204 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



into bearing again, in three years, then serve the other half the 

 same way. 



I have tried to show the increased profit from this close plant- 

 ing method, and will briefly state some other advantages : if set 

 1 8 feet apart and we bring the trees into bearing the fourth 

 year, we begin that year to receive some revenue from the crop. 

 We must give up cropping the ground after three years, and give 

 the trees the full benefit of the soil and cultivation. If the 

 trees are 35 feet apart, the space is so wide between the trees, 

 that it will be necessary to crop, the ground in order to utilize 

 the space and get something more than the few apples from the 

 35 trees, for the expense of fertilizing, cultivating, etc. The 

 liability in such cases is to injure the trees by this plowing and 

 cropping, or by seeding down to grass, which many would be 

 tempted to do. Again, the cost of producing the apples will be 

 much lessened by planting 18 feet apart than by the 35 feet plan ; 

 a factor to be always looked after to increase profits. One acre 

 with 135 trees mav be fertilized with one ton of fertilizer, which 

 would make the trees bear and grow rapidly, while if the ton 

 was spread over four acres to fertilize the 135, it would be too 

 scanty a feeding. The cultivation, so important, could be done 

 on one acre for 135 trees for one-fourth what it would cost to 

 do it on four acres, and besides would be much more effective. 

 The spraying, which is so indispensible now, for perfect fruit and 

 healthy foliage, could be done more cheaply, as two rows could 

 be sprayed at once, and no crop would interfere with the passing 

 through of a team, as might be the case if set at 35 feet. 



Would the trees bear any more for being set 35 feet apart for 

 the first 15 years they were out? There is no reason to believe 

 they would, but rather the probability is that they would not 

 bear as much. 



I trust I have made my reasons for planting the trees 18 feet 

 apart each way plain and reasonable to you. 



The third consideration, after selecting the soil and determin- 

 ing the distance to plant, is what varieties to set. Now be care- 

 ful ! Do not take advice from catalogues or fruit journals from 

 all over the country. Varieties which may be good in Vermont, 

 Michigan, Illinois, ^Missouri, or Kansas, may not be worth plant- 

 ing here. Use for }our orchards only those varieties you know 

 do well here. If I were to plant, I would select Baldwin, Rhode 



