INSECTS-The insects that are liable to be most troublesome to our fruits at this season of the year are the curculio, which attacks the plum fruits, the tent-caterpillar and the currant worm.

For plum curculio I have found nothing so satisfactory as jarring the trees early in the morning about every other day and gathering and destroying the beetles. This is not a difficult matter and will have a great effect in preventing injury to the plums.

The tent-caterpillar is unusually numerous this year. The forest tent-caterpillar is now stripping basswood and other forest trees of their foliage, and the orchard tent-caterpillar is generally very numerous among apple, plum and cherry trees. Where they are not too numerous and the nests can be easily reached, the tent-caterpillar is most easily destroyed by gathering the nests when the worms are at home, which is generally about the middle of the day in pleasant weather and in wet weather they stay at home all day. Where this does not seem practicable, the best remedy for these caterpillars, and in fact all other insects that eat foliage, is to spray with Paris green and water at the rate of one pound of Paris green to 200 gallons of water. If this material is to be used on plum trees, it should be used at the rate of about one pound of Paris green to 100 gallons of water, and to this should be added one pound of quick lime, which will neutralize the arsenous acid contained in the Paris green and prevent its injuring the plum foliage, which seems to be especially susceptible to injuries of this kind.

The currant worm has put in its appearance and will be found on the under side of the older leaves of currant and gooseberry bushes where it has made holes through to the surface. On a small scale it may be desirable to gather and destroy these leaves with the worms on them, but where the worms become abundant and are pretty generally distributed over the bushes some poison must be used. The most popular remedy is white hellebore, used at the rate of one ounce to a gallon of water. The hellebore may also be used dry or mixed with flour and dusted on by bellows. Paris green and water will also be found a satisfactory remedy, used in about the same proportion as for the potato bug.

Among the things that have looked especially pretty during the month of May are the following: The old shrubs such as the lilacs, honeysuckles and snowball have been more than usually vigorous and pretty, but, in addition to these, the tulips, which have now been with us, including the early and late kinds, for about four weeks, have done especially well. The native sheepberry is just now in its glory and makes a very fine, large shrub. The Eleagnus, with its gray foliage, is now in pretty contrast to the deep green of the grass and to most of our shrubs. The flowering almond was a mass of beautiful white flowers but is now gone. The flowers of the Caragana, too, have disappeared, but the shrubs still preserve their freshness and vigor and are very desirable for variety.

The Van Houtii spirea is as good as ever and just now in full flower and makes a gorgeous display. The irises are also very showy, the peonies are about three feet high and full of buds, but will not be open before the middle of next month, with the exception of the shrub peony, which has been in flower for about one week. Our native red-berry elder produced its large snowball clusters of flowers in great abundance the latter part of April, and the common elder is just beginning to show its flower clusters. Rubus deliciosus, with its white rose-like flowers, has been in bloom for about ten days and seems to be gaining in popularity. The evergreens are now at their prettiest, and the new growth in its fresh light green shades is almost as pretty as our flowering shrubs.

Secretary's Cor

Corner.

SUMMER MEETING.-Do not fail to see the notice of our summer meeting to be found elsewhere in this number,-and do not fail to

come.

PARIS GREEN AS AN INSECTICIDE.-One pound of Paris green to 200 gallons of water is considered about the right proportion to ensure the destruction of insects without injury to the foliage of the trees; at least, so says one of the best authorities on the subject.

THE MEMBERSHIPS FOR 1898.-The last memberships issued by this society for the year past before going to press is No. 681, and the person holding it had at that time, we believe, the only ticket of a state horticultural society of so high a number ever issued in the United States.

A. H. BRACKETT AT HOME. We are glad to welcome our ex-treasurer, A. H. Brackett, back from a winter in Alaska, where he has been assisting his father in his enterprise in opening a road over the mountains into the gold regions. He reports horticulture as languishing in that region, and glad to see Minnesota again.

College of FORESTRY IN NEW YORK.-Prof. B. E. Fernow has accepted an appointment as director of the New York State College of Forestry, a branch of Cornell University. This new work is in pursuance of a late act of the legislature of that state, and important practical results are expected from this departure. Prof. Fernow is well known as late chief of the U. S. Division of Forestry and has made many friends in Minnesota during his visits here.

CURTAILING THE FORESTRY RESERVES.-The American Forestry Association concurs in certain proposed legislation by congress to set aside in a measure the proclamation made by President Cleveland creating certain forest reserves. The facts in regard to this are not at hand, but it is to be hoped this is not a backward step in a work of such far reaching value to our country as the preservation of its large forest areas, which are rapidly being cut down by the ruthless hand of our unfeeling commercialism.

