STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 345 



and convenience, this place has been started with native plums 

 as a specialty. About twenty varieties are now growing. Ad- 

 ditions were made last spring of Prunus Simoni, Mariana, Rob- 

 inson and some others without names, but having some local cel- 

 ebrity. 



In a late report, Prof. J. L. Budd says: "Whoever grows 

 Prunus Simoni, expecting a good dessert plum, will be disap- 

 pointed, but it is very good for cooking." It is doubtful if 

 this plum will sta;nd our climate. We have a good list of natives, 

 excellent for cooking, butnotvery desirable forgeneral planting. 

 From present appearances, none of the Chickasaws will succeed 

 as well as the De Soto and several others of this vicinity. 



EXPERIMENT STATION AT ROCHESTER. 



By A. W. Sias, Superintendent. 

 Mr. President: 



In referring to my report of this station, made a year ago, I 

 see I made a mistake in not heading it '^An Obituary Notice.^^ 



The mortality was so sweeping in its results two years ago that 

 we have but little to report upon at this time. But in this great 

 loss we are again forcibly reminded of that saying, so full of 

 meaning to the intelligent horticulturist, "the survival of the 

 fittest." We are also reminded of another saying sometimes 

 found in obituaries, viz.: " Death loves a shining mark." This 

 also has great weight and significance with observant students 

 of our Northern trees and plants. If you happen to have a tree 

 in your orchard that has a thin leaf, with no hirsuteness about 

 it, one that the sun can shine clear through with no obstacles in 

 the way, then rest assured, "death loves that shining mark and 

 will close its arms around it." 



Without stopping to itemize, will say that all of our trees with 

 thick pubescent leaves came through the severe winter two years 

 ago in good shape, and have behaved first rate ever since, not- 

 withstanding they had to pass through a "fiery ordeal" last 

 summer. Such trees are equal to every emergency. 



The thick leaves of such hardy American seedlings as McMahon 

 White, Giant Swaar, Brett Seedling and some others would indi- 

 cate Russian blood. The Brett Seedlings are straight, fine- 

 growing trees, and promise well. They are supposed to be from 

 the seed of Talmon Sweeting, fertilized by Duchess. The tree of 



44 



