48 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 362. 



twenty-seven degrees below zero. This is a particularly inter- 

 esting' fact, since both of the parents are found in southern 

 latitudes, and this seems to show that it does not always follow 

 that the offspring will be tender if the parents are tender. 

 _ The Riverside Grape is the common species in Nebraska. 

 Owing to its wide distribution, this is a desirable parent to use 

 in aiming to secure hardy varieties. Professor Munson says 

 that this must enter into all varieties which are expected to 

 endure the extreme winters of the north-west. 



The Red Grape occupies a small region near St. Louis. This 

 is a recent variation from the Riverside Grape, with bright red 

 canes when young and deeply lobed leaves. It is quite orna- 

 mental, and has proved hardy at the Arnold Arboretum. 



The European Grape in a wild state is very similar to our 

 Frost Grape, with small blue berries. The wonderful improve- 

 ment which has been wrought in this species leads us to think 

 that we can do almost anything with our best native Grapes 

 by patient and well-directed effort. The European Grape is 

 not important in Nebraska at present, but it will undoubtedly 

 yet be grown here, since it is not the climate that prevents its 

 growth, but the phylloxera, and this can be overcome as well 

 here as in other countries by grafting on the proper roots. The 

 great variation in color which has occurred in varieties of Vitis 

 labrusca is an encouraging feature in the possibilities of future 

 improvement from this and other species. 



THE PROPAGATION OF THE GRAPE. 



This was the subject of a paper read by G. A. Marshall, 

 of Arlington. For commercial purposes propagation from 

 three-eye cuttings is the most practicable way under or- 

 i, ordinary conditions. These are taken in the fall, buried 

 in the ground, tops downward, and covered with three or four 

 inches of earth. In Nebraska this needs to be wet thoroughly 

 and then covered with two inches more of soil. When freez- 

 ing begins the whole is covered with about six inches of hay 

 or similar material. In spring the covering is removed, with 

 the exception of about two inches of soil, and the bed is sur- 

 rounded with a board frame for protection from winds. This 

 two inches of soil which covers the cuttings must be kept wet 

 without fail. No rotting need be apprehended, and they should 

 be kept as warm as possible, with the frame covered in 

 very cold weather. The time to plant is when they begin 

 to send out roots, which will usually be within fifteen or 

 twenty days after the upper part of the covering is removed. 

 The cuttings should lean toward the north or east when 

 planted, and the soil should be firmly packed about them, and 

 the row covered with a ridge of soil till the roots are 

 thoroughly started. 



BREVITIES. 



Some of Rogers's hybrids give good satisfaction in the 

 south-eastern portion of the state. For general market 

 purposes Moore's Early proves profitable, owing to its season, 

 though it does not yield more than half or two-thirds as much 

 as Worden or Concord. It bears heavy manuring. The Wor- 

 den is the best all-round market variety, because it ripens here 

 before competition becomes so close from other localities. 

 Among newer varieties, Eaton is giving satisfaction wherever 

 tried. It ripens with Worden, appears to be as hardy as Con- 

 cord, and is one of the largest and handsomest black grapes 

 grown. 



Grafting the vine above ground was recommended so 

 that the cion cannot send out roots of its own, for this will 

 partially overcome the value of a stock which resists phyllox- 

 era. Even varieties of Vitis labrusca are somewhat subject 

 to the attacks of this pest, and this susceptibility appears to in- 

 crease with the age of the vine. The Delaware seems to be 

 affected worse than any other variety. 



Professor N. E. Hanson stated that in an experimental hy- 

 bridizing at the Iowa Agricultural College varieties of Grapes 

 and Strawberries from Manitoba were used, with the hope of 

 securing increased hardiness in the offspring. The hardier 

 plant is used as the mother in all cases. He finds the secret 

 in keeping pollen to be in getting it thoroughly dry before it is 

 corked up in the vial. 



Western New York Horticultural Society. — I. 



MORE than five hundred members of this progressive 

 society met in Rochester last week at its fortieth 

 annual meeting. Nearly all these men are actively en- 

 gaged in some business connected with fruit-growing, and, 

 perhaps, these meetings bring together more men who are 

 skilled in the cultivation of orchards and vineyards than 

 can be found anywhere else in the country on any oc- 



casion. At this meeting, like its predecessors, papers were 

 read by many men of science, from this and from other 

 states, and the business, as usual, was conducted with 

 admirable promptness and efficiency. The officers elected 

 for next year are William C. Barry, of Rochester, President ; 

 S. D. Willard, of Geneva, First Vice-president ; Secretary 

 and Treasurer, John Hall. We present this week in a con- 

 densed form some of the addresses and discussions : 



PRESIDENT BARRY'S ADDRESS. 



