CHAPTER XXXIX 
THE YOUNG ORCHARD 
One of the most enjoyable occupations of a 
farmer’s life is the care of young trees. Until 
your experience in this work is of a personal and 
proprietary nature, you will not realize the pleas- 
ure it can afford. The intimate study of plant 
life, especially if that plant life is yours, isa never 
failing source of pleasurable speculation, and a 
thing upon which to hang dreams. You grow to 
know each tree, not only by its shape and its 
habit of growth, but also by peculiarities that 
belong to it as an individual. The erect, sturdy 
bearing of one bespeaks a frank, bold nature, 
which makes it willing to accept its surroundings 
and make the most of them; while the crooked, 
dwarfish nature of another requires the utmost 
care of the husbandman to keep it within the 
bounds of good behavior. And yet we often find 
that the slow-growing, ill-conditioned young tree, 
if properly cared for, will bring forth the finest 
fruit at maturity. 
To study the character and to watch the de- 
velopment of young trees is a pleasing and use- 
ful occupation for the man who thinks of them 
@ 225 
