164 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



that aids to extract the frost, very much like plunging' frozen plants in 

 cold water. 



" The frequent thawing of the bark of the trees during later winter 

 and early spring, causing in many cases sun scald and bursting of barky 

 caused also by the sudden action of the warniing rays of the sun, 

 make in these respects, grounds lying t*o the south or west of south 

 the worst locations, and north the best." 



In the peach districts of Delaware, Maryland and New Jerseyy 

 when a peach orchard has become old and useless it is claimed that it 

 requires at least twenty years with changes of crops before the soil 

 has fully recovered and become adapted again for replanting-. From 

 these facts we may judge how our fruit trees are constantly exhausting 

 the soil, and how liberal we must be in supplying what we are annually 

 hauling away. The trees, then, of our old " orchards" that still have 

 life enough, and give promise of years of usefulness, must receive our 

 attention to bring them back to this condition. Therefore, clear out 

 their decaying limbs, trim oft" the superfluous branches, rub the mosses 

 down from their shaggy trunks, turn over the soil deep and well, let 

 the manures we must add be of the best ingredients, and then our 

 faithful old friends will be in a state, able again as of old, to repay us 

 for our care. 



When the trees are of inferior kinds, or so far decayed that it 

 would be best to remove them, and the i)lanting on the same ground 

 not an object, it would be best to clear them away ; use the ground for 

 other crops a series of years, and plant young trees on original soil?. 



Where it is desirable to keep the old plantation and till the vacant 

 places with other trees, let the holes be large and deep and in a great 

 measure be refilled with new soil and that dug out thrown aside. Good 

 cultivation following the results will be satisfactory. The interming- 

 ling of long with shorter lived varieties will be found in orchards, 

 planted in past years more so than the present; the object of the pres- 

 ent age being to get " quickest returns for every commodity." 



We can only say in conclusion, spare some of the old trees, still 

 let their swaying branches be a landmark of the past, but plant in 

 other fields, plant newer kinds, keep on with experiments and let not 

 the good work flag, but be a task for the love in it as well as the profit. 



