266 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 



described, even if you fail to see the mites, a safe plan is to pluck off 

 the injured leaves and burn them. This is the only remedy at 

 present known to us that will serve to dislodge those mites which 

 house themselves in galls beyond the reach of insecticides. Those 

 species which live in rust-colored patches of hairs on leaves and in 

 buds are also difficult to reach, but, doubtless, generous applications 

 of kerosene, in the form of an emulsion, will aid in keeping the 

 numbers of mites down. The method of burning the leaves should 

 prove effective, and ought to be carried out unsparingly in the case 

 of the vine injury, even to the destruction of whole plants. As 

 with many other injuries from which we suffer, care in the begin- 

 ning will do more than preventive measures can be hoped to do once 

 the pests reach destructive numbers, and a little thoughtful pluck- 

 ing of leaves at the outbreak of such pests may save much subse- 

 quent labor and disappointment. 



WEDNESDAY MORNING. 



The President called the Society to order at 9 o'clock, and in- 

 vited Mr. J. T. Johnson to offer prayer. 



The election of officers for the ensuing year being in order. Dr. 

 Hall moved that a nominating committee be appointed. The motion 

 was adopted, and Dr. Hall, H. M. Dunlap and H. D. Brown named 

 as the committee. 



Pending their report, Mr. Johnson was called upon for his paper. 



LOCAL SOCIETIES. 



BY JAMES T. JOHNSON. 



To increase, if possible, the growing interest already manifest in 

 the local societies, and especially of such as are devoted to horticul- 

 ture and kindred pursuits, is the aim of this brief paper. 



First, it is the best way for the community to become (as they 

 should be) acquainted with each other, with their own business, 

 or the business of a busy world, to establish and maintain their local 

 organization. But this cannot be done without persistent, intelli- 

 gent effort. These organizations, whether horticultural or other- 

 wise, must heeds be propagated and cared for; they have never been 

 known to spring into existence uncalled or unsought, but are a re- 

 sult of systematic labor by a small number of individuals who pos- 

 sess in a large degree the energy and spirit of the true missionary 

 who goes out into the world to do good, and whose zeal knows no 

 such word as fail. In this way a society may be ushered into exist- 



