TRANSACTIONS OF ALTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 285 



Plum trees are generally worked on wild plum stock, which they soon 

 outgrow and generally topple over with their first crop of fruit. The 

 surest method I have ever tried, of keeping the trees erect, was to work 

 them on the wild plum or peach, close to the ground, and when one year 

 old from the bud, lip them on two sides and plant them so the lower ends 

 of the lips are at the depth before stated. 



Before a selection of trees is made we should consider well what we 

 want. Those new in tlie business are apt to set too many kinds ; this is 

 a great evil. Out of more than two thousand varieties of apples tested 

 in this country, twenty for this locality will cream the entire list best, 

 both family and market; while, for strictly market purposes, a half dozen 

 are, I believe, quite enough, and it is more than probable that more 

 money may be made even from four than from a greater number of 

 varieties. 



Of the long list of cherries, six well-selected will leave but little to 

 be desired. 



Can any one give the names of more than five varieties of plums, 

 free growers, quality number one, which will command the highest figure 

 in market ? 



Pears, as is well known, without special treatment and unremitting 

 care, can not be profitably grown, and without the necessary attention our 

 advice is to let them alone. About as many varieties of pears as of apples 

 have been fruited in this country, and yet a selection of as ftw as a dozen 

 varieties can be made that will ripen from July to May, which would 

 probably be more satisfactory than a larger list. Indeed, for a strictly 

 market orchard, as with the apple, I should be in favor employing no 

 more than three or four varieties. 



But how about peach trees? An examination of peach trees in this 

 region will disclose the fact that all, young and old, have suffered very 

 much from frost. The wood of the twigs is nearly all blackened, and 

 the transplanting of such trees would be exceedinj^ly hazardous. But if 

 they are left in the nursery and cut back to healthy buds, they will prob- 

 ably recover during the summer. They should, however, be root-pruned 

 during this month, or about the first of June, otherwise the trees will 

 grow too large, and the roots become too long, straggling, and too firm to 

 transplant well. 



Mr. Hollister — What had best be done with old peach trees that 

 have been injured ? 



Dk. Hull — Usually, such trees would not l)e worth doing any thing 

 with ; but, as the outlook for large peach crops generally is not very 

 promising, it will pay to take care of what may be on our trees. Such 

 trees should have the young wood shortened back to about four inches. 

 All, or nearly all, the live buds will be found near the base of last season's 

 growth, and by cutting back they will be saved, and the shortening will 

 help the tree and the fruit. To keep what peaches we have left, we must 



