THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 8f TItt Nebraska State HorteHturaJ SodetyJ •-!' j''--. ■'-I'.'-.-r--^ ..•.■■^"V" nm m Thirty-Seventh Annual Report OF THE NEBRASKA STATE Horticultural Society Containing all the Proceedings of the Summer Meeting Held at York, July 19 and 20, 1905, and the Annual Meeting Held at Lincoln, January 16, 17 and 18, 1906. LIBRARY NEW YORK BOTANICAL. GARDEN. By L. M. RUSSELL, Secretary Lincoln, Nebraska LINCOLN, NEB. PUBLISHED BY THB STATE 1906 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. To His Excellency. John H. Mickey, Governor of Nebraska: Sir: In compliance with legal requisition, the annual report of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society for the year 1906 is respectfully submitted. L. M. Russell, Secretary Nebraska State Horticultural Society. Lincoln, August 1, 1906. oo CONTENTS. Letter of transmittal. Officers. Standing committees. Membership list. Constitution. By-Laws. Proceedings Summer meeting Proceedings Annual meeting. Fruit districts. Secretary's report. Treasurer's report. Index. OFFICERS. President J. H. Hadkinson, Omaha First Vice-President H. S. Harrison, York Second Vice-President C. H. Green, Fremont Secretary L. M. Russell, Lincoln Treasurer Peter Youngers, Geneva DIRECTORS. For one year J. A. Yager, Fremont P'or two years A. J. Brown, Geneva For three years W. G. Swan, Tecumseh STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE SOCIETY, SYNONYMS. E. M. Pollard, Nehawka. A. J. Brown, Geneva, C. H. Barnard, Table Rock. METEOROLOGY. Prof. G. D. Sweezy, Lincoln. ENTOMOLOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY. Prof L. Bruner, Lincoln. VISITING COMMITTEE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. EXPERIMENT STATION. E. F. Stephens, Crete. GEOLOGY. Prof. E. H. Barbour, Lincoln. FORESTRY. Prof. E. T. Hartley, Lincoln. VEGETABLE CULTURE. Prof. R. A. Emerson, Lincoln. ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. J. H. Hadkinson, Omaha. LEGISLATION. ' Peter Youngers, Geneva, L. C. Chapin, Lincoln. C. H. Barnard, Table Rock, Membership List. H MEMBERSHIP LIST. HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS. Brackett, G. B Washington, D. C Brunei-, L Lincoln Campbell, G. W •' . Delaware, Ohio Crounse, Lorenzo Fort Calhoun Earle, P Ocean Springs, Mississippi Garfield, C. W Grand Rapids, Michigan Green, Wesley Des Moines, Iowa Hansen, Prof. N. E Brookings, South Dakota Van Deman, H. E Parksley, Virginia Van Houten, George Lenox. Iowa ACTIVE LIFE MEMBERS. Adams, W. R Omaha Albert, U. G Normal Aldrich, Benton Johnson Aldrich, Karl Johnson Alexander, G. W Julian Allen, Geo. L Spicer, Oregon Atkinson, J. E Pawnee City Barnard, C. H Table Rock Beltzer, L. A Osceola Bessey, Charles E Lincoln Blystone, W. J Lincoln Bowers, W. B Post Office Unknown Brown, A.J Geneva Brown, Frank P Florence Brown, J. L Kearney Bruning, W. H Cedar Bluffs Camp, Charles B Cheney Card, F. W Kingston, R. I Carpenter, G. J Grand Junction, Colo Chapin, H. A Limcoln Chapin, L. C Lincoln Chowins, Chas. E Lincoln 12 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. Christy, G. S Johnson Christy, S. W Brownville Colvin, W. E Post OflBce Unknown Coppoc, J. L Chambers Corbin, E. E Grand Island Crist, J. W Box 761, Lincoln Cross, T. B Lincoln Damrow, Chas. F Post Office Unknown Davey, R. H Omaha Davidson, J. R Aurora Davies, Wm Brownville Davis, W. H '. Fullerton De France, C. Q Lincoln Deweber, H.N: Pawnee City Dillon, J. W Greeley, Colo Dole, E. W Beatrice Dunkin, J. M Ravenna Dugan, John Papillion Dunlap, N. C Kearney Dunlap, J. P Dwight Emerson, R. A Lincoln Erfling, E. C 1150 Sherman Ave., Omaha Ernst, Wm Graf Field, B. E Fremont Field, R. B Fremont Floth, Paul Omaha Fox, B. C Lincoln Fredenburg, B Johnson Frey, C. H Lincoln Frey, H. H Lincoln * Furnas, R. W Brownville Gage, J. A Beatrice Gaiser, A Friend Galbraith, G. B Fairbury ♦Godfrey, A. S Lincoln Green, Charles H Fremont Grennell, E.N Fort Calhoun Gurney, C. W Yankton, S. D Hadkinson, J. H Omaha •Hale, C. A University Place Harris, W. R Forest Grove, Oregon Harris, W. T Blackfoot, Idaho •Deceased Membership List. 13 Harrison, C. S York Harrison, H. S York Harrison, W. A York Hartley, E. T l^incola Heath, H. E Omaha Helin, J. F 1612 Farnam St., Omaha Henderson, Lewis Omaha Hess, Jacob Omaha Hesser, W. J Pasadena, California Hogg, J. H Luce Hornung, Ernest Raymond Howe, H. R Auburn Hurlburt, CM Fairbury Jackson, T. C Purdum Jenkins, W. F Arcadia ♦Kent, H. J Box 961, Lincoln Keyser, Val Lincoln Langdan, J. N Seward Leonard, I. N Post Office Unknown Link, Harvey Millard. Loughry, James Geneva Lundeen, N. P York Marshall, A. C Weeping Water Marshall, G. A Arlington Marshall, C. C Arlington Marshall, H. W Arlington Marshall, C. G Arlington Martin. Arnold DuBois Masters, J. H Syracuse Masters, J. W Lincoln Martin, F. R 4622 Boulevard Ave., Omaha McComb, H. A Lincoln Mcintosh, H. F Alda Meek, John ' Unadilla Meek, James Unadilla Mergen, Phillip Omaha Morsch, C. H Greeley Center Mosher, D. C Colorado City, Colo Mosher, P. C Kearney Murphey, P. A Exeter Neff, J. G Davey Nemechek, Paul Humboldt •Deceased 14 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. Nownes, Charles Papillion Parker, C. B Brock Paulson, Paul Omaha Pearson, James Germantown Perin, L. W Lincoln Perry, T. H Elk Creek Peterson, Frank Post Office Unknown Peterson, John Omaha Pollard, E. M Nehawka Pollard, Isaac Nehawka Randell, J. C Hamburg, la Reed, M. H Blue Springs Reed, Mrs. J. H Blue Springs Riley, Alfced Greeley, Colo Roberts, B. A • Albion Russell, J. M Lincoln Russell, L. M Lincoln Russell, Don L Lincoln Hrrissell, Dale Lincoln Sandoz, Jules A Sandoz via Peters Saunders, Chas. L 211 So. ISth St., Omaha Schamp, L. D Lincoln Schumacher, A *. . York Slayton, Geo. A 192 Hillsdale St., Hillsdale, Mich Smith, H. C Falls City Smith, H. L Geneva Smith, O. F Blackfoot, Idaho Smith, E. E Lincoln Stephens, E. F ' Crete Stephens, Frank G Crete Stevenson, J. W North Bend Stilson, L. D York Stouffer, B. R. . Bellevue Strand, G. A Minden Swan, W. G .* Tecumseh Swezey, G. D Lincoln Tanahill, Wm Post Office Unknown Taylor, Frederick W 3940 West Bell Place, St. Louis, Mo Tiffany, M. D Lincoln Titus, G. N Nemaha City Tracy, Chas. A 15 23 Douglas St., Omaha Van Metre, CM Valentine Membership List. 15 Walker, J. W Crete Warren, G. F Harvard Watt, James Lincoln Welch, G. L Fremont Wheeler, D. H Omaha Whitford, C. A Arlington W^illiams, John Tecumseh Williams, L. O University Place Williams, Theodore Benson Wilson, W. H Post Office Unknown Woods, A. F Washington, D. C Yager, J. A Fremont Youngers, Peter Geneva HONORARY ANNUAL MEMBERS. Patten, C. G Charles City, Iowa Welch, E. S Shenandoah, Iowa ANNUAL MEMBERS. Anderson, A. N Shickley Denny, F. E Lincoln Howard, T. M Scotts Bluff Jury, E. G Tecumseh Mohler, Wm Palls City Williams, John Tecumseh 16 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE I. Name. This association shall be known as the Ne- braska State Horticultural Society. ARTICLE II. Object. This society shall have for its object the promotion of pomology, arborculture, 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 practi- cally 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 an- nually. The honorary members shall consist of such persons as may be elected at any meeting of the Society by a two-thirds vote of the members present, and shall have all the privileges and benefits of the Society, except those of voting and holding oflice, which privileges shall belong exclusively to active members. ARTICLE IV. Officers. The officers of this society shall be a president, first and second vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer, and board of directors of eight members, said board consisting of the of- ficers enumerated in this article ELnd three additional members. The officers, with the exception of secretary, shall be elected by ballot 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 dirctor shall be elected for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, and afterward every year one director to serve for three years. ARTICLE V. Duties of President. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of the society, appoint all commit- tees 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-Presidents. 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 direc- tors, shall perform all the futictions of that office in the order of their rank. Constitution. 17 ARTICLE VIi. Duties of Secretary. The secretary shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings of all meetings of the society and board of directors, draw all warrants on the treasurer, and keep an accurate record of same as countersigned by the president, prepare lor publication and edit all reports of the society requiring publication by the statutes of the state; in conjunction with the president prepare all programs and make all other necessary arrangements for all meet- ings of the society. ARTICLE VIII. Duties of Treasurer. The treasurer shall be the custodian of all moneys belonging to the society, and (Shall pay from such funds all warrants drawn on him by the secretary and counter- signed by the president. ARTICLE IX. Duties of the Board of Directors. The board of dii^ectors shall have general management of all the affairs of the society, for which no specific directors are otherwise provided in the constitu- tion 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 approved by the board of directors. ARTICLE XI. 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 determine. 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 mem- ber, 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 respec- tive offices during the annual term expiring at that time. ARTICLE XIII. Meetings. The society shall hold two or more meetings 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 ex- hibition of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture. 18 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. ARTICLE XIV. By-Laws. By-laws not in conflict with the pro- visions of this constitution may be enacted by the society at any regu- lar meeting. ARTICLE XV. Amendments. The constitution may be amended at January meetings of the society by a two-thirds vote of the mem- ,bers present, such amendments having been presented in writing and ;read before the society at a session preceding the one in which the vote ils taken. i BY-LAWS. 1. All the officers of this society shall be elected at .the January meeting. 2. All oflficers of this society shall assume the duties of their re- spective 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 officers elected at the January meeting, 1895, shall hold ■their respective offices until the first day of June, 1896. 4. The amount allowed the secretary for express, postage and ■stationery 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 proceedings of the meetings of the society, whose fee shall be paid l)y the society. 5. The first business of the society shall be on each morning the reading of the minutes of the previous day's proceedings, and submit ting the same to the approval of the meeting. 6. There shall be elected at each winter meeting nine district 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. 7. These by-laws may be amended at any general meeting of the society by a majority of the members present. PROCEEDINGS. Proceedings of the Summer meeting of the Nebraska State Horti- cultural Society, held at York, July 19 and 20, 1905. Proceedings. 21 SUMMER MEETING. PROCEEDINGS. The Summer meeting of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society convened at the Court House, York, on Wednesday, July 19, 1905, at 9:30 a m., with President Christy in the chair. Following is a copy ol' the program carried out: PROGRAM. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1905, 9:00 A. M. Invocation. Address of Welcome Mayor M. Sovereign Response President Christy •Greeting Geo. F. Corcoran, President York Commercial Club Work of the United States I'orest Service in Nebraska Chas. A. Scott, Halsey The Need of a Fruit Judging Course at the State Farm Val. Keyser, Lincoln 2:00 P. M. The Flower Garden C. H. Green, Fremont Present Outlook for Horticulture C. S. Harrison, York Small Fruits G. S. Christy, Johnson 8:00 P. M. Duet — "My Heart Greets the Morn." Horticultural Education Hon. E. Von Forell, Aurora "Legends" Cecilian Ladies' Quartette •Ornamental Decoration of Home Grounds J. H. Hadkinson, Omaha THURSDAY, JULY 20, 9:30 A. M. Apples G. A. Marshall, Arlington Ornamental Planting of School Grounds. .Prof. P A. Emerson, Lincoln Hardy Fruits for South-Central Nebraska A. J. Brown, Geneva 1:30 P. M. Drive about the City of York. Music at this meeting in charge of Prof. J. A. Parks, York. THE PRESIDENT: The Summer meeting of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society will now come to order. I want to announce that 22 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. we have a very fine gavel, presented to the society by the secretary, with Avhich to keep order. The invocation will be given by Reverend Ballard. INVOCATION. Almighty God, we are grateful to Thee tftiat we are permitted to gather here in health and strength. We are grateful to Thee far every blessing which has crowned our lives. We ask Thy blessing upon this body of men. Bless the work and cause which this society represents. May wisdom attend the sessions of this meeting. May we remember that Thou art the giver of every good and perfect gift. Oh God, bless our country. May we be kept from entanglements with other nations. May we be patriotic citizens. Help us t© faithfully do our work here, and receive us at last, we ask in the name of Jesus Cnnst, our Lord, Amen. ADDRESS OF ■A\"ELC0ME. By Mayor M. Sovereign. ]\fr. President, :Menibei'.s of the Society, Ladies and Gentlemen: It affords me much pleasure indeed to extend, on behalf of the City of York, a hearty welcome to you. The cause that you gentlemen represent is one of the most inter- esting vocations that man has ever engaged in. It is also one of the- oldest. This subject of landscape gardening was practiced by Nebu- chadnezzar three thousand years ago. And I don't suppose we have anything at the present time that will compare with what he did then in order to please his wife. We people of York are rather proud of what we have done along the line of landscape gardening. We have beautiful shade trees, large, well kept lawns, etc. We have a public park that contains over seventy *liffer«nt varieties and kinds of trees. We are glad to welcome you among us. We think that your meet- ing here will be a benefit not only to you yourselves, but also to the people of York, and we therefore welcome you most heartily. Your work has a tendency to elevate the human race, and anything that tends to elevate humanity is good. Men engaged in your vocation are not bad men, you know. They are men to be praised. Again I extend to you a hearty welcome, and I hope your stay in our city may be profita- ble. Thank you. (Applause.) RESPONSE. By President Christy. Hon. Mayor and Citizens of York: In behalf of the members of Proceedings. 