PRACTICAL PAPERS—ORCHARDS. 
305 
causes a new set of roots to start out near the surface. These 
roots are tender, and unless* promptly removed will be killed 
and the tree injured. When a mulch has once been applied 
to trees, whether old or young, it should be kept up, as it tends 
► 
to draw the roots to the surface, where, if the protection is re¬ 
moved, they are easily affected by the hot, dry weather of 
summer and the severe cold of winter. No crop should be 
raised in the orchard when the trees come into bearing unless 
the ground is heavily manured, but if not mulched the culti¬ 
vation should be kept up. 
Trimming should always be done during the growing sea¬ 
son, and when the trees are yet small. Where the head is 
kept open in forming, and the top well balanced by pinching 
back the branches, but very little pruning.will be required 
after the few first years. 
By following the above method and the use of good practi¬ 
cal common sense, almost any farmer can make the orchard 
profitable. In some localities the conditions are more favora¬ 
ble than others, but there are few places where the obstacles 
cannot be overcome by careful attention to the points men¬ 
tioned. 
i will add a description of some of our hardiest varieties. 
Tetofshy. —Thi3 is one of the earliest varieties, and the best 
suited to our climate. It, as well as the Duchess of Oldenburg, 
has been sold at high prices all through the country, as a large 
Russian crab. Mr. Charles Gifford, of Milwaukee, Secretary 
of the Western Fruit Grower’s Association, in early days, sent 
samples of this apple in connection with Hyslop Crabs to the 
exhibitions of that society in 1851-6. Some nurserymen got 
hold of it, and losing the labels called it a Russian Crab. It 
is Russian in its origin, but does not belong to the crab family. 
The fruit is quite small with us, but is larger in size when it 
matures further north. Here it ripens about the first week in 
July ; at Stevens Point it is nearly a month later. There are 
several old trees of this variety around Milwaukee, which have 
20—Ag. Tr. 
