STATE IIORTICULTURAI. SOCIKTV. 17 



E. A. Reihl — I think. <i^euer:illy, the hifjjh i^rcjuutls are best. I 

 iim on the Mississippi River, where the water has more influence on 

 the low hinds than on the hi<.^h; but in more Southern Illinois, where 

 the valleys are deep, thev would be more subject to frost and there- 

 fore not so i^ood. 



Prof. Burrill I have always supposed that our hi<^h lands were 

 the best for orchards: but for tho last three years the orchards on 

 the flat lands have done better than those on the rid<^es. 1 know 

 one, planted twenty years a<?o, that has been givinj^: immense crops 

 of apples soil common black ])rairie land very rich soil. Now, 

 on some of the hiij^h rid<jjes the apple orchards have been doinjjj ex- 

 ceedin«,dy poor. The subject seems to me to be a very complicated 

 one; not one simply of low ground or high ground. Modifications 

 of soil and subsoil, and so many other conditions must be considered 

 that T am not ready to decide. 



H. M. Dunlap 1 cannot add much to what has already been 

 said, but think we. as a society, should insist that low or wet lands 

 be well drained. 1 consider most any land suitable for an orchard 

 that will produce a good crop of corn, and does not remain saturated 

 with water long. T have prepared to plant a commercial orchard of 

 twenty-five acres in the spring, and have considered thorough drain- 

 age of much more importance than elevation. 



J. M. Robison — The terms high and low are only comparative 

 with us. not so much ilifference as with you, Mr. Earle. The low 

 lands are the best drained, because the soil i< iiiort' jiorous. made u)i 

 largely of the soil washed fnun higher ground. 



A. C. Hammond — We do not always say just what we mean 

 when we speak of low laud. Our flat ju-airic land is generally on a 

 divide between two streams. This is the land that has been referred 

 to in this discussion. 



President (jralusha- Gentlemen. Dr. Schroder is down on the 

 programme for an essay on Experience in Silk Culture. What is 

 your pleasure: will you go on with the discussion, or hear the Doc- 

 tor's ])aper? 



The general expression was in favor of having the essay, and 

 Dr. Schrceder was called forward, and read: 



