4887 
THE RURAL HEW-VORKf* 
a > 0 j cuius. 
THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCI¬ 
ETY AT BOSTON 
ITS TWENTY FIRST SESSION. 
(RURAL SPECIAL REPORT.) 
“Under a shadow ;” ojjhwra elected .; too 
many essays; too little discussion; Mar¬ 
vin on grape fertilization; peach yellows , 
is it contagious? pomological nomencla¬ 
ture again; names of Russian apples hard 
on everybody. 
By invitation of the Massachusetts Horticul¬ 
tural Society, the American Homological As¬ 
sociation assembled in Mechanics’ Hall, 
Boston, September 14. One of the objects in 
fixing the meeting at Boston was to enable 
the members to meet their much-loved and 
honored President, Marshal P. Wilder, and 
to have him preside over the meetings in per¬ 
son. But in December last ho was taken hence 
“to gather celestial fruits, which ripen not in 
earthly chinos,” as ho expressed it in his last 
official address to the society. It was there¬ 
fore under this shadow thut the members 
gathered, which was made still deeper by the 
more recent death of the venerable Charles 
M. llovoy, another pioneer of the orchard 
and garden of America. 
The first business session of the society 
opened at 10 A. M. on tho 14th instaut. 
Only a portion of the members and dele¬ 
gates having os yet. arrived, the attend¬ 
ance was not large. P. J. Berokmans, of 
Georgia, second Vice-President of tho society, 
was chosen to preside, anil it transpired soon 
after that neither first Vice-President Burry, 
nor Secretary Garfield would be in attend¬ 
ance, illness being assigned as the cause of 
their absence. A. A. Crozler, Botanist, Agri¬ 
cultural Department, was thereupon selected 
as acting Secretary. Mr. Berckmans re¬ 
turned thunks for the honor conferred on 
taking the chair and appointed the necessary 
committees. Dr. Ilexumer, O. B. Had men, 
P. M. Augur, T. T. Lyons, C. L, Watrous and 
Robert Manning composed the awarding com¬ 
mittee; and S. B. Parsons, Robert Manning 
and T. T. Lyons, formed the committee on 
resolutions. Dr. Henry P. Walcott, President 
of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 
welcomed the pomological guests to Boston. 
Mayor O'Brien was absent, attending tho 
Liberty Centennial. But he had arranged uu 
excursion about Boston harbor in honor of 
tho visiting society. William C. Strong also 
announced that a banquet would bo given the 
Pomological Society at the Revere House on 
Friday evening by the Massachusetts Society. 
The reports of tho Secretary and Treasurer 
were then read and adopted. The former 
was mainly concerning the society’s corres¬ 
pondence. Treasurer Smith reported a bal¬ 
ance of 85,3011.88 in tho strong box, 85,000 of 
which were bequeathed to the society by Pres¬ 
ident Wilder. A committee composed of one 
from each State and Territory was then ap¬ 
pointed on nominations. 
On reassembling in tho afternoon a full list 
of officer* for the next two years was reported, 
and the names were ratified by tbe conven¬ 
tion. P. J. Berckmans, Augusta, Go., was 
chosen President; Secretary Garfield and 
Treasurer Smith wore re-elected; T. T. Lyon, 
Michigan, was made first Vice-President, and 
a Vice-President from each State and Terri¬ 
tory was selected:—G. L. Hoag for New York, 
William Parry for Now Jersey, P. M Au¬ 
gur, Connecticut; William C. Strong, Massa¬ 
chusetts. Several additional member* were 
present in the afternoon. The business ses¬ 
sions were bold in one of the many large aux¬ 
iliary halls connected with the massive Me¬ 
chanics 1 Institute Hall, in which the exhibi¬ 
tion of both societies was spread, which is said 
to scat 8,000 persons. 
It may be said at tho outset of this report of 
the proceedings of this pomological conven¬ 
tion that a very large share of the time was 
takou up in tho rending of long and exhaust¬ 
ive essays. The Secretary had apparently nr 
ranged for an unusual number of these papers, 
and hud all of them been read the members 
might as well have left their tongues at home, 
as tho presence of their ears only would have 
been required. As it wof, discussion was al¬ 
most ent irely debarred for want of time; only 
a portion of the very lost session being devoted 
to the discussion of new fruits, and thou many 
were passed over somewhat hurriedly and 
carelessly. Many of the members expressed 
dissatisfaction at this, and felt that this Bos¬ 
ton mealing at tho society would, in conse¬ 
quence of this fact, fail to bring the profitable 
and successful results to fruit-growers and tbe 
fruit interests of the nation, which have at¬ 
tended these important meetings in the post. 
