52 The Western Pomologisb and Gardener. 1872 



The question of seedling stocks for working tlie finer varieties of the cherry was slightly 

 touched. The speakers were about equally divided in their preferences between the 

 Morello and Mahaleb. The impression has been, to some extent, that the Mahaleb is too 

 tender for this climate, but we think there need be no further apprehension on that point 

 in Central and Southern Iowa at least. Some speakers thought the Early Richmond 

 worked upon Morello stock makes a more fruitful tree and comes into bearing earlier than 

 if worked upon Mahaleb stock, but from what was said pro and con, we doubt whether 

 there is much, if any difl'erence between the merits of the two. 



Apples, pears and small fruits received some attention. No recommendation was made, 

 however, as to what to plant — a great oversight, we think, in the business of the society, 

 for if a State Horticultural Society has any definite aim or object, it should be a complete 

 list of fruits, and its annual revision for trial and general cultivation. If such is not the 

 grand missioa of our State Horticultural Society, we should like to know what is. It is 

 what the people look for and expect from all over the State. 



Offices for 1873. — Suel Foster, President ; Beniamin Green, Vice-President; D. W. 

 Adams, Secretary ; David Leonard, Treasurer. 



Directors. — 1st District — E. H. Calkins, Des Moines County. 2d District — Mrs. Emily 

 F. Ives, Wapello county. 3d District — A. E. Ki'etchmer, Montgomery county. 4th Dis- 

 trict — G. P. Wood, Cedar county . .^ihDistrict — J. Doran, Linn county. 6th District — 

 C. L. Watrous, Polk county. 7th District — J. T. Mott, Alamakee county. 8th District — 

 S. D. Pierce, Wright county. 9th District — S. J. Comfort, Crawford county. 10th Dis- 

 trict— C. E. Whitney, Monona county. 



Evergreen Screens»IIoTir to GroTV and Best Trees. 

 In reply to "Inquirer" for information on growing live screens and the best trees or 

 shrubs for the purpose, we will say that for trees, by all means use evergreen of some 

 sort. The Buckthorn and Barberry make beautiful screens, but as they are deciduous 

 plants they possess neither beauty or utility in winter. Hence we would recommend 

 evergreens, and though dearest in the beginning, they are in the end the cheapest, most 

 beautiful, perfect and satisfactory. For a tall, strong screen that will eventually serve the 

 double purpose of wind screen and fence, the Norway Spruce, planted two feet apart 

 in a straight line, is, in our mind, the best tree. For a low, dense screen, we 

 should take the American Arbor- Vitse ; nothing is better, or will make a more perfect 

 wall of green, whilst it is the cheapest of all the evergreens, of rapid growth, bears trans- 

 planting best of all, thrives in almost any situation and will stand pruning to suit the 

 taste. To make a dense, perfect screen, use thrifty plants that have been two or three 

 times transplanted, and ten to eighteen inches in height. Set in two parallel rows eight- 

 een inches apart in rows in the following order : 



Started in this way and properly cared for, a most beautiful screen or wall of perpetual 

 green four to five feet in height, and three to four feet at the base, may be raised in five 

 years. The roots of this plant are numerous after two or three transplantings, and form 

 a complete net work very near the .surface. Hence the surface of the ground about the 

 plant should never be disturbed in the least, or exposed to the sun. Mulch the ground with 

 coarse manure and keep it so until the plants attain a growth that will shade the surface 

 underneath, and even then a good dressing of coar.se manure twice a year will greatly 

 benefit the plants. We know from several year's trial that non-culture, with liberal 

 mulching is of the greatest importance in growing evergreens of any kind. The roots 

 must be kept cool and moist if we would have a vigorous and healthy growth. Nothing 

 gives so much life and beauty to homeln winter, as do lines of evergreens properly dis- 

 persed about the buildings. 



The Scuppernong. — We see it stated that in Mobile county, Alabama, eighty-six gal- 

 lons of pure juice was taken from two Scuppernoug vines, twelve years old. 



