224 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



LOSSES BY LACK OF CARE. 



In coDnection with this subject it is desired to lay special stress upon the 

 importance of performing all operations of the management and care of an 

 orchard in a painstaking way. It is worse than time and money squandered 

 to purchase trees, ti'ansplant them, and then neglect them afterwards in such 

 manner as to lose them entirely, and yet this is the result in a very large 

 majority of cases. It has been estimated that scarcely more than ten per 

 cent, of the trees that are grown and sold by nui-serymen survive the after 

 ordeal to which they are subjected before reaching the bearing age. And 

 this great loss is very largely the result of carelessness and neglect of the 

 planters. The farmer who does not propose to give the same careful treat- 

 ment to his orchard that he does to his other crops had better not make the 

 effort to have one. If he expects to sow his young trees to grass or small 

 grain and then to graze it with calves or other livestock he will find other 

 and cheaper methods of occupying his land and feeding his stock than by 

 investing in trees. Better save his inoney and pains and wisely decide in 

 advance to go without an orchard. 



CULTURE. 



Thorough and oft-repeated stirring of the soil is absolutely essential to 

 success. Such culture as is needed to produce a first-class crop of corn or 

 potatoes will keep an orchard in good health and vigor, provided the ground 

 is sufficiently fertile. As already stated, in no case should small grain or 

 grass be grown in an orchard. This mistake is often made by thoughtless 

 or inexperienced planters. 



The ground having been properly prepared before planting, a two-horse 

 cultivator frequently run between the rows will keep it in good condition 

 during growing season. Each spring the surface should be well stirred with 

 a two-horse plow, using a short singletree next to the row of trees to avoid 

 danger of bruising the trunks of the trees. In plowing, the furrows should 

 ])e alternately turned toward and from the trees. Such culture should be 

 continued from year to year, at least until trees come into full fruiting, and 

 even then it is questionable whether it should be discontinued. If it should 

 be, red or crimson clover is the only crop allowable, and that should be 

 turned under as often as once in every two years. As a rule, continuous cul- 

 tiyation gives the most satisactory results. 



PRUNING AND TRAINING. 



Pruning and training are requisites in the successful management of an 

 apple orchard. The objects to be attained are : First, symmetrical and 

 evenly-balanced heads ; second, to admit sunlight and free circulation of air 

 into all parts of the treetop and yet maintain sutticient density of foliage to 

 protect the trunks, branches, and fruit from the direct inntese heat of the 

 sun's rays, which is liable to scald and injure both tree and fruit. 



Training should begin in the nursery row by removing or preventing 

 all unnecessary growth, which may be done by rubbing off the buds or 



