SUMMER MEETING, 1899 245 



does not turn black, or that it is all right if it has pink gills or peela. 

 There is no single test known by which you can tell an edible 

 mushroom. You come to learn to know them as edible just as you 

 know different varieties of strawberries or apples. 



"We shall be happy to meet any and all of you at our society and 

 have you become members if so disposed; the cost of membership 

 is only one dollar a year. We meet every Monday evening at the 

 office of Dr. Mary Whetstone, 408 Nicollet avenue, at 8 p. m., for the 

 purpose of studying specimens gathered by members and the com- 

 paring of notes. Seeing the mushrooms actually before you is 

 much more valuable than hearing or reading about them." 



The president then announced the general topic for the day, which 

 was, "Lessons from the Late Severe Winter." Papers were read by 

 Messrs D. F. Akin and J. S. Harris, which are given in full (See index); 

 talks were given on the subject by Messrs J. M. Underwood, W. W. 

 Pendergast and E. H. S. Dartt, and a running discussion also 

 brought out many points of interest and value. 



Mr. Underwood spoke especially of the part that moisture playa in 

 the success of fruit growing. "What we need most to make a success 

 in fruit growing is moisture, and that any failure is due to its lack 

 has been proven by this winter to be not alone a theory. We had 

 plenty of rain in the fall before the snow came to bring plants 

 through the winter without root-killing. The damage that has been 

 done is due to the continued cold weather and frosts which have 

 expelled the taoisture from the tree, rupturing the tissues and pro- 

 ducing another form of drouth. The orchards at Lake City came 

 through in good condition, Good, strong, healthy trees were not in- 

 jured. Weak or young trees that had not got established, were 

 hurt. Good, strong, healthy Wealthys of four or five year's growth 

 were uninjured. This is a good sign. If old trees stand the winter, 

 we must be assured that our trees will stand by us. Some of the 

 lessons then are: Protect young trees for the first year or two. Cover 

 them up the first year and, perhaps, the second, and then wrap in 

 burlap for a year or two. First conserve the moisture, and then 

 protect to prevent severe and continued freezings from driving it out. 



Speaking on this subject, President Pendergast said that to all 

 appearances more than eighty per cent of his trees were as good as 

 €%'er. "I find some of the Duchess dying at the fork, always a weak 

 point with the Duchess. When we have talked about finding a tree 

 as hardy as the Duchess I have wondered, as I have not found it as 

 hardy as some others, the Wealthy, for instance. In my orchard the 

 Okabena looks all right. Of the Peerless there is one dead and 

 others do not look quite flourishing. The Wealthy, Good Peasant, Bo* 

 rovinka, Early Strawberry, General Shields (this has never blighted 

 for me), Sweet Russet, Virginia crab. Hibernal, Anisim, Zuzoff and 

 Charlemoff have come through the winter all right. Though trees 

 may be injured by the severe winter, there are some things that no 

 amount of heat or cold will harm. They are some of our orna- 

 mental shrubs, such as the lilac, buckthorn and paeony. The bufifalo 

 berry can't be injured. The dwarf mountain cherry is not quite so 

 hardy. A hard winter following a dry fall will injure the ends of 