While nearly all the papers presented con¬ 
tained instruction and information of value, 
many of them wore diluted to that degree 
of verbiage that seriously endangers practi¬ 
cal usefulness. Members felt that they could 
read such essays in their horticultural papers 
at home at their leisure without traveling 
hundreds or a thousand miles to listen to 
them. But they realized that Arkansas could 
not brush nguiust Massachusetts, in a fruit 
discussion; or Florida Compare orchard notes 
with New York; or Kansas have a garden 
confab with Now Jersey, and that no exchange 
of experiences and experiments could so readi¬ 
ly and profitably be had clswherc as there upon 
that floor which contained progressive fruit¬ 
growers from nearly .10 States, Territories 
and Provinces of America. No reflection 
is here intended upon any one of the intelli¬ 
gent essayists who were quite judiciously 
selected a-s matter of fact. 
The first paper presented, “ Suggestions 
concerning perfect fertilization of the grape," 
was read by I), ft Marvin, of New York, tho 
author. It was a carefully written and 
scholarly essay. He said; “No otic of the 15 
or 20 species with which we have to deal is 
now perfectly bisexual in all its varieties. 
The Delaware is perhaps as perfect 08 any. 
Vineyardists have suffered from this tendency 
to a differentiation of tho sexual functions, 
Imt the specialist who originates new seedlings 
observes it most. Our vines have all been 
selected with reference to their diuil-sexual or¬ 
gans and functions, and yet despite all these 
efforts for generations, seedlings still assert a 
tendency to final separation of the sexual 
functions. Not being able to overcome this 
natural law of differentiation, why should we 
continue to work against a law of nature? 
Would it not be better to co-operate and 
try to aid in her lines of activities, and 
see if we can’t find a better way ? My 
idea is to separate the sexes and aid 
in developing sexual differentiation by 
cultivating female instead of hermaphro¬ 
dite plants, with here and there a 
male plant elevated upon trees or upon poles 
and wires, so that the male plunts may run 
above and fill the air with their pollen to fer¬ 
tilize the female plants below. Great suviug 
of vital energy might thus lie turned to the 
development of more fruit. Now, the pollen 
is more or less impotent, failing to fertilize 
the ovaries, and the emasculated clusters are 
many. I have already experimented on these 
lines, and though tho experiments have not 
gone far enough to determine the question, 
yet they warrant largor and longer continued 
experimentation.” 
The writer continued at length upon this 
theory, A brief discussion followed the paper 
but nothing of value was elicited. 
Mr. T. T. Lyons then read a carefully pre¬ 
pared paper on the “The Peach Yellows.” Tho 
veteran and respected pomologtst from Michi¬ 
gan is fully convinced that tho “yellows” is a 
contagious disease, and he gave many reasons 
for that theory and belief. He says extermi¬ 
nation of all infected trees is the only remedy. 
But tho New Jersey growers could not agree 
with him. The “yellows" originated there, 
and they think they ought to know all about 
it. They maintain that ft is a symptom of 
soil exhaustion or lack of plaut food: and that 
the disease is never seen in a thoroughly 
healthy, vigorous tree. They also insist that 
a lilieral application of potash and phosphates 
will cure tho malady. Eli Minch, an editor 
and grower in that State, exhibited some ex¬ 
ceptionally vigorous specimens of peach-wood 
growth in the main hail, which he says were 
grown on very poor soil by the use of kainit 
and bone, half a ton of each to the acre annu¬ 
ally. He never has the yellows unless the 
trees are previously weakened lu growth, and 
is confident the disease is not contagious. Sev¬ 
eral others gave similar views, and Mr. Lyons 
found few converts. Considerable discussion 
followed, but notbiug really now was devel¬ 
oped. 
“Pomological Nomenclature” was the sub¬ 
ject of tho next paper, read by W. C. Barry, 
the author being Jobu J. Thomas. A simple 
and concise nomenclature was strongly urged 
by the veteran fruit man; laudatory peddlers’ 
puffs should lie avoided, but there was noth¬ 
ing especially new elicited. Mr. Thomas 
simply Indorses the reform inaugurated by 
the late President Wilder six years ago, to 
which the society now stands fully and sensi¬ 
bly committed. Tho brief discussion was of 
the same nature. 
