PROCEEDINGS OF THE FAEMERs' CLUB. 249 



Perhaps, however, it would not be amiss to say a word at this 

 time about planting in connection with pruning. 



CHOICE OF TREES. 



If we take the pear tree already grafted in the nurseries, we 

 select them healthy, strong, and of one year's graft, or of two 

 years at the most. The older they are the less easy they take 

 root again, and their growth is always less vigorous. They should 

 not be pruned until the second year after they have been planted. 

 Pruning them before that would only remove the greater number 

 of their branches, and the quantity of leaves they should develope 

 would be considerably diminished. Now, as these are the leaves 

 which the roots engender, the latter will take but little develop- 

 ment, and the bud whose vegetation the pruning is intended to ben- 

 efit, will be poor and unhealthy, not fit to aid in forming the wood- 

 work of the tree. On the contrary, if the pruning is postponed 

 until the following year, the tree will take new roots, and when 

 deprived of a part of its branches, the sap, abundantly furnished 

 by the roots, reacts with force upon the growth of the reserved 

 buds, and we will obtain in a single summer, branches' longer than 

 those of the two years' growth, in following the first operation. 

 We now have a favorable opportunity of giving to the tree a 

 desirable direction. 



Mr. H. also exhibited specimens of the grafting wax heretofore 

 described by him, and of the solution invented by himself for 

 application to wounded limbs, to preserve the freshly cut surface 

 from the action of the atmosphere. 



SILK AND SILK WORMS. 



Dr. Trimble read the following paper : 



There seems a propriety in discussing the Textiles at this time. 

 Passing events are disturbing all commercial values. The pre- 

 sent demand for some of these fabrics is greatly in excess of the 

 supply, and producers are anxiously watching prices. The farm- 

 ers always want to know what to plant to most advantage. The 

 war now in progress, should it last, will probably work mighty 

 changes in agriculture, commerce and manufactures, as well as in 

 " ideas." With sea-island cotton selling in this market for sixty 

 cents per pound, and the common sort at twenty-five, you will 

 find people sending for cotton seed to plant, and it will very 

 likely be planted in places where it will produce almost nothing 



