VALLEY HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 387 



Mr. Cooper — Mr. Cunningham says we used to raise apples here, 

 and so we did. But the two or three cold winters we have just had, 

 or some other cause, our trees are dead and dying. That seems to 

 be the case all through Northern Illinois, and west of us to the 

 Rocky Mountains, wherever there was an apple tree growing. We 

 used to raise wheat here in great abundance, and then for many 

 years it was almost an utter failure, but in the last few years wheat 

 seems to be doing pretty well with those who have tried it. And so 

 about this apple business. I do not feel altogether discouraged. I 

 think we shall raise apples again, by planting the hardiest and best 

 we have and observing the proper conditions of soil and culture. 

 There has been considerable discussion here about orchards doing 

 better on timber land than in the prairie. Now, according to my 

 observation, I don't believe there is one particle of difference. 



MARCH MEETING. 



The president showed to the society some samples of Russian 

 apple trees one and two years old, from Mr. Wakeman's nursery, at 

 Chebanse, some ten miles south of Kankakee. The samples were 

 cut about six inches from the ground, and the wood was perfectly 

 sound and bright and healthy looking. Mr. Wakeman sent the 

 names of some eighteen varieties that he claims are strictly iron- 

 clad, and will stand forty degrees of cold without injury. He makes 

 this frank admission, that he would not advise any one to go too 

 strong on these Russian trees. Most of them are not as pleasing to 

 the taste as our American sorts, and many of them do not keep 

 well. Mr. Wakeman also sends a list of some sixteen varieties of 

 our common apples that he considers quite hardy. Among others 

 mentioned are Duchess of Oldenburg, Sops of Wine, Fameuse or 

 Snow, Haas, Lowell or Orange, English Golden Russet, Wealthy 

 and Walbridge. 



Mr. Mortimer spoke on the subject of Russian fruits, and alluded 

 to the labors of Prof. Budd, of Iowa, in the way of introducing not 

 oaly hardy apples from Central Eastern Russia, but pears, plums and 

 cherries. 



