HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. 
219 
frequent instances o-f a decrepit shrivelled 
branch, by the throwing open and manuring of 
the roots and a thorough pruning of the whole 
top, increasing from an inch to two inches di¬ 
ameter in a single season; and without assistance 
as it grew, bursting and throwing off its old con¬ 
tracted bark as freely as the growth of a vigorous 
asparagus shoot would develope itself during 
a warm shower in May. Such nostrums are 
only the invention of the head to excuse the 
laziness of the hands. 
CULTIVATION OF FRUIT TREES. 
Nothing more rapidly developes the growth 
of trees and shrubs—ornamental indeed, as well 
as the fruit bearing—than early and thorough 
cultivation in the growing season. In grass 
grounds, and lawns particularly, where trees 
are planted, but a feeble and imperfect growth 
will succeed the close binding of grass about 
their roots. The earth should be thoroughly 
dug for several feet around the stem, and then 
mulched to the depth of three to six inches, with 
coarse litter,'to keep the drying sun from the 
roots, and prevent the escape of the volatile 
gases which most promote their energies. 
Around larger trees and in less choice grounds, 
a thorough plowing of four, six, or eight feet 
distance from the stem, is a more expeditious 
and equally effective practice. In a growing 
3 ^-oung orchard of our own, consisting of near a 
thousand apple trees, in a luxuriant meadow, 
where forking around the trees and mulching 
has answered our purpose heretofore, we have 
this spring applied the plow, throwing the first 
furrow, say six inches deep, against the bole of 
the tree, commencing the cutting with the plow 
at six feet distance as we approached ingoing 
through the entire row of trees in the orchard, 
and then returning on the other side, and so con¬ 
tinuing until four broad furrows were turned, 
each one towards the tree, thus making a square, 
averaging eight feet, around the stem of each 
tree, of thoroughly-broken ground. This plow¬ 
ing leaves the surface in a rough state, (the 
rougher the better,) for receiving the rains and 
air to the roots, and answers all the purposes of 
plowing the entire field, when the trees are 
young. As they increase in size and extend 
their roots, the width of plowing may be in¬ 
creased, and the fertility of the soil, that might 
be otherwise expended in a growing crop of 
grain or roots, all given to the tree, which is a 
gross feeder. Neither is there any waste in 
this mode of cultivation. Less grass is obtained 
from the quantity of soil thus broken, we admit; 
but the increased growth of the tree and the 
superior quality of the fruit amply compensate 
such loss ; and a parsimonious treatment of the 
tree will be sure to react upon the stinted culti¬ 
vation or feeding it may get at the hands of its 
cultivator. If this proposed mode of treatment 
be neglected until July even, it will then be of 
service, as trees often make a vigorous second 
growth from stimulating causes, after the early 
or first growth of the season is apparently fin¬ 
ished. 
The decomposition of sods promotes the 
growth of trees equal to any other thing; and in 
exhausted soils, lime, spent ashes, phosphate of 
lime, (bone dust,) may be added to supply the 
inorganic substances necessary to produce the 
wood, leaf, and fruit. If these manures be 
thrown upon the surface of the broken sods 
thus turned up by the plow, they will find their 
way into the earth with the rains; and the 
frosts of the succeeding winter will give them 
all the incorporation into the soil which they 
require. In addition to this plowing, even if 
abundant mulching material be at hand, a fork¬ 
ful or two of coarse barn litter or straw may 
be thrown around the stem of the tree, thus ad¬ 
ding to the permanent moisture by preventing 
its sudden evaporation by the sun. Our own 
experience has entirely convinced us that noth¬ 
ing will pay surer and readier than liberal cul¬ 
tivation of our fruits, if it be an object to grow 
them at all. 
BARK LICE ON TREES. 
Lice are wonderfully destructive to both the 
growth and health of trees; and the rapidity 
with which they increase when unmolested is 
astonishing. They are the color of the bark 
itself, and in shape and size like a flax seed. In 
frequent cases, they actually kill the branch 
they settle upon, and in young trees, often kill 
them altogether. The most effectual cure for 
them is to scrape the bark thoroughly, and give 
the tree or branch a washing of strong ley or 
soap suds, or what is the same thing, a strong 
solution of potash. This insect, or rather para¬ 
sitic plant—for the dividing line between ani¬ 
mal and vegetable 'life is so indistinct that it 
may be termed either—appears to be migratory 
in its habits, often attacking the thriftiest as well 
as the weakest trees, and its progress should be 
arrested before it ravages the whole orchard. 
Bark Lice are devoured by millions by wrens, 
chick-a-dee-dees, and other similar birds. 
