STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



29 



This may not always be feasible in the house cellar, in which case 

 a collar may be dug under the barn, or outside, like a celery pit. 



In conversation with one of our leading fruit growers, a few days 

 since, he related his experience in keeping apples in barrels and in 

 open bins in the cellar. Tliere was a loss by decay of 15 per cent 

 in the apples barrelled, while those in the bins were perfectly sound 

 and bright. He urged us lo bring this before the people, as it 

 would be of great importance to those storing apples. 



I would suggest for your consideration, the feasibility of teaching 

 some of the principles of horticulture in our public schools, as com- 

 paratively few of our bo3S can attend the Industrial College. The 

 tendency of the times is to teach those subjects which will be of 

 practical advantage in business. The different branches of fruit 

 growing and gardening are good trades in themselves, and it would 

 be pleasant for men in almost any business to know something about 

 the culture of fruits, vegetables and flowers. How to sow seed, to 

 transplant, to graft, bud and prune ; to make hot beds and propa- 

 gating houses. Could we get our boys interested in some of these 

 things, perhaps there would be more love for the farm and less 

 eagtn-ness to rush off to the city, or to some distant State, on at- 

 taming majority. I would suggest that the best way to accomplisli 

 this would be to begin with some plain lectures on the subject be- 

 fore the school. An interest in these things once aroused in the 

 mind of an intelhgent boy, and all nature is full of object lessons 

 for his special delight and instruction. 



One more question, and a most important one : How can we in- 

 terest more of the fruit growers, so that they will join witli us and 

 assist in building up the Society and extending its influence for 

 further good? You must he aware that comparatively few of our 

 large fruit growers are actively interested in the woik of the Society. 

 They may be in sympathy with us, but do not see the importance 

 of meeting together. Nearly every one of these lias some specialty 

 in which he excels, and he knows some things about it that others 

 do not, which he ought to contribute to the general fund of in- 

 formation, and at the same time he can reap the benefits of others' 

 experience. One of the best things accomplished by the Society is 

 the bringing together of inquirers and men of experience. 



Often, men who cannot or will not embody their ideas in print 

 have a large fund of information which may be elicited by careful 

 questioning. It is not enough that a few of us meet from year to 



