VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 389 



Mrs, Decker — A few years ago I had some hot-bed plants from 

 Mr. Cunningham, and T never had such tomatoes in my life before; 

 they came on very early and in the greatest abundance until frost 

 killed the vines. 



Mr. Dickinson — Thinks the Early Ohio potato is the earliest 

 and best early potato that we have. 



Mr. Cunningham — Don't like it; it scabs so bad with me that 

 it is almost worthless. The Victor is one of the best potatoes that I 

 raise; not early, but invariably smooth and fair. 



Some discussion was held on the subject of cauliflower and cab- 

 bage, but nothing was elicited of general interest. 



APRIL MEETING. 



The Kankakee Valley Horticultural Society held its April meet- 

 ing on Saturday, April 10, 1886. The attendance was fair. Meet- 

 ing called to order by President Barnard, at two o'clock p. m. 



Mr. Mortimer, on orchards, said he had not much to report. 

 Snow and Northern Spy seemed to be in fair condition. Baily Sweet 

 injured. Wealthy and Duchess are iron-clad; Seek-no-Further and 

 Belmont are dead. 



President Barnard said Baily Sweet was not hardy. 



Mr. Cooper — Not hardy with me. 



Mr. Knox — Sops of Wine, Grimes' Golden and Snow are in fair 

 condition. (To a question by the President, How about those Ben 

 Davis trees you mulched so heavily a year or two ago?) Well, they 

 are in fair condition. The unmulched ones are all dead. 



The essayist, 0. W. Barnard, read quite a lengthy poetical article 

 entitled ''Sunshine," which was well received by the Society. 



Mr. Mortimer — The subject of sunshine is of great importance 

 to the horticulturist and to all animal and vegetable life. It is the 

 life of everything. All of our motive power is from the sun. Our 

 great coal-fields are the product of sunshine. Without it we should 

 soon cease to live as well as all sentient life besides. 



