THE YOUNG ORCHARD 227 



borer to maim or kill the tree; it is for the in- 

 terest of the owner that the tree should live. 

 The conflict is irrepressible, and the weakest 

 must go to the wall. The borer evil can be re- 

 duced to a minimum by keeping the young trees 

 banked three or four inches high with firm dirt 

 or ashes ; but borers must be followed with the 

 wire, once they enter the bark. 



The sharp knife and the pruning-shears have 

 other uses in the June orchard. Limbs and 

 sprouts will come in irregular and improper 

 places, and they should be nipped out early and 

 thus save labor and mutilation later on. Sprouts 

 that start from the eyes on the trunk can be re- 

 moved by a downward stroke of the gloved hand. 

 All intersecting or crossing boughs are removed 

 by knife or scissors, and branches which are too 

 luxuriant in growth are cut or pinched back. 

 Careful guidance of the tree in June will avoid 

 the necessity of severe correction later on. 



A man ought to plant an orchard, if for no 

 other reason, that he may have the pleasure of 

 caring for it, and for the companionship of the 

 trees. This was the second year of growth for 

 my orchard, and I was gratified by the evidences 

 of thrift and vigor. Fine, spreading heads 

 adorned the tops of the stubs of trees that 

 had received such (apparently) cruel treatment 

 eighteen months before. The growth of these 

 two seasons convinced me that the four-year-old 

 root and the three-year-old stem, if properly 



