STATP. HORTirUr.TURAL SOCIETY. 1^5 



accomplished for the \enr eigliteen seventy-two, and 1 now refer to them 

 as part of the history herein written. All considered, the year was a 

 very favorable one. The nursery stock made a j^ood 'growth, and the 

 newly transplanted trees nearly all lived; the timber ]ilantalions succeed- 

 ed well and gave promise of some very interesting results to come. 

 Fruit was abundant and of fme quality, though the small fruit jiianta- 

 tions, were vet too young to produce much. About the only draw-back 

 was in the death or injury of many evergreens, esjiecially those recently 

 transplanted. This is attributed to the extremes of drouth and frost 

 during the winter of eighteen seventy-(jne and seventy-two, seemingly 

 producing the same effect over large areas of the country. The Arbor- 

 vita-'s weVe badly damaged, but usually covered themselves with new 

 shoots and leaves during the summer. Some large Xorways, transi)lanted 

 the year before, making a good growth and looking fresh all winter, died 

 outrignl in the spring. Others, two years transplanted, died. 



Apple Orchard — The experimental apple orchard, now supposed to 

 have about twelve hundred varieties, planted in the spring of eighteen 

 sixty-eight, has continued to make a healthy advance, and eighty-nine 

 of these supposed varieties bore fruit ; but not so many came to maturi- 

 ty, so that they could be indentified. Some trees bearing different names 

 bore the same fruit, doubtless showing that either the names, or the fruit 

 was incorrectly placed. We may look for more trees to bear the com- 

 ing year. A seedling crab has fruited three years, and is probably 

 worth a name, and cultivation. The cions from the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment at Washington, of Russi;\n apples, all failed. 



Pears — The four hundred varieties of pear cions received from 

 Mr. Chas. Downing two years ago, were root-grafted and carefully plant- 

 ed, and many grew and did well. This season the same generous hand 

 has supplied the kinds that died, so that a large collection, it is hoped, 

 will be ready next year for planting in the orchard. Other orchard fruits 

 arc accumulating, though the work is necessarily slow. 



'Forest riaiitation — The Larch and Chestnut were damaged consid- 

 erably by the white grub, which worked upon the roots, and many of 

 the former died from other causes. 'I'hose living made a fair growth. 

 The Scotch Pines transplanted in eighteen seventy-one and eighteen 

 seventy-two mostly died, as was the case of many Austrians. Special 

 attention is asked to the Osage Orange. It seems to be eminently valua- 

 ble for timber growth. It is cheap, easily transplanted, rapid in growth, 

 hardy enough here, and is at the licad of the list for the value of its wood. 



Vegehihle Gardens — A cheap structure was erected in the early 

 spring for a propagating pit, and proved very serviceable, being much 

 more convenient and with us really more economical, than the long row 

 of hot-beds heretofore used. The size is twenty-two by forty feet, with two 

 span roofs side by side. The walls are oak posts and boards, sunk to 

 the eaves in the ground. The heat is supplied from rough wood burned 

 in a common large sized box stove, standing in the center of the build- 

 ing, the smokepipe running near the ground to a flue at one end, and 



