STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 79 



Mr. Francis — It is said that an application of charcoal about 

 the roots of flowering shrubs imparts a brighter red color to the flowers. 

 I used it about apple trees, bearing red apples, but cannot see that it 

 affects the color of the fruit. 



Dr. Humphrfv — I have used ashes about the roots of apple trees 

 with excellent. results, both in quantity and <|ua]ity of the fruit. 



Mr. Buck — I wish to caution members about using ashes ; a little 

 may do good, but too much will take the acid out of the fruit and make 

 it insipid. (.') Ed. 



Mr. Baldwin, La Salle — I have noticed that a long drouth affects 

 fruit, in ripening it prematurely, causing it to drop — nearly all varieties 

 of apples drop this year, more than usual. 



Dr. Hooton — Exhibited two apples — both called Rawles' Janets, 

 which are really two distinct varieties. 



The trees look alike, and the fruit is almost indentical, except in 

 size. This difference in size is radical and permanent. 



Messrs. Dunlap and Nelson — Testified to the fact that they had 

 both the Big and Little Janets, as they are called, and that there were 

 two varieties of Rawles' Janets. 



Mr. Dunlap — I wish to speak of another thing. We have grafted 

 the apple, and grown them, and now we want something to put them in, 

 and I present this box, as the most convenient thing that I can use. 



[ Mr. D. here exhibited a box for gathering and marketing 

 apples ; consisting of heads — ends — and lath sides and bottom.] Ed. 



Mr. Flagg — Ho\T much will it hold.' 



Mr. Dunlap — Just one bushel. It is twelve inches high, fourteen 

 inches wide, and seventeen inches long. Thirty-six of these boxes 

 made a two-horse wagon load. They arc more convenient than baskets, 

 and cheaper. I have no doubt we have saved in labor this year the 

 cost of the boxes. 



Mr. FlagG' — What is the cost of the boxes.' 



Mr. Dunlap — About twenty cents each. We take stock boards, 

 and have a machine that will cut out the heading — say forty pairs an 

 hour. — They charge seventy-five cents an hour for the work ; this, with 

 the price of the lath and labor of making, brings the cost to about 

 twenty cents. 



The Society adjourned until two o'clock. 



