198 TRAXSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 



Question — What varieties of trees are best to plant for hoop- 

 poles ? 



Mr. Whitney — We are using a good many hooppoles made of 

 green ash. 



Question — Is it necessary to have the old heartwood of the 

 catalpa to have it last? 



Mr. Whitney — No. It will last well if cut at the right time, 

 if it is not all heart-wood. All soft wood does best cut in the month 

 of August. I have had Norway spruce cut in August last eight 

 years, and come out sound. Had the same experience w4th sweet 

 chestnut and yellow poplar, that were cut in August and left to sea- 

 son. I have seen white willow that was cut in August last well. 

 European larch cut in the spring will not last good. T cut American 

 larch long enough for three posts and put in my cider-house, which 

 lasted twenty-three years (August cutting), and other posts that I 

 cut in the spring, of the same larch, only lasted little over a year. 



Mr. Kellogg — That is the best speech I ever heard Whitney 

 make. I believe our native tamarack are most always cut in the 

 winter; if that is the case it is a very valuable thing to know that 

 the proper time for cutting is in August. 



Mr. Minkler — I consider Mr. Whitney's information a very val- 

 uable thing, and if our farmers would bear it in mind it would be a 

 great acquisition to them. 



Mr. Whitney — The reason for cutting in August is that the 

 tree has the least sap in it at that time of any time in the year. 



Hon. M. C. Hunt, Chicago, 111., President of the American Asso- 

 ciation of Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists, was introduced and 

 made a few happy and appropriate remarks, extending a very cordial 

 and pressing invitation to the members of the Society to attend the 

 meeting of nurserymen, seedsmen and florists to be held in Chicago 

 next June. 



