126 Staic Horticultin-al Society. 



all about it, but I dare not venture too much. I have compared the 

 latest storm charts and astronomical diagrams for January to May in- 

 cluded for this year and next, and I must confess my inability to say 

 much to encourage. I fear the last week in April and the first half of 

 May. We shall certainly have an opportunity to test the influence of 

 Venus, under whose influence we had so much rain last May and Jvuie, 

 and that of ^Mercury, the well known sleet god, to whom our cold first 

 half of last April was charged. This year Venus is in almost full force 

 by the last week of April, and Mercury enters our sphere April 26th. 

 On May 3d both Vulcan and Mercury pass their equinoxes, and Venus 

 reaches hers on the 4th. She continues till the 23d, but from the 12th 

 to the 30th Vulcan passes his equinox twice giving us his modifying and 

 I hope mollifying influence. 



All I can say, then, is about this: I don't look for a repetition of 

 February, 1899. Our winter is not to be very lamb like, nor are we very, 

 likely to have our apple buds killed. If we should have ''some extenuating 

 circumstance" — an opposing planet whose influence we have not suffi- 

 ciently considered, or much cloudy weather from April 26th to May loth — 

 we may escape a probable repetition of last April and May. If so, be 

 of good cheer afterward. We shall, in that case, have an apple crop, and 

 a good October and November in wdiich to gather and store our fruit. 

 It may cheer some of you to know that in 1904 we have "the light of the 

 moon" from April 22nd to May 7th. If the moon theorists are right, then 

 we may escape. ■ 



But I must close. My desire for a good crop this year and the 

 heartiness of our welcome tonight filled me too full for utterance; hence, 

 I could not say much. But the inspiration of the hour is upon us and 

 we want to hear from Europe and Oregon, and to learn what Hannibal 

 has sent us on the apple business. Columbia and Missouri University 

 so nearlv one and ihe same, we thank you for the welcome you have 

 tendered us tonight. 



SOME NOTES (^X HORTICULTURI' IX E-UROPE. 



(By ]\rarie L. Goodman. Kansas City, :\Io.) 



To cover this collection of notes we shall need to take horticulture in 

 its most comprehensive sense, including experiment stations, gardens, 

 flowers, fruits and markets The first new method noted on our trip 

 was foreign indeed, but not on the other side of the water. At the Ex- 

 periment Station of Amherst, ^lass., you will find a Kansas man in 



