122 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Frank Hammon's paper oq "Planting an Orchard" drew out an ex- 

 tended discussion. 



N. F. Murray approved the paper, especially the using of the lister. 

 Work should also be done with precision and care, as suggested, not 

 with a "lick and a promise." If we would do the work as thoroughly 

 as CaliforniauB have done we should beat them. 



Geo. T. Tippin inquired the proper depth of planting, Mr. Ham- 

 mon said to set the tree so as to have it the same depth as it grew in 

 the nursery. He plowed two feet; of course, it would settle some^ 

 Mr. Tippin said he asked the question for the benefit of new planters. 

 Mr. Hammon was correct. He instanced cases where some lost two 

 years' growth by planting too deep. 



Col. Evans said the most important point in the paper was the 

 deep plowing. Subsoiling is of vast importance. Mr. Murray advised 

 suitable drainage in addition to subsoiling. J. B. Durand said an 

 orchard should not be planted where underdrainage is necessary. 

 There is plenty of land in Missouri for commercial orchards that needs 

 no drainage. Of course if a man wants a family orchard and his ground 

 needs a drainage, it should be properly prepared. 



W. A. Gardner does not believe in root rot. Secretary Goodman 

 said the wooly aphis does much damage in South Missouri, and there 

 is a fungus growth on live roots. He endorsed subsoiling, and said 

 the bad effects of deep planting can never be overcome. Kerosene 

 emulsion would kill wooly aphis. The best medicine for all these 

 trees is thorough cultivation. 



W. A. Gardiner declared there was no sign of fungus killing trees — 

 it was not found below the root rot. Mr. Murray did not deny the ex- 

 istence of fungus disease, but the injury resulted from other diseases. 



Alvin Dixon stated that the Benton County Horticultural Society 

 appointed a committee to investigate the cause of the death of trees. 

 Some said the wooly aphis had caused the destruction, others said it 

 had not. Prof. Whitten inquired as to the character of the land where 

 the aphis was found, and he said the fungus does attack live trees. 



Mr. Hammon, of Amoret, gave results of deep planting. When in 

 California his company sold a lot of prune trees to a new planter who 

 was certain his foreman understood just how to set them out. The 

 trees were planted eight inches too deep and they died from root rot> 

 The buyer complained and wanted the trees replaced, but the nursery 

 company told him the trouble was in the planting. The next lot was 

 set out by the nurserymen at the proper depth and the trees did iinely. 

 Fungus only attacks unhealthy trees. 



