66 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
Twigs of Northern Spy apple trees were sent to the 
“National Nurseryman” with a query as to the cause ot 
the bark splitting. These were submitted to Prof. H. A. 
Surface, Department of Agriculture. Harrisburg. Pa., 
who very kindly gave the following opinion as to the 
cause of the trouble, which we believe will be of general 
interest. 
In your communication you mention two samples of 
Northern Spy apple twigs grown in a nursery in Indiana, 
where they had a drop of temperature to 18 degrees about 
the middle of November. The writer adds that "1 found 
every one of my Northern Spy trees in this condition, but 
none of the other varieties in the nursery were injured," 
and asks for information as to the cause and remedy. 
In the first place the cuttings show longitudinal splits 
varying from a quarter ot an inch to one inch and a half 
in length. In passing around a twig there may be from 
three to five of these splits observed. They are not con¬ 
fined to any one side of the branch. 
There is no doubt whatever in my mind but that the in¬ 
jury was due to the swelling ol the watery sap in the 
twigs at the time of freezing. These shoots were un¬ 
usually vigorous, and consequently contained an im¬ 
mense amount of sap. When freezing this swelled to a 
very great extent and almost suddenly. The bark was 
not in condition to stretch with the interior swelling, and 
consequently could do nothing else than split lengthwise 
as shown by the specimens. 
The reason that it is so manifest in the Spy is on ac¬ 
count of the great vigor of this tree, and possibly be¬ 
cause of some varietal character rendering it especially 
liable to this kind of damage. 1 believe that if other 
twigs had been as succulent with late growth, they would 
have split in a similar manner. At any rate the damage 
was evidently done as described above, and the Spy was 
the chief sufferer. 
As to permanent injury, I can say that the two great 
difficulties are the liability of blight germs to enter at the 
place of injury, and the possibility of Woolly aphis at¬ 
tacking them there. Of course, the twigs will have a 
partial opportunity of growth before the Woolly aphis 
becomes active and spreads to them, but it is necessary to 
watch all trees, and when such pests appear apply the 
proper insecticides for them. It does not mean that the 
Aphis would not appear on trees that do not show these 
splits, but would be apt to attack the trees first at the in¬ 
jured places. The same is true of blight germs. They 
enter chiefly at the injured places, but may find many 
other places for entering the trees than where they are 
damaged in this manner. 
The practical remedy consists in cutting off the trees 
when planting them, making the cutting low. or at a 
height of from two to two and one-half feet above the 
ground. This w ill make good low headed trees that will 
be more vigorous than though they were much taller, and 
w ill remove most of the later growth and softer wood 
that was injured by splitting. Let I he trees be sprayed 
with Bordeaux mixture and dilute lime-sulfur solution 
next spring and summer as a preventive against blight, 
and also cut out the blighted twigs and branches from 
older trees to keep down the number of germs that would 
otherwise be spreading the disease. I think it would be 
perfectly safe to plant trees showing this splitting, as I 
believe they will overcome it in their growth during 
another year, and if given a little attention no permanent 
injury need come from it. 
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSERYMEN 
Executive Committee—John H. Dayton, Chairman, Painesville, 
Ohio; Thomas B. Meehan, Dresher, Pa.; J. B. Pilkington, Portland, 
Oregon; John H^Jl, ex-officio, Secretary, Rochester, N. Y. 
Executive Committee—Thomas B. Meehan, Dresher, Pa.; John H. 
Dayton, Painesville, Ohio; J. B. Pilkington, Portland, Ore.; John 
Hall, Rochester, N. Y., Ex-officio. 
Chairmen of Committees 
Transportation—Chas. M. Sizemore, Louisiana, Mo. 
Tariff—Irving Rouse, Rochester, N. Y. 
Legislation East of Mississippi River—Wm. Pitkin. Roche -her. N. Y 
Legislation West of Mississippi River—Peter Youngers, Geneva. Neb 
Co-Operation with Entomologists—L. A. Berckmans, Augusta, Ga. 
Program—C. R. Burr, Manchester, Conn. 
Exhibits—Albert F. Meehan, Dresher, Pa. 
Arrangements and Entertainment—Thos. I. Ilgenfritz, Monroe, 
Michigan; John Hall, Secretary, Rochester, N. Y. 
Publicity and Trade Opportunities—W. G. Campbell, St. Joseph, Mo. 
