FRUIT GROWING 23 



handsomer than the Eastern, they do not care to pay more for a 

 fruit which loses its form in preparation for use. Such quinces as 

 are now grown pay about as well as apples, but if we should largely 

 increase the product no use could be found for it. 



Replacing Old Fruit Trees. 



Is it good policy to replant prunes in an old prune orchard which 

 is dying out? The soil is sandy loam. Could apricots be planted on 

 this same land? 



Why are the old trees dying? Trees in good soil and well taken 

 care of do not die of old age in this State. If you propose to change 

 conditions in some way so that the cause of the death of the old 

 trees will be ruled out, you can replant the ground with the same 

 fruit, if you wish. There is no advantage demonstrated yet of rota- 

 tion of fruits. Their requirements are too much alike to allow the 

 soil to get advantage from a change. On sandy loam, if deep and 

 well-drained, your prunes ought to be on peach or almond root, 

 probably. Apricots will thrive on the same soil, if on peach, or their 

 own seedling roots. 



Budding and Grafting Plums. 



7 have Bartlett plums which I wish to work over to Climax, Wickson 

 or Tragedy. Would you advise budding now, or wait till spring to graft, 

 or pull them out? 



We would get in buds in properly situated new shoots this sum- 

 mer, arranging for the right number of new branches. Where buds 

 do not take you can put in grafts next spring and thus get a full stand. 

 We would not sacrifice stems and roots by pulling out. 



Bearing of Blackberries. 



Do blackberries bear on new wood only? 



Of those commercially grown, all but Himalaya bear on wood 

 which grew the previous summer. The Himalaya bears for years on 

 laterals sent out from wood more than a year old. 



An Amateur's Strawberry Bed. 



I am anxious to have an ideal strawberry patch. The soil is light. 

 How shall I have the ground prepared to get the best results? I am 

 willing to do whatever is necessary to obtain an abundance of early, 

 midseason and late berries. 



Spread a good amount of stable manure and dig in the full depth 

 of the spade or fork. As the soil is light, enclose the patch with a 

 levee to be six or eight inches high when the ground settles, and irri- 

 gate by flooding the check to get even distribution. Keep the surface 

 cleanly hoed this summer to kill weeds and retain moisture. Work 

 up well after the rains and plant Longworth Prolific, Dollar, Jessie, 



