26 



Hints on Vegetable and Fruit Farming. 



a tree is barked by animals in the least degree, it generally 

 cankers and is unhealthy. Where no cattle are grazed,cages of 

 galvanised wire of a fine mesh put round the trees about 4 feet 

 high and 8 inches in diameter, at a very small cost, will serve to 

 keep off sheep and rabbits. A fence against cattle and horses may 

 be made by driving split fence-rails cut into "slats," or lengths 

 of 8 feet, and IJ to 2 inches in thickness and width, into the 

 ground, and fastening them at the top with braces, according 

 to the appended figure (Fig. 1). The pieces should be creo- 



Fig. 1.- 



-Illustration of a i^votecting Fence to a Fruit-tree. 



a.n:r.&^i 



soted, as all posts and parts of fencing that go into the ground 

 upon farms should be, and with care they will last pretty well 

 until the tree is out of danger. Good trees can be purchased at 

 about 4:1. 5s. per 100 ; but fruit-planters should not mind a little 

 extra cost to ensure good trees of the sorts desired. They must 

 be careful to buy only of respectable nurserymen, or of fruit- 

 growers of standing, and should require full guarantees. The 

 cost of planting, staking, and fencing would be from 4/. to 8/. 

 per acre. In plantations the trees only require to be protected 

 against rabbits by cages of galvanised wire-netting. The best 

 manure for apple-orchards is farmyard -manure laid round the 

 trees, or manure from sheep, cake or corn fed. Superphosphate, 

 bones, nitrate of soda, and potash may be occasionally used witli 



