Wmf&mm: Wii^MMMM. FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEBRASKA State Horticultural Society Containing all the Proceedings of the Annual Meeting held at the Lindeli Hotel, Lincoln, January 21, 22 and 23, 1913. By J. R. DUNCAN, Secretary LINCOLN, NEBRASKA LINCOLN, NEB. PUBLISHED BY THE STATE 1913 Jacob No th & Company Printers and Binders Lincoln, NeT). LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. To His Excellency, John H. Moreheud, Governor of Nebraska: Sir — In compliance with legal requisition, the annual report of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society for the year 1913, with accompany- ing papers, is respectfully submitted. J. R. DUNCAN, Secretary Nebraska State Horticultural Society. Lincoln, Sept. 1, 1913. (3) CONTENTS. Letter of Transmittal 3 Officers 7 Standing Committees 9 Memberlisip 11 Constitution 19 By-laws 21 Horticultural Districts of the State 23 List of Ornamentals 35 Proceedings Annual Meeting 41 Secretary's Report 95 Treasurer's Report 100 Annual Shows and Awards 169 Miscellaneous Papers 197 Index 295 (5) OFFICERS. President A.J. Brown, Geneva First Vice-President C. H. Barnard, Table Rock Second Vice-President L. Henderson, Omaha Treasurer Peter Youngers, Geneva Secretary C. G. Marshall, Lincoln DIRECTORS. J. A. Yager Fremont L. M. Russell Lincoln J. R. Duncan Peru (7) STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE SOCIETY. SYNONYMS. G. A. Marshall, Arlington, Val Keyser, Fairbury, Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. PUBLICITY. E. M. Pollard, G. A. Marshall, C. H. Barnard. FORESTRY. W. A. Harrison, York, Peter Youngers, Geneva, C. G. Marshall, Lincoln, G. A. Marshall, Arlington. ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. W. H. Dunnian, lancoln. FLORICULTURE. C. H. Green, Fremont. LEGISLATION. Peter Youngers. Geneva, G. A. Marshall, Arlington, C. H. Barnard, Table Rock. MEMBERSHIP. J. A. Yager, Fremont. (9) MEMBERSHIP 1913. HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS. Beach, Prof. S. A Ames, Iowa Brackett, G. B Washington, D. 0. Pruner, Prof. L Lincoln Burnett, Prof. E. A Lincoln Campbell, G. W Delaware, Ohio *Crounse, Lorenzo Fort Calhoun Earle, P Postoffice unknown Garfield, C. W Grand Rapids, Mich. Greene, Wesley DesMoines, Iowa Hansen, Prof. N. E Brookings, S. D. VanDeman, H. E 3630 13th St., N. W^, Washington, D. C. VanHouton, George Lenox, Iowa ACTIVE LIFE MEMBERS. Adams, W. R Omaha Albert, U. G Normal Aldrich, Benton Johnson Aldrich, Carl Johnson Alexander, A. A Postofllce unknown Alexander, G. W Julian, Nebr. Allen, George L Spicer, Oregon Anderson, A. N Lincoln Atkinson. J. E Pawnee City Backes, H. J Humphrey Banks, E. H Postoffice unknown Barnard, C. H Table Rock Bessey, Charles PJ Lincoln Bentz, P. J Llewellyn Blessing, David S 4 Court St., Harrisburg, Pa. Bliss, D. C Minden Blystone, W. J 33d and Dudley Sis., Lincoln Bowers, W. B Postoffice unknown Boyd, Chas. J Ainsworth ♦Deceased. (11) 12 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICL'LTURAL SOCIETY Brown, A. J Geneva Brown, Frank P Florence Brown, Guy A Geneva Bruning, W. H Cedar Bluffs Camp, Charles B Cheney Card, F. W Sylvania, Pa Carpenter, G. J Provo, Utah Chapin, H. A Lincoln Chapin, L. C Lincoln Chowins, Charles E Lincoln Christ, J. W Box 761, Lincoln Christy, G. S Johnson Christy, S. W Glcr.dora, Cal. Colvln, W. E Postoffice unknown Coppoc, J. L Chambers Corbin, E. E Grand Island Courtright, W. J Fremont Crawford, William Postoffice unknown Cross, F. B Lincoln Damrow, Charles F Postoffice unknown Davey, R. H Omaha Davidson, J. R Aurora Davidson, W. E Holdrege Davies, William Brownville Davis, W. H Fullerton Davis, Roy A Gibbon DeFrance, C. Q Postoffice unknown Deweber, H. N Pawnee City Dillon, J. W Greeley, Colo. Dole, E. W Beatrice Dovel, O. P Auburn Dugan, John 34 So. Logan Ave., Denver, Colo. Duncan, J. R Peru Dunkin, J. M Ravenna Dunlap, J. P Dwight Dunlap, N. C Address unknown Dunman, W. H Lincoln Eckley, Walter Tekamah Edinborough, Philip Lincoln Emerson, Prof. R. A Lincoln Erfling, E. C 1150 Sherman Ave., Omaha Ernst, C. J 1418 So. 10th St., Omaha Ernst, William Tecumseh Field, B. E Fremont Field, R. B Fremont Floth, Paul Omaha MEMBERSHIP, 1913 13 Fox, B. C Lincoln Fredenburg, B Manitou, Colo. Frey, C. E Lincoln Frey, C. H . . . , Lincoln Frey, H. H Lincoln Frey, Irvin Lincoln Frey, J. B Lincoln Gage, J. A Beatrice Gaiser, A '. Alliance Galbraith, G. B Fairbury Ganson, L. E . Kearney Good, E. E Peru Green, C. H Fremont Green, C. H. Jr Fremont Green, Jos. N Fremont Grennell, E. N ^ Ft. Calhoun Guerney, C. W Yankton, S. D Hadkinson, J. H FostofRce unknown Haney, Chas 639 No. 14th St., Lincoln Harris, J. F Aurora Harris, W. R Pomona City, Fla. Harrison, C. S York Harrison, Harry S York Harrison, W. A York Hartley, E. T Lincoln Heald, Prof. F. D University oi Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. Heath, H. E Arno, Tex. Helin, J F 1612 Farnam St., Omaha Henderson, Lewis Omaha Hess, Jacob Omaha Hesseltine, Ray W Peru Hesser, W. J Pasadena, Cal. Hogg, J. A Shelton Hornung, Ernest Raymond Hornung, G. J College View Howe, H. R Auburn Hurlburt, C. M. Fairbury Jackson, T. C Purdum Jessup, J. G Clay Center Kaar, Theodore 910 So. 13th St., Lincoln Keyser, Val Fairbury Koopman, W. J Blair Kretsinger, E. O Beatrice Kuska, Val Lincoln Langdon, J. N Seward Leonard, I. N Postoffice unknown 14 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Loughry, James Geneva Lundeen, N P Alliance Maekley, W. H Table Rock Maiben, Ben " Palmyra Marshall, A. C Arlington Marshall, C C Arlington Marshall, C. G Nebraska City Marshall, G. A Arlington Marshall, H. W Arlington Martin, Arnold DuBois Martin, F. R 4622 Boulevard Ave., Omaha Masters, J. W University Place McComb, H. A McCook Mcintosh, H. F Alda Meek, James Talmage Meek, John Hamburg Mellor, W. R Lincoln Mergen, Philip Omaha Meyers, M. E. Broken Bow Moberg, F. O Omaha Mohler, Wm Springer, N. M Morsch, C. H Greeley Center Mosher, D. C Eugene, Ore. Mosher, P. C Wilber Mott, Bert Hastings Murphey, P A Exeter Nation, J. W Fremont Neff, J. G Davey Nemechek, Paul Humboldt Nownes, Charles Papillion Packwood, J M 1345 A St., Lincoln Parker, C. P Brock Paulson, Paul Omaha Payne, Mrs. G. H Omaha Pearson, James Denton Perin, S. W Lincoln Perry, T. H Elk Crook Peters, R. C 4822 Cass St., Omaha Peterson, Frank 811 First St. E., Calgary, Alberta, Can. Peterson, John Postoffice unknown Pollard, E. M : Nehawka Pollard, Isaac Nehawka Randall, J. C Hamburg, Iowa Reed, Mrs. J. H .' Blue Springs Reed, M. H Postoffice unknown Riley, Alfred Greeley, Colo. MEMBERSHIP, 1913 15 Roberts, E. A Albion Rosenbaum, H. J Kennard Russell, D. L Lincoln Russell, J. D Lincoln Russell, J. M Lincoln Russell, L. M Lincoln Sandoz, Jules Spale Saunders, Charles L 211 So. 18th St., Omaha Schamp, L. D Lincoln Schumacher, A York Shroyer, J. O Humboldt Slayton, L. W Salem Slayton, Geo. A 192 Hillsdale St., Hillsdale, Mich. Smith, E. E Lincoln Smith, E. H York Smith, H. L Geneva Smith, O. F Blackfoot, Idaho Stahl, J. L Puyallup, Wash. Stenger, Albert Columbus Stephens, E. F Crete Stevens, Frank G Nampa, Idaho Stevenson, J. W North Bend Stouffer, B. R Bellevne Strand, G. A Minden Swan, J. T Auburn Swezey, Prof. G. D Lincoln Tanahill, Wm Postoffice unknown Taylor, F. W Address unknown Tester, Harry S Blackfoot, Idaho Tiffany, M. D Lincoln Titus, G. N Nemaha VanMetre, C. M Valentine Walker, J. W Crete Ward, James Greeley Warren, G. F Harvard Watt, James R. F. D. No. 5, Lincoln Welch, G L Fremont Wileman, J. C Barada ^Tieeler, D. H Omaha Williams, Ed Grand Island Williams, John Tecumseh Williams, L. O University Place Williams, O. A Neligh Williams, Theodore Benson Wilson, A. T Arcadia Wilson, W. H Postoffice unknown 16 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Woods, A. F Exp. Station, Minneapolis, Minn. Wurtzel, Jolin I Albion Yager, J. A Fremont Youngers, Peter Geneva HONORARY ANNUAL MEMBERS. Hess, J. P Council Bluffs, Iowa ANNUAL MEMBERS. Aldrich Geo. E Fairmont Amm, L. L Plainview Anderson, Henry Elgin Anderi=on, Roy C North Bend Andreason, Geo Fremont Auld, J. W Red Cloud Backes, John J Humphrey Barrett, J. W 1313 So. 33d St., Omaha Barrett, G. W Brunswick Bates, Frank Pauline Boyle, V. G Table Rock Beck, Prof. C. F Peru Bennett, John N Crete BiHerbeck, A. G Humphrey Blodgett, R. E Beatrice Bohoc, Frank Huntley Bridenthal, L Wymore Brown, Myron J Osceola Burton, Eugene B Ford Campbell, H. B Clay Center Caldwell, A. W Elgin Chase, Fred G Mason City Christensen, Julius Minden Chambers, R. T Bennett Claussen, A. E Beatrice Coupe, J. F Walthill Craig, J. S Leigh Compton, O .1736 Cherry St., Lincoln Cross, Alex W Crawford Cunningham, P. G Columbus Delano, F. E Westerville Dickinson, Chas Lincoln Dunlap, H. E McLean Dunmire Lowell Emerson, Geo Monroe MEMBERSHIP, 1913 It Ethell, D. S Ceresco Faherty, P. J Greeley Farrington, G Bancroft Feddersen, Lauritz ..Dannebrog Fleming, C G Phillips Flood, B. J Newman Grove Funk, Louis Havelock Hastings, J. W Decatur Havlicek, C. W Crete Hersch, Henry Nebraska City Helm, C. A York Hof maun, F. W Lincoln Howard, R. F Univ. of Wis., Madison, Wis Hubbard, F. W Alexandria Huffman, J. R Auburn Hughes, John W Hebron Isaacs, C. W Falls City Jenkins, M. B Downs, Kau. Johnson, J. Alfred Ericson Johnson, John P Newman Grove Killy, W. L 1030 So. 28th St., Omaha Koupal, Frank Ord Knapp, F. S Omaha Koenig, E. L Milf ord Lasch, A. A 1801 Sewell St., Lincoln Laukota, James Friend Lawson, J. W York Lee, C. M Falls City Lueshen, John Wisner Mcintosh, E. L Meadow Grove Magee, Wayland W Bennington Marshall, Roy E Lincoln Marzolf C. G Kearney Martin, Wade R Fremont Matzner, Julius Gresham Mead, H. C Cozad Melius, John M Cozad Merrick, H. C Adams Miles, F. C. Lincoln Moore, Wm Brownville Mcseley, I. W 1626 E St., Lincoln Mulligan, J. T Gr;eeley Neeley, Wm Nebraska City Newell, C. E Elgin Nields, C. A Florence Olson, Niels Leigh 18 Nebraska state iionTirT'LTTRAf- sociEtV Patrick, C. B Lincoln Peterson, John ( ; Plattsmouth Pfaender, Max Mandan, N. D. Podlesak, I<"'rank L Geneva Powell, Allen L Sterling Refshouge, J. J Marquette Ress, Rev. Joseph Steinauer Richards, C. L Hebron Ritchey 4704 No. 24th St., Omaha Rollman, Albert A Madison Roman, I. M 3860 Davenport, Omaha Backett, L. L Tamora Salter, G. B Norfolk Sanders, G. E. N Drownville Schrum, Jacob Bray ton Saiser, Chas. B Ewing Sherwood, Robt. \V., Jr Plattsmouth Shubert, L. W Shubert Sheldon, Amsdel Avoca Sieber, Frank J Ohiowa Singers, S. M 500 West 7th St., York Smith, N. L. D Red Cloud Sprague, " C. I Belgrade Stauser, John B Red Cloud Stires, A. R Fairbury Swanson, H. G. . . .• Ong Thompson, H. S Kearney Trotter, H. E Spalding Troop, R. A Plattsmouth Tulleys, P. A Bloomfield Vogel, P. G Florence Waldeck, W. H : Salem Walvoord, J. C Holland Weitzel, F. M Albion Welden, C. R Lincoln Wendel, Chas Orchard Wheeldon, Fred Brownville Whittaker, T. R Brownville Williams, Frank Tecumseh Wundt, Karl R Boise, Idaho Young, Andrew, Jr. Craig Zentner, 11. P Bray ton CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE I — Name — This association sliall be known as the Nebraska State Horticultural Society. ARTICLE II — Object. — ^This society shall have for its object the pro- motion of pomology, arboriculture, floriculture, and gardening. ARTICLE III — Membership. — The membership of this society shall consist of four classes, viz., active, associate, annual honorary, and life honorary. The active membership shall consist of persons practically engaged in fruit culture, forestry, floriculture, or: gardening, who shall be admitted to life membership on the payment of a fee of $5 at one time; to associate membership by the payment of a fee of $1 annually. The honorary members shall consist of such persons as may be elected at ciuy meeting of tlie >^ocio:y by a two-thirds vote of the members present, and shall have all tlio privileges and ber.'.efits of the society, except those of voting and holding office, which privileges shall belong exclusively to active members and to associate members who have been members of the society for twelve months and who shall have paid their second an- nual dues. ARTICLE IV — Officers. — The officers of this society shall be a presi- dent, first and second vice-presidents, secretaiT, treasurer, and board of directors of seven members, said board consisting of the officers enumer- ated in this article, excepting a secretary, and three additional members. The officers, with the exception of the secretary, shall be elected by bal- lot at the annual meeting of the society in January. The secretary shall be elected by the executive board. The term of office of these officers, with the exception of directors, shall be for a period of one year, com- mencing on the first day of June following. One director shall be elect- ed at the January meeting, 1906, for onei year, one for two years, and one for three years, and afterwards every year one director to serve three yearsi. ARTICLE V— Duties of President.- -It shall be the duty of the presi- dent to preside at all meetings of the society, appoint all committees not otherwise provided for, countersign all orders drawn on the treasurer by the secretary; in conjunction with the secretary he shall arrange all programs for the meetings of the society, and perform such other duties as the society or board of directors may require. ARTICLE VI — Duties of Vice-President. — The vice-presidents shall superintend all exhibits of the society, and in case of vacancy in the office of president at any meeting of the society or board of directors, shall perform all the functions of that office in the order of their rank. ARTICLE VII — Duties of Secretary. — The secretary shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings of all meetings of the society and 20 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY board of directors, draw all warrants on the treasurer, and keep an ac- curate record of the same as countersigned by the president, prepare for publication and edit all reports of the society requiring publication by the statutes of the state; in conjunction with the president prepare all pro- grams and make all other necessary arrangements for all meetings of the society. ARTICLE VIII — Duties of Treasurer. — The treasurer shall be the cus- todian of all moneys belonging to the society, and shall pay from such funds all warrants drawn on him by the secretary and countersigned by the president. ARTICLE IX— Duties of the Board of Directors.— The board of di- rectors shall have general management of all the affairs of the society, for which no specific directors are otherwise provided in the constitution and by-laws. ARTICLE X— Bonds of Officers. —The president and secretary shall each give a bond in the sum of $.5,000 and the treasurer in the sum of $12,000 for the proper performance of his duties, which bond must be ap- proved by the board of directors. ARTICLE XL— Salaries of Officers. — The president, vice-president, treasurer, and members of the board of directors shall receive such per diem per day for their services in attendance upon the meetings of the society as the society or board of directors may from time to time deter- mine. The board of directors shall pay the secretary an annual salary of $1,000 if they deem best, in consideration of his keeping an open office and giving his whole time to the work, spending at least eight hours a day in his office. It shall be his duty to put out each year a creditable annual report, issue monthly bulletins to each member, prepare articles at least once a month for the leading papers, doing also his utmost to secure new members. This to be done with the advice and direction of the executive board. ARTICLE XII.— Reports of Officers. — The president, secretary and treasurer shall each present an annual report in writing at the January meeting of all the business matters pertaining to their respective offices during the annual term expiring at that time. ARTICLE XIII. — Meetings. — The society shall hold two or more meet- ings each year. The annual meeting shall be held in Lincoln on the third Tuesday in January as provided by statute, and the other meetings shall be held at the same time and place as the annual exhibition of the Ne- braska State Board of Agriculture. ARTICLE XIV.— By-Laws.— By-laws not in conflict with the provi- sions of this constitution may be enacted by the society at any regular meeting. ARTICLE XV. — Amendments. — The constitution may be amended at January meetings of the society by a two-thirds vote of the members pres- ent, such amendments having been presented in writing and read before the society at a session preceding the one in which the vote is taken. BY LAWS 21 BY-LAWS. 1. All the officers of this society shall be elected at the January meeting, except the secretary, who shall be elected by the Board of Di- rectors. 2. All officers of this society shall assume the duties of their respec- tive offices on the first day of June following their election, and continue in office for the period of one year, or until their successors are elected and qualified. 3. The amount allowed the secretary for express, postage and sta- tionery shall not exceed $150 per annum, and it shall be the duty of the board of directors to employ a competent stenographer to report the pro- ceedings of the meetings of the society, whose fee shall be paid by the society. 4. The first business of the society shall be on each morning the reading of the minutes of the previous day's proceedings, and submitting the same to the approval of the meeting. &. There shall be appointed by the board of directors nineteen dis- trict directors, one from each horticultural district in the state. Also a standing committee of three on synonyms. Also a standing committee of one on each of the following: Meteorology in its relation to Horticulture, Entomology, Ornithology. Geology, Forestry, Vegetable Culture and Ornamental Gardening. 6. These by-laws may be amended at any general meeting of the society by a majority of the members present. HORTICULTURAL DLSTRICTS OP TITK STATE. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON REDTSTRICTING THE STATE. We, your committee to whom was referred the matter of redistrict- ing the state and revision of the list of fruits and ornamentals recom- mended for general planting in Nebraska, beg to submit the following report: For District No. 1, comprising Richardson, Nemaha, Otoe, Johnson, and Pawnee counties, we recommend the following for general planting: APPLES: Summer — Duchess, Cooper's Early White, Cole's Quince. Early Harvest, and Sweet June. For second choice we recommend Red Astrachan. Autumn — ^Wealthy, Maiden's Blush, Fameuse, Dyer, and War-- field. Winter — Grimes' Golden, Winesap, Jonathan, Gano, Ben Davis, Sa- lome, N. W. Greening, Missouri Pippin, and Virginia Beauty. BLACKBERRIES: Snyder and Early Harvest. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Montmo comprising Stanton, Thurston, Wayne, Dakota,. Dixon, and Cedar counties, we recommend the following for general plant- ing. APPLES: Summer — Yellow Transparent, Duchess, Cooper's Early choice. Red Astrachan and Sweet June. For trial. Summer Hagloe. Au- tumn — Wealthy, Utter's Red, Flora Belle, Fameuse, and Ramsdell Sweet For second choice, Maiden's Blush and Plumb's Cider. For trial, Warfield and McMahon's White. Winter — First choice for entire district, N. W. Greening, Salome, and Janet. First choice for south half of district. Ben DaAds, Gano, and Winesap. Second choice for entire district, Iowa Blush and Missouri Pippin. For trial, Windsor. BLACKBERRIES: Snyder. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Montmorency, and English Morello. For trial, Terry, Baldwin, and Ostheim. CRAB-APPLES: Whitney No. 20, Hyslop, Florence, and MarUia. CURRANTS: Victoria, White Grape, Cherry, and Fay's Prolific. GOOSEERRIES: Downii;g, Houghton, and Champion. GRAPES: Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, and Pocklington. For trial. Brighton, Agawam, and Moore's Diamond. PEACHES: Alexander, Triumph, Champion, Bokara, and Wright for trial only. PEARS: Kieffer, Flemish Beauty, Sheldon, Duchess, and L. B. De Jersey for trial only. PLUMS: American — Wyanl, Wolf, Wild Goose, Forest Garden, and HORTICULTURAL DISTRICTS OF THE STATE 25 DeSoto. European — Lombard, Shipper's Pride, and Green Gage. First choice for south half of district, Wild Goose. For trial in entire district, Japanese — Burbank and Abundance. RASPBERRIES: Nemaha, Kansas, Palmer, Columbia, and Cumber- land. STRAWBERRIES: Senator Dunlap, Splendid, Bederwood, Crescent, Sample, and Warfield. For District No. 4, comprising Gage, Jefferson, Saline, and Lancaster counties, we recommend the following for general planting: APPLES: Summer — Yellow Transparent, Duchess, Cooper's Early White, Early Harvest, Red June, and Sweet June. Autumn — Wealthy. Maiden's Blush, Fameuse, and Titter's Red. Winter — Ben Davis, Gano, Winesap, Jonathan. Grimes' Golden, Missouri Pippin, and N. W. Greening. BLACKERRIES: Snyder and Early Harvest. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Montmorency, and English Morello. CRAB- APPLES: Whitney No. 20, Hyslop, Florence, Martha, Red and Yellow Siberian. CURRANTS: Red Dutch, AMctoria, and White Grape. GOOSEERRIES: Downey, Houghton, and Industry. GRAPES: Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, and Niagara. PEACHES: Alexander, Early Rivers, Triumph, Hale's Early, Rus sell, Champion, Crosby, Hill's Chili, Heath's Cling, Salway, and Wright. PEARS: Duchess, Flemish Beauty, and Seckel. PLUMS: American — Wyant, Hawkeye, Wild Goose, and Forest Gar- den. Japanese — Burbank. RASPBERRIES: Kansas, Palmer, Gregg, and Turner. STRAWBERRIES: Senator Dunlap, Splendid, Bederwood, Crescent, and Gandy. For District No. 5, comprising Thayer, Nuckolls, Fillmore, and Clay counties, we recommend the following for general planting: APPLES: Summer — Duchess, Cooper's Early Wliite, Cole's Quince. Early Harvest, Red June, and Sweet June. Autumn — Maiden's Blush. Wealthy, Fameuse, Dyer, and Warfield. Winter — Ben Davis. Gano, Wine- .sap, Jonathan, Grimes' Golden, Janet, and Missouri Pippin. BLACKBERRIES: Snyder. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Montmorency, English Morello, and Dyehouse. CRAB-APPLES: Whitney No. 20, Hyslop, Florence, and Martha. CURRANTS: Cherry, La Versailles, Victoria, Prince Albert, London Market, Red Dutch, and Wliite Grape. DEWBERRIES: Lucretia. JUNEBERRIES: Dwarf. GOOSEBERRIES: Downing and Houghton. GRAPES: Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, Duchess, Agawam, and Brighton. PEACHES: Amsden, Alexander, Hale's Early, Early Rivers, Russell, 26 NEBRASKA STATE lloKTICI I/ITKAL SOCIETY Cooledge, Champion, Triumph, Heath Cling, Wright, Smoclt, and Hill's Chili. PEARS: Flemish Beauty and Eartlett. PLUMS: American — Wild Goose, Minor, Forest Garden, Wolf, Wyant, DeSoto, and Hawkeye. European — Lombard. RASPBERRIES: Kansas, Palmer, and Nemaha. STRAWBERRIES: Senator Duulap, Clyde, Bederwood,- Crescent, and Warfield. For District No. 6, comprising Seward, Butler, Polk, York, and Ham- ilton counties, we recommend the following for general planting: APPLES: Summer — Yellow Transparent, Early Harvest, Cooper's Early White, Red June, Duciiess, Summer Queen, and Sweet June. Au- tumn — Wealthy, Maiden's Blush, Utter's Red, Patton's Greening, Wolf River, Peerless and Snow. Winter —Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, N. W. Greening, Janet, Salome, Walbridg), Ingram, M. B. Twig, Gano, Jonathan, Iowa Blush, Grimes' Golden, York Imperial, Minkler, and Rome Beauty. APRICOTS: Russian. ASPARAGUS: Conover's Colossal and Palmetto. BLACKBERRIES: Snyder. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Dyehouse, Large Montmorency, Eng- lish Morello, and Ostheim. CRAB-APPLES: Whitney No. 20, Florence, Martha, Golden Beauty, Hyslop, and Transcendent. CURRANTS: Victoria, Cherry, Versailles, and White Grape. DEWBERRIES: Lucretia. JUNEBERRIES: Dwarf. GOOSEBERRIES: Downing and Pearl. GRAPES: Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, Elvira, Niagara, Wyom- ing Red and Pocklingtoh. PEACHES: Alexander, Early Rivers, Triumph, Hale's Early, Rus- sell, Champion, Crosby, Hill's Chili, Wright and Bokara. PEARS: Flemish Beauty, Seckel, Duchess, and Lincoln. PLUMS: American — Wyant, Wolf, Weaver, DeSoto, Forest Garden, Stoddard, Cheney, and Hawkeye, European — Lombard, German Prune, and Tagge. Japanese — Burbank and Wickson. RASPBERRIES: Cumberland, Kansas, Gregg, and Ohio. RHUBARB: Linnaeus and Victoria. STRAWBERRIES: Senator Duulap, Warfield, Sample, Aroma, and Haverland. For District No. 7, comprising Colfax, Platte, Boone, Nance, and Mer- rick counties, we recommend the following for general planting: APPLES: Summer — Yellow Transparent and Duchess. For second choice, Sweet June. For trial. Summer Hagloe. Autumn — W'ealthy, LTt- ter's Red, Ramsdell Sweet. For second choice. Plumbs Cider, Flora Belle, P^ameuse, and Maiden's Bhish. F'or trial, Warticld. Winter — Ben lilCTS OF THE STATE 29 HOKTICL'LTUliAL DI' ud. Large Montmorency, English Morello, Davis, Gano, Winesap, Janet, eim. Blush, and Missouri Pippin, xey No. 20, Florence, Mar.tha, Golden Beauty^ APRICOTS: Fully a^ BLACKBERRIES: jria. Cherry, Versailles, and White Grape. localities. Snyder, an£,ucretia. CHERRIES: Ea Dwarf. trial, Dyehouse, BalfS: Downing and Houghton, CRAB-APPLEShcord, Worden, Moore's Early, Elvira, Niagara, and CURRANTS: GOOSEBERT Alexander, Triumph, Russell, Bokara, Hill's Chili, GRAPES: right. Second choic For trial only, Flemish Beauty, Seckel, Duchess, and Lin- PEACH Wright forS: American — Wyant, Wolf, Weaver, DeSoto, Forest Garden, pea;, Cheney, and Hawkeye. Japanese — Burbank and Wickson. DeJerstsPBERRIES: Cumberland, Kansas, Gregg and Ohio. PHUBARB: Linnaeus and Victoria. Euro^TRAWBERRlES: Senator Duniap, Sample, Warfield, Aroma, Hav- eseand, and Crescent. For District No. 11, comprising Hall and Buffalo counties, we recom- dnend the following for general planting: APPLES: Summer— Yellow Ti'ansparent, Early Harvest, Cooper's Early White, Red June, Duchess, and Sweet June. Autumn — Wealthy, Maiden's Blush, Utter's Red, Patton's Greening, Wolf River, and Snow. Winter — Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, N. W. Greening, Janet Salome, Walbridge, M. B. Twig, Gano, Jonathan, Iowa Blush, Grimes' Golden and York Imperial. APRICOTS: Russian varieties. ASPARAGUS: Conover's Colossal and Palmetto. BLACKBERRIES: Snyder. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Large Montmorency, English Mor- ello, Baldwin, Dyehouse, and Ostheim. CRAB- APPLES: Whitney, No. 20, Florence, Martha, Golden Beauty, and Hyslop. CURRANTS: Victoria, Cherry, Versailles, and White Grape. DEWBERRIES: Lucretia. JUNEBERRIES: Dwarf. GOOSEBERRIES: Downing and Houghton. GRAPES: Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, Elvira, Niagara, Wyom- ing Red, and Pocklington. PEACHES: Alexander, Early Rivers, Triumph, Hale's Early, Rus- sell, Champion, Crosby, Hill's Chili, Wright, and Bokara. PEARS: For trial only, Flemish Beauty, Seckel, Duchess, and Lin- coln. PLUMS: American — Wolf, Weaver. DeSoto, Forest Garden, Stod- 26 NEBKASKA STATE IloKi •TICULTURAL SOCIETY Cooledge, Champion, Triumph, Heath Clu Chili. -^s first choice for entire district. PEARS: Flemish Beauty and Eartlett. Forest Garden, and Stoddard. PLUMS: American—Wild Goose, Minor, Goose. For trial in entire Wyant, DeSoto, and Hawkeye. European— Lombard Green Gage. RASPBERRIES: Kansas, Palmer, and Nemaha.'' ties and for trial in bal- STRAWBERRIES: Senator Dunlap, Clyde, Beoerland, and Columbia, and Warfield. For District No. 6, comprising Seward. Butler, Polk, 'Var field, Bederwood, ilton counties, we recommend the following for general ^ APPLES: Summer— Yellow Transparent, Early Har Paha, Brown, and Early White, Red June, Duchess, Summer Queen, and Swee'l plautmg: tumn— Wealthy, Maiden's Blush, Utter's Red, Patton's Greei^Jid Summer River, Peerless and Snow. Winter— Winesap, Missouri Pip^ Utters Red Davis, N. W. Greening, Janet, Salome, Walbridgo, Ingram, M. I'o'ne, N. W. Gano, Jonathan, Iowa Blush, Grimes' Golden, York Imperial, mV^^^^- and Rome Beauty. APRICOTS: Russian. '""' ^"'^ ASPARAGUS: Conover's Colossal and Palmetto. BLACKBERRIES: Snyder. ''^^■ CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Dyehouse, Large Montmorency. Eng- ^°" lish Morello, and Ostheim. CRAB-APPLES: Whitney No. 20, Florence, Martha, Golden Beauty, Hyslop, and Transcendent. CURRANTS: Victoria, Cherry, Versailles, and White Grape. DEWBERRIES: Lucretia. JUNEBERRIES: Dwarf. GOOSEBERRIES: Downing and Pearl. GRAPES: Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, Elvira, Niagara, Wyom- ing Red and Pocklingtoh. PEACHES: Alexander, Early Rivers, Triumph, Hale's Early, Rus- sell, Champion, Crosby, Hill's Chili, Wright and Bokara. PEARS: Flemish Beauty, Seckel, Duchess, and Lincoln. PLUMS: American — Wyant, Wolf, Weaver, DeSoto, Forest Garden, Stoddard, Cheney, and Hawkeye, European — Lombard, German Prune, and Tagge. Japanese — Burbank and Wickson. RASPBERRIES: Cu7nberland, Kansas, Gregg, and Ohio. RHUBARB: Linnaeus and Victoria. STRAWBERRIES: Senator Dunlap, Warfield, Sample, Aroma, and Haverland. For District No. 7, comprising Colfax, Platte, Boone, Nance, and Mer- rick counties, we recommend the following for general planting: APPLES: Summer — Yellow Transparent and Duchess. For second choice. Sweet June. For trial, Summer Hagloe. Autumn — Wealthy, Ut- ter's Red, Ramsdell Sweet. For second choice. Plumb's Cider, Flora B('ll(», Fameuse, and Maiden's Blush. For trial. Warlicld. Winter — Ben HORTICULTURAL DISTRICTS OF THE STATE 29 CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Large Montmorency, English Morello, Baldwin, Dyehouse, and Ostheim. CRAB-APPLES: Whitney No. 20, Florence, Mar,tha, Golden Beauty^ and Hyslop. CURRANTS: Victoria, Cherry, Versailles, and White Grape. DEWBERRIES: Lucretia. JUNEBERRIES: Dwarf. GOOSEBERRIES: Downing and Houghton. GRAPES: Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, Elvira, Niagara, and Wyoming Red. PEACHES: Alexander, Triumph, Russell, Bokara, Hill's Chili, Crosby, and Wright. PEARS: For trial only, Flemish Beauty, Seckel, Duchess, and Lin- coln. PLUMS: American — Wyant, Wolf, Weaver, DeSoto, Forest Garden, Stoddard, Cheney, and Hawkeye. Japanese — Burbauk and Wickson. RASPBERRIES: Cumberland, Kansas, Gregg and Ohio. RHUBARB: Linnaeus and Victoria. STRAWBERRIES: Senator Dunlap, Sample, War^eld, Aroma, Hav- erland, and Crescent. For District No. 11, comprising Hall and Buffalo counties, we recom- mend the following for general planting: APPLES: Summer — Yellow Transparent, Early Harvest, Cooper's Early White, Red June, Duchess, and Sweet June. Autumn — Wealthy, Maiden's Blush, Utter's Red, Patton'c Greening, Wolf River, and Snow. Winter— Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, N. W. Greening, Janet^ Salome, Walbridge, M. B. Twig, Gano, Jonathan, Iowa Blush, Grimes' Golden and York Imperial. APRICOTS: Russian varieties. ASPARAGUS: Conover's Colossal and Palmetto. BLACKBERRIES: Snyder. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Large Montmorency, English Mor- ello, Baldwin, Dyehouse, and Ostheim. CRAB- APPLES: Whitney, No. 20, Florence, Martha, Golden Beauty, and Hyslop. CURRANTS: Victoria, Cherry, Versailles, and White Grape. DEWBERRIES: Lucretia. JUNEBERRIES: Dwarf. GOOSEBERRIES: Downing and Houghton. GRAPES: Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, Elvira, Niagara, Wyom- ing Red, and Pocklington. PEACHES: Alexander, Early Rivers, Triumph, Hale's Early, Rus- sell, Champion, Crosby, Hill's Chili, Wright, and Bokara. PEARS: For trial only, Flemish Beauty, Seckel, Duchess, and Lin- coln. PLUMS: American — ^Wolf, Weaver, DeSoto, Forest Garden, Stod- 30 NEBRASKA STATE IK iK IK Il/n KAI. .SOCIETY dard, Cheney, and Hawkeye. European— Liombard, German Prune. Japan- ese — Burbank and Wickson. RASPBERRIES: Cumberland and Kansas. RHUBARB: Linnaeus and Victoria. STRAWBERRIES: Senator Dunlap, Sample, Warfield, Aroma, Hav- erland and Bederwood. For District No. 12, comprising Adams, Webster, Franklin, Kearney, Phelps and Harlan counties, we recommend the following for general planting: APPLES: Summer — Yellow Transparent, Early Harvest, Cooper's Early White, and Duchess. Autumn — Wealthy, Utter'sRed, and Plumb's Cider. Winter — Winesap, Missouri i'ippin, Ben Davis, N. W. Greening, Salome, Gano, Jonathan, Iowa Blush, Grimes' Golden, and Janet. APRICOTS: Russian. ASPARAGUS: Conover's Colossal and Palmetto. BLACKBERRIES: Snyder. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Large Montmorency, English Mor- ello, Baldwin, Dyehouse, and Ostheim. CRAB-APPLES: Whitney No. 20, Florence, and Martha. CURRANTS: Victoria, Cheiry, Versailles, White Grape, White Dutch, and Fiiy's Prolific. DEWBKRRIES: Lucretia. JUNEBERRIKS: Dwarf. GOOSEBERRIES: Downing and Houghton. GRAPES: Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, Elvira, Niagara, Wyom- ing Red, and Pocklingion. PEACHES: Alexander, Early Rivers, Triumph, Hale's Early, Cham- pion, Crosby, Hill's Chili, Wright, and Cooledge. PEARS: For trial only, Flemish Beauty, Seckel, and Kieffer. PLUMS: American — Wyant, Wolf, Weaver, DeSoto, Forest Garden, Stoddard, Cheney, Hawkeye, Wild Goose, Robinson, and Pottawattamie. Japanese — Burbank and Wickson. RASPBERRIES: Cumberland and Kansas. STRAWBERRIES: Senator Dunlap. Sample, Warfield, Aroma, Hav- erland, and Crescent. For District No. 13, comprising Furnas, Gosper, Frontier, and Red Willow counties, we recommend the following for general planting: APPLES: Summer — Duchess and Cooper's Early Whito. Autumn — Wealthy and Maiden's Blush. Winter — Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Janet, Ben Davis, and Gano. APRICOTS: Russian. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Dyebouse, Large Montmorency, and English Morello. CRAB-APPLES: Whitney and Florence. CURRANTS: Victoria, Cherry, Versailles, and White Grape. GOOSEBERRIES: Downing and Houghton. HORTICULTURAL DISTRICTS OF THE STATE 31 GRAPES: Concord and Elvira, PEACHES: Alexander, Early Rivers, Hale's Early, Triumph, Rus- sell, Champion, Hills Chili, and Wright. PEARS: For trial only, Secl;el, Sheldon, and Flemish Beauty. PLUMS: American — Forest Garden, Hawkeye, and Minor. Japan- ese — Eurbank, STRAWBERRIES: Bedorv/ood, Warfield, Crescent, and Senator Dunlap. For District No. I'i, comprising Dav.son, Liuccln, and Keith counties we recommend the following for general planting. APPLES: Summer — Duchess, Early Harvest, and Yellow Trans- parent. Autumn — Wealthy and Utter's Red. Winter — Ben Davis, Wine- sap, Janet, Missouri Pippin, and Jonathan. BLACKBERRIES: Snyder. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, English Morello, and Montmorency. CRAB-APPLES: Whitney No. 20, Hyslop, Florence, and Martha. CURRANTS: Red Dutch, Victoria, and White Grape. GOOSEBERRIES: Downing and Houghton. GRAPES: Moore's Early, Worden, Elvira and Concord. PEACHES: Alexander, Early Rivers, Champion, Crosby, and Wright. PLUMS: American — Wyant, DeSoto, Forest Garden, and Hawkeye. European — Lombard. RASPBERRIES: Cumberland and Kansas. STRAWBERRIES: Senator Dunlap, August Luther, Splendid, Beder- wood, and Crescent. For District No. 15, comprising Hitchcock, Hayes, Perkins, Chase and Duudj.'^ counties, we recommend the following: APPLES: Summer — Duchess and Yellow Transparent. Autumn — Wealthy, Utter's Red, and F'ameuse. Winter — N. W. Greening, Ben Davis. Gano, Janet, and Winesap,. ASPARAGUS: Conover's Colossal. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Montmorency, English Morello, and Dyehouse. CRAB-APPLES: Whitney, Hyslop, Florence, and Martha. CURRANTS: Red Dutch, Victoria, Cherry, and White Grape. GOOSEBERRIES: Downing and Houghton. GRAPES: Moore's Early, Worden, Elvira, and Concord PEACHES: Alexander, Early Rivers, Russell, Hill's Chili, and Wright. PLUMS: American — Forest Garden, Hawkeye, Woife, and DeSoto. RHUBARB —Linnaeus. STRAWBERRIES: Bederwood, Warfield, Crescent, and Senator Dunlap. For District No. Ifc, comprising Logan, Thomas, Hooker, McPherson, and Grant counties, we recommend the following for, general planting: 32 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY APPLES: Summer— Duchess. Autumn — Wealthy. Winter— Wal bridge, Iowa Blush, and N. W. Greening. CHERRIES: Early Richmond and Montmorency. CRAB- APPLES: Whitney, Hyslop, Florence, and Martha. CURRANTS: White Grape, Victoria, and Cherry. GOOSEBERRIES: Houghton. GRAPES: Concord. PLUMS: American — Stoddard, Cheney, DeSoto, Forest Garden. Wolf, and Wyant. For District No. 17, Cherry county, we recommend the following for general planting on dry land with good care: APPLES: Summer — Duchess. Autumn — Wealthy. Any varieties recommended for Districts 3, 8, or 9, will do well in most places in Dis- trict 17. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Montmorency, English Morello, and Dyehouse. For trial, Early Morello and Terry. CRAB-APPLES: Whitney No. 20, General Grant, and Virginia. CURRANTS: White Grape, Victoria, and London Market. GOOSEBERRIES: Houghton. PEACHES: Alexander and Wright. PLUMS: American — Wyant, Stoddard, Cheney, and Hamer. STRAWBERRIES: Crescent, Bederwood, and WarfieM. For District No. 18, comprising Box Butte, Dawes, Sioux, and Sheri- dan counties, we recommend the following: APPt/ES: Summer — Duchess and Wealthy, with good care. Any varieties recommended for Districts 3, 8, and 9, will do well in most places for District 18, under irrigation. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, English Morello, Montmorency, Dye- house, and Terry. CRAB-APPLES: Whitney No. 20, Hyslop, Florence, Martha, and Transcendent. CURRANTS: Victoria, White, Grape, White Dutch, and Red Dutch. GOOSEBERRIES: Houghton. PEACHES: Alexander and Wright. PliUMS: American — Wyant, Stoddard, Cheney, and Hamer. Euro- pean — Lombard and Shipper's Pride. RASPBERRIES: Cumberlan'l and Kansas. STRAWBERRIES: Senator Dunlap, Sample, Warfield, Bederwood. Splendid, and Crescent. For District No. iO, comprising Deuel, Cheyenne, Scott's Bluff, Ban- ner, and Kimball counties, we recommend the following for generla plant- ing- APPLES: Summer — Duchess, Yellow Transparent, and Cooper's Early White. Autumn — Wealthy. Winter — Ben Davis. Gano, Janet, Grimes' Golden. Iowa Blush, and N. W,. Greening. CHERRIES: Early Richmond, Montmorency, and English Morello. HORTICULTURAL DISTRICTS OP THE STATE 33 CRAB-APPLES: Whitney No. 20, tlyslop, Florence and Martha. CURRANTS: Red Dutch, Victoria, and White Grape. GOOSEBERRIES: Downing, Houghton, and Smith's Improved. GRAPES: Concord and Moore's EarJy. PEARS: Flemish Beauty, Bartlett, and Kieffer. PLUMS: American — Forest Garden, Wolf, Pottawattamie, DeSoto, Cheney and Stoddard. RASPBERRIES: Cumberland and Kansas. STRAWBERRIES: Warheld, Senator Dunlap, Brandy wine, Gandy and Crescent. LIST OF ORNAMENTALS. INCLUDING TREES, SHRUBS, ROSES, VINES, BULBS, ETC., WHICH APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE STATE EXCEPT WHERE OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. Hardy Shrubs. Snowball. Hydrangea Paniculata Grandiflora. Syringa, all kinds. Weigelia, Variegated and Rosea. Flowering Almond. Lilac, all kinds. ■ Spireas as follows: Van Houtii. Argnta. Thunbergii. CoUossa Alba and Ruberea. Anthony Waterer. Bumalda. Billardii. Pruni folia. Golden Leaf (Aurea). High Bush Cranberry. Altheas. C a rag ana. Moss Acacia. Yucca Filamentosa. Fcrsythia. Purple Berberry. Golden Leaf Alder. Tamarix Amaurensis. Dogwood. Wahoo. Rosa Rugosa. Bechtol Flowering Crab. Bulbs and Tubers. Peonies. Tulips. Lilies Dahlias. Gladioli. Tuberoses. Perennials. Phlox. Oriental Poppy. Columbine. Gaillardia. Bleeding Heart. Golden Glow. Iris. Larkspur. Foxglove. Cannas. Caladium. Climbers. American Ivy (Ampelopsis Quin- quefolia). Honeysuoldes. Wistaria. Trumpet Vine. Clematis. Bitter Sweet. (35) 36 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Climbing Roses. Crimson Rambler. White Rambler. Wichuriana Creeper. Harrison's 'i allow. Persian Yello\v. Prairie Queen Baltimore Belle. June Roses. Madam Plantier. Moss Roses. Luxembourg. Crested Moss. Glory of Mosses. White Moss. hybrid Perpetual Roses. Alfred Coloml). Anne De Diesbach. Margaret Dickson. Baron De Bonstetten. Mabel Morrison. Prince Camille do Rohu. Tom Wood. Marshall P. Wilder. Coquette Des Alps. General Jacqueminot. John Hopper. Ulrich Bruner. Paul Neyron. Magna Cho.rta. . Madame Chas. Wood. Fisher Holmes. Jules Margotten. Mrs. John Lang. Thurlow Weeping Willow. Teas Weeping Mulberry. Weeping Trees. Camperdown Weeping Elm. Cut Leaf Weeping Birch. Ornamental Shade Trees. Hackberry. Sycamore (S. E. part). Carolina Poplar. European Mt. Ash. Black Walnut. Butternut. Ash. Soft Maple. Elm. Russian Mulberry. Catalpa Speciosa (S. E. part). American Linden. White Birch. Horse Chestnut (S. E. part). Sweet Chestnut (S. E. part). Russian Olive Oaks. Hard Maple (extreme east) Ornamental Hedge. Berberry- Japan Quince. Spirea. Osage Orange. Honey Locust. California Privet. Tamarix. Common Hedge. Russian Mulberry. LIST OF THE ORNAMENTALS Forest Trees. 37 Elm. Ash. Soft Maple. Catalpa Speciosa. Walnut. Black Hills Spruce. Pungens. Englemou Spruce. Douglas Spruce. Concolor. Honey Locust. Russian Mulberry. Osage Orange. Box Elder. Evergreens. Ponderosa Pine. Austrian Pine. Scotch^ Pine White Pine (extreme east). Balsam Fir. Respectfully submitted, G. A. MARSHALL. Chairman, G. A. STRAND, A. J. BROWN, C. H. BARNARD, W G. SWAN, G. N. TITUS, E. F. STEPHENS, H. S. HARRISON, W. F. JENKINS, Committea PROCE^KDINQS Proceedings of the Forty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society, held at the Lindell Hotel, January 21, 22, 23, 1913. ANNUAL MKEXINQ Lincoln, Nebr., Jan. 21st, 2 o'clock p.m. The forty-fourth annual meeting of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society commenced in the banquet room of the Lindell Hotel, and the following proceedings were had and done. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. • A. J. Brown, Geneva. Our secretary, in preparing the program for this meeting, without regard for my wishes or your feelings, arranged for a president's ad- dess, and I told him that if the society would bear it, I thought I could, so I will give you what little I have to say. It is with great pleasure that I greet you at this, the opening ses- sion of the forty-fourth annual meeting of the Nebraska State Horticul- tural Society, and I wish you all happiness and prosperity in this year of grace, 1913. It is a good thing to pause at times in our activities and look back over the way which we have traveled and note the progress we have made and see if we cannot make the past shed light over our v.ay in the future. The work of this society has been along two principal lines. First, determining the hardiness and value of all fruit, forest and ornamental trees; also all shrubs, vines and plants, by thorough tests in all parts of the state, and furnishing information to planters as to the sorts best adapted to their locality. And second, advertising the state by exhibiting its horticultursil products at the various fairs and expositions and distributing the publi- cations of the society, such as the annual report published by the state and the bulletins and paper published by the society. We today are most interested in the first line of work, and it is to this that I wish to call your attention. As this meeting is devoted principally to the apple, my reference to the recommended lists of the society will apply to^ the apple lists only, unless otherwise stated. The first recommended list of the society was published in 1877, and consisted of twelve varieties, eight of which are still retained in the list. These eight varieties are Red June, Cooper's Early White, Red Astrachan, Maiden's Blush, Fameuse, Genet, Ben (41) 42 NEBRASKA STATR IIORTrCt'LtTinAL SOCIETY Davis and Winesap. In 1879 six more varieties were added, only one of which (Duchess) is still retained. In 1886, recognizing that luirdiness and friiitfulness is very largely a question of location, the society divided the state into three districts, Northern, Middle and Southern, and recommended a separate list for each district, in all forty-three varieties were recommended, nearly one half of which have since been discarded as not worth planting in Ne- braska. Later the state was divided into nine districts, and in lOOf) into nineteen, with a list of forty-eight varieties, thus furnishing a list that has been tested in every part of the state, and a list of varieties that are best adapted to each locality. Thus was built up our recommended list, which I think, needs some revision; a few should be dropped, and a few others added. This list, however, is the latest knowledge of the adaptability of the different varieties of apples to the several fruit districts of the state and it is intended as a guide to planters, particularly those starting in Nebraska. It is an epitome of the experiences of the fruit growers of all parts of the state, covering a period of nearly one-half a century. I refer back to this work to show you that this kind of work, in order to be reliable, must of necessity require years of patient painstaking labor and investigation, and therefore, we must not be discouraged if we do not at first meet with the measure of success we hoped for in the line of work we are now entering upon. The society has also a general list of all other kinds of fruits; also of forest and ornamental trees, shrubs and plants, which rests on the same basis of experience as the apple list, and serves the same purpose as a guide to planters. Not only has this society collected information about the varieties, but it has secured a vast fund of information about cultural methods on the different soils of the state, methods of planting, of cultivation, of fertilizing, of pruning, or cross pollination and spraying; in fact, in everything pertaining to orchard management, which information, like varieties, is based on actual experiences and is always available to the orchardist. It is hardly worth while for me to go into detail in these matters, as they will be fully brought out in the papers and discussions later on. This has been the principal work of the society in the past and ha.s resulted in good to the planters of the state which, is hard to esti- mate. The first planters made very many mistakes fron?. lack of proper knowledge of adaptability of varieties and numy worthless sorts were planted, but most of these earlier planted trees are gone. The present day planter has all of this infornuition at his command, and can avoid these earlier mistakes. The secretary will send this information to any one applying. While we have been learning w'lat arieties to plant in the several parts of tlie state we have discovered some other important 1'1(J:SI1)I0\'I'S ADKUKSS 43 facts. The principal one, tlie one tliat concerns us most, is tliat the best apples of the country are grown in the Missouri River Valley. That there is a country lying on both sides of the Missouri river about 2'JO miles in width that, given proper care, the orchards produce as many and as good apples as are grown anywhere on narili. These apples are just as large, equally as good in quality (flavor), betr.or colored, and keep longer than the famous eastern grown New York apples; and while they are not quite as large, they have as good co'or, a better quality (flavor) and keep longer than the apples grown ia the inter-mountain states. And this brings us to another lina of the work thi.s society has planned for the next decade; namely to demonstrate to the fruit growers of the state that they do not have to leave Nebraska to get into the best apple growing section of the country and to the fruit consuming public that Nebraska apples are among the best, if not tiie best grown. In pursuance of this plan, the apple show was held at the state farm last winter in connection with our annual meeting and w?s a sur- prise to all interested in it. During the following two months we held five horticultural institutes, one at each of the following places: Blair, Peru, Plattsmouth, and Beatrice. These institutes were very largely attended and a lively interest maintained throughout. We are endea- voring to make arrangements for another series this winter. Following this same plan of work, the desirability of a larger and better show, a better demonstration, this winier of what can be done in apple culture, was discussed at length at the state fair meeting and at the state board meeting following the fair. After a fuil discussion of the subject by the board, and with as many members as possible, it was decided to hold another demonstration this winter. It seemed to your board that the time was ripe to show to the people of Nebraska, if we were ever going to, what can be done by intelligent, progressive orchard management. The exhibit at the auditorium is the result and speaks for itself. I trust what we have done will meet your approval and this line of work continue until we have convinced every orchard owner in Ne- braska that nothing but thoroughly progressive management in the orchard pays. Keep up w"ith the procession. The year just closed has been one of average prosperity to the good people of our great state and the horticulturist in a general way has had his share of this prosperity. The state, as a whole, had a fair crop of all kinds of fruit, except peaches and in a few sections apples, while the southeast quarter of the state had in many places a record crop. This crop was marketed at prices hardly satisfactory to the producers. The marketing of this crop has taught us several lessons, among which the most important to my mind is the need of closer co- operation on the part of growers in handling and marketing their truit. As proof of this note the prices that you sold lor and the price the same apples are sold for on the market today. An apple growers' associa- 44 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY tion ought to give the growers better prices without increasing the cost to the consumer. There seems to be an increasing demand for apples packed in l.ushel boxes, and in order that the fruit growers may be prepared to 'i;eet this demand, we secured an expert packer to demonstrate during the state fair, the different methods of packing used by the western grow- ers with whom we have to compete. We have also at the auditorium this winter a packer who will be giad to give any one all needed in- formation. One has only to look over the fruit on the markets to see that we need to establish a better system of grading and to maintain that grade when once established. Make your marketing mean just what they say. Our experience last winter proves that there is a demand as well as a need for horticultural institute work. To secure results these institutes must be held separate from Farmers' institutes, and only speakers of practical experience along the lines they talk on be sent. I believe this society should make an effort to continue this work started a year ago. In my judgment the time has come when our recommended list should be revised^ Some varieties are worthy of a more extended plant- ing than is indicated in the present list; a few should be added, and some cut out entirely. I recommend that a committee be appointed for this work, this com- mittee to report at the next annual meeting, January, 1914. FORESTRY. A few years ago there was organized in this state a park and for- estry association which took over the forestry work of this society. This forestry association lias been allowed to die and its membership roll and records are reported lost by our committee on forestry. This is a matter in which we are all deeply interested, and I believe concerns the state more vitally than any other line of horticultural work, and I recommend that our committee on forestry be instructed to confer with the forester of the State University in an effort to re vive the old, or to organize another, State Forestry Association. Nebraska is the only state in the union that has not horticultural inspeetion law and consequently has no legally authorized horticultural inspector. The Department of Entomology of the University has vol- untarily acted in that capacity when necessary. Last summer Congress passed a Federal horticultural inspection and quarantine law, making necessary a certificate of inspection on all shipments of horticultural goods entering into interstate commerce, naming the legally authorized state inspector as the ofl'icer to issue such certificate. This inspector is also charged with a large part of the detail work of enforcing the law. This law creates a Federal Horticul- tural board, and gives them power to quarantine any state, or section GROWING THE APPLE TREE 45 of country, that refuses or neglects to comply with the requirements of the law relative to the destructive insects and diseases regarded as injurious to the horticultural interests of the nation. Also to prevent shipment of any sort of horticultural products from the state or district so quarantined. As before stated this state has no horticultural in- spection law and consequently does not have the power to enforce a compliance with the requiremnts of the federal law. I believe the time has come when the interest of horticulture demands that Nebraska shall have a sane and practical horticultural inspection law, and to this end a committee from this society has prepared a bill which has been introduced into the legislature. A copy of this bill will be held here for your inspection and you will be asked to approve or disapprove of the measure. The work of this society has been well done in the past and I have faith to believe it will be as well or better done in the future. We must not be discouraged if we do not progress as rapidly as we think we ought. Remember that it has required forty years to learn the besr. varieties to plant. Our membership is changing constantly^ the young grow old and the old pass to their rest, but the same spirit of good fellowship, sacri- fice and service continues as the years come and go. The Chairman: The next thing appearing on our program is the paper on the growing of the Apple Tree, by George A. Marshall, of Ar- lington. GROWING THE APPLE TREE. George A. Marshall, Arlington. The tree, when received from the nursery, should be of fair size, and in a healthy, vigorous condition, not over three years old, not forked, but with a central body, and side branches of not over one year's growth. It is well to grout the roots in a thin mud mortar, as soon as received. Then after the orchard groimd has been well prepared the trees should be planted three or four inches deeper than they stood in the nursery, leaning them very slightly to the 1 o'clock sun, placing the largest and lowest limbs on that side. They should not be allowed to suffer by any means, but urged and coaxed on to start growing just as quickly as possible. If the soil and weather are dry at time of planting, they should be mulched and then watered. It must be remeni bered that a tree well started is half grown. Cultivation should be begun in the orchard immediately after the trees are planted. Cultivated crops can be profitably grown in the orch- ard the first few years. When the trees have grown too large for this crop to be profitable, the cultivation should still be kept up with more or less vigor, according to location, and to the annual rainfall, etc.; in other words, the trees should have sufficient moisture and care 46 N[Or.i:ASKA STATE 1J( )K'1'I( I LTUKAl. SOCIKTV to allow tlu>m to make a healthy, ripe growth. They should not be trimmed at all the first year further than to shorten in the side limbs about one-half of the past season's growth, the leader or center being left a little longer, so it can continue to retain its leadership. The sec- ond year, the real pruning can begin by removing the superfluous limbs, leaving only those whicli are to remain during the life of the tree. In doing this, it should be remembered that three or four side limbs and the leader are sufficient and that these side limbs should be well dis- tributed on all sides of the body and not closer than five or six inches to each other. Unless one has in mind the size these limbs will attain when fully grown, they are apt to make the dangerous mistake of leav- ing them too close together, and in this case, they will become crowded when four or five or six inches in diameter and the result will likelv be disastrous. Now this seems like a simple tiling, but it is one of the greatest things in training an apple tree. I know we made a mistake and I see it all over the country, in leaving two to three times too many limbs. They look nice, that is true, when the tree is little, but when the treei gets grown, you will see they are actually pushing eacli other. Most of the trees are ruined by crowding down, and the limbs being out of proportion, they finally break down, and rot in the center of the tree. It is very important that each limb shall have sufficient room ai the base to develop naturally, that it nuiy unite firmly to the body with as much shoulder as possible, and as it is natural lor the given varietv to develop. This will largely eliminate the splitting down later. This well done, the balance is easier. Simply run through the trees about once a year, cutting out forks and limbs that cross and rub and thin- ning out the thick places by removing the most undesirable limbs. It must be remembered that wounds on young trees heal much more rap- idly than on old ones. Never try to train a tree in a way that is unnatural to the variety. You will find that a life-long fight, somewhat discouraging and very hard on the tree. Simply help nature by trimming the tree in accord- ance with the way it desires to grow. While there are several minor things that have to be looked after from time to time such as preventing injury from rabbits, mice, gophers, etc., etc., yet the planting, cultivating and pruning are the three main things to be well carried out, and if this is done success is almost cer- tain. A tree can be grown into bearing as cheaply and with as much certainty here in Nebraska as any place I know of. DISCUSSION. The Chairman: These papers are intended for discussion after they are read, and if there is any one lifie wlio would iiUe (o ask Mr. Growing the appt.r tree 4? Marshall any questions, or has any ideas they would like to advance along this line, there is an opportunity given now for you to question Mr. Marshall, or say what you wish to say. Mr. iJickinson: I would like to ask Mr. Marshall what year of the trees' growth he would cut back that center head, if at all? A. What year of the growth? Q. Yes, sir? A. Well, if the tree has been allowed to limb out in the nursery, I would trim it back when the tree is planted, and of course that would be the previous year's growth. If you do not dO' that the head will not be symmetrical. Now if the growth is all through, you might not have to trim that tree at alii. But if you had quite a vigorous growth in the nursery, the previous year, you would be compelled to cut those side branches back, and get them started, and in that case you will have to cut the leader back a little bit to keep it along with the rest of the tree. Q. I notice in your paper that you let the leader grow the second year? A. No, sir, you misunderstood that. I leave it a little longer so as to maintain its leadership. The Chairman: Is there any one else that has any queations they would like to ask? A Member: I would like to ask the gentleman, how it would do to cut this leader off entirely? A. Why, the tree would be without a leader, that is all,. Mr. C. G. Marshall: Wouldn't that make a tree that would be apt to split down a great deal worse than one tlaat has a leader? A. Yes, sir. I think that is the idea in having a leader. One that the limb would branch off from, and you w ill not have a tree from which the limbs are so apt to split off. Mr. Yeager: I think Mr. Marshall stated that he recommended the three year