ORCHARDS. 



that comes washes the bark perfectly smooth, and gives it a fair, 

 natural, healthy colour." 



Caterpillars may be easily destroyed, if taken in time, and 

 at the proper time. Early in the morning, and in wet 

 weather, they may be found concentrated in a small compass, 

 under their web. If within reach, the whole colony may be 

 crushed in a moment with the hand. To reach the more ele- 

 vated webs, wind the end of a pole with rags, and with this 

 destroy them. Or, what is better, affix a Pickering brush to 

 the end of the pole, and with this destroy them. This brush 

 is round and conical, somewhat resembling a bottle brush. A 

 man or boy will clear an orchard of this pest before breakfast; 

 and the operation may be repeated, if necessary, without ex- 

 pense, or much loss of time. Or, in place of a brush, put a 

 sponge or swab made of rags, on the end of a pole, saturate it 

 with lye made from common wood ashes, or soap suds may be 

 used instead of lye; with this preparation give their nests a 

 thorough washing early in the morning before these mis- 

 chievous animals have gone abroad for their food. This will 

 instantly prove fatal to them. Be careful to break the web of 

 the nest, because they are so constructed as to shed the rain 

 and dews, the animal will thus escape. Not one of them can 

 live a minute after being wet with this liquid. 



Many methods are prescribed to protect the different kinds 

 of fruit trees from injury by insects, worms, &c. , but these will 

 be spoken of under the head of the trees themselves. 



Orchards are generally composed of Apple, Pear, Peach, 

 and Cherry trees; though to these may be added some others. 



The Apple, Tree,. "Of the many fruit trees in cultivation," 

 says the author of the Treatise on Agriculture (Mem. Board 

 of Agr. N. Y.) "this may be deemed the most important; not 

 only from the great abundance, diversified character, and nume- 

 rous uses of its produce, but from the small degree of care and 

 labour required in its culture, and the uncommon facility with 

 which it adapts itself to a great diversity of soils, climates, and 

 situations. One of its varieties (the crab) is a native of our 

 own forests; but the cultivated sorts among us have all been 

 derived from Europe." 



The apple is used for the table, for cooking, and making 

 cider. In the selection of sorts, therefore, regard will proba- 

 bly be had to all these objects. But these are so numerous, 

 that not one man in a hundred, and probably not one in a thou- 

 sand, says another writer, in the same work, possesses suffi- 

 cient knowledge of the numerous varieties to enable him to 

 make a judicious selection. One wishes to cultivate the sum- 

 mer and early autumn kinds for marketing; another more re- 



