the treel was argued in the affirmative by our repor- 

 ter, and abl}^ controverted by others. The meeting 

 seemed undecided on the point. 



22. Has slielter been found of such marked benefit 

 to orchards^ as to make it 'profitable to plant artifi- 

 cial belts of Evergreens^ It was argued by some 

 that what was gained to the trees by shelter, was 

 lost to the fruit by the encouragement given to in- 

 sects to breed. Then it was contended that Ever- 

 greens encouraged birds which eat the insects ; and 

 the opposition thought the fruit as well as the in- 

 sects were eaten by the birds. 



23. What are the best Evergreens for the purpose 

 of protection'^. Norway Spruce, White Pine, Scotch 

 Pine and Austrian Pine were nam.ed. 



24. Which is the most profitable of all the small 

 fruits? brought so many discordant views, that we 

 concluded from the remarks of the speakers that it 

 depended on too m,any contingencies to be an an- 

 swerable question. 



25. Are profitable market fruit, the best generally 

 for amateurs to grow? Some thought it best when 

 people had little time to spare to have kinds that 

 took little care to grow ; others seemed to think bet- 

 ter take time, and have the best or none. It 

 seemed to be conceded that the easiest kinds to 

 grow were not generally the best to eat. 



26. Are seedling fruits of Pennsylvania^ better 

 for Pennsylvania, than introduced varieties? This 

 was warmly argued both wa3^s, some contending 

 that almost ail fruits grew better as they travelled 

 south ; others pointing to Penns.ylvania Pears which 

 were better in Pennsylvania than any others, — 

 Seckel, Brandywine, R-utter, Julienne, and several 

 others were named. 



27. Is Pennsylva.nia a better fruit growing State 

 than any otlwr? It was contended that while a few 

 things did a little better in northern states, and 

 some few in the south, — yet as great a variety of 

 fruits could be successfully and as profitably grjwn 

 as in any State in the Union; but we did not think 

 the meeting concluded it to be better than some 

 other States west, and some thought Delaware or 

 Maryland better than Pennsylvania. ^ 



28. Is any pa rt <f the State more favorable for 

 fruit growing generally than another ? Thought not. 



29. Hare any new methods for the cure or preven- 

 tion of diseases in fruit tree^ been discovered since 

 our last meeting? Did not elicit much we thought 

 particularly new. 



.30. H ire any disease lohich have appeard in cer- 

 tain districts shoion any natural tendency to disap- 

 pear? On this, also, we could not learn any thing 

 decided from the gentlemen who spoke. 



31. Will insects when deprived of ivhat appears 

 to be their natural food, adapt themselves to other 

 varieties ? It seemed the general opinion that insects 

 had this power of preserving their race, hence it 

 would be no benefit to cut down one's cherry trees, 

 merely because curculios bred in the fruit. 



33. What is the best method of keeping fruits for 

 those icJio have no regular fruit houses?* The dit-cus- 

 sion turned principally on apples and grapes. The 

 former it was recommended to let them sweat first, 

 and then put carefully in barrels, and keep as cool 

 as possible so as not to freeze ; the latter in boxes, 

 with paper between each layer in the box, and keep 

 "neither very hot or very cold, very damp or very 

 dry." It was thought important not to put more 

 than a dozen or so of bunches in each box. 



35. What fertdizers are as a general ride found 

 most profitable to the fruit grower? Produced along 

 and animated discussion, the majority who spoke 

 prefering common barnyard or stable manure to any 

 other, even at a greater labor and expense than 

 is generally thought profitable. In other words, 

 that artificial or special fertilizers are not so valua- 

 as they are generally thought to be. 



3G. Have there been any valuable implements to 

 the cultivators of the soil been introduced the past few 

 years, that deserve to be better known? The digging 

 fork was referred to, but regrets expressed that ma- 

 kers could not make them as little liable to break in 

 heavy work as the spade, also one gentleman spoke 

 of a hand cultivator which worked by pushing in- 

 stead of drawing after him, which he thought an 

 advantage. 



38. Will it pay the commercial groiver to erect 

 gjffss houses for the hastening tJhe maturity of his 

 fr\dt crops? Was well discussed both ways. Some 

 arguing that with railroad f icilities it was cheaper 

 to buy early land south for the purpose of early 

 supplying the great markets, others thought the 

 saving of freight and superior quaHty and freshness 

 more than made up for other advantages. 



It will be seen from the vast amount of topics 

 discussed, that the meeting was a much more val- 

 uable one than is usual with such institutions, and 

 it will be no disparagement to any other persons to 

 say that much of this was owing to the Chairman 

 of the business committee Mr. Wm. Saunders and 

 to the excellent President, D. W. Gross Esq., who 

 exhibited the tact so much needed in a good Chair- 

 man of seeing where at once to draw out what 

 information the meeting possessed, and when the 

 subject was exhausted. Against his own urgent 

 request, he was re-elected for another term. 



