STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 129 



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above the ground and Avill easily bend under a heavy weight of 

 fruit, without breaking. 



Question — Why do you top-work your trees at such a height as 

 four feet? Why would not two or three feet high answer every 

 purpose as well? 



Mr. Cotta — The "dead line," if I may use that term, extends 

 from one to two and even three feet above the ground, at which 

 point the greatest injuries are always noticeable, and I want to get 

 the heads of my trees as high above this danger line as possible 

 consistent with a good proportion to my trees. Besides this, I 

 want as much of the iron-clad timber in the trunk as I can get. 

 And I am satisfied that a height of four feet answers the purpose 

 in view better than any other. 



Question — How do you prevent sun-scalding with such tall 

 stems? 



Answer — The varieties I use for stocks are not subject to this 

 difficulty like half-hardy varieties, but it is a wise plan to pro- 

 tect the stems of these trees against rabbits, mice and borers, as 

 suggested by Mr. Minkler in his valuable paper, and in so doing 

 you will guard against all danger of sun-scald. 



Question — How can we know what varieties will, and will not 

 produce a good union with one another? 



Ansiver — That is a pertinent question. I have been testing a, 

 good many varieties since 1882 and don't know it all yet, and am 

 still testing. I have quite a number of kinds that produce as- 

 even a growth as the trees I have shown you. But I have also* 

 some kinds that I have not yet learned to mate properly. This 

 question should be taken hold of by our experiment stations- 

 and nurserymen generally, and I am confident that we shall suc- 

 ceed. 



FRUIT GROWING COMBINED WITH FARMING. 



BY WM. JACKSON, GODFREY. 



Mr. President and Members oj this Society : 



It has been a general opinion frequently expressed that "Fruit 

 Growing combined with Farming" is not usually successful. 

 I am free to admit that so far as my observations have extended 

 that such has been the rule. But at the same time I am satisfied 



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