218 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUBAL 



solve. Meanwhile, let us consider that the best varieties we now 

 have, and propagate to secure the greatest hardiness attainable, 

 must constitute the coming apple-tree for many years to come. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Minkler — This apple question is a large one, and one that 

 interests us all. My advice is to go slow on Russian apples. Beware, 

 gentlemen; it is not cold alone that kills our apple trees. We have 

 plenty of hardy varieties suitable for top-working, that are tested 

 and not experiments. There are no better varieties than the Whit- 

 ney No. 20, and the Duchesse. The most abused thing on the farm 

 is the apple orchard. First they have got to be " horn pruned," then 

 two crops of hay are taken off the land, then pastured. The result 

 is the orchard is starved to death, yet a full crop of apples is expected. 

 I say, plant your orchard well and take care of it and the soil. The 

 trees should have the bodies protected from the rabbits, and be shaded 

 from the sun. This can be done with a wire screen. These hard 

 winters are calamities of only once in fifty years. We must not, 

 therefore, be discouraged. 



Mr. J. V. Cotta — The farmers are not the only ones who abuse 

 their orchards. I refer to an orchard that was owned by a Michigan 

 college I know of, which had become matted with blue grass, the 

 trees diseased and in very bad condition. A new professor came in 

 charge of that department and concluded to try to put the orchard 

 in shape, if it were possible to do so. He commenced by first giving 

 the ground a thorough plowing, then he pruned the trees up, and 

 destroyed the insects that were preying upon them, as far as possible, 

 taking precaution to prevent their further depredations, putting the 

 orchard in first class condition. The result was his efforts were 

 rewarded, though the trees did not show much improvement the first 

 year, still looking sickly. The second spring after he commenced 

 operations the trees came out in full leaf, vigorous and healthy, 

 blooming full, and the orchard bore some eighteen hundred bushels 

 of apples. This example shows conclusively what results can be 

 obtained when an orchard is properly cared for and looked after. 



Mr. S. G. Minkler — If trees have vitality they will bear and pay, 

 but how can anyone expect to raise apples if the trees are not prop- 

 erly fed and cared for. Right after a heavy rain I have examined 



