me) OS 
16 ANNUAL REPORT: Haars eal 
immediate cause of blight. But when we consider what dis 
are almost certainly caused by such rowths, this possibility | mes 
a probability. The potato disease w hich has caused such wi ae 
havoc is, without doubt caused by the growth of a fangue, t in the 
vines and tubers. A chapter of its history will give us an “ides, of 
the nature of some fungi. In 1845 it first attracted great, a ne 
It appeared in the Isle of Wight, and in two weeks overran. the 
whole island, and in another month it was all over Ireland. ‘An as 
tonishing example of the rapidity of growth and distribution of t 
fungus. 
The “ Yellows” of the peach tree is also believed to be due toa 
fun 
ngus. 
The ‘* Black Knot” of the plum tree is still another disease, un- 
doubtedly due to a fungus. 
It may be further remarked that Mr. Taylor, Microscopist of the 
Department of Agriculture at Washington, by subjecting the bark of 
an unhealthy pear tree to certain processes, discovered the spores of 
a fungus in it, while the bark of a healthy tree treated in the same 
way showed none of these spores. His investigations do not, how- . 
ever, show whether the fungus is the cause, or merely the accompan- 
iment of the blight. 
Dr. Kirtland, of Ohio, favors, or did favor this hypothesis. 
The contagious character which many suppose it to have also 
favors this view. 
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. 
The meeting re-assembled at 2 o’clock, and the President, Tru- 
man M. Smith, delivered the following lengthy and interesting ad- 
dress : 
Gentlemen of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society: 
One year has passed since we last met in council, for the welfare 
of our cause and ourselves and our State, and now the great question 
of the day is, what advancement have we made in that time, what 
have we learned and what have we new to offer at this time. Horti- 
culture, like all other Arts and Sciences, cannot stand still, we must 
either be progressing upward and onward or else going backward, 
there is no stopping place, no standing point. 
SUCCESS OF THE GRAPE CROP. 
While some new fruits were brought out, among which were 
several varieties of gr apes by Mr. Kramer, of La Crescent, and other 
fruits which the growers’ names have escaped my memory, I fear 
the hard times have borne down with a heavy hand upon the horti- 
culturists and horticultural prospects in this State. But still, not- 
