84 



MR. MacRAE. I would like to ask if you will give us 

 in rough numbers the returns from five acres as intensely 

 cultivated as are yours — the net returns. 



MR. MARGESON. Well, do you mean at the present 

 time ? 



MR. MacRAE. Any one year; say, last year. 



MR. MARGESON. Last year was more productive 

 with me than were the earlier years, as the trees and bushes 

 are getting up. I have taken a gross amount from those 

 five acres of about $5000 in 1913. Of course, you can figure 

 it in different ways; you can make your net profit small or 

 large, but I feel it netted me at least half of that amount. 



PROFESSOR W. P. BROOKS. What is the speaker's 

 judgement in reference to the profit on dwarf apple trees as 

 compared with the standard apple trees? 



MR. MARGESON. I would not advise planting dwarf 

 apple trees as a commercial proposition, but I believe that 

 when you are starting the orchard, if it is filled in with 

 dwarf trees, there will be a profit in them. I have got fruit 

 from dwarf apple trees after two year's planting and 

 at three years I have got nearly a bushel on some of the 

 trees, but they must be very carefully handled. 



MR. STAPLES. How about dwarf pears, and the 

 profit from them ? 



MR. MARGESON. I think you will get very little 

 profit from dwarf pears. 



MR. WINSOR of Rhode Island. I don't want to ask a 

 question, but I think the gentleman is worthy of congratula- 

 tion on the results of his labors on five acres of land. 



MR. MARGESON. Thank you. 



MR CURTIS. How much do you prune the dwarf 

 trees ? 



MR. MARGESON. Well, I prune them vigorously, try 

 to keep them down. 



MR CURTIS Is there danger in pruning the dwarf? 



MR. MARGESON. I would fear that there might be 

 with some varieties in so doing, but when you are growing 

 trees as intensely as I am. you have got to prune to keep the 

 limbs from getting into the limbs of the other trees, and I 

 prune quite heavily. 

 , MR BILLINGS. Do you find that fertilizing with 



