120 TRAIs'SACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



starchy material that goes back into the roots to assist next spring 

 in forcing the sap up into the tree. 



Mr. Humphi'eys — If his idea is true that the sap must go to the 

 root, it makes the root a reservoir. That is contrary to the physi- 

 ology of the root. Its office is to take materials from the earth at 

 the time they are needed. I think no one acquainted with vegetable 

 physiology would say it was a reservoir. 



Dr. Hull — I think it is quite so. I would separate Mr. Wier's 

 theory from the true one. It is the food for the plants — and not 

 merely the watery fluid — which is stored in all parts of the tree. The 

 first growth in spring consists principally in inhibition of water by 

 absorption. 



Mr. Baldwin — You stated that in this latitude it was best to stop 

 growth in July. Is not that too early ? 



Dr. Hull — I spoke in general terms. Wo find that the leaves are 

 not blighted, the fruit is not rusted, and a second growth is not 

 induced, and there is a reason for that — because we have created a 

 disproportion between the top and the roots. 



Dr. Hull — Some of you say you would not grow a certain kind of 

 apple, because it is twenty years in coming to bearing. Why is it so ? 

 Because a very large proportion of the buds push forth nearly as 

 many branches as they do buds. What is the result ? It is precisely 

 the same as if I was to commence after the first development of the 

 leaves and strip these away. Nature is constantly endeavoring to 

 fill up the loss she has sustained. The tree does not early go to rest^ 

 and the result is we have no fruit formation. You cannot find a fruit 

 bud on the tree. You can never find a fruit bud so long as the branch 

 is growing. Understanding the matter as we do, we cannot admit 

 that if a tree is twenty years in coming to bearing it is storing up 

 nutriment all that time. No such thing. It stores up this year what it 

 requires next j^ear and no more — not one particle for the year after. 

 The following named gentlemen were elected honorary members : 

 Thomas Meehan, P. Barry, Mark Miller, Dr. Isaac Furnas, Wm. 

 H. Ragan. 

 Adjourned. 



