48 



unprofitable. I would suggest that no one plant orchard un- 

 less determined to be far above the average orchardist in 

 skill of management. One must at least be somewhat above 

 the average if any reasonable profit is to be secured for any- 

 considerable term of years. Stress is laid upon this point 

 because so many without experience, having become over- 

 enthused by the "back to-the-land" agitation now so often 

 heard, are contemplating the planting of orchard. Unfor- 

 unately, such are rarely able to attend meetings of this sort. 

 Notwithstanding this suggestion that the uninitiated begin 

 orcharding only after a reasonable and careful consideration 

 of its various details, I may say that there is always a good 

 opportunity for anyone who will so study the business as to 

 master it thoroughly; and for such, conditions are highly 

 favorable in Massachusetts (Applause). 



A Member. I should like to ask the speaker in regard 

 to "Wealthy apples. Will they thrive on the same soil as the 

 Baldwin ? 



Mr. Wilder. Yes, I should say so, very similar. They 

 may under the same conditions that I have described. 



The President. How about the Mcintosh? 



Mr. Wilder. The President asks about the Mcintosh. 

 Those in the district where I have been working have been 

 always young ones. It is almost impossible to see trees old 

 enough, of course, to draw any large experience from it, but 

 its general character of growth is such that I have seen 

 quite a good many trees of this sort that have reached such 

 an age that I wouldn't hesitate to draw a conclusion. I feel, 

 however, that the Mcintosh needs a somewhat little strong- 

 er soil than the Baldwin. On the other hand, if you want to 

 take the Baldwin, it will stand a little bit more humus in 

 the Baldwin soil. It should be mellow and deep. I think 

 the root system is not so strong as it is for the Baldwin, 

 which happens to be strong. Any stiff sub-soil on a weak 

 growing variety of that sort is undesirable. Where shale 

 rock underlies the soil only two or three feet the Mcintosh 

 curls up its toes, so to speak. 



A Member. I would like to ask the speaker if he knows 

 any place in Central Massachusetts where he would recom- 

 mend the Greening? 



Mr. Wilder. From what view point? Referring to 

 soil, or as a general proposition? 

 A Member. As to soil. 



