230 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



In considering the location as suitable for an orchard: Plrst, 

 the location chosen must be high enough not to be frosty, and 

 where a natural grove can be had on the southwest and northwest 

 sides. This is very necessary to protect the orchard from high 

 winds and big storms. If the planter does not have such a natural 

 protection, he ought to grow one as soon as possible. 



We do not like to recommend what varieties to grow. The 

 trees planted should be of good quality and of hardy kinds. The 

 Duchess is very hardy and of good quality, but does not last very 

 long, and but few should be planted. We think the Peerless is the 

 most hardy tree' that we have set, but we do not think that it is as 

 early a fruit bearer as some other varieties, though the fruit is of 

 fine quality. The Wealthy is an early and a good bearer, but the 

 tree is not as hardy as the Peerless. The Northwestern Greening 

 has seemed quite hardy with us, and its long keeping qualities we 

 think ought to give it a very important place in a commercial or- 

 chard. We think that but few varieties should be grown in a com- 

 mercial orchard; perhaps three or four varieties are enough. 



A clay soil or a loam with a clay sub-soil we think is best, where 

 it can be hsa for the orchard. From twenty to twenty-four feet is 

 about the right distance to set apple trees apart. We have s^t ours 

 twenty-one feet apart. Set them as early in the spring as the 

 ground is dry enough to work well and set them four or five inches 

 deeper than they grew in the nursery. Trim off all the bruised 

 or broken branches and roots; also cut back and trim the top to 

 such shape as you desire to have the tree start from. 



To prevent depredations from rabbits, mice and sun-scald, we 

 use lath, which we saw into two pieces. Then take No. i8 gal- 

 vanized wire, and using pieces of the wire about one yard in length, 

 staple the wire five or six inches from the ends of the lath. These 

 ends of the laths can be tied around the tree with the wire. A 

 bunch of lath will make sixteen protectors. In this way we have 

 protected our trees. We have* heard of another way that is recom- 

 mended very highly to protect the trees from rabbits and mice. It 

 is as follows : take one bushel of unslaked lime, slake it and add 

 water enough to make a moderately thick whitewash. Have two 

 pounds of common glue previously in water and in this glue dis- 

 solve one pound of sulphate of iron (copperas); stir the glue and 

 copperas solution well into the whitewash, and apply this to the 

 whole trunk of the tree before the weather gets too cold or there 

 is a fall of snow. Aside from protecting the trees from these pests, 

 the whitewash will destroy all insects nesting in the bark. One 



