Swnmer Meeting, 125 



place; and, lastly, the apples are near the ground and can be gath- 

 ered without getting upon high ladders. I could give other reasons 

 for heading trees low, but think this is sufficient. 



My father headed his trees high so a horse could walk under 

 them. And if the limbs rubbed the horse, he cut them off. I have 

 planted three orchards. The first two I headed three to four feet, 

 and the last one, which is eight years old, I headed from one to 

 two and a half feet. I like this much better. Start the head of 

 the tree as near two and a half feet as you can ; the next thing to 

 do is to balance the head of the tree. If the side limbs are more than 

 six or eight inches, cut them back to this length; for the head of 

 the tree, leave six to eight limbs, six or eight inches apart, and as 

 near the same number of limbs on each side as possible. If the 

 limbs are all on one side of the leader, cut them all off and let them 

 come out again, and then form the head the next season. 



If the leader is forked, remove one fork, even if it does dis- 

 figure the tree ; for if you leave it forked, when the tree is eight or 

 ten years old it will be most sure to split and fall. Cut out all 

 limbs that cross each other and rub. Cut the leader off eight inches 

 above the upper side limbs. In July the orchard should be gone 

 carefull}^ over, and all water sprouts started out below the head of 

 the tree should be cut off. Each year the orchard should be gone 

 over, and the side limbs on the leader should be trimmed and bal- 

 anced as first head was formed. In trimming an orchard a tree will 

 frequently be found that has one side of the top heavier than the 

 other. This should be remedied by cutting the heavier side out 

 until it is properly balanced. 



The most convenient time to trim trees is in March and April, 

 before the foliage comes out. The best time is in June, for the 

 cuts sooner heal. It is always in order to take off the suckers and 

 water sprouts and to remove the dead limbs and trees and burn 

 them. 



DISCUSSION ON ORCHARD. 



Mr. Todd — Mr. Dunlap leaves some limbs and cuts some back. 

 The quicker we can get a bud out from the limb the quicker we get 

 help from the soil. The buds first to start come from the ends of 

 the limbs. 



Mr. Steiman — The first year would keep knife in my pocket 

 and use only when necessary. This would save most of the later 

 trimming. 



Col. Dalton — This is my first attendance for many years. Be- 



