1864. 



THE ILLIlSrOIS FAEMER. 



IS 



The debate was closed by appointing Dr. Clag- 

 gett, Dr. Schroeder, Mr. Shepherd, Mr, Douglass, 

 and Mr. Hull, a committee to report further on the 

 subject at the next meeting of the Society. 



Messrs. Douglass, Anderson and Bryant, of 

 Northern Illinois, Overman, Minier and Hull, for 

 Central, and Baker, Flagg and Earle for the South 

 division, were appointed to report a list of pears 

 on the same plan as that adopted for the apple. 



AFTERVOON SESSION. 



The pear blight was still the theme with mem 

 bers, although not formally before them, but in a 

 sort ef desultory way. 



The whole subject is a mystery, and we are wil- 

 ling to accept the views of Mr. Bryant, one of our 

 oldest and most careful pomologists. In common 

 with many others we have learned to look to him 

 for valuable advice, and now after having studied 

 the above subject for twenty years without lifting 

 the vail from the mystery, we must pause, and 

 seek the cause in some other direction. 



At all of our winter meetings this subject ha4r 

 been brought up, and warmly talked over, but no 

 remedy has been discovered. All sorts of reme- 

 dies have, at times, been supposed efficacious, but 

 none answer the second time. We have no faith 

 in any yet proposed, not even that of Mr. Pettin- 

 gill, in that of scraping off the outside bark, nor 

 that of Mr. Johnson. We have trees that have 

 recovered as remarkably as his, without any appli- 

 cation, that have bore full crops the past six 

 years. 



EsRay OH Blackberry Culture — By N. J. Colraan 

 of St. Louis. — The essay takes the ground that the 

 Lawton or New Rochelle is the only variety worthy 

 of attention. The Dorchester and Newman's 

 Thornless as worthless. This doctrine in regard 

 to the Lawton, is doubtless good for St. Louis, but 

 planters at the North and Eastern part of the 

 State want a more hardy plant. 



He plants in rows eight feet apart, and the plant 

 two feet apart in the rows. The new plants should 

 be allowed to grow like a hedge ro-w, and the 

 space between these hedge rows kept clean by 

 cutting down the intermediate canes. In the sea- 

 son of growth the canes are cut back to about 

 four feet, and the new shoots should be cut back 

 as they appear This is the best plan that we have 

 seen to grow the fruit. 



The Minority report of the Committee from 

 Northern Illinois, on apples, by 0. B. Galusha, 

 protesting against the Little Romanite, was receiv- 

 ed and placed on file for publication. 



Mr. Galusha takes the ground that we send no 

 poor apples to market. That none but the best 

 should be grown, so as to correct the public taste 

 for such apples as the Maiden's Blush, the Milam 

 and Little Romanite. 



This is all very well, yet, these fruits will con- 

 tinue to be grown so long as tastes differ. Mr. G 

 is in favor of the Rawles' Janet at the North, an 



apple that in that location we have never seen in 

 good condition, and which is to our mind less val- 

 uable than the Milam, neither of which we would 

 plant largely. So long as cooking apples are in 

 demand, so long will the Little Romanite hold a 

 place in the orchard. It is a profuse bearer, keeps 

 well under almost every condition and in spring 

 when other apples are not plenty is in demand for 

 cider and for cooking, and at that time is not very 

 bad to eat, as thousands will testify who travel 

 through the West during the spring months, when 

 the train boys have few other apples to sell. 



Essay on Native Forest Trees — By 0. B. Galusha. 

 — American Arbor Vitas is recommended for 

 screens. He estimates the cost of a screen of a 

 double row, half a mile long, at one hundred dol- 

 lars at twelve years old. Norway Spruce is prob- 

 ably the best of all the conifer family for screens. 

 Early spring is recommended as the best time to 

 transplant. 



Among those that are the most valuable are: 



Yellow and White Willow, White and Ash Leaf 

 Maple, Red and White Elms, Yellow, Black and 

 White Birch, Blue and White Ash, Lombardy Pop- 

 lar, and the Black and White Walnuts. 



He looks upon the White Willow as the most 

 valuable of this list. 



All of these are valuable in protecting crops 

 from high winds, as well as the orchards and 

 house grounds, and should be placed on every 

 farm. 



Mr. Overman moved that 10,000 copies of the 

 address be printed and distributed. This was de- 

 bated, and withdrawn, and the manuscript placed 

 on file. 



Box Alder. — Smiley Shepherd made a report in 

 regard to this tree for sugar making. He found 

 the sap nearly as rich and abundant, and identical 

 with that of the sugar maple. Recommends it for 

 wind-breaks and timber, and further trial in regard 

 to its value for sugar. 



We need not say that a recommendation com- 

 ing from Mr. S. is of the highest value. 



We intend to set a few hundred plants in the 

 spring. 



Mr. Galusha had a sample tree on exhib'.tion, 

 and also distributed packages of seed; he also has 

 the plant and seed for sale. He said of this tree, 

 that "The sap is rich in saccharine matter ; is har- 

 dy, can be tapped in from six to eight years. The 

 sap of this tree is as rich as that of the sugar ma- 

 ple and as valuable." He thinks that it will be 

 largely planted for shelter belts and for sugar. 

 When set for sugar, set sixteen feet apart and cul- 

 tivate with care for a few years. 



Essay on American Wine — By Geo. Husmann 

 of Hermann, Mo. 



This essay was particularly interesting and val- 

 uable, but too long to copy. 



Wine-making is simple ; but first, we want good, 

 well ripened grapes ; second, good, clean casks; 

 third, vats ; fourth^ mill. This last will cost about 

 seventy dollars. (^ 



