86 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



tity, where he liberally mulched his trees. I knew an instance 

 where the ground under quite a large apple-tree was covered 

 over with slabs for several years, and it produced enormous 

 crops of fruit much larger and fairer than that produced be- 

 fore the slabs were piled under the tree. 



There are trees on my place, ranging from those but a few 

 years set up to the old hoary-head that must have stood the 

 wear of time for a century at least. There is a young orchard 

 of about seventy trees, that was set out in the years from 1855 

 to 1860. These trees were purchased from the proprietor of 

 a nursery adjoining the lot upon which my orchard stands. 

 This orchard has been cropped ever since being set out, either 

 with hoed crops or grass. 



I have never been bothered much with the borer or cater- 

 pillar. Either can easily be gotten rid of, if proper care is 

 taken at the proper time. To prevent the borer, it is of the 

 utmost importance to keep all the grass and weeds removed 

 from near the trunk of the trees, thereby destroying all 

 chance for a safe harbor for the embryo borer. Caterpillars 

 can be destroyed by two or three thorough cleanings of the 

 trees. But canker-worms are worse than all the other ene- 

 mies of the apple combined. No remedy that is within the 

 reach of farmers has as yet been discovered that will effectu- 

 ally keep them down. The patent tree-protectors are much 

 too costly, and require too much tending to ever become of 

 much benefit to the fruit-grower. They may do well in small 

 private gardens, where the owner has an eye on them several 

 times a day. Tar, or printers' ink, applied to the trunk of 

 the tree, is the cheapest, most effectual and surest method 

 that can be adopted to rid the apple orchard of the scourge. 

 I am of opinion that it would be of decided advantage to all 

 concerned if one-half at least of all our apple-trees were cut 

 down and removed. I believe that an apple-tree lasts and 

 bears fruit with any profit to the owner for only one genera- 

 tion. Even if they do live along and produce, it is only as 

 an unsightly and hollow-hearted nuisance, where grubs and 

 vermin of all kinds seek a home to breed their kind, and from 

 which to sally forth and attack the young orchards. Better 

 far it is to remove the old, worn-out trees, and take better 

 care of the young and vigorous. 



