260 TRANSACTIONS OF THE NORTHERN 



Anioug fall apples the Tall Wine has of late years ilcterioratetl in fairness and productiveness. It 

 appears to be one of those varieties which do well wliile the trees are young, hut fail as tliey grow 

 older. 



The AVestlield !^eek-no-furtlier is reconniicnded for family use and market. Is this recommenda- 

 tion hased upon experience iu Nortliern Illinois, or upon its Eastern reputation? Of its quality I 

 sliall say notliing, as there is no disputing about tastes; but a good market apple it certainly is not in 

 the section where 1 live. 



The Ifomaii Stem is undeniably an apple of superior ipiality, liut has, I think, been placed on the 

 list as a market fruit by the strenuous recommendation of a single imlividual. I have raised it for 

 thirty years, and It is one of tlie last among very good apples which I would select for market. 

 "When sold at all, it was at a price below the average. 



Of the AVlne Sap I sliall merely remark that on rich prairie soil in Bureau county it has thus far 

 disa])pointcd the expectations of cultivators. 



Among pears the Flemish Beauty has of late shown such a disposition to crack as to lead to the 

 apprehension tliat it might be necessary to abandon Its cultivation. Still we can not afford to give 

 up a pear possessing so many gi>od (jualilies without further trial. 



No new fruits have come under my notice during the past year which I feel justified in recom- 

 mending. The above remarks are respectfully submllted to the consideration of the Society. 



ARTHUE BRYANT. 



Mr. Scott, of Galena, gave a history of the Soulard crab, and claimed that it could 

 not be a seedling of our native wild crabs, all of which are known to be uniform in 

 character, and very different from this crab, which is a long keeper, keeping well into 

 the summer. 



Mr. Bryant stated that the wild crab is often a long keeper, and also, when fully 

 ripe, of a yellow color. There was nothing that would lead him to consider it any- 

 thing more than a native crab apple. The point was figured at length, without differ- 

 ent results. 



Quite a discussion arose on the Soulard crab. Several gentlemen from Galena, 

 where it originated, spoke warmly in defense of its hybrid character and good 

 qualities. 



There is considerable disposition on the part of many members to ignore these crabs 

 entirely, thinking that they are of very little value, except for jelly or preserves. Dr. 

 Hull wished to know if a crab was good for anything until the crab was all hybridized 

 out of it. 



Mr. D. C. Scofield, from the Committee on Ornamental and Useful Trees, made a 

 report. He regarded all tree planting as ornamental and useful; therefore those that 

 were the most useful would be the most desirable : He urged the planting of trees 

 along all the highways, and at least one-sixteenth of the whole area of the farm. He 

 would ask that Congress provide for planting large tracts of both conifer and other 

 forest trees in our Western plains; that the bill of Mr. Medill or one similar for the 

 planting of trees along our roads, and one excluding stock therefrom ought to be 

 passed. This report was received with hearty applause. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention: 



Your Committee on "Ornamental and Useful Tree I'lantations.'" fully aware of the importance of 

 the duties imposed on us as relating to the future wealth and pnisperity of our covnitry, and our eon- 

 cious inability to present to tliis honoral)Ie body a report that will be adequate to the great interests 

 involved, respectfully submit the following: 



1st. NVe regard all tree jilantations as ornamental and more or less useful. In each, the varieties of 

 timber whicirenter most largely into, and supply the wants of man, should comjirise nearly the en- 

 tire forest plantations. It is not presumed that this connnittee is to designate what these varieties 

 are; your last volume of "Transactions,"' exhiljits the varieties recommended by the committee for 

 this purpose and the unanimous adoption of the report. 



