Tenth Annual Meeting 165 



Question: "For an orchard to produce winter apples, 

 what soil is most desirable ? " 



The President: "I should say good, heavy plain loam. 

 Not a sandy soil, but that which is inclined to be heavy. That 

 will produce apples of better keeping qualities, and the trees 

 will be more hardy." 



Question: "Of what value is corrosive sublimate wash in 

 combating the peach borer ? " 



The President: "As no one seems to be ready with an 

 answer, we will continue that question until another meeting." 



Question: "In our rush to set Japan plums have we not 

 overlooked many of the Americana sorts which are superior in 

 quality, hardiness and longevity ? " 



Mr. Skillman, of New Jersey: "In my case I have not 

 overlooked the European and native varieties, but I propose to 

 overlook them hereafter. I have no use for anything except 

 the Japan plum, especially because the others rot so, and I can- 

 not get any money out of them. I cannot catch any of the 

 almighty dollars by using the European or native plums." 



Question: "What shall we do for aphis on Japan plums ?" 



Mr. Skillman: "I don't know. I do not have it, and 

 never saw it. The Japan varieties are particularly free from 

 most all insects and diseases, that is, in my locality. That has 

 been my experience since I have been growing them." 



Mr. Rogers: "I have had some experience with the black 

 pith in young orchard trees. The wood was white, and so far 

 as 1 could see all right, but the pith was black. They tell me 

 it is caused by a frozen tree." 



Mr. Skillman: "I have had a sad experience with this 

 trouble and have found it on peaches, pears and apples. I have 

 lost a great many trees by it. You could not give me a tree 

 that had a black pith. My advice is, don't set out such trees." 



Question: "Is there any danger of the fruit business 

 being overdone ? " 



Mr. Skillman: "Forty years ago I heard that the peach 

 business was going to be overdone. People said the market 

 would be glutted, and they said latter on that Brother Hale 

 and I were fools for going into it. The poor fruit busi- 

 ness has always been overdone. You raise good fruit, and 



