticul- turists throughout our state and the entire west generally. The long prevailing drouth, the disastrous heavy wind storms which occurred so frequently during the summer months, and the accumulation of our insect enemies have left the most careful horticulturist very poor recompense for his toil and money expended, and but little opjjor- tunity to test and report progress in new varieties. CHERRIES. We find in Southern Illinois the Late Montmorency cherry is be- coming a favorite with all those who have planted it and have seen and tasted its fruit. We believe it bids fair to be as generally planted and as successfully grown as the Early Richmond in the south-west on account of its hardiness and other good qualities. The Dye House cherry has friends among those who know it best. The Leib is a shy, scattering bearer with us. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 179 PEACHES. Ill the absence of a peach crop but little opportunity has been afforded us to mark progress. Peaches of budded varieties, with but few exceptions, were very scattering. Gov. Garland, in some places, were loaded. It appears to be a hardy, desirable early peach, ripen- ing with us from the first to the tenth of July, Galbreath, a native of Jefferson County, 111., not new, holds its own this season; ten days later than Gov. Garland. Picquet's Late Free ripened a few days before Old Mixon, fruited full, very large, delicious, desirable, but the word late should be dropped from this name. Pond's Seed- ling fruited full, a large, desirable and hardy late peach, ripe the 25th of September. The Wager and Koser, new varieties. Chair's Choice and Freeman's Late we have not fruited, they came through the winter api)areiitly uninjured, in the nursery, and were full of bloom. The Roser appears to be unusually hardy. New, from Northern Indiana. PLUMS. Of the varieties more recently introduced coming under our ob- servation the Wheyland is very desirable, ripening in September. The Golden Beauty is a very distinct tree in its wood growth, , peculiar bright yellow wood, fruit of good size and quality, and ripens also in September. The Robinson, Mormon and Parson re- sist the attacks of curculio to a wonderful extent, and are desirable plums of the American type. We have also a native plum, which we call the Centralia Plum. I have known it for thirteen years, it is of good size, handsome appearance, a No. 1 plum to cook, fine qualit}', and well worthy of planters' attention as a family or market plum. It ripens two weeks later than Wild Goose. When budded on the peach comes into bearing early, and seldom fails to bring fine full crops. We find very many of our acquaintances succeed well with the common J31ue Damson on peach roots planted in their door yards, and are not troubled with black rot, which destroyed all our early planting on the plum roots. APPLES. The crop with us, the summer of 1886, was a failure on account of the long prevailing drouth, the accumulation of insect enemies, and the frequent heavy wind-storms during the summer months, so that of the thirty or more kinds of new varieties we are testing, we have had no fair opportunity of comparing them with well-known varieties. In our part of the State the much-lauded Russian varie- ties have pretty generally disappointed the planters. Fntelligent tiiinking horticulturists have concluded they are worth more to the enterprising tree peddler to humbug the unwary than for any other purpose, in our part of the state. Thinking, observing men say and 180 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS believe we must look for seedlings originating in our midst, or in Tennessee or Kentucky, to improve our present stock of apples for market purposes, rather than to Russia or other European countries. But still we would not do or say anything to discourage the worthy gentlemen in their commendable efforts to procure more hardy varie- ties for our great Northwest. Good reports have come to us from growers of Kinnard's Choice, Black Twig, Spark Late, Fink, Arkan- sas, Black Minkler, Walbridge, Corneirs Fancy and Sherwood's Favorite. The Neil's Keeper still holds its reputation among us as a local variety second to none as a fine-appearing, long-keeping market apple of better quality than Ben Davis. PEARS. The Keiffer, La Conte and Early Harvest pears still maintain their reputation as vigorous growers and comparatively free from blight, yet not entirely. The fruit is smooth, of fine appearance and of medium quality. The Birket is with us, free from blight, as hardy as an oak, but too small and of too poor a quality, in our judgment, ever to be profitable where better can be grown. The Mt. Vernon pear for eighl years with us has grown slow, resisted blight on pear and quince roots, and has proved to be a hardy, desirable pear, keep- ing well through November. The Lawson Comet we have not fruited. Prunus Simonii appears to be hardy, also Russian Apricot, but I have not fruited them. Of several hundred mulberries, none have produced fruit larger than a navy bean, and of no value except for birds, but if properly trimmed they will make a desirable shade or lawn tree. The Champion quince fruited, this year, fruit medium to large, of but little fragrance, quality hardly as good as the Old Orange quince, but tree very much hardier and retains its foliage until frost; fruit is later and hangs on well. RASPBERRIES. The Cuthbert maintains its place with us as the best red market raspberry. Hansell proved hardy, of good size and quality, and mod- erately productive; we rather like it. Malboro withstood the cold of two very hard winters, producing this year a full crop of solid, well-colored, nearly round berries, and we are favorably impressed with its good points; it is not so sensitive to drouth as some varieties. Shaffer's Colossal is a mammoth berry, and makes a tremendous wood growth; is a very desirable red berry for home markets. BLACK RASPBERRIES. Tyler, Souhegan and Ohio black caps have all proved hardy, de- sirable kinds; also a variety, Prairie Queen, from A. D. Ashbaugh, STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. .181 of Girard, Til., which is hardy, of very fine quality and three to five days earlier than the a])()ve. The Gregg is the largest back cap, hut somewhat tender with us and very quickly afEected with drouth. BLACKBERRIES. Of the newer kinds we have nothing to report. All kinds were nearly ruined with drouth, excepting Early Harvest, which matured a fair crop. GRAPES of all varieties were badly damaged with drouth in our vicinity. Of the recently introduced, Niagara and Empire State promise well for the fir?t fruiting. Noah, Moore's Early and Maxatawny, Ives and Worden have friends among amateur growers in our part of the State. Grape growing in Southern Illinois has not proven profitable for market purposes, with perhaps a few exceptions. CURRANTS. The growing of this fruit for market purposes has met with poor encouragement. The Fay's Prolific has fruited and thus far exceeds our expectation — knowing that the currant is decidedly a cold country fruit, and that Southern Illinois is about as far south as it can be successfully grown. Some of the black currants can be successfully grown, but there has thus far been little or no market for them. They are one of the most wholesome and desirable fruits when made into jam, with sugar and the juice of red currant, or common black cherry. GOOSEBERRIES. Downing and Mt. Seedling have proven desirable, hardy market varieties, of better size and quality than Houghton. Of the four or five varieties more recently introduced, we have on trial the Champion, Triumph, Industry, and one from California not yet fruited. STRAWBERRIBS. The ''Queen of Berries." May King, promises well. Jewell, Jersey (}ueen and Bubach Xo. 5 have made a poor show with us. I fear neither of them will succeed in our soil and climate. A ray of hope is now looming up through the gloom that hangs over strawberry growing in Southern Illinois. This small ray is centered in a berry that can be shi])ped a long distance. We feel confident we have it in \V arfields No. 2, a chance seedling originat- ing and eared for by B. C. Warfield, of Marion County, Illinois. For two seasons past we have watched its growth and vigor, tasted 182 TBANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS and handled its fruit. It is a remarkably vigorous, deep-rooted^ strong grower, fully as productive as Crescent; ripens as early; glossy, dark red; the most"feolid berry we have ever seen, not except- ing our old and cherished friend, Wilson's Albany. It is a pistilate; fertilizes well with Miner's Prolific. Those who have seen it the past two seasons, including ourselves, think it is the greatest acquisi- tion to strawberry growing in Egypt we have ever struck, and will redeem us from the disastrous effects of the soft Crescent. How- ever this may be, we have the pleasurable sensation of anticipating it is close at hand. NEW FRUITS. REPOET BY JAMES T. JOHNSON. The production of neiv varieties of fruits is not only one of our most interesting pursuits, but in our own observation has proved to be one of the most profitable. The demand for new varieties has (of late) largely increased, being greatly accelerated by the peculiarities of our climate and the even more peculiar influences of our locations and soils, to say noth- ing of our varied systems of cultivation and management. The demand for new or rare varieties of ornamental trees and plants has been accelerated in a wonderful degree by the mission work of the many useful societies for the promotion of these ob- jects, which have of late been established in very many sections of our State; but we have not as yet learned to do much, if indeed any- thing to ameliorate, change, alter, or even effect the conditions of na- ture as to climatic or atmospheric disturbances, and possibly this is not within our power; but the question of location is still a debat- able one. But we have incidentally spoken of adaptation. What has that to do with the question of new fruits? Why, this and nothing more. We know that our neighbor, Beadle, raises annually fine crops of the Minkler apple. Neighbor Gray, of the same region, can beat the world raising Pound Royals. Our own orchard has produced the finest and largest Bailey Sweets that we have ever seen. Thus we could continue to enumerate more than a hundred orchards within the bounds of the Warsaw Horticultural Society, each of which proved the question of adaptation (as to certain vari- eties), and in which the most perfect specimens of a given variety are always found. Our hope, then, in some measure, lies in this better knowledge of that which is now, or shall be, better suited to our climate, loca- tion, and the conditions in which they are to be grown, and by the production of new sorts to supply this demand. As yet we find but little progress being made within our own State as to properly hybridizing in order to the production of new STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 183 varieties of fruits, and plants have fared but little better; probably ninety per cent, of the new ajiples, and very many of the smaller fruits and tioweriug ])lants, are the result of accidental hybridization. Among those who have given this matter special attention, we take pleasure in mentioning the names of Mr. J. G. Bubach, of Princeton, TIL, Mr. B. C. Warfield, of Sandoval, and Mr. T. Huber, of Illinois City, each of whom have already brought out new varie- ties of great promise, especially is this the case with Mr. J. G. Bu- bach whose No. 5 Strawberry is a signal success. Among our East- ern brethren old ex])erimenters are quite numerous, and if it were not in consequence of over-eagerness ior present ijrojifs, much more good would be done by them. This morbid desire for (juick results, can probably be best obvi- ated by the now talked of Experiment Stations. If our Statesmen will only manifest the magnanimity and liberality to give us such a law as will be practicable for this purpose. Individual efforts are necessarily too much confined to the small fruits, or the products of the vegetable garden, as these produce the (juickest results. The Experiment Stations may, and probably will, obviate, in a great measure, the necessity for the individual sacrifice of time and money, and produce better results. Un])rincipled experimenters have been, and probably will con- tinue to be, a public nuisance, and their methods we should denounce in the most unmeasured terms. Hundreds, 3^ea, thousands, of their worse than useless new productions (so called) are still annually bought up by the unsuspecting planters, only to find them entirely worthless. An additional reason for the production of new varieties, grows out of the fact that many of our old varieties have evidently degen- erated, from what cause this is we do not pretend to say. Darwin says "an occasional cross from a fresh stock is an actual necessitij^ in order to increase the size or vigor of the production," and we add, its fruitful ness also. While the apple is the king of fruits, it is of all the most neg- lected, possibly this is in consequence of its slow maturing character; and while we now have many hundreds of varieties, yet there is but a very few of these that, even nearly, meet the wants of both i)ro- ducer and consumer. The demand for one or more such apples is still unabated, and to him that shall succeed best in this direction there remains a fortune. Pardon, if you please, the digression; but, for the present, give us the much-abused Ben Davis. How often and how much its character has been traduced? — the culminating charge being that " the tree lacks hardiness,'" that large numljers of them are already dead or in a dying condition. This reminds us of the news that " the Dutch had taken Hol- land." What else was there to die? Many of the orchards were 184 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS wholly Ben Davis. And when we consider the vast numbers of them that are being grown (more in our own state than all others combined), we find the per cent, of loss is really small; and, as yet, this apple more nearly meets the requirements of the producer and dealer than any other well known variety. In Southern Illinois we find among the chance seedlings quite a number of new apples of much promise, among which we describe the following: Huntsman, very large, golden yellow, with red cheek, nearly sweet ; will evidently sell and become a favorite in the markets — originated in Missouri. Also another Missouri apple, de- nominated the Missouri Pippin, large, oblong, red color, with numer- ous grey dots, very handsome when perfect; a good keeper. Neil's Keeper (from Clinton County, 111.), above medium size; color, bright red on a yellow skin, sub-acid; evidently a keeper. Shannon, mam- moth size; color, yellow; origin, probably Arkansas. The Watwood, Fink, Picket's Late, Sparks' Late, Terrill's Late, Johnson, Cash and Egyptian Queen are all Southern Illinois apples worthy of further trial. Dr. Lyman Hall, of Savoy, sends us a collection of his seedlings, nine varieties of the apple, which, from appearance, indicate relation- ship with Sweet Bough, Wine Sap and Northern Spy. The Doctor states that, with a single exception, they have proved hardy and productive. From Missouri we have seen the Gano, the Woodhouse, the Ing- uon and the Shackleford. Of these we think the latter is the most promising. Many new plums are now offered, but we have failed to become sufficiently impressed as to the necessity of reporting them here, only to say that agents are already in the field, and that we should buy sparingly until we become acquainted as to their value, that is, the value of the plums. Mr. Jules Charpentier, of Basco, III., has an orchard of over fifty kinds of the apple, wholly grown from scions, imported for this purpose, from the Royal Experimental Gardens of Paris, France. They are now in bearing several years, and give abundant evidence of being both hardy and productive. And while our energetic and valued friends, such as Professor Budd, Peter Gideon, Esq., and many others, are looking to a more northerly region for hardy varieties, is it not possible that we are just as likely to find the hardy ones in a more southerly clime. Our own observation is that very many of our most hardy and valuable sorts have originated south of 40° north latitude, and when, ere long, the energy of the horticulturist is fully rewarded, we may find its origin in an unexpected quarter. STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 185 llEPORT ON PEACHES, PLUMS AND CHERRIES. BY B. PULLEN. We confess to some embarrassment in endeavoring to comply >vith the promise made to your honorable Secretary, that we would try to furnish a paper or report on the peach, j)lum and cherry, to be presented at this meeting. In a brief pa])er the whole subject €annot be traversed; to what feature of it shall we call your atten- tion? The subject assigned me is peculiar in this, that each of the fruits named have a history that is quite similar. Each has been prominent in the early history of fruit-growing in our State for commercial purposes, but to-day are largely neglected. This is very notably true of the peach. Varieties, locations, preparation of grounds, planting, after treatment, pruning, and the care and handling of products are all important. These, however, have been so thoroughly and ably treated and discussed from time to time by those qualified to do so, that it would seem no one need want for information who will con- sult the records of this Society. The decline of peach growing, and to a less extent that of plums and cherries, to those who have had large interests, and we might say successes also in the past, is a matter of grave concern. It will not do to ascribe it all to the increased severity of our wint- ers, climatic changes, insects, etc., as some are disposed to do. We can well remember that oyer twenty years ago the thermometer went down into the twenties, destroying or ruining many peach branches. My own were saved by the removal of one-half of the tops. This has occurred at intervals of four or five years since. The treatment, however, in my own case not being always the same. If it was ab- served that the injury was greater in the tops than trunks, the tops were removed; if the trunks had suffered most, the to])s were left remaining, and it was noticed that persons who failed to observe this had their orchards ruined either by removing or not removing the tops, as the case might be. We will vouch for results as above stated, but must leave to our scientific friends the assignment of reasons. These early orchards thus treated lived in most cases to a good old age, and produced crops of as fine fruit as was ever shipped to any market. Those of later planting of like experiences failed to do this, that is to produce good fruit, and many of them were finally removed on account of their worthlessness, until now it is difficult to find a ])eacli orchard, where once they could be counted by the hundred. We have a theory about the failure of the peach, inde- pendent of insects, etc., and it is our present purpose to notice it. I have had more difficulty in contending with the rot than with in- 186 TBANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS sects. Not the common rot, but as distinct from it as the black or bitter rot in the apple is distinct from the common, possessing also its peculiar quality of propagating itself — in other words being contagious. The introduction of this disease was contiguous with the intro- duction of the Hale's Early variety and its fruiting. This variety seemed to embody all that was desirable in a peach tree; hardiness of tree and bud, earl 3^ maturity of tree and fi-uit, and withal a pro- lific bearer of as handsome fruit as one could wish to see. These rendered it popular, and it was quickly disseminated. In my own experience nothing was noticed unusual until its second bearing, when the disease referred to was observed and watched with inter- est. The development and spread was confined mostly to this variety during the first year of its appearance; but after this it gradually attacked all others, and it was noticed that some varieties were always more resisting than others. As in all matters of decay, conditions of weather had much to do with its development and progress. From this time the decline of peach culture set in. In a few years it was almost entirely abandoned, not for the want of crops so much as our inability to save them. The question arises. Would this have been so but for the introduction of the Hale's Early and kindred varieties, and could Southern Illinois recover her old prestige as a peach-growing section by discarding all varieties that ripen earlier than the old Troth's Early. All varieties that we have cultivated that mature in advance of the Troth's Early have devel- oped the same tendency to rot, and to about the same extent, as the Hale's Early. This includes the Amden's June, Alexander, Beatrice, Rivers and others; and what is remarkable, none are a perfect free- stone. Does any one know of a variety that ripens in advance of the Troth's Early that is a perfect freestone? This may be of no consequence, but it is certainly very suggestive if there is none. All plum peaches are more liable to decay than freestones, and the earlier their maturity the more this tendency is observed. The warmer weather of July and August may account for this, but it does net explain why a clingstone should be more liable to decay than a freestone. Insects are a prominent factor in the spread of any skin disease among fruits, and no doubt greatl}^ aided in the spread of this rot; but until after its appearance it was possible to save the fruit to the extent, at least, of making it sufficiently profitable to continue its culture. In a word, we wish to record our belief that the decline and almost total abandonment of peach culture in our State is due to the introduction of this disease; and that the cause, and continuing cause, was the introduction of the Hale's Early and kindred varieties. Any system of inquiry that might result in ascer- taining the facts in regard to this matter might result in the revival of an industry that has been practically abandoned in our State. STATE HOBTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 187 Of plums and cherries, their cultivation has become limited, mostly to native varieties. Our effort to produce the imported or foreign varieties of either were failures, and the experience of all seems to be about the same, with rare exceptions. The climate of our State does not seem to be suited to them. The Chickasaw, Wild Goose and kindred varieties are those on which we must depend for home culture. The demand for this fruit is limited, and will not admit of extended production if raised for profit. The Wild Goose, while not curcnlio-proof, is not favorable to the propagation of that insect. We do not think that ten per cent, of eggs deposited in this fruit ever produce a perfect insect. After the trees are fairly grown, cultivation should cease, and any stock not injurious to the trees permitted the run of the grounds. The Early May and Rich- mond, and varieties akin to these, are our dependence for imj)roved varieties of cherries. The success of this fruit is quite uniform throughout the State. If either section has the advantage we think it is the northern half. Less frequent fluctuations of extreme tem- perature no doul)t being the cause. For ))est results a good soil is required, and sh(juld l)e maintained, or failure will follow^ The con- sumption of this fruit is much greater than that of the plum, but low prices and the ease w^ith which it can be supplied should be a caution to every one. The care of the orchard should be much the same as that suggested for the plum. PEACHES, PLUMS AND CHERRIES. BY G. W. ENDICOTT. Mr. President and Members of the Illinois Stute Horticultural Society : Our worthy Secretary issued the edict that I should prepare a short paper on Peaches, Plums and Cherries for this meeting. ^ow, being one of those obedient ''critters," 1 will not disap- point the meeting in the matter of " short," whatever else may hapi)en. If the Secretary wants a paper recommending the planting of large orchards of peaches, pluius and cherries for market, I would stop and close the paper with the one single word, dont. In the light of the last ten years I don't believe there is a half dozen points in the State of Illinois where the above fruits could be grown at a profit for a series of ten years consecutively, aiul that would be the average life of the trees named, except the plum, and that only of the native sorts, and they are not profitable only iu a local way. I don't wish to discourage the planting of this fruit; on the con- trary, I urge every farmer to plant a generous supply for home use. 188 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS And there are bat few farms in this State where they cannot be gi'own, with the proper care and protection from frost and insect enemies. If any one doubts the above, let him plant ten trees each of peach, plum and cherries, suited to his latitude, in a well drained, not over rich, soil. Keep the borers out of the trunks and crowns in the summer, with good cultivation (early in the season only); then wrap the trunk and large limbs with building or carpet paper, and then cut all superfluous brush early in the fall, and, just before hard freezing sets in, fill the whole tree full of dry straw, free from chaff, bind strong twine around the outside limbs, and take a pitch-fork and crowd more straw between the twine and limbs till all is snug, and then you are all snug for the winter, at a cost of not more than twenty-five or thirty cents per tree. This protection should be left on till danger from frost is over in the spring. (There is no patent on this plan, but there is a machine to do the work in a more expeditious manner, that is patented, and is a good thing.) But the serious business begins with the curculio, for they seem to be omnipresent where stone fruit is grown. There are numerous remedies recommended, some of which will check them somewhat; but the only sure remedy is to catch and kill them. This can be done cheaply with a sheet and a pail of water with a gill of coal-oil poured on top. Thej^ never bother fruit any more after one bath of the above, and a man or boy can run thirty or forty trees in ten min- utes, morning and evening, and be amply repaid with nice fruit fresh from the tree. {N. B. — This curculio remedy might not apply to friend D. B. Wier's breed of curculio, for, according to his article on " Orchard and (rarden," they are about to enter a state of " hiocuous dis- uetude.") It is always fashionable to give a list of varieties to plant, but when given for a State the size of Illinois it is most always a failure for obvious reasons, and each planter should be governed by what does well in his latitude. Of a number of the newer native, and some of the later importations of the Japanese plums, I would recom- mend a fair trial. Of the half-dozen varieties of the Japanese I am trying, the Bo- tan seems to do the best. Its thick, heavy leaf and strong growth in our dry, hot seasons makes it very promising, but I fear it will be rather late in ripening its fruit in the north end of the State. Of the Marienne, there is one point which I wish to call your attention to, and that is, it will grow from cuttings almost as readily as the Quince, and sends up but few sprouts. MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. DECEMBER MEETING. The Board met at the Pacific Hotel^ in the city of Jacksonville, December 15th, 1886. Present, Arthur Bryant, A. C. Hammond, C. N. Dennis, Milo Barnard, J. S. Browne and T. E. Goodrich (proxy for J. M. Pearson). The Secretary's report was referred to a committee consisting of C. N. Dennis, J. S. Browne and T. E. Goodrich. The Secretary read a letter from J. W. Franks & Sons, Peoria, proposing to print our forthcoming volume of Transactions in the same style, type, paper, etc., as last year, at the same price. On motion of Mr. Barnard the proposition was accepted, and the Secretary instructed to use all possible diligence in getting out the work. Mr. Dennis offered the following resolution, which was unanim- ously adopted: Whekeas, There is a public demand tor more copies of the Proceed- ings of this Society then the Buard is able to i)ublish with the amount tiiat has formerly been appropriated; therefore, be it ResinJreri, That we recjnest the lion. R. , H. M Savoy. Fletcher, John Carthage. F niton, Robert Warsaw. (rray, S. S Hamilton. Gregg, Thos Hamilton. Grover, W, S Warsaw. Halbouer, David AVarsaw. Hall, E. J Hamilton. Hall, Dr. Lyman Savoy. Hambleton, Ji. F Keoknk, Iowa. Hammond, A. C Warsaw. Hanson, H. C Hamilton. Heinl, Joseph lacksoiiville. Heise, John ^ Warsaw. 222 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL Hill, Mrs. James Keokuk, Iowa. Hoppe, C. C AVarsaw. Hudson, J. A Warsaw. Johnson, J. T Warsaw. Johnson, Mrs. J. S Elderville. LaMonte, W. H Hamilton. Leeper, T. F Lima. Leslie, C Keokvik, Iowa. McCrary, Robert Lima. Marsh, B. F Warsaw. Mayor, James Carthage. ISTash, Bessie M Warsaw. Parr, Prof. S. W Jacksonville. Patterson, Chas Kirksville, Mo. Piggott, J. L Hamilton. Puntney, A Elvaston, Robinson, A. W Hamilton. Rockwell, C. B Hamilton. Simpson, S. E Hamilton. Spitze, John F Warsaw. Stracke, Louis Warsaw. Stuart, E. H Hamilton. Stuart, R. P Hamilton. Warne, W. A Hamilton. Wright, Jolm Hamilton. HONOEAEY MEMBERS. Brackett, G. B Denmark, Iowa. Mead, Mrs. R. H Galva. Nash, Mrs. L. C Bowensburg. Weed, C. M Champaign. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 223 CARTHAGE FLORAL GUILD. OFFICERS. President — Mrs. Dr. Xoyes. Vice-President — Mrs. Dr. Robbins. Secretary — 1A.RS. Margaret Peterson. Treasurer — Mrs. O. F. Berry. MEMBERS. Baker, Mrs. John Carthage. Berry, Mrs. M. P Carthage. Berry, .Mrs. O. F Carthage. Browning, Mrs. J. M Carthage. Carlton. ^Sfrs. O. P Carthage. Cherrill. Mrs. Elizabeth Carthage. Davidson, Mrs. J. M Carthage. Draper, Mrs. Helen Carthage. Elder, Mrs. John Carthage. Eruric, Mrs. J. K Carthage. Ferris, Mrs. II. G Carthage. Foutch, Mrs. J . L Carthage. (Jill. Mrs. Mary Carthage. Hamilton, Mrs. W. K Carthage. Hansford, Mrs. Robert Carthage. Hardy, :Mrs. R. II (Jarthage. Hatfield. Mrs. C. W Carthage. Ilelf rich, Mrs. John Carthage. Hooker, Mrs. W. C Carthage. Mason, Mrs. W. E Carthage. Miller, Mrs. B. F Carthage. McKelvic, Mrs. Will Carthage. McMeechen, Mrs. Frank Carthage. McQnoid, Mrs Carthage. Newton. Mrs. John Carthage. iNoyes, Mrs. Dr Cnrthage. Pennock, Mrs. Duanne Carthage. Peterson, Mrs. ^Margaret Carthage. Riley, Mrs. M. L Carthage. Robbins, .\[rs. Dr Carlhage. Sample, Mrs. John Carthage. Schofield, Mrs. Sarah Carthage. Selby, :Mrs. i'rof Carthage. Sharp, Mrs. T. C Carthage. Smith, Mrs. W. T Carthage. Taylor, Mrs. C. W Carthage. Wilson, Mrs. Geo ( 'arthage. 224 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL WARSAW FLORAL SOCIETY. OFFICERS. President — Mrs. G. J. Kogers. Secretary — Mrs. D. W. Atkins. Treasurer — Mrs. J. Eaton Johnston. MEMBERS. Atkins, Mrs. D. W Warsaw. Bliss, Miss Lida Warsaw. Cox, Mrs. D. H Warsaw. Cunningham, Mrs. P Warsaw. Gardiner, Mrs. Lydia Warsaw. Garretson, Mrs. M '. Warsaw. Hammond, Mrs. A. C Warsaw. Hathaway, Miss Warsaw. Hill. Mrs. T. B Warsaw. Hill, Mrs. Walter Warsaw. Hudinson, Mrs. C. C Warsaw. Hudson, Mrs. J. A ; Warsaw. Johnston, Mrs. J. Eaton Warsaw. Johnston, Mrs. J. E Warsaw. Johnston, Mrs. Emily Warsaw. McCune, Mrs. E Warsaw. McCune, Mrs. W. B Warsaw. McFerran, Mrs. M. A Warsaw. McMahan, Mrs. J Warsaw. McMuhan, :Mrs. K AVarsaw. Plantz, Mrs. F Warsaw. Ritchie, Mrs. J. W Warsaw. Rogers. Mrs. G. J Warsaw. Stark, Mrs. J. W Warsaw. Walker, Mrs. G. P Warsaw. Whaley, Mrs. N Warsaw. AVilcox, Mrs. L. K Warsaw. Williams, Mrs. J. R Warsaw. Zuppan, Mrs. Wm Warsaw. