ANNUAL MEETING AT SAGINAW. 619 



nearly the time of his death, had passed into the hands of Prof. Budd. A 

 cursory examination of a single one of the sixteen volumes of these memo- 

 randa shows a very copious coUection of rare information respecting fruits, 

 both old and aew. We are not informed under what conditions as to publi- 

 cation the Professor comes into possession of this interesting and valuable 

 material, but it would seem due both to the memory of their author and to 

 the horticultural public that, at least, the more important particulars should 

 be put into proper form and published. 



On Saturday, September 3d, we visited Des Moines, where we called upon 

 Hon. C. L. Watrou.s, the president of the American Nurserymen's Associa- 

 tion, who, in c insequence of remarks contained in his address before that 

 body at Chicago, in June last, became involved in a newspaper discussion, 

 respecting the adaptation and probable value of the new Russian fruits, 

 especially apples, in the climate of Iowa. 



In company with Mr. W. we looked somewhat carefully through his nur- 

 sery and fruit plantations, using the knife freely upon an assortment of Rus- 

 sian apple trees planted in orchard some five years since, for the purpose of 

 testing. These trees were lal)eled, and included several, at least, of what are 

 reputed to be the hardiest of the Russian apples. The trunks of several of 

 these, among which we recall Little Repka and Antonovka — two of the alleged 

 ironclads — when cut through a little above the ground, showed very serious^ 

 discoloration, and in some cases actual decay, such as must assuredly ruin 

 the trees, so far as future usefulness is concerned. 



The apparent injury, here, upon varieties which we had recently seen in 

 an apparently sound condition in more northern locations, occasioned much 

 surprise; since, from this latitude (about 41^°) southward, even many of the- 

 hardier natives are at least partially successful. The most probable reason 

 for such result that occurs to us is that this locality is well down in the 

 valley of Des Moines river; and that, for this reason, its winter as well as 

 summer temperatures may be more extreme than those of surrounding 

 regions. 



The annual fairs of the State Agricultural Society are understood to be 

 permanently located here ; where, as we learn, the State has provided ample 

 grounds and buildings. The programme for the fair shows that the exhibi- 

 tion of horses and horse racing is a special, if not in fact a leading feature 

 of tht* fair throughout. There are, however, very fine exhibits in many 

 other departments. 



A commodious hall is provided for horticultural exhibits, of which fully 

 two-thirds were occupied by plants and cut flowers, constituting a beautiful 

 exhibit, while the remaining third was occupied by fruits, comprising from 

 one to two thousand plates, consisting mainly of apples, with a few scattered 

 plates of some of the new Americana varieties of plums. 



The Agricultural Board in general charge of the exhibition retains also the 

 control of the horticultural exhibit, together with the framing of its 

 premium list and the awarding of premiums, save that a practical horticult- 

 urist acts by courtesy as assistant superintendent. 



A meeting of the State Llorticultural Society was held at its rooms in the 

 State Cipitol to consider a proposal by the Agricultural Board that the 

 Horticultural Society accept the management of a portion of the grounds and 

 plant and care for the same as an arboretum — an undertaking which, if 

 efficiently and creditably conducted, would seem to call for expenditures 

 largely exceeding what are understood to be its present available means. 



