96 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



ill". Mcrriman. — I have in iiiiiul a jieach orchard nortli of Grand Eapids that 

 was nicely screened on the west by oak and hickory, which was severely injured, 

 almost destroyed, one winter, while on the same farm and tlie same elevation, an- 

 other orchard open to tlie wind from the same quarter was saved. Aly observa- 

 tion leads me to the belief that dense protection either from evergreens or other 

 screens is not what we want, for every orchard needs a good circulation of air, 

 and although I believe in plantations of evergreens on the west and southwest 

 of orchards, still tliese should l)c only for the iiurpose of checking the wind, 

 and not to produce a calni in the orcliard. An (n'chard of Mr. Ferry's, near 

 Grand Haven, is an illustration of this; at llrst his timber screen was too thick 

 and his reward was injury to his orchard, but by subsequent thinning of the 

 screen he produced just the elTect desired, of stopping the main force of the 

 wind without limiting the circulation of air. 



Mr. Glidden. — As far as holding the snow is concerned I am in favor of 

 evergreens to assist in the process, but I shall be very slow to believe that any 

 change of temperature in the orchard will result from thus ciiecking the wind. 

 The analogy between animal and vegetable life will not work in this case. A 

 man Avill suffer intensely from a wind but little below freezing point, but a 

 tree is not affected in the same way. It has no nerves to be iniluenccd, and is 

 not injured as far as temperature is concerned more in a wind than without the 

 "wind. 



Mr. Garfield. — Still it is true, nevertheless, that the temperature of a ther- 

 mometer is sensibly influenced by a cold wind. The heat in anything is 

 removed by a driving wind more than by still cold air. Why not in peach 

 buds as truly as in a sheep? 



Mr. Dyckman. — The important point on the lake shore is to protect the sur- 

 face of the ground, and Avhatever will hold the snow on, whether it be corn- 

 stubble or evergreens, serves the only purpose we need to consider. 



Mr. llurlbut. — There are just tv,-o points to be looked at in this matter. 

 First, thorougli and complete atmos})heric drainage, which must be accom- 

 plished by having an outlet for the cold air and a broad level tract so that tlie 

 coldest air can have abundant opportunity to settle away from the orchard; 

 second, there must be something on tlie ground to hold the snow, it may be 

 corn-stalks, oa,ts, rye, or a screen of evergreens, liut beyond this I see no 

 reason for any means of protection in the fruit belt. 



Mr. Merrimaii. — My own idea of a screen for an orchard would be a low hedge 

 that would not obstruct the free movement of the air above, and still hold the 

 snow and prevent sweeping winds blowing along close to the surface of the 

 ground. 



Mr. iJyckman. — Xearly or (juitc all the peach trees lost along our lake shore 

 during the severe winters were because of the lack of root protection. I think 

 we need to go very slowly into this matter of screeus, there is great danger of 

 over doing the matter, My choice now would be a thin grove of tall growing 

 trees like Lombardy ])Oplars and some means of protecting the roots. I have 

 thought that a mulch of saw-dust might be the best thing that could be 

 employed. 



Mr. Chapman. — ]\Iy experience has all been such as to lead me toward /ree 

 protection, that is open country, with free circulation of air, with due regard 

 to elevation, and I live in the interior of the State. 



Air. Anderson. — I am surprised to hear any one talking of such protection as 



