62 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



trees when they first began to bear, you might have better 

 success. 



Prof. Wm. p. Brooks. I know a man who had a large 

 orchard of Baldwins that had been neglected, and none of 

 them bore. He plowed and cultivated half the orchard one 

 year, and the following year it bore heavily. That year he 

 did the same with the other half, and the result was that he 

 had half his orchard bearing one year and half the next. As 

 he had about 40 acres, he regarded this as an advantage, as 

 he could handle half so much easier than the whole. That 

 went on for a few years, but then from some natural cause, 

 either a frost or a very rainy season while the trees were in 

 bloom, he got very few apples, and the next year they were 

 all in bearing together, so it does not seem to be a very easy 

 thing to manage. I want to ask Professor Sears if he thinks 

 that by giving the Baldwin much better care than it ordinarily 

 receives, careful fertilization and tillage, you can make it 

 bear considerably more apples every year ? 



Professor Seaes. The tendency would be that way, and 

 also to get a better apple. 



The Chairman. I came across an orchard that had for 

 years been bearing on one side of the trees in one year and on 

 the other side the next. Perhaps some condition destroyed 

 the bloom that way one year ; but it seems like a pretty good 

 way to have an orchard bear. 



Mr. Drake. I have seen trees where only one limb would 

 bear, but it is a pretty hard matter to explain or secure. 



Professor Brooks. Some of us have noticed that Professor 

 Sears did not mention the Sweetheart. Doesn't he think 

 some families would like sweet apples back ? 



Professor Sears. I shall plant 100 Pearmaius next year. 

 I came across an excellent orchard, where they were ship- 

 ping the Yellow Transparent to Euglaud. The apples 

 were shipped in crates, ten of which imuh a barrel, and 

 brought $12 per barrel in that way. It seems as though we 

 would find a ready market for these early varieties in Eng- 

 land, as there are no a]iples there. It seems to me that there 

 is a tremendous market abroad in the summer for apples 

 grown in the northern United States. I know of no variety 



