Page View
Wisconsin State Horticultural Society / Transactions of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Proceedings, essays and reports at the annual winter meetings, held at Madison, Feb. 1, 2 and 3, 1870 and Feb. 7, 8 and 9, 1871
(1871 [covers 1870/1871])
Morrow, G. E.
Production of new varieties, pp. 26-29
PDF (948.0 KB)
Page 26
26 WISCONSIN STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. who have been instructed by the horticultural societies in that state, to use their influence with the committee of ways and means to have the importation of trees and plants again placed on the free list, as prior to 1860. Resolved, That our Corresponding Secretary is hereby requested to forward to each member from Wisconsin of our national legislature at Washington, a copy of these resolutions immediately after the adjournment of this meeting. In support of these resolutions, Mr. SCOFIELD gave much-valuable information on the present tariff on foreign seeds, and urged the necessity of removing that tariff, that such seeds might be -readily obtained for supplying the prairie country, now destitute, with trees. That, instead of discouraging the propagation and growth of these trees, every effort ought rather to be used to encourage that growth, and the planting of trees that are to supply the demands of commerce. He was willing to concede the value of our native pines, as very rapid growers and valuable trees, when planted out and cared for as they should be; but he contended that the European larch was even more valuable, and made more growth in its ea-ly years, and was a more durable wood. It was perfectly hardy, and well adapted to the climate and soil of this region. Speaking from his own experience in growing this larch, he had trees, four years after setting, that were valuable for posts and stakes for grape vines, and in ten years they would make from two to four fence posts. He gave instances of their durability when set in the ground, showing it as durable as any other timber. The American is not as valuable, because it requires a low, wet soil, while the European grows on high, dry lands. The resolutions were adopted. PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES. Mr. G. E. MORROW read the following paper on this subject: In the year 1845 " Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America " was published. It contained descriptions of 1,005 varieties of fruits. In 1869 a third edition of the work was published, containing descriptions of 4,552 varieties of fruits of 25 kinds. In the first edition 109 varieties of apples were de- scribed; in the last 1,885; then 54 varieties of grapes were named; now 233; then 33 varieties of strawberries; now 257. These figures show a remarkable increase in the number of varieties, within a little less than 25 years. Add to them the multitude of unnamed varieties of local repute, and the uncounted num- ber of new seedlings to be found in most parts of the country, and it might seem there was no need for the production of new varieties. But, even in the most favored sections of our country, comparatively few of this great number of varieties succeed well, and here in the northwest it is especially needful that we have a greater number of varieties adapted to our peculiar conditions of climate and soil How many varieties of apples, pears, plums, grapes, strawberries, etc., can this so- ciety name as in all respects worthy of cultivation in this state? None know better than some who hear this, how much we need a larger number of hardy, productive
Based on date of publication, this material is presumed to be in the public domain.| For information on re-use, see http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright