60 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



this tree, its early bearing and keeping, make it tlie most sure and profit- 

 able. Those unacquainted with the Ben Davis grown near the river 

 here would naturally criticise the great preponderance of this apple as a 

 purely mercenary object, but such is not the case. The Ben Davis, instead 

 of being a second or third class apple, is in fact a tolerably good apple in 

 its prime, late in the spring. It is not intended to class its flavor with the 

 Spitzenberg, Jonathan, Pryor's Red, etc., but in itself is an apple that will 

 commend itself among kings and millionaires when the others are out of 

 season and gone. 



The condition of orchards within our range of observation isgood, mid- 

 ling, and in some cases very indifferent. The severity of the long pro- 

 tracted cold of 1872-3 variously injured many trees; the consequence has 

 been trees in nearly all orchards more or less affected. The preceding 

 winter was very dry, which condition lasted through the winter, the ground 

 continually absorbing from the roots ; the result was, nearly all roots not 

 protected by sod were killed near the surface. This gives us a solution to 

 injury of such trees as have their roots nearest the surface, as the Wine Sap, 

 for one. From these statements it can be inferred when and how to trace 

 the various conditions of trees. 



In relation to orchard culture proper, it may be alleged that with 

 good stocks, and properly planted, with vigilant cultivation, the soil be- 

 ing good, that the trees will succeed ; but we have two insects, in particu- 

 lar, that need watching, and must be watched or the labor will be in vain. 

 But first, with regard to the flat-headed borer, a little policy or engineer- 

 ing is assential; that is: in setting the trees, to lean them near 15° to the 

 southwest ; in three years they will stand about right. If not so set, 

 then the borer, ever ready for an opportunity, preys upon the tree. When 

 the bark is once killed, the tree is ruined. The other borer, Saperda, 

 works at the collar of the tree, and occupies his place apart of three years. 

 This borer is more under the control of the orchardist than any other 

 known insect. Vigilant inspection of the trees twice a year will save the 

 trees being bored and honeycombed near the roots. 



On the subject of trimming, one says don't trim at all; another 

 says trim every year liberally. Of course discretion must be used. Com- 

 mon sense naturally points to some trimming ; how much, when and how 

 are left to the judgment of the operator. Our experiences are to avoid 

 taking off large limbs, and so far a^ smallfer branches interfere, to trim 

 with much care. As to the time best to d J this, the following experiment 

 is given : Trees trimmed in February and March, 1876, dried around the 

 cut, bark disengaged more or less. Those trimmed in April bled, black- 

 ening the surface of the limbs. Those in May 15th did not bleed. 

 Those in June loth and June 17th did not bleed, nor the bark disengage 

 from the cut. All commenced healing about the loth of June, the time, 

 or nearly so, of the development of the terminal bud. 



Twig blight has been more or less observed for some years past. But 

 last year it was very common, and mostly confined to the Janet. It 

 was in all orchards more or less. Some pretended to make themselves, 

 believe it was caused by an insect; but the writer examined it night and 



