FRUIT GROWERS’ SOCIETY OF WESTERN 
NEW YORK. 
The Spring Meeting of the “ Fruit Growers' 
Society of Western New York ” was held in the city 
of Rochester on Thursday, the 23d inst,, President 
Hodge in the Chair, and was one of the most inter¬ 
esting meetings ever held at this season. 
The “ Genesee Valley Horticultural Society ” 
changed the day for its exhibition from the 24th to 
the 23d ult., in order that the Jfruit Groivers might 
exhibit their fruit in the Horticultural Hall, and 
by this combination of both fruits and flowers, 
made one of the most attractive exhibitions ever 
seen in Rochester at this season of the year. The 
excellent judgment of the officers was shown in 
the results; for a more numerous assembly of the 
lovers of Flora and Pomona, was never before 
congregated in Rochester. 
Morning Session. 
The meeting was called to order at about 10 A. M., 
and the minutes of the Annual Meeting (5th of Jan¬ 
uary) were read by the Secretary, and on motion 
were approved as read. 
The Secretary read some subjects which had been 
sent in by members for discussion. 
On motion of P. Barry, seconded by W. B. 
Smith, the Chairman nominated Messrs. Barry, 
Townsend and Ainsworth a Committee to select, 
prepare, and report subjects for discussion; and 
while the Committee were out an interchange of 
opinions was had as to the propriety of having the 
Committee select subjects for discussion at the Sep¬ 
tember meeting, and advise the Secretary of the 
same, on or before the middle of August, in order 
that full notice might be given to members what 
would be the leading topics to be brought up at the 
September session. It was not intended that this 
should preclude the appointment of the usual Com¬ 
mittee on subjects at each meeting, but only that 
members might feel that there were some promi¬ 
nent topics which would engage their attention, 
and also might realize that from the moment of 
organizing, business was laid out for the meeting, 
and the first subject that would be introduced. 
P. Barry objected to having the work and discus¬ 
sions of the Society laid out for months beforehand, 
because the desire wa3 that when any subject was 
brought up, each member should relate the simple 
facts of his own experience. There should be no 
temptation to investigate the sayings of others and 
give long details of hearsay evidence. If the mem¬ 
bers were notified for months beforehand what 
were to be the subjects brought up, this temptation 
would be very strong. 
Other members felt that the warning beforehand 
would interest the public, and that assurance would 
thna he flrivpn of int.prpaf.ina nnd nnimat.ina disona- 
sions. Also, that those desiring to hear the expe¬ 
rience of our fruit growers on special topics would 
be particularly induced to attend the meetings, by 
knowing that these topics were to be freely and 
thoroughly discussed. 
A motion to nominate a Committee to prepare 
beforehand subjects to be discussed at the Septem¬ 
ber meeting, was lost. 
The Committee on Subjects here submitted the 
following questions for the consideration of the 
Society: 
Question First. 
Are there any benefits to be derived f rom the practice 
of ringing , ligating, girdling, (fee., of the grape 
■vine t and if so, what are they t 
S. H. AiNswoRTn saw grapes exhibited at the 
meeting of this Society last fall, by a neighbor of 
his, Mr. Peck, of Bloomfield, which were so large 
as to attract great attention. A small ring had 
been taken out from the bark of the vine below the 
bunch, and the result, in the increase of size, was 
very apparent. 
W. P. Townsend recalled to the recollection of 
gentlemen who were at the meeting of the State 
Agricultural Society at Buffalo, that a person from 
Chautauque county exhibited some specimens of 
grapes which so far exceeded anything else shown 
there as to attract universal attention, and to cause 
even a doubt and an appeal to Mr. Downing as to 
the variety which the owner called the Isabella. 
These grapes were fully one-half larger than the 
usual size, and a good deal of inquiry was made as 
to how they happened to become so. It was 
found, upon investigation, that the vine upon 
which they grew stood near the corner of the 
house, where there was a good deal of passing, 
and the portion of the vine which produced 
them had been accidentally so broken as to rup¬ 
ture the vessels conveying the return sap from 
the leaves. The balance of the crop was of the 
usual sized Isabellas, but this particular portion of 
the vine produced these large grapes. This is by 
no means a new practice. We read that in France 
many vintners practice ringing, annually, whereby 
the size of the berry is very much increased, and 
the fruit is ripened from one to two weeks earlier 
than it otherwise would be. My neighbor Paine 
at one time, tied a string around a branch of a 
vine, and the effect was that the crop was increased 
in sizo and hastened in maturity. 
I)r. Spence here questioned as to what would be 
the effect upon the crop of the next year from the 
branch mutilated by ringing. 
