136 THE FAT OF THE LAND 
were well worth considerable attention. They 
could not hereafter be cultivated, for they were 
all in the soiling lot for the cows, but they could 
be pruned and sprayed. The lack of cultivation 
would be compensated by the fertilization inci- 
dent to a feeding lot. The trees would give 
shade and comfort to the cows, while the cows 
fed and nourished the trees, —a fair exchange. 
The crop of the year before, though half 
the apples were stung, had brought nearly $300. 
With better care, and consequently better fruit, 
we could count on still better results, for the 
varieties were excellent (Baldwins, Jonathans, 
and Rome Beauties); so we trimmed carefully 
and burned the rubbish. This _ precaution, 
especially in the case of dead limbs, is impor- 
tant, for most dead wood in young trees is due 
to disease, often infectious, and should be burned 
at once. 
I bought a spraying-pump (for $13), which 
was fitted to a sound oil barrel, and we 
were ready to make the first attack on fungus 
disease with the Bordeaux mixture. This was 
done by Johnson and Anderson late in the month. 
Another vigorous spraying with the same mixture 
when the buds were swelling, another when the 
flower petals were falling, and still another when 
the fruit was as large as peas (the last two spray- 
ings had Paris green added to the Bordeaux 
mixture), and the fight against apple enemies 
was ended for that year. 
