TRANSACTIONS OF KANKAJCEE COUNTY HORTICULTTTRAL SOCIETY. 



375 



Messrs. Drayer and Merrick thought that plenty of manure would 

 answer the same purpose. 



Mr. Merrick had set young trees by the side of the old stumps and 

 had them grow well. He mulched heavily with coarse manure. 



Mr. Drayer had fed his stock in his orchard winter before last and 

 last summer ; he had a splendid lot of apples, large and fair ; was in favor 

 of manuring an orchard the same as any other crop ; did not object to 

 keeping hogs in the orchard. 



Mr. Miner kept hogs in his orchard; did not have so many wormy 

 apples as they had in orchards where no hogs were kept. 



Mr. Merrick said he would rather keep hogs in his orchard than 

 wormy apples in his cellar. 



Mr. Barber gave his experience in handling apples ; he gathers when 

 fully ripe ; keeps them as cool as possible and in the dark ; stores in 

 barrels and on shelves in the cellar ; his apples keep well. 



The general conclusion among members was, to gather apples when 

 fully ripe ; keep as cool as possible without freezing, in barrels or boxes, 

 not too large and in the dark. Apples thus treated would generally keep 

 well. 



Subject for next meeting: Small Fruits, best varieties, and best 

 mode of culture. 



APRIL MEETING. 



The Society met at the City Hall in the city of Kankakee on Tuesday, 

 April 8th. 



The meeting was called to order by President Barnard. 



Essays being called for, Mr. Mortimer responded by reading one 

 entitled "Apples every year," which was very interesting. The Society 

 voted its thanks to the reader and requested a copy for publication, 

 which was granted. 



APPLES EVERY YEAR. 



ESSAY BY HENRY MORTIMER, MANTENO. 



The heading of my article indicates a want felt by every producer and consumer 

 of the most valuable fruit grown in our section of the country. The value of the Apple 

 as a healthful article of human food, being almost a necessity as well as a luxury, is a 

 proposition that may be safely assumed without argument. The object of my present 

 essay is the discussion of the question, " Can we grow apples every year?" If I suc- 

 ceed in giving one new idea having a direct bearing on this subject, thereby inciting 

 further investigation, my purpose will be accomplished. 



The most careless horticultural observer has not failed to notice, here as well as 

 elsewhere, the great difference in the amount of the apple crop in different years. One 

 season we have an overabundant supply, which is often followed the succeeding year by 

 an almost total failure. These excessive and partial crops often fail to pay the grower 

 in the first instance, and the high prices the off-year restrict many families to an insuffi- 

 cient supply. 



It will be readily admitted that any plan that is practicable, the adoption of which 

 will increase the crop the non-bearing year, is desirable. Removing the blossoms or 

 very young fruit of a tree, which of course prevents fruiting that year, will, if the season 



