REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 375 



Cherries are worked on Mahaleb and Mazzard stocks. Those worked on the 

 Black Mazzard are a little tender in the root. I now use Mahaleb stocks. The 

 Mahaleb is a native of Europe, and stocks and seeds of this hardy cherry are 

 largely imported from that country. May Duke and Early Purple come into 

 bearing sooner when worked on Mahaleb stock. 



Of grapes, the Delaware and other slow-growing varieties, when grafted onto 

 Concord and Clinton roots, are improved. 



The Concord has a deeper, stronger root than the Delaware. 



For grafting I take one and two year-old Concord or Clinton vine 3 , cut them 

 off a little below the surface of the ground and whip-graft. If the vine is 

 larger, I saw it off, slit it with a saw and insert the graft like an apple graft, 

 but do not wax it. I graft grapes as soon as the frost is out of the ground. 



In cleft-grafting, draw the earth over the stock and press it firmly down, 

 leaving only one bud of the graft out of the ground. The Delaware, when in 

 perfect health and when it does not prematurely cast its leaves, will stand as 

 much cold as the Concord. In regard to the effect of the stock upon the fruit 

 of the graft, that is a disputed question. 



Some pomologists assert that it does affect the fruit. 



I aim to set dwarf pear trees deep enough so that the pear will strike root 

 and thus make a half-standard tree. 



February 4, 1886. 



The question of transportation was discussed. 



C. II. Farnum thought that it was of much importance to fruit growers 

 that they obtain the best rates possible from the transportation and express 

 companies. 



II. Morrill did not think that they could expect to ship by express as cheaply 

 as by freight. He favored the formation of a fruit exchange. 



W. A. Brown spoke of a company for the transportation of fruit in refriger- 

 ator cars, which employs agents to look after the best points to which to ship, 

 and whose operations extend through Illinois, Mississippi and Tennessee, and 

 which ships north, east and south, independent of Chicago. Mr. Brown 

 thought that Michigan fruit-growers could use refrigerator cars independent of 

 the express companies and know where to send the fruit. 



C. \V. Whitehead spoke of an association of fruit growers at Cobden, Illinois, 

 that had its fruit house and refrigerator cars; and also about a fruit exchange 

 in Delaware, where fruit is sold and bought. 



M". Brown thought that if fruit growers would combine they might get bet- 

 ter rates than five cents a package to Chicago, as we are now paying as much 

 on grapes to Chicago as they are from the Hudson river. 



Mr. Morrill thought that something might be accomplished through a ship- 

 pers' exchange. 



February 16, 1886. 



Concerning fertilizers, President Smith said: If manure is placed near to- 

 the plant it serves both as a mulch and as a fertilizer. 



