STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 75 



Samuel Edwards — Mine was planted for a fence, but it is also 

 very beautiful and ornamental. 



Dr. Schrceder — When lately in Germany we found planted 

 along the lines of the railroads evergreen hedges, which were found 

 to be the best known wind and snow brakes. We ought to indutp 

 our railroads to try it. The Riga pine is named from the Riga 

 mountains. 



A telegram was here handed to President (lahisha. who pro- 

 ceeded to read a message from the Wisconsin State Horticultural 

 Society, now in session at Green Bay, Wisconsin, expressing the 

 fraternal greetings and comi)liments of that Society, and giving in- 

 formation of a large attendance, an interesting meeting, and a fine 

 display of fruits. 



• It was moved and carried that this Society return the greeting, 

 which was promptly done in a hearty message. 



Report of Committee on Grapes and Grape Culture being called 

 for, E. A. Riehl, of Alton, proceeded to read. 



GRAPES. 



HV A. E. REIHL, ALTON. 



With US the crop was very light, ranging from nothing to about 

 a third of a crop. Various c:iuses conspired to bring about such a 

 result. The Spring was cold and l^ackward. so that the grape buds 

 pushed slowly, and gave the steel-blue beetle a fine chance to put in 

 his work, which it improved to the full extent of its ability. Hail 

 also did much damage in some vineyards, but the greatest damage 

 was done by rot, vdiich commenced early and continued until the 

 grapes were ripe -^ that is, what was left of them. 



As to varieties. I cannot say a great deal, because all the 

 newer ones of which T expected to have a good show on vines 

 grafted in 1S.S2 did not fruit as expected. From what little fruit 

 that did set, and the appearance and growth of the vines my judg- 

 ment would be a])Out as follows: 



Concord — Rotted badly, and 1 will i)lant no more of it — aiul if 

 it continues to behave in the future as it has for the last fcAv years, 

 I will graft it over with something more relial)le. 



Khint — A nice gra])t'. where it does well, but with me it never 

 has done well. It sets plenty of fruit, but the l)ranches were so 

 compact that many of the berries crack from crowding, and the ber- 

 ries nave invariably commenced rotting on the surface at about the 

 time it ripens. 



