198 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



to my notion is the proper height to start a top on a plum tree. 

 If the trees do well, almost half of them will make nice 9-i6ths 

 to ii-i6ths inch trees and 4-5 ft. high, a good size for transplant- 

 ing. 



Prof. Hansen: Mr. Cashman spoke about grafting above the 

 ground. I have had better success grafting below the ground. 

 You lose too many of them grafted the other way. You put in 

 the graft two inches below the surface, cover it up with earth, and 

 you will get a splendid result : you will get a good stand. You 

 need no wax or tying. The graft is only visible above the ground 

 by the topmost bud. 



Mr. Elliot : You would not recommend splice grafting on 

 the plum? 



Prof. Hansen : I would prefer side grafting. 



Mr. Elliot: In Iowa I heard the statement that they would 

 recommend whip grafting. 



Air. C. S. Harrison : Why can't we graft plums in winter 

 as well as apples? 



Prof. Hansen : I think they start a little in the cellar, and 

 that means failure. Both scion and stock should be dormant, and 

 the trouble is to have that condition in the ordinary cellar. You 

 all know what trouble we have in getting a stand of plums. 



C. L. Smith an Agricultural Editor. — C. L. Smith, one of the 

 oldest members of this society and an honorary life member since 1889, has 

 lately removed from Bemidji, of this state, to Spokane, Wash., where he is in 

 business conducting on agricultural paper under the title of "The Inland 

 Farmer." Mr. Smith, with the exception of the last two or three years, has 

 always been a regular attendant at our meetings. He is a forceful speaker, 

 has had large experience with Farmers's Institute work, and it is in this 

 capacity that he went to Washington, where he is now, it is evident, per- 

 manently located. We hope to hear of his success in this new field. 



Prof. Washburn and the Birds. — Prof. F. L. Washburn, of the State 

 Experiment Station, in a recent letter speaks as follows of his attitude on the 

 preservation of birds: "I think that possibly you have the wrong idea of my 

 position as regards birds in their relation to horticulturists. I want to protect 

 the birds from cruelty and from ignorant slaughtering, and wish to see 

 orchardists and berry raisers discriminate as far as possible, but I should 

 hardly dare to say that a certain bird that eats both berries and insects is a 

 beneficial bird. Of course, a bird like the cuckoo that we have here, that eats 

 only insects and never touches fruit or seeds, one can say is an excellent 

 friend to the fruit raiser, but where a bird has a vegetable diet as well as an 

 insectivorous one it seems to me the orchardist or the berry raider is justified 

 in looking at him with suspicion. I just say this in order that you, or others, 

 may not think that I am championing almost all of our common birds. The 

 robin particularly, about which so much sentiment has gathered in the past, 

 seems to be at times a most destructive bird, one of our most injurious species 

 possibly, and yet that very sentiment blinds us in considering his case." 



