414 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
to the writer that the farther south we go, the more is autumn 
transplanting to be recommended, while farther toward the 
North, where the autumn leaps quickly into winter and where 
the severe winters make winter-killing likely, it wdll be safer 
to transplant in spring unless the work can be done early in 
autumn, so there will be time for the trees to get established 
before cold winter comes on. It also appears that the hardier 
the tree, the safer it is to transplant in autumn, while the 
tenderer, more liable to winter injury, the greater the corre¬ 
sponding advantage of transplanting in spring. 
The condition of the soil also is a factor. If excessive 
autumn drought prevails, it may not be possible to get the 
soil in condition for autumn transplanting. A tree trans¬ 
planted into a perfectly dry, baked soil may not get moisture 
enough to develop or become established in autumn and as a 
result it may dry out. In such a case, it is probably better to 
wait until spring when the soil will have received its winter 
and spring moisture. Another factor of importance is that 
where one has choice between fall and spring planting, he can 
double the period over which the work can be done. There is 
usually a rush of work in the spring. If the spring is early so 
the trees come quickly into leaf, there is little time for spring 
planting. 
ROOT GALL 
Report of Chairman E. A. Smith 
[This is the first year there has been a committee appointed whose business relates entirely to 
investigating and reporting upon Root and Crown Gall] 
IMPORTANT BULLETIN 
Soon after the American Association of Nirrserymen met 
at Denver last year, by far one of the most important publica¬ 
tions on the subject of root gall that has appeared was 
published by Geo. G. Hedgcock, of the Bureau of Plant 
Industry at Washington. The bulletin, known as No. i86, 
contains experiments and data of importance covering a 
period of several years. We understand this bulletin can 
still be had upon application to the Bureau of Plant Industry. 
Professor Hedgcock’s experiments have been continued by 
Dr. Erwin F. Smith, Pathologist. 
The drift of opinion in the above reports seems to be that 
root and crown gall are injurious, but to what extent has not 
yet been determined, as the results of many of the experi¬ 
ments are contradictory and still involved in doubt. Only 
time can settle this problem. It is gratifying to know that a 
number of .practical nurserymen in different states have 
recently set out trees affected with crown gall for experi¬ 
mental purposes, and will report upon the same from time to 
time. 
COMMITTEES 
Sub-committees were appointed in some eighteen states, 
extending over a widely scattered area. Several members of 
this committee have already reported experiments, which we 
are confident will be of value as time goes on. 
We take this opportunity of thanking the members of this 
committee for their ready response and willingness to render 
assistance. The committee in the state of Montana has 
secured a modification of the horticultural law in that state, 
and considerable progress has been made in changing the atti- 
tude of inspectors in various states as to the effect of root 
and crown gall, especially of the hard form upon apple trees. 
TEST CASE 
A pronounced case of injustice, as it appears from the 
information at hand, is that of the destruction of a large 
number of apple trees shipped into Colorado by W. C. Reed 
of Indiana. As a detailed account of this case has been 
forwarded to a number of members of this Association, we 
deem it of sufficient importance to warrant our making special 
mention of it at this time. The writer would recommend 
that the Association, thru its legislative committee, render 
financial assistance in making this a test case, and endeavor 
to ascertain whether the law is constitutional or not which 
permits the destruction of healthy trees. 
PRACTICAL EQUIPMENTS 
The writer believes it is only thru practical experiments 
that the existing prejudice against apple trees affected with 
root or crown gall can be overcome, and I would suggest and 
urge that nurserymen set aside ground for experimental pur¬ 
poses and that reports be made upon the results of such 
experiments from year to year; also that a permanent com¬ 
mittee be appointed by the Association to report upon this 
work. 
In regard to our own experiments in the state of Minne¬ 
sota, will say that trees whicli were planted by the roadside, 
six years ago, which were then affected with root gall, came 
thru the winter in splendid condition. The trees are now 
three and one-half inches in diameter and loaded with fruit. 
Other trees have also been set out by us for further experi¬ 
ments. In the spring of 1910, some of our red raspberries 
were found to have root gall upon them. As soon as we 
discovered this fact, we proceeded to dig up the entire block 
of plants. In digging as nirrserymen well know, pieces of the 
roots will be left in the ground. To our surprise, these root¬ 
lets threw up sprouts early, which developed into A-i plants, 
free from any trace whatever of root gall. In the fall we dug 
and used them to fill our orders as they were fine plants in 
every respect. If root gall is contagious, why did not these 
young plants have root gall upon them, being grown from 
pieces of roots from plants which were badly affected with 
root gall? 
