478 BOAKD OF AGKICULTUKE. 



Mr. Kingsbury: What effect has sunshine on the human family? 



Mr. Howland: It has the same effect on the human family that it 

 has on apples. It is a health-giver. If the ladies would only get out in 

 the sun more they would have more of a bloom on their cheeks, and they 

 would be much sweeter. 



Mr. Walter Smith: I do not know whether I am in order just at this 

 time, but it certainly comes in connection with this question of sunshine. 

 I believe in high-topped trees, as far away from the ground as possible 

 and an abundance of sunshine. I think we can get better trees and can 

 raise better fruit in this way. I would like for some of the experts to 

 tell us something about the trimming of trees. That has not been dis- 

 cussed here. I would like to hear from Mr. Flick. He is an expert. 



Secretary Flick: I could not tell you how to trim your trees. This is 

 something which a man will have to learn for himself. There are so 

 many different conditions. I trim my trees any time I see they need it 

 when I am in the orchard and have a sharp knife. I try to cut off all 

 of the dead wood and the water sprouts. If I cut off any very large limbs 

 I have them painted as soon as convenient. I do not like high-headed 

 trees in our climate. We are subject to storms of wind and hail and 

 sleet and other things which make it hazardous and unprofitable to grow 

 lofty fruit trees. There are many reasons why the trees should be low 

 down. The trimming, spraying, picking the fruit, etc., is much easier 

 and cheaper. Fallen fruit does not bruise, winds do not get such a hold 

 on the low down tree. If you begin an orchard properly it will need but 

 very little trimming. We ought to have an ideal in mind of the shaped 

 tree we want, and at the beginning prune and leave enough branches to 

 afford that. 



Walter Smith: Would you leave a tree thin enough so you could climb 

 through the limbs? 



Secretary Flick: Yes, however we do not climb trees very much, for 

 it hurts the tree e\^ry time you do that. 



President Stevens: It is now our noon hour and we will adjourn for 

 dinner. We will reconvene at 1:30. 



THURSDAY AFTERNOON. 



President Stevens: I.adies and Gentlemen: It is now time, for this 

 meeting to come to order. The first on program this afternoon is "Value 

 of Statistical Information as Applied to Agricultural and Horticultural 

 Pursuits." liy lion. R. F. Johnson, Chief of the State Bureau of Statistics, 

 Indianapolis. 