old tree. Now we know that trees of the various varieties are not the same size at the same age. My observation is that we are coming more and more to planting younger trees. That, of course, is where the large orchardists are planting, and it seems they are planting younger trees, and some are even planting yearlings. But in the average home, or farm orchard, it seems they are planting two or three year old trees. But still I think that the day is coming when they will plant younger trees; perhaps not yearlings, because of commercial reasons, but the two and three year old tree. Don't you think, Mr. Marshall, that the young tree is more certain to grow than the older one? A. Up to three years, any age under that. I believe that a tree up to three years old can be planted with perfect safety, but if you want the tree limbed out, you must have it three years old, or a two limb top at least with a vigorous growth, at least tlie second yoiar. And then letting it grow two years after that. But the idea in that is that when you limb that tree you must have enough of length to the body so that you can 48 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY spread those limbs out. If when you come to limb it, it is short, and down to the ground, you can not have space enough to distribute the limbs on. They will go on and get established, and the third year you will have a result of what they call a whorl of limbs, all coming out at one place, and that is what you must avoid. You want them spread up and down the body. They want to be scattered. You must have 18 inches, at least, to grow these limbs on. You must know how to limb a tree in the orchard. Of course the young tree will grow easily, and if you are planting a large plantation it is a cheaper tree to buy, and it is an easier tree to plant. Mr. Benz: I would like to ask the speaker if he has any experience in regard to fertilizer, for the tree at the time of planting. I notice a large nursery firm advocates a solution of nitrate of soda as an induce- ment to growth. I would like to ask if it has been tried? A. I never had any experience in that line. An old gentleman made a remark that answers that question In Nebraska. He said that a fifteen- cent boy with a twenty-cent machine, could manufacture more fertilizer in twenty minutes than has ever been used in the state of Nebraska. We tried it once however in a nursery, and I guess Mr. Brown had some of the same experience. We tried four tons of it at our place, and we got four or five different mixtures and took the advice of the expert Swift's man. We took his advice as far as his knowledge went with our experiment, and we used the bone meal, and blood mixture, and we could tell where we were as long as the stakes lasted, but afterwards they broke down, and we did not know where they were. Of course it might have helped some, but we gave it up as a bad job. I have found, however, in sprout- ing a tree, that if you have land that would be good corn land, all you must have for trees is moisture. The Chairman: About the last thing before we close this session, there will be a question box opened- The question box is open now for questions, and any person who has a question that he would like to have discussed at this meeting, will please hand it to the secretary, and it will be put in the box and answered, or discussed before the meeting is over. This paper has been quite amply discussed and we will listen to one by Roy E. Marshall, on the "Influence of Cultural Mi'thods on the Growth of Apple Trees." INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL. METHODS ON GROWTH 49 INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL METHODS ON THE GROWTH OF APPLE TREES. Roy E. Marshall, Lincoln. I realize that a paper is very monotonous, when you have to sit for quite a while and listen to it, but since we have been requested tO' cut these talks down as much as possible, it is about the only way we can treat them so if you will bear with me a few minutes we will get at it right away. (Reads paper as follows): The influence of different cultural methods upon the growth of apple trees is a subject which would require data for several consecutive years before any definite conclusions could be drawn, so what little I have to present in this paper must be considered as merely suggestive, as it represents the results of only the past season. During the past few years a great deal of interest has been shown in the different methods of orchard culture. Experiment stations work- ing along this line almost unanimously recommend clean cultivation during the fore part of the season followed by a cover crop sown some- time during the latter part of July or first part of August. A number of different cultural plats were started at the Nebraska station in the spring of 1901, when the present orchard was set. Com- parisons of the trees in the different plats have been in favor of the cul- tivated and straw mulched plats. These plats have not only seemed to make the best growth from year to year, but they have retained the soil and fertility better than some of the other plats. In the plat in which clean cultivation has been practised during the entire season, the trees have made a good growth but the soil has eroded badly. It was necessary to place dikes made by placing foot boards on edge, at right angles to the gentle slope, and now we find the surface roots, of the trees are exposed. At the lower end of this plat, tons of soil have accumulated during the past few years, showing the immense amount of soil that may be carried away under this system of culture in a few years. Another bad feature of this plat is that the late cultivations have kept the trees in a thrifty growing condition rather late and early freezes have killed them back in a few cases. Where the cover crop is sown sometime during the latter part of July, both of these difficulties are overcome. The cover crop takes up the moisture at this time and the wood is hardened before freezing weather is r>pt to appear. This cover crop growth standing on the ground over winter holds the leaves and snow on the land and thus alternate freezing and thawing is lessened to quite an extent. When the growth of the past season is worked into the soil, it adds some fertilizer and keeps the soil from washing so badly, if the orchard is located on a side hill or much of a slope. no NRP.RASKA ST-VIK I K i i;ri (I l/iTi; A I, SOCIIOTY The straw mulch will retain more moisture in the soil than any of the methods where cultivation is practised, and thus it tends to produce quite a vigorous growth each year, buL the branches continue growth too late in the fall as under the clean cuitivation and are apt to be hurt by early freezes. The trees grown under such conditions are not encour- aged to root vc^ry deep as there is an abundance of moisture jusL under- neath this mulch. Young trees grown with such a mulch are more sub- ject to injuries from rodents, and insects and diseases are more preva- lent. It .is almost impossible to use orchard heaters where the stra".' mulch is used on account of the danger of fire. In another plat the weeds have been allowed to grow. They are usually mowed three or four times durijig the season, and left lying on the ground. The trees in this plat are not as large as those in the other plats. About the only advantages of this method of orchard manage ment are that there is less work and the fruit grown under such condi- tions is usually of a higher degree of color. During the past summer the foliage of the cultivated and especially of the trees of the straw mulched plat, as it is located beside the weed plat, seemed to have a. darker green color than did that of the trees of the weed plat. The season was a rather dry one and this difference of color was accounted for by the assumption that the straw mulch had plenty of moisture which had accumulated previous to the dry part of the season and was being retained by this mulch. This difference of the appearance of the foliage led us to wondering how much difference there was in the growth made by the different plats during the season, so it was decided to take measurements of the trees from different plats for comparison. As the Ben Davis trees outnum- bered the other varieties, three representative trees of this variety were selected from each plat, from which measurements were made of the past season's growth. From each of these three trees, representative branches from the main trunk of the tree were selected. Two of these were always located on opposite sides of the tree, and one from the central portion of the tree extending upward. Thus v/e were able to get at the average length of branches produced by each tree. In order to get a fair comparison between the trees of the different plats, all branches of three-tenths of an inch or more were measured to the tenth of an inch. TJiis included everything grown during the past season except mere buds. For this reason the average length of the branches of the different plats will run very low. However the longer twigs at the outer ends of the branches varied in about the same propor- tions as the average length cf twigs do. F'rom a total of 2905 measurements taken from the trees of the clean culture plat, an average length of 2.6 inches was obtained. In the plat where this cultivation was discontinued in July, and a cover crop of mil- let sown, 1,683 measurements were taken which gave an average of l.;t INFLl'lOXCK OF ('l\LTL'KAL AlKTlloliS U>; GKUWTH 51 inches. This difference of .7 of an inch is accounted for by the fact that the cover crop checked the growth of the trees when sown, and the wood was hardened up, while the clean cultivation kept the twigs from that plat growing quite late in the fall. These twigs were not injured by freezes as the cold weather held off quite late last fall, allowing the previous season's growth ample time to mature. From 1,873 measurements taken from the trees of the weed plat, an average length of 1.7 inches was obtained. This, as expected, gave the shortest growth, which is accounted for by the fact that the weeds draw heavily upon tlie soil moisture during the entire season and as last season was a rather dry one, the effect was more noticeable. During seasons of plenty of rain, thf re might not be a very noticeable difference between this plat and the others. One thousand, seven hundred fifty-nine measurements were made in the straw mulch plat, which gave an average of 2.2 inchesL This plat would naturally be expected to show the largest growth during the past season owing to the value of •<> mulch of this kind in retaining soil mois- ture, but the average length of the branches of this plat are .4 of an inch shorter than those of the clean cultivation plat. We are at a loss as to how to account for as much difference. It is apparent that it must be due to some factors other than soil moisture. However, we must re- member that there are a number of purposes served by cultivation of the soil, such as: 1. Improving the physical condition of the soil. 2i Promoting better soil drainage. 3. Helps the soil to appropriate any fertilizer which may be used. 4. Releasing new plant food in the soil. Then it conserves the soil moisture and keeps down the weeds but these are also accomplished by the use of the straw mulch to a greater or less extent. It might be stated here that the cultivation practiced in the clean culture plat was very good. A fine soil mulch was kept on the surface throughout the whole season, which would conserve a great deal of the moisture, but from previous work in the horticultural as well as the soils departments at the experiment station, we are convinced that the straw mulch was more efficient in conserving this moisture. Three sod plats consisting of alfalfa, clover and mixed grasses, re- spectively, have given comparatively the same results as regards the tree development since the plats were started. Last spring a division was made cutting each of these plats in halves. One-half was plowed early in the spring, and the other half was allowed to continue as before. The object of this was to see what results cultivation for two or three years would have upon orchards that have been in sod for a number of years. Visual comparisons of these plats last summer, showed that the foliage in the cultivated plats had a richer dark green color and was larger than that in the part remaining in sod, which showed they were making a more vigorous growth. The writer had intended to make 52 NEBRASKA STATE IIORTICULTUUAT. SOCIETY similar measurements from the past season's growth of these plats for comparison also, but owing to the lack of time and the cold weather of late, they have not been measured, but will be very soon. However we have compared the trees in these plats, and find there is quite a noticeable difference in the growth the trees made last year in favor of the cultivated area. This would indicate that many of our old orchards in the state, which are now growing In stiff grass sods or weeds, would be induced to throw out quite a vigorous growth and in this way help to rejuvenate them, if they were plowed up and cultivated for two or three seasons. In fact T know of several instances where sucli has been the case, and the results have not only been an increased vig- orousness in the trees themselves, but larger yields of fruit have resulted. In talking with some of these men, who l)y the way are mostly those who have been leasing orchards, I find that they intend to keep their orchards under cultivation. As was stated at the beginning of this paper, no definite conclusions are to be obtained from this work, as it should cover a period of several years. However they would indicate that in order to obtain the largest growth of new wood each j^ear, that clean cultivation, i. e. cultivation every ten days to two weeks, throughout the entire growing season, or a straw mulch should be used. The former may be used for only a short series of years, as the erosion of the soil and the lack of organic matter added would soon be showing up very strongly again.st this method of culture. Then there is the danger of the wood not becoming mature by the time weather, that would injure the late growth, would set in. The straw mulch is objectionable as it does not encourage deep root- ing, is a breeding place for insects and diseases and then there is the danger of fire if orchard heaters are used. While the clean cultivation followed by a cover crop does not seem to send out as much new wood each year, we must remember that what new wood is produced is fully matured, thus eliminating any loss due to the early freezing of the twigs. The trees in this plat seem to be as thrifty and have made as great a total growth in the series of years since the culture plats were started as any of the plats. Alternate freezing and thawing is also lessened as the cover crop holds a carpet of leaves and snow on the ground better than any of the other methods. In conclusion, I would recommend that the clean cultivation with the cover crop sown in July be used wherever possible, and especially where the same method of culture is to be practiced year after year. Orchards in sod or weeds should receive a thorough cultivation for two or three years to put the trees in a more vigorous growing condition, but do not continue too long, as serious losses of soil by surface runoff are sure to follow as soon as the vegetation consisting of roots and growth above ground are thoroughly decayed. MISSION i>F Till; .Mi;si:i; Y.MAX ri.", DISCUSSION. The Chairman: This paper is open for discussion the same as the other, and this applies to all papers that are read, without any further announcement. Any one who has any questions they would like to ask thie reader of the paper is at liberty to do so immediately following the reading. A Member: I would like to ask what crops seem to give the best results? A. Millet and cane seem to be used mostly in this section. I do not know of any case outside of the state, but millet is already used and all right provided you do not sow it too early so that the frost kills it before seed matures. Mr. Christy: Isn't it a fact that where an orchard is cultivated and kept up thoroughly, that it won't come into bearing early? No response. The Chairman: If there is no further discussion on this paper, we will listen to a paper by Mr. Harrison of York, on "The Mission of the Nurseryman/' t;:e mission of the nurseryman. By C. S. Harrison. Ours is the most ancient and honorable of all the callings. Our first parents were put in the Garden of Eden "to dress it and keep it." All went well till they got to stealing apples, when they lost their place. The moral of this is, the nurseryman must be honest. What wonders have been accomplished by our horticulturists! They found bleak and wind-swept prairies, and they liave transformed them. Groves, orchards and windbreaks have testified to their enterprise and persistence. There is something in the business, however, besides chasing the dollar. The nurseryman should be a teacher. Too often he lets Tom, Dick and Harry carry on his business and he does not raise what they do not call for. The average man does not know much about floriculture and horticulture. He needs information. The horticulturist should give ■ it. He should himself be tlie kite and not the mere tail of the kite. New things of great merit come out, but you cannot get him to touch them. It is his business to make a call. That is what he is for. He has no right to degrade his calling by keeping everlastingly in the ruts. We have passed the pioneer stage and now comes the period of home adornment. Our slogan should be "Beauty is Wealth"; raise a lot of it and be rich. The average farmer knows little ' of the beautiful things which em- bellish the home. He needs information, and you should give it. It is the province of the horticultural and agricultural papers to enter on a campaign of publicity and give wide information to these things. It is 54 NEBRASKA STATE H(»KTU TLTrUAL SOCIETY easy to understand the value of beauty. You build a house like a barn and nobody wants it. Make a poem in architecture and everybody wants it. I saw a beautiful team of chestnut horses at Bennington, Vermont, which cost $40,000. Of course $39,000 was for beauty and style. Perhaps for $300 you could have gotten a team of plugs which could go as far in a day as they could. Your Shorthorns, beautiful and symmetrical in form as if laid out with square and compass, are worth ten times as much as scrubs of the same weight. A farm, beautifully adorned with an ideal front yard, is worth far more than one the yard of which is a hospital for sick pigs and disabled maehinery. Horticulture is in a transition state. Nurserymen find themselves stocked up with millions of apple trees they can not sell. The great Stark company have dissolved, and one ot the members is going into ornamentals on a large scale. Sooner or later you must come to it. The country is being rlooded with attractive and beautifully illustrated literature, and millions of dollars are going east that you ought to have if you would wake up to your possibilities. You people of the northern states do not realize your condition. There are compensations for your long, cold winter. Spring comes and the whole land awakes to a l>eanty unknown elsewhere. California can not compare with Minnesota in the beauty and fragrance of her flowers. Peonies can not grow there, and what marvelous displays they give you at your summer meetings. We must hammer along the lines of the development of our perennials. I repeat, if there are no calls, then make them. A few years ago we had a splendid lot of peonies. Nc call for them. They are the old, ill-smelling "pinys" our grandmothers raised. Your speaker was the first to publish a peony manual, the first in any lan- guage. The first edition cost $75. A man in Minneapolis borrowed a copy and bought $150 worth of peonies. A lady in Topeka read one and bought $25 worth. We were just closing business in the fall when an order came for $200 worth. The first edition went and we issued an- other. We raise a good many but this year we had to buy about $1,500 worth. One year we purchased $1,600 worth besides what we could raise. You must enter on a campaign of publicity. Here is the coming flower, the iris. You speak of it and you are met with the objection, "Oh, it is nothing but the flag which grew in the swamp down east." People know norhing about this resplendent flower, named from the goddess Iris, the rainbow personfied. She took all the prismatic tints of the rainbow and wove them in garments of splendor for her child. I have been to California, the land of flowers, to Hochester, the gar- den of America. 1 have visited the estates of the rich in the cast, and have been in the flncLU parks in the land, but 1 never saw anywhere so MISSION OF THE NtJliSERYMAN So much beauty, splendor and loveliness as people saw in our iris garden with its ISO varieties. They are the finest drouth resisters we have. Ijast season we had but six inches of rain in five months. It was av/ful. Dry with hot winds blowing like the blast of death, but v,e did not lose an iris» Last winter will long be remembered for its terrible cold and fearful storms, yet not an iris died, though unprotected. By careful selection they will bloom nearly two months. They are ideal flowers for the town and farm. They are cheap. You can get some fine sorts for from two to five cents. They multiply about ten in two years. I get letters from nurserymen "they are fine, but there is no call for them." Then make a call; it is your business. There is more money in them than anything else you can handle. A few years ago we stocked up on them and how they have multi- plied. We tried to sell — no call. We then published the iris manual and now we sell about 25,000 a year. Yet they multiply so fast we must scramble to keep out of their way. When you see a thing of known merit then push it. We want publicity. It is time for our editors to help along. Too often you send in an article on home adornment or give them a descrip- tion of some worthy flower and the article comes back to you — "no call for it." Plenty of room for the barn-yard, but no space for the front yard. On other things our editors are all right. Take the hen. How they have magnified and glorified her and made^ a queen of her. Take up any agricultural paper and column follows column. There is a line upon iteration and reiteration. Direction following direction till the wonder is the poor hen gets a chance to lay an egg. But she does and the more she lays the higher the price. And the proud rooster from early morn till dewy eve sounds the praises of uis harem. And the editor turns in and crows to beat the rooster and then cackles to beat the hen,. What tons upon tons of literature that hen gels! What a pity that just a little of the attention and affection given her could not be transferred to these queens of loveliness, the peony, the iris, the phlox and the columbine. Our editors have added millions of dollars to our dairy interests by showing the difference between poor and good cows. Two farmers live side by side. One keeps tM'enty cows; the other has only eight but he sells more milk and butter than the other. The queens of the dairy have come to the front. They and their progeny bring fabulous prices because they are worth it. We need the same attention the cattle receive. It will pay. Mil- lions of dollars are held in abeyance. Besides our ornamental shrubs and perennials there are two which are going to push their way to the front. They are the Japanese and Chinese tree lilacs. They are trees. They bloom in June. I like the Chinese the best. There is one in front of my house, sixteen years 56 NKBHASKA STATE IIOKTKM LTl JiAL SOCIKTV old from seed, which is seven inches through a foot from the ground and 20 feet tall. It was flooded with a great mass of snowy white, honey scented flowers. Thousands of seedlings are now being offered at $5 per hundred, but the reply comes "no call for them." The nurseryman should keep along the advancing wave which is surely coming. He should help the wave along. He should buy and plant hardy things of real merit and get acquainted wirh them and have his agents understand them also. He should insist that papers that carry his ads should enter on a campaign of publicity and give the front yard as good a show as they give the barnyard. He should not wait for others to spend thousands, giving information and he follow and reap the har- vest for which they are sowing. The Chairman: It is all right Brother Harrison, line upon line, and precept upon precept, and we will heed it later on. The next paper is upon the subject of "Orcharding in Fillmore County," by R. A. Burns, of Geneva. ORCHARDING IN FILLMORE COUNTY. R. A. Burns, Geneva. Mr. President, Members and Friends: My experience with orcharding in Fillmore county, or anywhere else for that matter, having been quite short, I shall confine myself to an account of the orchard with which I aan directly connected, and not try to describe general conditions over the county, as my subject would seem to call for. Our soil is of a loess formation, underlaid at a depth of from two to three feet with a clay subsoil approaching hardpan in consistency. This, by many, is not considered ideal for apple growing on account of neither moisture nor roots being able to penetrate it readily, and they are doubt- less right. However, we have been able to get some fairly good results, and take it as it comes, with no present intention of moving. Our own orchard was planted in the years 18S6 and 1887, and covers twenty and a half acres, exclusive of the windbreak which I am glad to say is ample. There are about 922 living trees planted 32 feet apart each way, and consist in the main of the following varieties, Ben Davis, Winesap, Gano. Genet, Missouri Pippin, Jonathan, G. G. Pippin, Wealthy and Cole's Quince. There are also two rows of experimental varieties which con- tain a large variety of crabs and summer apples. Cultivation has been neglected for several years, with the result that part of it was quite heavily sodded with blue grass, but this has now been turned under with a plow and will be kept cultivated with a cutaway disc or similar machine. We anticipate that this will work an incon- venience in one way, to counter-balance the good it may do, in that it will be impossible to move the spraying machine about so soon after a ORCHARDING IN FILLMORE COUNTY 57 rain as it was formerly; liowever, we have no doubt as to tlte benefit of cultivation. Nor have we any doubt as to the benefits of spraying, so we employ that agency for the discomfiture of the worms. As it may be of interest to some, and as I see no regular paper on this subject, in our program, I will give an account of the methods we have used and the cost of spraying. A power sprayer of some kind in these days is, of course, a neces- sity, and we use one having a three-horse-power gasolii'e motor, which works very satisfactorily and will maintain a pressure of 200 to 225 pounds on three working nozzles. It is equipped with an elevated plat- form 10 feet from the ground, without which it would be impossile to do satisfactory work in the tops of the trees as they are on an average about twenty-five feet high and many are considerably higher. In the course of the second and most important spraying, it seems to me that better work can be done, even in lower trees, if more of the spray is directed from above, as most of the blossoms point upward and the insecticide can be thrown more directly into the calyx from above than when wor,king from below or on one side. In our second spraying last season, v;e had two men working from the elevated platform and only one on the ground so as to throw more of the spray from above. It nearly drowned the one poor man below, but I think it was of some benefit though I have no figures for com- parison. For; spraying material we used lime-sulphur (commercial) diluted at the rate of seven gallons to 250 gallons of water as a fungicide, and lead-arsenate two pounds to fifty gallons of water as the insecticide There are, of course, several brands of each on the market, all doubt- less good, but we found a brand of lead-arsenate last year costing seven cents per pound and using two pounds to fifty gallons of water to give better results than a brand used formerly, costing 22 cents per pound and using one pound to 50 gallons of water, so there is evidently some choice among brands. As complete a record as we could devise of the cost of labor and materials for each spraying was kept and figured up to give totals in each particular. In getting at the cost of materials we merely set down at the end of each day the number of tank loads of mixture, of 250 gallons each, applied that day, and as we knew the amount of "dope," as the boys call it, placed in each tank, we could easily tell how much was used each day. I might say in passing that it is well to use up all there is in the tank before stopping at night and then rinse it out well with clean water. If this is not done, and say, half a tank is left to run out next morning, it is almost sure ro form a deposit on the screen or strainer in the bottom of the tank and give trouble by not letting the liquid through fast enough. This deposit will form anyway, in spite of all you can do, and is difficult to remove. However, we accidentally dis- covered one day that a little sulphuric acid poured on the strainer will 58 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY eat it off almost instantly and leave everything like new. Remove the strainer to do it though, for if the acid gets on the rubber hose any- where it will make a strainer of that too. In making the following table of costs a man's wages were reck- oned at $2.00 per day and a team at $1.00 per day. On account of de- lay in shipping, lime-sulphur was not used in the third spraying and the amount used in the second spraying was reduced to three gallons per 250 gallons of water. This, of course, reduced the total cost slightly. Number of Spray. First, May 2d; second. May 13th; third, June 14th; fourth, July 31st. Number of 250 gallon tanks used on first spray- ing, 10; second spraying, 32^/^; third spraying, 19^/^; fourth spraying, 14. Number of gallons of lime-sulphur used first spraying, 70; second spraying, 97%; third and fourth sprayings, none. Pounds of lead-ar- senate used first spraying, none; second spraying, 325; third spraying, 195; fourth spraying, 140. Gallons of gasoline used, first spraying, 7'^; second spraying, 24i/^; third spraying, 14; fourth spraying, 10 V^. Cost of materials used: Lime-sulphate, first spraying, $11.20; second spraying, $15.60; none the third or fourth sprayings. Lead-arsenate, none the first spraying, and $21.93 the second; $13.16 the third; and $9.45 the fourth. Cost of gasoline: First spraying, $1.20; second spraying, $3.92; third spraying, $2.24; fourth spraying, $1.68. Total for materials used: Number of 250-gallon tanks used altogether 77 Amount of lime-sulphate used altogether (gallons) 167^ Pounds of lead-arsenate used altogether 660 Gallons of gasoline used altogether 56^/^ Cost of lead-arsenate for 4 sprayings $44 54 Cost of lime-sulphate for 4 sprayings 42 80 Cost of gasoline for 4 sprayings 9 04 Cost of materials used in first spraying 12 40 Cost of materials used in second spraying 41 45 Cost of materials used in third spraying 15 40 Cost of materials used in fourth spraying 11 13 Total cost of four sprayings $80 38 Time used in first spraying 2 days Time used in second spraying 5 days Time used in third spraying 3 days Time used in fourth spraying . 2^4 days Total time used in spraying 12 V4 days Labor cost first spraying $14 00 Labor cost second spraying 37 50 Labor cost third spraying 21 00 Labor cost fourth spraying 16 87 Total labor cost of four sprayings $ 89 37 OUCIIAUDIXiJ IN FILL. MOKE CoTXTY .7.1 Total cost per spraying — • First spraying, total cost $ 26 40 Second spraying, total cost 78 95 Third spraying, total cost 36 40 Fourth spraying, total cost 28 00 Total $169 75 Labor cost per tree, .096 cents. It will be noticed that the number of gallons of mixture applied per tree in the second spraying, eight and eight-tenths, was far in excess of that in either the first, third or fourth spraying, in fact, it was almost half of the entire amount used. This is, of course, in accordance with the generally accepted rule, that the second spraying is the time tO' do your work, but we believe that it can not be impressed too strongly that skimp the others if you must, or leave them out altogether, but spare no pains to thoroughly cover the trees in the second spraying, and it you are not sure, put on a little more. As a result of the best we could do in the spraying line, I am glad to say that we practically annihilated the worms in our crop last sea- son. In harvesting our crop we changed our former method in several par- ticulars and were well pleased with the results in most cases. The most important was in changing from payment by the day for picking, to pay- ment by the bushel. Tickets good for the required number of bushels Vv'ere given to each man when the wagon came for his apples and these could be cashed in at any time. For use in case a man had finished a tree and moved on before the wagon came, each man was assigned a number and given cards bearing this number, and when he left his apples he placed one of these cards in a conspicuous place among his filled boxes and we were able tO' credit him with the correct number of bushels and give him the tickets when we came to him. Of course, this "by the bushel" system required a good man to be on the watch all the time to see that the fruit was not handled too roughly or shaken off the trees, and it was possibly handled with less care than a good man would have used working by the day; however, when we considered the fact that the best a $2 per day man seemed to be able to do was about 25 bushels per day, costing us 8 cents per bushel, you see, and at four cents per bushel he could get from 60 to 110 bushels per day, we felt able to struggle along v/ith this small disadvantage. We paid 4 cents per bushel for all varieties practically all the way through, but towards the last the Winesaps being rather small and nat- urally hard to pick, owing to the shape the trees grow, we began paying five cents per bushel for this variety. Our trees being unusually heavily loaded last year,— the best tree noted having slightly over 40 bushels, and practically every tree of winter varieties, except Winesap, running 15 bushels or better, the men were enabled to make very good wages. 60 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Sacks emptying at the bottom were used to pick in, and though there are objections to them, we believe they are more satisfactory in the long run. Boxes to transport the apples to the grader and then to the cars were used and the low truck solid bottom racks would hold 69 boxes, without piling up. Ladders running to a point at the top and 18 to 20 feet high, seemed to be the popmar thing, and though they must be light, with reasonable care they seemed to answer every pur- pose. Our summer apples, as well as the Jonathan and Grimes Golden, wei'e sorted by hand to remove those imder iwo inches, for as I men- tioned before, we had pi-actically no worms to look afier, and very little or no blight of any kind. The winter varieties, after being loaded in the orchard, were hauled to our home-made non-patented grading machine, for which we at least claim originality, as we never saw or heard of one like iv.. To construct it, we merely took nine iron roit go to the page and it is not there. The point I want to bring out was this, that you could not trim all the varieties of apples the same. You could not make ii Wliitney grow as a Winesap. I am sorry for our people in Nebraska, that they do not try to learn more about trees. Now you can go to the well up-to-date farmer and you ask him about his corn and clover and cattle and sheep, and chickens and even his children, and he could Icjl youi- their names. But abso- STATE FLORISTS' SOCIETY 71 lutely he doesn't know anything about his orchard. It is there, and that is all he cares. It is a shame to have this printed in a report to a state as old as this, but I guess we will have to do it. Every farmer should know the shape they grov\r, but if they don't, I guess we should print it. There are a lot of us can't read, so I &uess we will have to be shown by picture. Mr. C. G. Marshall: Mr. Chairman, we have with us Professor Lau- renz Green, of Iowa, who is assisting us with the demonstration work, and also taking part ii^ the discussion, and I move you that Professor Green be made an honorary active member of this society. Seconded. Carried. Mr. Green: Without taking any more time, Mr. President, I appre- ciate the honor, and I wish to thank your society. It now being 5 o'clock p.m., January 21st, the society adjourned until 9:30 a.m., the following morning, January 22, 1913. 9:30 a.m., January 22, 1913. The society met pursuant to adjournment, and the following proceed- ings were had and done. STATE FLORISTS' SOCIETY SESSION. Irwin F. Frey, Chairman: The meeting will now come to order. The first thing on our program will be the official business meeting of the State Florists' Society. We will take up the minutes of the last meeting and have them read. Mr. Henderson reads the minutes of the last meeting. Report accepted. The Chairman: Trie next business to come before the meeting will be the election of officers for the ensuing year. The first office to be (illed is the office of president. Mr. Green: Mr. President, I would like to place in nomination the name of Mr. Ed Williams of Grand Island. No further nominations. Upon motion that the rules be suspended and the secretary be instructed to cast the unanimous ballot of the so- ciety for Mr. Williams, the motion w'as put and carried unanimously. Mr. Williams: Mr. President, and co-workers: I appreciate the hon- or. I assure you I have been a worker for the cause and I v/ill endeavor to give you the best there is in me. I thank you. Mr. Williams: I would like to now in place in nomination the name ' ■' Mr. J. W. Lawson, of York, for vice-president. Mr. Green: I move that the rules be suspended and that Mr. Lawson of York be unanimously elected as vice-president, and the secretary be instructed to cast the vote of the association for Mr. Lawson. Carried. Mr. Lawson: Mr. Chairman, our next office to be filled is the office of secretary. 72 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY A Member: I place the name of Mr. Louis Henderson in nomina- tion for the ofiice of secretary. Mr. Williams: I move that the name of Mr. Henderson be made the unanimous choice of this meeting, as secretary for this society. Sec- onded. Carried. The Chairman: Our next office is the office of treasurer, and we will now receive nominations for this office. A Member: I know that my friend, Mr. J. E. Atkinson, would like to hold the office for another year, and I place him in nomination. Mr. Green: I move that the s-ecretary be instnicted to cast the en- tire vote of this association for Mr. Atkinson for treasurer. Seconded. Carried. Mr. Chairman: Our other officers to be elected at this meeting are the trustees. A.re there any nominations for these offices? Our trus- tees the past year have been Mr. Williams and Mr. Davidson and Mr. Green. Mr. Green: Two of them have been all ri.ght. The other one has not been worth much. I would like to nominate Mr. C. H. Frey, and Mr. Davidson and Mr. Pence. Seconded. Carried. The Chairman: If there is no other business to come before the meeting we will proceed with o«r program. Our first paper this morn- ing will be "The winter blooming plants," by Mr. C. H. Frey, of Lin- coln. WINTER BLOOMING PLANTS. C. H. Frey, Lincoln. I have not prepared a paper; in the first place, I have not had time, but I will take up a few varieties that are common to all of us and dis- cuss them. I suppose this will be of interest to those that grow for the market. I will give a few thoughts, — in other words, a few of my ways of growing, and more can be brought out in discussion afterwards, that will be of more interest to all of us. The first variety I will take up ^\ill by the cyclamen. The cyclamen is the most satisfactory of all the winter blooming plants we have. In the first place, to begin with the seed. I think while there are a great many varieties on the market, or in oUu r words, different types, the best is the German strain. Among the other varieties, for instance, take the English varieties, they are beautiful, and have larger flowers, but there are a good many of them that have poor shaped plants, and there are a good many of the colors that are not desirable. By selecting the Ger- man strain we can get types almost true to color, and the flowers are large enough for all purposes. The seed should be sown, in order to get good stands for the following winter, about September 1st, or even the middle of August; from then on to the middle of September. Then you have, for the winter following, stands from four to six, or seven to WINTER BLOOMING PLANTS 73 eight inch pots, and these by sowing tlie seed early, and growing them in a warm place, in the young stage, you get plants that will make specimens for the following winter. Many make a mistake by sowing the cyclamen too late, and then setting them in any old corner to take care of themselves. There is not any plant that will stand neglect such as the cyclamen. I generally sow the seed in places covered with glass, for three or four weeks, and after the third week, a few of the seedlings begin to show and the glass may be removed, raid sLill kept shaded on the bright sunny day, and then about six weeis later, the plants will bo large enough to transplant, to pots or flats, and they will stay there until March or April, and then they should be repotted. I generally use a three-inch pot. and keep them growing. Most of the cyclamens will ruin through the summer, by letting them become hard, and pot bound, and not let- ting the sun have sway lor a few hours. And they will become hard and then it is almost impossible to make a plant out of it. The trying months are through the hot months of the summer, say July and August. and the first part of September. While they require lots of heat in the small stage, they will become well established in a three-inch pot, and they like a cool, shady place, and shade and moisture over the foliage. While it is impossible to grow a cyclamen in some places, like Nebraska, on account of our hot summers, and dry summers, yet we can, by keeping them in a house that is well shaded, or outside by warm shade, grow good plants. I have seen them in Denver, a good many times, and the seeds sown at the same time I have sown mine, and two or three times as large, but out there they have nights that are cool, and thus revive the piants so that they will stand through the day. Next, we take the primulas. I think the one that is the most Im- portant for us is the Obconica. I will say that the seed should be sown about this time of year (Jan. 24ih), to get good flowers for the following winter. With the cyclamen, I do not moan to say that in fifteen months you could have a good sized plant, but I mean the second winter after- wards if you sow the 15th of September. But the Obconicas will be sown this year, and you will have good plants the following winter. The seed of these can be grown very easily in a small house with a temperature of 55 or 60, but later on they need a cool place, and the following winter they require a temperature of 55 degrees, or even 50 to get plants that have good foliage, or even large flovvers. You get better shaped plants and two or three or four times as many blossoms. The Chinese primulas are grown by a great many and are shown to be generally profitable. These can be sown in April and May, and even sown in June, and you will get good formed plants for the following win- ter. The seed will not all germinate at the same time. There may be a month's difference and by picking out the small plants you will find a number of plants for several months afterwards, that will still keep com- ing up, and these require about the same temperature as the Obconica but they will absolutely refuse to have water on the foliage. And they 74 NKHUASKA STATE Iir»K'IMCr[/l'(nAL SOCIETV must be watered all the time, especially when the plants have four or five inch pots. There was a new one that came out four or five years ago, the Mala- coides. It is a beautiful plant and is good for advertising work, on ac- count of the long sprouts and graceful flowers. You can have five or six inch pots for the following winter. They require a dry, cool atmo- sphere. Next I will take the begonias, and just mention a couple of types that are grown as winter blooming varieties). One 1 prefer above all others is the Cincinnatis. While this is a newer variety, the flowery are so much larger than the old type that there is hardly any comparison, and it will hold its flowers. You vv'ill probably all Icnow that every one of the old kind that was sold dropped its flov/ers about the second day it left the store. The Cincinnatis will hold its flowers for a week, and I have had Cincinnatis in the greenhouse for four or five weeks, in a salable condition. It will hold its flowers in the greenhouse, and is a much easier variety to grow. It is propagated from leaf sprouts. It should be done from this time up to April and May, and you will get good plants for the following winter. Take a medium-sized leaf and insert it in the sands and keep the leaf from touching the sand, and about five or six weeks after putting them in the sand they wiii root, and a good many of them will begin to show growth from the beds, and then they can be potted up in a very light porous soil. All begonias won't stand water around their feet, as the saying is. When a begonia becomes soggy or in a soggy condition, the plant will soon become ready for the dump heap. While these young plants will not make much growth in the summer, yet in the fall of the year when the weather begins to get cool tho plants will grow like weeds, and by the middle of December it will make five or six inch plant for the holiday trade. There is another variety that is very cheap, — this Cincinnatis is too high-priced to buy for many of us. Young plants in two inch pots for summer delivery have cost |15 to $18 per hundred, and they probably will, for some time to come. But the variety that has been on the mar- ket for several years, and the old fancy type, the luminosa, of which I had a few last summer and winter, there were only three or four that varied from the ordinary. All the others were an even shape, and it was an even good summer bloomer. All bego.iia plants are hard to take care of, in the first stages of growth. The seed is so small that it will stick to your finger, if you put your finger in a package they will stick all over it. And while they are sown, if the pan or pot is not watered carefully they will all wash in the lower places. Just sprinkle the seed over the top and not cover it at all, and they will come up even. I generally get them on the point of a lead pencil and just push them into the soil, and after a month or two in the flats, after being transplanted, they begin to grow very rapidly. This will make plants as large as you want them for the following winter. If the flowers drop, the next crop WIXTKK r.L()()MIX(J I'LAN'TS 75 that come or the buds that are on there will keep developing and bloom- ing all winter. It makes a good plant for window boxes, and outdoor work where there is a particularly shady position. Another plant for a Christmas plant, and one which is probably the most important of all, is the poinsettia. At this time of the year put them under the benches in a warm, dry position, and leave them there until April, May or June, and set them up, and in two or three weeks you can have all the goods you want for summer propagation. These are easily rooted in a propagating bench. They require a good rich soil and not too much water to the roots. Of course take an early propagated plant and pot it, and it is too much of a shift at a time and the plants become too large. But by giving them two shifts and keeping them growing on the dry side, you will get a large plant for the following Christmas. While these are not satisfactory for a house plant, yet they are a good Christmas plant, and will last longer than cut flowers, and everybody will advise people to buy the poinsettia for Christmas. In fact, the past winter there wasn't near enough to meet the demand. Many more could have been sold. These, after the bracts begin to forpi, re- quire lots of heat, and you want an even temperature, and a moist house. Take the cineraria, and that is another plant that is grov.'n in great quantities, and while they do not last long as a house plant, they will last long if you will give them lots ot waler, and yoti v;ill get colors in those you do not get in any other v/iuter blooming plant. The seed should be sown in June or July to get good piants for the following winter. The great trouble with the cineraria is to carry them through the hot months and the hot summer to the cool weather, btit by getting a good shady place, watching them carefully, and getting them past the middle of Sep- tember there is no bother with them, at all, and they will grow any place. But in order to get them in good shape and have the flowers last, they should be grown in a temperature of 50 to 55 degrees and kept on the dry side when the flowers commence to develop. If you take them to a house where they will dry out as fast as they will in the greenhouse, they won't get water enough to keep them in condition. A great many times I have seen them taken to a dwelling house and over night I have seen them drop down; the next morning they would come back and say it was frozen or something of the kind. Take the azalea. That is the plant that almost all of us will grow, and have grown, although not all of them will grow. These are imported from Belgium and they must be soaked well before they are potted. And I generally put a lot of water around them. When they become dried out it takes quite a while to soak through, and by leaving them stand in the water a few minutes they become soaked up enough for potting. If you want them for Christmas keep them in a cool place for a week or two and then keep them in heat starting at 60 degrees, and then after a week run up as hot as you can until the flowers commence to 76 NEBRASKA STATE HOK'l' ICULTMRAL SOCIETY show color and then when the flowers commence to expand set them in a cool place again. While these do not last a great while after they are in full bloom yet they are beautiful, and people get more for their money in buying azaleas than they will in buying a bunch of flowers, and they have something that will last longer than a bunch of roses or carnations by getting them where they Avill be protected, and giving them plenty of water. Another plant that is not grown as much as It should be for a house plant, is the rhododendron. Of course this will not last a great while, after coming into bloom, but the flower is so beautiful and makes so much show that if we all grew a few of them, if only a dozen, by bringing one or two of them into heat at a time, Ave would have them for all winter. I think we will all find they will sell. They are not very expensive to buy. While it seems a good deal to pay the price that is asked, yet I never have any trouble in getting four or five dollars for a good plant, and yet there is not as much profit in them for me, as in some other things I grow. They usually come at the time that the azaleas come or a little later, and by setting them in a cool place, moistened for a few weeks, and then i ii:ij.ing them into heat and continue to spread the foliage they will soon come into bloom and they will last well, too. I had a few plants of an early variety, 1 forced for Christmas, and they were left in shape for today. There are probably not many of us that have grown lilacs as a winter blooming plant, and yet by importing a number of potted varieties you will get a nice plant with a number of flowers. These will force very readily any time in the winter, and of course if we force them too much, we will not get any foliage, but all flowers, but after the first of March, they will have good foliage, as well as better flowers. And if they are forced too much in the early winter, the dark colored varieties become almost white and later on they have a good color. Another common plant that is used for house plants and buying is the geranium;. By taking the plants the first of the year, and up to June, and by keeping the flowers spread out, particularly for fine speci- mens for the following winter and while this will not bring much money, they will sell, and it Is something that everybody knows, and everybody can grow. Now I have said what I have to say, and if there is anything that can be gotten out of the discussion, 1 wish you would ask some questions. A Member: I would like to ask in regards to carrying over cycla- men plants, whether or not you think it is profitable for a florisl to do that, or to sow his seed? A. I do not know, T never cany them over. When they are through blooming they go on the bum. Of course you will not have good plants carried over. In fact, years ago when I first commenced business, some thirty years ago, cyclamens in bulbs were sold the same a lilies are tc AVINTKll I'.LUOMINc; PLANTS 77 day. No one thought of growifig from seed. I remember when I first commenced growing from seed. I had florists from different parts of llio country in and asked me how old they were, and I would tell them and they would not believe it, and they did not think it could be done. But they were not posted, and they did not know. The trouble with the old bulbs was that they make lots of foliage, but no flowers. And while you get some beautiful plants, and even large ones, yet large ones can be grown from seed in the period of fifteen or sixteen months, and with the bulbs there are too many that will not produce flowers enough to pay to bother with them. A Member: Do you grow any of your own seed, or do you save any of your own seed? A. Yes, sir. All of it I had last winter was my own seed and that is a better way to obtain seed, providing you save some of the better plants). We pick out our seed plants and set them aside, but if you sell the best, and try to save seed from what is left, you soon have a coarse strain. But if you save your best plants you will get better flowers and better plants from the seed you get. Mr. Green: Now about that seed proposition. We save all our own seed. I take five plants of each variety and we keep them around in different places. We designate them so we will know. We have tlie bright red and fringed set oft by themselves. And we take five plants of the blood red and set them away. And the pinks we take a very light and a very darlc and set them oft' some place; and the only trouble is. we have a woman come up and want to buy it, and we sometimes lose, them in that way, and after all, our own seed, we find, takes much more trouble and time and money to get it than anything wo can buy. If we have a particularly good plant we carry that over for seed for next year. The old bulbs w'ill not make as many flowery, but each bulb will make more seed. Mr. Fi-ey: The trouble vv'ith saving seed plants, so many of the flow- ers come off. The flowers seem to wilt. Mr. Green: Did you. ever try fertilizing with a camel's hair brush? A. Yes, sir. Q. I think that is a good way. A. Yes, sir. A Member: What variety of lilacs do you use? A- Charles X. C, Marie Legraye and the Lemoine is beautiful, only they won't have as many flowers. Charles X. C. is the best one of all. Q. What price as a rule, do you have to pay for them? A. They cost about 85 cents apiece in Chicago. They are bought more, and grown more, in about ten-inch pots. They cost about $40 a hundred on the other side. The Chairman: With your permission, I will change the program a little, and as one of our speakers this morning wants to leave on an early train, we Avill have as our next paper, "Growing Sweet Peas," by J. W. Lawson of York, Nebraska. 