ORCHARDS, 



37 



in some cases this implement has been used to excess. 

 I have frequently washed my trees with a solution of 

 clay and cow manure ; whether or not this process had 

 been beneficial I am not able to determine. One of my 

 trees, in particular, I was advised not to renovate on 

 account of size and age, but subsequently was advised 

 so to do by an '^ old experienced orchardist," Samuel 

 Downing, Esq., of Lexington, to whom I am indebted 

 for many valuable hints and suggestions in relation to 

 renovating an old orchard, as well as in the cultivation 

 of a young one ; this suggestion being made on the 

 premises, that the tree would yet produce $100 worth 

 of fruit in its day and generation. I have kept a sepa- 

 rate account of the proceeds from this tree since the 

 first year of its bearing : in 1846 it produced four bar- 

 rels, worth $8,00; in 1848, four barrels worth $8,00; 

 in 1850, five and a half barrels and one of second qual- 

 ity worth $10,50; in 1852, six barrels, and two barrels 

 of second quality worth $10,50 ; in 1854, seven and a 

 half barrels and two of second quality worth $11,00; 

 in 1856, being the "hard year" for Baldwins, only 

 three barrels worth $10,50; in 1858, five barrels worth 

 $11,00. 



When I first commenced the work of improving my 

 orchard I removed the earth from the trunks of the 

 trees and incorporated compost manure ; but, reasoning 

 from analogy, I came to the conclusion that this process 

 added about as much to the growth and nourishment of 

 the tree and fruit as it would to put a hungry boy's 

 dinner into his boots ; I therefore abandoned this process. 

 As all feeders of the tree lie at no small distance from 

 the trunk, it is well to plow and cultivate orchards 



