470 . ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



"In autumn we gathered the apples with gladness, 

 And stored them in boxes and barrels away. 

 We buried our teeth in their fresh juicy crispness; 

 And thought their fruit harvest was nothing but play. 

 Dear trees! That they loved us we never could doubt it; 

 They ministered both to our fancies and needs, 

 Their beauty rejoiced us; we ate of their apples, 

 Our fortunes we told with the parings and seeds. 



"Hesperides' gardens could not have been fairer, 

 Nor sweeter to taste their famed apples of gold; 

 Fond love grants a charm to whatever it touches. 

 That safe from Time's withering touch doth enfold. 

 So grows in my heart my loved grandfather's orchard. 

 With blossoms and fruits ever fragrant and gay. 

 While birds in the branches are caroling sweetly. 

 And beneath them are children forever at play." 



DRAINAGE. 



If the natural formation of the land does not afford ready drain- 

 age, it must be provided by artificial means. No orchard will thrive 

 and endure long with stagnant water either on the surface of the 

 soil or within it, and unless the land drains naturally or good drain- 

 age can be secured by an artificial process, it will in all probability 

 be a loss of time and money for any one to attempt to grow an 

 orchard on such land, and at the same time look for a reward of 

 many beneficial results. Ditches or furrows on the surface atford 

 only temporary drainage, and on account of this and many other ^ 

 objectionable features they are not to be recommended. An or- 

 chard thus drained is very difficult to cultivate and properly care 

 for, as well as in gathering and handling the fruit. Sub-drainage is 

 the only proper drainage for an orchard. 



PREPARATION OF SOIL. 



Having once decided upon a location for the orchard, the next 

 step is to get the ground in proper condition for the trees. The soil 

 should be in a productive state of cultivation for planting before 

 the trees are set out, as it becomes very difficult after this to correct 

 any evils which may then be existing. The planting of an orchard 

 is not unlike the building of a house, the latter can not stand well 

 on a foundation of unsupporting stability, neither can the former 

 long thrive and endure on a ground-bed of insufficient preparation. 

 The work of preparing the soil for planting consists in thorough 

 tilth. A crop that requires deep and continuous cultivation is de- 

 sirable to grow for a year or two previous to planting the trees. If 

 the soil should be heavy, extra precautions should be taken to 

 thoroughly break up and loosen the subsoil. There is nothing that 