23 the State Horticultural Society, I wisli to assure you we appreciate the welcome extended to our members. And I can guarantee that no act of any of our members will ever cause the people of York to regret our gathering here. The great majority of our horticulturists are engaged in the work for the added pleasures it brings to the home of Nebraska, and men engaged in a work of sacrifice for the love of the wife and children at home were never known to paint a city "red." The ruler of old made a magnifiicent garden by proxy and the money to carry on the worlv filched from his subjects. Our horticulturists put their intellect, their own bone and sinew, and their own money into the gardens and orchards to please their lady love, with a love purer and truer than that of any ancient noble, ruler or potentate, and — we thank the Lord — for more appreciative wives. We have admired and been interested in the amount of work done by the citizens of York to beautify the homes, and this work speaks volumes for the intelligence and morals of your people. While it is a great pleasure to the older people of York to view the beauties of the Park, I believe you will receive even greater benefits from an educa- tional feature for your children. To be able to call all the trees, vines, and shrubs by name is the ambition of every child that loves nature. To know and to admire the stately elm in all his natural glory is of far more value to the youthful mind than to learn the cold fact from books that the elm is a deciduous tree or that it is oxogenous. We admire the work you have begun and wish to encourage you to still greater efforts to beautify your city. Time, money, and labor will be required before you reach your ideal; donate liberally the last two necessities and you will surely be given the first in abundance. Again thanking you for your cordial welcome, we will pass on to the next part of our program. GREETING. By Geo. P. Corcoran, President York Commercial Club. Mr. President, Ladies aud Gentlemen: I think about the best thing I could do would be to say amen to what our mayor has said. I just want to say, that while we are busy, we are glad to have you here. You are welcome among us. I hope this will be a pleasant meet- ing for you. On behalf of the Commercial Club, I want to welcome you to our city. We have some comfortable rooms just across the street, and you are welcome there at any time. The people of York are glad to have you here. As our mayor has said, we have done some horticultural work here in York, and this is really not a very bad place. All the work 24 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. of horticulture done in Nebraska in the last quarter of a century has certainly done great good in developing the country. Now I don't want to spoil what the mayor has said, so I will stoo. Again I say, we are all glad to have you here. Everything we have is open to you. Come and come again. Thank you. (Applause). H. S. HARRISON: I move that the chairman send a telegram of congratulation to Mr. Pollard. Motion carried unanimously. THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Scott was to have given a paper this morning, but he is not here yet, and we will take up the next subject, on our program, by Mr. Keyser. THE NEED OF A FRUIT JUDGING COURSE IN OUR AGRICULT- URAL SCHOOLS. By Val Keyser, Lincoln. In the department of animal husbandry, the professors will tell you that the stock judging course is the most attractive work tuey give. The grain judging courses are equally interesting, especially the judg- ing of corn, which has given rise to the numerous lectures on seed coru selection and created a demand for the seed corn special train. Now because these departments are giving such work and are making a success of it is no reason why a fruit judging course should be introduced, nor would we expect to attach the importance to thi<5 work that is claimed for the judging of stock or corn. In fact, the lines of work are not entirely comparable. However, the idea of hav- ing the student handle the finished product, and the laboratory meth- ods, are essentially the same. It is by studying the finished product that we learn to observe its points of excellence, that we become able to appreciate its good points and criticise the bad ones. The judging of stock and corn enables the student to pick out the best, and stimulates a desire to reproduce the best. There is a standard of excellence among fruits as well as in corn, and by learning to score fruit, by comparing the superior with the inferior, the same desire t> leproduce the best is bound to come. If you want a boy to become interested in fruit, you must put the fruit before him. It takes an expert word painter to make a boy's mouth water by merely telling him about apples or peaches, but it does not take long to appreciate his interest in the subject if you plcTC before him a basket of big, red apples or a plate of juicy peaches. Now then, it happens to be the case that the majority of students In our agricultural schools know very little about fruit. It is true that Need of Fruit Judging Course. 25 some come from sections of the state where the amount of fruit which can be grown is very limited, but I dare say that tliere is not a farm in Nebraslva, which if properly cared for, would not support a fair crop of strawberries, grapes, and currants. Men who are interested in fruit are widening the fruit belt year by year, and good fruit is bciiig produced in sections of the state where we formerly supposed it impossible to grow such crops. Who is responsible for this advance? Is it the man who has never had a desire to grow good fruit, who knows nothing about the possibilities he can expect? By no manner of means. It is the man who is thoroughly acquainted with fruit, tlie man who is a competent judge, who knows g:>od fruit atd lias a desire to produce the best. It has occurred to the writer that the average teacher of horticult- ure attaches altogether too little importance to familiarizing the student with the best varieties of fruits. As was said before, the idea did not originate with the writer. It v-fas suggested by some of the older members of the society and at our last meeting the president made a few fitting remarks on the subject. During the course of his remarks he pointed out the value he had re- ceived from such training. He said that for years he was an exhibitor at the fairs and failed to take any premiums because he did not know what good fruit was, because he did not understand the judging. Now since he has become familiar with fruit, better acquainted with varieties and with methods of exhibiting, we all know he carries off his share of the prizes. In considering a question like this, it is a good plan to put our- selves in the position of the student for a while and see if we can trace out where our interest was first awakened in growing fruit. There is no question but that the work could be made the most attractive course in the whole agriculture curriculum. It has been the experience of the writer in giving what might be called an introduction to such work, our exercise on scoring fruits, that the boys are generally on hand. If the horticultural work should begin to drag, announce that the next exercise will be on the scoring and describing ol apples, and then count the absent marks in your class roll. We need not argue the question whether or not the students Wiiut such work. There are, however, difficulties in introducing such a course. The course Avonld Irave to be given in the winter and this would greatly lessen the nuoti- ber of fruits which would be available, thougi it would be p. visible to get apples, pears, plums, grapes, and the citrous fruits; also nearly all the nuts are obtainable at that time of year. With proper conveniences it is possible to grow strawberries so as to have them ready for use while the school is in session. Preserved 26 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. specimens and wax models can be used to some exten': to show methods of identifying the softer fruits. Since the principles for describing and scoring are essentially the same for all the fruits, it would be best to have the class spend most of their time with apples. The Score-Card. (Taken from Waugh's Systematic Pomology.) The score-card, for example, will consist essentially of the follow- ing points: Apples. Form 15 Size 10 Color 15 Uniformity 20 Quality 20 Freedom from imperfections 20 100 Grapes. Flavor 15 Form of bunch 20 Size of bunch 15 Size of berry 10 Color 10 Firmness 5 Bloom 5 Freedom from blemishes 20 100 The preparation for the course would not be so difficult when only one got at it. A good assortment of varieties of apples should be col- lected and properly stored; summer varieties would require cold stor- age. The average student ought to be able to identify fifty or sixty varieties in the time allotted to this work during the judging week He also ought to carry away a good general notion of how other fruits are described and scored, and the work would be very valuable to him in the choice of varieties for his home orchard. It seems to the writer that the boys of Nebraska deserve an op • portunity of this kind. The argument that we cannot grow fruit in Nebraska can no longc be used, at least it would not appeal to those who have visited Mr. Pol- lard's apple orchard at Nehawaka, Mr. Russell's peach orchard at Lin- Need of Fruit Judging Course. 27 coin, Mr. Christy's strawberry patch at Johnson In picking season, or have talked with Theodore Williams of Benson and found how to grow plums. A course of this kind means better instruction in pomology. It means, if it is introduced, that where now two or three students are al- lowed to take the work in the University courses, from 150 to 200 boys may have the benefit of such instruction in our agricultural school. A course of this kind would not only help the boys but it would also giva the department a better standing. Since the expense for materials would be considerable, and since the want of competent assistants, the matter of storage and lack of laboratory facilities are questions with a great many of our schools, the time may not be ripe to introduce the course. The matter of ex- pense would of course be greatly reduced by the co-operation of the fruit men in the state, as is the case in the stock judging; and corn judging courses. In conclusion it may be well to mention that we have three very good texts on pomology, Goff's Lessons In Fruit Growing, American Manual of Horticulture by Budd and Hansen, Part 2, and Systematic Pomology by Waugh. The things we need are, better laboratory facili- ties, better laboratory methods. The question is worth our careful con- sideration and no doubt our fruit growers who are making a specialty of fruits can lend helpful suggestions in planning such a course. DISCUSSION MR. MARSHALL: I cannot help but commend that paper. I think that is a very essential thing, as any one will agree if he has seen some of the fruit placed on exhibition at the state fair. We do not realize how little we know about apples, for instance, until we get a perfect specimen. If we had such a course as Mr. Keyser suggests, it would surely do a great deal of good. I think that the Horticultural Society and individual members should support such a plan and en- courage it all we can. I did not know what a good specimen of fruit was until I was beaten two or three times at the state fair. So I say the need of a fruit judging course is quite evident. H. S. HARRISON: We had the moral to that at the state fair last fall. Marshall and Yager came down there and took nearly all of the prizes. A few men from the western part of the state had fine, clean fruit, but they could not understand why Marshall and Yager took all the premiums. I hope that their failure last year will do them as much good as Marshall got from his experience. MR. YAGER: I think all we need to do is to make the demand 28 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. on the fruit growers of the state; encourage them to push this thing The hog men and cattle men, etc., have judging courses, and I don't think the horticulturists ought to take a back seat for any one. MR. HADKINSON: I say amen to all this. THE president: I would like to add a word. Last year at St. Louis, Nebraska exhibitors took more premiums, according to the num ber of exhibitors, than any other state. This fact was due, not only to the perfection of the fruit sent there, but also to the placing of it on the tables. This work was done by Mrs. Hadkinson. It usually takes two or three years of experience before one knows perfect fruit. This fruit judging course would certainly be a good thing. The Secretary will now read a paper from Mr. Stephens, on The Plum Curculio. THE CURCULIO. By E. F. Stephens, Crete. Our attention has recently been called to the work of the plum curculio in the apple orchards. While the writer has been familiar with the work of the plum curculio in the plum orchards and the occas- ional harm which they did the cherries and peaches, we have not until this season noticed any uarm from this particular insect in the apple orchards. My attention has also this day been called to the work of the apple curculio in the apple orchards. Doubtless we have all of us suffered more or less from the work of this insect for many years, but the insects were not in sufficient numbers to make their presence notice- able. Apparently the greater amount of harm done this season in the apple orchards is from the plum curculio. In the neighborhoods under dis- cussion, there was a failure of the plum crop in 1904 and again in 1905, This compelled the plum curculio to seek food in the apple orchards. Since the beetle of the plum curculio commences to deposit eggs in the apple while it is yet less than half an inch in diameter and the punc- ture is slight and might not be noticed, the dropping of a good many apples at this time might easily be attributed to other causes and not charged to the work of this particular insect. To lose 10 per cent of a full crop involves so slight a loss that it would not be noticed. To lose the same number of bushels out of a very light crop might mean the loss of one-third or even one-half of all the fruit in the orchard. In many orchards in Nebraska the latter condition confronts us today, anJ should be promptly met with such instant and persistant work as shall control the ravages of this insect and guard against or lessen future loss. The Curculio. 