■28 REPORTS, 



now TO RECRUIT AN OW ORCHARD. 



Many farmers have on tlieir 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 

 anything be done to reinvigorate the old and barren trees, and to 

 enhance their productive powers? I answer yes, and from per- 

 sonal 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 circumferance was removed with the spade, from 

 around the trunk, and one bushel of compost ajoplied. The com- 

 post was composed of equal parts of ashes, charcoal dust and well 

 made manure. Then the turf -{Vas replaced, the grass side down- 

 ward. 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. 



WHAT VARIETIES OF FRUIT TO RAISE. 



Any person about to plant an orchard, will do well before do- 

 ing so, to answer the following question. What trees will flour- 

 ish best in this latitude, and on the peculiar soil of my farm? — 

 What varieties of apples will suit best the tastes of my family 

 for home consumption ? What kind of apples will find the most 

 ready sale in market? What varieties are the best bearers? — 

 Supposing you wish to set out an orchard of one hundred trees. 

 Seventy-five of these at least, should be calculated to produce 

 market fruit. The remaining twenty-five, may consist of selected 

 varieties of Summer, Fall and Winter fruit, adapted to the tastes 

 .and predilections of the family. Those designed for market, 