Mr. Townsend thought that where vines wore 
trained and pruned according to the renewal sys 
tern, there could be no possible injurious effect, be¬ 
cause the branches which were ligated were those 
which were to be removed the same autumn, while 
the branches which were depended upon for bear¬ 
ing fruitthe nextyear could not possibly be injured, 
because they were not operated upon in any way. 
Wm. Brown Smith was in Buffalo at the meeting 
of the State Society referred to, and was upon the 
same Committee with Mr. Townsend, but his recol¬ 
lection of the grapes is, that although they were 
not fully ripe when exhibited, they were nearly 
twice the size of ordinary grapes. 
L. B. Langworthy knew that the effect upon 
apples, peaches, &c., was to accelerate the period 
ot ripening materially, and reasoning from analogy 
it ought to do the same with grapes. A certain 
person who owned a nice peach orchard near Roch¬ 
ester used always to astonish everybody by the 
enormous size and fine flavor of his earliest peaches, 
and for some time there was supposed to be a won¬ 
derful secret about it. It was found out that the 
gentleman, about the time of the setting of the fruit, 
used to go out and twist a small wire closely on the 
old wood of the bearing branches, and it produced 
the effect spoken of. After the fruit was pretty 
well developed, he would untwist and remove this 
wire, and no injurious effect resulted to the tree. 
S. H. Ainsworth remarked that two years ago, 
at the Ontario County Fair, some bunches of grapes 
were exhibited which attracted considerable atten¬ 
tion, being as large as the Black Hamburgh, and 
perfectly enormous in size of bunches and berries, 
for a native grape. There was great inquiry to 
know what variety of grape they were, because 
nobody believed that the Isabella could be so large. 
They were upon the premises of F. B. Peck, who 
made a critical examination of the vine to find 
what caused such extra specimens, and found that, 
near the ground a tendril of the previous year had 
entwined itself closely around the vine and pre¬ 
vented much of the growth of the plant that year, 
and the whole force ofthe vine went into the grapes, 
which were very ripe, and in quality very fine.— 
This was the only fruit exhibited at that fair which 
was perfectly ripe—so that the accidental ligating 
of the vine did in this case hasten the ripening. 
C. L. Hoag remembered that seven years ago a 
portion of one of his vines became accidentally gird¬ 
led, one cluster, which was beyond the accident, 
ripened up perfectly, while some others did not 
ripen. 
Mft. Ainsworth brought to mind a similar case 
in which two bunches were moie than two weeks 
earlier than the rest of his grapes, and the berries 
were fully double in size. 
J. J. Thomas could not but doubt whether the 
quality of the fruit could be improved by any such 
increase of size or hastening of maturity. 
T. C. Maxwell thought that the time of perform¬ 
ing the operation had something to do with the 
result. Immediately after the fruit had set was 
the proper time to perform it. Again, too large a 
circle of the bark must not be removed, else the 
operation will kill both vine and fruit. There was 
an old gardener in Geneva who had practiced this 
for a long time, and always with very evident 
effect, both as to the size and the earliness of the 
fruit. 
Dr. Spence, of Yates county, inquired of Judge 
Langworthy whether in view ot the fact that gird¬ 
ling the peach and apple produced an abnormal 
condition of the branch, he considered the advan¬ 
tages sufficients recommend it as a steady practice. 
L. B. Langworthy had girdled a great many limbs 
of peach trees, but considered the limb lost, and 
removed it after the fruit was perfected in the fall. 
Early Harvest Apples were produced of very fine 
size, and remarkably early in the same way. 
P. Barry spoke of the numerous experiments 
upon this subject made by the French in 1850. 
The Horticultural Society of Paris were so much 
taken by the specimens which were exhibited be¬ 
fore them, that they sent out a Committee to exam¬ 
ine into the mode of its performance and its effects 
upon the vines. There is nothingnew about it. It 
was well known to the Romans, and is an old prac¬ 
tice. Mr. Knight, an English writer, mentions it 
quite favorably, if under suitable circumstances. 
Mr. Rivers also speaks in terms of partial com¬ 
mendation. He was not convinced that it is an 
operation that is to be recommended for general 
practice. It does add to the size of the fruit, and 
certainly does hasten the maturity, but it does not 
improve the quality, while there is great danger of 
its injuring the rest of the fruit, and it does injure 
the roots of the plant. It can be performed upon 
the grape with more impunity than upon any other 
plant, because the vine makes new wood so easily. 
