356 State Horticultural Society. 



plants, each having true specific characteristics, that they are Hmited 

 and favored by conditions Hke other hving beings, and that they, Uke 

 other things, follow established orders of development and reproduction. 

 In short, life histories have been followed, and are found to be, each 

 after its kind, as true as are those of the higher and larger members of 

 the plant and animal species. Further than this, ways and means have 

 been discovered to reduce, at least to some extent, their ravages. That 

 was a capital observation in France, upon the freedom from mildew of 

 grape vines when covered with road-side dust which led some twenty- 

 five years ago to the use of copper sulphate combined with lime as a 

 practical fungicide — Bordeaux mixture we have since called it. The in- 

 troduction of this substance and the perfection of methods for its ap- 

 plication marks a new era in scientific horticulture, and this com- 

 pound is today our chief reliance in the warfare we now recognize must 

 be waged. Other forms of copper have also proved serviceable for 

 special purposes, but this copper-sulphate-lime mixture is by far the most 

 generally useful. Two other substances are also somewhat used, viz. : 

 mercuric-bichloride (corrosive sublimate) and formaldehyde, in the 

 commercial solution called formalin. Many other substances have been 

 tried, but these are the only ones, so far, found to afford much real relief. 

 This means, however, great advance, and gives just grounds for the 

 hope that industrious, well-informed man may yet become the conqueror 

 in this newer relation that he has proved himself otherwise to be on the 

 earth. 



REPORT OF CO'MMITTEE ON FRUIT. 



The committee find the following exhibits : 



G. T. Campbell— I plate 40 



E. Mohler P. Co., Plattsburg — 3 plates, 3 vareties $1 20 



B. F. Stewart, Rushville — 17 plates, 4 varieties 4 00 



We also find two seedless oranges, grown by D. N. Stewart, Morte 

 Moretes, Mexico, which are very fine specimens. 



O. McKracken, Fulton, Mo. — 5 plates, 3 varieties $1 25 



G. T. Tippin, Nichols, Mo. — 2 plates, 2 varieties 75 



Thos. Black, Clayton, 111. — 4 plates, i variety 75 



A. T. Nelson, Lebanon, Mo. — 28 plates, 25 varieties 7 00 



H. S. Wayman, Princeton, Mo. — 12 plates, 4 varieties 3 00 



