106 MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 



dred contributors, contains nearly all the standard and well- 

 tested varieties of apples and of pears. In the department of 

 pears, almost all the late varieties that have been fruited in 

 this country were in exhibition. 



It is undoubtedly true that the cultivation of the apple and 

 the pear is profitable or not, according to the care and skill 

 employed therein. Experience has taught those who have 

 tried the cultivation of either kind, that the following method, 

 carefully executed, will, with great uniformity, result in suc- 

 cess. 



In preparing the ground, trench wide and deep the hole that 

 is to receive the tree. Before setting the tree, the hole should 

 be partly filled with well-rotted manure. This last point must 

 be carefully attended to, as new, unprepared manure, brought 

 near the roots of the young tree would almost certainly destroy 

 it. It is a matter of the first importance in setting trees, that 

 they should not be set in the earth deeper than they stood in 

 the nursery. And if this direction be not observed, there will 

 certainly be a failure in having a healthy tree. Very exact 

 gardeners deem it important that the tree shall' stand with 

 the same aspect in the orchard, that it had in the nursery. In 

 planting an orchard, be careful that the trees transplanted are 

 thrifty and carefully removed ; and if any root be bruised in 

 taking up the tree, the same should be nicely trimmed, and 

 the bruised part cut off by a sharp knife, otherwise gangrene 

 will follow, and though the tree may live, it will be in a feeble, 

 stunted condition, and after a few years will wither and die. 

 After transplanting the trees into your orchard, let the ground 

 which received them be for several years cultivated. The 

 young trees should be washed for some years, after they are 

 removed to the orchard, by a wash of oil soap or potash water. 

 The former is recommended, after long experience, by skilful 

 cultivators, who deem it less likely to prove injurious to the 

 tree in unskilful hands. 



Much care is required in pruning the apple tree. By skilful^ 

 cultivators it is deemed best to remove all but two or three 

 main branches from the trunk. This will form a sufficient lead 

 in such form, that the fruit in ripening will have the best ex- 

 posure to the sun. Care must be observed, that the branches 

 so reserved shall be so joined to the trunk as not to be in 



