STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 213 



autumn or winter is bad, as Bevere freezing affects a 1'il— U wound too deeply. Summer 

 pruning is most free from subsequent sprouting, but gives a greater check to the vitality 

 of the tree. 



While on thi< subject, it may be proper to call further attention to the system of prun- 

 ing recommended by our horticultural co-laborer, D. B. Wier, whicb seems at least 

 tain il by some plausibility. It is objected to the ordinary practice of pruning out the 

 interior portion of the top, thai as the tree attains age, ,md the top extends to broad and 

 lofty proportions, there beeomes a great amount of waste room in the center, without 

 either fruit orfoliag — that the fruit is produced at almost an inaccessible height — and 

 fin illy, thai being produced from year to year on the same old bearing branches, the 

 fruit becomes small and impi rfeel . To obviate all these objections, it is proposed nol I •> 

 prune out the center ; but on the contrary, to shorten back the outer portion of the 

 branches, thereby producing fresh bearing wood over the external portion ol the tree. 

 By thus cutting backaportion of the old bearing wood occasionally, as practice may 

 prove expedient, the tree is l<> be kept to a more com enient size, the fruit is to be pro- 

 duced mainly on tie' external portion of the top, and oh wood of comparatively fresh 

 growth. Thus, the bearing wood is to be renewed under a practice, analogous in princi- 

 ple to that which we adopt with the grapevine. Under this system, summer pruning 

 would be objectionable, as il does not induce a fresh growth. At present wc can only 

 recommend this system of pruning " for trial" — it will require a test of several year.- to 

 fully determine its merits. 



EXTENT OF PLANTING. 



At no former period hare our citizens had their attention so extensively directed to 

 orchard planting as at the present time. Tbere is certainly an abiding confidence in the 

 adaptation of our region to apple growing. The' planting is mostly large orchards, 

 intended for market. Comparatively, bul a small portion of the planting is for home 

 lards. The demand is largely for keeping apples. In the improvement of our si ate, 

 the best prairie lands were first brought Into cultivation. As lands are now becoming 

 more valuable, people are aiming to turn the broken grounds to use. Such grounds arc 

 now being improved and quite e\ier.>ivcly planted to orchards. 



These broken and bluff lauds are well adapted to orchards, but there is always diffi- 

 culty with such grounds. The trouble is the soil of our bluff grounds Is greatly 

 inclined to wash if kepi in a state of cultivation. On grounds having a considerable 

 inclination, cultivation should be discontinued after the orchard gets a good .-tar: : 

 and where straw is easy of access, mulching should be substituted. Orchards on dry 

 clay grounds are great ly benefitted by mulching. Usually, this work can be done early 

 in Spring; old, wet straw already trod under foot by cattle is good. Corn cobs 

 also good. 



Varieties. — Inten rakened on the subject of hardy varieties. People wish to 



planl someting that vri\\ stand tin climate — tear fliitt, mid sell. The Duchess ol Olden- 

 burg is in high request. Attention is al»o turned to hybrids with the Siberian Crabs. 

 Indeed it i Lion of no small Importance, what is to he the mission of that 



hardy apple thai has come to us from the regions north of the Euxine ! Is it not 

 to subserve a more important purpose than as fruit for *' Ornament and Preserves?" 

 From hybridizing with these crabs, are we not to produce a class of apples adapted to 