The question before the meeting is an interesting 
one, and worthy the attention ofthe members. It 
is to ue nopeu that munuers win expeniuemi, uau 
will exhibit and report the results of their experi¬ 
ments at the September meeting of the Fruit 
Growers’ Society. 
Mr. Townsend hoped that members would ex¬ 
periment and give us their results. Could not 
quite agree with the gentleman as to the injurious 
effect upon the vine. Suppose an Isabella trained 
and pruned upon the renewal system, and you have 
in fact two vines taking sap from the root and giv¬ 
ing an outlet to the sap through the leaves. Now, 
by girdling and preventing the return of some of 
the sap, the only loss to the roots is from the extra 
development of the fruit and the growth of a little 
more wood. 
L. B. Langworthy. —If there be any good in this 
practice at all, its application to the Catawba in 
this climate will be a capital thing. We certainly 
shall gain a fortnight in the maturity of the berries. 
Hoped the members would try it. Use the small 
annealed wire, and the results will surprise you, 
gentlemen. Most of us never saw a ripe Catawba 
grape, and if by this operation we can ensure some 
line ones, let us try it. 
W. Brown Smith hoped the members would all 
experiment, for only thus could we hope to gain 
experience, and go on in the work of fruit culture. 
Question Second. 
The late frost.—What has been its effects upon the 
grape with reference to the present and next season's 
crop t 
Mr. Townsend stated that in Niagara county 
the effect had been the total destruction of this 
year’s crop. 
Dr. Spence said that the frost had been very 
severe in Yates county, and had resulted as in 
Niagara county, in the total destruction of this 
year’s crop : also, that all this year’s growth of wood 
was totally killed. In Steuben county extensive 
vineyards at the head of Crooked Lake had been 
left entirely uninjured. Many of these were up on 
side hills 200 and 300 feet higher than the lake, 
while near Seneca Lake which is 270 feet lower than 
Crooked Lake, the vines were entirely killed. This 
frost seems not to have been governed by any 
rules in its effects. In some cases it injured the 
lowest and most sheltered, nnd leaving the highest, 
most exposed, and least sheltered spots entirely 
uninjured,—in other cases killing the highest an‘d 
not touching the lowest. Sometimes the currents 
of wind were what seemed to kill the plants wher¬ 
ever exposed, and in others the circulation of the 
air seemed to be the only preservation. The effect 
upon next year’s crop cannot but be injurious, for 
the wood already made is entirely killed, and the 
new wood now commencing, cannot mature in 
time for next year’s crop sufficiently to stand this 
winter. The vines have commenced sending out 
new shoots, but, as before stated, they are very 
feeble. 
L. B. Langworthy remarked that the cold of 
the 4th of June was not a frost, but a freeze / that 
it seemed very singular in its vagaries. In some 
places nothing was killed that was over two feet 
from the ground, and in others it was only the 
leaves covering the top ofthe arbor, that‘were 
killed. Had noticed one case where things cover¬ 
ed with metal, and ever so carefully protected, 
had been killed, while by their side others, with 
only a peach-basket turned over them, were en 
tirely safe. 
Dr. Spence had noticed that those vines which 
were laid down after being cut loose from the trel¬ 
lis, had remained unharmed, while those remain 
ing upon the trellis, even though covered up with 
carpets, and ever so well protected, were killed. 
Bbnj. Fish had noticed that on his trellises the 
highest parts of the vines were injured, while the 
bottoms were unharmed. Thought we should 
still get a partial crop of grapes ; that the chance 
in this part of the country for next year was pretty 
good, since the youug vines were most hurt at the 
top, and could renew the lost portion quite easily 
and very soon. 
C. L. Hoag said that at Lockport vines laid flat 
on the ground were all killed. Those that were 
left erect were killed at the top. Upon trellises, 
all that were above four or five feet from the 
ground were hurt at the tops. Noticed one circu¬ 
lar arbor where the sides were not hurt, while 
over the top they were as dead as vines could be. 
Would call attention to one singular circumstance 
with him,—the Bebecca was not hurt, while vines 
of same age and condition all around it were kill¬ 
ed. Accounted for this by t.he way the Rebecca 
ripened up its wood about as fast as it grew ; while 
we know the others make a strong, rank, succulent 
growth, which does not ripen up for weeks or 
months. The Rebecca seems thus to be calculated 
to withstand sudden and violent changes of tem- 
peiature almost with impunity. 