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 225 MONTP]BELLO FLORAL SOCIETY. OFFICERS. President — Mrs. Rose F. Connable. First Vice-President— '^I'ELS,. CeliaP. LaMonte. Second Vice-President — 'Mns. Mary H. Potts. Scribe— Uiss Alice W. Stewart. Treasurer — Mrs. Alice IT. Brown. MEMBERS. Brown, Mrs. Alice H Hamilton. Connable, Mrs. Eose Y Hamilton. Dennis, Mrs. M. E Hamilton. Draser, Mrs. Lisa P Hamilton. Gates, Mrs. Jennie P Hamilton. Gray, Mrs. Mary F H amilton. Guthrie, Miss Laura Hamilton. Jones, Miss Lottie Hamilton. La:\ronte, Mrs. Celia P Hamilton. LaMonte, Mrs. Nellie W Hamilton. McLellan, Mrs. Mary R Hamilton. Potts, Mrs. Mary H Hamilton. Robinson, Mrs. A. F Hamilton. Smith, Miss Clara D Hamilton. Stewart, Miss Alice W Hamilton. Vrashler. Mrs. M. C Hamilton. 15 Proceedings of the .... THIRTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE Horticultural Society of Central Illinois, V The Thirteenth Annual Meeting of this Society was called to order by President Burrill, in the City Hall, at Hamilton, on June 1st, 1886, at 10 o'clock, a. m. By invitation of the President, Rev. Mr. Metcalf opened the exercises with prayer. .President Dennis, of the Warsaw Horticultural Society, made a short, but appropriate, address of welcome. He spoke of the jileasufe it gave him to be again so soon permitted to welcome the Society to their city, and felt that this early return was a compliment of a high order. He said : We hope that we did reasonably well on a former occasion and that you were pleased with your visit, and we hope and expect that this meeting will be more interesting than the former one. President Burrill — I wish I had words to properly respond to this cordial welcome from the citizens of Hamilton and the Warsaw Horticultural Society. But actions speak louder than words, and our coming here again so soon shows our appreciation of your efforts to make our visit pleasant two years ago. The Warsaw Horticultural Society is the only live, working society in Central Illinois, and this fact accounts for the interest manifested here. We tried to main- tain a society in Champaign, but it did not prosper. I scarcely know why. You began early and gained an impetus that has carried you forward, and enabled you to tide over the difficulties upon which others have stranded. I hope the fire that has been burning so long may yet be kindled in other places, and that an influence may go out from this meeting that will bring about numerous organizations of this kind. HORTICULTUR.VL SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS 227 SECRETARY'S REPORT. BY A. C. HAMMOND. Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen: We have again assembled in onr annual meeting for the pur- pose of considering the horticultural interests of an important sec- tion of the great Empire State of the west, and as we take a retro- spective view of the held we are made to rememl)er that the year has been one of unusual discouragements. Apples were a complete fail- ure, and untold thousands of trees succumbed to the unfavorable climatic influences. Other tree fruits, as well as grapes, did but little better. Berries of all kinds produced a good crop, but prices were so low that growers failed to make both ends meet. It is there- fore, even were it desirable, an unfavorable time to inaugurate a boom on planting orchards or berry plantations for commercial pur- poses, yet we have an important field to occupy, and should, by ex- ample and precept, encourage and urge every land-owner to plant trees, to supply his family with fruit, for shade, shelter and ornament. Our work will not be fully done till every rural home in this heaven-favored land is made as pleasant and home-like as possible; till every laborer's cottage is made a bower of i-usti'c beauty; till every school-house is sheltered from winter's blasts and summer's sun, and the grounds ornamented with a generous supply of ever- green and deciduous trees, and made attractive by the skillful hand of the architect and landscape gardener; till every country road and village street is planted with trees, and kept free from noxious weeds and brush and offensive matter of every kind. If, as we all believe, there is an intimate relationship between the beautiful and the good, has not a period in the history of our country arrived when it becomes the duty of every good citizen to make an eai-nest, persistent effort to win the restless, discontented " wage-workers," which we And in city, town and country, away from the saloon, the beer garden and other places of vicious resort, and throw around them the restraining influences of happy, con- genial homes? If so, it is our duty, and, we trust, our pleasure, to help forward the good work, by encouraging the embellishment and making pleasant the village and country homes of this beautiful land. " Let the successes of the past stimulate us to greater efforts for the future. Let us work full of ho])e. regardless of all obstacles, until we reach that better land where the gardens shall have no blight, fruits no decay, and where no serpent lurks beneath the bower; where the harvests are not ripened by the succession of seasons, and where the joys of fruition are not measured by the lapse of time." 228 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HOKTICULTUBAL Since the first of June, 1885, the following orders have been drawn on the Treasurer: H, J. Dunlap, printing letter heads and envelopes $ 8.00 Prof. T.J. Burrill, expense bill 10.31 Dr. A. (J. Humphrey, expense bill 2.00 Bessie M. Is ash, expense bill 9 . 90 A. C. Hammond, priutins: circulars, programmes and railroad certificates, postage and stationery 18 . 15 H. M. Dunlap, postage 1 . 25 Phil Dallam, printing letter heads and envelopes 7 . 25 Total 156.86 All of which is respectfully submitted. REPOKT or TREASURER. BY C. C. HOPPE. Warsaw, June 1st, 1886. To the President and Members of Central Illinois Horticultural Society: Gentlemen: I herewith submit my annual statement of the financial condition of said Society: 1885. June 23. By cash in hand $16.63 July 10. By Ciish received from H. K. Vickroy, Treasurer of Illinois State Horticultural Society 50.00 By seven membership fees 7 . 00 $73.63 CONTRA. To cash paid Miss Bessie Nash $ 9.90 To cash paid A. C. Hammond 18.15 To cash paid A. G. Humphrey 2 . 00 To cash paid T. J. Burrill 10.31 To cash paid H. J. Dunlap 8.00 To cash paid H. M. Dunlap 1 . 25 To cash paid C. C. Hoppe 2.00 To cash paid Phil Dallam , printing 7 . 25 To cash paid Phil Dallam, printing 10.75 $69.61—69.61 By balance |4 . 02 All of which is respectfully submitted. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 229 On motion both of these reports were referred to a committee, consisting of Dr. Humphrey, H. M. Dunhip and J. M, Berry. TUESDAY AFTERNOON. The Society met, pursuant to adjournment, at 1 :30 p. m. The first business on the programme was a paper on THE FUTURE OF ORCHARDING IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS. BY DR. A. G. HUMPHREY. The first orchards of Central Illinois were planted more than half a century ago, while a much larger orchard area was planted about forty years ago. The varieties planted in our first orchard were either seedlings or grafted stock propagated as far east as New York. Some of the seedling trees planted more than a generation ago still remain and bear fruit, while the eastern varieties are nearly all gone. Twenty, twenty-five and thirty years ago we had an aljundance of apples from the first orchards in this part of our State. Many hundreds of bushels were shipped away or hauled in wagons west of the Mississippi river. Many old farmers in Knox county who in those days had two or three hundred bushels for sale, now do not have enough to supply the table for a small family. The varieties raised in those early days of orcharding were Janet, Milam, Big Romanite, Little Romanite, Hoop Apple, Wine Sap, Pryor's Red, Van- devere and White Pippins, Bellfiower, Early Harvest, Red June, Sweet June. Black Apple. Tallman's Sweet, and a few others, besides seed- lings. The orchardists and nurserymen of those days were experiment- ing with new varieties to find kinds adapted to the Great West. H un- dreds of eastern grown varieties were tried and found worthless, fail- ing either in the nursery or orchard. I visited a nursery at Daven- port, Iowa, about thirty years ago, where I saw about a hundred thousand trees of eastern varieties. All these were from root grafts shipped from the East, and were apparently well-grown nursery stock; and yet more than ninety per cent, of them were worthless and were either given away or burned. Our Western horticulturists were not yet discouraged. They continued their investigations until tlieir labors were crowned with the Ben Davis. Willow Twig, Domiue, Roman Stem, Jonathan, Wagoner, Tallman's Sweet, Mijikler, lied Astrachan, Snow, Duchess of Oldenberg, Benoni, and a few others. These varieties fruited early, and gave^iromise of value and hardiness, and in many locali- ties became quite profitable to both nurseiymen and orchardists. And yet orchards [)lanted of these kind eighteen to twenty-five years ago are nearly all gone, from Knox and Warren counties at least. 230 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL The Willow Twig and Roman Stem have the greatest longevity of any variety grown in my county (Knox). In the Warsaw district the Ben Davis has been the most profitable apple, while in all of our State north of this district the Willow Twig has been the most profitable of any kind grown. The severe winters of 1872-3 injured all the varieties that at that time were considered "iron-clad," and some varieties that we considered valuable were entirely destroyed either in the nursery or orchard. During the next three years I dug and burned more than a hundred thousand trees, which so flattened my pocket-book that I have not grown nursery stock since. My orchard, however, is the best I have seen in Knox county for its age (twenty years). I have lost only two per cent, of Willow Twig, three per cent, of Roman Stem, one per cent, of Red Astrachan, five per cent, of Domine, two per cent, of Famuse, thirty per cent, of Ben Davis, and three per cent, of Wine Sap, while Early Harvest, Janet, Jonathan, Winter Swaar and Pryor's Red are all gone. The Wine Sap might as well be dead, as I get no fruit. I have said so much in relation to the past in order to speak with more certainty of the future prospect. I think that it is generally admitted that the causes injuriously affecting apple orchards, and pears and cherries as well, have been more severe during the last decade than during any previous decade of the last fifty years. Now I propose to inquire about the peculi- arity of this last decade. Scientific men have observed, during several of the last cen- turies, that when our earth with a number of the other members of the solar system, is in perihelion, there has been great disturbance in the earth's atmosphere, and, therefore, greater variation and greater extremes of temperature. As all organic forms exist in re- lation to climatic conditions, the more favorable the conditions the greater longevity the forms will attain. During the last decade a greater number of the members of the solar system have been in perihelion than for more than a hundred years past, and than will be again for nearly two hundred years to come. In June, 1883, Jupi- ter was four millions of miles nearer the sun than he will be again for many years. At this date he completed his cycle and passed the point of maximum disturbance of his orbit. At such times great solar explosions take place, and in a second of time send hydrogen two hundred thousands of miles into space; and spots break out all over the sun's disk. Such solar disturbances disturb every other member of his system. The severe winters and severe drouths of summer, and the sudden and varied climatic changes and extremes of temperature, have doubtless been the greatest if not the sole cause of the destruction of our orchards. It has been observed that solar and planetary causes have so affected our earth as to bring calamity to its animal forms. Epi- SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 231 deniics of various kinds, pestilence and famine that swept off tens of thousands of human l)t'iiif(s, may thus l)e accounted for. The same causes that i)roduce famine, cutting off the cereals, might also injuri- ously affect all fruit interests. We are now nearly out of our late perihelion, and, if it is true that the disturbing causes cutting off our orchards so suddenly were in any sense due to solar or planetary inHuence, we can be assured that similar causes will not again occur for more than a hundred years to come. We do know that the men who planted orchards forty, fifty and sixty years ago, gathered rich harvests of golden fruit for many years, while those who planted more recently have been disappointed. Now as we have had the storm and tempests of adver- sity in our fruit interests, we have good reason to look for a great calm, and we have full confidence that those who plant to-day will in the near future reap a golden harvest. The history and the facts of other years should encourage every one, all over our great State, to plant new orchards, on new ground, and, as far as favorable tests have been made, new varieties, with the confident assurance that the years to come will be especially favorable to the production of fruit. Tn jdanting an orchard select the best old varieties that have succeeded in the vicinity in which the orchard is to be planted. The Red Astrachan, Duchess of Oldenburg, Famuse, Willow Twig, lien Davis, English Golden Russet, Maiden Blush, Cayuga Redstreak and the Minkler are still worthy of cultivation. Of the new varieties the Yellow Transparent, Tetofsky, Plum's Cider, promise well and should be tried. Whitney No. 20, the Haas and Pewaukee have already a local reputation in the West, and may succeed well in certain localities. The Salome is hardy and productive, so a few trees of this variet}'' should go into the new orchard. The Wealthy is likely to succeed in nearly all parts of our State, is an excellent apple and should be* largely planted. ()ur orchards must be reproduced or we shall go without apples or depend upon the East and the orchards that are failing. I think this Society, and the State Society, and all horticultural journals, ought to consider well the demand that is upon us to-day in relation to orchard planting. If we allow ourselves to become discouraged because we now suffer calamity we shall continue to suffer. So every horticulturist and every farmer should commence tlie work with eager, willing hands, of reorcharding our great prairie State, and trust Dame Nature for the sunshine, and the shower, and the equit- able temperature of the coming years, that shall crown your labors with rich harvests of golden fruit. Mr. Hammond — I have fruited all, or nearly all, of these north- ern varieties that the Doctor speaks of, but do not find any of them entirely satisfactory. The Wealthy T consider the most valuable, 232 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL being large, handsome and of good quality; but here it is a Septem- ber apple. Pewaukee is not so handsome or good in quality, and in this latitude must be classed among the early winter apples. Haas I have found to scab sometimes, which injures its appearance; it is a late fall apple. Salome I have found to be productive, fair in qual- ity, and a good keeper, but a little too small for a popular market apple. The tree is perfectly hardy in my orchard. I do not desire to discuss the question of dry or moist orchard sites, but do not agree with the Doctor that black prairie soil is unfavorable to the long- evity of fruit trees. Some of our orchards along the Mississippi bluff are dead, while others planted on flat prairie soil are compara- tively healthy. Mr. Dunlap — The Haas, as I know it, is a good tree, and the fruit handsome. I think jour coming wdnter apples will come from the South rather than the North. Apples ripen earlier as they are moved southward. A number of new and promising apples, from Southern Illinois, were exhibited at Centralia — at the State meeting —last winter, that are at least worthy of being carefully tested. But until we get something that is known to be good, I would advise planters to stick to those that have done best in the past. I would still plant the Ben Davis, but with some misgivings. Mr. Brown — 1 have fruited the Haas and Pewaukee, and am pleased with the former. The Pewaukee is sometimes injured in the nursery. "^ Prof. Burrill — I had the pleasure of meeting with the Wiscon- sin State Horticultural Society last winter, and this question was very thoroughly discussed. Pewaukee was said to have been injured by the late cold winters. Wealthy was very generally recommended. Others wo aid plant only crabs. They, like ourselves, are undecided wdiat to plant. Mr. Dunlap — I think we may sum up the question of location by saying: plant on the soil that will best resist the drouths of summer. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 233 ANNUAL ADDRESS. BY PRESIDENT T. J. BURRILL. Members and Friends of the Central Illinois Horticultural Society: Our Society has liad a nominal existence since 1874; but in real fact, as a living thing — struggli)ig, and crying, and laughing, and crowing — the infant bears date as follows: Hamilton, Illinois, June 11th, 1884. It lays claim to royal parentage, the offspring of the renowned Warsaw Horticultural Society on one side, and, through its ever-enterprising President, of the Champaign County Horticul- tural Society on the other side. The east and tbe west of magnifi- cent and munificent Central Hlinois joined their chivalrous forces and begat the vigorous offspring whose second anniversary we to-day da}' join in celebrating. As a one-year-old affair, some of us helped celebrate its birthday at Galesburg, June 28th, 1885. It thus ap- pears the history of our society is easily told. Mr. H. M. Dunlaj), of Champaign county, was its first President, and, notwithstanding the fact that his labors in organizing and preparing for the first meeting were so great that he became prostrate on a bed of sickness at home, thus being most unfortunately unable to attend in body the enthu- siastic gathering at Hamilton, he was present in spirit, and his an- ticipated pleasure in the first meeting was, to some extent, repaid by the encouraging report of the full attendance and fuller interest of this first session. Dr. A. G. Humphrey, of Galesburg, did himself honor as Vice-President and presiding officer. Our present and most efficient Secretary then, as now, was largely instrumental in bring- ing to a successful issue the initial meeting, and if we continue him, as we ought, in the same good work, we may rest in assurance that good work will be done. His accomplished assistant also merits a considerable share in the dressing and putting into presentable order the hopeful infant of which we write. Mr. Hoppe held the bag and counted the coin. Let it be said his counting has been found faith- fully correct, and that he evidently has the ability to do considerably more of the same kind of labor. It is hereby suggested that we test his capacity in this matter considerably further. The first meeting was a phenomenal success. The large hall was filled to overflowing with an intelligent and appreciative audi- ence, and the excellent programme was excellently executed; that is, not decapitated, as you might infer, Init effectively, often eloquently, presented. The room was brilliantly adorned with flowers, and an exhibition of the fruits of the season added attractiveness to the occasion. The same board of officers were re-elected, and the tri- umphal session ended. 234 TKANSACTIONS OF THE HOKTICULTURAL The second meeting, at Galesburg, was less encouraging, owing to a combination of causes which need not be here detailed. The citizens of the place were busily engaged at the time in a great in- augural demonstration attending the laying of the corner-stone of their new court-house, and those specially inclined horticulture-ward were buried in berries. None present, however, can ever forget the interest and pleasure of the visit to the delightful home grounds of Professor and Mrs. Standish, put along with their presence and helpful participation in our exercises. The baker's dozen constitut- ing the audience made up in great measure for numbers by their hopeful interest and enthusiasm, and our bantling of a society was able to crow cheerily over the results. The Warsaw Horticultural Society good-naturedly put in a second invitation for Hamilton, and after considerable discussion the responsible advisers of our pre- cocious, but struggling organization, decided to accept the proposition. To-day, under these propitious skies, in this good place of its nativity, among these good friends and patrons of its birthday honors, our young, but hopeful, society meets to celebrate its second anniversary, and to gain new vitality and richer blood for the ex- igencies and trials of another lease of life. We have abundant reasons for hope in this direction. The very air upon these hills and valleys is instinct with horticultural vitality; the inspiring enthu- siasm of the friends who are wont to gather in this hall is bound to enkindle new fires, and to fan slumbering embers into new and brighter flames. These beautiful flowers, made more beautiful by loving and taste-guided hands, the welcome in words and in the louder, more expressive benedictions of deeds, are sure to have powerful influences for good in the future of our organization, and must aid in helping other local societies in our fertile district to a vital and useful existence. During the year now terminating we have been bountifully blessed with rich harvests and the material requisites of peaceful and happy lives. The regular return and following of the seasons have brought with them each the benedictions and blessings of a generous and loving Father, the giver of all good gifts to man. We offer here and now our grateful homage for the kind providence that has overshadowed us, for the protection that has been constantly round about us, and for the privileges and prospects we enjoy. No calam- ity has befallen our portion of the country. Business interests have been encouraging, and our own professional pursuits have been favored and enjoyed. The financial returns for the special products of our art have not been large. It may be confidently asserted that none of us have been unduly sacrificed upon the shrine of mammon through the too inordinate collections of cash. If any of you are in danger of backsliding from the faith, on account of the increasing corruptions of wealth, it has not yet reached the ear of your reporter. But when prices are low SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 235 soraebodj gains thereby, if we, as producers, do not; and since a part of our efforts is advowedly benevolent and missionary in char- acter, we assuredly can rejoice in this jtart of our success. It is a benevolence to introduce fruits and flowers among the people. To furnish appetizing and healthful food for the stomach, and beautiful forms for the gratification of the higher and better taste of the eye, is doing blessed service for civilization and moral progress, whether in so doing we may or may not succeed in laying up treasures in banks, where, possibly, thieves break through and steal. Turning now to the needs of our society, the first thing for us to consider is the necessity of stirring uj) our brethren of the guild to take hold with us. The most efficient means to this end is in- structions how to make money to pay expenses of railroad fares and hotel bills. To boom our meetings we need to boom our business. Can we do anything to this end? The reply is certainly not an easy one; still it does seem that we ougfit to be able by association and agreement to im])r()ve our market facilities and o])portnuifies. It is neither helpful to grower or consumer to overload and glut a given market one day or week, and then practice the same thing upon another locality the day or week following. In the vicinity of Bloom- ington a local organization, formed for this purpose only, dictafes the })rice from day to day of small fruits, to the vast improvement in the stability of the market. In some towns outside of our limits this is still better managed. The supply offered is regulated, buyers are better pleased and accommodated, and sellers are much more likel}' to get some compensation for their year of labor. Consumers are, and should be, willing to pay for these labors a fair recompense; at least when they may help to establish the interpretation of this word "fair." It is certainly better for the fruit trade on both sides that as much stability as possible be secured, instead of the usual senseless fluctuations ungoverned by thought or action. Let us get established in some way numerous local societies and give our supj)ort, as far as we are able, to that feature of ])usiness by which markets are made better for producer and consumer, adopt- ing the appropriate motto: " To live and to let live." We will have no strikers nor boycotts, no l)ulls nor ])ears, no corners for panics, but simply wholesome and useful order and regulafion. Our meetings ought also to render important service in im- provements in the manner and facilities of marketing. It is not long since the ])int or (piart boxes for siuall fruits were introduced, and in some places even now the practice is to ship in pails, or special vessels, to be returned and used over and over again. The temporary box system is a vast improvement over any other I have seen. Last year a })rominent strawberry grower made forty or fifty hands pick exclusively by taking hold of the stem of the fruit — the fingers not touching the fruit. Then the boxes were carefully in- 236 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL spected in the shed, and every picker strictly held to account for any misdeeds. To insure rigid inspection many boxes of berries were turned out upon a table and replaced, if all right. Finally a finish- ing touch was bestowed on each box by exactly filling, if needed, and by turning calyx down for the upper layer of berries. This man found profitable sales in his home market, while others were obliged to ship at the hazard of similar competition elsewhere. A grower's name ought to be made worth something on a package of fruit. There are various other ways by which the business as such ought to be made better by our discussions, but I will not weary you with illustrations, remembering that each of you can more readily than myself propose suggestions and oifer facts of experience. The business part of our meetings, after all, is a small part. Horticulture never thrives long unless the main stimulus arises from love of the pursuit — from interest in the opening flowers and grow- ing plants. These do best as pets, daily watched and attended — not from a sense of imposed duty — but from the inner promptings of a recognized fondness for the things themselves. Only those who, by nature or education, can find enjoyment in something besides the accumulation of dollars and cents and the gratification of physical appetites are worthy of membership in our guild. He who loves plants and their life doing, loves to talk about them. In so far he is a good conversationalist, and he will be sure of a good audience in othei's whose tasks are like his own. Hence our meetings will have good speakers and good hearers, and with something to say and to hear, why should not our monthly or annual conclaves be enjoy- able and profitable in the highest sense? Such association ought to make man more of a man and woman more of a woman. Human life ought to consist of much more than eating and sleeping and slaving. Horticulture helps to make it something more. It is not hard to pick out happy homes by outside appear- ances as of the lawn and the garden. Children are never tempted into habits, which embitters after years, by loving attention to plants, to fragrant flowers and perfumed fruits. If in our meetings we encourage the horticultural arts as recre- ations and pastimes we shall certainly do excellent service, not alone to ourselves but to many others who may, in one way or another, count a beginning in horticultural efforts from something here said or done. It is wonderful what example does. I know a town where the front door yards are almost uniformly neat and attractive in ap- pearance The walks are clean, thin borders accurately marked; the grass is kept nicely cut; the fences are as little offensive as possible; yet ten years ago none of these things were true. All was slipshod and uncomely. Ashes were dumped in the walks or just outside the front gate. The cow was pastured in the door-yard and did the trimming which the trees received. The change was clearly due to SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 237 the beautiful appearance of one lawn, which an enterprising citizen, gaining his ideas elsewhere, at length put and kept in order. One after another began to look after his long neglected grounds, and soon a shabby lot was too noticeable by contrast to be permitted to long remain conspicuous in that way. To be sure, the times were ripe for such a change; but a beginning was needed, an examj)le to stir sluggish thought, a pattern to quicken the ideas of possibilities and methods, a something to awaken home and personal pride. Let us, then, pay attention to the beautiful and attractive in our art, as well as to the lucrative. Let us strive to make our good land a land of tlowers and of fruit, noted for its natural resources, but more con- spicuous for its wealth of attractions and productions, springing into existence under the stiuiulating influences of busy hands and loving hearts — a land beautified by art, enriched by peaceful indus- try, and made sacred by happy homes and a contented people. A manuscript upon "Industrial Education " had been prepared as a Presidential address, but owing to the fullness of the pro- gramme only an oral abstract of the paper was presented. This, at the President's request, is omitted. NxVTURE'S MUTE MINISTERS. BY MRS. DR. NOTES, CARTHAGE. The mere fact that vegetation in some form — from the lovely flowering plants and luxuriant foliage of the tropics, to the simple little snow ])lant of arctic and alpine regions — is found in all parts of the habitable Avorld, is convincing proof that this was no incon- siderate part of the plan of our great Creator. Bestowed upon us with a lavish hand, both for our profit and our enjoyment, it become no less a duty than a ])leasure for us to study these plants, especially the flowers — they beiug the part of the plant to which nature seems to have given her greatest care. We find that even the least conspicuous flowers reveal, under the microscope, an exquisite beauty. That all command our aduiiratinn, from our stately and gaudy sunflower, towering haughtily above other plants, and ever turning to welcome the god of day, down to the modest little daisy, which has been beautifully described as a " little white flower, which may be seen in tbe meadows in the spring of the year, low and liuml)le on the ground, opening its bosom to receive the pleasant beams of the sun's glory, rejoicing as it were in a calm rapture; diffusing around a sweet fragrance; standing peace- fully and lovingly in the midst of other flowers around al)out, all in like manner opening tcj drink in the light of the sun." Flowers have been, from time immemorial, the poet's represent- atives of innocence, modesty, purity and love, and have ever been 238 TKANSACTIONS OF THE HOETICULTUKAL the symbol of all that we cherish and hold dear. With them we decorate our homes; they are found at the bridal altar; they make bright the sick room; they are laid on the coffin; they are hung on the monument. Beautiful flower — the type of our life, of its brief existence, of its immortal glory. