PRUNING. 37 



How to prune aright a top-heavy Bartlett pear tree, waa asked. 

 Mr. Hoyt replied that it should be headed down sufficiently to 

 restore the true proportion of all parts. This would tend to 

 increase the relative strength of the trunk, and the upper growth 

 should be kept within due proportion by judicious pruning in 

 March. It is a natural trait of the Bartlett and also the Clapp's 

 Favorite to run up tall. 



When should one prune a neglected orchard? was the next 

 question. Mr. Hoyt would take hold of it a short time before the 

 trees started into growth in the spring, and would wish to complete 

 it in one season. Summer pruning tends to check growth, and 

 is, as a rule, unadvisable, unless limited to pinching off the 

 top of an extra strong shoot. This may be practised on grape 

 vines by pinching off the ends of laterals, after the third leaf from 

 the last fruiting joint. Pruning when the tree is dormant, but 

 near the time for spring buds to start, induces growth, which is 

 always gratifying to the producer of plants of all kinds. 



Mr. Hoyt was asked to state the facts as to non-success of 

 attempts to graft certain apple trees, with certain other varieties. 

 He answered that some varieties of crab apple trees cannot be 

 successfully grafted with our eating apples. They are unsuited for 

 stocks upon which to graft other varieties. He mentioned the 

 Transcendent, the Marengo, and some others as conspicuous for 

 this trait. 



The best method of enriching land for raising trees was 

 brought up. Mr. Hoyt said there was nothing like nitrate of soda 

 and potash to bring out a healthy growth. The former is very 

 soluble, and will be easily dissolved by the first long rain. For 

 that reason the mixture should be applied in moderate quantity 

 — say four hundred pounds per acre — at each application. 



His opinion of cutting out fibrous roots was asked, and he 

 replied that he did not know that any harm would come from 

 leaving them on. If the tree had not been dug up these roots 

 would have remained and done their work. 



The expediency of growing annual crops in orchards was the 

 next point inquired about. Mr. Hoyt answered that a crop of 

 either oats or rye seems to be poisonous to a young orchard ; 

 wheat is not so bad in its effects. But strawberries and other low, 

 hoed crops might be cultivated for a time in a young orchard. 

 The only advantage gained by using manure instead of fertilizer, 



