129 



As I said before your trees show that you have a natural 

 apple soil here in New England. 



The apples have been a side issue, a good many of the 

 farmers picking out the poorest land for the apples, while 

 the best land they have they will plant to corn or hay for 

 the cows and sell milk from four to five cents per quart, 

 while ten acres of Apple Orchard planted on good soil will 

 net more than any other part of the farm if given the proper 

 care. 



In choosing an orchard site there are many points to be 

 considered, which will vary more or less in degree of im- 

 portance according to locality. These points are air and 

 soil drainage, exposure, elevation and depth of soil. 



It has only been in recent years that these different 

 points have been taken into consideration, but I know from 

 experience that these points should be taken into considera- 

 tion before starting an orchard, certain varieties doing bet- 

 ter on the same type of soil and at the same elevation. 



One thing that should be looked after thoroughly is soil 

 and air drainage. A tree planted in shallow soil, the water 

 drainage being poor, or in other words a tree whose roots 

 stand in water during the winter months is never in an en- 

 tirely dormant state. The reason for this is that the roots 

 are affected by too much water, and decay, consequently the 

 tree is weak and this tree is the first to start in the spring 

 and is generally caught by frost. It is known with us as 

 the Winter Kill. Another thing is to avoid setting trees in 

 a frost pocket. I think these conditions exist here in New 

 England as they do with us. 



Another thing I would guard against is setting on a 

 southern slope, as I have known of whole orchards being 

 killed by starting too early and being caught by frost. This 

 condition might not apply to New England. If I myself 

 were going to set apples even here in New England I think 

 I would look for a North, North East, or North West slope, 

 if it had the proper soil conditions. 



I had to admit a good many things on my arrival here 

 last fall that I did not expect I would have to when I left 

 home. I saw a few orchards ''Not very many," and some 

 fruit that I did not expect to find, but I did see enough to 

 convince me that New England can grow just as good ap- 

 ples as any section in the world if its growers will take 

 hold of it as they should. 



