254 Bulletin 69. 



quently for at least the first two years after planting. Sowed 

 crops should always be avoided in young orchards. Oats is the 

 worst crop which can be used, for it stands on the ground longer 

 than wheat and pumps out the moisture at a time when it cannot 

 be spared ; and in all sowed crops there is no conservation of 

 moisture by cultivation. It should also be said that trees in 

 wheat, oats or barley are not seen so frequently as those in culti- 

 vated crops, and borers, tent-caterpillars, accidents by winds, and 

 other injuries, are not so soon detected. The man who hopes to 

 raise an orchard and grain on the same ground, had better leave 

 the orchard unplanted. 



With tender trees, like the peach, and particularly on moist 

 lands, cultivation should generally stop a month before heavy 

 frost is expected, in order to allow the wood to mature. A good 

 crop for such cases is early potatoes. Corn or any vegetable crop 

 is also suited to a young orchard. 



Watch the trees carefully for borers. The most serious borer 

 in newly set trees is often the flat-headed species which works 

 under the bark, especially where it is exposed to the sun, as upon 

 any crook or elbow of the tree which may, unfortunately, have 

 been turned to the south in setting the tree. Tent-caterpillars 

 may be expected in June and fall web-worms late in the season. 

 In the fall, see that no litter in which mice can nest, is allowed to 

 lie about the trees. It will not be necessary to hill up the trees 

 for winter protection in land which does not heave, although it is 

 well to have the ground slope gradually away from them in order 

 to carry off surface water ; and if there is any danger of mice, 

 because of refuse grass or litter about the trees, hilling of the 

 trees will generally prevent injury. Mice are effectually repelled 

 by a strip of tarred paper rolled lightly about the base of the tree. 



The subsequent care of the orchard is a matter which must be 

 determined for each individual case, and it is not the province of 

 this essay to deal with it. A later bulletin (No. 72) will be 

 devoted to that subject. 



L. H. BAILEY. 