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans presented their quests with bouquets upon their entrance to their homes, also made for them necklaces and garlands for the head. Thev even bestrewed their couches, making them veritable beds of roses. At all periods, in every nation, flowers and certain trees seem to have been consecrated to the dead. The Romans planted wild vines and the box around their tombs; the wealthy assigning beautious gardens to their departed friends. They not only scattered flowers around their tombs, but they suspended garlands over them. In funeral processions bouquets were carried in the hands, while palm branches were scattered in the way of the procession. Garlands of immortelle were thrown into the graves, and other flowers were placed on the sarcophagus. The same custom prevailed among the Gre- cians, who considered all purple and white flowers acceptable to the dead. The Thessalonians streAved the grave of Achilles with the im- mortal amaranth and lilies. Electra complained that the grave of her father, Agamemnon, received no myrtle boughs. Not only in all ages and all nations, but all by classes and con- ditions of men, do we find flowers and plants loved and cultivated. From the very wealthy, whose conservatories are filled with rare and <2hoice exotics and native plants — even to the very poor, in whose hovels we frequently see a feeble attempt at window-gardening in a few tin cans inside the casement, showing that there is an inherent love of nature which poverty, squallor and crime can not crush out. Both history and romance furnish us many stories regarding the love of individuals and nations for certain plants. As in the case of the present Emperor of Germany, who, notwithstanding his many years, has great veneration for the simple corn-flower; his lik- ing for these flowers springing from one of the purest and most beautiful sentiments — afi'ection for his mother. We ever associate the violet with France and Napoleon. The brave and strong-hearted Mungo Park once read a sermon from a little flower in the desert, which was the means of saving his life. The thistle is said once to have been the salvation of Scotland, when, trodden upon by an unwary, bare-footed Dane, in a night at- tack, nis screams aroused the sleeping Scots, who at once rushed to arms and vanquished their enemies. Who but Burns could have written so lovingly of the " wee modest " mountain daisy which "Adorns the histic stibble-lield, Unseen, alone." SOCIETY OF CENTEAL ILLINOIS. 239 Mrs. Hemens would scarcely have spoken of any but a favorite flower as she has of the water-lily. A flower of romance is the little forget-me-not, about which several stories are told in regard to the origin of its name. And what could not the roses tell — of romance, intrigues, state affairs and — perhaps — crimes. In fact stories such as these are everywhere to l)e found. Flowers, undoubtedly, minister to our comfort and happiness. In youth they greet us with their sunny smiles; in age they carry us back, through the paths of memory, to childhoods happy days; they come with a message of rest and hope to " weary-handed work- men who toil all day amid the clang of hammers and the groan of engines;" they cheer the exile in his wanderings; they turn the thoughts from life's petty evils; they cause us to forget useless re- j)inings; they tend to draw us higher and nearer moral and spiritual greatness. Twas with them but yesterday we decorated the graves of our fallen soldiers; graves of brave, noble men who died that their country might live. What better memorial could we have for such an occasion? It is for them we gather our choicest flowers. For them we weave our brightest garlands. Yet, while fair hands strew floral chaplets over the graves of those buried in our well- kept cemeteries, the sad thought recurs to us, that there are many — very many unknown — graves, of both the blue and the gray, dotted here and there all through the South, that are never decorated. Un- known, unmarked, uncared for, perhaps forgotten. No — that can not be. He who notes the fall of the sparrow marks each grave and at his biddinj? 'n — " The forest violet, wild roses blossoming sweet, Are springing up in myriads, o'er many a turfy mound." And, though other wars may wage, tlieij will sleep peacefaUij their long sleep " Under the sod and the dew, "Waiting the judgment day." And when the muster-roll of heaven is called, each one will be there. Truly, it was a heaven-born idea that brought about the '" Flower Mission," through which flowers are carried to the children's hos- ])itals in our large cities, thereby brightening the ai)artments of the little sufferers and giving them, as it were, a glimpse of out-door life. Many pathetic stories are told of the effect of these silent ministers upon the children, and of their guiding influence to Him who said: ''Let the little ones come unto me." It is pleasing to see the love of a little child for some ])lant it can call its own. Children instinctively recognize beauty and long to possess it; and it is pitiable indeed to see a little child rudely 240 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL pushed from some pretty flower which it has just extended it little hand to chisp, and harshly reprimanded for destructiveness. To de- stroy is no part of the little one's thought. It simply reaches for the flower as it does for the sunbeam — because it is pretty. And if it does destroy the flower, broken flowers are of less consideration than childish frowns; and how infinitely more enjoyable is the happy, ringing laugh of a child than the most exquisite flower that ever bloomed. The mind of man can conceive of no picture more lovely, or one portraying more innocence and purity, than that of a little child with its tiny hands full of flowers, and joy in every feature as it holds its beautiful treasures up to view, only taught by love to love, Seems childhood's natural task; Affection, gentleness and hope. Are all its brief years ask." But their inevitable path leads into a veiled future, where, in the words of the poet, on seeing the picture of a child tired at play : " There will come an eve to a longer day, That will find them tired — but not of play." Let us therefore remember how susceptible the mind of child- hood is to almost every influence brought to bear upon it, and how lasting are its early impressions, and teach our children, without harshness, to love the beautiful, and allow them childish pleasures, in the hope that their reminiscences may portray the lights without the shadows of by-gone days. As a skillful surgeon acquires his knowledge in the dissecting room, so we must pick our plants and flowers to pieces before we can fully understand and appreciate them; for it is as we understand that we do appreciate. And just here it may not be out of place to say to my flower-loving friends, if any thoughtless person fails to admire your floral treasures and makes sport of your U'eeds, as he may choose to call them, do not feel vexed with him; only pity his ignorance. He does not understand your beautiful plants, therefore can not appreciate them. Indeed, some enthusiastic botanist has said, " There are no weeds, except those grown in the mind of man." Each tree and plant has its own peculiar habit and growth — each unfolding its bud after a different manner; and as we watch these parts unfolding, or the little plants starting from the earth, we involuntarily ask, By what wonderful, unseen power is this plant brought into life? We can only answer that it is the expansion of the seed germ, caused by light and heat and moisture. And beyond this the mystery is as impenetrable as though the Divine fiat had gone forth, "Thus far shalt thou go, and no further." Here we find science as dumb as ignorance, for there can be no scientific answer SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 241 to this question. This is, perhaps, a bold assertion, in the face of the many attempts that have been made to explain this wonderful phenointMion in a sciontitie way; and learned men toll us of life being j)roduL-ed Ijy the " combined forces of cohesion, elasticity, heat, grav- ity, light, electricity, magnetism, chemical affinity, mechanical force and other powers" — as if life were merely the result of some chemi- cal action. The only irrefutable solution to this problem — before which we marvel and stand in awe — is the simple one given by St. John when he says: " In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.'* Hence we are to understand that the mysterious power which constitutes life in its narrowest and lovvest, as well as its broadest and highest manifestations, is the breath of God breathed into every creature. And, while we await the result of further researches of naturalists and scientists, those of us who are not scientists may take comfort in the assurance of as high authority as Dr. Asa Gray, that '' if physical science is unable to estal)lish the declaration of one God, maker of Heaven and earth and of all things, visible and invisible, it is equally unable to overthrow that declaration." President Burrill^ Sitting behind the speaker, I failed to catch all that she said, but I fully agree with her that the beautiful ob- jects in nature that are so profusely spread out before us are educat- ing and elevating, and if properly appreciated will make us wiser and better. Scientists tell us that the gorgeous colors of the flow- ers were not made for man alone, but they say to the bee come this way and sip our honey and enjoy the perfume we exhale. This is the prose of the question, but it does not detract from our enjoy- ment of theme. HEALTHY HOMES. BY DR. LYMAN HALL. Cities and incorj)orated village homes will occupy no part of this paper. It is the rural home we wish to draw a pen picture of. Where to locate the house; how to ornament; how to practice sani- tary hygiene; how to eat and drink. First, the site for the house slujuld be one that is naturally well drained. The slope of the land should be from the house. There should be no marshes of swamp lands near the dwelling that can- not be so drained as to lower the water level below the soil at least. If this is not done the family nuiy ex})ect to suffer from malarial ])oison. Batavia, N. Y., was once a fever district by reason of swa?nps that lay near the town; when they were drained and the water hivcl was lowered, it was exempt from malarial fevers. The neigh])or's buildings should be taken into consideration in selecting a farm 16 242 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HOETICULTURAL home. A prudent man may keep his own premises in a sanitary condition. His neighbors cesspools or privy vaults may dram into his well or spring and poison his drinking water. To avoid such contingencies build on as high land as possible, so all water courses shall flow from the house instead of to it. All out buildings should be far enough from the house that none of the exhalations of the stable can invade the rooms of the house. Damp, foul air from the stable may bear in it germs that will be very apt to gener- ate disease. It is said that diphtheria is a product of the stable, as has been satisfactory proved by its being very prevalent about the stables in some parts of London, while away from them, in other parts of the great city, the people are comparatively free from its ravages. This paper will not attempt to give any plan of architecture for the dwelling. It should be roomy and so arranged as to admit plenty of air and sunlight. There should be a respectable sized lawn about the house, where shrubbery should be set of variety that would bloom through the season. This can be done with a little care in selecting from the bountiful variety Nature has seen fit to adorn the earth with; for with these gifts of beauty and sweetness Nature has been very prod- igal to man's pleasure; and it is his prerogative to utilize these gifts of Nature for the beauty, pleasure and comfort of his home. The lawn is not a waste piece of ground. It makes herding ground for the poultry. These birds are useful in more ways than one. They furnish the table with meat and eggs that are whole- some and toothsome. Most all relish their flesh. No rural home should be without them. A further good, they are great scavengers to destroy insects that are ever preying upon the bloom of the flowers and invade the house. True, sometimes these domestic birds ruffle a plant and try the patience; but they make up for it a hun- dred fold by their destruction to insect life and the luxury they fur- nish the table. There should be a due amount of shade trees; but not too close to the house to chafe the building or obstruct air and light. There are no ornamental trees of more beauty than the stately evergreen. The exhalations from their boughs are pleasing to the senses. Not only this, they are said to possess to a high degree antiseptic prop- erties, and destroy disease germs; that those people and cities located among forests of evergreens are comparatively exempt from cholera. If this be true it goes to show that the air, being filled with exhalations of the essential oils, renders it destructive to cholera germs. If destructive to the microbes of cholera, they must be hos- tile to all forms of hostile bacteria. Then in the ornamental ever- green we have a cheap and beautiful antiseptic that should surround all rural homes. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 243 No home should be without its kitchen-garden, where vegetables and fruits can be raised of varieties to supply the table all the year around. Food, and how it is prepared, has mucdi to do with our health and homes. Perhaps there is no one department of life where it is so difficult to advise as to what one should eat. There is an old adage (and a true one in practice), '' What is one man's meat is an- other's poison." All stomachs will not tolerate the same food. Each one must be a law unto himself as to what he may eat. Whatever idiocratical tendency one may have, if he violates his constitutional defects, he does it at the cost of his health and comfort. If any food offends and acts as an irritant he should shun it as a deadly poison. True he may, by long and constantly coaxing his rebellious instinct, get it to put up with many offensive agents, such as rum and whisky, and to chew and smoke tobacco; yet his nervous system rebels with headache, sick stomach, cross and crabbed deportment, filth wherever he goes. His home is polluted with fumes, revolting, nasty. Ah, the instinct of manhood should rise above such health-destroying vices, and shun it as he would a reptile's sting of death. How shall we determine a standard of diet? Perhaps the best way will be to determine what is a frugal way of living by large communities. This differs wideh' with different nations. Man is so organized that his well-being demands a mixed diet. Still he can live and maintain a fair degree of health on a very limited variety of food. Some individuals may be excepted, — they become sickly, and go down in death when restricted in the variety of food. Frugal living differs very widely, as we said. Take, for instance, the people of New England and part of New York, who, partly for thrift, live in a kind of vegetarian way. Butter, eggs, and milk enter into their frugal meal, not vegetable by any means. The Puritans early lived on baked beans and buckwheat cakes, with maple molasses. To this day New Englanders have these largely entering into their frugal meals, and have grown up in its lore of excel- lency with energy and character that has molded the type of civil- ization of the United States. The typical Englishman must have his roast beef, mutton choj), bread always an adjunct, potatoes, turnips and other vegetables are subsidaries, not forgetting his almost indispensable plum-pudding. This, perhaps, is the diet of the better class of Englishmen. As a nation, it is one of brains, energy and endurance, not excelled by any other nation on earth. In France and Spain the frugal meals and dishes are eggs, stewed veal, lamb, roast fowls, pheasants, liver, brains, blood pud- dings; in the former the frog is counted as a royal treat. This diet, so unlike the P]nglish, is satisfactory to this light-hearted {)eople. There is more pleasure and sociability among them than any other nation on earth. As Goldsmith aptly writes in his "traveler" : 244 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUBAL " Gay, sprightly land of mirth and social ease, Pleased with thyself, whom all the world can please; How oft have 1 led thy sportive choir, With tuneless pipe, beside the murmuring lyre." "Alike, all ages; Danes of ancient days, ' Have led their children through the mirthful maze; And the gay grandsire, skilled in gestic lore. Has frisk'd beneath the burden of three-score." The Tuscan and Greek have their national frugal dish, made with rice cooked with cheese. Macaroni, in many combinations, makes their royal diet; wine and raisins are largely consumed. This people have a lower grade of civilization than any we have mentioned. AH their industries are of a lower grade, their wants less. They may have souls worth saving, I leave it for theologians to settle that. Malaria, cholera, and allied epidemics often thin their ranks; better living and sanitary regulation might help them out. Scotland has frugal, healthy homes. They are a people of energy and nerve. To them we are indebted for an excellent dish, and may, in certain limits, be the main dish for light eaters and invalids. Oatmeal with cream (the more of the latter the better), pea soup and pea pudding are often the main dishes among the poor of Scot- land's rugged hills. Fish, in various forms, supply them with nitro- gen to keep up the combustion of their system. We wish to say but little of Germany, for the sauerkraut and lager beer is too freely indulged in. She is a powerful nation, full of conceit, a little too independent of God or the Pope, and fears the American porker may fill him wuth trichinge. Let him cook his food properly, and he ean eat with impunity. The poor Russian ! His lot is a hard one. He works hard and enjoys his simple diet — onions and rye bread. His iron body bears up well on this simple diet, and he enjoys good health. Lastly, China is a frugal nation. Her health will compare fav- orably with any other nation. Her main dish is rice and tea; when fortune favors her appetite, she has a roasted rat as a dessert. This is her principle living. On this diet she appears to be healthy, con- tented and happy. This strange, industrious people cannot be held up as a typical standard of excellency which our civilization should try to imitate. They are, however, far above the benighted heathen intellectually, as we picture them in our imagination. In this diversified diet all these nations have more or less thrift and health. There are many things used by them which we have not mentioned. We have dwelt on their main dishes. We cannot, however, believe but what many suffered from dyspepsia, and became anaemic. Carlyle was a morose dyspeptic. His irritable nature spared neither friend or foe. He was a cruel tyrant over one of the most noble women that was ever the wife of man. Sometimes, under SOCIETY OF CENTEAL ILLINOIS. 245 his unkind lashes, she felt in her very heart she had the most tal- ented man in the United Kinplom, also the hij2:<;est fool; Had he lived on a diet suitable to the demands of his nature, he would have been more amiable and enjoyed better health; as it was, his rebel- lious stomach, in all his <^reatness, made him unhappy. A still, small voice within him was ever crying for nitrof^en to allay the dis- turbing forces of his fiery nature. Perhaps if Mrs. Carlyle had known how to prepare the frugal meal she would have made her do- mestic relations much more pleasant. If any of my fair auditors have husbands whom they regard as great, intellectually^ yet caustic, be careful how you prepare the frugal meal. Don^t, because it is an easy way to get something to eat, put before him (you love to serve) a fried dish swimming in grease, the sight of which turns his stomach into an open revolt. Much is within your keeping to make your home happy by your culinary ingenuity in preparing food so it will act as an anodyne when eaten. Food should be properly cooked, and of variety to satisfy the demands of our systems; not prepared da}^ after day in the same old grooves. Create variety from the same provisions. It is far more important to be able to cook six consecutive meals from the same jirovisions, and none of them alike, than to be an adept in reading French or skilled in playing the organ. Variety has much to do with our healths. Many will not take the time to eat that they should; many a young woman who makes her living with the needle will hurry down her bread and tea, not dreaming she is laying the foundation for early decay. She works on, wondering why her strength is not as good as it once was; she becomeg bloodless and consults her family doctor; he listens to her story of adynamic sufferings, and, with more dignity than judgment, zinc chloride ferri, three drachms simple syrup, four ounces, three times a day, one teaspoonf ul. His patient gets worse until some pathagenic microbe finds a fit asylum for his habitude, and the poor woman finds an early grave. The facts were, she starved herself to death on bread and tea. Had the doctor prescribed beef, milk and eggs, and free exercise in the open air and suji, vigor would have returned to her limbs; color would again have returned to her bloodless, l)lanched cheeks; the l>loom of health would have again shown radiant with brightness and beauty. Sun light is an important factor to health, but we cannot expatiate upon all its good qualities at this time. Abundance of ])ure water is an indispensable factor to a healthy home. It is just as important to look after our water supplies in the rural home as in cities. Water is a pabulum through which fever germs may find material on which to multiply, and through it find access to the tissues. It may be unpleasant to admit that many of the sources of supply of water are poisoned by the ojien drain, the privy vault or barnyard, that are entirely too near the spring or well. The soil may be so loose and porous as to only separate the coarse filth, while the fatal basilli may pass through and pollute the water. 246 TKANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL Perhaps if we should change the style and habits of living of our own people, or that of Great Britain to those of China, there would be a loss of vitality, and our Anglo-Saxon nature become en- feebled. Disease and death would cut short the span of life. If this be true, we learn there are national and race idiosyncrasies that it is impossible to transcend, without violating the laws of health, and bring suffering, by sickness, to our homes. It is said in the days when Doctors Rush and Physic were in the zenith of their professional glory, a young lady of a goodly family and much promise was sinking into a decline, or, in other words, was consumptive. As money was plenty in the family, they called for the best skilled doctors in the Quaker City. An able council con- vened to devise means to ward off the silent footsteps of disease and death. After giving the young lady a careful examination in their grave council, they directed her doors and windows should be so arranged as to exclude all drafts of air from entering her rooms. She must live on a spare diet and be bled twice a month. After re- ceiving their grave advice, she asked: "If I follow your direction, about how long do you think I will live?" They replied, "About two years!" — (about eighteen months too much). She very spirit- edly replied: "If I have but two years to live I am not going to spend it in prison; I am going to have a good time." Accordingly she went into gay society, attended balls and theaters, lived on the best food to be had, and denied herself of no pleasure within her reach. It was not long before this gay bird of pleasure attracted a Romeo, and before the two years were up she was a wife, and lived to raise a large family. Good living, exercise, sun-light and cheerful society did it all. A hundred years has wrought wonders in the healing art and in all departments of life, and a hundred years to come will work out still greater blessings to our homes and to the race. Dr. Humphrey — I think, as a rule, horticulturists should be long-lived. Living much of the time in the open air, among trees, fruits and flowers, and using fruit and vegetables largely as a diet, is conducive to health and longevity. Mr. Patterson, of Missouri — I think there is one important omission in this paper. Fruit should be upon the table three times a day. I was for many years subject to biliousness, but after I be- came a horticulturist and used fruit as a regular diet it passed away, and I enjoy much better health than before. Dr. Hall — If 1 had written all in my mind, the paper would have been much too long for this occasion. I entirely agree with Mr. Patterson in relation to the benefits of a fruit diet. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 24 1 Mrs. Meade — Dr. Hall, in his very interesting jiaper, gives the preference to the English peo})le. T am not willing to admit that they understand or obey the laws of hygiene, or live better than we do; nor am 1 willing to admit that, as a peoi)le, they are stronger than the American people. There is an art in cooking that many housewives have failed to master. We eat too fast and ruin our di- gestive organs. Not long since I heard a pajjer, by Hon. John P. Reynolds, on the adulteration of food, and I felt thankful that I was a farmer's wife, and could know what T ate and drank. Mr. Brown — 1 take issue with the gentleman who thinks lu)r- ticulture a healthy occupation. Attending horticultural meetings is decidedly health}' as well as agreeable, but when a man goes into the business to make a living, he soon uses himself up. An exceedingly interesting paper was now read — wo:men in horticulture. BY JONATHAN PERIAM. Mr. P)csi(lent, Gentlemen, and Ladies of the Society: The theme given me for treatment to-day, " Women in Horti- culture,*' if it was intended to comprise a list famous for orignal in- vestigation, and thence handed down to us through the literature on the subject, might be comprised in a very few words. Women have been the instigators to improvement, rather the improvers them- selves. From the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, caused to be built by an ancient monarch to })lease his queen, down to the present gen- eral taste for, and love of, landscape adornment, with all that is thereby understood under ))resent high civilization, woman's part in it is more the passive than the actual working integer; the prompter rather than the performer. Not but there have been notable ex- amples in every age, where women have worked as well as counseled. In the former case it has generally been the result of peculiar cir- cumstances; in the latter the examples are more general. It is the innate love of the beautiful, seen especially in young girls of every age, as distinguished from the more prosaic of the male sex, a love which grows with their growth, and enlarges with their intelligence. It is shown more in poetic fancies, their love of dress, of beautiful combinations of color, of intense desire in all that actuates them. Where high civilization is possible, may be possibly, hence the easier attainment of the comforts of life, and especially in this free country, where so great a proportion of the homes of the people are actual freeholds, it is not strange that 248 TBANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUKAL leisure should develop the desire to render these homes beautiful, aad that these farms of beauty should take shape in a bit of land- scape work, a green lawn, ornamental trees, flowering shrubs,clam- bering vines, and especially in the domain of the most lovely of nature's treasures, blossoms, that not only gladden by their varied forms, of beauty of coloring, and satisfying fragrance, but carry along the certainty of fruit vouchsafed in the promise that seed tiQie shall be followed by harvest. To go back to the times known only to us through the legends which poets have written, we may find that all that is now consid- ered beneficient was the work of the feiiiale principle in life, and not that of the male. They were goddesses and not gods. It is related that Exisichton, to bring derision upon Ceres, cut down her groves. As a just penalty for this impiety, Ceres caused him to be consumed with a continual hunger, and at length, when he had sacrificed all his possessions to satisfy this appetite, he drowned himself. It is simply a practical way to show that ancients understood that the cutting away of forests caused the fields to lose their fertility. The deities of all ancient people in the dawn of civilization wor- shipped in groves, and groves were held sacred. A nymph (Hama- draya) was supposed to inhabit each tree, and she perished with it. Even the mighty Eneas, when compelled to build his fleets from the forests of Mount Ida, was obliged first to get the consent of the Goddess Cybele, to whom they were dedicated. Now, who was Cybele, or Rhea? The daughter of Cselus and Terra. Caelus, or Uranus, signifies Heaven. In mythology he was the son of Ether and Dies, and the predecessor on the throne of heaven of Saturn and Jupiter. Terra was the goddess of the Roman mythology, in whose form the earth was personified and worshipped, and who in the Hesi- odic Theogeny, as Ysea, was the first-born of Chaos. Ceres, the god- dess of grain and harvests, was a daughter of Saturn and Rhea, or Cybele, for the Greeks and Romans both worshipped her; and her sceptre was a bunch of corn, typifying the ripe fruits of the earth, or a head of poppy, as signifying the blossom from which all fruits spring. Thus we have ancient authority from which to quote the power and influence and the importance of women in horticulture, the most ancient of all authority, the authority of the Gods of Myth- ology. Well may Bryant, the greatest of our emotional poets, have written: "The groves were God's first temples," so sacred to that horticulture of which trees form so important a part, and which we have seen was directly given to us, the foster-mother being woman. But the first art practiced by man was horticulture, and its high priestess was Eve. Well may she have lamented when driven from Paradise to till the earth covered with thorns, briars and thistles. "Oh, flowers! that never will in other climates grow. Who, now, shall rear ye to the sun. From thee, from thee, how can I part?" SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 249 From that time to the jjresent day the special mission of woman has been the cultivation of flowers, and to her taste almost solely are we indebted for the wealth of bloom that to-day adorns the porterre, that «^laddens the winter windows of the humblest household or that graces the conservatories of the wealthy. The l)arltarians of ancient times loved the beautiful things of nature, handed down through legends of former eivili/ations; and wonnm was the guardian of the treasures of the fields and gardens. But Bacchus! Drunken Bacchus was the god of the wine-press. In all l)arbarian ages woman has been the cultivator of the soil, while the warrior, m.in, devoted himself to rapine and slaughter, or, in time of peace, the hunter, man, to the exercise of the chase. It is always the province of barbarous man to destroy, to kill; it is that of the woman to create, to gather the wild seeds of the fields and the wild fruits of the earth, that something other than flesh may satisfy the longing of all human nature for variety, and to store up against a time of j)ossible famine, wherewith to sustain life. It is true woman was but a menial slave, because the barbarian is barbarous. She must dress the skins of the chase, and fashion them into gar- ments; but the fruits she gathered, and the flowers she cherished — this she did for very love. We may follow every civilization we read of, but, when studied between the lines we shall find that no civilization has ever been pos- sible until the fruits of the earth were successfully and systejnatic- ally cultivated. Woman was its ministering spirit. High civilized enlightenment was never reached without the accompanyment of flowers and garlands woven by the hands of woman. Her province in all overcrowded populations of civilized countries is the lighter tasks in horticulture; and in free America her ministering hands take kindly to the cultivation of flowers and to the weaving of them into