2 



ands of farms upon which there is not an apple tree growing. The 

 apple is certainly one of the most useful of all fruits, and no one who 

 has a farm can afford to be without a small section devoted to apple 

 trees for home supply. 



Selection of Varieties. 



One of the most important things to be considered in planting an 

 orchard is the selection of varieties. Some of the most serious mis- 

 takes in the past have been made in this particular. In many cases 

 worthless varieties have ben planted, which is hard'y to be wondered 

 at when planters had little more to rely upon regarding varieties than 

 the exaggerated descriptions given by travelling tree agents. But in 

 these days when we have reliable information about all classes of 

 fruits for all sections of the Province published annually and distributed 

 free, as is done in the report of the Ontario Fruit Experiment Stations, 

 there is no excuse for planting anything but the very best varieties suited 

 to each section. 



One mistake to be avoided is that of planting too many varieties, 

 particularly in commercial orchards. A half dozen good winter sorts 

 has been found to be plenty. For home use, however, the list might 

 be doubled, or at least lengthened, to suit the preferences of all members 

 of the family. There should, in any case, be varieties enough to cover 

 the season and give a bountiful supply from earliest to the latest. One 

 or two summer varieties, three or four autumn, and half a dozen winter 

 varieties would be about the right proportion of each to plant. 



Another precaution which has to be taken in planning a commercial 

 orchard, is that of planting too large a block of any one variety. For con- 

 venience in harvesting it is no doubt best to plant trees of the same variety 

 near together, but on the other hand if these blocks of one variety are too 

 large it may be the cause of poor crops, for there are many varieties 

 which are self-sterile, that is, the pollen which they produce will not 

 properly fertilize their own flowers, although it may be quite potent on 

 the blossom of some other variety. This question has not been suffi- 

 ciently studied to warrant us in saying definitely just which varieties are 

 self-sterile and which are self-fertile, although from experiments which 

 have been made, the following varieties appeared to be more or less self- 

 sterile : Yellow Bellflower, Chenango, Gravenstcin, King, Northern 

 Spy, Primate, Rambo, Red Astrachan, Roxbury, Russett, Golden Rus- 

 set, Spitzenburg, and Tolman Sweet. None of these should be plant- 

 ed in blocks of more than three or four rows, without some other variety 

 intervening which blooms about the same time. In orchards where such 

 a mistake has been made, it can be rectified most readily by grafting 

 every third or fourth row with some variety which will insure cross- 

 fertilization. 



Both tree and fruit must be considered in the selection of varieties. 

 The tree must have sufficient hardiness for the locality, and it is in this 



