290 State HortictiUural Society. 



be mellow. There is no tool as yet invented, to take the place of the 

 hoe to accomplish this result. We hoc our trees several times each season, 

 even as late as September, and find that they respond to this treatment 

 readily in growth and fine appearance. Where orchard land is fertile, 

 and not too hilly and broken, crops, such as corn, potatoes, cow peas, 

 pumpkins, vegetables or berry fruits may be grown thereon to profitable 

 advantage. Never put timothy, wheat or oats in an orchard and let it 

 come to maturity. We cultivate our orchard always one way, this 

 leaves a strip of uncultivated land in between the trees, but all weeds are 

 kept down with the mowing scythe and left as mulch. This strip be- 

 comes very fertile, as no crops are taken from it, and further, the tree 

 roots are never cut oli' or molested by plowing. We find that the 

 trees can withstand the winds much better. Thorough cultivation is the 

 means of bringing and preparing the food constituents contained in 

 the soil, to and for the tree rootlets, which are so willing to assimilate 

 whatever nourishes them. 



Young trees thus cared for should make a good growth the first 

 season, so that pruning for symmetry and future usefulness may be be- 

 gun the second spring. A tree should be viewed from all sides and 

 then pruned carefully. A well-balanced, low-headed tree, having no 

 cross branches or forks, with branches far enough apart to let in light 

 and air should be our ideal. Remember you are placing the structure 

 for the future tree ; therefore be able to give reason for every branch 

 that is taken off. Again, most pruning of an apple orchard should be 

 done before fruiting age. Some varieties need more pruning and thin- 

 ning than others, for example, Jonathan needs more than Ben Davis : 

 such varieties as Winesap need very little. 



Peaches should be cut back and thinned each spring before bloom- 

 ing period, while young apple trees may be pruned until July. 



Pear trees have more advocated systems of pruning perhaps than 

 any other fruit, except the grape vine. Some writers say, "Prune fan 

 shape," some preach pyramid form, others find their consolation in head- 

 ing low and topping, wishing the tree to spread out, while still another 

 class are absolutely certain that pruning is injurious to a healthy tree, 

 and a tree grown for the purpose of bearing pears should never be 

 touched with a knife. To which class do you belong? 



In summing up the whole matter, love your trees while they are 

 young, cultivate and hoe about them. If they look puny, feed them 

 with barnyard fertilizers. "Train tliem up in the way they should grow, 

 then when they become old they will not depart from it." Train your 



