83 



xYfter the trees were set, the next matter was the question 

 of height of heading; and on this, as on several other mat- 

 ters, I presume it will be generally considered that we have 

 pronounced ideas. Xearlj all of our trees were headed at 

 IS inches from the ground, — all of them, in fact, except 

 the dwarf apples, which were headed at 12 inches, and a 

 small section of peaches, which we headed at 6 inches; and 

 we have been so much pleased with the growth of this 

 6-inch block, that, unless we get some new light on the sub- 

 ject, a large part of those to be set in 1909 will be headed 

 at this height. They have certainly made a beautiful growth, 

 and are shaping up into fine trees. To head in this way it 

 is imperative that one-year trees be set. We used one-year 

 trees the past season, whenever we could get them; but as 

 the enterprise was started late, we had to take two-year trees 

 of some varieties, and invariably the one-year tree out-grew 

 the two-year. This is very natural, since the " shock " from 

 transplanting (if we may call it that) would be greater with 

 an older tree ; and in our scheme of low heads, when the one- 

 year tree is cut back to IS inches we still have strong, vig- 

 orous buds for growth ; while in the two-year trees the buds 

 are all two years old on the trunk which is left, and do not 

 push nearly so vigorously nor so evenly as on the one-year 

 trees. It seems to me that practically all the arguments are 

 in favor of the younger trees, and I should use them even 

 if I were heading higher. 



So far as the question of the low head is concerned, it 

 seems to me that practically every argument is in its favor 

 except the one of convenience in cultivation; and this can 

 be gotten around by having orchard tools which can be 

 spread out, so as to work some distance on either side of 

 the team. A disc harrow, or any other, which is in two 

 sections, can be separated so as to work well under the trees 

 while allowing the team to pass by without injuring them; 

 'and, though some hand labor will be needed, the cost of this 

 will not be one-tenth what will be saved on the other opera- 

 tions of the orchard. In pruning, spraying and especially 

 in harvesting the crop, the argument is all on the side of 



