PRUNING. 3 1 



stations are established iu every State in the Union. Experiments, 

 analyses, and tests of fruits and plants are made, and the re- 

 sults are published in bulletins and sent free all over the country. 

 We come together in our State Board of Agriculture meetings, in 

 our horticultural meetings, and our Farmers' Institute meetings, to 

 hear statements of and to discuss the different methods practised ; 

 to give our experience and observations on some question relating 

 to our work, wherein we are most interested, and another will give 

 his experience upon that branch in which he is most interested, 

 and so on until the time allotted for the meeting is all occupied. 

 By these methods a large amount of thought and valuable infor- 

 mation is brought together. Then the press is on hand to gather 

 up the valuable and interesting points, and through that medium 

 thousands are reached who cannot attend the meetings. So that 

 there is but little excuse at the present day for any who are 

 interested in agriculture or horticulture to " go it blind." • 



My life work has been, and is now, the growing and handling 

 of trees, and while there is much I do not know about it yet, still 

 there are some things which my experience and observation have 

 taught me. I am here to show you by some object lessons how we 

 trim and treat trees and plants when taken from the nursery to be 

 transplanted into their new homes, where it is so important for 

 their future success that all the conditions shall be made as favor- 

 able as possible for them. 



The first preparing of the tree for setting and its proper plant- 

 ing, although very important, is not by any means all that is 

 necessary. Start the tree thriftily and iu good shape ; then feed 

 it liberally, cultivate it thoroughly, prune it properly, watch for 

 and destroy insects and mildew, and for faithful and intelligent 

 work God will reward you ibountif ully. 



Mr. Hoyt brought with him trees, shrubs, and vines, of several 

 varieties each, and representing various conditions. After deliver- 

 ing the foregoing preliminary remarks, he proceeded to illustrate 

 his ideas of the right pruning necessary to produce the best 

 results, explaining the theory at every step, as follows : 



For pruning I like a knife much better than shears ; the latter 

 are apt to bruise the bark, which should be avoided if possible. 



Here is a two years old apple tree. I have seen such a tree 

 planted with not a limb cut off, nor even shortened iu ; I have also 