78 NEBRASKA STATE IK )KTI('l L 11 KAL SOCIETY GROWING SWEET PEAS. J. W. Lawson, York. Mr. Chairman. Ladies and Gentlemen: Tlie subject I have been as- signed is Growing Sweet Peas. The first thing to be considered is the seed. Buy the best seed procurable of any reliable grower or firm. Buy it early, and in advance of time to plant. Don't wait until your neighbors' peas begin to show through the ground, before you plant yours. In regard to varieties, the grandiflora types are beautiful, but the Spencer varieties are fast superseding them, and are procurable in the same beautiful shades and colors and are indispensible either for exhibi- tion or decorative purposes. What colors shall we grow? We grow only a few such as white, pink, mauve, lavender, purple, and scarlet. Next before planting let us consider the soil and the preparation of the ftanie. This soil should be rich and deep and prepared early. The better plan is to prepare in the fall of the year. A good rich turfy loam is the ideal soil for growing sweet peas thoroughly enriched with well rotted manure or bone meal dug in as deep as possible. Before sowing pulverize the soil well in trenches three or four inches deep. Don't use the same soil year after year. When to sow: For outdoor planting, sow early, as soon as the frost is out, provided the ground is not too wet, while the ground is cool and moist, which insures good roots before growth commences. Do not sow too thick, thin them out to about two inches apart. We plant in double rows about ten inches apart to lessen space, time and cost of staking. We find a four or five-foot wire netting held in place by posts, the most convenient method of staking. This should be in place by the time the peas are two or three inches high. Better still, as soon as planted. Dry hot weather affects the sweet peas very quickly. They should be watered often and thoroughly. A good spraying of cold water evenings after hot days and an application of liquid manure once in ten days also greatly improves them. A good heavy mulch of coarse straw around the peas as soon as the weather is warm prevents the ground from drying out, and keeps it cool and mellow. The flowers should be cut daily and all seed pods removed as soon as they appear which will greatly lengthen the blooming season, which should last till frost. And by this time the winter flov/ering varieties. if planted the latter part of July or first of August, will be starting to bloom. For growing the winter blooming peas under glass, the ground bed will be found most convenient. A bed six inches deep filled with a compost of three parts soli and one part well retted manure in a light, well ventilated house with plenty of head room with a temperature of 45 to 50 degrees at night, and 60 to 70 degrees on bright days. The rows should run north and south, this gives the plants full benefit of the sun. When the plants reach the heighth of a few inches they should be given support. The best method lor same is to stretch one (UtoWIXa SWEET PEAS tfj wire across the top of the bed for each row and another wire about six feet above and connect with strings and from time to time help the plants to climb. A sprinkling of air slaked lime, over the row or watering witli lime water helps to keep out the cut worms. If the green or black fly attack the sweet peas they should be sprayed with one of the several nicotine preparations. And for red spider use a sharp spray of cold water. One of the most essential things is the proper feeding. When they are in fall growth a change of food is beneficial and when starting to bloom an application of soot greatly improves the color of the flowers and foliage. . We have a second planting, we have started in pots, and we transfer them to the beds. We have never been without sweet peas from the time that spring comes, until it comes again, and we have them out doors, and then by the time they are gone we have them inside; we find them a very profitable flower, any time of the year. DISCUSSION. A Member: Do you market your cut flowers locally or ship them? A. Locally. Q. What do you get for them? A. In the winter time 25 cents a dozen, and in the summer time 10 cents a dozen. Of course at times, we sell them for less. During the summer time when there is an abundance, I think we can cut them and sell them for less, but for our retail trade, we can not sell them for less. Mr. Green: Do you sell your sweet peas by the dozen? A. Yes, sir. Q. I will tell you what we do. Sweet peas are always 50 cents a bunch and along in the winter time the bunch is very small and in the spring time tiie bunch is very big. A. \>'ell, you can do that, but we price our sweet peas by the dozen but we always mix it up with green. A dozen makes a nice fluffy bunch for a vase. Q. Do you any time find the market glutted with sweet peas? A. Yes, sir. In the winter time we never have enough, and in the summer time we have more than we can sell. Q. You speak of having the rows running north and south, wouldn't you advise trying them east and west? A. Well, north and south I think is nmch better in the greenhouse. There are some cloudy days that I think it is better in the main for the rows to run north and south. Q. Well, where you are short of room, it is hard to do that. Member: I would like to know the names of the varieties he grows for winter. The Chairman: I think you will find that the winter blooming sweet peas are several in number, and there are many varieties when it comes to a show down. so NEI5UASKA STATE HOKTini-TrUAI- SOCIKTY Q. Are those the Spencer varieties? Mr. LawGon: No sir, those are for outdoor blooming. The Spen- cers will get so high in the greenhouse you must have a stepladder to pick them. Mr. Frey: About this time of year (January 22) they will not get so tall though. I have a house now prepared to plant of all Spencers for April and May and June blooming. For a Christmas picking the best kind I have got was a Christmas Snow Bird. This being a German variety it will germinate better than any others. The Chairman: Our next paper this morning will be by L. D. Tyrrell, of Lincoln, on the subject of "Forcing Bulbs." FORCING BULBS. L. D. Tyrrell, Lincoln. If the committee which assigned to me the task of preparing a paper on the growing and forcing of bulbs had known how little real pleasure I have ever derived from carrying around a tray, or a box of bulbs, en- deavoring to get them into bloom for some special day or occasion, they no doubt would have assigned to me for my consideration some plant or class of plants more dear to my heart. For I believe that the average florist gives as little serious thought and consideration to the bulbs which he forces into bioom under glass, as he does to any class of plants with wliich he comes in contact, that are of so much importance to him. One reason lor this is that we take little or no part in the growing of these bulbs, which is left entirely in the hands of our brother across the water, who is better equipped with climate and with soil essential to their welfare, and then when we do receive our annual importation of bulbs, we immediately take them to some secluded spot, and there confine them to their winter quarters beneath the ground where the bulk of them are to remain until the late weeks of winter or the early weeks of springs. Fifteen years ago a few local bulb and supply houses handled the entire bulb supply of this country. Today there is not a bulb growing concern in Holland which does not have its representative in this country, and who after having once sold you a bill of bulbs, which you will hardly have placed in their winter quarters before you will a;-;ain find him at your door. Such has become the keen competition among the bulb growers, for the American bulb trade. It is not infrequent that you will meet in your place of business some individual who has traveled abroad, and after looking over your small daily supply of bulb stock, will remark with considerable emphasis, "Oh, you ought to have been with me and •lave seen the bulb fields of Holland," but 11 as that individual was looking over those fields of fragrance and beauty some one had told him that more than fi5 per cent of the flower producing bulbs of Holla-;id arc annually imported to the United States and Canada, to be forced into bloom under FORCING BULBS 81 glass by the florists of these countries, that individual would probably have surveyed his informer with awe. Twenty years ago it was not uncommon to hear a florist remark that there was little or no money in forcing bulbs, and that opinion still pre- vails to some extent among growers with small establishments. Be that however as it may, I shall not discuss this phrase of bulb growing at this time, for the steady yearly increase in the importation of these little tubers into our country is sufficient evidence in itself that they have at least found a wanii place in the hearts of the American flower buying public. Such being the case it is up to the American florist to procure the best stock possible, and to put it on the market in the best possible condition that he may realize a reasonable profit. It is usually along about the middle of September that we receive our first consignment of bulbs, which is usually the florists' friend. The paper white narcissus which if given half a chance and as much good judgment, will be in continuous crop from Thanksgiving until Easter. At this time wo also receive the Roman hyacinths, which on account of the demand for long stemmed flowers has of recent years lost much of its popularity, but a few of these delicate fragrant white flowers can be used very profitably through December, and January, as they force quite easily in ordinary greenhouse temperature. About a month later we shall begin to receive our Dutch bulbs, and by the first of November we shall have received our entire consignment of bulbs. Having received our supply of bulbs we must prepare trays or flats of a convenient size to be easily handled, three or four inches in depth in which we place the bulbs in a good rich soil about half an inch apart, and press the soil firmly about them covering them entirely; this done, we dig a trench throwing out about three inches of soil, which will give us plenty with which to cover and then place the boxes in rows so that they will be easily labeled with a good long label which will reach well above all covering which they will need as the winter comes on. When you have them all in place give a good thorough watering making sure that they are wet to the bottom for this will have a great deal to do with your future success in forcing them into bloom. It is a good plan to let them stand for twelve to twenty-four hours before covering with dirt, and then examine to see if they are wet to the bottom, then cover with two or three inches of dirt, and add your litter only as you have to, to keep away a hard freeze. This may be followed for narcissus, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus and so forth. Cases of narcissus may also be placed in a good cool cellar where they may be kept well into the new year, before boxing which may be done from the potting bench and then placed in a cool house or beneath a cool carnation bench while some prefer to box hyacinths and later pot them from the boxes. I think perhaps it saves time and they do just as well to place them in pots and bury them with the rest of your bulb supply. It is quite easy to bring paper white narcissus and Roman hyacinths into bloom for Christmas, and narcissus may be had for Thanks- 82 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY giving if desired, but the new year will scarcely have been ushered in until you will begin to hear from your customers' demands for signs of spring, such as tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths some ten weeks before you are apt to hear that first real sign of spring, the robin's song. We have now come to the critical time in forcing bulbs. Six or eight weeks later it will be an easy matter, but we have brought in a few boxes of tulips and daffodils, and a few pots of hyacinths. And where did you put them? Beneath a cool carnation bench? That may be all right, but I prefer, if possible, to place them beneath a bench in a warm rose house, under which there is no heat, for these first boxes of bulbs for the first two or three weeks, will grow but little even here; and if we are to have stems of sufficient length to make them salable, we must get them into a temperature which does not fall much short of 75 degrees the entire twenty-four hours or we shall have failure, or at least that has been my experience. If you do not have a small house where you can main- iain such a temperature, enclose the end of some warm convenient bench where you have a good bottom heat, make the bench about eighteen inches deep and cover over with glass, and clean all sand and lath from the bench and enclose so you will have a good bottom heat. Put a thermometer in the box and if you are firing steady and your box is enclosed tight, it will stand close to 90 degrees. Put plenty of moss in the bottom of your box and set your boxes of bulbs in, and have cracks between the glass so that you can maintain a temperature of about 75 degrees. Give two good April showers each day, but do not soak unless necessary. Shade over the glass with papers for the first week, or until the plants are well drawn up, then remove the papers at night. I have found this to be a good process for a florist who only forces a few boxes at a time. It is also well to keep about three weeks' supply of bulbs under the bench at all times, bringing in a few each week, which will give us a continuous crop. It is always the first boxes of tulips and daffodils that give us the most anxiety, and we often become anxious and bring in a few of these bulbs along in December and no matter how we treat them they fail to respond fully garbed, and finally some morning we find an open flower without a handle and without a coat which looks up at us and seems to say, "Why did you disturb me at this season of the year, when everything is fast asleep. I should like to have tarried just a little longer in my quiet solitude, hut if you must have me, here I am." And we take off our cap and from our pocket our knife, and cut off their dainty heads, and say, "You will do for a design." It is hardly advisable to bring in tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths before the first of January or first of February. As to varieties of tulips they are many and varied, not two growers using the same varieties, but there is none in white which forces more easily than the La Reine; Princess Helena also forces easily but the bulbs are more expensive. In yellow there is none better than Men Tresor for early forcing; Yellow Prince is also good; in pink. Cottage Maid is good and they are cheap. GROWING LILIES FOR EASTER 83 In the red and yellow and terra cottas, we find Kaiser, Kroon Duchesse de Parma and Prince of Austria, all of which respond readily. We should not neglect to buy a few miniature Dutch hyacinths which we should place in pots as they force easily, but mixed colors should never be used as they come too uneven. In narcissus there is none that force so well or have so much value as the double Von Sion. In the single varieties I might recommend the Golden Spur and the Becolor. Emperor and Elmpress jonquils, and crocuses may be forced in the same manner as bulbs which I have mentioned, but are little used by florists as they are more suitable for bedding when placing our bulbs in their winter quarters. We should not fail to make up a few pans of the different kinds of bulbs which will sell readily at Easter time. The Chaii^man: Is there any discussion on this paper? No discussion. The Chairman: The next paper will be by Mr. Ed Williams of Grand Island, on the subject "Growing Lilies for Easter." GROWING LILIES FOR EASTER. Ed Williams, Grand Island. I believe that the speaker before me, Mr. Tyrrell, said a whole lot when he said that we did not have anything to do with the bulbs. That our brothers across the water did that part of it. All we had to do was just to take them and pot them and box them and bring them into the greenhouse, and give them water and so forth. The only thing we have to do is to get them here on time. When we want lilies for Easter, we want them for Easter, and when we want a flower for Christmas, you want the flower for Christmas, and the florist who will have his flowers on time, will make a success of the business. I would like to say before I start this paper., that there are hardly two florists that grow lilies in the same way. The subject of Forcing Lilies for Easter having been assigned to me, I will endeavor to give you my method of treatment. I have tried dif- ferent ways to grow lilies, and have found that this method is the best from several different standpoints. I have grown them for several years this way, and have had good success and that is what we all are after. Of course you all know that there is no set rule to go by, in growing any plant. A grower has to use good common horse sense and be able to tell at different stages of growth, where they are at. As soon as possible, after arrival, which is in July, we put them into four-inch pots, using a compost of three-fourths sandy loam and one-fourth well rotted cow manure, being sure to give plenty of drainage. Lilies do better in a light soil. We place the pots in a cold frame when ready to water and we give them a thorough soaking. Then sprinkle a little sand over them; this is to keep the old soil that we cover them over with, from sticking 84 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY to the pots: we cover them to the depth of three inches with the old soil. If the weather is dry, we give them another soaking before cover- ing them up with the manure which we put on to the depth of five or six inches. As soon as the early clirysanthemums are out of the way we start taking them into the house. After they have stood on the bench for about two weeks, the growth has hardened up some, so that the repotting can be done. The size of the pots depends on the size of the bulbs. We put bulbs, known as five to seven, in five-inch pots; the size seven to nine in six-inch pots. Several growers waste lots of valu- able space by potting into too large size pots. A bulbous plant don't need as much soil to grow in as other plants do. In the repotting we ?elect the strongest plants first, leaving the weakest ones until we see whether they are going to make it or not. Right here is where you are going to save a lot of valuable space, for if you had them in larger sized pots with the idea of not repotting them at all, all the weak and diseased ones would be using your bench room. The watering sJiould be looked after very carefully for about three or four weeks, after this last shift, for this is the making or failure of the lily. Constant syringing is what they like, every day. Oftentimes florists are complaining of short stems they get on their lilies. If they would syringe oftener they could get these stems, — and right here let me say that the treatment of keeping them out of doors in the frame has something to do with getting a good stemmed plant. The lilies when brought in, should be given a temperature of 52 to 54, night heat, and as they take hold of the soil the temperature can be increased as re- quired. Of course it depends on what date Easter falls on. This year Easter is very early and these that are going to get their lilies in will be doing well. I am referring now to the small grower. The large grower has the advantage of being able to move his plants around so that it is seldom that he misses out entirely but it is different with the small grower who only has a certain house for them, and has to keep them there. If you see that you are going to have to push them don't be afraid to give them heat. Just as long as you syringe them often, you may give them heat, but don't wait until the last week and then force them so hard. Start in time so that you won't have a batch of soft off-color blossoms. It takes seven to eight weeks to blossom from the time you can count the buds at 60 to 62 night heat with fair sun- shine, or m other words a good rose house temperature. The aphis loves the lily, so keep them clean at all times, for if they get a start on you, they will be hard to get rid of, and they can do lots of damage in a very short time. Fumigating is the common way to keep them clean. Make it a practice to fumigate once a week, or if you are situated so that you can't, you can keep them clean by dusting them with tobacco dust. Staking the plants is essential so as to get good straight stems. If your lilies are showing buds too early, which seems to be the case with some of them, don't make the mistake of putting them in a cold, or rather too cold a house, for the set-back they will get will stunt them and be the GROWING LILIES FOR EASTER 85 cause of getting small flowers. There is no danger after the buds begin to turn for then is the best time to hold them back. A good cellar is the best place to hold them back, where it is dark. I have kept them in such a place for a period of two weeks, bringing them up a few days before Easter, so as to harden them up before sending them out. In handling lilies, care should be taken so as not to shake them around too much, especially those that are not staked, as the stem is very weak, at the base of the plant. This method of growing does away with that to a certain extent, for in repotting, you can set your plants down in the pot. As to varieties, there are many. I think that when placing your order for bulbs, in the fall, a thought should be given as to the date Easter falls on, the following year, as some lilies force easier than others. The Harrisii is the easiest one to get in early. I am growing them as my main crop this year. And they are uniform in size and height, hardly any diseased ones, and they are about to show bud now, which with ordinary heat will be just right for Easter. I am also growing the Formosum and Giganteum. The Giganteum is a prettier lilly than the Harrisii; the flowers stand up nicer, but they require more heat. The Formosum is a good one to grow, as a batch of them will give you flowers through the winter months, but is not a lily to depend on for Easter. I will conclude by saying that getting lilies in for Easter has put more gray hairs in the florist's head than any other plant he grows, for failure to get them in on time means a big loss in time, space and money. Some florists have to resort to giving the plants a watering of warm water twice a day. More or less of the remaining dip their heads in warm water. I have gotten up, twice a night for several nights, prior to Easter, when I had to resort to hard forcing, where we grew several thousand plants, and with the aid of the fireman's lantern, syringe the house so as to get the moisture. And some of them, looked as if they had gone through a siege of smallpox when I got through with them. But lilies for Easter was the slogan, and lilies we will have at any cost. So when the clergy- man comes with a poor mouth, don't be too hard on him, and count the buds too close. The Chairman: Is there any one who has any question they would like to ask Mr. Williams. DISCUSSION. Mr. Green: Just one question or suggestion I would like to make, and that is in regard to the Formosum lily. The average small florist does not grow enough of them. We grow them in the fall, and begin to grow them and cut them steadily up along to Decoration day. They all had the same treatment exactly, but some of them were eighteen inches high, and some of them were seven or eight feet high. Another thing about us small fellows; I am a small grower comparatively, in a small 86 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY town; now the cold storage Giganteum, there are a number of wholesal- ers who are putting them out in large lots. It is a good idea for a small grower to have a hundred or so come along the first of every month, from February, or January and March on up to the first of May. Pot them up. That will give you a steady supply of lilies on up through the summer months. It is almost impossible to get the Formosum at this time of the year, they are not on the market. The Chairman: Get the bulbs in the fall. Mr. Green: My idea was to buy Giganteum. We are planting 100 bulbs the first of January, and will plant them the first of March. And we will get lilies all the time, instead of using specimens. Mr. Frey: We commence getting our cold storage lilies the first of March, and from that time on, we get them. We have been getting our Formosum lilies since Christmas, and will have enough lilies for every day use up to Easter, and then they will straggle on that way. Mr. Frey: I do not believe it would pay a small grower to have Harrisii except in two or three cases, maybe. There are places where I have been, where they were Harrisii and about 60 or 70 per cent of them were diseased. Once in a while somebody will get a case of them that will be good. I believe that the best lily for the small grower to grow would be the Formosum. There is very little disease in the bulbs, and practically all of them come clean. Out of 100, there will be 50 or 60 per cent of them that will be anywhere from two to three feet, and they have good foliage. I remember I bought the first case of Harrisii that ever came west, about twenty-seven years ago, and out of that 100, there was 101 bulbs, and I had 101 plants, and every one was perfect, and while they grew about five or six feet high, not every one of them was a perfect plant, and they ran from fifteen to sixteen flowers, and today out of the same bulbs, you will get about three flowers. Personally, I grow Gigan- teum for Easter, but I give them heat. The bulbs arrive here about November, or the last of October, and they are potted immediately, and I let the pots get well filled with roots and give them heat. I do not mind 80 degrees at night, in fact all I can give them. And by Easter you will get a flower that is a good deal larger, and has more substance than any that can be grown. Mr. Williams: The small grower can't give them that heat. That is the trouble with the Giganteum. I have grown them for the last three or four years, and I found that I lacked the heat that was necessary for them, and so I could not handle them. I ordered Formosum, and there are several others that are smaller than I am, and some that are larger than I am, and they are in the same fix. So I tackled the Harrisii for my main crop, and I have 2,000 as pretty plants as you ever laid your eyes on. They average twenty-four inches high, and have good straight stems, right down to the pot, and I have seen hardly a diseased plant in the bunch If you can get Harrisii like that; I think they are good to grow, because you can get them into blossom without much forcing, and it saves the florist a lot of worry. Of course, the Giganteum, as I said, I have put CUT FLOWERS FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS 87 them in where Easter comes along in April, for that is in time, but where a small florist can not give them that heat you mentioned, it is no plant for him. Take the small florist, he will buy just a few hundred bulbs. And you take 200 Formosum bulbs; he can not tell, and you can not tell, how many plants you are going to get in for Easter. You might be lucky enough to get them all in, but personally I believe that you might have them from seven feet high to an inch high, that has been my experience with them. Mr. Frey: I do not believe that it pays a small grower to monkey with them. The last few years I had Harrisii there were very few plants that were not diseased. Of course there are a number of good ones. You m:iy have had a good grade of bulbs. You may not get the same grade of bulbs the next year. The Chairman: The next paper is by Mr. Green of J^'emont on the subject of "Cut Flowers for the Summer Months." CUT FLOWERS FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS. C. H. Green, Fremont. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: When I got into this subject I found it was a big one. and in a paper that is given in a short time here it must naturally be a great deal like the blue sky, it must cover everything and really touch nothing. So I have prepared a iTaper along the lines that I thought would be the most desirable and tried to cover the ground as best I could. It is rather peculiar, but none the less true, that the average retail florist has more difficulty in filling his orders for cut flowers during the summer months when flowers are supposedly plentiful everywhere than at any other season of the year. During the last half of June and through July and August when the two great staples, roses and carnations are practically out of commission the constant demand must be supplied with other stock. True the demand is not so great as during the rest of the year, but what there is, must be taken care of. This demand must be met princi- pally with stock grown outside of greenhouses. It must be in constant supply, and of a nature that will keep without wilting until it has served its purpose. Near the great wholesale supply centers, there are of course specialists, who grow summer stock and of whom it can always be ob- tained, but what we are interested in, is how to produce it at home and keep down our wholesale bills. There is no general rule to follow as to what to grov/ and how. We must each figure out the needs of our own particular case. I could not tell you what you would find most profitable, but will give you a brief outline of my own methods and experience. Asters are without doubt the most important of all the summer flow- ers. I might say everbody grows asters. We plant our main crop in the open field, but last summer the best flowers we cut were from 88 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY plants grown in a cold frame and watered regularly. Hereafter we will continue to plant a goodly lot in the field but we will also make sure by planting a couple of frames also. We sow the seed in series of plantings about three weeks apart. The first sowing about the first of February. This is a small lot of some early flowering white sort, and the plants are shifted along as is necessary until room can be found to plant them into a partly empty pansy frame or on the bench inside. For this very early sowing, it is well to avoid getting more than can be taken care of conveniently. They will run up to a flower if allowed to become root bound in the flat or small pot, and they are practically worthless. Our second planting consists of Queen of the Market in the three col- ors, white, pink and purple. There are a number of other shades of this type, but we think it better to have a few colors and lots of them than the reverse. About March 1st, we sow a crop for the retail plant trade. For this we use Semples Branching, and all the shades we can get, — white, light blue, pink, red, lavender and purple. Last year we made a special low price on the plants by the dozen and found they sold rapidly and generally gave satisfaction. For our own flowering the Queen of the Market are followed by white and pink Crego, and they by the Peona Flowered, in white, pink and pur- ple. There are a number of other sorts or types, other than the ones I have named here, equally good perhaps, possibly better. "We saw what is perhaps the newest of the improved sorts at the Florists' Sawyer As- termum. They were Crego or comet type, very large with good centers. The white and lavender were better than the pink of the lot we saw. The seed may be sown either in flats or in soil on a bench. We pre- fer the bench seed bed to the flats as it is easier to control the moisture. We sow in rows an inch and a half to two inches apart, in preference to broadcast, as it gives us a chance to stir the soil occasionally. The first planting is made in the field and tlie last week in April or early in May and the later ones follow along through May as the weather, our judgment and convenience may prescribe. We do not make a practice of watering the plants in the field, al- though we have facilities for doing so, as we believe that careful and con- stant cultivation of the soil is just as good, if not better. Those grown in frames on the other hand we give plenty of water. Next to the asters in importance, we would place the gladiolus. They are easily grown, the bulbs are not expensive, and the blooms are very satisfactory to the buyer. They are showy enough to be useful for store window decoration, and are in season when material for this purpose is none too plentiful. The blooming season can be prolonged by planting in succession dur- ing the month of May. We dig the bulbs after they have ripened well in the fall and store them under a carnation bench until spring. We sell quite a number of bulbs during the spring plant season, which CUT FLOWERS FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS 89 we are generally able to do without depleting our stock, for as it is, they increase in numbers considerably in the field. There are a great many varieties, many of them very choice. We grow but one named sort, the America, a large and very beautiful pink one. Our main crop is a strain of Gandivensis hybrids, assorted. In these we have a good range of colors that answer our every requirement. We have a bed of roses six by one hundred, that come in mighty handy where there is none to be cut inside. We just filled up an old sunken hotbed with good rose soil, leaving the old manure in the hot bed, and then planted Kaiserins, Killarneys, pink and white, Gruss and Teplitz, and a few Clotilde Soupe. These, we shade with lattice made of lath as a partial protection from the sun. We keep them watered and the oil stirred until the middle of August, when we apply a heavy mulch, and discontinue the watering. They continue flowering after we stop the water but slack up gradu- ally on the production of new wood and harden up for winter. We get some good flowers in this way. In fact, the flrst prize vase of cut roses at the state fair was cut from this bed one year. The varieties we are growing continue to bloom quite awhile after frost. The winter treat- ment is simple and easy. After a few killing frosts have ripened them thoroughly, we cover the bed with straw, working it well in between the plants, and leaving them in their natural upright position. Where neces- sary, a long cane, or an overgrown plant is cut back to about the general height, so the covering of straw is just about as deep as the plants are high. About, or soon after the middle of December, a further covering of straw is put on. This is just scattered over tops and all. Nothing more is required until about the middle of March, when part of the covering is taken off. Not all off though, because a warm spell would start them into growth before the danger of hard frost is past. We take off the rest of the straw in April, keeping it on as long as possible. If the weather is warm and starts the growth under the straw, it had better be off. As soon as it is off, we cut out all the dead wood, stir the soil well and they grow like weeds. An occasional plant will be killed down almost to the ground but that seems to make no difference with their growing strength. The Antirrhinum or snap dragon makes a good summ.er flower. We grow them for seed and sow early enough so we can let them make a flower before we plant them in the field. This gives us a chance to se- lect the most desirable shades. The seedlings are very tender when they first come up, and should be transplanted, as soon as they can be handled. We have found the chrysanthemum maximum very useful as a sum- mer flower. It is really a hardy daisy, something on the order of the Shasta daisy but in our opinion far better. They bloom constantly and abundantly from mid-July till hard frosts come. They are hardy so far as cold is concerned but can not stand cold and wet together. We dig such clumps as we want from stock after they have ripened well and put them in a frame, covering them well with leaves or rubbish. During 90 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY February or March we bring these clumps inside and let them thaw out. Then we divide the root and pot them into two and a half or three inch pots. Planted in the field early, they grow rapidly and furnish an abun- dance of long stemmed good sized daisies that are very welcome. A short row of double white petunias, and one of double alyssum, every florist should have. Sweet peas are another good summer flower though at our place we have them all winter and make a specialty of selling the seed in the spring; we do not pay as much attention to the production of the cut blooms in summer as we would otherwise. We grow some, however, and find them profitable. One mistake that is made in growing sweet peas is to plant too many. If your planting is so large that you do not need all the flowers produced you are pretty sure to neglect the picking and then it is only a short time until they stop blooming and you have none. We have a number of other good things that might be included un- der this head. The peonies and hardy phlox are both desirable and prof- itable. Those varieties of peonies that will bloom by May 30th are our money makers. The spring of 1911 was an exceptionally good one for peonies with us. Weather conditions were such that the crop came in just right for Decoration day and we sold $600.00 worth of blooms from a plot of ground not as large as an ordinary city lot. Last season they were later in blooming and we realized about half that amount, though we had as many or more blooms a^ we did the year before. We do not know of any way to get them into flower sooner than the natural conditions will permit, though we believe that early and constant cultivation helps some. The phlox are not so valuable on account of the bad habit they have of dropping their florets. Still when weather conditions are in their favor, they make some grand heads of bloom that help out the store window nicely. Now I have not tried to cover the whole list of desirable summer flowers in this paper, or give directions for the culture except in a general way in some instances. If some of you have summer flowers that you like better than the sorts I have mentioned I would be glad to know of them, and assure you that I am as ready to receive, as to give instruction, at all times. DISCUSSION. Mr. Harrison: You did not mention the iris, I wonder why you over- looked those? A. We do not handle those, and I just mentioned those that we grow. Q. Well, there is nothing better for Decoration day. Mr. Williams: Iris do not ship well. Mr. Harrison: No sir, they do not. Mr. Williams: In the summer time the florist is called upon for flowers for funeral purposes and we must grow just certain stuff that we HEATING GREEXHOUSES 91 know will carry and arrive at its destination and look half decent when it gets there. Mr. Harrison: Now you take the Siberian iris, and especially the blue and take them just as they are unfolding those big blue buds, and they will keep just as well as any flower, and there is another one called the Snow Queen that is a good shipper. A Member: What method do you use in propagating your hardy phlox? A. We do not propagate a great many, but you can take the young growth after it has started, and it roots very readily in the greenhouse in the regular propagating bed, or we have a bench that we take up in the fall. Q. Well, the point is, to leave them dormant for a while before you bring them to the greenhouse? A. Well, we do that for convenience. We do not want the plants until spring, and the florist has to figure on his bench space. And we do not want to take care of them all winter. We do not propagate any- thing until we get it ready for the market. Mr. Harrison: One way, and a very good way to propagate phlox is this: You take them in the fall and keep them fine and fibrous. In digging run your spade down about half way and run under and leave a lot of roots in the ground, and you will have, — sometimes you will get 25 or 30 plants from those roots. They will come up and hunt a head and find it. And they won't bloom much the first year, but you can dig them up and transplant them, and the year after you will have a fine lot. We propagate thousands of them that way. For the ordinary grower, that is the most efficient way. And another thing, you can dig up a good lot of roots, vigorous and full of life, and take them in a little pot and put them in your greenhouse and even out under a screen or in a hotbed those will grow just as readily and I think a little more so, than from cutting. A Member: Probably one of the best ways to propagate the hardy phlox I think is to dig them up entirely and cut the good firm live roots up into about a two-inch length, and put them in a fiat, and cover them with two inches of sand, keeping them at about 40 degrees, and they will very soon commence to grow and every one of them will grow just as easy as from sowing the seeds. You will have any amount of them next spring. The Chairman: Our next paper, and last one, is by Lewis Henderson, of Omaha, on the subject of "Heating of Greenhouses. HEATING GREENHOUSES. 4 Lewis Henderson, Omaha. Mr. Henderson: Mr. President, and fellow members of the State Florists' Society: The subject of heating greenhouses is not an easy subject to do justice to in a short article. But to be in the florist business 92 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY it seems to be a necessity i,o be able lO understand steam heating be- cause thereupon depends part of the success of growing flowers, as there are only three months of the year in which we need no steam heat. My first experience in heating greenhouses extends back some twenty- five or thirty years ago, when the florist business was in its infancy, when most of us were short of money and had to get along as cheap as pos- sible. In those days as you will well remember, we used brick flues extending from one end of the greenhouse to the other, with a fireplace in the lower end and some kind of a chimney in the other. These flues kept the house fairly warm and everything seemed to thrive as long as these flues did not crack and let the gas into the houses, which they of- ten did. The next improvement we had was putting water pipes with heating coils placed into these fireplaces in addition to the flues which worked fairly well when put in right. After that came the hot water boiler, which of course, is a good thing for the growing of store plants and other plants, but to grow roses it is not as good on account of the sudden changes in our climate, it not being able to heat as quick as steam. We therefore had to install the steam boiler with the gravity system by digging a deep hole in the ground in order to place the top water line of the boiler about two feet below the heating pipes to get the condensed water to return to the boiler. This has now been improved upon by the use of steam traps which lift the water into the boilers by their own pressure even if the boiler stands on the top of the ground and above the heating pipes. The size of the boiler ought to be about one hundred horsepower to every twenty-five thousand square feet of glass or two boilers of one hundred horsepower each to fifty thousand feet of glass. I would use regular tubular iron boilers with four-inch flues with the smokestack in the front. A seventy-five foot stack with thirty-inch diameter, to a hun- dred horsepower boiler, or if for two or three boilers the stack must be in proportion. There is a great saving in fuel if you have a high smoke- stack, you get more heat out of your coal from a seventy-five foot stack than you get out of a fifty-foot stack. The grate ought to be a close shaker grate, about half an inch open- ing, although of course it would depend some on the kind of coal you are using. The main feed pipes out from the boiler ought to be a four- inch to the hundred horsepower, and the return three-inch. The main feed ought to be extended overhead with an asbestos covering to the upper end of the house or from the middle to each end; this pipe can be reduced to a little smaller at each branch from the four-inch, thus making the steam return back to the starting point, the size of the heating pipes. I would use inch and a quarter black pipe about ten lengths to every twenty feet width of pipes, laying under each bench with a little slope to the boiler for carnations. For some other plants you will not need so many pipes. There are two systems of heating: High and low pressure. On the HEATING GREENHOUSES 93 low pressure system you have the same pressure on the boiler as you have on the pipes in the houses, five, ten or fifteen pounds, which is about the average pressure on the pipes, either high or low pressure used. To use the high pressure you must put in a reducing valve on the main feed pipe whereby you can carry forty to fifty pounds or more on the boiler, then set the valve to the number of pounds you desire in the houses. Of course, under the high pressure system you must have a trap system, in connection to return the condensed water. The high pressure system is greatly recommended as a saving in heating; it heats the steam to a greater degree of heat, and thus when it gets into the pipes it is more hot air and not as much water, as in the low pressure. The amount of coal it takes, I find on an average, on a range of houses, of roses, carnation house plant, and down to violet, say fifty thou- sand feet, is 175 tons per month at a cost of about $500.00 or three and a half tons of coal to every thousand feet of glass, at a cost of $10.00 per thousand feet of glass, or $1.00 per hundred, or one cent per foot, per month. I am basing these prices on Cherokee steam coal at an average cost of $3.00 per ton. The fireman is the man that can save your firm 50 to 100 per cent on. the price of heating if he understands his business. He is the man who can give 3'ou the mildew on your roses or a lot of other things, if he does not keep the temperature at an even point, or goes to sleep and lets you freeze out. If he understands his business in keeping the boilers clean with a good boiler compound and well washed out, keeps his grates clean, free from clinkers, and always a fine bright fire, if he is a man that tries to see how much heat he can get out of the least amount of coal, and not a man that tries to see how much coal he can burn during the night, he is a man that will be invaluable to you. When you are through firing in the spring, and shut up your boilers put in some good boiler compound and fill up your boilers with water and they will keep a great deal longer than if you empty them and let the air get into them, which will rust them a great deal quicker than the wa- ter will. Then early in the fall clean them out thoroughly, inspect them good with a hammer test, and go over the brick work, and they will then be ready for another seven to nine months' service. There are many other things connected with the heating system that I did not mention such as a temperature man, who ought to be an expert florist to look after the proper heat, and ventilation at night. Also the smoke consumers, combustion chambers, fans, or artificial drafts, which my limited time does not permit me to go into detail about, will force me to leave those things with you for discussion. DISCUSSION. Mr. Williams: I realize that our time is getting short, but there is a paper that I have been trying to have some one present for several years, and I am the one that suggested that paper being read at this meeting. I 94 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY would like to state that the heating plant is not given the attention it should have, by the florist. He will go and water his plants when they are dry; he will open up his ventilators, and he is always trying some new plants or flowers, and thinking that by that he is attending to his business, and keeping up-to-date. When fall comes he begins to think about the firing, and that as a general rule is the last minute, and he finds there are two or three things to be done, and the first thing you know the cold weather is here, and he goes around and tries to get the cheap- est man he can get to throw his coal in this winter. Nine florists out of ten do that. There are a few of the progressive ones do not do that. I am one of the guilty ones and I have done it to my sorrow. I believe that a cheap man is expensive at any price for a night fireman. There are several propositions that Mr. Henderson did not enter into upon his paper, that I would like to have threshed out but as I say, the time is short, and I will let it go. But as I say, there is not a florist that gives the attention that he should to his heating plant, and there is no one that burns as much coal as the florist does. Q. What sort of a compound do you use for your boiler? A. I have been using the liquid compound, and I think it is better than a dry compound. Q. Do you remember the ingredients in that compound? A. I do not, it is manufactured in Omaha. Q. How often do you use it? A. I put it in once a week, and I put in about half a gallon at a time in the boiler, and it does the work, and makes a whole lot of difference in the fire or firing of the boiler, of course you must wash it out. The way you draw the water out of the boiler is some every week, — empty the boiler thoroughly once a month, and draw out a little every once in a while that settles to the bottom. Q. In case of a hot water system, is this compound good to use? A. I do not know; I do not know anything about a hot water system, Mr. Williams: A boiler compound is good for any boiler. Q. Where do you drain your boiler, above or below the boiler room? A. I generally have the boiler connected with the sewer and return pipes come right from the back end of the boilers and flow into the sewer, at the lowest point of the sewer. You must have your opening on the bottom of the boiler so that you can get that scale off. Q. Well, we haven't a sewerage connection. A. You don't need a sewerage. You can blow it wherever you want to. It is not necessary to blow it all off, just blow it until the water gets clear and we blow ours out into the yard. Let it blow until the water has gone down about two inches and you will get about all of the settlings out of your boiler. A Member: There is a bill going to be presented before the legis- lature this winter for an appropriation of .$100,000 for a new building at the State Fair grounds for horticulture and agriculture, etc., and 1 move that SECRETARY'S REPORT 95 this society go on record as in favor of that appropriation, coming from the florists of the state of Nebraska, as an auxiliary of the Horticultural Society, and that the president and secretary of the same see that it is presented to both houses. Seconded and carried. The Chairman: I believe that this society is in favor of this motion, as a whole. A Member: Well, there should be a record of it. Mr. Williams: The president and secretary should send suitable res- olutions endorsing that bill that is to be presented to the legislature. Carried. The Chairman: I believe this brings our meeting to a close. Mr. Henderson: I want to get the names and addresses of all the different florists and get them enrolled upon my list so that I can send them a notice of what is going on here. Of course you should be mem- bers of the State Horticultural Society, but you can be members of this florists' society without being members of anything else. I would like to get all the different meinbers' names dov. n, in order to have a complete list. And remember that the dues are 50 cents a year. Not very much, but it will pay some expenses. It now being 12 o'clock m., January 22, 1913, the meeting of the florists' session of the State Horticultural Association adjourned. 2:00 o'clock p.m., January 22, 1913. The meeting of the Nebi'aska State Horticultural Society convened pursuant to adjournment, and the following proceedings were had and done. The Chairman: We will commence where we should have com- menced at 11 o'clock this forenoon. Our florist friends had a very large and interesting meeting and we did not feel like interrupting it, but let them carry their work through. The first thing in order will be the report of the secretary. SECRETARY'S REPORT. 1.912. The Nebraska State Horticultural Society, In account with C. G. Marshall, Secretary. Cash received and turned to treasurer: Membership fees $ 103 50 Advertising in Nebraska Horticulture 168 36 Fruit sold at State Fair 55 00 From State Board of Agriculture 1,200 00 Total $1,526 86 96 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY WARRANTS DRAWN. No. To Whom Drawn, and tor What Purpose Amount 1 L. Henderson, premiums $ 21 00 2 L. Henderson, per diem 6 00 3 C. H. Green, premiums 27 00 4. G. A. Marshall, per diem 15 00 5 W. A. Harrison, per diem 12 00 6 J. A. Yager, per diem 12 00 7 Ray W. Hesseltine, premiums 10 00 8 Marshall Bros., premiums 52 00 9 F. Hoffman, premiums 19 00 10 F. Hoffman, premiums 3 00 11 G. S. Christy, premiums 20 00 12 L. W. Sla^yton, premiums 13 00 13 Edward Nonnamaker, premiums 2 00 14 Howard & Lee, premiums 2 00 15 R. A. Burns, premiums 1 00 16 Davidson Floral Co., premiums 5 00 17 Dole Floral Co., premiums 4 00 18 Simanton & Pence, premiums 3 00 19 A. J. Brown, per diem 12 00 20 Ray W. Hesseltine, box of apples 2 00 21 L. M. Russell, per diem 9 00 22 Ira Soucey, packing, demonstrating, etc 25 00 23 A. C. Miller, labor at fruit show 12 00 24 Keyser & Marshall, premiums 14 00 25 Keyser & Marshall, fruit and packages 27 50 26 C. G. Marshall, postage, exp , del. expenses 39 71 27 W. M. Benton, printing 20 50 28 Lincoln Paper Co., paper 3 20 29 State Journal Co., half-tone and advertising 5 50 30 Sartor Jewelry Co., polLshing trophies. . 1 50 31 Star Publishing Co , advertising 3 00 32 Wallace Hale, labor ' 3 or> 33 Hebbard-Showers, photos 4 50 34 C. G. Marshall, January salary 8:! 00 35 Globe Delivery Co., freight and drayage 1 90 36 C. H. Barnard, per diem 9 00 37 Lincoln Tel. & Tel. Co., telephone tolls 85 38 Val Keyser, lecturing at horticultural institutes 30 00 39 C. A. Emery, reporting annual meeting 90 00 40 C. G.. Marshall, February salary 84 00 41 A. J. Brown, per diem 6 00 42 L. M. Russell, per diem 3 O-J 43 Peter Youngers, per diem GOO 44 W. A. Harrison, per diem 6 00 SECRETARY'S REPORT 97 No. To Whom Drawn, and for What Purpose Amount 45 J. A. Yager, per diem 6 00 46 L. Henderson, per diem 6 00 47 C. G. Marshall, postage and express 13 18 48 State Journal Co., half-tones 6 75 49 W. M. Benton, printing 3 00 50 Adams Express Co., express 1 22 51 Roy B. Marshall, assistant secretary 4 00 52 Beatrice Creamery Co., storage of fruit 26 95 53 Claflin Printing Co.. printing 61 00 54 State Board of Agriculture, freight on the reports sent out 66 30 55 C. G. Marshall, March salary 83 00 56 C. a. Marshall, April salary 83 00 57 Claflin Printing Co., printing 58 00 58 C. G. Marshall, May salary 84 00 59 J. R. Duncan, per diem 6 00 60 W. A. Harrison, per diem 6 00 61 C H. Barnard, per diem 6 00 62 A. J. Brown, per diem 6 00 63 L. Henderson, per diem 6 00 64 L. M. Russell, per diem : 3 00 65 Peiter Youngers, per diem 6 00 66 C. G. Marshall, postage, express, etc 71 63 67 Big Four Transfer Co., drayage 11 25 68 Lincoln Paper Co., envelopes 8 21 69 State Journal Co., engraving 8 90 70 National Box Co., apple boxes 1 80 71 a G. Marshall, June salary 83 00 72 Claflin Printing Co., printing 42 17 73 C. G. Marshall, July salary 83 00 74 J. A. Yager, per diem, June board meeting 6 00 75 L. Henderson, per diem 6 00 76 A. J. Brown, pjer diem 6 00 77 L. M. Russell, per diem 3 00 78 C. H. Barnard, per diem 6 00 79 Peter Youngers, per diem 6 00 80 J. R. Duncan, per diem 6 00 81 J. A. Yager, per iiem 6 00 82 C. G. Marshall, postage, express, etc 18 88 83 W. M. Benton, printing 8 50 84 C. H. Green, pr;emilums 78 00 85 Frey & Frey, premiums • . • • 127 0() 86 L. Henderson, premiums 164 00 87 Ed Williams, premiums 129 00 88 Frey & Frey, premiums 10 00 89 J. D. Wilson, judging 15 00 98 NEBKASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY No. To Whom Drawn, and for What Purpose Amount 891,^ C. G. Marshall, August salary 84 OO 90 C. H. Green, premiums 5 00 91 Roy Alder„ premiums 2 00 92 J. E. Atkinson, premiums 10 00 93 C. H. Barnard, premiums 137 50 94 G. F. Beavers, premiums 10 00 95 Chas. B. Camp, premiums 56 00 96 G. S. Christy, premiums 37 00 97 R. T. Chambers, premiums 22 00 98 Geo. R. Chatburn, premiums 2 00 99 J. R. Duncan, premiums 23 00 100 J. R. Davidson, premiums 15 00 101 R. B. Duncan, premiums 3 00 102 Geo. McGraw, premiums 2 00 103 Mrs. F. G. Everetts, premiums 1 00 104 O. E. French, premiums 2 00 105 John Furnas, premiums 4 50 106 Gr. View Orchard & Vineyard Co., premiums 14 00 107 Henry Gillian, premiums 1 00 108 Ray W. Hesseltine, premiums 77 50 109 Harrison Nursery Co., premiums 2 00 110 J. R. Huffman, premiums 17 00 111 I. J. Holland, premiums 1 00 112 Alex. James, premiums 2 00 113 Keyser & Marshall, premium 58 00 114 Theo. Kaar, premiums 1 00 ] 15 Fred Kinker, premiums 2 00 116 Wm. Koopman, premiums 2 00 317 Z. T. Leftwich, premiums 50 118 Marshall Bros., premiums 167 00 119 Arnold Mai-tin, premiums 11 00 120 O. McNutt, premiums 2 50 121 Jesse McCoy, premiums 1 00 122 Ed. Newell, premiums 1 00 123 Mrs. Mary Nodolf, premiums 1 00 123% Frank Philleo, premiums 1 00 1 24 Tom Pohlman, premiums 1 50 125 Peru Fruit Farm, premiums 34 00 1 26 G. L. Rolof son, premiums 2 00 127 Wm. Rosencrans, premiums 1 00 1 28 W. Sebering. premiums 3 00 129 Wm. Shannon, premiums 1 00 130 W. F. Bidders, premiums 19 00 131 Velvick & Whittaker, premiums 23 00 132 Fred Wheeldon, premiums 18 00 133 Frank Williams, premiums 32 50 SECRETARY'S REPORT 99 No. To Whom Drawn, and for What Purpose Amount 134 W. H. Wetenkamp, premiums 1 00 135 A. H. Wetenkamp, premiums 100 136 C. H. Barnard, per diem 30 00 137 J. A. Yager, per diem 24 00 138 L. Henderson, per diem 21 00 139 A. J. Brown, per diem 27 00 140 L. M. Russell, per diem 24 00 141 G. A. Marshall, per diem 18 00 142 Ray Hesseltlne, per diem 12 00 143 W. A. Harrison, per diem 12 00 144 J. R. Duncan, per diem 24 00 145 E. B. Brown, labor 2 50 146 Jennie Edward, labor 7 50 147 Roy E. Marshall, clerk 17 50 148 F. W. Bechtel, labor 1 00 149 M. M. Youngers, labor 1 00 150 A. B. Cooper 10 00 151 A. B. Cooper, demonstrating, state fair 57 85 152 W. J. Blystone, labor and expenses 72 15 153 Chas. Haney, labor 20 00 154 W. M. Benton, printing 19 75 155 Beatrice Creamery, fruit storage 28 87 156 L. Henderson, per diem 6 00 157 A. J. Brown, per diem 6 00 158 J. R. Duncan, per diem 6 00 159 Peter Youngers, per diem 6 00 160 W. A. Harrison, per diem 6 00 161 G. A. Marshall, per diem 6 00 162 Baker Bros. Engraving Co., engraving 3 00 163 Frey & Frey, wild smilax 20 65 164 Wilber D. Camp, signs 7 00 165 Western Supply Co., plumbing supplies 1 75 166 Hotel Victoria, room rent for A. B. Cooper 7 50 167 Peter Youngers, apples 3 90 168 Rudgo & Guenzel, supplies 11 54 169 Lincoln Paper Co., paper and paper plates 12 13 170 State Journal Co., engraving and printing 15 00 171 C. H. Barnard, fruit used at fair 39 00 172 C. H. Barnard, per diem 9 00 173 Lincoln Tent & Awning Co., rental tent 3 00 174 C. G. Marshall, postage and fruit 8 29 175 Lincoln Tel. Co., phone rent 6 00 176 C. G. Marshall, September salary 83 00 177 J. A. Yager, per diem 6 00 178 Peter Youngers, freight on fruit 1 90 100 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY No. To Whom Drawn, and for What Purpose Amount 179 C. G. Marshall, October salary 83 00 180 Claflin Printing Co., printing 63 75 181 A. J. Brown, per diem 6 00 182 L. Henderson, per diem 6 00 183 Peter Youngers, per diem 6 00 184 C. H. Barnard, per diem 6 00 185 L. M. Russell, per diem 3 00 186 J. A. Yager, per diem ., 6 CO 187 C. G. Marshall, postage, etc 33 97 188 J. R. Duncan, per diem 6 00 189 Beatrice Creamery Co., ice used at state fair 19 00 190 C. G. Marshall, November salary - 84 00 191 C. G. Marshall, December salary 83 00 192 State Board of Agriculture, freight on reports sent out .... 24 73 Total warrants d^awn $4,226 Qi The Chairman: In this connection, we will also listen to the treas- urer's report. TREASURER'S REPORT. 1912. The Nebraska State Horticultural Society, In account with Peter Youngers, Treasurer: 1912 Jan. 16th. Balance on hand $2,284 lt> June 1st. Received, C. G. Marshall 168 30 June 1st. Received, C G. Marshall 103 50 June 1st. State appropriation 1,500 00 Sept. 7th. Appropriation C. G. Marshall 55 00 Sept. 7th. Appropriation State Agricultural Society 1,200 00 Sept. 2st. Appropriation State Appropriation 1,000 00 Total cash received $6,311 05 Total warrants paid $4,146 40 Balance on hand Jan. 21st, 1E'13 $2,164 65 WARRANTS PAID. Series 1911 No. Name Amount 1 57 W. E. Shannon T, 2 00 168 L. Smith 1 00 132 E. M. Butterfield 1 00 TREASURER'S REPORT 101 Series 1912 No; Name Amount 1 Louis Henderson 21 00 2 Louis Henderson 6 00 3 C. H. Green 27 00 4 G. A. Marshall 15 00 5 W, A. Harrison ; 12 00 6 J. A. Yager 12 CO 7 Ray W. Hesseltine 10 00 8 Marshall Bros 52 00 9 F. Hof man 19 00 10 W. Hofman 3 00 11 G. S. Christy 20 00 12 L. W. Slayton 13 00 13 Edward Nonnamaker 2 00 14 Howard & Lee 2 00 15 R. A. Burns '. 1 00 16 Davison Floral Co 5 00 17 Dole Floral Co 4 00 18 Simanton & Pence 3 00 19 A. J. Brown 12 00 20 Ray W. Hesseltine 2 00 21 L. M. Russell 9 00 22 Ira Soucey 25 00 23 A. C. Miller 12 00 24 Keyser & Marshall 14 00 25 Keyser & Marshall 27 50 26 C. G. Marshall 39 71 27 W. M. Benton 20 50 28 Lincoln Paper Co 3 20 29 Nebraska State Journal 5 50 30 Sartor Jewelry Co 1 50 31 Star Publishing Co 3 00 32 Wallace Hale 3 00 33 Herbert Showers 4 50 34 C. G. Marshall 83 00 35 Globe Delivery Co 1 90 36 C. H. Barnard 9 00 37 Lincoln Telephone & Tel Co 85 38 Val Keyser 30 00 39 C. A. Emery 90 00 40 C. G. Marshall 84 00 41 A. J. Brown 6 00 42 L. M. Russell 3 00 43 Peter Youngers 6 00 44 W. A. Harrison 6 00 102 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY No. Name Amount 45 J. A. Yager 6 00 46 L. Henderson 6 00 47 C. G. Marshal] 13 18 48 State Journal Co 6 75 49 W. M. Benton 3 00 50 Adams Express Co 1 22 51 Roy E. Marshall 4 00 52 Beatrice Creamery Co 26 95 53 The Claflin Printing Co 61 00 54 Nebraska State Board of Agi'iculture 66 30 55 C. G. Marshall 83 00 56 C. G. Marshall 83 00 57 Claflin Printing Co 58 00 58 C. G. Marshall 84 00 59 J. R. Duncan 6 00 60 W. A. Harrison 6 00 61 C.H.Barnard..- 6 00 62 A. J. Brown 6 00 63 L. Henderson 6 00 64 L. M. Russell 3 00 65 Peter Youngers 6 00 66 C. G. Marshall 71 63 67 Big Four Transfer Co 11 25 68 Lincoln Paper Co 8 21 69 State Journal Co 8 90 70 National Box Co 1 80 71 C. G. Marshall 83 00 72 Claflin Printing Co 42 17 73 C. G. Marshall 83 00 74 J. A. Yager 6 00 75 Louis Henderson 6 00 76 A. J. Brown 6 00 77 L. M. Russell 3 00 78 C. H. Barnard 6 00 79 Peter Youngers 6 00 80 J. R. Duncan 6 00 81 J. A. Yager 6 00 82 C. G. Marshall 18 88 83 W. M. Benton • 8 50 84 C. H. Green 78 00 85 Frey & Frey 127 00 86 L. Henderson 164 00 87 Ed Williams 129 00 88 Frey & Frey 10 00 89 J.S.Wilson 15 00 TREASURER'S REPORT 103 No. Name Amount 89^ C. G. Marshall 84 00 90 C. H. Green 5 00 91 Roy Alder 2 00 92 J. E. Atkinson 10 00 93 C. H. Barnard 137 50 94 C. F. Beavers 10 00 95 Chas. B. Camp 56 00 96 G. S. Christy 37 00 97 R. T. Chambers 22 00 98 Geo. R. Chatburn 2 00 99 J. R. Duncan 23 00 100 J. R. Davidson 15 00 101 R. B. Duncan 3 00 102 Geo. Degraw 2 00 103 Mrs. F. G. Everett 1 00 104 C. E. French 2 00 106 Grand View Orchard & Vine Co 14 00 ] 08 Ray W Hesseltine 77 50 109 Harrison Nursery Co 2 00 110 J. R. Huffman ." 