364 State Horticultural Society. 



at a time, it is almost impossible, without great hazard, to ever get the 

 top in such condition as will make a profitable bearing tree. 



It is a mistake to set trees perpendicularly. They should lean sharp- 

 ly; perhaps twenty degrees to the southwest if you would have them 

 standing erect at bearing. 



Corn, peas, beans or potatoes may be cultivated on young trees, but 

 small grains or grasses never. Wheat, rye or clover is less injurious 

 than oats, which is about equal to a fire in destructive elements. 



It is a mistake to allow cattle or sheep, under any circumstances, 

 to pasture in apple orchards in any season of the year. 



It is a great mistake, after the trees get to be five years old, not 

 to keep the orchard well stocked with young hogs. I find young hogs 

 a very efficient and cheap cultivator to have around the trunk of the 

 tree, if properly encouraged by sprinkling a few handfuls of wheat 

 or rye under the tree where you want rooting done. They are also one 

 of the very cheapest and best exterminators of field mice, which are 

 getting to be one of the worst species of apple tree pests in our Ozark 

 region. I believe a very large per cent of the trees dying from what 

 is generally called "Root Rot" is the effect of underground work of 

 field mice. I have found many trees with the skin or bark of roots 

 nearly all gone when no ravages appeared above ground. In some 

 instances only the roots on one side of the tree will be barked, and the 

 roots on the other side will sustain a feeble, puny existence for perhaps 

 two or three years, when it is examined to see what the trouble is, and 

 only decayed stubs of roots are found on dne side of the tree, when it 

 is diagnosed as root rot, or collar rot, as some term it. I would hail 

 with great interest some effective remedy for exterminating the pest. 



Another mistake I think we all make, more or less, is in allowing the 

 grub and flat-headed borers to take care of themselves, and likewise of 

 the trees. Trees should be carefully examined twice a year, spring 

 and fall, for these pests. Most of us only examine such trees as show 

 by the unhealth}- appearances of the foliage that they are affected. I think 

 the foliage of the trees will not indicate the ravages of borers until the 

 second year after first attacked. There will be nothing lost in exam- 

 ining each and every tree for borers, whether you find them or not. 



This is a feeble attempt, Mr. President, at summing up my experi- 

 ences with apple trees only, as I have had no commercial interest in any 

 other species of orcharding. 



