'258 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The official reports of the Standing Committees of the Society on 

 Plant Pathology, Entomology, Stone Fruits, Vineyards, and Small Fruits 

 and Vegetable were also read and discussed. The opinion of the meeting 

 was divided on the advantage or otherwise of terracing orchards on rough 

 mountain land, hut the majority of speakers seemed to agree that it made 

 cultivation easier, and diminished the chances of the soil washing down 

 after heavy rain. 



All through the discussions the great importance of cultivation among 

 fruit bees was always being insisted upon except by one speaker, who 

 quoted a case where prize fruit was grown in an orchard in the north 

 which bad not been cultivated for a hundred years, but in which the grass 

 was cut every year at hay-time, piled up round the trees and left to rot. 

 It seemed to be generally felt that some further legislation is required to 

 check the spread of San Jose scale, which threatens seriously to cripple 

 the important industry of Apple culture in the United States, and which 

 is being spread wholesale by infected nursery stock. The Department 

 of Agriculture has introduced a bill providing for a small sum to be spent 

 yearly on the official inspection of orchards and young stock, and individual 

 States have powers to order the destruction and disinfection of stock that 

 is known to be infected ; but it seems to be felt that the law 7 is not yet 

 < Iras tic enough to cope effectually with the disease. 



Thorough spraying is insisted on as the only remedy for all disease 

 and as a great preventive of some. Bordeaux mixture should be used 

 for fungous diseases, and Paris green for those caused by insects. 



A mixture of lime, sulphur, and salt is said to be efficacious in keeping 

 *San Jose scale in check, but is not quite powerful enough to eradicate it. 



To make the mixture, use 40 lb. fresh unslacked lime, 15 lb. salt, 

 -20 lb. sulphur, 60 gals, water. 



Slack the lime, mix with the water, and boil, stirring in the salt and 

 sulphur. Go on boiling for an hour and a half, or until the sulphur is 

 dissolved. When thoroughly mixed apply hot, while the trees are in a 

 dormant state. 



The varieties of Apple recommended for market purposes were ' Albe- 

 marle Pippin,' also known as 1 Yellow Newtown,' ' York Imperial,' ' Ben 

 1 >a\ iV ' Ciano,' ' Winesop,' ' Staymen,' ' Mammoth Black Tw r ig,' ' Virginia 

 Beauty,' 1 (1 rimes' Golden,' and 4 Jonathan.' 



The Peaches recommended were ' Greensboro,' ' Early Rivers,' 1 Cham- 

 pion,' ' Carman,' * Crawford Early ' and * Crawford Late,' * Elberta ' (the 

 mi st popular Peach in cultivation), ' Salway,' and 'Bilyues Late.' 



( - rowers are given their choice among these, but are strongly recom- 

 mends! not I plan! Loo many varieties. Two or three are quite enough 

 when it comes to picking and getting to market, unless the grower means 

 to sell in hi8 nearest town, when it might possibly be safe to plant six or 

 eight varieties. 



Pears are not so extensively cultivated in Virginia at present as they 

 probably might be, and ' Kieffers ' are recommended as a variety. They are 

 best pollonisfd from some other variety, preferably 1 Garber.' In planting 

 Strawberries for market the great thing is, of course, to find out what sorts 

 do best in each locality, but 'Excelsior,' 'Crescent,' 'Tennessee,' 'Clyde,' 

 I'-raiidyv. m •.' and 'Gaudy' are all to be recommended. 'Bell,' ' Bril- 