the varied and beautiful forms that grace our ])arlors and ban- quets. Her true province is shown in this hall in the most kindly manner, in the wealth of floral adornment here elaborated. Were it not for her graceful hands and her tender care, our public and our private gatherings would lack all that makes them truly enjoyable. But it is not alone in floriculture that woman may show her su- perior art. Horticulture was, and always will be, the fine art divis- ion of agriculture. The over-crowding of population in and near our great cities is already crowding the sex into employments not hitherto considered proper for her. And many of them are not, as clerks in stores, as book-keepers, stenograi)hers and other office em- ployments where labor must occupy many hours in a confined atmos- phere, woman is never at her best. She is never at her best when care-worn, sad-eyed and prematurely old. Like the birds, she must have air, and plenty of it, as well as exercise, to hold out at her best through life. Whe're can she find this so well as in the varied lighter pursuits of horticulture. The pruning and dressing of vines and 250 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HOBTICULTUEAL small fruits, grafting and budding, the care of kitchen-garden, and, above all, the cultivation and arrangement of the running vines and flowers about the household. It is true her hands may become brown, and her cheeks show the flush of the rose through an olive ground, but how many ladies would gladly accept the flush in exchange for pallid cheeks that never are flushed except with rouge. If we must accept hard labor, and, how small a proportion of human kind are exempt, how much better to accept the promise that all horticulture holds out than go Avithout the fruits. There is one thing certain, there is nothing degrading in it; the farmer, however roughly dressed, if intelligent, is the peer of any man; the girl or woman fresh from the toil of horticultural art, is the equal of any lady how- ever elaborate her silks and satins. The trouble is, farmers, as a class, work too much and read too little. The woman slaves too many hours and has too little recrea- tion. That is, through intelligent study, the hours of hard labor might be diminished, and the outcome of the labor increased. It must be the outgrowth of intelligent system in labor. Let us take the farm garden. As generally found, where found at all, it is laid out in little beds where all the work must be done by hand. It is often so confined and so square that it cannot be plowed, and the digging must be done with a spade. A little read- ing and a little systematized study would change all this. Plants would not be put in without reference to their size and the ground they recjuire. The garden would be lengthened out. It would be changed into an orchard garden; the larger orchard trees along one side, then the smaller, pears, cherries, plums, peaches; then the vine- yard; then berries, blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants; then rhubarb, asparagus, and all vegetables that are perennial; then may come the vegetable garden, and herein strawberries, for these, to reap success, must be with the vegetables, as must all fruits that are treated as annuals — tomatoes, egg plant, ocra melons and cucum- bers. Give them plenty of room and cultivate with a horse as far as possible. Then the vocation of woman in horticulture will be less- ened. The gathering and preparing them will be a labor of love rather than a labor of despair; and the farmer Avho finds half the living of his family therein, and perhaps half enough to dress the family besides, will be not only happier from his part of the labor, but richer, to say nothing of having risen from the vocation of a mere husbandman to the higher plane of horticultural science. It will react on the children and they Avill love and enjoy the labor, especially if they are permitted to enjoy the profits of something therein that they may call their very own. It is the feeling of pro- prietorship that adds zest to the labors of man. Should not the same rule work with woman? Should it not with the children who are to be the future proprietors when the parents have lived their lives well? SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 251 Would it be out of the way if the girl of the family has a lamb, that it grow up into her sheep? or if a brood of chicks, they grow up into fowls, to be held as her very own? Or if the small boy have a calf or a colt, that they be his own when they arrive at the full stature of beasthood? If the good wife, in addition to her regular home duties, cares for a garden, should not the fruits thereof accrue to her individual self, to do with as she pleases, either in charity or other special de- sires of her nature? If any child, or the mother, raise a plant or fruit-bearing tree with infinite pains, should the husband or father sell the products for his own sj)ecial gain? The affirmative reply is not expected from those who consider the wife the slave of the household, and the children the slaves of the farm. Nevertheless, this class may well ponder the subject and consider from a Christian standpoint how much they have been de- relict upon these subjects. Please remember that the feeling of proprietorship makes tlie child feel that there is something to live for besides hard work. The overworked wife, if she have the proceeds of her horticulture or poultry or dairy art, as her own, will have less occasion to ask the master (?) for money to supply needed wants. Tliey will oftener be spent for something the family really need than upon her own special wants. If the children have a little money accumulated, the result of their own exertions, the money will not be lost to the revenue of the farm, although it may possibly be spent upon some home or personal adornment. The increasing taste for flowers in cities, villages and about many rural homesteads is due entirely to the influence of woman in horticulture. The cultivation of flowers is not possible among the masses until advancing civilization, and the wealth it brings, enables the owner of the homestead to gratify the taste of the family largely in this direction; but a beginning may be made at every homestead, however humble. To do this, however, certain plants must be kept over winter. Tender roses and other tender hard-wooded shrubs, tubers and bulbs may be kept in u dry cellar that does not freeze. Succulent plants must be kept over as window plants, and to ensure success here that part of the room must never freeze, though a high temperature is not necessary night or day. This continual tem])er- ature costs no more than to let the fire die out in cold weather. It takes no more fuel, since once the room is warm, and the walls also, comparatively little fuel is required to keep it so. Double windows are necessary to prevent drafts of freezing air striking the plants in severe weather. These double windows are really an economy in the country, since it ])revents drafts and enables every part of the room to be kept alike warm. Neither are plants and flowers unhealthy in living rooms, as ignorant persons have supposed. The reverse is the 252 TKANSACTIONS OP THE HORTICULTURAL case. There are no healthier persons than florists, who pass a large part of their lives in greenhouses saturated with the odor of various plants and flowers. It is the lack of fresh air that enervates, and no life suffers sooner than plants deprived of air. Another error is in supposing that flowers are made to look at when they grow. It is nonsense. They were made to be cut, and when freely cut they bloom all the better. There may, indeed, be specimens to be re- served for a special purpose, or those that do not bloom freely. The family may be safely left to discriminate in this direction. If the discretion is left to the mother or grown daughters, w^io have had the raising of the flowers, they will soon show the true mission of woman in horticulture, and the children will soon come to know when to keep hands off. Even in the arrangement of the beds and the care of them, the smallest may be permitted to do such share of the work as they may properly undertake. In all this talk about the extension of woman's province in horticulture, I am simply stating possibilities, and enforced ones at that. I return to the true sphere of woman in horticulture, and that is the adornment of home. If woman must labor outside her own proper sphere in well-to-do life, the whole department of horticulture offers superior and pleasanter labor and healthier em- ployment than any I know, and I speak from a practical experience from my own labor of many years as farmer, stock-raiser, and then as vegetable and fruit gardener. In all these my recreation was ever that of floriculture. One year it might be dahlias; another gladiolus. I remember I never was happier than, when as a young man I had succeeded in getting together sixty varieties, combining varied form and colors, out of many hundred tried. Later it was bedding plants and curious forms of foliage plants. I have taken many premiums on live stock. I have taken premium after premium for displays of garden products, both for quality and arrangement. Bat they were as nothing to the triumphs of my flowering plants that had been my recreation rather than my care. The last great satisfaction I experienced in floriculture was when writing my books on agriculture, working at home in one of the suburbs of Chicago, I filled a large bay-window with plants, and every plain window of the house with something green, with the help of my wife and daughters. All this gave me recreation, an,d, I think, inspiration for my work. The crowning success was that they received the first premium at the first great Chicago fair some years ago, as the best amateur collection of house plants, besides a number of premiums for special plants and hanging baskets. A lady from Iowa received the second premium, and in special plants held me fully even. This lady had found the second Eden; had found that the flowers of Eden might be trained to the sun in this paradise of America, the sunny and glorious west. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 25c The study of horticulture, as woman's province, is not all grind- ing labor. It will lead her thoughts into the realms of Chemistry, of Botany, of Physiology, of Logic, Philosophy, and Political econ- omy; of Zoology, Ornithology and Entomology. Two of the bright- est of earth's women have become famous in the cognate study of entomology through their love of horticulture. One in the United States is Miss Emily A. Smith, and the other, in England, is Miss Omerod. Every lady who exercises the love of the beautiful in the study of horticulture in any of the branches, will receive the kindly love of all who have the happiness to know her. Her intluence will be wider spread than she may think. The beautiful garden will, per- haps, inspire some passer-by to institute, perhaps in some humble home, the lesson she has learned in passing. The grinding man who witnesses the pleasure that ha])i)y children take in playing on the lawn, among the shrul)s and Howers, may be tempted to place his children upon a higher plane by assisting them in preparing some- thing of the kind for themselves. The tired wife will thus get added enjoyment. The girls will not grow u^) hoydenish, the boys will come to love home, and leave the dance-house and the corner grocery for the higher and quieter home pleasures. There will be unity, and love, and helpful assistance one to another. They will grow up wiser, and better, and happier men and women. They will serve God and fear no evil; they will have been educated away from the thoughts of evil; they will become better husbands and mothers, and rear healthier, handsomer and more intelligent children. Hence we shall see that woman in horticulture may become a far-reaching in- integer, and one of the most powerful, in the future of a country whose young growth so far has been the wonder of the world; a country where honest labor is honorable, Avhere an honest man is the peer of any on earth, and where woman is the loving helpmeet of man and the self-sustained equal of any woman or any man on this footstool of God, given by God for man and woman to cultivate and beautify. HANDLING, MARKETING AND STORING FRUIT. BY HENRY M. DUNLAP. I shall endeavor to give, in as brief a manner as possible, what practical experience has taught me to be, all things considered, the least expensive and best method of handling apples upon the farm, both for family use and for market. The time for picking apples varies with the variety. The fruit should remain upon the tree until fully grown, and with summer and autumn varieties until the stem separates readily from the branch. Some varieties of winter fruit, as Grimes' Golden and Jon- 254 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL athan, must be picked about the last of September or the first of ■October. The time can be determined when they begin to drop badly from the tree. Ben Davis, Willow Twig, Wine Sap, etc., can be left upon the trees usually until the middle to the last of Octo- ber. The exact time varies so much with the season that no set time can be stated, but must be left to the one in charge to deter- mine. The utensils I use in the orchard are a sack, a ladder and bushel boxes or crates. The picking sack is a common grain sack with the ends fastened together with a strap, and slung over the shoulder, similar to the sack used in sowing grain. The mouth of the sack is kept open by a piece of barrel hoop long enough to reach about one-third around the opening. With such a sack as this both hands are left free to gather the fruit from the tree. The apples should be separated from the branch by a slight motion of the hand to one side, so that the stem may remain with the apples — the fruit keeping better with than without the stem. Not more than one-half bushel of apples should be placed in the sack before emptying. I have tried picking with baskets and find it a very slow process from large trees. The ladder is not the least important item when we consider re- sults, both in amount of fruit gathered and in the least amount of injury done to the trees. The length of the ladder will vary, of course, with the size of the trees. I have found eighteen feet to be the maximum length of a ladder that can be handled with profit. Mine are fourteen and sixteen feet. For the sides of the ladder I select two by six-inch clear pine lumber, have it surfaced both sides at the mill, and each piece of the two by six ripped diagonally into two pieces, two and a half inches at one end and three and a half inches at the other. One piece of two by six sawed in this way makes two sides of the ladder. The rungs are one by two-inch strips, let into the side pieces one-fourth of an inch, and nailed on with 8d nails. The bottom of the ladder has a spread of two feet, while at the top it is only ten or twelve inches wide. This makes a ladder heaviest at the bottom and one easily handled. The ladders should be painted. The rungs, being nailed on, are easily replaced. When it comes to handling fruit from the orchard to the packing house or the local market nothing equals the Anshel box or crate. They should be upon every farm, for they are as useful in handling potatoes as apples. The ends for these boxes are made from pine stock boards, surfaced one side and and twelve inches wide; the ends are twelve inches by fourteen inches, with a handle cut in each piece. It is the cheapest to have these ends sawed into proper length at the factory, and also the holes cut for the handles. The sides and bottom of the box are made of common lath, cut seventeen inches in length except the upper slat on the sides, which should be stronger, and is best made of pieces four inches wide by one and a half inches in thickness, made from SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 255 four-iiicli fouce lumber rii)pe(l in two. These boxes are clistril)ated by wiii^oii aloii^j^ the trees from which apples are to be feathered. The pickers empty their sacks directly into these boxes, and then the filled boxes are taken direct to the cellar or packing house as desired. By not iillin<^ these boxes too full, they can be ])laced one on top of another in the wagon without injury t(j the fruit. In shippijig to market during the summer and fall, the fruit should be allowed to stand over night if possible, so that it may be cool when it is packed. The barrels must be ventilated at this season. The fruit should be placed stem downward against the head, one or two layers deep, and then the barrel filled carefully, shaking slightly to settle the fruit, and evening off nicely at the top. The barrel should ])e filled a little more than full, and the head pressed into place. The amount of apples that can be pressed into a barrel over that required to fill to a level, will depend upon the fruit itself. Write your commission man t(t advise you of the condition of your fruit on arrival, and you can profit by that. Pack honestly and you will soon build up a reputation, and when you find a commission firm that does well by you, stick to it. These houses in the large cities have their regular customers, who will pav more for a brand of fruit that they can rely ujxjn, than take their chances upon new brands. It is as easy to build up a reputation as an honest packer in a large city as in the home market. Fruit houses and cold storage I will say nothing about, for I have had no experience with them. I do not doubt their value, but they are beyond the reacli of the ordinary farmer, and those who grow large quantities of fruit can determine their utility as well as T can. I do believe, however, that with a good dry cellar which is frost- proof, any farmer can so keep his winter fruit as to make it a source of profit to himself, and his surplus winter fruit, instead of being an annoyance to him, will be carefully taken care of and solid during the winter. I put my apples into the cellar the last of October or first of No- vember, after carefully sorting, placing them in open bins made of pine luml)er, or in barrels, according as I exj)ect to sell in a local mar- ket or ship. Winter fruit J pick as late as possible, being governed by the weather, color of fruit, and how well it adheres to the tree. Place in piles under the north side of the tree, and remove to cellar on a cool day. or during the morning hours. If it is intended to store in bins, I fill the bushel boxes before mentioned at the piles, carefully assorting the fruit at the same time. The filled boxes are transferred to the cellar and there the contents carefully emptied into the bins. If it is desired to store in barrels, the barrels are filled in the orchard, headed without the use of the barrel press, and stored in tiers in the cellar, as many deep as cellar will ])ermit. The apples in bottom tiers keep the best. It is desirable to have narrow alleys be- 256 TKANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL tween the rows o£ barrels, in order that access can be had to any barrel in the cellar. These alle3's also prevent the rats from doing- damage to the fruit, because no cover is afforded them in which to hide. Storing in bins I much prefer where apples are marketed in bulk, the cost of the barrels being saved. The bins are made by laying upon the floor of cellar two by four inch lumber, and pine boards upon these for the floor of the bin. The two by fours should be close enough together to prevent the sagging of the boards, and thus affording an entrance for the rats. My object in having these two inch pieces beneath the bin floor is to afford circulation of the air. Next to the side walls I nail up strips one inch thick, with the pine boards forming the sides of the bin removed from the wall one inch, thereby making the circulation about the bin complete. Any kind of pine lumber will do, and can be used for any length of time, if exposed to the sun before using, and allowed to cool in the shade. I usually use fence lumber, and find it useful in the spring, either in building new or repairing old fences. Care must be taken to have the sides of these bins as tight as possible, so that no holes are left for the rats to get in. I have found that rats will not attack an open bin of apples filled to the top, but allow him to get an opening into the bottom or side of bin, where he can work in secret, and he can make more chips than an old-fashioned hand cider mill: for he worketh both night and day, and his jaws are reversible. I have found that apples keep best when they are four to five feet deep in the bins. Large dry goods boxes are excellent, or for storing for family use, shoe boxes can be used, and covers nailed on. Ventilation and temperature are the two most important items in keeping apples. For the first four weeks that apples are in the cellar, and while the temperature is warm during the day and cool at night, T open the cellar in the evening and close up in the morn- ing, and when the first cold snap comes I leave the cellar open both day and night, closing up when the weather again turns warm. During extreme cold weather the cellar must be opened on the op- posite side from the wind, and can be allowed to remain open until the temperature in the cellar goes to 25°, when it should be closed until it runs up above the freezing point, which, owing to latent heat in the apples, it will quickly do. This process of ventilation can be repeated until you have your apple cellar about 32°, when it should be closed as tightly as possible, and not opened oftener than necessary. To keep apples then, we sheuld open the cellar when the temperature outside is lower than in the cellar, and c^ose it when the temperature outside is warmer than in the cellar. Keep the cel- lar as dark as possible at all times. Burn sulpher in the cellar fre- quently, say once or twice each week for several weeks after apples are placed in the cellar. The nearer air-tight cellars are, the better fruit will keep. I find it much easier, and many times more profit- SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 257 able to regulate the temperature of my apple cellar than to sort out rotten apples. My apples are never sorted until I get ready to mar- ket them, for the reason that a]iples will decay much faster after be- ing disturl)ed, and it does not pay to handle twice. If they are not keeping, sell them at once. President — I desire to ask why the fruit cellar should be dry? Mr. Dunlap — Mold is apt to be present where there is excess- ive dami)ness. If we make cider on a clear day it will keep much better than if made on a damp, humid day, though the temperature may be the same. Mr. Hammond — I do not entirely agree with Mr. Dunlap. On one occasion several inches of water stood all winter in one of my cellars, in which a quantity of apples were stored, and they came out in the spring sound, plump, and excellent in flavor. Moisture need not be feai-ed if the temperature is low. Mr. Ames — In my cellar tiiere is nearly always water, or at least dampness, and I have no trouble in keeping apples. I often sprinkle lime in the cellar, which prevents mold. Mr. Dennis — A refiner of cider once told me that cider will keep much better if made when the barometer is high. It is also said that if corn is canned on such a day there will be a very small per cent, of loss. Mr. Johnson — My idea is that the preservation of fruit de- pends largely upon cold and darkness. I would not object to damp- ness, in fact would like to have a living spring in the fruit cellar. The colder it is kept the better, if it doesn't freeze. Mr. Dunlap has told us of an apple put under a glass globe, in a light room, that kept for a long time. This seems to spoil the theory of darkness being necessary to the preservation of fruit. Prof. Burrill — If the air in the cellar is saturated with moist- ure, cold will precipitate it upon the walls and bottom; but no harm will come of it, as pure cold air contains no germs of decay. For the same reason there is no objection to pure water in the cellar. On a warm, damp day the air is full of these germs. It was i)rob- ably on one of the high l)arometer days, Avhen there was no bacteria iq the air, that Mr. Dunlap put the apple he has spoken of under the globe. 17 258 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL The Auditory Committee reported that they had examined the accounts of the Secretary and Treasurer and found them correct. The President now appointed the following committees: On Flowers— Y rank Heinl, Mrs. R. H. Meade, Mrs. L. C. Nash. On Fruits — Col. G. Brackett, of Iowa; Charles Patterson, of Missouri; and H. M. Dunlap. On Final Besolufions — W. H. Lamoute, Mrs. F. M. Shelton, and Mrs. Mary E. Grill. TUESDAY EVENING. Mr. Dunlap read a paper entitled BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE. BT D. H. GKAT. "" The Overruling One alone knows the absolute good." If this be true we may at times choose what appears to be good, and meet with disappointment, and find that our expectations were better thwarted than realized. True success lies beyond many failures. It is a problem to the wise man, after years of experience and careful noting, whether to call his apparent failures and successes by the names they bear or to reverse them. It is probably true that all things which touch an ordinarily active, moral intelligence, bless it with a ministering touch. I was conversant with a gentleman who was an amateur horti- culturist. He was fond of the garden and gave a great deal of leisure time to experimenting with plants and trees. Being in com- pany with him one day, I directed the conversation to his favorite topic, expecting to hear some fine theories from him on the art he loved so well. But finding him rather slow about expressing him- self, I ventured to remark that his long experience and extensive reading had certainly made him reliable as an authority on the growing of trees and plants. "Not my reading," he said, "but my practice, has made me a reliable authority on how not to do it. Why, sir, I was about the first to discover that kerosene in an undiluted state was sure death to bark lice and the tree in about the same time. I have tried a great many kinds of commercial fertilizers, a great many receipts for destroying injurious insects, and many ways to bring trees into fruitfulness. I have a large list of trees and plants that can not be profitably grown north of the fortieth degree of latitude. I have SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 259 tried various methods of top and root pruning, to the extreme hurt of the tree. Indeed, sir, I have extensive knowledge along this line, so much so that I know myself to be a huge parasite in my own garden/' ''Know thyself is a task too great for attainment, while to know one's ignorance, especially in the art of horticulture, is barely attuinal)l(\ The gentleman just mentioned was evidently gaining a fair knowledge of his own ignorance, and when his lesson is fairly mastered, it may be said of him he has won a " good degree." Apparently a great failure is seen, in our belt of the State, in the apple. Twenty years ago they were successfully grown. T saw the finest grade of Yellow Bellflower sell for forty cents per bushel, and fall apples for five cents per bushel, within a few miles of Peoria.. The failure to grow good apples, and the decay of all our orchards, seems a great loss. But has not this failure aided in giving to almost every farm in Central Illinois a small fruit garden? The strawberry bed is a success everywhere, and by the aid of Mason's jar this best of fruit can be had on the table every day of the year. Did Shake- peare think of this when he said: never resting time leads summer on To hideous winter, and confounds him there; Sap. checked with frost, and lusty leaves quite gone. Beauty over-snowed and bareness everywhere: Then,— were not summer's distillation left, A liquid prisoner pent in walls of glass. Beauty's effect with beauty were bereft Nor it nor no remembrance what it was But flowers distilled though they with winter meet. Loose but their show their substance still lives sweet." The puzzle of how to grow good apples, remains to be solved. The i)uzzle is a good one and benefits all who sincerely undertake to solve it. The Concord grape, the Snyder blackberry and the Crescent strawberry, are not as bad as they might have been. The Concord made a few crops that came very near making the growing of a vine- yard a losing business, but, what with mildew, rust, rot, insects and neglect, it does now pay to give thought to grape culture. The Snyder blackberry gave a few crops that threatened the fruit grower. One hundred and fifty bushels per acre, without any more thought than is necessary to grow a crop of corn, was a rising cloud bigger than a man's hand to nuiny. The unnatural pruning, forcing the plant to quadruple its natural number of fruit Inuls, left it an easy prey to the fungus scab and excessive low temperature. Three years of failure has left this branch of the business in the hands of those who like to think. Several years ago, how we looked for a strawberry plant that could not be heaved out by the frost, burnt out by the sun, or 260 TRANSACTIONS OP THE HORTICULTUEAL drowned out by excessive rains. One season I had a block two acres in size, of the Charles Downing, heaved np by the frost, though the plants were heavily covered with straw, so that not one quart of fruit was matured in the entire block. Alongside of this block were two rows of a new variety that yielded at the rate of 5,000 quarts per acre of well-formed fruit. We called her the coming berry, and she came; and now some are inquiring in a quiet way, trill she go? While a large majority are diligently searching for a suitable mate, her equal in vigor and productiveness, that they may marry and bring forth strawberries in abundance. And then what? Perhaps some blessing more potent than the Crown Borer, Leaf Roller and the rust combined, in disguise, to stimulate thought and continue harmonious activity of mind and hand in this delightful branch of our calling. "A bird in the hand is worth two on the bush" is not always true. One day this spring, when the buds were sufficiently advanced to distinguish blossoms from leaf buds, I took a walk through my skeleton of an orchard, and following a fragmentary row of Jona- thans, looked for signs of coming fruit. 