HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 273 



them, but the effort was too great and they also follow the 

 rest. 



My Eassian apples obtained from Prof. Budd, have all pretty 

 much failed. But the willows and poplars have done well and 

 promise to bfe a valuable addition to our forest and ornamental 

 tree list. My two pear trees, grown from scions from Mr. Peter- 

 son's best Eussians, look well now, but the real test will come 

 after this. 



As to fruit, the past season has been quite encouraging. The 

 only apples brought to market were Transcendents; and while 

 the trees standing bore a fair crop, there were not enough to 

 meet the demand. 



The crop of currants promised large the first of the season, but 

 when about full size a large part of them fell off, and not a third 

 of a crop was gathered, I think it was a few days of hot sun 

 and dry wind that caused this. Gooseberries bore a full crop; 

 also the red raspberry. Strawberries also did well where pro- 

 per attention was given them. But so many fail to give the pro- 

 per attention, and hence are disappointed in the results. 



I think harm is done unintentionally, perhaps, by statements 

 so often made that these small fruits can be grown so very easily, 

 and with such large profits. ' ^ No excellence without labor " is 

 true here as elsewhere. The strawberry bed must be kept clean 

 and rich, and the vines covered in winter, and well mulched in 

 summer, or berries will be small and few of them. And very few, 

 doing the best they can will realize one hundred bushels per 

 acre, to say nothing about three and four hundred, so often prom- 

 ised them. 



But here, in my opinion, is our real field of labor, as fruit 

 growers. I have given up trying to grow apples in our part of the 

 state, except the very hardiest crabs — I might almost say — ex- 

 cept the Transcendent. But there is no reason why we may not 

 have an abundance of currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and 

 strawberries, together with our native plums, except the ignor- 

 ance and neglect of the people themselves. But these difficulties 

 will gradually be removed by suitable instruction and experience 

 gained. We have much to encourage us in this direction. 



Mr. Eeeves. There are two or three things I would like to speak 

 of. Inquiry has been made as to a remedy for white grubs. I let 

 the moles work in the ground, and would not let them be de- 

 stroyed. The common mole will destroy the white grub. Another 

 matter: I would like to ask Mr, Dartt if he can kill those in- 

 Vol. IV— 35. 



