A VJvVK A.M()N(i TlIK ()I{( " 1 1 .\ K I )S OF NOVA SOOTIA. 
7 
The following is given as another useful formula for manuring 
orcliards : — 
Good rotten barn-yard manure . 10 to 15 tons per acre. 
(1 ton = 12 lbs. nitrogen, 12 lbs. potash, (> lbs. phosphoric acid.) 
Kainit (18 per cent, potash) . 800 to 700 lbs. ; or 
Muriate of potash (i)0 per 
cent, potash) .... 100 to 200 lbs. 
l-)one meal (hne ground) . . 100 to 200 lbs. 
(2 to 3 per cent, nitrogen, 22 per. cent, phosphoric acid) ; or 
Superphosphate .... 125 to 250 lbs. 
(16 per cent, phosphoric acid.) 
Okchaku Tillage. 
The apple trees are planted 33 to 40 ft. apart, in a few instances with 
plum trees between, in one direction of the lines. 
For the first few years the ground is ploughed deeply (8 in.), in order 
to break up the soil and to encourage the roots to grow down to a 
sufhcient depth to escape injury in case of drought, and to be below the 
reach of the plough. The whole surface of the orchard is tilled from the 
beginning. In ploughing, the plough is turned partly out when within a 
few feet of the trees and runs shallower (4 in. deep), as the roots near the 
butt are closer to the surface ; immediately round young trees the surface 
is generally lightly forked over. Between young trees potatos are fre- 
quently grown, using bone meal and muriate of potash as fertiliser. The 
deep ploughing needs only to be kept up for a few years in order to 
establish root growth. 
The kind of plough in general use has no wheels : it has a sharply 
curved mould-board. The latter, although it increases the draught, yet is 
more than compensated for by the more perfect pulverisation of the soil. 
The ploughing is done either in the fall or early spring. In Canada fall 
ploughing is not recommended for clay land, as it tends to puddle it 
and make it become hard and stiff; the frost consequently enters to a 
greater depth, and root injury may result. In ploughing, one aim is to 
obtain a level surface. Thus one year the soil is ploughed from the 
trees, the next towards them; one year east and west, the following 
north and south. Most of the farmers whose land runs down to the 
river bank, dig and haul the salt marsh mud on sleds during winter, 
and spread it on the orchard land ; this is disintegrated by frost and 
more carefully spread in spring. This mud has manurial value, and 
also the salt in it probably aids in keeping the land moist. Early 
tillage saves the moisture accumulated during winter and early spring, 
and puts the soil into fine condition to warm up and get the trees 
quickly to work. As thorough cultivation renders plant food available 
and is the best conservator of moisture, tillage is begun early by 
ploughing as soon as the snow has thawed and the land is sufficiently 
dry to be worked. Harrowing follows, which stirs the ground thoroughly 
to the depth of about 3 in. ; this is performed about every two weeks 
until late in the summer — the drier the soil the oftener it should be 
done. The varieties of harrow^ used include the spring tooth, the spike 
