47 



As further testimony, and with a view of giving the method by which the trees may 

 be mounded, I also insert the following communication from E. A. Thompson, of Hillside 

 (near Cincinnati), Ohio, which appeared in the Journal of Agriculture of November 14th, 

 1868: 



" The motmding system was first practised, so far as I know, by Isaac Bolniar, of 

 Warren County, Ohio. I visited his orchards some years ago, acquainted myself with 

 his system, and concluded to try it upon my orchard of 4,000 trees — then one year 

 planted. I plant my trees in the fall, and in the spring following cut them back to six 

 inches above the bud. The tree, then, instead of having one body has several — from 

 three to six. The second summer I plough both ways, turning the furrows towards the 

 trees. The men follow with shovels, throwing the loose soil around tii trees to the height 

 of about one foot. In the fall I cut the trees back, taking off about one-third of the 

 year's growth. The next spring or summer I pursue the same method, raising the 

 mound about one foot higher, cut back in the fall, and in the third summer repeat the 

 process, raising the mound another foot, which finishes the job. The mound will then 

 be about three feet high at its apex, and six feet in diameter at its base. The mounding need 

 not be done in the summer or at any particular season; it is just as well done in the fall 

 when the hurry is over. The dirt is never taken away from the trees ; in fact it cannot 

 be removed without injury to the tree, for the young rootlets each year keep climbing up 

 through this mound. 1 had occasion to remove one of these mounds a few days since, and 

 found it a mass of healthy roots." 



" Now for the benefits. First, you have no trouble with the grub or borer ; he must 

 have light and air, and the mound is too much for him ; he comes out, and that is the 

 last of him. I have never wormed my trees or hunted for borers, and an orchard of 

 healthier or thriftier trees cannot be found. It has been a.sserted that the borer will 

 reappear again near the top of the mound — but I am s.atisfied this is not the case ; I have 

 never thus far been able to find one. Second, the system imparts longevity to the tree. 

 I saw a tree in Warren County, treated in this manner, thirty years old, still healthy and 

 bearing annual crops. Third, trees thus treated arc not subject to disease. I 

 have never had a case of yellows in my orchard. Fourth, the expense is trifling — one 

 man can mound fifty trees per day. The system can be applied to old as well as young 

 orchards; but if old trees are thus treated they should first be severely cut back, when 

 they will make a growth of young wood." 



It is also stated that tobacco stems thrown round the stem of the trees have been 

 productive of good, as they seem to have the eff"ect of keeping away the moth. 



