338 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



Mr. Field — Much of our fruit is failing of late years, from 

 some unknown cause or causes. Trees of half a century die as 

 well as young ones. There is a melancholy falling off. The 

 Pomological Convention at Rochester, this fall, recognized these 

 facts. The Baldwin, Spiizenberg, Newtown Pippin and the peach 

 are not flourishing. We want more knowledge and perhaps 

 better culture. The epidemics in plants like those in man exist 

 for a time and pass away. 



Mr. Waring could not help saying that his sympathy for trees 

 is so strong that when any one treads on their corns I feel as if 

 he was treading upon mine. I believe that tearing their roots by 

 heavy plowing is all wrong. I hate that practice. 



> Mr. Robinson observed, that in reference to the culture of trees, 

 the land where they are to be planted ought first to be under- 

 drained five feet deep, if it can be done. The trees will all show 

 the value of it. 



Mr. Field thought that tearing their roots in plowing is bad, 

 but clean sharp cutting of them at suitable distances from the 

 trunks, is a good plan and also giving them fresh soil. The new 

 roots from these cut roots grow with great vigor. 



The Chairman was of opinion that pruning was of great value, 

 and that in doing it we should be careful to give a proper hand- 

 some shaped head to the tree, well proportioned and balanced. 



Mr. Wheeler coincided strongly. Judicious pruning gave us not 

 only beauty and health to the tree, but we were rewarded in 

 quantity and quality of its fruit. 



Mr. Waring moved that the subject of " How to make and pre- 

 serve orchards " be continued to the next meeting, and " Winter 

 work on the farm." 



Mr. Pardee spoke of the flourishing condition, generally, of 

 fruit trees in our West. That Wayne county is justly celebrated 

 in this respect. That county sends to market half a million 

 bushels of fine fruit. The Baldwin, Spitzenberg, and Greening 

 apples bear heavy and excellent cro2:)s, and there are no signs in 

 the trees of disease or failure. 



