YAKOB, OR SCHANTZ.

A Pennsylvania seedling, exhibited at Bethlehem, by Henry G. Schantz, Vera Cruz, Lehigh county. It originated on his grand-father's farm, where the original tree, more than one hundred years old, still stands. It is a good bearer, a healthy, vigorous grower, forming a large, round-headed, half spreading orchard tree, with dark brownish shoots. Fruit, medium; quality, good; good for culinary use in October, and can be kept until March. Recommended as worthy of further trial.

gave him specimens of apples that were part sweet and part sour, said the tree from which they came bore all such.

Mr. R. A. GRIDER indorsed Mr. Thomas' statement. and fruit and tasted it.

Had seen the tree

Mr. ENGLE said this was not new nor uncommon. Has tasted them, but could not explain why it is. In reference to the influence of root upon the stock, he had read the report of the Massachusetts Society, and would advise all interested to do so. Nurserymen well knew that the graft has an influence upon the root, and according to the report just referred to, there is no doubt the root has an influence on the graft, especially on large trees. Mr. BRINTON. The influence of the graft on the root is so well established that it needs no argument. If it exerts any influence on the character of the fruit, grafting and budding would become a nullity.

Mr. CHASE. The remarks of the last speaker will hold good in young stocks or grafts, but if an old tree be grafted the character of the fruit grafted on it will, in a certain sense, be changed. Has seen an old orchard grafted with Baldwin, and there are now a dozen kinds of Baldwins in the same orchard. There is no doubt the stock has an influence upon the graft, providing the trees are well established before grafting.

Mr. HARRISON. There is no doubt that quince stocks have a decided influence on the pear. The Duchess, for instance, is superior in quality as a standard, but not so large as when on quince. If such is the case with Duchess, why not with other varieties of pears? But all these facts seem to be embodied in the Massachusetts Society's report.

Judge STITZEL had a row of Bellflower apple, trees a few years ago that were perfect pyramids, but shy bearers. I grafted them with Baer apple, which are regular bearers, and the consequence is.my Bellflowers begun bearing immediately and bore regularly ever since.

Mr. LINT. Judge Stitzel's trees being vigorous growers, productiveness was doubtless induced by being cut back severely. Sometimes the sap produces new wood instead of fruit, and by checking the growth it throws the nutrition into fruit buds.

The following essay upon the subject under discussion, was read at the summer meeting of the Michigan Pomological Society, June, 1879, by H. S. Tyler, of Muskegon. It is from that society's report for 1879:

INFLUENCE OF STOCK UPON CION.

Mr. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE SOCIETY: While your association has within the few years of its organization done a vast amount of good to the fruit-growers of this State, having touched almost every matter relative to culture, improvement, and production of the various kinds of fruits adapted to the climate and soils of Michigan, I have heard but very little said on the effect or influence of the stock upon the cion, in grafting the apple either upon the root or top.

I have read a few hints thrown out by different persons that the stock exerted a great influence upon the productions arising from engrafting one kind of fruit upon another, but to what extent no one has ventured to express any very decided opinion, and for the purpose of gaining information upon that point I shall state briefly some observations taken by myself upon the question as to the effect the stock may have upon the fruit produced by cions engrafted upon the root or top of the apple tree.

In the early part of my life, and while a resident of New York State, my attention was directed to the question here presented by the very marked

difference in the general appearance, keeping qualities, and flavor of the same kinds of apples grafted upon and gathered from different trees.

It was on observable fact, that in gathering the Rhode Island Greenings, as an instance, that with trees of equal vigor and health, the fruits were variable in size, flavor, and keeping qualities. The same held good with the Baldwin, the king of apples, for beauty, keeping, and for profit, and with the Esopus Spitzenburg, whose sprightly, aromatic flavor, has never been attained by any other good keeping winter apple, combined with that glowing beauty to attract the attention of the lover of the good and the beautiful, and thus place it at the head of the list for ready sale in the market. Although at that early date the difference was not so apparent as now, for greater uniformity existed in all of the kinds of apples named, there was then no difficulty, even on the part of the school boy, in determining either of the kinds named readily at sight, and also the names of others which have met with equal change in desirable quantities since that time. While now it is no uncommon occurrence to find the experienced fruitgrower in doubt as to the correctness of names attached to plates of apples placed on exhibition at our fairs, although they are veritable Greenings, Baldwins, and Spitzenburgs.

