FES 46 
405 
3ntrnstr’i Societies. 
THE WESTERN NEW YORK HORTI¬ 
CULTURAL SOCIETY. 
This society convened iu its twenty-ninth 
anuual session at Rochester, N. Y., on Janu¬ 
ary 23 and 24, and in spite of deep snow and 
drifted roads the attendance was large. The 
Society showed its good sense by re-electing 
P. Barry as president. The president in his 
annual address called attention to tha re¬ 
markably mild climate of Western New York. 
While the mercury had gone down from four 
to 40 degrees below zero all about us,and as low 
as two below even as far south as Atlanta and 
New Orleans, here the coldest weather had 
been only two below. Altogether this had 
been the most; discouraging year our fruit¬ 
growers had ever seen. While in other years 
some one variety of fruit had failed, the past 
one there had been a general failure, and yet 
we should not be discouraged; it should only 
stimulate us to give OUT orchards more 
manure, better care and cultivation, and to 
wage a war of utter extermination against 
all insect enemies. It would be a great bless¬ 
ing if all the slovens would go out of the 
business. They grow poor fruit and breed 
insects to prey upon that of their neighbors. 
Mr. Geo. B. Ellwanger said many of the 
so-called Russian apples were only old German 
sorts come to us by way of Russia Still there 
were some genuine sorts from Russia with 
very thick, leathery leaves, and these he 
thought wo old prove worth most as parents 
on which to cross some of our native sorts, to 
thus obtain new seedlings. 
Mr. W. C. Barry urged that much more at¬ 
tention should be given to growing new seed¬ 
lings of all fruits. He said that in apples and 
such slow-growiug trees, by selecting those 
seeillings which promised best by flowers and 
leaves, we could graft in top of old trees and 
thus soon secure fruit. The society weie 
unanimously in favor of reforming the names 
of fruits in accordance with the suggestions 
of the American Bornological Society. 
Mr. J. J. Thomas said some very fair fruits 
had been cursed with outlandish and some 
times very offensive names; that it was very 
important to have plain, simple, pleasant 
names, and where practicable they should 
consist of only one word; that the people’s 
time was tar too valuable to speak, much less 
to w rite, some of the names now in use. 
In talking about ornamental trees, Mr. 
Ellwauger said the Bequoia gigantea, or Cali¬ 
fornia Redwood, succeeds lien* well if we pro¬ 
tect both tops and roots until the tap-root gets 
well down below the frost line in the soil. 
Prof. Beal, of Michigan, urged the study of 
botany in our common schools. He said the 
knowledge of botany enabled one to judge 
much of the character of a fruit by its leaves 
and flowers; chat the boy who know enough 
of botany to read the plant would take much 
more interest, and that much more attention 
would he given to the production of new seed¬ 
lings. 
The Orchard Committee reported that not¬ 
withstanding the complaint of failure, many 
counties had received more money for the 
fruit than for any other crop, and Orleans 
County had taken more money for apples 
alone than for all others. Niagara had re¬ 
ceived over half a million dollars for apples 
alone. 
Vineyordists reported the planting of grapes 
as extending ver> rapidly in the three great 
grape sections; On the Hudson River, about 
the lakes in Central New York, and on the 
shore of Lake Erie hundreds of acres would 
be planted next. Spring. The Worden was 
attacting much attention; but Concord was 
still the favorite black grape. The white 
grape Niagara had borne well, and had sold 
for extraordinary prices, and mauy were 
being planted. It was conceded that a great 
mistake had been made iu planting grapes 
much too close. The rows should ruu north 
and south where practical, and should tie not 
less than ten feet apart. Nothing is such a 
preventive of diseases as plenty of sun-light 
and air. Sulphur scattered broadcast over 
the vines with a Gaboon broad-cast seeder, 
had entirely cured mildew. 
Plum culture is becoming very popular and 
profitable in Western New York, and mauy 
very large orchards are being planted. Mr. 
Willard said that with plums at from $2.00 to 
$4.00 per bushel we should grow hundreds 
where wo now grow siugle bushels; with 
proper varieties and care no crop was surer. 
Mr. Woodward suid three thiugs wore re¬ 
quisite for success; pleuty of manure, 
good cultivation and care that the trees 
did not over-bear. Enough good stable 
manure would prevent the premature falling 
of their leaves. The first appearance of black 
knot must also be removed; if it appeared on 
small limbs remove and burn at once; if on 
large limbs or trunk, carefully pare out with 
knife and apply to the wounds with a brush 
or sponge spirits of turpentine. It is a sure 
cure, but must not be allowed to run down on 
the tree, for it would kill as far as applied. Mr. 
