WINTER MEETING. 139 



Mr. Kessler— The theory of the whole root is that the small end 

 of the root has not enough vitality to give a good, healthy growth, and 

 it produces only lateral roots, whereas the crown graft, with a piece of 

 root eight inches long, will produce both tap and lateral roots, which 

 are necessary to the best development of the tree. 



Question — Does not the tree you hold in your hand answer the 

 question of a good tree "? 



Kessler — Ko. Here we have only lateral roots, and no tap-root. 

 I want to find the best way, and am looking for the truth. 



Question — Does the Ben Davis ever grow a tap-root ? 



President Evans — 'So, never. I never yet saw an apple-tree of 

 over 10 years of age that had a tap-root, and I have pulled up hun- 

 dreds of them at 20 years, but not one of them had a tap-root. 



I think the best tree is the one which is on its own root. We 

 plant varieties that bear young and they bear their all within 20 years. 



J. C. Bender — Have not our trees deteriorated by continual pro- 

 pagation ? Had we better not go back and produce new trees ? Apple 

 and all trees get 95 % of their substance out of the air, and every tree 

 will produce fertility enough for itself. In fact, I think, as I say in my 

 paper, that the tree makes the soil and not the soil the tree. When a 

 tree begins to fail it will over-bear. 



One thing impoverishes the soil, exposure to sun and air and rain. 

 Fertile virgin soil holds the most moisture and holds it longest. The 

 •circulation of the sap is only downward. If not, then when we graft 

 an apple the fruit would be spoiled. 



(The above statements were objected to by many members and 

 exceptions taken to the assertions.) 



A. Nelson — What we want is results, and we want them quickly, 

 too. If I can take a one-year tree and plant it in orchard and grow it 

 six years and then get $100 per acre for the fruit, I am satisfied, and 

 that is what we are doing up our way. 



Mr. Evans — A ivhole-root tree can be grown, but is not practicable. 

 We can make more money to grow quickly, and when they are past 

 their best take them out. 



Question — Does an apple-tree have a tap-root after it becomes 

 of age? 



Secretary — Xo, the apple-tree begins to lose its tap-root at once 

 after the first year's growth from the seed. You may plant an apple- 

 seed and the first year the root is one straight root. The second 

 year the tap-root grows very little deeper, but sends out side-roots in 

 abundance, and the next year more so ; so that at the end of the 

 third year the apple-seedling (never moved) has very little deeper root 



