NORTH-EASTERN IOWA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 37 



ANNUAL MEETING OF NORTH-EASTERN IOWA 

 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1896. 



F. W. KIMBALL, AUSTIN, DELEGATE. 



Your delegate to the North-Eastern Iowa Society was hospitably- 

 met and entertained free of expense by the good citizens of Osage 

 and found, not a large, but an enthusiastic meeting and three daj'^s 

 of very instructive and entertaining papers and discussions. While, 

 as a rule, they are studying over the same problems that we are here, 

 there are locations in that district in which many things not hardy in 

 Minnesota can seemingly be recommended, especially in the lower 

 part of the district and along the Mississippi river near Dubuque. 



Mr. Ivins, of Iowa Falls, in discussing strawberry raising, wants a 

 low, moist land, well drained, and he has what he calls a prairie 

 muck. He says that Haverland, Warfield and Crescent are his best 

 pistillate, but that Parker Earle is his best staminate, shipment be- 

 ing considered, but Bederwood, perhaps, best for home use; would 

 mulch heavily to prevent too early blossoms, and when possible uses 

 decomposed manure and covers so deeply that he cannot see any 

 vines, and does not remove any of the covering in the spring. On 

 all old plantations, after harvesting the crop, he cuts down with a 

 disk harrow to narrow the rows and then thoroughly cultivates to 

 mellow the soil. 



Mr. Bixbj^ of Cedar Fails, recommends old clover ground as of 

 the best for a strawberry bed. For cherries, Mr. Kenyon reports 

 Montgomery, Ostheim and Spate Morello as best for him. Mr. Bix 

 bj'^ strongly recommends raising all cherries in the bush form. 



The killing of birds brought out quite an animated discussion. The 

 killing of the blue jay and cedar bird was generally concurred in- 

 while several contended that the killing of the robin was justifiable 

 — and, indeed, it is quite a problem for those wishing to save their 

 fruit as to what is the proper thing to do. 



E. M. Sherman, of Charles City, read a very good paper on the 

 duty of nurserymen to horticulture, and discussions followed as to 

 the status and moral standing of the tree agent, and the majority 

 seemed to justify the belief that there was such a thing as a reason- 

 ably honest tree agent. 



The discussion of awards on apples developed the sentiment that 

 it is not desirable to offer premiums on all apples, but that the 

 question of hardiness should be considered, and, probably, a sepa- 

 rate premium for top-worked varieties should be offered. Mr. Burnap, 

 of Clear Lake, advises planting but few varieties and providing 

 cold storage to carry the crop through any glut in the market. 



Top-working was talked in earnest and has a firm hold in that 

 section of the country. Mr. Burnap recommends Fameuse and Weal- 

 thy on Duchess; Elmer Reeves, of Waverly, favors home developed, 

 or American, varieties and claims that he can find as manj^ hardy 

 ones as among the Russians; Mr. Guilford, of Dubuque,advises great 

 care in top-working, in the selection of stock and scions that were 

 congenial; and your delegate was greatly impressed that there was 

 probably a large field of experiment open in this direction, and 

 that it is desirable that all in reporting success or failure in that 