Thomas said we must allow some curculios to 
live, or else must thin the plums. Nothing so 
injures a plum tree as overbearing. Lorn 
bard, Bradshaw, Richland, Reine Claude de 
Bavay, (what a name I) Peter’s Yellow Egg 
and Smith's Orleans were recommended as 
among the best. 
Dwarf pears were much injured by last 
Winter, though none were killed outright 
Duchesso is the universal favorite among 
dwarfs. Bartlett and Lawrence, as standards, 
are always reliable, so said Mr. Thomas. 
Kieffer created considerable discussion, but 
ail were obliged to admit it was a good grower, 
a good bearer, beautiful and a good shipper. 
Mr. Thomas had about a peck of fruit last 
year, aud expressed the general opinion when 
he said it had but one fault; “it was not fit to 
eat.” 
Prof. G. C. Caldwell gave a very instructive 
essay on manures for the fruit-grower. He 
said no orchard could continue year after year 
to bear remunerative crops of good fruit with, 
out manure aud plenty of it, any more than 
could our grain fields unfertilized continue to 
yield good crops. Now where shall we get the 
manure? that’s the question. Barnyard man¬ 
ure contains just what we want; but so much is 
wanted and so little made that there is a per¬ 
fect scramble for it, and most get none. “The 
chemist,” said he, “can give us all the nitro¬ 
gen from the air, potash from German potash 
salts,and phosphate from South Carolina rock 
that we will pay for, and good crops of fruit 
will enable us to pay for ail we waut; but, be¬ 
sides these, and besides what the soil will fur¬ 
nish, we must have organic matter in tne 
shape of humus in the soil. Is humus manure? 
Probably not, except as regards the nitrogen 
it contains, aud yet we cunnot have healthy 
trees and plenty of fruit without plenty of it 
in the soil. The best way of securing it is to 
apply stable manure or muck, or by plowing 
in stroug growing green crops like clover. 
Where muck is plentiful, this is good. To test 
muck, dry it thoroughly; when dry, weigh 
out equal quantities of the different samples, 
aud heat to redness iuau iron dish; weigh the 
remains, and those are best which lose most in 
burning; four-fifths of stable manure are or¬ 
ganic matter. Orehardists know very little 
of the action of commercial fertilizers. They 
should experiment mucli more and in concert, 
so as to know what are the best and what are 
needed on different fruits. Mr. Woodward 
said it was a shame and disgrace that we let 
so much of the rich feeding stutf be shipped 
broad, when the prevailing cry of the or¬ 
ehardists was for more manure. These foods 
would niuke the very manure needed, rich in 
all the elements of plant food. He tound no 
diffculty in making all the manure ho needed, 
botli in his orchard and on his grain fields, 
aud never failed to make a good profit (at 
least one dollar per load) in making it. While 
he believed iu using commercial fertilizer, he 
thought much more of good baru-yard manure, 
that made from rich food. 
Joseph Harris essayed on the need of thor¬ 
ough drainage for the orchard. He said a 
man and shovel would let more water off a 
field in one hour than would evaporate iu a 
week. Trees need plenty of water, but they 
do uot want stagnant water; it is poisonous 
to their roots. Underdraining does much 
more than rid grout d of surplus water—it 
allows the air and warmth to enter the soil 
aud mellow it, and mellow soil holds much 
more water in suspension duriug drought than 
a compact soil that has been wuter-soaked. 
The Euglish sparrow got not a good word 
from any member. He was voted a quarrel¬ 
some, dirty, thieving, worthless vagabond. 
Siime said they wished they could say one 
good word for him, but could not. Verily the 
English sparrow must go, but who will devise 
a way that will compel him to go? 
Mora care was called for in rendering the 
school-house grounds attractive. Mr. Thomas 
said half our school-houses were not as good as 
our hog pens. In passing through the country 
we saw more horse barns worth a thousand 
dollars than school-houses worth half that 
sum, Maj. Brcoks, of Wyoming, said it was 
a disgrace to our intelligence that we spent so 
much money for tobacco and cigars, and so 
litt le on our school-houses and their surround¬ 
ings. They should be made the most attrac¬ 
tive spots iu the district, except our homes. 
They should have pleuty of shade and orna¬ 
mental trees aud plenty of flowers. 
There was an animated discussion on the 
strawberry question. Mr. Redman would 
plant only in Spring, and would use a dibble 
iu planting. Plants so set are much tinner, 
and less likely to be disturbed by after cidti- 
vatiou. Crescent Seedling, W ilson, Sharpless, 
Cumberland Triumph aud Charles Downing 
were the favorites, and none of the very new 
sorts seemed to be giving satisfaction. The 
question, “What is the best one sort, all 
things considered, for home and market? was 
answered unanimously, “Wilson.” w. 
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HORTICULTU¬ 
RAL SOCIETY. 
