144 
AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
Mr. Dickens: I will make a suggestion: In the case of a very unprofit- 
able orchard in central Kansas, planted so close that it grew into a perfect 
hedgerow and prevented the trees (except those on the edges) from getting 
all the air or sunlight they needed, we had fruit on this outer portion only, 
except now and then in the interior. 
Mr. Dalton: As far as that one limb was concerned, it had no more 
sun and air nor better opportunity of that sort, and yet fruit was borne on 
only that one limb. It was a very large limb standing out by itself; and 
we cut everything from around it on account of its seeming capacity to 
bear. Nothing to pick it out from the remainder of the tree, and on fine 
land and surrounded by conditions that seem to me congenial to bearing; I can 
not see why this one limb should bear very abundantly; there is no reason 
apparent to me. 
Now another question: I have a considerable number of different kinds 
of apple trees, and I have noticed in the last year or two a disposition on the 
part of some limbs to die. I went over all the trees; have taken care of them 
and examined them of course, but I do not see any apparent damage or in- 
jury to the body of the tree. I do not see where that especial injury to the 
limb could have originated from improper circulation or anything of the 
kind, and would like to know if any of you gentlemen have any information 
or suggestions on that point? 
Mr. Fletcher: I do not know as I or anybody else can tell what caused 
the dying of those limbs if there was no sign of canker or any other disease, 
because it might be all at the roots. Either the effect of woolly aphis or any 
other injury on tne roots, making a constricted root system, will begin by the 
tree dying at the ends of the limbs. A tree may have woolly aphis at the 
roots and be showing the ill effects first at the ends of the limbs. 
Mr. Dalton: But does it not manifest itself on the body of the tree? 
Mr. Fletcher: Perhaps not especially; there might be a few woolly 
aphis on the body, but you might fail to discover that. 
Mr. Dalton: Would not the circulation of the tree indicate something of 
it? 
Mr. Fletcher. If the root system is not adequate to maintain the tree 
the terminal limbs will begin to die. 
The principal point I have tried to bring out is for us, the commercial 
fruit men, to keep a tree-to-tree record of the fruit in the orchard. I 1 think 
you wilL find it in the main satisfactory, rather than dealing with the orchard 
as a whole. I would like to have, if time permits, an expression of opinion 
as to whether or not it is a practical proposition for the commercial orchard- 
ist to keep this simple system of notes from tree to tree, so as to give each 
individual tree the treatment it deserves and needs. That is my own point. 
President Goodman: Mr. Perrine, can you answer that — do you do 
that in your orchard? 
Mr. Perrine: We have not done it in our orchard, but I believe it would 
be a good thing to do. 
Mr. Van Deman: I had the privilege of looking over the records of 
an orchard at Salem, Va., managed by a Mr. Gittings, formerly of Pottsville, 
Pa. — a very extensive orchard of several thousand acres, and lie keeps a 
practical record of every tree in that orchard. It is practicable in any other 
