STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 381 



inches to a foot higli, in rows from three to three feet six inches 

 apart. The cultivation of the finest varieties of fruit is always 

 most profitable. 



I write these few lines in the interest of farmers generally, but 

 ■especially for the society of which you have the honor to be 

 l)resident, and if you desire to have these published I shall not 

 object. I shall even hold myself ready to answer any further 

 questions about the cultivation of fruit trees that may be asked 

 •of me, to the extent of my ability. 



I am, with high esteem, yours, etc., 



T. DiLLENBURG. 



St. Michaels, Wright County, Minn., Feb. 4, 1885. 



3Ir. Smith: 



The above is a true rendition of Mr. Dillenburg's letter, and 

 ])ermit me to add that the cause he assigns for the splitting of 

 the bark of thrifty growing apple trees is, I think, true, and the 

 preventive he suggests effective. I observed an instance som-e 

 years ago, of a young tree, the branches of which had been cov- 

 ered partially during the closing month of winter with some 

 dry grass that fell upon it undesignedly when the trash, raked 

 up in the yard was being thrown over the fence, close by, and 

 was not removed till after the foliage was well grown. It alone, 

 of three trees in the yard, was not injured in the way described. 

 I attributed the disease to coagulation of the sap under the bark, 

 by the sudden and severe cooling of the frost at night, and its 

 fermenting because of rapid heating in the morning. The rais- 

 ing up and splitting of the bark is the consequence of the con- 

 fined gas seeking a vent to escajie. 



I take it that Mr. Dillenburg would like to have you publish 

 this letter in the Volkszeitung, of this city. Excuse my delay in 

 performing the service of furnishing translation for you. 



Yours truly, 



H. H. Young. 



EEPOET FEOM B. TAYLOE. 



As one of the managers of the society's experimental stations 

 I have to report that the cherries and plums failed to grow; the 

 late day in which they were grafted being the probable cause. 

 I was confined to mj bed with sickness when the cions were re- 



