470 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The first choice of stock is the best. We want the strongest trees, then head low, and 

 we get a more rapid growth. 



Mr. Pillow: With low pruning, trees are less liable to be affected by heavy winds, 

 especially if the winds follow heavy rains. 



A Member: In cultivating, what will you do with what is left close to the tree? 



Mr. Hale: Our southern orchards are all June budded trees. Thirty thousand of 

 them were headed down below eighteen inches, and those made the most vigorous 

 growth I have seen anywhere. They have been only growing two years. We cannot 

 run the cultivator close to them, but as the trees shade the ground the weeds do not 

 grow directly around them. 



Prof. Bailey: In orchards in southwestern Michigan trees are headed low. In 

 June I should advise starting heads rather high except in peach trees; always low in 

 ■dwarf pears. 



Mr. Leroy Pease: Will the fungus work more readily on low branching trees? Also 

 about cultivating. Grass will grow in the shade in the vicinity of Oswego. 



Mr. Hooker: We have tried both ways, and finally have settled on the medium 

 height as best. In cultivating dwarf pears we first let them grow low; they became 

 infested with fungus and died out and we got no fruit. Planted twelve feet in the row 

 and twenty feet apart. Our orchard is set and trimmed pretty high, and we can culti- 

 vate near them. If allowed to branch too low, you have afterwards to trim up 

 for cultivation. Standard pears should be trimmed about half standard; you can culti- 

 vate near enough, and get your tree heads sooner. 



Which is most trying to plant life — long-continued cold, or alternate freezing and 

 thaiving'/ 



Mr. WiLLARD was called on to answer the question, but said he did not know that he 

 could answer the question. He had observed and found it to be true, and could confirm 

 the statement by a man who has worked for him for twenty years, that when they had a 

 fall of snow before the ground froze they were more apt to have damage on the trees 

 than where the frost cut in three feet deep. The wood winter-kills. 



Mr. Pierce: I was in Meehan's nursery last week and saw acres of small stuff 

 mulched. They told me it was tender and they considered the mulch a protection. 



7s it advisable to prune apple trees at the present time if found necessary to cut off 

 large limbs 9 



Mr. Hooker: If I had much, would rather wait till spring. Have never seen any 

 serious damage result from moderate pruning at this time of year. We are pruning 

 more or less this winter. 



Mr. Willard: With trees we are going to graft we cut off the top, and then when 

 we want to graft we have clean sailing. Am speaking of fruiting trees. 



Pres. Barry asked Mr. Hooker if he had known of damage to nursery stock by early 

 winter pruning. 



Mr. Hooker: Yes; some years ago we had a fine block of two-year old apples on low 

 ground, that were trimmed late in the fall. They froze to the heart and were badly 

 damaged. The varieties were Baldwins and Greenings. Would recommend the 

 pruning of such trees in the spring. It has always been our practice to commence in 

 March. 



Mr. Willard: I think their being on low ground gives the key to the situation. 



Mr. Hart: The damage comes from the drying and checking of the wood, prevent- 

 ing the downward passage of the sap. 



How many persons in New York state groiv apricots for profit? 



Mr. Willard did not know; but he knew of some instances where the effort had been 

 made with tolerable success. 



Has any one noticed leaf blight on the Japanese plum? 



Mr. Willard: I have never noticed it. 



Is there any mixture that will prevent rot in the plum? 



Prof. Beach: I do not know. 



Mr. Waite did not know. Rot on the peach was caused by the same fungus as on 

 the plum. It was claimed, as a result of some experiments in Delaware, that Bordeaux 

 mixture saved the plum crop from rot, in a favorable season; but he did not consider 

 this conclusive. 



Mr. Willard: Give proper plant food and your will prevent it in a measure. 



Mr. Slingerland: Pick off the mummy plums before spraying, and pick up the 

 rotten ones as they fall, and burn both. 



