268 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTUHAL ;SOCIETY. 



upon one mile square more timber than once stood upon five acres. Even 

 in Southern Illinois the most valuable trees are gone. Within my remem- 

 brance there were plenty of wild-cherry trees; now they are all gone; 

 nearly all the valuable oaks too are gone. It is said " figures won't lie," 

 but when I read or hear read such statistics as these about the extent of 

 timber-lands and timber-supply I do know they do not give the actual 

 facts. 



After a little further discussion upon this point, a committee of three 

 was chosen to report upon the remaining portions of the President's 

 address. This committee consisted of D. C. Scofield, Prof. Thomas and 

 Mr. Galusha. 



DISCUSSION UPON APPLE ORCHARDS. 



Mr. Minkler. — The greatest mistake made in planting apple 

 orchards is in the almost endless varieties planted. If I were to plant a 

 thousand trees I would not plant more than twenty varieties. 



A Voice. — Wouldn't ten sorts be better yet? 



Mr. Minkler. — Yes, probably ; but fifteen varieties would give best 

 sorts and fruit the year round. Some of our best apples are unprofitable; 

 we must plant such as will pay, when planting for market. As I have 

 often said, the skin of an apple sells it — people prefer a bright red 

 apple. 



I tested this preference for red apples yesterday on the cars when 

 coming to this meeting ; I had taken some nice White Pippins, putting 

 them into a paper sack, and some Ben Davis into another sack, and 

 opening them so as to expose both, passed them through the cars, holding 

 both kinds before each person, inviting them all to help themselves. 



The result was that all the Ben Davis apples were taken, but only 

 half the White Pippins, and we all know that the Pippin is by far the better 

 apple. 



A Voice. — If you had passed through • again those who took Ben 

 Davis would try the White Pippin. 



Mr. Minkler. — I planted my trees two rods apart each way, kept 

 the ground in a hoed crop, and in six or eight years the roots met. Buck- 

 wheat is good and clover better in an orchard, but it should not be taken 

 off the ground. 



I had a large crop of magnificent Cayuga Red Streaks last fall, which 

 was the result of thorough manuring the year previous. We must feed 

 our trees if we want them to feed us. 



