78 



bushes — two rows of bushes between each row of trees and 

 three bushes between each tree in the row. In the adjoin- 

 ing field of 1/^ acre I set out about 800 of these currant 

 bushes in order to compare their growth and production 

 with those among the trees. All the planting was done in 

 the early spring. 



In planting, holes were dug 3 feet in diameter by 2^/2 

 feet deep. The surface soil was well packed about the roots 

 of the trees, no manure being put in the hole. The poorer 

 grade of soil was placed about the tree nearer the surface 

 and on the surface was applied a good mulch of stable 

 manure. Continuous cultivation was given the soil until 

 August 1. After that all weeds were removed by hand or by 

 hoe. 



In 1907, the fourth year, I gave a thorough cultivation 

 to the three acres already planted and planted another acre. 

 On this new acre which I planted as a standard apple or- 

 chard, I tried the experiment of using peach trees and 

 dwarf apple trees as fillers. As peach trees demand more 

 space than plum, I set out my standard apple trees 35 feet 

 apart each way. Between these in the rows, I planted 

 peach trees each I7I/2 feet from the apple trees. Between 

 the rows I set out a row of dwarf apple trees, 10 feet apart. 

 Then between each standard apple and peach tree I planted 

 -4 currant bushes ; between the dwarf apple trees, two cur- 

 a*ant bushes. In the fall the currant bushes were pruned 

 lightly and all the trees and bushes were given a liberal 

 samount of stable dressing. 



In 1908, the fifth year, three years after planting, es- 

 pecially good care was given the trees and bushes, all being 

 sprayed and pruned. That year I gathered my first real 

 fruit. In the fall I again manured the land. 



In 1909, the sixth year, I gave the first three acres clean 

 cultivation, eliminating all garden truck and cover crops, 

 finding that in the fourth year the trees, with my intense 

 fruit culture, required from the soil all the food it contained. 

 Generally good care was given the trees and I was rewarded 

 with a good crop of fruit most excellent in quality. 



In 1910, the seventh year, I sprayed, pruned and fed the 

 trees giving careful attention to each detail. The fifth acre 

 was then planted with standard apple trees the same as the 