29 In the effort to ascertain what our scientific friends have had to say upon this subject, we notice bulletin No. 98, University of Illinois Agri- cultural Experiment Station, "The Curculio and the Apple," by Prof, Charles S. Crandell. Perhaps a few paragraphs from this work may b<» of general interest and may encourage the planter to at once start his disc in motion and during the next thirty days as far as possible destroy the larvae before they emerge as mature beetles "The life cycle of the plum curculio is as follows: At about the time in early spring when vegetation resumes activity and buds begin to push, curculios which have hibernated under rubbish on the ground, under the rough bark of trees and in other secure hiding places, emerge from concealment and seek the fruit plants upon which they feed and breed. About the time the trees bloom, mating begins, and as soon as the young fruit enlarges the deposition of eggs begins. Apples no larger than small peas often bear from one to three of the character- istic crescent marks made by this curculio. The deposition of eggs goes on most rapidly during the month of June, but continues through July and August, gradually growing less and less as the beetles die. The majority of the beetles of this generation do not live beyond the month of July, but a few may survive until September, or in rare in- stances until late fall. During the season both males and females feed upon the same fruits in which eggs are deposited, making small, usually cylindrical punctures. The eggs hatch in from four to six days and the young larvae start tortuous burrows through the fruit. The larvae when fully developed average .32 inch in length and .078 inch in thickness. Development of the larvae causes the fruit to fall wtihin a few days. In about twenty days the larvae mature, cease feeding, bore out of the fruit, and at once enter the ground where they complete their transformation and in about twenty-eight days emerge as perfect beetles. The newly emerged beetles usually remain quiet for a day or two, allowing the body wall, beak and jaws to harden; then they fly Into the trees and begin feeding upon the fruit. Beetles of this new generation do not (except possibly in rare cases) pair, and no eggs are laid during this first season. The fruit is freely punctured for feeding purposes and the amount of this work increases as the season advances. It is this feeding of the new generation that causes the greatest injury to the fruit crop. Feeding continues as long as fruit remains on the trees. Late in the fall the beetles leave the trees and hide away in secure places for the long winter period of hibernation." "No case has been found of the full development of a plum cur- culio larvae in fruit remaining upon the trees. It seems to be neces- sary to larvae development that the fruit fall. Sometimes the larvae complete development before the decay of the fruit begins; more fre- 30 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. quently development of larvae and decay go on together. Badly de- cayed apples have in most cases furnished the largest and most vigorous larvae, and we have come to regard the rotten pulp as the food most acceptable to the larvae of the plum curculio." "There' is considerable mortality among larvae while within the fruit. Extended observations through two seasons point to two possi- ble causes: First — Crushing by growth of fruit. The writer holds the opinion that some larvae die from this cause, and this opinion is based upon miscroscopical examination of larvae found dead in the burrows, and examination of the fruit tissue surrounding these larvae. Many larvae thus found have a flatttnied, crushed appearance. This, taken ih con- nection with the fact that newly formed cells closely encompased the 'larvae and completely closed the burrows behind them, is looked upon as fairly good evidence that death resulted from pressure from growing fruit cells. The eggs of the plum curculio are deposited in apples on the trees. If the apples fall at the time the eggs hatch, or soon after, growth of the fruit is arrested, and development of the larvae may proceed; but if the fruit fails to fall, growth of tissue continues and the formation of new cells may be so rapid and strong that the weak, newly hatched larvae cannot overcome it and hence are crushed. Second — The action of direct sunlight upon fruit. Considerable evidence has been gathered tending to show that sunlight on fallen apples is destructive to the contained larvae. No living larvae were found in fallen apples that had been exposed to the sun for a few tours, while apples taken from under the shade of trees gave a fair proportion of living larvae. DEPTHS TO WHICH LARVAE GO FOR PUPATION. The larvae, having remained in the apple an average of twenty (lays, enter the ground to a depth of from one-fourth inch to three and one-half inches, depending on the character of the soil and other con- ditions. Most of them enter the soil to a depth of from 1 ^/^ to 2% inches. This point is of value in determining the depth to which the disc must be run to disturb the larvae during pupation. The average length of time for pupation has been found to be 28 days. There is, therefore, 28 days' time during which they may be disturbed by the disc or other methods of cultivation. The most pupae are in the earth from the middle of June until perhaps the middle of August, although some may reniarn as late as November. The average number of eggs deposited by each female beetle is 231. "Newly emerged beetles usually remain quiet for a time. The Curculio. 31 apparently to allow complete hardening of the body wall and append- ages. Then they seek the food plants, and, so far as the evidence at hand indicates, spend the rest of the season in eating and sleeping." Upon the emergence of the fully matured beetles they fed freely upon the api)le, the plum, and some other fruits and it is during this period of their growth that the greatest harm to the apple is done. As the fall temperature lowers, the beetles become less and less active, finally all leave the trees and seek places of hibernation. The place most commonly chosen for hibernation is in or near the ground, under grass or such other rubbish as may be present. It also seems probable that many of the beetles hibernate in the woods, as iirchards in close proximity to wood lands suffer most in the rows nearest the woods. When orchards are kept free from weeds and grass, good shelter for hibernating insects is not afforded. They are naturally driven to seek shelter elsewhere and woods afford ample opportunity to secure shelter. APPLE CURCULIO. ■ The apple curculio has been known as Injurious for a much shorter period than has the plum curculio, and it has never been so serious a menace to the fruit crops, never has developed the interest or received the attention that has been accorded to the plum curculio. "The main facts in the life history of the apple curculio are well established, and were first clearly set forth by Riley in his Third Mis- souri Report in 1871. Oviposition begins in the spring, while the fruits are quite small. The larvae feed on the pulp, pupate in the cavity excavated, and emerge from the fruit as perfect beetles. This new generation of beetles, for the most part, hides away in secure places until late fall, then hibernates until time for ovipositing in the spring. The oviposition of eggs occurs from the early days of May until about the middle of July, the average number of eggs for each female, is 65, "Comparing the damage done by the two curculios under consider- ation it is quite plain that for northern and central Illinois, at least, much the greater injury is done by the plum curculio. This is due to numerical superiority, to longer period of work, and to the more de- structive character of the puncture made. The greatest damage done to apples by the plum curculio is done after all injurious work by the apple curculio has ceased." CULTIVATION AS A MEANS OF REPRESSION. "Superficial tillage of the surface soil can be recommended as an effective method of attacking curculio. This tillage should be carried on continuously or at frequent intervals for a period of from thirty to 32 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. forty days, during wliich the great bulk of the new crop of plum cur- culios is in the ground. The object of this tillage is to turn the pupae out, kill some in the process, and expose the rest to the elements and to birds and insects that prey upon them. Pupae of the plum curculio are extremely delicate, and they are incapable of moving about. In digging for pupae it was observed that admission of air to the burrow invariably caused immediate distress; the pupae would squirm and wriggle as if in pain. Actual trial proved that sunlight was quickly fatal and that exposure on the surface in the shade, on a warm day, would kill in a few hours. It was also demonstrated that birds, ants, and other insects devour exposed pupae greedily. In view of the re- sults obtained in this work with pupae, the definite statement is war- ranted that cultivation with disc 'or harrow will, in great measure, pre- vent the maturation of these insects and at less cost than by any other means. "Those who put in practice the suggested means of liolding the curculio in check need apprehend no serious trouble from these insects in ordinary years unless injury results through invasion from neighbor- ing orchards that are neglected and that serve as harbors and breeding places. "Years of excessive abundance of curculios will doubtless recur, but orchards that are pruned, cultivated, and sprayed are not likely to suffer serious injury. It is the neglected orchards, those affording ideal conditions for insect development, that will suffer most in these years of abundant insects. "Curculios, like many other insects, appear to run in cycles. Years of great abundance are, through natural causes, followed by years of comparative scarcity. "Persistent application of artificial means of repression will reduce injury to its lowest point in years of scarcity, make the recurrence of maximum injury less frequent, and greatly mitigate the injury in years when insects are most aboundant. "It should be remembered that curculios are not the only orchard pests, and that means of repression directed against these insects are equally effective in controlling other insects which are more or less injurious every year. "Spraying is an essential practice for the control of apple scab and other fungus diseases. Arsenical poisons applied with the Bordeaux mixture add little to the expense and are even more effective in checking the ravages of Codlin moth, canker worm and other leaf-eating insects than they are in destroying curculios. The practice of destroying fallen fruit commended as a means of attacking curculio, is equally effective The Curculio. 35 against Codling moth and at the same time aids in preventing the spread of some destructive fungi. "Cultivation is an effective means for destroying plum curculia pupae and for promoting conditions generally unfavorable to insects, but the benefits of cultivation do not end here. The physical condition of the soil is improved and plant food renedered available. Growth of both trees and fruit is stimulated and the increased vigor insures greater resistance to the ravages of insects and diseases. In view of the wide reaching effects of the means commended for the detsruction of curculio, the cost attending their application is not chargeable to curculio alone. To fight curculio is virtually to attack all orchard pests and to make right any conditions not favorable to the growth and pro- ductiveness of orchard trees. CONCLUSIONS. It seems possible to attack the curculio in three different ways: First — By spraying with arsenical poisons. This method aims at the destruction of the adult or beetle stage of the insect only. Second — By destruction of fallen fruit. This method of attack aims at the egg and larvae stages of the insect. All fallen fruit must be taken into account, not only the larger fruits that fall in late sum- mer, but more particularly the small apples that fall in June and early July. The early fallen fruit is usually ignored, but is really more im- portant from the standpoint of attack on curculio than the late fallen fruit, because oviposition and larval development is at its height early in the season. Third — Cultivation. This method of attack is directed against the insect in the ground and may affect the three stages, larvae, pupa, and beetle, but is more particularly intended to destroy pupa. The experiments given have demonstrated: First — That both larvae and pupae are very delicate and extremely sensitive to exposure to light and air. Second — That short exposure to direct sunlight is fatal to both larvae and pupae. Third — That ants and other predaceous insects, as well as birds, prey upon both larvae and pupae. In the light of these facts superficial tillage for a period of thirty «r more days from July 10th is commended as an effective means of attacking plum curculios. To advocate measures against curculios is, in effect, to urge the 34 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. maintainence of better orchard conditions. The state of orchard culture most favorable to the production of profitable crops