408 ANNUAL REPORT 



want specimens of the plants for trial I shall be glad to supply them. 



Prof. Porter. T shall be glad to give you an order and to pay for all 

 expenses, as I am exceedingly anxious to propagate it. I have not 

 had success in making the seeds grow. 



Mr. Pearce. Plant them in the fall under a board and I think they 

 will grow. 



Prof. Porter. I planted seeds a year ago in October. 



Mr. Harris They may come next spring. I planted some plum 

 pits that failed to grow the first year. 



Prof. Schotzka. Mr. Chairman, nature teaches us that these ber- 

 ries remain on this shrub during the winter; if allowed to remain till 

 spring and then planted when they are ready to drop they will grow 

 more readily. The same holds good with cranberries. The seed will 

 germinate five days sooner then if picked when they first ripen. One 

 thing I wish to mention in regard to the larch being hardy. When 

 it stands alone it is the hardiest. Norway Spruce is the hardiest 

 when the trees are grown close together. A larch twelve years old 

 is worthless for fence posts; the wood is spongy. We have to ripen 

 the wood and then it is valuable for any purpose. 



Mr. Pearce. Is the larch good for posts? 



Prof. Schotzka. It is just as good as any other wood, except red 

 cedar and locust, which are the most durable of any timber we have 

 for posts. 



Mr. Pearce How long will it last? 



Prof. Schotzka. It lasts fifteen years. Where the area in timber 

 is limited there should be greater economy used with wood and tim- 

 ber. Posts may be preserved, and will last twice as long if they are 

 charcoaled. 



Mr. Fuller, from the committee on the president's address, present- 

 ed the following report, which was adopted : 



KEPORT ON president's ADDRESS. 



The committee on the president's address would call the attention 

 of the Society to the following recommendations: 



1. We recommend that the committee on legislation continue to 

 look after the tree law and secure any amendments found desirable. 



2. That the same committee, or a new one be appointed, to 

 secure an efficient law to protect our State from the depredations of 

 the incoming English sparrow. 



3. That the same committee, in connection with the forest tree 



