TRANSACTIONS OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILL. 



3^3 



To induce bearing by barren trees, of business size, it is likely many 

 will make trial of removing a ring of bark one-fourth to half an inch 

 wide around the body of the tree in April, as has been practiced on an 

 extensive scale for several years, with satisfactory results, by J. B. Spal- 

 ding, of Springfield, whose statement at the last meeting of the State 

 Society occasioned much discussion, as I hope it may with you. 



With judicious management in the selection of varieties, planting 

 and care of an orchard, also in gathering, handling, storing and market- 

 ing apples, they pay as well or better on an average of years than most 

 branches of farming. 



The trees are often left uncared-for, merely allowed to stand in stiff 

 blue-grass sod, nurseries for caterpillars, borers and all other insects, with- 

 out any molestation ; the fruit is shaken and poled off, thrown carelessly 

 into baskets, emptied thence into bags for transportation to market, where 

 if sale is found it is at a low figure and the producer is disgusted with 

 the business. 



Even where properly selected and handled, they generally sell at 

 low figures in the fall ; they were forty to fifty cents per bushel in Mendota 

 last October, now one dollar to a dollar and a half. 



In my opinion it is advisable to grow, as far as possible, all fruits and 

 other products called for in our home markets, even if they succeed but 

 moderately well. 



Mr. MiNKLER, from the same committee, contributed the following: 



CULTIVATION OF ORCHARDS. 



Mr. President and Members of the Horticultural Society of Northern 

 Illinois : 



The subject assigned me is the Cultivation of Orchards. I shall 

 confine myself to the apple orchard. 



The apple that was once considered a luxury has become one of the 

 necessaries of life as food, and when freely used is conducive to health 

 as well as comfort. 



In planting an orchard, the first thing to be taken into consideration 

 is the site. The orchard, of course, should be near the dwelling ; but if 

 the ground near the dwelling is not suitable, and cannot be made so by 

 draining, it would be advisable to choose a site more remote from the 

 dwelling. The land should be dry; if not naturally so, should be made 

 so by draining or ridging, for apple-trees will not endure wet feet. 



Exposure. — I prefer a northern exposure to a southern one, for this 

 reason, that when we have early and late frosts the wind, of course, is in 

 the north, consequently the frost settles on the southern slope, because it 

 is still there ; choose the highest ground on the farm. 



Preparing the Ground. — The ground should be in good tilth, as for 

 corn, and if plowed deeper all the better, even if trench plowed. The 

 proper distance to set trees is twenty-eight to thirty-two feet, roots spread 



