■T^l 



20 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. 



moro valuable for its productiTeness and adap- 

 tation to all parts of the State. It has the ad- 

 vantage of late flowering which often saves the 

 crop from frost, while others are cut off. In 

 this respect it holds the same poeifion among 

 grapes that the Rawles Janet does among apples. 

 Sherman said it was a little tender, and should 

 be protected in winter ; but as they protected all 

 their grapes at Rockford, even to the hardy 

 Clinton, this was no objection. It was added to 

 the liat. 



Taylor's bullet. 



a well known Southern grape, was introduced by 

 Oolman of St. Louis, but was not sufficiently 

 well known to be added to the list ; but from ac- 

 counts of it from several members, it promises 

 to be valuable. It is hardy at this point, pro- 

 ductive and vigorous. It is a white grape. 



The Diana, after a warm discussion, was lost 

 by a small majority. Its tough hide, as some 

 called it, carried it down. 



The Isabella and Catawba were added. 



The subject of wine grapes was referred to a 

 committee consisting of Dr. Warder, N. J. Col- 

 man and Smiley Shepherd. 



Mr. Samuel Edwards read a most valuable es- 

 say on the value and culture of evergreens. Mr. 

 E. is an enthusiast in this department of arbo- 

 roculture and has the largest collection in (he 

 State, embracing not only all the hardy but 

 many of the half hardy varieties. Fcr years 

 after he had commenced planting evergreens, 

 but few persons had faith that they would grow, 

 and it wft> a generally received opinion that the 

 prairies were not well adapted to the growth of 

 trees, more especially this class of trees, hence 

 the sales did not warrant the cost of growing 

 them, and Mr. £. had to straggle on with his 

 hobby. Now when he has noble spruces and 

 pines about his grounds, thirty feet high and of 

 the most symetrical form, others can see, and the 

 old fogy notion has had to fade out and give 

 place to the pleasing fact that nrwhere do they 

 flourish and grow more rapid and beautiful than 

 on our prairies. But among all good there is 

 evil, and twice has Mr. E. imported the Canada 

 Thietle in the roots of his trees, and which has 

 oost him no small amount cf labor to eradicate 

 from his grounds. We give this as a caution to 

 all those who receive evergreens from the Canada 

 Thistle region. Many of our farmers do not 

 know this pest, but those who do will need little 

 Admonishment in regard to it. 



Hr. E. recommended as the best time to re- 



move evergreens, early in the spring, before the 

 starting of the buds. They can also be moved 

 the latter part of summer after the growth ia 

 complete, and during a long rainy spell in sum- 

 mer, but this is not so safe. 



This is precisely the same that we have given 

 anuUy for the past half a dozen years, though in 

 almost direct conflict with high authorities at the 

 East. We therefore repeat that early spring, 

 and before the swelling of the buds, is the very 

 best time to remove evergreens. Mr. E. places 

 the Norway Spruce at the head of the list, and 

 strongly recommends it for shelter belts. 



At the close of the reading, several persons 

 made short speeches in favor of Evergreens, 

 some prefering them for belts to deciduous trees, 

 but the larger number did not concur in this. 

 For low screens they are the best, but we can- 

 not wait for them while we have the white wil- 

 low, the ash, the maple, and other rapid grow- 

 ing deciduous trees, that make not only shelter 

 in a short time, but fuel also. 



SHELTE BELTS. 



M. L. Dunlap followed with an essay on the 

 above subject. He recommended these belts on 

 the southwest and northwest, but none on the 

 East. 



As there are some new features, or some not 

 well understood, in this essay, we may at some 

 future time give it entire, and pass over a fur- 

 ther notice of it at this time. Its doctrines were 

 fully approved by the Society as orthodox. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 



The Committee on Communications made a 

 report as follows : 



Your committee to whom were referred the 

 communication of Prof. Turner and Dr. J. A. 

 Eennicott, desire to report that by the former 

 the following suggestions were presented for the 

 consideration of the Saciety. 



1st. The expediency and economy of making 

 wine from Rhubarb or pie plant. 



2d. To plant cypress as a living trellis for ths 

 grapevine. 



8d. The trailing juniper as a living ornameni- 

 al mulch for the peach tree. 



As to the first suggestion, your committee re- 

 commended that the juice of the grape, and of 

 the grape alone, be considered and designated as 

 wine , and that all liquors, the results of vege« 

 table compounds, be known by such names as 

 will not be likely to confound them in cbaraoter 

 and quality with the prodaots of the vine. 



