cultivation during the last half-century, their market value is steadily increasing, and doubtless will be, for the best varieties, for the next five hundred years. It does not cost more than five or six cents per bushel to raise apples; hence they are one of the most profitable crops a farmer can raise. No farm, therefore, is complete without a good orchard. The man who owns but five acres of land should have at least two acres in fruit-trees. _Soil._--Apples will succeed well on any soil that will produce good cabbages, potatoes, or Indian corn. Land needs as much manure and care for apple-trees as for potatoes. Rough hillsides and broken lands, unsuitable for general cultivation, may be made very valuable in orchards. It must be enriched, if not originally so, and kept clean about the trees. On no crop does good culture pay better. Many suppose that an apple-tree, being a great grower, will take care of itself after having attained a moderate size. Whoever observes the great and rapid growth of apple-trees must see, that, when the ground is nearly covered with them, they must make a great draft on the soil. To secure health and increased value, the deficiency must be supplied in manure and cultivation. The quantity and quality of the fruit depend mainly on the condition of the land. The kinds and proportions of manures best for an apple-orchard are important practical questions. We give a chemical analysis of the ashes of the apple-tree, which will indicate, even to the unlearned, the manure that will probably be needed:-- _Analysis of the ash of the apple-tree._ Sap-wood. Heart-wood. Bark of trunk. Potash 16.19 6.620 4.930 Soda 3.11 7.935 3.285 Chloride of sodium 0.42 0.210 0.540 Sulphate of lime 0.05 0.526 0.637 Phosphate of peroxyde } 0.80 0.500 0.375 of iron } Phosphate of lime 17.50 5.210 2.425 Phosphate of magnesia 0.20 0.190 Carbonic acid 29.10 36.275 44.830 Lime 18.63 37.019 51.578 Magnesia 8.40 6.900 0.150 Silicia 0.85 0.400 0.200 Soluble silicia 0.80 0.300 0.400 Organic matter 4.60 2.450 2.100 ______ _______ _______ 100.65 104.535 111.450 This table will indicate the application of plenty of wood-ashes and charcoal; lime in hair, bones, horn-shavings, old plaster, common lime, and a little common salt. Lime and ashes, or dissolved potash, are indispensable on an old orchard; they will improve the fruit one half, both in quantity and quality.