STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 81 



" In these few remarks, I must only be considered as speaking generally, as in 

 many isolated cases none of them will apply. I am well aware that many Cherry trees 

 are hearty, and produced a good crop the past season ; so also of Grape vines, but in 

 all such cases, there are circumstances around the individuals not applicable to the 

 general fruit-grower. 



" We have heard but little of insects the past season, for the reason that there 

 has been nothing for them to prey upon. If we are to enjoy immunity from them 

 for a few years, time only can tell. It seem., to me that the Curculio must be played 

 out unless it breeds in some other fruits than Plums and Peaches." 



C. S. Capps reports thus froiii Logan county : 



" The extremes of drought and cold, which have occurred here during the past 

 two or three years, have been very desiructive to trees, shrubs and vines ; the damage, 

 though generally attributed to the extreme cold of the last winter, is no doubt jjartly 

 owing to the inadequate supply of moisture, which left vegetation in bad conditif)n to 

 resist the extreme cold. The Pear blight, which has left scarcely a sound tree in the 

 country, has also, doubtless, been in a great measure owing to the same causes. The 

 fatality among Pear trees has so discouraged planters that the culture of the Pear is 

 likely to be abandoned, unless some remedy for the disease is discovered. Pear trees 

 used to be healthy here, and I think may become so again, if we can have seasons more 

 regular in temjierature and moisture. It is possible that, like epidemics among men, 

 and epizootics among animals — this epi — what shall I call it ?— among Pear trees may 

 run its course and cease. Mr. Charles Downing writes me, in a letter of July 30, 1872, 

 as follows : ' I saw a small branch of Pear tree blight a few days since, the first for 

 nearly twenty years past, and yet nearly sixty years ago we had it worse than I ever 

 saw it anywhere ; in fact there was scarcely a tree left in the whole town ; and in my 

 father's place only one stump, three feet high. He kept cutting daily as the disease 

 spread, until all was gone but this one stump, which afterwards made a fine tree.' The 

 degree of cultivation or exposure seems to make no difference ; trees seem to be equally 

 subject to blight under all circumstances ; nor do I notice any difference in this re- 

 spect between dwarfs and standards. Yet I do not think we ought to give up Pear 

 culture, but persevere and hope for ' the good time coming.' 



^'Cherry trees have fared almost as badly; even the common Moiellos, grown from 

 sprouts and suckers, have not escaped ; but this, taking into consideration their bad 

 habit of sprouting, is perhaps not much to be regretted. 



" We have lost about all our Quince trees. 



" Many liearing Apple trees have died, which will afford us a good opportunity for 

 determining what varieties are most hardy. 



" I know of no instance where timber belts have been of the least advantage to 

 orchards in the way of protection from cold. I believe that the healthiest and most 

 productive orchards are those situated on high prairie lands, without protection. 



" Old Peach trees that had been weakened by large crops were generally killed or 

 very badly damaged by the winter, while young Peach trees stood the winter well, and 

 have made a fine growth. 



" Our nursery trees which stand on high, dry prairie land, unprotected by timber 

 belts, came through the winter in good condition; but the trees in another nursery, sur- 

 rounded by timber except on the east, are very badly damaged. This is on a clay soil ; 

 ours on a light sandy loam. We have never, in all our experience, had so bad a season 

 for transplanting trees and shrubs as the past season has jiroved to be. 



"Our Grape vines were not protected last winter, and the following varieties were 

 killed to the ground : Adirondac, Allen's Hybrid, Alvey, Catawba, Crevelling, Dela- 

 ware, (weakened by leaf blight) Diana, lona, Isabella, Israella, Ives, Maxatawny, 

 Norton's Virginia and Rogers' Hybrids. The following sons proved hardy : Concord, 

 Hartford Prolific, Clinton and Perkins. We have one vine of Christine which did not 

 die, but failed to bear this year. It bore last year, and we were mucli pleased with the 

 fruit. The Concord seems, however, the only good reliable Grape we have. 



