148 LABORATORY LESSONS IN GENERAL SCIENCE 



6. What does the nurseryman mean by "seedlings"? 

 What has to be done with them in order to be sure of the kind 

 of apple borne by the tree when grown ? Describe this pro- 

 cess. Account for the different varieties of apples. How 



have these been improved? 

 Why are crab apple trees 

 often used as the "stock" 

 into which the scions of im- 

 proved varieties are grafted ? 



7. Describe a suitable 

 preparation of ground for 

 setting out an orchard. What 

 care must be exercised with 

 the young trees at the time 

 of transplanting? What is 

 the best time of year for 

 setting out apple trees in 

 your section of country? 

 About how far apart should apple trees be set? Why not 

 closer ? Calculate the number of trees per acre (a strip ten 

 rods wide by sixteen rods long). In what ways may profit- 

 able use of this ground be made in the years before the trees 

 are large enough to bear fruit freely ? 



8. About how many bushels of marketable apples may 

 be considered a satisfactory yield for a tree in full bearing? 

 That will be how many bushels per acre? At retail prices 

 on the local market calculate the value of the crop per acre. 

 After apples are sold from the orchard, what charges increase 

 their cost to consumers ? 



FIG. 67. Grafting fruit trees. 



