184 SUCCESSFUL FRUIT CULTURE 



from this tree, or others like it, into other seedling 

 stocks. The stocks most in use for this purpose are 

 those imported from France or other European coun- 

 tries, where the people have gained great skill, and 

 where the price of labor is much less than in this 

 country, though a few of our nurserymen grow good 

 native stocks, either from imported seed or that from 

 strong natural or unbudded trees. 



If only a small number of seedlings are needed, the 

 seed can be obtained from strong trees of natural fruit, 

 separating it from the pulp or planting the whole apples, 

 first cutting them into quarters and planting in the fall 

 before the ground freezes. If the seed is cleaned it may 

 be planted in the fall, where the mice or squirrels will 

 not destroy it, or it may be kept over in dry sand or fine 

 dry loamy soil buried in the ground where there is no 

 standing water, care being taken that the sand does not 

 become wet. In the spring the seed should be sown 

 as soon as the soil will work fine and mellow.- 



The Seedbed — Any rather moist, rich loam will 

 grow good apple seedlings if it is properly prepared. It 

 should be deeply worked with the plow or spade and 

 well enriched witli partly decomposed stable manure, or 

 Avith fine ground bone and potash at the rate of 1500 

 pounds of the former to 500 pounds of the latter per 

 acre. After the seedbed has been thoroughly fitted the 

 seed should be sown in drills fifteen inches apart if to 

 be cultivated by hand, or thirty inches if it is to be 

 done by the horse, and be covered ~ about one-half inch 

 deep. After the seedlings are an inch or two high they 

 should be thinned to about two inches apart, weeding 

 out all weak or defective seedlings, and during the season 

 cultivate thorough^ at least once a week. If in July 

 tlie seedlings are not making the growth they ouglit, 

 some quick acting fertilizer should be scattered along 

 the row and cultivated in. 



