sity Farm, St. Paul.

Minnesota orchardists are preparing for a full crop of apples this year.
From the experiences of last year with apple scab and codling moth, more
thorough spraying is to be done. Senator Dunlap stated an experience he
had in spraying that should be carefully considered by all apple men.
Nine rows of trees were sprayed on Monday or Tuesday. Owing to bad
weather the other rows could not be sprayed until Friday or Saturday.
What was the result? He had 175 barrels of No. 1 fruit from first part
and only seventeen barrels of No. 2 in rows sprayed later. Some are
planning their orchard work for the season along the following lines:

_First: Pruning._ To be done during the mild weather in March and April.
Thin out all dead wood, interlocking branches, water-sprouts and shorten
others. Pruning is to get the tree into better form to sustain a large
load of fruit, to open the center to permit sunlight to get in to color
fruit, and to permit of better spraying. There are too many trees in
Minnesota that have never been touched by knife or saw. Such trees need
attention, but the pruning should not be too severe at any one time.
Begin this year to do a little pruning; next year do more; the year
after a little more; and after that very little attention will be needed
to keep the tree in good condition.

While pruning look out for rabbit and mouse injury. If good trees have
been injured do some bridge grafting as soon as you can. This means
connecting the healthy bark above the wound with the healthy bark below.
Small twigs cut from the same tree, that are long enough to span the
wound, are cut wedge shaped on both ends, and these ends put under the
healthy bark. If possible cover the wounded area with earth. If too high
up tie the scions in place and cover all cut surfaces with grafting wax
and cloth. Several scions should be put in if the tree is large.

_Second: Spraying._ Three sprayings are needed on every bearing apple
tree in Minnesota.

First spray: When the center of buds show pink. Don't wait too long.

Second spray: When the petals have fallen.

Third spray: Ten to fifteen days after the second.

Use lime-sulphur and arsenate of lead each time. It is important to do
this at the right time, in the right way, and with the right materials.
Right is the word and not left-undone. Further particulars will be found
on the page devoted to spraying topics.

_Third: Cultivation._ Follow the plan that