SUMMER MEETING. 75 



I wanted to attend the summer meeting, but it came right in the 

 midst of our berry-picking and I could not leave. Hope you had a 

 good meeting. 



The invitation I sent you to hold the next meeting at Trenton is 

 still in force. Our little city will be glad to welcome the Society. 

 Thanks for a copy of last year's report. 



Yours respectfully, 



B. A. Barnes. 



Birch Tree, June 2, 1894. 

 Mr. L. A. Goodman, Westport, Mo. : 



Dear Sir — The locusts, instead of confining themselves to the 

 small limbs of our young trees as anticipated, commence as near as a 

 foot from the ground and split the bark of the body of the tree to the 

 extreme top and out on all the limbs, and the leaves are now dying.. 

 Evidently, the trees are ruined ; but can't we cut off the injured wood, 

 and, starting with the root that is left us, form a new tree ? 



My trees ( apple and peach ) were one and two years old, planted 



one year ago this spring. I have seen some good sized trees eaten ofT 



by cattle, and when cut back within a foot of the ground in the spring 



would make a growth of four and five feet. My orchard contains 



5000 trees, and if 1 can have a good orchard by cutting back, I will 



consider that I only lose one year. If, however, this treatment would 



not result in getting a good stand, 1 had better pull them all up and 



start in again. I would like your counsel on this, and if you conclude 



it will be safe to cut back, what would be the proper time ? It seems 



to me I could cut them as soon as the locusts quit, and then I would 



have this summer's growth. Kindly adieu. 



Yours truly, 



E. I. Meeker. 



The answers to this letter were various. The Secretary advised 

 cutting off at the ground at once, not waiting for the locusts to dis- 

 appear. If they are cut off at once, a ,'good growth may be secured 

 this year and a good orchard will result. It will at least pay to test 

 the matter, for the trees will not be worthmuch if badly stung. 



Others expressed the opinion that it would be best to dig them all 

 up and start new. 



Altenburg, Mo., May 30, 1894. 

 Hon. N. F. Murray : 



Dear Sir — I will ship you by express package containing two 



roots of trees died this spring. These trees have been planted six 



years, are what are known as a whole root from State nursery, and 



growing on well-drained clay soil. Trees were cultivated first four or 



