48 TRANSACTIONS OP THE ILLINOIS 



sufficient for planting a corn crop. The cleaning of the ground should 

 be the same as recommended for the nursery. 



3 b. — Trees for Planting in Orchard should have branches low enough to 



pa7'tialty shade their trunks, and when planted should lean consider- 

 ably to the southwest. 



This leaning should be done to prevent the damage to the southwest 

 side of the trunks, commonly known as "sun scald," which invites 

 attacks of the flat-headed apple tree borer {Chrysobothris femorata.) 



4 b. — Cultivation of the Orchard before coining into Bearing, i.e., the first 



five to eight years. 



It should be planted with corn, if the land is rich ; if thin, in pota- 

 toes or other suitable hoed crop. When the trees are old and large 

 enough to bear, the orchard should be sown in red clover (but in no case 

 should small grain or any of the perennial grasses be sown in it) ; if the 

 growth is too strong (vigorous) to check growth and throw it into bear- 

 ing. Clover harbors and feeds less noxious insects than any grass-like 

 plant that makes a close sod, and should always be used for this purpose. 

 (Plowing — i.e., breaking up of the soil — should always be done, if pos- 

 sible, before the starting of growth in the spring; the summer culture 

 with the harrow and cultivator alone, so as not to destroy the roots in 

 the growing season.) Late fall plowing, though not recommended as a 

 rule, will be found of great use occasionally, in destroying and keeping 

 in check the canker worm, grub of the May beetle, the climbing and 

 other cut worms, tarnished plant bug, and the bugs and chrysalids of 

 other noxious insects that pass the winter in the grub or larvae state. 

 (Such plowing should in all cases be shallow, and if the canker-worm or 

 grub is present, great care should be taken to turn and break up all the 

 soil ; where it cannot be reached under the trees with the plow, the 

 spade should be used.) 



Orchardists should bear in mind that continued healthy vigor of the 

 trees throughout their lives (not too rampant) is essential, to enable them 

 to withstand the attacks of noxious insects, and to enable them to recu- 

 perate when attacked ; therefore, if the trees at any time present a sickly 

 or unthrifty condition, the soil should be manured or cultivated (or 

 both.) 



5 b, — Mulching, whenever Mulching is applied. 



The portions immediately about the collar of the tree should be 

 mixed with ashes or lime, to prevent noxious insects from working and 

 harboring there. * 



III. — Care of the Trees. 

 I c. — Pruning, so far as relates to Insects only. 



Twigs during the winter season, upon which the eggs of injurious 

 insects are seen, should be cut off and burned, if the eggs cannot be read- 



