70 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Mr. Minier. — As the peach is said to have originated from the sou?* 

 almond of Persia, so has the cultivated apple of this country originated 

 from the wild crab of Asia. 



Dr. Schrceder. — Does not the big Book tell us that they were given 

 to our greatest grand-parents, Adam and Eve? Surely, they didn't have 

 such sour, bitter crab-apples to eat ! (Laughter.) 



Mr. Webster. — I have no doubt that our apples came from the crab- 

 apples of Europe ; I saw crabs growing wild there last summer which were 

 nearly as large and as fine-looking as the Snow apple. 



Query No. 5. — What causes the earth covered by plank, or a mulch, 

 for twelve months, to become enriched and so well prepared for a seed- 

 bed, either for horticultural or agricultural purposes ? 



Mr. Burnham. — Does the snow when covering the ground have the 

 same effect ? 



The Secretary. — The earth accumulates nitrogen under the cover 

 of boards or mulch*, and is thus better fitted to furnish food to plants, 

 which are largely nitrogenous. 



J. S. Johnson. — Is it necessary to exclude the light to make nitrogen? 



Prof. Turner. — Not necessarily ; but by excluding air and giving 

 rest the nitrates accumulate. 



The Secretary. — This is a question for agricultural chemistry. It 

 is now pretty generally accepted 2.% proved by scientists that nearly all the 

 elements of plant-food exist in molecules floating in the lower stratum of 

 the atmosphere ; that the rains, dews and snows carry these into the soil, 

 where they are utilized as plant-food ; and it is evident that if the soil is 

 prevented from giving up its nitrogen, etc., by so covering it that plants 

 cannot grow, and the sun and wind cannot dislodge and carry it away, 

 and yet it is so left that the rains and melting snow can saturate the soil, 

 it will soon become rich in all these aerial fertilizing elements. Let the 

 ground beneath such covering be kept perfectly dry by a large building 

 or shed and no such accumulation could take place. 



Query No. 6. — Can pears be successfully grown in Illinois upon apple 

 stocks ? 



A. H. Gaston exhibited a two-year-old pear-tree which had been 

 root-grafted upon an apple stock, and planted so deep in the soil that the 

 pear cion had evidently taken root, also the apple roots were still alive 

 and partially, as he stated, sustained the life of the tree. He said : 

 Pears can be grown on apple stocks successfully. I have here a pear-tree 

 grafted upon an apple root. 



