STATE HORTICULTURAL .SOCIETV. Y6 



In six years after I planted this orchard I left the farm ; last fall 

 I went back there, and learned that this orchard was the most success- 

 ful of any in the country ; the trees completely covered the ground and 

 were annually loaded with fruit. 



Dr. Hooton — I would like to hear from Mr. Flagg. 



Mk. Flagg — I do not know that I can say anything new, or par- 

 ticularly instructive. 



I have trees that were planted in 1822, and 1 have trees that were 



planted last year; and between these dates many plantings have been 

 made, as in 1842, 1857, and 1858. 



The first orchard that I planted, I put the trees forty feet apart. 

 My next planting was thirty-two feet apart, which I think is a very good 

 distance — for our latitude. But, perhaps, there is too much waste of 

 land, at this distance, when the orchard is young. The pruning in my 

 earlier orchards was not well done. Crotches were allowed to form, 

 making hollow and rotten places in the trees, and often causing them to 

 break down. In my later practice 1 f)rune to one stem with lateral 

 branches; this, I believe, is Mr. Galusha's plan. 



In my orchards planted forty feet apart, 1 filled up with peach 

 trees — planted half way between. So I have stated, in my old orchards 

 I did not prune enough ; indeed, I did not prune at all, till I was obliged 

 to, then 1 found I had to cut off great iogs of wood, which could only be 

 the least of two evils. I do not approve of the low-head plan, because it 

 makes too much dead air in the orchard, inducing fungus and blotches on 

 the fruit. I find that the lower limbs do not ripen their fruit well. So 

 that 1 am inclined to think that we do not want low-headed trees, 

 especially if closely planted ; I prune the stems to three or four feet. 



I have recently planted one orchard sixteen and one-half feet 

 apart, and another, for experimental orchard, I have set ten feet apart. 



I do not expect any good result from the trees set ten feet apart, 

 but for some varieties, as the Benoni, I do not think sixteen and one- 

 half feet is too close — in case the trees interfere, a part can be cut out. In 

 an orchard I think it is best to grow trees and nothing else. 



It is my opinion — and this is the point I make — that you must keep 

 a good circulation of air under the trees to have the best results. 



I)k. Humphrey — 1 think it is important to set apple trees so that 

 the feet are dry. I think orchard trees are often lost for want of this. 

 If the ground is level, and the tree is set without special preparation 

 upon the level surface, the roots must stand in water much of the time. 



