If plum pocket was bad last year, the trees should be thoroughly pruned.  Then spray with copper-sulphate, one pound to nine gallons of water, or lime-sulphur, one gallon with nine gallons of water, before the buds open.  Follow with one to forty lime-sulphur or other spray as for brown rot.  Control methods for plum pocket are not well worked out, so these methods cannot be depended upon entirely.

Be sure and look over the apple trees carefully; cut out and burn all cankers.  Black rot has been increasing in the state, and since a great deal of early infection may come from cankered limbs, it is important that cutting out and burning be resorted to.

Last year the spring canker worm was just as active in the state as the fall canker worm; therefore, just as soon as possible, trees affected last year should be banded with the tree tanglefoot.  The moths come out of the soil the first two weeks in April and at that time attempt to crawl up the trunks of the trees to lay their eggs on the limbs.

When raspberries are uncovered, be sure to cut out and burn all dead canes missed last fall.  The gray bark disease and anthracnose, also snowy tree cricket and red-necked cane borer, are controlled in this way.

Plan to keep the young canes covered with a protective spray of resin-Bordeaux mixture.  Try it on at least part of the patch.  The benefit will not be apparent for a year.

Spray currants and gooseberries as soon as leaf buds begin to unfold, with either Bordeaux mixture 4-4-50 or lime-sulphur 1-40, to prevent powdery mildew and leaf spots.

For further information write to the section concerned.  Inquiries will receive prompt attention.

SECRETARY’S CORNER

ANNUAL MEETING OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSERYMEN.—­Information has reached this office to the effect that this national association will hold its annual meeting in Milwaukee June 28th to 30th.  This is so near by that it ought to bring a goodly number of Minnesota nurserymen in attendance.  For particulars in regard to the matter address John Hill, 204 Granite Bldg., Rochester, N.Y.

PASSING OF HANS KNUDSON.—­Mr. Knudson, late of Springfield, Minn., was the originator of the Compass cherry, which has been generally planted throughout the Northwest these recent years.  He grew this variety from a seed as a result of a handmade cross between the Miner plum and the sand cherry.  Mr. Knudson had other seedlings of similar origin which we thought might be of value, but nothing has been since heard from them.  News of his passing early in January has just come to this office.

THE MCINTOSH RED.—­I think the McIntosh is quite hardy as a top-worked tree; there are two in my old orchard set in 1894, and they have shown no signs of injury.  They were grafted on crab whips, but they were planted on a knoll, that while clay was within twelve to fifteen inches of a deep bed of sand.  They have been shy bearers, but I think on a clay subsoil, such as I now have, they might prove good bearers.  I would not be afraid to risk them as to hardiness.—­F.  W. Kimball, Waltham, Minn.