151 



Cultivation. We have stated, in the first 

 chapter of our little work, that a fine fruit- 

 tree is the combined product of nature and 

 human skill. It is not enough therefore to 

 select a good apple-tree, and to plant it out in 

 the best manner. A great deal of further 

 care must be bestowed upon it. The cater- 

 pillar and the canker-worm must be gaurded 

 against or destroyed; the famishing mouse 

 must not be suffered to gnaw the trunk under 

 the friendly shelter of the snow-crust ; and 

 the insidious borer must be made to under- 

 stand that his intrusions are not to be tolera- 

 ted. Moss should neither be permitted to over- 

 grow the trunk and limbs, nor a thick grass- 

 sward to bind itself around the tree and ab- 

 sorb the moisture of the earth about its roots. 

 We have already given general and suffi- 

 cient directions upon this subject. It should 

 be remembered that the apple-tree will always 

 be abundantly grateful for a deep rich soil, 

 and generous cultivation. Cattle ought nev- 

 er to be turned loose into an orchard, un- 

 less one wishes to destroy it. If it is not de- 

 sirable to cultivate the whole orchard, cultivate 

 a circle around each tree, say quite as many 

 feet, as the tree is inches, in diameter, and let 

 the rest of the field be mowing-land. 