Editing Report—John Hall, Secretary, Rochester, N. Y. 
Root Knot—E. A. Smith, Lake City, Minn. 
Membership—Will B. Munson, Chairman, Denison, Texas; M. Mc¬ 
Donald, Orenco, Oregon, Pacific Coast States; George A. Marshall, 
Arlington, Nebr., Middle Western States; Harry D. Simpson, Vin¬ 
cennes, Ind., Central States; Paul C. Van Lindley, Pomona, N. C., 
Southeastern States; Albert F. Meehan, Dresher, Pa., Eastern 
States; Charles H. Breck, 55 Franklin St., Boston, Mass., New 
England States. 
STATE AND DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS. 
American Nurserymen’s Protective Association—President, Irvine 
Rouse, Rochester, N. Y.; secretary, Thomas B. Meehan, Dresher, 
Pa. Meets annually in June. 
American Retail Nurserymen’s Protective Association—Pre ,blent. H 
W. Marshall, Arlington, Nebraska; secretary. Guy A. Bryant, 
Princeton, Ill. Meets annually in June. 
Association of Oklahoma Nurserymen—President, J. A Lopeman, 
Enid, Oklahoma; secretary, P. W. Vaught, Oldenville, Okla. Next 
meeting during week of State Fair at Oklahoma City, last of Sep¬ 
tember or first of October. 
California Association of Nurserymen—President, Frank H. Wilson, 
Fresno, Cal. Secretary, H. W. Kruckeberg, Los Angeles, Cal. 
Canadian Association of Nurserymen—President, E. D. Smith, Win¬ 
ona; secretary, C. C. R. Morden, Niagara Falls, Ont. 
Connecticut Nurserymen’s Association—President, T. E. Burroughs, 
Deep River, Conn.; secretary, F. L. Thomas, Manchester, Conn. 
Idaho Nurserymen’s Association—President, Anton Diedricksen, Pay¬ 
ette Idaho; secretary, J. F. Litooy, Boise, Idaho. No definite time 
has been set for next meeting. Probably in July at Boise, Idaho. 
Mississippi Nurserymen’s Association—President, Theodore Bechtel, 
Ocean Springs, Mississippi; Vice-President, S. W. Crowell. Rose- 
acres, Mississippi; Sec’y-Treas., R. W. Harned, Agr. College. 
National Association of Retail Nurserymen—President, E. S. Osborne. 
Rochester, N. Y.; secretary, F. E. Grover, Rochester, N. Y. 
New England Nurserymen’s Association—President, Harlan P. Kel¬ 
sey, Salem, Mass.; Secretary, Charles Adams, Springfield, Mass. 
Annual meeting held on the last Tuesday in February. 
New York State Nurserymen’s Association—President. E. S. Osborne. 
Rochester, N. Y.; secretary, H. B. Phillips, Rochester, New York. 
Next meeting September. Probably at Utica. 
Ohio Nurserymen’s Association—President, W. N. Scarff, New Car¬ 
lisle, O.; secretary, W. B. Cole, Painesville, O. 
Oregon—Washington Association of Nurserymen—President, C. F. 
Breilhaup, Richland, Wash.; secretary, C. A. Tonneson, Tacoma. 
Wash. 
Pacific Coast Association of Nurserymen—President J. Vallance, 
Oakland, Cal; secretary-treasurer, C. A. Tonneson, Tacoma, 
Wash. Place of next meeting to be deemed later. 
Pennsylvania Nurserymen’s Association—President, Wilmer W 
Hoopes, West Chester, Pa. Sec., Henry T. Moon, Morrisville, Pa. 
Southern Nurserymen’s Association—President, Milton Moss, 
Huntsville, Ala.; secretary-treasurer, A. I. Smith, Knoxville, 
Tenn. Next meeting, Hendersonville, N. C. 
Tennessee Nurserymen’s Association—Pre-ident, Chas. Pennington. 
Rutherford, Tenn. Secretary, G. M. Bentley, Knoxville, Tenn. 
Texas Nurserymen’s Association—President, C. K. Phillips, Rock¬ 
dale, Texas; secretary-treasurer, J. M. Ramsey, Austin, Texas. 
Western Association of Nurserymen—President, C. C. Mayhew, 
Sherman, Texas; secretary-treasurer, E. J. Holman, Leavenworth, 
Kan. Meets annually second Wednesday in December. 
