126 State Horticidtural Society. 



ing by nature and constitution a morlost man, I inl:ended to remain 

 quiet, but find it hard to do so. I don't agree with the papers at 

 all. I think all are wrong on the subject of tree trimming. I may 

 be wrong; I've known myself to be wrong sometimes. I have been 

 planting trees over 30 years, and believe we ought to plant tree for 

 a good old age. I wouldn't give one good old man for half a dozen 

 poor young men. I want nothing older than a 2-year-old tree, and 

 no matter how much top it has, I cut it to a switch. The injury 

 done to the roots in changing from one place to another demands 

 this. The tree is not making top at first, but root, and wants the 

 best root system possible. The tree wants the sun specially. I 

 don't want a big top to make tree loose in the soil, and I not only 

 cut to a switch, but head; that I cut B. D. high, because it droops so, 

 while Rome Beauty or Grimes' Golden, being upright growers, 

 need a lower head. Pay attention to this character of growth. I 

 want a high top with good strong stem. You wouldn't want a man 

 with all body and no legs. Trim all broken and injured roots and 

 cut SQ the cut part rests flat on the ground. A great deal of injury 

 comes from careless planting and from planting in soil not adapted 

 to this business. I am satisfied I am correct. I want the sun and 

 air to get to roots, and to be able to plow close to the tree, same as 

 I do to corn. This makes deep rooting. Low heading is a fatal 

 practice, for I want the tree so I can put a horse close to it. Culti- 

 vate thouroughly to give tree health and vigor. This will give long 

 season of fruitfulness. I listened to the counsel of wise men in the 

 years gone by and headed my trees low. The great arms extend 

 out wide, and when they get heavy they break down. I had a fine 

 Ben Davis orchard with heads low; in 20 years not a tree left but 

 the replants, while trees I headed high gave fine returns and are 

 strong and fruitful. Top your Ben Davis breast-high ; protect trees 

 by taking hames off; don't use hames in the orchard. 

 An old man needs cultivation as well as a boy, and this is true of a 

 tree as well. Keep the earth stirred, so it can get sunlight and air, 

 and I believe th high-headed trees will live longer and bear more. 



Senator Dunlap — Mr. Stringfellow says cut off all the roots 

 and Mr. Dalton says all the tops. We who haven't faith enough 

 for the two extremes adopt a medium course with satisfactory re- 

 sults. Start head 21/2 ov 3 feet from the ground and space limbs a 

 few inches apart. 



Mr. Tippin — Under new business, I wish to refer to a matter 

 named in the President's address — in fixing value of orchards 

 in any section of the State. No two or three men can agree on 



