1871 



THE POMOLOGIST AJ^D GARDENER. 



163 



why it is that the round-headed borer generally 

 prefers to attack the apple-tree at the collar, or 

 just at the surface of the ground, rather than higher 

 up the trunk and in the branches, while the fiat- 

 headed bore, as generally, if not uniformly, is found 

 on the trunk and branches, and that too upon the 

 south-west side. 



The foregoing questions are more or less impor- 

 tant and bear more directly or indirectly upon the 

 growing of fruits, as also upon flowers and garden 

 vegetables. The satisfoctory solution of the.ie ques- 

 tions upon scientific principles, will go very far 

 towards placing horticulture among the exact sci- 

 ences. 



Until these points are at least approximated, 

 doubt and bewilderment will, to a considerable 

 extent, beset the path of the seeker after horticultu- 

 ral knowledge. Hence the importance of making 

 each of these points a matter of thorougli and 

 searching investigation. 



We are aware that while many of the foregoing 

 interogatories are admitted as facts, there are others 

 which are still held as mooted questions by many. 



That these points may be fully investigated is the 

 principal reason we have for presenting them in 

 the form of questions. 



Hoping that the foregoing remarks, though in 

 rather a crude form, will awaken a livelj interest 

 in our discussions, and that our knowledge and 

 pleasure in horticultural persuits may iucrease with 

 our years, and that we may hereafter have many 

 pleasant interchanges of thought and feeling, they 

 are with all due respect submitted for your consid- 

 eration. 



Mr. E. Snyder, from Ad-Interim Committee, re- 

 ported verbally : That the apple crop was variable 

 good in some places, other places indifferent. The 

 peach crop generally good, although some varieties 

 of budded peaches have failed. Strawberries good, 

 but cut short by dry weather. Also, Raspberries 

 and Blackbeiries promised well. Grapes never bet- 

 ter than this season. 



Discussion on the relative hardiness of seedlings 

 and budded peaches was participated in by Dr 

 Howsley, Snyder, Hall, and others. Dr. Howsley 

 rather favored the theory that budding had a dele- 

 terious influence. He thinks that those varieties of 

 seedlings that have large blossoms are more liable 

 to endure severe cold. He spoke at .some length 

 upon the subject. Agreed to by Mr. Hall. Ad- 

 journed. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. — 2 P. M. 



Prof Mudge in the chair. Music. The hardi- 

 ness of peaches was resumed and discussed bj' Mr 

 Hall, Mr. Snyder, Mr. Edgerley, Mr. Hatch, Dr 

 Stayman, Prof Kelsey, Dr. Myers, and President 

 Howsley. 



The question being asked, why seedling peaches 



are more hardy than budded varieties, Dr. Stayman 

 remarked that there was a physiological law. exist- 

 ing in the vegetable kingdom as well as the animal. 

 That no exclusive, peculiar quality or property 

 could be propagated continually except at the ex- 

 pense of some other quality. The peach being a 

 fruit which can be propagated so readily and rapid- 

 ly by seedlings, it is likely to degenerate very soon_ 

 For instance, the peach has a tendency to produce 

 its kind more frequently than other fruits, therefore 

 we are in the habit of selecting the best seed of seed- 

 lings, and planting them in hope of producing good 

 or better varieties, and the seed of the best of those 

 are planted again, and we have so continued to the 

 present time, which has degenerated the constitu- 

 tion of the improved varieties, and given us a race 

 of defective budded peaches. 



To get hardy peaches we will have to go back to 

 our best hardy seedlings, and start anew — keeping 

 in view the constitution, as well as the quality, in 

 the production of new varieties. Music. 



The subject of Fences was taken up by Prof. Kel- 

 sey, who has had extensive observation and experi- 

 ence in Osage Orange. 



He stated that he had set out two hundred miles 

 this .season, and could raise a hedge for about twen- 

 ty-five cents per rood. That it was the custom 

 once to plant close, six to eight inches apart, and 

 cut back each year, but that practice has not suc- 

 ceeded so well, as some of the plants beccmie crowd- 

 ed too thick, and they die out, leaving gaps. Now 

 he planted eighteen to twenty inches apart and cul- 

 tivated well, and when strong enough plashed it by 

 cutting close to the ground so as to bend the plants 

 down horizontal]}' with the row, filling up the va- 

 cant places, and keeping the hedge trimmed narrow 

 so the plants will have light and air, and not die 

 out. By this method in four or five years you will 

 have a good hedge fence. ■' 



Discussion followed by J. P. Johnson, E. Snyder, 

 and J. Troy, Prof. Kelsey, Dr. Stayman, and Mr. 

 Hatch, who all had varied experience, some not 

 very favorable to the Osage Orange. 



Dr. Stayman then presented to the Society, from 

 Mr. W. S. Dyer, of Vineland, Mo., some very fine 

 specimens of Ives' Seedling grapes, a variety of ap- 

 ples and apiicots, showing that the fruit prospect 

 was good in that section of the country, although 

 the codlin moth was at work amongst the apples. 



The meeting was dismissed early to visit the sur- 

 rounding country, which is very handsome and at- 

 tractive, showing good farmers and good crops. We 

 never saw as good wheat nor better corn, nor a 

 more inviting country for farming. Groves, or- 

 chards and hedges have been generally planted, and 

 all are thrifty except the hedge, which we did not 

 admire. He who would not admire the country 



