192 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and is the very best shipper; can better grov^ this variety in my section 

 at $1 per barrel than such varieties as Jonathan and Wine Sap at $2 per 

 barrel, as they are slow growers, tardy bearers and more subject to insect 

 depredations. My Ben Davis trees, nine years old, netted me double 

 the amount of money this year that I realized from Wine Sap same 

 age. My late planting has been nine rows of Ben Davis, with one row 

 of such varieties as Black Twig, Rome Beauty, Clayton, York Impe- 

 rial, Missouri Pippin, etc., to better fertilize at blooming. I have 

 always given Missouri grown trees the preference. If purchaser can 

 buy from a reliable home nursery he should do so: if not, from the 

 large reliable nurseries that grow their own trees. Care should be 

 taken to keep the roots damp and in good condition, and before plant- 

 ing always dip the roots in kerosene emulsion, or strong tobacco solu- 

 tion, to kill the woolly aphis, as but few nurseries are exempt from this 

 pest. My land being very broken and rough requires considerable 

 patience in getting the rows straight. I plant 30 feet apart both ways. 

 First stake off every fifth row north and south clear across the tract,^ 

 with stakes four feet long, tops whitened with white wash so as to be 

 plainly seen. 



I use as a measuring rod an eight-inch board, tapered to four 

 inches at the ends, and 15 feet long, with a small spirit level about two 

 ^feet from each end ; also a plumb bob at one end, and this is carried 

 by two men, keeping the board level, who follow the stake line and 

 measure off two spaces, or 30 feet, and put down a small peg. After 

 two lines are thus run, the spaces between are laid off in squares of 

 30 feet, and a peg put down. For each tree I have found this by far 

 the best way to get trees straight, and in line both ways, on hilly or 

 rough land. 



The diggers then follow, digging the holes where the pegs are 

 stuck and should be large enough to accommodate the tree without 

 twisting or cramping the roots. Surface soil is placed in the bottom 

 of the hole, tree placed in position and held by helper while the man 

 with shovel fills in more surface dirt; the helper works the dirt in 

 well among the roots with his hand as hole is being filled, tramping 

 down solid with his foot when hole is about filled ; care should be 

 taken not to get tree too deep. I prefer to have tree no deeper than 

 grown in nursery. 



As soon as planted, trees should be protected from rabbits and 

 mice, either by using veneer wrappers, corn stalks or some wash. I 

 have had better success with the pine tar wash, painting the bodies up 

 two feet with the tar reduced with linseed oil or water ; if reduced 

 with water, soap has to be added, and heated and made as kerosene 



