174 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



and then give them potash manure. But in cultivating an 

 orchard, either the pear or the apple, more particularly the 

 apple, you can grow all the ordinary crops. It is considered 

 that root crops are better in an orchard than cereals, but 

 you can grow any of them. 



Mr. Pratt. As I understood you, you recommend a 

 hillside, and for two reasons. Have you any preference 

 which side, south, east, north or west? 



Mr. Wood. I do not think it makes any special differ- 

 ence, the advantages being better exposure of the fruit to 

 the sun and air and better drainage. 



The Chairman. What causes the difference in color of 

 the fruit ? In the eastern part of Massachusetts it is green ; 

 in the majority of cases here in this part of the State it is 

 red. What is the cause of the difference in color, and is it 

 preventable ? 



Mr. Wood. Well, I should not expect to see any differ- 

 ence if they had an equally good location for sun and air. 

 I do not think our growers would be willing to say our 

 Baldwins are green in the eastern part of the State. 



The Chairman. When I was there I saw some. We 

 claim to have a good many red Baldwins out here. 



Mr. Pratt. Red apples M'ill always sell better than any 

 other in the market. 



Mr. Wood. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Stetson. I would like to ask Mr. Wood how old a 

 tree must be before he would abandon grafting, providing it 

 was a vigorous, healthy tree? i ' 



Mr. Wood. Any "healthy, vigorous tree," if the fruit 

 is not desirable, may be safely and profitably grafted ; but 

 if the tree is of considerable size it is better to take two or 

 three years to make the change, beginning at the top and 

 set one-third the number of scions necessary to change the 

 whole tree the first year. 



Question. Do you think there is anything to force the 

 "•rowth on these hills? 



Mr. Wood. I do not know but it can be done, but I 

 know that it is not very often done. I do not think there is 

 any advantage in doing it, and there is where the trouble 

 comes with almost all our fruit-growers. They do not make 



