Letter from W. H. CasselL 91 



Third Day— Thursday. 



Morning Session, January 26. 

 President Earle called the Society to order at 9 o'clock A. m. 



Pt'esident Earle, of Illinois — At the opening of our sessions 



here several letters were read from absent friends, among which 



was one of great interest from W. H. Cassell, of Mississippi. A 



second and even more interesting letter from him has since come to 



hand, which I will read : 



Canton, Miss., January 12, 1888. 

 Parker Earle, Esq , President American Horticultural Society: 



Dear Sib — At the forthcoming meeting of the American Horticultural Soci- 

 ety, where there will doubtless be gathered together some of the best pomologists 

 and scientists of this continent, some who are especially familiar with the apple 

 and its diseases, will you please ask for a discussion on the fungoid diseases of this 

 most useful fruit ? 



In Mississippi, and especially upon the yellow or yellowish red clay soils, 

 there are certain varieties maturing in the fall and winter months that bear good 

 crops of sound, healthy fruit for a few years, then begin to rot, and are ever after- 

 ward affected so as to be almost worthless. This rot, seemingly, begins in August 

 or September in one or more spots upon the surface of the fruit, and continues to 

 increase until the whole fruit is decayed. Is there any remedy for this, or, more 

 probably, is there any preventive ? May it not be true that in the early life of the 

 tree it imparts sufficient vigor to the growing fruit to enable it successfully to resist 

 the effects of this fungus, whatever it may be ; and that as the tree grows older, and 

 its vitality lessens, it fails to do this? 



If so, would the application of fertilizers sufficient to maintain a vigorous 

 condition of the tree enable it still to resist this fungus, and continue to produce 

 sound, healthy fruit? Then, what kind of fertilizer and quantity are necessary? 

 This subject may have a wider range of interest than that bounded by state lines 

 or a few degrees of latitude. 1 know it is of great importance to us in Mississippi, 

 and I have learned the same trouble exists in West Tennessee to some extent. 

 Place of origin does not always exempt a variety. Ben Davis is affected consid- 

 erably, and so is Shockley. On the bluff formation along the Mississippi river the 

 same varieties seem to do well for a longer period than elsewhere, but finally suc- 

 cumb. Any practical remedy or solution of this problem is greatly to be desired, 

 and we hope good may result from this discussion. 



Yery respectfully, yours, &c., Wm. H. CASSELXi. 



The President — The subject presented in this letter should re- 

 ceive attention at this or our Riverside meeting; but for the present 

 we will pass it, and hear a paper from "an old friend of birds and 

 forestry," which Dr. E,idpath will now read : 



