268 TRANSACTIONS OF THE KANKAKEE 



L. E. Cunningham — Will the ice on the trees injure or benefit 

 the fruit crop the coming season? 



In answer, several members expressed the opinion that it would 

 not be detrimental. 



L. E. Cunningham was called on for an essay; and after a few 

 well-chosen remarks he proceeded to read a paper entitled '" Educa- 

 tion Practical vs. Education Fashionable." 



The subject for this meeting's consideration. "Pruning," was 

 then discussed. 



A. L. Miner — I have had a little practical experience in this 

 line. Part of my orchard Kas never had a limb cut off. It is alive 

 and doing well. The rest of it was trimmed and is all dead. I would 

 advise trimming trees while young, but after they are set in the 

 orchard never cut off a limb. 



Henry Mortimer — To trim intelligently we should be acquaint- 

 ed with the tree or variety. Perry Russett needs to be pruned. Do 

 not cut the branches back, but cut them off; while Belmont is an 

 excellent apple, if you trim the tree it will decay. When we have 

 had an orchard bearing for several years the lower limbs will be 

 dead. We should cut them off, for they draw the moisture from the 

 tree. In conclusion, Mr. Mortimer said: "Prune the trees when 

 young: cut off the dead limbs; paint the stubs." 



A. H. Burt — Why does pruning an apple tree prevent it from 

 bearing? In the East, where I came from, orchards are trimmed 

 every year^ or at least bi-annually, and they bear well. It is gener- 

 ally conceded that the flow of sap, etc., will concentrate in the part 

 of the tree that is left, and make finer and better fruit. Is it to pre- 

 vent rapid evaporation that you leave the branches? 



A. L. Miner — It is to prevent scalding? 



A Voice — What is scalding? 



H. S. Bloom — When trees lean to the northeast, and the sun's 

 rays are permitted to strike the trunk from the southwest, and the 

 heat kills that side of the tree, it is called sun-scald. 



President Barnard — Two-thirds of the orchards south of me 

 in my neighborhood have been ruined by being trimmed by traveling 



