SECRETARY'S CORNER. 89 



Peach Growing. — "The bending- down of peach trees and covering 

 them with straw proves a success, by your report. It has been prac- 

 ticed here a little. Hon. Marshal P. Wilder used to make a low trel- 

 lis and train his peach trees to it and get fruit, that system made it 

 easier to cover the trees. 



Reading, Mass. Jacob \V. Manning." 



Death of Mrs. Joshua Allyn.— Word has just come of the re- 

 cent death of the wife of the late Joshua Allyn, of Red Wing. The 

 recollection of Mr. Allyn continues fresh in the memory of all our 

 older members; a man of striking personality, of quaint and pecu- 

 liar ways of speech, but, withal, a heart most staunch and true. In 

 a brief acquaintance with Mrs Allyn at the World's Fair, I came to 

 think very much of her. She leaves two sons and two daughters. It 

 has been the intention for sometime to publish the portrait of Mr. 

 Allyn and I hope to be able to do so soon. 



A Lady Writer. — Mrs. S. Irwin has taken up the useful task of 

 telling her sisterhood through the columns of the "Northwestern 

 Agriculturist" how to get health and wealth in practicing the pleas- 

 ing arts of horticulture. Mr. Collins is to be congratulated in se- 

 curing the assistance of this talented and persevering lady to adorn 

 his columns with her graceful pen. And Mrs. Irwin has the advan- 

 tage of knowing what she is talking about; she is not alone a theo- 

 rist, but practices most successfully what she is teaching. No one 

 need be too proud to learn from one of her high courage and in- 

 telligent persistence. 



The "Forest Reserve Area" Law. — At a meeting of the legis- 

 lative committee of the house on forestrj' with the committee hav- 

 ing the preparation and passage of the proposed law in charge, held 

 Jan. 28th, the claims of the champions of the movement were very 

 fully presented by the members of the committee and its friends, 

 who appeared in force. The legislative committee evidently fully 

 appreciate the importance of this movement and showed themselves 

 in hearty sympathy with it. There is no doubt that, with perhaps 

 slight modification, the bill will be recommended to the house, and 

 w^e believe no serious opposition is to be expected to its early pas- 

 sage. In taking this step, Minnesota placesherself on very advanced 

 ground on this subject and will have many followers. 



Legislation vs. the San Jose Scale-— You will note in the re- 

 port by Mr. Doughty, in this number, of the annual meeting of the 

 Illinois Horticultural Society, that an effort will be made in that 

 state this winter to secure the passage of a law to keep out this 

 much dreaded pest. Since Mr. Doughty's return, he has prepared a 

 draft of a law intended to bring under inspection of the state entomo. 

 logist all nursery stock growing in this state and all that may be 

 shipped in from abroad. Minnesota fruit growers know nothing by 

 home experience of the ravages of this insect, but from what can be 

 learned abroad it is certain we cannot exercise too much caution in 

 excluding it. The matter ia now under consideration by the legis- 

 lative committee. 



