95 



sons who would give an inferior price for a good 

 fruit, than there were those who would give high 

 prices for those a very little better ; but for ones' 

 own use where nice calculations of profit and loss 

 ; were not to be set against individual enjoyment, the 

 ' sense of the meeting seemed to be that the better 

 and tender kinds of Raspberries should be encour- 

 aged. 



8. Ai^e any of the autumn fruiting Raspberries 

 worth groioing as such? The Belle de Fontenay 

 and Catawissa were well recommended when severe- 

 ly pruned in spring, and when the innumerable 

 suckers of the first named could be hoed out through 

 summer. 



9. Are any varieties of the foreign Gooseberry 

 worth growing in Pennsylvania? Decidedly no, it 

 was voted. 



10. What varieties of Peach are most exempt 

 from curl? It was decided that none were, — but 

 the conclusion seemed to be that the cause of curl 

 was cold winds or weather acting on the young foli- 

 age, and that if trees were planted in aspects where 

 they would not prematurely foliate, in spring have 

 less curl. Another interesting fact brought out in the 

 discussion was, that the curl is a much more serious 

 enemy to the Peach grower than generally supposed. 



\ It was represented that it was the injury to the leaf 

 I which caused the young fruit to drop. This view was 

 \ ably presented by several speakers. 

 \ 11. Is it mor.e profitable to grow Straicberri.es in 

 \ hills, in rows, or ui beds? There were so manj ad- 

 vocates for different systems, all of whom had found 

 their plans more profitable than the others, that 

 the conclusion would seem to be that which best 

 I depends on the soil, variety, or method of cultiva- 

 \ tion. For hand culture in gardens close rows with 

 \ a foot or so of clean surface between the rows had 

 j favorites. In sancy soils some favored growing 

 them in beds. The pure hill system, which means 

 cutting off all the runners, did not find many advo- 

 cates. 



12. Is ^winter covering of Strawberries a henefit? 

 Some, especially Mr. Parry thought it a great ben- 

 efit,— others did not think it paid for the expense, 

 while a few thought it a decided injury. 



13. What are the comparative merits of the vari- 

 ous methods of propagating the native Grape? 

 Green wood cuttings, eyes, pot grown vines, early 

 starting and then putting out, out door raising alto- 

 gether had numerous enemies and able defenders. 

 It was contended that there was nothing radically 

 wrong in any one of the methods in use, but that 

 where bad vines resulted it was to the manner of 

 carrying out the system, and not the system itself 



Each advocate contended that by his system he 

 could produce vines with many eyes, of strong ripe 

 wood and plenty of roots, and the sense of the meet- 

 ing seemed to us to be that when such vines were 

 raised, it made no difference what system they were 

 raised by. 



17. Have any varieties that have been introduced 

 the past ten years, and extensively tried, proved hke- 

 ly to be permanently valuable? Although the mean- 

 ing of this question was pretty well undersrood, it 

 was difiicult to get anything in under it. The Wil- 

 son's Early and Kittatinny Blackberry were named, 

 but objected to as not having time enough to be 

 "generally" tried. Concord Grape was thought to 

 be out of rule, as having been out "longer than ten 

 years;" we can only say that Concord grape. Stump 

 the World and Hale's Early Peach, Yersailles Cur- 

 rants, Summer Hagl e, Ridge Pippin, Cornell's 

 Fancy Apples, Rutter Pear, and Philadelphia Rasp- 

 berry, received commendation as very good things 

 to have; and Wilson's Early and Kittatinny very 

 promising new Blackberries. Doyenne du Cornice 

 and Dana's Hovey named Pears of promise. 



18. Is it profitable to keep an orchard entirely as 

 such or to grow other crops ivith it? It was admit- 

 ted that as a rule trees are healthier and longer lived 

 when well cared for in grass, although some in- 

 stances of longevity and regular productiveness can 

 be adduced- to favor continually stirring ol the sur- 

 face ; but it was contended it was generally morepro- 

 fitable to use the- ground for other purposes during 

 the time the fruit trees were growing together, even 

 were the trees not quite so good in the long run, 

 some few though it better to plant trees closer to- 

 gether at first, and use only as an orchard exclu- 

 sively, but the sense of the meeting, as a question 

 of profit, seemed to be in favor of using the first 

 few years of an orchard for other purposes. 



19. Is transplanting fruit trees better done in the 

 fall than in the spring? Brought one of the most 

 interesting discussions it has ever been our pleasure 

 to listen to. A great many cases of loss from "fall" 

 planting were instanced, but it afterwards appeared 

 these were winter or November planted; — many 

 f*acts in proof of October planting were given. The 

 general sense of the speakers seemed to be that 

 about the fall of the leaf was the best time, the 

 next best just before the buds burst in spring. 



Late fall, or it may be said early winter, was depre- 

 cated, as also was being in too much of a hurry in 

 spring. 



20. Is pruning at transplanting a benefit or not? 

 It was the experience of every speaker that it was. 



21. Is pruning injurious to the vital strength of 



