13 



as to cause the roots of the tree to penetrate deeply into 

 the soil where it is always moist, and mulching has a ten- 

 dency to produce a contrary result, by keeping the surface 

 of the soil moist, and dark, thereby attracting the roots 

 upwards instead of downward where we wish them to go. 

 Besides this last effect, mulching serves as a harbor for 

 termites, moles and other vermine, which are often detri- 

 mental to the health and life of the tree. Should it be 

 determined to mulch, trimmings of trees, brush from the 

 woods or other coarse material, are better suited to the 

 purpose, because air and light thereby, are freely admitted 

 to the surface soil. The best mulch we ever found was the 

 frequent stirring of the surface soil wth the hoe, rake or 

 cultivator. By this practice air and light are freely admitted 

 and evaporation and capillary attraction from the subsoil 

 prevented 



AFTER CULTURE. 



When the trees begin to put on a new growth it will 

 be well to give a light dressing of well rotted stable manure, 

 or some one of the artificial fertilizers well stirred into the 

 soil, if they have not already been fertilized at the time of 

 planting. The grove should be kept entirely free from 

 weeds and grass, by the hoe, plow or cultivator, and the 

 soil about the trees often raked over to prevent baking. 

 Water sprouts will soon make their appearance, and should 

 be removed at once and only such branches allowed to grow 

 as are desirable for the formation of the tree. 



SCALE INSECTS. 



Should the scale insects make their appearance they 

 should be attended to at once, the body of the tree, branches 

 and leaves should be treated with some soapy solution, ap- 



