PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 185 



When to Cut Clover. 

 Mr. D. Griffin, Nucker Springs, N. Y. : "Experience is a great 

 test. Mine is in favor of cutting clover early. The earliest cut 

 makes the best hay. By cutting clover early you give the second 

 crop a chance to mature seed. Last winter the frost killed my 

 old clover roots, but new ones grew from seed shelled upon the 

 land, and grew thicker than before. Another field sowed in the 

 chaiF looks promising. It is not necessary for a farmer to have his 

 clover seed cleaned, every one can grow his own seed." 



Distribution of Seeds — Secretary's Report. 

 This shows a receipt, during the past year, of 11,616 applica- 

 tions — 1,764 of them for bulbs, &c. ; 8,320 for flower seeds; 

 1,532 for sweet corn. It has been impossible to supply this 

 demand, notwithstanding the liberality of donors of seeds. Many 

 letters still remain unanswered. They will be the first filled out 

 of future supplies sent in for distribution. 



Renovating Old Apple Trees. 

 'Mr. S. Edward Todd. — In some instances apple trees become 

 " hide-bound," so that the branches Avill grow but little or none 

 at all, from year to year, and the trees will produce little or no 

 good fruit. During the month of June or July, when the new 

 wood is forming, all the old bark may be peeled off, from the 

 ground to the limbs, and even above them, and a new, smooth and 

 health}^ bark will be formed over the entire body of the tree. If 

 the ti-ee is not too old, or if it has not been injured by being 

 '• hide-bound " too long, the effect of removing the old bark will 

 be so salutary that the next season the tree will yield a fair crop 

 of good fruit. We have seen trees treated in this manner with 

 most satisfactory results. When the bark is removed, it is im- 

 portant to exercise care not to disturb the semi-fluid material that 

 will make the new bark. If the bark will not peel easily, v\^e may 

 rest assured that the formation of new wood has advanced too far 

 to admit the old bark to be removed. It is not at all probable, 

 however, that a very old tree, the branches of which appear like 

 dead brush, and are covered with moss, can be renovated and 

 rendered productive, any more than it is possible to rejuvenate an 

 old man who is sinking under the infirmities of age. If a tree 

 were so old that a new circle of wood was not formed around the 

 body anuuall}^, the safer way Avould be to simply scrape the body 