The fifth annual meeting of this society was 
held at Kansas City, Mo., January 22 to 25, 
inclusive. The prestige of this organization, 
and the fact that it was the guest of the Mis¬ 
souri State Horticultural Society called to¬ 
gether one of the best representative meet¬ 
ings known. There were present, practical 
men from Ui States in the Union—nearly 300 
members. Also professors from the greater 
number of agricultural and horticultural col¬ 
leges in the Northwest and South. 
Papers read and discussions heard embraced 
pomology, horticulture, forestry, productions, 
soils, climates, transportation, handling, eom- 
micsions, packiug, and almost all conceivable 
kindred subjects, A number of standing 
committees were appointed, involving nd in¬ 
terim duties. One particularly is to look to 
the establishment, in the Northwest, of ex¬ 
perimental fruit and forestry stations. 
There was a fine fruit exhibit by the Mis¬ 
souri and Nebraska State Horticultural Soci¬ 
eties, both of green and evaporated fruits 
The proceedings will be published in book 
form, and will be valuable. Copies can be 
obtained from the secretary, W. H. Ragan, 
Perdue University, Lafayette. Ind. The of¬ 
ficers elected were:—Parker Earle, Cobden, 
Ill., President; H. M. Hudson, New Orleans, 
Vice-President; W. II. Ragan, Lafayette, Ind., 
Secretary; I. C- Evans, Harlem, Mo., Treasu¬ 
rer. The next meeting will he held in connec¬ 
tion with the “World's Exposition and Cotton 
Centennial,” at New Orleans, opening on the 
first Monday in December, 18.84, and closing 
May 31, 1885. Mr. Earle is superintendent of 
the Horticultural Department of that Exposi¬ 
tion, and will devote himself to its success. 
Speaking of this Exposition, it ought, and 
doubtless will be made a grand success. As 
you and your readers are a ware, Congress by 
an act recognizes and authorizes joint action 
on the part of the general Government and 
the National Cotton Planters’ Association, 
under the general name of “The World's In¬ 
dustrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition.” 
The President of the United States as at our 
late Centennial.on recommendatiou of Govern¬ 
ors,appoints two Commissioners for each State. 
Brownville, Neb. robt. w. f urn as. 
—. ■ ♦ ♦ » - ■ -, 
THE EYE-OPENER. 
The Mutual Union Improvement Company 
professiug to do a legitimate business at Tem¬ 
ple Court, New York City, has lately been 
flooding the country with circulars making 
very tempting offers to gullible simpletons; 
but the company has just come to a disastrous 
end by the arrest of its Manager, President 
and general factotum in the person of “ Gen¬ 
eral Daniel Macauley, ex-May or of Indianap¬ 
olis,” for being engaged in a lottery swindle. 
Temple Court is a very large new building 
adjoining the Rural Office, and containing 
upwards of 150 rooms or offices. A small one 
of these on the fourth floor is the head¬ 
quarters of the M. U. I. Company, whose 
object is declared to be “ the accumula¬ 
tion of a fund for the purchase of real estate, 
paying off the encumbrances thereon, and 
the improvement and sub-division thereof 
into lots or parcels suitable for homesteads, 
uud the distribution of said lots or parcels 
among the subscribers.” The stock of Che 
company, organized last year for this benev¬ 
olent purpose, is limited to $1,000,000 in 1,000 
shares of $1,000 each, but as General Man¬ 
ager Macaulay refuses to tell how much of 
the capital was paid up, it is fair to suppose 
that only enough was contributed to start the 
thing, the dupes being expected to contribute 
all tha money. 
The corporation monthly issues bonds to the 
number of 100,000 at u cost of $500 each. 
These are destined to run 20 years and com¬ 
mand fi per cent, interest—but what is the use 
of explaining the modus operand* at length? 
The cheat is exploded, the President and 
General Manager is under *1,000 bail 
for trial for running a lottery swindle 
under the benevolent name of the M. 
U. I. Co., the word “premium'’ having 
beeu substituted for “prizes,” aud instead 
of the usual “drawing” from a wheel, a new 
method of awarding the “premiums” having 
been hit upon—one which gave the managers 
a still greater opportunity of swindling their 
dupes. All the visible effects of the company 
were seized, which included 1,134 prospectuses 
of the lottery, 100 envelopes, each containing 
two circulars ready for mailing, 3,879 fifths or 
coupon bonds of the denomination of $1, and 
874 whole or $5 bonds, and six account books. 
We could tell lots more about this concern, 
but what is the use of kicking a dead skunk? 
