460 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ing of improvement societies, described what had been accomplished in severaF 

 New York and New England villages by such societies and by individual 

 effort, and held these places up as worthy examples. 



The address was very interesting and seemed to be appreciated. 

 • Following Mr. Northrup, Mr. Kingsbury, of the Indiana Farmer, read a 

 pleasing paper upon the "Ethics of Horticulture." 



The Wednesday morning session was opened by a paper by A. G. Chandlee, 

 entitled " The Old Grape-vine on the Wall." Mr. Chandlee spoke of the 

 beautifying effect, and of the utility of using house or barn walls as a trellis 

 for the vine. In speaking of vineyard management he said that he did not 

 plow or culti\ate, pruned very little and never pinched back during summer, 

 but allowed the vines to run as far as they pleased. He also said that he was 

 never troubled with rot or mildew, while his neighbors lost largely from these 

 two diseases. These remarks called forth an animated discussion, largely iu 

 opposition to the methods recommended by Mr. Chandlee. The experiences 

 as given by the different speakers were nearly all in favor of thorough culti- 

 vation and of confining the vines within their allotted spaces, varying accord- 

 ing to the distance between plants, which was variously given at from eight 

 to twelve feet. Two or three speakers who had practiced Mr. Chand lee's 

 method of culture and pruning confessed to great loss from rot and mildew. 

 Although many questions were asked a clear and satisfactory answer as to 

 the the direct cause of the absence of the diseases from Mr. Chandlee's vine- 

 yard was not brought out. Several cases were mentioned showing quite 

 clearly that when vines were trained against buildings and protected in a 

 measure from moisture by overhanging eaves, they escaped both rot and mil- 

 dew, while vines of the same varieties on trellises near by were more or less 

 affected. 



At the afternoon session Mr. J. C. Eatliff, one of the trustees of Purdue 

 University, read a report on that institution, dwelling upon the finances, the 

 management and future prospects. Professor Troop then made a report upon 

 the experiment stations, telling what had been done at the eleven sub-stations 

 located in different parts of the State and supplied and directed from the 

 central station at Purdue. This method of carrying on experimental work 

 through local stations is a new departure, not yet thoroughly organized and 

 not old enough to furnish results of value. They have met with difllcultics 

 from lack of funds, but the professor has great hopes of the future useful- 

 ness of the system. 



Following Prof. Troop a very interesting off-hand talk was given by Dr. 

 A. Furnas upon " Grafting, Budding and the Preparation of Cuttings." The 

 doctor was supplied with all the necessary tools and plenty of material for 

 illustrating each point as he proceeded. Many questions were asked and the 

 object lessons were appreciated and enjoyed by all. 



Wednesday evening the election of officers was held. Sylvester Johnson wa 

 elected president and C. M. Hobbs secretary. 



Mr. Yenowine then presented a paper on the effects of commercial fertili- 

 zers in Floyd county. The speaker's experience was very much in favor of a 

 liberal use of superphosphates and other prepared fertilizers. 



The English sparrow was taken up and discussed at some length. Presi- 

 dent Johnson and one other gentleman stood alone in its defense, all the 

 rest speaking in strong terms against the sparrow, and in favor of a war of 

 extirmination. The damage Lo ripening fields of grain was dwelt upon and 



