The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-03-29
OF tho Hooking valley Horti-
ealtuFal Society.
HORTICULTURAL Rooms,
LANCASTER March "a, '66. (

,f LANCASTER, Mafcn "a %.
Society met, pursuant to adjourn
mont. President Kinkead in the
Chair.
(The minutes Of the preceding meet
ing having been read, attention was
called to an error in the report ofre-
marks of Mr.. Young, at last meeting,
by which he was made to express a
preference for common salt as an ap-
plication for healing wounds made in
pruning-whereas the purposes for
which he did favor the use of salt,
were fertilization, and the destruction
ofinsects, by sowing broad cast or ap-
plying in moderate quantities
No further objection being made'
the minutes were declared approved.
Mr.. Maccracken from Library Com
mittee, reported donations Of books by
Col. Connell, and Messrs. Fritter and
Griswold, for which, on motion, the
Society adopted a vote ofthanks.
Mr. Ewing proposed the name Of
VIM. Rippey for membership, and he
was thcreupon duly elected.
By request, Mr. Walters, ofPitts-
burgh, then presented his views on
fertilizers, and tho merits Of the su-
perphosphate Of lime, o fertilizer man
uiactured from bones, by q Pittsburgh
company with WHICH he is connected
He gave some details Of the process Of
preparing the bone, preserving its
ammonia, &C., and exhibited speci.
men of the article manufactured.
with pamphlets, ontaininginformation
in regard to its use, &c.
An informal discussion, in answer
to an'iDquiry by Mr.. Boving, took
place in reference to shortening in
apple trees, in which Mcssrs. Black
Fetters and Clark recommended the
practice at the transplanting of trees
and for the first few years of their
! growth; where branches were inclined
to run up high, heading in was some
times useful; to promote growth Of
wood, do this in spring; TO increase
product of fruit where too much in
clined TO wood, do it July; aim to keer
proper equilibrium between branches
and roots.
Regular quession-on pruning the
peach and the grape-takcn up.
Mr.. Clark said that of all our trees
the peach requires the most pruning
and probably pays as little for it. Hlf
practice is, first to train to straight
stem about % feet high, and cutsquare
off; afterwards pinch off while growing
sprouts not needed for q good top; The
following year, with shears he cut
back one half the previous season.
growth. After the third year, (wheI
the trees should commence bearing.
he prunes upon the renewal system
following q bearing season, and cspcc
tally such winter as the past, b.
cutting back tops of trees one hall
thus making an entire new top. AL
who have old trees should head bacl
severely, and now is the time to do il
Good tops can often be made by cut
ting back to moro atump.
Mr.. Fetters did not believe in cut
{ ting too much off tops; this may form
good tops in some instances, but
will also kill many trees, Had trie'
it and found a endency to throy
out numerous slender shoots, whicI
would not mature. In other cases
where he had cut back, leaving por
ton OF the old wood, the result wa
4 different, and a good top was formed
The peach always bears on the pre-
vious years wood--it is necessary t
have this for the proper elaboration
) the sap
Mr.. Clark thought Mr., Fetters' OK
pcrience corroborated his views, an
, that if he had, in June, pinchod off q
! superiiuous shoots, he would. hav
, ! secured good tops in the first instant
/, mentioned.
Mr., Fetters observed that he coul
! not get Lhesgrowth to ripen as well b
|, the plan of cutting back so far as b
leaving a portion Of last years growtl
On his soil, he has to lot the trees beG
a crop or two, then shorten back. II,
trees 30 years old, with as thrift
wood in tho tops as in most youn
;, trees. Mr.. +. went into some detail
. Of the philosophy OF growing tree
. deducing therefrom his theory Of pr
% ming and heading in, as applicable
'n the peach tree. He deprecated earl
'.' ostly the practice Of cutting back to
:. :" nero stump, as dangerous TO the Ii
q of the tree. f.'s s'ts tf
% Mr.. Black said that a profuse sen,
% ing out OF slender shoots is regard,
!. as an Indication of disease-the Eye
- =, lows.' His practice with old trees
90 TO cut away the two and three.yoar
: old wood, leaving bare stumps, ~
% new shoots put out low down, and
got good tops, Strong soils arc n
,f suitable for tho peach, and on SUI
" this practice would probably not a
n swcr. He remarked as to the usO