SECRETAKV'S CORNER. oU 



Just I^IKK Us.— After describinjif the extraordinary fruit exhibit 

 this fall at the Wisconsin state fair, Secretary Philips says: " It is 

 evident that if our horticultural exhibit.^ continue to increase mh 

 they have in recent years, tlie quarters aswij^^ned uh will soon be too 

 small, and an adilition will have to be l>uilt on the north end of the 

 hall." 



Go TO THE Northeastern Iowa Meeting.— Mr. C. F. Gardner, of 

 Osag-e, Iowa, writes that the Northeastern Society, of which he is 

 vice-president, is to meet December 15th in the city where he lives, 

 and that free entertaitiment is to be <j;^iven to all visitors. He hopes 

 for a nunil)er from our state. Our members in the southern part of 

 the state will find that a convenient place to reach, and the meetiug^ 

 is sure to be a good one. 



Why we Stumbled.— More blunders than usual found lodgment 

 in the November number, and one or two in the Secretary's Corner 

 were very unwelcome. We don't know how to account for it, except 

 because this country elects a president every four years. When 

 platforms occupy Elder Stewart's beautiful park directly opposite 

 our window, and brass bands, negro melodies and excited speeches 

 to roaringly responsive crowds "occupj'" the atmosphere, proof 

 reading is a ver}- uncertain pursuit. Things are different now, and 

 we may lind it hard to think of so good an excuse for the next 

 occasicjn. 



Don't Paint your Water Tank Inside.— A member from whom 

 we expected a report of the result of his experiments in irrigation 

 this year, has been unable to use his system, because he painted his 

 wooden tank iasidc as well as outside. The staves shrunk some 

 before he was ready to fill it, and when the water was turned on it 

 continued to leak, as the water could not woak tlirough the paint and 

 swell the wood to water tightness; nor could the hoops be drawn 

 down tight enough to stop the leakage. The paint inside must 

 evidently be scraped off before the tank will be serviceable. 



Delegate from Iowa.— President F, M. Powell, of the Iowa State 

 Horticultural Society, writes me that Mr. Jerry Sexton is to repre- 

 sent their society at our annual meeting, and will probably bring 

 some samples of fruit with him. Mr. Sexton will be remembered as 

 the gentleman who presided over the line collection of Russian ap- 

 ples which the Iowa Agricultural College generously contributed to 

 our late state fair. He has had special opportunities as Prof. J. L. 

 liudd's assistant to familiarize himself with Russian apples, and 

 his presence with us is very opportune. It will be remembered that 

 we are holding in cold storage a large part of the Iowa display for 

 this occasion. 



Law v.s. Plant Di.seases.— Twelve states now have laws against 

 contagious diseases affecting fruit trees, in most cases against 

 peach yellows and black knot. though in California, Washington and 

 New Jersey the law is a general one. In New Jersey, the oflicers of 

 the State Experiment Station, on the discovery of a new fungus 



