STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 47 



I have here an exemplification of what can be done in inten- 

 sive peach culture. (Shows branches.) This branch represents 

 the second year's growth, and yet, during this season, strong 

 fruit buds have been developed. The third year, if the winter 

 is not too severe, will show those peach trees in good strong 

 bearing. The trees are from seven to ten feet in height. One 

 branch is of the Wayland variety, and the other the Early 

 Rivers. All of the trees are heavily set with buds. This devel- 

 opment is due to a high degree of tillage, showing that when the 

 soil is put into the same condition as that of the Pacific coast, 

 similar results can be obtained. 



I wish to speak, at this point, upon another subject before 

 taking up tillage. It is of the influence of fertilization of blos- 

 soms. I think we are in the infancy of horticulture. I think 

 we are at the a b c of our lessons. The possibilities that come 

 as we delve into the science, the possibilities that come to us 

 by the study of hybridization and cross-fertilization of our 

 fruits, will give us difficulties that we have not yet realized. 

 And so, in planting varieties, we should study and learn what we 

 can of the efifects of cross-fertilization, and of the field open to 

 us to improve our varieties through seedlings. We must build 

 varieties specially adapted to the climate in which we are work- 

 ing. We know of many good things we cannot produce, 

 because the environments are not right, but cross-fertilization 

 opens a new field for building up varieties right upon our own 

 soil, in our own climatic conditions, and so getting new varie- 

 ties that will withstand the difficulties we find in the severe 

 northern climate. 



During last year the conditions during the blooming period 

 were right for the setting of fruit in my own State. We had, 

 during the blooming period, most delightful weather. There 

 was a continuous circulation of the air; there was an oppor- 

 tunity for the insects to work, and every day you could hear the 

 humming of the honey bees. What were the lessons from this? 

 I hold in my hand an apple you will all recognize as the Rox- 

 bury Russet. If it were passed through the audience all would 

 say it is a typical Roxbury Russet, and yet it is not a Roxbury 

 Russet. It is a Seek-no-Further. It stood by the side of and 

 very near to a Roxbury Russet tree, and we have in this Seek- 



