124 STATU POMOLOGICAI, SOCIETY. 



spring before the frost comes out. Either form of grafting, 

 cleft grafting or spHce, can be used with good success. 



D. P. Trui5 : Twenty-five years ago I started in on plum 

 culture on quite an extensive scale, having about one hundred 

 and fifty trees. From these the best year I ever had I raised 

 only forty bushels. I believe that is because I let the trees get 

 too thick and large and did not prune them as I ought. One 

 day I discovered a black knot, and soon my entire orchard was 

 affected, and I had to cut down every tree I had. I found the 

 Lombard very susceptible to black knot. I also consider the 

 Burbank very good for canning. 



R. H. LiBBY : It is an absolute necessity to prune your trees 

 and reduce your fruit. If your trees are too heavily loaded 

 they are sure to die. 



Prof. Munson : Keep your trees cut back within a reason- 

 able limit, as this is for the best interests of the tree. Produce 

 your fruit near the body of the tree and take the weight from 

 the ends of the limbs, as the wood of the plum tree is brittle and 

 overloading will break it down. 



J. W. True;: How can you kill the black knot? 



Prop*. Munson : The black knot is a fungous growth. The 

 vegetative part of the fungvis is within the knot, eating away 

 the fibre of the tree, the "knot" being simply the fruiting por- 

 tion. You must cut it out as soon as it appears. Do not let 

 the limb stay, because it is loaded with fruit, but cut it ofif and 

 save your orchard. 



