Pomological Society
The monthly meeting of the Washtenaw Horticultura! Society was held last Saturday aiul was presided over by Evart H. Scott. The Corresponding Secretary report ed t h at lie had that morning visited President J. Austin Scott, who had been confined for three weeks to his room. Hesaid: "Brother Baur, teil the brethren that I am sorry not to be able to attend the meeting, myheart and hand is withthem." The society gave expression to its profound sympathy with the suffering chief, who, in spite of his great age, had served this society, of which he is the founder, most faithfully and cheerfully. May itplease akindProvidence tó restore him to future usefulness to those he served as a true friend of every good and charitable cause in church and state. The fruit prospects were discussed. Luther Palmer, of Dexter, said the prospects tor an apple erop were very slim. Strawberries did remarkably well. Cuthberts were badly winter killed, the foliage was attacked by a green worm, fuzzy on the side and smoothe on the back. The winter killing is perhaps caused by the snowy cricket, (occaiitus niveus) known by its peculiar repetition oí the chirp "Katy-did." The injury eaused to the caue oí the raspberry by the témale depositing its eggs in the cañe is a serious one. The eggs are deposited late in the summer or iu autumn, but they do not hatch till the early part of the' íollowing summer. The iufested canes should be cut out in the spring after the other canes have put forth their leaves, but before the eggs have hatched. Jjy burning these canes the inciease of the insect can be checked. The dead appearauce of the canes thus punctured by this cricket may have appeared to Mr. Talmer as winter killed. Mr. Stephen Mills: Have not seen such a small prospect for apples iu 50 years. Cherries are short. The black knot in the pluni is destroying many trees. The commission on diseases of fruit trees should at once be awakenett to atteud to this very destruutive, contagious fungous disease. Will Mr. A. A. Orozier aud the other menibers of the commission attend to this at thfeir earliest convenience? liev. Mr. Wortley, of Ypsilaiiti: My observation is coiitiued to my owu orchard oí seven acres. Apples are f alling off. Pears are oue-third of a erop. Grapes are promising. Wm. McCreery : Have been through Jackson county, found no apples. I expect a fair erop of peaches on high ground. Ihey are thin on low ground. Evart H. Scott: Peaches well fllled. There will be some Baldwin and Ben Davis apples. Flemish Beauty pears are affected by the scab. Kieöer is tree trom the scab, some trees are fairly loaded. Blackberries are very f uil. Niágara grapes are looking well; on low ground they were winter killed. E. Baur: The Bartlett pears are enjoying a year of rest and show a healthy growth of young wood, yet tiiere is a prospect of some Bartletts. The Flemish Beauties are fairly loaded but somewhat afflicted by the scab. Mount Vernon aud Lawrence pears, full; Kieffers are sound. This is a grand season for root crops. Have taken advantage of this and sowed plenty of Oxheart carrots, of Mangles and blood beets. Experimented with Jerusalem artichokes. No degree of cold kills them. Can be fed early in the spring to cattle and horses. They kiil out all weeds, have no insect enemy and can not be exterminated after they are established. In case of a famine they would be a great help. My attention to this very important vegetable was flrst drawn by Mr. Edward Clark, 86 E. Huron Street. Mrs. Mary E. Clark, widow of General Clark, informed me that sliced, cooked and seasoned they are a very palatable dish. I am indebted to these friends for their kindness in drawing my attention to one of the most important succulents, which lor fattening purposes bas not its equal amomg the root crops. Plums would be a full erop were they not so badly afflicted by the rot. Tliey aro a very uncertain erop. Mr. E. Waterman spoke in favor of the artichokes. They are a fine vegetable for the table, better than vegetable oysters. Emil Baar exhibited D'Arenberg pears, Luther Palmer bis quart baskets. He said he never before had so many orders for berry baskets as he liad d uring this strawberry season. The next meeting of the society is to be held Saturday, the2nd of July, and the committee on transportation is reminded to report. The committee on diseases of fruit trees should report and examine into the black knot and other fuugous diseases, vvhich, by neglect endanger all our orchards. Remember the meeting next Saturday.
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Old News
Ann Arbor Courier