More About The Orchard

The (ïcnnantown Telegraph telta its readers that, as a rulo, the trees ia our apple owjhards are planted too far apart, aud the editor makes the following suggestions : - " Practically., an orekari should be an orchard onhj. Excopt for grass, it should be left uneultivatcd, after the trees liavo reached say about four inehes in diameter. We can seo no rea son why a good erop ot' grass should not eouthiuously produced for a quartef or a tbird ot' a century, without disturbanee. A top-dressing of manure ouee in two or three years, we know, bas produeed fino yie'lds of gra?s aiinually of two orops. Tlie trees liave littls or no ïnfluenoe upon the erop of grass ; indeed if thcy possesa a'uy, . it is in afïording a heavior swath uuder the trees. " Ileuee, instoad of setting out young orchar-ds thirty and thirty-five feet apart, reduce tbe distance to about twenty feet, iu the quineunx form ; and if at; any time the trees should threaten to beeome a little crowded, prevent it by additional pruuing. This is our thcory.' " ïhe leading purpose of an orchard should be to obtain fruit; next the erop that will do the least damage to the I-rees. This is grass. Grass, howover, ■will not only do no damage to the apple trees, but the contrary. It keeps the soil moist and of a uniform temperature,. protaeting the roots in Bummer against heat and drouth, and iu winter against the severo effect of altornate thawing and freezing. " It should also bo remembered, in setting out young orchards, to get trees as low-branehed as possiblo. They will generally not grow so high,.whiïe the low boughs will protect the truuk agaiust the intense fays of tbe'sun iu the summor tnouths, which are frequently very iiijurious to the health and productiveness of the trees." &fe Ufidnpu JUps