A paper on the “Nomenclature of Russian 
fruits," by Charles Gibb, of (Quebec, was then 
read. It was an amioyiug essay for the re¬ 
porters and the uverago member fared lit¬ 
tle bitter. In discussing these Russian sorts 
it was generally conceded that they could not 
su|»ersede our best native varieties, in flavor 
at least. Tho apples especially were inferior 
to our Newtown*, Spitzeubcrgs, uud Green¬ 
ings, but it was thought the Russian bark and 
leaf were of a more hardy texture, and would 
better withstand tho dry summers anil severe 
winters of our Northwestern plains. A paper 
l by Prof. L, H. Bailey, “Pollen ou the Fruit," 
was then read by Secretary Crozier. This 
closed the afternoon session of the first day. 
{To be continued.) n. h. 
Catti. 
Every Man is presumed to know the Law; 
Nine-tenths of all Litigation arises from Ig¬ 
norance of Law." 
The annual session of tho American Bar 
Association was opened the other day by the 
customary review of tho most noteworthy 
legislation during the year, made by the presi¬ 
dent, Thomas J. Senimos of Louisiana. 
Among the Congressional and Slate Laws of 
interest to farmers are the following: Tho 
Agricultural Experiment Station law appro¬ 
priating $15,000 a year lor the establishment 
of such a station in each State. For the pres¬ 
ent, this is rendered inoperative by failure 
to make any appropriation of money to car¬ 
ry its provisions into affect. Then there is 
the law making it unlawful for an alien who 
has not declared bis intention to become a 
citizen, or for any foreign corporation to ac¬ 
quire or hold real estate in the Territories or 
the District of Columbia, except such as may 
be acquired by inheritance or in collecting 
debts contracted prior to the passage of the 
law. This law applies also to corporations 
more than 20 per cent, of whose stock is 
owned by foreigners. Of course, it applies 
only to the Territories, of which Congress has 
control. Similar laws have been passed by Col¬ 
orado, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wis¬ 
consin, with 90tne minor differences. Con¬ 
gressional legislation for the suppression of 
contagious diseases among live stock, espec¬ 
ially contagious pleuro-pneumonia, has al¬ 
ready been fully described in our columns, 
legislation to secure tho same objects was 
passed in Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, 
and Rhode Island. Similar laws were pre¬ 
viously in force in several of the other States. 
There were few Congressional laws from 
which farmers expected more than from that 
establishing tbe Inter-state Commerce Com¬ 
mission, which was to secure lower rate* of 
freight and juster treatment from railroads. 
Very little good has hitherto been done by 
the Commission, however. Among the laws 
of agricultural Interest passed by the States 
are the following: New Jursey has established a 
State Board of Agriculture. South Carolina 
has established an agricultural experiment 
station and farm. Kansas has offered a pre¬ 
mium of two cents per pound for the manu¬ 
facture of sugar from sorghum, beets and other 
sugar-producing plants. Hitherto sorghum 
sugar alone has claimed tho bounty. In Ne¬ 
braska the exemption law has been so amend¬ 
ed that none of the property of a debtor is ex¬ 
empt from a claim for wages. In Missouri 
the employment of a substitute for hops, or 
pure extract of hops in the manufacture of 
beer U prohibited The sale of adulterated 
wine has been forbidden iu Now York and 
California. In Louisiana and Michigan the 
sale of oleotnargariue has been restricted. 
New Jersey has passed a law authorizing the 
formation of corporations for protection 
against damage to glass by hail—chiefly for 
tho benefit of florists and nurserymen. 
Illinois, Missouri and Texas have legislated 
against “ bucket shops," prohibiting dealings 
in “futures” where there is no iutention to 
deliver the property sold. Colorado punishes 
fraudulent sales or other disposition of proper¬ 
ty. Pennsylvania has made it a misdemeanor 
for the owner of property to s«ll it 
without disclosing the existence of auy 
mortgage* that may lie upon it. Legislation 
to secure to laborers their wages has been 
passed iu Illinois, ludiana, Kansas, Maine, 
Mi nn esota, Nehraska, Pcunsylvania, West 
Virginia and Texas. These laws apply to farm 
labor as well as to other kinds, though they 
were passed mainly through the efforts of the 
Knights of Labor aud other labor organiza¬ 
tions. Legislation restricting or abolishing 
the sale of liquor has l>eoii enacted in Kansas, 
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis¬ 
souri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, 
Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin. 
The temperance sentiment is evidently grow¬ 
ing rapidly. Iaws against adulteration of 
foods, prohibiting under penalty the sale of 
adulterated food unless branded or marked as 
such, have been passed in Alabama, Connecti¬ 
cut, Delaware, Michigan, Ohio and Oregon. 
