312 BOARD OF AGRICULTtJRE. [Jan., 



On the other hand, nature has been bountiful with us; we have 

 neither the cHmate of Sahara nor Labrador, but can raise all the 

 fruits of the temperate zone by reasonable care and good culture, 

 by a judicious selection of orchard sites, and proper varieties of 

 fruit. Having done what we can for the general good by our 

 own timely action, we must make the best of our surroundings 

 and abide the results. 



COMMON MISTAKES IN PLANTING MAEKET ORCHARDS. 



First. In planting apple orchards on very high-priced land, 

 contiguous to large cities; such land is more called for for market 

 gardens and the production of small fruits which require quick 

 handling; while hill-land, in country towns, valued at a much 

 lower rate, will often produce more valuable apples, with better 

 keeping quality. An old distiller of cider brandy, in one of our 

 Connecticut towns, in a discussion on apples, made this statement: 

 " Cider made from apples grown on sandy loam, in the Farming- 

 ton valley, will make one-third less brandy than from the same 

 kinds of apples grown on the hills back toward the mountains, 

 and there is the same difference in their keeping qualities." 



Second. In using inferior trees for orchard planting. The 

 choicest-grown trees, at their price, are always the cheapest. To 

 nurserymen we desire to say: Use the most care fully -selected 

 seed; grow and propagate varieties on the best principles, with 

 best care, and then charge enough to compensate for the extra 

 cost of production. 



It costs only about $10 per acre to plant an apple orchard of 

 the best trees of the best varieties; therefore, there is no excuse 

 for using aught but the best. And yet there are multitudes of 

 cases where ten-fold loss has resulted from carelessness on this 

 point. 



Third. In planting too many and ill-adapted varieties. Nine- 

 tenths of the apples shipped from this country to Europe are 

 Baldwins. The Rhode Island greening is productive and popular, 

 and, in some sections, the Roxbury russet ; but, whatever varieties 

 are chosen, have but few, and those the best-adapted varieties. 



Fourth. In lack of systematic care, culture, and management 

 of orchards. Let the orchard-planter acquaint himself with the 

 best methods of cultivating, pruning, and general management, 

 and reduce his practice to a system. 



