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I am going to give you a little talk this morning on the 

 subject of "What CAN be and what HAS been done on a 

 five acre plot of old Bay State soil," or "Personal experi- 

 ences on a fruit farm. ' ' These personal experiences of mine 

 I trust will be of benefit to those who are contemplating 

 fruit growing as well as to those who are already engaged in 

 that line of work. 



In January, 1904 I purchased a farm at Westwood, 

 Massachusetts. The five-acre field which is the subject of 

 my discussion this morning was in sod and full of stone. 

 Located on, or near the boundary line of the field was an 

 orchard of forty-five old apple trees, all very much in need 

 of renovation, covered with moss, filled with dead wood and 

 bearing a very small amount of fruit. 



During the year of 1904 I pruned and scraped the apple 

 trees, cut about five tons of hay, blasted and dug out the 

 stones, carted them off and cleaned up the field. 



In 1905, the second year, I planted about one third of 

 the field to vegetables, principally corn and potatoes. I 

 selected these crops because the corn shades the ground well 

 and the potatoes necessitate stirring up the ground deeply. 

 The land was thoroughly cultivated and witch grass and 

 weeds found it a difficult job to exist. In the fall, stable 

 manure, about seven cords to the acre, was ploughed in, I 

 was forced to buy my manure but I would strongly advise, 

 if one has land enough, the carrying of enough stock to 

 raise one's own manure. 



In 1906, the third year, I thoroughly cultivated the 

 three acres in the early spring and planted them to fruit 

 trees and bushes as follows : 

 follows : 



About 1 % acres to apple trees 100 trees, 30 feet apart. 



About % acre to peach trees 100 trees, 15 feet apart. 



About 1/4 acre to pear trees 50 trees, 15 feet apart. 



About % acre to cherry trees .... 100 trees, 15 feet apart. 



For fillers in the apple orchard I used 100 plum trees, 

 in the pear orchard, dwarf apple trees. I realized that at 

 some future time either the plums or the apples would have 

 to come up. At present I am undecided which. By next 

 year I feel that I shall Imow positively. Among the large 

 apple trees and the cherry trees I planted 4000 currant 



