238 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



will find the whole scheme will be a failure. While I do 

 recommend this system of double planting, I want em- 

 phatically to say to every man that he must ruthlessly take 

 out these extra trees. That leaves his permanent orchard 

 with the trees a distance of 40 to 45 feet apart, and they 

 will stand for time to come ; orchards properly planted 

 here in New England, and cared for, are good for at least 

 one century. There is value in this system of double plant- 

 ing, provided the trees are taken out at the right time ; for 

 the first few years of bearing will pay the entire cost, and 

 leave a profit at the time trees as ordinarily planted will 

 begin to give profits. 



Another very important point in this matter is the selec- 

 tion of the trees. There is no more important phase of this 

 work than the proper selection of trees for planting an or- 

 chard. I want to say right here that our methods in apple 

 culture have been as crude as in other work ; hence to-day 

 the man who plants trees should plant trees from the stand- 

 point of proper selection. 



Tree Breeding. 



A few words upon the question of breeding trees. Xo 

 farmer here to-day would think of raising stock upon his 

 farm without first giving the most careful attention to its 

 breeding. He intends that it shall have good qualities, 

 which shall be transmitted to the herd he is going to build 

 up. This principle is equally true and valuable as applied 

 to trees. We have not given this thought of breeding to 

 trees, we have not thought of breeding trees as we have 

 horses and cattle ; but there is as much value in the idea as 

 in breeding a cow or a horse. We have to spend a little 

 time upon this point, because I believe we do not compre- 

 hend to-day, we do not fully understand, the real value 

 of starting trees upon the same principle that Ave would 

 start a good horse, — from the principle of selection from 

 the best. 



How can this be done? I have spoken of the improve- 

 ment and of the high quality which it is necessary to get 

 in the apple, and that we have in New England and the east 



