STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 27 



transferred it to his garden, and sent out a few plants, until now it has 

 become widely disseminated. A great many spurious plants have been 

 sent out. 



Mr. VicKROY (of Normal) gave his decided testimony in favor of the 

 Snyder. He was growing it extensively. 



Mr. Wier — Perhaps I have not managed the Snyder in the right 

 way. It has not given me satisfaction, with my treatment. It may be 

 that culture and cutting back may be what the Snyder needs. I did not 

 so treat it. It will not do to cut back the Kittatinny after the canes are 

 ripe, nor do you need to cultivate this variety. 



Dr. Humphrey (of Galesburg) said that there was not another horti- 

 culturist in the country who could grow fruits without culture ; and he 

 thought that it would be wise for the State Horticultural Society to appoint 

 a committee to visit the farm of our friend D. B. Wier, at Lacon, and see 

 and report to the world how he did it. [Laughter.] 



Mr. Robison (of Tazewell county) said that the '■^ rust''' was the 

 great drawback with him in growing the blackberry. He found all vari- 

 eties were alike affected. He had to abandon his plantation, and is now 

 planting anew. 



Mr. Gaston — I have watched for the rust, and expected it to attack 

 the Snyder, but I have not yet seen it in my plantation. I do not know 

 that the Snyder is exempt. There may come a time when this variety, 

 too, will rust. 



Mr. Leslie said he mulched his blackberry plantation and trimmed 

 back with a corn knife ; this was one method of cultivation that answered 

 well. 



Mr. Tull (of Hancock county) said that he had found the Snyder 

 hardy and an abundant bearer; but the "biggest thing" he ever saw 

 in the shape of a blackberry was a wild variety he found in the woods — 

 a little patch two rods square— ripe before the Snyder or Kittatinny, ripe 

 and fallen upon the ground, many of them, before he found them; "I 

 believe in my soul," he said, "I could have picked and sold from that 

 two rods of ground ^loo worth of berries, if I had seen it in time ;" and 

 when he said, "I will send any friend a few plants for trial, if they will 

 pay the expense of postage," there was manifest satisfaction and purpose 

 in the faces of persons present. 



Mr. Wier — I have no doubt there are plenty of good, hardy varieties 

 of blackberries in our woods that would be very valuable. I have gathered 



