WINTER MEETING. . 143 



As to this whole-root basiness it looked like it would make a bet- 

 ter tree. I had 100 whole-roots some twelve or fifteen inches long, 

 grafted, and took a stick, drove it into the ground and planted the 

 whole-root. They grew and made the nicest trees I ever saw, and that 

 was about all they ever did. My theory is that the roots were poor- 

 growing seedlings. When the trees were four years old they were not 

 bigger than my cane. There is absolutely nothing in the whole-root 

 business. 



The first trees I planted were 33 feet apart ; the next, 30 feet 

 apart. I then decreased the distance to 25 feet, and again to 21 feet. 

 I was induced to do this closer planting by what I saw at Olden. I 

 think Mr. Gilbert is right, except in one thing. Hogs in the orchard 

 are in the wrong place. He has some hogs down there that if they 

 stood on their hind legs they could pick the apples from the highest 

 trees. 



S. W. Gilbert : I have hogs in my young orchard and have seen 

 no bad effects from them. I planted three-year trees in 1889. Two 

 years later I replanted with one-year trees. These are now as large 

 as the others. 



J. C. Evans: It was Arkansas hogs the Doctor saw. Mr. Gilbert 

 lives near the line. 



IST. F. Murray : The majority of the trunks of my trees range 

 from two to three and one-half feet. In the older part of the orchard 

 the trees with trunks over four feet high are dead. This orchard, 23 

 years old with low tops, netted me $50 per acre last year. I was 

 about to cut it down, but I will let it stand. 



I believe a little judicious pinching or pruning is the proper thing 

 to do. Low tops shade the ground, prevent weeds from growing under 

 the trees, and protect the trees from the sun. The fruit is also easily 

 picked. I get my apples picked for four or five cents a barrel. An- 

 other man paid 15 cents, and contended that apples did not pay. The 

 <iistance apart ought to vary with the variety and the land. We think 

 25 feet is a very good distance. 



Mr. Kelsey: What is the cause of the death of high-top trees ? 



Mr. Murray: I think sun-scald is one of the ciuses. The wind 

 blows the trees to the northeast and exposes the trunks to the burning 

 sun. Great damage is done in the winter season, in February and 

 March, when there is no foliage upon the trees. It is occasioned by 

 alternate freezing by night and thawing by day, until the bark of the 

 tree is killed dead. You will find in almost every instance that the 

 damage is on the southwest side. 



