296 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



are two years old, and I think the tops are too heavy. The question Is, 

 how shall they be thinned? 



Professor Huston: It is always well to avoid taking off the large 

 branches, but it sometimes becomes necessary. 



Mr. Haines: What time of the year? 



Professor Fulton: The spring is the best time, before the growth 

 starts in the spring If it becomes necessary to take out the large 

 branches, do so, and open them up as much as is necessary. Of course, 

 if they are very thick, it may be well not to open them very much the 

 first year, and the next year open them some more, cut and shape it. In 

 my young trees, in the spring, I take a big scoop full of ashes, strong 

 ashes, and scatter under the tree, and as soon as I- get the ashes scattered, 

 I cultivate them. 



Mr. S'waim: In the past two years I have been about over the major- 

 ity of the counties in northern Indiana, and my observation is that there 

 is a very small per cent, of the orchards that are properly cared for, 

 or anything near it; the great majority of them are sadly neglected, have 

 had no care, or worse still, have been abused by turning stock in and 

 allowing the stock to do the pruning and thinning. I would like to hear 

 what Professor Troop has to say In regard to that. 



Professor Troop: I have been over the State somewhat, and my ex- 

 perience has been a good deal along the line that Mr. Swaim speaks of. 

 I might say that Mr. Swaim has reported to me several times in regard 

 to the condition in which he finds orchards in the State, and that every 

 time he, and others have also, mentioned the fact that where the orchards 

 have been cared for, have been properly fed and cultivated and pruned, 

 that they were bearing good crops, not only this year, but for years past. 



Here the question was put to vote, and it was unanimously carried 

 that not enough attention is paid to the feeding of the trees, as well as 

 cultivating and pruping them. 



President Hobbs: We will now pass to the next topic, Avhich is, "The 

 San Jose Scale and its Treatment." by Prof. F, M. Webster, Entomologist 

 of the Ohio Experiment Station at Wooster, Ohio. 



Professor Webster said: 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:— This is a scaly subject, and 

 possibly that may account for my saying so much regarding its extermina- 

 tion. Now, I want to confine myself strictly to the topic as placed on 

 your program. The treatment and the details of the treatment I wifeh to 

 go over until afternoon. I will tell you what we are doing and what we 

 have done, but so far as the details of the spraying are concerned, I should 

 like to have that go over until afternoon, when I can give it more time. 



