56 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



trimmed are second class trees. The first class trees have none of 

 these knots on them. The leaves are stripped off, except a few at 

 the top. Those trees with the knots on them are refuse trees and 

 are trimmed afterwards, and those are the trees the}' sell to us for 

 first class. I don't believe it makes any difference whether a tree is 

 grown in Maine or in New York, if propei'Iy grown and cared for. 

 1 think Mr. Atherton is mistaken in saying that the nursery' should 

 be screened by a board fence or forest on the west, because the 

 snow blows from the west largely, and it would surel^y drift over a 

 fence and break down the nursery stock. I have selected, for a 

 little nursery for my own use, a place that has a westerl}' exposure, 

 and is underdrained five feet deep, so that all accumulation of water 

 is prevented. 



In regard to the hardiness of Baldwin trees, the great trouble is 

 the tenderness of the wood. A great many o( mine will split down, 

 but other varieties will withstand all the load you can put upon 

 them. 



Mr. Sawyek. Is the splitting of the Baldwins in that wa^- in 

 consequence of the tenderness of the wood or the great weight of 

 the fruit upon it? 



Mr. Briggs. Trees of other varieties will withstand a large 

 weight of fruit where a Baldwin with limbs of the same size will 

 break. I had a great many break this year at the crotches. I 

 think the wood is liable to be soft. 



Mr. Athektok. I had some trees break in that way, but gener- 

 ally considered that it was because the}' were so heavily loaded. 



Mr. Briggs. Exactly ; but other varieties that are loaded heavily 

 would withstand the same weight. But, for this latitude, I know no 

 reason why the Baldwin is not a hardy tree. 



Adjourned. 



