TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING. Ill 



carry on their business. Yet is it right or decent for one man to keep on his farm a 

 nuisance or a pest that is injuring not only himself but his neighbor as well? 



What the peach-grower has in the yellows law, the plum-grower wants in the shape 

 of a black-knot law; and I must most respectfully and urgently suggest that this 

 society take steps to have the proper petitions prepared, circulated, and presented to 

 our next legislature, asking for the enactment of a law that shall add to or include in 

 the operations of the peach yellows law, a provision that shall apply to black-knot in 

 plum trees. 



Such a change would not add greatly to the labor to be performed by the yellows 

 commissioners, if they are merely required to include plum trees in their examinations, 



A. J. Knisely. 



Glenwood, Volusia County, Pla., Nov. 27, 1890. 



Edwy C. Reid, Secretary Michigan State Horticultural Society: 



Dear Friend — The programme of the winter meeting, to be held at Kalamazoo, has 

 just reached me through your kindness. As I read the names of those who are prom- 

 inent in the subjects to be discussed, it creates a strong desire to be present to meet 

 them; but that is one of the impossibilities now. 



This country has opened to me a wonderful field for horticultural work, for it is truly 

 the home of the tree in almost all its unlimited variations. 



That part of Florida known as the " hummock lands " abounds in a strange mixture 

 of forest trees and shrubbery. There are several varieties of the hickory, a large 

 number of the oak family prominent among which is the famed "live oak" in all its 

 majesty and stateliness, the magnolia, the sweet gum, the cabbage palmetto, and in the 

 lower or swampy places is the cypress in great quantity and large size. To all these 

 may be added the large number of running and climbing vines, making a sort of jungle 

 almost impassable. 



The rolling or higher part of Florida is known as the " high pine." The timber is 

 almost wholly pine of the tall, straight, " Georgia " or " pitch pine " variety. The trees 

 are not thick and are limbless to a great height, so that one can see a long distance in 

 any direction, and drive any distance he desires, regardless of road or any hindrance 

 save occasionally a fallen tree or a little lake with a clean margin, of clear, clean, pure 

 water. 



Then, as one goes toward the coast, he finds the "fiat woods," which are indeed fiat 

 and level, and covered with the same pine as found on the "high pine" land, and about 

 as thick. 



When northern people first came here, there was a belief that nothing could be 

 grown except on the hummocks, which were very expensive to clear and subdue. But 

 time has proved that the "high pine" is as profitable for orange culture as the hum- 

 macks and much cheaper in its preparation for the trees. I begin to have faith, 

 however, that the "fiat woods" are soon to become valuable for many crops and 

 vegetables of all kinds. 



Orange culture is now the ruling business in this part of the state, which is of the 

 "high pine," and so profitable have the bearing groves become that many have not 

 troubled themselves with any other crop except a few other fruits, such as guavas 

 peaches, pears, and plums, but buy all their vegetables, hay, and grain, which latter is 

 brought in from the north. 



Orange groves that have now got well to bearing are sure of a crop, seemingly, every 

 year. Last winter was one of unusual drouth all over the state, and warm all through 

 till the 2d of March, when there came a sort of blizzard from the northwest, followed 

 that night with a severe frost in some localities. Then again, on the 17th, it was 

 repeated with additional force. The outlook for an average crop was not inspiring, and 

 many a long face could be seen. But the long drouth, so much lamented, proved to be 

 a blessing, for most of the older trees had not put out the usual new growth for that 

 time of year, but had remained in a sort of dormant state, with the last season's wood 

 so hardened up that the frost did not hurt it. Soon afterward, light, warm rains set 

 in, and out came the blossoms, and today there is the largest crop of fruit ever seen 

 here. The young trees planted the summer before were cut down and some larger 

 ones on damper soils had put out bloom and were damaged. A frost in March 

 here is about as much of a surprise as it would be in July or August in Michigan. 



The crop is now nearly ripe and will soon be ready to harvest. The oldest groves are 

 from 15 to 17 years old and are now becoming very profitable. One neighbor has 20 

 acres that range from 8 to 16 years old. A buyer has just closed a bargain for the 

 fruit " in a lump " on the trees, to be harvested and moved at his own expense, and 



