198 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HOETICULTURAL 



Mr. Whitney — Your committee has compared the vouchers 

 with the report, and find that the figures agree, and everything is 

 correct. 



Mr. Hallett — I move that the report be accepted and the com- 

 mittee discharged. 



Motion prevailed. 



At this point the Chair suggested that a little deviation be made 

 from the general order of business prescribed, and some of the topics 

 mentioned in the printed programme be taken up for discussion, 

 deferring the election of ofiicers for the following year, until later 

 in the day, which was agreed to, and the subject of the decline of 

 apple orchards was taken up. 



Mr. Hallett — I think the apple orchards of this vicinity are 

 declining rapidly, and there is little encouragement for us to plant 

 more. 



Mr. Bryant — Orchards in our vicinity, you might say, are 



declining some; still there are a good many trees bearing full this 



year, but they have not done well in the last five years. We still 

 have hopes that they will do better from this on. 



Mr. Boone — I am sorry to hear Mr. Hallett say that apple 

 orchards are declining, as I think they have reached the turning 

 point and the orchards are going to do better than they have for 

 the last few years, and I think we should continue to plant. I would 

 like to have some of the nurserymen say what are the best kinds for 

 us to plant. I want half a dozen of the very best, those that are 

 ironclad or as nearly so as they are to be had. I have noticed, in my 

 orchard, that the trees that were top-grafted withstand the winter 

 better than the root-grafted trees, and are longer lived. 



Mr. Hallett — £ would not plant anything but the Duchesse, 

 Willow Twig and Red Astrachan.' The latter is not so good a 

 bearer as the others, but is comparatively hardy with me. 



Mr. Whitney — With us the Snow apple is hardy and bears well. 

 The Roman Stem is our best and hardiest apple. 



Mr. Bryant — There is a good deal of call for the Roman Stem 

 trees at the present time, and the trees are standing very well over 



