SUMMER MEETING AT OREGON. 65 



Time was when trees did fairly well under neglect; but I believe that 

 time is forever past, even in the most favored locations. 



Under these impressions I have faithfully replaced my last year's 

 failures in apple trees, amounting to over one-third of I2,000, and have 

 now a very encouraging prospect. Think the most I will have to re- 

 plant next year will be those that will yet succumb to last year's hard- 

 ship. I will not plant any more leaning to the southwest or any other 

 direction. Which ever way we lean them they will soon overdo the 

 thing, and get in the way for cultivating. We will make a standing job 

 of straightening them and tramp the soil to them the next morning after 

 a heavy rain and wind, when th-:; ground is too wet to cultivate, and we 

 are at a loss for a job. When the ground gets so full of water and loose 

 that the roots lose their hold, they will blow over with the wind which- 

 ever way that happens to be, and such winds are likely to be from the 

 southwest, though not always. 



We will not stump back any more leaders or branches, but trim 

 them smooth as high as I can reach with the knife without reversing it 

 and raising the hand above the head. My observation is that where 

 there are so many branches to draw sap from the roots, none will make . 

 thrifty growth and get too bushy, and I would rather have a few thrifty 

 branches from last year's buds. The next year I dislike to prune up so 

 severely, as it might stunt the roots and diminish the growth. There is 

 doubtless a certain time that surplus branches act as nurses to the tree, 

 and beyond that time they become thieves, but just when that transpo- 

 sition occurs I can only approximate by guessing. 



I like to paint all wounds over half an inch in diameter. As I 

 don't know what kind of paint is most desirable, I have used this spring 

 a black patent paint sometimes called parafine, used by cider makers for 

 painting vats, etc.; it is very impervious to water and acids. We used it 

 also on some out door collar grafting and so far think it answers instead 

 of grafting wax. 



Borers have never invaded my trees seriously till last year, when 

 the flat headed as well as the round headed got in considerable work al- 

 most before I was aware of it. To prevent doubling their injury with 

 the knife in digging them out, I will wash the bodies, crotches and part 

 of the branches with some alkali. Soft soap is known to be effective, if 

 applied as often as it washes off during the breeding season, but if the 

 alkali in it is the effective agent, the lye water should do as well, and I 

 got "old time lye" from Canada potash, which I will keep trying until I 

 find it objectionable. 



H. R. — 4. 



