AFTERNOON SESSION.

Business was resumed at two o'clock, Vice President Engle in the chair.

Mr. HILLER. I have been urging, for several years, the advantages of a low situation for apple orchards, and I now wish to call attention to some specimens grown on such a location. I have here a Baldwin, grown about ten feet from a small rivulet, which is not over eighteen inches below the level of the surrounding soil, and held its fruit well; and the only difficulty in keeping them was to keep them from being eaten. Some of the same variety, grown on high ground, were inferior in size and keeping qualities, and every specimen gone by October 1st. So, also, with Smoke-house; those grown on low ground kept well until April, while those from high ground did not keep at all. York Imperial on the hill-top were knotty and fell early. Dominie, on brick-clay soil, were good; on high, gravelly ground, poor and imperfect. I only wish to show how these apples keep when grown on low, damp soils, and that finer fruit can be grown, and with more certainty, than on high ground.

Mr. BALDERSTON. There are, doubtless, other reasons for these facts, as reported by Mr. Hiller. I spent some time recently in western New York, and noticed that apple trees were pruned back to a uniform height; that they bore immense crops of fruit, which kept well. I think they are usually gathered before fully ripe, and, while they keep better, they lack quality and flavor. It may be more profitable to grow them in this manner, but I would prefer to eat the fruit from high or upland ground.

Mr. JAMISON. Our best keeping variety is York Imperial, when grown on high land, but not on a northern exposure. Stagnant water will shorten the life of a tree and produce fruit of an inferior quality.

Mr. ENGLE. At our last annual meeting the following amendment to our constitution was adopted, and, under the rules, laid over for final action at this meeting:

"That the Executive Committee shall consist of all the elective officers of this Association, and that three of said committee (of which the President of the Society shall be one) shall constitute a quorum to transact any business relative to the interests of the Society."

I now move its adoption.

Mr. HOOPES. This amendment enlarges the Executive Committee, and will be more likely to provide a quorum. There are no special duties defined for the Executive Committee.

Mr. THOMAS. Article III of our by-laws authorizes the Executive Committee to select places for our annual meeting.

The amendment was unanimovsly adopted.

Adjourned.

CYRUS T. Fox, Chairman, then submitted his

REPORT OF GENERAL FRUIT COMMITTEE.

To the officers and members of the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania:

GENTLEMEN: The undersigned, chairman of the General Fruit Committee, would respectfully report that, having received notice of his appointment, he issued a circular on the third of last month, which was sent to the different members of the committee, requesting information in regard to the various crops of fruit and vegetables, and the results of observations and experiments made during the year 1884. Your chairman found that twenty-five counties of the State, including Philadelphia, were represented in the General Fruit Committee, comprising principally the territory east of the Allegheny mountains. For the purpose of obtaining reports from every section of the State, circulars were sent to well-known fruit-growers and horticulturists in every county of Pennsylvania, as well as to prominent members of the Association not members of the committee, the benetit of whose advice and experience was desired. There were responses from about one third of the gentleman addressed, and forty-two reports were received, representing thirty-three counties, or the principal fruit-producing districts of the State. A number of gentlemen expressed their regrets that they were unable to furnish any facts worthy of use. members of the committee failed to respond, and others sent in their reports so late that the compilation of the information received was delayed until within thirty-six hours of the meeting of the Association. From the mass of correspondence the following has been sifted as the horticultural results of the past year:

Apples.

Several

The reports from the eastern section of the State show that there was a very large crop of this valuable fruit, and the quality was quite fair. Throughout central Pennsylvania and the mountain districts of the State, the yield was comparatively meager, and the fruit was of inferior quality, having been damaged by late spring frosts. In the western portion of the State the crop was a failure in many respects, owing to frosts in early summer and protracted drought in the latter part of the season. While the crop in Berks, Lehigh, Lebanon, Montgomery, Chester, and other counties in the south-eastern section of the State was extraordinarily large, the reports generally ascribe very poor keeping qualities to the fruit, and the cause is attributed to the great heat in September, which was the hottest September in thirty years. The apples ripened prematurely, and winter kinds became fall varieties. Great quantities of apples were converted into cider and vinegar, and the stock of the latter is the largest that has been manufactured in a long period. The premature dropping of fruit was general throughout the State. In many sections the usual ravages of the codling moth and borer are reported, while there was a conspicuous absence of the tent caterpillar.

