SOCIETY OF NOKTHERN ILLINOIS. 33i 



Mr. Bryant — The long-bunched Holhmd sets full and promises 

 well, but turns out poorly; casts its fruit and foliage before the Vic- 

 toria, which holds its fruit and leaves well and ripens up in good 

 shape. 



Professor Budd — Many will remember that the black locusts 

 was about the only timber planted on the prairies of Illinois years 

 ago, but the borers got to working on it so badly that people ceased 

 planting. We are commencing to plant it again in Iowa, and the 

 borers do not attack it as badly as they used to, and when planted 

 with other timber it escapes the ravages of the borer almost entirely. 

 It is the most valuable timber we have. We consider it of much 

 more value than the catalpa. 



Mr. Miller — I consider the black locust the best tree for the 

 prairie of this country. It equals or excels any other timber for 

 durability when used for posts or railway ties. I have seen fine 

 specimens growing in the forests down east among the oaks and 

 found them entirely free of borers. 



G. J. Kellogg — I want to enter a protest against the black 

 locust. I planted a grove, but the borers soon ruined all of the 

 trees, and while we have the larch, catalpa, and other good varieties 

 for forest tree planting, I think we had better not bother with the 

 black locust, unless, perhaps, they can be planted among the oaks. 



Mr. Scott — I agree with Mr. Kellogg as to the black locust be- 

 ing a failure in consequence of the borers, and think that it is use- 

 less to plant it on that account. 



Professor Budd — Forest tree discussion must be made as to lo- 

 cality. When we talk timber trees we must take into consideration 

 the cold prairies of the west, where forests are to be planted. The 

 black locust will grow on. this prairie soil and retain its durability 

 of wood. It is the best timber for posts, when it is six or eight 

 inches in diameter, that there is, at that age, and when it is inter- 

 mingled with catalpa, or any other hardy tree, the borers do not 

 bother it. In Russia, Bohemia, and several ftther foreign countries, 

 it is the universal and main forest tree. 



Mr. Kellogg — What is more profitable than strawberry culture? 

 Two hundred plants, properly grown in rows, will give you five hun- 



