I 
Convention— What i would like to do. 157 
shorter than with free growing roots. I would sooner trust to 
mulching and care to carry through the free growers. 
Having my orchard successfully planted, its after treatment 
should be early and thorough cultivation each season, up to July 
1st to 15th, and as near as possible to perfect rest thereafter. For 
a few of the first years, crops of corn, potatoes, or beans may be 
taken from the land, always returning an equivalent in manure, and 
always leaving a good space around each tree unoccupied. A little 
careful thinning of branches in June of each year would give the 
trees uniform and well balanced heads, and make heavy pruning or 
the cutting away of large branches unnecessary. Quite late fall 
plowing, shallow near the trees, would give the roots needed winter 
protection, put the soil in good condition for early spring working, 
and would also disturb and largely destroy such insects as had gone 
into winter quarters in the soil. 
Further protection to roots can be given by mulching, but it will 
hardly be necessary, except w-hen winter sets in, with the soil very 
dry. At such times mulch early and heavy, or you will be sure to 
suffer more or less injury. 
After five years of this careful culture, some fruit will be i^ro- 
duced and the quantity will rapidly increase from year to year. At 
the end of ten years, and in a good fruiting season, I shall expect 
lively times, calling for hand work and brain work enough to 
brighten up and call into play all the talents of those who long for 
a “larger sphere of usefulness” than they think the farm affords. 
I do not forget that insects will be abundant and troublesome; 
that untimely drouths and frosts will destroy, but my belief is that 
notwithstanding all this, the same care and effort that would bring 
success in other things would bring abundant success in this; and 
I know of no use to which land can be put that would add more to 
the permanent value of the farm and home. 
An abundant fruit crop from a well kept ten year-old orchard of 
forty acres is something magnificent, and if well handled, its net 
proceeds w’ould very soon pay for all labor and care during the five 
or more years of waiting. Such an orchard could be relied upon 
for a fair income two years out of three, and for an occasional extra 
yield. It would satisfy me as a source of support, or as an inherit¬ 
ance to leave my children. 
My dream of melting, juicy pears has been long continued, run- 