But for the purpose of placing before this society for their consideration the causes of the change apparent, it is only necessary to mention the few named varieties, and as it would not interest you, gentlemen, for me at this time to enter upon a lengthy dissertation upon all of the questions that might have a bearing upon the final results of the case, I shall attempt somewhat to fathom the mystery of the change produced upon some or all of the varieties named.

About the year 1849, at the time of gathering apples, I noticed while gathering that the several varieties named were quite different in general appearance, upon different trees. Some of the Greenings were very large and perfect, somewhat inclined to russet, others medium in size, but smooth skinned, and others small with russet spots, yet all possessed the type of the Rhode Island Greening unmistakable in all. They were all grown upon top-grafted trees that had borne fruit for some years, prior to working over, that were not considered of sufficient value to retain them in their primitive condition. The large very nice ones were grown upon a healthy, strong growing, sweet apple tree, that had produced large russet, fine fleshed winter sweet apples. The medium was grown upon as perfect a tree every way and the next in the same row, but had produced before grafting a sour apple of good size, but entirely worthless, except for cider.

In making my observations at that time, I came to the conclusion that the stock was mainly the cause of the difference, and from that time to the present I have repeatedly noticed that changes have been going on destroying to a great extent the original character of the fruits herein referred to. The large and excellent Greenings referred to were pronounced the par excellence of the winter fruit for the dessert, on account of their rich and mild flavor when at maturity, and on account of their superior excellence. Cions were repeatedly taken from the tree to perpetuate its kind, and engrafted in the tops of other bearing trees, in some cases producing other changes as apparent. In one instance, where the same was grafted upon a vigorous growing sweet apple tree, the acidity of the natural Rhode Island Greening was still further removed.

I might cite other instances in connection with this question, but these instances for example serve as a base upon which to build a hypothetical case, and I will come to the conclusions I have by experiments and observations arrived at, namely, that the laws of life are the same in the veg

etable as in the animal kingdom. That botanical science, while it reveals and has brought to light many of the principles of plant life and growth, it fails to teach the method of continuation in its purity of a desirable variety of fruit or vegetable. That scientists have based very much of their belief upon theory, which is purely mythological in its character, no thoughtful person will deny. For instance, in the question now before us they will tell you the stock is only the medium of support to the cion, that its kind may be further continued in its purity to any extent by grafting, regardless of the nature of the stock. They tell you the grain of the field draws its continued existence from the mother earth, forgetting the logical reasoning, that the cion by transmission may draw health, vigor, and quality, and prolongation of life, or disease and destruction from the stock the same an in the animal kingdom. Life and vigor, disease and death may be engendered by transmission of blood. The situation of the cion and the grain is entirely unlike. While the grain draws its support direct from the earth, the cion gains its support by transmission.

Although scientists have given much to the people for profit, they have led very many estray upon this question in fruit-growing by false theories of plant growth and production, but withal have awakened thought, and brought the minds of many to action, and the practical man is beginning to take the matter in hand for experimental investigation to establish the truthfulness or falsity of past theories, thereby developing and bringing into activity the divine principles of creation and improvement innately given to man, his greatest heritage, from the Father Spirit of the universe. Allowing, then, my position to be correct, it follows that to bring any kind of fruit to its highest state of perfection, and to so continue it, it becomes necessary to know the qualities to be gained, as well as to understand the laws and principles of its maintenance, and none but the true and untiring experimentalist and worker for effect can expect to develop grand results, and that with knowledge based upon the experience of the past, aided by the theories and experiments of veteran pomologists of the country. I will sum up my conclusions by premising that for success in attaining and holding a desired point of excellence in the growth of fruit, the stock must be known to be healthy, hardy, and productive, and of a kind, either sweet or sour, adapted to the maintenance and perpetuity of those qualities of the kind which are sought to be maintained. And with the philosophic principle held steadily in view, that the least in a principle carries the greater, the persevering and intelligent fruit-grower will realize a profit from his labor, as well as to leave inscribed upon the tablet of time in gilded letters: I have done something with which to benefit my fellow man. My earth life has not been spent in vain.

