STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 273 



bcr of our own citizens. Although our show of fruit was inferior in quality to that 

 exhibited the previous year, still it proved quite as satisfactory as cou'd be expected 

 under the circumstance*. We :»!>.» had the pleasure of hearing an able and interesting 

 address by Prof. Greg try, Regent of Illinois Industrial University. 



The first Fruit Growers' Railroad excursion, on record, arrived here on the 13th of 

 October, consisting of eminent, practical Horticulturists, from Michigan, Missouri, and 

 our own State. Tiny were cordially entertained by our citizens and spent a couple of 

 days in examining our pr ncipal fields for the culture of strawberries, raspberries, grapes, 

 peaches, apples, etc. A number of our people joined the party, and with them visited 

 Du Quoin, Cobden, Cairo, etc. The new acquaintances formed, the interchange of ex- 

 perience and observation, made the occasion plea-ant as well as profitable. 



A new crate was invented and introduced here last spring by one of the members of 

 our Fruit Growers 1 Association, Mr W. G. Goodale. The improvement consists o a 

 set of spiral .-prints placed on the top of the bottom inside with a single spiral spring 

 in the center of the under side of the cover. Many of them were used by shippers last 

 summer with satisfactory results. The fruit is subjected to no jolts, either in Wagons 

 or on cars. The .-prints being graduated to the weight of the fruit, the berries arc 

 transported as lightly as if carried on wings. 



Our third annual meeting will be held on Saturday night, Jan. 2, 1870, at which time 

 Officers will be chosen for the ensuing year, and an address delivered by Dr. N. W. 

 Abbott, President of our Association. We fear that we shall lose the ready tact and 

 intelligent practical knowledge of Dr. Abbott, as he has removed to Chicago. 



EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS. 



" Row can we best protect our peach trees from the depredations of the borer ?" 

 being the subject for discussion this evening. 



Dr. llooton — Remarked that he had been making experiments with a view to ascer- 

 tain the most effectual and economical manner of destroying the peach borer. Did not 

 wish to be considered an oracle on the subject, as he had changed his opinion in refer- 

 ence to the best plan of operation two or three times in the last year and a half, and 

 wa^ not at all certain that he had reached permanent ground yet. Was quite confident 

 that the borer frequently lived Longer than one year, although the general opinion was 

 that he did not. Had a number of experiments In prosecution which he thought would 

 decide the question for him. Had plugged holes in trees with beeswax, perforating the 

 wax Bllghtly with a pin, so as to allow his prisoner air enough to live on. Had examined 

 some of them to-day and found them still at work. 



Was not in favor Of cutting the trees with a knife in order to dig them out, as that 

 was nearly as fatal to the tree as the work of the. borer. Had adopted the plan of 

 wrapping the trees with coarse, heavy paper saturated with Linseed oil, and tying 

 them with woolen strings. The paper that he used last year he was using again this 

 year, changing ends, placing the top at the bottom, on account of the paper becoming 

 decayed. The expense of the paper was one cent and a quarter for each tree, beside the 

 labor Of tying it on. Considered this the most effectual method of managing these 



enemies. 



PaUen— Thought it necessary to cut out the worms in young trees — say till they are 

 throe years old. After that, was in the habit of banking up his trees with earth. 



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