average, from 4 to 5 cords to the acre; a cord of manure will weigh about two and one-half tons, using a conservative amount, say 4 cords of two and one-half tons each, make ten tons of barn-yard manure to the acre. When we compare this to the average use of 200 to 400 lbs to the acre we can readly see our mistake in expecting good results from such a meager application, compared to barnyard manure.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FLORICULTURE.

BY EDWIN LONSDALE, Chairman

Your committee beg leave to report that floriculture in all its branches is in a very flourishing condition. The demand by the public is still on the increase for both flowers and plants, especially does this apply to the increased demand for the higher grades in each class.

This condition of things may be more apparent than real, because the higher the grade of either plants or flowers the more difficult are they to be obtained, and that is the reason the most wealthy among our citizens are so eager to buy that which is difficult to secure, which, as a natural consequence, commands a higher price.

The higher prices are obtained both for cut flowers and plants at Christmas time, when they are so largely used as gifts. The most popular among the former are roses, and among these comes first, American Beauty, a large, cherry red colored flower, with the general appearance in every respect, namely, size, form, color and fragrance to the June Roses. Then comes the Tea Roses, as Bridesmaid, pink, and the Bride, pure white, and now Golden Gate has forged to the front, being a creamy white colored flower, delicately tinted at the edges of the petals with pink. The latter variety is becoming more popular every year for general purposes, though at Christmas time the darker and brighter colors in all the classes of flowers are the most popular. Liberty and Meteor, in crimson, are in great demand. At Easter, white flowers, especially the trumpet shaped lillies, are the most sought after.

Carnations come next, and since the quality of the flowers has been improved, they also are becoming more in demand every year. Quality in the case under consideration means larger flowers where

in the petals of each individual is arranged with more uniformity and yet not lacking in grace, and mounted upon stout and erect stems. There are more changes in the names of the reigning favorites among Carnations than there are among Roses. The reason for this is, improved varieties in Carnations by way of seedlings are more readily raised than is the case in Roses under existing conditions. The best scarlet last year, namely, "G. H. Crane," is displaced this year by "Adonis," and so it is likely to be all along the line.

Violets come next in popularity. Prices for these are lower than they were a few years ago. The reason for this is, in localities suited to their best development they are raised in immense quantities, increasing year after year, and as the structures in which they are grown need not be so expensive as is the case for Roses and Carnations, and much less heat being required, and when what few essential details to their requirements are attended to, the greater part of the labor in attending to them is the gathering of the flowers, and the cheapest kind of labor being employed, children generally, there is some danger of this branch of floriculture being overdone. Quality in Violets is as much sought after almost as it is in Roses or Carnations, though the additional price over and above the ruling market prices is not so great. A dollar per hundredis frequently paid for the selected, larger and best flowers. The fragrance is always the same in freshly picked Violets, that is to say, if they have not been allowed to remain too long upon the plants. In some cases during the holidays just past the flowers had been allowed to remain too long upon the plants in order to be prepared for the expected increased demand, consequently the flowers had lost much of their freshness, both in color and fragrance, and dissatisfaction was naturally the result. There is little or no great change among double varieties of Violets during the past few years. Imperial, a dark and rich violet color, I believe to be the latest. Marie Louise, a very old one, is still largely grown, and is also one of the most popular. Neopolitan is not so much grown as formally being considered too light in color. Lady Hume Campbell is a much better flower and larger in size, and the fragrance being about the same it is naturally the most popular. The double white did not take the popular fancy after the first few years of its introduction to general cultivation. In single Violets there have been more new varieties introduced, though in Philadelphia where they were considered the most popular for several years, double ones are becoming more the vogue. California is a large, deep purple with long stems; so also is Princess of Wales. Admiral Avellan has a reddish shade of purple, but this is not so popular a shade of color among Violets as are the different shades of violet purple.

In greenhouse construction for the cultivation of Roses for cut flowers a decided innovation has been put into operation by a firm near Bristol, in Bucks county, Pa., during the past summer, and so well pleased are the projectors of the new departure that plans are already prepared and the material ordered for another one of even larger dimensions. The greenhouse referred to is located at Edgely, Pa., and is 307 feet long and 54 fet wide; and instead of the old plan of building tables or "stages" or going to the expense of building walls for raised beds either of concrete or bricks, the Roses are planted on the level ground just as it was when a part of the farm. Walks or alleyways are left at frequent intervals for the convenience of watering, cutting the flowers and attending to other necessary details in rose cultivation. Much of the work necessary to the preparation of the soil before planting was done with horses and a cultivator. This reduces the roughest and hardest work quite considerably, and consequently reduces the cost of production. The new house in contemplation will be 60 feet wide, or about 6 feet wider than the one built the past summer. Every practical florist who sees the new departure in greenhouse construction admits the reduction in cost of such a building and also in the general equipment thereof and economy of management, both in heating and labor, and the only doubt in the minds of them all is its power to resist the force of a high wind in a tempest or in a blizzard.

