374 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the amount of sucli premiums, and thoy shall appoint all the standinj^ committees. They 

 shall also constitute the committee of Finance. They shall have power to call meetings of 

 the society at such time and place as they shall deem proper. They shall also prepare 

 such by-laws and regulations as they shall deem necessary, subject to the approval ol the 

 society, and call a meeting of the society as often as once a month during the year. 



AuT. 9. The constitution may be altered or amended at any regular meeting of the 

 society by a two-thirds vote of the members present, notice having been given one montli 

 previous. 



DISCUSSIONS, 

 now DEEP TO PLANT TKEES. 



The Manistee Horticultural Society held a meeting at the office of Dr. Ellis, 

 over the post-office, last Monday evening. 



Mr. Mapes exhibited a collection of sprigs which he had cut from the plum 

 trees in the Eisdon orchard, which showed that the trees had borne the recent 

 severe winter without any injury whatever. This exhibition of the hardihood 

 of the plum, and its ability to flourish in this climate, gives renewed hope to 

 the members of the society. 



The society then proceeded to discuss the planting of apples and plums. 



Mr. Parmalteer's theory of planting near the surface was referred to. 



Mr. Mapes would plant from three to six inches deeper on sand than on 

 heavy soil, because the wind had a tendency to blow the sand away from the 

 roots and form an eddy at the foot of the tree. 



Mr. J. G. Ramsdell said if he had to take either extreme in planting he 

 would plant shallow rather than deep, though the soil was so light the tree 

 would need propping. 



Mr. Hurd held the same view. He thought it would be better, if the tree 

 would stand, to plant only two inches below ground. He thought the roots 

 flourished from the sunshine, and the gases absorbed from the air by the earth 

 around the trees. What was charcoal placed around trees for '' For nothing 

 except its absorbing quality. It takes up the ammonia from the air and holds 

 it to the roots. 



Mr. Mapes cited cases where he had the bark scalded and trees killed by 

 setting deep. 



Mr. Russell cited the fact, also, that the soil in this vicinity was not as good 

 deep down as near the surface. 



Mr. Ramsdell said he wouldn't plant an inch deeper than the ground was 

 worked on heavy soil, because water collected around the roots. 



Mr. Russell said he had had the same experience with shrubs. 



Mr. Booth said he had discovered the same difficulty in setting below the 

 worked soil. 



Mr. Ramsdell said he thought from three to four inches deeper than the 

 trees were in the nursery was deep enough for apples and plum trees on all 

 ordinary occasions. 



Dr. Ellis asked if it made any difference which way the long root was set. 

 Mr. Russell said the northeast side of a tree in this vicinity was always the 

 heaviest owing to the direction of the wind, and he thouglit the long root 

 ought to be set in an opposite direction, say southwest. 



