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ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



The apples were cut, and fully tested as to quality, and Messrs. 

 Grover, Dennis, Brown, Hilton and others (all practical orchardists or 

 nurserymen) expressed the opinion that they were not fully prepared to 

 recommend this apple on so short an acquaintance. A number of these 

 apples were laid aside for further examination in next month. 



Mr. Hatheway claims for this apple good bearing, good keeping, 

 good eating and good cooking qualities, and that it never drops prema- 

 turely from the tree. 



On Orchards — E. McCune reports the Yellow Bellflower, Ben Davis, 

 Winesap and other winter varieties of like characters as being on the eve 

 of a fair bloom. The prospect for apples is ordinary; apple-buds for 

 the most part are all right, but the trees are (many of themj in bad con- 

 dition. G. O. Hilton said there was a good prospect in southeast Iowa 

 for most all winter varieties, while summer varieties, especially those which 

 overbore last year, will be short. Many trees were injured by the winter. 

 William Gray, of Wythe, and J. T. Johnson, of Wilcox, report their 

 orchards in a favorable condition. 



On Small-Fruits — Mr. Dennis said (for the most part) berry-bushes 

 were killed to the snow-line, but as the snow was deep we will have some 

 berries. Strawberries were all right. 



Messrs. Gillham, Hilton, Safford and others had (after all) some 

 peach-blooms. 



On Young Trees — Some early cherries may be expected, but in the 

 main the early cherry crop is killed. Morellos promise well. 



Mr. Fletcher would have berries on his last year's setting of rasp- 

 berries. Mr. T. H. Brown's red raspberries were wholly uninjured. Mr. 

 Safford would cut back all young trees that were injured by the winter, 

 and thereby secure a growth of good sound wood. 



Fruit Display — Geo. O. Hilton, of Lee county, Iowa, added to the 

 Society's usual fine collection a large display of apples, to which mem- 

 bers did ample justice during a recess for sampling. 



MAY MEETING. 



For this very busy season the meeting held on the twenty-first of 

 May, at the rooms of Marsh & Marsh, in Warsaw, was well attended. 



Apples shown in good condition were Ben Davis, Winesap, Janet, 

 Wythe, Red Canada, Ladies' Sweeting and "Salome." This is the 

 season of the year to test the keeping qualities of apples, and we (the 

 Secretary) feel compelled to say that any apple that will keep through 

 May as firm and sound as other apples in December is well worthy of 

 further trial, and this is what we find the new apple "Salome" is doing. 

 There was not a defective Salome to be found. 



On Floriculture — Miss Hattie Dorman, of Hamilton, said roses and 

 all other flowering shrubs (after being cut back) are in thriving condition 



