THE HOME FRUIT-GARDEN. 299 



Special Treatment for Growing Fruits. 



THE APPLE. 



This is one of the most healthful and easily grown of all 

 of the fruits of the temperate zone. It succeeds best in a 

 deep moist loam and begins to bear crops of some value at 

 from 8 to 10 years from planting. For the best result it 

 should be planted at from 30 to 40 feet apart, according to 

 the variety and nature of the soil; such varieties as the 

 Baldwin, King, Roxbury Russet, Gravenstein, etc., on rich 

 land will need the larger space, while on a light soil the 

 smaller distance may be sufficient. The Fameuse, Porter, 

 Astrachan, etc., may be planted even on a rich soil at 30 feet 

 apart. 



The varieties that will give the best results vary some- 

 what in different sections of the country, and those who are 

 thinking of planting should consult successful growers in 

 their own vicinity. This will apply to all kinds of fruits. 

 The author suggests the Astrachau, Gravenstein, Baldwin, 

 Rhode Island Greening, Button Beauty, and Roxbury 

 Russet as generally succeeding. 



Fertilizers. 



One of the most important conditions in securing good 

 fruit is sufficient plant-food to give the tree a moderately 

 vigorous growth and healthy foliage. To give these results 

 on the average soil will require, according to the size of 

 the tree, 5 to 10 Ibs. fine-ground rock phosphate, sown in 

 the fall or winter, 2 to 5 Ibs. nitrate of soda, sown just as 

 growth is beginning in the spring, and 3 to 5 Ibs. of sul- 

 phate of potash, sown at any time during the winter or 

 early spring. These materials may be mixed and sown 



