1879.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



351 



we have discovered means for the destruction of 

 many insects and diseases of trees, and we have 

 faith in the ultimate trium[Th of man in discov- 

 ering remedies for, or the means of preventing, 

 most of these that vegetation is subject to from 

 the ravages of insects. Everlasting vigilance is 

 the price of reward, and this is especially true in 

 contending with the host of vile creations that 

 we have to meet with in the culture of fruit trees. 

 I desire, however, to call especial attention to 

 the ravages of that terrible insect the pliyllox- 

 era, whicli is now become of such vast import- 

 ance to the grape growers of Eui'ope, and has 

 brought them to a condition little short of des- 

 perate. 



From the interesting paper by our Mr. G. W. 

 Campbell, Commissioner from the State of Ohio 

 to the Paris Exhibition of 1878, in the Twelfth 

 Eeport of the Ohio State Horticultural Society, 

 it appears that the only reliance of the French 

 vinyardists for overcoming this scourge is the 

 grafting their varieties on stocks of the American 

 species, among which the Jacques, supposed to be 

 identical witli Longwortli's Cigar Box Grape, is 

 pre-eminent for health and vigor. Mr. Campbell 

 says : " The enthusiasm in favor of the Ameri- 

 can vines reminds me of the flush times in 

 America when the ' grape fever ' was at its 

 height, and when grape growing was the all-ab- 

 sorbing question in many parts of tliis countr}'." 

 Although we deplore the loss to the French 

 vinyardists, the recognition of the health and 

 vigor of the American species cannot but be 

 gratifying to those who have labored so dili- 

 gentl}'^ to originate and in'troduce new and im- 

 proved varieties. It is also gratifying to know 

 that, though as a rule the French do not like the 

 flavor of our wines, they admit some of them to 

 be good, and we believe that with the lapse of 

 time they will be more and more appreciated. 

 It is matter for great thankfulness that on this 

 continent we have thus far experienced but little 

 injury from this scourge, and the health of 

 American vines in France aftbrds strong hopes 

 that we may continue to be exempt. 



Since writing the above we are informed that 

 the phylloxera continues its deadly march over 

 the vine-clad hills of France, having, it is esti- 

 mat(;d, ah'eady destroyed some 900,000 acres of 

 vines, and great fears are entertained for the 

 safety of the remaining vineyards of that country. 



In Memoriam. — Since our last session several 

 members of our society have closed their pil- 

 grimage on earth, but their labors in our cause 



will live to bless the world, and their names -will 



be treasured up in our memor}' as benefactors 

 to mankind. 



First in order we would remember Hon. Wil- 

 lard C. Flagg, whose death was announced in a 

 circular just as our last volume was going to 

 press. He died at his residence, Moro, Illinois, 

 on Saturday, March 30th, 1878. His memory 

 will ever be cherished by us for his great ability 

 and fidelity as Secretary of the American Pomo- 

 logical Society, and tlie various other institu- 

 tions of our country with which he held official 

 relations. Few men of his age have held more 

 offices of honor and trust, which were properly 

 referred to in a closing page of our last issue. 



Mr. F. R. Elliott, formerly Secretary of this 

 Society, died at Cleveland, Ohio, in February, 

 1878. Mr. E. possessed large experience as a 

 pomologist and horticulturist, and from early 

 life was a contributor to public journals, and 

 was also an author of several popular works 

 on these specialties. He was one of our early 

 members, and ever took an active part in the 

 proceedings of our Society. For many years 

 he was Secretary of our Society, and had a 

 natural facility for accomplishing the work 

 of that officer. He will be remembered by 

 a large circle of friends throughout the country, 

 as one who did much for the promotion of 

 American horticulture and pomology. We de- 

 liglit to remember him at one time as one of 

 our most useful men ; but misfortune overcame 

 him. We remember his valuable services in 

 the cause we are seeking to promote, but it is 

 not our province or Ayiiy to speak of his mis- 

 fortunes or frailties. No, let us, rather spread 

 the veil of charity over liis grave, and remember 

 the good he has done. Peace to his ashes ! 



Silas Moore, Vice-President for the State of 

 Rhode Island, died at his residence, near Provi- 

 dence, several months since. He was one of 

 the older members of our Association, having 

 held for many years that office. Mr. Moore was 

 one of the oldest nurserymen of New England, 

 well skilled in his business, highly esteemed for 

 his probity, and had done much for his own and 

 adjoining States to promote the present ad- 

 vanced condition of Amei'ican pomology. He 

 was a modest and unpretentious man, much in- 

 terested in the welfare of our Societ}^ and had 

 exerted a happy influence on the fruit culture of 

 his own and adjoining States. He was a useful 

 man in his profession, and respected as a citizen. 



Dr. A. P. Wylie, Vice-President for the State 



