BlPOETft. 27 



turf, it' on sworJ land, with tlie grass siJo down, and if deemed 

 necessary, secure the tree to a stake by a piece of soft cord, or 

 etrip of cloth, au(J the thing is done. 



THE AFTER TREATMENT OF TEE YOUNG TREES. 



Do not meddle with them much the first year. If the season ia 

 a dry one, they may need watering, but they will require no 

 pruning. Young trees will bear but little pruning for a few 

 years. They need all their foliage to gather from the atmosphere 

 important principles of growth. After the first year, a compost, 

 composed of well rotted manure and wood ashes should be ap- 

 plied annually around and near them. It is an excellent plan to 

 wash the bodies and larger limbs at least once every season with 

 a solution of Sal-soda or 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 catepillars 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 bark, 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 eflfective, 

 the same space can be covered with mould. 