17 00 111 I. J. Holland 100 112 Alex Jaynes 2 00 113 Keyser & Marshall 58 00 114 Thos. Kaar 1 00 115 Fred Kunker 2 00 116 Wm. Kookman 2 00 118 Marshall Bros - 167 00 119 Arnold Martin 11 00 120 O. McNutt 2 50 121 Jesse McCoy 1 00 122 Ed Newell 100 123 Mrs. Mary Nodolf ' 100 1231^ Frank Philleo 1 00 126 G. L. Rolofson 2 00 127 Wm. Rosencrans 1 00 128 Wm. Sebring 3 00 129 W. Shannon 100 130 W. F. Bidders 19 00 131 Velvick & Whitaker 23 00 133 Frank Williams 32 50 134 W. H. Wetenkamp 1 00 135 A. H. Wetenkamp 1 00 136 C. H. Barnard 30 00 137 J. A. Yager 24 00 138 L. Henderson 21 00 104 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY No. Name Amount 139 A. J. Brown 27 00 HO L. M. RusseJI 24 00 141 G. A. Marshall 18 00 142 Ray W. Hesseltine 12 00 143 W. A. Harrison 12 00 144 J. R. Duncan 24 00 145 E. B. Brown 2 50 146 Jennie Edwards 7 50 147 Roy E. Marshall 17 50 148 F. W. Bechtel 1 00 149 M. M. Youngers 1 00 150 A. B. Cooper 10 00 151 A. B. Cooper 57 85 152 W. J. Blystone 72 15 153 Chas. HaJney 20 00 154 W. M. Benton 19 75 155 Beatrice Creamery Co 28 87 156 Louis Henderson 6 00 157 A. J. Brown 6 00 158 J. R. Duncan 6 00 159 Peter Youngers 6 00 160 W. A. Harrison 6 00 161 G. A. Marshall 6 00 162 Baker Bros. Engraving Co 3 00 163 Froy & Frey 20 65 164 Wilier D. Camp 7 00 165 Western Supply Co 1 73 166 Hotel Victoria 7 50 167 Peter Youngers 3 90 168 Rudge & Guenzel Co 11 54 169 Lincoln Paper Co. 12 13 170 State Journal Co. ." 15 00 171 C. H. Barnard 39 00 172 C.H.Barnard 9 00 173 Lincoln Tent & Awning Co 3 00 ] 74 C. G. Marshall 8 29 ] 75 Lincoln Telephone Co 6 00 176 C. G. Marshall 83 00 177 J. A. Yager 6 00 178 Peter Youngers 1 90 179 C. G. Marshall 83 00 180 Claflin Printing Co 63 75 181 A. J. Brown 6 00 182 Louis Henderson 6 00 183 Peter Youngers 6 00 TREASURER'S REPORT 105 No. Name Amount 184 C. H. Barnard 6 00 185 L. M. Russell 3 00 186 J. A. Yeager 6 00 1 87 C. G. Marshall 33 97 1 88 J. R. Duncan 6 00 189 Beatrice Creamery Co 19 00 190 C. G. Marshall 84 00 191 C. G. Marshall 83 00 Total warrants paid $4,146 40 Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 21, 1912. This is to certify that I have this day received from Peter Youngers, ci'easurer of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society, the following list of wai'rants in exchange tor state warrant No. D20116 in the sum of $1,000. 84 C. H. Green $ 78 OC 85 Frey & Frey 127 00 86 L. Henderson 164 00 87 Ed Williams 129 00 90 C. H. Green 5 00 93 C. H. Barnard 137 50 95 Chas. B. Camp ' 56 00 108 Ray W. Hesseltine 77 50 113 Keyser & Marshall 58 00 118 Mar?hall Bros., ' 167 00 135 A. H. Vv''etenkamp 1 00 $1,000 00 Witness my hand and seal this 21st day of September, 1912. J. W. SHAHAN, Deputy Auditor Public Accounts. The Chairman: If there is no objection, this report will be referred to the finance committee, and I will announce that committee. The committee was announced as follows: Mr. Yager, chairman, Mr. E. H. Smith of York, Mr. Ernest Pollard of Nehawka. AUDITING COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Mr. Chairman: We, the committee appointed to examine the report of the secretary and treasurer of th's society, find the same to be satis- factory and correct. J. A. YAGER, B. H. SMITH, Accepted. E. M. POLLARD. 106 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Mr. Youngers: 1 have received a letter from our old friend, Mr. W. J. Hesser, and if you will allow me, I will read it. (Permission granted, and Mr. Youngers read the letter). Pasadena, Cal., Jan. 12, 1913. Mr. P. Youngers, Geneva, Nebr. Dear Sir and Friend: Next week you will be in Lincoln at the horti- cultural meeting. How I would love to be with you, but can noc. I en- close photo of self and all of the children and grandchildren that are in California. They were all home to take dinner with me the Sunday before my seventy-eighth birthday anniversary. I assure you it was a happy day. Tell all that Hesser is real well, stout and about the happiest man in California. Am about twenty years younger in strength and activity than when I left Nebraska. I now work from daylight to dark, soon the days will be longer, so 1 can work 12 to 15 hours each day, then I will have a grand good time with the dear plants and in my garden. For the last week we have had a very great change in the weather. One wliole week of cold, frosty weather. Some nights the ground froze near three inches and ice most one incli thick. The citrus fruit is badly injured and many tender piant:s killed to the ground or most so. The orchard trees are not badly injured. Just how much the fruit is hurt we can not tell at this time, but we will have lots of it to ship. Had a big white irost this morning, but bright today. We need rain badly. Had a very light one last week, but need lots more. I lost quite a few of my plants in the lath house and what I had outside in the litile nursery, but still have some left and will make plenty more soon. Still have plenty to eat and w^ear. so why not be happy? Kindly remember me to all of the boys and tell them when they come to California to be sure to hunt me up and have a good visit. With kind regards. Very truly yours, W. J. HESSER. Mr. Yager: I sugges4, that our secretary be requested to write a letter of congratulation to this old friend of ours, and tell him that we wish him success and give him our best wishes. Mr. Green: I want to second that motion, because I came to Lin- coln at Mr. Hesser's suggestion. The Chairman: I suggest that somebody amend that motion, to make it a night letter tonight. Seconded. Carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The Chairman: The time has now arrived for our annual election of officers, and unless there is further business that should be brought be- fore this meeting, we will proceed with that order. I do not suppose that any motion is necessary, so I will appoint as tellers Mr. Green of Fre- ELECTION OF OFFICERS 107 mont and Mr. Titus of Nemaha. The first office to be filled is that of president. I think it has been the custom here to make nominations, and then vote by ballot. Mr. G. A. Marshall: We have made it a rule lately that the president only serves one term. If it was not for that rule, I think we would im- pose another year on the present incumbent. But that being the case, I want to place in nomination an old member of this society, one who has not had that honor yet, or the burden; and feeling that we have a couple of years of hard work ahead of us right now, — we are starting into it, and we cannot back out, — and not one of us wants to back out, — we feel that it is well enough to place a man in nomination who is willing and capable to take the burdens of the association upon his shoulders and carry them through without faltering, and I place in nomination the name of C. H. Barnard. The Chairman: Are there any further nominations. No further nominations. Mr. Marshall: I move you that we suspend the rules, and instruct the secretary to elect Mr. Barnard by acclamation. Seconded. Carried. The Chairman: Gentlemen, the secretary casts the unanimous vote of this association for Mr. Barnard for the president of this society, for the ensuing year. The next in order is the election of a first vice-presi- dent. Mr. Williams: Mr. Chairman, and members of this society: I wish to place in nomination a man who has been second vice-president for two terms. He is in the fioral end of this society, and I believe that the show- ing of that department in this society demands recognition, and therefore I place in nomination the name of Louis Henderson of Omaha. Mr. Smith: I wish to place in nomination the name of J. A. Yager of Fremont for this office. Vote taken by ballot. Votes counted and Mr. Yager declared elected Mr. Henderson: I wish to withdraw my candidacy and make this election unanimous, and move that Mr. Yager be made the unanimous choice of this society. Seconded. Carried. Mr. Christy: Mr. President, I believe for second vice-president it would be well to make the poet laureate, Louis Henderson, the nominee for that office. Member: I move that the rules be suspended and the secretary be instructed to cast the unanimous vote of this society for Mr. Louis Henderson for second vice-president. Seconded. Carried. The Chairman: The next office to fill is that of treasurer, and we are ready for nominations. Mr. Green: In accordance with the ancient rules and landmarks of this society, I move you that the rules be suspended and Peter Youngers 108 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY be declared elected treasurer of this society for this ensuing year, for, I think, the twenty-third or twenty-fourth time. Seconded. Carried. The Chairman: We have also a director to elect, Mr. Yager being advanced to the vice-presidency and his term of office having closed. Mr. Henderson: The florists' society has only one representative on the board, while the others have all the rest. I think we should have two representatives on the board, and we will try to do all we can for it as we have in the past, and therefore I would like to have another florist on the board. One florist gets pretty lonesome and he should have another fellow with him, to help him out once in a while, and that would be only fair play to the rest of the members, and therefore I have great pleasure in nominating Mr. Ed Williams of Grand Island. A Member: As the apple industry is one of the leading industries of the state of Nebraska, and as we want a good, live man to help push this movement along, I nominate Mr. Harrison of York. No further nominations. Vote taken by ballot. Ballots counted. Mr. Harrison of York receives 31 votes, and Mr. Williams of Grand Island 11. The Chairman: I therefore declare Mr. Harrison of York elected as director for the next three years. This, I believe, ends the election of officers. OTHER BUSINESS. The Secretary: The Horticultural Society last year started to hold horticultural institutes in different parts of the state. We are now arranging for a series to be held the week of the 17th of February. We are starting up about Florence or Blair, and coming down the river, and then we have arranged to come to Nebraska City and Peru and Brown- ville and Shubert. If we are going to hold those institutes we want the members that live near those places to get busy and help work up interest for these meetings. It is pretty hard to do all the work from this end, and we would be very glad for you people that live there to co-operate with us. At Brownville and Peru and Florence the local organizations will co-operate with us. Mr. Henderson: I make a motion that the president appoint a com- mittee to revise the premium list. A committee of three, or whatever is customary. The Chairman: Three would be plenty, 1 think. Seconded. A Member: I would like to ask if it has not been customary, and if not, why not, for this matter to be referred to the Board of Directors? Let them take up this work. It is quite a job and the directors are paid for their work and let them do it. The usual course has been that this committee reports to the Board of Directors and the board makes the necessary revision. The revision must of necessity be made by the board. It could not be done in the whole society, because it would take too much time. The board revises the work of the committee. It must be gone over a second time, section by section and item by item, and either OTHER BUSINESS 109 accepted or rejected by the board. That has been the usual custom. And this committee has its appointed representative, appointed with the understanding, and they report to the board, and that report must be made not later than the meeting of the board on June 1st, at which time the board checks up the secretary. The Chairman: You have heard the motion for a committee on the revision of the premium list. All in favor say aye. Carried. The Chairman: I will announce the committee later. Mr. Benz: I would like a little information in regard to the announce- ment that the secretary made in regard to these institutes. Are they conducted on the same line that the regular farmers' institutes are conducted? The Secretary: Something similar. In one or two points last year, we had some demonstration work. I believe at Peru a demonstration was had in pruning, and also in packing apples. Now the main thing we thought best to take up this year in this section would be spraying, culti- vating, and pruning, and possibly something along the line of organiza- tion of the fruit growers. We can not put on very many of those, because our funds are limited. You know that the eastern part of the state is developing very fast in commercial apple growing, and we want to help those people. There are a great many apple orchards down there that do not have the care they should have. Mr. Benz: I notice that the western part of the state is not repre- sented in this matter. I would suggest that in the farmers' institutes that a competent horticulturist be put on the work. In the farmers' insti- tutes which we have in the western part of the state we have no repre- sentative of the horticultural society, or any tree talk of any sort. If there is any place in this state we need information and help it is in the western part of the state. I live in the North Platte valley country, in Garden county, the youngest county in the state, and a part of what was formerly Deuel; about one hundred miles from the west line of the state and about forty miles from the Colorado line. We grow some fruit there and a very few of the people know anything about it, and most of them are of the opinion that we can not grow fruit successfully in our country. Notwithstanding the fact that we have an orchard located in our county, one that is very productive, but unfortunately the orchardist is not very well informed along horticultural lines, except as he has proven out on his place. Now, we need this instruction, and if it would be possible to get a horticulturist on the board it would do a good deal of good. Mr. Pollard: It seems to me if the gentleman would call on Professor Pugsley, who has charge of these farmers' institutes, and lay this matter before him, he might be able to give him relief. The gentleman under- stands no doubt that this society does not conduct any institutes except experimental work, which we started out on last year. I think all you would have to do would be to made a request of this kind. Mr. Benz: Don't you think that it would be better for this society to go on record as favoring such a man? 110 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY A Member: My country is in the same way that this man's country is. We do not care much about the trees. They are about at bearing age now, but they do not produce. I had a promise three years ago from the experiment station that there would be a man come there and give us a tallf along those lines, but he failed to do so. I have seen specimens of the trees that were affected with fungous disease, and aic-o the fruit, and he had seen them, and acknowledged they were in bad shape and needed attention, and promised the second time to send a man there and give us a talk on that line, but we failed to have a man come there. We are just about in the same fix that this gentleman is in his country. It is in the western part of the state. I guess it is the furthest division in the fruit country. The Chairman: We will have a committee on resolutions, and if you gentlemen will prepare a resolution that this society endorse this sort of a movement and hand it to this committee we will do something with it. We will now resume our meeting and listen to a paper by Mr. George H. VanHouton of Lenox, Iowa, on the subject of "Where and How Can We Grow Apples Successfully?" HOW AND WHERE CAN WE GROW APPLES SUCCESSFULLY? Geo. H. VanHouten, Lenox. Iowa. I have no excuse to make for m.y absence from your meet- ing this morning, or from the early part this afternoon, but in order that you may not think I absented myself intentionally I will say that I was on committee work all the time up to now, and that is the reason I did not have the pleasure of being with you. I have written out what I propose to say to you for reasons that I need not explain. As a rule I do not write out what I am going to say, and do not know what I am going to say, but in this case I will have a record that I will leave with the secretary, so that you will have it, and there will be no dispute as to what I will say on this occasion. It was with great reluctance that I accepted the invitation of your secretary, so cordially given, to participate in your meeting by presenting a paper on the above topic. I have prepared this paper with misgivings; not that there is any desire to shirk a duty or refuse a request, but from the fact that a paper along the desired lines must be prepared, in part at least, from observation rather than from actual Nebraska experience. As touching my qualifications to write on the subject, can say that I was born near the Missouri river, in sight of Nebraska, and that most of the years of my life have been spent in western Iowa and on the Missouri watershed, and that my observations in Nebraska have extended over many years; for, more than forty-seven years ago I traversed the entire state, from east to west, and have done so frequently in the years since, and that I am not a stranger to your state and its conditions, and yet can not speak as one who has had long residential experience as to methods, varieties, etc. WHERE CAN WE GROW APPLES SUCCESSFULLY? Ill But in spite of this handicap, I can speak with sorfiewhat of confidence, for your conditions here are in many respects similar to those in western Iowa, where I have resided for so long and have been so closely identified with the horticultural development of that region. Therefore, taking all these things into consideration, I could not find sufficient excuse to decline the request of your secretary. We have come to the conclusion in western Iowa that there is no good reason why any one should go to the mountain states or the far West to engage in apple growing from a commercial standpoint, and as Nebraska, especially the eastern portion, is similar in many respects to western Iowa, I feel that experiences in our own territory will justify conclusions as to conditions in Nebraska, and especially as to the eastern part of your state. At the annual session of the Southwestern Iowa Horticultural Society, held in Council Bluffs, December 3 to 5, 1912, we had an apple display that, for quality and appearance, could not be surpassed anywhere, and as to variety far in excess of the needs of any commercial apple grower, for we had nearly one hundred varieties, and about half of them were of such superior excellence as would attract attention anywhere. All of these apples were grown in southwestern Iowa, and every exhibitor but one was from the western part of our district. The one exception, Clayton O. Garrett, of Adelphi, and the location and names of the others were J. M. Bechtel, C. E. Mincer, of Hamburg; Miss Minnie Avery, P. Barton, J. F. Keeline, I. N. Minick, Council Bluffs; D. W. Lotspiech, Woodbine; W. R. Coy, Tabor, and C. H. Deur, Missouri Valley. So, as you can see, most of our splendid exhibit came from the hill lands bordering on the Missouri river and just across from your own state, and so you see that I can speak with confidence, although I do not have the honor of being a citizen of your state. Your hill lands, and especially your hill lands of the Missouri slope, are so admirably suited to commercial apple growing that this part of the subject is most in mind in preparing this paper. This is not said with any thought of disparaging the growing of apples or other fruit in any other part of your state, for fruit should be grown everywhere that it is possible to grow it, for the home, and, besides, there is a much wider field for commercial fruit growing than the eastern part of your state, but I have preferred to speak more particularly of the advantages of the hill lands bordering the Missouri and extending back an indefinite distance where observation has shown that such orcharding should prove highly successful, and every home owner should raise fruit even if he does not reside in the favored locality under especial discussion. The home owner should plant in such quantity that there will be plenty in seasons of partial failure; for the surplus can be disposed of in case there is more than needed for the home. And, of course, the home orchard should contain more varieties than the commercial orchardist can afford to plant. So we can appeal to the homemaker and the home- lover, and urge him to supply himself and family with an abundance; for he can do so so easily and so satisfactorily that he can not afford to do 112 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY otherwise; for fruit does more than almost any other one thing to make the members of the family satisfied with the home and with country life. So we appeal to the rural dweller to provide the home with the best of nature's gifts, an abundance of fruit. It is often said that an appeal to the pocketbook is the strongest plea that can be made. While not pretending to emphasize this view from a sordid standpoint, yet the fact remains that there is no place within my knowledge that promises better returns and more certainly than com- mercial apple growing in the locality under discussion. Among the reasons that may be enumerated are tlie following: Cheap Lands. Now please do not get excited when the present prices of land are called cheap. Of course they have been much cheaper. I remember, in the early days before you had any railroad in your state, that one day we remained near Fort Kearney, having been detained by the United States soldiers until we should have accessions to our num- bers, because the Indians were hostile. While we were waiting we dis- cussed matters in general and particularly as to the value of lands in the Platte valley. We had nearly fifty men in our wagon train, and most of us were westerners, and should have known more as to the prospective values of land than we did at that time. It was the consensus of opinion, and very well expressed by several during the discussion, that the land was not worth a cent an acre, and one man said that if he had a million dollars that he would not give a cent an acre for all of it, or any of it. Not a man of the number offered a dissenting opinion, for this was the deliberate judgment of all present. At that time those lands were con- sidered dear at any price, and nobody wanted them, and they could have been had for the taking under the homestead law, the only expense being the small filing fee. But we now know that all these lands will raise wonderful crops, and they rank in price above the price of lands in some of the older states. We did not know then, and in fact it is only recently that we have become aware of their great value for fruit growing. When we consider the prospective value of these lands, and especially when we consider that orchard lands of the far West are selling for a thousand dollars or more per acre, we must conclude that your lands are cheap, especially when we consider their great producing power for horticultural and other valuable crops, we must conclude that they are very cheap. Soil. When the quality of soils is considered, and that there is nothing further to be desired, and if any one was so unreasonable as to desire better, that it could nowhere be found, it gives us the idea that so far as soil is concerned there is nothing better than can be had anywhere at any price. Not only is there a great depth of the very best of soil, but in addition to this there is perfect natural drainage. As soil drainage is necessary to successful orcharding, and as the expense of tiling imper- fectly drained soil is great, it will be seen that this is a highly important item and worthy of the greatest consideration. Air Drainage. An essential of successful apple growing is air drain- age, and your hill lands afford this. Even level lands afford this, provided there are lower lands in the immediate vicinity. Freedom from leaf WHERE CAN WE GllOW APPLES SUCCESSFULLY? 113 diseases, some believe, may be secured by spraying, but perfect air drain- age, or circulation of air, conduces to health and longevity of the trees. Depressions in orchards often show effects of lack of air drainage, for trees die in such places, while the trees otherwise situated survive and thrive. Quality of Fruit. The quality of apples grown along the Missouri river can not be surpassed anywhere, and the territory under considera- tion is far enough north so that we secure keeping quality that can not be had farther south. We have an established reputation for quality that is unquestioned and as the buyers of the future may be more particular as to quality than buyers are now, there is an important consideration in the selection of a location for commercial orcharding. If high quality is desired, in fact, the highest attainable quality is desired, then it would be useless to look elsewiiere for a location for meeting that requirement. Varieties. It will pay to select varieties of high quality rather than those of poor or lower quality. Where the Jonathan, Grimes Golden, and others of the best can be successfully grown, as they can be here, it is poor policy to select Ben Davis and other low-grade varieties. Varie- ties should be selected that are known to do well in the locality of the proposed planting, and, happily, experience of nearby planters is at hand, and it is a safe guide, due attention being paid to size, productiveness, and so forth, of the varieties that do well in the locality. For illustration, F;upposing the Grimes Golden and Roman Stem both do well in a given locality; then the Grimes Golden should be chosen for the apples run evener in size; a much greater proportion of them will grade first class, and the fruit can be more cheaply gathered, graded, packed, and so forth, and the fruit presents a more attractive appearance and sells better than the Roman Stem. The qualify of both varieties is good, and yet there is such a difference in the items above given as to generally eliminate the Roman Stem as a commercial variety, while the Grimes Golden, where it succeeds, should have a place in every orchard alongside of the Jonathan, where they both do well; and fortunately both do well in most places along the Missouri river and for a considerable distance on either side. Accessibility to Markets. One of the very desirable conditions that presents itself to the prospective planter in this locality is the nearness to market and splendid shipping facilities. The growing cities with their splendid transportation facilities are worthy of especial consideration. Again, we are near the northern border of successful commercial apple growing, and the vast regions of the northland are to be supplied, and if you do not supply their wants and demands it is probable that they will not be supplied. It is nearly sure that in the future means of dis- tribution will be so increased and cheapened as to enable all who desire to do so, to have fruits when fruits can be had. It is also apparent that there is a growing inclination to eat fruit, with an increasing determina- tion of the people to have what they want, that there will be an increase in demand greater than the increase in population. Part of the present high cost of living is due to high living, and it is to be hoped that this inclination can be fostered and increased, especially in regard to eating 114 NEBRASKA STATE HOlt'l'U'I LTLKAL SOCIETY fruit, which is the most deli.nhtful and health-giving product that enters into the diet of our people. It is to be hoped, also, that the fruit growers of the future will plant and deal on the plan of reasonable profits; growing largely with a view of feeding the masses, and that the trans- portation companies will be liberal in their dealings, so that the blessings of cheap fruit may be extended to all, whether they reside in our favored portion of the realm or not; so that the vast grain country of the North may be supplied, the rich mining regions of the West as well, and the overcrowded cities of the East. And the time will come, the writer believes, when the people of the islands of the sea, and the people of the Oi'ient as well, will gladly eat oi our surplus fruit. Our habit of eating tropical fruit is well established, and why should not the people of the tropics desire and receive our fruits in return? A few years ago the citrus fruit growers of California secured a shipping rate across our continent and to Europe at as low a rate as for comparatively a short part of that distance; thus the California grower was enabled to reach a distant market and sell his product at a profit, and after the fruit-eating habit had been formed even higher prices only measurably reduced the consumption. Apple growers have never, so far as I know-, even attempted to do what the citrus fruit growers succeeded in doing, as to special rates, but the time will come that all will be put on an equality, and then the apple grower will come into his own. Encouraging Outlook. The fact that success has attended the efforts of our best planters in the past should be an encouragement for the future. We have the benefits of the experiences of the past, and there should be fewer mistakes in the selections of varieties and locations. Conditions generally have changed for the better, and the prospects are bright for the apple grower who will devote intelligent energy to the production of our best and most profitable market varieties. If he has not experience, information is at hand for the asking, and he can avoid the costly experiments and experiences of the past; for the signboards of success are numerous; for many varieties have succeeded and some of them remarkably well. And right here comes one of the dangers, at least one of the things to be avoided; and that is, too many varieties for the commercial orchaid. There is a temptation to plant too many sorts and to try new varieties. Visiting a large apple grower, just as he was finishing up his pack last autumn, his complaint was that he had too many varieties, and yet he had but about six in all. According to his views but two or three of these varieties were enough for a commercial orchard. He was located away from any large center of population, but even if near a large city it is easy to get too many varieties. Essentials of Success. In conclusion, then, in summing up the essen- tial things necessary to success: In addition to splendid soil with good air drainage, suitable climate for the production of apples of the best quality, all of which you have to a remarkable degree, add proper prepara- tion of the soil, discrimination and elimination in the selection of varieties, proper planting, thorough cultivation, protection from vermin, proper pruning, spraying, and care; in fact, giving proper attention to every FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATIONS IN THE MISSOURI VALLEY 115 detail; then with careful foresight in securing pickers, packers, markets, and in fact giving every part of the transaction the same care that a successful business man gives to every detail of his business, may be summed up as the essentials of success, and if this is done there seems to me to be no better place, and that there is no better prospect of success in any business, or in any place, than in commercial frui+ growing on the hill lands of the Missouri river slope. DISCUSSION. The Chairman: Gentlemen, this paper is open for discussion or for questioning. Any one who has any questions they would like to ask Mr. VanHouten, he is perfectly at liberty to do so. I wish to say I think it is a very fine paper. The Chairman: We have with us a number of visiting brethren from Iowa. Quite a number of them are already honorary members of our society, and we wish those who are not, as well as those who are, to feel at perfect liberty to take part in the discussion here, and at all sessions of this meeting. We will now listen to a paper from Mr. J. P. Hess of Council Bluffs, Iowa, on tbe subject of "The Advisability oZ Fruit Growers' Associations in the Missouri River Valley." THE ADVISABILITY OF FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATIONS IN THE MISSOURI RIVER VALLEY. J. P. Hess, Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: I have no apology to make for being here. About seventeen years ago I was invited to a horti- cultural meeting at Arlington, Nebraska, and my memory and remem- brance of that meeting are still with me. And I feel glad that I became acquainted with such an active, boosting bunch of horticulturists as you have here in the state of Nebraska. The fact is, we are just on the border of the state, and being acquainted and becoming acquainted at that time with these people, I felt like one of you ever since. Therefore I am happy to be here today, and if I can say a word that will be of benefit and interest to the horticulturists of Nebraska I shall be well repaid for coming. As I look down along the line from the time I became acquainted with these men, I can see there has been a decided progress made in the line of horticulture, and the demonstration across the way is evidence that the people of Nebraska have about the right class of men in this line of work, and I can only account for this great success that has been made here by the splendid work that these men have been doing, and especially by their team work — by working together and believing in what they are doing. And I believe, in the near future we will see the results that we little dream of now. I believe that the state of Nebraska, as well as the state of Iowa, will produce fruit, and 116 NEBRASKA, STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY especially apples, that will be known all over the country. Now the subject assigned to me is one with which I am somewhat familiar. It is the advisability of fruit growers' associations in the Missouri valley. I have prepared a paper, but it is not quite as long as Mr, Van Houten's. My vocabulary is not as extensive as his, or at least my idea of words to be used, so I had to cut it short. The subject which has been assigned to me is of such great impor- tance that I have not the temerity to theorize upon it; therefore, I will merely offer a few observations of facts that have come to my notice during the thirty years that I have been actively interested in horticultural production where I live. Fruit growing is full of uncertainties and hazards: the destructive freeze of winter, the springtime late frosts, the midsummer drouth, the fall of hail, the ravages of insects, and last, to my mind the greatest of all, the uncertainty of the market. We may escape the freeze and drouth, prevent the frost, insure against the hail, and destroy the insects, but unless we can secure a market and reach it with our perishable commod- ity in good condition our plans go for naught, and we have nothing to pocket but a net loss. The elimination of these hazards is the constant study of horticulture. It is the last one upon which I am to treat. In the first place, our knowl- edge of the market is limited to the experience and observation of the individual who produces the crops. Some people like plums, some like strawberries; none of us know how many like the one or the other, and we know but little of what is being done by other growers to supply the demand for the one or the other. Furthermore, we know very little of what competition our produce will meet with in the produce of other parts of the country, and so we plant without adequate knowledge of the demand and produce fine fruit, but who wants it when every one has had enough? We find to our sorrow the difference between a hungry buyer and one who has had his wants satisfied. And so, as very often happens, our local market is oversupplied and the surplus is sent to the larger cities. What is the result? The hazards in shipment of perishable fruit are great and the responsibility of the buyer often questionable. More- over, the care which one who has no financial interest in our fruit dis- plays is very different from the interest of the grower who has expended his hard labor to produce it. And so with prices slaughtered the margin of profit is decreased, and the natural impulse of the grower is to secure large production, for with- out it he can not hope to secure an adequate return, and in the mad rush to produce large quantities, the market is still further demoralized and quality is sacrificed because in the great oversupply of cheap stuff it would not be recognized, and the public turns to ether sources of supply to satisfy its wants. The result is that the grower frequently becomes dis- gusted with his venture, plows up his commercial fruit, or neglects it, and directs his energies to other crops. As a result of the conditions above set out, a commercial organization of fruit growers is absolutely essential to any community which produces fruit extensively for the FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATIONS IN THE MISSOURI VALLEY 117 market. One grower can not afford to employ a man to study the markets and estimate the demand for any particular variety of fruit — twenty growers can, and the information secured can be relied upon to the end that only so much fruit may be grown as will supply the local market and secure an adequate outlet in distant markets. His advice need not be binding upon his employers further than the dictates of self-interest — that will be enough. A complete organization with a competent man- ager, as outlined above, can also study market conditions at distant ship- ping points and investigate the business standing and rating of concerns dealt with, eliminating losses through irresponsible consignees and bad markets. To my mind, one of the greatest functions of an organization is to raise the standards of quality in the fruit produced by its members. Very often this is a matter determined by competition, but can only be understood and attained by first-hand knowledge of its requirements. Let the organization, through Its officers, require that no fruit bearing the stamp of the company be offered for sale that is not up to or above the standard set by its competitors, and there will be no difficulty in finding a market for all that is produced. In fact, a constant extension of the market may be expected. An absolute standard of quality is the best advertisement you can have. When it was found that grapes could be successfully grown on the hill lands surrounding Council Bluffs, the number of vineyards increased until the crop exceeded the demand of the local markets of both Council Bluffs and Omaha. Then the growers were obliged to look for markets beyond, and placed their fruit in the hands of commission men for dis- tribution wherever a demand could be found, but the system was found so unsatisfactory that the growers decided upon an organization of their own, to avoid some of the troubles and disappointments which they experi- enced under the system they had followed thus far. In January, 1893, twenty-one of the principal growers organized what is known as the Council Bluffs Grape Growers' Shipping Association, which has conducted its business successfully ever since, whereby it has handled not only the grapes but such other fruits as were produced by the members. The company was incorporated and each shareholder of the stock was entitled to participate in the dividends based upon his individual production. The association now owns the building occupied to transact its business and a large storage warehouse, and has an established credit. You might as well ask the members of this association to dig up their vine- yards as to abandon their association. The last statement of the Council Bluffs association shows the distribution of nearly $100,000 among its members, and growers are becoming better satisfied with its transactions each year. Fruit growing can be made as profitable as any other occupa- tion. The returns from the amount of labor and capital expended can be made better and more certain than most any other business, but between the production on the farm and the sale in the market there is a gap which has caused losses and discontent to many hard-working and painstaking fruit growers. My experience and observation lead me to 118 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY believe that the only adequate method of filling that gap is by the proper organization of fruit growers' associations, properly managed. The day is not far distant when every fruit growing community will have an association, and must have it in order to be successful. One writer who has tried to ascertain the number of co-operative fruit growers' associations finds there are between 250 and 300 such associations in the United Sta.tes. And while the Council Bluffs Association is doing a comparatively small business compared with the associations in the West and Northwest, its plan of operation will nearer meet the demands of the fruit growing communities of Iowa and Nebraska than some of the extension associations of the Northwest where the business handled amounts to millions of dollars. DISCUSSION. The Chairman: This paper is now open for discussion. If any one has any questions they would like to ask, Mr. Hess is ready to answer them. Mr. Williams: There are some points in Mr. Hess' paper that I would like to see discussed, and I will state in regard to these associa- tions: It is now just about twenty years this winter — I think in Janu- ary — since this association was organized, and I know from my early experience with it it was then at a point where it did a very small business for the first few years. But it has had a gradual growth, and when you think of its handling $100,000 worth of fruit last year, it shows quite a growth from the early beginning. I have been thinking though of a larger need for a larger association than this, that should reach out into larger territory, that is to cover a territory of perhaps several states, and when Mr. Hess announced his topic as the need of associatians in the Missouri valley I thought perhaps he would touch upon the subject of associations covering the entire Missouri valley. I notice this morning in reading my Western Fruit Grower from St. Joseph, Missouri, the account of an association recently formed in Spokane, in response to a meeting held in November, in which the four great states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, united together to form a great association for the placing of their surplus apple stock and others they have may. It occurs to me that some association of that kind should be formed here, embracing the southeastern part of Nebraska, and southwestern Iowa. Council Bluffs does well enough for it to have its association, and it may well have a dozen other associations, but they need larger communities so that they can work together in harmony, and know where best to place their surplus fruits. As an instance of this, now last fall I was up with a car of apples in South Dakota, and I went in- dependent of any association, but I realized after I got up there if I had had advice through some large association as to the state of that market I might have been much better off. There are large towns in which I might have done better than the one I went to, and then this fall I shipped a carload instead of shipping out a car into my home place, Uni- i FRUIT GKOWF.US' ASSOCIATIONS IN THE MISSOURI VALLEY ll'J versity Place, and just after my car came in there was another car came in and there were two of us there in direct competition with each other. If we had been members of some large association so that we could have gotten direct information from the markets at large, we would have been in a position to determine where and how to have placed a carload of iruit. That is just an illustration to show tho necessity for any grower or shipper or dealer, wherever he may be, to work together under some of our associations so that they may be able to place their crops of fruit, whether it is their own growing, or a dealer placing it, to the best ad- vantage. Professor Lorenz Green: If the gentleman will pardon me, I do not believe that the gentlemen quite stated what they intended to say. He said that they needed larger communities. It seems to me they need smaller communities, not a large com.munity. The Ozark Fruit Growers' Association handles several hundred carloads of strawberries every year. That is made up of twenty or thirty smaller associations, and they have been very successful, and their plan is what, we need in the Missouri valley, one large central association to handle the produci of the smaller organizations in the Missouri valley. T. F. Sturgis: There is one thing right in connection with this and it is something I would like to call attention to. And that is, that any association that has been suggested, such as a Missouri Valley Apple Grov/ers' Association, would mean the establishing of a market for the Missouri valley apple throughout the country as the gentleman has just mentioned. In such associations all the growers in their communities, as individual growers, ship and pack under che name of this association, and it all goes out under one head. That is the case with the Hood River apple, in the Hood River Valley Fruit Growers' Association. Now from an advertising standpoint is what I wanted to call atten- tion to, rather than a growers' standpoint. The fruit growers of California raised a fund to spend in publicity throughout the United States, and ad- vocating prunes as a diet, and when that demand was created, the people went and bought prunes; and this association that had put up the money did not get the direct benefit but another association that started a cam- paign and advocated the use of a certain prune, because of its quality, just as we would advocate the Missouri valley apple, and after they had cre- ated a demand the first thing a person thought of when they called to buj prunes was the prune of this quality that had been advertised. Now I think we should have a Missouri Valley Apple Growers' Association, which would include both sides of the river. This should be organized, and a campaign of advertising should be started, and the amount to each grower would be very small. The market is here, and the demand is here, and we could have apples just as good as the Hood River valley apple, or the Ozark strawberry, or any other fruit. I want to see an association that will boost the Missouri river valley, and I hope that next fall or next year, if this plan of association is carried out as expressed by the committee, that I help entertain you in Omaha, and that we will have a commercial 120 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY show bigger and better than the one we have here this year, and I am here lo invite you to come to Omaha next year. A Member: For tlie last tliree weeks I liave been in tlie east and the people back there did not seem to think or realize that we could grow apples at all out here, and they would say "Apples in Nebraska, they can not be as good as in Michigan or New York." That would be wherever I happened to be. And 1 naturally told them we could beat them even if it was three to one when they were talking to me. And, of course, I told them that we did not grow as many varieties as they did, but we grew more and I think we need this association to advertise our apples, and for the business of locating our markets. Mr. Hess: I think the gentleman from Omaha is correct in advo- cating the central association, but you need the small associations to join in and form these large associations. The large associations have to be formed by the smaller ones. There are so many things that can be done in the small association that are helpful to the grower that per- haps the large association could not take care of. Now, for instance, the purchasing and handling of the material, the boxes and barrels, and the spraying material, and all these things would be handled through your local association, which is a big advantage, because you can buy at whole- sale rates if you want to. And it is a tremendous help to a small grower. Now, a man with a small orchard at a small place, unless he has an association, he is at the mercy of somebody else, but if he is in an as.30- ciation he shares equally with the rest of the members, because the expenses are paid, and if there is any money left he gets a pro rata divi- dend for the amount of fruit he sold. Now, in every community where there are twenty or fifty growers, I think these associations are needed to encourage the grower, and the expense to start with is not very large. I really believe that as large as the gentleman from Omaha suggested here w^ould be an advantage to a smaller association. That is what it will come to. A Member: I will say this regarding advertising: Do you advertise so that people in Omaha will know that you raise apples in Nebraska? If you go to a grocery store they will sell you an apple from Washington or Idaho, 1500 miles off, when they can get an apple of a far better flavor although not so large, from 100 miles away. Now, if you are contem- plating advertising in Omaha, advertise your home apples and sell home apples. Mr. Pollard: I have been very much interested in this discussion relating to the formation of a fruit growers' association. I see here quite a number of gentlemen who were at Auburn two or three weeks ago. I perhaps may bore some who were here yesterday when I made the re- marks that I did. But I feel that I should say a word now when this question is open for discussion. I want to say that as a result of the Auburn meeting, and as it happened I was the temporary chairman, and was called upon to appoint a committee of fifteen to draft a constitution and by-lav/s for the government of such an association that that commit- FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATIONS IX THE MISSOURI VALLEY 121 tee meet in this room tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock to perform its labors. Now, I have long felt the need of such an association, but I did not know how to go about it. I did not know what that association should do, or what scope it should take, or anything of the kind, but the secretary of the horticultural society told me if I would write to the Missouri Experiment Station at Columbia I could get a bulletin published by that association of the constitution and by-laws of the fruit growers' associa- tions mentioned here this afternoon. Now, after the meeting in Auburn had designated me as its temporary chairman, I felt that I should write for that bulletin, and did so. I spent about a week studying those different associations, their constitution and by-laws, their method of doing busi- ness, and so forth, and the scope of their field, and when I had finished I went to work on trying to formulate a constitution and by-laws for an association that would fit conditions in Nebraska. After I had made a draft I came to Lincoln and got in conjunction with the secretary of this society and another man I had appointed on this committee of fifteen, and we drafted a constitution and by-laws, and I hope that everybody will have a copy of that tonight. Now, I feel, Mr. President, that this is an experimental improvement matter, and personally I would be very glad indeed to receive the criti- cisms, friendly, of course, they naturally would be, to the plan we have to offer. If any one can give us something better, that is what we want. If there is anything different could be done, or if our plan falls short, we want it correct, so that when the association is formed we will have one that will be workable, and one that will be practical, and one that will be a success above everything else. Now then, the general outline of the plan we have is this: In the first place, we formed a central association. We were divided in opinion as to whether or not that should be confined to Nebraska as a whole, or whether or not that should include our brothers across the river in western Iowa. That is the question, as to whether or not we should do that. Per- sonally, I do not think it would be a bad idea for the association to cover that territory. We produce fruit of a similar character, similar varieties, and similar quality. So that we could establish a reputation for fruit coming from a certain district. We all know that apples grown in Cass county, in Nebraska, or any other of the counties in Iowa across the river, would be of similar quality, other things being equal. Or a Winesap grown in Cass or any of the Nebraska counties situated in the south- eastern part that the qualities would be the same. Now, whether this association should start out and cover the Missouri valley, or whether we in Nebraska should confine our operations to Nebraska, is an open question. We proposed this form that there could be organized local associations at the different points, the association to be composed of not less than fifteen members, and they become members of the state association. The state association would be incorporated with a capital stock, and a share 122 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY of stock would entitle a man to the privilege of the association. Now, briefly, that would be the scope of the association, and its plan of organ- ization, and then we would have a board of seven directors. Of course, the number is not so important provided it is not too large; seven, I think, would be the best, with president and vice-president, who would be ex-officio members of the board and officers of the association, to be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders. And then we provided for a general manager, who should have charge of the selling of all the fruit grown by the different members, and that general manager we under- took to hold responsible for the character of the packing. For instance, under the general manager, or by his direction, we pro- vided for the appointment of a chief inspector, who was responsible to the general manager, and a series of local inspectors to be responsible to the chief inspector. And they should call upon each packing point where the fruit was packed, at least once a month, so that he would be thoroughly in touch with the work, and make sure that the fruit came up to a stand- ard and to a certain grade. And then we provided that every packer should have his name registered with the secretary of the association and with the general manager, and that the secretary of the association should give that packer a number, and he should be known by number only, and that every package of fruit that went onto the market should be marked with the name of the grower and the packer, so that when it went onto the market there could be no question as to who packed that fruit. Now, I know in my own experience when criticisms of certain packages came to me of fruit that was put on the market, that because of the fact that I have four or five men packing and occupying the head of the table, that it is absolutely and utterly impossible for me to tell who put up that faulty barrel. This one said he did not put it up, and this one says he knows he did not put it up, but if the number of the packer is on the package I know who put it up, who put up that particular package of fruit, and then we will either see that the man puts up that package of fruit properly or else his services can be discontinued. Now, briefly, that is the plan of organization. We undertook to divorce completely the grading of the fruit from the agent or the owner, so that when the owner indicated the grade of fruit he was shipping — when the grower determined the grade that he wanted his apples packed under, whether it should be fancy No. 1, or whatever it might be, then he hadn't a thing in the world to say about what went into that grade. It was the business of the general manager, through his inspectors, to see that the apples were graded in strict conformity to the grade established. In that way we would build up a reputation for hon- esty of packing; and wiien the association puts a stamp on a package I believe it can mean something. It would be a guarantee to Mr. Consumer that when he got a package of fruit upon which was the association brand, it was true to name. If it was marked "Fancy," it would be fancy, or if it was marked "Number One," it would be number one. I think that after we have formed an association and established those grades that we should know when a package gets on the market that it is true to name, LEASING ORCHARDS 123 and true to the representations that it bears on tlie outside of the package. Now, this plan that I have given you is one that is largely mine, and one that I have evolved from a careful study of these other associations that are a success in the large fruit belts of the country. It is not a creation of my own mind by any means, but I present it to you simply for discussion, and so far as I am concerned I have no private opinion in the matter at all, but I would like to see a fruit growers' association formed that would improve the standard of our fruit, and that would improve the pack so that we would have less of this riff-raff, or what I call junk, that goes on the market, simply glutting it, and that not only interferes with the sale but decreases the price of good fruit. Gentlemen, it seems to me that it is up to the fruit growers of this state and of this valley to claim our own. You go down into the city of Lincoln or the city of Omaha, and go into the grocery stores, and you see packed up in tiers box after box of Washington or Colorado or Idaho apples, and I would not be afraid to leave to any man who has any taste for fruit at all the question as to the superiority of our fruit over fruit grown out there. We can not get apples quite as large, or always put the color on them, but we get the quality. We not only have texture and quality but for keeping our fruit will stand up better in storage than theirs. It has been demonstrated time and time again that as far as the texture of the fruit is concerned, our fruit is away ahead of theirs. Should we sit idly by and permit these men of the Northwest to come here and supply our market with fruit? It does not look right to me, and I do not believe we will ever meet the situation gentlemen, until we get together and form a workable marketing association, where we establish brands and grades, and then make that name of the association, when we put it on there, an absolute guarantee that it is as we represent it, and when you reach that point, I think you will see less of the Oregon and the Washington and the Colorado, and Idaho and Utah fruit on our market, and it will be a Nebraska apple, or Nebraska fruit, and I think that is the point we should reach. The Chairman: This discussion is very interesting, and it is very important, but the time is passing rapidly, and we have one here with us who has duties elsewhere, and he must go to meet them, so we will listen to a paper from Mr. Val Keyser of Fairbury, on the subject of "Leasing Orchards." LEASING ORCHARDS. Vai Keyser, Fairbury. I will have to take just a few words to explain this subject. Of course I can only discuss from the standpoint of the lessee, and one who is going out to lease an orchard. I thought about this considerably before starting the preparation of the paper, and I wanted to touch on both sides of the quesion, but I do not