FRUIT GROWING 141 



Apple trees will cost from $8 to $10 per hundred and 

 peach trees from $4 to $8 per hundred, according to size 

 and quantity purchased, and the difference in cost of 

 establishing an orchard with apple trees or peach trees 

 as fillers is about $3.90. 



Thus it will be seen that the cost of establishing an 

 orchard on land not given to other crops for the first 

 eight or ten years, after which it is expected to yield 

 some income, makes it a question whether or not such an 

 enterprise with apples alone would be profitable unless 

 undertaken upon a large scale, when the proportionate 

 cost might be largely reduced. With peach trees as 

 fillers or when crops are grown among the trees there is 

 a much greater chance of profit. 



Apple Trees in Turj. 



In strong, rich, moist land, when an abundance of 

 manure or mulching material is available, apple and 

 even peach trees may be successfully grown in the 

 turf. This lessens the cost of establishment, but unless 

 the conditions are especially favorable the trees will not 

 make as rapid growth as under cultivation. Where 

 trees in turf can be made to produce a vigorous growth 

 the fruit is generally more brilliant in color, of better 

 quality, and will keep longer. This method, however, 

 is not to be recommended unless the above conditions 

 can be fully met. By this method land that cannot be 

 used for any other purpose except forest growth may be 

 made to produce moderate crops of most beautiful and 

 highly colored and flavored fruit. 



Any coarse organic matter like swamp hay, brakes, 

 fine brush, forest leaves, etc., may be used as a mulch, 

 but it must be drawn away from the trunks of small 

 trees in the fall to prevent mice from feeding upon 

 the bark. If the land is covered with leaves, brush and 



