84 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the nursery should be of the same sort as where they are to be 

 finally planted out, and it should be well enriched and worked 

 deep, and the nursery kept clean and free from weeds. Planting 

 out is an important part of the work, and should never be left to 

 boys and careless help. When I plant I take up a few trees care- 

 fully at a time, and see that they are properly set before more are 

 taken up. It is very rare for me to lose one. Early spring is the 

 best time for transplanting. Mulching is highly useful, for which 

 purpose straw, swale hay or even brakes or potato tops will 

 answer. The land intended for the orchard should be well pre- 

 pared before planting by deep plowing, thorough pulverization of 

 the soil, and a liberal addition of manures — planting crops for a 

 year or two which require the use of the hoe. If any manure is 

 applied when the trees are planted it should be well composed 

 beforehand with a good share of muck. After culture must not be 

 neglected. When the trees are of suitable size grafting should be 

 done in the limbs. These should be from half an inch to an inch 

 iu diameter when the scions are inserted ; three or four healthy 

 limbs properly situated will form sufficient top ; this should be 

 open and well balanced. Pruning is best done in summer and fall, 

 and if properly attended to when the trees are young, there will 

 not often be need of removing large limbs afterwards. 



After several years of cultivation the land may be seeded down 

 to grass, but without grain ; keep up fertility and a healthy growth 

 by top dressing with compost and leached ashes. The less an 

 orchard is plowed after the trees are well under way and in 

 productive bearing, the better. Pigs serve a good purpose in 

 orchards, keeping the land manured and eating all the wormy 

 fruit. If the orchard is mowed, any lack of vigor in the trees 

 should be promptly met by the application of manure. 



Great loss is incurred by careless picking and handling; pick 

 and handle with great care ; pack close in clean barrels. Early 

 sorts should be gathered before they soften, and should reach the 

 dealer or consumer a little before they are in eating condition. It 

 is found more profitable to sort carefully and make two grades. 

 Those which are all fair and without fault will bring a much better 

 price, and the second class will sell for nearly or quite as much as 

 if not sorted at all. 



In everything pertaining to the orchard and the care and treat- 

 ment of trees and of fruit, whatever is worth being done at all is 

 worth being done faithfully and well. 



