70 NATURE AND ITS 



is good and the cultivated ground furnishes an excellent 

 scratching place for them, 



The best fruit soil is a sandy clay loam, with gravel un- 

 derneath, say three or four feet. This furnishes a natural 

 drain. The trees should be planted on a ground sloping 

 slightly to the east, except for peaches, which should be 

 planted on the north or west slopes. This slope does not 

 warm up as quickly in the spring, and so holds back the 

 growing until the danger from frost is past. It is also cooler 

 in the summer, and the shadows are longer, so the soil does 

 not dry out as fast. 



Wild plums do best in a low, wet place, near a river or 

 swamp. 



An orchard when in good bearing condition will bring 

 in from two to three hundred dollars per acre if well cared 

 for. Care and work will make it pay. One hundred hens 

 will do well on an acre and bring you in one hundred dol- 

 lars net after paying for all the feed, if the eggs are sold at 

 store prices. If they are sold for fancy prices, for show and 

 breeding stock, one hundred hens will make a thousand 

 dollars an acre. You must advertise your fancy stock, how- 

 ever, to make sales. 



My advice would be to work the two together, and thus 

 make the best use of the land. It will pay one hundred per 

 cent better than corn or oats, and is less work. Fruit always 

 brings a good price if it is A No. 1, but if not first class it is 

 not wanted at any price. Hundreds of farmers do not care 

 for their trees, never go near them, and in the fall the 

 ground is covered with apples, worm eaten, while if they 

 had cared for their tree, cultivated them and sprayed them, 

 they could get from two to five dollars per .barrel for the 

 apples. Baldwins, Ben Davis, Russets, North Star apples 

 sell like hot cake at good prices. 



Looking for a Manager. 



If you intend to go into the poultry and fruit business 

 on a large scale, it will be necessary to consult a practical 



