502 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



we pause to inquire why the question was ever asked. The reply comes back 

 to us from the State of New York, saying that their trees or fruit buds fre- 

 quently fail ; if they do not they get so large a crop that the fruit is small and 

 does not bring remunerative prices. One of the principal peach growers in 

 Delaware said last fall that a full crop of fruit in that State was an exception. 

 Having five million bearing trees scattered over the entire State, such is the 

 case that but a portion of the State has a crop, the failure sometimes arising 

 from a premature swelling and weakening of the buds, so that a moderate cold 

 spell, which comes in streaks, will kill them, as will also late spring frosts after 

 the trees bloom or the fruit is set. 



Such a case never happened here; the only loss we have experienced has 

 been in a few trees in exposed localities, which were frozen in the root by the 

 bursting of the root cells during a cold, windy spell of weather winter before 

 last. One thought this did not account for the loss of his trees, which were 

 set in a low, wet place, and the roots covered deep with sand. The quantity of 

 moisture there caused the soil to freeze deep. This suggests the careful set- 

 ting of trees, more than any fault in the climate. A little mulch for dry knolls 

 or a drain for wet places will remedy the evil. 



BEST CONDITION OF TREES FOR WINTER. 



South Hayen, Dec. 7, 1874. 



In regard to the best condition of trees for winter, Geo. L. Seaver said the 

 top and roots should be thoroughly ripened in the fall, all bruised and split 

 limbs should be carefully removed and the cut surfaces protected with paint or 

 anything to prevent excessive evaporation. The grubs should be removed 

 from the roots, and care be taken in cutting them out to destroy as few per- 

 pendicular lines of bark as possible. The cavity made by the borer should be 

 all cut out and the edges made smooth with a sharp knife to assist the tree in 

 healing them up. The trees should then be banked up about six inches and 

 the ground be left sloping from the trunk. 



D. C. Loveday thought more care should be taken in ripening the wood of 

 the tree. This was best done by thoroughly draining the land and keeping 

 the top of the tree well thinned out, thus permitting the heat, light and mois- 

 ture to mature the wood. 



C. T. Bryant thought clean culture assisted in ripening the tree, and after 

 the wood and buds were well ripened, he would stop cultivation of the soil, but 

 would hoe off or pull any weeds appearing later in exposed places ; would mulch 

 the ground with coarse litter. 



South Hayen, Dec. 14, 1874. 



A good attendance was early present at the meeting of the Pomological So- 

 ciety, including members from a distance and several strangers from abroad. 

 The time for holding an annual festival was set for the first Monday evening 

 in January, at Monroe's Hall, at which time it is expected that the newly 

 elected President will deliver his inaugural address; also several addresses will 

 be read by members chosen for the occasion. 



