ANNUAL MEETING, I9O2, AVIS. STATE HORT. SOCIETY. I49 



soil. Kill all insects and spray for fungous growths. Prune all 

 surplus limbs and foliage away. Discuss and test leading varieties 

 of commercial value with your friends, thereby gaining a broader 

 view of what is best. Pick for winter storage as soon as fully ma- 

 tured and store in cool sheds or rooms until cold weather, then 

 store in cool cellar — selecting all inferior grades and kinds for cider, 

 with which to entertain your evening visitors through the long 

 winter evenings. The closing sentence was: "Let us raise more 

 and better apples." The questions brought out in the discussion 

 were indicative of the locations where those asking lived. Talman 

 Sweet for a winter sweet apple, Wealthy for fall, Northwestern 

 Greening for winter. Would you select an elevation with plenty 

 of air drainage? Yes. Best time to prune? March to April or 

 May, not cutting away too much wood growth at once. The con- 

 sensus of opinion was to plant two and three-year-old trees rather 

 than large trees, which necessitated cutting away large limbs to 

 balance the top with the root. How long would you prune? An- 

 swer: Owing somewhat to the variety and exposure, using best 

 judgment. A good rule is not to have two limbs or two buds 

 touch each other. 



If trees are inclined to overbear it is a good plan to prune when 

 the fruit is the size of a pea. When is the best time to prune? 

 March and April, before sap starts; then wounds heal over quickly. 

 Cover all cuts with grafting wax. or shellac paint. A few com- 

 plaints of rabbits pruning too close to the ground. Wisconsin has 

 a law protecting the rabbit; none to be killed unless by gun, etc. 

 This is of doubtful value. 



One thought fall pruning was a vicious practice in the north- 

 western climate. If mild winter followed, the trees usually went 

 through unharmed. Majority believed in March pruning. 



The next paper was by M. S. Kellogg, of Janesville, on "Cover 

 Crops for the Orchard and Nursery." He was a strong advocate 

 of the cover crop as a means for winter protection. He spoke of 

 the sand vetch and winter rye, etc., but was not always sure of a 

 stand; classed rye next to the vetch, using four bushels of seed per 

 acre. This grew about ten inches high and in spring was culti- 

 vated out. Sown July 10 to Aug. 1. Oats were much used for 

 the orchard; this covers the ground quickly. The clovers were un- 

 certain of germination. It was thought best not to depend on any 

 one crop but have two or more kinds mixed, as more certain of 

 success. The principal object was early cover to check growth. If 

 clover is used and ploughed under in spring, it would add much 



