STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 63 



fully, and it is quite plain that in this direction we are to find an outlet 

 for our immense crops in the future, and we are wise if we plant with 

 reference to it. The recommendation given in the report, to set young 

 trees in the orchard leaning to the southwest, meets with my approbation. 

 I find that great injury is done to trees by the hot afternoon sun and the 

 winds from the southwest. If the trees are set straight, the southwest 

 winds blow them over, and expose the body of the tree to the burning 

 sun. They are thus damaged, which damage invites the flat-headed 

 apple-tree borer to come and make its home in the damaged bark of the 

 tree, and so complete the destruction so well begun. It is my experience 

 that planting in the manner described, leaning the trees to the southwest, 

 is an excellent plan. In regard to this mooted question of pruning or no 

 pruning, I must say I can't grow good fruit without pruning, and I never 

 saw any man but our friend Wier who could do it. 



Mr. Gaston (of Lacon) said : The apple to plant is a large apple, 

 a red apple, and a good apple ; and I must say that all these qualities you 

 have in the Stark apple. You can ship them South, or you can ship them 

 North, East, or West, or you can keep them at home ; they are in 

 demand everywhere. It is an apple that fills the bill. It has been before 

 the country for a number of years. Many of you have tried it. You 

 promised to report upon it ; you have not done it. Let us hear from 

 you ; we expect a report from this State Horticultural Society. 



Prof. McAfee (of Freeport) said that he wanted to enter his protest 

 against the two extremes of "farming too little" and " farming too 

 much." I am not in favor of using the saw and ax in a slashing manner 

 in the orchard. There is a great deal of injudicious work done in 

 pruning our apple trees ; but it is necessary to do some pruning. Mr. 

 Wier says, "prune not at all." This is going to the other extreme. 

 There are conditions when pruning must be done, or the trees will suffer 

 a greater injury. It happens sometimes that trees stand to the northeast, 

 having been driven over by the southwest winds. The trees are too large 

 to be staked and straightened by force, and there is no way to straighten 

 the tree but by pruning off on the northeast side, and heading in until 

 you have the proper balance; and in this way you can literally "put a 

 head on" your trees that is "level." There are particular varieties of 

 apples that need a little pruning and attention to keep them in shape. I 

 fully appreciate Mr.Wier's protest against mutilating the orchard, as it is 

 sometimes done ; but I hope no one here will go to the other extreme,, 

 and practice with the " no-pruners." Pruning is a dwarfing process;. 



