CARE OF ORCHARDS. 2/ 



thorough cukure, especially while the orchard is young", is much 

 to be desired. By cultivation, the soil is rendered in better con- 

 dition for the feeding roots, the plant food is thus rendered more 

 available, and the moisture is better conserved than in any other 

 way. During the first years after planting, hoed crops may be 

 grown between the trees, provided sufficient fertilizers are used. 

 In no case, however, should a grain crop be grown, except as 

 a cover crop to be plowed under in the spring. The accompany- 

 ing illustrations clearly represent the value of culture. The cut 

 on the opposite page represents an orchard of Fameuse^ 



Northern Spy and Milding planted, as two-year-old trees, irt 

 1892. The above illustration shows an orchard of similar varie- 

 ties I lanted the next year. The first has been given thorough 

 culture and was severely pruned in 1897; the other, separated 

 from the first only by a fence, has been left without treatment, 

 and a crop of hay has been taken off each year. Further 

 remark is unnecessary. 



SPRAYING. 



Spraying is an easy and practical way of applying insecticides 

 and fungicides. Insecticides act in two ways: (i) By poison- 

 ing the insects, when eaten; (2) by closing the breathing pores. 



