SECRETARY'S REPORT. 137 



where it was sawed off for the insertion of the scion is fonnd to 

 look as if stained with some black substance like ink poured 

 over it, and often has shrunk away in some places from the 

 wood, which looks as if charred in the fire. In two instances 

 only out of the hundreds examined during the past year, like 

 that above described, only two have recovered by the sjjontane- 

 ous efforts of nature. After the disease has shown itself in the 

 manner described, its progress is very rapid in a downward 

 direction, until it reaches the origin of the limb in which it 

 originated, at where it usually, but not invariably ceases. 

 During its progress nature makes constant efforts to effect a 

 process of healing by which to arrest the disease, which not- 

 withstanding, passes without any check over the barriers wMch 

 she endeavors to erect in its course. Often the bark thickens 

 to such an extent that the limb appears as if swollen, but uni- 

 formly has the burnt appearance so characteristic of the disease. 

 While speaking of this subject in connection with the process 

 of grafting, it may be well to state that the disease has never 

 shown itself, so far as we have examined it as a consequence of 

 that method known as crown grafting, and if this fact should 

 prove to be uniform, and to be confirmed by more extensive 

 experience and observation, it will be valuable, and may bring 

 this method of grafting into more general use. The effects 

 which we have described often follow the trimming of trees by 

 the saw, and this would have been considered under the same 

 head with grafting, and as presenting a uniform cause, but for 

 one consideration. In regard to grafting, we know, with com- 

 parative certainty, the period of the season at which the process 

 was performed, while the trimming of an apple orchard is 

 attended to at more irregular times, to suit the convenience of 

 the operator, and if the season has any connection with the 

 results of which we are spcakhig, it becomes important to deter- 

 mine whether tlie diseased spot was operated upon in the early 

 spring, the autumn, or in winter. In examining this point, 

 some results have been arrived at which it may be well to relate. 

 Some orchardists have practised for years the trimming their 

 orchards in the month of October, and others upon any pleasant 

 day during the late autumn and. winter. On trees thus treated 

 ive have not yet found the disease. Taking this fact in connec- 

 tion with that already alluded to in relation to crown grading, 



