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MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



OWATONNA TRIAL STATION. 



E. H. S. DARTT, SUPT. 



In surveying the field of experiment in Minnesota, nothing 

 presents to us such strong evidence of substantial and rapid 

 progress as the varied results of fruit tree girdling as now practiced 

 at this station. Previous to comroencing in this line of experiment 

 we had no way to hurry up tardy bearers except by the tedious 

 method of top-grafting, which is a modification of the same princi- 

 ple that is involved in girdling. We had no way to test the hardi- 

 ness of a fruit tree except to wait indefinitely for the advent of a 

 hard winter, such as the present one promisee to be. Under these 

 conditions it would likely take fifteen to twenty years to produce 

 and test a new seedling apple tree as to its hardiness and the kind 

 of fruit it would bear. 



Now conditions are changed, and we think we have the fruit tree 

 under perfect control. By this simple, easy and practical process 

 we can, in a year's time, cause the development of the young tree 

 and soon bring out all its natural characteristics. If it is tender or 

 predisposed to blight, it will likely be killed, but if it is hardy it 

 will accommodate Itself to these little encroachments on nature's 

 laws and will be ever ready to comply with all our reasonable 

 requirements. 



Hotchkiss, 2 inches in diameter. 



If we girdle a thrifty tree in May, the wound is likely to heal over 

 perfectly during the growing season, and no effect is produced. 

 But on July 1st, the elements of growth are being taken in rapidly 

 through the leaves and are being distributed to every part of the 

 tree,andif we girdle at that time, cutting through the cambium layer, 

 we stop the downward flow of these elements, which being held in 

 the top of the tree naturally cause the formation of fruit buds to be 

 developed the next season. Watersprouts frequently start below 

 the girdle, which should be removed. 



The manner of girdling is not very essential, and after trying 

 various methods I have adopted the spiral method, partially be- 

 cause it seems less shocking to the nerves of those sensitive people 

 who believe that to girdle means to kill. Girdling by the spiral 

 method is accomplished by starting in with a saw just below the 



