14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



This cost me at the railroad station just about $10.00. To 

 this I should add, another season, a quantity of sulphate of 

 magnesia. The merits of this application are ; its small cost, 

 considering the value of its ingredients ; its ease of handling ; 

 the large proportion of soluble constituents immediately 

 available ; and the relative proportions of its components, 

 which may be varied just as desired. Notwithstanding it 

 ministers at once to the growth of the grass, on account of 

 its solubility the trees get a generous share. As soon as 

 the grass will stand up against the scythe, it is mowed and 

 placed around the trunks of the trees to a depth sufficient to 

 kill out and keep out all grass, and of as much width as 'the 

 varying amount of cut grass will completely cover. This 

 mowing is repeated through the season as often as the grass 

 is tall enough, from two to five times, depending upon the 

 rainfall mainly. 



The advantages of this plan as a whole are, that an orchard 

 is cheaper fed than by animal manures ; it is better fed for 

 fruitfulness by reason of the different proportion of its con- 

 stituents, notably the smaller amount of nitrogen ; it is also 

 better fed on account of its greater solubility, which causes 

 the leaves to develop rapidly, and at once put on that dark- 

 green color characteristic of sturdy health, thus promoting a 

 successful fructification of the bloom and a vigor of growth 

 throughout the season. The grass when kept short does not 

 exhaust the soil to the detriment of the trees, either by its 

 demand for the elements of fertility or moisture. It fills the 

 soil with dead and decaying roots better than the plough and 

 cultivator can with manure. The cut grass readily decays, 

 and, acting first as a mulch and then as a fertilizer, finds its 

 way back eventually to the soil. When the leaves drop in 

 the autumn they are evenly distributed among the blades of 

 grass, and never blow away, thus returning to the soil so 

 much of fertility. The cost of mowing is not more than that 

 of cultivation. The fruit will be of a more compact texture, 

 and will keep longer than with a cultivated surface, and the 

 trees will be freer from disease and longer lived. 



Insects and Their Destruction. 

 Some years ago, when fair, clean No. 1 apples might be 

 worth $3.00 per barrel. No. 2, mainly good apples but 



