Fourth Year. 



Until the trees begin to bear the foundation branches should 

 be cut back annually to make them short and strong to support 

 heavy loads of fruit in the future. After fruiting begins not much 

 pruning is necessary, except to thin out surplus growth and keep 

 the tree symmetrical. In cutting or sawing off all limbs the cut 

 should be made close so as not to leave a stub. This is very im- 

 portant for wounds properly pruned heal over readily, while stubs 

 seldom heal, thus decaying into the trunk is the result of weakening 

 and injury to the tree. 



Another very common mistake is pruning from the bottom up, 

 but this should not be done. Prune from the top down. 



Fertilization. 



A\'e get our fertilization in the form of manure, cover crops, 

 and commercial fertilizer. We have excellent railroad facilities, 

 having a siding of the W. M. R. R. right in our orchard. The most 

 of our fertilizer is gotten in the form of manure, bought in the 

 cities of Hagerstown, Washington and Baltimore, in carload lots, 

 and our teams are kept busy hauling from January to March, or up 

 until spraying season for scale. There were three cars standing 

 on the siding wdien I left home, and the teams are now busy spread- 

 ing it about the orchard. 



During these months w^e have quite a little sledding snow, 

 which is the best time for hauling heavy loads, so we get an un- 

 usually heavy supply during good sledding. It is best handled in 

 Gondola cars which average about 30 tons. 



Question. What does your manure cost you? 



Mr. Cohill. Cannot say exactly but I think, at least, several 

 dollars per ton. 



Question. Is it worth it? 



Mr. Cohill. Yes. The results prove it to be. 



Question. How many tons to the acre? 



Mr. Cohill. About eight or ten good wagon or sled loads, 

 or ten forks-full to the tree. 



Question. Do you use any other form of fertilizer? 



Mr. Cohill. Yes. Cover crops and commercial fertilizer. If 

 you have an orchard which requires a lot of cultivation and spray- 

 ing, there should be two separate gangs to look after it. Both must 

 be done thoroughly. 



Scale Spraying. 



Spraying for San Jose scale is the next w^ork of importance 

 with us, which we start just as soon as weather conditions permit, 

 and push this work very hard in order to get our teams started on 

 cultivation. If there is such a thing as a commercial orchard of 

 any size being free from scale, I think we have one, for the State 

 Entomologist and State Horticulturist, as well as the state orchard 

 inspectors, go through our orchards every year and make close ob- 



