84 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



are cut off, a sufficiency of sap cannot rise into the top, and when large 

 limbs are cut the tree is shocked, and its nature changed, and gene- 

 rally a decay in the center of the roots and body follows such harsh 

 and unnatural methods of cultivation and pruning. 



Any person of common observation can soon satisfy himself of 

 the natural correctness of these undeniable facts. Hundreds of or- 

 chards have been retarded and ruined by such plowing and pruning.. 

 The time to plow or dig deeply for the orchard is before planting, and 

 at a distance from the ends of the running horizontal roots, and nature 

 lightens and moistens the soil by freezing and rains sufficiently to the 

 rapid growth and well-being of the trees, and light top hoeings or 

 scalp plowings, merely to kill weeds, are sufficient from the hands of 

 man. The long, broad and branching horizontal roots are nearest to 

 the top of the earth, and are moistened by rains, and they draw the 

 food substance into the body of the tree, while the tap and radical 

 roots penetrate deeply into the earth, in order to hold the tree upright 

 above ground, mainly. It is the sap that is drawn into the tree by the 

 horizontal roots, mainly, that supply the annual growth, buds, blos- 

 soms, flowers, leaves, fruit, wood and bark. Whenever these roots are 

 cut the tree declines, and when large limbs are cut, the tree sends out 

 a multitude of water sprouts. — Henry Hurd, in "Cincinnati Gazette.'^ 



Pick and Pack Honestly. 



The amount of fruit that is sent to market by wagon, train or boat 

 every season that is unfit for market is something enormous. Why is 

 it that farmers or fruit-growers, who appear to have enough sense in 

 many other matters, will persist in trying to sell to their customers, 

 fruit that they know is not fit for sale, and packages that they know 

 they have packed with the best berries on top, while the bottom of 

 said package, whatever kind it may be, basket, bag or barrel, is filled 

 with poor, miserable, small and wormy stuff, and entirely unfit for 

 food ? Farmers and fruit-growers, if you have been doing this, stop 

 at once. To those who are free from the vice, we say, don't com- 

 mence — you can't do it and make money. Pick and pack your fruit 

 honestly and fairly, if you want to succeed in the end. If you get a 

 good customer, don't try to cheat him by giving him an inferior article 

 for a good one ; if you do, he is lost to you. 



