THE PRESENT CONDITION OE ORCHARDS. 



There are few extensive orchards or fruit plantations in this 

 State, the majority ranging from a few trees to a few thousand, and 

 these are found under three conditions, ist, those in stony 

 land that cannot be cultivated, 2d, those in turf land that is smooth 

 enough to cultivate and perhaps is in grass a part of the time and 

 cultivated for a few years when the grass crop becomes light, and 3d 

 those in land under cultivation all of the time. Nearly all of the 

 orchards of the State are grown in connection with some other line 

 of agriculture or horticulture, and do not receive the skilled atten- 

 tion of the specialist that is required to produce the best results in 

 this or other lines of business. 



I St. Among the trees growing on land that cannot be cultivated 

 may often be found some that are vigorous and healthy and of 

 desirable varieties, but the majority produce only cider apples. 

 Those that are in a healthy condition are worth saving and if the 

 trunks are not decayed, and the top is in a vigorous condition, 

 with a little pruning, fertilizing and spraying, much good fruit will 

 be produced ; if, however, the trunks are decayed and the tops are 

 in an unhealthy condition, it will be far better to cut them down, as 

 they are only breeders of insects and fungous pests and any time 

 spent upon them will be wasted. If we should make it a rule to cut 

 down all the trees that we cannot properly care for, our profits 

 would be much greater than they now are. Trees of undesirable 

 varieties that are in a healthy condition and in good soil may be 

 grafted with profitable kinds and in a few years be made to produce 

 fruit of the best kinds. The process of cleft grafting is known to 

 almost every one or can be learned very easily, but it will be found 

 rather expensive if expert grafters are employed to do the work. It 

 will pay however if economically done, for a well established tree in 

 good soil after a new head is established should last a generation, if 

 properly cared for ; while a young tree cannot be brought up to full 

 size under 20 or 25 years. Eig. i shows a regrafted tree after a 

 growth of four years from the grafts. The fruit grown in good land 

 under the above conditions has a reputation for high color, fine 

 flavor and long keeping qualities, but it must be kept in mind that 

 first class fruit cannot be grown under any condition of soil unless 

 the trees are made to grow vigorously, and as there is no cultiva- 

 tion, by which plant food can be developed more fertilizing material 

 must be used then if the land is cultivated. The amount of fertili- 



