454 
Annual Report of the 
Any one of these causes is enough to decimate an orchard, and 
with all combined, no wonder the present unhealthy condition. 
But even this array of evils should not discourage us, for while 
common to all they do not, fortunately, all appear at the same 
time, and the means are in our hands of resisting them all success¬ 
fully. 
REVIEW AND REMEDIES. 
I will review them briefly in the order named. 
Procure your trees as near home as is consistent and of parties 
that you can trust in three particulars, viz.: Their honesty, their 
judgment, and their promptness to execute your orders; or in a 
word, reliable. There is often a culpable want of care in the hand¬ 
ling of trees before packing, but not less to blame is the farmer 
who will needlessly expose his trees to the sun, wind, and frost for 
hours after receiving them from the nursery or tree-box. Every 
biryer should be prepared to thoroughly protect his trees, root and 
branch, from injury after he receives them, and never forget that it 
was the u last straw that broke the camels back. 11 
The inevitable exposure of digging, packing, and transportation 
are matters of great solicitude to the nurseryman, and the farmer 
should do his part well, and with as much care. 
I speak from long experience when I say that we exercise more 
care for the stock we send out than for that we retain for our own 
planting. 
MULCH FOR DROUGHT. 
A tree should never be planted out until it is in growing condi¬ 
tion. If not fresh and sappy, they should be restored by burying 
in fresh soil, root and branch, for a week, or with root in moist soil 
and tops heavily shaded and ocasionally showered, they will be 
much more likely to grow when planted out, especially if planted 
during a moist spell. A heavy mulch immediately after planting 
will do much to restore trees, and will if retained through the sum¬ 
mer dispose of the second-named cause, midsummer drought. 
If applied early it will retain abundant moisture for the driest time. 
Thousands of trees, every other way right, are allowed to dry out after 
they have made a fair start, for the want of this early spring mulch. 
This is now so generally understood and appreciated, that no 
sympathy is felt for the planter who fails to comply with this sim¬ 
ple requirement. 
