NINTH ANNUAL MEETING. 115 



Q. In planting- pears for market what varieties will be 

 likely to succeed, best? Shall we plant standard or dwarf 

 trees? 



A. Dr. Russell: The best and safest pears for this 

 latitude are Clapp, Bartlett, Seckel, Sheldon and Buerre 

 Rose, the latter is one of the choicest of pears when grown 

 on red clay soil. Plant standards every time. 



President Hale suggested that as the Bosc was a poor 

 grower that Xeiffer be planted on account of its great 

 vigor and then top worked with Bosc by budding in 

 August or September after the Kieffer were two or three 

 years old. Mr.'George T. Powell of New York, he said, 

 had planted a Keiffer orchard and grafted it over to Bosc 

 and was getting wonderful results marketing some superb 

 fruit tliis present winter. 



O. Is a large number of blossom buds on an apple tree 

 to be desired, rather than a moderate number? 



A. Mr. Fenn: If you want annual crops a moderate 

 number of buds is better, as too many buds incline to 

 over-production one year and a failure the next. 



Q. Will it pay to grow crab apples? What are the 

 best varieties? 



A. The crab being an ornamental as well as useful 

 tree, is found in most home grounds, and as so many fami- 

 lies have a surplus of fruit there is not enough market 

 demand to warrant its being planted in orchard. Hyslop 

 is one of the most show}', but the Transcendent makes a 

 better flavored jelly. 



Q. What is the best method of pruning currants. 



A. Mr. Butler: I pruned mine below the ground. 



A. President Hale: Low prices the last few j^ears 

 has discour-iged currant culture, but, with many others, 

 both in Connecticut and on the Hudson River, pruned 

 after Mr. Butler's method, there are good chances for the 

 future. Cut out the crowding branches, but do not shorten 

 in those that are left. In summer when new growth 

 begins, pinch back about the middle of June, and it will 

 cause a heavy development of fruit buds. 



