142 STATE HOBTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A. J. Davis — In Cole county we think the high rolling timber lands 

 are the best. They seem to give the best color and the best quality to 

 our fruits. 



S. W. Gilbert — In low lands along the creek bottoms we find a 

 greyish fungus covers the apples and spoils the looks of them very 

 much, as also the quality. For this reason we plant on the high lands. 



Question of Mr. Ames — What has been the treatment of your 

 orchard ? 



J. Ames — The orchard I referred to is my own, a short distance 

 out of Carthage. It has been in cultivation in the small fruits for the 

 last 10 years, and has had the best cultivation and care. The Wine-^ 

 sap trees have failed most ; the Ben Davis the least. 



Have you given it severe pruning? 



Yes; I had one of those professionals in the orchard. 



A. Nelson — Many, very many orchards have been ruined by prun- 

 ing ^too much. Large limbs should not be cutoff. I have tried this 

 method and found it a failure. This seems to explain the failure of 

 Mr. Ames. 



Distance Apart : 



S. W. Gilbert — On rich grounds, 33 feet ; on poor lands, 25 feetv 



J. Ames — I would plant 16? feet each way, and then cut out as 

 soon as they interfere. I find trees do so much better when planted 

 closely. 



J. Kessler — I plant in rows 28 feet apart, trees 14 feet apart in 

 the row, and cut out as soon as they interfere. 



A. J. Davis — I plant 32 feet and alternate with peach. 



Kessler — I know an orchard that is planted thickly, and it does 

 the best of any in my neighborhood. I shall set very closely. 



L. A. Goodman — The idea is to get fruit quickly and the most of 

 it. Now, if you have not grit enough to cut down trees when they are 

 too close, then don't plant them too closely ; but if you can cut down 

 trees when necessary, then plant closely. We can make more money 

 by planting 16? feet each way, and can get four crops off the trees 

 before cutting down. If you can make money by chopping down trees,. 

 why not do so ? I speak from experience, and part of my old orchard 

 was planted that way, and then after three crops part of it was cut 

 down ; after five crops, more were cut down, until they were just the 

 right distance apart. The old stump and roots will give feed to the 

 remaining trees. 



It takes considerable nerve to chop down a good sound tree about 

 six inches through, but if you can do it, then plant closely ; if not^ 

 then do not. 



