WINTER MEETING. 285 



dated orchard in this State stands a silent witness of such treatment. 

 A tree needs more and better cultivation than corn and potatoes, 

 especially the first year after planting. But do they get such care ? 



It matters not how or in what way a tree has been propagated, 

 whether by budding, whip-grafted, cleft-grafted, a piece-root or whole- 

 root used, or grown from a cutting, so it is a good, straight, thrifty, 

 well-rooted tree with an evenly balanced top (a good tree is a good 

 one and a poor tree is a poor one ). It all depends upon the planter, 

 upon the care he gives to it, whether it ever becomes a tree and bears 

 fruit. Cultivation is the one thing needful ; cultivation is the essential 

 part above all others ; what we would emphasize above everything 

 else — cultivate! cultivate! Keep the soil loose and the weeds down 

 around your trees, but re n ember to give only shallow, level cultiva- 

 tion ; and the best implement to do this with is the Planet Jr. horse 

 cultivator, using the sweep shovels. These leave the ground nearly 

 level, and do not penetrate more than two or three inches nor disturb 

 the roots. Grow only hoed crops in your orchards. Do not sow any 

 small grain in orchard, unless you leave a strip along the tree row to. 

 cultivate in the manner above stated. All cultivation should cease by 

 September first each year. Keep up the cultivation for five years, 

 then seed down to red clover. Keep out the borers and keep off the 

 rabbits. Do not allow stock of any kind in your orchard. Treat your 

 trees in an intelligent way, as things of life, and success will crown 

 your efforts, and future generations will rise up and bless you for the 

 work done. 



Orchards. 



BY J. B. DURAND, PRAIRIE CITY. 



Location and preparation of these are of much importance and 

 interest to the orchardist and fruit-grower. The most important point 

 in any undertaking is to get started right, to have a good foundation 

 upon which to build ; for on that depends the future success and im- 

 portance of the structure. So, with David Crockett, we say, " Be sure 

 you are right, then go ahead." With the orchard the first and most 

 important point to be secured is the intelligent selection of a location. 

 In considering the subject of where to locate, whether in the east, the 

 west, the north or the south, I would select neither, but just settle 

 down in this grand State of Missouri, the grandest fruit State in the 

 Union. Anywhere within its borders are to be found desirable loca- 

 tions, both on the hills, in the valleys or on the plains. 



