ORCHARDS. 103 



ing it light and acceptable, as no other process can. Mulch- 

 ing, where leaves and litter can be obtained, is a wonderfully 

 cheap and beneficial expedient, and, in mj opinion, may well 

 take the place of ploughing and the attendant cropping, 

 which has doubtless done much to render a majority of our 

 orchards unproductive." 



The reader w411 pardon us for introducing the above short 

 digression, as the writer's remarks are instructive and spicy. 



CAUTIONS IN PRUNING. 



In pruning very young trees, side shoots should not be cut 

 off close, but take them off a few inches from the stem. If 

 cut close, it will induce weakness in the stem, the trees will 

 bend over, and no manner of staking can save them. In that 

 case they had better be cut off at the ground, and let them 

 put up anew. Young trees with numerous branches, taper 

 off the stem as they branch off upward, which proves that 

 each branch gives additional strength to the trunk below it ; 

 as the stem or trunk enlarges and strengthens, take them off 

 close. 



Never allow any person to throw sticks or stones among 

 the branches of any fruit trees, for the purpose of getting 

 down straggling apples, or other fruit, as the bark will be 

 bruised and injured, and it will sometimes cause the decay of 

 the best limbs in the tree. 



No person pruning a tree or gathering fruit, should go 

 among the branches with hard boots or shoes on, at any sea- 

 son, and more especially when the sap is up and the bark will 

 peel. Unless carefully used, the ladders to gather fruit will 

 bark, bruise and break the limbs, inducing canker and caus- 

 ing rotten limbs. 



MEDICATION FOR THE WOUNDS OF FRUIT TREES. 



Forsyth's Composition. — Take fresh cow-dung and mix 

 with it human urine and soap-suds; when well mixed, it should 

 be of the consistence of thick paint. It should be laid on 

 the wounded parts with a painter's brush to the thickness of 



