STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 223 



tree by means of inch and a-half screws at top and bottom, loosen- 

 ing the same once or twice each year to allow the tree to grow in 

 its natural shape. This will not only be useful, but will be orna- 

 mental in the orchard. These, according to the size of the orchard, 

 which, by the way, should be no larger than you are able and will- 

 ing to plant and care for well, I would set as follows: One-quarter 

 with Wealth}', one-quarter with the very best Minnesota and 

 Northern Wisconsin winter seedlings that can be found by read- 

 ing, attending horticultural meetings, observation, and communi- 

 cating with practical fruit men. The other half I would set with 

 Duchess and a few of the best crabs I could find — say one-fourth — 

 and the balance to be selected as I have directed, say of those that 

 are doing best in localities similar to your own. I say a few crabs, 

 as I hold it to be poor economy to set and grow small crabs 

 when Wealthy and other valuable varieties can be grown as 

 cheaply and are worth much more. Bearing in mind to confine 

 your planting only to a few varieties, ever remembering that 

 it is poor economy and detrimental to the orchard to buy cheap, 

 poor trees. Buy good ones, with good roots, and don't expect to 

 buy such a tree for less than twenty-fiye to forty cents each. 

 Make it the first point to deal with reliable, practical nurserymen, 

 for such can be easily found. Now, before care and cultivation 

 can be bestowed, we must consider the all important matter 

 of buying and planting further. Buy trees not under two nor over 

 four years old. Have them dug in the fall; have it done at or near 

 the time they shed their leaves. Not too early before the forces 

 of the tree have perfected its growth ; neither so late as to 

 endanger the roots by freezing. Bury them root and branch 

 in the ground in a place where the water will run off and not go 

 into the hole with the trees. Bury the roots about one foot deep, 

 and the tops as shallow as you can, which will place them in about 

 the proper position. Be very careful that you leave no holes that 

 mice can enter to girdle and destroy your trees in the winter. 

 Examine thoroughly about the time the ground freezes. After 

 that take a load of horse stable manure and place over the mound, 

 taking it ofi" soon as it begins to thaw in the spring. When warm 

 weather comes and the frost is out of the ground, take the trees 

 out, wash them, root and branch, thoroughly, and stand them in 

 the ground in an upright position, and as soon as you discover the 

 buds beginning to swell, and before the leaves start, take the trees 

 out, about ten or fifteen at time. Trim the ends of roots, cutting 

 from the under side. Carry an old blanket with you to protect 



