OPENING UP THE FRUIT FARM. 



121 



Opening Up the Fruit Farm. 



D. E. BINGHAM, FRUIT GROWER, STURGEON BAY, WIS. 



Let. us take it for granted that your secretary in putting 

 this topic on the program, as he did, had reference more par- 

 ticularly to the tree fruit farm. While the same conditions apply 

 in many instances, in some they differ. For instance, straw- 

 berries, and some of the other 

 small fruits, will grow and do 

 well on good orchard land and 

 will also grow well on land 

 not good orchard land. 



It seems to me one of the 

 first points to consider in 

 opening up the fruit farm is 

 selection of the soil, for this 

 is a long time investment, and 

 the soil must have a good 

 foundation. There is danger 

 of disappointment if the sub- 

 soil is too sandy, or too wet, 

 a hard-pan, etc. Trees will 

 not do well for long on soil of 

 such character. We prefer a 

 good clay loam with a good 

 clay subsoil of such a nature 

 as to insure good drainage. If 

 we could have some gravel or 

 lime rock in the subsoil all the 

 better. 



Suppose We have SUCh a SOil, D - E - Bingham, Sturgeon Lake, Wis. 



we have other facts to consider also before it is a good orchard 

 site. Air drainage is important. There should be nothing to 

 obstruct the free movement of the air, and the site should have 

 sufficient elevation to insure good drainage. 



The soil should not be too rich in nitrogen. Land that would 

 produce a good crop of corn might produce too much wood 

 growth. This must be determined by observing the crops and 

 the growth of the trees ; if inclined to be excessive, the fertility 

 should be reduced by cropping. 



Planting. The varieties for the orchard, either for cherries 



