8 
JOURXAL OF THE ROTAL HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 
tooth, the disc, and acme. If the wood growth of the trees is too 
hixuriant, it may be checked by lessening the tillage and by with- 
holding nitrogenous manure. As the orchard trees stop growing about 
midsummer, vigorous tillage then ceases, so that the new growth may 
ripen sufficiently to stand the cold of winter ; and as the trees can 
now spare considerable moisture, catch crops are with advantage sown, 
such as tares and buckwheat. 
The Cropping of Orchard Land. 
Young orchards, say for the first twelve years, generally have some 
crop grown in them, such as early potatos, maize, beans, and other 
hoed crops. These crops need cultivation during the early part of the 
season, and are removed about the middle of July or first week of 
August. Buckwheat and oats are also grown, but are not as satis- 
factory, as the land cannot be thoroughly worked. Some space is allowed 
around the trees, so as not to grow crops directly over the roots of the 
trees. For these crops bone meal and muriate of potash are frequently 
sown in the drills. 
In the older orchards the land is generally uncropped, but frequently 
harrowed. I have seen orchards almost weedless, due to this frequent 
cultivation. In some cases, after the trees are about twelve years old, 
clover is sown and left down for three or four years and mown for hay. 
This is, however, exhaustive unless some fertiliser is used. 
Orchard Cover Crops or Green Manuring. 
The object of cover crops or green manuring is to gather and return 
vegetable matter to the soil, and to protect the roots of the trees from the 
effects of severe frosts, especially when unprotected by snow. 
For this purpose the orchards are very thoroughly cultivated during 
the early part of the season, and after the close of active growth, about 
July or August, the surface is sown with some crop which will grow 
quickly and be large enough to protect the soil during winter. 
Crimson clover {Trifolium incarnaHim), in parts of Canada and the 
United States where it stands the winter, is found admirably adapted to 
supply nitrogenous vegetable matter to orchards at little cost. It is, 
however, rather a risky crop in Nova Scotia. 
Mammoth clover is found to be the next best, sowing 14 lbs. per acre. 
Tares, lucerne, common red clover, peas, buckwheat, rye, and oats are also 
employed for this purpose. A fair growth will be obtained the same 
season, which is ploughed in early the following spring, in order not to 
retard the spring growth of the trees. These crops help to keep down 
weeds, and, where successfully grown, enrich the soil at less cost than with 
farmyard manure. Where clover and other plants of the leguminous 
family are grown, nitrogenous manures may be omitted, as these plants 
have special power to take up nitrogen. 
Spraying for Fungi and Insects. 
In Canada both insects and fungi, where they do exist, appear to be 
more plentiful and more destructive than at home. Canker in apple trees 
