Tho officers of several of the New England Railroads expressed their readiness to 

 transport stock to and from the Exhibition free of charge ; and an announcement to that 

 elTci't was made accordingly ; but as tho arrangement was not general, it was 

 dc'oided by the New England roads, and by roads in other States, to convey stock at otie- 

 half the usual chanjc. Ilailroads on such occasions would find it to their eventual in- 

 terest to observe a more r/eiwrous economy. 



This was expected to be the greatest agricultural oxliibition that America, and DorliajjS 

 the world, ever saw. 



CoxvENTiox OF Fruit Growers OF WESTERN New Youk. — This body met at the 

 Council Chamber, Buffalo; about fifty delegates being present. The meeting was called 

 to order by Joii.v J. Thomas, of Macedon, Wayne Co., President. 



Upon motion of Mr. Barry of Rochester, the following business Committee were ap- 

 pointed : Messrs. Barry of Rochester, Allen and Coppock of Buffalo, Barrit of Lockport 

 and Pinney of Brockport. Committees on Finance and membership were also appointed. 



The afternoon session commenced at 3 o'clock, and Mr. Barry from the Committae on 

 business reported that the diseases of fruit trees would be discussed in the following 

 order : 1. Fire blight in pear, apple and quince trees. 2. Leaf blight in same trees. 

 3. Cracking of fruit. 4. Black knot on plums. 5. Mildew on early grapes. 



Insects. — 1. Curculio. 2. Apple borers. 3. Apple and Pear Insects. 4. Peach 

 Borer. 



The discussion to be continued until 5^ o'clock, and from 8 J to 10 o'clock to-day, also 

 that the public be allowed admission during the afternoon and evening. 



After a recess to allow exhibitors to arrange their fruit, the discussion of the subject 

 of fire-blight was commenced, and was participated in by Messrs. Allen of Black Rock 

 Thomas of Maceden, Townsend of Lockport, Cadwallader, Coppock, Eaton and Mason of 

 Buffalo, Barry of Rochester and others. 



Mr. Allen thought the disease was the result of electricity in the atmosphere. 



Mr. Thomas could not account for the disease, but thought it contagious and always 

 amputated and buried the affected limb. 



Mr. Cadwaladcr was of opinion that frost had something to do with it. 



Mr. Townsend thought the disease resulted from trees being gorged with sap and acted 

 upon by a moist atmosphere and intense heat, so as to rupture the sap vessels. 



Mr. Barry had no theory of the disease. It was confined to certain localities, and 

 could not be accounted for any more than the cholera. He did not know of any cure for 

 it. Ilis way was to plant two trees for every one that was killed by the blight. 



Mr. Hood, of Lockport, thought the disease was brought on by excessive manuring, 

 which generated an unhealthj^ gas, in some way causing the tree to overact. The only 

 way to avoid it was to endeavor to secure a healthy and even growth. 



Mr. Thomas, of Macodon, wished to say a word about the theory of the sap bursting 

 the vessels, which had been assigned as the cause of the blight, and also of the rust in 

 wheat. He had examined into the case and was convinced that the rust was occasioned 

 by the growth of fungi. No pressure of the sap would burst the vessels. 



Mr. Pinney, of Lockport, and Manley, of Buffalo, also related their experience in this 

 matter of blight, but no effectual remedy for the disease was proposed. 



Mr. Thomas, of Macedon, suggested as a means of arriving definitely at the varieties 

 of pears most affected by the blight, that each member should in the morning bring in a 

 pears most liable to blight, with a description of the soil in which the trees were 

 and the mode of the culture. 