own an orchard. In looking over the country and the situation and the men, and making a financial comparison between 124 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY those that are leasing orchards, and those that have them for lease, I took it for granted that most of the men who had orchaids they would lease, did not need any looking after. They are well able to, and they have made their start by some other means, and so I want to discuss the mat- ter along the line of the young man or the old one, or any one who is going out to lease an orchard. Those in the audience who have orchards to lease, I will leave it to them to discuss the other side of it, and I want you to feel free to take exceptions to any statements about apples or or- chards, or anything in this paper. The practice of leasing orchards is rather a new venture in Nebraska. In making this statement the writer has not considered the fact that scores of farms have been rented, upon which were standing orchards varying in size from one to fifty acres, because in these cases the producing power of the orchard was rarely, if ever, considered by the tenant, when he signed the contract agreeing to cultivate the land. The object of leasing an orchard from the standpoint of the owner, is in most cases to get a definite annual cash rental out of the orchard which is an uncertain producer and a general nuisance to care for. F^'om the standpoint of the lessee, to be able to lease an orchard grown and ready to bear, means a saving on the investment and gives an oppor- tunity for an annual income. This income is the all important considera- tion in leasing an orchard, and it depends upon a great many factors which must be considered by the man who is expecting to lease an orchard, as to a profitable investment. The writer does not presume to mention all of the factors in this brief article, but will enumerate and give a brief dis- cussion of a few which have come within his experience. We have a right to assume that any one who is sufficiently interested in apple growing to lease an orchard for the purpose of producing a crop of apples, intends to cultivate and care for the trees in accord with up-to- date methods of orchard management. This being the case a discussion of the various problems and considerations which apply will perhaps be of as much interest as any phase of the subject the writer might discuss. The Selection of an Orchard — In choosing an orchard to lease for a term of years, we must examine it from several points of view. First is its location in relation to soil, annual rainfall and geographical position. An orchard might be perfection in every other respect, but if it was not located in a good apple producing section, on the right kind of soil, and where there was plenty of moisture to put finish on the crop, the owner could not run fast enough to lease it to any man who has had experience in growing apples. It may take years of experience in the problems of handling an orchard to demonstrate just where in Nebraska, the geographi- cal line should be drawn. It would seem, however, that forty years of experience in growing apples should be a good recommendation for east- ern Nebraska, and the writer will be bold enough to state that other con- ditions being equal the loess soil along the Missouri river would be the best location for the selection of an orchard. Any of the land from Sioux City to Kansas City will produce fruit, but in selecting an orchard to lease, LEASING ORCHARDS 125 one is looking for the best location and perliaps the boundary line should be drawn in general from Omaha to St. Joseph. Last winter demon- strated that orchards located north of the Platte river suffered some from winter injury. As we go south from St. Joseph we find a few quite se- '•ious protlems such as insect enemies, diseases and mortj hot fall days, which add to the problems of handling many valuable fall varieties of apples. There are other problems of the location of an orchard which we must look at from a different point of view. One of the most important is near- ness to shipping points and proximity to storage facilities. The writer has had personal experience in handling crops of apples grown in four dif- ferent orchards, each orchard located different distances from the shipping point. The distances from orchards to railroad siding were eighty rods, two and one-half miles, five miles and six miles respectively. One man and team would haul eight loads per day, where the trip was only one-fourth of a mile. In the orchard located two and one-half miles from the rail- road station, the same team and man hauled three and four loads per day, while in the orchards located five and six miles from shipping point, two loads constituted a day's work. One of the finest orchards in Nebraska is located nine miles from shipping point and at this distance, a man and team will handle but one load per day. Our teams hauled eighteen barrels per load at an average cost of four dollars per day for man and team. In the orchard located eighty rods from the station the cost of hauling was two and eight-tenths cents per barrel. And in the orchard located six miles from the station the cost was 11 cents per barrel. While an expense of even 11 cents per barrel seems small, it is an item which can not be overlooked when handling a crop of apples. It means $11 per hundred or $110 for every thousand bar- rels of apples. The expense is likewise proportionate for haulage on empty packages, and to this additional expense must be added for neces- sary trips for repairs and materials needed during the growing season of the crop. In this connection we must not forget to figure that time wasted during second spraying is costing the grower from $1 to $5 per hour. Age of the Tree — The age of the trees is not a very important con- sideration in the proposition of leasing an orchard, because most of the orchards which can be leased are upwards of twelve years of age, which makes most varieties in prime bearing age. This is due to the fact that very little planting on a commercial scale has been practiced during the past ten years. The writer has inspected a few orchards which were of- fered for rent Avhicli were not considered a good proposition at $10 per ■ acre on a five year basis, on account of the trees being young and too small to produce profitable crops. If these same orchards could have been leased for a period of ten years the proposition would have been worth con- sidering. Varieties — One of the most important considerations in leasing an or- 12G NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY chard is the varieties and number of each variety planted. Many of the orchards whicli it is possible to lease on reasonable terms would be dis- carded by the experienced apple dealer on account of the predominance of undesirable commercial varieties. The grower can handle at a small mar- gin of profit, provided the orchard is located right, a small amount of sum- mer apples, but it has been our experience not over ten trees out of a thousand should be summer varieties. The abundance of other fruits and fresh vegetables on the market at this time of the year cut the de- mand and price to the point which makes the handling of summer varieties unprofitable. Good fall varieties such as Wealthy, Utter and Snow, can be handled profitably, but under average conditions 90 per cent of the orchard snould be winter varieties. There is a vast difference in winter varieties. Time will not permit of a lengthy discussion of the merits of the different win- ter varieties from a commercial standpoint. The writer can state that we have found our Grimes Golden, Jonathan, Winesap, York Imperial, Black Twig, Ben Davis and Gano always in demand. The point the writer wishes to impress is that the varieties and number of trees of each variety must be considered in determining the rental value of an orchard. Health of the Trees — The condition of the trees in regard to effect by disease is another important factor in determining the value of the orchard. The Illinois Canker has become so injurious in orchards in the Missouri Valley states, that a large number of trees in old neglected orchards have become practically worthless. The science of modern orcharding has taught us that this disease can be checked and controlled in cases where fne trees are not seriously injured. It requires the exercise of a critical examination and good judgment to determine to what extent a tree may be injured by this disease so that a sufficient amount of the top may be saved to produce paying crops. This disease is found in practically all of the old orchards which it would be possible to lease. The health of the trees must not be overlooked by the man who expects to lease an orchard. Pruning — Another important consideration is the manner in which the orchard has been pruned or r,ather the extent to which the pruning has been neglected. It costs money to prune on orchard and remove the brush, and this cost must be added to the first two years' expenses in caring for the orchard. It is difficult to estimate the cost of pruning, as so much dep^rnds upon the size of the tree and amount of wood to be removed. Mr. Marshall and I have found that the cost of pruning ranged from 10 cents to $1 per tree. The work was conducted in trees ranging from eight to twenty-eight years of age. The matter of pruning is one of the first things to figure in determining the rental value especially in a short lease. In regard to borrowing money to commence handling the orchard I figure that if there are any men who are in the same position I am in, about two years is all the bank will trust a fellow, if he will pay up, and after the two years, there is additio lal pruning enough to keep that or- LEASING ORCHARDS 127 chard in shape, that 1 believe you should charge that pruning up to the first two years' expense. Cultivation — To one who is examining an orchard to lease tht; topogra- phy of the land must not be overlooked. There is rarely ever a season during which a little cultivation would not be beneficial, and most or- chards should be thoroughly cultivated throughout the growing of the fruit crop, in the ordinary season. The writer has seen orchards offered for lease which were planted on land so rough and rolling that cultiva- tion was next to impossible and not at all practical. The character of the soil has much to do with the problems of cultivation and should not be overlooked. Terms of the Lease — Perhaps all the writer might say concerning the contract between the owner and the lessee which would be of any benefit to fellow workers would be along the line of length of the lease. We have had experience in a three year crop lease, 'lut all other orchards handled by Mr. Marshall and myself are under a cash lease. We prefer the cash lease of not less than five years. It is not likely that the average orchard will return enough profit to pay the expenses of running for the first two years. There are some orchards which have received reasonably good care that would do much better than this. It is quite impossible to esti- mate the rental value of an orchard unless the different factors effecting the producing power of the trees, which have been briefly discussed in this paper, are taken into consideration. Generally speaking, it would be the writer's opinion that the average good orchard in Nebraska should command a leasing value of from $10 to $15 per acre, per annum. In conclusion, it seems that the practice of leasing orchards bids fair to become quite common in the eastern part of the state. There are several general things I wanted to say, but I left those out. One is this: If just the work that has been done in this state, the leasing of orchards by going into communities where there was little knowledge of the modern methods of the care of the orchards, is to be considered, one "might well look upon himself as a public benefactor by stimulating the interest in the community for taking care of the orchards. And I think that is the case. Whenever orchards are taken care of, it is going to stimulate an interest in the community to do better. DISCUSSION. Mr. Pollard: There is one thing I would like to ask, and that was in regard to the varieties that you would suggest should be in an orchard. I notice you do not want any summer varieties, or very few? A. Yes, sir. Q. Now wouldn't you make an exception in regard to the Duchess? A. I didn't mention the name of any summer varieties, but possibly that would be all right. We always found that the Duchess we were handling have sold about as well as any apple we had. But I have seen Duchess apples stand in the depot at Weeping Water a day longer than 128 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY they should, and when they got to the destination in Lincoln, it took four barrels to make three — there was that much shrinkage in them. It is a question whether the young fellow in starting out, would do better in not leasing an orchard that has too many varieties of the summer variety in them. Of course that is my advice to young fellows from my own ex- perience. Mr. Pollard: The Duchess should be handled just about the same as a peach, it v.on't stand lying around in a depot or packing house, or anything of that kind; it must be moved. But our experience at home has been, there is more money in the Duchess apple, than any other apple. I would rather grow Duchess apples, from a commercial stand- point than Jonathan, or any other apple in the world. If we get this fruit growers' association we can handle them in small quantities. The Chairman: The time is passing very rapidly, and we will pass on now to the next paper, and as far as any further discussion on this paper is concerned, it can be brought up afterwards. COMMITTEES. The Chairman: I will announce the committee I have appointed thus far. The committee on resolutions will be Mr. E. M. Pollard, of Ne- hav/ka; Mr. L. M. Russell, and Mr. L. O. Williams. The committee on the revision of the premium list will be G. A. Mar- shall, J. R. Duncan and C. H. Green. INSPECTION BILL. Mr. Chairman: About the bill for the inspection of nursery and hor- ticultural products in Nebraska. You will remember that I told you that in Nebraska we had no inspection laws of any sort and this new federal inspection law, makes it necessary that we should have some' law for inspection, for our own protection. I told you that a bill had been prepared for the legislature and in my judgment it is a bill that we want passed. I have the bill here now and it is very lengthy, and probably Profes- sor Bruner can tell you more than anybody present as he was called into consultation to help draw^ up a bill, and if there is no objection, we will ask Professor Bruner to tell us about what this bill means. Professor Bruner: I will say this much: that during the past, very nearly every one of the most destructive insects that have reached Ameri- can soil, have been imported from forei.i,ni countries, and as an example of these, I will say that the house fly is an imported insect into this coun- try. The gypsy moth and the brown tailed moth are imported insects, and the cotton weevil of the south is an imported insect. I mi.sjht repeat fifteen or twenty additional references of this kind, showing that our most destructive insects, or at least nine-tenths of the destruction caused by these petJts is from the imported insects. A number of sta'.es of the Union INSPECTION BILL 129 began some years ago by passing bills in their legislatures making it nec- essary to inspect nursery stock, but afterwards it was necessary to take in almost any other plant material, whereby insects could be transported from one state to the other. At present, every state in the TJnion, with the exception of Nebraska, has a law of that kind. Just last year there was a federal inspection bill passed by congress, which made it necessary to inspect all kinds of material, including a number of different kinds of bulbs, and greenhouse plants, and seeds coming from foreign countries to see that they were free from insects, anu in good condition, and under that bill I have been inspecting some plants that are arriving into this country from abroad, from France, Germany, Belgium, and Holland, and other places, and so far as I have been in- specting plants in Nebraska, I have found the brown tailed moth, the gypsy moth, the San Jose scale, and five or six other insects that would be equally destructive if allowed to come into the state. This bill that was drawn up was framed with the intention of driving out, or trying to pre- vent the introduction into the state of these dangerously destructive in- sects, and also the fungus dangerous to plants. The bill is prepared in accordance with the laws of the statutes in other states around us, and not taking the worst features of those laws, that makes it so very imperative that if you find an insect on a single shipment of a thousand trees, that you should destroy the whole thou- sand trees, but we say to destroy the one tree that you find an insect on. It is not a bill that would work hardship on a producer. It has also in- cluded that the commercial nursery should have an inspection made, and ship under a certificate issued by the inspector. It has also included that if you find these injurious insects that can be destroyed, that under the direction of somebody that knows, these insects should be destroyed, either by the property owner, or the state authorities if the property owner will not do it. It is not confiscatory in any way, and we tried to be just as lenient as possible in getting it out. And I know that the members of the State Horticultural Society tried to be more stringent than I did, but I should like to see something of this kind go through, because I had a letter recently from the head of this federal bureau in Washington, stating that if Nebraska did not soon come through with a law of this kind that it would be necessary to quarantine against Nebraska by all other states, and we do not want anything like that. The Chairman: I wish to state further that this bill was prepared by the committee from this society laboring with Professor Bruner. The nurserymen generally of this state would prefer to have the thing just as it has been, that is, so that there is an absolutely free commerce between the states, between this state and other states, speaking from a nursery- man's standpoint. We do not want anything that is going to hinder Mr. Lake or Mr. Welch or dealers of any other state that has clean stock from, sending it in here. Mr. Duncan: In order to put this matler on record, I have a resolu- tion to offer to the society here. lao NEDKASKA STATE lIUUTlCLLTLltAL SOCIETY RESOLUTION Since all or the states surrounding Nebraska liave seen fit to pass laws requiring the inspection of nursery stock, fruit, shade, ornamental and other trees, shrubs and plants for the purpose of preventing the in- troduction and spread of dangerouslj' destructive insect pests and plant diseases, and since the geueryl government has also seen fit to legislate in the sair;e direction therefore be it resolved that the Horticultural So- ciety of Nebraska here in session does hereby rcommond that the present legislature be asked to pass the inspection and quarantine bill now pend- ing. Mr. Duncan: I move the adoption of this resolution. Seconded. Carried. DISCUSSION ON SPRAYING. The Chairman : I notice that the next subject on our program is a discussion on spraying. If you are prepared to discuss that matter we will take it up at this time, if not we will try and reach it tomorrow. A Member: The man, in the discussion of the leasing of orchards, spoke something about the second spraying, I did not understand what he meant. The Secretary: He said that the time lost during the second spray- ing was costing from $1 to $5 an hour, and that he wanted to emphasize that strongly. He meant if wc had to lose time in making trips to points quite a distance away to get supplies and s6 forth, and that was the most important spraying of all, and the time spent at that time in getting sup- plies and so forth was very costly. So we had above all things better be prepared for that spraying. The Chairman: We will now take up the question box. QUESTION BOX. The secretary read the first question as follows: "Is it not a fact that the world-v,ide planting of apple trees will soon force the price oi fruit down to the cost of production? A Member: From my observation from a three thousand mile trip to eastern Pennsylvania and back to J>Jebraska, over different routes, I would say that old orchards are dying faster than the younger orchards are being planted, so that at present in this section there is no danger of there being too many orchards and lessening the price for that reason. C. G. Marshall: You know that apples are rather cheap, and they say there is a big crop, — and I think that the chief trouble has been that the people have been educated away from eatin.g apples, simply because they have been so high priced, the last few years. The man who is handling apples, the retailer, is expecting from one to five hundred per cent profit. And the middle man, the commission man is expecting a profit on them. QUESTION BOX 131 The people consequently are not buying apples like they did a few years ago. In 1896 there was a production of almost seventy million barrels of apples in this country, and this year, forty million. Just about half of the production of sixteen years ago, and yet apples are comparatively cheap in this country. Now what we have to do is to cut down profits. There is a great problem that the growers have to work out, or we are going to have an over-production, if we are going to keep these apples so high in price that the ordinary man can not afford to buy them. We are going to •produce more fruit than there will be a demand for; but if we will keep the price down so that the ordinary man, the poor man, can buy apples, then you will find that it will be a long time before there will be an over- production. Mr. Yeager: Right along that line I have in mind something that came to my notice last September. Down in Otoe county they produce a great many peaches, and on this certain day that I am speaking about peaches were on hand in Nebraska City, in quite large quantities at 30 cents 'per bushel. On that same day in Omaha, they were $1.25 a bushel, and the cost of transporting a bushel of peaches from Nebraska City to Omaha, a distance of something like fifty miles, in round numbers, is about 8 or 9 cents. Now that is along the line of what Mr. Marshall said and he has said something that is worthy of notice to the grower, be- cause you have got to have a price for the consumer, on a basis of getting a fair revenue or return to the grower. But the trouble is, there are too many middle men. Now there is a concrete example, and I am quite sure my figures are right; I have them, but not at my command now, but that is approximately true. That is a concrete instance I call to mind now in support of what he said. A Member: Doesn't this bring you back to the proposition, that it is just as important to sell right, as it is to grow right. The shortest route from the producer to the consumer brings the most profit to the producer, and better satisfies the consumer. Now^ you are right back to your organ- izaiion foi selling, and having your men who make it a business to market your stuff, and study the market and make it a business, just as much as you make it a business to grov, the fruit. There is not one man out of fifteen that knoAVs how to sell, hut he knows how to produce, and it is because of the reason that he has not studied how to sell. He has not the time to do it, and there is a necessity now for your selling organi- zation. The Chairman: I see that Mr. Odell is in the room and we will now listen to a paper from Mr. Odell, on "Advertising the Apple." I am sorry that a great many of the crowd went away. 132 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ADVERTISING THE APPLE. Frank G. Odell, Lincoln. I am like the congressman, I always have leave to print, and the crowd can get it afterwards. I am sure that I need not make any apology to this audience because of my somewhat hurried state this week, and the fact that this paper is incomplete. After I shall have read what I have written and have said all that is in my mind, and in my heart to say con- cerning this subject, I think you will have had enough. The title .of this paper is sufficiently novel to attract attention in a Nebraska audience, whatever its merit as to subject matter. Two years ago one would have been regarded as foolish had he publicly favored advertising one of Nebraska's chief products; today there is no news item more eagerly sought and printed than that which deals with the in- teresting fact of Nebraska's present high rank as an apple state and her assured future preeminence. I use the term "assured future preeminence" with some ground for the faith which is within me — permit me to say frankly that I am not an expert horticulturist; it would be a matter of some difficulty for me to readily identify more than a dozen varieties of apples; bugs and scales and crown galls and cankers are not my famliar acquaintances; but when I see fruit such as glorifies yonder auditorium and realize that there are not less than four million acres in eastern Nebraska which will pro- duce its equal under skilful attendance, it is not presumptuous to speak of the future of Nebraska orcharding as assuredly preeminent. I presume that your capable secretary asked me to prepare this paper for a reason which is known to most of you; about four years since, my first visit was made to the highly exploited fruit growing sections of the Northwest; the Irresistible fascination of artistically displayed fruit in the Tnass took strong hold of my imaginative faculty and like most visitors to that country I was captivated by v/hat seemed to me to be its possibilities. For weeks I was brought into hourly contact with the infectious atmos- phere which pervades the personality of every citzen in that progressive country. The spell of the mountain and lake, coupled with the genial in- fluence of the ubiquitous land boomer laid strong hold on the senses; I frankly confess that had I then been free to invest, it would have been an easy task to get what little money was in my possession in exchange for a few acres of desert; now it is different, I know better. Since that time it has been my privilege to make several other jour- neys into "the land of the apple," so called, and with unusual opportuni- ties for observation, I have been able to learn some things exceedingly profitable to me, and, I trust not without profit to the state which we love. It is concerning these things which have been revealed to me that I desire to talk with you briefly on this occasion: ADVERTISING THE APPLE 133 THE GENTLE ART OF GETTING OTHER FOLKS' MONEY. In the gentle art of getting the money of other folks, the land boomers of the Pacific Northwest are post graduates; they can sell more land on faith inspired in the other fellow, than any company of men on earth. I like the scriptural definition of faith as given by the Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." There is more money invested in lands in the Northwest on the substance of things hoped for, than in the visible evic'ence of things yet seen, as it shall be my endeavor presently to prove to you. I am not unconscious that this is dangerous ground; there is enough Nebraska money invested in irrigated fruit lands, and in lands which the owners hope may sometime be irrigated, to make of this an exceedingly delicate topic. When my first modest efforts to advertise Nebraska as worthy of consideration as an apple growing state were put forth, they were greeted with the merry hoot; even professors of horticulture in your university thought it not beneath their dignity to publicly denounce the presumption of a layman who should call into question the dominance of the Northwest in an industry in which you won capital prizes in world shows when that far country was still the habitat of the Indian. It took nerve, but nature has been kind to nie and I eat celery frequently as a nerve stimulant; hence the venture, with which some of you are fa- miliar. You are not here, however, to listen to relation of personal experi- ences; most of the members of this society have been in the game of ad- vertising the apple for many years before my modest attempts in this direction; my chief purpose is to point out, if possible, some of the par- ticulars in which you have failed in the commendable effort and other means by which you may possibly succeed. If the men who are making land values on paper over night in the Northwest should be transplanted to Nebraska, and see your orchards laden with fruit in the autumn, they would be able to do with this goodly land precisely what they are doing with that, — persuade the prospective investor that it is a potential paradise. Life is not all apples in Washing- ton, nor roses in Oregon; they have sand and rust and codling moth; scale and canker and crown gall; every pest known to the world of hor- ticulture is to be found in that country; difficulties which test the courage of the bravest exist there; why do they succeed? Chiefly because they have that faith which is the evidence of things not seen and the sub- stance of things hoped for. Those who are not getting rich selling apples (and their name is legion) are hoping to get rich selling apple land to such as are possessed of both faith and money. You hear much of the fortunes which are being made in apple growing in the Pacific Northwest; my observation, extending over some thousands of miles of travel and personal investigation covering several years, leads to the belief that more fortunes are grown by raising the price of land than by raising apples; and to prove this contention I shall presently cite to you some authority 134 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULiriiAIi SOCIETY wiiicli even v.v. optimistic friends ol" tlie Northwest will scarcely dare question. TIJE PSYCHOLOGY OF ADVERTISING. Advertising is a study in psychology; the advertising expert defines it thus: he says that successful advertising consists of three steps; first, attract the attention; second awaken an interest; third, close the sale. Now you good folks have been running this splendid horticultural society for nearly a half century; you have had fruit shows every year at the state fair, held your meetings and been doing yeoman service for the development of the state, but still the world outside knew little about what you were doing. Even in Nebraska your great work has been unap- preciated. Presently along comes a novice who blurts out the statement that "Nebraska raises more apples than the state of Washington," and you get more notoriety in the newspapers than you have received in forty years; why? the first step has been accomplished; the attention of the public is attracted. A period of nearly a year elapses and the statement is repeated in slightly different form; this time it is- "xMebraska raises more apples than the whole Pacific Northwest." The newspapers begin to sit up and take notice; critics rebuke the presumptive ignorance of the apple boom- er, but investigation shows that Nebraska has the goods and the public interest is awakened; step the second is accomplished. It is up to the horticulturists of Nebraska to close the deal and complete the cycle of successful advertising. Now, I have related this v/ith some hesitancy, having been somewhat intimately connected with the incidents in question; anybody else could have done it just as well; many could have done it better; the only trou- ble was that they lacked nerve su Ancient to breast the tide of public opin- ion which has been setting strongly toward untried ventures in fields afar, and they lacked belief in the future of Nebra?.ka. I have a belief which amounts to a:i obsession; it is this: The man who does not believe in his own country is not likely to make a good citizen of that country. When I cease to have faith unbounded in Nebraska I will leave Ne- braska and seek some country in which I can have faith and for which I can work with, a free mind and conscience. It seems to me that we have now reached th^ point in the partial development of the orchard industry in this state whore the market has been established or created for us, very largely by the agency of our friends of the Northwest, who have come in here and by their splendid apples have awakened the public appetite to the point where they are ready to buy fruit, and buy that which we r-re offering at this time in this state, and that will be stimulated by the exhibition across the street, and should be taken advantage of at this time. It seems lo me one of the most inconsistent things my friends, in the economy of business in this ccinury, that we keep producing things here, but go over to another country, and bring their stuff over here and we ADVERTISING THE APPLE ' 135 at the same time are producing better stuff tlian we get up there, and pay the freiglit botli v/ays. Pardon me just a moment, wliile I refresh your recollection on that. There is an old economic theory that has been expounded a good deal, that the most prosperous nation is that nation that exports its goods to some other nation and gets money in exchange for it. I want to tell you sometiiing, and that is, that out of the ninety millions of people in the United States, there are nine million of them that are going to bed every night without their supper. I have a theory, and I believe it is economically sound, and it is this, that that nation is the most prosperous which uses its productions to make fat its own people. If that is true of the nation, it should be true of the state and community, and a whole lot of this high cost of living that is com- plained about; and a whole lot of the complained of high cost of trans- portation, and a whole lot of this stuff, is simply due to a misapprehen- sion of the real state of facts. If we unite our energies on the things we have in our midst, and supply the market at hand, instead of being anxious to sell apples in London rind Liverpool, and so forth, but show them that we can sell the best apples in the world right here in Omaha and Lincoln and our own state, then we would have arrived at the best part of this whole industry. Of course there are a great many tliinss we have to contend with. I understand that they can ship their apples from Rochester, New York, tO' North Platte, Nebraska, in carload lots, for twenty-seven cents a hun- dred, and that is less than you can ship from Richardson county to North Platte. But that is one of the things we must look out for, and nobody knows how this came about, even the men who make the rates. The best thing to do is to get together. There is only one way in the world in which men can get together, and that is to get together. They can not get together by standing oil and criticising each other. They can not get together by trying to slough off some proposition onto the other fellow to his personal disadvantage. Producers of this community will never get together until they get together on the basis of muttial profit and fair dealing. I happened to be in Omaha the other day when the state lumbermen's convention was in session. They did not have any trouble to get together. You will go around to a lumber yard in Lincoln to get a bill of lumber filled and then go to a dozen of them and get their figures, and then check up, and you v/ill find those fellows have no trouble in getting together, and we wiU have trouble in get- ting together until we get together on a basis of mutual confidence for mutual profit. WHY ADVERTISE THE APPLE? Why advertise the apple? Why not be content to pursue the even tenor of our way undisturbed by the flood of advertising such as char- acterizes less favored sections than ours? In the first place, the develop- ment of Nebraska orchards has now reached the point where profitable 13G NEBRASKA STATE IIOllTICULTUltAL SOCIETY marketing sliouid begin; the deniaud of our cities lor good fruit has been stimulated by the beautifully packed and artfully displayed product sent from the Northwest until apples inttead of selling 'oy the bushel or the barrel as once was common, now sell by the dozen. The demand is here; whether we shall meet that demand with a supply which will take its rightful place in our home market is up to the growers of Nebraska. In the second place, we should advertise the apple in order to justify the faith which has induced the pioneers to plant these orchards and keep up this splendid society with its great educational work for nearly a half century. The effort and money which you have put into this enter- prise may be fairly reckoned as an investment which is now about ready to pay dividends. How much is an apple tree worth after you have brought it to bearing age? Shall we say ten dollars,- — a sum at V, hlch most of you would scoff as miserably Insufficient, but even at the valuation cf ten dollars, the apple trees of Nebraska represent a capitali- zation of nearly eighty millions of dollars. We should look to our divi- dends. Legitimate advertising through the channels of publicity should now be seriously undertaken for the further reason that an unusual oppor- tunity exists to reap advantages from the preliminary advertising which has been done by our friends of other sections; this advertising they have paid for, but a large measure of the profits v/iii be ours if we seize the opportunity. Now 1 trust that the hearer v/ill not assume that I am advocating a campaign of booming for the apple or for the inauguration of a craze for speculation in the undeveloped orchard lands of this state. There is danger that this may come as a result of some of the successes in Ne- braska orcharding; it has characterized much of the development of the NortliNVff.t, and we will be fortunate if we escape its baneful influence. The particular thing which I desire and which I believe that public senti- ment is reflected is that it should be possible for the consumer to go into the market in Omaha or Lincoln, and buy Nebraska grown fruit under its own name in open competition, with such as we are now compelled to buy because the packer buys your apples at the orchard and ships tbeni east. There is scarcely a day in which some person does not ask me, "Why can't 1 get Nebraska apples on the. market of the quality which you have been writing about in the newspapers?" You growers know why, they can not get th<^m. It's your job to remedy this condi- tion, unless you prefer the eastern market to the home market. And this brings me logically to the next thing, — the organization for marketing: One can net blame the grower for getting th.'; best price for his croy l-ut it slKnild l;c cvidtiit l)y this time that the Northwest has great ad- vantage in its excellent marketing organization. They have learned out (here thaL it is easier and more profitable for the comnuirity to stand to- j',P(her and operate co-operatively alone than take their individual chance with the buyer; we will have to reach ihis position in Nebraska before ADVERTISING THE APPLE 137 orcharding is finuly established as a paying business lor the average man. While the grower of experience who is operating a large acreage can possibly find for himself he would have nothing to lose by co-operat- ing with his neighbors. The present vogue of the western apple is due to two important factors: — uniformity of quality and pack and wide- spread advertising; both of these have been secured through co-opera- tion. With the manifest superiority of the Nebraska apple, it ought to be a simple thing to occupy the home market, but go out in Lincoln or Om- aha and look for the Nebraska apples. You will not find the sort thai arc on exhibition in the show yonder. Why not? Because the Nebraska growers simply have failed to co-operate in the establishing of modem methods not only in the growing of the crop, but in the marketing of ii as well. It is encouraging to know that this subject is already under discussion in this meeting and that prospects are favorable for a strong co-operative organization among Nebraska fruit growers. The people of our cities are entitled to the first chance at the hom.e grown fruit; yoii are entitled to the first chance at the home market; the responsi- bility for meeting this condition rests primarily on the grower and until he rises to his opportunity, we will continue to find our markets flooded with western fruit. A HINT AS TO ADVF:RT1S1NG. I have been asked to touch briefly the matter of concrete advertis- ing for the benefit of the nurseryman; what applies to his business will apply to any other; do your advertising in papers of proven circulation and pulling power. Farm paper advertising is now ranked by experts as the most valuable for such lines as appeal directly to the farmer: high grade farm papers gets a higher rate for their space than the daily newspapei's. Here's a hint as to the ultimate value of such ad vertising: There are plenty of farm papers; their name is legion. Not all of them are highly valuable to the advertiser for at least one reason which seems to me to be well founded. Many of these papers, and among these some of the irxost promi- nent, h^ve an arrangement with the local bank, department store, grain elevator, or postoffice through which the farmer gets the paper. for a year at from one-fourth to one-half price; sometimes he gets it as a gift through the "liberality" of his l)anker or grain dealer. "Beware of the Greeks bearing gifts." A man does not think a whole lot of a paper which he does not think enough of to pay for and renew voluntarily. The value which attaches to an advertisement depends largely on the value which it appears. If I were to place a line of advertising in a farm paper, I should en- deavor to select such papers as occupied the field with a bona fide paid circulation which was built on merit without special premiums or gift 13S XKBUASKA STATK IIOItTini/rLRAL SOCIETY ( iiterprises. 1 am of the opinion that the advertiser who places his contract with such publications will receive the best returns. I have thus briefly and hurriedly rambled over the field suggested by advertising the apple. My experience indicates that that large company of cheerful boosters who are to be found in the newspaper profession in this state are Avilling to do their part in lettin.:? the world know the superior quality of Nebraska fruit. They must rely on us who are interested for their facts. Get tJie facts to them in reliable form and you may depend on them to do the rest. Nebraska orchardists can get publicity which could not be bought with hundreds of thousands of dol- lars if they will get into the game properly and keep it up; but they v/ill have to ensure the quality and uniformity of their product and put it on the market in condition to compete with the growers of other sec- tions. It is evident from the exhibit now installed at the Nebraska apple show that it is possible for the Nebraska grower to produce the quality, the pack and to occupy the home market; whether he will do this de- pends on himself. The Chairman: Is there any discussion on this paper by Mr. Odell. If not we will continue with the reading of the questions in the quosr tion box. QUESTION BOX. The secretary reads the second question as follows: "How does summer pruning compare with winter pruning on bearing apple trees?" The Chairman: Has there any one had any experience along that line; if they have let them tell it. I remember when I was a boy in Illinois they used to prune the apple trees when they were in bloom, but I do not know anything about the results. Some one in the audience: As a stranger here I have enjoyed my- self very much this afternoon and i see that you are at the point of the question box, and I would ask the privilege of asking a question. I think it will be somewhat in harmony with your meeting here. I will state that some three years ago 1 boui^ht the Helena Fruit Farm, six miles from Omaha, and it has pretty nearly killed me, and I want some one to tell me something about some way to get relief. Mr. Pollard: In answer to the last question on pruning I will saj' this: It will depend w-haL you are pruning for. If you are pruning to Ihin out your trees in winter, it will produce a tremendous growth of wood. If you prune in the summer, in July, it will give a check to the growth of the wood. That is the difference that we have found in our experience. If you wish to trim the tree for fruit, trim it in the sum- mer, and if you wish to trim it for growth, trim it in the winter. Mr. Christy: I have found where we trim in the winter they heal over better tiian our summer pruning. Mr. Pollard: No, they w'il crack through. The fruit buds are formed in .July, and if you trim before then you will regret it. The theory is ADVERTISING THE APPLE 139 that we are commanded to go forth and glorify and replenish the earth. The trees have the same command to them, and they go forth and glorify. Let a gopher get underneath and cut off its roots, and if that tree has never had a crop, it will have one then. It seems to me to be scared, and to do something before it dies seems to be v'hat ii wants to do. Trees that have not been bearing all their lives, if you will trim them thoroughly, they will bear all right the next season. The secretary reads the next question as follows: "What advantage has the cut-away harrow over the common disc in orchard cultivation?" Mr. C. G. Marshall: We have had quite a littie experience with orch- ard cultivation with discs, the last few years, since we have been leasing orchards, and we are using the extension reversible orchard disc, the ordinary round disc harrow, and although the cut-away has been recom- mended to us, I can not see that we could improve much over the other disc. We found that if we have it sharp we can drag up a stiff blue grass sod. And it does the work very nicely. One team of horses will drag one of these discs along all right, and by cultivating after a good heavy rain, you can establish a good soil mulch. Mr. Christy: They claim that the cut-away disc will go deeper, but I do not know that that makes any difference, because I think this goes deep enough. The secretary reads question number "4" as follows: "Can the Eng- lish walnut be grown in Nebraska?" Mr. Pollard: I have some ten trees of English walnut that have been planted sixteen or seventeen years. They grov/ up every year, and make a magnificent growth and freeze down eveiT winter. Mr. Yeager: A couple of years ago I found some growing in Dodge county, and I thought I had made a discovery and I kept track of them, and found they did the same way that Mr. Pollard's did. A Member: I would like to ask Mr. Christy if he knows what Judge Stull's results were in his experiment of putting out English walnuts. A. It was a failure. A Member: Well, a certain form of the English walnut is grown successfully in New York. It is called the Pomroy walnut. It started there from a visitor from New York at the Philadelphia Exposition, who found an old tree in Philadelphia growing in the house m which he stayed during the fair, and he gathered some of the walnuts and took them to Rochester, New York, and planted them there. They have grown and mul- tiplied and have planted around there in various places and seem to be doing well. And now 1 believe they are offering them for sale. It seems to be a rather hardy form. The secretary reads question number 5 as follows: "Might it not be practical to consider the employment of the larger scholars in our schools with the consent of school authorities and the scholars in horti- cultural work to receive educational credit for such, in addition to wages. 140 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY Mr. Williams: That question has been somewhat near to me, and I can not discuss it quite in the form that it is given there but it is closely related to this question, what I call "bread and butter education." From the point of the fruit grower and the children of our public schools, there should be some means devised for bringing them together. Now for instance, just to illustrate my point of view: Last fall, during my grape harvest, I found it difficult to get grape pickers. After school be- gan it was very difficult to get pickers enough to harvest my crop as fast as I wanted. I had a number of students who went to high school and as soon as school began they quit, and the same in strawberry sea- son. The strawberry comes in just before the close of the high school, and 1 found it difficult to get berry pickers, and I asked concerning the idea two years ago, to let school out earlier in order to give us relief. And this question that is raised here is closely related to that, and it occurs to me if our high school educators should allow their pupils to take credits for some line of worK like that, it Avould give us the relief we need, and be right along the line of a practical education for more students and let them know whether or not they want to pursue that industry or not. The present trend of our education is so intensive in getting a classical education that it is impossible to divert them from that course in spite of the effort that is made on the part of the agricul- tural educators. Our public school education does not affiliate with the needs of the fruit growers and gardeners. We can not get the help from them we need, and that is the long and short of it The Chairman: Remember the banquet at the Lincoln hotel this evening, in honor of Dr. Bessey. That banquet is served at 6:15 or 6:30, I think. Now, Dr. Billings, 1 can give you about five minutes. Dr. A. S. Billings: The question I had was somewhat answered in part. I wanted to find out as much as 1 could what had been done, and what was being done in the way of the producing and growing of nuts. I have made a start in that way myself, and in inquiring around I have not heard of any mstance of the growih of them only on the Mor- ton farm in Nebraska City. There are some grown in New York and I have some of them that I am going to put out in the spring, the same nut that the gentleman spoke of. One man has fifty acres of nuts. I am at work putting out butternuts, English walnuts, chestnuts and fil- berts and anything else that I can get. 1 wanted to find out what had been done along that line. There is one word more outside of that and 1 want to thank these gentlemen here for having helped me very, very much. As I said, 1 bought the Helene Fruit Farm and I have fifty acr.-^s of fruit, and in the last three years it has pretty nearly killed me. All : knew about it was what I Tound oui as a boy in Vermont. Every time I saw a piece of fruit 1 wanted it, and 1 bit off more than I could chew when I got 50 acres. I had some very handsome raspberry vines and they did not seem to produce anything and 1 had made up my mind that the best thing that could be done was to get rid o\' them. And one day during the THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 141 summer these slips came from the government, and my foreman told me they did not amount to anything, but I got a little slip one day and it stated that the berry should be pruned soon after the bearing, and there were two prunings, so I thought it would be a good thing to do to cut them down 18 inches to two feet. I had a blackberry vine 14 feet long, and I thought it was pretty nearly like slaughvering it, but I had the courage to go and cut oft" all but three feet of it; that was quite a little time after the terries had been ripe though. The result was that I have some beautiful vines there, and they have grown from six inches to two feet, and it looked to me as if this irimming at that time v/as going to give me some fruit. I do not know how I am coming out but your speak- ing about the time of trimming, that one time would make wood, and the next time would make fruit, struck me as about the best I have yet heard. In regard to the nuts, I have been using considerable dynamite. I am blowing out all the old peach trees, and making holes about four or five feet deep, and five feet wide, and I iiave been catching all the water and snow, and I will set out nut trees the next year. I want to thank you gentlemen for the information you have given me, and for your indul- gence in listening to me for what I have had to say. It now being 5 o'clock p.m., January 22, 1913, the meeting of the society adjourned until 9 o'clock the following morning, to lake up the program arranged for that time. FORENOON SESSION. 9:30 a.m., January 23d. The meeting of the society convened, pursuant to adjournment, and the following proceedings were had and done. The meeting will now come to order, and we will hear the first number on the program, a paper by E. H. Herminghaus of Lincoln on "The Missouri Botanical Garden."' THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. E. H. Herminghaus, Lincoln. The Missouri Botanical Garden, popularly known as Shaw's Garden, owes its origin, development, and permanent endowment to the love of plants of the late Henry Sha^v, a native of England and a benefactor of America. Its purpose is to afford restful recreation, education, and productive research. To accomplish this end, the garden has always been open to the public. Even from the outset, when it wat? a private estate, the public was premitted to share m the refining influ- ence of flowers. The garden is open on week days from 7 in the morniru; until sunset and upon Sundays from May 1st until November 1st, from 2:00 p.m. until sunset. The garden iu closed only on holidays. Another 142 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY method of disseminating botanical knowledge used by tlie garden, is by means of floral shows, the principal one being the chrysanthemum show which is held in early November There are also the cyclamen and lily shows. When Heniy Shaw died, he lett nearly all of Ills estate to the endow- ment of the garden, under the care of the board of trustees, fifteen in number. The value of the estate is estimated at about $3,000,000 and it consists mainly of real estate. The interest is alone sufficient to maint^ain the garden. Part of this money is used iu sciesitific research and the rest, which is the greater part, in gardening proper. The garden main- tains a staff of three to five botanists, one of whom is the director of the garden. Five fellowships are granted to young botanists of prominence in order that they may make advanced research in botany and horticulture. The wcrk and results of this scientific staff is published in the annual report of the garden. The gardening work proper is under the supervision of an able foreman who is aided by seven sub- foremen, each one having charge of a department. Mr. Shaw's purpose to provide pleasure with incidental instruction to the public, to train gardeners and disseminate botanical and horticul- tural knowledge has led to and necessitated a large collection of plant?, representing 12,000 species. A library and herbarium were also needed. The libraiy at present is the greatest of its liind in the world and con- tains about 100,000 volumes of botanical knowledge valued at $110,000,000. The herbarium contains 680,000 specimens and is valued at $100,000. The area of the garden is 110 acres, 60 acres of which is undeveloped. There are a number of plant houses each devoted to a special class of plants. The new range which is now under construction will have a frontage of nearly 400 feet and one section will have a iieight of 60 feet to take care of the tall growing palms and musas. It will be The purpose of the rest of this paper to treat with horti- culture p.t the garden and this resolves itself into a discussion of plants. T will speak briefly of the greenhouse plants, bedding plants, trees, shrubs, perennials and water plants. At present the main house of the garden is devoted to plants re- quiring only moderate temperature in winter. In this house is the Mon stera deliciosa which grows up on the wall to the glass. Most people marvel at this plant owing to the fact that they think it is an air plant, but its roots are under the bench. The Musas or bananas are extremely tall growing plants and will grow as high as any greenhouse is built. Here one can also find beauiiful spei imens of the Ilhapis flabelli-formis; and the Livistonia chenensis which we call Latania Barbonica. This house has also been used for display of flowering plants. In winter the Azaleas, Cyclamens, Cinerarias and Primulas are exhibited. These are followed by the lilies. In the spring an excellent collection of Torcnias, Hydrangea, Fuchsia and Gloxinias is shown. When I saw these beautiful flowers I wondered why the florists of Nebraska did not use or make more usr of t1i'>so plants, especially Gloxinias and Fuchsias. Following thesa THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 143 a very good collection of vai'legated Caladiums was shown. In lato summtr an exhibit was made of the spider lily, HymenocalliK littoralis. These were grown in boxes 1 foot by 1.5 foot square and 1.5 foot deep. Passing from this house we enter the Agave and Aloe house. These plants do not afford much interest except at time of flowering wlien they send up a flower stalk 6 to 10 feet high with a spike of numerous flowers. The Cactus and Yucca houses do not afford much interest al- though there are some excellent specimens of the Echino-cactus. The Acacia house contains in the main three Acacias, a leguminous plant cf the tropics. These trees which were about eight or ten feet high were one mass of bloom in the spring. Next in line is the Bromeliad house. This house contains the octopus plant, Tillandsia balbisiana, and the most interesting goose plant, Aristolochia gigas, which however, is not a bromeliad. This flower is about the s:-ze of one's head, provided that head is not exceeding ordinary proportions. The next house is the orchid house and perhaps is the most interesting house for the orchids are the most beautiful of all plants. Here I found that Cattleya triania was per- haps the most beautiful and best adapted for commerce, although Chysis the wax orchid, Dendrodiums, Oncidium papilio, the butterfly orchid, and cyprysediums the slipper orchids, are also adapted for commerce. Next to the orchid house is the house for East India plants and here Vi e find Dieffenbachias, Cyanophyllums, Marantas, Orchids, Bromeliads and ferns. In the fern house or dome one can see the tree ferns Alsophyia and Cybodium, stag horn fern and numerous others. Adjoining the fern house is the cycad house and there are many who think that cycads are ferns. Here we find the old reliable sagO' palm, Cycas revoluta. Besides Cycas, there is Zamia, Dioon and Eucephaiartos. The dioons are beau- tiful plants and should be used more by florists. The bedding plants used at the garden can be classified into two groups; the herbaceous or non-tropical and the tropical or woody plants. The herbaceous bedding plants are uHcd in the parterre, a large sunken garden, and in the circle, a large group of beds of arched shape. The parterre and some of the other beds are planted with bulbs in the fall. In early spring a stupendous show of thousands of bulbs crop out of the ground. They are mostly tuiips and from fifteen to twenty of the prin- cipal varieties are used. After flowering they are taken up and the sum- mer bedding plants take their place. Their best bedding plants are, Iresine, Coleums, Piquenia, Ageretxim, Salvia, Begonia, Crotons, Cordy- iine and Pandanus. Tresine hertsti brilliantissima and coleus "South part beauty" make the finest combination that I have ever seen. The former is a brilliant red and the latter a rich yellow. There was not a single bed of geraniums used and cannas were not used extensivelj^ The can* nas were bothered very much by the caterpillar. Canuaurea gymnocarpa received its last trial and will be abandoned for not making a good stand. The principal grasses used were Penesetum and Panicum plicaturn varie- gatnm, the latter making a close stand and of medium height. For early and semi-summer bedding work, stocks, poppies (Papaver somniferum). 