222 ANNUAL R!']rOIlT OP THE Off. Doc. 



orchard that there is little need of doing more than to modily our 

 practices according to circumstances. 



So far as I know there is nothing in this method which may not 

 be applied to any kind of fruit trees. A peach tree is not to be 

 treated i)reciseJy the same as an apple tree, nor is any ciass of trees 

 to be managed the same on all kinds of soil. There is no reason, 

 however, to say that one kind of tree should be mulched and an- 

 other cultivated, nor that a certain kind of cover crop is to be used 

 exclusively on particular species of trees. 



Aside from cultural methods there are many other matters to be 

 considered in starting an orchard. The choosing of an orchard 

 site; the preparation of the soil and planting of the trees will not 

 be discussed, and the selection of varieties must be left out. One 

 ought to take two or three years to get ready to plant an orchard. 

 He must study soils, varieties, methods, and markets, and inform 

 himself as to the best place to buy trees. The last item is not men- 

 tioned because I have lists of honest nurserj-men and truthful agents 

 to hand out, but for the reason that it takes some time and tact 

 to get results in that line. 



One needs, tirst of all, to get acquainted with an intelligent and 

 reliable nurseryman. There is no need of scrajjing acquaintance 

 with tree agents or dealers unless your wits need sharpening or you 

 are hankering after experiences of all kinds which are thought to 

 be necessary to make a trained horticulturist. You must, however, 

 hunt until you find a nurseryman who is just as anxious to do 

 you a good turn as he is to take your money. If you cannot find 

 that kind of a man of whom to buy them grow your own trees 

 and propagate from the best bearing trees that you can find. When 

 buying trees take them not according to height and caliper but as 

 to age. A one year old peach tree, and others one or two years, 

 according to the way they have been started in the nursery, or how 

 you expect to handle them. If you want a tree with a low top you 

 may have to take a yearling tree as the two year old trees may have 

 too high a top. If you believe in planting corn in your orchard the 

 first year a tv.o year old tree is better than a one year old. If you 

 accept trees according to size you may get old stunted trees that 

 are no larger than good two year olds should be. Better get the 

 largest and finest trees in the nursery, of a given age, even at tv/o 

 prices, than to accept culls of uncertain age and low vitality. 



It is really a profitless discussion to give pros and cons as to 

 age and size of trees to use. A good orchardist will choose a good 

 tree of the size and age which suits him and he will get results, no 

 matter ^hat the size and age. One thought about the preparation 

 of the trees for p);iuini.u' is sulncieuL A vigorous fresh tree will 

 grow, even if not jnuned at the time of planting, but some shorten- 

 ing of both the top and roots is advisable, and very severe pruning 

 may be practiced if desired. If the top is cut back to a mere short 

 stub and the roots left in the form of a club, with nothing but a 

 main si em eight or ten inches long, and put into a hole made with 

 a crowbar there need be no fear as to the result. But insist that 

 the nurseryman deliver all of the top and root intact, as then you 

 will see what you are getting. If he sends trees with crown galls 

 on the roots you can either burn or send them back. 



The distances of planting and the use of fillers are likely to be 

 disputed questions for a long time. We thought that we had this 



