SYSTEMS OF CULTURE ORCHARDING APPLES. 



ligatures tied round them. These require to be examined at midsummer and in the 

 autumn, to see that they are not too tight. Protection from sheep, hares, and rabbits 

 is afforded by placing galvanised wire netting, 1^-inch mesh, 4 feet high and 8 inches 

 in diameter, close round the trees at a cost of about Is. each. Thorn or briar boughs 

 thrust into the ground and securely fastened around each tree, form a cheap protection 

 against sheep and calves. Hares and rabbits will not touch the trees if the stems are 

 coated with Tree Protective Composition (Dickson's Chester). Where cattle and horses 

 are grazed a fence around each tree is imperative. It may be formed in two ways : 1, 

 setting larch posts to form a square, then nailing " slats " of split fence-rails horizontally, 

 close enough at the lower part to exclude sheep and, higher up, the heads of cattle or 





Fig. 63. HOBIZONTAL AND UPEIOHT WoODEN GuABDS FOE FEUIT TKEE8. 



horses ; 2, driving 7-feet lengths of split fence rails, about 2 inches in thickness, into 

 the ground, that part creosoted, and fastening them at the top with braces. The pro- 

 tecting fences (Fig. 63) should be 5 feet high, and fixed about 3 feet from the tree. 



The remarks in respect of preparing the land, planting, staking, and protecting 

 apply to all kinds of standard fruit trees for orcharding ; differing, however, in certain 

 particulars. Eemarks on each fruit as regards soil, cost of trees, expense of main- 

 tenance, and certain returns in produce or profit, are subjoined. 



Apples. Standard apple trees require a good loamy medium and a deep subsoil. 

 They do not thrive upon land a few inches deep even of fairly-good soil resting on chalk, 

 gravel, sand, or stubborn clay. The trees should be on stocks raised from pips of apple 



