APPLES. 187 



and the more thoroughly protected, we thought, the hetter, particularly 

 on the north and west. We should have selected the highest location 

 and the one most exposed; a heavy clay loam for soil, and anything but 

 sand or gravel for sub-soil; a northern exposure in place of south or south- 

 west. We can cite hundreds of cases to prove this thoroughly, but all 

 see and admit this now. 



We set trees grown too much on tender roots. This is now admitted. 

 "We have set our trees too shallow for our warm, deep soil. Our dry win- 

 ters and extreme freezing and sudden thawings in winter, have killed 

 these tender roots, and our trees have succumbed to the inevitable. Not 

 all from freezing and thawing, but this shallow setting has left the trees 

 loose and has let them grow over to the north-east, and going that way, 

 nearly every tree, as it got age, has gone up by "sun scald." 



We have listened to and patronized the tree peddler to an alarming ex- 

 tent when we ought to have had sense enough to have bought of the 

 nearest reliable home nurseryman. 



We have missed when we put our calves and other stock into our or- 

 chards, and shut the pig out. I will suggest here, to all who have made 

 a tight fence around the orchard to keep the pig out, to use your better 

 sense and put your pig on the inside. He is the most effectual insect de- 

 stroyer and orchard renovator known. He will stir up every foot of old 

 grass, brush, and the neglected fence corners which are the hiding and 

 breeding places of most insects. He will clean up all wormy apples and 

 destroy untold numbers of orchard enemies. The pig has too long had 

 the name of being a dull, lazy, worthless animal. This is a great error; he 

 is one of the most constant and industrious workers known, in his place, 

 which is in the orchard. The calf will climb a small tree every time, and 

 brouse off its top, and when this is done in midsummer the tree is ruined. 

 I would as soon have an apple tree girdled by mice as broused off by calves. 



We have missed in setting our trees too far apart, and in squares. This 

 course has let the sun in on the trunks and made fearful ruin. Set trees 

 on the line of the sun's shadow at half-past one o'clock. Set three trees 

 in a hole and set these clumps not over eleven feet apart in northern Iowa 

 and Minnesota. Set them in "A" form first, one at the head and one on 

 each side back eighteen inches, but set the head of the A on the same 

 line. This plan will surprise you by its superior advantages in not only 

 protecting its own clump, but in the double protection it gives it neigh- 

 bors. The rows should be fifteen or twenty feet apart, east and west, to 

 admit teams. Closely set trees have succeeded much the best. Trees 

 found on the north side of a tall wind-break or grove have proved much 

 more successful than those on the south. Three of the most successful 

 orchards I know of, in Iowa, are set very close, ten and fifteen feet. One 

 of these is near Nora Springs, one near Cedar Falls, and one near Shell 

 Rock. Mr. Dart, of Minnesota, has some two acres set very close and has 

 been very successful. The best orchard now in the state of Minnesota, 

 grown by William Somerville, is set very close. Hundreds of others could 

 be cited to sustain this evidence, found among the wrecks of our old 

 orchards. 



Two styles of trees furnish strong evidence in favor of the form in which 

 they are found; the first are found leaning toward the sun with principal 

 branches on sunny side. These are very few, but are in good condition. 