1 was somewhat disap- pointed when I saw none; but an afterthought said a kind Provi- dence proposes to give these trees a year's rest from fruit-bearing; that they may heal up some of the many wounds made by the Buf- falo Beetle, and regain some of their former vigor impared by the severity of the past winters. So I was compelled to change the motto, or make a new one. " Two birds in the bush may build a nest." As I sit by my open window writing these pages a call comes from the oriole from out the apple blossoms, it seems a call from way up, so pure, sweet and rich in tone; a call from toil to the spirit of song, to the spirit of fruit and of flowers; to the Great Spirit that originates and animates all spring life. The thrush strikes up his inimitable notes from the cherry orchard, helping to a grateful communion with Highest Life. I am startled by a gruff voice, say- ing: " I see two chipmunks on your lawn, better drown them out, they will eat up your corn." They eat grasshoppers and field mice. One pair can kill as many mice as a cat, and they do so the summer through. '' I see your cherry orchard is full of birds, they will make away with your cherries. I'd shoot the birds and kilj the bothered chipmunks." He is gone, and I feel better. He is not a horticulturist. He has been known to spend hours, with shot-gun in hand, destroying the thrush, the catbird and the robin, that he might have more than his share of sour, wormy cherries. He has eaten and worked with this kind of fruit until his face has assumed a sour pucker. He carries this face to his wife and children, and even when he sits in church you can see the corners of his mouth weighed down. A sour stomach would be a penalty most natural for getting more than his share of SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 261 sour cherries, Ijut the killing of the song^sters has destroyed the tender melody of his soul, and he is soured through —soul and body. So that one little thrush can do more to elevate and purify thought than a full regiment of such men. The horticulturist sees and enjoys the rare blessings of his call- ing. He thinks, correctly, that there is no calling under the sun more calculated to open one's eyes and ears and heart to the beauty, the harmony and the love of God. Over all his inheritance he sees blessings hovering, both white-winged and dark-winged messengers, on the same errand from the Father of all Good. Dr. Humphrey — I protest against the idea advanced by the essayist, that we cannot grow apples in Central Illinois. We have had a valuable, but costly, ex))erieuce, and it will yet be demon- strated that we can grow them profitably. Apples we must have, as well as small fruit, even if we ship them from more favored points. Mr. Dennis — Every little while we hear of a wonderful new strawberry, a few days earlier and a little larger than any thing be- fore known. It therefore seems to me that we should soon have strawberries six months in the year and as large as apples. I, there- fore, think we shall soon be able to get along very comfortably with- out apples. Mr. Dunlap — I do not accept the theory that we can not profit- ably grow apples in Central Illinois. It has been done, and I firmly believe that it can and will be done again. Dr. Hall — As long as there is a man in Illinois he will try to grow apples. If every tree in the state was destroyed we should soon have apples again. I have three hundred seedling trees, and hope to get something valuable from them. Among them are some fine varieties of fall apples, but the trouble has been, thus far, to get a good winter ap])le. but I hope to finally succeed. President BurriU — Mr, C. M. Weed will now read a paper on INJURIES BY PLANT MITES. BY H. GARMAN, • Great size in itself does not often serve to make an insect destruc- tive. Great ])ower of multijdication does so more often. Nearly all the notably destructive insect pests are of medium or small size. The great numbers in which they appear confounds us in our efforts at self-protection, quite as often as a lack of knowledge of their life 262 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL histories. The plant mites of wliich we write are the smallest of the animal pests with Avhich the horticulturist has to deal. The familiar red spiders, so-called, are the largest examples of the order known to injure plants. But they often appear in great numhers, and this, together with their minute size, makes them difficult to combat. A few notes on their characteristics as animals, and some others on their injuries and the best remedies therefor, may be ap- propriately presented to a body of horticulturists. The order constituted by the various species of mites is charac- terized, not so much by the peculiarities possessed by its members, as by their lack of the essential characters of their nearest relatives, the spiders. Mites may, or may not, have a system of air tubes for respiration. Simple eyes may be present or absent. The legs in adults are as a rule eight, and in the young only six legs are present. Mouth parts are present, except in some rare cases. The young are either hatched from eggs, or may be born alive (in which case the mites are ovoviviparoiis, not viviparous^ as stated by Claus). They do not possess a heart. The abdomen is unsegmented, and the head and thorax together form a cephalothorax, which is continuous with the abdomen. Three families of the fifteen or more recognized by the author- ities, live upon plants. They are: (T) The Spinning Mites, Tet- mnycliidcB; (II) The Torsowem/c^rt^ a family established for recently discovered forms, not yet designated by a common name, and (III) The Gall Mites, Phytoptida\ The characters given below will serve to distinguish members of the three different families: I. Spinning Mites (Tetranychid(r). Legs of six segments, feet with two claws, and also supplied with long, adhesive hairs. Palpi forcipate. Ocelli and tracheae present. Oviparous. Capable of spinning a fine silken thread, with which they cover the leaves. II. Tarsonemidft'. Three front pairs of legs with five seg- ments and terminating with two claws and a disc or plantula. Fourth pair of legs, in the male with four, in the female with two segments. Palpi simple and minute. No ocelli. Tracheae present. Female with two peculiar sense-knobs, mounted on i^talks. Integu- ment of the back divided into six plates, giving an appearance of a segmented body. Oviparous. ITT. Gall Mites. ( Phytoptidce). With but two pairs of legs each, with five segments and a terminal knobbed claw and spine with prongs. Mouth parts fused into a sucking rostrum, which in- cludes a pair of slender maxillae. No ocelli nor tracheae. Abdomen long, striated transversely, and terminating in a protractile sucker. Oviparous. INJURIES BY RED SPIDERS. In hot houses, and during dry seasons out of doors also, these mites are often very destructive. The mites are small as compared SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 263 with most insects, but are large as compared with other phmt mites. They may be red in coh>r, l)ut quite as ofteu are pale whitish yellow and may be variously marked with black. Several species of the genus to which they belong may occur in this country, but probably most of those which have been noticed as destructive belong to the one species, Tcfranijchus telariiis. They live exposed on the leaves and stems of plants, occurring usually in greatest numbers on the under side of the leaves and spinning there a slight webbing of silken threads. The injury they do consists in puncturing the leaves a))d withdrawing the sap. Where numerous the plants soon become weakened, the foliage becomes yellow, and if they are not attended to will die. The leafage is occasionally literally covered with the mites and their eggs, together with their cast skins. Where these pests occur in hot houses or in small beds of plants, perhaps even on shrubbery, they can be checked ])y repeated and generous drenching of the plants with water. They thrive best during dry seasons, and it is only then that their depredations be- come serious. Moisture, on the other hand, is for some reason ob- noxious to them, and we have fortunately in it a simple and effective remedy for their injuries. The application of water to trees out of doors in sufficient quantities to destroy the mites is not, however, so simple. Applications of dilute kerosene emulsion will here answer the same purpose. In the summer of 1880, after a season of drouth, the arbor vitae trees in Central Illinois were many of them left in an unhealthy condition. The leaves were of a decided vellow cast, and so little vitality seemed left in many of them that it was feared they would be lost. An examination of such trees showed not one of the usual traces of insect injury, but upon the lower leaves and near the trunk, upon the ])ranches, were many cast skins and occasional eggs, which proved to be the remains of colonies of red spiders which had damaged the trees earlier in the season during the dry period. The following year the trees regained their usual thrifty appearance, and it was not until 1884 that an opportunity occurred for trying reme- dial measures upon them. During the summer of that year the red spider appeared in such numbers as to seriously injure both arbor vita' and larch. The latter tree was soon rendered brown, ami some of those examined were alive with the mites. It was found on trial that two applications of a dilution of kerosene emulsion, containing two and a lialf \)or cent, of kerosene, though ap|)lied with imperfect apparatus, helped the trees at once, a fact which was soon apparent in the freshened appearance of the trees as compared with those not treated. We can recommend kerosene emulsion for out of door ap- plications with a good deal of confidence. For in-door application also we would recommend it where the need of immediately check- ing injury to the plants is of moment. Powdered pyrethram seems to have little effect. Plants embrowned with it perish before one's eyes. 264 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL A second less well-known o;euus, of the red spider family, also contains destructive species. It is the ^enus Bryobia, and differs from Tetranychus in having the front pair of leojs much longer than the rest, and in having peculiar scale-like appendages over the upper surface of the body. Two species described by the writer in the 14th report of the Illinois State Entomologist (pp. 73, 74) have re- cently been found damaging clover and grasses in the meadows. Their method of working is the same as that of the spinning mites. The leaves and blades are punctured and deprived of their sap, and as a result become of a sickly yellow hue. It is to be hoped that they may not become generally destructive, since an effective appli- cation of any known remedy, on as extended a scale as would be necessary for an injured meadow would be extremely difficult and costly. Still another Bryobia damages the plum trees in the Pacific coast region, and probably others will be discovered on other plants. INJTJEIES BY TAKSONEMID^. These mites are not so well known as the others, having but re- cently been brought to the notice even of entomologists. The first record of their injurious work in the United States is given in a note from Prof T. J. Burrill, and printed in the 12th report of the Illi- nois State Entomologist (p. 142). He discovered that the black rust of cultivated verbenas was caused by mites, which prove to be- long to the genus Dendroptus. The evidence of the presence of these mites is a crumpling of the leaves, especially the terminal ones next the flower buds, and also a blackish rust due to peculiar knobbed hairs like those often caused by mites of the following family. Af- ter describing the injury done by this insect. Prof. Burrill says: " The agent is a mite which works in the surfaces affected, where also it deposits its eggs and completes its development. When the plants are removed from the house to the open grounds the enemy accompanies them, and lives upon them during the summer, to be transferred very often again to the house, with the cuttings with which propagation is practiced. Much injury and consequent dis- satisfaction occur. The living, crawling animal, with its sharp mouth-parts, is much too small to be seen with the unaided eye on the plants, and even with a good hand magnifier it requires good handling, and perhaps special practice, to readily make them out. But an affected leaf, under a compound microscope with an inch ob- jective, may be found swarming with the mites in various stages of development. They are killed by hot water at a temperature of one hundred and twenty (120) degrees Fahr. The plants may be safely immersed in such water for a half minute, and as this is practicable for potted plants, a means of cure is accessible to all. Two species of these mites have been described in Europe, and we find one on the SOCIETY OF CENTKAL ILLINOIS. 265 arbor vita* and another on soft ina]>le in this country, hut never in such numbers as to affect the hoaltli of the trees/' IN.TURIES BY GALL MITES. Mites of this »)[i-ou]) occur on perhajis the most of our fruit and shade trees. They do not, like the sinuiiing mites, live exposed on the leaves, but produce ^alls. p;rowths of hair, deformation of buds, sten)s and leaves, and may, when favored by the conditions of moist- ure and tem))erature, do or- ers, many, I may say, most of whom have since gone to their reward, but whose names have become household words in all our prairie homes. Who of us does not remember and hold in reverence the names of Dr. Kennicott and Dr. Hull, and John A. Warder, and Ed- son Harkness, and the Overmans, and Smiley Shepherd; the vener- able Arthur Bryant and the ever-active M. L. Dunlap (both of whom have reju-esentatives here to-day), and that genial and indefatigable worker, Willard C. Flagg. These men, with many others I might name, some of them still among us, contributed largely to the devel- opment of this great State, and in transforming its trackless prairies into beautiful homes for three millions of people. We do not, per- haps, realize how much we owe to these pioneers. Their resting places, too, deserve to be decorated with the flowers they so faith- fully taught us how to rear and care for, and which they loved so well. " Bring flowers! bring flowers! " to the graves of these hon- ored pioneers of horticulture! Mr. Leeper — Mr. Gregg's essay is somewhat discouraging, yet I see some hopeful indications. Our young orchard trees are doing well, and those who persevere will finally obtain the reward. Insects and diseases are ever present with us, ami we must watch and wait. It requires much care to grow an orchard in these latter days, but it can be done. I have been greatly benefitted by attending the meet- 272 TEANSACTIONS OP THE HOBTICULTUEAL ings of our local Society, and have learned to give my orchard the most careful cultivation and attention. [ think I have one of the best orchards in Illinois. President Burrill — We will now have the pleasure of hearing a paper on HOME AND RURAL HOME ADORNMENT. BY MRS. R. H. MEAD, OF GALVA. Mr. Chairman, Officers and Members of the Central Illinois Horticultural Society. Ladies and Gentlemen: I cannot do myself justice without first paying a tribute of praise to those who have so tastily decorated this hall. Wreathed with evergreens and filled almost to faintness with incense from a thousand flower chalices. This place looks like a fairy bower; it is a painting, a poem, written by the hand of the Infinite. The term Home and Rural Home Adornment, selected by you as one of the topics for discussion during this meeting, is, to my mind, one which should claim our best thoughts; one of deep inter- est. The average theory of home life is, that the happiness of home depends solely upon the wife. That woman's first and highest mission is her home. That there are no clouds that ever overhang the home, that sunbeams bright and joyous cannot penetrate; love and reason, hope and aspiration blend in a gorgeous rainbow of promise, that arches the holy circle of home. Home is a word we love to linger on; it brings around our hearts a confiding trust and repose. It has been said that there is no sweeter word in all the dialects of earth than the word home, unless it be that of mother, and home always suggests her, and clusters about it, more happy and hallowed associations than any other place. Its impressions are the strongest, deepest and most ineffaceable. Home means much in this nineteenth century. It means all that makes life really worth the living; it is the object to which all un- selfish endeavor is directed; it is the one solitary spot in the desert of the world, when all those principles taught us in infancy preserve their living green, and reaches out of the twilight of the past into the sungold of the future; preserving unbrokenly for generations to come the lessons of honor and virtue therein taught. It means life after death, the hereafter to all who are blessed with offspring, in whom their own characteristics and energies are perpetuated. It is the golden chrysalis where from the hope of the future takes wings at last. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 273 The home life is the nucleus around which all life has its growth, and that the tone and coloring is transmitted not to one generation alone, but to many generations, is an indisputable fact. A recent writer has said, each member contributes his or her share towards the making of home; but the principal presiding spirit is the wife and mother. She is, or should he, its heart and life and center. An old writer says of the wife and mother, that "she holds the key of the soul, and she it is who stamps the coin of char- acter and makes the man, who would be, but for her gentle offices, a savage." Then cmwn her queen of the home, and place the badge of citizenship in her haiuls, creating thereby a moral social and polit- ical equality. We should make our homes as tasteful as possible, and beautify them with all the adornments which nature and our ]>urses provide. Adorn your grounds with those natural attractions which the good Creator has so profusely spread around us, and especially adorn the family circle with the noble traits of a kind disposition; fill the atmosphere with affection, and thus induce all to love and not to fear you. The ideal home is not made up simply of furniture and fixtures and decorations. The furnishings may be elaborate and luxurious; the decorations of the most artistic character; the arrangments per- fect in every respect, still if it lack the sunshine and warmth of love and affection, it is not an ideal home; it is cold, inert and without life. It is marvelous, too, if the home lacks this sunshine and warmth, how soon it will be manifest, it pervades the very atmos- phere. There are homes, however, whose memory is a perpetual joy, and to which we always turn with emotions of pleasure and gladness. Neither statuary or paintings may grace nitch or wall, they are plain and unpretentious, lacking everything but the necessities of life, yet they are filled with beauty, because the spirit of love and affection abide therein. It is the duty of every father and mother to make liunie attractive. Make the living-rooms |)leasant; give them the sun- niest side of the house. The plant that lives in the shade is sickly and unsightly. One of the indispensable conditions of home is to preserve or- der; have a place for everything and everything in its place. " Or- der is heaven's first law." (cultivate a habit of reading, if we have it not. We all need a little mental food daily: we need it as we need air and sunshine, sleej) and food. How refreshing to be able to lose ourselves, even for a short time, in the page before us. Let a volume lie beside the work-basket, and, if there is a spare moment, improve it by peeping at its contents. The humblest country boy,"or'*girl may. if|they will, with the aid of a carefully selected library, use the eyes and ears and brains 18 274 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL of all men everywhere, and in all ages. To-day the whole world of thought is before us, and at our disposal, in every city and village, for a mere pittance. Every rural home should have a library. What bread and other articles of food are to the body, books are to the mind, and as the mind craves knowledge, its wants should be supplied or provided for with great care. A library always affords the choicpst companionship. Some books inspire us with awe and veneration as we read them ; others are fragrant; they breath the air of the mountain, the hill- side, the valley and the home; others are inspiring, every page and sentence stirs us to higher motives and a higher life. Those who have a well selected library may dine with kings, reason with philosophers, associate with poets and painters, and number the masters of thought of all ages among their personal and most intimate friends. A home without books is a dreary, inhospitable place. A good )»ook is always a genial companion. We should therefore select our libraries witli the greatest possible care, beginning them with the Bible, and making the poets our especial friends, adding each year such books as it may come within our province to purchase. Some years ago twenty thousand people gathered in old " Castle Garden," New York City, to hear Jenny Lind sing as no other songstress ever had sung. She had rendered some of Handel's best works, when the Swedish nightingale thought of her home and seemed to fold her wings for a grander flight, she began to sing with deep emotion " Home, Sweet Home." The multitude could not refrain, they burst into applause, until the uproar stopped the sweet singer. Tears gushed forth like rain, for the multitude could appreciate " Home, Sweet Home" far more than the more difficult productions of the masters. This song has become the home song of the world, and was written by an American author, John Howard Payne, whose name has become immortalized by this one little poem per- taining to the home. The rural home is almost as incomplete at the present day with- out some musical instrument as it would be without books. We should cultivate a taste for for music, both instrumental and vocal. Music is classed among the fine arts, and is taught as a science, which all may learn. Music has a refining, inspiring and patriotic influence. From the mother's lullaby to Mozart's requiem masses, and the master- pieces of Haydn and Beethoven, we can mark the influence of music. Who has not felt the quickening spirit while singing or listen- ing to the sweet songs of the " Gospel Hymns? " Have we not the testimony of thousands that martial music thrills the warrior with a spirit of bravery on the field of battle! The rural home may not have architectural adornment, not even a bay window, or so much as a piazza, but it may be glorified by the l)eauty of the climbing woodbine, ivy or wisteria. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 275 If you lire just building ;i home of your own, plant some of these hardy climbers, that will live year after year and grow old with the house. These are nature's drapery: they soften hard outlines and clothe ])orch and balcony with living green. The \Voodl)ine is particularly adapted to an eastern exposure. Plant the Chinese wis- teria at the south porch; it will give large returns in the years to come. At first this perfectly h.irdy climber is tender and should have the ends of the growing branches nipped in Sej)tember, that the wood may harden and enaljle it to resist the cold of its first winter (mulch the roots with straw to keej) them warm). Plant the honeysuckles, Japanese and Chinese, with fine, sweet-scented flowers. Don't forget the clematis; they are the "aristocracy" among climbers. Such delicate tints of coloring — delicate in tex- ture, clinging so gracefully, blooming so profusely, they deserve the best ])lace in the garden. Train them on a trellis, the fence, the porch, or balcony, or where you will, they are lovely. There are many varieties. One can hardly go astray in choosing with a good catalogue at hand. The climbing roses, not forgetting the old-fashioned white one of our childhood's days, with its creamy petals and crown of yellow stamens, they all help to beautify and adorn the home. The old, but ever new, morning-glory has been familiar to us from childhood. What is there that blooms as constantly? What will bring a suc- cession of delight to the children every morning perhaps the " grown children," too, as a row of morning-glories running over the back ])orchV The promise of flowers yesterday, which lay enwr:ip])ed in twisted buds, have this morning become a reality; and cups of pink, blue and white, gemmed with dewdrops, delicate enough for fairies to drink from, are thickly scattered over the vines. The memory of my own childhood's home in New England comes to me now; and methiuks I can see the rich, heavy mass of woodbine as it overhangs the house over the well and falls in fes- toons on either side. T se])arate the vines to draw up the old oaken bucket as of yore; and I drink the cold, clear water, " nectar fit for the gods." Oh, ''how dear to the heart are the scenes of our child- hood!" If we desire to encourage cliildren to love rural life we must make its lalxirs cheerful. What a child sees makes the most lasting impres.sions. We may tell them of the pleasures and independence of rural life; but if their daily intercourse with us shows it to be tedious, irksome and laltorious, without any recreation of body or mind, they will soon lose all interest in it and seek enjoyment else- where. Copies of Old World pictures, copies of statuary, copies of fine landscapes, should adorn the home, since these come within the scope of all. It we indulge in a jjaintiug let it be one of merit.. A smoothly shaven lawn, dotted here and there with stately for- est trees; a lawn covering so wide a space of ground that it might 276 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL be termed a park, should form one of the principal attractions of every rural home; although no deer may ever tread daintily upon the green turf, or raise their antlered heads to browse among the branches. One of the requirements to a perfect lawn is incessant grazing or cutting. The admirable lawn cutters now in universal use have taken the place of the manual labor that made England's lawns so beautiful, and served to prove that labor, and not climate, was what our lawns lacked. Lawns should be cut in May and June about once a week, with longer intermission in the dryest and hottest part of the summer. The farmer's park may be grazed by the young calves and lamljs, making it doubly attractive by their sports, and the interest which he takes in them. To live in the rural home, and enjoy all its pleasure, we should love the country. To love the country is to take an interest in all that belongs to it, its occupations, its sports, its culture and its im- provements; to make the birds our friends and call them all by their names; to gather the flocks and herds around us and feed them with our own hands; to rove over the verdant fields with a higher pleasure than we should have in carpeted halls of regal courts; to inhale the fresh air of the morning as if it were the sweet breath of infancy; to brush the dew from the glittering grass as if our paths were strewn with diamonds; to perceive this glorious temple all instinct with the presence of Divinity, and to feel amidst all this the heart swelling with adoration and a holy joy absolutely incapable of utterance. This it is to love the country, and to make it, not the home of the body only, but of the soul. I do not wonder that when God looked upon the earth He pro- nounced it good. How can our heavenly home in the great beyond be any more beautiful? But, we have the assurance that "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man " to conceive of the glories there. Dr. Hall — I desire to compliment the essayist for the pretty things she has said about the lawn. A well cared for, closely mown lawn should be an adjunct to every rural home. Mr. Berry — I find calves the best lawn mowers. My wife some- times objects to living in a pasture, but a few sleek calves do not de- tract from the appearance of the grounds in the least. Mr. Dunlap — A lawn is a nice thing on paper, but they are not often well kept by farmers. I keep sheep on mine, but not to the exclusion of flowers, as in the centre I have a flower garden enclosed with a woven wire fence, SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 277 Mr. Brown — A well-kept lawn means work. Mine is too large. Farmers should avoid the mistake of making thera so large that they cannot be kept iji proper condition. Mr. Dennis — These discussions are interesting, but for lack of time they must be cut short. I therefore move that the discussion of each paper be limited to ten minutes and each speaker to three minutes. Carried. The nominating committee now reported, recommending the fol- lowing names for the several offices: President — Prof. T.J. Burrill, Champaign. First Vice-President — C. N. Dennis, Hamilton. Second Vice-President — J. W. C. Gray, Atwood. Third Vice-President — Joseph Heinl, .Jacksonville. Secretary — A. C. Hammond, Warsaw. Assistant Secretary — Miss Bessie M. Nash, Warsaw. Treasurer — C. C. Hoppe, Warsaw. Mr. Dunlap — I move that the report of the committee be adopted, and the parties named be considered the ofKcers of the Society. Carried. l)RAINA(i£, ECONOMIC AND SANITARY. BY nil. (4ITHENS. Long before the invention of printing, careful observers wrote and promulgated their views on the subject of drainage for the ben- efit of crops. But little is said on the subject as a sanitary measure. One writer cluims that Noah, as an agriculturist, took a lively in- terest in the drainage question. A writer in 1650 gets down to business by declaring the great utility of special drainage, and says, for "thy drayning trench it must be made so deepe that it goe to the bottom of the cold spewing moist watter, that feeds the flagg and the rush. For the widejiesse of it use thine own lilierty. But supi)0se this corruption that feeds and nourisheth the rush and flagg should lie at a yarde or four feet deepe, then to the bottom of it thou must goe, if ever thou wilt drayn it to a purpose, for though the wattor fatten naturally yet still the coldnesse and moysture lies gnawing within, and not being taken clean away it cats out what the watter fattens. And so the goodnesse of the water is, as it were. 278 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL riddled, screened and strained out into the land, leaving the rich- nesse and leanuesse sliding away from it." I think there can be no question that the elements of nutrition are carried to the growing plant through the medium of water, and from the soil in which the particular plant is growing; and when the essential element of plant food is exhausted it dies. Of course this principle is not applied to those plants that perfect their existence in a single season. A plant may be grown containing an active poison alongside another wholly innocuous — one a deadly drug, the other a wholesome food, each after its kind, and all from the same soil and water, and from which before the growth the most cunning chemist has not been able to obtain the slightest trace of many of the constituents found in the plant. For instance: The willow contains carbon, potash, salicin, tannin, resin, gum, wax, lignin, etc.; tobacco contains nicotine; the poppy, opium; the peach, hydrocyanic or Prussic acid, each growth some special product, yet we do not go to the soil from which they grew to obtain them in greater abundance, or even to find a trace. Why this is so no one knows. Plant product is as mysterious as life itself. And while all know that no useful plant can exist without water, experience teaches that each to attain its best must have only as much as it needs, and where it needs it or where it can utilize it — at the terminus of the root fibers, wherever they may reach. To many plants heat without water is much quicker death. So the problem with the grain or fruit grower is, how to secui'e the re- c[uired condition. Experience is a better teacher than theory. Ob- servation of the formations of the most productive soils is the best of all. We call certain lands rich, because crops grow more rapidly than on others. We observe that the most productive soils are the most porous — provided there is moisture below — the success of the plant depends on its ability to keep its root fibrils, or feeders, at the right point to obtain supplies of water and food, neither too wet nor too dry. Soils not being of so much importance as conditions, the gardener propagates the most delicate cuttings in pure sand. But experience teaches him to preserve carefully the required conditions of warmth and moisture. Too much of either is failure, too little fatal. So the large cultivator must consider from the nature of his soil, whether it requires draining or not, and if so, in what manner, whether surface or underdrain. If beneath the surface, at what depth, always remembering that the crop cannot live without mois- ture at the ends of the rootlets, and to see that too much is not taken away. Any open, porous soil that will not hold an excess of water within too feet of the surface is sufficiently underdrained for all growing crops. It might be better to have the water a little farther away for some kinds of fruit trees. Some of these soils might be benefited by surface drainage, if water stood later that the planting season. Fertile soils are simply light, porous or friable, holding SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 279 water like a spono^e, always moist, yet never wet. In these soils plant food is held in solution ready for use. In the heavy clay or alum soils water is held in such (piantities that it drowns rather