PLANTS FROM EAST ASIA, ETC. 107 



fine specimens have been destroyed. I have never seen any scales on 

 our' native oaks. The royal oak was the oak that saved his Majesty when 

 he took refuge in the royal oak, and it was destroyed this season by the 

 scale. Of course, one swallow does not make a summer, but so far as 

 it goes, it is in line with his remarks. I think the practical value of these 

 observations that Mr. Hicks has presented to us is very great. 



Prof. Munson, of West Virginia — Relative to the remarks of Dr. 

 Hansen with reference to the change of character of a plant without 

 hybridization, it is very generally attempted, among horticulturists, who 

 believe, for instance, that a peach grown in Michigan will stand a much 

 lower degree of temperature, than will a peach, the same variety, if it 

 was grown in Alabama, though of course, the propagation of peaches in 

 Alabama is only by florists ; but a peach grown in Alabama would be 

 killed by a climate that would have no injurious effect upon it whatever 

 if it was grown in Michigan. It would seem true that there is a distinct 

 modification of the character of the individual. 



Dr. Hansen — Commenting on that, I believe it is a fact well known 

 to nurserymen that there is such a thing as trees being too soft for certain 

 soils, and therefore a peach tree raised farther north, for instance, would 

 be too hardy for Texas, hardier than one raised on the Gulf Coast, for 

 instance, and this temperature effect did not save the peach orchards of 

 Michigan last winter. There were hundred of thousands of peach trees 

 killed last winter in Michigan. I do not wish to discourage, by any means. 

 I just throw it down as a sort of challenge to be picked to pieces by all 

 of you who so desire. I do not wish to discourage any effort at im- 

 portation. In fact, I have had a little to do with that sort of thing myself, 

 but the thing to be observed in this matter is that we must study ecology 

 more than we have. I am pleased to see' Mr. Hicks has done so much 

 in that direction. We must study the climate in various parts of the 

 world, as a guide to our importation work. An attempt to acclimate a 

 plant that is much softer is a rather difficult task, whereas, if we pay 

 som-e attention to the native habitats of plants in making our selection, we 

 will save an immense amount of money. That is the only point I wish 

 to make, but in addition to that I stand here to say that we can acclimate 

 plants by hybridization, that is, carrying over this inherent hardiness, 

 whatever it is, and helping it by heredity. 



The President — In following the statement of Prof. Munson in 

 regard to the peaches grown in Michigan of the same variety being 

 hardier, even though cultivated from the bud, it calls to my mind that 

 the hardiest peach stocks in America are on the elevated lands of Ten- 

 nessee and nurserymen send to Tennessee to get the seed. It is a great 

 business, the peaches grown at that high elevation, which means north- 

 ern climate. Now, why are those peaches grown there and have been 

 grown there for we do not know how long? The question whether they 

 were not introduced from Mexico and got there in that way so that they 

 are more thoroughly Americanized and acclimatized than any other 



