TRANSACTIONS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NOKTIIEllN ILL. 409 



Mr. McWhorter also thought it was quite liable to be so infested. 



Mr. Whitney said he was not troubled with scab on his apples, as 

 he gave his orchards good top-dressings of manure, keeping his trees 

 thrifty. 



DUCHESS OF OLDENBURG 



Was the next apple called up. 



Mr. Wier — Duchess has all the good qualities we can ask for in tree 

 and fruit, except that the fruit is too sour. The tree is hardy, and bears 

 young and bountifully; the fruit is large, fair and beautiful. 



Mr. Minkler — I find no fault in tree or fruit ; we want such acid 

 apples for culinary uses. 



Messrs. Nelson, Wier, Ellsworth and L. K. Scofield spoke of 

 the fact of the Duchess trees being damaged in the roots last winter; but, 

 as this "root-killing" is of so extremely rare occurrence, it was not 

 regarded as serious objection to the tree. 



Mr. Vaughn (of Chicago) said he had found it a more difficult tree 

 to transplant than most other varieties, owing to a want of fibrous roots. 



wagener 



Was the next candidate for discussion. 



Mr. Nelson — It is one of our very best winter apples. The tree 

 does not form enough roots, and, on this account, does better stock- 

 grafted or grafted on limbs of hardy trees in the orchard. It bears 

 young, and is a most profuse bearer. 



Mr. Keith — The Ben Davis is a good stock for Wagener. 



Mr. McWhorter — It bears young and enormously ; will kill itself 

 in bearing in a few years, if the fruit is not thinned when quite small. It 

 is not quite hardy. The fruit drops early ; hence, should be picked 

 before close of September. 



Mr. Wier — In my Wagener orchard, of three hundred trees, those 

 branching at the ground are best ; those branching below eighteen 

 inches from the ground are healthy and productive; but those with high 

 heads are dead. I say to planters, get two-year-old trees, and head them 

 low. If I were to plant another orchard, I would plant one-third to 

 Wageners, and make them branch at the ground. 



Mr. Benton (of Crystal Lake) — I have an orchard tliat does not 

 bear or grow. The heads of the trees are four feet from the ground. 



D. C. Scofield — My friend, Minkler, grows his apples in climate 

 instead of soil, probably taking a hint from air-plants. . I wish to name a 