Hence, my position develops the fact that by promiscuous root or top grafting, unaided by design to continue all of the good qualities of a kind, but operated for the purpose of rapidly multiplying trees for the markets, will always prove disastrous to the best interests of the orchardist, and carry with it more or less disappointment, loss of time and money, instead of profit and pleasure. If now, in conclusion, Mr. President, I have by these few remarks opened up the way by which this question may be fully discussed and investigated by the scientific and practical orchadist, I shall feel that I have accomplished something in behalf of the fruit-growers of our country, and that I have not labored in vain.

Inquiry was made of the Society whether sifted coal-ashes had any beneficial effect on bearing fruit trees.

Mr. BARTRAM uses all his coal-ashes, but can say nothing as to results. Mr. ENGLE has had some little experience in flue ashes from anthracite furnaces, and never applied anything that had a more marked effect on young nursery stock. Could not say about coal-ashes.

Mr. GRIDER. At Catasauqua large quantities of these ashes are thrown out and are said to be full of ammonia.

Mr. SPROUT has had some experience with coal-ashes. Usually pours all his house slops on them during the winter, and in spring puts all on his orchard. Had no doubt in that way it was of some value.

The subject of "Fertilizers for fruit trees and plants was then briefly discussed.

Mr. HARRISON. A few years ago, at an exhibition of the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, some very fine specimens of grapes were exhibited, and attracted much attention from their large size and splendid bunches, but sadly wanting in color. None of the black varieties were black, but of claret color. The grower was advised to apply the refuse of the smith-shop, including cinders and hoof-parings to his vines, and the next year his fruit was fine and true in color. Iron was furnished by the cinders and scoria, that gave color, which is also always a concomitant of flavor. There is no doubt that iron will produce both color and quality. In West Jersey, we can get green marl, which will supply sufficient protoxide of iron to color fruit perceptibly. We frequently see Black Hamburg grapes of a claret color, which are lacking in flavor. In reply to an inquiry as to whether iron ore washings would have the same effect, Mr. Harrison said, they probably would, but would be much slower in showing any effect. Green sand marl applied to the surface would answer better.

Mr. MEEHAN. Hot-house grapes are often deficient in color, and it is now believed that the fungus affecting the vine is the same as that of the peach, and the color of the grape is deficient, as in the leaves of diseased peaches. Iron might destroy the fungus. Sulphur would be better. Prof. George Wood found peach trees affected by yellows saved by heavy doses of potash and iron. Different kinds of sulphates have been tried in Europe with success in destroying root parasites.

Mr. HARRISON. This question of fertilizers is one of the most useful we can discuss. How to utilize the fertilizers under our feet, in old post-holes and headlands, and many other sources now entirely neglected. Something of that kind could be profitably discussed, and he would suggest it as a topic for our next annual meeting.

Adjourned.

EVENING SESSION.

The Society was called to order at seven and a half o'clock.

The committee appointed to examine and report upon the fruits on exhibition, submitted the following:

To the President and Officers of the Pennsylvania Fruit Growers' Society: Your committee beg to make the following report:

APPLES.-H. M. Engle & Sons, of Marietta, Pennsylvania, exhibit of apples is very fine, and especially noticeable for their richness of color and flavor. The following varieties compose their exhibit:

King of Tompkins county, Pittsburgh Pippin, Northern Spy, Flushing