110 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
books, nor upon every nursery catalogue, if we can upon any, 
in selecting varieties. A few European varieties — especially 
Russian apples—are perfectly hardy here, and may do far 
north, while some from our Northern States are quite tender. 
It is best to know how a variety has succeeded near you before 
planting largely of it. Remember that every variety adapted 
to the climate may not be suited to your soil, and may prove 
unproductive , if ever so hardy; and some rather tender species 
may be worth the trouble of winter protection—like the peach, 
and especially raspberries and blackberries, and some of the 
more delicate strawberries, grapes, &c. Indeed, except the 
peach, all of them will “pay” for being laid down and lightly 
covered with dry earth, late in autumn. 
[Subsequent to the delivery of the highly instructive lecture, 
of which the foregoing is a mere skeleton, Dr. Kennicott for¬ 
warded the following explanatory note in relation thereto.] 
Since my public talk about fruit growing, during your State Fair, (of 
which the above is the substance) I have conversed with several Wisconsin 
Fruit Growers, who expressed fears that a wrong inference, in regard to 
winter protection, would be drawn from some of my hasty answers to questions 
put to me. They say—and I believe with truth—that,, in sandy soil espe¬ 
cially, winter protection to the roots of trees, is necessary. And, if so spread 
as to prevent giving a harbor to mice, I am inclined to recommend the use of 
coarse manure over the roots of bearing trees, in autumn; or, in default of 
that, hay, straw, cornstalks, or litter of any kind, to be removed or plowed 
under in the spring. It is, perhaps, the least objectionable sort of “mulch¬ 
ing,” and will prevent the too early freezing and too rapid thawing of the 
earth, beneath, and can do no harm whatever. Still, except in cases of small 
seedlings, recent “layers” of plants, quince stocks budded with the pear, beds 
of newly planted bulbs, strawberries, &c., &c., I have not found winter 
mulching a necessity at my place. J. A. K. 
The Grove, Illinois. 