S. H. Ainsworth, of Ontario county, said that 
in his vineyards he had the Diana, Isabella, Re¬ 
becca, Concord, Northern Muscadine, Charter Oak, 
Ac., &c., and that the Rebecca was the only vine 
which stood unharmed^-not a leaf touched, while 
all the others were more or less killed. In answer 
to questions, be said the Rebeccas were within two 
to three feet of killed vines, “all side by side, and 
mixed.” His neighbors found also that their Re¬ 
beccas were all uninjured, although standing (as 
his did) “mixed” with vines which were badlv 
killed. 
O. C. Ross, of Monroe county, had seen no dif¬ 
ference in his vineyard among the Diana, Concord, 
Isabella, Ac., as to the effect of the frost; but his 
Rebeccas were not hurt at all. When asked, lie 
said bis vines alternated ; Diana, Rebecca, Con¬ 
cord, Isabella, Rebecca, Concord, Ac. 
C- P. Bisseli, had been very slightly affected by 
the frost. Had thousands of vines of Diana, Ac. 
His Diana, Rebecca, Isabella, Childs’ Superb, Clin¬ 
ton, Concord, Ac., all stood equally exposed, and 
the Isabella was the only sort touched at all, and 
but few of those. Didn’t say that any sort was 
more or less tender than the others. In answer 
to questions—“Isabella was the only kind that 
happened to be touched, with me; and so far as 
that fact showed, it semed. in this freeze, to have 
been the most tender sort.” 
Dr. Spence inquired if at any other spring 
there should be imminent danger of a similar 
frost, “ would laying down do any good?” 
C. L. IIoag and S. H. Ainsworth both replied 
that so far as they saw, in this freeze, those vines 
nearest the ground were hurt the most. 
The President, B. Hodge, remarked that near 
Buffalo the frost had been as severe as anywhere, 
and the grape vines were supposed to be ruined, 
both as to this year’s crop and all future. There 
was a large commercial grapery near Buffalo, used 
to grow vinery grapes for the market, and in this 
the vines were frozen through the glass, although 
carefully sheltered, and the house as warm as it 
could be kept without fire heat. Near the lake, 
and near Niagara river, there did not seem to 
have been as much damage done. 
A gentleman remarked that some Hartford Pro¬ 
lific vines which he was cultivating, and which 
were tied to stakes, escaped, while those which lay 
on tlic ground were hurt more or less badly. 
Afternoon Session —Question Third. 
Which are the best varieties of Strawberry for general 
profitable cultivation, according to present experi¬ 
ence ? What is the most profitable and at the same 
time the most economical mode of cultivation ? 
H. N. Langworthy remarked that particular at¬ 
tention should be paid to hardiness in winter. We 
want such as produce berries of good size, of high 
color, of fine flavor, and such as are firm in flesh, 
to bear carriage to market. Also, sorts which have 
strong foot-stalks to keep up the berries from the 
dirt; keeping the berries clean and bright without 
the trouble of mulching. 
L. B. Langworthy had found Wilson's Albany 
the greatest bearer; considered it the most pro¬ 
ductive, and it was of pretty good flavor. Feared 
that Triomphe de Gand would fall off in field cul¬ 
ture; knew Hooker would make a good crop in 
field culture, and wa cLsnve that the Derry did not 
»a»n.r.. - Mr. r.. tU« .frant Palmyra 
Secret, by' which a Mrf ■ V-oard, of Palmyra, once 
produced berries of enormous size, got up quite an 
excitement about the plants, sold off all the plants 
he could raise for ten cents apiece; but when cul¬ 
tivated on other ground, these were the commonest 
sorts possible. Ills soil was a frog pond, filled in 
with surface earth from bis other grounds, so as to 
be dry at the surface, while the tap-roots could al¬ 
ways be fed with an abundance of liquid aliment. 
C. M. Hooker thought that Triomphe de Gand 
must be cultivated in hills so as to De good, and 
produce good crops the second year. 
J. J. Thomas spoke highly of Wilson’s Albany. 
Had cultivated Peabody’s Seedling for two years, 
and considered the berry excellent. It is fine and 
large, is a poor bearer, and if allowed to send out 
its runners freely and cover the ground, it bears 
very little. If cultivated in hills, is better, and is 
of good flavor always. Some gentlemen speak of 
the flavor of the wild strawberry as being always 
superior to that of the cultivated. Now. this de¬ 
pends very much upon the condition of the eaters. 
