152 ELEMENTS OF FARM PRACTICE 



the orchard is planned the soil should be brought into a til- 

 lable condition before trees are set. The latter is undoubt- 

 edly the more successful method. 



The Trees. — In selecting trees to set, perhaps more 

 attention should be paid to the roots than to the shape 

 of the top. The essentials are a good root system and a 

 thrifty top. 



Apple trees do not come true from seed. That is, seed 

 from Ben Davis apples will*not produce Ben Davis apple 

 trees. Trees true to variety are secured by grafting branches 

 of trees of desired varieties on roots secured by planting 

 apple seeds. In severe climates it is very essential that 

 these roots be hardy. To be sure of getting suitable stock, 

 it is wise to order trees for planting only from dealers in whom 

 you have confidence. Trees should not be more than four 

 years or leno than one year old. 



Trees for northern growers should be taken from the 

 Qursery in the fall, and kept through the winter in a cool 

 cellar or be buried in trenches in the field. 



Setting the Trees. — In sections of severe winters, apple 

 trees should be set in the spring, as they are almost sure 

 to winter-kill, if set in the fall. In sections particularly 

 adapted to apple culture, the trees may be taken from the 

 nursery in the spring and set out. They may also be set 

 in the fall. The spring planting, however, is likely to be 

 more successful than the fall planting. 



The depth to set apple trees will vary according to 

 the slope of the land and the quality of the soil. On steep 

 hillsides they must be set deeply enough to prevent the 

 roots from coming to the surface. In rich soil, four or five 

 inches deeper than they were set originally is adequate. 

 Sandy light soil will require deeper setting. 



In sections where apple trees grow large, they should 

 be set from thirty-five to forty feet apart. In sections 

 where trees do not attain so large a size, they may be set 

 from twenty-five to thirty feet apart, and trees in one irow 

 alternate with those in the next. As a protection agailnst 

 sun scald, trees should lean a little to the southwest. 



Cultivation. — If the orchard is to be cultivated, some 

 crop which requires cultivation in early summer but none 



