FRUIT. 215 



every season with a solution of sal-soda or of soft soap and 

 water. This will keep off parasitic growths and destroy insects 

 and worms. Examine them often near the ground, for the 

 detection of that enemy of apple trees — the borer. If you find 

 the bark penetrated by this worm, seek for it with a piece of 

 bent annealed wire, and destroy it. Clear the leaves and twigs 

 from worms and caterpillcrs as soon as you discover any. If 

 any pruning is done, do it with a sharp knife, or fine-toothed 

 saw, and cover the stub with a coating of grafting wax or 

 cement. 



If the land can well be cultivated, it is better for the young 

 trees. Potatoes, corn or oats will flourish well in an orchard 

 and give a fair crop without injuring or impairing the growth 

 of the trees. Be careful in ploughing or cultivating, not to 

 wound the roots, or barkj or in any way to disturb them. If 

 the land is kept down to grass, a surface of several feet should 

 be kept clear of turf near the body of every tree. This can 

 easily be done with a bog-hoe or pointed shovel. Or, what is 

 quite as effective, the same space can be covered with muck. 



HOW TO RECRUIT AN OLD ORCHARD. 



Many farmers have on their premises old orchards, producing 

 very little fruit. It is desirable to make them bear, until a 

 young orchard can be brought forward into a bearing condition. 

 Can any thing be done to reinvigorate the old and barren trees, 

 and to enhance their productive powers ? I answer yes, and 

 from personal experience with an old, worn-out orchard. My 

 method, and one which proved successful, was the following. 

 First the trees were cleared of all dead and decaying limbs 

 with the saw. Then all the moss and old dead bark was well 

 scraped from trunk and limbs with a sharp hoe. A quantity 

 of turf for a space of six feet in circumference was removed 

 with the spade from around the trunk, and one bushel of com- 

 post applied. The compost was composed of equal parts of 

 ashes, charcoal dust, and well-made manure. Then the turf 

 was replaced, the grass side downward. On the following year, 

 the leaves were larger and darker green, and for a number of 

 years the quantity and quality of the fruit was doubled. 



