PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING 123 



tliis process. The fniit devcloiis as a rccejilaclc foi* the seed to <^i'Ow in, 

 and its development depends verv larj^cly on the stamina of the seeds. 

 Orcliaids shouUl be ])riini'd in .March to n'lieve tliem of snij)lus ])ii(ls, so as 

 to X)revent the exhauslivc sccrdions of ])olh*n. I want to call special 

 attention to strawberries in rejiaid to I his. They form tlieir fruit buds in 

 the fall and are ready to burst into ])loom the first warm days of si)ring. 

 Now, we lake uj) these ])lants, dislnibin^- their roots just as the exhaustive 

 process begins, which must be prcNcntcd in newly set plants by removing 

 fruit buds before they open. I never fail to give this important matter 

 strict attention. I'lants treated in this way will show a larger and finer 

 develo])nient of fruit buds in the fall, and the next season the fruit will 

 be larger and better in every way than on i)lants not so treated. 



Lack of proper cultivation and of fei'tility of soil are other prominent 

 causes of unfavorable bud variation. IManters undertake too much, and 

 neither cultivate nov fertilize one half so much as they should. Good 

 quality is always the result of a stimulus. 



It is a common complaint among fruitgrowers that trees and plants 

 do not fruit true to variety ordered. The trees furnish abundant evidcice 

 of having been grafted or budded, yet the fruit in no way resembles any 

 known variety, and I ask the question, may not this be the result of bud 

 variation arising out of almost universal practice of taking scions from 

 young trees in the nursery rows for many years in succession, without 

 fruiting them to learn what variations are taking place? 



These trees are often grown on low ground and on soil not congenial to 

 them, the whole aim being to secure large, smooth trees which will catch 

 the eye of the planter and make a sale. Under these conditions it is rea- 

 sonable to suppose that unfavorable bud variation will be very great. 

 'Tis a well-known law of nature that a faculty or power which is never 

 exercised becomes impotent. Hence trees or plants which are propagated 

 year after year Avithout encouraging the tendency to develop fruit buds, 

 lose the disposition to do so, and I believe that the tardiness of orchards 

 in coming into bearing, and their general unfruitfulness, are largely 

 due to bud variations, arising out of this method of propagation. 



Since strawberry-growing has become so profitable, a large demand has 

 been created for plants, and many nurserymen and plant-growers have 

 secured low land excessively' rich in nitrogen, which tends to make plants 

 " vine}'," or to produce an excessive number of runners. They mat so 

 thickly the sunlight is excluded from crowds and lower foliage. It is a 

 well-established fact that strong fruit buds will not form in dense shade, 

 and if these })lants are propagated in this w^ay year after year the}' lose 

 their tendency to form fruit buds or develop fruit. 



I regard it as of the utmost importance that plants and trees should be 

 propagated not only from stock possessing full vigor, but on land con- 

 genial to them in such a way as to encourage the tendency to fruitage. 

 In the strawberry propagating beds, plants should be so separated that 

 both Clowns and foliage should be fully exposed to the sunlight. 



Plants may be said to be ])arasit('s. They attach tlienis(^lves to the soil, 

 send down their roots, find and ai)i)ropriate their food. A graft inserted 

 in another tree secures rootage and takes its nourishment from the 

 stock, preserving its individuality the same as cuttings rooted in the 

 ground. The influence of stock on graft has been a theme for much discus- 



