114 ANNUAL REPORT 



All of these are altogether food for the birds Though Ihe June- 

 berry is quite palatable it is rarely tasted, as it ripens at a season 

 when the birds can find iitlle else so desirable. It has been culti/ated 

 to some extent further south, and the plants offered for sale, but the 

 birds are too destructive to make the fruit profitable. 



Wild plums are quite common in the vicinity of timber, in thickets 

 of brush, and along the margins of the smaller streams, or wherever 

 they are protected from fire. The tree is entirely hardy, naturally and 

 when cultivated, and flourishes in a great variety of soils, and bears 

 fruit more abundantly than any other tree, and at the present state of 

 horticultural work is attracting attention second only to the apple 

 among the larger fruits. In the short time in which it has been 

 brought to notice, it has been demonstrated that it can be hybridized 

 or cross fertilized to an unlimited extent, and we have reason to ex- 

 pect as much advance in its culture as has been made in strawberries. 



The following report was presented by Mr. Harris: 

 REPORT ON FRUIT BLOSSOMS. 

 By J. S. Harris. 



Mr. President I find myself in a novel position as a member of the 

 committee on fruit blossoms. I can see beauty in the flowers and 

 utility in the fruit which follows, but I am not well versed in scien- 

 tific botany; moreover, I do not not know what you are expecting of 

 me. 



By referring to notes taken at the time, [ find that on April 30th 

 toads were out of their winter quarters, and blossom buds of the 

 cherry and plum were nearly open 



May 2. Cherry and plum trees in full bloom, and the buds of the 

 rollingstone quite prominent. The stamens on the cherry appear 

 well developed and filled with pollen Weather warm and windy. 



May 3. Morning almost cold enough for frost. Juneberry trees in 

 full bloom. 



May 6. The petals of the flowers of the cherry and plum are about 

 all dropped. The rollingstone is in full bloom. DeSoto and common 

 plums are commencing to open their blossoms. Weather quite warm 

 again. 



May 7. Pleasant, dry and very warm. Transcendent crab apples 

 are commencing to open their blossom buds. 