is corre- spondingly unfavorable to the development of insects and the spread of fungus diseases. Best results can only be obtained through intensive culture and to aim at these best results is simply to apply to the management of orchards that same business sense that brings success in other com- mercial veentures." We are frequently asked why the cherry orchards in eastern Ne- braska are less fruitful this year than last. A partial answer to this fluery may be found in the following suggestions: Many orchards were weakened by overproduction last season. The trees have not yet fully recovered. I doubt if any orchardist would ever think of reducing the crop the trees must attempt to mature. While the development of the flesh of the cherry is not a very serious strain on the tree, to perfect the pit in so many thousands of cherries •on a single tree is a serious tax on its vitality. The average orchardist •does not realize how seriously his trees have suffered in this effort. Perhaps the ground has been tramped by the pickers. Perhaps the sea- son of cherry ripening has also been followed by some days or weeks of dry weather. Under such conditions the best of cultivation should be given. Many years ago the writer saw young orchards in western Iowa which had fruited abundantly. Many of the trees were sadly weakened and some died the following spring. They had not retained suflScient vitality to to enable them to put on new growth and store the necessary vigor to pass through the succeeding winter. Last winter the temperature ranged very low, and this further taxed the vitality of the trees already seriously depleted by the over abundant crop in 1904. SHOT HOLE FUNGUS. The cherry orchards of eastern Nebraska have seriously suffered during these recent wet seasons from the ravages of the shot hole fungus. This is peculiarly trying to what have been called the red juice cherries, such as English Morello and Wragg. Early Richmond and Large Montmorency have not entirely escaped. In many orchards the trees have been seriously weakened. The presence of this fungus is in- dicatd by leaves changing color and by premature dropping. Cherry trees which lose their foliage in July and August do not store up a suf- ficient amount of starch for themeslves and do not perfect leaf and fruit buds to such an extent as to enable the tree to start off with The Ciirculio. 35 vigor the following spring. Should this disease attack the orchard two or three years in succession the trees are so weakened that they bear very little fruit and many of them die. REMEDIES. On a recent trip through the middle states the writer noticed that cherry orchards which had been persistently sprayed with Bordeaux mixture were in the most vigorous possible condition, thrifty vigorous growth, healthy foliage, and an aundant crop of fruit. This indicates that it is entirely practicable by judicious spraying to keep this fungus disease in check and to keep our orchards in fruitful condition. At Vincennes, Indiana, H. M. Simpson & Sons are very extensively engaged in commercial orcharding. They make large use of Bordeaux mixture in spraying their orchards for the control of all fungus diseases attack- ing either cherry or apple trees. THEIR METHOD. Before the buds open in the spring they spray with sulphate of copper. Before the trees bloom they spray with Bordeaux mixture. When the cherries are about the size of small peas they again spray with Bordeaux. Between this time and the picking of the crop they do not spray for fear some of the poison migh* remain attached to the fruit. After the crop has been marketed they again spray with Bor- deaux mixture. The writer would like to suggest from his own experience in this work, that should the summer be wet or showery, it is wise to spray again three weeks later. In the growing of cherry trees in nursery row it has been found very advantageous to spray the trees two or three times a month to keep down shot hole fungus, to keep the foliage in perfect health, and to secure the most vigorous possible growth. Should cherry trees in nursery row shed their leaves in July or August they may not winter well and would be found to be weak the following spring. Frequent surface culture helps to secure such vigorous growth as will materially assist in the production o'f healthy foliage. Heavy ap- plication of fertilizers supply plant food in such abundance as to be of marked assistance in the growth of healthy foliage. HUMIDITY. Twenty years ago when the writer attended horticultural meetings 36 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. in states east of us and noted the troubles with which they contended, the feeling was natural that in our dry, breezy climate such trials as blight and. fungus diseases were not likely to come to us. At that time they were unknown in eastern Nebraska. Twenty-five or thirty years ago a heavy rainfall in June was quite likely to send the Blue river up over our lower pasture lands. The roll- ing prairies were covered largely with buffalo grass. A considerable portion of a heavy rainfall quickly found its way into the streams and ran away to the seas. While statistics show that for a long period of time Nebraska has had as much rainfall as we have now, yet the hu- midity created by that rainfall was much less than now. The Blue river has not been up over our pasture for very many years. Cultivated fields, ranker, stronger growing grasses catch the rainfall and retard its flow to the draws and ravines. A larger percentage of the annual rain- fall now soaks into the soil. It is stored in the subsoil, is ultimately given back to the atmosphere. We now have a much more humid cli- mate than twenty to thirty years ago. This humidity favors the dis- semination of spores of blight and fungus diseases. We must adapt our methods to these changed conditions. In passing to western central and western Nebraska we find that they have a drier summer climate than eastern Nebraska, more days of sunlight and much more rapid evaporation. Such weather is not con- ducive to the spread of fungus diseases, hence we find that in Lincoln county and on to the west line of the state even the red juice cherries may be grown with perfect safety. Cherry and plum orchards find most favorable conditions beyond a line 300 miles from the Missouri river. Cherry and plum trees commence bearing the next season after planting and when planted four or five years are yielding all the 'ruit they can carry. With the advent of large areas brought under Irriga- tion there will be a marked increase in humidity of the atmosphere, and diseases from which they are now exempt will ultimately reach them. For this'reason our far western planters should be warned in time and should be as careful as their eastern neighbors in keeping fungus diseases in check. DISCUSSION. A MEMBER: I consider the plum curculio one of the worst pests we have. Last year it commenced by destroying portions of the branches of cherry and apple trees. This season it has destroyed the entire crop with me, and all of my peaches. I presume it is worse with me because my orchard is bordering on the timber where there are lots The Curculio. 37 of wild plums. I think the plum curculio has been more destructive than we have any idea of. MR. DAVIDSON: Why would not geese in an orchard be a good remedy? MR. YAGER: We have a farmer in our community who is veery much interested in plum culture. He is not a scientific man, however, but he has discovered a way of getting rid of the plum curculio. It is by keeping a small flock of guineas. He says it is surprising how many curculio one guinea will eat in a season. He has fine plums to show for it, too. The guinea proposition on a small scale is all right. I think that spraying is ineffective; it does not seem to do the business. PROF. EMERSON: Spraying alone is not enough, but spraying two or three times, and then giving the orchard good cultivation and a thorough cleaning in the fall is good. There should be no decaying fruit or dead matter of any kind left in the orchard as a breeding place for diseases. MR. SWAN: Down in our country I have not seen a curculio this summer. They probably got disgusted with us down there. This guinea idea might be all right, but we cannot raise guineas in Johnson county. They don't have sense enough to live down there. MR. HENDERSON: I was talking with a friend of mine last night, and he said one of his neighbors had a good deal of trouble with rats. He got some guineas, and they scared the rats away. Maybe it was the same way with these bugs, — that they were scared away by the guineas. Cherry trees have never been affected by worms or bugs, but this year little worms about a quarter of an inch long have eaten nearly fifty percent of the leaves. THE PRESIDENT: If that worm is a leaf eater, you can get rid of it by spraying. That is the trouble with this curculio, it don't eat the leaves. It eats at the fruit first, and for that reason it is pretty liard to spray for the curculio. MR. YAGER: One word about this guinea idea. Swan now is making light of this, but it is really a good thing. The trouble with you is you want to tame your guineas. You should let them run, for they are naturally wild. Just get them and let them go it alone. MR. SWAN: You can get all the guineas you want in Nemaha county for $3 a dozen. An old hen had all kinds of guineas, but only raised one. MR. BROWN: I am a stranger here, but I would like to say a few words on this subject. I am originally a New Yorker, and with us there in New York State, you could raise apples just as well as shade 38 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. trees, and we never had any trouble, either. All kinds of fruit grew well. I went back there about twenty years ago, and found that no fruit could be grown except apples. Plums, peaches and everything else was gone. Some insect had done the business. We asked ourselves what was the cause of this. It seems to me that this is the same here, — there is a cause at the bottom of all this, and we must get down to that underlying cause before we can hope to accomplish anything. We want to get down to the bottom of this scientifically, and find out just how these things come to be. MR. DAVIDSON: Just one word. It occurs to me that this trouble is more noticeable and prevalent on account of the destruction of our forests and the scarcity of bird life. If we had fifty times the number of birds that we now have, there would be a great scarcity of insects at the present time. It seems to me that birds would do more toward keeping insects down than all the guineas we could raise. MR. KEYSER: I would like to make a few remarks on this bird question. I have listened to the talk of entomologists, etc., for several years about the protection of birds. It seems to me to be time spent uselessly. I believe birds are a good thing, however, but when you come to fighting insects, you can wait for the birds to do it. I think we should pay more attention to scientific investigation and more thorough experiments in spraying. It may be that I don't appreciate the full value of the bird side of this question, but I think we can ac- compliaSi more in some other way — in a way that is much more prac- tical. MR. MARSHALL: I don't think that which Mr. Keyser suggests is the whole solution of this question, but it is surely part of it. I think he is drawing the bird question a little too strong. I believe the birds do more good than we really think for. I believe the birds are increasing steadily. I did not use to think much of birds, but now I am a friend of almost any bird. MR. BROWN: While it is true that we are nearly always fighting insects of some kind, yet we surely get rid of a large amount of them during the summer by the bird method. I believe that if the birds- were encouraged more, and protected, that they would do a great deal toward solving this insect question. MR. YAGER: I used to get the old shotgun out and go after the birds at cherry picking time, but this year I did not do it. I really think the birds ought to be encouraged and protected. MR. SWAN: A couple of years ago we had a field of about half The Curculio. 39 an acre of cucumbers. One day I noticed some bugs on the cucumber vines. I had four liens with about thirty chickens apiece, and when these chickens were turned loose among those vines, they cleaned every bug off the whole patch. Meeting adjourned until 2:00 p.. m. 40 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. SECOND SESSION.-2:00 P. M. THE PRESIDENT: The first subject on our program for this afternoon is the Flower Garden, by Mr. Green. THE FLOWER GARDEN. By C. H. Green, Fremont. In presenting to the members and friends assembled here a plea for the flower garden I feel that it would be unneccesary for me to go into details regarding varieties, methods of propogating and caring for the different blooming and decorative plants adapted to the flower gardens of Nebraska. Neither will I take into consideration anything in the line of hardy ornamentals. Our worthy secretary first asked me to give you some- thing on the line of ornamental shrubs. I told him that in my opinion there was just one man in the state who knew all about them and the first letter of his name was C. S. Harrison, York, Nebraska. My line is growing tender plants under glass both for cut flowers and for planting in the flower garden, such as geraniums, verbenias, cannas, coleus, heliotrope, pansies, ageratium, dahlias, and many others of this class of which we produced and distributed during the present season many thousands of plants. Now perhaps some of you will be disappointed because I do not tell you to plant something different from what you have been used to, something new, something strange and odd, but twenty years experi- ence in this line of work has taught me that there are a great many beautiful sorts of plants recommended in catalogues, for planting in your yard, that will only bring disappointment to you. How much better to have something that will thrive under all circumstances even though we saw it in our grandmother's garden, than to have something with a long, unpronounceable name, praised to the skies by the intro- ducee, that will possibly produce flowers resembling those shown in the glorious lithograph only, about one-tenth the size you expected, and that will burn and curl up on the first day that the sun shines genially, that will look like a young man with his first cigar if we should have a cool wet spell, that will whip to rags the first time we The Flower Gardou. 