SCHAEFFER. Exhibited by Mr. Leh, of Allentown, who states that it was brought there sixty or seventy years ago, by a Mr. Schaeffer, whose name it bears. Tree, a good grower and regular bearer. Fruit large and of good quality, desirable for family use, and profitable for market. Can be used as early as July, and can be kept till January or February, and sometimes until March. Skin, yellowish white; flesh, white, tender; brast, sub-acid. Thought, by some, to be synonymous with White Doctor. Have Ed free from that muskiness which is so objectionable to some. monds alongside of Howell. It is an early bearer, very productive, and does not rot at core. Mr. SATTERTHWAIT. at the core. With me Edmonds comes with Bartlett, but rots D'Ete is an excellent early variety, but too small for market. Dr. FARLEY, New York. In my locality would recommend Bartlett, Seckel, D'Anjou. Howell is a good bearer, but the color is objectionable. Lawrence is good, but color also against it. I get most money out of the poorest pear we have. Beurre Clairgeau often brings twelve to fifteen dollars per half barrel. Bartlett does well, but blights badly. Winter Nellis is free from blight, and as a keeper differs but little from Lawrence. All things considered, would take Bartlett, Seckel, Winter Nellis, D'Anjou, Clairgeau, and Lawrence. Clapp's favorite is worthless with me. Mr. CHASE. Fruit-growers near Boston have found that Bartlett yields more money than Clapp's. Mr. LINT. I think well of Howell. It is not more tender than Bartlett, and has a bright glossy appearance. The question of making an exhibit of fruits at the next annual fair of Pennsylvania Agricultural Society was resumed. A suggestion that the question be left in the hands of the Executive Committee was subsequently made a motion, and carried. Mr. SATTERTHWAIT felt certain that we could get up an exhibit that would be a credit to the State. At the exhibition last year, he himself exhibited some four hundred varieties of pears, while no other exhibit had fifty varieties. Vineland had a very large exhibit of pears, but they were chiefly Duchess. Don't think any committee ever examined my fruit. Some specimens that were entitled to premiums did not receive any, and in other instances, premiums were awarded for things that were not there at all. Perhaps a committee, with authority from this Society, could get rights which individuals could not get. If this Society would go into this, and work together, I think we could make it a success. Mr. HOOPES. My name was at the head of the Committee on Fruits at last State fair, but did not serve. County exhibits throughout the State are generally held about the same time, and would prevent some of our members from exhibiting at Philadelphia. Mr. ENGLE. I am willing to refer this matter to the Executive Committee, and let them do as they think best. Mr. SATTERTHWAIT promised that if satisfactory arrangements were made, he alone would get up an exhibit that would be a credit to the Society. The following paper was then read: NON-PRODUCTION OF FRUIT TREES-WHAT ARE THE CAUSES? By H. M. ENGLE, Marietta, Pennsylvania. I am well aware that this question is easier asked than answered. There are, no doubt, various causes of unproductiveness; but I wish to call the attention of fruit-growers to a custom that may have such effect. I appre hend nothing else than to be pronounced heterodox on pomology; but as orthodoxy is sometimes forced to change base, I may be counted in as orthodox some day. It is also true that it is easier to controvert a theory than to prove or establish it. Has it ever occurred to nurserymen and 5 FRUIT GROWERS. fruit growers that the cutting of scions from nursery rows for root grafting for a succession of years tends to strengthen simply wood growth, and, at the same time, weaken the tendency to productiveness, or at least retards it? I refer more particularly to apples and pears, as peaches frequently form fruit buds in nursery rows one year old from bud, the departure, therefore, cannot be so great as in some other fruits. For the sake of counter argument, I will admit that the custom of cutting scions from nursery rows has been practiced for many years; but, at the same time, a large proportion of scions has also been taken from bearing trees, hence the difficulty of proving such a theory, if it were correct. To test this question thoroughly would require many years of experimenting. Experience has taught nurserymen that scions cut from young thrifty trees, whether in nursery or orchard, when grafted, will make more vigorous trees than when taken from old bearing trees. Fruit growers also know that generally the most vigorous growers are more tardy bearers than those of slow growth. We know very well that some varieties bear earlier than others; but it must be admitted that not unfrequently trees of the same variety, purchased from the same nursery, and planted in the same orchard, side by side, at the same time, do not make uniform growth nor bear uniform crops. That there should be uniformity in every respect could hardly be expected; but the results are oftimes as opposite as of two varieties. One will go into fruiting early, while another is tardy; or one will bear regular crops, while another will bear only alternate years. Now, there must be a cause or causes for all this. Is there any other theory more plausible to account for these differences? There are numerous instances, in both vegetable and animal kingdoms, which confirm the theory of variations in nature. Take, for instance, all the present varieties of maize, which, doubtless, descended from one parent, of which there are now possibly more than a hundred, and yet many so unlike each other as they well could be made, and still all retain the original character as far as it can be traced back. It is conceded that the comparison is not quite fair where changes are produced by seed selection; but take the potato, which can and has been materially changed by selection of tubers. For instance, by selecting such as ripen earliest for a term of years, we may have the same variety earlier than the original. The same effect will be produced in an inverse ratio by selecting seed from such as ripen latest. The potato may also be changed in other respects by selecting for seed the roundest or longest for a succession of years, or select seed from stocks that have tubers of most uniform size, or any other desirable character, and a fixed type may eventually be obtained of just what is desired. When we glance over the great variety of shrubs and flowers originated from sprouts, and established as new varieties, which have, by proper selection for a term of years, become fixed so as to retain their identity, we must conclude that from some cause nature is at times turned out of its regular course in producing its like; and when once turned out, the stock or plant may by designed selection for a series of years never again resume its former charac ter. This line of argument might be continued indefinitely in the vegetable kingdom. The laws which govern the animal