METHODS OF FRUIT CULTURE AXD FORESTRY. 107 



growing prize fruit is a very different matter from the profitable 

 growing of fruit for sale, which he believed could be done on rocky 

 land. For minor fruits, such as the peach, etc., culture is essen- 

 tial. He was glad to hear the essayist and others speak so confi- 

 dently in regard to raising fruit on waste lands. People speak of 

 the low price of apples, but we should think of the prodigality of 

 nature and the low price at which the}- can be produced. "VTe 

 should aim to produce fruit at the least expense. 



E. TV. "Wood said that small fruits would hardly be included by 

 the essayist in his plan of culture. A feeling of depression in re- 

 gard to the culture of apples existed a few years ago, due largely 

 to low prices and canker-worms. He did not think we ought now 

 to anticipate a glut of apples : the market is practically unlimited. 

 He was not yet prepared to believe, however, that apples can be 

 grown in brush land. They can be planted there, but will not give 

 good fruit without fertilizing. Farmers need not, however, take 

 their most valuable lands for orchards. There is no question that 

 a hill-side, and rocky at that, is best for apple trees, provided the 

 soil is strong enough. He would not plant pear trees between apple 

 trees : the pear is longer lived than the apple. Peaches can be 

 grown between apple trees without any difficulty, as they are pretty 

 sure to die out before the apple trees get large. He knew a peach 

 orchard of three acres at Grafton, where the best crop sold for 

 thirty-five hundred dollars, and that of the next year for about two- 

 thirds as much. Last year the buds were all killed, and this j-ear 

 it is the same ; but if we cau get an occasional crop it is the best 

 paying of all fruits. It is true that they need less fertilizing than 

 other fruits. The speaker did not believe in apple trees flourishing 

 in an old, compact soil ; if one does it must be in a spot peculiarly 

 favored otherwise. 



For evaporated apples, large fruit, free from knots, is wanted. 

 Mr. Wood doubted whether we could compete with the West in 

 this part of the business, but in shipping we have the advantage of 

 more highly flavored fruit, and of being nearer to the point of ship- 

 ment. A barrel of apples costs as much to transport as a barrel 

 of flour. In some localities apple trees have been eaten by canker- 

 worms every year for thirty years so that the trees looked as if they 

 had been burnt over. Where they prevail to such an extent they 

 are a great nuisance ; but there are persons who will guarantee to 

 keep an orchard clear for ten cents per tree. They do it by spray- 

 ing with Paris srreen. 



