DIGEST OF STATE EEPORTS. 463 



tbrougbout the State, with the exception of strawberries and peaches. 

 Ou the 23«l of April, when the strawberry plants were white v.ith bloom, 

 occurred a severe frost, which killed the bloom and seriously damaged 

 the plants. This frost also damaged the peach crop, and being followed 

 by an extremely dry summer the yield was meager and the quiility of 

 the crop very inferior. The apple, grape, and pear crops were very line. 

 In a discussion on tree-planting, Dr. Furnas stated that many f.iilnres 

 arose from a lack of knowledge as to hovr and when to plant. Trees 

 should be carefully dug and transplanted to a well-jn-epared soil with as 

 much dispatch as possible. Very little exposure to the air often makes 

 very serious v.'crk, the more especially when done late in the spring, 

 when the sun is getting strong, the ground dry and hot, and the sap 

 already in mo'tiou, forming little rootlets which are easily killed. For 

 this reason he recommends fall transplanting, and mounding r.p around 

 the tree with clean earth to the height of 10 or 12 inches. This keeps 

 the tree in place better than a stake ; it also keeps the ground warm about 

 the roots, prevents mice and rabbits from gnawing tlie tree, at any rate 

 as high as the mound, and in case the trees are killed by a severe win- 

 ter preserves the roots for the starting of .i new tree. The mound should 

 be removed in the spring. Mr. E. S. Kogan advised the planting of trees 

 more closely than is the habit of fruit-growers generally. Apple-trees 

 set one rod apart will bear profitable crops before they wiU interfere, 

 after which every alternate tree may be taken out one way, and in a few 

 years more the same the other way, thus leaving the permanent trees 

 two rods apart, which is about the proper distance for most varieities. 

 Mr. Eogan thinks that fruit-growers raise too many varieties of apples, 

 especially if profit is the main object. He recommends the following 

 list as comprising the most profitable varieties : Eav.de's, Janet, Hoop's, 

 Cannon Pearmain, Ben Davis, Rome Beauty, Peunock, Clayton, Tulpe- 

 hocken, Eambo, Smith's Cider, and English Golden Russet. In this 

 discussion three varieties of apples which originated in Indiana vrere 

 highly recommended, viz : Indiana Favorite, Oceola, and Wiley Sweet. 

 Mr. I. D. G. j^selson regarded the Ben Davis as the most profitable among 

 the many varieties of apples he had cultivated. The tree is almost fault- 

 less ; rarely ever splits or breaks down. The fruit is of uniform size, 

 well colored, and large enough to sell readily for the best of prices. Mr. 

 iS'elson attributes the great disposition of the pear to blight to the over- 

 rich soils of the West, stimulating the tree to an unhealthy excess of 

 wood-growth. Mr. S. W. Pearson said he had succeeded better with the 

 pear than with the apple. By planting trees IG feet apart he got double 

 the quantity from the same amount of ground. The secretary thought 

 that too many varieties were grown. Like most fruit-growers, he had 

 learned a sad lesson by experience with too many varieties. He said: 



I presume my former pear-orcbards of seven hundred trees contained over one hun- 

 dred sorts, while the profits were mainly confiued to about one dozen varieties. These 

 were about as follows, and protitable in the order in which they ara named: Flemish. 

 Beauty, Bartlctt, Beurre d'Aujou, Onondaga, Hov/ell, Sheldon, Yicar of Wmkfield, Doy- 

 enne Boussock, Bourre Clairgeau, Lawrence, Buiiuui, and Bello Lucrative. Seven 

 crops in succession, from one tree of the lirst-namcd variety, have netted $201.50. 



During the discussion on pear-culture the celebrated Occletree pear- 

 tree, near Yinceunes, was mentioned. This tree was planted by the 

 early French settlers, and is now over one hundred years old. It is 

 said to have yielded, in 1834, 140 bushels of pears. 



In an essay on the profits of fruit-culture Mr. T. J. Templiu says : 



It is from Ihe aggregate products of many trees or orchards that we are to determine 

 whether fruit-cult lire, as a business, will pay. Let us take a glance at the value of a 

 young orchard. At oO feet ajiart, there v.-ill be about 50 trees to the acre. At ten 



