Tbansactions at the Annual Meeting. 113 



more. I have had but little of it, except one Flemish Beauty 

 pear tree killed, and some branches on others. Some very rapid 

 growing crab and apple trees, one and two years old, have been 

 killed to the ground, and others part way, and many branches on 

 larger trees of the fast growing varieties. Some of our farmers 

 west of here told me in early summer they had lost most of their 

 trees, but I think they mainly recovered. 



Grapes are a fruit of which the millions should partake, and 

 every farmer should raise. The quality has been much improved 

 by the introduction of the Eogers' Hybrids and the Worden. 

 These varieties are rampant growers, and profuse bearers of large 

 fruit. The Worden is eight or ten days earlier than the Concord ; 

 but the Janesville is much earlier than any other, and is prefer- 

 able for market in this high latitude, as it always ripens in autumn 

 and is seldom harmed by frost in spring. I have no trouble with 

 blight, mildew, birds or any insects. This year, for the first time, 

 I had a scalding or sun-blight on most of my No. 15, a little on 

 Delaware, Janesville, Salem, ISTo. 9 and Iona, and they shed their 

 foliage early, causing the fruit to ripen unevenly, and in some 

 cases not at all. 



The Ancient Briton blackberry, since I have learned how to 

 treat it, far surpasses any other berry for profit. Its yield is 

 from 150 to 175 bushels to the acre, and will, in our small mar- 

 kets, sell for one shilling per quart (Smith's standard, forty quarts 

 to the bushel), making five dollars per bushel, $750 per acre. I 

 have not the data of expenses per acre for culture and gathering, 

 but think seventy-five or ninety dollars would be enough. They 

 require laying down in winter. This we formerly thought im- 

 practicable, but now find it to be easily done, as they have but 

 two large or main roots opposite each other, with few small ones. 

 We take a manure fork (potato fork is better), stick under the 

 crown, pry up and down and move it sideways a few times, then 

 you can bend in the root every time without fear of breaking, put 

 on a few inches of earth and it is done. When planting, put the 

 roots at about thirty degrees from a right angle in the rows, then 

 they can be bent without touching the next hill or row. 



Tent caterpillars, or, as some call them, army worms, flourished 

 8 — Hokt. 