41 have a nice comfortable breeze as we sometimes do here in God's country. Not that I am opposed to the introduction of new varities or the improvement of old ones. Far from it. There is room for great improvement along all lines and new and better sorts are coming out the old and inferior sorts being dropped continually. Every season we try a number of new sorts of different plants, each claimed to be the very finest that ever happened and sure to revolutionize things. Once in a while we get something that is good but most of them soon drop from sight and are never heard of again. Now let us suppose that spring is coming, that we begin to long for the green growing things and for the smell of the fresh turned soil. Say we have just an ordinary home and an ordinary knowledge of how to raise flowers. We had a couple of flower beds last summer but the pesky things did not amount to much. This season we are going to start early and we are going to have the nicest yard in this neighbor- hood or we will know the reason why. The first thing to be considered is annuals. These may be pro- cured as small plants from most any florist or can be grown at home. Everything considered, it is perhaps better to get the started plants, as they will be better and stronger than you can produce and the expense will be slight and you will be amply repaid in the satisfac- tion you get from them. I will mention a few of the best annuals which you can raise from seed by sowing in shallow boxes, transplanting into other boxes v/hea large enough to handle, and finally planting into your flower beds when danger of frost is past. Asters in their various types and colors, Ihan which there is nothing finer for cutting for a bouquet for the table. Marguerite carnations, that will bloom until everything else is killed down by frost in the fall. Centurea Gymnocarpa or Dusty Miller, -whose silvery, feathery foliage makes a beautiful border. Nasturtiums, which you all know. In Nasturtiums, always get t.be tall, growing sort, even though you don't want them to climb. For this reason: The dwarf sorts form a compact little bush which twists and winds with every breeze that blows and often breaks off after it is too late to replace it, while the tall growing sorts spread over the ground enough that they are not injured in this manner. Pansies, one of the most interesting classes of flowers grown. Always something new in color and markings every time you visit them. If you will sow these where you want them, in the fall, and 42 Nebraska Stait Horticultural Society. protect them with leaves or other light litter, tuoy will make good, strong bloomers early in the spring. Phlox Drummondii will give you a blaze of color all summer, as will Portulaca. Ricinus or castor beans, planted in a group, give an elegant tropical effect. Plant a few Sweet Peas if you have nothing else. Their beautiful colorings and delightful odor you will never tire of. Plant only what you can keep picked at least every other day, else they will stop bloom- ing. An ounce of seed making a row perhaps fifteen feet long will give you an abundance of bloom. "Verbenas you can grow from seed, but small plants from the florists will give you a better range of color. For an easy started, rapid growing vine, try the Cobea. The Hyacinth bean and Cypress vine are also very satisfactory. After we have settled the question of what we will have in the line of annuals comes the question of bulbs. Under this head comes also the tubers and corms, but for convenience we call them all bulbs. As these will be procured from the florist either in a dormant state or already started in pots, I will only mention them in a general way in connection with other plants procured from the same source and in the combinations in which they are generally used for best effect upon the lawn or in the border. Suppose we have a good sized bed in the front yard that we want to look particularly nice. Everybody that goes by sees that bed and we will just show them a flowerbed as is a flowerbed. We will plant Cannas in the center, tall growing ones in the middle and shorter ones next to them, then a row of Caladiums, then a row of brilliant red Coleus and a row of Golden Bedder Coleus on the edge. Talk about grandeur, why, we will have everybody hanging over the fence. Or a bed of deep red Geraniums, bordered with the Dusty Miller already mentioned, will be a constant delight. A bed of Salvia Splendens, bordered with a mottled Coleus is another rich combination. A bed of purple Heliotrope, bordered with dwarf Alyssum, is very dainty. A bed of double Petunias, in assorted colors, bordered with Pansy, is rich; in fact, there are innumerable combinations that sug- gest themselves to the flower lover with taste in color and arrange- ment. For a Dorder along a drive or walk, a row of Dahlias, of Gladioluses, assorted Cannas, of giant summer blooming Hyacinths or The Flower Garden. 4 3 Hyacinthus Candicans, will be found very satisfactory. In fact, there are so many, many of these easily procured, easily cared for things, that it would simply be out of the question for me to even name th-^m here. Now, I want to say to the men who have listened so patiently to me this afternoon, and also to those who read this effort in the printed report of the society: Don't think it is beneath you to get out and dig up the flower beds for your good wife, or to help her to care for them during the summer. If you are not fond of the beautiful in nature, if you do not take a pride in making your home surroundings as bright and pleasant as your circumstances will permit, there is something wrong in your makeup. If you have a flower garden this summer, have a nicer one next summer. Entirely aside from the satisfaction you will get out of it, it is a good investment. DISCUSSION. MR. KEYSER: Do you recommend the greenhouse plants, like pansies, etc., for fixing up the average country home, or would you plant the hardy stuff entirely? MR. GREEN: Greenhouse stock cannot be obtained for the aver age country home. It does give quicker and better results, though. It is good to have both the greenhouse and hardy plants. Most of the plants grown by the florists for bedding purposes will grow until they freeze up in the fall. The hardy, outdoor stock is of course all right, but the greenhouse plants will thrive longer in the season. ISAAC POLLARD: Have you a perpetual blooming rose that is good for average planting? MR. GREEN: Among the hardy perpetuals you will get a good crop of flowers early in the spring, and then later on they don't make the flowers. They are classes as perpetual blooming roses, but they don't give a steady crop of flowers in the fall. MR. HARRISON: If you have plenty of moisture for them, they will give the bloom. MR. GREEN: Yes, that would be all right. All conditions must be most favorable, though. THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Work, of the Fruit Grower Company, is with us, and we would be pleased to hear a few words from him. 44 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. MR. WORK: Mr. President, Members of the Society, Ladies and Gentlemen: When the chairman came to me a few minutes ago and asked me if I would say a few words this afternoon, I was immediately seized with stage fright. You all probably know Mr. Irvine, the Presi- dent of our company and editor of the paper. One of the things whicb £ envy him is ease and ability to get up and say things. As representatives of the Fruit Grower, you will undoubtedly understand that it is our mission to assist the nurserymen and horti- culturists. In the early days, news was carried overland by the usual slow methods, and things were not known very generally. As the newspapers came more in evidence, the news became more general. Consequently, as this development progressed, there came to be news- papers devoted to certain lines of business. The Fruit Grower is of course for the advancement and education of the people along the lines of horticulture. We feel that we are doing some good in that way. I want to say that I am very glad to have the opportunity of being present at this meeting and hearing these good papers. I have received some good ideas, and expect to hear more. I want to say also, that at any time any of you are in St. Joseph, our latch string hangs outside- for you all. We will be glad to show you around, and to help you i!t any way we can. I want to sincerely thank you again for this opportunity of being^ here and saying these few words. (Applause). THE PRESIDENT: The next subject on our program this after- noon is "Small Fruits," by G. S. Christy, Johnson. SMALL FRUITS. By G. S. Christy, Johnson. Of all the fruit for home use, nothing makes a surer crop and can be grown in a wider range of soil and climate than the berries. Fruit should form a part of the daily ration of every well regulated, family, as the vegetable acid is beneficial to the system. The only way to get the best fruit is to grow it, you are then able to pick it fresh and' ripe every* day, with no taint of refrigerator cars or musty boxes, and no stale berries. So much has been written for our reports on the cultivation of small fruit that I believe it best in this paper to enter more into a dis- cussion of varieties, beginning with the strawberry. With nearly 1,000 varieties to choose from and the most of them doing well in some favored locality, catalogues describing each in its- Small Fruit. 4& most favored seasons, forgetting to tell of its defects; it is no surprise that the novice so often makes a failure and soon gives up the attempt to grow berries, even for home use. The most important part of berry growing is to make a proper selection of varieities. Nebraska growers can not depend on men in Texas, Michigan or New York to make those selections for them. From Nevada, Mo., south, every commercial grower will advise growing the Aroma. I have had the Aroma in Nebraska five years and have had as many failures. Rough Rider comes to me from Michigan as the berry to grow if you would wear diamonds. My profits on it in six years would neither buy turquoise nor tortoise ornaments. New York, bought at a long price, has been a failure. The amount of printers' ink it required to tell of this wonderful berry made the high price of plants necessary. The crop of 1905 is the only one that has paid rent, and then many other varieties more than doubled their yield, but Dunlap and Gaudies were the only berries that produced nicer boxes of berries. Of the varieites that succeed well all over the state, Warfield is the earliest and one of the best; berry dark red to the core, and excel- lent quality. It is a free runner and if left alone will set plants too thick and the berries will be small. Bederwood is a light red berry with good foliage and a berry of fine quality. Among the 100 varieties that I have tested, Dunlaps have no equal. A large dark red berry of splendid quality. A prolific plant maker, good foliage, and a strong fruit stem that holds its berries well up from the ground, and excellent polenizer, mid-season, but ripena its entire crop and continues in bearing as late as some of the late varieites. Warfield, Dunlaps and Gaudies were our money makers this year, but as the Gandy is a shy bearer, some places I could not recom- mend it for the entire state, but it is worthy of a trial, as I believe it is one of our best late varieties. First berries June 5. Bisels produced more berries this year than the Gandy, but owing to their season, the Gaudies sold for the most money. Splendid, our "old reliable," failed this year for the first time in nine years. Their foliage was poor, the berries ripened soft and the calyx dead. I believe the trouble was caused by the late freeze and continued dry weather. Of the very early berries, August Luther and Excelsior have both done well. Uncle Jim is of exceptionally fine quality and quite prolific, but the fresh picked berries have a dead ap- pearance that spoils the looks of the box and will be aaginst them as a- 46 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. commercial berry, but they are fine for home use, where quality is one of the first considerations. Parsons Beauty, Parker Earl, Crescent, Loyd, and Yant all did well. Ridgeway, Sample and Brandywine of the late varieties did well, but were not up to the standard of the Gandy. Oom Paul, Lucas, Challenge and Rough Rider scarcely paid rent. Jessie, McKinley, Clyde, and Johnsons Early did better, but were not up to the standard we are striving for. Several new varieties are being pushed to the front at present. One of these, the Commonwealth, is superior to any of the late varie- ties in use, according to the introducer. I like its appearance very well, but have not yet fruited it. Some southern growers are planting the Klondike almost exclusively, and it gives promise of doing well here. One of the latest to be offered to the public is the Cardinal Straw- berry. More money has been spent to advertise it than any other new variety ever introduced, and the public pays the expense at the rate of 13.00 per dozen for plants. If it will take the place of our late varieties as well as Dunlaps supplants the mid-season varieties, we will not be- grudge the price. I would advise new beginners in the berry business to buy only well established varieties. Nine out of ten of the highest priced plants in all catalogues are of no value. RASPBERRIES. No fruit retains its natural flavor after canning better than the raspberry. Several years' experience with Kansas, Gregg, Nemaha. Parmer, etc., has given us a few very fine crops and several poor ones. It was really a question with me whether raspberries could be grown at 12.00 @ 2.50 per case or not. I have been testing new varieties and had by success in a small way gained confidence enough in Cumberlands and Cardinals to plant quite liberally of them in 1904. I planted four rows of Cumberland fifty rods long, five rows of Cardinals, and on recommendation of my friend, McGeehon, added three rows of Haymaker. The rows of rasp- berries were eight feet apart, and not expecting much of a crop