The Farmers Orchard. 33 



have one — should be a close student of his business and of nature. 

 He should know how to prune for fruit or for growth of wood, 

 and when not to prune at all. The question is often asked, when 

 would you prune? The answer should be, as soon as the tree 

 needs pruning ; any time when you discover a limb or branch 

 that needs removing. Always have your pruning knife with 

 you ; many times it can be done with the thumb and finger, which 

 is better still. For larger branches, say from half-aninch to two 

 inches in diameter, pruning shears are better than saw or chisel. 



Budding and grafting should be learned. This can be done 

 very easily by studying such works as Barry and Thomas on 

 fruit culture, with a little practice. Every farmer should not only 

 take agricultural and horticultural papers, but also have a good 

 library, with some volumes pertaining to his own calling. Many 

 persons find fault because trees die, and get discouraged about 

 planting any more. I think this is not as good a fruit country as 

 some points of the east or west. But that is not a good argument 

 against the cultivation of fruit. Some localities are not as healthy 

 as others, but this does not deter people from living in such 

 places. We must have fruit. We must raise if we have it in 

 any quantity. There are hardy kinds, of good quality, that will 

 live and bear fruit ; yes, and die too — and the only way is to 

 keep planting as fast as they die, or a little faster. 



After you have decided how much land you will devote to the 

 orchard, plant it in the best manner possible; tend and care for it 

 with all the intelligence you have and can get. Know all your 

 trees by name, each and every one — you will soon learn which 

 varieties do the best in your orchard. As fast as trees die, plant 

 in others bought of intelligent and honest nurserymen — for I 

 believe there are such — of those kinds that prove the best with 

 you. By setting a few each season I believe pears can be grown, 

 so that a family may have a few bushels at least every year, and 

 where is the farmer that cannot set $2 worth of pear treeseach 

 season? This would buy four trees at retail prices, or eight trees 

 at club rates, purchased of the nurseryman. 



Experiment with new kinds when you have good evidence that 

 they will be an acquisition ; of course the nurserymen will bring 

 3 — Hort. 



