STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 107 



two inches of fresh soil thrown over all,— this presupposes a breaking depth of two 

 inches and a back-setting depth of four inches. Ground thus treated, on examina- 

 tion the following spring, will be found to be as loose and friable as an ash heap, 

 and in fine condition for the crop as provided for by the statute. 



At this time many make a fatal mistake in planting a crop that will allow a thor- 

 ough seeding of weeds. Beyond question the best crop to keep the soil free from 

 weeds is flax. By carefully harrowing the soil, and planting in good condition, flax 

 will yield from fifteen to twenty bushels to the acre, and, as a rule, will average 

 eighteen bushels, and at the usual price ought to reimburse one for every penny ex- 

 pended up to this time. 



As soon as the crop is harvested plow shallow, expecting before it freezes to plow 

 again, deeper than ever before, say six inches; after thorough harrowing the 

 timber claim will then be in fit condition for auy kind of stock, be it trees, seeds or 

 cuttings. At the end of the second year, and all things being considered, if it is 

 possible to reach it before it freezes up, one should by all means plant the claim at 

 this time ; why make two bites of a cherry ? You have then anticipated the law 

 by two years, and put yourself beyond the pale of a jumper, who is always ready 

 to take advantage of any man, who through iguoran e or inability, fails to comply 

 with the law. To make the claim in finer condition, I would recommend the pul- 

 verizing of any claim jumper who may show himself in your vicinity, bone dust 

 being highly valuable as a fertilizer, and beside improving your own farm, you are 

 doing your neighbor a kindness in removing a detestable evil, peculiar to the 

 frontier. 



From the large quantity of entries under this law, it is safe to say, that it will be 

 neces.sary to use the three methods provided, z. e., trees, seeds and cuttings, with 

 the ground in proper condition and a groAviug spring, each will do well, if properly 

 planted. The rooted seedlings, however, will stand more abuse of planter and 

 season than the cutting or seed. The cutting will make larger growth, if a favora- 

 ble season, than either the tree or seed, providing they are the same when planted. 

 There are two things to avoid in planting cuttings or seeds : (1.) Sticking the cut- 

 ting by hand into the mellow soil. (2 ) Covering the seed with too much earth. 



Plant a cutting with a spade, dibble or plow, if the two former, set full depth 

 and firmly. If, with the plow, open a furrow, set the cutting slanting in the fur- 

 row, and throw the earth l)ack, filling the furrow, and pressing down perfectly the 

 loose soil on the cutting. In planting seed, it is a safe rule to cover with earth the 

 depth of the greatest diameter of the seed or kernel to be planted, unless it be wal- 

 nut or hickory nuts, which demand deep planting, to obtain moisture suflicient to 

 aid the germ to force its way out of the shell. By this I mean if an apple seed be 

 one-fourth of an inch at its greatest size that it would be safe to cover it a quarter 

 of an inch, a maple seed one-third of an inch should have one-third of an inch of 

 soil over it. 



In preparing to plant, it would be advisable to mark in rows eight feet apart 

 north and south, planting two feet apart in these rows, and thus affording an op- 

 portunity to plant some kind of a hoed crop in the ground destined for the young 

 plantation, thus insuring careful cultivation for the trees, and allowing a profit 

 over and above the expense of cultivating each crop. 



And now that we are ready to plant, what shall be the selection ? Beyond doub 