We all remember those travelers who were cross¬ 
ing the Rocky Mountains a few summers ago, and 
found some strawberries there, which were the 
most delicious and the highest flavored which they 
they bad ever tasted; were, in fact, so far superior 
to anything they bad ever eaten at home that they 
took up some of the plants and preserved them 
with great care, as promisin': to be a very valuable 
addition to the fruits at the East. They were sent 
to R. G. Pardee, who cultivated them with great 
care, and when the fruit was mature every, one 
who tasted the Early Scarlet or Burr's New Pine 
and then the Wild Berry found it inferior. These 
travelers had not tasted fresh fruit for a long time; 
they were living upon lialf-Indian fare, and the 
transition from dried buffalo meat to these straw¬ 
berries made the fruit seem beyond all comparison 
the most delightful they had ever tasted. A per¬ 
son who is hungry for fruit will call anything 
good, while those who have abundance are a little 
more nice in their taste. 
Dr. Spence thought no water ought to be in any 
way confined in any basin under the roots of 
strawberry or other plants. Better sub-dram the 
soil if wet, and then put water upon the top of the 
plants. Irrigation at certain seasons improved the 
fruit mightily, both as to size and number. 
M. G. Warner wished to recommend McAvoy’s 
No. 1, as one of the most prolific berries he knew. 
It was a pistillate and more productive than the 
Wilson’s Albany. It was far superior to the Hook 
er as to bearing. His custom was to plant a row 
of Early Scarlet, then two rows of McAvoy’s No 
1, then two rows of Hooker, then two rows of 
Hovey’s Seedling, and so on. He gave all the 
same chance, never covering or protecting any of 
them in the winter, and (referring to the needed 
qualities spoken of by II. N. Langworthy,) he had 
found the Hooker was worse killed out by the winter 
than either of the others. The best mulching is 
grass, which is mown before the seeds are matured. 
Mr. Smith, of Geneva, said the Early Scarlet 
was the most profitable berry that can be grown 
it is a strong grower, keeps up a good succession 
of fruit, the same plants continuing in bearing for 
fully two weeks, while there is no other sort which 
continues so long. As a fertilizer to the pistillate 
sorts it is better than any of the hermaphrodites, 
and probably fully equal to the pure staminates.— 
Next to Early Scarlet, Wilson’s Albany promises 
the best of anyr vine that he had; it is larger and 
appears to be just as good a bearer. The Hooker 
don’t seem to stand well the seconds season, don’ 
seem to have vitality enough to ensure the second 
crop. 
Mr. Townsend bad found the same objection to 
the Hooker as the last two speakers. Called upon 
Dr. Sylvester, of Lyons, as one who bad long and 
successfully cultivated the strawberry. 
Mr. S. said the flavor of Wilson’s Albany was 
rather too acid to suit bis palate ; but it certainly 
was very productive, and for market their size 
makes fhem very desirable. The pickers can easily 
fill five boxes with Wilson’s Albany in tlie same 
time as two boxes of Burr's New Pine or Honey’s 
Seedling. As to flavor Burr's New Pine certainly 
was of the highest flavor and the best berry he 
knew; but, for market purposes we want the most 
abundant bearer. Peabody’s Seedling seemed to 
have succeeded better with Dr. S. than with many 
other persons, and he considered it one of the best 
flavored of hermaphrodite berries. Dr. S. spoke 
of a kind of mulching which he had tried and liked 
very much. His mode of cultivation is to let all 
the runners grow, filling the whole ground, and 
each year to plow up alternate strips of the land, 
thus practicing a sort of renewal system, and hav¬ 
ing half the land supplied with new plants each 
year. In the fall he took a quantity of black 
muck, allowed it to freeze thoroughly, (the freez¬ 
ing and thawing causes it to become as fine as 
white sand,l each fall spread a quantity of this, say 
to the depth of half an inch over the part of the 
land which he wished to protect. It acted as a 
most excellent mulch, protecting from the cold; 
was an excellent fertilizer, and assisted in keeping 
the berries clean, for berries were injured no more 
by contact with it than with grass or the purest 
lake sand. 
C. M. Hooker stated bis mode of cultivation in 
which he bad found no mulch was needed. The 
rows were originally set out four feet apart and 
the plants one foot apart in the rows; then kept 
the land clean with horse cultivators and hoes ; let 
all the runners grow, and thus formed beds which 
was allowed to bear for two years, and the third 
year plowed up and planted again. Three-fourths 
of the vines set out by them were always the Early 
Scarlet, and for all market purposes it had been 
found the most profitable. Wilson’s Albany prom¬ 
ises very well indeed, for market; to be sure, its 
quality is not in all respects equal to some others, 
but it is productive, large and fine-looking. Crim¬ 
son Cone, for preserving, is always in demand and 
is also a capital market berry. Hovey’s Seedling 
bad never succeeded very well with him; but 
might with amateurs, who keep all the runners off. 
