STATE HOKTIGULTUKAL SOCIETY. 79 



Other speakers recoiuiueiided a liberal use of air-slacked lime, 

 111 niching heavily with stable manure, light pruning, and training 

 high to wire on top of stakes eight feet high. Nearly all recom- 

 mended earlv winter pruning and laying vines on ground in winter. 



One grower succeeds with tender kinds by covering them with 

 a long wooden trough, made of three boards, eight to ten inches 

 wide, any length desired, and placing it over two or more canes wheu 

 trimmed and laid on the ground, then covering in zero weather with 

 slough hay, straw or corn fodder. 



AFTKKNOON SESSION, DKC. 8. 



During the dinner recess the apples, pears and other fruits were 

 examined by visitors. There was a small display of very good fruit, 

 considering' the season, including a basket of very tine assorted 

 varieties from Kansas. I had not the time to notice any varieties of 

 new or special merit if any were there. 



We next listended to Dr. A. Furnace, of Danville, Ind., on 

 •• I'ractica! lllustriitions in the work of Budding and Grafting, Mak- 

 ing of Cuttings of Soft Wood Plants, etc." Having a supply of 

 roots, scions. cuttings,willows, etc., and a sharp knife on the table, 

 the doctor made a very minute and interesting exhibition of the art 

 of propagating, including tying with willows, bass bark, etc. 



Next came a paper by E. Y. Teas, of Dunreith, on ''Small 

 Fruit Growing as I saw it in Surry and Kent Counties. England." 

 Descriptions of the landscape, the people, gardens and nurseries, 

 handling large crops of Carter's Prolific Red Raspberry, profits of 

 business, etc.; enormous quantities disposed of in Covent Garden 

 Market, London. The English, or European Sparrow was discussed 

 at great length, a mass of evidence accumulated against the Sparrow 

 from all parts of Indiana, the United States and Europe. President 

 Johnson stood out single-handed and alone for the rights of the 

 S{)arrow. and it is thought it may take another year to convince hini 

 that the Furopean Sparrow is fast [>ecomiug a nuisance. 



From the evidence, the Sparrow was proven to be a very de- 

 structive grain and fruit-eating bird, filthy in its habits, driving 

 away our native song and insect-eating birds, and had never been 

 known to eat insects when grain or fruit could be had, except when 

 feeding their young. The Indiana Horticultural Society believes 

 the time is now already come when some active steps should be 

 taken by the people of Indiana and of the United States^ to prevent 

 them, if possible, fnmi becoming a national nuisance to the horti- 

 cultural and agricultural interests of our country, as thev have 

 been, and still are, to the people of England and other European 

 countries. 



Farmers in Indiana stated that along side their hedges and 

 fences, in many places a strip two rods wide, in their grain fields, 

 was cleaned of every vestage of grain by sparrows. 



