76 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



five years, and for last two have been growQ with clover. Clover cut 

 and remaiued on the land. This orchard is near the Missouri; a por- 

 tion of it is creek bottom. This has not surt'ered so much as the hill- 

 side, which inclines to the east. All is good soil ; have lost about 100 

 trees since planting this block of 1000 trees, all Ben Davis and Wine- 

 sap. All mj' neighbors complain of the same trouble. Was told yes- 

 terday by a friend that he planted out 100 trees a few years ago and 

 only about 40 had lived ; all died from the root. la a great many 

 instances a portion of the root, most generally one or two small ones 

 near the surface of the ground, is green and with no sign of aphis, and 

 the tree blown over, by winds, or of its own weight. Have made 

 many inquiries as to the cause of this trouble, and read from all the 

 works I could secure, but have found no one giving a positive cause. 

 Farmers have attributed it to the borers, grub-worms, and others to 

 the growing of clover on the land. 



I am now plowing up my land, after cutting clover and mulching 

 younger trees, and planting the land to late potatoes. I want a change. 

 I notice that when one tree dies others generally follow near by, the 

 following season. Would like you to examine roots sent you ; present 

 to some of your best posted members, and if possible name to me the 

 cause and also the remedy. 



Send Mr. Nelson my check for $10 for life membership in the So- 

 ciety. You will please have my name enrolled. I will attend the fall 

 meeting, and hope it will be held in the great apple belt of the Ozarks. 



Your friend, 



W. R. Wilkinson. 



The discussion of this matter that Judge Wilkinson refers to 

 fiho wed that the damage was wide-spread. The prevailing opinion 

 seemed to be that it was a root blight, and no remedy was known. 



The whole matter was taken up and discussed in all its bearings. 

 The piece-root, whole-root, seedlings, fungus growth, bacteria, top- 

 grafting, spraying, manuring, soils, locations, were all discussed until 

 the time limit was called, and no conclusion reached. 



Boonville, Mo., June 1, 1894. 

 L. A. Goodman, Sec'y State Horticultural Society : 



Dear Sir — As one of your committee on " Orchards," I send you 

 this following brief report as to their condition in Central Missouri — • 

 Cooper county. I have had but little opportunity to observe the con- 

 <3ition of orchards outside my own, which is only three years old, but 

 think, generally speaking, trees of all kinds are making an unusually 

 good growth ; the foliage is larger and looks more healthy than for 



