THE PENINSULA FARMERS' CLUB— DISCUSSIONS. 89 



Ifc may seem strange to some that setting a tree deep would make it loose iu 

 the ground, but such is the fact. You may find some trees in my orchard that 

 are loose, but it is almost always because they are set too deep. Sometimes a 

 tree has no root on one side, and such trees will loosen. Roots left to them- 

 selves seek a level. If they are set too deep they will be too far from the heat 

 of the sun, and from the air and ammonia that is near the surface. You will 

 find that a tree set too deep will make roots slow. The orchard that was on 

 my place when I bought it, was set by the former owner and the trees were all 

 loose. My son transplanted them, and he found in some instances trees that 

 were one and one-half to two feet deep. 



Mr. Curtis — Mr. Parmelee has alluded to one idea that I had intended to 

 speak of, and that is a leader, and avoid large crotches. Soon after I came 

 here and hearing the discussion on plant growth, I became satisfied that to cut 

 off a large quantity of limbs would retard growth. The trees I bought seemed 

 to have been cutoff four feet from the ground, in the nursery. I could find the 

 old cut, and they were headed out below that; just so sure as we set them in 

 that way they would make crotched trees and this had to be remedied some 

 time. Mr. Strong decided to leave his as they were, but soon as mine were set 

 I went through them and selected a limb for a leader, — and I had not much 

 trouble to find one, except on the Greening. They were the hardest to find a 

 limb that would do for a leader. I cut all the rest of the limbs off a few inches 

 from the body, and in the fall cut off the stubs. My trees did not grow as 

 large tops, and I do not think made as much body as Mr. Strong's, but they 

 made a growth, and were free from disease. Last spring I found these w'hips 

 threw out side branches not as nice on Greenings as on King of Tompkins 

 Co. or Golden Russet, and did not grow as much as Mr. Strong's, but even he 

 admitted that they were nicer trees. I have my trees now in such a position 

 that I can form the top in four or six feet from the ground as I may choose. 

 Mr. Strong's stand as they came from the nursery, crotches getting larger 

 every year. These limbs must be cut off some time and it seems to me that 

 the longer they grow without trimming the greater will be the sacrifice. 

 Those I set last spring I did not trim until fall and then not to get a high top 

 but to get a good shape and avoid all crotches. I shall get as straight trees as 

 before. I got an idea from Thomas Tyrer that is worth a great deal. Suppose 

 you have a tree that has no leader, you can select a limb that will make one, 

 then cut another limb from the opposite side of the tree, leaving a stub some, 

 six inches long; bring the two together and tie with basswood bark, when you 

 will find that the stub will hold the limb in an upright position. 



Mr. E. Franklik — I had to do that way with my peach trees three years 

 ago. They winter-killed and branched out the following summer. Nearly 

 half my orchard was in that fix. I treated them in that way, and now you can- 

 not tell them from the rest. I think the nearer the surface a tree is planted 

 the better, so as it is deep enough that it will not dry out. 



The Club then adjourned for one week. 



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