20 AGRICULTURE OF M.VINE. 



On peach trees there has been a decided showing of results. 



On apple trees the results have not been so marked. On a 

 row of Rhode Island Greenings, in an orchard now seventy-five 

 years old, the second year after applying 35 pounds of basic 

 slag for phosphoric acid, 20 pounds of sulphate of potash, and 

 22 pounds of nitrate of soda per tree, the foliage was distinctly 

 darker green in color than the rest of the orchard. The apples 

 were also of a decided green in color, while on the other trees 

 there was more of the yellow shade, near maturity. The size 

 of the apples on the fertilized row was larger. For the past two 

 years there have been prolonged droughts, with no perceptible 

 difference noted. 



In all of the orchards clover is being sown for a cover crop, 

 and plowed in, excepting the past season, when buckwheat was 

 substituted. The first six trees on the fertilized row of apples 

 have made a large growth and have produced more apples than 

 the unfertilized row next to it. Yet there are individual trees 

 over the orchard that without fertilizers applied have made 

 equal growth of wood, and have produced as many and as 

 good apples. 



SELECT GOOD SOIE FOR ORCHARDS. 



Over much of New England, as in other sections, when 

 orchards have been planted, too often land has been selected 

 that was not the best for the farm crops. This has been, and 

 is, a mistake. 



The best soil should be selected for trees, for upon such, or- 

 chards will make more rapid growth. They may be made to 

 produce profitable crops several years sooner, while the cost 

 for fertilizers may be saved, if good tillage is kept up, combined 

 with leguminous cover crops. 



The value of the apple crop is so much greater than most 

 farm crops, that it pays to give the orchards the best land on 

 the farm. 



SMAIX ORCHARDS. 



One of the most valuable lessons of the year 191 1 is that of 

 the small orchard well tilled. Such have produced in a season 

 of unusual drought large yields of excellent fruit. 



A well cultivated orchard of five acres for a majority of 

 growers will produce more profit than larger orchards with 



