STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 59 



coarse prairie hay. The hay is preferred, even if it cost four or Hve 

 doHars per ton. We are always careful to avoid straw that contains 

 weed seeds. Oat straw is objected to on this account. Formerly it 

 cost $80.00 per acre to establish a strawberry plantation. Now it 

 costs only about §45.00. We grow in what is called matted rows. 



Mr. W. R. Grain — What berry do you use to fertilize with? 



Answer — Miner's Prolific. 



Question — Do you grow the Wilson ? 



Answer — Yes; but Crescent mostly. Crescent is very much 

 more productive. 



Question — How about Downing? 



Answer — It rusts badly. We have discarded it altogether. 

 We change our beds often, though some old beds do well. The 

 Crescent and Wilson, when planted near each other, do not do well, 

 as the Wilson loses its vital force, being robbed by the Crescent. 



Mr. 13. C. Warfield — I find Sucker State a good fertilizer for 

 my new berry. 



Mrs. A. G. Randolph, Mrs. W. C. Hooker and Mrs. Dr. E. M. 

 Robbins, delegates from ''The Ladies' Floral Guild," of Carthage, 

 were introduced by President Arthur Bryant, and on motion made 

 honorary members. 



A paper by 0. W. Barnard was read by his brother, Milo Bar- 

 nard : 



THE DECLIXE OF THE APPLE TREE IN THE NORTHWEST. 



BY O. AV. BARNARD. 



In approaching this subject the writer has little confidence or 

 assurance that what he may say will greatly l)enefit the interest af- 

 fected ; but he may make suggestions that will lead abler men to 

 point out the pathway that leads from the wilderness. The calamity 

 that has befallen the apple trees of the Northwest is simply appall- 

 ing. The vast region lying north of the fortieth degree of north 

 latitude, and west of Lake Michigan, has been virtually denuded of 

 its bearing trees. No individual interest in this region has met with 

 such a reverse during the present century. It would be no easy task 

 to estimate with exactness the jtecuniary value of the apple trees thus 

 destroyed, and when we consider the value of the fruit they might 



