ORCHARDS. 85 



Statement of James W. Brown. 



My orchard of four hundred and seventy-five apple trees was 

 set in the spring of 1847. The trees, at the time of setting, 

 were one, two and three years from the graft, about an equal 

 number of each. The soil is light and warm, with a gravelly 

 and sandy subsoil. The holes for planting the trees were dug 

 six feet in diameter and eighteen inches deep. The soil was 

 thrown in, and the trees were dressed with a compost of peat 

 mud, loam, dry ashes, and a small quantity of barn manure. 

 The trees have received, about five times in seven years, a light 

 top dressing of peat mud and loam. They have been washed four 

 times in seven years. In July last I applied a wash composed 

 of two gallons of water, one quart of soft soap, and one-fourth 

 of a pound of potash. This wash answers every purpose, and 

 does not in the least injure the youngest trees. I pruned the 

 orchard in June, and the largest cuttings are healing finely. 

 I have taken much pains to keep the trees clear of the cater- 

 pillars, and army and web-worm, the last two of which have 

 scarcely made their appearance with me this season. Late in 

 June I discovered a caterpillar's nest high up in one of the 

 largest trees. With difficulty I removed it, only on account of 

 its unsightliness, but found within the folds of the web forty- 

 two cocoons ready to send forth as many insects, to lay the 

 foundation of much mischief for the ensuing year. An old cat- 

 erpillar's nest should never be left upon the tree through the 

 season ; it shelters the cocoon and increases the labors of the 

 cultivator. 



The drought during this season has been unprecedented. 

 We have had but one rain of any account for the past ten weeks. 

 My trees, however, are still growing, while the corn around 

 them is for the most part dead. This thriving condition of the 

 orchard is owing to deep ploughing in the spring and frequent 

 hoeing through the summer. The soil has been ploughed five 

 times during the seven years since the trees were planted. I 

 shall never lay it down to grain or grass. 



I passed through the orchard to-day twice diagonally from 

 the four corners, and measured in course thirty-four trees each 



