PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 63 



Mr. Morrill: In about ten or fifteen days from now, and then use every 

 nice day, every day that will be comfortable for the men. 



Mr. Rice: If after beginning your pruning, ten days from now, you 

 were not able to get through before the sap started to flow freely, would 

 you discontinue your pruning for that season, or would you prune, and 

 abide by the results? 



Mr. Morrill : I never stop until I finish, though I would hustle around 

 and get help. 



Q. Would there be any serious damage from pruning, should there 

 come a frost? 



Mr. Morrill: On what is known as the Pier farm, north of me, there 

 are six hundred acres which are largely set to fruit. The foreman is an 

 intelligent German, and he was telling me a few days ago that for four 

 or five years he has done his pruning in the winter, whatever he could. 

 He told me, Monday, that they were all done now, and so far he has 

 never seen any damage. I know he is an observing man, and careful. 

 I almost wish my men were pruning now, but the days will be longer 

 by and by. 



Prof. Slayton: There is no great difference at what time you cut 

 back the annual growth, but the earlier you do it the further you must 

 cut from the last bud you want to grow. If you cut in January, cut 

 one fourth of an inch beyond, because the bark will kill down a certain 

 distance, according to the length of time until the bud starts to grow. 

 If you do it the first of April you must cut close to the bud. 



Mr. Morrill : Our time of pruning being March and Aj)ril, we cut close 

 to the bud we wish to draw out, and it always comes. There is one 

 thing I have noticed, that has made me think the fall might be a good 

 time for pruning. In budding we have selected trees in the orchard 

 that we like to use the wood from. We take them off in September, the 

 strong terminal shoots, such as will do for budding, and the tree throws 

 out very strong buds. The balance of the wood develops very strong 

 fruit buds, and they winter perfectly, and those trees appear to be getting 

 better and better. I know that a few years ago a theory was put out 

 of September and October shortening in of peaches, but I was always a 

 little skeptical; but this practice for a number of years, on the same 

 trees, has led me to believe, by the results observed, that it is all right. 