THE RECOUNT for PRESIDENT.-On account of the charges publicly made, that if the count had been fairly conducted, Mr. Brand would have been found elected president at the late annual meeting, it was thought wise to invite the members to participate in a recount. Accordingly a circular letter and return postals were sent out February 25th to all the members entitled to vote at that elec

tion who were not known to have been absent. If it is found that after all any of them have been overlooked,they can still report and the count be changed.

The election as announced gave J. M. Underwood 116 votes, and O. F. Brand 42 votes. The recount shows J. M. Underwood 112 votes, and O. F. Brand 10 votes. We should be very glad to make this ballot a complete one if the members see fit to do so, and it can yet be done. The ballots as received in the recount are on file in the secretary's office and,with the exception of three marked "confidential," are accessible to any of our membership.

HORTICULTURAL HALL, PHILADELPHIA.—Our frontispiece is a front view of the new hall just completed by the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, which "Harper's Weekly," through whose courtesy the engraving has been secured, speaks of as "the first of its kind in America, and an organization of wealthy and prominent citizens associated together to advance the great art of horticulture through meetings, publications and exhibitions." The dimensions of the building are not stated, but we are given a glimpse of the beauties of the interior: "The grand staircase of pink and white marble rises from the vestibule with a bower of green marble columns and green and gold galleries, surrounded by a bronze-gold dome topped with opalescent glass. The main hall, with vaulted ceiling, and seating an audience of 1,200 people, repeats this color scheme, etc." Evidently a building of this character would meet fairly well the aspirations of the average Minnesota horticulturist, and it might be well for us to know more of this ancient and honorable association.

A CHILD OF THE "CHARTER OAK."—A young seedling tree grown from an acorn of the original charter oak, which still stands in New Haven, Conn., has just been presented to the Park Commission of Minneapolis, and it is expected will in after years cast a shadow of historic pedigree in Loring Park. Other descendents of this noted tree have of late years been planted in various parks of the country. The writer is especially interested in this, as an ancestor, in an early day, had his home in New Haven where the shadow of this oak fell across his front yard with each declining day. We hope to stand under the shadow of this one yet-if it grows fast enough.

THE NEW SWEEPSTAKES APPLE PREMIUMS FOR THE STATE FAIR.— The offering of these new premiums is the most important change in the horticultural part of the premium list of the next Minnesota state fair. Those who compete for these premiums will be permitted to secure apples for this exhibit from any trees growing in our state, though only one plate of any one variety can be shown in an exhibit. Please notice also the important provision that each plate of apples must bear a label containing the name and address of its grower. It is hoped that this kind of an exhibit will result in getting out at the fair a full display of all the varieties of apples grown in the state, including all seedlings, for seedlings are not excluded from this exhibit,and the presence of the labels will locate definitely the place where each is growing and can be found.

These premiums were made possible by the interest in horticulture of Mr. John W. Thomas, of John W. Thomas & Co., the well known dry goods merchants of Minneapolis, which firm offers the sum of $100.00 to be divided according to merit among the competitors for these prizes, insuring a premium to each exhibitor. In addition to this the state fair board offer first, second and third prizes, increasing the premiums of the highest three competitors by these amounts.

It is confidently expected that these liberal premiums will draw out a number of comprehensive displays of apples, which will show very thoroughly the status of apple growing in the localities represented.

Printed blank labels for use in this exhibit can be secured beforehand in any number desired by application to Secy. Latham.

THE 1898 STATE FAIR PREMIUM LIST-has been sent to every member of this society, and if any one has not received a copy it would be well to address Secy. E. W. Randall, Hamline, Minn., on the subject. Your attention is, of course, specially invited to the horticultural department as published in the list. Do not forget to read over, several times, if necessary, the regulations of this department. They concern you as possible exhibitors much, and a thorough acquaintance with them will aid greatly in making your part of the fair and our department as a whole the success it is our ambition to make it.

Some changes will be found in the list of premiums offered, which you will discover upon perusal, the most important of which to fruit growers is the addition of premiums on "sweepstakes” on apples and for seedling sweet apples. Don't fail to note in the regulations the definition as to what may go into a collection. You will find it clearly and distinctly given in such a way as to settle this vexed question, it is believed, beyond misapprehension.

TRANSPLANTing Large TrREES.-When a large tree is removed from the ground, as much earth as possible should be taken up with it, so that the small fibrous roots may not be greatly disturbed.

The tree will have a much greater chance of living in its new location if this is done. Dig first about the trunk at some little distance away, but do not cut off the big roots that are met. Follow these out for some distance. When the trench is dug about the tree, work under the roots and get chains or ropes about the ball of earth in two or more directions. Then set a long pry in the manner shown in the illustration, when the tree can be gently raised. A drag or stone boat can then be slipped under the ball of earth and the tree hauled home on it, without disturbing the roots in the least. With the earth left about the roots in this way, even trees of considerable size can be safely transplanted, and they will hardly seem to notice the change in their surroundings.