3G6 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



the great mass of eminent electricians both in Europe and in America, viz. : that 

 conduction of electricity of whatever name is through the mass of the conduc- 

 tor and not by surface action such as is exhibited in the statical condition of 

 electricity. 



THE APPLE ORCHARD. 



BY PROF. W. J. BEAL, OF THE AGKICULTURAL COLLEGE, LAKSING, MICH. 



[The following paper was read at five of the Farmers' Institutes held in this State tinder the 



auspices of the State Board of Agriculture.] 



LOCATION. 



As in most other farm operations, especially if the man is young or has had 

 but little experience, every one is likely to think he knows jiist how to plant 

 and take care of an apple orchard in the best way. Yet no two men would 

 pursue exactly the same course in raising a good orchard. A very little obser- 

 vation will convince all of us tliat many are not managing their orchards in the 

 best way for appearance or for proiit. We find trees set on all kinds of land. 

 It is a common rule tliat apple trees will flourish on any soil that will produce 

 good corn and potatoes, and yet not all orchards under the best of management 

 will be equally fruitful and profitable on such soil. Some attention must be 

 paid to the distance from market or a railway station. Tiie position should be 

 relatively high, in not a hollow or too much hedged in by surrounding forests. 

 A high exposed situation, with a slight thin screen to the southwest, will be less 

 liable to great extremes of heat and cold than one in a hollow or surrounded by 

 dense forests, 



I i)refer a lot sloping slightly to the north as less liable to suffer from drought. 

 If we can find a locality in which the thermometer does not go more than 20 

 degrees below zero, nor above 90 degrees, it is much to be preferred to one with 

 greater extremes. But most people must do the best they can on the farm 

 already in their possession. There are many farms in every county without 

 very favorable spots for apples ; still some f luit can be raised on all of them. 

 Knowing what is the best, each must approach excellence as near as his circum- 

 stances will permit. 



THE SOIL. 



The most profitable orchards in our State, with rare exceptions, are those 

 planted on strong or deep, rich land, having a clay subsoil within a foot or 

 nearer the surface. For oichards, avoid soil which is black, approaching the 

 soil of river bottoms or drained marshes. Sandy soil, without heavy sub-soil, is 

 likc'ly to produce trees with short lives unless well fertilized. 



PREPAEATION OF THE SOIL. 



Tlu! soil should be upland and naturally free from standing water at all times 

 of the year. It is too often inferred that such land needs no tiling. I have yet 

 to see the fiist orchard in Michigan, or in any other State, on heavy suhsoil, 

 whicli is not the better for tiles every two rods. No operation will bring a larger 

 return for the labor than thorough drainage of orchards. It is unnecessary to 



