26 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



with Prof. Penhallow, has been at his place, and seen his 

 experiments. He says that in his orcftards, since he has 

 applied the formula, he has not a case of the yellows, and has 

 never had a more vigorous and thrifty growth of trees in his 

 experience of several years in peach growing. He says it is 

 undoubtedly a good thing. 



Mr. Rogers of New Jersey. In relation to the experiments 

 of Prof. Penhallow, I should say that last spring, wlien I vis- 

 ited the New Jersey Experimental Station, I was there 

 informed that two or three thousand trees had been grown 

 under his directions, with every evidence of great success, 

 and that they were going to follow up the cultivation of 

 peaches with the use of other chemicals, other forms of pot- 

 ash, for the purpose of seeing how they would affect the yel- 

 lows, and after a short time I heard that they were meeting 

 with great success in their efforts, but it was too early as yet 

 to make a report upon the action of the various chemicals. 



Mr. Norton. I understand that the Messrs. Hoyt, of New 

 Canaan, recommend the practice of heading in peach trees in 

 October, with the view, among other things, of hardening up 

 the remaining wood, so as to stand the coming winter better. 

 I would ask Mr. Augur if there is anything wrong in that 

 idea ? 



Mr. AuGFR. I do not believe it will do that, sir, for this 

 reason. I think the leaf is needed as long as it remains 

 green. Our sugar-maple, as long as the leaf holds green, is 

 making sugar for the next season, and the peach leaf, so long- 

 as its activity continues, is elaborating the sap of the tree for 

 the next year. Mr. Fletcher in his treatise recommends cut- 

 ting off, or shortening back, in order to throw the strength of 

 the tree into the remaining buds. Well, I found that the 

 great trouble with me was, that it started the buds into active 

 growth. The (dextrine, in the case of the peach, the sugar in 

 the maple, all those compounds that are wanted, are being 

 finished up. The tree is finishing up the operations of the 

 year. I believe every leaf on the tree is needed to do that 

 work, so long as it is in active force. When the leaves .fall, 



