330 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PRUNING. 



The special subject for the day was called up. Mr. Brown, essayist 

 for the day, being absent, Capt. W. S. Hathaway, who has made pruning 

 an especial study, entertained the Society. Said he had tried pruning at 

 all seasons of the year, spring, summer, autumn and winter, but finds that 

 all trees pruned in June and July let out none of the sap, and that they 

 will heal readily. 



A long and interesting discussion followed Mr. Hathaway's remarks. 



NEW APPLES. 



President Hammond referred to a communication in The Rural 

 Messenger, as to some new apple being wanted in place of Ben Davis. 

 Thought it a pertinent question, as many are wanting to plant. 



W. N. Grover thought this Society and region want an original 

 apple ; would suggest the propriety of several members starting a nursery 

 of seedling apples, seeds to be taken from choice varieties, and cultivate 

 about a thousand trees each, and if this were done, out of the whole we 

 will surely get a better apple than we now have, and thus accomplish a 

 public as well as a private good. 



Several members approved Mr. Grover's suggestions, and thought 

 there was a possibility and probability of some good resulting from the 

 experiment. 



On motion of Vice-President Piggott, it was agreed that this sub- 

 ject was of sufficient importance to be called up at another meeting. 



MARCH MEETING. 



Society met at the office of Dr. Hollovvbush, in Warsaw, March 15, 

 1876. The attendance of members was not large, but the meeting was 

 brimful of life, and the discussions practical and interesting. The Vice- 

 President, J. L. Piggott, Esq., called the meeting to order at one 

 o'clock, P. M. 



Dr. Hay, essayist of the day, gave way to Homer D. Brown, Esq., 

 who read before the Society a very practical essay on the Peach, from 

 which we are permitted to make extracts. Mr. B. said, " The peach is one 

 of our finest fruits ; although not a sure crop, it is a paying one. The sur- 

 plus can always be dried or canned, thus making a healthful and delicious 