The Household Magazine, published at jlO 
Barclay Street, New York City, offered to 
subscribers “presents” consisting of a “brown 
stone house and lot in New York City valued 
at $15,000;” a $5,000 Government bond; five 
$1,000 ditto; 10 $500 greenbacks; 20 $100 dit¬ 
to; "apair of beautiful matched road-horses,” 
valued at $1,000; several $100 gold watches, 
etc., etc., “making,” in the words of the cir¬ 
cular, “a total of 100,000 valuable and use¬ 
ful presents, so that every one who subscribes 
will receive the magazine foroDe year aDd an 
elegant present besides.” All of the above 
presents were to be “awarded in a fair and 
impartial manner by a committee chosen by 
the subscribers at our musical festival and 
word contest to be given in New York City, 
March 15, 1884.” It is highly doubtful wheth¬ 
er this promise will be kept. A trifle after 
noon the other day the manager of the con¬ 
cern was arrested on the charge of “contriving 
and maintaining a lottery,” and now awaits 
trial in $1,000 bail. The “effects” of the firm 
which were all seized and taken to Police 
Headquarters, loaded three large trucks, and 
consisted of 6,000 copies of the Household 
Magazine, 8,000 circulars in envelopes ready 
for mailing. 33,000 other circulars and adver¬ 
tisements, 1,000 copies of an advertisement 
of the Mutual Improvement Company that 
is exposed by us above, and a pack¬ 
age containing 10,000 receipts of $1 each for 
the Household Magazine that were ready for 
mailing. There were also several lists of 
names and Post-office addresses and num¬ 
bers of copies of the magazine ready 
for mailing and in mail bags ready for 
the Post office, all of which were seized. 
There are quite a number of papers in the 
country'whieb seek subscribers in the same 
way as the Household Magazine by offering 
large premiums or prizes to be distributed 
among their patrons. There is no necessity 
for calling all of these swindles, though all 
of them may deserve the name; but there is 
a certainty that they are all “ lotteries” dis¬ 
guised in various ways, and as the Post-Office 
authorities are determined to break up all 
lotteries, these are sure to be included sooner 
or later. Those who subscribe for the papers 
are. therefore, very likely to lose theyjm^cey. 
Moreover is it moral to encourage a lUtery? 
“ Why don’t you expose that gigantic hum 
bug in Boston under the name of the Sheffield 
Cutlery Concern? I can almost scold you for 
not answering when I asked some time ago 
whether you considered it reliable. As you 
didn’t reply, I sent on a dollar for an agent’s 
outfit. The firm-promptly sent back a certi¬ 
ficate of agency, catalogue, register, envelope 
and order sheet, a long list of instructions to 
agents; in fact, everything to blind and de¬ 
ceive their intended dupes, and keep them 
waiting till the sharpers can gobble up 
a few thousand dollars before they are 
found out and exposed. At first they 
agreed to send the outfit by express, but 
afterwards said they had sent it by mail. Of 
course, it never came.” And our correspondent 
from New London, Minn., tells at length how 
more money was demanded for a fresh outfit, 
etc., etc. Her opinion of the Sheffield Cut¬ 
lery Company, however, agrees with that of 
quite a number of others who have written to 
us. “Taking everything into considerstion.” 
she says, “ I think this the most ingeniously 
got up swindle ever heard of.” Bless you, 
no! There are hundreds of the same stripe in 
different parts of the country. As long ago 
as December 15, we said of this very concern: 
“The Sheffield Cutlery Company of Boston, 
if it isn't a humbug, acts like one remarkably 
well.” This was on page 841, of the issue of 
December 23. To us this seems a bint broad 
enough to warn all our friends against the 
swindle. Although we may have a pretty 
strong belief that a concern is a fraud, it 
would be folly to say so boldly in print unless 
we have some strong proofs of the fact- 
proofs that would be satisfactory to a jury. 
We are now busy investigating quite a large 
number of complaints made against concerns 
in various parts of the country; let none of 
our inquirers deal with any of them till they 
hear from us through the Eye-Opener or the 
mail. 
“Iam very glad the Rural has exposed the 
New Brunswick Lottery swindle.” writes a 
correspondent from Ballena, Cal. “Myself 
and mv mother and my sister dud my brother 
invested $10 in its rickets at one time aud $12 
at another and $5 at another, and we never 
got a cent, although a promise was made that 
ouo in every nine would win. The sharpers 
sent us more circulars, etc., with other names 
on them, but having got nothing for our $27, 
aud seeing what the Rural said, the rogues 
never will fool us again.” That’s a specimen 
of many letters we receive. Isn’t it enough 
to confirm our resolve to make this depart¬ 
ment a terror to rascals and a caution to our 
friends? 
The Rochester Publishing Company 
Rochester, N. Y., is a swindling concern that 
has been receiving several hundred dollars a 
day as subscriptions to papers it claims to 
publish, but which have no existenae. 
