and early maturing of the fruit does not seem to 

 be conducive to long- keeping, as found in tried 

 localities where conditions are favorable for per- 

 fecting fruit having long keeping qualities. 

 Nevertheless it is a fact that where moisture is 

 readily maintained in a soil by either irrigation 

 or by sub-irrigation, many varieties are of such 

 exceptionally large size, present so fine an ap- 

 pearance and are of such excellent flavor, that more attention 

 should be given to their culture. 



The best soil for this fruit is a deep, rich loam which will 

 allow the free extension of the roots and is exempt from 

 stagnant moisture. An extremely light soil should be avoided. 

 Apples do exceedingly well in all the coast counties, as well 

 as in the upper foothills and mountains of the Sierra Nevada. 

 In adjacent States and Territories to the North and East, 

 apple culture is more general, and may be safely followed 

 wherever the soil and climate is favorable. The keeping 

 qualities and the flavor and coloring of our mountain-grown 

 apples at elevations of 3000 to 5000 feet or more, are indeed 

 hard to surpass. 



A Well Pruned 



Three- Year- Old 



Bartlett 



Pear Tree. 



Observe the 



leaders are 

 shortened in and 

 distributed on the 



frame work 

 branches to open 

 up the tree ; also 

 that many of the 

 laterals allowed 

 to remain, are cut 

 back. These will 



eventually 

 enlarge the fruit 

 bearing capacity 



of the tree, 

 as well as making 



it more 

 symmetrical. 



It Is the consensus of opinion among commercial growers 

 that trees should be planted from 25 to 35 feet apart in 

 orchard form. Trees should be cut back to 20 inches from 

 the top of the ground after being set, except in the higher 

 altitudes, where the snow in settling would cause the 

 branches to break off, thus making it advisable to head the 

 trees at not less than 2 feet from the ground. Apples are 

 very much subject to sun scald and to the attack of the flat 

 headed borer, the first few years after trees are set out. When 

 headed low, protected with tree protectors, permitting of free 

 circulation of air, and by giving the stem a coating of white- 

 wash to which has been added soap and crude carbolic acid, 

 little danger need be apprehended from either of these 

 evils. The wash is made in the following manner: Dissolve 

 one-half gallon of soft soap in one-half gallon of hot water, 

 adding one-fourth pint of crude carbolic acid. When mixing 

 add five gallons of hot water and enough lime to make a 

 mixture the consistency of paint. 



All shoots starting out from the body of the trees, which 

 are not required to form the head, should be rubbed off, 

 excepting those starting 12 inches from the surface of the 

 ground, which should be allowed to grow unmolested. The 

 following winter they should be cut back at least one-half 

 and thinned out so as not to leave more than four branches 

 to form the framework, and these should be distributed in 

 such a manner as not to crowd one another as the tree 

 develops. Each one of these branches should be regarded as 

 a subdivision to maintain the wood supply to eventually 

 form a perfectly vase formed tree. The second winter not 

 more than two laterals should be allowed to remain and if 

 there is a tendency to crowd, not more than one on the 



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