226 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



day, that 'we ought to know something about botany. They found that 

 there was nothing known — that we had first to begin and build up a 

 knowledge of these facts bj- long continued reiteration, and a lifetime 

 would not be long enough to meet the matter successfully. 



Now we ask no place of honor or profit about it — we hope to see and 

 know^ and let those who come after us know, that their advantages and 

 future prosperity here will be better and more respectfull}^ treated than 

 we have been. 



Dr. Hull — I move that the resolution be laid on the table. 



Mr. Baldwin — I have been one of those who thought the plan pur- 

 sued not the best, but on investigation last week^ I am satisfied that 

 the course pursued is much better than it has been, and that the 

 course pursued by the trustees is deserving of a good deal of charity, 

 because they had no data by which they could be governed. I want 

 it to be just such as father Shepherd desires it to be. 



Mr. Shepherd — I do not impeach any of the trustees; that is far 

 from my thought. 



The question being on Dr. Hull's motion to lay the resolution on 

 the table, it was carried. 



DETERIORATION OF THE APPLE. 



Mr. Flagg read a letter from Robert Manning, of Salem, Mass. : 



Salem, December 8, 1869. • 

 My Dear Sir: — You ask my views ou the causes of the failure of the apple in the 

 older States, and though I have had but little time to give to the subject, I lay before 

 you such thoughts as have occurred to me. in the hope that they may prove a small 

 contribution to a full understanding of the cause, and the discovery of an effectual 

 remedy . 



Though there are men who boldly deny any such deterioration, I think an over- 

 whelming majority of orchardists will justify you in assuming it. It appears tome 

 that the first thing to be done is to define, if possible, exactly wherein this deteriora- 

 tion consists, and that if we could agree upon this point, a great and necessary step 

 would be gained towards ascertaining the cause. 



So far as I am aware, it is not asserted by any one that the young trees in the nur- 

 sery are any less healthy or vigorous, or that the raising of them is attended with any 

 more difficulty than heretofore. Nor do I know that the trees when planted in 

 orchards exhibit marks of decay, except it may be "SAith a few varieties. The deter- 



