176 State Horticultural Society. 



was in 1870. I cultivated it continually and have only missed two 

 years in twenty. I never had a failure. My sons who are present here 

 and I, at the present time, have apple orchards showing a better growth 

 than that old apple orchard, that have not been cultivated so much — 

 been in clover of late years, and they have not borne half so much. 



I will state there is something in the root pruning, but just how 

 much and when to do it and where to stop are questions to be con- 

 sidered, but I think you are safe in breaking the roots of the orchards 

 more or less. Of course it would be owing to the location and the soil 

 and all those things. 



Mr. Tippin. — Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen : I do want a 

 word and that is simply to impress one point that was brought out in 

 the discussion by Mr. Wellhouse and the paper read by Mrs. Flournoy, 

 and I wish to state that, inasmuch as a good many of you didn't hear 

 that paper distinctly, that in that paper they strike the key note, which 

 brings us down to this point, that successful orchard growing depends 

 ■on good common sense, applied to the conditions as w^e find them. In 

 that paper they stated that each year brought us face to face with nev*^ 

 conditions, with which we had to contend as they presented themselves. 

 That is a fact that we should not forget. And that the treamcni of an 

 orchard depended entirely upon the soil and conditions in which it 

 was planted, and I want to impress on you that the most important thing 

 to know in successful apple growing is to know your soil and the con- 

 ditions with which you are surrounded, and you cannot apply the suc- 

 cesses of one individual or one part of the State to some other part of 

 the State every time with perfect success, and the only way lor you 

 to succeed, and I think I speak advisedly, having been in close contact 

 with the majority of the orchards of Southern Missouri for the past 

 four years and especially this year of drouth, that you will have to 

 study thoroughly for yourself and take for example those successes the 

 nearest to you. Starting from that, studying your business closely, 

 you will succeed. 



Now as to the cultivation. This year has been one of varied con- 

 ditions and varied experiences, and many times during the last three 

 months we have seen a statement of that matter by our friend, ]Major 

 Holsinger. I remember of hearing him say that a good many }ears 

 ago he thought he knew all about horticulture and fruit growing, and 

 that last year he stated he didn't think he knew anything about it. 

 And this year of varied experiences we found by close study of the 

 conditions, that this season, the preponderance of testimony was largely 

 in favor of cultivation. I have found that the greatest trouble is for 

 -our people to arrive at what we mean by cultivation. One man wishes 



