FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. 55 



DISCUSSION. 



President Farrand — The control of fruit growing diseases is one of 

 the greatest things in connection with fruit growing, so let us make use 

 of Mr, Hutchins who comes from a belt where the "yellows" and "little 

 peach" have abounded. 



Mr. Wilde — I would like to inquire if Mr. Hutchins thinks it neces- 

 sary to cut the tree down and destroy it by burning those affected by 

 the yellows, immediately on finding it. I have seen many who have cut 

 them down and left them in the orchard for sometime before burning 

 them — what is his opinion? 



Mr. Hutchins — Well, I have no doubt that when men begin to ask that 

 question they begin to get on dangerous ground. Where you see that 

 practiced you usually notice that disease exists. Where people get care- 

 less and do not think it necessary to use precaution the disease stays 

 with them. The law requires that the trees shall be cut down and I 

 think it is a pretty safe course to follow. 



A Member — The law limits to ten days. 



Mr. Hutchins — Two or three days would not do any hurt. 



Mr. Wilde — T^Tiat is your opinion? 



Mr. Hutchins — Mr. Wilde wants my indi^ddual opinion. I shall not 

 hesitate to give it. The danger is it might allow leeway to someone else. 

 \Miat I might say would be liable to be taken up and an inference drawn 

 that it was not necessary to do anything. 



President Farrand — Have you answered that question? 



Voice — No. 



Mr. Morrell — Wlmt do you do, Mr. Hutchins? 



Mr. Hutchins — If I have a man that understands the disease I send 

 him around and have him cut the trees down; if I do not have such a 

 man I go and cut them down myself. 



Mr. Morrell— Then what? 



Mr. Hutchins — I go after them with the horse and snake them all to- 

 gether, build a fire, trim off the limbs, put them on the fire and bum 

 them. 



Mr. Morrell — Within five days? 



Mr. Hutchins — Not always within five days. 



A voice — Do you pull out the roots? 



Mr. Hutchins — Yes, sir. Now you asked my opinion and I am not 

 adverse to giving it. I have an idea that when the trees are cut down 

 and the limbs are dry — and they will dry in a few days — that the disease 

 stops there — that is my opinion. However, my opinion is one thing and 

 the law another, I would not advise you to tamper with this disease. You 

 will certainly be safe in cutting them down and burning them, and do 

 it vigilantly and promptly. 



A Member — I have heard it said that there was danger in dragging 

 these trees through the orchard. 



Mr. Hutchins — That is a matter of opinion. I think my opinion is 

 as good as that of a good many othei^. Personally, I do not think there 

 is any danger in that respect, but I am frank to say that I do not know 

 positively. I know some people who imagine that they can trace disease 

 through an orchard where these diseased trees have been pulled, and 

 I have never said myself, that it was so, but my opinion is that there 

 is no danger from this source. 



