STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 77 



Minnesota, I take pleasure in stating, that I have never received a 

 word that was intended to discourage me in my efforts to grow 

 fruit, from a man posted on Vegetable Physiology, and the fact of 

 this society being invited to hold their winter meetings at this 

 University shows which side the faculty are on. 



The scientific man is far more modest and unassuming, and less 

 aggressive than the merely practical man (so called). His diam- 

 eter of light is greater, and of course his circumference of dark- 

 ness is correspondingly great. He sees more of the " Black Heart," 

 more of the other dark things of earth, and more things that are 

 beyond the power of the human mind to fathom, and doubtless this is 

 why he is less aggressive. Here is an extract from a letter received from 

 a man well up in the ''Theory and Practice of Horticulture," and 

 who has lately been taking "object lessons" in high latitudes. He 

 says: "It would be the height of folly to cut out all trees suspected 

 of being "black hearted." Even in Southern Iowa a large portion of 

 the trees will be found to maintain life only in the wood of most 

 recent formation. After excessively dry seasons, irrespective of 

 low temperature, the dark colored wood approaches nearer the 

 surface, than after two or three moderately wet seasons." Some 

 six or eight years ago, I grafted three Hislop trees with scions of 

 the Pewaukee. They flourished finely the first summer, but the 

 following spring found them dead just about half way down to the 

 stock on which they were grafted. Of course I pronounced it a 

 failure with me, but I am happy to say that it paid no attention to 

 ray premature decision, (from the appearance of the " Black 

 Heart.") I was not "loaded for bear" at that time! But it kept 

 right on improving from year to year, until last year when they 

 were all well loaded with beautiful fruit! (And I have some of the 

 fruit here to show for it!) And for one I am thankful that Greo, P. 

 Peffer (the originator), one of our honored life members, still lives, 

 and I hope he may be found among the " Apple Blossoms " for 

 many years to come. 



There is no general circulation in the woody cell structure of our 

 fruit trees, like that in common animals, as many suppose. If 

 there was, then of course, I would acknowledge the fact at once, 

 without argument, that "Black Hearted trees" were worthless. 

 But what does Prof. Gray say on this point? "The heart- wood 

 being no longer a living part, may decay, and often does so, with- 

 out the least injury to the tree, except by impairing the strength 

 of the trunk, and so rendering it more liable to be overthrown." 



In closing, I have but a single ray of comfort for that respectable 



