Renovaiion  of  (fid  Ordtards  and  Plantations. 
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apples  when  planted  under  these  conditions,  and  should  !)C 
grown  in  preference ; but  it  will  be  found  necessary  in  some 
circumstances  to  fill  up  with  apples,  as  a few  plums  ])ut  here 
and  there  in  extensive  orchards  cause  much  extra  trouble  at 
picking  time.  An  important  fact  to  be  remembered  is  that  in 
consequence  of  the  soil  having  been  occupied  for  many  years 
by  a tree,  it  is  naturally  poor  and  lacking  in  fertility  ; so  that 
frequent  mulchings  of  manure  must  be  given  in  order  that  the 
tree  may  find  immediate  and  direct  sustenance  and  so  obtain  a 
rapid  hold  and  make  wood  freely.  Kotten  dung,  turf,  and  road 
si(lings,  may  be  in  this  case  mixed  together  in  the  hole,  and  the  tree 
may  be  planted  in  this  compound.  Ifoad  sidings  and  scrapings, 
however,  should  not  be  used  too  freely  on  light  land,  as  the}- 
draw  away  the  moisture,  especially  in  hot  seasons.  Another 
])oint,  which  is  frequently  overlooked,  is  the  cultivation  of  the 
land  round  the  trees  by  hoeing  and  stirring  for  some  years,  at  a 
distance  of  4 ft.  to  5 ft.  until  the  tree  has  obtained  a fair  growth. 
It  is  a good  plan  to  increase  this  circumference  with  the  growth 
of  the  tree.  If  this  practice  is  not  carried  out,  the  grasses  and 
weeds  will  draw  all  the  nutriment  from  the  ground  prop(‘rly 
belonging  to  the  tree,  and  will  also  exclude  air,  light,  and 
moisture;  in  fact  the  tree  will  be  practically  starved.  If  any 
reader  is  in  doubt  about  this  statement  it  would  be  interesting 
to  him  to  test  two  trees  grown  under  the  different  systems. 
When  the  tree  has  obtained  a strong  growth  grass  seeds  may 
be  sown. 
Old  orchards  .should  be  liberally  mulched  with  farmyard 
manure  spread  round  the  trees  at  a distance  of  3 ft.  from  the 
bole,  .so  that  the  roots  may  feed  on  and  benefit  by  the  aj)plica- 
tion.  Orchards  under  gra.ss  should  never  be  mown,  but  stock 
should  be  fed  lavishly  with  cake  and  corn  beneath  the  trees. 
The  young  trees  should  be  protected  by  guards  or  cradles,  as 
cattle  bite  off  the  tender  shoots,  and  sheep,  especially  in  hard 
weather,  gnaw  and  lacerate  the  stems.  Hares  and  rabbits  also 
commit  great  havoc  if  allowed  ingress  into  orchards  or 
plantations.  Protection  from  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  and  rabbits 
is  most  essential.  Not  half  enough  attention  is  j)aid  to  this  and 
to  other  details.  If  a tree  is  barked  by  animals  in  the  least  degree, 
it  generally  cankers  and  becomes  unhealthy.  Where  no  cattle 
and  horses  are  grazed,  cages  of  galvanised  wire  of  a fine  mesh 
put  close  round  the  trees,  about  5 ft.  high  and  8 in.  in  diameter, 
will,  at  a very  small  cost,  serve  to  keep  off  sheep  and  rabbits. 
A fence  again.st  cattle  and  horses  may  be  made  by  driving  sjtlit 
