No. 4.] WESTERN METHODS IN ORCHARDING. 299 



our western friends are so far from market that no one is rash enough 

 to ship windfalls or other refuse on here, so they are spansd I he reflected 

 odium of this trash in the markets, and their fruit ranks correspond- 

 ingly high with consumers and with everybody who loves a fine thing. 

 Only a few days ago the writer was provided by the secretary of the 

 State Board of Agriculture with a box of apples for demonstration 

 purposes which cost So in hard cash. That was the market rate for 

 these apples, held over in cold storage. They are less at the beginning 

 of the season, of course, but such is their reputation that they are 

 always high. 



The foregoing discussion presents the main facts of the orchard 

 situation, both east and west, as the writer sees them. It only remains 

 to "sum up the case," and to make some specific suggestions as to 

 putting our orchard industry on its feet in accordance with the general 

 principles already given; as to adopting some western methods. The 

 writer suggests, to those who may be thinking of planting an orchard, 

 the following points: — 



First, if possible, put out as much as 10 acres of orchard. The 

 equipment for running the orchard costs as much for an acre as for 10, 

 and the cost of setting it is very little indeed, comparatively. An 

 orchard in which the writer is interested cost less than G cents per tree 

 to fit the land and set the trees. The trees themselves for 10 acres 

 ought not to cost over 15 cents each. Furthermore, with an orchard 

 of this size one can afford to do many things, and will be enthused to 

 do many more, in caring for it which one would not with a smaller 

 orchard. By all means make the orchard large enough. 



Second, use the greatest care in choosing varieties. Get prolific ones, 

 for there is no profit in growing an orchard which doesn't bear. You 

 must get the bushels if you are going to get the dollars. If possible, 

 get varieties which have been grown in that particular locality. By 

 all means choose high-quality ones. In the writer's opinion, the Ben 

 Davis ought never to be planted, — in Massachusetts, at all events. 

 Possibly it may be allowable in parts of Maine, where better sorts will 

 not grow; but an eastern Ben Davis is such a poor thing, as compared 

 with those of the middle west, and the variety is such a poor thing 

 anyhow, that we certainly cannot afford to grow it in the Bay State. 

 Select popular varieties, if you can. People don't know the Rome 

 Beauty nor the Wismer's Dessert as they do the Baldwin, the Rhode 

 Island Greening and the Hubbardston. 



Third, plan to practise clean cultivation in the orchard from the 

 beginning, if possible. It means better care in so many other ways. 

 It means better acquaintance with every tree in the orchard, and 

 consequently better attention to its needs. In particular, it means 

 less borers, and in localities where they are troublesome this is a very 

 important point. If absolutely impossible to cultivate, on account of 

 the steepness of the land, — and there undoubtedly are thousands 



