338 



TKANSACTIONS OF THE 



The proceedings have been taken, monthly, from tlie eoUimns of the Alton Tele- 

 graph, and made up into pamphlet form, and three hundred copies struck off of 

 which a good many are mailed to other societies, aiid to agricultural and horticultural 

 newspapers. 



Some specimens of papers read are subjoined : 



AN ESSAY UPON APPLE BLOSSOMS. 



The subject is seutimental and poetic: but I have been taking' notes of the color and relative time 

 of blooming of the flowers on different varieties of apple trees. I-submit the following notes, taken 

 :May 1st, and would be glad to elicit farther information on the same suljject: 



1. The following varieties have the blossom white: English Golden Russet; Fulton, bloom sparse; 

 Gravenstein, sparse; large Red Siberian Crab, Newtown Pippin, Red Astrachau, bloom sijarse; 

 Sine qua Non, Tocca? 9 Yellow Siberian Crab— 3 late, 6 early. 



2. The following liave the blossoms nearly white: Americiin Summer Pearmain, Benoni, Early 

 Harvest, Henwood, Jersey Sweet, Kirkbridge White, Large Yellow Bougli, Summer Rose, Tetofskj'? 

 10 William's favorite— 2 late, 8 early. 



3. The following have the general appearance of being white rattier than red, though it is a little 

 difficult to decide as we approach neutral ground:- Ben. Davis, Brabant Belleflower, Coles' Quince, 

 Dominie, Duchess of Oldenburg, Eai-ly Strawberry, Fall Nonsucli. Fall Pippin, Fulton Strawberry, 

 GreenKusset, or Winter Sweet; Jonathan, Keswick Codlln, Nickajack, Kambo, Roman Stem, Shock- 

 ley, Smith's Cider, Sojjs of Wine, Smnmer Queen, Sweet June, Tollman's Sweeting, Vandevere. 

 Yellow Bellcllower— 23, about divided between late and early. 



4. In the following, the colors seem to show nearly equallj-:— Hoop's White Pearmain; 2 Tajdor's 

 Garden. 



5. In the following, red predominates to such an extent as to give a reddish cast to the color of 

 the blossom. This is the largest class:— American Golden Russet, Autumnal Swaar, Belmont, 

 Bethlemite, Carolina Red .June, Chandler, Cogswell Pearmain, Cooper, Early Pennock, Esopus 

 Spitzenburg, Fallowater, Fall Wine, Gilpin, Hawley, Hocking, Hubbardston Nonsuch, Lady Apple, 

 Limber Tv>'ig, Jlilam, Missom-i Pippin, Ortley, Pcck"s Pleasant, Pomme de Nclge, Primate, Red 

 Canada, Soulard Crab, Swaar, Tewkesbury Wiuter Blusli, Trenton Earljs Willow Twig, 31 Wine. 

 About two-thirds late apples. 



6. The following liave a marked shade of red in their bloom:— Common W^ild Crab, Hawthornden, 

 Maiden's Blush, Wine Sap— 2 late, 2 early. 



7. The following seem to be tlie late bloomers:— (a) The following were hardly opening their 

 Islossom buds on tlie date above mentioned.— Buckingham, on young trees. Common Wild Crab, 

 Drap d'Or, Melon, Northern Spy, Rawles' Janet, Rome Beauty— 7 Westfleld Seek-no-further? 

 (Trees bought as such but tliey resemble Rawles' Janet.) 



(b) Tlie following seem rather later tlian most varieties, in blooming:— Bethlemite, Porter, Sou- 

 lard Crab, Trenton Early. 

 If it is asked, What does all this come to ? I answer, that if correct, these observations go to sliow: 



1. The safest apples to plant in low or otherwise frosty localities. This we well knew before of 

 the Rawles' Janet, Northern Spy and Rome Beauty, but here seems to be a prospect of enlarging 

 the list. 



2. It may afford some aid in identifying varieties by furnisliing other characteristics. 



3. It may aid in tracing the origin of varieties. It will be noticed that the Russian and otlier 

 varieties of a jirobalile oriental origin, have the blossoms white, or nearlj'- white, as descended from 

 some common, and perhaps, iiecuiiar, species, as lias heretofore been suspected from their common 

 peculiarities of foliage. 



4. It shows, or tends to show, tluit varieties with white blossoms are generally early ones. 



5. That varieties with red blossoms are mostly late varieties. 



6. That the color of the blossouis, in a majority of eases, though the rule lias many exceiitions, 

 Indicates the color of the apple, white apples having white blossoms and red apples red blossoms. 



W. C. FLAGG. 



ESSAY ON EFFECTS OF ROOT-PRUNING. 



Mr. President: To be able to treat a subject of so much importance intelligently, we should 

 understand what are roots, and what are their uses. It is an established fact, that the internal struc- 

 ture of roots very nearly resembles the stem; their growth is mostly lengthwise and very slowly in 

 thickness as compared to their extension. Although the older parts of the roots acquire a cousldcr- 

 able diameter, the roots, by which the plant feeds, are usually thread-like and slender. The ends of 



