STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 2") 



Me Lain — I move it be added for market and family use in the 

 Centre. In old orchards in one county it has been successful from 

 the start. Carried. 



Dr. Spalding, (of St. Louis) — I move that Dr. Hull's report ad 

 interim be made the special order for this evening. Carried. 



REPORT FROM EIGHTH DISTRICT. 



The report of the Vice-President of the 8th District will have to be like the fruit crop, very 

 ehort. 



Either from following the old adage, " if you cannot pay anything good, say nothing," or want 

 of time, but one person, ( Hon. (i. W. Minier) has replied to the number of letters sent out calling 

 for Information upon horticultural matters. He writes: " The fruit crop in our county is not half 

 as much as usual. For some reason, the (lowers of the fruit trees tailed in some essential prop- 

 erty. I venture the opinion that it was in the pistillae quality of blossoms. Connected with this 

 intimately, as I think, is the fact that the honey bees made little or no honey from the llowers. 

 These insects play an important part in the fructification of rlowers, but whether from want of 

 pollen, or the lack of nectar in the cup of the corolla to entice the bees, I know not. Certain it is, 

 that the ni'-u vigorous and well cared tor trees produced the best crop of fruit, and among apples 

 the Wii esap deserves particular praise. Our entomologist has given us abundant information 

 about the insects; their names, habits and propagation, but lor_ some reason the little rascals to- 

 tally disregard his learned dissertations, and feed as voraciously as ever on the products of our or- 

 chards, gardens and vineyards. The planting of fruit trees was not as extensive h^t spring as 

 usual, but the planting < f ornamental trees and shrubbery was more extensive. Blight, as usual, 

 is plaj tng pranks with our pear trees. In Sangamon County there was not a quarter of a crop of 

 the apple; with the exception of the Winesap and Jennetting. which (the former in particular) 

 bore fair crops. There was a moderate crop of the peach, while of the smaller fruits there was 

 perhaps half a crop. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. L. C FRANCIS. 



PICKING AND KEEPING WINTER APPLES. 



Galusha — One of my neighbors, last April, gave me very fine 

 Snow apples, also, the Jonathan in May and June, and the Rawle's 

 Janet in July. He picks his fruit very carefully, without rubbing 

 the bloom off, if posssiblc, puts the fruit into a dry cellar, on rails, in 

 layers of three or four deep, and dashes on water several times ; after 

 they are dried off he puts them on the shelves. 



Spalding — I think the cold cellar was the secret of the success, 

 ' presupposing good condition. 



Long — Keep the temperature at 35° and you can keep the apples 

 any time. Fermentation commences about 4o°. I keep my apples 

 in berths of different depths, according to the variety of the apple. 