than nourishes. For surface-jjjrowiug" crops, surface drainage would proljably be sutticient. For the grasses, especially clover or grains, wheat, rye and oats, surface drainage with deep subsoiling would be sutficieut to prevent suliseqnent ]iacking of the heavy subsoils, so as to render them impervious to water. I'ulveri/ed lime-rock, sand, ashes, gypsum or plaster, would be very valuable. Subsoiling to great de[)ths will probably or eventually be the method adopted for drainage, because it does not carry the water entirely away, nor al- low it to be removed far enough to interfere with perfect plant growth. When needed by extreme drouth it may be drawn by cajiillary attraction back where it is needed and can be used. The tilth and venom sjjoken of by the old writer as being contained in water is all in the imagination. It is simply the plant's food, only it must be placed where the plant can use it, that is, combined with tlie jtroper degree of warmth and moisture, always bearing in mind that much nu)isture requires much warmth, and that when we have excessive warmth we require much moisture. In the tropics rain must fall almost daily, or the rapid evapora- tion would soon l)e death to vegetation. ]\Iillions of acres of semi- tro])ic California and Arizona, now called desert, would be a paradise with the requisite rainfall. The drainage question is, no doubt, en- titled to much consideration, both as an economic and sanitary measure, but like many other topics, may become a hobby — run into the ground— or at least overdone. A\'hile one system would do here, it would be folly to apply it in another locality. Alluvial swamp lands mav only require surface drainage, while lands with a sandy or gravelly suljsoil, even where entirely level, would require no drain- age at all. Those with impermeable hard pan would not be bejie- tited by underdraining, because the water could not be drawn off that way. Such lands would surely be injured by surface drainage by allowing the soil to Ijecome baked and impenetrable. So it seems that the remedy is to break it and keej) it porous by vegetable loam, or substances without cohesive properties. T do not remember to have seen gravel south of the Cumber- land Mountains; these, of course, are naturally well drained, even where the surface is not rolling. In Louisiana and other Gulf States, wherever drainage is at all practicable, it would be at the surface. Coming nearer home, taking the Northern Middle Statos. more especially Illinois and Missouri, we find an impermealde hard })an or subsoil a few inches below the surface that holds water like cement, when the hog wallow will hold water all summer. It would hardly seem reasonable that a tile drain below the frost line at intervals of 100 feet or 100 yards would be of much practicable use exce|it to draw off the surface or all above the hard pan, leaving the surface 280 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL diy, while the hard soil below is left that much more impenetrable to root fibres. The question then is, with such soils, would it not be better to break them up by deep subsoiling, and allow the water to filter away out of harm, and where it might be used again, in- stead of conducting it aAvay beyond all possible reach? Many a populous graveyard is located near lands that might be made healthy by judicious treatment. We might learn one lesson from our owai healthy locality, by remembering its condition thirty years ago. We had vast tracts of rank vegetation, both on prairie and river bottom, subject to overflow and retention of excessive moisture, and consequently rapid decay, when exposed to the hot sun of midsummer and early autumn. This, with the decay caused by breaking large tracts tor the purpose of cultivation, seems to have been the chief cause of much of what was popularly known as western fevers — present everywhere. Very few escaped, being affected in some manner. Those who got through with their lives were shattered in constitution for many years. Now all is changed; no malaria, no death from that mysterious foe, no man has seen it, measured or weighed it; doesn't even know what it is. So it is called malaria. The word is much used and much abused. When we encounter some subtile influence at work upon the hu- man system, we Say malaria, because we don't know what else to say. Hundreds of the ills to which human flesh is heir may be attributed to mal-air. Contagion is but another name for bad air. Let us see how much may be applicable to our subject, drainage. Much rain is not unhealthy. Running or standing water is not unhealthy. Much growing vegetation is not unhealthy. It is gen- erally supposed that the green scum on standing water is pestilence itself. That is a mistake. It is simply varieties of the myriad forms of vegetable life, which, while growing, have made it possible for human life to exist on the globe. Geologists tell us that during the carboniferous period vegetation was so rank, growth and decay in the warm, humid atmosphere went on so rapidly, that no air-breathing animals could live; great geologic changes occurred. Drainage on a vast scale followed; vegetation changed with the seasons; the earth passed through an ice period; miasmatic influences were frozen and destroyed; air-breathing animals made their appearance, and so through the vast ages the earth has been becoming better fitted for the support of human life. Growing vegetation absorbs noxious gases; freezing destroys the germs of disease; vegetation, as long as it is growing, absorbs the noxious gases that emanate from low, moist grounds, where decay is constantly going on, and ren- ders them innocuous. Drain off the water or dry up such lands suddenly, so that vegetation dies rapidly, and pestilence stalks at noonday as well as night. The remedy, then, is to surface drain such lands as much as possible, then pasture them that they may be kept green until frost or freezing comes. Then all lands would SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 281 be habitable. The swamps aucl lagoous of Louisiana are as healthy as the uncultivated prairies of Illinois. The natural decay of the seasons renders the one portion almost uninhalutable, while in the other locality the almost constant growth of vegetation ren- ders it salubrious. Growing trees about ponds and water holes of farms would be entire protection against any evil that might result without these. Also, about barnyards, they would be a help to ab- sorb tiie exhalations from the various decaying vegetable substances. A certain school of medicine claims that the more a substance is diluted the more potent it becomes. We know that the more these noxious gases, or whatever they are, are diluted with pure, fresh air or oxygen, the less potent or poison they become. The ablest scientist has not been able to show us what this deadly agent is. The most ignorant observer can tell where it is. Decay- ing vegetation is life to the soil, but death to the owner, always supposing the decay to be caused by warmth and moisture. Cold is the most certain antidote, dryness next. As we can not always have either or both, and we wish to occupy such locations and live in health, self-preservation must seek a remedy, for ill-health is sure to follow. Moist, loamy soils are most productive of vegetable life, either natural or cultivated, which, as long as they grow rapidly, are conducive to health by absorbing the miasma that is known to cause the disease. If by some process this growth could be pre- served from decay, low grounds and marshes might be safely habit- able. There are three remedies, close pasturage, or burning, or thor- ough tiooding. As the last remedy is not always applicable, owing to variable rainfall and drouth, if the flooding can not be kept nearly uniform, it would be safer to conduct the excess away by drainage in any manner that would be most {)racticable. If that could be accomplished so that pasturage would be practicable a good sanitary condition would exist. The proper drainage and purity of the home surroundings are entitled to much consideration. Buildings that have water supply in different parts require the most scruj)ulous care to see that no leaks occur. Dampness causes decay, and in that decay lurks many a disease. Badly drained cellars with decaying vegetation are very prolific sources of disease. Cess-pools are equally so, more particu- larly when drainage may be conveyed to wells. However, germs of disease taken into the stomach through the medium of food and water are not nearly so dangerous as when breathed info the lungs, and thus carried more directly to the blood. Bad smelling odors are not necessarily sources of infection, though popularly considered so. A community will go into hysterics at the proximity of a dead ani- mal, and yet live for months over musty cellars, and near the filth of barnyards, alleys aiul cess-pools, aside from the intolerable nuis- ance, the stench of slaughter pens, pork houses, glue factories, and 282 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL all places where animal product is used. The dano^er is nothing compared to the decay of vegetable matter around the home, on the farm or in the wilderness. I would recommend that we do not destroy all vegetation, for fear that if we make too great an effort to save our lives we will lose them. The vast countries of the old world, now uninhabitable - — Arabia, much of Asia, and largR tracts of all the older settled coun- tries— are now desolate in consequence of the destruction of plant growth. Denuded of forests and minor vegetation the rainfall ceased and the land was desolate. No water no life, vegetable or animal. Too much, when it is not needed, means decay to those forms of vege- tation most useful to human life. Too much decay means pestilence to air-breathers. The province of intelligence is to discover and pre- serve the safest medium between the two conditions. Support and encourage plant growth, guard carefully against surface decay, and thus protect animal, and especially human, life. A resume of all these words amounts simply to this, in my opinion: surface drainage, clean lands, by pasturage or burning, for health; surface drainage, deep culture or downward draining, for wealth. Mr. Dunlap — Did the essayist mean to convey the impression that tile draining will remove from the soil some of its organic ele- ments. My impression has always been that the excess of water passed off without any detriment to the soil. Does any one know, by actual experiment, that such is not the case? Dr. Lyon — I have never yet heard that drainage was injurious to any soil. All the water that falls should percolate through the soil and pass off below. The more you drain the more your land will retain moisture. This is not theory but facts. AN APPLE— WHAT IS IT? BY T. J. BURRILL. It has been shown very conclusively that the parts of a flower are transformed leaves. Under some circumstances their true nature is unmistakably exhibited. The petals of roses, for instance, are occa- sionally perfectly green, and the shape and veination are exactly those of the ordinary leaves. By a careful study of the various or- gans of plants, it has been ascertained that everything in its origin may be referred to either a root, a stem, a leaf or a hair. This gives no place for the fruit. All fruits are developed out of something else. The highly prized pulp of the strawberry is only the end of the stem, specially modified, swollen, sweetened and flavored, bearing the real fruits on its surface. These latter we call seeds, but the fact SOCIETY OF CENTKAL ILLINOIS. 283 is each one of them is an ovary containing one seed. Tliis ovary is a moditication of a leaf and the seed is a bud. Buds again consist of the end of tlie stem and of rudinieiitary k'aves. Starting with the idea tliat the ai>i)le must be a modification of some of above named fundamental parts of plants, let ns endeavor to find out what. The stem of the fruit is woody, with a tliin layer of bark on the outsiile. The depression at the a])i{-al ])art of tiie ap))le con- tains what is often called the ''eye.'" It has Hve pointed, green ap- pendages, which anyone may recognize as the tips of leaves. Let us now cut the apple in two at its e(inat()r, so as to leave one half with the stem at its center and the other half similarly bearing the eye. We first see five cavities arranged symmetrically, their pointed in- ternal extremities approaching near to a common center. The lin- ing of these cavities is cartilaginous, much different from the ]>ulj)y texture of the fruit. Looking a little closer, ten green points can be made out, arranged in a circle something like midway between the outer ends of the five cavities and the surface of the apple. Five of the green points are opposite the cavities and five alternate with them. If we slice off the apple parallel to the first eut, we find the green points are still seen, showing that they are really green lines running from stem to eye. By careful following, it may be made out that five of them run to the leaf points-of the eye. Each evi- dently represeiits the midveiu of the leaf. These are the alternat- ing ones with the core cavities. It seems pretty certain therefore that the apple fruit has in its make-up at least five leaves, very much thickened and joined together into one mass, e.Kcept at their tips. These leaves form the outside portion of the ap})le, their lower sur- faces being outward and the lower epidermis changing into the skin of the fruit. On further study it is not difficult to satisfy one's self that the five core cavities are formed in each by the folding of a leaf along the midrib, the two edges meeting at the center of the fruit. The green spot is the midril) of this leaf, the cartilaginous lining of the cavity is the modified upper epidermis. The exterior portions of these thickened leaves are fused together among themselves, and also wdth the first five leaves we have described. We find, then, that an ap])le consists of ten leaves much modi- fied and intimately joined into one mass. The stem is the end of a branch, bearing this whorl of leaves. This does not, however, tell the whole story. If we examine the cross section of our aj)ple more attentively we see other green points, less distinet than the ten descriljed. In the blossouj the petals stand on the inside, upper portion of the outside circle of five leaves. These latter are the calyx of the flower. In the process of modification the petals — originally leaves and distinct from tiu' calyx leaves — have been joined wifii the latter to near their top. The only remains of the lower united portion of the petal leaves are the 284 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUKAL minute green lines to which attention has last been called. Really, then, an apple consists of more than ten leaves, but the ten form by far the greater portion of the fruit. When we eat an apple we eat a cluster of leaves wondrously modified for the very purpose of being consumed by some animal whose tastes prompt the act. The fine flavor is a stimulus in this direction. The hard parts surrounding this seed are for the protec- tion of the latter, while mastication proceeds. Is it hard to see how a plant gains by having its seeds swal- lowed by an animal. If uncrushed they pass the gauntlet of the digestive apparatus unhurt and well fitted for germination. Wide dissemination results — the very thing required for the abundant multiplication of the species. Apples were made to eat, the seeds to be thrown away, and as far as practicable from their place of growth. How the change from a cluster of green leaves to the bright- colored, luscious, pulpy fruit came about is more difiicult to make out. Some believe that the Creator, while accepting the leaves as the ma- terial for the purpose, made at the beginning the fruit as we find it; others think the requirements of the plant are sufiicient, through " natural selection," to account for the change, if we allow time enough for the gradual but final accomplishment. Il^FLUEXCE OF SURROUNDINGS. « BY MRS. EMILY JOHNSOX, OF WARSAW. That our surroundings have a great deal, if not everything, to do with the formation of our characters and shaping our lives, is a fact that can not be disputed. It is an instinct in our nature to fol- low the track pointed out by a few leaders. We are gregarious ani- mals in a moral as well as a physical sense; and we are addicted to routine because it is easier to follow the opinions and example of others than to reason and judge for ourselves; therefore we should always try to let our powers of imitation center on the beautiful and good. Our Heavenly Father, in his goodness and wisdom, has sur- rounded us with all things beautiful; the hills and valleys, the seas and rivers; the sun, in his majestic splendor, and the moon's soft, lambient rays, have each their influence in directing our minds to the beauties of nature. With these objects before us, should not we always strive to make our surroundings agreeable and pleasant? In the home life, especially, these influences should be brought to bear. How important that the surroundings of home be attractive, not alone to the older members, but to the rising generation. The sons and daughters of America are, so far as character, habits and modes of thinking go, the outgrowth of the home. The man, whether young or old, who has won the reputation of coarse- SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 285 ness and rowdyism, liad he l)een l)lest in youth \\ irli a home of re- finement, with the associations and snrroundinosition is in reality a modest one — that of true education for the masses. We preach simply the gospel of intelligence, of virtue, of philanthropy in its highest, broadest sense. Every num needs a brother; every community its neighbors. Commonwealth — citizens, 'riic world -men. Christian civilization — a constantly increasing number of those whose brighter })ercei)tion, broader charity, intelligent reverence and better life in its every phase shall augment the sum of human good; decrease the sum of luuuan ill. In so far as this may be accomplished by a method of broad and lii)eral education, whose foundation is stone, whose ins])iration and ultimate eml shall be the highest virtue, the truest manliness, that method demands of you your good will and ''God speed." Prof. Burrill — 1 wish to emphasize the remark that the stu- dents that come to the University late in life are the hardest workers we have. They seem to feel that they have lost the earlier years of tiieir life, and make a special effort to make the most of what is left. Mrs. Shelton — I think, as a rule, country boys have a greater desire to secure an education than town or city boys, and make bet- ter use of their opportunities. This is, perhaps, on the principle that those things which cost but little are lightly appreciated. The city boy often has an education forced upon him, while the country boy can only secure it by labor and self-denial. Mr. Leeper — T feel that I am paid for attending this meeting by this one paper. It is just what our farmers should hear, and I regret that there are not more of them present to hear it. It shows that its author has given the subject much thought. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. The following papers were read by the writers, but for want of ^ time were not discussed: FLORAL (} LEANINGS. HY MRS. DR. RORRINS, CARTHAGE. Oh, the Howers look up every place through this beautiful world of ours. Knowing the mission of the llowers, let us open the portals of our hearts and liomes to those messengers of love; 296 TKANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL lovely liiirbingers of hope; silent mementoes of an Eden lost and a Paradise to be regained. Beautiful flowers! They wreathe the cra- dle, the marriage altar and the tomb. From the far-away shores of the ice-bound North, whei-e the rose carnation creeps, shivering, from its crystal couch of snow, to the spicy isles of the ocean, to Araby's "land of the blest,'" the air is filled with the redolent perfume, and our eye is gladdened with the entrancing beauty of flowers. They peer at us from the wayside, from the moss-grown lane and the shadowy forest; in the dwellings of the rich and the lowly cottages of the poor are found " nature's mute ministers,'" giving peace and resignation to the suffering and a balm to the broken hearted. Our rarest flowers bloom with the greatest perfusion in other lands. We open our hearts in sympathy for the lonely, home-sick Swedish boy as we hear him rehearse his entrancing story of the lovely forget-me-not. In ancient Egypt the favorite flower was the lotus or rose of the Nile, the nyphia lotus of modern botany. Tt has a large, fragrant, white blossom. So highly was it esteemed that distinguished guests, upon their arrival in a city, were presented with a coronet of these exquisite flowers as a conspicuous mark of honor. Woven into chaplets, it played an important part in religious ceremonies. The Persian writes his love in perfumed nosegays, and the Indian child of the far West gathers with glee the luxuriant blossoms that deck the boundless prairie. The charming Isle of Cyprus, famed alike in prose and poem, is brilliant with dazzling hyacinths; the air is heavy with their misty perfume, while every fountain and stream reflects again the image of the lovely narcissus. From the time human thought first found expression in language the lily has in all probability been used as the emblem of of purity. Tt is represented among subjects of art, and the people have not ex- isted that did not admire its beauty. The name we give it means graceful, and it has ever been esteemed for its loveliness and grace. Even the Great Teacher, in one of those exquisite sermons that have never been equaled, extolled its glory above that of Solomon. The calla abounds in countless numbers at the Cape of Good Hope, while the delicate smilax weaves its evergreen traceries amid the foliage and drooping bells of the f uschia. The latter beautiful plant, named in honor of the German florist, De Lenard Fuchs, was introduced into England by a sea captain, bringing it as a present for his wife, An eminent florist (Mr. Lee, I believe his name was) purchased it of the lady for the sum of eight guineas and the promise of a cutting. He made cuttings at once in hot-beds, and the next season sold 300 plants, keeping his promise to the lady, also, by taking her one of the blooming plants. The rose has been known, admired and cultivated from time immemorial. "Fondest child of dimpled spring," it is the queen of every grove. The name is of Celtic origin, and signifies Anacreon. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 297 Who has not heard of the Vale of Cashmere, " with its roses," the brient of seeds, and, in a short time, reap a harvest of bloom; but not without lal)or and watchfulness. He who cultivates the soil must maintain against the weeds a con- stant warfare. I sometimes think that the iveeds are immortal, but the flowers are not. Then the garden and lawn can be made to resemble a jeweled parterre, rich with flowers and leaves of unnumbered dyes, so exquis- itively mingled, so perfectly arranged that the eye never could tire of gazing upon their glorious hues. Yet we never have the same loic for such a garden as when we have sown the seeds and grown the slips ourselves, the latter are to us as our own children, while the former have the love of an adopted child. A growing and commendable feature of ornamentation is the constantly increasing introduction of wild gardens on private grounds, It is always praiseworthy to make the most of the plants of one's own country, and especially those of his state or neighborhood. To a farmer the value of a wild garden lies chiefly in the ease with which it is cared for, and in the adajjtability to that purpose of any waste or wet piece of ground. A wild garden is necessarily a rustic affair where vacancies and irregularities do not mar its general effect. It needs little care other than to keep down the more troublesome weeds, and to prevent the stronger plants from crowding out the weaker ones. The familiarity with living objects is a great educator. If prop- erly pursued one gains a power of discrimination and observation from a study of plants, or birds, or insects, which he can get in no other avocation. The selection of wild flowers for a garden is one of the very best means for inducing this desirable liking for nature. Were this the sole oljject, a wild garden might be nuule a source of great profit to children and to home. Here we would find a home for those tender nurslings of flora, the early spring flowers; here, also, should delicate ferns wave like graceful plumes; here would be a suital)le i)lace for those early favorites, the violets, wee modest flower, who does not love it? We have seen little children rejoicing in their lovliness, and old persons, ])ey()nd the allotted three score and ten, with eyes radi- ant in tearful joy from ijeholdiug them once more. A mass of them is beautiful, so is a little clump, and so is a solitary member of this family found in some unexpected spot. And from the wild garden let us go a step farther, and enter the forest. Man is anew enchanted by the forest to-da}'. Nothing troubles the peace and silence of her woods, neither somber visions TOO TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL or savage denizens. We find the oak, maple and elm living in peace- ful brotherhood. At their base we find mosses and delicate flowers, the most gorgeous of which is the well-known cardinal flower. This, I think, does not grow further west than Illinois. Who of us have not seen it, now peeping from the shaded ravine, now nodding from the wayside brook, now gleaming from the meadow, its brilliant scar- let in contrast with the deep green of the shady haunts it loves, it is an object of superb beauty and interest. What gorgeous bouquets of it we have gathered in the woods of our bottom lands ! Another favorite wild-flower is the fringed gentian, which comes late. Some poet ( Bryant, it must have been, for his whole soul was wrapt up in the beauties of nature) wrote these lines to the gentian : " Thou waitest late, and com'st alone, When woods are bare and birds are flown; Then doth thy sweet and quiet eye Look through its fringes to the sky." The cycle of the years opens and closes wilh a slow, harmonious progress, which is quite a poem; and we do not escape from these harmonies. Were our forests always the same, always green and blossomy, we should beg them to have pity on us. If their rythm continuously stretched out its long periods of youth and decay, we should see in them much too plainly the image of our own destiny. But this charming renewal every spring deceives us to ourselves. We think ourselves every year as young as the oak which is in leaf, and set out again with it. From frequent descriptions we are almost as familiar with the tropical forest as with our own. In the splendid forests of Brazil the tree seldom lives beyond forty or fifty years. Its children spring from its roots and seeds, press closely around, choke and kill it. There the orchids suspend their fantastic flowers, and the ferns softly undulate their fronds. In our own forests the oak is the king; ever from the very first its life may teach us lessons of gravity and con- stancy. From its birth it sets before it this end. It knows that everything depends upon the beginnings. How straight it plants its root, like a stake in the heart of the earth. Slow is the oak, just as it is strong. In our temperate climes the dream of the tree is to become a strong oak or a spreading elm, and to endure. The reign of the forest will soon terminate. The arm of man has been pitiless. In the place of the forest he has created the des- ert. The tree having fallen, the spring has dried up, and with it earth's fertility. The elms, maples, pines and venerable oaks shudder with fear. Then let us, while the forest still remains, go to her and enjoy her beauties and grandeurs with a keen pleasure. Thoreau, the eminent American naturalist, informs us that the wild apple grows at first in the form of a little cluster of twigs, which the ox browses upon and leaves almost level with the ground; SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 301 but, not despairing, next year the twigs sprout up again twice as nnmerons as the year before; so year after year are devoured, and as often grow out again, multiplying botli in nauil)er and in strength, till they form a little pyramidal mass almost as solid and impenetrable as a rock. At length, after some twenty years of this persistent growth, in sjiite of constant repression, the thickest becomes so broad ami strong as to form its own fence, so that the cattle can not reach its center at all. Then some interior shoot, safe from its foes, darts upward with joy, for it has not forgotten its high calling; the other twigs give to it all their repressed energy, and, in giving it, disappear, leaving the central twig to become a mighty tree, crowned with its dark-green foliage, and bearing fruit in triumph. What a sermon of ])atient aspiration does the wild apple tree ])reach. As it has learned to struggle with its bovine foes, still mounting upward all the while, as though determined to reach a higher atmosphere, clinging to its long-cherished vision of the time yet coming when it should hold its leafy cups to the vapors of the sky. So let human nature struggle aiul aspire in spite of evil powers that browse upon the springing tendrils of desire; not only dreaming of the highest blessedness, but mounting upward, ever upward, to waving foliage and golden fruit. ORNAMENTATION OF COUNTRY SCHOOL HOUSE AND CHURCH GROUNDS AND ITS INFUENCE UPON THE YOUNG. BY W. H. LA MONTE. Next to the home there are, perhaps, no other two institutions which exert a more potent and lasting influence upon the young than the church and school. Each of these has its own peculiar and individual functions to perform, in rearing, christianizing and educating the rising generation. T^i)on the utility, perfection and efficacy of these institutions largely depend the destiny, future pros- j)erity and national influence of our State and country. The more general and symmetrical the education of any people, the better fitted thev are to properly govern themselves, successfully administer their own financial and other affairs, and take part in and exert their share of influence in all international questions affecting the welfare of the governments of the world. To produce a people having these (jualifications, the first step must be taken in the home. Here the child is nurtured, kept in healthful condition, and impressed with such ideas as its young mind can grasp, until it is old enough to enter the school; where, if the foundation of bodily health and nuuital vigor ha\*e been properly laid in the home, its possibilities for intellectual growth and develop- ment are almost limitless. Closely attached, and many times united with the school, is the church, whose province it is to shape and ex- 302 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORnCULTURAL pand the moral and spiritual faculties, as the school and home do the mental and physical. With the home, the school, and the church, then, largely rest the hope, honor and perpetuity of the nation. Human nature is so constituted that it is always impressed by the true, beautiful and good. People of all ages, nationalities, and beliefs, admire, and more or less are swayed and influenced in their habits and actions by these qualities. The principal office of the beautiful is to please, and by thus pleasing, attract influence and soften. Its influence upon all people is the same in general. The only difference being the means employed necessary to affect, or pro- duce its influence upon the young or old, cultured or uncultured, civilized or savage, as the case may be. The people of the country need the very best talent to preside in their churches and school houses that their means and circumstances will permit them to secure; and that while the proper and reasonable ornamentation of their church and school buildings and grounds will at least be no