STATK HcRTIcn.TI 1{.\I, SdClKTV. HI 



plant-louse {Eriosoma Femphiguspyri, Fitch). Dr. Kennicott once (U. S. 

 Fair, 1859) remarked that his trees were but little affected with bark-lice 

 prior to the receipt of a lot of apple seedlings from Buffalo 



As a second precaution in planting, in order to avoid the attacks of 

 insects as much as possible, I would suggest that as a matter of course the 

 ground selected .should be clean and clear of rubbish, logs, stumps, etc., 

 and should be thoroughly cultivated at least one year previous to plant- 

 ing, in some crop requiring frequent stirrings of the soil. If this has not 

 and can not be done, it ought to be plowed and exposed to the frosts the 

 winter previous, especially if it has been in sod. or grass ; and, as Mr. 

 Overman suggested in an essay on orchard culture some years ago, this 

 should be deep. 



Trees should never be planted in the sod or grass, or in uncultivated 

 soil ; and here the insect side of course agrees with the plant side. 



I think it woulfl be well to dip the roots of the trees in soap-suds be- 

 fore setting them, as it would have a tendency to destroy any root-lice 

 which might be upon them. 



Although the subject has not, so far as I am aware, been tested suf- 

 ficiently, experimentally, yet there are some good reasons for believing 

 that, as a rule, insects will be less injurious in an orchard planted with 

 alternating rows of fruit trees of different kinds. But as the peach de- 

 cays much sooner than the apple, it is doubtful whether these should be 

 mixed. Other items in reference to planting might be mentioned, but 

 these constitute the chief general remedies or rather preventives under 

 this subdivision of orchard culture. 



Now, let us begin our synopsis or tabular statement — for if we can 

 not tabulate we can not systematize — and see how it would stand so far as 

 we have proceeded : 



CULTURE OF THE ORCHARD. 



I. Clean and thorough culture. 

 \a. In planting. 

 \h. Select sound and healthy trees, that are entirely free from insects 



or indications of them, and from home nurseries. 

 2b. Cultivate the ground a year or so previous to planting in some 



crop requiring plowing; or plow and expose the soil to the 



previous winter. 

 T^b. Never plant in the sod, meadow or grass ; and in the timbered 



section carefully clean out the logs and stumps before planting. 

 ^b. Dip the roots of the trees in soap-suds just before setting. 



So far then as planting is concerned, it appears that it can only be used 

 as a preventive measure, but in this way it can be made very beneficial. 

 I am not certain but it would be well for our Legislature to impose a pen- 

 alty on any one setting a tree from another State which is affected with 

 insects or injurious fungus growths. 



Cultivation of the soil. — This is our second division of Orchard Cul- 

 ture. Let us see what general preventive or remedial measures, if any, it 



