STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



9 



REPORT FROM FIRST DISTRICT. 



M v record of the past season shows a greater degree of heat, thin that of any of the preced- 

 ing 25 years— 107° having been reached during duly, in the shade, and for 20 successive days from 

 98 to 107° was indicated. The air was dry; most all the time there was a gentle breeze, except 

 perhaps, daring the middle of the night, when for three or four evenings the mercury stood at 

 'js- ; without a breath ol wind, and on four successive mornings this continued till the dew point 

 was reached, just before the break of day. During this hot period, we continued our out door 

 v, irk without inconvenience. Its effect on the growth of most crops, was strikingly apparent. 

 The blades of Indian corn presented a darker green than I ever before observed; it ripened ear- 

 lier than usual, and was the largest crop we ever harvested. Our lima beans were a fortnight in 

 advance of the previous years, so that by the 18th of Sept. well nigh all our crop had been gath- 

 ered. With us it is not oftener than two years in three, that this fine vegetable comes to maturity. 

 Okra, melons, cucumbers, and squashes, were all ripe before the frosts of September. It pre- 

 maturely ripened tomatoes, while the growth of late potatoes seemed retarded. The market gar- 

 deners of my neighborhood, made uo complaint of the hot weather, but invariably told me their 

 crops were doing unusually well, with the single exception of potatoes, and this not the effect ot 

 hc.it, but injuries received from the Colorado, and Cantharides groups of beetles. Nothing seemed 

 to sutler for want of moisture, for though but little rain foil, and the dews were not copious, yet 

 the few showers during the night were most opportune, and the hungry earth scarcely permitted 

 a drop to pass away by evaporation. 



The apple, peach, pear and cherry have made a much greater growth by extension than 

 thai of any former year. This new wood at this writing is thoroughly ripened. It is the opinion 

 of many that this year's fine growth of tree, anl the generally successful condition of our crops, 

 was largely influenced by the severe drought of 1867, continued through the growing season of 1S68. 

 leaving the soil in a proximate condition to that of an artificially underdrained one. With this 

 view 1 concur somewhat; but mainly attribute our abundant harvests to the tine appropriate 

 ither of May, and the ensuing summer mouths. No new varieties of small fruits have fallen 

 under my observation this summer. Several apples of much promise are being introduced into 

 our Northern Nurseries. It is worthy of note that these new candidates for our favor, are mostly 

 Mings from the Southern States. The claims of the "Stark." are mainly founded on its long 

 keeping qualities. The Baccalinua may fill the place occupied by the " Little Bed Bomanite," if 

 it proves to be as hardy a tree ; its rigor and productiveness are marked qualities in our Southern 

 countries. The " Shockly" and " Bentley's Sweet," are both late keeping Spring apples, and on 

 this accounl desirable. The long time required to ascertain the hardiness of these trees in our 



Climate, should make us chary ot recommending them, to the exclusion of our well known sorts. 

 The excellent list of our State Society as yearly amend <1 by Its members, is safer as a guide for 

 the Inexperienced, than our speculations of new varieties. The testing of these, more properly 

 app i tains to the Nurseryman, and to the Amateur who is willing to do a little labor, an.l much 



waiting, for the g 1 of his kind. Then eral seedlings of the Wild Plum which have a 



i! popularity; they are hardy, an 1 productive, their disseminators claiming tor them a skin of 



such close texture as defies the etfort of the curcnlio to perpetuate his kind, should this prove to 

 bo so, for culinary uses at least, they may prove valuable. The " Miner" and the "Wild Goose" 

 are the most prominent. Some Siberian crab apple seedlings, with Brail of excellent quality and 



appearance, have been exhibited this year. To what extent, it' at all, they are superior to the 

 line lull sorts we now have on our lists, time musl tell. There is a winter variety grown in Mc- 

 1 W-nry county, of much merit, and which for certain purposes, may prove valuable. This I tasted 



