A LITTLE LAND 212 



AND A LIVING 



south. But this does not necessarily imply im- 

 provement in quality. In the best fruit growing 

 counties of New York more than three-fourths 

 of the fruit plantations consist of very ordinary 

 apple orchards. Few high grade pears, plums, 

 cherries, apricots, grapes, or bush fruit have yet 

 been produced. Cold weather in the spring tends 

 to make conditions harder in New York than in 

 the middle sections. 



There is no profit in apple growing under av- 

 erage conditions and ordinary management, yet 

 apples are the most popular orcharding fruit. 



It costs only about ten per cent, more, mostly 

 labor, to raise good fruit than poor, but it costs 

 fifty per cent, more brains and brings a hundred 

 per cent, more profit. 



Prof. Samuel Maynard says we must make 

 the trees grow vigorously, whether upon poor or 

 good soil, as the first requirement. To get the 

 finest fruit, we need a strong, deep, moist soil; 

 good grass land well underdrained is best. An 

 elevation with a northern or western exposure is 

 better than a southern or eastern one. On land 

 that is free from stones and not too steep, thor- 



