and the amount of top. If tlie roots are much dried and injured, it may be necessary 

 to cut in every branch to within two or three buds of the base. If the tree be young 

 and all perfect, a slight pruning only is necessary. Peach trees particularly require close 

 heading always. In fact it is well to cut in every shoot to a bud or two at the base. 



In the March number of Hoveifs Magazine, we find this subject touched upon in a 

 report of some discussions by the members of the Massachusetts Hort. Society : 



" Tde President. Some remarks have been called for in regard to lieading in pear trees. So far 

 ,as his experience was concerned, he thought it best to head in. Trees newly set should be headed 

 in, say one-half to two-thirds the previous year's growth. Trees set out in the streets of Paris, he 

 was told, were headed in to nearly bare poles." 



"Mr. Brjsck said he had remarked that trees headed in had done better than those not pruned. 

 He had noticed this in street ti-ees, where they had been ])rnned to bear poles and had done welL ' 

 Pear trees might do better in light soil, such as Mr. Fi-iENcn had alluded to at Plymoutli, than in a 

 heavier one ; but he thought some persons might make a mistake, if they should plant their trees 

 in any sandy soil without knowing of what it is composed. It would not answer in all light soils.'' 



"Mr. C. M. HovEY objected to the general system of heading in trees indiscriminately, as waa a 

 common practice, without regard to the state of the roots and other conditions of the tree, and 

 should take occasion to enlarge upon the subject, if gentlemen contended that the practice should 

 apply to all transplanted trees. 



"In the discussions now before the members, he presumed we were assuming that we were talk- 

 ing to practical men, or, at least, to gentlemen who had some information upon the subject; and 

 that we also assumed that the system he or any one else advocated, was that which should be pm*- 

 sued with a healthy, properly grown tree. This being understood, he was entirely opposed to 

 heading in newly transplanted trees. He had not done so for many years, and, after careful obser- 

 vation, he had become convinced that trees removed and not headed in the satne year, had done far 

 better than those that were. 



"His practice was to ti'ansplant trees in the fall, if possible; but if not then, in spring, rather 

 than lose a year. Such trees were not shortened in, unless merely some straggling branch, to shape 

 the tree a little. The following year, however, they were cut in rather short. This gave the young 

 shoots a vigorous start, and the h'ees formed fine heads, much better than those pruned in the first 

 year. 



"If, however, trees had been imported, or out of the ground many weeks, these, of course, he 

 would head in to keep up the equilibrium between the roots and branches ; the former evidently 

 being more or less injured by drouth, exposure, decay, or other causes, not to mention the los-s of 

 many of them by removal, wiiich would materially change their natural condition. He therefore, 

 as a general rule, always advised shortening in one-third or one-half of the previous year's wood, for 

 the reason, as a general thing, trees were badly cut or mangled in removal and transportation. He 

 condemned the plan of heading in forest trees to bare poles, as generally practised." 



" Mr. Cabot said he agreed with Mr. Hovey, that young trees taken from the nursery did not per- 

 haps require cutting in so severely as older ones. In the removal of large trees, he thought it wiis 

 necessary to shorten in, to keep up the equilibrium between the branches and the roots. He took 

 up two very large pear trees last year, and did not shorten them in ; but he found they did poorly, 

 — one died, the other did pretty well. His experience was that large trees required considerable 

 heading in." 



" Mr. Walker. Some remarks had been made relative to heading in forest trees ; he should con- 

 fine his to the pear. Ho had removed many trees; he had taken them up in April or May and cut 

 them in, — and had taken up others and not headed them in ; those not pruned were much the best 

 trees at the end of the second year. His, opinion was that a good tree should not be pruned the 

 Jirst year. It then had time to recover itself; and properly headed in the second spring, it made 

 vigorous branches and a good top. Imported trees he thought it would be best to prune when set 

 out. He quite agreed with Mr. Hovey ; his whole experience quite concurred with his." 



NORTH "WESTERN FRUIT GROWER'S ASSOCIATION. 



In the February number, page 92, wo gave some account of the proceedings of this 

 association. We now proceed to notice the discussion on qualities of fruits : 



DiscufisioN ON Apples. — The Autumn Straxoherry was recommended for further 



trial in the west. 



"Cykus Bkyant has fruited it several years; a fair grower, and abundant bearer, alternate years — 

 - K ripe about first of September ; juicy, with a very slight astringency. j r 



#„ ^m 



