314 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



p'ertilizing apple orchards. 



Dr. Reynolds writes in the American Agriculturist showing the necessity 

 of thoroughly enriching the ground about apple trees in order to grow fine 

 fruit. He points out that the common method of placing manure on the 

 surface of unploughed orchard ground, was of little benefit to the trees, be- 

 cause the roots of the grass absorbed most of the nutriment, and very little 

 ■of it ever reached the roots of the trees. The only plan, without ploughing, 

 w^ould be to so thoroughly mulch the whole surface of the ground that the 

 grass would be destroyed, and then the fertilizers could have some effect 

 upon the apple trees. Of course, no one would think of seeding down a 

 young orchard, it is therefore only an orchard that has reached bearing age 

 that is under consideration. The great difficulty, in our opinion, in carry- 

 ing out the doctor's plan of mulching, is to find material enough, unless for 

 a very small orchard. When an orchard covers ten acres, or fifty acres of 

 ground, it would be simply out of the question to provide mulch sufficient 

 to keep down the grass. In such cases, the only possible plan we can see, 

 to keep the orchard as it should be kept, is by frequent cultivation. At 

 Maplehurst, where we have about one hundred acres of orchard to care for, 

 we plough up in parts, working up one portion for two or three years, until 

 the trees have reached a vigorous state, as a result of both cultivation and 

 manure ; and then seed it down to clover for two or three years, while 

 another portion is undergoing the same treatment. 



The question of fertilizers for the garden and orchard is one of the most 

 perplexing that faces the ambitious fruit grower. Stable manure is perhaps 

 the best of all for general application, but what farmer ever has any to spare 

 for his apple orchard ? He never has enough for his field crops, upon which 

 so much of his labor is spent, how then could he spare any for his orchard, 

 which shifts for itself. In most parts of the country, wood ashes may be had 

 for a very little cost, and it is by this means alone that we have been able, so 

 far, to solve this question. We find that by giving the trees which are 

 being worked up, one half to a bushel each year during their turn of culti- 

 vation, the result will be evident for several years thereafter, and the fruit 

 will be larger, of better quality and of a better color. 



THE PARKER EARLE STRAWBERRY. 



©UR colored plate this month represents one of the latest competitors for the 

 coveted honor of being heralded as the "coming strawberry." It is named in 

 honor of the president of the Illinois Horticultural Society, Mr. Parker 

 Earle, of Cobden, Illinois. 