144 NEr.UASKA STATE IIoUTlClI/rUllAL SOCIETY were used to good advantage and tliey made a splendid showing. Excel- lent results were attained wiili Zinnias and Asters in ornamental bedding work. ' -' : . Very good results were obtained m using such plants as palms, tropi- cals, rubber plants and agaves. These beds were much larger than the ones in the parterre and one at the side, where they made great foliage masses. The tropical plants were divided into dilTerent groups, as medic- inal poisons, oils, perfumes, etc. Two magnificent beds were made with the rubber plants, with their large glossy leaves. Good effects were at- tained with Agaves, the largest plants being in the rear, the smallest ones in the front, thus giving a graduation in size. Some cacti make good beds while others are too ragged and shapeless. The best bed of tropical plants wa,3 one which bordered one of the greenhouses. It was composed of Manihot palmeta (Tapioca plant), pomogranits (Punica granata), in the rear, with a Cassia and Lagerstroemias in the front. The rear plants were for foliage and the anterior plants were flowering, the cassia having yellow flowers and the Lagerstroemias red and white. All of the plants used in the above manner are only plunged in the ground. My first impression of the trees in the garden was that there wasn't any tree that we can grow that they can not, but there were a number that they couid grow to perfection that we could not. The garden was once rich in conifers, but the smoke had told the tale. Quite a factory district has been built up near the garden and the smoke has greatly affected the conifers, although the tsugas and bald cypress seem to be doing quite Avell. The soot in the smoke ledges in the sunken breathing pores cf the pines and thus suffocates them. Smoke consumers do away with the soot, but they do not eradicate the SO™ gas which dissolves in the dew on the plant and forms sulphuric acid. Among the deciduous trees there are the magnolias, sw'eet gums, horse chestnuts, buckeyes, beech, cladrastis, a yellow wood, sassafras, silver bell and bladder nut and ginko which are not familiar to us; at least we can not grow them successfully. Beech, liquid-amber or sweet gum and the buckeyes are the most beautiful trees owing to color and form. I was disappointed with magnolias when in flower. The flowers were beautiful but the mass of them lack effect in the absence of foliage. As it was with trees ao it is with shnibs; namely, many shrubs do well there that do not do well here. This is especially true of roses. Roses thrive better there as the climate is not as dry as here and you will find that they still do better in the east. If you go a step farther, they thrive much better in England, where they have 60 inches of rain- fall, than in any place in the United States with the possible exception of California and Oregon. I found that "Grusz and Tepiiz" was perhaps the most glorious of all the varieties at the garden. Clothllde soupert is a good border rose. Maden, Charles Wood and George Washington also do splendidly at that place. The evergreen shrubs such as rhododendron, azalia, kalmia, and conton-caster are not a great success, and I would only pronounce them fair for that locality. Of the deciduous shrul)s none THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 14.-, does better than Berberis thungbergii. Thin shrub is to them as tha spirea Van Houtii is to us. The viburnums, such as dendatum, lentago. lantana, and apulus are splendid slirubs tliere and tliey are becoming to be the best ones here. Spirea Van Houtii does not amount to much there but douglasii and salicifolia are fine. The loniceras are no better there than ours but the hydrangeas are great, especially hydrangea arborescens grandiflora.. California is the best of the privets and is extensively used as it does not winter kill there very often. The lilacs are not to be com- pared with ours and here is one of the things that we excel them in although the bedding plants at the farm looked better to me than those of the garden. Lindera benzoin, Deutzias, fringe tree, matrimony vine and sumach do fine at the garden although the sumachs are very subject to the ravages of smoke. The perennials of the garden are about on a par perhaps a little better than ours. I was told that they had not been mulched but the new fore- man told me that they would be in the future. Here again we come to an instance where we excel them and that is in hollyhocks. Their specimens are shameful alongside of ours. The collection of peonies is large and it is one confusion of varieties as all collections of peonies are. Crinuniir;, golden glows, campanulas, sunflowers and sedums are among the best of the perennials at the garden. To me the water plants were the most interesting as I had never seen them here and then I wondered why I had not. There are two groups of aquatics; the hardy and the tender ones. The tender ones are grown in the cemenl basins and include ^^ucii phnts as Nymphaeas, Victorias, Acorus, Pistia, Eichornia, Thallia, Euralye, and Cyperi. The Nymphaeas are most beautiful in flower while the Victorias, Eurayles, Pistias and the Acorus are beautiful for their foliage. Pistia, which is water lettuce, looks much like lettuce and it makes a compact low growth. The grandest of all water plants is the Victoria regia. The leaves of this plant attain the size of 4 to 5 feet within a week and one of them is capable of supporting 350 pounds. The flower is white the first day, red the second and a purple red the last day. Eurayle also has large leaves but they do not turn up at the edges as Victorias and they are covered with large warts or horns. Among the hardy A\ater plants, Nslumbrium lutea is the best. I could do no better than describe the hardy pond at the garden that I v/ould so like to see imitated or attempted at the farm. The surface of the water was covered with Marsilia, a little clover-leafed fern, and with Potomuge- tans fluitans whose leaves resemble Nymphaeas but are much smaller, at one side above the water. In mid-summer this group also exhibited a glory show of gorgeous yellow fiowers. Around the edges were tall growing water plants such as cattails, Scripus, Thallia, Acorus and Sagitaria. These tall aquatics flanked the sides and formed a frame for the picture. All of these plants are native to North America and are perfectly hardy. Why would they not do here? In conclusion, I think that a Nebraska botanical garden would be of as great a value to Nebraska as the Missouri botanical garden is to Missouri. 14(> NEBRASKA STATE IK iK riCII/rt'ItAL SOCIETY Why not educate the people of Nebraska to the refining influence of flowers as that garden has to the people of Missouri. It would be of great value to the horticulturists of this states as a great number of plants could be tested for our conditions, and surely some of the beautiful and useful plants found at Shaw's garden will also do well here. It would be also an aid to you in that the plants would be scientifically and properly classi- fied and you as well as everybody else could use it for comparison. The place for such a garden is at the farm where there is now a nucleus of one at the present time. In the end I can not conceive of anything that would be of greater value to horticulture of Nebraska than a Nebraska botanical garden. DISCUSSION. Mr. G. A. Marshall: We have a gentleman here in the meeting who I think is a member of this association and if he is not, we will pick his pockets until we make him one. I know he is interested in this paper because his head kept going back and forth, and I know he has some information for us, and I think now is a good time to ask him to give us a little discussion on this paper. I will call on Mr. Peters of Omaha. Mr. Peters: What I do not know would fill a pretty large book, and what I do know would fill a very small one. I am interested in fiowers, however, and always have been, and I think the time is coming now, when the perennial plants, the newer perennials are going to be planted much more than in the past. This is a new country, and the people have been trying to make money. Self-preservation is the first thing. After that come the arts; and really landscape gardening and flowers come after pictures. And that is an art beyond the ability of a painter of pictures. Take the old countries, the landscape gardening was one of their last ventures, I believe. As well as in the southern part of Europe or Eng- land. The eastern part of the United States is today doing this quite ex- tensively. We begin it here, and you horticultural men can do nothing better than to develop a taste for this class of work. It beautifies the country. "Father" Harrison is right when he says, "beauty is wealth." You want the people to fill your cities and farms and counties. You do not want people that have money only, — of course you want them too, but you want to make a beautiful place for all to live in. Yo i want to get the cultivated class, that is what makes a desirable community of people, people who have something else in their minds besides the making of the dollars. To my mind this is one of the finest things in the world. Sonte of those boxes of apples over in the show room are as beautiful as any bouquet you could make. But some of the boxes \vere a little irregular and some of the apples were a little rotten, and that spoils the bouquet. You must take these out every morning. W^hen the eyes of the people are pleased, you can interest them, and when the eyes are not pleased, you can not interest them. So that reverts back to the beauty of apples, and if you please the eye of the visitor you please the visitor, and you may get him as a resident of your county or city, and I would like to see this society as was proposed yesterday, make up a little list of plants that are THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 147 hardy and will grow well, and get the farmer interested in beautifying his place as well as making it a money factory. And you will have a much more beautiful state and a much more pleasing spot to live in. The Chairman: I wish to say to Mr. Peters that years ago the State Horticultural Society commenced collecting knowledge along this line and we have a list now that covers two or three pages in our report. They are recommended in connection with our fruit lists. The same care has been taken in making this list as has been in our fruit lists. Perhaps not quite so extensive but we have a list now covering perhaps 75 to 100 different varieties of shrubs and plants and perennials. Of course the list varies with the section of the state. Mr. Peters: There is one thing I would like to add: I would like to see this show held in Omaha. Instead of putting in the number of apples you have here, put in twice as many. I am not disparaging what you have here, but put in a bigger one, and put in a big display of flowers so that when the ladies visit this show they will go down through this line, and be pleased. If you put in a big floral display at the same time with your apple show you are bound to have more ladies there. Then put in 500 barrels of apples if necessary, and then let a lot of people that buy only northwestern apples see them. Mr. VanHouten: I approve of the remarks that have been made by Mr. Peters, but there is another side of the question. I have had to do with fruit displays and state fairs and horticultural meetings for a great many years, and I have found by experience and wider observation, that the men who do that, do it at considerable sacrifice. Now it would be very nice indeed for them, if it were possible to have twice as much fruit as we have here now, but we have a wonderful collection and a very large one right here. Now if you go to Omaha, and if the people of Omaha will do their share, then they may be sure that the horticulturists will do theirs, but it is too much to ask a man to take a fruit display at a very large sacrifice and then give it away to somebody else who is going to profit by this just as much as he is himself. And the city bidding for this should put up a financial guarantee so that the show will not be a failure. I speak of this because I have been through it so many times, and I just want to suggest that the horticulturists should not be expected to assume this great burden, but the people of the city where it is held should put up a part of the money, and not expect the men to come and bring all their fruit and bring money, and help advertise the business for a man who will make just as much profit out of it as he will himself. You had better sell the apples on the market. I am just speaking of this to represent the other side of this question and not to criticise Mr. Peters, but to show the necessity of cooperation. If a city wants this show they should con- tribute something to it, and there should be something of a rivalry be- tween the cities. And then I will guarantee that the horticulturists will be there at the show, and the ones that have been giving things, and the ones that have the most fruit there will do the most. Mr. Peters: I do not think but what you are quite right, and if Omaha will not do its fair share, don't put your show on at Omaha. The 148 NKBKASKA STATE HORTICTLTURAL SOCIETY Commercial club will do their part of the business. I am only one of a great many people there, and I want them to do the right thing, and if they will not do their share don't you put your show on there. The Chairman: If there are no further remarks, we will pass to the next number. I notice we are booked for a discussion on "Apple Pack- ages" a matter which is very practical and of very great interest to this society. This is to be led by Professor Laurenz Green, of Ames, Iowa APPLE PACKAGES— DISCUSSION. Professor Laurenz Green, Ames, Iowa. Mr. Chairman, Members of the Horticultural Society: We have been discussing apple packages quite a good deal over at the apple display, in- stead of trying to learn to pack apples in boxes. What seems to be the liiain question is will it pay to pack in boxes, and v.hat advantages have they over the barrel? There are other methods of packing besides the barrel and the box. We found this winter that a small paper carton put out by some of the paper companies paid us well for the trouble of buy- ing it. It costs us between one and a half and two and a half cents apiece and holds a dozen apples. We found these sold well enough to repay us for the trouble of packing the apples. Another man who packs them this way started out using the parcels post delivery. Another man used baskets to pack his apples in. Now perhaps this discussion will end in the box and barrel. Anything less than the barrel should contain the best apples, because every time you decrea.se the size of the package you in- crease the cost of packing and marketing, you can not get away from that. They may talk about the box being cheaper than the barrel, but I don't believe that the man, lives who can make it cheaper. When you increase the price of the apple on the market we are bound to decrease the de- mand for that product. And therefore we are going to cut off the con- sumption by the demand for the box, but there is a certain class of people who are bound to pay for quality, and they do not want these apples in barrels where they can not see and do not know what they are getting. But the box has its place. lu fact I favor the box a great deal, but the principle is true that every lime you increase the cost of the apple, you are decreasing the demand, and decreasing the consumption. But there is another side to that, and that is that in the city you can reach the small consumer who can not use a barrel of apples. The residents in most of the small towns, and the farmers buy the barrel, or two or three barrels, of apples, but in the city in the flats, they have no place to keep a barrel and they buy smaller quantities and thus by the box you reach the small consumer. I was interested this fall to note in the newspapers quite a discussion among some of the western growers of the northwestern country, in regard to the apple barrel, and a great many of them are using the apple barrel to market their apples. I do not believe I have anything more to offer on this question. T wish the discussion would be free and open. APPLE PACKAGES 140 The Chairman: The matter is open for discussion. Mr. C. G. Marshall: I will say that I have had some experience in packing both in barrels and boxes. A year or two ago I thought that the box would probably be the only package, in a few years used in this coun- try, but I am changing my mind. I believe there is a place for both pack- ages just as Mr. Green has said, but the box package we find has been rather expensive. Of course after we get our men trained in packing so that they can put up more packages in a day we can lessen this cost. We have found it has cost us 10 to 12 cents a box for the packing of these boxes, and then an expense of 2 or 3 cents for paper, and we have had to use the very best apples for the boxes, and in the long run I believe we were ahead from the apples we packed in barrels. Now that box pack- age would be desirable to pack our best fruit in; some of the fancy varieties, that can be disposed of to the best trade in the city, but in the case of the ordinary Ben Davis and some of those apples that are used mostly in the culinary department, I doubt if it will ever pay to put it up in that way. It demands a price too large to expect the ordinary con- sumer to pay for. The Chairman: Is there anything else? A Member: My observation has been that the people here have thought altogether too much of the box. It has been accepted as a cure- all for low prices, and with the increased use of the box as an apple pack- age we are beginning to find that the northwestern people are right when they pack only their very best fruit in the box. Now we all hear a very great deal of Hood River. What do the people there pack in their boxes? Nothing but the very best. And then they are extremely careful to have every apple in the box just the same as every other apple. I was down in Arkansas and saw a man whom I heard was the most progressive grower engaged in the box packing of apples in Arkansas, and I called to get an idea of what he was doing; he wanted to get the cream of the prices. A lot of the apples he was putting in his boxes were spotted and bad, and scale marked and a large part of them were being turned down, and yet he was going on the assumption that putting those apples in the boxes would bring him a big price. Now as a matter of fact 50 per cent of those apples that he was packing in boxes should have gone in barrels. Why? Because it costs more to pack apples in boxes than barrels. It will cost 20 cents more to pack three bushels in boxes than in barrels. And on account of the increased cost of the box as a package, nothing but the very best sample, the cream of the fruit, should go in boxes to make the box package pay. It is the cheaper grade of apples that should go in barrels, and when it comes to the stuff we are hesitating about, I am of the opinion it should go to the evaporators, the vinegar factory, and so forth, and not go on the market at all. The evaporators are gaining in popularity as an outlet for low grade stuff. In Missouri, New York, Oregon and California the evaporators are taking the poorer grade apples and are using them and converting them into a by product, and thus it takes the low grade stuff off the market and increases the price of the market apples. The northwestern apples in Washington, Oregon, and so 150 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY forth, have not made use of the by product and the result is increase of output, and the northwest apples although they increase they do not get the price they should for their high grade fruit. When it comes to the package, the barrel certainly has a great big place here in this coun- try and will always have. Mr. Green: Some oC you men have been asking about Delicious apples, and I want to bring that up in connection with this matter of pack- age, because it will serve as an illustration. I opened up a barrel of Deli- cious shipped me by the grower in eastern Iowa, who is very careful in his methods of packing. I know he had given it the very best of care, and it had been in storage for three or four months, and I opened it up and 25 per cent of those were bruised and rotted, and could not be handled. The Delicious is a good keeper in a smaller package, and we must adapt these packages to other similar grades and kinds of apples that will carry better in smaller packages. Mr. Cooper: We have been doing a great deal of packing in Kansas. At the station we have been doing a great deal of packing in boxes. Our most tender varieties we find will hold up better in boxes. We have been buying our boxes in carload lots, and we get those boxes in carload lots and find it costs but 10 cents apiece to pack this box. Well, the cost of packing in boxes comes up from 60 to 75 to sometimes 80 cents for three bushels, considering the cost of everything. While in barrel packing we paid from 35 to 37^^ cents in carload lots. It costs about 25 to 30 cents to pack those, so that brought the cost of packing in barrels in from 60 to 80 cents. It does not cost as much to pack in barrels as it does in boxes. But when it comes to selling, we realize from 25 to 30 cents more on the boxed than we do on the barreled stuff. At Parker, Snyder & Rodiger have 1,200 acres of apples. They have been getting better prices for their boxed stuff than the other. As Mr. Green suggested they are putting their best grades in boxes. They dis- pose of nothing at all in bulk except what they consider the cull apples, to be used for vinegar and such things as that. I think that is the way we will have to do in this state, to pack our best stuff in boxes to meet the demand of our smaller customers. A Member: This year in a Colorado orchard, there was quite a large per cent of Jonathan apples, which were undersized, they ran below two inches and on that account could not be packed in the standard grades of the state. The grower packed these apples in half boxes and wrapped each apple just as we would have, had the apples been two and three- quarter and three-inch size. And they were packed in tiers, but instead of labeling those apples "Jonathan" he called them "Cherry Jonathan." The standard crates of Jonathan sold at a dollar and a half. And these half boxes so far have been selling for 65 cents; so he is ahead on a low grade apple. These Jonathans were absolutely perfect; they were beau- tiful little things, and the only trouble was the size, they were too small. A man of a family can buy a box of that sort and he gets a great deal more eating out of a box like that than a barrel, where he would have to throw away a large per cent of them. SPRAYING 151 Mr. Cooper: I would like to say this, that the size of the apple does not necessarily mean whether or not it is first or second class apple. We have of lots of apples that are not two and three inches, and if they are packed in these special packages make a very attractive grade, and they will command as large a price in the markets as any other pack. One kind of pack is bringing higher prices than others and they will bring larger prices than any other pack, no matter what size it is. So I think we had better confine ourselves to quality rather than to the size of the apple. The Chairman: We passed one subject yesterday without a discus- sion, and that is a discussion on spraying, which is a matter we are per- haps more deeply interested in even than the package, and we will call this matter up and ask A. C. Marshall, if he is present, to lead the dis- cussion on spraying. Mr. Marshall not seeming to be here, I will call on Mr. Duncan for some remarks on this subject. SPRAYING DISCUSSION. Mr. Duncan: We have been spraying now in a commercial way only the last three years, and we have been using arsenate of lead, and lime sulphur in our spraying. I think we started with lime sulphui:, were the first ones in our town, and we used the first year, if I remember right, a preparation of 1 to 37i/^, but we found in our succeeding seasons that the weaker solution is better. We sprayed three or four times in the course of a year, and we found that the last three years there has not been any apple scabs to amount to anything. Of course in a dry year we have not had to spray for anything except the worms. We have about 135 acres under our control now, and we have some orchards that are pretty badly infected with codling moth. The first year, of course, it was an uphill job to control the codling moth, but this last season we sprayed three times only and we had so much other work we could not get our spraying done the first time over. We sprayed the calyx spray, that is just when the petals are falling. Ten or fifteen days later we gave it a combined spray. Now most of the people have advocated a combined spray at the time that the petals are falling. Well we find that a combined spray throughout the season has not injured our fruit in any way, and the trees seem to have a more vigorous and healthy foliage, and the foliage stays on the trees better. A big apple buyer was in our orchard last fall and after he came back from Kansas and Missouri, he said that the foliage in our orchard was the best and cleanest of any orchard he had been in. Now as to giving you the cost of spraying, and the percentages and such as that, I could not give you that, because I haven't the figures with me of any one of our orchards. We have six buyers from different sections, Chi- cago, and Minneapolis and different cities, and they said that was the cleanest bunch of apples they saw this fall, and when it came to culling for worms, I do not think we had to cull for any worms hardly at all. That seems to have been one of the greatest things, it has been with us any way in the last year. 152 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICri/nRAI. SOCIETY Mr. Green : I do not want to enter into too many of these discussions but just one point Mr. Duncan brought out, that I would like to emphasize here. He spoke of diluting lime sulphur. Every fruit grower should have his hydrometer and test his solution before he uses it and go according to the hydrometer test. I believe that he will find that if he will spray for scab before he does his rluster bud spraying he \\ill find less scab. A Member: I would like to inquire about how many acres growers find it possible to handle with one spraying outfit. We had one machine and had about twenty acres in our home orchard, and could get over that just about right, and then we had ten acres in our other orchard, and by the time we got over that, we were a little too late and wonder if the machine was not large enough, or if we were too slow. Of course these trees were good sized, and about 25 years old. Mr. Marshall: We have an orchard of about 1,000 trees that we have been spraying. We have to haul the water just a few rods. We dip it from a tank usually into the sprayer and we can put on from seven to ten loads a day, and it takes us about two or three days to spray this orchard. Sometimes we get over it a little quicker, but the second spraying we put in three good full days to spray them. Now maybe we are a little slow, but these trees are about twenty years old, and just ordinary sized trees. Q. How large is your tank? A. Two hundred-gallon tank. Q. How many leads of hose do you use? A. Three. A Member: I would like to say that in our experience in this line, we have three different sized sprayers, and we are using 250, 200 and 150- gallon tanks. We figure we can get out five tanks a day of the 250-gallon size. We figure that the tank will cover, depending on the size of the trees, on an average, twenty to thirty trees to a 250-gallon tank. And we can get five or six tanks a day out. We, of course, are a little fortunate in having our water right in our orchard. We have a forty acre orchard in this particular instance. That has been our experience in the amount we can cover, and I should say one sprayer in every forty acres is a great plenty. You would not want m ire than forty acres to one sprayer to do any kind of a good job, and in fact thirty acres would be better for one sprayer. Q. Do you think that a man can cover tliirty acres in proper time? A. Yes, sir, I think so. A Member: It seems to me that if you can get over with one ma- chine in proper time, it depends on what you are spraying for. When it comes to the first codling moth spraying, that is a hurry-up job. Your calyxes stay open just a day or so, and then you must spray while the calyxes are open. It seems to me that the number of acres that you can assume that that spraying machine can cover, any specific number of acres, depends largely on what you are spraying for, and the varieties. Mr. Yager: All of the talks so far this morning, have been relative to commercial orchards. Now there are thousands of farmers in the state SPRAYING 153 that have home orchards of an average nature, just the average farm orchard, who is not able or willing to buy spraying machines of the 150- gallon capacity, or the 250-gallon capacity that Mr. Duncan spoke of, and I think we should give some consideration to the average farm orchard in talking about these spraying things. We are not all commercial or- chardists. If we were, the country would be flooded with cheap orchard- ists, and we would have to go out of business, and go to raising corn and farm products. Now I wish somebody would tell why and what sort of a spraying machine, a cheap spraying machine, for instance a farmer who has 100 apple trees can use. He won't go and buy one of those great big machines, and he can not afford to. Now, I wish somebody would tell what sort of a little spraying machine, a farmer should have, an up-to-date farmer, who wants to raise fruit that is not wormy. What sort of a thing he should have for spraying. Who makes it and what it costs. Mr. Duncan: Do you mean to have the name of the manufacturer or do you wish the price and such as that put on the record? Mr. Yeager: Certainly, tell us who makes these things, and ap- proximately what they cost. A. Approximately, well, there are several. There are hand pumps that cost from $5 to $20, and there are hand pumps a little larger, and power pumps at from $20 to $75. These small ones would be suited to the man who has forty to fifty trees, and they will maintain a pressure of from 100 to 175 pounds, and the larger size will maintain as good a pressure as the power pumps costing $200 to $275. There are two or three companies, Morley & Morley of Benton Harbor, Mich., makes a good hand pump; the Myers Spray Pump Company, of Ashland, O., and the Deming Pump Company of Salem, O., also make good pumps. There are several horticultural papers that any growers can get this informa- tion in. They carry advertisements of these machines. Roy E. Marshall: I had some experience with several hand pumps last summer, and the one that impressed me the most was the Myers pump with two cylinders, and that had a handle that we could push back and forth something like a washing machine, and with which we are able to get a pressure of from 150 to 200 pounds. We had two leads of hose on it, and it seems to me this type of sprayer answers the purpose of the small orchardists with up to 400 or 500 trees. We are able to cover from 125 to 150 trees a day, and where the water was hauled in a ten-barrel water tank, it was set in about the middle of the orchard. I do not know another pump we have had experience with that we could recommend so highly for what it has done for us. The Chairman: The next number on our program is by Prof. Beach on "Pedigreed Nursery Stock." 154 NEBRASKA STATE IIOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY PEDIGREED NURSERY STOCK. Prof. S. A. Beach, Ames, Iowa. The pedigree question is being much discussed by some nurserymen and fruit growers. What is there in it? Do plant pedigrees have the significance which some attach to them? Is it of any advantage to the fruit grower to set out pedigree strawberries, pedigree grapes, pedigree peaches or pedigree apples? Is there any such thing after all as a pedigree Baldwin apple or a pedigree Crescent strawberry, or a pedigree plant of any cultivated variety which is not propagated from seed? Before entering upon the discussion of this question it is well to in- quire what is the proper meaning or use of the word pedigree. This word has long been used by breeders of animals to signify a line of descent from known ancestors. In such a case each individual is joined by blood relationship to the two immediate parents and through them to the four grandparents, eight great grandparents, etc. There certainly can be no objection to a similar use of the word in speaking of plants. However, in the popular discussions by nurserymen and fruit growers above referred to the term plant pedigree is seldom used in this sense, but is usually applied to plants which have been derived from one original seedling plant by asexual propagation only, i. e. by scions, cuttings, etc. At first thought one might be inclined to question whether such use of the term pedigree is strictly accurate. The term "selected strain" would express the idea correctly. But it is not our purpose to enter into con- troversy over the meaning of these words. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Let us rather examine the ideas for which they stand for the purpose of inquiring to what extent these ideas are supported by the facts. Before entering upon the discussion of the subject before us it would be well to define some of the terms which we shall find it convenient to use. Reference has already been made to the fact that plants may be propagated by two methods, the sexual and the asexual. The sexual method of reproduction results in the development of the seed. When the seed germinates it forms a new plant. The seed is formed as a result of the fertilization of that portion of the flower which is called the ovule or egg cell. If a flower from any of the common orchard trees were examined it would be seen to consist of (1) small green leaves on the outside or, underside of the open flower called the calyx; these were the green outside leaves in the bud; (2) the showy leaves of the flower called individually petals or collectively the corolla; inside of the corolla are the essential organs of the flower. The calyx and the corolla are not essential organs because it is possible for the blossom to develop fruit even though these should be removed before i( opens; (3) the sta- men is a slender, thread-like organ at the outer extremity of whcih is a mi- nute sac, commonly yellow. The sacs are filled with a powder consisting of juiiiute grains called pollen grains; (4) ihe center of the flower is occu- PEDIGREED NURSERY STOCK 155 pied by the pistil or pistils which finally develop into the fruit. The tip of the pistil is soft and sticky so that it may catch and hold any of the pollen grains which happen to alight upon it. The transfer of the pollen to the pistil in this way is called pollination. After pollination occurs the pollen grain germinates and sends out a sprout in a way analogous to that in which seed sprouts in a congenial soil. The sprout from the pollen grain grows down through the soft substance of the pistil till it reaches and fertilizes the egg cell. After fertilization occurs the egg cell develops into seed. Commonly if no fertilization takes place no seed is formed. Fertilization which is effected by pollen pro- duced by the same flower as that which bears the pistil, or by the same plant, is called self-fertilization. It should be noticed in particular that in plants both the male and female parents are often united in one in- dividual. That fertilization which is effected by pollen from another plant, or speaking of cultivated varieties, from another variety, is called cross-fertilization. Cross-fertilization is brought about under natural con- ditions by the transfer of pollen from one plant to another through the agency of winds or insect visitors. By the asexual method of reproduction plants are propagated by cut- ting off or separating some part of the original plant such as bud, cutting, scion, runner, off-set, etc., and growing it as an individual plant. Culti- vated varieties of fruit are commonly propagated asexually. In fact it is seldom that any of them are bred so that they will come true from seed even when the seed is developed as a result of self-fertilization. For exam- ple, among vines grown from the seed of Concord grape some will bear white fruit, while others may bear black fruit. The fruit may be larger or smaller, or earlier or later than that of the Concord. It is an inter- esting fact that although thousands of vines have been grown from Con- cord seed, there is no record yet of one which resembles the Concord closely enough to pass under the Concord name. No cultivated varieties of the apple are known which reproduce exactly true from seed. When a new variety of fruit appears which possesses sufficient merit to make it desirable to introduce it into cultivation it is commonly propagated asexually. Thus all of the Concord grape vines which are growing today have come directly or indirectly from the original Concord vine grown from seed by Ephriam Bull in Concord, Mass., more than sixty years ago. Likewise all of the Baldwin apple trees which are growing today have come directly or indirectly from buds or scions taken from the original seeding tree in Massachusetts which grew from seed more than. 150 years ago. Plants which are grown by asexual methods of propagation com- monly hold the distinguishing characteristics of the original plant, or at least to such an extent that they can all bear the same name without confusion. For example, when the word "Baldwin apple," is seen or spoken it brings to mind the idea of a particular kind of fruit having cer- tain distinguishing characteristics which are recognized by fruit growers and fruit buyers throughout the country although the original Baldwin tree perished 100 years ago. There are also cultivated varieties of plants propagated by seed 156 NEP.r.ASKA STATE ITOF/nrrT/ITl; AL SOCIETY which come true to name from seed. As for example the Grand Rapids lettuce, the Dawson Golden Chaff wheat, the Stowell Evergreen sweet corn and other grains and vegetables which are propagated under varie- tal names. It is either not practicable or not possible to perpetuate such varieties from year to year by asexual methods of propagation. In such cases it is necessary to fix the type so that the plants will come true from seed before it can properly be named as a distinct variety. ORIGINATION OF NEW VARIETIES. We have seen how plants are propagated. Let us next inquire how new varieties are originated. We notice first that they may be originated by sexual reproduction, i. e., from seed. They may come from mongrel stock as chance seedlings which are selected and propagated either sexu- ally or asexually by some one who discovers that they have sufficient merit to make them worthy of being introduced into cultivation, or they may come from seed which has been selected because of the excellence of the parent fruit or parent plant, as for example when plant seeds from the largest and finest colored fruit of some favorite variety of apple in the hope of getting an improved variety in some of the seedlings. Or they may be produced by crossing one variety upon another for the purpose of combining in the seedlings certain excellence of both par- ents. In any of the cases above mentioned should a desirable seedling be produced it is an easy matter to perpetuate the variety if it belongs to any of those kinds of plants which are propagated asexually, as Ave have already seen. But if the new variety belongs to any of those kinds of plants which are commonly propagated fr,om seed it becomes necessary as before stated, to fix the type before it is safe to disseminate it under the name of a new variety. This is done by growing generation after generation of the seeds and rejecting all plants which vary from the desired type. This is a process which is familiar to seedsmen; by them it is called "roguing" the plants. In some cases the type may be fixed within a very few generations, while with others a considerably longer period may be required. SEED SPORTS. Among fixed varieties there may appear suddenly a plant quite dis- tinct from the type. Even when a variety has long been known in cultivation and its typo has become permanently fixed, such plants may arise. Such plants may properly be called "seed sports' or "mutations" if they can be reproduced true to the new type under propagation. In this way certain dwarf lima beans have originated from pole lima beans and certain dwarf sweet peas from taller growing varieties. If one should desire to perpetuate a seed sport it generally would be necessary to gj through the process of fixing the type as already described. PEDIGREED NURSERY STOCK l.")7 SELECTED STRAIN. We have seen that the seed sport arises as a sudden variation or mutation from the fixed type. In other cases variations from the type may be developed gradually, as has been done in the cases of many se- lected strains advertised by seedsmen. I have in mind a certain neigh- borhood in which the gardeners are growing a peculiar type of lettuce for which they have no special name. They are engaged in forcing let- tuce and grow their own seed. More than a quarter of a century ago they started with a standard variety. Gradually by rigid selection of parent stock and propagating through all these years only from plants showing some tendency to develop or mutate in a certain desirable di- rection they have produced a strain which is in some ways distinct from the original type and which suits their particular purpose much better. It is evident that this process js in effect one of accumulating or adding together slight mutations all of which tend to develop or progress in a certain direction. Plants of those types which have been developed in this way may properly be called pedigree plants. Numerous other instances of this kind of mutation might be cited had we time to consider them. We have seen that under the sexual methods of reproduction new varieties may be obtained either by selecting chance seedlings of a known single parent or by cross breeding from distinct parents. We have seen also that among fixed types new varieties may be developed from suddenly appearing distinct variations called seed sports or muta- tions or they may be produced by gradual processes as in selected strains. Let us next inquire whether new varieties may originate by asex- ual propagation. Graft Hybrids. — Are new varieties ever produced asexually which correspond to the hybrids produced under tiie sexual method by cross- fertilization? Claims have sometimes been made that it is possible to produce new varieties by grafting which are entitled to be called "graft hybrids." The work which Daniel has done in France demonstrates that this has been done. Other authentic cases are also on record. As a matter of fact, however, it is universally conceded that graft hybrids are exceedingly rare. Bud Sports. — Bud sports are weJl known. They correspond to seed sports in that they appear suddenly. Thej- usually show permanently in their new characters when propagated, entitling the sport to be called a new variety or mutation, yet some bud sports prove quite unstable when propagated. Numerous instances in which new varieties have originated as bud sports are found among ornamental plants and they are not unknown among orchard fruits. More than one case is known where bud sports have appeared on the Concord Grape. I am perfectly tamiliar with one instance of this kind. From a bud near the base of the main stalk of 158 NEBRASKA STATH IIOUTICULTTRAL SOCIETY a certain Concord vine there has arisen a caue which for many years has borne clusters with fewer but much larger berries than those that are produced on the typical Concord cluster borne or other portions of the same vine. Seedlings which have been produced from self-fer- tilized seed of this Concord sport differ in a marked degree from those produced from the self-fertilized seed fi'om typical Coucord fruit borne on other portions of the same vine. Among other instances of cultivated fruits which have originated from bud sports are the CoUamer Twenty Ounce and the Banks Gravenstein apples. It seems altogether probable that the Gano and the Black Ben Davis apples are bud sports of the old Ben Davis — since they differ from that variety chiefly in the single character of color of fruit. Bud Selected Strains. — There can be no doubt that it is possible in some cases to develop under asexual propagation selected strains by a gradual process of selection of the propagating word or other asexual portion of the plant as tubers, roots, etc. This process corresponds to the development of selected strains grown from seed. In this way varie- ties of the pear which in the original se3dling tree were armed with sharp thorny spurs have been changed so that it may be truly said that the thorns have been bred away. In a like manner thorns have been bred away from certain cultivated varieties of the orange. Galloway, who has given much attention to the growing of violets, states (Gallo- way, B. T. Violet Culture 109-116) that the violet is a plastic organism. "Different plants from the same source behave differently. To be suc- cessful a man must work persistently to develop plants to fit the con- ditions which he can provide. Left to itself the tendency of the violet is to retrograde. By proper selection and right cultural methods the yield may be raised from fifty flowers to 100 flowers per season in three years." The potato appears to be a very variable plant and there is experi- mental evidence to show that in some instances the yield has been In- creased decidedly by selecting seed tubers from very productive hills. From all that has been said it appears that new varieties may be produced sexually in seed hybrids, asexually in graft hybrids; sexually in seed sports, asexually in bud sports; sexually in selected seed strains and asexually in selected bud strains. Perhaps after all, we must ad- mit that our friends wlio apply the torm pedigree stock to plants propa- gated asexually have some show of reason for such a use of the term. But let us look into the question of the variation of plants a little further. It must be admitted that among plants that are asexually prop- agated the term pedigree stock can not righlly be used as indic^iting that the distinctive features of the plant from which the pedigree buds or scionr-' or propagating wood is taken arc capable of being transmitted in the bud so that they can be depended upon to appear in the so-called pedigree plants. In other words, that it is in fact a permanent sport or mutation. J PEDIGREED NUKSEKV STOCK 159 This leads us to observe that among our fruit bearing plants, so far as is known, this is a comparatively rare oc jur.rcnce. There are manj"-, many cases in which it is supposed to occur where really it has not yet been demonstrated. We should not lose sight of the fact that many of the differences which different orchard trees show in habits of growth and productiveness; in the size, color and quality of fruit produced; in resistance to disease and in other ways, may be satisfactorily accounted for on the ground of differences of environment. Take for example the case of certain apples which are known to attain their highest degree of perfection in certain regions?, whereas in other regions they do very poorly, and this occurs regardless of where the plants of the particular variety in question were obtained. The Fameuse attains remarkably high color and quality along the shores of Lake Champlain and in the St. Lawrence valley, whereas when grown in many sections of w^estern New York it lacks in both color and quality. This holds true in so many individual trees and in so many different orchards in the regions named that it is impossible to account for it on the assumption that it is due to differences in the buds from which the stock was propaga.ed. Many other instances of this kind might be cited. Those who have bad opportunity to compare the Baldwin apples which are grown on the Pacific coast with those which are grown in New England and New York have observed that they are distinctly dif- ferent from the eastern grown fruit, being decidedly elongated. The Baldwin trees which have been shipped from eastern nurseries to Wash- ington and Oregon are grown from buds and scions taken from widely separated sources. The uniformly peculiar form of this fruit which is grown in the Pacific Northwest can not be accounted for on the suppo- sition that the buds from which the trees were propagated all came from some bud sport of the Baldwin. It must be attributed to a char- acteristically local difference in environment. There are many other differences which are observable among orchard varieties in habit of tree and color of fruit which are known to be due only to differences in environment. Such differences in tree or fruit can not be expected to be transmitted under propagation. What reply shall we make, then, to the question as to whether or not it is good policy to follow the pedigree idea in securing stock for planting in the orchard? If one happens to know of an individual tree or of a particular orchard showing superior characteristics of tree or fruit is it desirable to propagate from such a tree or from such an orch- ard rather than from one which does not show superiority? Certainly, it is desirable. Although we may not be sure that anything can be gained by so doing, yet w-e feel that we are on the safe side, at least, and that possibly we are making progress in the right direction. The question is often asked whether it is desirable to pay higher prices for the so-called pedigriee stock tiian for the ordinary stock of the same variety. If one can be sure of the pedigree and know that the desirable features which it stands for have been transmitted by propa- liil* NEBRASKA STATE IK )i:TI('ri/nKAL SOCIETY gating tor moi'e than one generation from tliis stock, then I believe it would be good economy to take such stock at prices in advance of those which are charged for the ordinary stock. In conclusion I would sum up the whole question by saying that plant pedigrees of the right kind are worth paying for, but before pay- ing for them it is well to be sure that the pedigree represents more than a single generation. DISCUSSION Mr. Yeager: The professor has got us fellows of the laity in pretty deep water. We unscientific fellows, this is very mysterious to Ub. There are some things about it we do not understand. I understand from what the professor says, that there are some things that are su- perior to others in the nursery business, for instance, these trees. We all know that there is now and then a tree that shows superior merit in the production of fruit. But I am not quite clear yet about his argu- ment as to whether you can take the scion^i from this limb, — we will say it is a limb, and not the whole tree as he illustrated in the matter of the grape vine. I am certain you did not find out whether the grapes growing on that sport of the Concord were as good as the ones from which you took the seeds. Do I understand you to say, professor, that if you take the scions from this sport or apple tree, and propagate it from that, as the nurserymen do, that each one of these scions taken from that will. reproduce the identical kind of apple that grew on that identical sport or limb. Isn't there always a tendency to revert back to the fruit that grew on the other part of this tree, not known as the sport. And is it fixed and certain that the wood taken from that identi- cal limb will reproduce the apples or fruit grown on that identical limb. About the apple, will you state whether you think it will revert, and will you also state whether you think scions taken from a healthy tree, a bearing healthy tree, producing fine fruit for a terjn of years and propagated in the nursery row over here, and those taken from the yearling out of the nursery row, do you know anything about what those will produce, and you know they are healthy, which in the end, if taken for a long period of years will produce the same strain of apples. Professor Beach: There is a gi'eat deal of conclusion about that. We need more facts before we can form safe conclusions in regard to these matters, and 1 am frank to say that the best evidence does not reveal much, and those who have studied the things know comparatively little about the subject. But we do iiave some facts. In the case of the red twenty-ounce to which I referred, that held true under propagation. The scions taken from the sport which were scions of the west side of the tree, when those came into bearing they bore the same kind of fruit as the original sport. Now you may have a large Wealthy apple tree, which is due to the location in which it is grown. The Winesaps that are produced in southern Kansas are nor the same type that are grown at Woodbine, Iow:i. Tlici-i- ,mo differences in (Mivironment, and that fact J rEliKJKHKIi MUSEUY STOCK 101 must be taken into consideration when you are studying the question of variation. We see differences and variations on the same tree. One branch may get better food supply from the soil, better air and better sunlight. There are all sorts of environmental conditions to take into consideration, so if we see a tree that is producing superior Wealthy ap- ples we can not say because it does that or this it is superior to a bud sport, it may be due to environment. If it does that in generations then we have a pedigree. We have an illustration of that in Mills countj' Iowa, where a man claims he has a Wealthy that ripens about a month later than the ordinary Wealthy, and as desirable in size and other qualities. It will be worth propagating, won't it? So the point I want to leave with you is this: My purpose will be satisfied if I can get you to thinking about these things carefully. I want to say again that the man who makes a selection of scions from trees or, plants that have any superior color or size, or anything else, he is on the safe side. Although it may be a bud variation, I would not say, possibly it is, it may be due to variation m environment. Mr. Christy: The Baldwin apple you spoke of, taken to the west, and growing there; if you take it there and grow it for a few years and then take it back east, do you think you would get the same kind of apples as originally? A. No, sir. I had some scions I got from Washington ten years ago; they were taken back to New York state, and although I have not seen the fruit myself, Prof. Hedrich says they are just like the ordinary Baldwin in New York. If farmers can be sure what that pedigree repre- sents, and that it represents a line of decent in which the individuals have a superior performance record, I would say by all means for the farmers to buy them. Isn't it better to pay a dollar for a good tree than to plant an inferior tree that will be no good to you? Mr. Pollard: We have got onto a question that is very important to a man who is planting trees in a commercial way. Now I would like to inquire, does your experience demonstrate that grafts or scions taken from a bearing tree that is known to be productive and producing good fruit, is there an inclination of the scion to produce more prolifically than are those scions that are taken from water sprouts or from year- ling trees as Mr. Yeager suggests. Prof. Beach: I must confess that I know^ of very little reliable evi- dence on that point. Q. Now I just want to recite a condition that exists in our orchard. We have at home a ten acre plat of Jonathans. We also have a great many Jonathan trees outside of that plat. But in this particular plat I do not believe that there is over 30 per cent of the trees that have produced enough fruit to begin to pay for the labor that has been spent in cultivating them, planting them, and taking care of them, and so forth. Now the reason for that may be that these scions were taken from water sprouts instead of from a bearing tree. I do not know whether or not we are correct in that, but we do know that we 162 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY have trees that are not producing well. It is from some cause and I do not know what it is, but there is some reason. Mr. Yeager: The professor is right, it is from environment. Mr. Pollard: Well, I hardly agree with you. There is 100 acres; the topography is rolling and practically the same as in the other, and though I may be wrong, yet if I was planting trees I would rather get my scions from an orchardist that got his scions from bearing trees, than from a nurseryman that got his scions from water sprouts, and so forth. I would infer from what you said that you think that the nursery- men who are selling us these trees are practicing a game on us? Prof. Beach: If that is so I want to oiler my sincere apologies to the great rank and file of the nurserymen. I do not want to give that impression. Mr. Pollard: Now you spoke about this pedigreed stock at one time and quoted the Jersey cow. How do you know about the pedigree of that cow? Where do you go to get that pedigTee started? How far back should the fruit man go? This industry is a new industry and jhould we trace back to Mount Sinai? Some trees will bear apples and bear big ones. In our orchard we had a row of Sweets; there were two trees in that row that bore special apples, and I took 15 apples off the trees and brought them up to the state fair one year and they weighed fifteen pounds. Now those trees every year bear the same kind of apples, and other trees standing the same kind of care every year and in the same kind of ground bear no apples, and they are the same kind of trees. Haven't we got a good start for a pedigree, in a case like this? If not, where are we going to start our pedigree? Prof. Beach: First of all, I want to say with regard to the nursery- men. As far as I see in the nursery catalogues there is less than five per cent of the nurserymen tiialt, are offering pedigreed trees. Nov/' among those who do offer trees I am going to give the man the credit of being honest in his advertisement with regard to it, until I am compelled by proof to take the contrary position with regard to it; but when the man advertises to furnish pedigreed trees by the million when he must go out and take them from the bearing tree, I begin to doubt what he means by his pedigree. Then the other point, as to how far back must the pedigree go, I would want the pedigree to go. back far enough. I would want at least one generation to come into bearing so that I could demonstrate posi- tively that the points of color or productiveness were inherent in the scion, or whether it had been brought about by superior conditions of environment. Mr. Pollard: Now one has a good many secrets they do not like to reveal, but we have an apple tree, a (irimes Golden Pippen, that is crazy, I call it,^ — the tree has gone crazy. I noticed two or three years ago as I was goinc; by that tree and there was one tree tliat had raised apples on it, and the apples were covered with rust on one limb, and all the rest of the tree had the real Grimes Golden color, a light colored apple, PEDIGREED NURSERY STOCK 163 and fine in appearance, and there was just one limb on that tree that had this rust. I examined to see if there was anything wrong, and there was no sign of anything, everything was all right. Now what was the matter with that? Prof. Beach: I formerly knew an orchard of fifty acres about two- thirds Baldwin and one-third Greening. It had enough pollen, and I was asked for my opinion on it. At that time I was studying the self- fertility of fruits and I came to the conclusion that it was because they needed other varieties in there to make them produce, and one of the old veteran fruit growers in that community told me it was planted in the wrong locality, and the soil was wrong. About two years later they changed hands, and a man who had been handling orange groves took charge of the orchard. (The reporter did not catch what the orange man did, but he brought the orchard into productiveness in some way.). The Chairman: We will now listen to an illustrated lecture by E. H. Favor, associate editor of "The Fruit Grower and Farmer" on "Prun- ing for Fruit Production." (The talk being illustarted by lantern slides, and the necessary dark- ness made it impossible to take the proceedings in shorthand.) DISCUSSION. Mr. G. A. Marshall: We have had a number of distinguished visi- tors here fr,om neighboring states, and there are a couple that I do not believe have been mentioned. E. S. Welch of Shenandoah, and Mr. Lopieck of Woodbine are here with us, and I move they be made hon- orary annual members of this society. Motion seconded and carried. Professor Beach: I still have in mind part ol the question Mr. Pol- lard asked in regard to that unproductive orchard, and I will say that is a deep and difficult subjeci. We do not ahvays have the evidence m hand to decide just what the causes are that produce the results that we see in trees. With reference to this matter of improductiveness of trees, grown from water sprouts or from scions takers from nursery stock there is this evidence that I have, namely, that it does make a difference sometimes in the early pan of the life of the plant as to how quickly it comes into bearing. Whothei the propagating wood is taken from mature bearing wood, or whether it is taken from water sprouts, and my own opinion is that is the difference, which is overcome within a comparatively few years. I had in mind one man who as a matter of curiosity used to propagate apples by taking fruit sports. Here is something that has bearing upon this point; it is known that with some varieties of grapes, if you take the cuttings from the spring growing cones, that come from about the root, that if you take the cuttings from those they do not give as productive vines, at least early in the period of their history as do vines that are propagated from canes of more ma- ture growth. We must recognize this principle in pruning and propagat- ing, and difficult questions pertaining to the handling of plants, that we 164 NEl'.KASKA STATE HORTIcrLTIKAL SOCIETY have two different conditions of growth. We liave with the little sap- ling first, the vegetating period in which it is the competitor of all others, and then we have a later, more mature condition of the tr,ee, or the plant, or the animal, and in each we get the development of the repro- ductive organs, and the propagation of the seeds. Now if we recognize those things, it is reasonable then within certain limits to expect that if we propagate, from the tree, growing wood, we will gee a more effec- tive condition, other things being equal with the plants, for a short period of time in its history, than we will, if we propagate from the more mature wood. So there is one point to be taken into consideration, as bearing upon this question. If I had an orchard such as Mr. PoUar-l has, before deciding upon scions taken from bearing trees, I would study all of the other factors of environment, bearing upon this question. It may be that by giving the roots a dressing of manure, or by so cultivat- ing them that they have plenty of moisture, all during the growing sea- son, or by some way of a change of environment, in some way it may be possible to change those trees and bring them into a more productive habit than they are at present. If that does not bring results, then it would be an open question as to what would bring them into a more productive state. