WINTER MEETING, 1877. 71 



lays her eggs inside the clirysalids (I know these are sometimes, if not always, 

 laid on the larva, though almost all writers say on the pupa), where the young 

 hatch sometimes to the number of fifty, when they proceed to devour the host 

 which thus furnishes them liome and food. Thus these tiny cyclops do us a 

 service wliich we can not over vahic. 



From a largo number of larv;e wliich I received from Buffalo last autumn, 

 all of which became clirysalids in due season, only three have survived the at- 

 tack of this Lilliputian foe. I have specimens of both here, so that you may 

 see the difference between healtliy and diseased pupa3. Those clirysalids, as you 

 see, that are attacked are of a darker color, owing to the quick consumption 

 from which they are seriously suffering. In destroying the clirysalids these 

 darker ones should be carefully spared, as we will thus breed thousands of these 

 little friends, whereas by destroying the clirysalids, we should likewise overcome 

 these valuable abettors. We may hope, and not without reason, that this little 

 parasitic fly will do much to mitigate what will prove, even with them, to be a 

 serious plague. We can only hope that even more of this butterfly's old home 

 enemies will take voyage to our shores. 



Following Prof. Cook's paper, a short discussion ensued upon 



SCIONS. 



Mr. Whitney. — I would like to inquire if it is just the thing for a nursery- 

 man to do, to use the trimmings of two or three years old trees for scions in root 

 grafting? It seems to me that there is a semblance of cheating in this method 

 of propagation, when we add the fact that a root is cut up into indefinite pieces 

 in the production of root grafts. 



Mr. Moody. — After a long experience I am satisfied that if wood is Avell ri- 

 pened, there is little choice between scions taken from young or bearing trees. 

 We are after healthy wood, and in young, vigorous stocks we are the most apt 

 to find it. 



Mr. Merriman. — There has been a good deal of grumbling over this method 

 of propagation, and I am not sure but it may be carried to an extreme so far 

 as the root goes, but am satisfied we do not put off the date of bearing of a 

 tree by making that tree of a scion from a young healthy stock, even if it has 

 never borne an apple. 



Mr. Ilgenfritz gave his testimony in the same direction. 



Mr. Thomas. — I have found the average tree agent a scoundrel, but have 

 always had a good deal of confidence in the established nurserymen of our 

 country, and when a point is agreed upon by men as well versed as the gentle- 

 men wlio have just spoken, I am satisfied to acccept their verdict, particularly 

 as it agrees with my own experience. 



THE COMMITTEE ON APPLES 



through their chairman. Prof. Beal, made the following report: 



Mr. President : — Your committee on apples beg leave to submit the follow- 

 ing report : 



There are on exhibition by actual count, 4G1 plates of apples, of over 100 

 different named varieties, and perhaps ten not named. 



AV. K. Van Sickle, Waterford, exhibits 12 varieties. 



Hartwell Green, West Bloomfield, exhibits 11 varieties. 



E. Hamilton, Koyal Oak, exhibits G varieties. 



