No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 473 



the holes. Straight rows add much to the beauty of the orthaid — 

 for nothing is really complete without beauty in some form or othei'. 

 and also greatly facilitates cultivation and harvesting of fruit. Thr 

 distance to plant should be somewhat regulated by the productive 

 ability of the soil. On strong soil, where the tendency is toward a 

 rapid and large wood growth, the trees should be set at a greater 

 distance than on light soils, where the productive capacity depends 

 somewhat on the generosity of the orchardist. 



There is also another feature^ that should be taken into con- 

 sideration — the habit and life of the tree. Long-lived varieties 

 usually attain a size of larger dimensions, while those of a shorter 

 existence are more diminutive. On good soil, forty feet apatt is 

 not too far and in the end will give better results than when set 

 at a closer distance. "Where the land is lighter and not such a heavy 

 top likely to be formed, from thirty to thirty-five feet would be a 

 sufficient distance. On poor hillsides, so commonly selected as 

 orchard sites, twenty-five feet would probably be sufficient for any 

 variety, but such locations, if good results are looked for, should be 

 readily discarded. Varieties like the Baldwin and Rhode Island 

 Greening will extend nearly, if not quite, forty feet in diameter, 

 while varieties like the Northern Spy, Ben Davis and York Imperial, 

 with less spreading heads, may be planted at a somewhat shorter 

 distance. Do not crowd, but provide ample room for every tree, and 

 let in plenty of sunshine and fresh air. 



VARIETIES. 



The choice of varieties should be made more according to loca- 

 tion than according to the fancy of the planter. The principle ''that 

 a variety is largely an expression of the condition in which it exists" 

 should be clearly comprehended. "The variety, as an entity, retains 

 its general varietal characters under widely diverse conditions, but 

 its form, size, color, quality, texture, time of ripening, form of tree 

 and root system are profoundly modified by the particular environ- 

 ment to which the variety is subjected." The planter should make 

 his immediate environments a thorough study and those of his 

 neighbors who have had practical experience in growing varieties 

 on soils and exposure similar to his own, should be taken into 

 counsel, and the benefits thus derived from their knowledge and ob- 

 servation, will be a safe guide for the planter to follow. It is not 

 found convenient or profitable to select too many varieties, and in 

 making up a list, the orchardist should aim to cover the entire 

 fruiting or ripening period of his section. Plant a few trees of the 

 very earliest bearing varieties, and so on down through a regular 

 series of maturity, until the winter varieties are reached, of which 

 variety the bulk of the trees should principally be composed. 

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