258 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



January 25. — The subject of canning fruit was discussed, and nearly 

 all members present spoke in favor of taking measures to procure a can- 

 ning establishment in our midst, so that the fruit-growers of Onarga and 

 vicinity might be able to utilize all their fruits. A committee was 

 appointed to obtain information relating to the enterprise and report at 

 the next meeting. 



At the meeting of February ist, the committee on fruit canning re- 

 ported favorably to the establishment of a canning factory, and was con- 

 tinued. 



At the meeting of February 8th, the subject of pruning apple trees 

 was discussed at length ; the prevailing opinion was in favor of pruning 

 in February, and painting the stumps of branches cut off, so as to prevent 

 decay and facilitate the healing of the wound. 



In a discussion upon varieties of cherries, at this meeting, the Early 

 Richmond, English Morello and Black Tartarian, were highly commend- 

 ed by the speakers, as adapted to this locality. 



At the meeting held March ist, the committee on canning reported 

 further, giving much valuable information. Apple tree blight was also 

 discussed at this meeting, resulting, as usual, in doubt as to the cause. 

 One member had discovered small larvae in the pith of branches of apple 

 trees, and suspected that they would produce blight. 



March 8th. — Floriculture was the topic for the evening. Mrs. Cong- 

 don read an essay showing that with little expense and time home and its 

 surroundings could be made attractive and pleasant, and urging parents 

 to so adorn their homes as to make them the most desirable places for 

 their children — such homes as in after years they would look back upon 

 with fond recollections. 



One member spoke disparagingly of the use of a certain vegetable, 

 called tobacco, and thought that if the money squandered in its use were 

 devoted to the purchase of plants and seeds, and the cultivation of flower 

 gardens, it would be a great advance in horticulture. 



At the meeting held on the evening of March 15th, the committee 

 on canning reported further, and the propriety of connecting a drying 

 establishment with one for canning was discussed, and the plan met with 

 general favor. Communications from parties owning patents for dryers 

 were read, and the Alden process was pretty severely criticized on 

 account of its expensiveness, and the plan of operating it being unfair to 

 the fruit-growers. Some other drying processes and fixtures, which were 

 described, were considered far preferable to this. At this meeting 

 seeds and cions from the Agricultural Department, at Washington, were 

 distributed. 



At the meeting of March 2 2d, steps were taken to form a stock com- 

 pany for canning and drying fruits. A committee was also appointed to 

 report a list of apples suited to this locality ; and on the 29th the com- 

 mittee reported the following list : 



Summer Apples — Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, Red June, Duchess 

 of Oldenburg, Benoni, American Summer Pearmain, Golden Sweet, 

 Keswick Codlin. 



