The special treatment the trees have received by way of pruning has been to cut all the new wood back, each fall or winter, about onehalf, and to thin out some of the weak wood entirely. To overcome the tendency of the trees to form long, straggling branches, after a time some of the main branches are cut back to stubs a few feet long. When the trees show indications of the yellows, the whole top is sometimes cut off in this manner. The effects of this annual pruning are two-fold, to keep the trees in a compact form and to reduce the number of fruit buds, thus lessening the danger from over-bearing.

Prof. Maynard devoted some time to the proper mulch, cultivation, &c., for which reference must be had to the paper, published in full in the report of the State Horticultural Society.

In the discussion on this question, Mr. Collins considered it important to keep trees in good, healthy condition by culture and plenty of food supply.

Mr. Tomlinson thought likely more potash was required in New England than in New Jersey.

The question was asked why would not sulphate of potash be better than muriate of potash.

Prof. Maynard.-The muriate gives the best results, probably from the special action of the chlorine.

Mr. Ege asked if severe pruning would not restore a tree to vigor and health, and if it was not more profitable to save trees in this way than to plant new ones?

Prof. Maynard thought that both propositions could be accepted with safety.

Mr. Ege continued.-His best fruit the past season was on trees that broke completely down three years ago, and were left to die. In some cases every limb was split down. In cleaning up the orchard, these limbs were cut off, the trunks of the trees remaining. These had sent out stout and vigorous shoots, which presented a healthy appearance and were shortened at pruning time last year, and bore the best fruit he had the past season.

Mr. Stiles asked as to the theory of the supposed action of potash. Prof. Maynard.-The cells of the limbs of all old and diseased trees seemed to be filled with starch, which the potash seemed to dissolve and set in motion, or at least by increased leaf vigor to assist in the dissolution and change into sugar.

Mr. Horner.-Fifty years ago we had peach orchards that continued to live, grow and fruit for fifteen to twenty years, and it was

thought necessary to put them on the new ground; and after they failed it was considered unsafe to put peaches on the same ground again for fifteen or twenty years, and even then failure was more common than success. If young trees can be immediately planted on the old ground after the removal of the old trees, as the professor had stated, science had indeed done much for the peach.

Mr. Ward stated that city trees, severely pruned, produced new wood and bore abundant crops, though the trees were thirty years old.

Prof. Maynard.—Trees may be started into vigorous growth by severe pruning, but to keep them in vigor, the cause of weakness must be removed; if there be starvation or lack of any one of the necessary elements in the soil, more plant food of kind needed must be supplied. The trees must be kept in health just as a man or an animal is kept healthy, i. e. by wholesome, nutritious food. Too much food will derange the system and cause weakness just as surely as too little, and we have got to give plant feeding the same careful study that has been given to animal feeding, before we shall understand it as well. It is a much more difficult subject to understand, however.

Whether it would be more profitable to restore the trees to health after they have become diseased than to plant new trees, is a question for the practical orchardist to settle; everything, however, should be done to prevent disease by good treatment. The successful orchardist is the man who has such an interest in his trees that he knows at all times the exact condition of every one, and who will treat them according to their needs.

Mr. Norton understood from this discussion that new orchards could be planted on old, worn-out soils with a fair prospect of success, provided good culture and an abundance of plant food was supplied.

The Secretary remarked-This does not necessarily follow; the food supply, however abundant, must be in an available form. A man might starve or grow very thin with an abundance of food all around him, unless it was in such a condition that the system could assimilate it, so the health and vigor of the tree or vine depends on its ability to appropriate and digest, so to speak, the soluble portions of the plant food supplied.

The

Mr. White mentioned an orchard of fifteen acres in Quakertown, New Jersey, twelve years old, fertilized with wood ashes entirely, that had netted in that time $18,000 since it came into bearing. owner cuts out and destroys all branches as soon as any yellows appear, and is not troubled with premature ripening of the fruit. The same

party had a young orchard two years old, the finest he had ever seen of its age. The pits were planted where the trees were to stand, and budded the following September.

Mr. Cole asked the Professor if he had tried salt and noted its effects? Prof. Maynard replied he had not; but as far as the chlorine may affect the growth of the trees, chlorine in common salt would be as beneficial as the same element in muriate of potash.

