384 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
There is still another class of birds, examples of which are the 
thrushes and blackbirds, which have the good they do in the spring 
counterbalanced by the harm they do thecrops. Much damage may 
be prevented by having some early and poor variety of fruit planted 
as a hedgerow. 
In conclusion, the writer wishes to call special attention to the 
importance of protecting the birds of prey. Other birds, as well, 
deserve our protection and should only be killed when they threaten 
to destroy our crops. 
THE ORCHARD. 
E. H. 8S. DARTT, OWATONNA. 
Mr. President and gentlemen: The best location for the orchard 
is found to bea high northern slope tipping down to the north or 
northeast, the more the better, provided it is not so steep as to inter- 
fere with cultivation. Why is this best? Because our trees are 
killed by drouth and on this slope the hot sun and drying winds do 
not absorb moisture as rapidly as on level land or a southern slope. 
THE WORST LOCATION 
is a low sheltered nook where the cooling breeze is excluded 
and the sun has free access. Why? Because itis the hottest place 
in the daytime and the coldest place at night, consequently, the 
greatest and most sudden changes occur. 
Many farmers surround their buildings and orchard with a dense 
windbreak on all sides, and they wonder why the orchard does not 
thrive. Except so far as the ground is partially shaded, thisisa 
hard spot for fruit trees, and the good of the orchard requires the 
removal of the windbreak on the north and the trimming up or 
thinning out in other directions,so as to securea rather free circula- 
tion of air, the windbreak being only useful to the orchard by par- 
tially shading the ground and preventing fruit from being blown 
off. 
THE BEST TREATMENT 
seems to be cultivation, shallow, near trees, and mulching with 
manure at the rate of thirty loads to the acre,each and every fall or 
early winter. Cultivation protects against drouth;mulching prevents 
rootkilling, and manure keeps up vitality. The bearing orchard that 
is not well manured will soon starve to death. 
The Transcendent and some other crabs subjected to this treat- 
ment might blight to death. 
Prune early and lightly in such a way as to secure a low top with 
center stem and moderately sized side branches. 
If trees like the Wealthy kill down, allow the sprouts to grow up 
from the ground without pruning,and they will soon make bearing 
trees. But we must be on the lookout that such trees are not eaten 
by rabbits or crushed by settling snowdrift. 
WHAT SHALL WE PLANT? 
After our experiment sations have had a little more time they will 
be good authority; but for the present read the reports of our State 
