122 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Gaston — I think these experiment stations will be of value 

 if rightly conducted. Every fruit seems to have a special place, 

 and it certainly will be profitable to have experiments intelligent- 

 ly conducted to tell us what fruits are adapted to the different 

 localities. I have been running a small experiment station for 

 the last ten years, and I find I have gained a premium on one of 

 my seedlings. Mr. McKinney is an experimenter in strawberries 

 and has shown that we can do well out our way. You fellows 

 will have to look out or you will get beat in your nine experi- 

 ment stations. You have got the Marshall County Society to 

 buck against. 



Mr. Thomas — Has any one had experience in spraying small 

 fruits, especially for the midgets in the strawberries? 



President Dunlap — I think spraying them would be very ob- 

 jectionable, from the fact that it is so short a time from the set- 

 ting of the fruit until it is ripened that you could not depend on 

 the rains washing it off. I would say this, that those experiment 

 stations are not for the purpose of stopping individual investi- 

 gation, but to encourage it, and we hope that those outside will 

 do all they can. The object of the stations is that the Society can 

 have places to make experiments and call on these men for re- 

 ports, and get the reports whether the experiments are a success 

 or not ; individual experimenters do not report if they do not suc- 

 ceed. 



Mr. Webster — I think private experiments are very well as far 

 as they go. While they may not reach the results of the experi- 

 ment stations, yet they will be of great benefit. I have done 

 much experimenting and others in my vicinity have, also. I was 

 the first person who made extended experiments in seedling straw- 

 berries in Southern Illinois, and now they are grown by the thou- 

 sands of acres. Though many claim that it has hurt the trade, 

 I do not think so. 



Mr. Williams, of St. Louis — These experiments are well in 

 many ways. Statistics as to temperature, rain and sunshine, 

 may be much more thoroughly gathered at these State stations 

 than by individuals. 



Mr. Thomas — Have the experiment stations tried the fertiliz- 

 ers on small fruits? We know that a few years ago the Jessie was 



