Apple Culture. 315 



ience. And to this general rule fruit raising is no 

 exception. 



In regard to the distance ajyart which trees should bo 

 set, there is a great diversity of practice — some recom- 

 mending forty feet each way, some two rods, others 

 twenty -five feet, othei's twent}' feet, and some even less 

 than this, in which case mucli fruit can be obtained before 

 any crowding of the trees, and, when this does occur, some 

 of the poorer trees can be cut out. My own practice has 

 been to set twenty-five feet apart, giving seventy trees to 

 the acre. 



Digging the Holes. — If the soil is in good condition, 

 well pulverized and friable, no great digging will be 

 required, simply digging a hole deep and broad enough 

 to admit the roots Avithout twisting or crowding. It 

 is sometimes recommended to dig deep holes and fill with 

 some fertilizing material. This, if the subsoil is a hard- 

 pan and undrained, is worse tlian useless, for we shall then 

 have a fine dish to hold cold water, and coh^, stagnant 

 water about the roots is death to any fruit tree. If from 

 any cause it is deemed advidable to set trees in an unbroken 

 Bod, dig the holes broad but not deep, applying, at the time 

 of setting, a liberal amount of fertilizing material ; but 

 much the better Avav is to make the soil " all hole," in 

 which case but little extra digging will be required. 



It is well to have tlie ground fully prepared and the 

 holes dug before procuring. 



The Trees. — As it is not advisable to keep the trees 

 exposed to the sun and air longer than is absolutely neces- 

 sary, now comes the question, " Where shall the trees be 



