rop about half of the years. Potatoes, beans and vine crops were
raised in the orchard the first few years. It was surrounded by a
windbreak of cottonwood and box-elder trees, several rows, seven feet
apart each way. This is certainly very beneficial; but Russian
mulberries grow as well, make a thicker top, and at the same time invite
birds to keep up their quarters there and make their homes with us, "a
consummation devoutly to be wished." Osage orange, planted the same as
for a hedge and never cut back, will make a better windbreak than
cottonwood or box-elder, and a fence at the same time.

This orchard has borne variable crops, some good, some light, but always
fruits. It is on bottom land sloping very slightly to the southeast;
soil a sandy loam with a clay subsoil. It has been pruned considerably,
but not very much at a time. One man in this county who succeeds well
with apples never prunes, except to keep the center open to sun and air.
Another near him gave his orchard a severe trimming a few years ago, and
had no fruit, but some dead trees for two or three years afterward. In
planting, the ground should be well plowed, then mark off one way with a
plow or lister. Twice to the row with the lister, with three or four
horses, and the subsoiler well down, will make a very good preparation
for small trees without much digging, and small trees are best for
several reasons: they are cheaper, less work to set out, and more likely
to live. Set stakes to go by, and, in planting, cross the furrows. We
have just finished setting 2000 peach trees in this way, and very little
digging was needed. Then cultivate well and often. Rub off shoots that
start where limbs are not wanted, and start an evenly balanced top of
four or five limbs. A year after the trees are set out, if any of them
are leaning much, dig away the dirt on the side from which they lean,
and set them up straight, tramping the dirt well on the opposite side.

With winter will come the rabbits, and they will girdle the trees if not
prevented. Many and varied are the sure cures for them, but none are
perfect. A wash of ordinary whitewash and a pint of sulphur to the
bucketful, applied with a brush or swab to the bodies of the trees,
generally stops their work, but if the rain washes it off it must be put
on again or they will resume operations. A little coal-oil added to the
whitewash prevents the rain from having so much effect on it; make it
thin, so it will no