308 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



SXJIVIMER PRmflNG. 



Mr. Theron P. Parker decidedly opposes. Cutting thistles and 

 noxious plants at that season is recommended to kill them. Does 

 not cutting apple trees tend to the same result ? The entire top 

 of one of my apple trees was broken off by accident in early 

 spring. Yet in three years it had a top equal to those uninjured. 

 If done in June or July, would the same result follow ? 



Mr. P. T. Quinn. — Mr. Parker's notions about summer pruning 

 based upon cutting plants for the purpose of destroying them, 

 have no application to pruning as it should be done; that is, to 

 pinch off buds or cut away such shoots as can be easily removed 

 with a knife. Such pruning never injures trees. It makes wood 

 and fruit buds better than any other system. 



Dr. Sylvester. — In Spring, the sap is not in as good condition 

 to make wood and heal wounds as it is in summer. Large limbs 

 when removed in spring, often turn black around the stump, as 

 though scalded hy the sun. 



Hale's Early Peach. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn. — This peach is two weeks earlier than any 

 other sort grown in New Jersey. That makes it quite salable, 

 although not quite as good as Malacatoon. There is a great 

 demand for the trees in all nurseries. I know of one nursery of 

 fourteen acres remarkably thrifty. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker. — This peach is esteemed everywhere, as it 

 is less likely to winter-kill than any other budded variety. Indeed 

 it is much like a seedling in its character. The blossoms show 

 light pink color, more like natural fruit. It is not as much stung 

 by curculio as other early sorts. 



Mr. John Crane. — I find Hale's Early George IVth, and in short 

 all white sorts, more hardy than red or yellow. Honest John is 

 a good peach, but on account of the smoothness of its skin, liable 

 to curculio stings. 



Rerort on Flour. 



Mr. F. C. Treadwell, chairman of the committee lately appointed 

 to prepare a report on good and poor flour, then made the follow- 

 ing report: 



Your committee have sought information from persons engaged 

 in the flour trade, and have conversed with farmers, millers, mer- 

 chants, dealers, bakers, and many persons interested in having a 