In private gardens the best way would be to mulch 
with grass or saw-dust. Had used the muck as a 
mulching; but not a great deal. Applied it fresh 
in the fall, and the result was that the berries were 
large and were kept clean. 
M. G. Warner bad found tlie Early Scarlet to be 
one of the most delicious and the easiest grown of 
berries, and doubted if any berry would produce 
more fruit to the acre for field culture. It ripened 
at least four days earlier than Burr's New Pine, 
and eight to ten days earlier than Hovey’s Seedling. 
Planted the rows three to four feet apart, and the 
plants eighteen inches apart in the rows, and in 
a very short time the whole surface of the ground 
would be completely matted with runners. The 
way he thinned out was to go with a narrow bitted 
hoe and chop up whatever nlants seemed to be su¬ 
perfluous, and rake them off as he would weeds.— 
Did not often thin out a bed before the third year 
after the planting. For a fertilizer for any and all 
the pistillate varieties no sort acts better than the 
Early Scarlet, for it continues in bearing a great 
while and the blossoms succeed each other as long 
as the pollen is needed as a fertilizer. Burr’s New 
Pine is very highly flavored, but we cannot make 
a field berry out oi‘ it. For two or three years it 
will do very well indeed, for garden culture, but 
the trouble is the same as with Ilovey’s Seedling, it 
depreciates too fast as to size. As a market berry 
it was not equal to some others. 
Dr. Sylvester bad cultivated Burr's New Pine 
for several years as a market berry, and had found 
it very productive; sufficiently so for market, al¬ 
though not equal to Wilson’s Albany. The reason 
for his excellent success may be that he fructifies 
with the pure staminate plants, and the pistillates 
prove enormously productive, highly flavored, and 
maintain their size to the last. These pistillate 
arieties, in order to show what their true merits 
are, require a good deal of pollen, and Dr. S. main¬ 
tained that the needful quantity could not readily 
be supplied by the hermaphrodite plants; that the 
pure staminates were needed to furnish pollen in 
abundance. When thus properly fructified he had 
picked 32 quarts of large, fine berries, from the 
piStlllines j$Tuv» lirg ujnyira sluglesquare luaufluinl. 
A ballot was taken as to the best six varieties of 
strawberries for market purposes, and as to which 
six the members thought best for amateur cultiva¬ 
tion. These ballots showed a prettv wide range of 
opinion, although all united upon Early Scarlet and 
Wilson’s Albany, which two were upon every bal¬ 
lot. Hooker received 11 votes, Hovey’s Seedling 10, 
Triomphe de Gand 8, Burr’s New Pine G, Genesee 
and Crimson Cone each 4, Jenny Lind 3, Cushing, 
Longworth’s Prolific and McAvoy’s Extra Red had 2 
each, and the following sorts 1 each, viz.:— Scott’s 
Seedling, Brighton Pine, Victoria, McAvoy’s No. 1, 
Fillbasket, Huey’s Seedling No. 1, Iluey's Seedling 
No. 2, Walker’s Seedling and Pyramidal Chilian. 
This diversity of opinion among the gentlemen 
as to which should make up the six, after such en¬ 
tire unanimity upon the Early Scarlet and Wilson’s 
Albany, it was suggested, must be owing to some 
peculiarities of soil and cultivation in each case; 
causing favorite sorts to succeed especially well in 
these cases, while others found other sorts to do 
far better. 
Upon the varieties for amateurs the opinions of 
the members were expressed, with hardly a varia¬ 
tion in the ballots, for Early Scarlet, Hooker, Burr’s 
New Pine, Hovey’s Seedling, Wilson’s Albany and 
Triomphe de Gand. 
While the ballots were being made out and 
counted, several gentlemen were called upon for 
their experience upon particular points in cultiva¬ 
tion. H. E. Hookku had found for field culture the 
beds better than rows or hills, and he allowed the 
plants to make all the runners they wished. In 
his own garden he planted in hills or rows, mulched 
with care, and kept oil - the runners. 
P. Barry agreed with Mr. Hooker. 
B. Hodge had noticed some lands near the shore 
of Lake Erie, near Buffalo, which were used as 
market lands for strawberries, and produced great 
crops. This soil was never manured, and would 
not raise Indian corn four feet high, but the crop 
of Ifovey's Seedling was perfectly astonishing, both 
as to size and quantity. The practice of the gar¬ 
deners was to leave all the runners upon the plants 
and about the third year to plow up the fields and 
put in new plants again. Ilovey's Seedling was a 
variety which made hut few runners, and the most 
ofthe strength of the vine went to the fruit. 
