ORCHARDS AND FRUIT CULTURE. 



63 



ins to bend down the branches, until the fruit is gathered in 

 autumn. One of the difficulties connected with mowing an 

 or< hard, although you top dress it to restore what you take off, is 

 that the sudden removal of a great growth of grass at that season 

 of the year changes the condition of the roots so much and so 

 suddenly, that it does not seem to be desirable for the growth of 

 the tree. 



In regard to the training of trees and shape of the top, in your 

 selection avoid a tree that forks. As it grows up one side or the 

 other will almost always get the advantage, and it will split down. 

 Take a tree that branches out evenly from the head where you 

 wish the branches to start. With regard to the height selected 

 for branching, the variety will have much to do with that. Some 

 trees that grow continuously upward may branch very low and 

 still be always high enough. The Northern Spy is an eminent 

 example of that kind, — the growth is continuous^ upward; while 

 others, like the Greening and Baldwin, which spread widely, and 

 droop in their branches, should have much more height of body 

 before they are allowed to branch. The practice of allowing trees 

 to branch out close to the ground has been advocated by some. 

 The objection is, that the fruit on those lower branches never ac- 

 quires the color that it does higher up. It is apt to be spotted 

 and marked with gray mould and mildew, more than where there 

 is a freer circulation of air about the tree. 



There is^ne point which I omitted when speaking with regard 

 to location and aspect, and that is shelter. If you can have a 

 fairly ventilated location, with shelter, that is very desirable. 

 You doubtless have your ice-storms here, and some protection 

 against these is absolutely essential to success. If your trees 

 after they get grown and begin to bear are crushed down by a 

 weight of ice, it is very discouraging. A grove of evergreens, 

 either growing naturally or planted artificially at the time ygur 

 orchard is planted, and allowed to grow up with it, will do much 

 to' protect it from unfortunate effects of the season. 



With regard to pruning, my advice is to prune little and often. 

 That is, once a year the trees should be looked over; but ex- 

 cessive pruning should be avoided. If it is necessary that a limb 

 should be removed, remove it at once; do not wait until it has 

 grown to be large, but remove it while it is small, when you can 

 do it with your knife, or when you can remove the shoot with your 

 fingers, rather than let it grow and take it off ten years hence, 



