306 ANNUAL KEPORT 



Mr, Harris said it had been demonstrated that the roots of 

 some varieties were hardier than others, and that was why long 

 cious were to be preferred to short ones for grafting. 



President Elliot said the fact was we grafted on tender stock 

 as a rule; some recommended crossing on hybrids for hardy roots. 

 It was necessary to go back to seedlings to propagate success- 

 fully, as by contiDued grafting from the same stock it would de- 

 teriorate after a while. 



Mr. Sias thought there was some question whether stock 

 would deteriorate. The Baldwin was originated about a hun- 

 dred years ago; had been grafted extensively, and there was 

 nothing ahead of it. The same thing might be said of the 

 Wealthy, so far as tested. 



Mr. J. M. Smith said the bearing life of trees in the East was 

 much greater than it is here. They have trees there a hundred 

 years old that are still in bearing. 



Mr. Harris thought it was best, if practicable, to go to the 

 original tree for cions. The quality of Baldwin apples in the 

 market varied a good deal. 



Mr. Pearce favored using Duchess and Wealthy for grafting; 

 they were much hardier than seedlings. 



Mr. Harris said for nursery purposes it was not practicable to 

 raise trees from root cuttings, but they made nice trees. Any 

 variety hardy enough to stand the winter of 1872-3 without root- 

 killing was hardy enough for all practical purposes. 



The meeting then adjourned till 7 o'clock p. m. 



EVENING SESSION. 

 Thursday, Jan. 20, 1887. 



The meeting was called to order at 7 o'clock p. m. by Presi- 

 dent Elliot. 



Mrs. Van Cleve, from the Committee on Floriculture, presented 

 the following paper : 



WILD FLOWERS. 



By Mrs. Charlotte 0. Van Cleve, Minneapolis. 



When the whole earth is white and cold and the bare branches 

 of the trees bend or break in the fierce wintry blasts it requires 

 a somewhat lively imagination to write of blossoming things. 