kingdom are, in a great measure, analagous to those which govern the former. The changes and improvements that have been made with domestic animals is truly astonishing; for instance, with sheep, cattle, and hogs, to accomplish which required time, perseverance, and judicious selection. We, as pomologists, must admit that, although much has been accom plished in our line, breeders of domestic animals have made greater strides in theirs. In animals, as in vegetables and fruits, all the most desirable qualities have never yet been produced in one individual. The stockbreeders who have aimed to produce beef animals have established the Short-Horns. Those who aimed for richest milk and butter production have their ideal in the Jerseys and Guernseys; while those who had in view milk and cheese production have established the Holsteins and Ayreshires. At the same time, other fancy points in those breeds were sought and obtained, and fixed types established. For instance, in the Durhams, roan or red colors and small horns; in the Jerseys, fawn or black colors, black tongue, and black wisp. In the Ayreshires, the colors must be white and brown, or white and red; while the Holstein would be ruled out as bogus if not strictly white and black. Numerous other points have been bred into fixed types by selection, and, except an occasional sport, with almost as much certainty as a good mechanic will produce a desired piece of furniture. If we could place some of the early specimens of cattle from which those improved breeds have descended, side by side with the latter, the contrast would be marked, indeed; or, when we compare the ancient landshark or alligator hogs with the present Chester Whites, Berkshires, and Poland China pigs, the resemblance is not at all striking. The former were simply scavengers, just what nature intended them to be, while the latter are almost worthless for such purposes. Great progress has been made in producing new fruits and flowers by hybridization and cross fertilization, which is, however, not altogether germane to the question under consideration; but that the graft influences the root in nursery rows, every intelligent nurseryman knows, and that by grafting upon large trees the reverse is sometimes shown will hardly be denied. If, then, these are facts, may there not be other influences at work which we do not yet understand. May not this continual grafting from non-producing trees weaken the fertility of the trees thus grafted, that when they arrive at bearing age, the least unfavorable conditions will injure the fruit in its embryotic and early stages so as to prevent its perfection. If we understood all the laws which govern the animal and vegetable kingdoms, they would, no doubt, develop facts not dreamed of in our philosophy. Mr. RUTTER proposed the following resolution, which was adopted: "Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to make observations and experiments during the coming season, on the effects of strewing ashes or other material over plum trees in fruiting, to keep away curculio, and report results at next annual meeting." Mr. RUTTER locked upon this as a specific remedy, and if it will answer,. it is worth millions of dollars to the country. Mr. HOOPES had no objection to trying coal ashes, but had no success in his section with any but Chickasaw varieties. Mr. SPROUT took the advice of the New York plum growers, and applied the jarring process. First time caught about fifty, next time thirty, and after four or five applications caught only a few. Mr. HOOPES. Tried sheet twenty years ago, to no purpose. The following committee was named to make experiments with coal ashes. as agreed upon by Mr. Rutter's resolution: Messrs. Rutter, Lint, H. M. Engle, Casper Hiller, and W. P. Brinton. After brief remarks by Mr. Hoopes and others, upon the great success of the sessions just closing, the Society adjourned. YELLOWS IN THE PEACH. The question of "yellows" in the peach having been discussed at some length at our meeting, and the best methods of eradicating it still being mooted questions, we publish herewith the law enacted by the State of Michigan to prevent the further spread of the same, with some remarks by members of their society: A BILL To prevent the spread of the yellows, a contagious disease among peach, nectarine, and other trees, and to extirpate the same. SECTION 1. The people of the State of Michigan enact, That it shall be unlawful for any person to keep any peach, nectarine, or other trees infected with the contagious disease known as the yellows; or to offer for sale or shipment, or to sell or ship to others, any of the fruit thereof; and no damages shall be awarded in any court of this State for the destruction of such diseased trees or fruit, as hereinafter provided; and it shall be the duty of every citizen, as soon as he becomes aware of the existence of such disease in any tree or fruit owned by him, to forthwith destroy or cause the same to be destroyed. SEC. 2. In any township in this State in which such contagious disease exists, or in which there is good reason to believe it exists, or danger may be apprehended of its introduction and spread, it shall be lawful for any five or more resident freeholders of the same place or any adjoining townships to set forth such fact, belief, or apprehension in a petition addressed to the board of such township, requesting them to appoint three commissioners, as hereinafter provided, to prevent the spread or introduction of said disease, and to eradicate the same, which petition shall be filed with, and become a part of the records of the township to which such application is made. SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of the township clerk, on receipt of the petition specified in section two of this act, to call a meeting of the township board within ten days thereafter, and upon the assembling of said board to lay such petition before them; whereupon it shall be the duty of said board, upon the hearing of said petition, to appoint three competent resident freeholders of such township as commissioners, who shall hold their office during the pleasure of said board; and such order of appointment and of revocation, when revoked, shall be entered at large upon the records of the township. SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of said commissioners, within ten days of appointment as aforesaid, to file their acceptance of the same with the clerk of said township, and said clerk shall be ex officio clerk of said board of commissioners, and he shall keep a correct record of the proceedings in a book to be provided for the purpose, and shall file and preserve all papers pertaining to the duties of said commissioners or either of them, which shall be a part of the records of said township. SEC. 5. Any one or more residents of the same or adjoining township may make complaint in writing and on oath, addressed to said commissioners, delivering the same to either of them, setting forth that said disease exists, or that he has good reason to believe it exists upon lands with |