STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 167 



of soil, iiicludiu^ oiif lnw lidi prairie soils, wliiili scciii to iiced only 

 suffii'ieiit drain !!<;;(' to tree the surface of water, l)iit not enou<^li to 

 mar the beauty of the surface, or to make it inconvenient to work in 

 the orchard. 



Buy all your trees and plants of your nearest reliable nursery- 

 man, and ^ive personal attention to the selectinji;, removin<i:. and 

 transplanting. 



A good average distance for apple trees is thirty feet, taking in- 

 to consideration the size and character of the tree you are to plant. 

 Tf your laud is high or rolling. ])lant a little doo])er than they grew 

 in the nursery, if low or tiat. i)lant the same depth the tree stood in 

 the nursery, and afterwards raise the surface about the trees gently 

 by plowing, making sufficient room for all the roots, and pack the 

 earth al)out them with care. For the first five years cultivate the 

 ^'oung orchard in hoed crops, leaving small grain and grass for other 

 fields. Mulch will help to retain needed moisture during the tirst 

 year, afterward use manure if found to he neccssdri/. When your 

 orchard comes into bearing you can seed to red clover with some 

 advantage. 



Shall we say prune? Yes. With special care and in modera- 

 tion it is indisjiensible in order to the proper training and balancing 

 of the tree ( "as the twig is bent, so the tree is inclined " ). l)ut do 

 not be compelled to remove large branches. Never allow a tree to 

 fork. Train to a pyramidal shape with the main stem or leader run- 

 ning up through the centre, and your tree will be in ])roper shape to 

 receive either sunshine or storm, and escape both scalds and s])lits. 



For a commercial orchard cultivate the varieties which you are 

 sure are adapted to your own soil and climate, and such as you are 

 sure vou can sell in your own accessible markets. 



For a family orchard endeavor to suit your own indiviihuil taste 

 or fancy, proviiling they are found to be adapted to your own soil 

 and climate, and bearing in mind that you will need a succession of 

 fruit the year round. T venture to name the following varieties of 

 arjples as a good succession, to-wit: Red Astrachan. (Joldeii Sweet, 

 Benoni, Maiden's Blush, Bailey Sweet, Rambo, Fulton, (Irimes' Gol- 

 den, Jonathan, lied Canada, and the inevitable Ben Davis. Such an 

 orchard, if pro])erly cared for after it is planted, will ho a source of 

 both proht an<l pleasure to its owner. 



