WINTER MEETING. 275 



out quite near the ground. The cherry requires but little pruning. 

 Keep all dead wood cut out, and all crossing or interfering branches 

 should be removed while young. Clean, thorough cultivation should 

 be given the young trees, but when they come into bearing it is best 

 not to induce too much growth. The ground may be sown to clover, 

 which should be cut two or three times during the season and allowed 

 to remain on the ground to add nitrogen and act as a mulch. I have 

 often noticed trees bearing successive crops of tine cherries while 

 standing in tough sod or in hard packed door yards. I would not say, 

 in view of this fact, that it is best to discontinue cultivation entirely 

 when the tree comes into bearing, because I have seen other trees bear 

 just as good crops under cultivation ; and then, in the case of trees in 

 door yards, the curculio is no doubt at a great disadvantage by the dif- 

 ficulty of working in the hard ground and being frequently disturbed 

 by persona passing and by poultry. This suggests the question of 

 spraying, which cannot be ignored if we wish to grow perfect fruit. It 

 is questionable if the curculio can be successfully combatted by spray- 

 ing. Jarring is much more reliable, and yet it is pot always practica- 

 ble. 



The habits of the insect should be carefully studied, and efforts 

 put forth to restrict as much as possible their increase. Chickens are 

 very useful in destroying them, and should, therefore, be allowed the 

 run of the orchard from early spring till the fruit is harvested. Hogs, 

 also, are useful in helping to exterminate the insect. By their rooting 

 under the trees, no doubt many of the insects are thrown out from 

 their resting places and either perish from the weather or become the 

 prey of birds. The aphis often becomes very troublesome on the 

 cherry by sucking the life out of the tree through the leaves. They 

 are quite easily killed by spraying wijth kerosene emulsion. 



This whole matter of spraying is fully set forth by bulletins issued 

 by all the states and the Department of Agriculture at Washington, 

 and to them I would refer any one interested. 



Gr. P. TuENEE, Meadville, Mo. 



Thursday, 2 p. m. 



The meeting was called to order. 

 Report of Committee on Final Resolutions. 



The motion of Mr. Rice that report of Committee on Resolutions 

 be accepted was withdrawn. 