Mr. Norton mentioned an orchard near that city (Trenton) some years ago, owned and managed by a prominent agricultural editor, that seemed to suffer all the ills that a peach orchard is heir to; he thought it died from actual starvation. There never was, as he remembered, what might be called a fair crop. The orchard finally passed into other hands, the old trees removed, the ground prepared and planted to peaches again, some 5,000 trees. The ground was poor; they began to feed it; the trees were now in their fifth year, and the fertilizers used last spring was one ton of kainit to two tons of bone, thoroughly mixed and incorporated with the soil. The result was marvelous; instead of the poor, sickly trees of the former orchard, they were of a dark-green color, vigorous, healthy, and loaded with most beautiful fruit, the admiration of all who saw it.

Which is the earliest of the early potatoes? Reports of the past season's experience, by Secretary Williams. He planted May 1st, 1884, the following varieties:

The last two computed as if the whole acre had been planted the same as the pieces from the one pound yielded. He closes his paper by saying, "Meanwhile, I must repeat my assertion of last year, that the earliest potato and the best early potato that I have yet found is the Early Ohio, which I have grown since its first introduction and before it was christened."

President Baker.-Account, as detailed by him, was small in bushels per acre, owing to the very protracted drought-only 2.39 inches of rain fell from April 25th, time of planting, till end of growth. His conclusions are: Early Ohio was earliest by ten days; Pearl of Savoy second, Vanguard third, with Lee's Favorite, Rosy Morn and Early Rose fit for use about the same time.

Mr. N. W. Parcell gave his experience:

No. of days
ripening.

Bushels yield, per acre.

The last eight varieties, planted April 28th, were fit to dig about dig about September 1st (late varieties).

In the discussion, Mr. Parcell indorsed the paper of Mr. Williams, as to earliness of Ohio, and asked as to its quality compared with Rose.

Secretary Williams replied it was full as good; he thought better than Early Rose.

Mr. Parcell supposed it was due to soil; with him the quality was not up to the Rose. His yields of several of the kinds were much heavier than those given by Mr. Williams.

Secretary Williams.-Undoubtedly you have stronger and better soil than I have.

Mr. Ward remarked that the finest potatoes he sent to New Orleans were grown by Mr. Parcell.

Question box opened again.

Can the cracking of pears be prevented?

Yes, by grafting some kind that does not crack. Name the kinds? Mr. Lovett named Kieffer; Mr. Black, the Bartlett.

Which is the best for grafts, end of limbs or suckers?

End of limbs. Why? They are usually better developed and ripened, the growth being slower.

At the opening of the afternoon session, on the second day, December 30th, the Committee on Fruits, Flowers and Vegetables on exhibition made their report.

The committee says: "We find upon the tables a large and varied display of the products of orchards and gardens, well sustaining the high position our loved State holds in producing these bounties that add so much to the comforts and attractions of our homes, and counted among the staple crops of so large a proportion of our farms. They then report on sixty-six varieties of apples, nineteen of pears, two varieties of grapes in jars, one of oranges, two of quinces, twentyone of potatoes, three of onion sets, one of salsify and one of horseradish. In the flower line, a pot of Freesia Refacta Alba, and two floral designs.

At this point a few minutes were devoted to the testing of the qualities of some of the newer and rare fruits exhibited on the tables.

The apple shown by Mr. C. B. Horner, was handsome, of excellent quality. It originated in Pennsylvania, and it was proposed to call it Horner, till recognized or otherwise named.

The New Jersey Pie Apple, shown by Mr. Ward, was thought to be well worth growing. It is an old variety, very handsome, of large size, red, tender, crisp, sub-acid. But few trees now remain, and it should not be allowed to become extinct in the desire for new kinds. Another apple shown by Mr. Ward for name, was not recognized, and Mr. Caywood proposed to call it Ward.

Mr. Blackwell showed a seedling supposed to be from Smith's Cider; has borne six years; the best of 200 seedlings; it clings well to the tree, is sweet, and said to resemble in taste the banana; it was thought to be worthy of trial, and for the present to be known as Banana apple.