26 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Eamsdell: Do not all new wheats get upon the market by 

 accidental selection? 



Prof. Taft: Yes; the greater nnmber of them, at least. 



Mr. Eamsdell: How niiTch hope, then, we may have if the work of 

 originating them be intelligently carried on at experiment stations. 



President Lyon: The vast majority of our frnits are accidental 

 selections. The northwest is trying to establish, by crossing and selection, 

 varieties which will be hardy enough to withstand the extremes of 

 temperature and other adverse conditions to which that region is subject. 

 For purpose of hastening such selection, getting the fruit earlier, the 

 process is to jiut scions into a bearing tree. I would ask Prof. Beal if he 

 is sure that that process would produce fully the qualities of the seedling 

 scion ? 



Prof. Beal : I do not know that it has ever been done. The test would 

 be comparison of fruits of such scions with those of the original tree. 

 We projjagate plants by budding or division, and so get the same thing; 

 but seedlings are not thoroughbreds and can not be so reliably treated. 

 With vegetables we have to propagate by seed only, and select and preserve 

 and replant until the variety becomes set. For this reason, crossing by 

 pollen is largely haphazard work, the old strains reappearing. 



grape trellises and clean cultivation. 



Three questions were handed to the secretary by Mr. Roberts, the first 

 of which was, "Should wires be used in a grapevine trellis for field 

 culture?" 



G. W. Parks : They have been used in this vicinity with success. 



Mr. Gladden of Lansing: Is it desirable to seed down a peach orchard 

 in this vicinity? I think I should not necessarily be governed by the 

 practice elsewhere. I have a young orchard, set in 1886, which grew well 

 in the nursery row and I got some peaches the following year. In 1888 

 I had only a few, but think I will have some this year. I have kept the 

 tract as clean as a garden and they have grown exceedingly. They are on 

 good soil with clay subsoil. I think of seeding them down, now, to secure 

 slower growth. 



Mr. Parks: I set some at the same time as Mr. Gladden, some on good 

 soil and some on poor. The latter have made only one third as much 

 growth as the others. In severe winters the fast-growers are killed while 

 the others live and bear some peaches every year. 



C. J. Monroe of South Haven: A man in our region would be as sur- 

 prised at Mr. Gladden' s question as one would be if asked if it were not 

 better to seed down a cornfield. Clean ciiltivation is the only kind allow- 

 able. The average of our orchards are on soil as good as any here. It 

 would be a rare case if ground were found too rich and strong for peaches. 

 Late cultivation, however, has sometimes been disastrous. The most suc- 

 cessful growers begin early in May and cultivate through to latter July or 

 early August, and then sow rye. This is done yearly to young trees until 

 they come into bearing, with some other fertilizers afterward, and we have 

 not missed a crop since 1875. Perhaps the only difference between the 

 lake shore and the interior is the temperature. 



Mr. Ramsdell: I have trees in all situations and conditions, but when 

 one is killed all are killed, and I get the best fruit where I have given the 

 best cultivation. I have had good croi)s after mercury had gone to eighteen 



