TRANSACTIONS OF ALTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 309 



Alton Horticultural Society. 



REPORTED BY E. HOLLISTER. 



OFFICERS FOR 1876. 



President — James E. Starr. 

 Secretary — O. L. Barler. 

 Treasurer — D. Stewart. 



FEBRUARY MEETING. 



The Alton Horticultural Society met February 3CI, at the residence 

 of Mr. J. L. Blair, in Alton. The day was stormy, but it did not deter 

 our horticultural workers from coming out in force. Our President rode 

 eleven miles through the storm, and was on hand promptly at ten o'clock. 

 Mr. RiEHL came eight miles through the heavy snow storm, and, to his 

 credit, brought his wife. A number of other ladies were present ; and 

 altogether, we have seldom had a more satisfactory meeting. 



ON ORCHARDS. 



The discussion on this subject revealed the fact that the fruit buds 

 are all right to date. 



Mr. Hollister said that now, and onward, was the time to prune 

 both peach and apple trees for fruit. I do not like the practice of pruning 

 from the bottom up, as I see some doing. I prefer to prung from the top 

 down. 



O. L. Barler — The idea is, to study to prune as little as possible. 



