Winter Meeting. , 309 



DISCUSSION ON HARDINESS. 



Secretary Goodman — I would ask if cover crops have anything 

 to do with the hardiness. 



Dr. Whitten — We have arrived at no definite conclusion. A 

 few years ago nearly every orchard with a cover came through 

 much the best. The opinion is that generally where clean culti- 

 vation is practiced we ought to stop early enough to allow a cover 

 crop to grow. 



Prof. Lazenby — I can corroborate what Dr. Whitten has said. 

 I have found most all injury to the roots of peach trees occurs 

 where the ground is bare. Most all of our growers stop cultivation 

 early enough to grow a cover crop. 



President Dutcher — I would ask the professor whether or not 

 he can present a wash which will destroy the mice. Understand 

 it is a question of chemistry, not of botany or bugology. 



Dr. Whitten — We will take up this matter at the Station, and 

 think it safe to say we can do some work on it. Prof. Stedman has 

 done more along this line than any other man at the Station. This 

 part of the work has fallen largely into his hands. We will do 

 what we can to test this question if the Society thinks we need to 

 take it up. - 



President Dutcher — Mr. Johnson refers to a chemist in Kansas 

 City. If he can do anji^hing effective in this line, he will cover 

 himself with both glory and money. 



Mr. May — Don't think that a wash will work below the sur- 

 face, where the main trouble is. 



Mr. Horsfall — The rain would wash off the preparation from 

 the body of the tree and it would have to be repeated. 



Secretary Goodman — Would like to say to Mr. Bell that a tree 

 planted as deep as the sample shown (about fourteen inches below 

 the nursery line) , ought to be killed. 



PEAR CULTURE. 



(By W. D. Oraig, Galena, Mo.) 



I will give you a few lines on pears as I know them as a 

 grower, not as an expert, for I have never dug deep down into the 

 subject. 



The pear, as a fruit, is one of the nicest and most delicious 



