Fruit Pkoduction in New Yokk 1359 



With the location and land selected the next question is, " What 

 varieties shall I plant ? " This question has been touched upon in 

 part in previous paragraphs and it only remains here to be said 

 that out of the thousands of varieties of the several fruits even 

 the few best ones may be most readily characterized by their 

 faults, showing how necessary it is to make careful choice of varie- 

 ties. An intimate first-hand knowledge of varieties in his own 

 locality is the only way by which a man can become competent to 

 choose the sorts to plant. Look a little askance at novelties. An 

 unbridled passion for " new creations " has been the downfall of 

 many orchards. 



It is about as difficult to select the trees of the several fruits 

 as it is to make a choice of varieties. It is not of prime import- 

 ance but it is true and therefore worth noticing that trees grown 

 near home are somewhat better than those brought from 

 a distance. It is necessary in buying trees to see that they are 

 true to name, free from pests and that they still have the breath 

 of life. It would seem that only the simple would need to be told 

 this. But there is scarcely a fruit grower the country over, big 

 or little, who has not suffered at the hands of some unscrupulous 

 tree dealer in substituted varieties, through the introduction of 

 some pest, or through buying dead or worthless trees. 



Unfortunately few who plant fruits concern themselves with 

 the kind of stocks their trees are grafted upon ; yet this is a most 

 important matter. Fruit trees are not grown on their own roots 

 but are budded or grafted on those of some other of their kind to 

 get more uniform and more vigorous trees. 



After the trees are on hand the vexed problem arises as to how 

 the orchard is to be laid out — whether in squares, quincunxes, 

 hexagons, with or without fillers, and as to distances apart. Only 

 generalities can be given here. The first is that a system of 

 squares is usually best because it permits orchard operations to be 

 carried on most readily. Both roots arid branches will utilize all 

 the space. Second, fillers of fruits other than varieties of the 

 species composing the permanent trees greatly complicate orchard 

 operations and under treatment meant primarily for the perman- 

 ent trees, usually fail. Fillers of quick-bearing varieties of the 

 same fruit, especially of the apple, may often be used to advantage. 



