INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 415 



tendency to clincr to the tree, and when they are planted they are free 

 from insects. Most people would not have the patience to dip these large 

 trees, but this is a different proposition. You may say that it is all very 

 well to experiment with the small trees, but you would prefer not to risk 

 it on a tine tree. I would be delighted to take experts out to see my trees. 

 We cut the trees off .lust like this. (lie cut off all roots leaving about 1^ 

 inches, also all limbs the same.) A man does not like to do this sometimes. 

 1 have felt this way in times past. 1 have planted the trees and they did 

 not act as if they were alive until the latter part of May. These trees 

 now are among the best trees I have. The nurseryman will try to induce 

 you to take the large trees, for it is not his business to raise fruit, he has 

 to produce the wood. He rcLUst not stunt the .u:rowth of his trees. Most 

 people want the big tree. He wants wood growth and nothing else, and 

 when we get a hold of this tree we want to change it into a fruit bearing 

 tree, and we might just as well cut it back and start right in the begin- 

 ning. My experience is that this is the more business-like way to handle 

 the tree, as it produces fruit of a better quality. I would leave a side 

 root along here, putting out just below the crown; leave two or three, 

 because if the wind is inclined to blow this will serve to stay the tree. 

 I would take a spade and dig three or four shovelsfull out and put my 

 tree in the ground. The dirt should be pounded down hard against the 

 roots of the tree, and around them. You would be surprised to see how 

 the tree will head under these conditions. It will come out in an open 

 fan .shape. We do not want the tree to go high in the air. We want a 

 low, fan-shaped head, for the reasons 1 have already given. They are 

 nicer for many reasons. I cut more root off than I have shown here, for 

 the reason that I get a better tree as the result. When I leave more root 

 I leave more top. There is no sense in the idea of cutting off the roots 

 and leaving the top, or cutting off the top and leaving the roots. The 

 first thing I do is to look at my tree and make up my mind what kind of 

 a tree I want. I do not care for a center head. I would put it about 

 eight inches into the ground, and pound dirt hard around the roots. What 

 will be the result? 1 will have a tree that will grow and boar fine fruit. 

 I like a basket-shaped tree. I am simply telling you how I would do this 

 and if you like it you can do likewise. 



Here is another tree, a large throe year old nursery tree. I would not 

 cut off so much from this tree. I would have to be more careful with it. 

 It is too old. Most people demand large trees, but that is not what they 

 need at all. They would think this is a first-class tree, but I do not. 



•V .Menil)er: Would you not recommend trees with center shoots? 

 I have an orchard compo.sed of trees mostly without center slioots, and 

 the trees branch out. and get loaded with fruit, and they split to the 

 ground. I have lost a great many of my trees in this way, because they 

 split. I have a nunibor with the center shoot, and it seems to me that I 



