21 



The firnt work in the spring will probably be the 

 renmval of the oarth phicec] as a protection aionrd the 

 trunks of youn<^ trees the fnec(!(lin<( fall, and stirring the 

 ground up loosely around tlu; roots for some distance from 

 the trunk as a centre. This should be done as soon as the 

 ground is tit to work This stirring should be repeated 

 every week or two all summer. 



In ploughing great care n)«st be taken not to injure the 

 bark of young trees. It is not necessary, however, to leave 

 a strip along each row unploughed to grow grass and weeds. 

 It is well to use only one horse foi- the first few rounds in 

 backing up the ground against the trees. Use long leather 

 traces with short whiffletrees securely wrapped up, so as to 

 prevent nny injury to the bark should they come in con- 

 tact with it. The earth can then be backed up closely 

 without injury to the trees, or loss of ground. In plrxigh- 

 ing the earth away for tlie last few rounds, fasten the 

 plough .securely to one side of a bobsled, to which the 

 horses are attached. Y( u can then plough very close to 

 the trees without any danger of injuring them. If the 

 bai k should happen to *<e injured, wrap up the wound with 

 a cotton rag saturated with grafting wax, and the bark will 

 soon be renewed. Leaving it exposed to the sun and the 

 attacks of insects may cause a permanent canker. 



Hoed crops, as potatoes, co»n, or small fruits, .should be 

 raised in an orchard. Every time the crop is hoed the trees 

 should get their share. If hoeing will benefit a potato 

 plant, it is equally' beneficial to an apple tree. Green crops, 

 as buckwheat and clover, may be g, ^wn to good advantage 

 in an orchard, if ploughed under for a manure; but in no 

 case seed down to giass until the tre^s are well grown. 

 After this it may be sufficient to seed down and pasture 

 calves, sheep or swine, giving a liberal top dressing of 

 manure every second year. ' ' 



';■■■'" "/'^ •.-:--•.•• MANURING. • ," ': ' ■ ■' 



Analysis of apple wood ash shows in 100 parts, 16 parts 

 pota.sh, 18 parts lime, and 17 parts phosphate of lime ; the 

 a.sh of the bark shows 4 parts potash, and 51 parts lime, 

 indicating that potash and phosphate of lime are essential 

 fertilizers of orchards. 



Horace Greeley once said, " a tree was like a cow tied to 

 a stake. It could not rove in fresh pastures, but must con- 

 tinue to grow, feed, and produce fruit in a limited circle." 

 He stated the case conci-jely. Those who grow farm crops 



