36 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ripened from the 20th to 25th of September; and a single branch of 

 eighteen inches matured forty- five specimens of perfect fruit. This sort 

 seems especially hardy in the fruit bud. Several other varieties have been 

 discarded for lack of qualities that would fit them for desirable market 

 sorts. I should have stated that one, No. 6, is supposed to be the same as 

 Abundance. 



APRICOTS INCREASING IN POPULARITY. 



The introduction of the so-called Russian apricots, which in themselves 

 are probably of no value, may have served as a stimulus in the way of 

 growing and testing other varieties of this fine fruit, so that today there is- 

 a growing interest in this fruit that has never before been seen; and several 

 varieties have come to the surface that it would seem can be grown with 

 success. One party had 1,000 bushels the past season. They are wanted 

 not only on the fruit stands of the cities, but also by canning establishments. 

 The manager of one of these, a few weeks since, informed me he packed 

 500 cases the past season "and could easily have sold 5,000, afPording a 

 profit which I venture to say would satisfy any of us. Is not this fruit 

 worth a trial on the east shore of lake Michigan ? Varieties so far that 

 have done well are Harris, Early Montgamet, and Oliver's Early Peach. 



BY WAY OF CONCLUSION. 



Notes have been prepared with reference to diseases and insect life,, 

 which the successful fruitgrower is called upon to combat every year — 

 such as black-knot, yellows, apple-scab, and scores of a kindred nature — 

 but all of this is a subject so vast as to form a topic alone for considera- 

 tion. Therefore I leave it entirely, to be taken up in your discussion, as 

 interest may indicate, simply suggesting that, if not done already, a law 

 should at once be enacted by your legislature that will enable each town 

 to clean out black-knot in the plum and cherry wherever found. 



Avail yourselves of the necessary apparatus and chemicals, at a season 

 of the year when you have time to give the business such consideration 

 as it demands, and have all in readiness to make your fight early in 1892. 

 against all enemies of whatever name and nature, and you will have no 

 reason to regret mistakes which your less cautious neighbors will be likely 

 to make. 



THEY QUESTIONED HIM. 



After concluding his paper, Mr. Willard spoke with great earnestness 

 in warning against tolerating even the slightest appearance of black- 

 knot, depicting its destructive ravages in Massachusetts and the Hudson 

 river valley. Questioned as to other varieties of the plum, he said the- 

 Hudson River Purple Egg is one of the very best varieties we have. It 

 originated in New York and is a long, purple plum of the prune type and 

 is very productive. The only objection to the Lombard plum is that it 

 ripens in midseason when prices are likely to be low. The same is the 

 case with Shipper's Pride. " How much ground bone should be used to- 



