FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 339 



The mental, the physical, the moral qualities of our nature are wonderfnlly 

 promoted by the cares and labors of cuUivating fruits. Just imagine the ex- 

 pectations, anxieties, iiopcs and fears incident to the ])lantiug and raising, 

 during the long years re(|uired to jiroduce the first crop of fruits, the first apple 

 or pear; their growth watched till the hour of picking. 



Horticulture in all its [)arts I do not pretend to cover in this paper, — neither 

 is it my purpose to cover all tlie subject of pomology. 



It would perhaps take more time tlian I have, and more ability, to give yon 

 the whole subject in such language and classic style as the subject will bear; 

 so that only the way to plant trees in this region and treat them after they are 

 planted, in order to grow the fruits, will be treated in this paper, — which will 

 include selecting, purchasing, receiving and unpacking, putting them in shape 

 to plant, then planting, then trimming and their subsequent proper care. 



As human activity is like the fertility of the will, so is planting orchards to 

 growing the fruits after. AVhen the disturbing process is over, the fruit like 

 the will reappears. 



The climate in this county seems all that can be required to produce apples, 

 pears, plums, quinces, and small fruits. 



The soil is here that seems just what will produce all these in perfection. 

 Not all the soil will do it, though it is claimed that almost every kind of soil 

 will raise good fruit. The experience of the many does not sustain this claim. 



When I came to this county, many years ago, there were i>eache8 growing in 

 perfection; no apple or pear trees had produced much fruit; but peaches seem 

 now to be too tender, while the other fruits named grow to perfection. 



The selection of the varieties should be the first consideration. If yon don't 

 know what varieties to select get some one who does know which are best for 

 this climate, and the best varieties of them for the seasons you desire. Early 

 autumn and winter, for apples and pears. For plums you will consult those 

 who know which varieties will sell best and their seasons. Quinces will be all 

 the same, apple quinces. 



Before you order trees be sure to select your piece of ground where you in- 

 tend to plant your orchard. Measure off the rows each way and get twenty- 

 five or thirty feet outside of the rows each side of your ground, and then pre- 

 pare the land by plowing very deep ; if sod, subsoil plow it; if stubble, the 

 deeper you plow the better; do this in the fall. 



The next spring plant corn or potatoes witli heavy manuring; give the crop 

 clean culture ; take off the crop, and fall plow in lands as wide as you intend 

 to plant the rows apart, leaving the dead furrow exactly where yon want your 

 rows to be, and make your dead furrow as deep and clean as you can. After 

 all this is done lay out your orciiard by driving stakes — good oak stakes — in 

 the dead furrow, just where you want your tree to stand ; drive these stakes 

 down solid and then dig a large place, say four feet square and two spades 

 deep, around these stakes, leaving the dirt in one pile outside of the dead fur- 

 row to freeze during winter, and put half a dozen large shovels of old manure 

 in tlie bottom and let it be there all winter to saturate the ground — and fill the 

 whole length of the dead furrow with any barnyard manure and let it be there. 

 Your orchard ground is now ready for planting the trees. 



In February send to some reliable nurseryman, in about the same climate as 

 yours, for a wholesale catalogue of fruit trees, and select from the three-year- 

 old list of pears and apples the varieties you have already concluded to j)lant, 

 and order direct fiom the nursery, sending the money with the order, giving 

 directions carefully what kind of trees you want; and say you want them pack- 



