NORTHEASTERN IOWA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 439 



A resolution beiug- introduced: That "blig-htis contagious and 

 planters are recommended to plant with certain varieties that are 

 known to have such tendency." Prof. Hansen states that experi- 

 ments have shown that healthj' trees can be inocculated by usinor a 

 knife on them that had been used on diseased trees. After an inter- 

 esting- discussion the resolution was adopted. 



C. G. Patten, of Charles Cit}', recommends that the younger men 

 go on and develop a race of apples that shall be, with other good 

 qualities, free from blight. C. F. Gardner in a paper on "The Goose- 

 berr}' and Currant" recommends propc>gating the gooseberry by us- 

 ing hard wood cuttings eight inches long, set in August and covered 

 during the winter with a heav3" mulch. English gooseberries may be 

 propagated by top-laj'ering-. Varieties recommended are Houghton 

 and Downing. The English varieties will only succeed in a few fa- 

 vored locations. Varieties of currants recommended: Victoria, 

 White Grape, White and Red Dutch, and Long Bunch Holland. Prof. 

 Hansen says that the Hovighton gooseberrj' is very popular for wine 

 making in Europe. He found also common in the nurseries there 

 both the currant and gooseberry grafted three feet high on the com- 

 mon j-ellow-flowering currant, the belief being that the fruit is larger 

 than when on its own roots. 



Mr. Ivins, of Cedar Falls, thinks the Marlborough hardier than 

 the Turner and one that furnishes a long season of picking. The 

 Lancashire Lad is the best of the English gooseberries and the 

 freest from mildew of any of that class. Mr. Mitchell finds the Marl- 

 borough hardy in sandy soil, but a poor fruiter. Mr. Elder recom- 

 mends the application of flower of sulphur as remedy for mildew on 

 gooseberries; he has had great success with it. 



The Ro3al Church raspberry is spoken of b}- Mr. Ferris and Mr. 

 Patten as a good bearer, but a very imperfect fruit. Mr. Johnson al- 

 ways has orders ahead for canning purposes for all the Schaffer he 

 can grow. 



Nelson Hanson read a paper both humorous and rich in helpful 

 suggestions on planting the grape for home use. Thinks that 

 although grapes may be bought cheap the}- are generall}' cheap 

 grapes, and the boj-s and girls may like to see something on the 

 farm besides corn and hogs; that many have failed in their attempt 

 to raise graj^es because thej" have tried to raise too many pigs, chick- 

 ens, calves and colts in the same enclosure with their g-rapes; it is 

 not safe to put manure in the soil near the roots of the vines— he has 

 tried this to his complete disgust. 



At the election of officers all the old ones were re-elected. 



In his paper on "The Orchard" by S. W. Ferris, he expressed a pre- 

 ference for clay, rather than a sand\" soil. Selection of tree is ver^- 

 important. He prefers trees three to four feet high with heads two 

 to three feet from the ground. Set three to four inches deeper than 

 the}' stood in the nursery; he favors close planting. Duchess, 

 Wealthy, Longfield and Hibernal are good in his locality. Plant on 

 north side of hill, or place an evergreen on south side of each tree 

 and keep sheared to three to four feet high. A wash of Ij-e half 

 strong enough to make soap will kill insects. 



D. J. Purd}-, the great apple buj-er of Mason City, Iowa, thinks 

 that orchards are not half cared for. It is a mistake to plant poor 

 trees, and a greater to fail to attend to their care. 



Upon the question of recommending certain varieties, four had 

 tested the McMahon and one recommended it, if planted on dry land; 

 three had tried Mackintosh Red, and not one recommended it; ten 

 had tried Longfield and eight recommended it — Prof. Hansen 

 especiall}" commended its earl}' bearing. 



Prof. Budd in his paper on the future of native plums expressed 

 the belief that by crossing the native and foreign varieties we would 