Pears,

Where cultivated to any extent, were not below the average in yield, although 1884 was regarded as the "off year" for that excellent fruit. Some varieties, such as the Bartlett and Beurre d'Anjou, furnished a full crop, while other varieties did not do so well. The September drought caused

a premature ripening of winter varieties, and also affected their keeping qualities. There was less fire blight than usual. Friend Satterthwaite, who is one of our most extensive pear-growers, raises good crops every season, and experiences no trouble from "off years." High culture is apparently the secret of his success. In Mifflin, and some other counties in the central and western portion of the State, the pear crop was a failure, and blight, frosts, and drought are given as the causes.

Peaches.

re

This crop was a comparative failure, except in certain favored localities. Where there was a full yield, the crop was injured by extreme drought, and the quality of the fruit was impaired. The cause of "yellows mains as great a mystery as ever, but a majority of the correspondents agree that the best cure is to pull out the trees that are affected and destroy them. The climatic theory is entitled to much weight, especially as it is known that there are sections of the United States where the disease has never appeared. Our venerable friend, John Rutter, who has written a work on "The Culture and Diseases of the Peach," scouts the bacteria theories of some of the learned professors, and as he has furnished a valuable report in regard to his operations at his new home on the banks of the classic Susquehanna, and enlarges upon the "yellows," to which subject he has given great attention, it would be well to have his letter read for the benefit of the members of the Association. There is a great difference of opinion as to soil and exposure, but a majority recommend light soils and elevated situations for the successful cultivation of the peach.

Grapes.

The reports in regard to grapes differ materially, there having been a very good crop in some counties, while in other sections the crop was a failure. There is considerable complaint of uneven ripening, while the cause of failure is assigned, principally, to rot and mildew. On the favored hill-sides in the vicinity of Pittsburgh the crop was large and excellent, although late in maturing. The reports agree that of the numerous varieties of recent introduction there are very few worth retaining, and the Concord maintains its preeminence as the most desirable variety in existence for general purposes. The experience of correspondent Thomas M. Harvey, of Chester county, whose collection embraces over one hundred and fifty varieties, is that the Concord is worth more than all the rest. Among the more promising of the newer varieties he mentions the Brighton, Duchess, Pocklington, Moore's Early, and Niagara. The reports concerning the Brighton are uniformly good. The experience with the Niagara is not sufficient to warrant any definite conclusions.

Cherries.

It may be safely said that this is the most precarious fruit we have. When a large crop is indicated, wet weather about the ripening time will cause almost total failure. In some sections of the State the crop last year was quite good, better, in fact, than had been realized for some years; the sweet varieties were more prone to rot, while varieties of the Early Richmond class were entirely healthy. Through the central portion of the State the crop was very poor, while in the western counties, especially in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, there was an abundant crop of standard varieties. A preference is given by most correspondents to the Early Richmond as one of the most successful kinds that can be grown.

Plums.

Owing to the ravages of the curculio very little attention is paid to this crop, and in many sections no attempt to cultivate them has been made for years. Nevertheless some good results last year have been reported. ExPresident Hoopes, of West Chester, says that the crop in his neighborhood was very large and perfect, and refers to the importance of jarring the trees as an off-set to the operations of the curculio. A curculio-proof variety has not yet been found, although the "Wild Goose and others of the Chickasaw species were recommended a few years ago with a great flourish of trumpets as possessing that characteristic. The trouble that many growers have had with the Wild Goose variety is that it blossoms profusely but never bears. This is probably owing to the fact that inferior seedlings have sprung from the "Wild Goose," and been sold for the original variety, until very few pure stocks of the original are to be found. The reports in regard to the Chickasaw varieties show them to be hardy, productive, and less affected by the curculio, and as this species hybridizes readily with other branches of the Prunus family, a vast and promising field is open to the experimenter. From all parts of the State there are very favorable reports as to the Lombard and Richland, which are said to succeed best, and to better withstand the attack of the curculio. While the cultivation of plums has been to a great extent abandoned, the statement is still more applicable to apricots and nectarines, which are rarely grown except in well-protected situations in town lots, and it is not likely that they will ever be profitably produced for market in this State.

