StAtfe HORTICULTURAL SOCIETV. 'J'3 



success, and the fact is, if your trees are in good, healthy condition and 

 all right, you can prune at all times, except in the dead of winter. 



Mr. Flagg — I saw the statement, made in the Alton Horticultural 

 Society, that pruning in frozen weather did not injure the tree, and that 

 apple grafts, cut when frozen, came out all right. What do you think 

 of it ? 



Mr. Phenix — 1 know this, we very frequently cut cions in tiie win- 

 ter, but I would not like to cut very close to the tree in frozen weather, 

 but would trim to a long stump, and finish up in the spring. 



Mr. Scofield — My experience has been that June pruning is the 

 best for nursery stock. i 



Mr. Galusha — Mr. President — One imiwrtant object which the 

 nurseryman should have in view, in pruning his trees, is to so prune as 

 to avoid forks and double headed trees. There should be only one 

 leading stem. If other strong branches put forth, threatening to destroy 

 the shape and unity of the tree, I do not out them entirely away, but 

 cripple them — by cutting them back — and thus encouraging the main 

 shoot; and in this way get a good tree for the orchard ; one that will not 

 split down. I would refer to the Ben Davis tree, as a model nursery 

 tree. Get your trees as near the natural shape of the Ben Davis as you 

 can. 



Mr. Scofield — Have you any experience in June pruning.' 



Mr. Galusha — Yes, I have; I would not like to tell all my experi- 

 ence here. It is my opinion that the best time for summer-pruning is 

 just at the time the terminal bud is forming. 



Mr. Earle — Are you speaking of pruning nursery stock, or orch- 

 ard trees .? 



Mr. Galusha — I am speaking of nursery trees. 



Mr. Phenix — The perfect, model tree is to be made at two years 

 old. 



The President — "As the twig is bent the tree's inclined." 

 Voice — At what height would you top, or cut back your tree.'' 

 Mr. Phen'ix^I would make heads little higher than I used to, but 

 vary the height according to the habit of the growth of the tree. 



But about your model trees, that you talk about. I think gentle- 

 men will find that there are some varieties, the Primate, for exami)le, and 

 Rhode Island Greening and some others, that all their cutting back and 



