THE PLUM AND CHERRY ORCHARD IN MAY AND JUNE. 1 75 



THE PLUM AND CHERRY ORCHARD IN MAY AND JUNE. 



C. W. MERRITT, WIXOXA. 



We will first' take up the plum. But I would turn back into 

 April for the first work, if the weather conditions are favorable, 

 by first trimming out all old wood and then spraying with sulphate 

 of copper solution (sulphate of copper one pound, water twenty-five 

 gallons), this to kill plum rot spores. If there are any mummy 

 plums left on the trees, gather carefully and burn them ; tbcy are 

 ready to start the rot on the new plums. Be thorough with the 

 spraying at this time as well as later, as these spores are lodged 

 all over the tree — yes, and on the ground too. The solution should 

 be applied before the buds swell much. 



All sprouts that came up around the tree must be dug up and the 

 ground thoroughly cleaned and stirred up. Trees bearing heavy 

 crops should be well fed with stable manure. 



Before fhe buds open begin spraying with Bordeaux mixture 

 and make the tree look white with it ; after the blossoms have 

 fallen spray again at intervals of a week until they have had four 

 or five sprayings. This will help check curculio also, as this dress- 

 ing is not at all to his taste. I have never yet had time or patience 

 to run around and knock him onto a canvas and then kill him. 



In June I would go over trees and thin out plums, leaving 

 them two inches apart. It will take time and patience to do this, 

 but in the fall you will have found that it has paid you big with 

 finer plums than you ever had before. 



The cherry orchard. I would remove all dead wood, but do not 

 prune live wood if you can help it. The cherry is impatient of the 

 knife. Trim and shape the cherry tree the first two years of its life 

 and then let it alone. It will form its own top. Spray with cop- 

 per sulphate solution the same as for plums. Then with Bordeaux 

 mixture before the buds open, and after the blossoms have fallen 

 spray the same as for plums. I would not feed cherries as I would 

 plums, they are better with not too much feed. If possible set your 

 cherry orchard on a sidehill, where there is good drainage. They 

 will not do well on heavy, level land ; in fact", a coarse, gravelv soil 

 is best for cherries. Give them plenty of light and air, setting 

 your trees at least twenty feet apart each way. 