the first year, I planted strawberries between the rows. The raspberries were tended almost entirely with a two-horse cultivator, as we only hoed them twice. Last winter the thermometer registered 34 degrees below zero and we became anxious as to the fate of our raspberries. Last spring one-half of the strawberries were removed from the field and from the Small Fi^uit. 4T balance we picked 200 cases, doing some damage to our raspberries. On June 19 we sold our first Cumberland berries (black caps) and the four rows yielded twenty-three cases. June 26 Cardinal red raspberries were on the market and from the five rows we picked sixty-four cases. July 1 Haymaker red raspberries began paying rent; the three rows have given us forty-two cases and are not all picked at this date (July 19). A total of 200 cases of strawberries and 129 cases of raspberries- from two acres and poor land at that. Two rows of Kansas raspberries 2 years old, of the same length were so seriously injured by the winter that they only yielded one case of berries to the row. Cumberlands were killed back some. Haymakers were damaged,, but not a single cane of the Cardinal was injured. BLACKBERRIES. Snyder still remains the standard in hardiness and yield of berries,^ Lawtons, "Wilson, Jr., and several other varieties produce a much nicer berry, but do not give regular crops. We are testing Mersereau^ Eldorado, Blowers and others in hopes of getting the desired berry. The Lucretia Dewberry has this year excelled all the blackberries in point of quality and quantity. Our finest berries were trellised about eighteen inches high. This gave a chance to cultivate them and they were easily picked. Our first ripe dewberries were picked June 23, and they are still "furnishing some berries. They have yielded six boxes to the rod, or about eighty cases per acre. I have known the dewberry several years, but never saw a better crop of them than this year. I could not recommend them for commercial purposes, but a few are fine for home use. But of all the berries we have ever grown, the Logaa berry attracts the most attention. "VVe planted a few last year and were pleased to find they had passed through the winter without injury. They are trailers like the dewberry and were also put on wires. The first berries ripened June 17 and they are still blooming and ripening berries. They are of the size of the dewberry and the color of the finest red raspberry. The most of the blackberries are green when they are red, but the Logan blackberry is red when it is ripe. The flavor is excellent and the berries will command a high price. In California the Logans are almost everbearing and only ripen a few berries at a time, making the picking expensive. As they are forced to lie dormant here for a season they give promise of ripening their fruit in a shorter season. Encouraged by our success, I ordered 48 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. another lot of plants from California last spring and now have enough fine plants growing to make a thorough test of their merits. We have also planted a few Burbank's Phenomenal raspberry, the growth of it is about the same as the Logan berry, but they are much more prolific in California, $1,400 worth of berries per acre being the claims of its promoters. I cannot recommend either of these for commercial planting, but the lover of fancy fruit should try a few of them even though it costs 25 cents per quart to grow them, as they cost us tkis year. DISCUSSION. MR. HARRISON: Have you experimented with the dewberry yet? MR. CHRISTY: Yes, some. MR. HARRISON: Do you have the Palmer raspberry? MR. CHRISTY: Yes, I have it, but it is a very small berry. MR. BELTZER: Is it larger than the Kansas? MR. CHRISTY: No. MR. BELTZER: I have the Cumberland, and like it all right. MR. BROWN: Have you the Logan berry? MR. CHRISTY: Yes, I have brought a few with me, but I don't think they are holding up very well. MR. DAVIDSON: I have had the Logan berry for three years, and I think it has come to be a little disppointment. MR. CHRISTY: It may do fairly well in the eastern part of the state, but not in the western. The berry for the western part of Ne- braska is the dewberry. This Logan berry is rather a shy bearer. It does not bear heavy enough to make any money out of it. MR. BELTZER: Did you ever make any money out of any kind of dewberry in this state? I don't think it amounts to anything at all. MR. CHRISTY: Yes, I did this year. C. S. HARRISON: The dewberry is decidedly a good thing for the western part of the state. It bears pretty regularly. The people want something out there, and the dewberry is all right for them. MR. DAVIDSON: I would like to ask Mr. Christy what he got for -dewberries. MR. CHRISTY: My dewberries sold for $2.50 per case, and black- berries for $1.75. QUESTION: Is the dewberry more palatable than the black- berry? Small Fruit. 49 MR. CHRISTY: That depends entirely on the palate; it is merely a. matter of taste. I would just about as soon eat gooseberries; MR. YAGER: Is not the Cumberland about the best black rasp- berry that you have? MR. CHRISTY: I believe the Palmer is a little sweeter. The Cumberland is a good deal better for size, and it has done well •with us. MR, YAGER: They are good up in the northern part of the state. MR. KEYSER: In picking berries do you pick them pretty green? MR. CHRISTY: That depends on how far they are to go. We make a difference when they are to go long distances. MR. BELTZER: I have a question I would like to ask. I would like to know whether it is a fact that the Burbank plum is absolutely worthy of being planted over the state generally. A. J. BROWN: We raise the trees all right. But if I were plant- ing Burbank plums down at Geneva, I would plant something else. MR. DUNLAP: I think the Persimmon is a good fruit for Ne- braska, and I think Nebraska horticulturists are neglecting it. MR. BELTZER: I was talking about the Burbank plum. I want to know something about it. MR. DAVIDSON: My Burbanks last year were about the best plums that I ever had. H. S. HARRISON: I am satisfied that the Burbank plum is as tardy as any peach in Nebraska. A good many of our peach trees have •died, but we have an orchard of Burbank plums planted the same time as our peach trees, and tue plum trees are in fine shape. We have dis- cussed this Burbank question quite frequently, and I have always ad- vocated the Burbank for this country and west of here. A. J. BROWN: I think perhaps if you observe the Burbank al- most anywhere in the western part of the state, you will find that they are doing much better than farther east. I would not plant them in our part of the country, because they drop the foliage. MR. DAVIDSON: I would like to know where we can buy per- simmon trees. I believe they are worthy of a trial here. THE PRESIDENT: When you get persimmons started, they I sprout worse than blackberries, and you cannot get rid of them. I like the fruit all right, but I don't want any of the trees on my place. \ MR. VON FORELL: Will the persimmon grow all right? 50 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. MR. DUNLAP: I have grown them in Butler county for twenty" years. The tree is a good grower and hardy, and makes good fruit. L consider it worthy of planting in this country. MR. VON FORELL: How do you start them first? MR. DUNLAP: Start them from the s'eed. MR. SWAN: I move that we adjourn till 8 o'clock. Motion carried. EVENING SESSION. JULY 19TH, 8:00 P. M. Some very enjoyable music was furnished at this session by the- Celician Ladies Quartette, assisted by Professor J. A. Parks. MR. BELTZER: I rise to a question of privilege, Mr. Chairman. I feel that I have done the dewberry an injustice. But since I have- seen and eaten them this evening, I do believe now that they will do- well. MR. HARRISON: I want to say that Mr. Beltzer is easy if you go- at him along the right line. Just feed him. THE PRESIDENT: We will now hear from Mr. von Forell, on Horticultural Eductipn. HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION. By E. von Forell, Aurora. There is a principle in Pedagogy which declares that Teaching, both in matter and method, must be adapted to the capability of the taught. If this principle is true, then have we indeed gone far out of our way to find the nearest way home. We do not mean to say that in matter and method we have been altogether wrong, nor that we in- tend to continue stubbornly, in the wrong methods of the past, but that we do not show the willingness, that the occasion requires, to make haste in this matter of correcting our mistakes. That the study of Horticulture should be taken up in every school: Horticultural Education. 51 •of the state, is a matter that should not, and does not require argu- ment. Of the hundreds of men whose opinion I have secured upon this matter, not one has denied its right in the Public School curriculum. All these, however, have given their assent on the ground that it is a good, •economic proposition for all to be informed on the subject. There is another side, however, more important than the first, and that is that it enables the teacher to follow natural lines along which the pupils' •desires may be the more readily stimulated. If the human soul were a machine that could be wound up like a, watch, then it would be unnecessary to excite the desires. Then, too. it would be unnecessary to follow any given line for the sake of greater efficiency, for the abstract and concrete would then appeal alike to the pupil and no stimulous could change the desires. Then would the •cramming process be the proper process, and the "Machine School," "With its "Intellectual Hopper" grind out its uniform, and unchangeable Srist, be the School and only School that need apply. Happily, however, man is not a machine. He is not an automaton. He has varying de- sires. His tendencies may take different directions as the years pasi l)y, therefore, the above maxim. Teaching, both in matter and method, must be adapted to the capability of the taught. No one will say that the capabilities of the pupil of seven are equal to that of the pupil of fourteen. If there is a difference in power, there must of necessity be some difference in the matter presented. If the student of fourteen wishes to find the unknown quantity, w^ould it not be reasonably supposed that mathematics and philosophy "would necessarily appeal to him as the proper topic to take up for special study? If the student of seven wishes to know why God paints the flowers and gives them such various colors, why the vines do not bear acorns and the trees pumpkins, should they not be permitted to follow the trend of their inherent desires and find somewhere an answer to their ■earnest inquiry? Is there any law in Pedagogy that would deny or for- l)id an answer to honest inquiry at seven and grant it at fourteen? No educator will deny but that knowledge can be taught only by •occasioning or stimulating the appropriate activities of the pupil's mind. What then are the appropriate activities of the 'Child mind? Are Ithey to be found in the domain of abstractions, or natural objects? iPhilosophy or the plant? The tree, the flower, the horse, the toad, the ant, the toad stool, the peony, or a proposition in geometry? 52 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. It must always be remembered that Mind acquires knowledge by exerted inner energy. It can not be filled like you fill an evelator by dumping in load after load. The teacher can, however, excite the de- sires and give direction to the mind thus stimulated. It is true that there need not be long intervals between the lower and the higher activities, between observation and reason. In truth, the different faculties of the mind seem to be present in the young, child, some less active than others, as though awaiting their time for the grooming which each is to receive in its time. As observation precedes reason, so it becomes necessary to give- attention to this faculty first. But what is it that now readily appeals to the child? The mind being self acute is seeking objects of interest,, which interest we will find centered in the use and action of things first of all. After this they seek other fields, in which substance, place, form' and color come in regular order, and receive each, due consideration. Having thus taken a hasty glance at the natural order in which: the child receives most readily its instruction we will try next to show why the subject of Horticulture should be taught early in the common schools of our country. 1. It appeals to the child. Observe small children five years ot age, or even younger, as I have been permitted to do, and thought it ma/ be a surprise to most of us, they show a skill in their ability to learn the names of plants and flowers, that is remarkable, and is only equaled by the interest they take in the subject. 2. It opens the door to a laboratory into which they may enter, that is so complete that no university with its most munificent legisla- tive appropriation can hope to purchase a better. A laboratory where they experiemnt is a divine revelation to the learner, — where the in terest is secured at the start, and held to the end, — where our eyes are- taught to see and our ears to hear the beautiful visions and sweet baromines in this great universe of ours. Can there be a nobler pur- pose in education than this? 3. It is the practice school in ethics. When the student leaves the common schools and enters college, he has for the first time, as a rule, an opportunity to study Moral Ethics. A text is placed in his hand and he is soon to have an intellectual grasi> of man's duty to man. But what of the heart's grasp of man's duty to man? Can that be taught by abstruse and learned lectures in the class room? It might as well be said that the stature of a boy should in crease by telling him to grow, as to say that he will get a clear grji''- of the ethical problem without the proper heart food whereby his sei- Horticultural Education. 