Vekmont State Houticultusal Society ?1 



of apple trees per acre, (the limit varying with different vari- 

 eties), the yield is lessened directly in proportion as the number 

 increases over the limit. The following four year average of 

 the orchards set previous to 1880 brings out this point extremely 

 well. 



Average for the years 1900 to 1903 inclusive: 



Trees not over 30 x 30 ........ 189 bushels per acre. 



Trees set between 31x31 & 35x35 222 " " 



Trees set between 36x36 & 40x40 229 " " 



The effect, other than on the crop alone, is not shown at all by 

 the figures. These effects are as follows : ( i ) The trees are 

 ruined by the crowding, (2) the light is shut out from the lower 

 limbs and gradually causes them to die, and (3) the bearing 

 surface gradually approaches the ground area. For example, if 

 trees set 30x30 are crowding the bearing surface approaches 

 900 square feet. If the trees are set 42 x 42 and are good mature 

 trees having a spread of 40 feet they will leave two feet, or 30% 

 of the ground uncovered, and have a bearing surface of approx- 

 imately 4000 square feet. This is four times the area of the 

 crowded tree. From these results two reasons present them- 

 selves for not crowding the trees, (a) they are not so healthy, 

 and (b) the bearing surface is lessened. Perhaps the most seri- 

 ous injury to the crowded trees is the attempt to relieve the 

 condition by removing the large lower limbs, which are dying. 

 Such a procedure leaves a large place on the trunk which it 

 cannot heal, and consequently decay starts in after a while. 



The method of pruning back the top so that it will not in- 

 terefere with the tree next to it is not profitable because the 

 roots of the two trees will be likely to interfere long before the 

 tops do. 



In thinning out the trees some way needs to be selected so 

 as to remove as many of the poor trees as possible and still 

 leave as good looking rows as may be. This can usually be 

 accomplished by cutting out alternate rows diagonally across 

 the orchard. It seems a great pity to go into an orchard where 

 the trees have been planted too close, and cut out half of the nice, 

 vigorous growing trees, but by trampling one's feelings under 

 foot while the thinning is being done the orchard will be very 

 greatly benefited by the operation, although at the time it seems 

 as if an injury were being done. If not thinned the trees would 

 eventually kill themselves. 



Reports of Committees. 



Committee on Nominations : Kinney of South Hero, 

 Vaughan of Randolph, Ballard of Montpelier. 



