ILLINOIS HOBTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 191 



JANUARY MEETING 1889. 



The Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society met at the 

 office of Mr. E. J. Hull, on Saturday, January 5th, with President 

 Browne in the chair. Minutes of last meeting read and approved. 



ORCHARDS. 



Mr. E. A. Riehl reported that all fruit trees had made a good, 

 growth, ripened their wood perfectly and so far this winter the 

 weather had been unusually favorable, and not a bud of any kind of 

 fruit was injured, and the prospect for a good crop of fruit never was 

 more favorable at this time of the year. So long as this open weather 

 continues all kinds of trees, vines and plants can be pruned. 



Some persons are fearful that this mild weather will cause the 

 fruit buds to swell and that they will be killed by cold later in the 

 season. But such is not the case. While this is warm weather for 

 winter, yet the thermometer does not rise much above 60° Farenheit 

 by day and there is usually frost every night and so long as this is 

 the case there is no danger. It is only when the weather is moist 

 and the thermometer rises near the eighties by day and there is no 

 frost at night, that the buds swell and are then easily killed by sub- 

 sequent cold. 



Mr. Jas. Davis — I think I never saw fruit trees of all kinds go 

 into the winter in better condition than they did last fall. 



At this point Mr. Riehl opened a basket of seedling and new 

 apples from Mr.* E. F. Babcock, of Arkansas, which were duly exam- 

 ined and tasted by the members present. On motion Messrs. Riehl, 

 Hollard and Jackson were appointed a committee to report on these 

 apples at the next meeting, and recommend such for trial as in their 

 judgment were worthy. Mr. Riehl showed some apples that were 

 colored a deep solid red on one side and striped a lighter shade on the 

 other. Some claim this is caused by cross pollenization. But so long 

 as no better proof was brought forward than he had yet seen he 

 could not believe it, as such an explanation was contrary to his under- 

 standing of vegetable physiology. Considered such colorings simply 

 freaks of nature, known in horticulture as sports. 



