SECRETARY'S CORNER. 



(Continued from page 268.) 



New Fruits for the Trial Stations. — There have been sent out re- 

 cently from the State Fruit-Breeding- Farm to the Trial Stations operated 

 in connection with the society, as Supt. Haralson writes me, a sufficient 

 quantity of plants of No. 935 strawberry to give it a good test throughout 

 the state, and vines of twenty-seven varieties of grapes, originated, of 

 course, at the Fruit-Breeding Farm, from one to four vines of each sort. 

 Some of these grapes, Mr. Haralson says, are much better than the Beta 

 grape, both as to size and quality, and all are hardy without winter protec- 

 tion there at the station. 



Among other new fruits from abroad received this season at the Fruit- 

 Breeding Farm for testing and experimental work is a quantity of Prof. 

 N. E. Hansen's seedling pears, what are considered hardy crosses and blight- 

 resisting, which is equally as important in the growing of pears as to have 

 them fully hardy. These trees, we understand, are seedlings that have not 

 yet fruited. They constitute a very interesting experiment as to hardiness and 

 blight resistance. Quality can be worked in later if proved to be right in 

 those respects. 



Resin Bordeaux Mixture, or Resin -Lye Bordeaux Mixture. — As it 

 is sometimes called, is simply the ordinary Bordeaux mixture with the resin- 

 lye mixture added. This resin-lye mixture is what we call a "sticker." Its 

 purpose is to cause the spray material to spread evenly and to adhere better 

 to the somewhat waxy young raspberry canes. Its preparation is as follows: 



Pulverized resin 5 -lbs. 



Concentrated lye 1 lb. 



Fish or other animal oil 1 pt. 



Water 5 gals. 



Put the oil, the resin and one gallon of water into an iron kettle or 

 other metal container and heat until the resin softens, that is, until it is 

 pretty thoroughly dissolved. Then add the lye. Stir thoroughly. Add to 

 this four gallons of hot water and boil until a little of the boiled material 

 mixed with cold water gives a clear, amber colored liquid. Add water 

 sufficient to make the total, after boiling, five gallons. This is the stock 

 solution. 



In spraying with Bordeaux, or any other fungicide or insecticide with 

 which this sticker is used, add two gallons of this stock solution to eight 

 gallons of water and add to forty gallons of the spray mixture. The spray 

 mixture to which this is added should be made with ten gallons less water 

 than the formula indicates, because this will be added with the resin-lye. 



The Wisconsin Secretary Calls. — We were fortunate in having a 

 very pleasant visit of a couple hours with Frederick Cranefield, Secretary 

 of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, who happened to be passing 

 through the city, returning to his home from a visit with his brother in 

 South Dakota. The writer had the pleasure of spending several days with 

 Mr. Cranefield in Washington in November, where he was in attendance for 

 the same purpose that took me there, the organization of a national horticul- 

 tural society. Mr. Cranefield is chairman of the committee appointed to 

 draft a constitution to be submitted at the next meeting of this new organ- 

 ization, which we understand is to take place at the next annual meeting of 

 the American Pomological Society, probably in September next, although the 

 notice of this meeting is not yet out. Mr. E. R. Lake, Secretary of the 

 American Pomological Society, was elected secretary of this new society, but 

 on account of ill health and absence from Washington, he has been obliged 

 to resign this office, which is now filled by the appointment of Mr. W. M. 

 Scott, of Bureau of Markets, Department of Agriculture. The proposed 

 constitution has called this new organization the "National Council of Horti- 

 culture." Copies of this proposed constitution are to be submitted to the 

 charter members for suggestions as to revision for final presentation as 

 above. 



(272) 



