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thing else but an orchard; such as an old worn out pasture, or some out of the 

 way place, where they wouldn't trouble anybody, or anybody trouble them. 



Now it is just as necessary to prepare the soil for an apple or pear orchard, 

 n~i for any other kmd of crop. By thorough plowing and manuring, and under- 

 drawing if necessary, the soil should be made as loose and pliable as possible. 

 An orchard should never be set in a soil which will retain water for any great 

 leno\h of time, because, although trees set in such a eoil may flourish for a time, 

 yet eventually they are certain to fail. A plentiful supply of manure must also 

 De furnished ; generally that which has 1 ecu composted is best, such as muck, 

 forest leaves, ashes, lime, &c. 



The matter of setting too, is one of primary importance, and to which not 

 enough attention is generally paid. When a proper place (not a hole in the 

 ground) has been prepared, the tree should be set as nearly in the same position, 

 and at about the same depth as it stood in the nursery. A place should be dug 

 so large, that in setting the tree, none of the roots shall be crowded or twisted, 

 and so deep, that it maybe filled up to the height at which it should stand, with 

 the best surface soil mixed with a small quantity of finely composted manure. 

 But the most important matter of all, and on which success primarily depends, 

 i> the selection of trees. It is a sad sight to contemplate many of the trees, 

 dwarfed and stunted in their growth, which peddlers and agents have palmed off 

 for No. 1 trees, upon the inexperienced and unsuspecting. Not a tree should be 

 set in an apple or pear orchard which does not exhibit unmistakable signs of 

 thriftiness and vitality. The safest and best way, is to go yourself if possible, 

 to the nursery, and select such trees as you desire: although you may have to 

 pay an extra price for them, you will be a great gainer in the end. 



Every tree when planted should, be fastened to a substantial stake, (two 

 would be better, ) which will prevent the wind from swaying its top, and so 

 loosening the roots, thereby seriously retarding its growth, and in many eases 

 destroying it entirely: and this should be continued until the tree is firmly 

 rooted and able to stand of itself. The truth i>, that although it is considerable 

 trouble to set the stakes, and keep the trees fastened to them, vet, whoever 

 takes that trouble, gains most surely one, if not two years growth to his trees, 

 especially if they are so located as to be exposed to any prevailing wind ; a con- 

 sideration not to be overlooked, whenever an orchard is to be planted out, Then 

 alter the trees have been properly set, they must not be left to take care of 

 themselves as is generally the case, but should receive the most careful attention. 

 The same attention which is given to the raising of any crop on the farm, is 

 required in the cultivation of apples or pears. They should receive the same 

 care and labor that we bestow on a crop of corn or potatoes. The land should 

 be manured and cultivated every year, with some crop which will not exhau>t 

 the soil; and the soil around the trees kept light and loose by mulching: the 

 trees themselves frequently and carefully examined, so that they may not be in- 

 jured or destroyed by the numerous pests, which at certain seasons, will be like- 

 ly to trouble them. 



Mr. Win. Burghardt, to whom we have awarded the first premium on apple 

 orchards, washes his two hundred trees tir'icf during the season, with soap suds 

 and carbolic acid, by which he keeps them free from insects of all kinds; ami 

 your committee venture to say, that a more thrifty and promising young orchard 

 cannot be found within the limits of our county. 



Thus far in our report we have spoken mainly of the apple, — we propose to 

 add a few words in regard to the cultivation of the pear. For a few years past, 

 the pear has seemed to be a more reliable fruit than the apple; not so liable to 

 attacks from destructive insects, more regular in bearing, and therefore worthy 

 of special attention, yet we rind very few fanners who are planting out pears 

 so far as we have observed, notwithstanding all are ready to acknowledge, that, 

 in its perfection, the pear is scarcely surpassed by any other fruit. 



