STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 211 



the tree is elaborating to Itself the tint ritious elements for the next year's tnf, Bbould 

 be considered a Bofflcient cause why the next Bpring it should uot be in a condition to 

 sustain fruit. 



I am confirmed in this opinion from numerous observations. For example: I have 

 a lol of Jonathan trees in one orchard that were a few years ago mulched heavily with 

 straw, and having still a moist, mellow condition to the soil beneath the tree; these 

 produced a full crop the past season, and also the previous year. I have another lot or 

 Jonathan trees in an adjoining orchard, that have had every other advantage except 

 tlie mulching, that scarcely produced a peck toatree. In my Aledo orchard, on dry 

 clay ground, the Jonathan was a complete failure the past year. 



The dro-.it h of L867 was felt over 1 1 • • ; 1 1 • 1 v the whole extent of our western country ; 

 so also was tli • partial failure of the apple crop of '68 equally extensive. 



( lonccrning noxious insects, there is no reason to think t he past year has shown any 

 increase over the previous year, except in a few isolated cases. 



Codling ^f<>th. — Of all noxious insects, this is probably the greatest pest. We get 

 no evidence of any increase over the yen- '67, and are sorry to say, nothing new has 

 been elicited to abate the evil. The hay bands of Dr. Trimble seems the most practical 

 of anything yet suggested. 



Bark Lowe. — This seems to bo a fearful scourge to orchards in the northern portion 

 of the stale; but, on the whole, there Is less alarm on the subject than formerly. 

 There i- evidence from many sources, that the eggs of this insect are, to a great extent, 

 being destroyed by the MUe. It is hoped this is really the case. But it is feared that 

 some who have reported the eggs all dest roved on their trees, have fallen into a mistake, 

 and formed this opinion from examining the old empty scabs ol last year, which still 

 adhere to the bark. But I have collected testimony from several sources, where the 

 bark louse ha- once prevailed, and subsequently appeared, or become greatly dimin- 

 ished. [ remember well that this same European Bark Louse infested the tree.- in my 

 father's orchard in Steuben Co., N'. Y. when 1 was a hoy ; hut the same old orchard is 

 still standing. I measured some of the trunks of these old tree-, two years ago, that 

 were -ik and -even feet in circumference. 



We may have reason to believe that the spread of the Bark Louse will, as a general 

 rule, he followed by an increase Of their parasitic enemies, the Mite ; and that thus the 

 former will he held in check. 



In our inland situation, remote from the ameliorating Influence "i bodies of water, 

 Subject to the ,■ .'re me changes of a continental climate, of course I hi-, the subject of 

 Horticulture becomes complicated in some difficulties and uncertainties. It becomes 

 a matter of the highest Importance for us to work into a system of orchard manage- 

 ment, adapted to the capriciousnes8 of our climate. We must work out this problem 

 for ourselves. 



The most efficicnl means within our reach to ameliorate the asperities of our climate 

 and lessen the difficulties Of fruit growing, is with the evergreens, 'this is a subject on 

 which Borne Interest i- already awakened. But, as on all other new things, there is 

 reason to apprehend a danger oi falling into some blunders in the use wo make of the 

 evergreens. We would doubt the propriety of closing '" every .-mall orchard with a 

 dense wall of evergreens. It i- not our orchards alone thai need- protection, but our 

 stock, our homes, and our Held- — Indeed it i- the entire face of the prairie country, 

 that needs protection. The high ridges of land all over our country should be belted 



