336 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



the mulch should not be removed in the early 

 spring. The objects now are, to stimulate the 

 fruit buds and to retard activity in the roots 

 until the danger from late frosts is past. As a 

 result of this kind of treatment, many varieties 

 of apple trees will give moderate crops when the 

 roots are seven, and the trunks are six years old. 

 Fruit buds showed in abundance on many of my 

 trees in the fall of 1897, especially on the Duch- 

 ess and the Yellow Transparent, and I looked 

 for a small apple harvest that year. 



