1/2 State Horticultural Society. 



of apples in the section, and the trees were healthy. The mulch was 

 better than constant cultivation, and paid because there was less ex- 

 pense. The bodies were healthy and the trees made a beautiful 

 growth. There has been no plow in this orchard for sijiT years, the 

 trees are from nine to thirteen years old. The insects did not bother 

 much and the trees were not spra)'^ed. Bitter rot was not half so bad 

 as when we cultivated. This is true alsO' of two other orchards in 

 the midst of the bitter rot district. The bitter rot struck in the top, 

 the dust rose from the adjoining orchards which were cultivated 

 and where cultivation was given under the trees we have bitter rot 

 first on the bottom limbs. We are now getting rid of bitter rot and 

 our orchard is comparatively covered with a mulch of Japanese 

 clover. I believe the mulch keeps down the spores of bitter rot. 



Member. — I agree with, Mr. Gardner in my observation that the 

 orchard cultivated had bitter rot and lost trees. I approve of the 

 mulch. 



DISCUSSION ON SPRAYING. 



Mr. Shank. — I tried spraying for two years, but was not satis- 

 fied. The first year I prepared my own dust and failed entirely on 

 apples. I'his year I sprayed more thoroughly, eight or nine times, 

 and failed to get any apples that keep, all had the fungus. 



Mr. Hall. — The canker worm got into my orchard, but I saw a 

 sermon by Prof. J. M. Stedman in The Western Fruit Grower and 

 tried his receipt of Paris green and lime. I sprayed once, then the 

 wet Aveather set in and then the harvest which kept me from spraying, 

 but when I examined the trees I could find no living worms, but 

 plenty of dead ones, and I had a pretty crop of apples. I sprayed 

 again this year, and had a good crop of apples. 



G. T. Tippin. — Success is governed by local conditions, certain 

 things cannot be successfully used in one place and be as satisfactory 

 in another. For it is often a matter of climatic conditions. I have 

 been somewhat skeptical about spraying, but it is conceded that suc- 

 cess comes oftener to those who spray than those who do' not. This is 

 seen from experiments in Illinois, New York, Michigan and other 

 states. As a general proposition success comes to those who dili- 

 gently spray. 



Many spraying solutions have been recommended to farmers 

 and horticulturists for apple trees and potato vines. The Canadian 

 government has made extensive experiments with a spray and has 

 recommended its general use. Some of the best orchards have had 



