146 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



other hardy small fruits are flourishing. Horticulturists are encouraged, and 

 their associations are in a thriving condition. The northwest has a good rep- 

 utation for its strawberries (Crescent and Wilson), raspberries (blackcaps), 

 blackberries (Snyder and Ancient Briton), grapes (Concord, Delaware, and 

 Worden), and its Canada plums, which give great promise of flourishing. 

 Floriculture also is by no means neglected. 



From the testimony of several horticulturists present, strawberries seem to 

 do well where the thermomeLer gets down as low as 45 degrees below zero. 

 They rarely freeze during these severe winters, even when there is not much 

 snow on the ground; but it is much safer to cover them well with marsh hay 

 straw, etc. 



President J. M. Smith, of Wisconsin, is responsible for the statement that as 

 fine a crop of strawberries as he ever saw was grown up close to the arctic 

 circle, where the winter lasts for nine months in the year. They are essentially 

 a northern fruit. 



Mr. Campbell, secretary of the Ohio association, next read a paper on " The 

 Advantages of Better Culture of Grapes." A little winter protection will do 

 wonders for all \ines; in mild winters they will bear better for it, while in se- 

 vere winters they will not bear at all without some attention. Use faithfully 

 all means likely to insure success. Do not begrudge a little trouble, for it will 

 be amply rewarded. Just in proportion to the care taken of grapes will their 

 success vary. The best grapes always command a good price and ready sale. 



Mr. Campbell uses stable manure for his vines. Mr. Ward, of Ohio, says 

 bone-dust pays him better than any other fertilizer; that, for some reason, 

 vines do better when planted near an inhabited house. He thinks the secret of 

 it is that they get, in may ways, a supply of saline elements they could not 

 otherwise get. He salts the ground over the roots of his plants frequently, 

 and they are very thrifty as a cousequence. 



Mr. Van Deman, of Kansas, remarked that in his experience vines did better 

 planted on the north side of a wall or other shelter. This did not seem to 

 agree with the observations made by many other members. Mr. Boggs, of 

 North Carolina, very sensibly observed, giving good authority for his statement, 

 that vegetation of a southern nature thrived better on a southern exposure, 

 while that of a northern inclination had better be set out on a northern slope. 

 So that it depended entirely on the climatic nature of the plant, where it 

 should be placed. He feared that grapevines planted on a northern exposure 

 might not mature in this climate. This seemed to be the general sentiment. 



Dr. Samuel Hape, vice president of the Georgia association, sent a paper 

 on "The condition of horticulture in northern Georgia," which was read by 

 President Earle. This region is little known and less represented in horticul- 

 tural circles, but its great capacity for fruit production is a well-established 

 fact. The range of fruits is very wide, but of somewhat different nature from 

 that of lower regions. The principal varieties of apples are five in number; 

 peaches, two. Bartlett and Duchess pears are most common, while the varie- 

 ties of grapes most grown are Concord, Ives and Norton's Virginia. The only 

 strawberry of any importance is Wilson's Albany. Almost any fruit will 

 thrive. This is a fact of great importance, since if the acreage be extended, 

 such great supplies need not be imported from the North. Grapes are not ex- 

 tensively cultivated, but they do not rot as in lower regions. Owing to the 

 difficulty of obtaining data, not very much can be said in regard to this region. 

 Situations for orchards are very favorable, but one great drawback to fruit- 

 culture on any large scale for market, is the lack of railway facilities. 



