448 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Ladd. — It is the same as quack grass, or devil's grass : has various names. 

 In New York it was the worst weed we had. Never knew it to be extermin- 

 ated, but it can be kept down by cultivation. 



Mr. Tracy. — Western New York is thoroughly infested with it. As it may 

 creep in here and not be recognized, I will at the next meeting draw an illus- 

 tration of it. 



Mr. Lawrence. — The seed is much like chess : only two rows of seed on the 

 head, which is long. 



Mr. Reese. — It is worse to plow in than the strongest June grass. In Eng- 

 land it is called Cooch grass, in Wales the Devil's Own grass. I have dug up 

 the roots, looking carefully for the small fibres, and even sifting the soil so as 

 to remove every particle, but the next year it came up again. 



MARKETS FOR APPLES. 



Old Mission, Feb. 2, 1874. 



The club met at half past 6 p. m., the President, J. E. Savage, in the chair. 



After the reading and adoption of the minutes of the last meeting, the sec- 

 retary, Mr. McCallum, read the following letter from Mr. W. H. Gardner, of 

 Chicago : 



Dear Sir, — I read the account of your meeting at which was discussed 

 the question of " Crops." This is a vital question to all engaged in earth 

 culture, and one on which I, perhaps, should remain silent. But I was 

 greatly interested in the article, and as I have my own opinions I will give 

 them, warning you not take them for more than they are worth. 



It looks to me as if the potato crop, at present, is the best Avhich you can 

 grow. I have inquired for some years regarding your soil and have always 

 been told that it is good,— better than average, — for potatoes. Now for a 

 market you have the lake region from Chicago to Buffalo. The Chicago 

 market alone in ordinary years will take from you, at good prices, 500,000 

 bushels. The potato has sold here for from 75 cents to $1.50 for years. The 

 wholesale price now is $1.15. The potatoes sold here are inferior, too, at this 

 rate. You can get few baking potatoes. The potato grower should not con- 

 fine himself to one variety. Good potatoes for baking, boiling, etc., should be 

 grown. Now I drop the potato for the apple. If your peninsula had as many 

 good bearing apple trees as it has trees of other kinds ( beech and maple ) it 

 would find a ready market for every bushel of good winter apples like the 

 Russet, the Baldwin, etc. The market for winter apples is constantly extend- 

 ing, while the belt producing them profitably is gradually narrowing. So you 

 can, if you have a good climate for apples, plant by the section and have no 

 fear for a market. You are in God's paradise for a market if you can get the 

 merchandise demanded bv the market. 



HOW TO MANURE. 



Old Mission, Feb. 9, 1874. 

 Pursuant to motion of adjournment, the club met at 6.30 o'clock P. M. The- 

 president, Mr. Savage, in the chair. 



