46 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



DISCUSSIOX. 



Dr. T. H. HosKiNs of Vermont. This is a subject which ought 

 to interest every orchardist, and every farmer who undertakes to 

 grow any kind of tree fruit for profit. This requires the closest 

 attention to soil tillage, manuring, setting trees, and care in hand- 

 ling them. Unless they are properly managed they never come to 

 any profit. I take it that it is in this State as in Vermont where I 

 live, the greater part of the farmers realize no profit at all from their 

 trees. 



The orchard business is rendered somewhat discouraging by the 

 increase of insects, and before setting out a large orchard I should 

 want to wait to see what is to become of them. The insects injurious 

 to agriculture have trebled during the last forty years, and 1 do not 

 know of one that shows any signs of leaving. "When I began farm- 

 ing in Vermont I had not heard of the currant worm and the cabbage 

 worm. We had the tent caterpillar and have him still. We have 

 had him so long that we should be sorry to lose his company. The 

 codling worm is also an old insect. Sometimes I think he is a very 

 good fellow to thin out our apples. These were the insects which 

 we had when I began orcharding. Of those which have appeared 

 since, this apple maggot is more injurious than all the rest. 



It is a great error to set more trees than you can care for, or to 

 set them too close. Those trees which bear young may be set closer 

 than Baldwins and Greenings if they are thinned out at the proper 

 time. They may be set fifteen feet apart at first, but after about 

 fifteen years every other tree should be taken out. In that way 

 something may be made bj' raising early kinds. I consider the Early 

 Transparent the most profitable. It takes the place of the Early 

 Harvest and the trees begin to bear when very young. They have 

 netted me a dollar a bushel for ten years. They bear heavil3\ A 

 tree eight feet high will often bear a barrel. 



Question. Do you think it would be suitable in this State ? 



Dr. HosKiNs. It will grow anywhere in the State clear up to the 

 Canada line. In those parts of the State where old, standard apples 

 are a failure, it is a "God-send." They come into bearing quicker 

 than the currant bush. 



Question. Does it do well grafted into other- trees? 



Dr. HosKiNS. Yes ; it does better when grafted into something 

 else. 



