ORCHARD FRUITS 69 



year is the best for transplanting, as when older, 

 the growth becomes much more rapid. Up to 

 three years of age they rarely exceed 4 feet. 



" When set in the orchard they should be set 40 

 to 50 feet apart each way, and the ground planted 

 to some cultivated crop such as corn or potatoes. 

 Peaches or plums may be used to advantage as 

 fillers. The best time to prune is between fall and 

 spring. Only such branches should be removed 

 from the main trunk as would interfere with till- 

 age. Removal of these will keep the young tree 

 growing erect, and should be continued only until 

 the trunk is 6 or 7 feet high without limbs. If 

 planted in the lawn the ground should be kept 

 spaded 3 feet around the base of the trunk, and 

 during the first summer in very dry weather the 

 soil should be drenched in the evening with water 

 two or three times a week. In the morning the 

 surface should be raked to break the crust. Ordi- 

 narily bearing starts at five or six years and con- 

 tinues annually. Transplanted trees start to bear 

 when three or four years set. In my experience 

 trees bear sooner and oftener if planted in groups 

 of three to six. This is probably because the 

 pollen has a better chance to reach the pistils. The 

 staminate blossoms on individual trees open at 

 slightly different times and thus insure better fer- 

 tilization of the pistillate blossoms." 



OTHER NUTS 



Hazel nuts are scarcely ever cultivated in 

 America. They are generally allowed to grow in 

 the fence rows where they yield sufficient nuts to 

 supply home needs. They do best on dry, sandy 

 soil, not too rich. 



