306 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



" Raspberries should be cut back closer than most farmers cut them — say two 

 feet. The weaker canes should be removed and not more than six of the 

 strongest allowed to stand. 



"Black caps should be cut off during the summer season, but the reds should 

 be allowed to grow and be cut in the spring. 



" Why not prune strawberries ? It would be difficult to prune them after 

 the manner of pruning other fruit — by removing a part of the plant — but with 

 a pair of sharp scissors a man can cut a portion of the fruit spurs in a day 

 from a good-sized patch of strawberries. 



" Grapes — In pruning one year old vines they should be cut back to three 

 buds. The second year they shouldn't be cut so close — say to six buds. The 

 third year they may be allowed to bear lightly. Our object in pruniog should 

 be to prevent the main vine from running too far from the root, and as it is 

 impossible to keep them of uniform height, we will say that they may vary 

 from 18 to 36 inches. But some say it is natural for the grape vine to grow a 

 long vine, and if we interfere with nature's laws we injure the vine and cur- 

 tail the crop. I answer that it is the nature of the apple tree to grow from 50 to 

 60 or 70 feet high, and so thick with branches that a small bird would find it 

 difficult to fly through them, yet no one is so foolish as to say that an apple 

 tree should be allowed to grow as it pleased, in order to bring the best results. 



" I never was a believer in summer pruning but have ever held that it was 

 wrong both in theory and practice. In an article read before this society in 

 1882 the writer gave as his remedy for disease of the grape, early summer 

 pruning, thereby turning the flow of sap from the vine, making a channel into 

 the grape, giving it vigor and hardiness to resist attack. I assert that the sap 

 that produces wood will not produce grapes. There is as great a difference in 

 their composition as in flesh and bone. 



" Scientists tell us that flesh-producing food will not make bone and vice versa. 

 I understand there is an upward and downward flow of sap. As it flows 

 upward and through the branches the wood-producing food is taken up and is 

 used in making and ripening the wood. When it reaches the leaves the wood- 

 producing food is all taken up, and what is left returns to the root or as much 

 of it as is not taken up by the grape, and in its way it builds up the grape. 

 Later in the season the action of the sun on the leaves converts part of it into 

 sugar, thereby sweetening our grapes. Hence^ I assert that summer pruning 

 will not benefit the grape a particle. I have Known grapes to be ruined by 

 summer pruning. If we want to stimulate the fruit to more rapid growth or 

 strengthen it to resist disease, what is the rational course to pursue? I 

 answer to remove a portion of the fruit. But I have been asked the question 

 whether I ever summer prune. In certain cases I do. I take away all shoots 

 that come up from the root, cutting them off, under the surface, and sometimes 

 take off a part of the useless branches from the stock. In case of a vine put- 

 ting out a multitude of branches, and none of them growing well, I remove all 

 but two or three of the strongest, but I never take a leaf off a vine bearing 

 grapes. In all your pruning be careful to cut close to the trunk and not have 

 your vines or trees ornamented with unsightly snags " 



Mr. Randall, of Norton, then led in a discussion, taking up the points in the 

 paper read, carefully, one by one, and also gave illustrations as to his manner 

 of pruning. He thought different climates and soils required different 

 methods of pruning. He did not agree with Mr. Ashton in regard to pruning 

 apple-trees. Thought the best time was when the trees were in blossom ; did 



