Evening star., 1881-12-31

t
scenes, between the dances. one from the
Merchant of Vpairp by Miss ScIreiner. tie elO-
cutioHist. ahi Miss Annie III. CayiS beiHg capi-
tally performed. In the Gypseys Cave Won
drous ioftui.es were told. The proceeds were
over 800.
Fac:s sbeUf Fruit Culture.
MEETING OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Hog-
TICULTCRAL SOCIETY.
This society met Wednesday evening at Ger
man hall. Mr. John Saul presiding, with Mr.
Giliingham secretary. The question drawer
was opened. and the first question drawn was:
''WnEN SHOULD PEACH TREES BE PRuSED?"
This was answered by Mr.. Saunders, who
said that pruning did not affect trees after the
fail of the leaves. but should not be done late in
the spring. There was another question as to
pruning. and he claimed that it should be Drac-
tIceG for the purpose of increasing the size of
the fruit. He instanced a party who after
spehGln- >'eo per season on ten acre peach
orchard in having his trees thnned by hand
was repaid 10y the large size of his fruit
sir saul conceded with Mr.. Saunders.
PRUNING PRODUCES BIG FRUIT
Mr. Clark endorsed the remarks made and
related his experience of thinning by hand II
resulted in peaches too large to go in large
tumber
MI Saul said that if pruning was resorted to
TO keep the crop from being too full. the trees
peach orchard now lasts only three or fOur
years This comes from Overbearing Peaches
in his opinion, should not be transplanted in
the fall.
EFFECT OF THE WARM WINTER WEATHER on
FRUIT TREES.
The second question drawn was: what will
BE- the effect of this warm weather on the fruit.
especially when the buds are now swelling?"
MI Giiinsham said if they had zero weather
nj hon,
would be killed
Mr.. Saul said that fruits like animals need
rest There are but few buds now Should
there be any warm weather in February and
then a moderately cold spell come on the fruit
would te killed.
Nj Gillincham remarked that last winter the
cold weather about the first of the year killed
the fruit.
TREES KILLED BY SEVERE COLD.
Ar. Saul remarked that it was not because of
tie swelling OF the buds, but the wea; her was
4" severe that even the young shoots on the
trees were killed Some of his trees Cherries
anon@ them) were killed by the frost In Cali
forna and on the Mediterranean some of the
plants take their rest in the summer months
FrUi- Taylor remarked that in the animal
kin-a"In rest was needed. and that his Obsarva-
toh was that plants needed rest, and While
they were at rest life remained in them.
NiAn''ih-'P X.
Mr.. Saunders said that another point was i'm
IoTtaHt: the experience of members as TO the
taking of seed from oneclimate to another He
remarked that some years ago he had sent a
quart OF peas to Georgia and to Connecticut,
aAd retained a quart here. He received a quart
back from each state and found that that from
teorEia ripeDed one week earlier mere than that
from Connecticut. He had made similar ey-
pertinent with wheat. and met with a like result
IHcfe should be more experiments of this kind
made and advantage taken of the results
IACTe was not enough care taken in saving seed
and frequently when crops deteriOrate in conse-
t4rnce the soil is said to be wearing out. He
noted that II years ago the Agricultural de-
Iartment imported some oats from the northern
BART of Europe which weighed II pounds To- the
busnel. but in few years they deteriorated. He
suggested that it would be well for farmers to
Z are ImpOrtati0ns of seeds. He had had the
opinion that
PLANTS NEEDED REST
about once in n hours but recent experiments
viii. The electric light had shaken his belief 1t
Ldi been found that with the electric light there
Wa- about the same result as with the sun light
hr- saul remarked that before many years
'd-.iprnia and the south would become great
seed producing regions. He noticed that fruit
TOW IT had found that the pears from the south
Il Europe were the hardest
IToi lOr said that he had read in the pro-
c"tuiH-S OF the Royal Society that with very
earlj or a very late potato they would avoid the
ti2nt- A. To growth by electricity he said the
pants did EOt absorb carbOnic acid gas at night,
ana therefore were not then growing. With
Continued light the ABSORPTION would 90 on
he plants would, however need their annual
Test.
VARIOUS MATTERS
Nr- Clark said that two weeks ago he found i'm
his cellar a German ivy as white "a the wall
the irif havinp been eyciudpf, U, had raLao
some cuttings which were now green.
Dr. Gross and Mr.. Saul made remarks as to
peach growing. the latter stating that for stock
Tie SMOKE was the best.
NJ Nm- Smith produced two small pears the
second Growth this year. reInarking he had
ab0at 10 ON dwarf tree. He had had great
success with his peaches when his neighbOrs had
oul ieW or none and he attributed it to draining.
Mr Giliingilam remarked that the rich soil
may haye the most to do with it.
ihc Free bridge Question again.
rtr ~ TTfrE EyeN Sr.p