68 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



In Bulletin 74 of the Vermont Experiment Station, issued 

 in December, 1899, the following - varieties of winter apples 

 are recommended for the home garden : King, Spitzenburgh, 

 Spy, Rhode Island Greening, Baldwin, Arctic, Golden Russet, 

 Hubbardston, Seek-no-further, Belleflower, Tolman. Several 

 of these are also good commercial varieties. To them should 

 be added Mcintosh and Fameuse, both late fall apples, but 

 often among the most profitable market varieties. /;/ general 

 only late keeping winter varieties should be planted for 

 market. 



For the colder parts of the state more hardy varieties are 

 required. The best experience now available shows that 

 confidence may be placed in the following : Longfield, Fa- 

 meuse, Mcintosh, Wealth}*, Scott Winter, Pewaukee, Wagener 

 and Arctic* 



HOW TO GET TREES. 



The farmer ordinarily buys his trees of the fruit tree 

 agent. He pays an exorbitant price, often gets second or 

 third class stock, and many times it is not true to name. 

 Usually the best way is to order trees direct from a responsi- 

 ble nurseryman. In the last few years there have been quan- 

 tities of first class apple trees sold to planters in Vermont at 

 $25, $20, $18, $15 and even as low as $14 a hundred. About 

 $15 to $20 may be looked on as a fair price for trees of stand- 

 ard varieties, though all nursery stock has advanced strongly 

 within the last year. If one does not know a reliable nursery 

 to buy of he should ask advice of someone who does know. 

 We know of several. 



PLANTING. 



Trees may be planted either in spring or in fall. In gen- 

 eral we prefer spring planting. 



Most apple orchards have the trees set too close together. 

 Two rods each way is as close as any varieties should ever be 

 set, and 40 feet is better, especially for large growing sorts. 

 Trees*are sometimes set close with the idea of cutting out al- 

 ternate trees later ; but we have never known this to be done 

 successfully. Usually the thinning out is neglected. 



• 



CULTIVATING. 



It used to be a question for argument as to whether it 

 was best to keep an orchard cultivated or seed it down to 

 grass. This question is no longer open. It has positively 

 been decided that a man who expects to make money out of 



*See also Vt. Experiment Station Bui. 74, p. 93; and Bui. 61. 



