144 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



very much better than the Miner, as the skin of the Miner is so intensely 

 sour that it is almost impossible to sweeten it, while the Wild Goose does 

 not have this extreme acidity in the skin nor around the stone. As to 

 being curculio-proof, I think it is fully equal to the Miner. 



Three years ago last summer, I received from Mr. Downer, of Ken- 

 tucky, an excellent plum, about one-third less in size — a freestone, which 

 promises well. 



Mr. Shephard — Were these the plums you showed to me at your 

 house ? 



Mr. Wier — I think so. I had packages four different times. It 

 ripens from the middle of x\ugust to the middle of September. We also 

 have, in this family of plums, a plum that I got as Peach Leaf plum, re- 

 sembling the Wild Goose more than it does the Miner. It is very much 

 smaller than the Miner. I have never seen the mark of the curculio on 

 this plum. The skin appears to be so hard that the curculio cannot hurt 

 it. As for the Miner and the other ones, it is not so. 



Mr. Nelson — The stock of the Wild Goose plum — was that the Dow- 

 ner stock ? 



Mr. Wier — Yes, sir; and I noticed that the leaves were waved. Still, 

 I have a Wild Goose plum in Avhich they are not. 



REPORT OF VICE-PRESIDENT FOR FIFTH DISTRICT. 



The Secretary next read the report of B. Pullen, Vice-President for 

 the Fifth District, as follows : 



Mr. President and Gentlemen : 



The Vice-President elect for the Fifth District, Mr. J. C. Cooper, 

 having removed from the district and State in the early part of the year, 

 I consented, upon request of your Secretary, to perform his duties and 

 furnish a report. The following is submitted : 



Most of you will remember that I reported for the same district last 

 year, and that it was any thing but a hopeful or encouraging r eport. 

 wish a more prosperous condition of things could be reported for 1873, 

 but a proper respect for the truth will hardly admit of it. Disaster has 

 followed disaster until we are left in a sort of chaos, and the future of 

 Horticulture in the Fifth District looks chaotic, indeed. It is to be 

 regretted, also, that county correspondents, with one exception, have 

 failed to respond, limiting, with that exception, this report to personal 

 knowledge, observations, and to such inquiries as I have been able to 

 make during the season. All of you are acquainted with the severity of 

 the past winter, the thermometer indicating with us from 30° to 34° 

 below zero. The unusually heavy crop of fruit, and the dry season of 



