174 



MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



thorough ctihivation must be mowed as often as the grass gets of 

 any height, and I leave the grass where it falls, as I believe this 

 is the best way to keep a bearing orchard. 



If we have had wet 

 weather up to the middle of 

 June, we can now look for 

 blight. The orchard in cul- 

 tivation usually gets more 

 moisture than the trees use, 

 and the overflow of sap 

 lodges in the small limbs, 

 where it ferments and at 

 once kills the twigs and 

 leaves. This I always be- 

 lieved to be the cause of 

 blight, as I never could see 

 any other reason for it. I 

 have fried different means 

 to prevent the blight, but 

 have found nothing bet- 

 t e r than keeping the 

 orchard in grass and mow- 

 ing frequently. The grass 

 takes up the moisture that 

 would otherwise go to the 

 trees, and tiie grass when 

 mowed furnishes a good 

 mulch in dry weather and a 

 clean blanket for the apples 

 to fall on. So I believe I 

 will fall back on that plan 

 again and will sow clover 

 instead of grass seed. 

 Pruning in June I do not practice. I go through the or- 

 chard and cut out the dead limbs and all limbs that show signs 

 of. dying. I also cut off all water sprouts that may have starte^d, 

 and once in a few years I go through with a knife and rip the 

 bark on the trunks and large limbs. The trees will then grow more 

 stocky, and the bark will not crack in cold weather, as it often does, 

 near the roots of voung tree*. 



We are now 'in the last days of June, and another spraying 

 should now be done to prevent the last brood of the codling moth. 

 The worm, when hatched, will enter the apple, at any part of it, 

 and remain until the apple falls or is taken from the tree. 



Mr. Nils Anderson. Lake Citj', Minn. 



