256 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. DiCKERMAN. One objection that is raised by farmers in 

 regard to apples is, that when they are plenty, they" are not 

 worth anything. Now, can you control the bearing of apples ? 

 For instance when the apples set, can you pick them otf, and be 

 sure of having, next year, what would have grown this year, if 

 you had not picked them olT? 



Mr. Hyde. I don't think it pays to undertake to change the 

 bearing year. The Baldwin bears only alternate years, and it 

 so happens that most of the Baldwin trees bear the even years ; 

 but we have Baldwin trees, and from those we have propagated 

 largely (I have no trees to sell now, 1 am out of the business), 

 that bear the odd years, so that we have as good a crop of 

 Baldwins in odd years as most farmers have in even years. 



In regard to changing the bearing year, I know it was done 

 in one instance. We had a crab-apple-tree from which ail the 

 fruit was stripped the bearing year ; it had time to get a start, 

 and next year it bore fruit, and has continued to bear odd years 

 ever since. But I don't think it would be profitable to attempt 

 to do that. Make the best effort you can to get a crop, and 

 then take what nature sends you. 



Question. What is the retail price of apples ? 



Mr. Hyde. i2 and $2.50 ; choice, $3 ; fancy apples, -$3.50 

 and $4. 



I would say to those living rather near the city, if you want 

 to go into apple culture, and have any old Baldwin trees or 

 anything else you want to graft over, I will tell you what you 

 had better do, and it will pay you full as well as pear raising. 

 Put in the Williams apple, — one of the handsomest apples there 

 is. Put in the Gravenstein, — one of the finest apples, and very 

 handsome. You can get them into the market before any of 

 the Western . apples can get here. Mulch your trees with 

 meadow hay or something of that kind. The Williams should 

 always be allowed to ripen on the tree ; they are like the peach 

 in that respect. Mulch your land so that they will not be 

 bruised when they fall from the tree. I have seen the Williams 

 apple sold for six dollars a bushel. They will bring from two 

 dollars and a half to three dollars any time. 



Mr. Alex. Hyde. What is the best mode of manuring aii 

 orchard ? 



Mr. Hyde. In the first place I trench my laud — work it 



