44 STATE POMOLOaiCAL SOCIETY. 



DISCUSSION. 



Ques. In trimming trees would you trim to correspond with the 

 habits of growth .'' 



Mr. True. I should have in mind the character of the tree every 

 time. I should train the tree so I could work around it, but not try 

 to make an upright tree out of a spreading grower. You should 

 have in mind, the tree as it will be in ten or fifteen 3'ears. If 3'ou 

 see a limb three-fourths of an inch in diameter that comes 

 close to another which would interfere, you should remove one of 

 them. 



Mr. Phineas Whittier. I have noticed frequently, when two 

 limbs come out together, where two branches make the main top ; 

 that in those crotches between the limbs you would see a dead place ; 

 it would begin to die from that each way, as long as they remain in 

 that shape, the place would grow larger and larger every year ; the 

 water would get in, and when it would freeze that would crowd it 

 apart. The first intimation you have that there is a dead spot in the 

 crotch of these trees, cut one of them off" slanting. Where two 

 branches make the main top, 30U cannot tell which would make the 

 best top. If you cut out one you cut half the tree of? and so with the 

 other; but you must cut one out. I have generally cut out the 

 northern one and let the southern one be to shade it, even if the 

 northern one would make the best looking tree ; because if you 

 cut out the southern one, the hot sun is liable to injure the tree. 

 It will heal over and you will be surprised to see how you can 

 balance the top, by checking limbs from growing on the full side. 

 Any sprouts that come out above where you cut the other branch 

 out, let them grow, and in a few years you will have a balanced top ; 

 but if you leave them on, it is growing worse all the time, and as 

 soon as it loads with fruit the wind will split it. 



There has been one question in my mind and that is, the particular 

 ti7ne to prune trees. 



Mr. Walker. You can form a tree as 3'ou wish by commencing 

 at the right time. I don't cut out the branches, but I trim every- 

 thing from the inside of the tree until I get it in good shape. I 

 never allow grafts to extend upward, beyond what I think will make 

 a good formed tree. I go around twice in the season and cut the 

 tops of the high scions back. Remove those that go through the 

 top and you have then an open top and can pick your apples easily. 



