The Question Box. 11 



buds. Prune apple trees any time before leaves start. Unpro- 

 ductive trees are sometimes made to bear more if pruned when 

 leaves come out more. 



Dr. Smead. — In pruning grapes, all depends on the kind of 

 vine you have and the soil. Vines that are strong growers, and 

 are growing in rich soil, should be allowed to make more wood 

 than weak growers, or grapes in poor soil. 



Question. — Do you recommend the spraying of orchards ? 



Mr. Mann. — I should spray the fruit trees ; it is estimated that 

 $3,000,000 is lost annually in New York State in fruit and other 

 crops through the attack of insects and fungous diseases, nearly all 

 of which might be prevented by judicious spraying. As a rule, the 

 imperfect fruit is that which is blown off. It becomes weakened 

 in the stem ; the wood is also weakened by the attacks of insects and 

 fungous diseases. 



Mr. Litchard. — I once heard a man say he would spray his 

 orchards even if he knew there would not be an apple on the 

 trees. This to protect the foliage and perfect fruit buds for the 

 next season. 



Question. — Is it not possible to grow young apple trees too 

 rapidly ? 



Mr. Rice. — Yes, it is quite possible to grow a tree so fast as 

 to make the wood soft and unripe; besides, the trees grow out of 

 shape. Ordinarily, however, young apple trees suffer more for 

 want of manure than from an excess of it. 



Question. — How many varieties of peaches do you grow com- 

 mercially, Mr. Hale ? 



Answer. — Six. 



Question. — AVhen do you begin thinning the fruit? 



Answer. — -As soon as it is well set; when the peaches are 

 about the size of cherries, or smaller. 



Bv Mr. Farmer. — You said here (meeting of 1ST. Y. Hort. So- 

 ciety at Rochester), two years ago, that you preferred Italian 

 labor in the North. Which do you like best, now, Italian or the 

 " Darky ? " 



Answer.— The " Xigger " in Georgia ; Italian in the Xorth. 



Question. — What help do you employ to assort and pack 

 peaches in Georgia ? 



Answer. — The brightest, smartest, prettiest girls I can get, 

 They will assort and pack peaches as I order, and do the work 

 rapidly and neatly — something I cannot get men to do. Then 

 I hire an orchestra to furnish soul-inspiring music each afternoon. 



