50 State Horticultural Society. 



sap is another good one. The Willowtwig must be starved as a Kieffer 

 pear and it is safe to leave it in weeds. The Wealthy is good and the 

 Maiden Blush not the least valuable, mine are still bearing at sixty 

 years. It is thrifty and healthy and rewards all labor expended upon it. 

 The Wealthy at twenty-five years is still a good tree. Off of two hun- 

 dred trees we gathered twelve hundred bushels. It needs to be thinned 

 and the cheapest way is to spray while it is in bloom. 



W. H. Barnes. — At this time the Gano are on the tree while the 

 Ben Davis are on the ground. 



Mr. Williamson. — For the eighth variety I would recommend Mis- 

 souri Pippin, especially as it is a good filler. Plan for sixty feet between 

 the trees. It will bear itself to death and can be cut out. 



Bentonville, Ark., June i, 1904. 

 L. A. Goodman, Secretary: 



My Dear Mr. Goodman — Your invitation to meet with your State 

 Horticultural Society in St. Louis June 8-1 1, was duly received, and I 

 feel very much flattered at that part of your letter asking that I prepare 

 a paper on "Orchard Cultivation ;" for am of so limited experience. 



I am trying several experiments on that line of care, and think by 

 next winter I will be able to speak out my judgment. Qean cultiva- 

 tion of a young orchard should continue until June loth to 20th, then 

 sow with cowpeas, or later with rye to be turned under not later than 

 April. And hoe your trees at least twice, three times is better. When 

 the orchard comes into bearing seed to clover and cultivate with the 

 mower. I have 40 acres of 11 -year-old trees which have been in clover 

 for three years, they look well, lost but one tree last year. All Ben Davis 

 show from y% to a full crop. I am sure some trees will have five bar- 

 rels of apples after thinning. 



I use dust spray altogether, have been over it four times and intend 

 leaving one-half with the four sprayings and the balance with six or 

 seven sprayings. We must find out all about it. 



Now I am very sorry I cannot be with you, I would enjoy it, but 

 little wife is sick and I must not leave her; besides I am run over with 

 my little cares. Besides this, I am ashamed of our State Horticultural 

 Society. We hope at our next meeting to undo, as far as possible, the 

 work that was put through at our last meeting. With my very best 

 wishes for you, the society, and its prosperity. 



Sincerely, 



Geo. T. Lincoln. 



