71 



the following plan. Plow the land early the season preced- 

 ing planting and sow Canada field peas, plowing these un- 

 der early in July^ and following them with a crop of sum- 

 mer vetch or crimson clover. This crop in turn should be 

 turned under late in the fall if the land does not slope 

 steeply, or early in the spring in case there is danger of 

 washing. Such a system will add humus and nitrogen to 

 the soil and put it in excellent shape for the growing of 

 apple trees. 



It is not impossible to start an apple orchard success- 

 fully in rough land that has not been previously tilled, 

 but the orchardist who attempts it must plant Avith exceed- 

 ing care and fertilize and mulch his trees freely. 



Time for Planting 



I have but one recommendation which I can consist- 

 ently make in this connection, plant at the earliest moment 

 in the spring that the ground can be properly prepared 

 and the trees set. We order our trees delivered by April 

 first and plant them as soon afterwards as possible. Had 

 we had our trees earlier in 1910, we should have planted 

 in March, but ordinarily the season is not sufficiently far 

 advanced to permit such early planting. By planting early 

 the trees become established and make a full season's 

 growth the first year they are set. If planted after May 

 first, they frequently fail to become established until the 

 growing season has passed and thus make little new wood 

 the first season. Many instances of successful fall planting 

 in New England are on record, but in our experiments at 

 the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, it has 

 been unsuccessful. 



Varieties for Planting 



Of all the fruits that garnish the granHe hills of New 

 England and gladden its fertile valleys there is none to 

 compare with the apple in popularity, usefulness and varie- 

 ty. Saith the Preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes, ''To 

 every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose 

 under the heaven." And of the apple we may say there is 

 an apple for every season, an apple for every palate, an 

 apple to please every eye and satisfy every fancy for form 

 and color, an apple for the epicure and an apple for the la- 

 bourer's lunch, an apple for the wealthy and an apple for 



