EXPERIMENT STATION. 701 



injured roots should have the ends cut smooth with a sharp 

 knife ; and with small fruits, like the grape, currant and 

 strawberry, it is often desirable to cut back some of the 

 longer ones. 



Soil and its Preparation. 



Unless suitable soil is selected, very poor results will often 

 be obtained. The apple thrives upon a greater variety of* 

 soils than any other fruit, but that best suited to its growth 

 is a rich, moist, well-drained loam. The pear, plum and 

 quince require a heavier soil, but it should be free from stand- 

 ing water. The cherry delights in a light, sandy loam. 

 The peach can only be successfully grown in New England 

 upon high and well-drained land. Upon the tops of our 

 hioh hills the trees are hardier, live Ioniser and bear more 

 fruit, although, even here, they are not safe from injury, 

 and annual crops cannot be expected until some method of 

 protection has been discovered that can be easily and cheaply 

 applied. Grape vines give the best fruit in quality when 

 planted upon hi ^h, gravelly soil ; but, to insure a vigorous 

 growth of vine to enable a large crop of fruit to mature, 

 some nitrogenous manure must be used, but only early in 

 the season, as a late application would induce a late growth 

 of wood, that is very liable to injury by severe cold. 



The raspberry and blackberry mature their wood much 

 better upon light land than upon heavy, moist soil, but, like 

 the grape, require an addition of nitrogenous manure to 

 secure a growth of canes sufficient to mature a large crop of 

 fruit. Spreading mulch upon the surface, or constant culti- 

 vation, will generally prevent the escape of moisture at the 

 time of the ripening of the fruit, when it is most needed. 



The currant and gooseberry require a moist, heavy soil for 

 the best results, but are liable to be thrown out by frosts if 

 the soil is not well underdrained. 



The best soil for the strawberry is a moist, sandy loam. 

 Upon light, sandy soils there is a tendency to a large num- 

 ber of berries, but, there not being moisture enough in the 

 soil, very few will mature. 



Before planting it is necessary that the soil be made rich 

 enough to ensure a good gro^vth, if it is not already in that 



