IVORK' A.YD RESULTS AT FRUITVALE FARM 41 



pears ; later with plums. I prepare my soil very thoroughly 

 by draining and subsoiling before planting. 



Between the trees it has been my practice to grow 

 small fruits. At one time sixty acres of strawberries were 

 grown. The matted-row system proved best with me ; the 

 hill method is all right, but costs too much. 



Seven acres of black raspberries have paid me as well 

 as anything, I aim to grow them as cheaply as possible. 

 The plants are set in rows six or seven feet apart, and 

 eighteen inches apart in the rows. No stakes or wires are 

 used. Grown in this way, the plants make a hedgerow 

 that is self-sustaining. 



Blackberries are cultivated in much the same manner 

 and succeed well. The canes are kept headed low. 



Currants and gooseberries have paid well in the past, 

 but lately the demand for this fruit has fallen off. The 

 reason for this is, I think, that city people are not putting 

 up these fruits in such large quantities as formerly. They 

 prefer to buy jellies and jams at the store rather than go 

 to the trouble of making their own supply, as formerly. 



Of grapes, I grow Concord and Niagara. The Concord 

 succeeds best. Two cents per pound, or about 50 cents 

 per peach-basket at the farm, we consider a good price. 

 But the cost of producing the grapes must be reduced to 

 the lowest point. We have tried the plan of planting 

 vines at the side of our Kieffer pear trees, and with complete 

 success. We keep the trees headed low and the grapes 

 pruned closely ; so far there has been no injury to the 

 growth of the trees. The vines can be cut out later on, if 

 necessary. 



My apple orchards, for the first twelve years, are culti- 

 vated and cropped, then laid down to sod, and are now in 

 half-sod. It would not be well for the trees to leave them 

 too long in sod. Crimson clover is made use of in the 

 orchards. The cutaway harrow is our orchard cultivator. 

 I have found that it will not do to force an apple or 

 pear tree. 



For fertilizers, muriate of potash and bone are used. 

 Wood ashes are liked, if they can be had of good quality. 

 The use of ashes about the trunks of apple trees to prevent 