Regulations respecting the sale of commercial 
fertilizers have been enacted by Louisiana 
and Alabama. Arkansas lias passed a law 
declaring contracts for a greater rate of inter¬ 
est than 10 per cent, per iimiuin usurious, and 
making conveyances securing the same thing 
void. A Minnesota statute provides that a 
stipulation in a contract that a debt shall 
draw a greater rate of interest after maturity 
than before, shall cause a forfeiture of the 
entire interest. Laws relating to chattel mort¬ 
gages have been amended in Colorado, Penn¬ 
sylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin. In several 
of the States free passes on railroads have 
been prohibited. This very instructive 
address has not yet been published in full; 
so that we have to confine ourselves to brief 
mention of various laws, as gathered from 
the brief condensations of it that have come 
under our notice, the best of which is in 
BradstreetV. 
A very bad and very frequent form of 
swindling is that perpetrated hy advertise¬ 
ments of gold and silver mines. Believe these 
glowing advertisements and prospectuses and 
all one has to do to become quickly rich is to 
invest in one of these bottomless pits. Before 
the brilliant promises, the alluring blandish¬ 
ments and the extraordinary results set forth 
in mine advertisements, the remarkable liar- 
gains offered in puffs of eheap jewelry, won¬ 
derful nostrums, and even bogns periodicals, 
become insignificant. Tbe latter »t best offer 
only an advantage of a few dollar* or a chance 
of a few thousands, whereaR the former prom¬ 
ise a fortune for a slight investment. Of all 
the gold and silver mines promiscuously ad¬ 
vertised within the last quarter of a century, 
it is very doubtful whether 10 per cent, were 
ever worked at all; and we do not know of 
one that, has proved a success. Of tbe whole 
number of mines worked, probably more 
money has been put into four out of five than 
has ever come out. The successful mines are, 
without exception, in the bands of a few cap¬ 
italists: for capitalists are always ready to 
jump at a fair chance of securing a paying 
gold or silver mine. If the conditions and 
prospects put forth In most mine advertise¬ 
ments were really correct, the “promoters” 
would have no need to solicit the general pub¬ 
lic to take shares “on the ground floor;” for 
every sbaie would bo promptly bought up by 
capitalists ut a premium. 
There are now before the Eye-Opener half a 
dozen inquiries about tho Tortilita Gold and 
Silver Mining Co., widely advertised through¬ 
out the country, chiefly in agricultural papers 
or in the agricultural i®uesof non-agricultural 
papers. It is very evident that the “promot¬ 
ers" of this enterprise trust to the supposed gul¬ 
libility of farmers for capital to work their 
mine or their “little game,” and they have set 
up Mr. Joseph H. Reall. who gained some rep¬ 
utation and a great deal of advertisement by his 
connection with Congressional oleomargarine 
legislation, as a figure head to win the confi¬ 
dence of the agriculturists. We do not say 
the thing is a swindle, still we strongly advise 
our readers to leave it. severely alone. Hero 
are the results of our investigations with re¬ 
gard to it, chiefly through the American Mer¬ 
cantile aud Collection Association, of this city. 
The company wus organized under the laws 
of New Jersey on March 3, l c 87, with a capital 
stock of $1,000,000 divided into 500.000 shares 
of $2 each. The following are the incorporators 
with the number of shares professed to be 
owned by each: Joseph H. Reall. 5; John F. 
Maxfleld, 5; Rodman M. Price, 250; Du Bois 
T. Elmore, 250; James M. Fox. 5; Francis 
J, Arend, 5; William M. Griffin, 5. Thus 
the incorporators have taken in the aggregate 
only 520 shares out of 500,000; and the whole 
amount they have invested, even if they have 
paid up in full, amounts to only 81,040 out of 
$1,000,000. Mr. Real is president of the com¬ 
pany in which he has invested #10—if he has 
paid up. Probably some of tbe rest of the 
shares have beeu paid for the property, others 
for advertisements, and the remainder are 
being peddled out to the public. The stock 
is registered at the American Loan and Trust 
Co., but the secretary of tho Trust, says he 
doesu’t kuow the parties, nor anything about 
the company except that the parties seem to 
have full faith in the enterprise and that a 
good deal of stock is being sold. The parties 
appear to be entirely uukuown in financial 
circles. 
With regard to tho tlaming advertise¬ 
ments that appear *> nuraeroudy iu the 
papers, tho earlier offers to publishers 
were based on a contract for 200 lines, pay¬ 
able “when the work is done,” so that if the 
200 lines were never supplied, the contract 
would never be completed. Later proposi¬ 
tions offer to pay with stock of the company at 
once, or with cash on December l. It is well 
known to all acquainted with mining matters, 
that when a mine pays well, the owners keep 
it to themselves, yet these men offer to share 
their bouanza with the public. Wo strongly 
advise .the public not tobacco pt the offer. 
