96 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



ual that YOU put in there forever remains an individual, separate from the 

 tree just as mucli as a plant is separate and apart from the ground. We 

 have discussed that question for years in our horticultural societies and 

 no one has ever introduced conclusive proof that the stock has any in- 

 fluence on the graft, any further than to furnish it nutriment. There are 

 two individuals, one individual ])roducing the new pear a'ou grafted there, 

 and the}- will produce the two fruits right up to that point, but the one 

 is simply rooted in, just the same as a cutting is in the ground. There are 

 two individuals, one a parasite living on the stock and the other living in 

 the ground. 



Prof. Taft : I think the president was exactly right in what he said, that 

 in this case the graft did not in any way affect the growth of the tree. 

 I think myself if that tree had been cut back for grafting, it would have 

 made just as good growth as it did using the two varieties. I think there 

 is an effect of the graft sometimes. Suppose you have a very weak variety 

 for a stock. If you graft on that some strong, healthy kind, that may 

 make a growth and supply foliage to the tree, you will get increased 

 growth. In the case mentioned. I do not think the graft had anything to do 

 with the tree. 



PRUNING PEAR TREES. 



Mr. Croy: I wish to ask Prof. Taft if he would recommend the cutting 

 back of pear trees. If so, how much of each year's growth? 



Prof. Taft: It depends. In case of dwarf pears, as a rule, I would cut 

 them back anywhere from a half to even three quarters, and in the case 

 of standard pears it de])ends on the growth of the varieties. On very 

 strong varieties I cut back often three quarters; if they are round, hardy 

 kinds, of short growth, I would reduce that amount; but I do, in the case 

 of young pear trees, for a number of years, cut back the growth anywhere 

 from a fourth to a half or even three fourths. 



Q : For how many years ? 



Prof. Taft: I believe even after they get to bearing they ought to be 

 €ut back some. 



Mr. Slayton: Until bearing checks the growth, would you not? 



Prof. Taft : Yes, sir. 



Mr. Slayton: A tree in- that condition is something like a man having 

 a hundred sheep and only feed enough for sixty. Had he better keep the 

 hundred or cut off forty? 



Mr. Kellogg: Mr. Stearns always cuts back, as I understand it; he has 

 liracticed that for years, and, as I understand, Mr. Morrill does his orchard, 

 too. 



Mr. Morrill : Yes, and my peaches and plums. 



