Northern Fruits and Fruit Growing. 87 



the occasional bluffs, which are capped with the boulder drift. 

 Passing to the west line ol the state through Trempealeau and 

 Buffalo counties, we find the same formations with those grand 

 limestone capped bluff's, where fruit trees are abundantly successful. 

 In the valleys of all central and western Wisconsin the average 

 life of the apple tree cannot be more than seven years. While 

 on the other hand, on the top of these drift hills and limestone 

 bluffs up to the latitude of 45^, a little above Menomonie, Wau- 

 sau, Chippewa Falls and Hudson, even ordinary varieties are 

 doing about as well as in our southern tier of counties. These 

 examples are plain to all observers, and show that local conditions 

 have more to do with the success of varieties than latitude alone, 

 and in this direction are we to look first of all for conditions of 

 success. I have before given the following condensed rules for 

 successful fruit growing in this region : 



1. Plant on high, dry, firm soil, or make it so by ridging, 

 draining, or dressing with clay. 



2. Plant varieties you know to be successful in locations similar 

 to your own. 



3. Top low and grow slow ; secure early growth and early 

 maturity of wood, and keep a perpetual mulch by a grass sod 

 mowed oiien and spread around the tree outside of its top. I 

 recommend and urge heading the fruit tree low, even to the ground. 

 All the best conditions for culture, pruning, bearing, picking, and 

 health of tree are best secured by low heads. Cultivate no nearer 

 the trunk than the outside of the tops. My idea of perfection of 

 culture for the fruit tree in this climate is, to seed down with 

 clover (or weeds) as soon as the tree is well established, and mow 

 weekly through the summer, letting the product remain where 

 cut. Under this plan little pruning will be necessary, and that 

 should be done little by little during the growing season. The 

 soil of central and northern Wisconsin is much of it strongly 

 impregnated with iron and potash, which gives peculiar luster to 

 the fruit, and a bearing tendency which is not common further 

 south. The limestone series are especially fitted to the most per- 

 fect development of trees. The sandy regions can be made to 

 grow permanent orchards by the application of clay and muok 



