1908.] Planting a Cider Orchard. 



373 



that a much cleaner and more wholesome supply of milk can 

 be obtained without a costly outlay in premises or special 

 apparatus. In dealing with an article that is so easily con- 

 taminated as milk, details which are very commonly regarded 

 as trifling are really of the greatest importance, and painstaking 

 care at every point, with scrupulous cleanliness in person and 

 habit, is absolutely essential. This involves intelligent super- 

 vision on the part of those owning or managing cowsheds, 

 better arrangements on the part of the railway companies, 

 and the exercise of care on the part of retailers and consumers. 



At a conference held at the National Fruit and Cider Institute 

 in May last, the Hon. Secretary of the Institute, Mr. W. J. 



Grant, delivered an address on the 

 Planting a Cider Planting of a Cider Orchard, with special 

 Orchard. reference to the proposed formation of 



a number of typical cider and perry 

 orchards in the counties interested in this industry. Some 

 extracts from Mr. Grant's paper are reproduced below : — 



Planting. — -Always select as far as possible a well-sheltered 

 position, protected from east and north-east winds. 



The ground having been marked out and the site for each 

 tree determined upon, open the holes for each tree not less 

 than 4 feet across each way, place the top spit on one side and 

 the loose shovellings also by themselves ; then break up the 

 sub-soil with a fork or pick, and fix the stake to which the 

 tree is to be fastened and also the posts for the guard by which 

 the tree is to be protected from live stock. Then knock some 

 of the soil off the turf, turn it upside down in the opening for 

 the tree, and plant the tree on top of the overturned turf. 

 The roots should be carefully spread all round, and the fine dry 

 soil used for covering them. After the tree is firmly planted, 

 temporarily secure it to the stake. In the following spring the 

 tree should be retied after the soil is firmly set about it. Care- 

 fully mulch the whole of the ground that has been moved with 

 rather long farmyard manure, as this mulching protects the 

 roots from the extremes of heat and cold, and encourages 

 the formation of roots near the surface instead of in the cold 

 inert lower sub-soil. This mulching also will, in warm weather, 



