226 



THE CANADIAN H0BTICULTUEI8T. 



do yourselves. But, go to your nearest 

 neighbors who have orchards, consult 

 with them, and you will soon ascertain 

 what varieties will suit your locality 

 best, and just here let me add in large 

 type : Don't get too many varieties. 

 If you have decided to plant your 

 orchard for your family's use only, two 

 or three trees each of such varieties as 

 may furnish you with a constant supply 

 of fruit of the best quality from the be- 

 ginning of August until the end of the 

 following May, is all that is required ; 

 but, if for market purposes, then three 

 or four varieties is all you should at- 

 tempt to grow, let } our orchard be ever 

 so large ; and these varieties should be 

 selected, not for the quality of the fruit, 

 but for its market value when ready 

 for sale. Many of the poorest apples 

 in quality are the most profitable to the 

 grower. 



Having determined on the varieties 

 you intend planting, the next question 

 in order will be : How to procure the 

 trees. Well, the best way to get your 

 trees is to send your order to some re- 

 liable nurseryman, and tell him to send 

 the choicest trees he has of the varieties 

 named ; and depend upon it, you will 

 get in this way the best possible value 

 for your money. 



Next ; as to planting : Have the 

 ground into which the trees are to be 

 planted, in the highest state of cul- 

 tivation. See that the planting is 

 properly done. The soil neither too 

 wet or too dry, but mellow and friable. 

 Make the holes large enough so that 

 every root may be fully extended, and 

 deep enough, so that the tree may stand 

 a little deeper in the soil than it stood 

 in the nursery. Work the mellow 

 soil around and between the roots with 

 your fingers. When the hole is filled 

 up level, tramp the earth down until it 

 is firm ; then cover the trodden earth 

 with rich, loose soil to the depth of two 

 or three inches. 



Cultivation and after treatment : — 

 Corn is perhaps the best crop to grow 

 in an orchard the first year, as it im- 

 poverishes the soil but little, and its 

 tall growth shelters the stems of the 

 young trees from the hot sun j ust when 

 shelter is most needed. Root crops of 

 any kind may be grown for the succeed- 

 ing five or six years. Allow no weeds 

 or grass to grow during this time under 

 or around the trees ; then no fear of 

 girdling by mice need be entertained. 

 All pruning during this time may be 

 done with the finger and thumb ; a 

 small knife may occasionly be required. 

 The operator should know the habits 

 and peculiarities of growth of each 

 variety he is working, and allow no 

 shoot to grow where a limb may not 

 be in future years. Have the trunks 

 and limbs as far up as possible ; wash 

 once or twice each summer with an al- 

 kaline wash, and thereby greatly assist 

 in increasing the health and vigor of 

 the trees. This treatment also tends 

 greatly towards keeping insect enemies 

 in check. When the trees commence 

 to bear and the effects of the Codlin 

 moth feared, the tops of the trees 

 should be sprayed with water in which 

 Paris green has been mixed. This 

 must be done when the blossoms are 

 mature and just ready to fall, to be 

 effectual. It will not do to say I am 

 too busy with my seeding and will at- 

 tend to the orchard in a day or two. 

 To-day is the time ; to-morrow may be 

 too late. When the orchard is in good 

 bearing condition all cropping should 

 cease and grass may be grown which 

 may be eaten by pigs or sheep or it 

 may be mowed occasionally but never 

 removed without supplying its equiva- 

 lent in manure, in addition to a heavy 

 top dressing of good manure every year 

 The land when first reclaimed from the 

 forest contains a bountiful accumula- 

 tion of all that is necessary for the pro- 

 duction of our various crops, but every 



