162 



THE POMOLOGIST AND GARDENER. 



1871 



gentleman, will feel herself and himself, eapecialli/ 

 invited to participate to the fullest extent, of her or 

 his feelings, in everything which may be deemed 

 necessary to make this first semi-annual meeting of 

 the Kansas Slate Horticultural Society an occasion 

 of thrilling interest, and one long to be remem- 

 bered, with pleasure, by every one now in attend- 

 ance, as well as those who may hereafter attend 

 during our session. 



It is intended, by all the officers now in waiting 

 upon this meeting, that every effort shall be made 

 to elicit all the tacts and opinions thought to have 

 an important bearing upon Horticultural knowl- 

 edge, from each one paiticipating in the forthcom- 

 ing exercises. 



We frequent!}' meet with facts which go to over- 

 tviru all the pre-conceived notions we may have had 

 upon some important point for years. Hence, we 

 are compelled to commence a new course of investi- 

 gation, reasoning from effect back to cause — when 

 a great many tacts are brought to bear upon the same 

 subject by different persons, from different soils, 

 from different locations, and under different circum- 

 stances, all pointing in the same direction, we may 

 fairly conclude, that we have at least, a starting 

 point, from which the truth may be ascertained. 



It is desirable that every one, detailing facts on 

 this occasion, will, as far as pos.sible, give them just 

 as they occurred, uninfluenced by any opinions 

 heretofore entertained. It is only from the simple 

 unvarnished facts, that we may reasonably hope to 

 arive at the truth. 



We of Kansas, are all from othei climates, and 

 other soils, and have all, no doubt, brought with us 

 opinions and biases that go to influence sometimes 

 unfavoaably onr practice in Horticultural opera- 

 tions. 



In a climate and soil comparatively new to many, 

 if not all of us, there are many things which demaLd 

 our closest observation, and most patient study. 

 How important these become, when we remember 

 what an influence the soil on which we propose to 

 plant, has upon the result — not only does a suitable 

 soil have a controling influence upon our efforts, 

 but there is also such an adaptation between the 

 tree or plant to be grown in it, that we must ascer- 

 tain this adaptation of each to the other, or our 

 efforts will not, nay, they cannot, be successful. As 

 an illustration of this fact, we find, that in certain 

 kinds of soil the pear tree worked upon the quince 

 will succeed admirably, while if worked on the 

 pear root, it will do scarcely any good ; and in 

 other soils the pear ou its own roots does finely, but 

 if worked on the quince it is almost an entire fail- 

 ure. 



Next in importance to the influence of soil upon 

 plants, and of adaptation of plants to soils, is that of 

 atmospheric influence. Here we have a wide field 



open before us for exploration and investigation. 

 The study of meteorology or raiher of iitnwspherd- 

 ogy, is one of the most important, that can engage 

 the attention of the HorticuUuri.st, whether in the 

 growing of fruits, flowers or of vegetables. On this 

 part of our subject temperature (Occupies a very con- 

 trolling position ; perhaps there is no other ofeqtuU 

 importance. 



The application of this principle, between the 

 points where vitality is destroyed by intense heat, 

 or intense cold, are quite varied and very important 

 — hence in planting orchards, we must take these 

 points into consideration, and direct our operations 

 accordingly. Here aspect, elevation, (actual and 

 relative), are each to be considered in all their 

 diversified bearings upon this subject. 



Having devoted ourselves to the study of soils and 

 climates, or atmospheric influences, we next turn our 

 attention to the study of entomology, or the insects, 

 which are inimical to our success as well as those 

 which are our friends, also the means best suited 

 for the destruction of the one and the protection of 

 the other : 



4. Ornithology. The study of ornithologj', or 

 a knowledge of useful and inimical birds, plays an 

 important part in successful growing, especially of 

 fruits. 



5. Botany and Vegetable Physiology. No one 

 can be either a successful or scientific horticultur- 

 ist without becoming, at least to some extent, 

 acquainted with these branches. 



1. To recapitulate — we would say, you should 

 look to your soils, and learn whether clay, sand 

 or lime predominates, and whether to an injurious 

 extent that the remedy may be applied. 



3. Study the nature and character of your cli- 

 mate. Study the influence which altitude, (wheth- 

 er actual or relative), has upon the crops you wish 

 to raise. Ascertain, if you can, why it is that fruit 

 is more easily killed in a humid atmosphere than in 

 a dry one ? AVhy it is that fruits are more gener- 

 erally killed in the valleys, than on the side of a hill 

 or on the hill top ? And why it is that this gener- 

 al rule is sometimes reversed ? Why it is that 

 apples and pears are harder to be killed while the 

 buds are dormant in winter than peaches ? And 

 why it is that the peach just before the blossom is 

 fully opened, will endure colder weather than the 

 apple or the pear under like circumstances? Why 

 it is that the finer or budded varieties of peaches 

 are more easily killed in winter while the buds are 

 dormant, than seedlings, as a rule ? Why it is that 

 so many more varieties of apples and pears have 

 generally failed to bear this year than the stone 

 fruits, seeing that the murcury in many places, 

 where this failure prevails, did not fall lower than 

 from 10 to 13 degs. below zero. 



3. When we come to study our insect enemies, 