There is a continuous and healthy growth in the demand for plants for the home, especially among the Palms and the so-called Boston Fern, which is believed to be a form of Nephrolepis exaltata, and known to designate it from the original as "Bostoniensis." Among the popular flowering plants are Azaleas, Begonias, especially the new French variety, Gloria de Lorraine, Cyclamens, the improved Persicum varieties, Chinese Primroses, Primula Obconica and Primula Forbesi, and others in smaller quantities. And another good, healthy sign is the fact that some of our leading daily newspapers are giving cultural notes in their columns at frequent intervals for the benefit of those who have plants in the home.

In conclusion, speaking generally, the demand for the better class of flowers and plants in the winter season is on the increase and for those the prices rule higher; but the lower grades and cullings in flowers and plants are much cheaper, many of them finding their way on the streets in the larger cities and are sold to the passerby at very low figures.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY.

BY DR. J. T. ROTHROCK, Chairman.

Your Committee on Forestry would respectfully report that the year elapsing since our last meeting in this place has been one of substantial progress. Not only are the real importance and magnitude of the forestry problem to the farmer and all the other citizens of the State being more fully realized, but there is a growing activity of public sentiment in its favor.

The creation of a Department of Forestry in the State Government, involving but a nominal additional expense to the Commonwealth, was not because of any friction with the Department of Agriculture, for the relations with the chief of that Department and all the Divisions of it had always been and still are of the most cordial character; but simply because it was thought the interest involved were so large as to necessitate it, for the sake of both Agriculture and Forestry, the heads of each Department having enough to fully occupy their attention.

There are certain movements which are wide-spread and this without any special concert of action on the part of those who are interested in them. Forestry appears to be an example of this. In all of the leading States of the Union, the demand for action leading to the preservation and restoration of our woodland areas is becoming more frequent and imperative. Several of the more important States are already associated with our Commonwealth in active measures toward that end. The President of the United States, in his recent message, but voiced the public sentiment when he urged in the strongest way upon our National Congress the necessity for more radical measures in favor of the protection of the forests of the National domain and the popular approval of his utterances showed that they were in the current of public thought.

It is more than likely that this session of Congress will lead to the creation of a great National park, located among the Appalachian mountains of the Southern States, to bear the name of our revered late President, William McKinley. Several of the Southern States have already authorized the alienation of land within their borders for that purpose.

We are a nation of workers, and burn up each year more of our tissue and employ more nerve and brain power, per capita, probably

than any other people in the civilized world. This produces its effects. The sober old world calls dyspepsia the American disease. The teeming population of our almshouses and hospitals and insane asylums all tell of over-worked men and women.

The men of wealth are coming more and more to associate themselves into clubs, to acquire and hold land for their own exclusive outing purposes, and over all such land is placed the warning notice -"No trespassing." The artisan, the laborer, those who create the wealth, feel that they too are interested in and have a divine right to enough air, earth and water to preserve their health and working capacity. Hence the popular approval of the reservation idea.

We are very apt to take one-sided views of the relation of the forest to the general good. The lumberman would say the forestry movement is to provide material to keep his saws in motion. The woodsman who cuts and himself handles the logs would say it is to provide occupation for him, and food for his family. The farmer considers the movement mainly from the effects of extensive bodies of woodland upon the conservation of rain-fall, equalization of temperature, protection of the soil upon which his crops grow and all of these upon the production of lucrative crops. The invalid views the acquisition of forest reservations as regions of health into which he may go in search of renewal of life, and the sportsman views the same reservation as a legitimate provision which the State has made for his pleasure, health and training in the manly exercises which would fit him the better for defending the country in an hour of National peril.

Now the fact is all of these views are correct so far as they go, but any one of them represents only a portion of the problem. All of them conjoined show more nearly how closely forestry is associated with the leading elements of our modern civilized National life.

During the past year the State has acquired more than two hundred thousand acres of land. We cannot yet give the exact figures, because some of this land is still in process of examination as to title. Of this land, but an exceedingly small portion has any agricultural value.

It is not the policy of the Forestry Commission to purchase farm land; because if purchased it should be utilized in the production of the best possible crop. That crop might be the cereal grains, or it might be most productive as a grazing ground. A moments reflection will show you that if the State entered upon such work it would soon become the competitor of the farmer. This of course would be unjust, and would be a hardship to the farmer which he would not and should not allow. The present Forestry Commission