22 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



flush with the inner bark. The wound will be nearly healed over tho first season, and not damage 

 the tree. 



The most sure method, but from which we shall not be benefited by the returnoffru.it the firs* 

 season, is to trim the trees in the season of the year when this operation will produce its greatest 

 effect for dwarfing, and this is found to be from the 10th of July to the 10th or 15th of August. The 

 first pruning must be quite heavy, then afterwards, every year or alternate years, as the case requires. 

 In all of these operations the tree is checked in its growth of wood, and is forced to form fruit buds 

 and bear fruit. 



There are some varieties of fruit trees that seem not to be affected by an overfeeding with inor- 

 ganic vegetable matter, but bear well on such land. The Gilpin, Rambo, Pennsylvania Red Streak, 

 Red Asrraehan, Lady Apple, and Jonathan are some of them. BEN J. F. LONG. 



Galusha, of Morris — This is an important topic, and should he 

 discussed. The practical question for us as orchadists, is whether 

 it is better to have a strong, or a moderately early growth. I am 

 more and more convinced that checking the growth of young trees 

 is a disadvantage in the long run. Trees should first acquire a good 

 degree of constitutional vigor. Early bearers do not have this as 

 compared with late bearers. A beginner of course wants a few trees 

 to bear early ; but this is not so of large market orchards. Trees 

 of different varieties vary much in the time of coming into bearing. 

 The Northern Spy and Yellow Belleflower are late bearers. The 

 Belleflower may not bear until 18 years planted, but it will be very 

 long lived. 



A. H. Gaston, of Henry — I noticed a case in a neighbor's or- 

 chard, where the application of lime last year seemed to produce 

 fruitfulness this. Checking growth, produces bearing, but it crip- 

 ples the tree and makes it short-lived, which is an objection. 



Baldwin, of La Salle Co. — I agree in the main with the Es- 

 say. In the north part of the State, however, trees grow too slow- 

 ly, if anything, and we have to keep them up to the maximum of 

 vigor to have them bear and free from bark lice. A weak tree is 

 affected by lice. 



Snedecker, of Jerseyville — If an orchard is too vigorous, seed 

 it down to grass. I have tried and seen it tried a great many times, 

 and think it the best way to check growth. 



Redfield, of Jersey Co. — Land can't be too rich after an or- 

 chard gets its growth. 



Galusha — Early bearing varieties need the most stimulating. 



