40 



of public interest, and then bid adieu to this enterprising town 

 and its polite and enterprising citizens. 



The Committee append a few thoughts suggested by their 

 observations at Foxborough and elsewhere, and by discussions 

 arising among themselves. 



Form of Pruning-. — In our climate the apple-tree should not 

 be pruned in the saucer, or wine-glass form. Such a form 

 exposes the naked limbs and bark to the direct and severe rays 

 of our bright and powerful sun. This form is well suited to a 

 humid climate, where the sun is less powerful, and is for long 

 periods shut out by clouds and fogs. The balloon or umbrella 

 form is best suited to our locality. The branches should not 

 materially cross or interlace, but while they exclude the direct 

 and more powerful rays of the sun from the bark, they should 

 be so thinned out as to admit its hght and warmth to every 

 part of the tree. 



Time of Pruning-. — Here opinions vary. "We say, between 

 the fall of the leaf and its germination. This is the time of 

 leisure. It is the most favorable time to judge of the shape of 

 the tree — to see just what needs to be removed. If necessary 

 to cut off large branches, the scar should be covered with a 

 solution of linseed oil and yellow ochre ; this, without doing 

 injury, will keep the wound fresh and prevent cracking, which 

 is the only evil effect of winter pruning. 



Scraping. — This should be done, if at all, gently, so as not 

 to tear or bruise the bark. Many trees, of tender bark, like 

 the Sweet Bough, Porter, &c., may bo seriously injured by 

 severe scraping. Follow nature as nearly as possible.. 



Washes. — Nothing should be used which tends to tighten or 

 bind tlie bark. A solution of soft soap or whale-oil soap can 

 do no harm. 



Distance of Planting. — Thirty feet apart is the least distance 

 for apple-trees ; then tliey will cover the whole ground. Forty 

 feet is the common distance for orchards, and fifty feet if the 

 land is to be used for grass or grain. In all the orchards exam- 

 ined at Foxborough the trees stand from twenty to twenty-five 

 feet apart ; already, when but sixteen years old, they cover the 

 whole ground and begin to stretch into each other. 



Burers. — The gentlemen at Foxborough have generally 

 adopted the plan of plugging the holes of tlie borer with pine 

 plugs, or with hard soap. Others have used successfully coal 

 ashes heaped around the trunk of the tree, a few inches above 

 the surface. The only safe course is the knife, the gouge and 

 the wire — with these the tree can be kept clean, provided the 

 borer works where it can be reached. 



L. W. Babcock, Esq., of Milton, for many years has kept a 

 large orchard free from the borer in the following manner : — 

 Learning that the borer enters the tree just at its junction 