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. Mr. Pollard: At this time I wish to read the report of the commit- tee on resolutions. The report is as follows: RESOLUTIONS. 1. That we favor the continued support and further extension of the horticultural institutes as conducted by this society during the past year. In this connection we recommend that the subject of co- operation and organization among fruit growers be considered in addi- tion to other topics at these institutes. 2. That we recommend the appointment of a committee of one per- son from each of the nineteen fruit districts of the state. A majority of which shall constitute a woi'king committee for the revision of the recommended fruit lists of this society. 3. That we favor the appointment of a standing committee on for- estry and parks, to consist of six members; four from this society and the forester of the state university, who shall act as its chairman. It shall be the duty of this committee to consider and promote the wel- fare of the park and forestry interests of this state. 4. That we recommend to the director of the farmers' institute the selection of a competent horticulturist to be added to their list of workers in all institute work, — and that special attention be paid to the call for aid and instruction in horticulture from the western sections of this state. RESOLUTIONS 165 5. That we favor the continuation of the present method of con- ducting a fruit exhibit in the autditorium, in connection with our annual meeting. 6. That inasmuch as this society has received an invitation from Omaha, to place on exhibition a showing of Nebraska fruits, that wc ask our board of directors to consider the feasibility of making such v display, and to take action accordingly. 7. That we favor the retention of the present location of our state university, and we also favor a liberal appropriation by the present leg- islature for necessary extension of the campus and the erection of per- manent buildings. 8. That the thanks of this society are due and are hereby extended ro the Commercial Club of Lincoln for their provision for the use of th'i auditorium in making the present display of fruits and flowers. We ask the secretary of the society to send to the secretary of said club, a copy of above resolution. (Signed) E. M. POLLARD, L. O. WILLIAMS, L. M. RUSSELL. Mr. Pollard: I move the adoption of this report. Seconded. Carried. The Chairman: Do I understand that it is the Intention of the com- mi'titee that the president appoint this committee on revision? Mr. Pollard: Yes, sir. RESOLUTION BY P. J. BENTZ. Mr. Bentz: 1 have another resolution I would like to see adopted by this society, and it reads as follows: Whereas, trees modify the severity of climate, and add comfort and beauty to the home, and in other ways exert a beneficent influence on the life of both man and beast, be it therefore Resolved, That it is the sense of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society that the homestead law should be amended so as to require the planting of at least one per cent of the area of a, homestead to trees before final patent is issued, and that said trees be furnished by the government, and the planting done under the direction of the bureau of forestry. Resolved, That our secretary be directed to forward a copy of this resolution to our senators and congressmen, with the request that they introduce a bill amending the national homestead law to conform with this resolution. Mr. VanHouten: The resolution is all right, only I think the amount is not great enough, and there should be a limitation; it should be con- fined to those places where timber is a necessity, and not to those home- 1G6 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY steads where they have to go to the necessity .o£ getting rid. of this tim- ber. Mr. Bentz: I accept tliat suggestion and amend the resolution in that way. A Member: I would like to suggest that the amount is too small and I will move you we adopt the increased amount of one-tenth or one- sixteenth in the resolution. Mr. Bentz: I had the honor of introducing that resolution befor.e the forestry congress, with this difference, and it was adopted by that body with that difference, that the amount of planting required was five per cent instead of one, and the great objection that was urged was that it was impossible and a hardship on the homesteader. Now the purpose of this resolution is to forge an entering wedge into this proposition and if we should accept the gentleman's suggestion that would kill the very resolution that is introduced and would destroy the purpose, and I hope that this society will leave it in its original form, of one per cent which imposes no hardship on anybody and makes it possible for trees to be planted in a systematic way by every homesteader without regards to Avhere he is located, because it is a well known fact that trees will grow everywhere. Some varieties of trees will grow anywhere where cereal crops will grow, provided they receive the care and culture that our cornfields receive. Mr. Pollard: I second the motion but not the last amendment. Car- ried. Mr. Pollard: I move we adjourn. Seconded. Carried. The forty-fourth annual meeting of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society then adjourned. SECRETARY'S ANNOUNCEMENT 167 SECRETARY'S ANNOUNCEMENT. October 1, 1913. To the Readers of the 1913 Report: On August 1, 1913, our most efficient secretary, Mr. C. G. Marshall, resigned the position of secretary, to take the managership of the Eastern Nebraslia Fruit Growers' Association, witli headquarters at Nebrasl^a City. This association is Composed of practically all the growers in eastern Nebraska who spray and take good care of their orchards. Mr. Mar- shall has done efficient work in building up our Society and putting it on the map as a progressive society of a progressive fruit state since he has had charge of the secretary's office. The Society sustained a distinct loss when Mr. Marshall quit serving us in an official capacity, but as long as he is identified with the horticultural interests of the state he will be a booster for the Society. He is an aggressive and enterprising young man and will make a success of whatever he undertakes. The Eastern Nebraska Fruit Growers' Association is indeed fortunate in procuring the services of Mr. Marshall, as he will build up a reputation for them that will be worth more than can be coiinted iu dollars and cents. During the month of August our esteemed president acted as secre- ,tary, and it was due to his untiring efforts that, in this year of extreme ■(drouth and heat, the fruit show at the 1913 state fair equaled any show ©f recent years when the state was blessed with more abundant moisture. On August 30, the board met and accepted Mr. Marshall's resignation and elected your humble servant as Mr. Marshall's successor, to take effect on September 1, 1913. Although I have had several years' expe- rience growing fruit in Nebraska, yet I took charge of the office with a feeling that there is a great responsibility and work devolving on me to keep the work up to the standard set by Mr. Marshall and to push the work forward. I need the help of every, member of the Society to do this and help put Nebraska in the front rank as a fruit-producing state where she rightfully belongs. All the material in this report up to this article was in the printer's hands when I took charge of the office. The first thing he told me was that we needed more material to make up the necessary number of pages. I immediately got busy and have tried to gather articles that seem to be of great importance to the horticultural ititerests of the state at present, and be of record to the readers of future years. If the report is not up to former years, remember "this is my first attempt and I hope that you will bear with me this tiine. ? , Yours for a better ftorticulture" Society. f J. R. DUNCAN, Secretary. ICS NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTTRAL SOCIETY AXNTAL FItriT SHOW 1(50 ANNUAL SHOWS AND A^^A^ARDS ANNUAL FRUIT SHOW. C. G. Marshall. The annual fruit show, held in Lincoln in connection with the meet- ing of the State Horticultural Society during the week of January 20, was the largest apple show ever staged in Nebraska, and one of the largest held this season between the Rocky mountains and the Atlantic ocean. Almost 1,000 bushel boxes were on exhibit, as well as hundreds of plates of five apples each. A solid bank of boxed apples extending from the balcony to the floor and the entire length of the city auditorium was placed on the north side. This section contained approximately a carload. Next to it were two pyramids quite as long and supporting almost another carload. The display was an eye-opener to Nebraska people who visited the show, as well as to visitors and judges from other states. These apples were carefully packed, every apple having its place in the box just as the fruit of the Northwest Is put up. It was demonstrated to the sat- isfaction of all visitors that Nebraska apples when properly grown and carefully graded and packed are just as attractive as apples grown in any section. Many visitors remarked that they had visited the great apple shows of the West and Northwest but never had they seen a dis- play of better or more attractive apples. Expressions such as "I did not know that such apples grew in Nebraska" were heard on every side. A great array of color was presented. The Grimes' Golden and Northwestern Greening, a rich golden slightly tinted with pink, and the Arkansas Black and Black Twigs, almost black in color, make striking contrasts, while the intermediate shades and colors were represented in the Winesap, Jonathan, Gano, Ben Davis, York Imperial and numerous other varieties. Then the long tables crowded with bright colored carna- tions, roses and violets across the east end and the white and yellow corn on the south side of the auditorium made a combination of beauty surpassing anything ever seen at an exhibition of this kind in Nebraska. The cooking demonstrations given in an adjoining room by the do- mestic science department of the University of Nebraska attracted large crowds of ladies at every session. Fruits were prepared in view of the ladies present, the demonstrator explaining each step in the prepara- tion of each dish; small bits were then served to the ladies present. Re- cipe books containing numerous recipes for preparing and serving apples and com were handed out with the compliments of the State Horticul- tural Society and the Corn Improvers' Association. Box packing demonstrations were given daily by Professor Laurenz 170 NEBRASKA STATE IIOUTICULTURAL SOCIETY Green of Ames, Iowa. Those interested were taught how to wrap apples rapidly and neatly and how to place them in the boxes to fill them so the lids when placed on would not bruise a single apple, and yet would bind each apple so none would be loose. Much interest was shown in this work by Nebraska's up-to-date apple growers, who are anxious to improve the quality of pack. It is now being realized that packing is one of the most important phases of fruit production and marketing. On the stage of the auditorium was arranged a miniature model home, with the proper settings, in contrast with another where no pains had been taken to make it home-like and attractive. The better home was neatly painted with colors harmonizing with the landscape work. A background of evergreens was arranged to give the house the best setting, and at each side trees and shrubs were planted to give the best effects. This was the work of W. H. Dunman, landscape gardener for the university. AWARDS WINTER FRUIT SHOW, 1913. 50 Boxes Commercial. 1st $60, 2d $40, 3d $20, 4th $10— 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 3d — Youngers & Burns, Geneva. ' 4th — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 30 Boxes Commercial. 1st $40, 2d $25, 3d $10, 4th $5— 1st — Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co., Peru. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 3d — Youngers & Burns, Geneva. 4th — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 20 Boxes Commercial. 1st $25, 2d $15, 3d $10, 4th $5— 1st — Ray \V. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 3d — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 10 Boxes Jonathans. 1st $12, 2d $8, 3d $5 — 1st — Duncan-Hesseltine Pruit & Nursery Co., Peru. 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 3d — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 10 Boxes Grimes Golden. 1st $12, 2d $8, 3d $5 — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 10 Boxes WInesap. 1st $12, 2d $8, 3d $5— 1st — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 2d — Russell Bros., Lincoln. 3d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 10 Boxes Ben Davis. 1st $12, 2d $8, 3d $5 — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d — Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co., Peru. 3d — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. FRUIT AWARDS, 1913 ' 171 10 Boxes Gano. 1st $12, 2d $8, 3d $5— 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2(i — Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co., Peru. 3d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 5 Boxes Mammoth Black Twig. 1st $8, 2d $5, 3d $2— 1st — Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co., Peru. 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 5 Boxes Missouri Pippin. 1st $8, 2d $5, 3d $2— 1st — Russell Bros., Lincoln. 2d — Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co., Peru. 3d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 5 Boxes N. W. Greening. 1st $8, 2d $5, 3d $2 — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 5 Boxes Salome. 1st $8, 2d $5, 3d $2 — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 5 Boxes Arkansas Black. 1st $8, 2d $5, 3d $2 — 1st — R. B. Duncan, Peru. 2d — ^Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 5 Boxes York Imperial. 1st $8 — 1st — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 5 Boxes Mann. 1st $8 — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 5 Boxes Perry Russet. 1st $8 — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 5 Boxes Roman Stem. 1st $8 — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 5 Boxes Sheriff. 1st $8 — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 5 Boxes Gano. 1st $8, 2d $5 — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d— Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co., Peru. 5 Boxes Winesap. 1st $8, 2d $5 — 1st G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 5 Boxes Jonathan. 1st $8, 2d $5 — 1st— G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 5 Boxes Lawver. 1st $8 — 1st — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 5 Boxes McAffee. 1st $8 — 1st — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 5 Boxes Paragon. 1st $8 — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 5 Boxes Genet. 1st $8 — 1st — Youngers & Burns, Geneva. 5 Boxes Stark. 1st $8 — 1st — Youngers & Burns, Geneva. 172 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 5 Boxes Ben Davis. 1st $8, 2d $5, 3d $2— 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 3d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Best and Largest Display Boxed Apples. 1st one 50-gallon barrel Lime- Sulphur, Rex Co., Omaha — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Best 5 Barrels, any Variety. 1st $10, 2d $10, 3d $5— 1st — Russell Bros., Lincoln. 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 3d — C. D. Hahn, Johnson 50 Plates, Display and Condition to Govern. 1st $10, 2d $7, 3d $5, 4th $3— 1st — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. 2d — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 3d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 4th — Velviclt & Whittaker, Brownville. 50 Plates (Scale of Points. Comparative Rating of Varieties to Govern). 1st $10, 2d $7, 3d $5, 4th $3— 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d— C. H. Barnard, Table Rock. 3d — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 4th — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Single Plates. 1st $2, 2d $1— ' Arkansas — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d — Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co., Peru. Baldwin — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Ben Davis — 1st — Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co., Peru. 2d — Russell Bros., Lincoln. Gano^ 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d — Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co.. Peru. Genet — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. 2d — Youngers & Burns, Geneva. Jonathan — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d— C. H. Barnard, Table Rock. Lawver — 1st — ^Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. Mann — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. Minkler — 1st— Velvick & Whittaker. 2d — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. FRUIT AWAUDS, WIXTKlt, 1010 Missouri Pippin — 1st— Velvick & Whittaker. 2d — Keyser & Marshall. N. W. Greening — 1st — Marshall Bros. 2d — Ray W. Hesseltine. Paragon — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine. 2d — Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co. Rome Beauty — 1st — -Keyser & Marshall. 2d— G. S. Christy. Salome — 1st — Marshall Bros. Stark— 1st — Marshall Bros. 2d — Youngers & Burns. Virginia Beauty — • 1st — Marshall Bros. 2d— Velvick & Whittaker. Willow Twig. 1st — Marshall Bros. Winesap — 1st— G. S. Christy. 2d— C. D. Hahn. Windsor — 1st — Marshall Bros. • York Imperial — 1st— Keyser & Marshall. Ramsdell's Sweet — 1st — -Marshall Bros. Wyeth— 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Maiden Blush — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — Velvick & Whittaker. Brownville. N. Y. Pearmain — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Talman Sweet — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. L. R. Romanite — 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Wealthy— 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Fameuse — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 174 NEBRASKA STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY Iowa Blush — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Sheric — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — Edw. Nunamaker, Arlington. Milam — 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Pewaukee — 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Northern Spy — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Roman Stem — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Fall Winesap — 1st — Marshall Bro?., Arlington. Pewaukee — 1st— Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Walbridge— 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Roman Stem — 2d — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Lansingburg — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Winter Swaar — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Fall Winesap^ 2d — Velvick & Whittaker. Brownville. Black Ben Davis — 1st — J. M. Packwood, Lincoln. Ark Black — 1st — Keyser & Marshall, Linciln. 2d — R. B. Duncan, Peru. W. W. Pearmain — 1st — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. McAffee — 1st — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. Grimes Golden — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d — Keyser & Marshall, Lincoln. Northern Spy — 2d— Ernest Homung, Raymond. Red Warrior — 1st — Youngers & Burns, Geneva. FLORAL AWARDS, WINTER 1013 175 FLORAL AWARDS WINTER FRUIT SHOW, 1913. Vase 25 American Beauties. 1st $8, 2d $5, 3d $3 — 1st — L. Henderson, Omaha. 2d — Frey & Frey, Lincoln. 3d — C. H. Green, Fremont. Vase 50 Tea Roses (5 varieties or more). 1st $10, 2d $8, 3d $5, 4th $3 — 1st — L. Henderson, Omaha. 2d — C. H. Green, Fremont. 3d — Frey & Frey, Lincoln. 4th — Simanton & Pence, Falls City, Neb. Vase 50 Carnations (6 varieties or more). 1st $8, 2d $5, 3d $3, 4th $2 — 1st — C. H. Green, Fremont. 2d — Simanton & Pence, Falls City. 3d — J. W. Lawson, York. 4th — Dole Floral Co., Beatrice. Vase 25 Red Carnations. 1st $4, 2d $3, 3d $2, 4th $1 — 1st — Simanton & Pence, Falls City. 2d — L. Henderson, Omaha. 3d — C. H. Green, Fremont. 4th — Dole Floral Co., Beatrice. Vase 25 White Carnations. 1st $4, 2d $3, 3d $2, 4th $1 — 1st — J. W. Lawson, York. 2d— Dole Floral Co., Beatrice. 3d — Simanton & Pence, Falls City. 4th — C. H. Green, Fremont. Vase 25 Dark Pink Carnations. 1st $4, 2d $3, 3d $2, 4th $1 — 1st — Dole Floral Co., Beatrice. 2d — C. H. Green Fremont. 3d — Simanton & Pence, Falls City. 4th — Frey & Frey, Lincoln. Vase 25 Light Pink Carnations. 1st $4, 2d $3, 3d $2, 4th $1 — 1st — J. W. Lawson, York. 2d— Dole Floral Co., Beatrice. 3d — Frey & Frey, Lincoln. 4th — Simanton & Pence, Falls City. Vase 100 Violets. 1st $4, 2d $3, 3d $2, 4th $1— 1st— Dole Floral Co., Beatrice. 2d — Frey & Frey, Lincoln. 3d — L. Henderson, Omaha. 4th — C. H. Green, Fremont. General Display Cut Flowers, (Diploma) — 1st — L. Henderson, Omaha. 176 .NEIUtASKA STATK llnl; TIcrr/riKAI. SOCIETY FRUIT AND FLOWER SHOW AT THE STATE FAIR, 1913. The state fair of 1913 will long be remembered as occurring under most unpleasant weather conditions. The major portion of the state had been "cooked to a turn" for two .nor.ths prior to the fair, with no rain to afford relief, either just before or during the fair. Hot and dry and dusty vould accurately describe conditions. Yet despite these drawbacks the Horticultural Society may well be proud of the exhibit on display for fair visitors. It was owing to the untiring energy of Mr. C. H. Barnard, president of the society, and acting secretary during August, that all the old exhibitors and a number of new ones were on hand at the opening of the show with exhibits largo enough to fill horticultural hall. The fruit, while not averaging quite as large as in former years, yet made a very creditable show. Of course the bulk of fruit shown was apples, of which there were over 125 different varieties on display, rang ing from the earliest to the latest. Most of the apples lacked the high color of former years, which may be accounted for by the drouth, and that apples are two weeks later than common this year. The pear display was much larger this year than ordinarily and averaged up well in size. In addition to premiums on pears offered in former years, special premilums were offered on 50-plate display of pears. This was calculated to bring on a large pear display. This year being so dry only three entries were made. The peach show was about on a par v.ith former years, possibly a little better than ordinary, but showed the effects of a dry summer. The plum display was fully up to normal in size and number of entries. Several new seedlings were on aisplay that would be fine enough for any one's taste. Grapes are one of the foremost small fruits that are grown in a commercial way in eastern Nebraska at present, and were on display in numerous kinds and colors, i>lack grapes, however, predominating. Juda- ing from the small amount of rainfall tiiat fell where part of the grapes grew, and their high quality and t.ne looks, it would indicate that our best dry weather fruit crop, o'hers things being equal, was the grape. All ii. all, the 1913 fruit exhibit at the state fair was one that under the adverse weather conditions brings out the lad that Nebraska, no mat- ter how bad a drouth, will still come out and make a creditable showing in fruit, and furthermore points to the great horticultural possibilities of the eastern part of the state. Owing to some misunderstandings only two tlorists of the state, Sim- anton & Pence, of Falls City, and Chapin Bros., of Lincoln, had potted plants on exhibition. The first-named firm won most of the first premium.^ awarded. The other florists failing to come out and lake up all the space, the University of -Nebraska very generously consented to allow the society the use of I PREMIIMS AWAKDKD AT STATE FAIR, 1913 177 tlieir greenhouse plants to fill up one wing of the building, and altogethei* made a very creditable plant show. The cut flower show was up to former years in quantity and quality. PREIVilUMS AWARDED AT STATE FAIR, 1913. Apples. Class 1, Lot 1, Ind. Collections — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington, $25. 2d— Chas. B. Camp, Cheney, $20. 3d— Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville, $15. 4th— G. S. Christy, Johnson, $10. 5th — Val Keyser, Fairbury, $5. Class 1, Lot 2, County Collective — 1st — Hesseltine & Christy^ Nemaha, $30. 2d — Marshall Bros., Washington, S25. 3d — R. C. Chambers, Lancaster, $20. Class 1, Lot 3, collections, 5, 10, and 50 Plates — Collection 5 varieties summer apples. 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington, $5. 2d— Ray W. Hesseltme, Peru, $3. 3d— Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville, $2. Collection 5 plates, 5 varieties fall apples — 1st — Val Keyser. Fairbury-, $5. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington, $3. 3d— Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville, $2. Collection 10 plates, 10 varieties fall apples — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington, $8. 2d— Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. $5. 3d — Duncan & Hesseltine, Peru, $3. Collection 50 plates summer or fall apples, display and condition to rule — 1st— Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru, $10. 2d — Frank Williams, Tecumseh, S7. 3d — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville, $5. Collection 50 plates summer and fall apples, score card — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington, $10. 2d— Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville, $7. 3d — Val Keyser, Fairbury, $5. 4th — Duncan-Hesseltine, F. & N. Co., Peru, $3. Class 1, Lot 4, (Single Plates), 1st $2, 2d $1 — Arkansas^ — 1st — Abe Lawrence, Brownville. 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. ITS NEBRASKA STATK IIOU'IICI I/I'IIIAL SOCIETY Ben Davis — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d— W. Sibering, DiiBois. Benoni — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker. Brownville. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arliugton. Coopers' Early White — 1st — Peru Fruit Farms, Peru. Cole's Quince — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Chenango Strawberry — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine. Peru. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Duchess (Oldenburg) — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. Dominie — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Dyer — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Ea. Pen nock — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — Val Keyser, Fairbury. Eng. Golden Russet— - 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Fallawater — 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Fall Orange — 1st — Duncan & Hesseltine, F. & N. Co,. Peru. 2d — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Fall Wine— 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Fall Winesap — 1st — Frank Williams, Tecumseh. 2d — Val Keyser, Fairbury. Fameuse — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. 2d — Val Keyser, Fairbury. Gano — 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. 2d— W. Sibering, DuBois. Grimes Golden — 1st— Velvick & Whittaker. Brownville. 2d— R. B. Duncan. Peru. PREMIUMS AWAIIDED AT STATE FAIR, lltlS 179 Genet — 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. 2d— Velvick & Whittakor, Browuvijle. Haas — 1st— Volvick & Whittaker. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Jonathan — 1st — Ray W. Hesseliine, Peru. 2d — ^VeMck & Whittaker, Brownville. Maiden Blush — 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. 2d — Duncan-Hesseltine, Fruit and Nursery Co., Peru. Mann — • 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — Val Keyser, Fairbury. Minkler — 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. 2d — Frank Williams, Tecumseh. Missouri Pippin — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. McMahon White— 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Northern Spy — 1st — (No awards). N. W. Greening — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Paragon — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. Plumbs Cider — 1st — Velvick and Whittaker, Brownville. 2d — ^Marshall Bros., Arlington. Princes Sweet — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. 2d — Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co., Peru. Perry Russet — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Pewaukee — 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. 2d — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Pound Sweet — ■ 1st — R. F. Chambers, Bennet. Ramsdell Sweet — 1st — R. F. Chambers, Bennett. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 180 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Rome Beauty — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d — Val Keyser, Fairbury. , Salome — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — R. F. Chambers, Bennet. Senator — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. Talman's Sweet — 1st — Duncan-Hesseltine F. & N. Co., Peru. Trenton Early — 1st. — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Utter— 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d— Duncan-Hesseltine F. & N. Co. Va. Beauty — 1st — Marshall Bros.. Arlington. 2d — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Warfield — 1st — Peru Fruit Farm, Peru. Westfield (Seek-no-further) — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Willow Twig — 1st — G. S, Christy, Johnson. Winesap — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arling?ton. Wealthy— 1st — Duncan-Hesseltine F. & N. Co., Peru. 2d — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Windsor — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Wolf River— 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Yellow Transparent — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — Ray W. Hesseltine. Peru. York Imperial — 1st— A. G. Shubert, Shubert. 2d — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Single Plates, 1st $1. 2d $0.50— American Golden Russet — 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. Arkansas Black — 1st— A. G. Shubert, Shubert. 2d — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. PREMIUMS AWARDED AT STATE FAIR, 1913 181 Autumn Swaar — 1st — Frank Williams, Tecumseh. Colvert — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Day— 1st — R. F. Chambers, Bennet. Ingram — 1st — Velvick & Wliittaker, Brownville. 2d — Duncan-Hesseltine Fruit & Nursery Co., Peru. Iowa Blush — 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Isham Sweet — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Lanslngburg — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Lawyer — 1st— A. G. Shubert, Shubert. 2d — Val Keyser, \'\'yomiug. L. Red Romanite — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. 2d— G. S. Christy, .Johnson. Lowell — 1st — Duncan-Hesseltine F. & N. Co., Peru. 2d — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Mcintosh — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. 2d — R. F. Chambers, Bennet. Milam — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Ortley— 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Porter — 1st — Velvick &, Whittaker, Brownville. 2d — Duncan-Hesseltine F. & N. Co., Peru. Rambo — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. 2d — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. Red Astrachan — 1st — Duncan-Hesseltine F. & N. Co., Peru. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Red June — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Roman Stem — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brov.nville. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 182 NEBRASKA STATE liOUTICULTURAL SOCIETT Sheriff— 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — Chas. B. Camp, Cheney. Sops of Wine — 1st— Duncan Hesseltine F. & N. Co., Peru. Summer Queen — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Sweet June — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Wagner — 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. Walbridge — 1st — Marshall Bros. 2d — Val Keyser, Fairbury. White Winter Pearmain — 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. Wyeth— 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d — No award. Yellow Bellflower — 1st — Val Keyser, Fairbury. 2d — Frank Williams, Tecumseh. Hyslop Crab Apple — 1st — Fred Schnitter, Raymond. 2d — Chas. Ludlow, Red Cloud. Black Ben Davis — 1st — Chas. Ludlow, Red Cloud. Delicious — 1st— Chas. Ludlow, Red Cloud. Hybernal — 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Huntsman's Favorite — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Livingston — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Sweet Pear — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Florence — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d— R. B. Duncan, Peru. Siberian Crab Apple — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Williams' Favorite — 2d— Velvick & Whittaker. Bro\vn\ille. I PREMIUMS AWARDED AT STATE FAIR. IDi:'. 183 Spice Apple — 2d— Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. Whitney No. 20— 1st — J. M. Cannon, Atkingon, Nebr. Pears. Class 1, Lot 5 — 50 plates pears any variety, display and condition to rule — 1st— Ray W. Hesseltine, Feru, $12. 2d— Velvick & Whittaker, Browwnville, $8. 3d— C. H. Barnard, Table Rock, $5. Collection Nebraska grown pears — 1st— Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville, $6. 2d— G. S. Christy, Johnson. P>. 3d— C. H. Barnard, Table Rock, $2. Class 1, Lot 5 (Single Plates), 1st $2, 2d $1 — Flemish Beauty — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. 2d — Arnold Martin, DuBois. Bartlett — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Feru. 2d— C. H. Barnard, Table Rock. Clapp's Favorite^ — 1st— C. H. Barnard, Table Rock. 2d — J. R. Huffman, Auburn. Seckel — 1st — W. Sibering, DuBois. 2d — Arnold Martin, DuBois. Duchess d'Angouleme. 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. 2d — Arnold Martin, DuBois. Kieffer — 1st — Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville. 2d— G. S. Christy, Johnson. Louise B. de Jersey — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d— G. S. Christy, Johnson. Beaurre Hardy — 1st — Arnold Martin, DuBois. 2d— W. Sibering, DuBois. Sheldon — 1st— C. H. Barnard, Table Rock. 2d — Abe Lawrence, Brownville. Tyson- . ^ J 1st — C. Grabenstein, Eustace. 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 184 NEBRASKA STATK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Garber — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine. Vermont Beauty — 1st — Ray W. Hesseltine, Peru. Sudduth— 1st— G. F. Rolofson, Lincoln, R. F. D. 5. Lincoln — 1st— C. H. Barnard, Table Rock. Japan — 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. Howell — 2d — Abe Lawrence, Brownville. Ozark — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Peaches, Class 1, Lot 6 — Collection Nebraska grown peaches, not less than 5 varieties. 1st— A. G. Shubert, Shubert, $6. 2d— G. S. Christy, Johnson, $3. 3d— R. B. Duncan, Peru, $2. Class 1, Lot 6 (Single Plates), 1st $2, 2d Si- Seedling Peaches— 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d — Clara Ruch, University Place. Alexander — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. Champion — 1st — Duncan-Hesseltine F. & N. Co., Peru. Bokara No. 3 — 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. Crosby — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d — R. B. Duncani, Peru. Elberta — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d — Abe Lawrence, Brownville. Early Rivers — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d — Abe Lawrence, Brownville. Heath's Cling — 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. Russell — 1st — R. M. Bustard, Lincoln. PREMIUMS AWARDED AT STATE FAIR, 1913 185 Salway — 2d — R. B. Duncan. Triumph — 1st — Peru Fruit Farms. 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. Wager — 2d — G. S. Christy, Johnson. Crawford — 2d — R. B. Duncan, Peru. Klondike — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. Matthew's Beauty — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. Carmen — 1st — Peru Fruit Farm, Peru. Greensborough — 1st — Velviclc & Whittaker, Brownville. 2d — Peru Fruit Farms. Wright's Seedling — 1st — G. S. Christy, Johnson. 2d — Abe Lawrence, Brownville. Plums. Class 1, Lot 7 — Collection Nebraska grown plums not less than 5 varietif-p - 1st — L. O. Williams, University Place, $5. 2d— W. F. Sidders, Lincoln, $3. 3d — J. R. Davidson, Aurora, $2. Class 1, Lot 7 (Single Plates), 1st $2, 2d $1 — Burbank — 1st— H. W. Welkenkamp, Eagle. 2d— Albert Wellenkamp, Havelock R. F. D. Forest Garden — 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. German Prune — 1st — W. W. Bruce, Lincoln. Lombard — 1st— John P. Sampson, 2992 Orchard St. 2d— W. F. Sidders, Lincoln. Wyant — 1st — R. F. Chambers, Bennet. 2d — J. M. Packwood, Lincoln. Hawkeye^ — 1st — Marshall Bros., Arlington. 2d— W. F. Sidders, Lincoln. 186 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Miner — 1st — W. F. Bidders, Lincoln. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Swiss Plum — 1st— Mrs. R. C. Adkins, 1525 No. 31st St., Lincoln. Delicious — 1st — W. F. Bidders, Lincoln. No. 5— 1st — W. F. Bidders, Lincoln. No. 7 (Golden Rod)— 2d— W. F. Bidders, Lincoln. DeSoto— 1st — J. M. Packwood, Lincoln. 2d — Marshall Bros., Arlington. Gold— 1st — Abe Lawrence, Brownville. Big Ben — 1st — W. F. Bidders, Lincoln. Perfection — 1st— W. F. Bidders, Lincoln. Floral Awards. Collection Greenhouse Plants — 1st — Bimanton & Pence, Falls City, $45. 2d — Chapin Bros., Lincoln, $40. 5 Specimen Palms — 1st — Bimanton & Pence, Falls City, $15. 2d — Chapin Bros., Lincoln, $10. 12 Tuberoses — 1st — Chapin Bros., Lincoln, $3. Collection Ferns — 1st — Bimanton & Pence, Falls City. 2d — Chapin Bros., Lincoln, $10. Collection Palms — 1st— Bimanton & Pence, Falls City, $20. 2d — Chapin Bros., Lincoln, $15. Collection Rex Begonia — 1st — Simanton & Pence, Falls City, $5. Collection Flowering Begonia — 1st — Bimanton & Pence, Falls City, $5. Pair Hanging Baskets — 1st— Simanton & Pence, Falls City, $5. 2d— Chapin Bros., Lincoln, $3. Collection Geraniums — 1st — Chapin Bros. Lincoln, $10. 2d— Simanton & Pence, Falls City, $8. PREMIUMS AWARDED AT STATE FAIR, 1913 187 New and Rare Plants — 1st — Siraanton & Pence, Falls City, $5. 2d — Chapin Bros., Lincoln, .|3. Collection and Display Cut Flowers — • 1st — Chapin Bros., Lincoln, $15. 2d — L. Henderson, Omaha, $10. 3d— Simanton .fe Pence, Falls City, $5. Vase 50 Roses — 1st — L. Henderson, Omaha, $S. 2d — Chapin Bros., Lincoln, $5. 3d — Simanton & Pence, P^alls City, $3. Display Gladiolus — 1st — Chapin Bros., Lincoln, $5. 2d — L. Henderson, Omaha, $3. 3d— Simanton & Pence, Falls City, $2.00. Vase Carnations — 1st — L. Henderson, Omaha, $5. 2d — Chapin Bros., Lincoln, $3. Floral Design — 1st — L. Henderson, Omaha, $30. 2d— Simanton & Pence, Falls City, $25. Special — Mrs. J. P. Sampson, Lincoln, $3. Basket Cut Flowers— 1st — Simanton & Pence, Falls City, $8. 2d — Chapin Bros.. Lincoln, $5. 3d — L. Henderson, Omaha, $3. 4th — Mrs. John P. Sampson, Lincoln, $2. 16-lnch Wreath— 1st — L. Henderson, Omaha, $10. 2d— Simanton & Pence, Falls City, $8. 3d — Chapin Bros., Lincoln, $G. Vase Cut Flowers (Discretionary) — 1st — Mrs. Rymer, Lincoln, $1.50. Potted Plants (Discretionary) — ■ Mrs. A. J. McClain, Sprague, 75 cents. Grapes. Class 2, Lot 1 — Collection of grapes, not less than 10 varieties, 5 clusters each — 1st — Chas B. Camp, Cheney, $15. 2d— Peru Fruit Farm, Peru, $10. 3d— J. R. Huffman, Auburn, $5. Five varieties for market. Profit to rule. 1st — Chas. B. Camp, Cheney, $3. 2d— W. F. Sidders, Lincoln, $2. Five varieties for table. Quality to rule — 188 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Ist — J. R. Huffman, Auburn, $3. 2d— Velvick & Whittaker, Brownville, $2. 3d — Peru Fruit Farm, Peru, $1. Class 2, Lot 1 (Single Plates), 1st $2, 2d $1— Agawam — 1st — M. A. Schmale, Emerald. 2d — J. R. Huffman, Auburn. Brighton — 1st — Chas. B. Camp, Cheney. 2d — Peru Fruit Farms, Peru. Campbell's Early — 1st — Peru Fruit Farms, Peru. Camp's Early — 2d — Chas. B. Camp, Cheney. Concord — 1st — J. R. Huffman. 2d— W. F. Bidders, Lincoln. Cottage — 2d — Velvick & Whittaker, BrownAille. Delaware — 1st — Chas. B. Camp, Cheney. 2d — Berlin & Son, Brownville. Duchess — 2d — Peru Fruit Fanns, Peru. Elvira — 1st — Chas. B. Camp, Cheney. 2d— R. F. Chambers Bennett. Empire State — 1st — Peru Fruit Farms, Peru. Herbert — 1st — Chas. B. Camp. Cheney. Jefferson — 1st — Peru Fruit Farms, Peru. , Lindley — 1st — Peru Fruit Farms, Peru. Majestic — 1st — Chas. B. Camp, Cheney. Moore's Diamond — 1st — Peru Fruit Farms, Peru. 2d— J. R. Huffman, Auburn. Moore's Early — 1st — J. R. Huffman, Auburn. 2d — W. F. Sidders, Lincoln. Niagara — 1st — Chas. B. Camp, Cheney. 2d — R. M. Bustard, Lincoln. PREMIUMS AWARDED AT STATE FAIR, 1913 189 Perkins — 1st — Chas. B. Camp, Cheney. Pocklington — 1st — ^J. R. Huifman, Auburn. 2d — Peru Fruit Farms, Peru. Rival— 1st — Clias. B. Camp, Cheney. Telegraph — Ist^ — Chas. B. Camp, Cheney. Woodruff Red— 1st — Berlin & Son, Brovs'nville. 2d — J. R. Huffman. Auburn. Worden — 1st — Berlin & Son. 2d — J. R. Huffman, Auburn. Wyoming Red — 1st — Chas. B. Camp, Cheney. 2d — Berlin & Son, Brownville. Adah — 1st — C. B. Camp, Cheney. Crecius — 1st — C. B. Camp, Cheney. Camp's Golden — 1st — C. B. Camp, Cheney. Ernest — 1st — C. B. Camp, Cheney. Goethe — 1st — Veh'ick & Whittaker, Brownville. 100 NKBRASKA STATE IIOItTICULTURAL SOCIETY WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN HORTICULTURE. Response by Mrs. R. A. Burns, Geneva, at Horticultural Society Ban- quet, Lincoln, Januar\' 21, lylS. This subject was given to me by a man; I'm not fond of speech-making, but I'll do what I can To convince you, dear friends, 'tis not nature faking When woman a place in Horticulture is taking. If you will the pages of history scan You'll find woman the first with horticultural plan; For wasn't an apple in the Garden of Eden Gathered by Eve, the mother of women? We are told its beauty attracted Eve, Its quality probably fed Adam's greed. 'Twas only an apple, served a la mode The basis of this Horticultural episode. But it shows quite plainly Eve was the one Who started this Horticultural fun. She created an interest in apples the??, Still keenly felt by all you men. The Horticultural Rights of Woman? Seems to me 'tis amply proven She founded the business — she created demand Which men supply the best they can. i CONVEXTION OF SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS 191 REPORT FROM NEBRASKA. At the Convention of the Society of American Florists, Held at Minne- apolis, August 20. Lewis Henderson, State Vice-President. As vice-president of your society for the state of Nebraska, I take pleasure in submitting the following report from that state, which, less than forty years ago, was designated upon the maps of the school geog- raphies of our country as tlie "Great American Desert." But things have changed and are steadily improA'ing each year, and this once desert region is now considered the garden center of our great country. To the florist and horticulturist is greatly due the credit of this wonderful change, attributed to the refining and beautifying and inspir- ing influence of flowers; to the planting of flowers and trees and orna- mental horticulture in every city, tov.n and hamlet of our state. Tlie flowers have done more for the upbuilding of the state than words can tell. They suggest by their silent beauty a home content, as if to say, What is the use of leaving our state of Nebraska for Cali- fornia or other states which are considered lands of flowers, when we have or can have the same right here in our midst? Our soil is just as productive as any under the sun. Our parks and boulevards just as re- freshing, and the fragrance of the roses just as sweet. Our florists have worked hard, and any one who has been in the business for years knows there is a lot of work connected with the same to be a successful florist. It gives me very great pleasure fo report from information received from over the state that the year has been a verj' prosperous one in the various lines of floriculture. Each one has made some improvements and each proprietor is more prosperous and has more time for pleasure than in other years. The demand for cut flowers is greatly on the increase for weddings and receptions as well as for use in the sick room and at funerals. The State Horticultural show held last year at Lincoln was very creditable to the florists and a fine display was made both in cut flowers and plants. To the Nebraska State Florists' Society is greatly due the credit for the interest taken in these various shows in conjunction with the Horticultural Society. The Omaha Florists' Club which meets once a month in Omaha, has done some good work the past year in a social way in creating good fellowship among the florists as well as some relief work during the spring, when we had the misfortune to be struck by one of the most disastrous tornadoes :"n the history of the country, but luckily there were not many florists damaged. 1 wish to extend • hanks to the various contributors in the East as well as those locally w'no gave to the relief fund of Mr. H. Jensen, whose home and greenhouses were totally wrecked by the tornado, but which 192 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY have since been replaced. Nebraska has also escaped many destructive hail storms. It is also a matter for gratification that the hand of death has been laid less heavily on the members of the craft in the state. Still, it is my painful duty to record the passing away of Mrs. E. E. Arnold of Omaha, a beloved lady who took an active interest in floriculture; also Mr. A. De- Lanney, one of the pioneer florists of South Omaha, who died very sud- denly this summer. The interest shown in the S. A. F. is growing stronger each day. We hope to make this convention the largest so far in attendance and mem- bership, and we will all welcome the S. A. F. and its friends to Nebraska whenever they can come. WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE. (By G. A. Marshall, delegate to Wisconsin State Horticultural Society summer meeting, held at Bayfield, Wisconsin, August 21-22, 1912). By consulting the map, you will see that Bayfield is located on a peninsula extending north out into Lake Superior. This locality is pecu- liarly adapted to fruit growing for the folloT,ring reasons: Fir.st: The deep ^\aters of the lake on the west, north and east temper the winter blasts and we find the mercury does not register nearly so cold as it does way south of there, yet it being north, causes the winter to be steady and cold enough so the fruit buds remain en- tirely dormant until quite late in the spring and by the time blossoms are opened, summer seems to be on. Then, to add to this protection, these same lake waters temper the climate and almost eliminate the danger of freezing at blossom time. Here, we find fruit trees coming into bearing very young, some varieties of cherry fruiting heavily the second or third year after planting and apples showing a good will even before the tree is large enough to hold up a peck of apples. This locality is extremely fine for all kinds of small fruits, blackber- ries, rospberries, strawberries, currants, etc., and all mature to perfeo- tion and produce good, profitable yields. The season is too short, how- ever, to mature the late keeping apples such as Winesap, Black Twig Janet, etc. The varieties which do best there seem to be the Russians and others of the summer and autumn apples generally of a light color and somewhat light weight varieties. Duchess, Yellow Transparent. Wealthy, etc., thrive to perfection. Sturgeon Bay is another protected place. Here fruit growing is much further advanced than at Bayfield, and is found very satisfactory and profitable in general. Wisconsin as a state however, has a varied climate and requires a great deal of study and experimenting and cour- age to bring fruit growing to its own over the state generally, yet they, like wo here in Nebraska, have an army of optimists and through this horticultural society and other channels, are slowly but surely working CONVENTION OF SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS 193 thtir way to the front and are entitled to a great deal of credit for thei;- persistent labor. Wisconsin is well up with other states of its age and their horticultural society surely deserves its share of the credit. The meeting at Bayfield was well attended and a considerable amount of enthusiasm was shown. MINNESOTA HORTICULTURAL MEETING. C. S. Harri~on. Delegate from Nebraska Horticultural Society. I am a member of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, also life member of the Nebraska and Minnesota state societies. I have had the pleasure of attending such gatherings in many states, but I never saw such earnestness and enthusiasm as you meet at this gathering. It is the largest in the nation if not in the world. It has over 3,000 members. You seek for the causes which have led to such splendid success, and you find them in the officers who plan so wisely and judiciously. A. W. Latham, the secretary, is a man of great ability for planning and organ- izing. The directors cooperate with him. The members are willing to be led with such master minds to lead them, and there is no strife and fault-finding such as you often find in other societies. I settled in Minnesota in 1857. I was there when the state was born. We no more expected to raise apples than oranges. It seemed an utter impossibility. The story of the early struggles is a story of disaster and defeat. Orchard after orchard was planted only to be cut down by a severe winter. Old Boreas said, "This is my realm, and you shall not invade it." The gauntlet was thrown down and men of iron took it up. They built an ironclad apple from the ground up, and now they have won. After one of the severest winters known there is a splendid show- ing of fruit. New and hardy kinds are all the while being produced. The Wealthy is a wonderful apple. Some were taken from Minnesota to the great apple show of the West and they won, much to the chagrin of the westerners. Apples grown in Minnesota are of the richest flavor, far surpassing in quality the western apple. And if one is going to raise this kind of fruit he had better try Minnesota; first, because good land for orcharding can be bought for $50 per acre; second, an immense freight bill can be saved; third, you grow apples in the heart of a great want where your fruit will find ready sale; fourth, you will have fruit and quality and of superior and luscious flavor. You have no conception of the hard work, the experimenting, and the persistence with which the great variety in apple growing has been won; and the annual gatherings with their intense interest are indica- tions of the joy and triumph over diflficulties supposed to be insur- mountable. Great interest has been manifested over other fruits. We see plum enthusiasts, who, from the native plum, have evolved wonders in size 1!)4 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY and quality. One man. an artist by profession, who spends his winters in Washington, D. C, where he paints thousand dollar portraits, has. a farm of 1,500 acres in the cut-over sandy lands of Minnesota. He has spent fifteen summers there and has given his attention to creating a hardy and luscious plum and now is receiving his reward in large crops of large fruit which sell readily at $2 per bushel, and he can hardly touch the demand. Mr. Penning of New Ulm has given the best part of his life in im- proving this fruit. He is an enthusiastic German, and when he gets agoing he. Is a regular cyclone, and his mouth is hardly big enough to pour out his torrent of enthusiasm. He raises hundreds of bushels and gets his $2 per bushel for them. In the meeting great interest was shown in a new race of ever- bearing strawberries which were found to be very prolific and profitable. They must have peculiar treatment. The buds must all be picked off until July and August, and then they are let go, and the result is great crops until froPt comei^. This department of horticulture is now securing much attention; for strawberries out of their normal season bring large prices, and we do not wonder at the keen interest taken in their pro- duction. TOP GRAFTING. Wlien scions of tender trees are grafted on a hardy stock, like Virginia Crab or Hibernal, they can be grown 300 miles further north then when grafted on common roots. One man bought ten Miss- ing Link apples and planted them. Every one died. He took the pre- caution of grafting on the Hibernal and all lived and are bearing im- mense crops. The northern pioneers have had to feel their way along through thousands of experiments until now they have a sure founda- tion. Probably the finest orchard in the world was that of Mr. Phillips of northern Wisconsin. He was obliged to sell it on account of old age. The man who bought it knew nothing about fruit. In the fall the ground was covered with splendid, large and perfect apples. He let the neigh- bors come in and take off double wagon loads for a dollar a load. Later fruit buyers came in and took his winter apples at a good price. Prob- ably at no time on earth was there such a marvelous crop of splendid fruit from such a number of trees. The northern men have taught us a lesson. First, get ironclad roots for a hardy stock, top graft on these trees and you have both hardiness and abundance. We must study economy in orcharding. The ordinary cheap twenty-five-cent tree takes up bo*.h time and room, and in nine cases out of ten gives us nothing. A first-class apple tree, double worked, should cost about 50 to 75 c.