Winter Meeting. 141 



I can say without question that there is less aphis on nursery trees 

 today than ever before, because more care is taken. Still it crops out 

 notwithstanding all the care we can use. We can not render trees im- 

 mune from aphis. In Laclede county there is a planter who thinks a 

 nurseryman has infested his entire orchard with aphis. The aphis comes 

 and goes. When we can avoid grasshopper raids we may avoid aphis 

 raids. 



We cut our scions mostly from scion orchards that we planted espe- 

 cially to grow them. They have never borne apples, but they were prop- 

 agated from known trees and we have bearing orchards grown from these 

 scions to prove their correctness. We do not treat our trees in any way 

 from the nursery to the orchard. Fumigation has destroyed more trees 

 than the scale and the aphis and all other pests of the nursery combined. 



DISCUSSION ON NURSERIES. 



N. F. Murray. — I rise to speak a word for the nurseryman. I am 

 no longer in the business, but my past long experience has taught me 

 many of the difticulties under which they labor. It is impossible to 

 grow trees free or immune from the diseases of which we are speaking. 

 The main point is this : people are agitated and excited in regard to these 

 things. They are demanding too much. Some of the best orchards we 

 have were grown from aphis infected trees. For my part I would as soon 

 have a little aphis in the roots of the trees as not. The aphis multiplies 

 the fibrous root system and makes the trees grow faster. A little aphis 

 will usually make no further trouble. 



Mr. Baxter. — I once bought some apple trees of Mr. Murray that had 

 too many fibrous roots. 



Mr. Cook. — I have found aphis in the roots of trees and dipped them 

 in a solution of concentrated lye. I believe the lye solution does good. 

 I do not care much for the aphis. I think ashes around the trees is 

 good for the aphis. Whitewash is also good. Put a little salt or sulphur 

 in your whitew^ash. 



Mr. Butterfield. — I had a friend who wanted to plant 200 acres. He 

 thought he could grow his own trees. He did grow them, but every 

 one of them was covered with aphis. He planted them and put wooden 

 tree wrappers around them. When he rem.oved the wrappers and found 

 his trees covered with aphis, he thought they were ruined, but they were 

 not. That has been one of the most profitable orchards in the country. 



G. T. Tippin. — I believe most nurserymen are careful in the propa- 

 gation of trees. The aphis comes and goes. It is bad this year ; perhaps 

 it will be scarce next year. Most nurserymen are careful in gathering 



