i62 Sftitc HorticnJtnral Society. 



rc(|uired in the proper care and treatment of an orchard after it conies 

 into bearing. Obstacles and disappointments innumerable are often our 

 portion, and we of the faint heart are prone to quit and place the blame 

 exactly where it does not belong. 



Now, in my way of thinking, if you want to have a good bearing 

 orchard, and I take it that we all want it, then you must start at the be- 

 ginning, begin with the selecting of the trees, and select them carefully, 

 because more depends upon a right selection than many of us think, and 

 especial attention must be paid to the kind of tree, to the soil, to the 

 climate, to the slope and to the digging of the holes and setting, because 

 it takes all this and more, too, to produce a fine, thrifty, rugged tree, 

 and without such a tree, you can't expect a prolific bearer, at least, 1 

 have learned not to expect it. 



Then comes the season you have to contend ; if it is a cold, wet spring, 

 like last spring was, you are almost sure to be knocked out, with the very 

 best treatment you could possibly give. 



This is where it stands you in hand to have your trees in the very 

 best and healthiest condition in which it is possible for them to be. Then, 

 and then only, can you depend upon them to withstand the adverse season 

 and weather, and still maintain their vigorous, rugged, healthy con- 

 dition; this cannot be without working on them for years beforehand. 



I will give you my way of treating a bearing orchard. It is prob- 

 able that there are many people here who will not agree with me along 

 these lines, but remember in criticising me and my plan, that individuahty 

 and stick-to-it-ive-ness does more to accomplish results than all the 

 theory and science in the world; any way, such has been my experience, 

 and experience of the right kind is a millionaire compared with theory. 



When one meets with such success for three years as I have with 

 my orchard, the third year being an off year, and my neighbors' orchards 

 being almost a failure, and not only here, but in the whole country, the 

 experience is worth following up. 



Please do not think for a minute that I am laying out a plan for 

 every fruit grower in the State. I am not ; it is possible that nine-tenths 

 of you would fail, and then I would have to hide ; I am simply giving 

 you my experience and my plan, and you can adopt it or not, just as 

 you please; there are so many failures that there can be no iron clad 

 rule, but each one must rely solely upon his own orchard and his own 

 judgment. Where one succeeds, others fail. 



In my orchard work I use the liquid spray, which I think is far 

 superior to the dust ; it adheres better, absorbs quicker, and penetrates 

 to every little nook and corner in the leaf. T have an Empire King pump 



