REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 305 



Sept. 4 — "Market gardening," by Chas. E. Whitney. Discussion led by Orman 

 Baxter. 



Oct. 2— "The grape," by Myron Flanders. Discussion led by Mark Rousell. 



Nov. 13 — "Fertilizers and their application," by F. F. Bowles. Discussion led by 

 Elias E. Canipany. 



Dec. 4 — "The cultivation of celery," by A. R. Williams. Discussion led by C. C. 

 Flint. 



STANDING COMMITTEES. 



On Fruits — Messrs. F. F. Bowles, Geo. Ashton, A. R. Williams, Miss M. M. Peck 

 and Mrs. C. L. Whitney. 



On Flowers — Messrs. C. L. Whitney. C. C. Flint, Geo. Kinsman, Mrs. H. D. Baker, 

 and Mrs, H. H. Holt. 



On Vegetables— Elias E. Campany, Chas. E. Whitney, H. H. Holt, Orman Baxter 

 and Robert Pett. 



After the adoption of this report a discussion was had on "The effect of 

 unripe fruit on the market." Joseph Randall led the discussion, and was 

 followed by Messrs. Campany, Collier, Holt and others. 



The Society then adjourned to meet March 6, at which time George Ashton 

 will read a paper on "Pruning and grafting." Mr. Elias Campany will also 

 read a paper at this meeting on "Fertilizers and their application." 



March Meeting. 



The meeting held on the first Saturday in March was unusually well attended 

 and great degree of interest exhibited by those present in the proceedings. 

 Geo. Ashton read the following paper on the subject of 



Pruning and Grafting. 



He said: "It is essential to the beauty and safety of the tree to have the 

 top as evenly balanced as possible, and, if it can be avoided, not to have any 

 forked trees. Much has been said about low heading apple trees — so much 

 that I think that farmers are led to extremes, thereby making an unsightly 

 tree and one that will not bring the best results. Some varieties, where the 

 branches naturally grow upwards may he headed lower those varieties where 

 the branches grow horizontally. 



"Care should be taken to hav% the branches high enough to allow cultivation 

 and not to have the fruit near the ground. My observation has been that 

 apples growing on branches near the ground are always inferior in size, color 

 and flavor. The best time to prune, in my judgment, is when the sap is 

 flowing freely, as the wounds heal at once, thereby lessening the danger of 

 doing the tree a permanent injury. 



" Pear trees require so little pruning and suffer less from neglect than severe 

 pruning, so that we might say it is immaterial whether or not they are pruned 

 at all. 



" The remarks concerning apple trees will likewise apply to cherry trees. 

 Both cherry and plum trees require as much pruning with the grub hoe as the 

 knife. They are liable to sprout from the roots, and those sprouts must be 

 removed if you would keep your trees in a fruitful, thrifty and healthy con- 

 dition. 



" Currants and Gooseberries — These are neglected as much as any fruit. 

 They are allowed to grow up almost a mass of fruitless branches, and their 

 fruit is inferior. It is said they should be trimmed up as a tree. 

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