MY EXPERIENCE IN SPRAYING THE ORCHARD. 221 



same period. Up to the time they bhghted, the Transcendants and 

 the Hyslops in my orchard showed the same increase noted for 

 the Wealthys and the Whitneys. The Virginias also showed an 

 increase until attacked last year and this year by a blight, which 

 affected the fruit and foliage but did not appear to injure the 

 trees, and it is evidently of only temporary injury. The Wealthys 

 blighted rather badly in 1903 but have since recovered. Blighted 

 limbs, so far as possible, are promptly removed and burned. The 

 bearing quality of the trees has evidently been aided by the spray- 

 ing as well as by other care. It is evident to the writer that apple 

 trees are very quick to respond to good treatment and will well 

 repay all careful attention to their needs. 



Prof. Washburn : I was under the impression while listening 

 to that paper that something he did in that orchard or to that 

 orchard (and he did so many things so carefully) in the winter 

 and spring had something to do with the good results he obtained. 

 I have some doubt, however, as to the etficacy of some of the appli- 

 cations he made. I would like to ask him how strong an emul- 

 sion he used? 



Mr. Rowell : I do not remember.. I followed the standard for- 

 mula. I could not say exactly whether they were by the formula 

 recommended. Of course, in some cases I used a weaker solution 

 and in some cases a stronger. I am not aware that there was 

 any injury. I have been in doubt as to how much benefit I 

 derived. The results showed that they were benefited by something, 

 but they did not receive any great amount of fertilizing material or 

 anything of that kind. I have an idea that to spraying perhaps 

 fifty per cent was due, and fifty per cent to other causes. 



Mr. Gust Johnson : I would like to ask him when he does his 

 pruning, in the spring or fall? 



Mr. Rowell : I prune in the winter because I have more time, 

 and I have sometimes pruned so freely that when I was through 

 there were a good many dead limLs lying around on the ground. 

 I painted over the stubs, and I never noticed any injury. The big 

 crops come along just the same. The first pruning was done when 

 I took the orchard. I do not believe in meddling with the natural 

 growth of the tree unless it is necessary. 



Mr. Brackett : I believe the best time to prune is when your 

 knife is sharp. 



A Thriving Peerless Orchard. — R. W. Chapman, of Plainview, 

 writes in regard to the Peerless orchard of Mr. C. W. Blair, of St. Charles, that 

 it contained 1,000 trees, the loss from the original setting during eight years 

 not to exceed twenty-five trees. The trees bore last year in his judgement a 

 half a barrel of fruit apiece. The orchard is "located on northern slope, clay 

 subsoil, surrounded with low growth of timber," an ideal location for an 

 orchard." 



