294 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Tne first, second and third years I tried to keep off all buds and 

 branches that were not needed to make a good top, and if this is 

 faithfully kept up through the life of the tree no heavy pruning 

 will be required. 



The fourth and fifth years I was very busy and pruning got 

 neglected. The consequence was this year I had to do considera- 

 ble pruning with the saw. 



Limbs and branches for shade and protection from sun scald are 

 very desirable on the south and southwest sides of the tree. By us- 

 ing a little care in leaving branches and buds on these sides of the 

 trees and taking more of them on the north side much can be done 

 in giving proper shape to the tree. Branches that cross or rub each 

 other should be cut out, and where terminal branches are cut back 

 the tendency will be to make the top too bushy and thick. In such 

 cases cut out all superfluous branches, thus letting the sun in to 

 shine on the fruit. 



Some trees by neglect will get badly out of shape. Such trees will 

 need close attention each year in cutting back one half of last year's 

 wood growth, leaving the top bud on the side of the branch facing 

 the direction to which it is intended to divert the growth. By this 

 treatment there will be little difficulty in shaping the tree into any 

 desired form. 



Space forbids prolongation of the subject. I have had the usual 

 trouble with blight, sun scald, leaf blight, fungous growths, aphis, 

 borers, curculio, plum pockets, gophers, etc., etc.. These troubles 

 also include the small boy, who wants and tries to get his share of 

 all he can see. 



Mr. Probstfeld : Is the Patten's Greening the same as the 

 Duchess No. 3 ? 



The Chairman : It is the same thing. 



Mr. Philips: What do you understand by air drainage? 



Mr. Dike : Having the ground so situated that there is always 

 a free circulation of air or wind. 



Mr. Wm. Oxford : I would like to ask him why the lowest land 

 is not best for plums? 



Mr. Dike : I don't know ; I thought so when I planted my 

 first plums. 



Mr. Oxford: When I came to this country in 1852 there were 

 plenty of wild plums growing close to the creek in the low land. 

 My wife and I went out one day and got eight bushels. I planted 

 some of those trees, and they have never done so well since. I un- 

 derstand the lower the land and the more shade the trees have the 

 better the plums will be. 



Mr. Dike : I planted fifty trees on the richest ground I had, and 

 the water managed to stand there enough so that the trees were all 

 killed. 



