438 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A CITY ORCHARD. 



H. R. BIRCH, 1706 SOUTH SIXTH ST., MINNEAPOLIS. 



In the year 1875, twenty years ago, I bought one-half doz. Duchess 

 apple trees of Wyman Klliot. I dug out a space about six feet in 

 diameter and about fifteen inches deep, and set out luy trees about 

 ten feet apart — I set them that near together on account of space> 

 for I had only two lots at that time. Then I put in one-half dozen 

 or so of round cobble stones, from three to six inches in diameter, 

 the large ones under the largest roots of each tree. I think the 

 stones retain the moisture in suinmer, and in the spring they hold 

 the frost in the ground and prevent the trees from budding so early 

 in the spring, and that prevents the late frosts from injuring the 

 fruit. 



When I hoe my garden I rake up all around each tree all of the 

 weeds, sticks and stones that I find, and then I put a little earth on 

 top to make my garden look well ; but any good mulching will do. 



My trees have borne apples every year since they first commenced 

 to bear, but this fall has beat any past record. I raised twenty-four 

 bushels of nice apples from four trees. Two trees died on account 

 of being set out too near my well, which was twenty feet deep. I did 

 not have hydrant water until 1889, since which time I have had plen- 

 ty of water in summer. 



Duchess apple trees ought to protected from the south side of the 

 body of the tree. But where the fun comes in is in scaring the boys 

 away from stealing your apples. To scare the boys I recommend a 

 shotgun in plain sight of the boys and a high board fence. 



Mr. A. J. Philips: Did you have a good crop this year? 



Mr. Birch : I had twenty -four bushels from four trees. I 

 sold §16.00 worth of apples. 



Mr. Clarence Wedge : How many trees did you say you had? 



Mr. Birch : I planted six trees, but two of them died. 



Mr. Wedge : What kind of soil have you? 



Mr. Birch : It is a rich loam, about a foot deep, with a little 

 sand sprinkled in, then it goes down about three feet into clay 

 hard pan, that will nearly hold water. 



Marketing Grapes.— Grapes, like other fruits, need to be care- 

 fully handled to bring the best prices. The vines need to be gone 

 over freque ntly during the ripen ingseason,gathering only those with 

 full color, because grapes do not, like other fruits, color after being 

 gathered. The bunches should be cut off with a pair of scissors 

 and so handled as not to disturb the blooiu. Ordinary varieties may 

 be at once packed from the vines into the basket that is intended for 

 sale. Choice varieties should be gathered in shallow trays or 

 baskets, in which they should stand a day or two on shelves in the 

 fruit house, and then re-packed. By this treatment the stems will 

 wilt, and the bunches will then keep without molding and pack 

 more closely than when green. — Canadian Horticulturist. 



