252 TRANSACTIONS OF THE NORTHERN 



Mr. McWhorter wished to ask Mr. McAfee what he understood 

 by the term " species " } 



Mr. McAfee replied, that as the best scientists scarcely ever agreed 

 upon the definition of this term, he considered himself at liberty to 

 frame a definition to suit himself. So he defined a species in botany to 

 mean any form of plant which constantly breeds true, reproduces itself 

 without variation, except it be at rare intervals. He believed species 

 might sport either as seedlings or by bud variation, but would call a plant 

 much given to sporting and having no great fixity of character a variety ; 

 when the character becomes fixed, permanent, not changed, it wnuld be 

 a species. With Dr. Asa Gray's definition in his lessons in botany,' 

 where he says, " Hence we must conclude that species are separate crea- 

 tions," he cannot agree. 



Mr. McWhorter slated that Dr. Gray has modified his views of 

 species, and that he now believes them to be fixed varieties. 



Mrs. Loomis, of Freeport, and A. Bryant, Sr., of Princeton, and J. 

 Periam, of Chicago, each questioned the propriety of Mr. McAfee's def- 

 inition, but on being asked for their own definition of species, each 

 declined to define. 



Mr. A G. TuTTLE, of Baraboo, Wisconsin, addressed the meeting 

 on Hardy Varieties of fruits for the Northwest. He finds the same varie- 

 ties grown in Wisconsin as in Northern Illinois. Spoke very highly of 

 Walbridge apple : very prolific, good keeper, fine quality. From March 

 to May quality not equaled by any other grown ifi the West, 



Adjourned till Thursday, A. M. twenty third. 



THURSDAY, 



Session opened with prayer by Mr. S. Edwards, Sen. 

 G. S. Pefter, of Wisconsin, addressed the meeting on Hardy Varieties 

 of the Apple as grown by him at Pewaukee, Wisconsin. 



HARDINESS IN FRUITS AND PRINCIPLES OF PLANT BREEDING, 



Mr. President., and Brother Horticulturists : 



This is the first time I have gone from home, out of my own state 

 to attend such a meeting as yours, and I am here on this occasion in the 

 hope that by comparing notes and discussing principles we may all re- 

 ceive benefit, each teaching and learning in turn, the useful knowledge 

 which may thus become common property. 



I have been much pleased with the essays and discussions thus far, 



