STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 19 



Mr. Shank — I believe I have struck something practical. You 

 take the Wild Goose and the Marianna and they have a tendency 

 to grow like the weeping willow, but I find by tying them up 

 about the latter part of June with a soft string, drawing the 

 limbs up in a close form and leaving them so until about the 

 time the leaves begin to drop, and then the next season trim 

 them back to where I want them, I find I can give them a desir- 

 able shape. I also tie cherries in the same way. I trim in June. 



Mr. "Webster— It takes some time to find out what to do. AVe 

 have just found out how to raise Damsons. We think that after 

 all the Wild Goose is the most profitable. It is very hard with 

 us to get the Blue Damson free from the borer in the center. I 

 presume, however, they could be kept off the plums in the 

 same way as off the apples, with spraying. With us they ripen 

 too early. After they are gone with us they bring them in from 

 Ohio, and they sell readily to our people. 



Mr. Shank — My experience is that the Damson is very tender. 

 They run to top very much. The Old Virginia Blue is small, but 

 it is hardy. I think the Lombard is far superior to the Shrop- 

 shire. My objection to the Shropshire Damson is, that it is not 

 hardy enough. 



REPORT OF AD-INTERIM COMMITTEE FOR CENTRAL 



ILLINOIS. 



BY F. I. MANN, GILMAN. 



In the interests of this Society, and as member of Ad-Interim 

 Committee, I attended the strawberry meeting of the Kankakee 

 Valley Society, at Manteno. I found a gathering of pleasant, 

 hospitable people, earnest in the cause of fruit growing. 

 Though the weather was unfavorable, a large number were pres- 

 ent to sit at the tables spread in the shade of large trees, and en- 

 joy the strawberries and cream, with a bounteous supply of other 

 delicacies. After dinner a meeting was held and various subjects 

 of local and general interest were discussed. A fine lot of berries 

 were shown for premium by Leon Hay, Len Small, Mrs. Bar- 

 nard, the widow of our late lamented President, and others. 

 The Bubach showed up the best, as some very fine specimens 

 were shown. 



The Bubach was very popular with those present, though there 

 was some complaint that new beds were not prolific. The Seneca 



