292 TRANSACTIONS OF THE KANKAKEE 



OCTOBER MEETING. 



The Kankakee Valley Horticultural Society held its October 

 meeting on Saturday, the 13th, at the residence of F. C. Eggleston, 

 in Limestone. Owing to a combination of unfavorable circum- 

 stances, including the weather, the attendance was not as large as 

 had been expected, but those who did attend felt well paid for their 

 effort. 



President Mortimer called the meeting to order at 3 p. m. 



On motion of W. S. Hawker, reading the minutes of the last 

 meeting was dispensed with. 



Both of the essayists being absent, Leon Hay was invited to 

 give the Society a verbal report of his visit to the St. Louis fair and 

 exhibition, which he proceeded to do in an interesting manner, 

 dwelling especially on the magnificent show of fruit, which included 

 five hundred varieties of apples, mammoth peai's five inches in diam- 

 eter and six inches in length. He also attended a successful meeting 

 of the Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



The question being asked are any varieties of pears successful 

 here, President Mortimer answered that he was of the opinion that 

 we need a soil containing more iron and potash; that for a few trees 

 for family use the ground might be prepared, but it would not pay 

 for a market crop. The Keiffer will fruit here, but the farther 

 north it is grown, the poorer the quality. 



W. S. Hawker asked in regard to trimming raspberry bushes in 

 which the main stem had been allowed to grow and make runners. 



Answer — Cut back to three to five feet ia length according to 

 the strength of the canes. 



Mr. Mortimer gave his method of raspberry culture as follows : 

 Start with good plants, plant three feet apart with rows eight feet 

 apart; pinch off all but two or three sprouts; pinch out the top of 

 the cane at about one foot in height the first year and two feet the 

 second; plant Tyler and Souhegan for early and Gregg for late. 



