126 Wisconsin State Hokticultueal Society. 



through. A steady, uniform growth, in the proper season, is 

 essential to maturity, which is but another name for hardiness. 



The special adaptation of some localities for fruit culture, as 

 seen in the success, the productiveness and hardiness of varieties 

 that are but half hardy and even tender, in other places, may be 

 largely due to this very fact. In the noled pear orchard near 

 Green Bay, while the influence of the surrounding bodies of 

 water may contribute to its success, it is more than probable that 

 its fruitfulness and hardiness are mainly due to the mechanical 

 condition of the soil on the terraced side hill, which gives the 

 roots access at all times to all the elements needed to promote a 

 slow, uniform and unchecked growth. 



Mr. Kellogg was sure his orchard did not suffer from lack of 

 drainage, for it stood over a gravel bed. He believed that much 

 of our trouble with our trees came from excessive and unseason- 

 able growth, especially with our pear trees. They should make 

 but a moderate growth. The poorest soil you can get is the best 

 for them. 



Mr. Pilgrim thought that there were but kw farms in the state 

 that would not be benefited by underdraining. Many, situated 

 on high ground, and over gravel, had a layer of clay near the 

 surface that held the water, and kept the roots from passing down. 



Mr. Peffer had made special observations in regard to a pecul- 

 iar feature of mildew or bli«;ht that affected the trees in his 

 orchard in early spring. It affected the blossoms first. The first 

 trees to show bloom in the spring stood on a knoll. The first 

 blossoms opened on the 4th and 5th of June. Two or three 

 days after came a number of days that were very hot, the mer- 

 cury standing at ninety two to ninety-six degrees, with a hot, dry 

 south-southwest wind ; the petals of the blossoms wilted, turned 

 brown and then black. The blight extended from the flower to 

 the nearest leaves, and down the twigs to the limbs. Blossoms 

 that opened after these hot days were not thus affected, but 

 many of them set and developed into fruit. Later in the season 

 the fruit and leaves were much affected with scab or fungus 

 growth. 