hindrance to securing first class preachers and teachers, but rather to aid in this regard, its tendency will be to re- fine, elevate and cement together the interests of the membership of the church and the pupils and patrons of the school; and the reflex influence on the community at large will be for the good thrift and enterprise of its people. Don't understand me to say or mean that any and every community that has a beautiful church building and grounds wnll always, as a result, have an able pastor and a thoroughly religious, harmonious and brotherly-love-like congregation; or that every district that has a fine school house, with handsome fence and neat yard about it, will ever be supplied with a teacher competent and willing to always perform any and all the duties and things necessary to constantly advance all his pupils; to always have per- fect order and tranquility in the school room; to please and satisfy every patron of the school, and to preserve a thorough peace and amiability of feeling throughout the neighborhood. Oh, no; we are to require no impossibilities of human effort. But I do mean to say that the district that has a neat, commodious well-ventilated and w^ell-warmed school house, with its surroundings judiciously planted to shade trees, and its yard handsomely laid off and tastefully planted to shrubs and flowers will be more apt, in the first place, to secure the right kind of a teacher than the district that has its little, dingy, unpainted, unkept school house, located on the muddy corner of some flat prairie farm, with not a tree or shrub within five miles of it, save perhaps a swamp willow or two growing in the edge of the frog pond adjacent. Of late years school money has been expended in many ways which, if done in the olden times, would have been thought wanton extravagance and needless waste. Among other things for which these funds have been so expended, I note school charts of various SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 303 kinds, including; oreoorraphical, historical and orranimatical: orj-ade schedules and cards; "globes, cubes and other aj)j)liances for mathe- matical demonstration, liesides these, in many of our schools are found quite complete apparatus for the illustration of natural phil- osophy, phvsiolof^y :^nd botany; and last, but not least, the (grounds about the school houses have been neatly laid out and j)lanted with trees, shrubs and flowers. This state of things occurs more frequently in our city than in our country schools. What, in the days of our forefathers, would have been declared an unwarranted and needless expenditure of the school fund, we of to-day consider not only fully warranted and needed by the exiofencies of the present, but absolutely required for the hiojhest and most perfect development of the young. In the lonij a<;o. when most of the country school houses were made of loojs. with only two or three small windows and ))uncheon floors and slab desks; when the appearance, both inside and out, was somber and ])rison-like, when the principal school furniture were the dunce l)lock, fool's cap and ferule, and the teacher was |)aid from i?8 to ^13 per month, and compelled to board 'round in order to eke out an ex- istence, these seemed sufficient and about all that was required to meet the demands of the times. In comparinj^ the schools of the present with those of the jiast. we cannot avoid the conclusion that <^reat advancement ha'^ been nuide. While from the old system of schools and teaching a number of pupils were annually sent out, qualified and equipped to take their proper ])lace in their individual communities and wield good and lasting influence in the affairs of the state and nation, the number was small and their knowledge and influence weak and circumscribed compared with the number and general character of the pupils annually sent out from our schools of the present. These and other facts lead us to believe that our school system of the present is in advance of that of the past. The tendency to decorate and beautify school property first received its greatest impetus in the larger cities, very little attention being paid in this regard to country school property, and even now the excess of ornamentation is always found in the city rather than the country. This should not be. ^Vhat has been found desirable for the cities in this respect cannot and should not be found undesirable for the country. If the proper furnishing and ornamentation of city school houses and grounds has been found to aid in giving a more thorough, gen- eral and symmetrical develojiment to the j>u]iils. there is no reason why the c(juntry schools should not procure the same aids and reaj) the same benefits so far as their means and circumstances will per- mit. I will venture the assertion that where two average adjacent country school districts enter into comjietition as to the grade of their schools, the interest, develo[)ment, attendance and scholarship of their pupils, the one paying proper attention and regard to the beautifying of its house and grounds, and the other disregarding this 304 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL entirely; that, other things being equal, the former will distance the latter every time. Not that a beautiful house, or highly but taste- fully ornamented grounds, will transform a dunce into a genius, or render an obstruse problem plain and easily solvable; but it will ren- der the place pleasant and agreeable for the pupils, and have a ten- dency to produce good nature, a feeling of satisfaction, pleasure, and a desire to attend on the part of the scholars. This state of mind being prevalent among the scholars of any school, its success is al- ways greater than the one where the opposite is found. As a rule, a community may be very correctly judged as to the character of its in- habitants, its thrift and general prosperity, by the repair and im- provement of its private property and public grounds and buildings. One passing through a region where the houses generally are small, in- convenient, unpainted, and of the cheapest kind which will answer the purpose; where the barn consists of forked sticks set in the ground, poles laid in the forks, brush on the poles, and straw on the brush for a roof; the sides of brush, poles, straw or weeds; the corn cribs of rail pens covered with straw or weeds; the yard about the house the place where the hogs are fed and the cows milked; the fences about the house and fields barely sufficient to keep the hungry ill-fed stock from breaking through them ; and in passing on, sees a 12x14 school-house set up on stilts, unpainted and unfenced, with a number one hog wallow in what would naturally be its front yard, and the dirty, half-clad, lawless, ill-mannered urchins, that hoot at him as he passes, he naturally concludes, and without any long or intricate train of reasoning, that the people of this community are a little behind the times; that there seems to be a lack of thrift, in- telligence, comfort and refinement. It does not come to his mind at once that this community is likely to furnish the country with em- inent statesmen, jurists and divines; or add great wealth, credit and enterprise to the State. It is not from such a community as this that the traveler would naturally expect many labor-saving inven- tions, great advancement in literature, science and art, or anything, in fact, for the upbuilding and improvment of mankind. I think there is no better criterion by which to judge of the gen- eral character, thrift and refinement of a community than by the care taken of its public buildings, their number, convenience and neatness of design, together with their adaptation to the uses for which they are made, and the repair and beautifying of their yards and surroundings. I think no better use could be made of the pub- lic school fund than to use a proper portion of it in judiciously orna- menting the buildings, yards and surroundings of our country school houses. It will have a tendency to render our schools pleasant, at- tractive and homelike for both teachers and pupils; be a credit and continuing sign of thrift to the community, and an evidence to trav- elers and strangers that the people possess some degree of enterprise and refinement. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 305 "ALJ. WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY." BY A. L. HAY. In rej^ard to mankind it may be truly said that "there is noth- ing in a name." For instance, a man's name might be Johnson, and it might even bear the prefix Andrew, and yet tlie application of the name might not enable its possessor to rise from the position of a country tailor, through the successive stages of life, to the Presi- dency of the United States. In fact he might more easily fall from an exalted position in the world to that of the lowest, and in much less time then it required to make the ascent. I recently noticed an account of the arrest and confinement of George Washington for drunkenness and false swearing. Evidently this man did not desire to immortalize himself in the role of a wood chopper, as did his illustrious predecessor, and he did not struggle against the downward tendency of a man as one might suppose his historic name would have impelled him to do. I was once personally acquainted with a man by the name of Moody who never missed an opportunity for filling hituself as full of bad whisky as his skin would hold. Many other instances of a similar character might be cited, but these will suffice to {)rove the truth of the old saying quoted above. But however true this may be in regard to mankind it is certainly not true when applied to books, papers, periodicals or liter- ature of any kind. I believe it to be a fact that books are often sold by their titles, when, if the buyer only knew their contents, they would not have purchased. And, in saying this. T know whereof I affirm, for T have been there myself. I have even heard of authors paying fancy prices for an attractive title to a very unattractive book in order to pro- mote its sale and add to its number of readers. How very important it is then that anything written for the instruction or amusement of others should be prefixed by an attractive title. I once knew a pa- per, established by a Young Men's Christian Association, and in- tended for a good purpose, but, unfortunately, they gave it an un- popular name and it failed. Some over-enthusiastic member of the Association proposed calling it Work, which title was adopted, and it proved entirely too suggestive. The idea of having such an un- po])ular subject thrust upon one's iu)tice every week during the hot summer mojiths when hunting, fishing or absolute rest was upper- most in the minds of all, was entirely too disagreeable to meet with success, and it soon expired. With such incidents as these fresh in my mind, you may be sure I was considcral^ly shocked when 1 received notice froui your Secre- tary that this Society would be glad to listen to a paper from me at this time, upon a subject which started out with the declaration 20 306 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL that "All worlv and no play" — and had I not sufficiently recovered to read the remainder of the subject, which ended with " makes Jack a dull boy," you certainly would not have been bored with this at- tempt. Surely the subject of " Work and Play " is one which de- mands the careful attention of every head of a family and every em- ployer of labor in this fast, progressive age. People have become so overcharged with the idea that the value to be attached to a human being is to be computed from the amount of labor the individual can be made to perform without physical exhaustion or repairs; that mankind is placed simply upon the level of a machine; and just so rapidly as machine labor can be made to supplant hard labor, just so rapidly does the value of a human being decrease in the minds of many. This is not as it should be, and with joy will we hail the day when a change for the better takes place. Had it been the idea of your Secretary to confine this paper simply to the discussion of " Labor and Recreation," as it is connected with the youth of our land, then I might simply look back to the time when it was cus- tomary for the boy to turn the grindstone for five or six hours at a time, while some much more able person held the axe or scythe and went to sleep while resting his weight upon it; or when the boy was called up at four o'clock in the morning to build the fires and milk the cows, and feed the horses, and saw the wood before breakfast, and the remainder of the day to be spent in picking up the down row and helping to husk the other four rows, or carrying together the sheaves of wheat or oats as fast as a uiachine could cut them, while a man who got all the glory and nine-tenths of the pay set them up and fanned himself with his hat, and abused the boy for not walking faster, or for not carrying more than six or eight bun- dles at a time. All these things are fresh in my mind, and I sup- pose are also fresh in the minds of most of the members of this Society. How often do we hear the remark that Tom or John, or Henry or Joe, is no account. He can't stand the work that Dick or Harry can, or he is always fussing with some fool machine, or read- ing some book or writing poetr}^ or wants to go hunting or fishing, or run around with the girls; anything to get out of work. Those who look upon their children as mere labor-saving machines remind me of the man who, after burying his wife, declared that he " had rather lost the best cow he had on the place, and just as spring work was coming on and house-cleaning not done." If we look calmly and impassionately into this matter, we will find that at least nine- tenths of the boys who leave home (and usually against the wish of their parents) to seek their fortunes in our great cities, come from families where their value as members of the family is estimated wholly by the amount of labor they are able and willing to perform, and where no notice is ever paid to social and friendly family rela- tions, and where a respite from the continual grinding of unrelent- SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 307 ing toil is never known; wiiere no attention is paid to even our national holidays, and where picnics and pleasure excursions are never spoken of. That such a ceaseless effort to create wealth hy never ending labor should make the average intelligent and ambi- tious boy a dull, rusty, uncouth and uninteresting specimen of humanity, is not to be wondered at; and that their higher and more refined natures should be overcome and finally crushed beyond recovery, or revolt and break away from future restraint, is certainly not strange; and where a boy shows a disposition to throw off this tiresome yoke and rise to a position above that of a "hewer of wood and a drawer of water," a tew mottoes hung around the walls of his home, such as "Late to bed and early to rise," etc.; or, "He that would thrive must rise at five," would have a great influent'e in keeping his mind in the direction of solid labor. Huw great is the contrast and how much better the influence of a home where some attention is paid to the social interests of the younger members of the family — where a taste for music is culti- vated, and where innocent games and amusements are encouraged, and where an occasional day of recreation and rest is not consid- ered lost, but of actual advantage to all participating in it. I have in my mind at present a family consisting of the parents and nine children, where the importance of honest industry and economy was always inculcated by the parents, and yet where they believed in the importance of combining these virtues with every opportunity for well-earned rest and recreation. I believe that every one of the seven boys belonged to some musical organization, which required at least one evening of their time each week, and all the family were members of some literary or other society for the improvement of their minds. Living several miles from town, and having a rather more commodious house than most of their neighbors, much of their practicing was done at home, with the addition of a dozen or more of their neighbors sons and daughters, many of them whose parents did not see the importance of such nonsense, as they called it, and could not endure the racket of horns and drums and other devices for making a noise. Yet all these influences for interesting their children and cultivating their higher and better natures were aided and abetted by their parents; and among the noise and confusion, incident to such occasions, they took a lively and pleasant interest, and the result has been such as might well create a feeling of pride in the heart of any parent. When the time came for them to leave home and enter upon life's pursuits for themselves, they left with their parents blessing, and, with the exception of one who has passed to the other world, they are to-day filling honorable and useful positions in life, honored and respected ]>y all who know them. In contrast with this, 1 might mention other families where time spent for social and mental im- provement was considered wasted, and where all the rest or recrea* 308 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL tion the family knew was when they were asleep, and the lives of both parents and children appear to have been worse than wasted. I would in no sense be understood to infer that regular and ac- tive employment, for both body and mind, was not absolutely neces- sary to the proper development of both mental and physical strength, yet in no sense should children be treated as though they had no right to physical and mental rest and recreation, which parents are bound to respect. There is probably no more truthful saying than the old one so often quoted: " An idle brain is the devil's work- shop,'' and this is well illustrated in the lives of our early ancestors, Mr. and Mrs. Adam, for certainly had Eve been burdened with all the cares of a modern household, with sweeping, dusting and scrub- bing, cooking, washing and ironing, with making, and patching and mending for Adam, Able and Cain, to say nothing of the semi-annual house-cleaning, caring for the vegetable garden, sawing about half of the wood, and raising the ducks, turkeys and chickens, besides milking and churning and preparing five or six lunches each morning for the children's school dinner, with the ruffles and tucks, flounces and frills of her own wardrobe and those of her daughters, she certainly never would have found time for gossip with the old horned aristocrat of the lower regions, and life to us would not have been so much '' a fleeting show for man's illusion given." As in all other things in this world, our object should be to avoid the extremes. It is the extreme heat of summer and the extreme cold of winter which shatters our constitutions, ruins our orchards and destroys our prospect for future happiness. So it is the one who indulges in extreme idleness or extreme diligence and hard labor without careful, thoughtful and intelligent direction of his or her efforts, who makes a wreck of life and dissipates the happiness of all around them. And now I would like to say a word in favor of a united effort in behalf of intelligent recreation for the young. There are many ways in which the monotonous life of our country homes may be made more attractive, more profitable, and less destructive of family ties than at present. I recently heard a college student say that the literary societies connected with a college were of more actual benefit to the students than all the other advantages they enjoyed, and 1 thought that every young person in the land might certainly have the advantage of such an organization. A lyceum might be estab- lished and easily maintained in every school district, which would serve to develope the Websters and Clays that are lying dormant in the corn fields and berry patches of the great Northwest. 1 know of one country neighborhood where a Chautauqua Literary Circle has been kept up for a number of years, and which has been a source of pleasure and profit to every one connected with it. And the guid- ing star of this instrument for good has been a married lady with all the cares of a large farmers' household resting upon her. A musical SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 309 organization, to develope the musical talent of the young, ia another available source of pleasure and improvement, and one which every head of a family should encourage, not only with words, l)ut with the funds necessary for its uiaintenance. A Travelers' Club, which meets once a month, and at which per- sons previously appointed give brief descriptions of different couji- tries, their people, habits of dress, manners and customs, review the lives of their great men and women, point out their peculiar habits -of government, social, political and religious life, and compare them with those of our own country and our own times. It is not neces- sarv that we should have been a traveler in order to give an interest- ing account of such things; an encyclopedia, with a few hours' time, will give all the information needed, and with a little painstaking on the part of a few persons during each month of the year, an evening may be profitably si)ent by an entire neighborhood. It is the advan- tages offered by such organizations as these that make city life more desirable to many than life in the country; yet there is no reason whv any should be without social gatherings of this kind, and the old and the young may participate in them all with equal profit. While I have written this paper mostly with the young people in mind, I will add that I do not believe in the old theory of killing off the old horses first, and that when the frolicsome days of youth are passed there is nothing better than hard labor under the sun. There is nothing which speaks so highly for any country as a large pop- ulation of happy old fathers and mothers, or better yet, grandfathers and grandmothers. 1 recently saw a photograph of a grouj) of eight persons, embracing four generations of one family, and having had a personal acquaintance of several years with those representee!, I know that it represented many years of happiness and prosperity, and in order to prolong the lives of our elderly jjcople, the check rein should be loosened on the long end of the double-tree. While they have heretofore borne the heat and burden of the day, they should now have the harness removed early and give the saddle and collar marks a chance to heal. In other \rords, they should throw more responsibility upon the younger members of the family. The daughters should superintend the housework and the young men tilt' farm. It will not l)e long until they will be yokeing themselves up for life, and with a little experience at this tiuie of life, they will be all the better prepared to keep up their end of their new duties hereafter. One of the most un-American of our American customs is the one of ".Ml work and no play." As a nation we have very few holidays — Christmas, New Years and the Fourth of July — and there are a great many people who pay no attention to any of these. Our county fairs were at one time considered ])laces of recreation and rest for our hard-working agricultural people, but they have so universally degenerated into places of immoral and corrupt practices that they are shunned to an extent that is beginning to alarm their 310 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL managers, and it may now be a good time to urge them back to their original purity and design. Then our old people, and the mid- dle-aged, should spend more time in visiting their neighbors, those of their old-time friends, where they could swap lies with one another and feel themselves young again. One great source of pleasure to the old people of our portion of the state is the Old Settlers' reunion. These are enjoyed to a remarkable degree by them all, as they invariably turn out on these occasions, and their youth is "renewed like the eagle's." But time, the everlasting destroyer, tells me to close. METEOROLOGY AI^D VINE CULTURE. BY WM. m'mUKTKIE, PH. D., PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. The relations of climate or weather to the different branches of agriculture has always been considered to a greater or less extent of paramount importance, and scarce a crop is ever discussed without the influence of the weather upon the crop becoming one of the leading elements of the discussion. In the introduction of a new crop, or a new plant, is the climate suited to it, and what will be its effect upon the products obtained, is all the absorbing question. And for its determination nothing more than general observation is usually brought to bear. If the plant will develop and barely ma- ture its fruit the problem is often considered solved. A sufficiency of moisture and heat has been accepted as to the all-important de- sideratum, and even with regard to these elements the prevailing notions are extremely vague. So, then, in the practice of agricul- ture and the careful study of all the conditions which affect its suc- cess or failure, no relations are, perhaps, so much neglected as those which form the subject of this paper, and it is certain that there are none upon which the quantity and quality of farm crops more com- pletely depend, or which may modify to a greater extent the profit and loss in agricultural work. The study of the soil, and its culture and amelioration by fertilizers; the improvement of the seed to be sown by careful selection or hybridization; the physiology of the living plant, have all claimed their share of the attention of students and practical men. The influence of various elements and com- pounds entering into the composition of the soil or of fertilizers upon the development of plants, and the quantity and quality of their fruits, or upon the development of any desired constituent of the fruit, have repeatedly been the subject of exhaustive study, and we all know with what fortunate and valuable results. But the re- lation of specific meteoric agents, as they prevail in nature, to these special points appear to have been largely neglected. SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 311 Meteorology has been studied almost as long as the physical sci- ences have had a hold upon the attention of civilized man. l»ut until the past few years we have secured from the results of this study but little of practical value for application in farm work especially dependent upon vegetable physiology, or as a guide in the extension of special or new cultures. The observation made and the data re- corded were not even of a kind, or in quantity, to aid in the develop- ment of the relations we have in mind, but fortunately we have an admirable beginning in this direction in the work organized by the State Weather Service that should receive all the encouragement and aid that intelligent and earnest farmers and fruit-growers can give. The records now being made are of a character that may, we believe, be utilized, if farmers and fruit growers on their part will preserve for comparison careful record of the quantity and quality of each crop dejtendent especially uj)on the meteorological condi- tions that are made the object of special observation. What these are will appear later on. But the fact remains that in this country at least, the work done thus far has not been of a character to afford specific notions of the real relations upon which the well-being of the vine, its health and productiveness, and the best qualities of its fruit depend. All appear to consider that sections of warm seasons are most favor- able, and all place special stress upon the heat radiated from the sun and reflected from the earth as being particularly beneficial in its action and results. All seem to insist upon the relation of climate to what are known as good and bad wine years, but until within the past decade even the best authorities have been practically unable even to approach a satisfactory conclusion with regard to it, or offer any valid reasons for the variations in the quality of the fruit, and consequently the wine })roduced from year to year. By chemical analysis it was easily shown that the fruit of the good years con- tained more sugar and less of acid than that of poor years. By the study of the relations of the elements of plant nutrition to the vine, it was easy to determine l)y what syston of fertilizing it is possible to stimulate the production of the saccharine properties of the fruit, but even with the data thus furnished and the means thus at hand for combatting the unfortuiuite influences of the bad years they could nut be overcome. Meteorologists and vegetable physiologists alike have been at loss in this connection, and the little that we even now know has been the result of work of very recent years, and can do little more than stimulate endeavor in the further search. We have been told repeatedly of the relations of heat to the dif- ferent stages occurring in the development of the vine and its fruit, that the buds will ]»urst in the Spring only when an average daily temi)erature of 55° Fahrenheit prevails; that the number of days that will intervene between the opening of the buds and the appear- ance of the bloom will depend upon the average daily temperature 312 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL or the sums of the averagjes of daily observations; that the vegeta- tive activity of the vine increases with an increase or elevation of the temperature of the air surrounding it, up to a certain limit; that the ])lossoms will open only when the temperature has attained an average of 63° Fahrenheit; and that they will be fertile only if this temperature be maintained until the fruit has set; that the same re- lation holds for the interval between the opening of the bloom and the maturity of the fruit. If the temperature be high the develop- ment will proceed with greater rapidity and the fruit will ripen early, while with a lower range of temperature this period will be ex- tended. That the total sum of daily averages for the days interven- ing between the opening of the buds and the full development and njaturity of the fruit and its seed must reach about 7800° Fahren- heit, at least, and with monthly averages of at least 60° Fahrenheit. But even with all this, these authorities have been unable to satis- factorily account for the differences between the good aud bad years as dependent upon this influence. Levy made an extensive comparison of the records of tempera- ture observations and the conditions of the grape crop as regards the sugar and acid contained in the fruit, but he was unable to establish any fixed relation between them. General observation and experi- ence, however, teaches that those sections in which the temperature is modified and regulated by surroundings, there the vine generall}^ succeeds. We know that the celebrated vineyards of the Medoc are located upon a low ridge protected from chilling winds of autumn by the broad Gironde on one side and the Atlantic ocean on the other; and that the same influences protect them in spring by so cooling the air as to delay vegetation to such an extent as to place it beyond the reach of spring frosts. The southern sunny slopes of the Burgundy and Champaign districts, and of the Rhine, protect their vines from chilling influences, and their products please the world. The small lakes of Central New York, and the broad surface of Lake Erie, provide similar influences at a latitude where the ordinary climate almost wholly precludes the culture. Gasparin has shown that the ripening of grapes ceases when the average temperature falls below 54° F., and Davy shows that an average temperature of 58° F. in the Champaign district from 1877-79, inclusive, was accompanied by a bad result. So he considers the small crops of the same years to have been caused by a low temperature of 53° F. during the period of leafing out. In connection with the amount of heat required by the vine in development, Marie-Davy, in his Agricultural Meteorology, makes an interesting