STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 223 



cut back the top shoot without injury to the tree. In this climate, old trees are ruined 

 by i"'inu' cut in slmrt, for grafting without this pruning. 



As to plan of grafting — Instead of catting off large limbs and splitting them, I cut 

 back to a small limb Inclining the saw to 45 degrees, and putting a coat of wax over the 

 wound, and grafting on to the small limb, pinching the top from the graft when six or 

 eight Inches long. This will cause the graft to harden and throw out laterals, and will 

 Dot blow oil' as they often do when unchecked. 



I throw out these suggestions, as I presume you will do a large amount of top graft- 

 ing in your experimental grounds, and if I throw out a single idea that will aid you, it 

 will pay you to read it. 



Gilpin. — A very poor apple here, but one of the most profitable, and I think it des- 

 tined to maintain its position. What other apple will bear so well, keep so well, and 

 bear transporting long distances equal to it? 



Lowell. — You add to the list for the north — the tree is too tender and it blights 

 <i wfuUy. 



Limbebtwig. — Not worth talking about — tree good grower and hardy. 



til i : iiek. — Why was this added to the list for market only ? Who ever grew a bet- 

 ter apple for table or kitchen. 



Northern' Spy. — A grand apple, but we have only had this apple about 20 years — 

 not long enough to be profitable 



POBTEB, — Oh, if this tree was only as hardy as Wine Sap, I could hardly desire any- 

 thing else in its season. It is giving good satisfaction ; top grafted, a great bearer 



Rawle's Janet. — Not an early bearer here — when it does bear, it overdoes its work, 

 and the fruit is small and insipid, comparatively, yet we like to have some of them. 



Rambo. — Too tender, yet I find a tree now and then, all over the country, doing 

 first rate. 



Bailev Sweet. — Blights to death, worthless. 



JAMES SMITH. 



Di>Moines, Iowa, Jan. 27, 18G9. 



