THE MAPLE MONARCH. 221 



Came from the soul of the monarch great. 

 As it stood Hke a regal king in state. 



It shielded oft from the norther's blast. 

 In summer a grateful shade it cast. 

 And tlie birds swept thru its branches green. 

 While 'neath its boughs were the children seen 

 \Mien schoolroom tasks and graver cares 



Had never a part in their affairs. 

 With fifty years of strength and vim, 

 Of stature great, intact of limb— 

 The tornado o'er it light had sped — 



But alas, for the glory forever fled ! 

 They sacrificed the giant there 

 \\'hen they opened up a thoroughfare. 



— Oiarles H. Hansen. 



CHOP TALK NO. 4, 



W'YMAX ELLIOT, MIXXEAPOLIS. 



In digging apple trees this fall, a very great difference was 

 plainly seen in the size and appearance of trees in the same row. 

 I questioned why there was so great a variation in the growth and 

 productiveness of seedlings and trees of the same variety, under 

 similar conditions, where the soil seemed to be of an even texture 

 and fertility. What could cause the difference in thriftiness? Was 

 it bud variation or some unseen afifinity between the soil and roots 

 of that particularly large tree? With grafted trees this is in a 

 measure explained by lack of affinity between scion and root. Then 

 again all trees of the same variety do not grow alike when grafted 

 on seedling roots, even when grown from seed of fruit from the 

 same tree, some being large and some small weaklings. 



In all orchards there is a wide variation in tree growth and 

 productiveness. I know of no way to produce a uniform growth, 

 in nursery or orchard row, unless more care is taken in selecting 

 trees W'ith the same kind of root system and which thereby grow 

 the same vigorous tops. 



\\'e have one Pomona currant bush which produced, two years 

 after planting, six boxes of fruit and the following year yielded 

 eighteen boxes, the bunches being so large a man picked them in 

 one hour ; other bushes, in the same row, produced not one-half 

 as many. Here is an instance of bud or some other variation from 

 normal productiveness. I would advise any one interested in pro- 

 ducing new or improving old varieties to choose these exceptionally 