statement. He determines, in a general way, the number of hours intervening during the annual development, and taking the sum of thermometric degrees indicated for each hour, makes thus a record of " hourly temperatures." Taking his figures based upon the SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 313 oentegrade system, without redaction, we fiiul that at Montpelier, iu in France, which he considers the center of the region most favor- able to grape culture, this sum amounts to 55,900; at Palermo it is 55,000; in Algeria, 63,000. Another is about the extreme limit at which the vine will thrive. If we carry the comparison in the other direction, it appears that when the sum falls to 50,000 the vine should be protected, while below 45,000 ordinary protection is of no avail. The vegetable physiologists have told us that moisture must ac- company heat in the promotion of the vegetative activity of all plants; but meteorology has never shown any fixed relation between it and the good and bad years for grapes and wine. Levy's efforts to find such relation gave negative results. That the health of the vine will suffer if the supplies of moisture be excessive and more than is suited to its needs, is evident to every one who has had any experi- ence in its culture, and rainy days and moist atmosphere have always been a fruitful source of causes for debility of the vine and the many diseases which attack it, and thus often used as a cloak to cover the neglect and nial-nutrition to which it is too frequently subject. To attempt to give any exact figures for the quantity of moisture avail- able (luring the season to be most favorable to the vine, would be al- most an useless task, as useless, for the present at least, as it would be difficult. But, perhaps, the time will come when this may be worked out and when the results obtained may be applied with profit iu the location of this culture. Many of the most important data are still to be collected in this country, and it is greatly to be hoped that the combined attention of meteorologists and horticulturists mav be turned to the value of this orgeat l)ranch of their work. Scarcely an authority will speak of this branch of the subject with- out calling attention to the importance of fogs, dews and frosts in con- nection with vine culture, and it is only within later years that any special attention has been devoted to these conditions in the obser- servatious of meteorologists. But while the meteorologists on their side are establishing records of these conditions, the vine growers are scarcely doing full duty on their side. A careful record of the ap- pearance and disuiipcarance of mildew and blight to be compared af- ter a series of years with the records simultaneously made of condi- tions of rainfall, fogs, dews and frosts, will carry us far ahead in the progress toward the solution of the vexed (juestions surrounding these phenomena. Men of too high standing in the horticultural world ascribe to them the causes of the many Ijaneful diseases which affect the vine and its fruit, to make their opinions unworthy of con- sideration, and exact observations should undoubtedly be instituted to determine, either atfirnuitively or negatively, the accuracy of their views. Such observations, especially with reference to fogs and dews, have never been made in Europe, because necessity for them seems never to have occurred. With frosts, however, the case has 314 TKANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL been different, and the books are full of means by which their del- eterious influences may be avoided. But, as a general rule, the means are too costly or too inconvenient for wide ajjplication, even where the habits of the people and the cost of lalior in every way favor it. The same is true of the experience in this country so far as any has been had. We refer to the plan of Mr. William Saunders for preventing loss of radiation from the vine, and hence both dews and frosts, consisting of a simple covering with boards. This simple means would doubtless be considered too costly in extensive vine- yards. The fact is that with this, as with all other meteorological conditions that continually prevail and have an injurious influence,^ we have no satisfactory means for combatting them. They must be considered as necessary evils, and where they prevail the labor that would be bestowed upon the vine must be given up for that purpose^ and be directed into other and more profitable channels. To fix the standard for each culture and each section by the combined observa- tions of the meteorologist and horticulturist is an end devoutly to be wished. Vegetable physiologists have also told us that in common with vegetation, with proper conditions of temperature and moisture, and Avith suitable supplies of nutrition at the disposal of the vine, light is the all-important factor in the determination of those changes within its members which constitute its physiological functions. The actinic power of light, or its power to cause chemical changes, causes the absorption and assimilation of carbon from the air through the green matter or chlorophyll, and the consequent production of the carbhydrates — starch, sugar, etc. — upon which the value of the fruit depends. Within the leaves these compounds are formed through the intervention of chlorophyll under the influence of light — starch first, then its soluble modifications, which finally yield the sugars and acids, which maybe transported through the cell tissues to be used up in the development of other parts of the vine, in the development of the fruit, or to be stored up for the future demands of the vine and its fruit. Both vegetable physiology and chemistry teach that there is- a definite relation between the extent of the leaf surface and the quantity of sugar and other carbhydrates developed within the plant. Macagno has shown that extensive reduction of the leaf surface of the vine produces also a reduction of the sugar developed within the fruit. He also found that light is an important factor in the de- velopment of the more desirable qualities of the fruit. To determine this fact he set apart three sets of vines — one set he covered with a black cloth; another set he covered with a white cloth; the third was left in the normal condition. The light was not cut off entirely, but it was very much diminished, in the first case more than in the sec- ond. The temperature that prevailed were: Under black cloth, 93° F.; under white cloth, 81° F.; in open air, 70° F. The effects of this treatment were noticed very early it the season, and were very SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 315 marked. Before the end of July the fruit had fallen off, when the canes and leaves were collected and analyzed. A few of the figures of tlie result will sutiice: Under Under Uncovered. White Cloth. Black Cloih. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Glucose 1.2G 0.8G6 0.00 Tartaric Acid 0.90 0.660 0.1:365 Pure Ash 1.54 1.28 0.82 These few of the results obtained are sufficiently marked to need no explanation. We notice a gradual decrease of all important and desirable constituents in the different vines, in relation to the extent to which they are deprived of light. If the quantity of canes and leaves produced by the uncovered vine be placed at 100, then the weight formed under the white cloth should be placed at 80, and that under the l)lack cloth at 10. If, now, we apply the percentages just given, we have the following: White Black Uncovered. Cloth. (.'loth. Glucose (sujjar) 126.01 6.29 0.00 Tartaric Acid 00. 15 53.52 1 .86 Pure Ash 154.12 102. 5:J 8.22 This shows the influence of the interference of the supply of light to the entire vine; that the amount of sugar produced ui.der the action of diffused light is much less than that produced in direct sunlight, and that, when maintained in darkness, the production of sugar is insignificant, or even nil. And Levy has shown by a series of elaborate and carefully-conducted experiments, that the fruit itself developes better and is of better quality when exposed to the light than when maintained in darkness, all other conditions being the same. To determine this important fact he chose upon the same vine and the same cane, bunches of grapes of as nearly as possible the same size, the same apjiearance and the same vigor. One of them he allowed to remain under all the conditions of exposure to air and sunlight, while the other he enclosed within a case so constructed that the flow of supplies of nutriment from the vine should be in no way impeded, and the ImuicIi could enjoy all the advantages of fresji air and atmospheric moisture of the bunch not so confined, with the single exception that all possible access of light to it was cut off. And when the fruit was thus fully developed, and had attained per- fect maturity, both were analyzed in the same way. The fruit de- veloped in darkness contained much less of sugar and more of acid than the fruit produced under more favored circumstances, and from all the results of his experiments, which were so often repeated as to leave no doubt of the accuracy of the data they furnish, he natur- ally concluded that the larger the quantity of light the fruit has during its development, the better will be its quality both for table consumption and for wine. 316 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORnCULTURAL These conclusions are of the greatest importance, and the practical grape grower will, doubtless, have no difficulty in finding means for their application. Some of us remember the story told of the vineyardist of the South of France, whose vineyard was lit- erally covered with stones. To improve the appearance of the vine- yarn he removed the stones. His crop dwindled and declined until finally he returned the stones to their accustomed places and the wonted fruitfulness returned. But while these general considerations show the influence of light upon the vine, the exact determination of the relation between the quantity of light falling upon the vine, and the quantity of work effected within the leaves, is a problem of greater difiiculty, and it is only within the past decade that means have been devised by which it is possible, with any degree of accuracy, to arrive at numerical results. In former years meteorologists depended entirely upon the percentage of cloudiness to express the amount of light reaching the earth and acting with favorable effect upon vegetation. But the results thus obtained were very unsatisfactory. What won- der then if the scientific or practical agriculturists were unable to deduce from them any conclusions of value bearing upon the de- velopment and maturity of crops. Relations were sought for in vain, and attempts at the application of these results always proved •entirely futile, and it was left to the fertile mind of the greatest of meteorologists, Marie-Davy, Director of the Montsouris Observatory, near Paris, to devise means for solving this great difficulty in agri- cultural meteorology. His actinometer, or solar radiator thermom- eter, fulfils all the demands of the practical farmer or fruit grower, and it is to be hoped that before long it will be very extensively used. This instrument consists of a thermometer with blackened bulb, the whole enclosed within a tube, from which all air has been exhausted. Its construction is based upon the fact that direct light from the sun is always accompanied by radiated heat, and that both may be diminished by very nearly the same causes, such as interven- tion of a cloud, mist, fog, etc., and therefore the difference between the indications of this instrument and those of a thermometer with a bright bulb and representing radiated heat must also represent di- rect light. Both Marie-Davy in France and Levy in Austria have fully established the value of the observations made with this instrument, and they have invariably found that a higher proportion of those constituents of the grape most favorable to the production of good wine always accompanies a series of high indications with this in- strument, provided, of course, a proper general temperature pre- vails. We need not enter into the details of these very careful ob- servations that have been carried on now for a number of years, but it is sufficient to say that the results are such that every station for observations in agricultural, or at least horticultural, meteorology, SOCIETY OF CENTEAL ILLINOIS. 317 should be provided with these instruments or others of a similar character. The influence of atmospheric electricity upon the development of the vine is by no means insignificant, but at present we have no means for securing numerical data for the expression of this influ- ence. That the electrical tension always existing between the upper air and the soil tends to stimulate the growth, appears from the ex- periments of Grandeau at the Forestry School at Nancy. This authority found that jilants protected from this influence were less vigorous than those subject to it. But Macagno's experiments are of more direct interest to the vine-grower. He believed that the passage of electricity from the upper air through the vine to the soil stimulated increased growth. To determine this he selected a cer- tain number of vines, all of the same variety, and all in the same condition of health and development. One-half of the lot, sixteen vines, were submitted to experiment; the other half left exposed to- natural conditions. A pointed i)latinum wire was inserted into the end of a bearing cane, and to this was attached a copper wire, which in turn was carried to the top of a tall stake near the vine. Near the base of the same cane was inserted the platinum point of an- other coi)per wire, which communicated by its other extremity with the soil at the base of the vine. This arrangement was maintained from April loth until the vintage. September 16th, and it was presumed that the vines so pre- prepared were more subject to electrical influences than others not so arranged. At the time of the vintage the wood, leaves and fruit of both sets of vines were submitted to careful analysis. Without giving all the results it is sufficient to say that the treatment seemed to a very decided action upon the assimilative activity of the leaves. The latter contained more of all the valuable elements of plant food under the influence in question than without it, while the fruit upon vines with conductors more than u])on the others. The following figures will suffice to show the advantage gained: Witliont With Coiuiuctor. Coiifiiictor. ^loisture, per cent 78.21 7'.). 84 Sugar 10.86 18.41 Tartaric Acid, free 0.880 0.701 Bitartrate of Potash 0. 180 0. 186 Thus we see that in the fruit not only is the proportion of moist- ure greater, but the proportion of sugar is greater, while that of undesirable acid is lower. While these are the results of a single experiment, and may not find profitable practical application, they are of undoubted import- ance, and show how much remains to be done by scientists and meteorologists in the advancement of this great culture. 318 TKANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUBAL We cannot at this time enlarge upon this subject further. Enough has been said, we believe, to show its importance, and how little has been done, and is being done, to perfect the system of ob- servation and to bring about practical applications of the principles that have thus far been developed. The relations between the meteorologists and fruit growers are not close enough. While the former are making meteorological observations the latter should be making horticultural observations. Both might then be brought into perfect harmony, and profit secured from comparison of records. It is time to recognize that it is quite as important for the farmer and fruit grower to know what he may be able best to produce under the conditions surrounding them, as to be furnished with warnings to enable him to save what he may produce. It is quite as important to increase the product of his labor as it is to save the product, if we have ultimate material advancement in viev;^. It is fully as important to know what not to grow as to be informed of the crops that may be grown. Hence we urge the further application of the principles of meteorology in the prosecution of the great industry this society is organized to advance. Mr. Dunlap offered the following resolution, which was unani- mously adopted: Resolved, That the members of the Carthage Floral Guild and the Warsaw and Montebello Floral Societies, in connection with those ladies not members of these societies, who, by papers or otherwise, have con- tributed to the success of the meeting, be made honorary members of this society. Prof. Burrill — I have attended many horticultural meetings, but never one where the ladies took so active a part, and whose pa- pers were so universally meritorious. I am exceedingly gratified to have met you, and shall carry with me for many days the inspira- tion of this meeting. Mr. Dennis — Two years ago the Society was invited to Gales- burg, and, as you know, our last meeting was held there, but owing to certain unforeseen circumstances, the attendance was very small. I invited you to meet here again, promising you a hall and a local attendance of two hundred. The City Council kindly placed this hall at your disposal, and you, ladies and gentlemen, have enabled me to do much more than redeem the latter portion of my promise. The following SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 319 PHEMIl'MS WERE AAVARDED IJY THE WARSAW HORTICUL- TURAL SOCIETY. Bef On motion of Mr. Scott the Treasurer was instructed to send out notices calling on old members for membership. CHERRY CULTURE. BY A. B. AUSTIN. Gentlemen : I do not know as I can add anything to your knowl- edge of cherry culture, as I find in looking over the transactions of the various horticultural societies of this State, that abler pens than mine have already gone over the ground. As my observation only extended over a very small extent of territory I had hoped our Presi- dent would have excused me. The cherry with us in Cook, DuPage and adjoining counties is the most important fruit we have. It bears annually, will stand neglect (though richly repays care), not compelling the care and constant cultivation of small fruits, and much more constant in bear- ing than other or larger fruit. The trees are small, occupying but little space, and is both the busy and careless man's fruit. Every yard can have at least two or more trees, from which an annual crop can be expected. You will scarcely see a suburban home without its cherry trees, and it is the most constant fruit they SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 363 have, but unfortunately we can raise but one species — the Morello — and but few varieties of that s]iofios do well; all others have been failures with me. The early Ixielinjond lias l)een tlie standard; a hardy tree until the last two years, and an excellent bearer. The Leib has not met our expectation. It does not bear. The Dye House proves to be the Early Richmond. The JMontmorenc y is ju'ov- inir itself to be a choice cherrv, lart^er and later than Marlv Rich- mond, as hardy and as good a bearer, a better fruit in quality; it has borne with me for several years, and in future shall advocate its planting. The English Morello has had its day; fruit too tart and not rich in flavor. Have the Ortheim on trial. It has not fruittiful white SOCIETY OF NOKTHERN ILLINOIS. 363 pine, less than ten dollars per thousand was realized as gross re- ceipts, that same timber to-day would sell in those same localities for from thirty to fifty dollars j)er thousand. Jiut the mischief does not end here. Those barren hillsides, after the slope has reached a cer- tain pitch, must remain a desolation for centuries. 1 had evidence of this in my last vacation in Western North Carolina, where T was credibly informed that long before the slope reaches forty-five degrees, five or six brief years of cultivation after cutting off the timber, is all that is necessary to wash away every trace of cultivat- able soil that a thousand years would scarcely replace again, liut very few persons have any but the most limited ideas of the im- mensity ot our lumber interests to-day. At the average rate of railway construction and rei)air for the last twenty years, it takes about 75,000 acres of timber at least thirty years old for the ties alone each year, and the fencing is computed at fifteen million dollars per annum. It requires about 300,000 trees annually to keep our telegraph lines in repair. It even takes one hundred thousand cords of wood each year to make our shoe pegs. There are about 26,000 establishments for the manufacture of lumber in the United States. These establishments employ about 150,000 hands and produce in board measure about twenty- five thousand million feet per annum. The value of all tl ese products is not far from one thousand million dollars yearly, 'i his enormous drain upon our forestry resources, while it may be com- puted, lies almost beyond the powers of comprehension; and this drain is continual, excepting that while our supply is decreasing, the demand is continually increasing. The Pacific slope of our national domain is being deforested with a rapidity almost startling, while the foreign demand for our lumber is greater than ever before; and this vast drain upon the timber resources of our globe is not confined to the United States alone. A Mriter in the Popular Science Monthly states that fifty years ago there stood upon the island of Mauritius 800,000 acres of dense primeval forest. A few years since there was less than 30,000 acres left. The island of Ceylon, but a few years since, was covered with an almost unljroken forest; this has entirely disap])eared. In the island of Jamaica, once densely wooded, pretty much the entire timber used for building pur])oses has to be imported. In New Brunswick the hemlock-spruce is passing to a rapid extermination^ a single firm in one town using the bark from 1(10.000 trees each year for tanning purposes alone. The denuding of all these forests is accompanied by a rapid deterioration of the soil on which they stood. Dr. Felix Oswald, in a recent article, says: "Asia Mino/, once so densely populated, has become the epitome of a dying conti- nent." Spain cut down her forests, and the value of her bottom lands has decreased eighty per cent. He farther says: '' The coast line of the Mediterranean seems wasting away as in a decline." All this 364 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL region was once heavily timbered and densely populated with a brave, aggressive, intelligent, highly cultivated and stalwart and conquering race. And he farther says that " in two brief centuries the lumbermen of the United States have destroyed as many trees as the inhabitants of Southern Europe felled in two thousand years." It is his opinion, again, that unless this deforesting our hill slopes is stopped, " the cotton States will be under the necessity of raising their crops by irrigation, while the locust will ravage the plains on the gulf coast. . The soil of the mountain slopes, stripped of their forests, will be washed away by winter rains and thawing snows. Our rivers will become but brooks in the summer, but overwhelming and destructive floods in the spring." Only sixteen per cent, of our national domain is at present covered with timber, either good, bad or indifferent; and this very small percentage, with our large and rapidly increasing population, is fast lessening. Long since all first-class European powers have been busily and systematically engaged in replanting their denuded forests. France has some three millions of acres of forest owned by the State. Ger- many has thirty millions of acres owned by the State. In Prussia the forestry system is almost absolute perfection, and in Norway and Sweden the forestry laws are so rigidly enforced that their lumber resources are being increased instead of lessened. Most of these na- tions even give valuable assistance to those who desire to replant timber, especially on old and worn-out lands. If lumber for the next half century is to be as cheap as in the last, as some maintain, why is it that foreign capitalists and syndicates are grasping our remain- ing forests, whole counties at a time? An English syndicate owns in Wisconsin 110,000 acres; another English syndicate owns 175,000 acres of the best hardwood timber in Kentucky, for which they paid $2.50 per acre. They expect to realize over $100 per acre from it within twenty-five years. Another English syndicate owns in Mis- sissippi 700,000 acres of the best yellow pine in the State; a Scotch company has absorbed 250,000 acres of forest land in western North Carolina, and Sir Edward Reed, K. C. B., probably thinks his 2,000,- 000 acres of Florida lands will eventually make him pretty solid on the lumber question. These corporations and syndicates, all foreign- -ers, nunibering some fifty in all, own about 25,000,000 acres of our national domain, and are comprised of business men, keen as foxes, and with a business training that enables them to take in at a glance the all-important question of present and future supply and demand. But, perhaps, some one asks what has this national forestry C[uestion to do with the fair, broad prairies of Northern Illinois? I think it has much to do. No intelligent legislation will be enacted until the attention of the people is called to the subject, and until a general interest is manifested in it. It is the duties of such societies as this, and kindred sister societies, to awaken this interest, furnish the people with information upon the subject, and advocate a proper SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 365 legislation. Some one has remarked that he considered our western prairies entirely too valuable to be devoted to timber culture. Quite possible much or most of it may be, but, I believe, there is also very much that would eventually pay very much better thus than any other way, for instance: here is a very large tract of land, two or three miles west of this city — we designate it as the l^arrens — I be- lieve that the white pine planted upon this tract would make the land worth a hundred dollars an acre within thirty years; the greater portion of it to-day would not bring ten dollars an acre. I believe the steeper slopes of all our hillsides might be jdanted to timber to great advantage. I believe that all worn out lands, wherever they are, will recuperate under timber cultivation as under no other natu- ral process. I believe it is nature's great restorative for exhausted soils when fertilizers are not available. Of the great beauty of our forest trees upon our open prairies; of their ])eing the natural home of all our insect-destroying birds; of their grateful shade and ])r()- tection to stock from the heat of summer and the storms of winter; of their happy influence upon the meteorological conditions of our climate, you all know the incalculable value. DISCUSSION. Mr. Minier gave the association a half hour talk on forestry, showing up the rapid destruction of the forests of North America and explaining the necessity of their being replanted. He also gave a very interesting account of the meeting of the Forestry Congress at Denver last summer, and his visit to the Rocky Mountains. Said the scenery was the grandest he ever saw, and advised everyone to visit that region, as they would be more than repaid for their time and expenditures. Prof. Budd, being called on by the President for a talk, gave some interesting points about his trip to Denver, and an account of the devastation of the forests on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, after which he talked at some length on the hybridizing of the apple, grape, etc. He said there are at least one hundred and fifty varieties of Russian apple which are perfectly hardy. As I pre- dicted, the Early Transparent has become a commercial apple. I said that it was the earliest apple that had been introduced, and that it was good for any locality where it would not blight. The Thaler is better for the Northwest then the Transparent, for it will not blight. Number Sixty, as sent out by the Government, is a very good apple, very early; at least two weeks earlier then the Early Harvest, and does not blight; a large yellow apple of good quality. 366 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL The Duchess was introduced into England by Andrew Knight. The Alexander came from the Baltic. It has a thin leaf and would not stand the heat well. Would endure our climate, except it is subject to blight. Number 227, Gipsey Girl, is the most beautiful apple I ever saw, very mild, subacid, pleasant. Think it is going to be a success everywhere. The Garden apple is very hardy, hardier than the Duchess. Among the late fall and winter varieties the Longfield family is one of the best. They can be kept in this latitude until this time of year, but further sou-th they will be ripe about the time of Fameuse. It is a good and constant bearer; never hurts, not even the tips of the limbs. The Good Peasant is the best long keeper, and the best of the Longfield apples. Their season is about like the Grimes' Golden. It is a very promising apple, about the same flavor and a little better in quality than the Fameuse. The Cross family — two members of this family — number 443, introduced by the Government, is one of the handsomest trees I have seen, bears early and constantly very smeoth apples, that have the appear- ance of the R. I. Greening and are very good keepers. They are very hard in the fall and can be kept all winter, if you have a good, cool, dry place to put them. A common cellar will not do. Number 15 (from Moscow) is a very hardy tree, good bearer, good keeper, equal to Willow Twig in this respect, not extra good size. The quality is some better than the Willow Twig, there being a similarity in the texture. Ostrakoff family, number 316 of this family, is a very long keeper. Have kept it through until March, with the same treatment as Willow Twig, Ben Davis and others; is not of the best quality; is as good or better then Willow Twig; a good deal the same kind of an apple. Mr. Kellogg — I have enjoyed your meeting very much, and am sorry that it will be impossible for me to be with you this evening to participate in your debate on small fruit, but I must start for home this evening. I thank you for your kind and hearty reception. Geo. W. Minier, Chairman of Committee on Resolutions, offered the following, and on motion they were adopted: Your Committee on Resolutions beg leave to report as follows: Resolved, 1st. To the good people of the city of Kankakee we tender unfeigned thanks for the cordial welcome tendered us through Mr. Emery Cobb. SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 367 2d. To the Illinois Central Railroad we tender our cordial thanks for courtesies to our members coming over their road. 3d. To the hotels for their reduced rates and good fare. 4th. To the Kev. Iloyne and other preachers of the Gospel, for attend- ance, together with the hi'dies who honored us with their presence. And whereas, we feel a deep and abiding interest in Agricultural and Horticultural Experiment Stations, therefore, Resolved, 5th, That we heartily endorse the bill now before the Con- gress of the United States, for the establisiunent of at least one such ex- experiment station in each State and Territory of the Union. 0th. That we urgently solicit the earnest efforts of the Senators and Representatives from Illinois in aid of the early passage of said bill, and that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to our members of Congress. 7th. To Hon. Emery ('ol)b, for the use of his Farmers' Club room, we tender our sincere thanks. 8th. That we offer our thanks to Dr. Dewey and others connected with the Asylum for the Insane, for courtesies extended to this Society, and gladly bear testimony to the neat and efficient manner in which the institu- tion is conducted. 0th. That the warmest thanks of this, the Xorthern Illinois Horticul- tural Society, are hereby tendered to Prof. Budd, of the Iowa College, and