310 TEANSACTIONS OF THE 



the orchards had been cultivated and fertilized, or thoroughly 

 mulched, the trees would have so far recovered that they would 

 have been able to safely pass the ordeal of the succeeding cold 

 winters. 



But the damage is done, and the question is: how can it be re- 

 paired? A very large proportion of our orchards over ten or twelve 

 years of age are more or less injured, and should be renewed as soon 

 as possible. Where it is practicable, the best way is to ])lant on a 

 new piece of land, and as soon as the new orchard comes into bear- 

 ing, cut the old one down. But where, as often happens, it is desir- 

 able to keep the orchard on the same site, cut ofE half of it, and if 

 the ground has been kept in good condition, replant at once; but if 

 the soil has been impoverished by constant cropping, as well as by 

 the drain made upon it by the trees, it should be thoroughly ma- 

 nured, or if this is out of the question, it will be better to wait a 

 year, and sow to oats or buckwheat, and plow it under in June, then 

 sow to rye in July or August, and turn it under next spring. When 

 the first planting comes into bearing, the remaining half may be 

 treated the same way. 



Here the question we have been struggling with for twenty 

 years again arises: What shall we plant? And at the risk of being 

 severely critised, 1 will say, for a market orchard, ninety per cent. 

 Ben Davis, and ten per cent. Willow Twig. Not that these varieties 

 are entirely satisfactory in either tree or fruit, but taking all the 

 circumstances into consideration, it is the best we can do. We may 

 plant Jonathan, Minkler, Grimes' Golden, or Red Canada, and in the 

 early part of the season the crop will appear very promising, but 

 when we come to gather in October we find that we have nothing^ 

 for market but Ben Davis and Willow Twig. The mortality of 

 these trees has been great, but the conditions — over bearing, extreme 

 drouth and cold winters — that caused this loss may not occur again 

 for a generation; and if we profit by the experience of the last few 

 years, and give our orchards careful attention after seasons of over- 

 bearing and extreme drouth, we shall never see a repetition of this 

 calamity. 



Commercial fruit growing is not now being engaged in to any 

 great extent, and the planting done is principally for home use; and 

 for an orchard of this kind a different selection is, of course, neces- 

 sary. Every farmer should plant at least one hundred trees, of 

 which fifteen should be summer, ten fall, and seventy-five winter 

 varieties. For summer I would plant two each of the delicious little 

 Early Joe, Summer Rose, and Benoni, the same number of Sops of 

 Wine and Golden Sweet, and five Red Astrachan, I would divide 

 the ten fall trees equally between Maiden's Blush, Wealthy, Porter, 

 Mother and Bailey's Sweet. For winter I would plant four each of 

 Jonathan, Minkler, Grimes Golden, Red Canada, Wythe, Yellow 

 Bellflower, Roman Stem (on strong soil), and Paradise Winter 



