FIFTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 35 



longf-lived tree. It is quite susceptible to blight in its growing 

 period, and I don't know but what I would rather plant some 

 other strong variety like the Anjou or the Lawrence, and top 

 work to Bosc ; I find the Lawrence is a splendid pear to work 

 over with the Eosc, and in that way you get an ideal tree. 



Mr. Tillinghast: What distance do you plant your trees 

 apart ? 



Mr. CoknivLl: It would depend somewhat on the variety. 

 I think in planting the Seckel tree, having the idea they were 

 going to stay a long time, I would plant them not closer than 

 22 feet each way, or else 20 by 25; on the Bartlett, 18 feet; 

 the Lawrence and the Bosc will want more room. I have 

 some Seckels to-day that are standing too close together ; I 

 did not plant the trees myself, but J would never think of 

 planting a Seckel without leaving 20 feet on each side, and 

 I would rather have a little more room. 



Mr. Bennett: From your conclusions in regard to the 

 pear blight, do you think the bacillus gets into the buds or 

 the blossoms? 



Mr. Cornell : Oh, I think there is no question of that ; I 

 think Prof. Waite has demonstrated that fact conclusively, 

 that in the transmitting of the blight you can infect even the 

 ends of twigs. 



Mr. Bennett : You don't think the bacillus will go through 

 the bark into the tree ; it has got to go through a wound, or 

 a blossom, or a bud, has it not? 



]\Ir. Cornell : Yes. The bacterial trouble can enter any 

 wound, either on the trunk, or on the end of a limb, or in any 

 way. Now, for instance, we have the trunk blight. Now 

 the only way it can be accounted for is through some abra- 

 sion of some kind, and it may be carried either by the bee or 

 it may be carried by the wind. Now they have proved very 

 clearly that you can take an infected twig and transfer the 

 virus right into a healthy one and develop the disease verv 

 quickly. 



Mr. Bennett: It doesn't go through the bark? 



Mr. Cornell: No, I think not; it has got to go through 

 at some broken point. 



This interesting discussion closed the morning session and 

 at 12.15 ^ recess was taken for dinner. 



