STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 93 



this advice : invest sparingly at first, and let your investments in- 

 crease vpith your business and experience. Endeavor to create a 

 demand in your locality for these fruits, and for those of the best 

 quality; and let your high aim be to never lovp-er the standard of 

 the quality of your fruit in raising, nor your standing for integrity 

 and virtue in selling. 



Discussion on Chepby Culture. 



Mr. Starrett of Warren, called attention to an allusion in Mr. 

 Fernald's paper to potash as a remedy for the black-knot, and 

 inquired, if potash is a remedy may not the exhaustion of it in the 

 soil be a cause? He would like to know if any one had noted the 

 effect of wood ashes, as a dressing for cherry or plum trees, — 

 whether or not they had any effect in the prevention of the knots ? 



Mr. Fernald. I have applied ashes to my trees, but I don't 

 know as I can state definitely what has been the effect. I have 

 observed no black-knot on my trees of improved varieties. My 

 trees are very smooth, and it may be that the application of ashes 

 has had the effect to prevent this disease. 



President Gilbert. Have you had any diflScuIty with your im- 

 proved varieties of cherry trees from the curculio ? 



Mr. Fernald. Yes, there has been considerable. There has 

 also been the same on my plum trees. They are very fruitful and 

 great numbers of plums drop off, yet as many come to maturity 

 as the trees ought to bear. I notice that almost all of those which 

 drop off have been marked by the curculio, and on my pear trees, 

 which are near by, I find the same marks, the little marks of 

 crescent form, made by that insect. I have never tried to any 

 extent any of the precautions recommended for destroying the 

 curculio ; my time has been so much occupied while the insects 

 were making their depredations, that I have had little oppor- 

 tunity to observe these precautions. 



Mr. Geo. B. Sawyer. Allusion was made to the cracking of 

 the bark of cherry trees in connection with the black-knot. I 

 would inquire if there is any reason to suppose that one has any 

 connection with the other ? I have seen nothing to lead me to 

 suppose so. When the bark cracks the gum oozes out, but I see 

 nothing to connect that with the black-knot, or the black-knot 

 with that. I would say that on my improved cherry trees I have 

 not seen any signs of black-knot, but have them, as everybody 

 has, on the Kentish. I have tried spirits of turpentine as a remedy 



