SUMMER MSETING AT BUTLER. 4T 



sidered better for them than this, and it would be rather anomolous if 

 we should reap fair crops when many others fail. 



Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries and currants 

 are as promising as we could reasonably hope for. Scarcely any signs 

 of hard winter are perceivable among them, including strawberries not 

 covered. In blackberries I refer only to Snyder. Where I see any 

 others they are severely cut down. I look for the time as not far 

 distant when these shall be as common and popular among country 

 people as they are now in the cities ; when the mention of fruit will 

 not bring apples alone to their minds, but rather put all the small 

 fruits in the first place. I have begun rather late, but intend doing: 

 what I can hereafter to further this end, and if I should not live to see 

 it fully attained, I want some of you to bring me word of progress whea 

 you cross the river later. 



I am glad to see that many of the foremost orchardists are begin- 

 ning to discover that meadow-sod is ruinous to orchards; that at least 

 occasional cultivation is absolutely necessary. But there is reason to 

 fear that most of our present orchards will go to distruction before 

 this intelligence is generally accepted. 



PRUNING THE APPLE ORCHARD'. 



BY J. B., DURAND, PRAIRIE CITY. 



This is a subject of much importance to all apple growers, and one 

 upon which there is a great diversity of opinion, and whatever we say 

 upon the subject, here or anywhere else, we are sure to come in con- 

 tact with the theories or opinions of some. 



What little I have to say now, 1 intend, shall be practicable. But, 

 says one who has observed my own orchard, " Sir, I would like ta 

 know where you put your ideas into practice, for most certainly your 

 orchard does not bear evidence of that kind of treatment." So prob- 

 ably I would better say that my ideas are obtained more from obser- 

 vation than from practical experience. 



There is no subject connected with horticulture which runs sa 

 much to extremes as this one of pruning. One says that nature knows 



