1598 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



inter crops 

 Orcliards are to be cropped only until they come into bearing 

 and with none but hoed crops. 



DWARF APPLES 



The discrepancies between promise and performance become 

 greater each year in the Station dwarf orchards. Dwarf apples 

 and dwarf pears should be recommended only for the amateur. 

 Cherries dwarfed on Mahaleb stock should not be recommended. 

 Cherry is best on Mazard stock for commercial purposes. 



PRUNING 



The pnming knife is often " a sword in the hands of a child." 

 Year in and year out more harm than good is done in pruning 

 the orchards of this state. Caution fruit growers to prune young 

 trees only enough to shape the head — not to head in as a rule, 

 except with peaches — as a regular practice. Thin old trees a 

 little every year — cherries are usually injured by pruning. 

 Severe pruning is warranted only in sick or somnolent orchards. 

 Dehorning has small value as an orchard practice. 



LOW-HEADING 



Low-heading, at least lower-heading, is the fashion and it seems 

 to be a good one. The Greening should be headed at two and one- 

 half or possibly three feet ; the Baldwin at two feet. The prmiing 

 should be done so as to cause the branches of low-headed trees to 

 grow upward, while those of high-headed trees may be more 

 spreading. 



TIME TO PLANT 



Hardy two-year-old apples are best planted in the fall — all 

 other fruits or trees in the spring. 



AGE TO PLANT 



Two-year-old trees are better than one-year-olds if good trees 

 can be purchased, with the single exception of peaches, ^ever 

 plant throe-year-olds. 



NEW VARIETIES 



Speculation is the chief charm of new varieties and there are 

 few new sorts that have more than speculative value. For com- 

 mercial plantations, recommend only standard sorts. 