53 sibilities may be nourished and quickened. Cowper has truly said, "I would not enroll upon my list of friends, though graced with polished manners and fine senses, yet lacking sensibility, the man who needlessly sets foot upon a worm." The finer sensibilities are not grown by com- mands and learned lectures, they are developed by the nourishment they receive. I am a strong believer in the potent influence of environ- ment. The large red corpuscles that give life and vigor to the body arc but the transporters of health and energy gathered from the atmos- phere in which we move. We can not expect to develop strong and rugged manhood in a malarious atmosphere, neither can the moral fiber be improved, by the deleterious environment of the back alley or the modern livery barn. Look at the condition we find in the coun- try home of today. The woeful ignorance of the simplest form of ani- mal or plant life. We have been so busy teaching our children the su- preme importance of learning to read in a dead language the remarka- ble fables of Caesar's Gaelic wars, that it has been thought a serious loss of time to consider the "lilies of the valley." The following question was asked in a teacher's examination, and a farmer's daughter was taking the test. What is an insect? She could not tell. Another question was; Name four domestic animals fered much as to the importance, but nearly all agreed that the cat must most useful to man. The six teachers answering these questions dif- be one of the four indispensible to the farmer's need, while the goat and dog were freely mentioned. Not one word was said, however, about the Belgian hare. Another question: Name four beef breeds of cattle. The Durock and Percheron here had their admirers. We do not give these facts in jest, it is too serious a matter. To think that we can live forever in surroundings in which we take no interest, though God has nothing more beatuiful in store for us than the things we teacli our children to ignore as we have done in the past. 4. It cultivates the esthetic — who can study the life history of a plant or a flower for a single day, and not his finer feelings coming ta the surface. If we live in the atmosphere of plants and shrubs, oui- spiritual condition will be measured by the emotions that our environ- paent stirs within us. \ We could say much more that should be said along this line, but te forbear, lest our contention be granted with the inevitable "that's all right, but — it won't stick to the ribs. We therefore turn to the piactical side of this qeustion and give the true American reason. \ 5. It pays. This is axiomatic, and needs no proof. No one will taie the statistics of the fruit grown in new sections where special at- 54 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. tention must be given to new conditions as they exist but will see that it pays to know. Who in this world has done more for humanity during this present generation than has Luther Burbank in his endless dis- coveries in fruit propogation, cross fertilization, and hybridization? But the good he has done consists not of what he has produced, but in the interest he has stimulated. The good of horticultural education "Will not be seen in the things we know, but in the inspirations we re- -ceive. I will not speak of the money value of horticultural pursuits, for that is so well understood that it would be folly to take the time of this meeting. I would rather speak of the richness this subject, weU :studied, will bring to the human soul. In preparing a course of study lor the schools, it should be our desire to so fit it to the inherent nature ■of the child, that when the course is completed, the scholar will be rich not only in the things he knows, but also in the things he feels. Whatever success has attended educational efforts in the past has been due to the direct or indirct study of human nature. We are wak- ing to the fact that the child is to be guided along natural lines, anl not to be thrust into the dark closet of senseless abstractions. An unhappy child learns with difficulty. Cramming with iudi- ■gestible mental food causes mental dyspepsia, pessimism and despair. When this condition is reached, what do we do? Give it a tonic, an appetizer and then cram some more. What should we do? Give the child a rest, a change of scenery. We must change our methods of dealing with our children or, completing the course we have so un- wisely begun, we will soon reap the awful harvest of melancholia, and suicide. This is not a prophesy of what may be, but what IS already, as has been seen but a short time ago in your fair city when a young life, crushed by the eternal grind of an inspirationless curriculum, was Tnade unable to bear the disappointment she was forced to face, and she sought relief in death. York is not the only city that has had this sad experience, for many have, during the past year, like this onf, sought the end of all earthly trials beyond the silent river. This is not the fault of the teacher, no, no. It is the fault of the system. "Shall •we then continue in this sin?" In the past quarter of a century we have made considerable ad- vancement in method, some in matter, but little in the order in wh.?h we present the subjects. We, a long time ago, built agricultui-al col leges wher the youth of the land was expectd to receive instrucion in all that was required to make the farmer and horticulturist, bTit where were the sons and daughters of our fertile prairies who vera Horticultural Education. 55 • to be thus molded. They were not in evidence. Why? They knew not the advantages of this kind of an education. No one seemed exceed- ingly anxious to awaken an interest in the young mind. We said by our actions that there was nothing in it, and the young men and women of the land believed us. But to attempt to teach agriculture and horticulture in college and neglect it in the common schools, i^ like neglecting to impart lessons of truth and honesty until the student enters college wher he may enter a class in Moral Ethics, In the first he is slow to enter and in the second he is slow to practice. Wherein then, have we erred as to the order? In that we have practically neglected to give instruction along natural lines. The little child has been, too early, placed in the field of abstractions and kept there. When later the longing for natural objects have been satisfied. by no longer desiring them, we place in his hand a text on how plants grow, and then try to revive a desire, long dead; killed by the system. for plant life. Then, too, we wonder, why the boy, to manhood grown, is not moved by the sweet song of the bird, tramples under foot the beautiful ilowers without a thought, and surreptuously kills the inno- cent quaily whose crop is at that very time filled with a thousand de- structive insects. The answer is, we have been following an order that places the hoi'se behind the cart. Let us begin now to change the order. The child by nature is a naturalist. He desires to know more about plants and animals. He also wishes the approval of- his seniors. If those to whom he looks for guidance, ignore his questions, he will sooa feel that the matter in which he is interested is of little importance, and he soon changes the trend of his interest. Here is the danger point. Once destroy these wholesome and in- nate desires, and -seldom can he be brought back to those simple tastes that once challenged his youthful attention. The sweet lullaby of nature will never again sing to rest the per- verted tastes of bookcrammed humanity. Let us be serious in viewing this matter as the occasion demands. (Applause). 56 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. FOURTH SESSION. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20TH, 9:30 A. M. THE PRESIDENT: We will now have Mr. Scott's paper, oa Ttre Work of the United States Forest Service in Nebraska, which was to have been given yesterday. WORK OF THE FOREST SERVICE IN NEBRASKA. By Chas. A. Scott. The work of the Federal Forest Service in Nebraska in previous years has been thoroughly discussed in former meetings of this Society and I will confine my remarks today entirely to the work of the past two years. As my work has been almost wholly in connection'' with the Federal reserves within the state I will first speak of what has been done there. These reserves as most of you know are situated in the sand hill region of the state, and they are practically treeless. Our purpose is to plant the area within their bounds, approximately 225,000 acres, to trees that will in time supply the local demand for timber. Up to the present time we have planted about one million, -trees on one thousand acres of land. On beginning this work many new problems confronted us. It was the first such undertaking the government had attempted. The question of what species to try arose, this was discussed and threshed over by men of authority on trees, and the list simmered down to two trees that were likely to succeed, the Jack Pine (Pinus divaracata) and the Western Yellow Pine (Pinus ponderosa). Up to the present time both are proving to be valuable. In addition to these two we ar3 giving the Red Fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia) a good trial and it is promising well. We are now almost convinced that the Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) will do well in the sand hills, and it will be given, a trial as soon as seed can be secured. Another question that arose was, how can we get satisfactory stock for planting? The advisability of using wild seedlings in prefer- ence to nursery grown stock was thoroughly discussed. It was decided that nursery grown stock would undoubtedly be more successful, h\x( the species wanted were not on the market in such quantities as w© Work of the Forest Service in Nebraska. 57 •would require, and we would have to grow our own stock. It would require three years time to prepare nurseries and grow seedlings. The Forestry officials and the public were anxious to see a beginning made, so we resorted to extreme measures. We shipped in wild seed- lings from the forests of the Black Hills of South Dakota and the sand barrens of Minnesota. The result was, we profited by success and fail- ure. The results have been freely given to the public at all times, and I am glad today to tell you more about the results of our work. In the beginning let me say that we cannot contribute any of our failures to weather conditions, for the summers of 1903, 1904 and 1905 have been very favorable. The winter of 1903-1904 was very dry and probably injured us some but not severely. One of the first things that we learned was that we could not ship in Western Yellow Pine seedlings from the forest and grow them suc- cessfully. The reason is obvious to those who are acquainted with the habit of growth and nature of the tree. It is impossible to dig the murdering their roots, and the roots are the vital parts of a piae tree. Another thing that we learned by experience in the spring of 1903 was that we could successfully grow Jack pine seedlings from the sandy barrens of Minnesota. Of the 70,000 trees of this species planted that season between 30 and 40 per cent grew. That is not a large percentage but it was enough to encourage us. We saw wher<3 we could improve the methods of handling the trees and we determined to double the per cent of living trees in another year. In our next attempt with the same kind of stock we succeeded in getting ff7 Vz per cent to grow. We made no changes in our methods of planting, but we sent two men to the woods to see that the trees were dug from the ground, not pulled, and to see that the men digging the trees car- ried pails partly filled with water and that the roots were put into into the buckets as soon as the .trees were dug, instead of being carried around under the arm until a good big bunch had been secured. Our men also saw that they were properly packed. The moral of this is protect the roots of a pine tree if you expect it to live after trans- planting. The success of the Jack Pine as a tree for the sand hills has not stopped with our own planting. We recommend it for general planting throughout the sand hill region of this state and to my knowledga over 60,000 Jack Pines were shipped into this state last spring by one dealer. A number of these came to Thedford. Two weeks ago I wrote to each of the men who bought trees and asked for the results of their planting. A summary of the replies gives the following 58 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. results: The average of all the reports received show that 76 per cent of the trees are growing. The best report gives 97 per cent of the trees growing, the poorest 35 per cent. The writer of this report states that the trees were planted on low ground near the river and that the trees drowned out. The trees were planted under various con- ditions according to the tastes of the planter. The greater number were planted in the grass sod, the ground not being prepared in any way, and the remainder were planted in plowed ground. Seventy- five per cent of those planted in the sod are growing, and 71 per cent of those planted in the plowed ground are living. The soil around Thedford is as light and sandy as can be found anywhere in the sand hill region. As a result of success of this year's planting there is a lot of enthusiastic tree planters around Thedford and the indications are a large number of trees will be planted in that vicinity next season. Pine trees do not make rapid growth the first and second year after they are set out in the hills, but after that their growth is quite surprising. On an area of five square rods that was staked off for a sample plot, planted to Jack Pine in 1903, there are thirty-four trees the average height of which is eleven inches, the average height growth of these trees for this year is 6.56 inches or 59 1/^ per cent of their entire height. This is but the beginning of their growth and it will not surprise me if they average one foot in height growth" ia another year. Our experience with nursery grown Western Yellow Pine up to the present time has been very encouraging, but we are not yet recommending it for general planting because of the indifferent success so many have met with in transplanting it. Last year we planted about 350,000 one year old trees of this species in furrows in the hills. Between 80 and 90 per cent lived through the planting and we were much elated over our work. The seedlings used in this planting were not over four inches in height, in the fall when the grass dried up and the sand began to fill up the furrows a great many of the little trees were buried, and those surviving are not making the growth they should, but it is very probable that they will make a good growth next year. This year we planted 275,000 Western Yellow Pine trees, part were planted in furrows and part in the grass sod without preparing the ground in any way. At the present time 85 per cent of thosa planted in the furrows and 89 per cent of those planted in the sod are growing. Some of the stock of this year's planting is two years old, but it is growing exceptionally well and if future planting does as well «Work of the Forest Service in Nebraska. 