390 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



ORCHARDING ON CHEAP GROUNDS. 



HAT to do with the land that will not bring more than $5 to $15 

 per acre has been a problem with many farmers, for generally 

 such land is almost worthless for most crops. Located upon hill- 

 sides, or in exposed places where the soil is poor, there seems to 

 be no use or demand for it. But in the last quarter of a century 

 a great deal of the land in the northern belt of states has been 

 turned into apple orchards, which have been paying from $15 to $75 per acre 

 annually — a profit that would be considered satisfactory by any farmer. The 

 orchards have been well taken care of, and have demonstrated what can be done. 

 Instead of allowing the land to remain idle, the owners planted the orchards of 

 trees on them, and then carefully cultivated them. To day the land is worth 

 c onsiderably more than at the beginning. 



The only drawback to planting orchards on such land is that one has to 

 wait so long for returns, but the orchards should be planted simply upon the 

 principle that as we grow older the farm is becoming more valuable, even though 

 we personally never receive the benefit. It is another way of laying up money 

 for our children. The armies of worms and insects that attack the orchards are 

 frightening many indolent farmers out of the business. They declare that there 

 is no money in the work, and in so doing the insects are doing a good turn to 

 the careful, painstaking growers. The time is rapidly coming when only the 

 careful and well-posted will make money in orcharding, and while others fail 

 they will receive the benefits of markets only half supplied with the fruits. De- 

 structive insects and diseases are even now keeping down the supply of apples, 

 so that the markets are rarely over-supplied. But those who study the latest 

 methods of destroying the borer, codling moth, apple maggot, apple scab, and 

 other foes, will be sure to make orcharding pay more than if these insects had 

 never existed. Those who do this work successfully will always be in the 

 minority, and while the great number will be decrying the failure of the whole 

 business, the few progressive ones will be making good incomes. 



The trees on poor soil need more training than those on rich. Enrich the 

 earth around the trees, and they will get established. Barnyard manure is 

 undoubtedly the best for this, and where it is abundant do not be deceived into 

 buying any prepared mixture. Allow poultry, sheep and swine to fertilize the 

 orchards by roaming at large in them. They open the soil, let in the air and 

 sunlight, fertilize the trees, and destroy the insects By turning the orchards 

 into poultry ranges you will add quite a little to the income from the eggs and 

 fresh chickens supplied for the table or market. 



Train the trees young. The best authorities say that only the pocket knife 

 should be used for training and pruning apple trees. This is only another way 

 of saying that the pruning should be done early, before the branches have 



