WINTER MEETING AT CARTHAGE. 103 



J. C. Evans — Ou the southern slope of the Ozarks the Minkler is 

 one of the best shipping apples, and it is well enough colored. 



Mr. Murray — It is very late coming into bearing. 



Mr. Evans — We have no trouble iu that respect. All kinds bear 

 well with us. 



Sain Miller — I have had the Shackelford in bearing for three years. 

 I don't see how anyone could mistake it for the Ben Davis ; it is larger, 

 of lighter color and better quality than Ben Davis. 



Mr. Dixon — How does the Willow Twig succeed iu Southwestern 

 Missouri? 



Mr. Tippen — It depends upon the soil where it is planted. In the 

 greater part of our soil it is so subject to black-rot that we get nothing 

 out of it. In clay soils it does well. Some say it breeds the rot. 



Mr. Dixon — It has rotted for me four years in clay soil. It is more 

 subject to the twig blight than any other kind. 



Mr. Gilkerson — From 96 Willow Twig trees, twelve years planted, 

 I gathered 1000 bushels of apples. With me the tree don't blight and 

 the apples don't rot. 



It has been a popular apple in Jasper, and never rotted until this 

 year. 



Mr. Turten — I am confident that Mr. Gilkerson is right ; in some 

 places it does well, in others it fails. 



, Question — How can an old orchard with low heads and spreading 

 branches be cultivated ? 



Mr. Murray — Cultivate first with the common form of corn cultiva- 

 tor; afterward T use a sharp steel-tooth harrow; you can go over the 

 ground fast and often ; there ought not to be any sod in an orchard; grass 

 should never be allowed to grow ; on many of my trees I cut off the 

 old crooked branches, and leave some of the water-sprouts to renew 

 the head of the tree ; cut off the branches where they bend down. 

 Some varieties, such as the Wine-sap, do well treated in this way. 



Small mules, such as will not sell in the market, can be used to 

 good advantage; use hameswith no projection above the mules' shoul- 

 ders. If we would spend one-half as much time and labor in caring 

 for our orchards as they do in California, I think it would pay us well. 



