Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



Mr. Mills.— Worden. 



J- the Abui plum self -fertilizing? 



Prof. Waueh. — I do not think it is. Possibly, under some eon- 

 ns, it is; but I find, after making many experiments, that it is 

 not iu all localities. 



Shall we plant fruit trees in the spring or fall? 



A Fruit-Grower. — Plant apples in the fall. Peaches and other 



ie fruits in the spring. 

 When is the best time to prune peach trees? 

 Mr. Hale. — At most any time; but I prefer to begin soon after 

 February 1st, before the buds begin to open. 

 What is the best peach to plant? 



Mr. Hale. — Ask the market. Grow that which is in most de- 

 i! and. For me, Champion, Old Mixon, Mountain Rose, Stump 

 I Fc x arc the best five varieties — the first two ranking first. 

 Should lime be slaked rapidly or slowly for best results in spray- 

 ing \ 



Prof. Beach. — Slowly. I pour on just enough water to slake 

 the lime so that it will not burn, and leave a soft, creamy paste. 

 Is there any advantage from spraying while the trees are in 



•lii ? 



Prof. Beach. — That is an open question ; but the bee-keepers 



i procured the passage of a law preventing the spraying of 



- while in bloom. An effort was made to repeal the law, the 



• - It being an amendment allowing the State Experiment Station 



i to spray while the trees are in bloom. They have sprayed four 



orchards in different counties in the State. In some orchards, the 



- ■; 'h fungus nearly destroyed the blossoms. When the trees were 



6] rayed during the bloom season, much of the fungus was held in 



check. As a rule, the yield of fruit is not much diminished. I 



have found a loss of a fraction of a bushel to a bushel and a half 



of apples per tree. In the Geneva Station orchard the trees were 



sprayed several times during the blossoming season, the object being 



to hit every blossom. Some trees were sprayed on one side only. 



The side unsprayed produced but little fruit: while on the other 



the fruit nearly broke down the tree. There is no danger, how- 



m spraying while the trees are in bloom, instances having 



n brought to light where the bees carried the poison on their 



w i 1 i the hives and thus poisoned the whole colony. If a man 



'■ as a large orchard, however, he cannot always manage to spray 



I when he would like. An orchardist has told me that he has 



considerable money through spraying trees when in bloom. 



a rule. I • - tray just as soon as the last blossoms fall. 



