132 ANNUAL REPORT. 
of 98 degrees may be engendered, may blight, if the surface under them be 
covered with clover, buckwheat, or mulch ofany kind. We will only add 
that an orchard of over 1,000 trees, consisting of 118 varieties, on the Col- 
lege Farm, has had its surface cooled by a crop of buckwheat for three s1c- 
cessive years, and not a blighted crab or variety of any kind can now be found. 
The situation is eminently favorable to blight, and prior to this period of 
special treatment of surface soil, with intense heating consequent on open 
exposure to the sun, but few varieties escaped damage by blight in June. 
The College nursery contains about five hundred varieties, about all of 
northern parentage including many of the new crabs of Vermont, Minnesota, 
and Russia, yet not a single blighted twig can be found At the time of the 
last cultivation, early in July, buckwheat is sown to cover the surface during 
the last of July and especially in August and early September. We spec- 
jally select buckwheat as a soil covering on account of the little trouble it 
gives, and its peculiar and little understood capacity for maintaining 
beneath it a cool, moist, friable soil. 
DISCUSSION. 
Mr. Harris took exception to the statement in regard to wheat- 
bearing grass near Xalapa, in Mexico.. He thought it not true. 
Mr. Jordon. There are a number of things in that article I 
am inclined to doubt. The two years I have used sulphur I 
haven’t had a blighted tree. He also says where the ground is 
shaded the trees are less liable to blight, while I think I have seen 
bushes and trees blight more in the shade than in open places. 
Mr. Dart. Blight has been a great lion in the way. Have 
found out there is a set of varieties exempt from blight, and 
among them are some especially valuable to us. Think that 
our list formed a couple of years ago must be of considerable value 
to direct the people and us in planting. Think it better to con- 
sider that list and add new ones if we have any. 
Mr. Pearce. For a few years I have settled down to the belief 
that it is a ‘‘fungus,”’ and that all trees are liable to it. Certain 
trees are wonderfully powerful in throwing it off, as Duchess of 
Oldenburg. Blight seldom touches it. Think it proper to select 
such trees. It is not always the tree that grows the fastest that 
has the best constitution. I think it is just the opposite. I 
attribute the rotting of fruit to this fungus nature. Have settled 
down to the belief that the tree and fruit are affected by the same 
fungus. 
NEXT ANNUAL MEETING. 
Mr. Hollister. Move that the next order of business be the 
location of our next annual meeting. 
The motion was carried. 
