THE GENESEE FARMER. 



59 



APPLE TREES AROUND THE FARM. 



" If apple Jrecs are set around a fiirm, instead of in a com- 

 pact b(xly, would they not be npore productive, on account of air, 

 U-'ht, heat, etc.? Would the plan of setting around the farm, 

 everything being equal, be advisable?" 



The advantages of setting apple trees around 

 a farm, instead of in a compact body, I think, 

 would be more than counteracted by several dis- 

 advantages. If it were shown that trees, placed 

 at proper intervals, in a compact form, lack air, 

 light and heat, there are other conditions wiiich 

 seem to be important: such as protection^ soil and 

 exposure, which would have to be sacrificed con- 

 siderably for the other advantages. 



1st. The site for an orchard is of considerable 

 importance, not only as a matter of convenience, 

 but for the health and productiveness of the trees. 

 If air is considered an important thing, give them 

 an elevated position. In this way, I think, all the 

 benefits of a free circulation of air might be gained. 

 But I do not remember having heard that urged as 

 a main cause of unfruitfulness; except, perhaps, in 

 case of late spring frosts. Then, an elevated 

 position atfords all the chances of success that 

 could be derived from setting around a farm. 

 About the same may be said of light and heat. 

 Trees may be so near together, with heavy tops, as 

 to sliade each other a portion of the day ; but at 

 suitable distances, the slight shading could hardly 

 be thought injurious. If so, the trees on the outer 

 edge of an orchard ought, always, to bear the best 

 crops, which, I believe, has not been generally 

 observed. The heat of summer is required only 

 :n moderation to perfect apples ; and a temperate 

 climate is better adapted for the purpose than one 

 of greater heat; and in the dry, hot summers which 

 we often liave, there could be no advantage in 

 having our trees set in the hai'd borders of the farm, 

 especially along the highways, their leaves being 

 fanned by clouds of dust. But, on the contrary, 

 mildness is requisite to success, and the slight pro- 

 tection which trees give to each other is believed 

 to be beneficial. 



" Would the plan of setting trees around the 

 farm, everything being equal, be advisable ?*' • Now, 

 it is pretty generally allowed that nearly all things 

 are unequal; and it would be rather ditficult to 

 make the two conditions of setting trees equal in 

 aU things. If they were, there would be no chance 

 for argument, or choice in the two modes. The 

 choree being in the difference of conditions, we 

 will proceed to examine them. 



The border of the farm would be wholly unsuit- 

 able for apple trees until they were at least ten 

 years old, unless fenced and cultivated completely 

 on both sides of the row of trees. It is well 

 known that small trees will do nothing but die, 

 when set in grass-land, and but ratlier poorly 

 among small grain — as wheat and oats. Then, if 

 the farm was divided into pasture, meadow, and 

 for various kinds of grain, there would be no use 

 in setting apple trees in such a place. The border 

 of the farm, along the cultivated fields, is gener- 

 ally waste land, to turn around on in plowing and 

 cultivating; and small trees would not only be in 

 the way, but would be in the hardest ground, and 

 most unsuitable on the farm. Any farmer planting 

 trees in such places, should look for fruit in very 

 small quantities, and after long vigils. Then, trees 



in the border would be more exposed to winds, and 

 would be more likely to be blown down ; and also 

 to be killed by the severe cold or changeable 

 weather of winter, and be less convenient every 

 way, except for apple- iAieues. 



An orchard shf>uld be on high, rolling ground, 

 or on ground well drained; and then it should be 

 well cultivated, till the trees are well rooted and 

 growing thriftily. e. g. nye. 



OaUsburg, Ills, 



BEST FRUIT FOR MARKET PURPOSES. 



"What are the best six varieties of pears, most valuable for 

 the market, or general eullivalion; also, six varieties of apples 

 for like purjiose; naming the varieties of pear and apple in tho 

 order in which tliey should stand for their respective merit; and 

 which varieties of the pear enumerated are the best adapted for 

 the pear, and which for the quince root?" 



After hearing and reading all that has been said 

 and written on this suliject for the last ten years, 

 and carefully noting the experience of producers 

 and dealers as to the demand of the markets and 

 consumers, but little hesitation need be felt in 

 naming the best six varieties of pears and apples, 

 for market. As to the order in which theysliould 

 be named for their respective nterit, a good deal 'of 

 difterence will undoubtedly be found expressed. 

 For general marketing and cultivation, I think the 

 pears should be named as fullows: Bartlett^ White 

 Doyenne (or Virgalieu), Louise Bonne de Jersey., 

 Luchesse tZ' Angouleme, Vicar of Winljield^ and 

 Easter Beurre. Perhaps the Seckel might be sub- 

 stituted for one of the last two; but as these are 

 the only winter pears tiiey had better be retained, 

 as the market demand must be supplied in winter, 

 as well as in summer. The ueimuid fur the above 

 varieties is always greater than the supply, even at 

 the highest prices. 



The Bartlett, Wliite Boyemie, . and Vicar of 

 Winlfield succeed well on either pear or quince 

 root, while the other three are best on the quince ; 

 indeed, Louise Bonne de Jersey and Easter Beurre 

 are comparatively worthless on the pear. 



In naming the apples, I have no hesitation, as 

 the market demands are unifi)rm. The list is heard 

 in every stall in every city market, at the season 

 when the fruit is in market : Rhode Jsland Green- 

 ing, Esojms Sjyitzenlurgh, Baldwin, Newtown Pip- 

 jjin, Boxhury Busset, and Bed Astrachan. If the 

 fruit is to be produced in Western New York, tho 

 Northern Spy must be substituted for the Ncictoicn 

 Pij}2)in. This last apjde will always bring a good 

 price; but, unfortunately, it is not universally suc- 

 cessful, neither is the Northern Spy ; but I believe 

 it to be a fact thtxt one of these will grow where 

 the other will not. The Lady apple {Pomme d' Api 

 Rouge) brings the highest price of any apple in the 

 market, but it is so small tliat an orchard of that 

 variety will not give so great a cash return for the 

 labor and money invested as the other varieties I 

 have named. Of course, this list may not be right 

 ten years hence, as some of the new varietis wliich 

 now promise so well, may supplant some of the 

 above kinds. I have yet to see the variety that 

 will drive the Rhode Island Greening from the 

 market. This apple always sells well, and so does 

 the Spitzenliirgh. d. a. a. jjichols. 



Westfidd, N: T. 



