TRANSACTIONS OF ALTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 28Y 



Dr. Hull explained the buds of the grape-vines, and stated that 

 though the main fruit-bud, which usually produces the crop, might be 

 killed, there are two small buds close to it that are less developed, and 

 often not injured when the others are killed, which will push and make a 

 part of a crop. 



The Small-Fruit Committee not being present, the subject was dis- 

 cussed by the members. 



Dr. Hull — The blackberry is considerably injured, the Kittatinn} 

 more so than the Lawton. 



Mr. HoLLisTER — So far as examincil, the raspberry is not materially 

 injured. 



Mr. RiEHL, in answer to a question, stated that the Turner, two years 

 ago, proved more hardy than any other ; very productive, quality the best, 

 rather small, and inclined to be soft. 



Dr. Long — What are we to do about the borers infesting trees? they 

 seem to be on the increase. 



Dr. Hull — Soap will keep them off ; but is it practical? Care must 

 be used in pruning, not to injure the tree by improper cutting. The borers 

 are partial to the injured spots, and injured trees; in fact, I am inclined 

 to think perfectly healthy trees are not troubled with them. I would 

 state that they are readily caught on the curculio catcher, and it is a fact 

 that to succeed in growing the apple the catcher will have to be used. 



Mr. Huggins — I have never known the borer to attack healthy 

 trees. 



Mr. Huggins then read the following report, from the Committee 



on Ornithology: 



BIRDS AND BIRDS' NESTS. 



Even in the cold, wintry season of the year, when most species of 

 birds have retired to the sunny South, a few still remain to cheer our hearts 

 and enliven our homes. But when the clouds of winter and its lowering 

 storms have rolled themselves away; when the sun shines out with renewed 

 life and vigor ; when spring has come, and summer is here, and the soft- 

 ening breath of Heaven wafts from flowery fields and leafy woods a 

 pleasing fragrance, it is then that we become more familiar with them. 

 But after .such a long, cold winter as the past, do we welcome the first 

 birds of spring? Do we not all love the bluebird? and are we not 

 anxious, each returning spring, to hear the first notes of this bird saying to 

 us that "winter is broken," and "the time of the singing of birds is 

 come ? " Soon as the first breath of spring offers him an inducement to 

 remain with us, he is seen cheerily aljout the house and along the fence, 

 uttering his soft and plaintive warble with a degree of innocence which 

 no sensitive heart can fail to appreciate. For the accommodation of this 



