Mulchifig Trees. 337 



is not alone. Even the choicest Pennsylvania land, within thirty miles of 

 Philadelphia, sometimes affords an equally meagre return. A Pennsylva- 

 nian came here recently in search of a location among us. He owned a 

 farm of a hundred acres, worth fifteen thousand dollars ; and mentioned that 

 the County Agricultural Society had awarded him the premium for the best 

 cultivated farm in the county. Here was the indorsement of competent 

 judges that he understood his business. But he admitted that his profit 

 at the year's end had only once amounted to five hundred dollars. 



Statements of similar unpromising character have been made by stran- 

 gers from the North and West ; so that my quiet Vermonter will find himself 

 only one of a large company. I cannot believe, however, that such unre- 

 munerative returns for capital and labor are general ; and am sure that 

 there must be facts to temper and account for them. Farming on a large 

 scale must unquestionably pay, or it would be quickly abandoned. These 

 cases are cited only by way of contrast with the results of fruit-growing and 

 trucking in a region where the markets are so large, that every thing we 

 produce commands the highest price. But it must not be supposed that 

 all fruit-growers succeed ; for such is not the fact. Nor do all lawyers or 

 doctors or storekeepers. These several occupations are intrinsically desi- 

 rable, and we see that men grow rich by pursuing them. But success de- 

 pends as much upon the man as upon the occupation. A careless, idle, 

 inattentive horticulturist will fail as certainly as a shiftless storekeeper or 

 a lazy doctor. Success comes of industry and brains. Without them, one 

 need not hope for even eight dollars an acre. Edmund Morris. 



Burlington, N.J. 



MULCHING TREES. 



NEWLY-set trees should, if possible, be mulched, unless pn quite moist 

 land. Though the early part of the season be wet, yet, when the dry, hot 

 weather comes on, the trees will be quite likely to suffer. Hay, leaves, 

 straw, almost any thing that will keep the ground inoist, can be used to 

 advantage. Where nothing else can conveniently be had, stones may be 

 used. If leaves are used, it is better to cover with some earth to prevent 

 them from blowing off. 



VOL. 111. 43 



