88 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



of Hard Fescue and Evergreen Wood Meadow-grass. Clovers should be avoided ; they 

 abstract nearly double the amount of potash, soda, magnesia, and lime that grasses do. 

 If they grow naturally, it indicates good soil, but they are best excluded from mixtures 

 for sowing down orchards. 



A fence is an absolute necessity for orchards. Protection must be afforded against 

 horses and large cattle. An inefficient fence means ruin. A properly-planted quick- 

 hedge, the ground having been well prepared previously, kept free from weeds, duly 

 trimmed, and protected by a temporary fence of wood or strained wire, will get up in 

 four or five years. It is neat in appearance, affords shelter, and forms a good barrier 

 against intruders, but favours insect pests. An iron fence is enduring, but light fences 

 of this kind are a source of trouble ; therefore, it should be sufficiently strong to resist 

 horses and, at the same time, close enough to exclude sheep. Barbed fencing-wire 

 marauders do not like, but it is greatly objected to by sportsmen. All tastes and require, 

 ments in fences are amply provided for by manufacturers, and planters of orchards must 

 choose for themselves. 



Pruning, when skilfully performed, is advantageous to young trees, as the branches 

 should not be crowded together, especially near the centre of the tree. The object should 

 be to provide a due proportion of main branches and ramifications at such distance as to 

 admit a person freely between them, never allowing too many shoots, but cutting out 

 crossed growths, leaving the head open, with every branch free of its neighbour. Long, 

 irregular growths should be shortened, and those taking a strong lead cut clean out, or 

 reduced so as to form, as far as practicable, an evenly- balanced yet free head, remembering 

 that a mop-like head of many branches and twigs never produces fine fruit. Beyond 

 the simple pruning advised, it is well, as a rule, to let each orchard tree assume its 

 natural character. 



Of late years planting standard trees at quarter distance for utilisation of space and 

 early profit has not only been practised, but between the standards, bush trees have 

 been introduced in many plantations, with great advantage as regards early profits. By 

 selecting early- cropping varieties, the dwarf trees usually pay for themselves and 

 management by the third crop, and by the time of their removal in six to eight years 

 they have produced crops yielding a good percentage on the capital invested. This will 

 be referred to more fully under " Commercial Culture." It is mentioned here as the prac- 

 tice is becoming general in private establishments. A plan of an orchard showing the 

 different methods named will be suggestive. 



