1716 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



THE PLAN 



How the orchard is to be laid out — in squares, qiiincimxes, 

 hexagons, with or without fillers, and at what distances apart ? 

 Planting in squares is best because it permits orchard operations 

 to be carried on most readily. Both roots and branches will util- 

 ize all of the space. Fillers of fruits other than varieties of the 

 same species as the permanent trees are not desirable, since thej 

 greatly complicate orchard operations. Fillers of quick bearing 

 varieties of the same fruit, especially the apple, may often be used 

 to advantage. There should be as many " outside rows " as pos- 

 sible. That is, the trees should be far enough apart for each to 

 develop in full its individuality, as the trees on the outside of the 

 orchard produce most fruit, since they get most air, sunshine, 

 wind, moisture and food. 



" impotency " 



Fruit does not set in this region for the most part because of 

 frosts, cold weather, rains and heavy winds at blooming time ; but 

 still there are some varieties of pears, apples, grapes and pliuns that 

 are self-sterile. The remedy is mixed planting of varieties that 

 bloom at the same time. It is important that the fruit of all of the 

 varieties planted have value as it is not worth while to encumber 

 land with a sort fit only for a pollinator. Contrary to a very gen- 

 eral notion the fruits themselves are not greatly changed, if at 

 all, by cross-pollination. 



time and age to set 



There is a marked gain in setting varieties of apples late in the 

 fall if the trees be two-vear-olds. All other fruits and one-vear- 

 old apples should be set as early as possible in the spring. Two- 

 year-old trees are usually to be preferred to those but one year old 

 if they have been properly headed in the nursery. With the 

 peach, one-year-old trees should always be planted. 



dynamite 



There is little positive evidence to show that trees thrive better 

 in holes made by u.sing dpiamite, and until such evidence is forth- 



