No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 535 



The benefits of tillage are manifold, the most important of which 

 are: Improving the soil and thus presenting greater feeding surface 

 to the roots, by increasing the depth of the soil, by warming and 

 dryiiig the soil in spring, by reducing the extremes of temperature 

 and moisture, and conserving the moisture by increasing the water 

 holding capacity of the soil and by checking evaporation. 



As the tree on account of the enormous leaf surface exhales more 

 moisture than any other crop occupying the same space, the import- 

 ance of saving the moisture in the soil will be admitted. 



It is also demonstrated that the depletion of the land by fruit 

 trees is more serious than by annual crops from the fact that plant 

 foods are locked up for many years in the trunks and branches of 

 the tree whilst a large part of the fertilizing constituents in com- 

 rhon crops returns to the soil each year. The orchard requires, if 

 fruitful, plant food equal to value greater than that of wheat. No 

 thrifty farmer would think of trying to raise wheat even on our 

 best lands for 20 consecutive years, though the soil wer(? fitted in 

 the best possible manner yearh^, and yet this is the common prac- 

 tice with small fruit growers. Careful treatment in this respect 

 would stir up the dry bones in many an old and unproductive or- 

 chard and place it upon a paying basis. 



A definite amount of pruning is also advisable. While there is 

 often a conflict of authorities, suffice it to sav that trees should 

 be headed low to facilitate picking of fruit and spraying, interfering 

 and other superfluous limbs cut out, and when, for any reason, the 

 tree suffers from injury, it should be cut back to the extent of the 

 injury. By this means all varieties of fruit trees of all ages (except 

 old apple) can be restored as long as they are not absolutely killed. 



The one remaining operation is that of spraying, but recently 

 developed, it has become the si7ia qua mm. of fruit growing, the 

 only means of salvation to our orchards and insurance for our 

 fruit. 



For our present purpose we may speak of spraying as of two kinds, 

 viz: Spraying for the San Jos^ Scale during the dormant season, and 

 spraying for chewing insects and fungi during the growing season. 

 The lime sulphur wash (1 lb. lime, 1 lb. sulphur to 3 gal. water, 

 boiled 45 minutes); whale oil soap solution (2 lb. to 1 gal. water), 

 and certain soluble oils can be depended upon to control the scale 

 insects. 



Paris Green or London Purple are good antidotes for chewing in- 

 sects including the codling moth, used in the x>roportion of one 

 pound to 200 gallons water, adding a pound or two of lime. 



Bordeaux Mixture is our standard fungicide, made after formula 

 4 to 6 lbs. copper sulphate, 6 lbs lime and 60 gal. water. Tlie arseni- 

 cal poison can be added to the bordeaux spray, thus serving two ends 

 with one operation. 



A more or less close observance of these suggestions I submit as 

 pointing the way out of our present difficulties for the small or- 

 chardist. This is at least no time to be discouraged. I have, myself, 

 met with many examples of successful fruit growing in the counties 

 of Lancaster and Berks during the last year, and we shall not lose 

 our orchards if we apply the same good judgment and intelligence 

 to fruit growing we aim to employ in all general farm operationg. 



