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trees tend to dwarf growth, you might set them closer ; but 

 in Massachusetts and Connecticut, where the soil is heavier, 

 and trees make a good, vigorous growth, the ultimate distance 

 of 40 by 40 feet is not too much. The object of the system 

 is to get the fillers to bearing to help out the expense in the 

 meantime. You must cut out the fillers. 



Mr. J. L. Smith. You recommend dwarf trees ? 



Mr. Drew. The dwarf orchard is a good thing for school 

 gardens, a city back lot or a test orchard, but not for a com- 

 mercial proposition. 



Mr. Smith. Would you put each variety by itself or in- 

 tersperse them for better pollination? 



Mr. Drew. I should not think it advisable to set out a 

 great block of Baldwins without having some other varieties 

 in a block close by to poUenize. I think bees are of great 

 importance in proper pollenization. 



Mr. Erwin. Some fifteen or twenty years ago there was 

 an apple season and then a season when there weren't any. 

 Was it from the fertilizer used or was it the season ? 



Mr. Drew. I don't know as I could explain why such a 

 season existed. The seasons of plenty and scarcity are com- 

 paratively evenly balanced now, probably because the apple 

 is more generally cultivated all over the United States. One 

 section oifsets another. Again, a person with several or- 

 chards will have some fruit himself every year. 



Mr. Erwin. Don't you think it depends a great deal on 

 the man ? If a man takes care of his orchard, and uses the 

 right kind of fertilizer every year, don't you think it has a 

 tendency to give him apples every year ? 



Mr. Drew. Yes ; that is, in connection with thinning the 

 fruit all summer. There is hardly an up-to-date fruit grower 

 in the west who does not thin his fruit very, very thoroughly 

 several times during the bearing season. I don't suppose 

 there are twenty-five people in New England who make this 

 a regular practice. Thinning balances the trees, so that, with 

 the exception of the Baldwin, you can get the trees to bear 

 comparatively evenly every year, all other conditions being 

 favorable. 