Joseph Frost had found the earliest strawberry 
he raised to be the Jenny Lind. The berry was of 
good size, and always earlier than the Early Scar¬ 
let, which was a very desirable market quality, and 
besides it was sure to produce a better crop. 
J. J. Thomas strongly advocated large and good 
looking berries, in order to ensure a quick sale in 
market; had known fine-looking Wilson’s Albany 
to sell in tlie Buffalo market with rapidity at 26 cts. 
per quart, while other sorts were slow at 10 cents 
H. E. Hooker thought Wilson’s Albany as poor 
as any other sort, if cultivated as tbose oreer sorts 
were spoken of; that is, the runners forming mats 
covering the whole ground, and let run. ‘It is a 
new sort, and every purchaser pays attention to 
his plants, and the high cultivation is what makes 
Wilson’s Albany so good and productive. It does 
not form a great many runners, anyway, so that 
the strength of the plant can mostly go into the 
fruit, which must become large. 
T. C. Maxwell inquired whether the sourness 
TUiYsow’s Albany berries did not adapt them par 
ticularly for preserving, especially in Yeoman 
Fruit Pottles. 
C. P. Bissell had always been requested to buy 
Crimson Cone and Rival Hudson as preserving 
berries until of late years, when “our folks,” after 
giving the Hooker thorough trials, had preferred ii 
to any and all other varieties for preserving. Hook 
er seems to be equally adapted for keeping in the 
fruit cans or bottles, or for sweetmeats; its firmness 
of flesh and fine flavor both remain, whether kept 
for months or years. 
P. Barry recalled with pleasure the remarks 
made by Mr. H. N. Langworthy, when subject No. 
know what we want; what qualities we desire in 
the plants, and what in the berries; then let us 
cultivate our vines in the proper manner—let 
everything be done according to some system, and 
we shall have results which shall astonish those 
who just go along hap-hazard, anyhow, and who 
are consequently always having bad luck with 
their berries. 
disease op the pear. 
Dr. Spence here stated to the meeting that he 
had suffered upon his premises very severely from 
a mysterious disease affecting his T’ear trees. They 
were standard Pear trees, 5 years old. In the fall 
of 1858 the leaves commenced to assume a red hue 
very prematurely. During the summer of 1858, 
they had made a good strong growth — (and here 
he showed some very long branches of last year’s 
growth.) This spring, 1859, the buds had swelled 
as usual and seemed ready to develop. The fruit 
buds even began to unfold, and then all stopped. — 
The bark remains green all down the body of the 
tree until near to the ground, and root., and it then 
is all dead and has the appearance of having been 
dead for a year. The point where the bark changes 
from green and brignt to brown, is sometimes 
above and sometimes below the point of junction 
between the pear stock and the graft. The wood 
is dead beneath the bark and the bark is dead.— 
Had examined thoroughly, with a microscope, and 
could find no insect there and no mark of any in¬ 
sect having been there. Had brought to the So¬ 
ciety some of the stumps of the trees, and wished 
the gentlemen to look at them. The Doctor veri¬ 
fied all his statements as he proceeded by cutting 
the bark, and showing it green above and dead at 
the roots. In answer to questions—the roots were 
always mostly dead. His loss had been within the 
last four or five years fully 250 out of 1,200 trees. 
Disease is not confined to his own land, or to any 
particular kind of soil; is not confined to Yates 
county ; had seen it in different parts of the State. 
Never found the tree dead higher than a foot from 
the ground, except sometimes a spot of the bark 
as large as a silver dollar would be dead, but all 
would be green above and below’ it. The roots in 
all cases of these trees looked as if they had been 
dead for years. Is very sure that there is no 
stagnant water around the roots; there had not 
been any. Dr. Spence here stopped answering 
questions, and asked whether Mr. Thomas could 
not tell him what it was, and how to prevent, or 
cure it. 
J. J. Thomas — The more I study the diseases of 
the pear the less I find that I know. 
T. C. Maxwell thought it was the fire blight.— 
Had found in his experience that the blight uses 
all bark just in this same way. The disease seems 
to commence in the roots; the roots all seem to 
die. The further supply and circulation of fresh 
sap is of course stopped. There remains enough 
of sap in the bark and body of the tree to make 
the fruit buds and leaf buds commence to swell 
and to keep the bark green. 
\V. P. Townsend had suffered more or less for 
several years from the various forms of fire-blight, 
and there are always some quite singular appear¬ 
ances in every case of the disease. In some in¬ 
stances branches will be dead while all remains 
green and apparently thrifty above and below 
them. In other cases, it attacks the top and works 
down, while in Dr. Spence’s case it attacks the 
root first. 
