1885.] AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSERYMEN. 221 



Varieties and Frojyar/Ktion of the Cherry. — The clean sweep of 

 the cherry trees l)y the past severe winters led to constant queries 

 in regard to the cherries on trial from the east plain of Europe. 

 This will result in the importation of many thousands of small 

 trees next winter, of the varieties grown on the plains east of the 

 Carpathians in Europe. . . . The need of a hardier stock for the 

 cherry was also discussed pro and con. Those who root-grafted on 

 ]\Iazzard roots had no trouble in the way of root-killing, wliile 

 budded trees left the tender stock so near the surface tliat it had 

 been root-killed. 



Best Methods of Graftiiuf and Storing Boot-Grafts of cherry, plum, 

 and pear were talked of. Experts in root-grafting agreed : (1) 

 That scions should be kept dry. (2) That side grafting is best. 

 (3) Tliat modern linseed oil should not be used, but that wax 

 softened with alcohol is best. (4) That quite dry packing is best 

 for cherry after grafting, and that dirt cellars, with earth covering, 

 are safest and best for keeping regular and perfect air conditions of 

 cellar. If cellars are used with dry cold walls overhead, on which 

 the moisture of the air is condensed in cold weather, the air 

 becomes too dry. In the early spring such walls also tend to heat 

 the air, and start the buds prematurely. Instances Avere given of 

 perfect success in root-grafting the cherry wlien stored in old dirt 

 caves, and perfect failure when in the best of modern cellars with 

 cold rooms of approved construction overhead. 



Commercial and Home Varieties of the Apple. — The widespread 

 losses of nursery and orchard trees the past winter, and indeed of 

 the past three winters, of standard sorts, such as Jonathan, Dominie, 

 Grimes' Golden, Ben Davis, Willow, etc., led to long discussions in 

 regard to changes of list. Many contended that no change was 

 needed, as these extreme seasons are very infrequent ; while an 

 equal or greater number contended that our planters would lose 

 faith and quit all attempts to grow the apple, over a large portion 

 of the west, if confined to varieties liable to fail when nicely com- 

 ing into bearing. . . . 



The Hardy Catalpa. — The growing of this plant by the million 

 for grove-making on the prairies, has received a check by the 

 losses of the past winter. The veteran Robert Douglas did not 

 hesitate to remind growers that he had not recommended it for 

 planting as a timber tree north of the 41st parallel. A fruit tree 

 injured Ijy winter may linger along for several years, and produce 

 much marketable fruit, but the timber tree with injured patches of 

 trunk and dead terminal branches cannot produce sound and 

 perfect wood. It is useless to say that such winters may not recur 

 often in a lifetime. Another may occur within five years, or even one. 