^nls. In ten years one tree will be worth about ten cents and the other $10. ' HOKTKTLTTIIAL MEETINGS 105 ORNAMENTALS. Minnesota- is drifting away from the pioneer stage and now active florist societies are being formed. Yearr^ ago the peony had a struggle for recognition, but now it is at the front, for both soil and climate are congenial. The iris is the coming flower. It is such a drouth and cold resist- ant and succeeds so admirably and is of such radiant beauty its charms are irresistible. It is hard to break the ice and get people to recognize their value. But the lovers of the beautiful are waking up, and the call tor them is growing. There is room for millions of them. One firm is selling 30,000 a year and expects soon to dispose of 100,000. Some largo firms are dropping fruit trees and taking up ornamen- tals, for the demand is growing. Eastern flcriots are flooding the land with attractive literature and reaping thousands of dollar.3 which westorn growers should have. HORTICULTURAL MEETINGS HELD BY NEBRASKA STATE HORTI- CULTURAL SOCIETY AND HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, FEBRUARY, 1913. On February 17, the first meeting was held at Florence, Nebraska. There was a large attendance, owing in part to the fact that the Local Fruit Growers' Association of that place met the same day. After a short business session of the association, Mr. H. Nelson, the association man- ager, gave a short address, pointing out the possibilities of fruit growing and the necessity for better methods. Mr. C. G. Marshall, secretary of the State Horticultural Society, discussed the spraying of both trees and small fruits, and Mr. J. R. Cooper, assistant horticulturist of the State University, discussed pruning and general cultural methods for tree, vine and small fruits. A keen interest was shown throughout the discussion which was followed by talks by local fruit growers. February 18 the institute was held at Nebraska City. No arrange- ments had been made by the local management so the meeting was held in the court house. The attendance was small because of the fact that the meeting had not been well advertised, but those present took great interest in the meeting. Mr. J. R. Cooper discussed pruning, spraying, and general cultural methods, illustrating his talk with charts. Mr. C. G. Marshall and Mr. Chas. Dickinson discussed methods and management of fruit growers' associations. The meeting at Peru was well attended by fruit growers, state normal students and faculty members, classes being dismissed for the occasion. The same general program was followed as at the previous meetings with the addition of a packing dem.onstration given by Mr. Ray Hesseltine, and a pruning demonstration given by Mr. J. R. Cooper. During these demon- strations the liveliest interest was shown. A number of the faculty armed themselves with saws and assisted in the pruning demonstration. 196 NEBRASKA STATK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY The institute at Brownville on February 20 was a decided success, though the attendance was smaller than at Peru. A local association was in operation at this point and a lively discussion followed the talk on association management, given by Mr. Chas. Dickinson. The discussion of general methods and picking and packing given by Messrs. Cooper and Marshall was closely followed and many questions asked by those in attendance. No demonstration was given at this place for the reason that Mr. Cooper at a previous meeting, on the farm of Mr. Fred Lewis, devoted an entire day to the demonstration of modern methods. On February 21 an institute was held at Shubert. The weather was very unfavorable and the attendance was small. The institute was espe- cially well advertised by Shubert brothers, and despite the storm several men came out. The meeting assumed more of the nature of round-table discussions at this point and every one entered with spirit into the dis- cussions. On February 22, the last of the series of fruit institutes was held at Pawnee City. The weather was cold but bright and clear, and there was a large attendance. A great deal of interest was manifested in the dis- cussions of Messrs. Marshall and Cooper on cultural methods, pruning, spraying, picking and packing fruit. Mr. Dickinson did not speak at this point. With the formation of the Eastern Nebraska Fruit Growers' Asso- ciation, a wider interest in being taken by fruit growers in general cul- tural methods, and picking and packing fruit. It should be possible and, I think, advisable to hold a larger series of fruit growers' institutes than has been held in the past. More stress should be laid on growing clean fruit and in making clean, honest, attractive packs. No one questions the quality of Nebraska fruit, but in order to cope with the competition from other regions it is necessary to have clean fruit, better grading and more attractive packs. HORTICULTURAL INSPECTION LAW 197 MISCKI^LANKOUS PAPHRS THE NEW HORTICULTURAL INSPECTION LAW OF NEBRASKA. After years of waiting and being without adequate legal protection against unscrupulous persons in other states who might wish to unload their infected trees, vines, and plants on Nebraska planters, we now have a law that will adequately protect our planters and nurserymen. Nebraska has been the only state in the United States which did not have some sort of an inspection law on trees, vines and plants up to the last session of our legislature. On the following pages will be found the bill in full, as passed by the last legislature. THE NEW HORTICULTURAL INSPECTION LAW OF NEBRASKA. House Roll 171, Thirty-third Session of the Legislature of Nebraska. An act to prevent the introduction into and dissemination of, and for the eradication within the state of Nebraska of dangerously injurious insects and plant diseases, by providing for the inspection of nurserj' stock, fruit, shade, ornamental and other trees, shrubs, and plants by the state entomologist or his assistant inspectors, by fixing fees for the same and to provide a penalty for the violation of this act. Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Nebraska: Section 1. That it shall be the duty of the state entomologist of Nebraska to seek out and suppress pernicious insect pests and injurious and contagious plant diseases destructive to the horticultural and agri- cultural interests of the state, and conduct experiments when necessary to accomplish that end. Sec. 2. In order to accomplish the purposes of this act, the state entomologist, with his assistants and employees, is hereby authorized to enter upon any public premises, parks, cemeteries, or other premises, or upon any land of any firm, corporation, or private individual, within the state of Nebraska, for the purpose of inspection, destroying, treating, or experimenting upon the insects or diseases aforesaid. Should any in- sect or disease found by the state entomologist, or by any other oflacer appointed by him, be, in his opinion, capable of eradication without the destruction of the trees, plants, shrubs, or vines, then said oflBcers are to treat or have treated, in order to prevent the dissemination of the aforesaid insects or diseases, any and all suspicious trees, vines, shrubs, or plants found to be in dangerous proximity to those infested as afore- said. Sec. 3. That should the officer aforesaid, through his assistants and employees, or by any notification whatsoever, find any trees, vines, shrubs, 198 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY or plants infested or diseased with the aforesaid insects or diseases, the aforesaid offlcer shall mark or tag in some conspicuous way all trees, vines, shrubs, or plants infested with the aforesaid insects or diseases, and shall give notice in writing to the owner or owners, tenants, or persons in charge of such premises of the condition thereof; and thereupon, if such person or persons so notified shall not, within ten days after notification, destroy or treat the same in accordance with regulations and rules of said officer, a copy of which will be sent on application to any person, then said officer shall, through his assistants or employees, destroy or treat all such trees, vines, shrubs, or plants. Whenever any such infestation shall exist at any place within or on the property of any non-resident, or on any property the owner or owners of which can not be found within the county after diligent search by the entomologist or his deputies, or on the property of any owner or owners upon which the notice aforesaid has been served, and who shall refuse or neglect to eradicate the same within the time specirled, it shall be the duty of the state entomologist, or his duly authorized deputy, to cause said infesta- tion to be at once removed by eradicating or destroying said plant dis- eases or injurious insects, their eggs or larvae. The necessary expense thereof shall be paid by the owner or owners of the real estate from which said infestation has been removed in pursuance of this act. The state entomologist or his deputy shall serve or cause to be served upon said owner or any one in possession and in charge of said real estate a notice stating the amount of said charge, and further stating that if said charge be not paid to the county treasurer of the county wherein said real estate is located, within twenty days from the date of the service of said notice, that the same will become a lien upon said real estate. Copy of said notice, together with the proof of service, shall be at once filed with the county clerk, and if said amount is not paid within the time therein stated, said county clerk shall spread the same upon the tax^roll prepared by him, and said amount shall become a lien against said real estate and be collected as other taxes are collected, and said real estate shall be sold for non-payment of said taxes the same as now or hereafter may be provided by law for sale of real estate for delin- quent taxes. Should the owner of said real estate not pay said charges within the stated time, the same shall be presented to the board of county commissioners by the county clerk, and by them allowed and paid out of the general fund of the said county by the county treasurer, and when said amount is collected as taxes it shall be paid into the gen- eral fund of the said county. The cost of eradication or treatment of such infestation, as above stated, shall be paid to the county treasurer, to whom the county clerk shall certify all amounts due as reported to him by the state entomologist. The county treasurer shall forward to the state treasurer on the first of each month all amounts thus received. These amounts shall be paid into the general fund. Sec. 4. That it shall be the duty of the state entomologist of Ne- HORTICULTUltAL INSPECTION LAW 199 braska to inspect, or cause to be inspected by his duly appointed assist- ants, at least once each year, principally between July 1 and September 30, all nurseries and nursery premises known to him in the state of Ne- braska, for the purpose of detecting dangerous insects and plant dis- eases, such as San Jose scale, Howard scale, browntail moth, gipsy moth, peach yellows, peach rosette or any similarly dangerous insect pests or diseases. If, upon the inspection of any nursery as above provided, it shall appear that said nursery and its premises are free from dangerous insects and plant disease, he shall, upon the payment of the expenses of inspection as hereinafter provided, send or give to the owner of said nursery, or, to the person in charge of same, a certificate of inspection stating that said nursery and premises are apparently free from such in- jurious insects and diseases. Said certificate shall be issued not later than October 1 and shall continue in force, unless revoked for cause as hereinafter provided, until the first day of July next following the date of inspection. If the state entomologist or his assistant inspectors shall find that a portion of a nursery is infested with dangerous insects or plant diseases and other portions are then free from infestation or in- fection, or if he shall have reason to believe that a nursery, on account of its proximity to infested or infected premises, is liable to become so infested or infected before the next annual inspection, he may prescribe in writing such measures of precaution or make in writing such condi- tions as to the use of his certificates as may in his judgment be neces- sary, and certificate may be withheld until such conditions have been accepted in writing by the owner of said nursery, and the use of said certificate without taking the required measures of precaution or ob- serving such condition shall subject the owner of said nursery to the penalty prescribed in section 6 for a violation of this ac't. Whenever any nurseryman or seller of trees, shrubs, vines, plants, buds, or cuttings commonly known as nursery stock, within the state of Nebraska, shall ship or consign for shipment such stock, each shipment shall bear a true copy of a valid certificate of the state entomologist of Nebraska or by another inspector duly appi'oved by him, showing that the said stock has been given careful inspection and found apparently free from dangerous insects or plant diseases. Any person who shall de- liver, ship, or consign for shipment nursery stock without such certifi- cate attached, or who shall use such certificate in connection with nurs- ery stock, any and every part of which has not been inspected and certi- fied as aforesaid, or who shall alter or deface such certificate, shall be liable to the penalties prescribed in section 6 for. a violation of this act. The power to revoke and annul said certificate is hereby given the state entomologist if he shall find that his certificate of inspection has been used in violation of any of the provisions of this act. Revocation shall be through written notice to the holder of said certificate. The use of said certificate, after it has been revoked and annulled, and before such revocation has been withdrawn by the state entomologist shall subject the holder of said certificate to the penalties provided in section 200 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 6 for a violation of this act. It shall also be the duty of the state ento- mologist to inspect foreign importations in accordance with the federal plant quarantine act. Nurserymen and dealers of Nebraska shall be privileged to ship, under the certificate issued to them, nursery stock grown for them else- where or purchased by them from other states or countries; provided that all such stock be received under certificates approved by the offi- cial inspector of the state where grown, stating that it has been in- spected by him and found to be apparently free from dangerous insects and plant diseases. On issuing his certificate after inspection of a commercial nursery, the state entomologist shall collect therefor a fee covering the expenses of inspection as certified by him, according to the amount of stock in- spected, the time occupied, and the distance traveled in making such inspection; provided, that such fees be not less than five dollars nor more than twenty dollars, which shall be turned into the state treasury. Sec. 5. Whenever any trees, shrubs, plants, or vines are shipped from place to place in Nebraska, or shipped into Nebraska from another state, county, or province, every such shipment shall be plainly labeled on the outside with the name of the consignor, the name of the con- signee, and a certificate signed by a state or government inspector show- ing that the contents have been inspected by such inspector, or by his authority, since the first day of July last preceding, and that the trees, vines, shrubs, and plants there present and contained therein appear free from all dangerous insects and plant diseases. Whenever any trees, shrubs, vines, or plants are shipped as above without such certificate plainly affixed, the facts must be reported within twenty-four hours to the state entomologist by the railway, express, or steamboat company or other person or persons carrying the same, and it shall be unlawful to deliver any such property until it has been inspected by the state entomologist or his assistants and by him or them certified to be free from dangerous insects and plant diseases. Any agent of any railway, steamboat, or express company or other person or persons carrying such property as aforesaid, who shall fail to give such notice as above re- quired shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this act. Whenever nursery stock is shipped into Nebraska, covered by a valid certificate signed by other state or government inspectors, such certificates shall be held prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated, but the state entomologist or his assistants, upon suspicion that such stock might harbor dangerous insect pest or plant diseases, shall be au- thorized to inspect such stock, and if necessary subject it to proper treat- ment. Provided, that plants, flowers, or cuttings known as greenhouse stock and native stock collected in the United States and not grown In nurseries shall not l)e required to bear certificates of inspection for shipment except when coming from districts known to b'^ infested by gipsy or brown-tail moths or other recognized dangerous insect pests. HORTICULTUKAL. INSPECTION LAW 201 Sec. 6. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this act "with reference to the sale, shipment, delivery, or transportation of nursery stock, or with reference to the use, alteration, or defacement of a certifi- cate relating to the same, or who shall remove, without the v/ritten per- mission of the state entomologist, infested or infected property concern- ing the condition of whicli he has received official notice from the state entomologist, or who shall offer any hindrance or resistance to the carry- ing out of this act, shall be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction before any court having lurisdiction shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $100 for each and every offense, together with all costs and shall stand committed until the same is paid. The state entomologist shall furnish the prosecuting attorney with all information of matter coming to his knovv'ledgc constituting a violation of this act. Sec. 7. The office and laboratories of the state entomologist shall be located at the University of Nebraska. He shall have power to ap- point such qualified assistants as may be necessary to the execution of this act who shall be competent, scientific, and practical entomologists, and to fix a reasonable compensation for that labor, and their acts, done in pursuance of his instructions, shall have the same validity as his own. He shall pay over to the state treasurer all the funds coming into his hands under the provisions of section 4 of this act, with an itemized statement of the sources whence received. Sec. S. For. the purpose of further obtaining and disseminating in- formation concerning the life-history and habits, prevention, control, or extermination of dangerous insects or plant diseases, the slate entomolo- gist may conduct experiments, public spi-aying demonstrations, and from time to time publish and distribute bulletins and circulars containing such information as may be of value to the horticultural, agricultural, and other interests of this state. P. C. KELLEY, Speaker of House of Representatives. Attest: HENRY C. RICHMOND, Chief Clerk House of Representatives. S. R. McKBLVlE, President of Senate. Attest: CLYDE H. BARNARD, Secretary of Senate. Apprpved April 16th, 1913, 2:30 p.m. JOHN H. MOREHEAD, STATE OF NEBRASKA, |ss. Governor. I, Henry C. Richmond, Chief Clerk cf the House of Representatives, hereby certify that the within bill originated in the House and passed the Legislature of the 33d Session on the 14'th day of February, 1913. HENRY C. RICHMOND, . ^ , .., ^rr .r^n Chicf Clerk House of Representatives. Received April 17, 1913. ADDISON WAIT, Secretary of State. L'II2 NEBKASKA STATIC IK i li T ICI I/II IIAL SOCIETY SPRAYING APPLES AND GRAPES. J. R. Cooper, Horticultural Dept., University of Nebraska. The most serious annoyance of the fruit grower of today is the lia- bility of attacks on his crops by insects and fungous diseases. The crops are few indeed which are not damaged by the depredations of some enemy, either insect or fungous. Especially is this true of orchard crops. This being the case, measures must be taken to combat these common enemies. There is no reason why, with the present knowledge of spraying and culture, the orchardist need fear these insect and fung- ous pests any more than the farmer fears the weeds which begin growing as soon as the crops are planted and with which he must wage unrelent- ing warfare if he is to realize any benefits from his labors. Clean cul- ture and proper spraying with the right materials at the right time will protect the crops from insects and disease just as surely as good cultural methods will conserve moisture and protect the plants from weeds. With the spraying season so close at hand, preparations should be made at once for the season's work. Machinery should be gone over to be sure that it is in perfect working order before time to begin spraying, and a full supply of spraying materials should be laid in. A delay of a few days, when it is time to spray, often means wormy and diseased fruit. Success lies in knowing, first, what is causing the injury to the plants; second, the remedy for the trouble; and third, thorough treatment. We find many enemies which appear at different seasons of tlie year, work in different ways, and require different treatments; but by using good judg- ment in the combination of materials and in the time and manner of appli- cation of the same, these may all be controlled. It is usually best to spray apples four times. The sprayings should be concentrated at the beginning of the season in such a manner that the foliage and fruit may be covered with a protective coat while young and tender, for it is at this time that disease spores are germinating and the young insects are making their attacks. The first spraying with Bordeaux and arsenate of lead, bluestone three pounds, lime four pounds, arsenate of lead two pounds, fifty gal- lons of water, should be done just as the flower buds are turning pink and before they unfold. The spray should be applied as a very fine mist and only in large enough quantities to cover the foliage, branches, and trunks of the trees with a very thin film. If the spray is applied in coarse drops or in such large quantities that it collects and runs together, it is liable to burn both the fruit and foliage. This spray is intended to control apple scab, rust, curculio, canker and worms, bud moth and leaf feeders. The second spraying with commercial lime and sulphur, and arsenate of lead, IV2 gallons lime and sulphur, 2 pounds lead, 50 gallons water, should be done between the falling of the petals and the closing of the calyx cups. It is best, if a large number of trees are to be sprayed, to begin operations when about three-fourths of the petals have fallen. For this application the spray should be coarse and delivered at very high SPKAYING APPLES AND GRAPES 203 pressure (200 to 300 lbs.) from above the calyx cups, which at this time are standing upright and open ready to receive the liquid. This is the most important spray for the codling moth. It has been demonstrated that fully 80 per cent of the worms enter the apples, in unsprayed or- chards, at the calyx end. The filling of these cups with poison will lessen the infestation just that much, besides lessening the number of second brood worms. This spray is intended to control codling moth, curculio, scab, rust and leaf feeders. Lime and sulphur is preferred for the second spray because at this stage Bordeaux is liable to cause serious russeting of the fruit and burn- ing of the foliage, unless it is very carefully mixed and applied as a very light mist. The third spraying of commercial lime and sulphur, and arsenate of lead, 11/^-2-50, should be done three to four weeks after the petals have fallen. This spray, like the first, should be applied as a fine mist. This application is intended for codling moth, curculio, scab, blotch, black rot, and bitter rot. By this time the fungicides will have been partly washed from the trees and the first brood of codling moth will be hatching. The fourth spraying with Bordeaux and arsenate of lead, 3-4-2-50, or commercial lime and sulphur and arsenate of lead lV^-50, depending upon weather conditions, should be done eight to ten weeks after the blossoms fall, and should be applied as a fine mist. In case the weather is wet or muddy, lime and sulphur is the better spray to use; but in case of dry hot weather, Bordeaux gives better results, since under such condi- tions lime and sulphur is liable to burn both the fruit and foliage. This application is intended primarily for the second brood codling moth, but also for blotch, rust, bitter rot, and black rot. In case none of these diseases is present, the fungicide may be omitted from this spray. For the control of blotch on apples, Bordeaux gives better results than lime and sulphur. Grapes should be sprayed three to six times, depending upon weather conditions and amount of infection. The first spraying of Bordeaux and arsenate of lead, 5-5-2-50 should be done when the flower buds are be- ginning to swell. The spray should be delivered as a fine mist under heavy pressure and should completely cover all parts of the plant. This treatment is for mildew, anthracnose, black rot, curculio, grape berry moth, flea beetles, and other leaf-eating insects. The second spraying should be done just after the blossoms fall and should consist of the same materials and be applied in the same manner as the first spray. The third spraying should be done when the fruit is about the size of small buckshot, and should consist of the same material as the first two sprays. If the weather is very damp, or if the vineyard is infested with black rot, it may be necessary to apply two or three more sprays at in- tervals of seven to ten days. Two to three weeks before the fruit be- gins to ripen a spray of neutral acetate of copper should be substituted for Bordeaux to avoid staining the fruit. 204 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Lime and sulphur is injurious to the foliage of grapes and should not be used. For leaf hoppers and other sucking insects, use tobacco extract, one part to seventy parts of water, or soap, eight pounds to fifty gallons of water and apply in the same manner as Bordeaux. The things necessary in order to do a good job of spraying are, power and suitable pump, with the proper hose, extension rods and nozzles. For large areas a gasoline engine to furnish the power is indispensable. For orchards of less than 300 trees, pumps driven by hand are cheapest and most practical in most instances, though, in case of a scarcity of labor, the gas engine may prove most practical for smaller areas. On a large scale, everything else being equal, it costs a little more than half as much to spray with a gas engine outfit as by hand power. ■ From whatever source the power is derived, a good force pump is necessary. A satisfactory pump should have all parts which come in contact with the spraying material made of brass, which will not cor- rode; a large air chamber so that the liquid will be delivered in a steady stream rather than in a succession of spurts; all parts easily accessible for cleaning' and strong enough to give good service. There are many different nozzles in use. In selecting nozzles, choose those which do not clog easily, and which are readily cleaned. The "Frind" type of nozzle is among the best. The manner of delivering the spray is controlled by the. size of the hole in the disks, and these may be changed at any time. Another advantage is that they do not catch easily on the branches of the trees. THE APPLE PACKAGE AND GRADE BILL. SIGNED BY THE PRES- IDENT, AUGUST 3, 1912. The Sulzer Bill. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the standard barrel for apples shall be of the following dimensions when measured without distention of its parts: Length of stare, *wenty-eight and one-half inches; diameter of head, seventeen and one-eighth inches; distance between heads, twenty-six inches; circumference of bulge, sixty-four inches out- side measurement, representing as nearly as possible seven thousand and fifty-six cubic inches, provided that steel barrels containing the interior dimensions provided for in this Section shall be construed as a compliance therewith. Sec. 2. That the standard grades for apples when packed in barrels which shall be shipped or delivered for shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, or which shall be sold or offered for sale within the District of Columbia or the Territories of the United States shall be as follows: Apples of one variety, which are well-grown specimens, hand picked, of good color for Mie variety, normal shape, practically free from insect and THE APPLE PACKAGE AND GRADE BILL 205 fungous injury, bruises and other defects, except such as are necessarily caused in the operation of packing, or apples of one variety which are not more than 10 per centum below the foregoing specifications shall be "Standard Grade minimum size two and one-half inches," if the minimum size of the apples is two and one-half inches, in transverse diameter; "Standard Grade minimum size two and one-fourth inches," if the mini- mum size of the apples is two and one-fourth inches in transverse diame- ter; or "Standard Grade minimum size two inches," if the minimum size of the apples is two inches in transverse diameter. Sec. 3. That the barrels in which apples are packed in accordance with the provisions of this Act may be branded in accordance with Section two of this Act. Sec. 4. That all barrels packed wilh apples shall be deemed to be beloM^ standard if the barrel bears any statement, design or device indi- cating that the barrel is a standard barrel of apples, as herein defined, and the capacity of the barrel is less than the capacity prescribed by section one of this act, unless the barrel shall be plainly marked on end and side with words or figures showing the fractional relation which the actual capacity of the barrel bears to the capacity prescribed by Section one of this Act. The marking required by this paragraph shall be in block letters of size not less than seventy-two point one inch gothic. Sec. 5. That barrels packed with apples shall be deemed to be mis- branded within the meaning of this Act: First. — If the barrel bears any statement, design or device indicating that the apples contained therein are "Standard Grade" and the apples when packed do not conform to the requirements prescribed by Section two of this Act. Second. — If the barrel bears any statement, design or device indicat- ing that the apples contained therein are "Standard Grade" and the barrel fails to bear also a statement of the name of the \ari6ty, the name of the locality where grown and the name of the packer or the person by whose authority the apples were packed and the barrel marked. Sec. 6. That any person, firm or corporation, or association who shall knov/ingly pack or cause to bo packed apples in barrels, or who shall knowingly sell or offer for sale such barrels in violation of the provisions of this Act, shall be liable to a penalty of One Dollar and costs for each such barrel so sold or offered for sale, to be recovered at the suit of the United States in any court of the United States having jurisdiction. Sec. 7. That this Act sliall be in force and effect from and after the first day of July, nineteen hundred and thirteen. 20G NEBRASKA STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY EXPLANATORY NOTES. The Package. The size of the barrel v/ill be found in the first paragi-aph, and is now in general upg in the b:irreled apple sections. The Grade and Sizes. These specifications are found in Section 3. There is but one grade. This grade is divided into three sizes governed by the minimum size of the apples in each grade. A limit of tolerance of ten per cent is pro- vided to allow for errors in packing. This means tliat if you are no: more than 10 per cent below the specifications, your paciv is deemed up to the lega.l standard. For example, if you pack your apples "STANDARD GRADE MINI- MUM SIZE 21/2 INCHES" then the apples in the barrel must be "apples of one variety, well grown specimens, Iiand picked, good color for th.? variety, normal shape, practically free from insect and fungous injury, etc." (See Sec, 2) or not more than 10 per cent below these specifica- tions, and must not be less than 2% inches in transverse diameter. They may be as much larger as you desire. Exactly the same principles apply to the 2% inch and 2 inch size. Branding. AU barrels marked "Standard Grade," etc., must also have branded upon them (1) the variety (2) the name of the locality where grown, (3) the name of the packer or person by whose authority the apples were packed and the barrel marked. (See 5, sub. second.) The brand on the head of the barrel should read something liki; this: Standard Grade Standard Grade Min. Size 2^^, inches Min. Size 2V2 inches Baldwin or Baldwin Grown in Western New York Grown and Packed by Packed by John Jones John Doe, St. Louis, Mo. Rochester, N. Y. An opinion from the acting solicitor of the U. S. Department of Agriculture also advises us that the following or similar words may be used as a part of the brand: "Packed in Accordance with the Act of Co?^.- gress approved August 3d, l'.)12." These words may be worked into a small rubber stamp and yhoul'l lend strength to the brand. As Ihe law has not yet gone imo effect, yon are advised to use "Packed in Accordance with," etc.. rather than "Packed Under the Act of Congress," etc. IIli: AITLK PACKAGE AM» (iUADK UILI. L'OT Time of Taking Effect and Penalty. The Act does not go into effect until next year, but tlie Solicitor advises that we are at liberty to pack, brand and act in Accordance with it RIGHT NOW. Also whiJe the specific penalty prescribed in the hill may not attach until next year, yet all apples, no matter how marked, now fall under the power of the Food and Drug Acts. If you pack in the OLD way and brand the barrels Fancy or No. 1, etc., and the fruit does not conform to the brand, you still come squarely under the Food and Drugs Act. You are, therefore, advised to see to it that all brands of every de- scription are in. accordance with the facts, whether you follow the Sulzer Bill or whether You Do Not. Make the Law Alive. "The way to do a thing is to do it." Th;>t was demonstrated in the passage of the bill. This act was supported and fought for by nearly every important grower's association in the United States and the most prominent individual grov/ers, by state departments, chambers of com- merce, the National Retail Grocers' Association, commercial bodies and three national trade associations, comprising every one from producer to consumer. Now that we (growers, dealers and consumers) have all fought and won, are we going to retreat or iiiarch on? Are we going to preach one thing and practice another? Are we going to begm to cry, "We can't," or will we say, "We can and will?" Are we going to waste our time talking abotit "dead letters" and throwing cold water and piling up objections, or are we going to charge the ramparts and annihilate our ancient and deadly enemy J-U-N-K? Are we going to do something, act, stir ourselves, bring things to pass, or are Vv^e going to "Think about it" and "Put it off," and "wonder if we can," and continue to wallow in the same old slough of decayed fruit and dead hopes? If we want to make this bill alive, and thereby abolish "Junk," estab- lish confidence, improve markets, increase our exports, solve the problem of increased production, encourage the growing of better fruit, stimulate consumption and decrease the hazards, then let: 111 The grower sell and pack standard grade. [2] The dealer buy, pack and sell standard grade. [3] The consumer demand standard grade. [4J Everybody advertise s'.andard grade. Now, how are we going to do this? WHY DO IT. That's all— just do it — do it like we do anything else. We eat by eating — not by looking on and thinking about it. If any man is afraid he can't grade according to size, buy a grading machine — there are plenty of them that will do the business. Don't be afraid. Fear never accomplished anything in the history of the world. 20S NEBRASKA STATE IK Uri' I( Tl/rr KAT. SOCIKTY SAMPLK ('ontrac:t xindrr the SULZEK i;iLL. THIS AGREEMENT, Made this day oi" , 1912, WITNESSETH, that John Jones of VVincliester, Va., has sold to Richard Roe, of New York, N. Y., his crop oi standard grade apples to be deliv- ered at the railroad station at , or at the storage at ; said apples to be packed in sliandard barrels and graded according to the specifications established by the Act of Congress, approved by the President, August 3, 1912, and known as the Sulzer Apple Package and Grade Bill. Richard Roe agrees to pay iherefor upon delivery as follows: d) For standard grade minimum size 2V2 inches in the following varieties $ per Bbl. (1) For the same grade and size in the following varieties $ per Bbl. (2) For standard grade minimum size 2% inches in the following varieties $ per Bbl. (2) For the same grade and size in the follov>'ing varieties $ per Bbl. (3) For standard gi'ade minimum siz^ 2 inches in the following varieties $ per Bbl. (3) For the same .grade and size in the following varieties $ per Bbl. Signed On the reverse side or at the bottom may be printed Section 2 of the act and the further statement contained in Section 5, Subdivision 2, that the barrels must be branded v,ith the name of the variety, the locality where grown and the name of the packer or person by whoso authority the apples were packed. This contract is in its simplest form. Suitable blank spaces may be provided for the insertion of such other details as may be deemed necessary. Simplicity, however, is the best watchword. HOME GROUNDS AND GARDENS. W. H. Dunman, University Farm, Lincoln. The amateur who is commencing to plan for the ornamentation of the grounds about his home must have a well-developed, intelligent plan. This is one of the essentials in landscape gardening. The ideal land- scape is one of open spaces, pretty vistas, through a framework of trees, shrubs, and flowers. The chief features to which attention should be directed are the open space in front of the house, the limited number of large trees, and the shrubbery at the sides. The selection and correct arrangement of plants of growing things are important in the small place, but not the number of kinds that may be planted, a too comprehensive assortment of plants would be inappropriate for an ordinary city lot. HOME GROUNDS AND GARDENS 209 While the householder gladly puts $3,000 to $20,000 into his house, paying an architect $100 to $500 for planning the house, he does not think of consulting a landscape gardener to design the planting, but leaves such things to the man who mows the lawn or some other person not com- petent to do the work. The first question to be decided in laying out the grounds for a mod- erate sized home is whether a fine effect from the street shall be sought or privacy be secured to the residents. The old English style of securing privacy is to have a thick, high hedge along the front, completely screen- ing the house and grounds from the street. A modification of this method is to plant a somewhat irregular screen of mixed trees and shrubs. A good plan, and one I much prefer, is to make the plantings in irregular borders along the sides of the lot and at the back with a few shrubs and climbers against the porches and the foundation of the house. Mistakes especially to be avoided are formal beds in the front lawn, shrubs and trees scattered promiscuously over the area with no central idea. The object of landscape gardening is to make a picture. The lawn is the canvas, the house the central figure, the planting completes the composi- tion and adds the color. Therefore, in planning your home grounds keep the center open, frame and mass the sides, and avoid scattering effects. As to walks and drives, have them as few and short as possible. On a small place the approach may be straight and lead directly to the house. As walks and drives are a necessary evil, and do not add to the beauty of the place, they should then be designed to fit the actual demands of traffic about the place. The lawn is the first practical consideration in a landscape garden. Great care should be used in preparing the ground for seeding a new lawn. Deep cultivation and the soil well enriched with barnyard or com- mercial fertilizers are essentials. The best grass for the foundation is Kentucky bluegrass, with redtop, Rhode Island bent, and white clover added for quick results. The easiest way to spoil a good lawn is to put a flower bed on it. Next in importance to a good lawn is the shrubbery. These plants are seldom used too much, and it is on their association that the charm of the landscape mostly depends. For a small place, in my opinion, it is wrong to distribute the different species with which a bed is planted in small groups of one species only. The reason is this: the growth, form, and color of such groups being naturally different, the result obtained is far from presenting a harmonious whole. If space permits, delightful shrubberies may be planned. These plants irregularly grouped along the walls and massed in retreating angles of a building soften the sharp line when building and ground unite. Plant for immediate effect, as well as for future generations, buy good sized plants from your local grower if possible. Life is too short for mail order plants of most varieties. Insist upon the nurseryman sending what you order; here is where you can get satisfaction if a mistake has been made by dealing with the people in your own state. Do not expect to get plants as they are illustrated in 210 NEBRASKA STATE HOUTICULTURAL SOCIETY some catalogues. Send your order in early and plant as soou as the ground can be worked in the spring. Before mentioning some of the best shrubs and trees to get from your dealer, I want to make a plea for the hardy native shrubs and flowers. We often hear expressions of sympathy for the western prairie people because we can not grow some of the plants that do so well on the Atlantic coast. We may not be able to grow such plants as rhododendrons, kalmias and other evergreen shrubs, but what can be more beautiful than the wahoo or strawberry bush, with its bright red fruit in fall and winter? Perhaps you will order this from a catalogue under this long name (Euonymus atropurpureus) and think it better, when perhaps in a fifteen- or thirty-minute drive from your home you could dig up hundreds. The same thing with the Indian currant or coral berry; these plants hold their bright red berries till spring. What a blaze of scarlet you can have in fall with the sumac bushes, and in the winter the bright-colored bark of the dogwood or kinnikinnick. As a vine or shrub nothing is prettier than the bittersweet with its orange-colored berries during winter. And what a variety of native flowers we have from early spring till autumn. Who has not seen the prairies ablaze with painted cup, golden rod, aster, phlox, girardias and many others just as beautiful? The following list of cultivated shrubs is adapted for this state except the extreme west. The first to bloom are the Forsythias (golden bells). The drooping variety suspensa is good for the foreground or covering an embankment or stone wall. May is the month for lilacs. Don't take the old nameless thing in your neighbor's garden because you can get it for nothing. Plant the newer varieties; the colors are better, flowers more freely and last longer. Here are the names of some worth growing: Marie Legraye, Rouge de Trianon, Pres. Grevy, Pres. Carnot, Ludwig Spaeth, Dr. Von Kegel, Charles Joly, Alphonse Lavalle, Prince of Wales, Princess Alexandria, Pres. Mapsart, Louis van Houtte, De Croneels, and coerulea superba, the last named being sky blue, very pretty. One or two of the tree lilacs should be included in your list. Late May and June is the time for the spirea family. These shrubs are the best for landscape work, either as hedge plants, single specimens, or planted in masses. Commencing with Spirea Arguta, the earliest to flower in April, followed by S. Prunifolia, S. Thumbergii, and then by the best one of them all, S. Van Houtii, commonly called the bridal wreath. Where a single specimen of any shrub is needed this is the ideal plant, with its semi-pedulous habit of growth. Do not let the lawn mower man spoil this bush by cutting off the lower branches. The Deutzias can be grown by any one having a sheltered position; in July these are very pretty covered with white flowers. D. Gracilis, Lemoninei, and Pride of Rochester are good varieties. For August we have the smoke bush or sumach (Rhus ('otinua) ; pruned yearly, it can be kept within bounds. During the summer, when there is a scarcity of flowering shrubs, the hardy Hydran- geas are all the more striking. They give a succession of bloom from July till frost. They will grow in a partly shaded position, but the flowers will not be so highly colored and useful for interior decoration. This is HOME GROUNDS AND GARDENS 211 one of the few shrubs that can be pruned in the spring, as the flowers are borne on the young growths of the current year. Hydrangea panicu- lata grandiflora is the best one to grow. The Viburnum family should be in every collection because of their flowers, fruit, and autumn colors. Viburnum opulis sterilis, the old-fashioned snowball, in great demand about Decoration day; Viburnum opulus, the high bush cranberry, with its white flowers in June and highly colored fruit lasting on the bushes all through the winter months; V. lentago, and Dentatum are splendid vari- eties with their foliage and black berries in winter. For screening un- sightly objects use the Philadelphus or mock orange, a strong, robust shrub. Another useful shrub for screening purposes is the tamarisk, with its feathery foliage and pink flowers. The Tartarian honeysuckle and Rhodotypus kerrioides are both good shrubs for ornamental work. Plants suitable for hedges are privet, barberries, the spirea, Rosa rugosa, and Japan quince. The best of these, and easily kept within bounds, is the common privet (Ligustrum vulgare). SHRUBS NOT TO PLANT Do not waste your time trying to grow Rhododendrons, Althea, or Rose of Sharon, as they are not to be depended upon for more than one or two seasons. The same is true of Weigelias. Do not let a tree agent or nurseryman convince you that California privet is hardy for a hedge plant. If you do plant it, you will be sorry some spring after a severe winter. Trees are sometimes able to make a whole landscape by themselves. There is hardly one of them that has not its own peculiar and sufficient beauty. Familiarity with trees and a sympathetic understanding of their habit and manner of growth is the best basis on which to make a selection suited for the home grounds. Many places, particularly in Lincoln, have twice the number of trees which the place ought to support. I am almost certain this is the cause of Lincoln residents losing so many trees these last two seasons. They are starved to death for lack of sufficient moisture and food material. Many of the houses are badly shadowed and shut in. The thinning out should have been done earlier; now the only remedy is the axe. The elm is the typical American tree, the very best street tree and also ornamental. The white birch makes a good background for ever- greens, very hard to transplant in this vicinity; do not try to plant any size above four or six feet of this tree. Catalpa is quite ornamental, with its large foliage; use sparingly. Another good tree as a specimen is the coffee tree; one or two are enough for a small place. Hackberry is a good hardy tree, and especially desirable in Nebraska. One of the best shade and ornamental trees is the honey locust; the foliage and habit of growth make it an ideal specimen tree. The American Linden or bass- wood is good for street effect. It is a pity that the noblest of all Ameri- can trees, the sugar maple, will not thrive in this climate. The Norway maple makes a fair substitute for ornament and shade. Wier's cutleaved maple, with its semi-weeping habit, is especially suitable for specimen 212 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY planting. Schwedler's maple, with its purple foliage, is a valuable addi- tion to the maple family. Acer geinnala tartarica, a dwarf variety, is splendid for its fall colors. Special mention should be made of the oaks. Of course, they are slow growing, but they are worth waiting for. The pin oak has a very beautiful habit of growth, and should be planted more freely as a street tree. Red oak is very robust, and the scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) is the very best of them all for its handsome foliage in autumn, the leaves staying on the tree till late spring. A landscape without evergreens is the most dreary thing on earth in winter. Aside from their beauty, evergreens are the most useful of all trees to the home planter. Where windbreaks are required for shelter evergreens should predominate, because they give protection from the winds in winter. People seem to think that windbreaks are only for pro- fessional fruit growers' orchards, whereas almost every home needs some- thing of the kind. Plant evergreens in groups. We can not grow as great a variety in the West as in the eastern states, but what varieties we do grow thrive much better here than there. The Austrian and bull pine grow fast when once established, and have longer lives than the Scotch pine and Norway spruce. Among the evergreens none equals the Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens, var. glauca). The color of the foliage is a steel blue; this makes a beautiful specimen somewhat isolated and to the foreground of a group of conifers. It is very high priced, a small speci- men three feet high costing five dollars. For an ornamental hedge, screen, or windbreak, the common American arborvitae (Thuya occiden- talis) is recommended. For harmonizing the house with its surroundings, vines are as neces- sary as the trees and shrubs. For the shading and adornment of porches and to soften the bare surfaces and stiff angles, they play no insignificant part. For covering a trellis or porch nothing is so dainty as Clematis paniculata with its thousands of white flowers in August and September. A vine that will stand more neglect than any other is the trumpet creeper (Tecoma radicans), with its large clarion-like flowers. The scarlet trum- pet honeysuckle is another hardy vine. The native climbing bittersweet (Celastrus scandenis) is very beautiful with its clusters of orange colored fruit. Ampelopsis quinquefolia, the common Virginia creeper, is probably the most hardy and planted more than any other vine. It is unfortunate that the Boston ivy (Ampelopsis veitchii), with its various shades of scar- let and gold, is injured by our winters. A worthy substitute is Ampelop- sis quinquefolia, var. Englemanni, clinging to brick and stone walls equally as well as the Boston iv.v. Several climbing roses are hardy, as the Prairie Queen, Lady Gay, the new single cherry pink, Dorothy Perkins, and Crimson Rambler. The color of the flowers will not allow the last two named to be planted close to each other. If we leave out the native roses and the Japanese variety (Rosa rugosa) roses are not very desirable plants for landscape work. They should be planted in a secluded, protected part of the grounds. The hybrid perpetual kinds are a disappointment to most persons, oftentimes HOME GROUNDS AND GARDENS 213 getting a few blooms in June and none the rest of the season. If you still wish to grow them, take your choice from this list, the cream of hybrid perpetuals: Ulrich Brunner, Margaret Dickson, General Jacque- minot, Clib, Mrs. John Laing, Magna Charta, Paul Neyron, Frau Karl Druschki, and Mrs. R. C. S. Crawford. Supposing you wish to have roses every day from June to early frost, and every rose lover does, then by all means plant the hybrid tea roses. The best of these are Gruss au Teplitz, a deep crimson, in blossom all the time; Killarney, a delicate pink shade; Liberty, red; Kaiserin Augusta Victoria, white; Richmond, red; My Maryland, pink; General McArthur, red; and Caroline Testout, pink. With proper watering and fertilizing these should give you plenty of flowers all through the growing season. OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS OR HARDY PERENNIALS In connection with shrubs, perennials without question can be used with good effect in most all landscape work. Their number and variety are almost without limit, and the question is how the garden lover is to enjoy as many varieties as his condition will allow. Hardy perennials may be used in almost any situation where plants are wanted at all. They may grow under the trees, among the shrubs, in borders by them- selves, almost anywhere except as plants for formal bedding. Very fine displays can be made by the mixed border system. By mixed border I mean shrubs and perennials together. The shrubs should not be too closely planted. Plant far enough apart to show the individual beauty of the shrub. This style of planting will also allow for some of the bold clumps of perennials. Our shrubs are nearly all very early bloomers, and consequently in summer our shrubberies are practically devoid of bloom. By the judicious use of perennials and annuals these shrubberies can be made quite showy throughout the summer months. To make a good effect the planter must know his plants. In planting plant in naturally disposed groups, never repeating, if possible, the same plant at regular intervals, as too often seen. The plants should be graduated, arranging the tall ones at the back and the low plants near the edge, occasionally allowing a few taller ones to come near to the edge to break a too formal effect. One of the most important points in the arrangement of perennial plants in the border is the color effect. Too often we see them planted haphazard without any consideration, whether the colors harmonize or not. Herbacous borders may be avowedly mixed, that is to say, the clumps of each variety may be planted with regard only to their imme- diate neighbors. When this is done contrasts between colors are more successful than harmonies. Another method is to take a definite sequence of color, and keep all plants of the same color together. Blue flowers, such as Delphinium, are best to arrange with white. Purple and lilac go well together, scarlet, crimson, pink, orange, and yellow should be arranged to pass harmoni- ously into one another. Hardy perennials are the easiest plants to grow and the cheapest to buy. AVhen once planted they are easy to take care 214 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY of, but do not be misled by the statement seen in the catalogue which would lead one to believe that they can take care of themselves. These plants respond to good treatment the same as other flowers in the matter of good cultivation, watering, and the liberal use of fertilizers. One family, the hardy phlox, will well repay you for the extra care you bestow upon them by larger blooms, longer period in flower, and vigorous plants. It would be impossible to enumerate and describe all the good perennials in this paper. I will name a few of the select ones that are easy to grow. First on my list is hardy phlox. These plants can be made to yield flowers from May till frost. Plant in the fall, late September, and October. The old plants should be lifted every three years and divided to get the best results. Try some of the native Nebraska phlox (D. doug- lasii) ; this blooms early in May. Next in order of bloom is Phlox decus- sata, followed by the varieties named: Pantheon, pink; Fraulein von Lossburg, white; Arete, Richard Wallace, Crepuscule, and other good ones too numerous to mention here. Of equal importance to the phlox is the peony. Everybody knows this flower, many people refer to this as "piney" that stood in grandmother's garden. Plant in the fall, and do not disturb for five years or more. The different forms of Hemerocallis or day lilies can be used with good effect on account of their foliage. The Platycodons, white and blue, will bloom continuously all summer. For spring and early summer the columbines are very showy, the Rocky Moun- tain varieties and the beautiful longspur hybrids being especially desir- able. The German iris should be planted freely. By a judicious selection of varieties, including the Japanese, the flowering season can be prolonged for a considerable time. For the back of your border the Delphiniums are stately and effective subjects, ranging in every shade of blue. For a bold effect and acting as a screen to any objectionable feature, the tall plume poppy (Bocconia cordata) is often used with good effect. We must not forget the oriental poppy with its large, gorgeous flowers of scarlet and crimson. They are very striking in the border, both for their bril- liant color and the immense size of their flowers. For cut flowers the Gaillardia will give abundance of bloom for the home all summer. Another old favorite, and one of the most artistic, is the hollyhock, of many colors, both single and double flowers, the semi- double being the most effective. We must not forget the golden rod and the hardy asters, both natives, which seems to be the reason they are not planted more extensively. But I must not weary you to describe every perennial that is worth growing, for they are numerous and can be had to suit any situation, and as I said before, need very little care, but will well repay you for any extra care that you do give them. No flower garden can be complete without some of the annuals. These flowers are most essential if one wants a continuous display during the whole summer season. We could not dispense with such old favorites as sweet peas, pansies, asters, cosmos, and nasturtiums. Almost all can be grown by sowing the seed where the plants are wanted to grow all summer. A few exceptions to this method of growing HOME GROUNDS AND GARDENS 215 some of the tender and small seeded varieties, as large flowering petunias, scarlet sage, pansies, and cosmos. The seeds of these should be started in boxes in the house, hotbeds, or cold frames, from which they are trans- planted to the open ground. Considerable time is gained in this way, often one or two months. Annuals ought to be grown with the perennials and the shrubs, or in a border by themselves, never in formal beds in the middle of the front yard. A partial list is here given of the principal annuals, useful for cut flowers and for decorative effects: Alyssum, white, one of the best for edging borders or formal beds; plant seed out- side in fall or early spring. Asters, sow seed inside, the late branching make the best plants and splendid for cut flowers. Dwarf ageratum, blue for edging. Snap dragon, an old-fashioned flower of many colors, sow inside. Celosia, or coxcomb, the plume varieties, are very ornamental. Cosmos, one of the very best, plant early varieties. Annual gaillardias should be grown more extensively for cutting. Pansies, to get quick results before the hot weather arrives, buy plants in bloom from the florist. To be successful raising large flowering petunias, seed must be started inside and transplanted later. Annual poppies must be sown very early in spring, or a better plan, sow in the autumn. The Shirley variety of this flower is very beautiful as a cut flower for decorating the home. Phlox drummondi and verbenas are best planted where a low prostrate habit is desired beside the walk. Sweet peas can be planted in a circle in the border, using brush or wire netting as a support, or planted in a formal row; seed must be planted very early in spring. These directions from the sweet pea annual for 1906 are clear and to the point, twelve words being sufficient: Trench deeply, manure liberally, plant thinly, stake quickly, water freely, dispod promptly. A few' of the bright colored zinnias are worth growing. Summer flowering bulbs and tubers are desirable both for flower and foliage. Dahlias are flowers I can not recommend for this climate, having had no success for three seasons. The gladiolus is one of the most strik- ing and effective flowers when grouped in small masses with shrubs for a background. If cut as the lower buds begin to open, the spike will last for over a week in the house. To have a succession of bloom make plant- ings from early April to the middle of June. Cannas make desirable plants where a sub-tropical effect is needed; do not plant in center of your front lawn. We must not forget the hardy spring flowering bulbs. These Dutch bulbs, as they are sometimes named, do much to enliven the spring land- scape. While tulips and hyacinths may be used for geometrical beds, the mixed border is a favorite place for most hardy bulbs. Th