158 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICtTLTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. .Strong did not approve of paint or shellac, and believed tar 

 to be injurious. He had used grafting wax dissolved in alcohol, 

 with good effect, but would like to find a better compound for the 

 purpose. 



Jacob W. Manning said that in training young trees for plant- 

 ing in streets he would advise pruning the lower branches away to 

 ten or twelve feet from the ground, rather than allow, as Ave 

 sometimes see in older trees, large branches to start out from five 

 to seven feet from the ground, which eventually have to be cut 

 away, not only destrojnng all beauty of form, but leaving a 

 wound that may never be healed. He thought the American elm 

 one of the very best trees we have for street planting. 



Mr. Hadweu was called upon to answer the question : AVhat is 

 the best time to prune apple trees? In reply he said playfully 

 ""VYhen your saw is sharp." For young trees any time that they 

 appear to need it is suitable ; but for fruit-bearing trees he should 

 prefer to do it in April or May, when the branches are more readily 

 bent without breaking. The older the trees, the more surely they 

 should not be pruned in autumn. When pruning in May great 

 care must be taken not to start the bark from the wood, and, 

 as one safeguard in this respect, it is always better to cut the 

 under side of a branch before cutting the upper side. To the 

 question: ." AVill not spring pruning damage buds?" he replied 

 that if the workmen are careful no harm need be done. 



Mr. Chase said he thought the lecture was one of the most 

 interesting and valuable we have heard this season and moved a 

 vote of thanks to Professor Farlow, which was passed unani- 

 mously. 



Mr. Hadwen announced that on the next Saturday, Charles L. 

 Allen, of Floral Park, N. Y., would read a paper upon the 

 "Scientific Education of Gardeners." 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



Saturday, March 14, 1891. 



An adjourned meeting of the Society was holden at eleven 

 o'clock, the President, William H. Spooxer, in the chair. 

 No business being brought before the meeting it 

 Adjourned to Saturday, March 21. 



