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for ourselves. Much depends on the kind of land, — whether it is flat 

 or rolling. In level field's garden truck or corn might be all right; and 

 .on hillsides, sod. We thought of starting alfalfa in one of our groves 

 that has been cultivated for years, and the ground washes badly in the 

 winter rains. But I find, on closer study, that nut trees, (especially 

 chestnuts), require an acid soil, while alfalfa, (along with all the 

 clovers), needs lime to do its best. Now I am ujo a stump. If I were 

 going to be at the Lancaster convention I'd try to get that question 

 answered by some one of "those who know." Let me know if you 

 learn something along that line. I am beginning to think that by the 

 time we receive the report of the meeting it will be ancient history. 



All these trees I think can best be supplied by ^Ir. Jones, of Lan- 

 caster; excepting the chestnuts. We had few stocks on which to graft 

 last spring and used them for father's oldest named varieties — Fuller, 

 Progress, Champion and Parry, and Mr. Endicott's Boone. These are 

 now sturd}^ little trees about three feet tall that would likely do very 

 well if planted this fall. We are asking two and one-half dollars 

 ($2.50) each for them. I believe Mr. Snyder also has some trees of 

 these varieties. 



Now I believe I have answered all of your questions to the best 

 of my knowledge. I hope _vou succeed in getting the arboretum started. 

 It would be of a lot more practical value than most of the things that 

 people spend money for in public parks. 



Amelia Riehl. 



Now, Mr. President, I went before the President of the Park Board 

 and gave him the information I had, and also told him of the number 

 of trees that had been planted by different friends of mine in Decatur, 

 and he authorized me to say at this convention that at the present 

 time they had contracted for 500 trees of various kinds in the parks, 

 and that will be as many trees as their present force will be able to 

 plant this fall. Decatur has purchased a great many acres of ground 

 and I think will have something like a thousand acres around the 

 city, but he has authorized me to say to this convention that they will 

 purchase 10 trees of each variety and plant them in the spring in one 

 group in one of the parks for the purpose of making a display where 

 visitors may come and see them all at one time instead of having them 

 scattered over a number of these parks where it will be difficult for 

 visitors to see tliem at one time. Now that is a cliance for the associa- 

 tion to start in Illinois a demonstration of what we stand for. I want 

 to go back to my home town, Decatur, and say that this convention 

 has recommended such and such a planting in Decatur. Three of tlie 



