46 



ORCHARDS. 



The trees made some growth the first year, and I have 

 not lost a tree, although inexperienced in the business of 

 setting out trees, I felt that my first attempt was quite 

 successful, that by improving the spare moments, (as I 

 have,) I might raise (with the blessings of God to aid me), 

 a nice little orchard. The first year I put about them 

 a compost of chip-dirt, leeched-ashes, and some stable 

 manure, about one-half of a wheelbarrow load to each, 

 and the soil stired two or three times during the season- 

 The next year I set out the remainder and plowed the 

 ground, spreading a fair coat of stable manure upon the 

 furrows and planted it with potatoes and corn, principally 

 potatoes. I have used leaves and leaf mould from the' 

 woods two or three times, and think it good, as it keeps 

 the soil light and in good condition, but I have not been 

 able to discover any great effect to the trees from its 

 use, as I have not used it long enough to test it ; but 

 I don't see why it does not contain the natural elements 

 of the tree, and may be well adapted to nourish and 

 keep them thriving naturally. The trees have been 

 washed with soft-soap and water, about as thick as 

 cream, by mixing them together, or nearly as thick, 

 once or twice each year, and I think with good effect- 

 I think the soap-suds that runs down about, the trunks 

 of the tree has a tendency to keep the fly away, that 

 lays the egg> (which hatches the borer). I have experi- 

 mented in cutting off limbs at different times of the 

 year, and I like June the best. At other times when 

 cut, the wound does not heal as readily as when cut in 

 June, but the bark turns black and the wound is a long 

 time healing, and in some cases has not healed yet. 

 "When in June, I have noticed that the bark keeps bright, 