59 ■we will no doubt recommend it for general planting, as it is a tree of more economic value than the Jack Pine. This two year old stock that is doing so well with us is planted in furrows, but the one year old stock is more successful in the sod. Planting trees in the hills is a simple operation. We organize our force in squads of threes, one man carries the trees in a bucket and the other two do the planting with spades. When planting la furrows, the furrows are plowed six feet apart and the trees are set six feet apart in the bottom of the furrow. When planting in the sod a line of stakes is set for the leader to follow and each successive squad follows to the flank of the preceding squad. Planting in this manner costs from $1.75 to $3.00 per thousand trees, depending upon the character of the ground to be planted, the rougher and more uneven the ground the more it will cost to plant it. We find that the direction of the slope of the ground is a tre- mendous factor in the success of planting, 10 to 15 per cent more trees live on a north slope than on a south slope, and an east slope is prefer- able to a west slope. To sum up the results of our experience in tree planting we have reached the following conclusions: 1. For general planting throughout the sand hills of this state we recommend the Jack Pine. Two year old stock should be used, six to eight inches in height, wild seedlings grow very successfully and are much cheaper than nursery stock. 2. The best results are obtained from planting on northern ex- posures, followed by the northeast, east, and southeast exposure.5 South and west exposures give the poorest results. Side hills are more preferable for planting than depressions or pockets, or the crests of hills. 3. On ground where the sand is light and loose the trees should be planted in the grass sod with the least possible disturbance of the soil. In the valleys or on nearly level ground where the soil is firm and the grass sod thick and heavy single furrows should be plowed six feet apart and the trees planted in the bottom of the furrow. 4. Pine trees should be planted early in May in damp or foggy weather if possible. Never attempt to plant pine trees in dry, windy weather. 5. Every precaution must be taken to prevent undue exposure of the roots, to the sun and wind. In connection with tree planting, growing the seedlings has re- quired much of our time and attention. Time will not permit me to go into details in discussing this work. Suffice it to say that we now 60 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. have two and one-half acres of seed beds under slatted roof, which gives us a capacity of from three to four millions of seedlings. The slatted roof over the beds gives us part shade, which is necessary the first year. The Western Yellow Pine and the Red Fir are easily raisel from seed, they are strong, thrifty seedlings and require very little attention. The Jack Pine is a very tender little seedling and if one-ha'f of the plants that start out survive the first year they are extremely fortunate. The first and great calamity to befall them is an attack of "damping off." The best remedy that I have found to prevent serious loss from this source is a good dressing of gravel over the surface of the seed beds. Sow the seed on the surface of the bed and then with a shovel scatter a thin layer of gravel over the seed, it should never be over one-half inch in depth. The gravel permits the surface of the beds to drain quickly, prevents the soil from spattering up over the plants in times of rain, thus leaving the stems clean at all times and in the very best possible condition. In some experimental beds in which we sowed the same amount of seed on the same area of ground the differ- ence in number of plants produced at the close of the season was more than 5 to 1 in favor of the gravel cover. We are using gravel to some extent of our Jack Pine seed beds this season with the same result that the experiments gave last year. If the gravel could be easily gotten we would use it on all our beds. We sprayed our seedlings and seed beds with Bordeaux mixture this year to test its virtue as a fungicide to prevent damping off, but we find it a very inefficient preventive in such a rainy season as we have had. The seedlings under the gravel cover without any spray have withstood the attack far better than those in the ordinary beds under a liberal application of the spray. The seedlings grow in the seed beds through two seasons without transplanting. They are then a fine size, about six inches in height, for planting in the hills. The entire cost of growing the seedlings to this age is less than $1.00 per thousand. Another fungus which we have not yet definitely determined by name, has attacked our seedlings in the beginning of their second season's growth. It appears as a blight the tips of the leaves and works downward until it finally destroys the terminal bud or perhaps an inch or two of the stem. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture appears to hold it in check and we anticipate no serious trouble from this source in the future. In addition to growing trees for planting on the reserves within this state, we have in the past season shipped 90,000 to the Black Hills and Pike's Peak Forest Reserves for planting up denuded areas. It Is Work of the Forest Service in Nebraska. 61 •quite probable that the Dismal River Nursery will ultimately become m nursery for some of the other reserves. At this point, let me correct an erroneous idea that through a mis-statement seems to have gained wide credence. We do not grow trees for public distribution, nor do we sell them. We grow them solely for planting on the Government reserves. The Fore?t Service, however, does offer assistance to private individuals and concerns, and it Is our ambition to give every applicant the best service we can, entirely or nearly free of cost. The assistance that the Forest Service offers is entirely of a technical nature, it is not our purpose to spend time or money doing for the individual what he is capable of doing for himself. If a farmer or ranchman within this state, or any other state for that matter, contemplates setting out a plantation and applies to the Forest Service for assistance, his application is placed on file and as soon as we are satisfied that he really means business, an agent is sent to make an examination of the proposed site. If deemed advisable a planting plan is made for the specific tract. Thirty such plans have been made for farmers and ranchmen of this state. A planting plan •consists of a scheme for planting the tract under consideration, recom- mends the planting of such species of trees as we believe are best ■adapted and most suitable to fulfill the purpose of the plantation. It also includes information as to where the nursery stock may be secured, how to handle and plant the trees, and how to cultivate and care for them after they are planted. To lumbermen and owners of timbered tracts the Forest Service •offers similar assistance. Upon application working plans are prepared. A working plan takes up in detail the most advisable methods of ■handling a timbered tract so that it will yield the largest possible net returns and at the same time leave the ground in the highest pro- ■ductive condition. The science of Forestry has two definite objects in view, and these objects are prominently emphasized in every working plan. The first is economy in harvesting the present crop of timber, and the second is the protection of the future crop. The Forester always has the future in mind. Economical utilization and perpetuation of the forests, expresses in one sentence the purpose of the profession. All applications for assistance of any nature or for bulletins publistiel t)y the Forest Service and distributed free of cost, should be addressed to " 'THE FORESTER,' U. S. Forest Service, Washington, D. C." Before we can give advice or instruction for planting trees or "handling tracts of timber land we must be thoroughly acquainted with, the country and the conditions under which the work is to be done. To secure this necessary knowledge for our work in Nebraska a party of 62 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. Forest students were sent out by the Bureau of Forestry last summer under the leadership of Professor Frank G. Miller of the State Uni' versify to make a Forest Survey of the planted timber in the eastern part of the state. Their work extended west to the 9 9th Meridian, a north and south line passing through Kearney. The i-esults of their work brought out many Interesting points which are summed up by Professor Miller as follows: 1. The entire State of Neoraska has 286,000 acres of planted timber, according to the figures returned by the assessors for 1903 and 1904, 248,000 of which are in the territory east of the 99th Meridian.. This is slightly more than 1 per cent of the total area of the state. 2. The planted area east of the 99th Meridian as a whole is de- creasing, owing to the fact that many of the old plantations are being' cleared off and very little planting is being done to replace them. There- has been a notable decline in fdrest planting since 1894. Nurserymen generally agree, however, that there is a revival of interest in tree- planting at the present time. 3. The most promising trees for economic planting in the region covered are: For fuel: Cottonwood and Willow. On good bottom soils Cotton- wood will produce three cords per acre annually for the first twenty-five- or thirty years. Willow does not yield so heavily, perhaps, but its fuel value is somewhat nigher. For posts: Catalpa, Osage Orange, Honey Locust, and Green Ash^ also European Larch and Red Cedar. Catalpa should be given first place wherever it will grow, and I believe it will succeed on the riglit kind of soil through the territory covered. The western part may be su little dry and the northern a trifle cold. There is a successful planta- tion at Yankton, S. D., however. The Robinson plantatioii at Pawnee' City, thirteen acres of the best portion is worth nearly $15.00 per acre annually, and it is but 14 years old. This is on new land; eight acrej, 15 years old, on old land, is not so good. Mr. John Heins at Ulyssus, Neb., is selling $207.00 worth of posts per acre from his 19-year-old plantation. Another Catalpa plantation in Nemaha County, 25 yeais old, has paid even better than the Robinson plantation. All three of these groves are on upland. Osage Orange will yield excellent returns on good soil. Honey Locust and Green Ash are not so profitable, but both are excellent trees for the high, dry uplands of the western and southwest- ern ceunties. Work of the Forest Service in Nebraska. 63 European Larch has not been given a thorough trial in Nebraska, "but judging from its success in Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Illinois, I believe it to be a most promising tree f»r eastern Nebraska. Red Cedar is, of course, an excellent post tree, but it grows too :slow to command much attention from the average planter. There are many other trees that are valuable for posts, Cottonwood and Willow are being used quite extensively, and if methods ar3 developed for treating them that the farmer can use, both will likeTy be grown extensively for posts, since they grow so raipdly. Black Walnut is too valuable a timber to be used for posts, al- though we have some plantations that would pay well were the timber /Cut and used in this way. For timber: Cottonwood and Black Walnut. One point that has been made prominent by this investigation is "the value of wind breaks for the protection of field crops. We have many examples furnished by reliable and prominent men to show that wind breaks on the south and west sides of a field will increase the crop production. The following is the relative percentages of species planted in 'eastern Nebraska: Species. Per Cent. Cottonwood 48.40 'Green Ash 10.15 Boxelder 8.61 Silver Maple 4.93 IBlack Walnut 1.25 Catalpa 1.11 Honey Locust 0.15 White Willow 0.T5 Black Locust 0.08 White Elm 0.04 Mixed Groves 24. 3S The above notes are made up from the notes on planted timber through the territory covered. While riding along the road, the parties would make record of all groves passed, noting the species and estimat- ing the area. Several hundred groves were recorded in this way. While it is not claimed that the figures as given are accurate, yet it is believed "that they represent fairly well the relative percentage of the species . planted. The areas, it is true, were only estimated, but it is very proba- 'hie that any one man would be consistent in estimating, hence would 64 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. either estimate too low or too high quite constantly, and therefore the percentages would not be affected by error in estimates. It is assume i that on the whole the planted area on the roads traveled would be- representative ot the whole region." The investigations carried out by Professor Miller's party last summer were thorough and complete for the territory covered. The results of the work enables us to give to the people of this state infor- mation of the very highest value regarding the species to plant, the probable cost of planting, and the possible returns from such planting. The purpose of this investigation tour was to get as many facts as possible bearing upon the relative values of the species that have bpen planted in years past. In eastern Nebraska tree planting has passed the experimental stage, and we must now improve our plantations by the very same methods as we improve our orchards or berry patches, by planting the species that will yield the best returns; o o p o •-I a k: CD O CD m p. C o Cfi' <; •-J •^ O •-i