UNPRODUcnvE Apple Orchards. — During the past summer 

 I have had occasion to visit several localities in western New 

 York, and I have been greatly impressed with the number of 

 old, worn-out apple orchards, which are an eyesore wherever 

 found, and which should be cut down and used for fire- 

 wood. It is difficult to understand why so many dead and 

 dying trees have been allowed to stand after having outlived 

 their usefulness. The beauty of any farm is marred and its 

 value depreciated by these old trees. I ask the members of 

 this society to give aid in remedying this condition of things. 

 The public good and local pride demand this. Again, the 

 number of orchards of medium age which are partially or 

 totally neglected is very large. These orchards should be 

 taken care of or destroyed. Few of us realize how much 

 valuable land is unproductive owing to its condition. In most 

 cases, by plowing the sod and fertilizing and pruning, vigor, 

 health and fruittulness can be restored. Many hesitate to 

 undertake the work on account of the expense involved, but 

 it is evident that there has been too much delay already ; we 

 are really forced to meet an emergency and to do something 

 at once. As to the advisability of cultivating and pruning there 

 is no question. A thorough cleaning up will completely change 

 the aspect of our fruit farms and homes, and many places can 

 be made valuable which otherwise are worthl'ess. A grower 

 at Carlton, Orleans County, stated recently at a farm institute 

 that he had thinned out his orchard to the extent of 600 trees, 

 and sprayed the remaining 600 three times with Bordeaux 

 mixture. As a result he marketed 2,400 barrels of fine apples 

 at an average price of $3.13 per barrel. 



Fruit as Food. — The use of fruit as an article of food is be- 

 coming more and more general, though the amount consumed 

 in families is very small compared with what it should be. 

 Very many labor under the false impression that fruit should 

 only be taken at the end of the meal. Fresh fruit should be 

 partaken of at breakfast for at least six or nine months of the 

 year. In the morning it is cooling, refreshing and easily 

 digested. Perfectly sound, ripe fruit should be secured in the 

 autumn for the winter's supply. In this region it is easy to 

 secure apples and pears of the best grades. Wealthy Europeans 

 send their orders annually for a year's supply of fruit to this 

 country, and have it shipped directly to their homes, paying a 

 good price for a superior and selected article. The day is not 

 far distant when it will be possible for all who care to indulge 

 in it to have fresh fruit on their tables the year round, and in 

 this locality it need not be a luxury, for the prevailing prices 

 will be so low as to enable all to buy, and more fruit with less 

 meat will certainly conduce to a healthier condition of body 

 and mind. 



Commercial Fruit Growing. — Early in the year the prospects 

 for a large apple crop in this vicinity were bright, the trees blos- 

 somed full, but when the fruit had attained the size of hickory- 

 nuts it dropped ; this was probably due to a heavy frost in 

 May ; then it was predicted that there would be no apples ; 

 however, there has been a crop harvested much larger than 

 was anticipated. Many orchards have paid well. Much fruit 

 is at present in cold storage in the expectation that prices will 

 advance later on. I see it stated that Mr. Wellhouse, of Kan- 

 sas, has marketed 23,000 barrels from sixty-five acres, and that 

 he has produced fourteen crops in fifteen years.,. We can 

 hardly expect results equal to this, but still the outlook is not 

 discouraging when we consider how neglectful we have been 

 in many respects. In plain English, many of our orchards have 

 been starved. If the proper nutriment be supplied, a change 

 will take place. Surface cultivationand application of potash will 

 do more than anything else to make the orchards remunerative. 

 The time has come when it will not pay to send poor fruit to 

 market in the hope of getting good returns. The large quan- 

 tities of fruit from California, sent annually to the eastern mar- 

 kets, have made competition keen, and it will become neces- 

 sary to do as the Californians do — pack selected fruit in small 

 attractive packages. The fertility of our soils has been ex- 

 hausted, a fact we have to look squarely in the face. Where 

 fruit growing is unsatisfactory it is mainly due to this cause ; 