Alvah Covey had lost Cherry trees in the same 
way. Two Napoleon Bigarreau trees died last 
year, and upon digging them up found that the 
roots were dead, with the same appearance as 
those now before the meeting. Disease is not con¬ 
fined to standard Pear trees, by any means. 
Mr. Smith, of Geneva, thought from the look of 
the stumps shown by Dr. Spence, that there must 
have been something in the soil not adapted to the 
cultivation of the pear tree, or there had not been 
sufficient culture bestowed upon the trees; thought 
that very likely the land sustaining the trees need¬ 
ed manure. Could see by the trees here shown 
that the tap roots did not make good growth.— 
Feared there may have been a want of drainage 
and the subsoil cold and sour, so as to prevent the 
p roots from penetrating it and doing well in it. 
Mr. Boardman had had trees die under precisely. 
similar appearances, although standing over a 
blind drain. 
B. Hodge had lost many trees by the same dis¬ 
ease, and had laid it to the freezing and thawing 
of soil with too much moisture in it; had noticed 
it to be mostly confined to wet soils. Over this 
blind drain was just such a spot, for this drain 
would not have been put there except to carry off 
water, and water must have been all the time com¬ 
ing around these roots and freezing. 
Mr. Yeomans, of Walworth, had planted two 
hundred standard pear trees, and they were all 
gone now; knew that in his case it had been 
caused by an excess of water. Having the excess 
of water once in a while is what does it. The 
shape of this land was so that the water would 
center to the trees; a sort of cup around each tree, 
the effect upon the tree was very much like that 
of boiling water — fire and frost act very much 
alike in their effects upon plants. After the roots 
of trees are dead and the bark is dead all around 
the root of the tree, the trees will leave out and 
live, and the fruit will even become half grown; 
yet, during the summer, the leaves, fruit and all, 
are sure to turn yellow and die. 
P. Barry —This disease looks amazingly like the 
fire-blight; but the whole thing is mysterious.— 
Agreed exactly with brother Thomas. 
S. H. Ainsworth —Looking at these stumps of 
Dr. Spence would call attention to the roots.— 
They seem all to be lateral roots, to run near the 
surface of the ground — trees seem not to have had 
any tap roots. Thinks there must have been wet 
subsoil or some water which, flowing to the trees, 
prevented the growth of the tap roots. Much de¬ 
pends upon the condition of the earth in the spring; 
alternate freezing and thawing is almost sure death 
to the trees. Had lost a great many trees in his 
day, but never had any die where the subsoil was 
dry. 
Wm. Brown Smith, of Syracuse, here moved that 
when we adjourn we adjourn to meet at Rochester, 
at the call ofthe Council. 
P. Barry, of Rochester, recalled to the memory 
of Mr. Smith that when the Society was organized 
it was the Fruit Groivers' Society of Western New 
York, and that it was understood that meetings 
should alternate between Syracuse, Geneva, Au¬ 
burn, Buffalo, Lockport and Rochester. Mr. Bar¬ 
ry was opposed to the resolution because it was 
giving to Rochester more than its share of the 
meetings, and moved to amend by substituting 
Geneva for Rochester. 
T. C. Maxwell, of Geneva, would be very glad 
to have the Society in their village; would enter¬ 
tain them to the best of their ability; could give 
them a good hall for the meeting; but he knew 
they could not get as great a number together; 
could not make near as fine a show of fru.ts.— 
Reminded the members that although they had as¬ 
sembled at Buffalo, Syracuse, &c., that their largest 
and pleasantest meetings had always been held at 
Rochester. . s 
Quite a number of members spoke briefly, ex¬ 
pressing their preferences upon this subject and it 
was noticeable that while Rochester gentlemen all 
spoke in favor of the amendment, every gentleman 
from other towns spoke against it. 
The amendment having been accepted by Mr. 
Smith, the question was taken upon the resolution 
as amended, and it w T as found to be lost by a ma- 
S of two to one, all of the members except 
aster gentlemen voting against it. 
Mr. Smith again introduced his original resolu¬ 
tion, when Mr. C. P. Bissell moved to amend by 
substituting Syracuse for Rochester. After some V 
little debate Mr. Smith also accepted 'this amend- 
ment; but the resolution as amended was again 
lost by an equally decisive vote. Mr. Smith again 
introduced his original resolution, and no more 
amendments bejng offered, the members from other 
towns had it all their own way, and passed it with- 
a 
3 was first introduced. Let us be sure that we | out opposition. The Society then adjourned. 
