106 AGRICULTURE. 



the tree as soon as set out, and to prevent the growth of loo 

 many limbs by cutting off limbs when small shoots and by 

 rubbing off buds that are not required. Limbs growing too 

 long may be "stopped"; that is, pinched off at the end. The 

 thinning out of fruit will, for the same reason, have the effect 

 of producing larger fruit. 



FEEDING THE TREES. Three crops are produced yearly in 

 the orchard new leaves, new branches, new fruit. The tree 

 needs food for all three. It is necessary to have the land 

 drained so that the roots can go deep into the soil. Then the 

 surface soil must be kept well cultivated about the young 

 trees, that the moisture may be saved and the air get into the 

 soil. But, in addition, food must be supplied, not merely to 

 the young tree, but also to the old tree as long as it is expected 

 to bear a crop. Wood ashes are the mineral or soil matter of 

 the trunks and branches of trees, therefore we may conclude 

 that wood ashes are an excellent food for fruit trees of all 

 kinds. Wood ashes contain lime, potash and some phosphates. 

 If any other manures are applied they should be such as fine 

 bones, which contain phosphates and lime. Potash and phos- 

 phate manures are the proper food for vines and trees produc- 

 ing fruit. The proper place to apply such is, not close around 

 the trunk, but beneath the ends of the branches. Why ? 



SUGGESTIVE : 



If we plant the seed of a northern spy apple, may we expect that the 

 tree thus produced will also bear northern spy? How are new varieties 

 produced ? What might be done with a seedling apple tree that bears poor 

 iruit in order to make it a useful tree? In peach-growing, is it best to 

 have a large number of small peaches or a smaller number of large peaches ? 

 Good orchardists now thin their peaches and plums. Why ? 



Did you ever notice how a wound made by cutting off a branch of a tree 

 heals? If a stub six inches long is left it dies back, rots, and finally falls 

 away, leaving a hole in the tree trunk. If cut close new wood grows over 

 the wound until, in time, it is entirely covered. In pruning, then, cut close 

 to the main branch or tree trunk. 



Remember that the tree itself is a crop, taking its food from the orchard 

 soil. It is bad pract : ce, therefore, to raise other crops such as grain or 

 roots between the trees. This may occasionally be done with good tillage 

 and good manuring, but more often the trees are starved as a result. 