Quinces.

This fruit was inadvertently omitted in the list of queries submitted to the correspondents, although perhaps covered by the general question in conclusion. Reports, however, were received from a number of counties showing that the quince crop was abundant and the specimens were perfect. Those who had a number of trees realized handsomely, as quinces always command a remunerative price. For jellies and preserves they rank with the choicest of our domestic fruits, and, although generally commanding twice the price of apples, housekeepers in our cities complain that they are always scarce. As a quince orchard will last forty years, and the trees come early into bearing, the cultivation of the quince can be made a paying industry. Rea's Mammoth, the Orange and Champion are the varieties most generally recommended.

Small Fruits.

The crop of small fruits was up to the average, and the prices as a rule compensated the growers amply. More attention is paid to small fruits, although some correspondents report that in their counties the subject is given but little heed, and, except as to strawberries, dependence is placed entirely upon the crop of wild fruit. There was a large crop of strawberries, except in a few localities, and the Sharpless, Charles Downing, Cumberland, and Crescent Seedling are the varieties most prominently mentioned. Mr. Satterthwaite, who, owing to his nearness to the Philadelphia markets, is well qualified to judge of the wants of growers, places his main reliance upon the Mt. Vernon. J. S. Keller, of Orwigsburg, claims that his new variety," Keller's Seedling," bore every month during the summer and fall, and was less affected by drought than the older sorts. An improvement is wanted in raspberries. The Cuthbert is highly spoken of by

several correspondents. Very little attention is given to blackberries, currants, and gooseberries. Those who grow blackberries for market find them to be one of the most profitable crops that can be raised.

Vegetables.

Most

The title of the Pennsylvania Fruit Growers' Society having been changed to State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania, the observations of the General Fruit Committee were very properly extended so as to embrace the products of the garden. From many of the counties reports came that vegetables are not grown to any considerable extent. farmers grow only sufficient for their own use, and many excellent vegetables, which are found in city markets, are unknown to them. It is la mentable that farmers are not more interested in this branch of horticulture. With an abundance of vegetables on hand, a family will not be so disposed to run into the error, very common in this country, of eating meat in a proportion too great for the proper maintenance of health. Many farmers are satisfied if they are able to put away a sufficient supply of cabbage and potatoes for the winter, and they ignore some of the most delicious vegetables on the score that they have no time to attend to them. Now a great deal can be done in odd intervals, which might otherwise, perchance, be consumed in needless loitering. The boy on the farm can imbibe a love for his work by undergoing an apprenticeship in the kitchen-garden, and the men and the boys together can make a success of this department without calling upon the females of the household to whom this labor is frequently relegated. Farmers in the vicinity of large cities are making truck-growing pay, and as they acquire experience they will find that with proper management and under favorable condition, an acre of ground can often be made to produce larger profits than many a hundred-acre farm slovenly conducted. The reports in regard to vegetables last year are very favorable, although in some localities the yield was curtailed by drought. Very little has been said in reference to new varieties. Of the numerous acquisitions to the potato list none have supplanted the Early Rose for general early crop. Burbank's Seedling is mentioned by several correspondents as producing the best results in their respective localities. Henderson's

White Plume celery was given a thorough trial, and while some are loud in its praise others have not found it adapted to their soils and localities. The old standard varieties of vegetables still succeed the best, and, although myriads of novelties are now flooding the market, many of them are worthless.

A cultivation of a taste for flowers and house adornment should also be one of the objects of a horticultural association. What a charm there is about a country home with a dooryard beautiful with flowers, ornamental shrubbery and plants, and how strong must be the attachment of a boy for such a home. To keep the boy on the farm, and cause him to take a deep interest in agricultural and horticultural pursuits make home and its surroundings beautiful. Floriculture is peculiarly calculated for the amusement of youth, and may teach them many important lessons, among which. may be mentioned neatness, and the cultivation of a correct taste. The mind is also furnished with many pleasing ideas, and is thereby taught to "look through nature up to nature's God." Of late years farmers have commenced to construct green-houses upon their premises, and they find profit in propagating plants for sale to their neighbors. The raising of flowers for sale belongs to the professional florist, as farmers are not prepared to give that degree of attention to this branch of horticulture which 2 HORTO. Asso.