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one root, conceived the idea that three trees planted together would be likely 

 to produce much greater crops than one tree in a place. Consequently a consider- 

 able area was set out on this plan and to-day the orchard is probably unique 

 in this respect. Whether this gentleman's expectations will ever be realized is 

 a matter of considerable doubt. 



THE GASPEREAUX. 



The Gaspereaux Valley for many miles presents an ever-changing panorama 

 of flourishing orchards and fruitful fields. Here the mind of the traveller 

 naturally turns back to the early days of this section made famous by Longfellow's 

 sad and tragic poem of "Evangeline." 



HILLCREST ORCHARDS. 



Leaving the beautiful and historic valley behind, the districts around 

 Kentville and Berwick were next visited in turn. Mention must be made of 

 the important fruitgrowing proposition know as the Hillcrest orchards, managed 

 by Mr. Ralph Eaton. These orchards are widely known as an example of 

 intensive orcharding on a large scale, apples being the chief feature, but the 

 ground is also occupied between the rows with large numbers of cherries and 

 plums as fillers. Mr. Eaton's ideas of close planting were formed after inspect- 

 ing the late Mr. Sharp's orchards at Woodstock, and the plan that he is endea- 

 vouring to develop is to utilize the land as profitably as possible in the early 

 stages of the orchard, and as soon as the trees begin to crowd make arrangements 

 to transplant a certain portion of them to fresh areas. By this means he hopes 

 to secure the maximum quantity of fruit with the minimum expenditure of 

 effort and expense. The practical working out of the problem here presented 

 is attracting considerable attention not only in the immediate neighbourhood 

 but wherever this undertaking has been brought to the notice of the horticultural 

 public. 



500 TREES TO THE ACRE. 



Probably the portion of the Hillcrest orchards of greatest interest to the 

 average fruitgrower would be the ten acre plot of Wagener apple trees. There 

 are five thousand trees in this block which are now about eight years of age. 

 At present the trees are set eight feet three inches apart, including three trees 

 each way between the permanent trees, making the latter 33 feet apart. Next 

 year Mr. Eaton hopes he will be able to produce five thousand boxes of apples 

 from this block, and before he is forced to transplant the fillers to establish 

 the record of obtaining five hundred barrels per acre. He is an enthusiastic 

 man, and it is to be hoped that his undertaking may equal his most sanguine 

 expectations. 



RAY CLARK'S VENTURE. 



At Waterville is an example of what may be accomplished through energy 

 and determination. The story of Mr. Ray Clark's success in orcharding is a 

 rather interesting one. Four years ago he bought this farm for $15,000, incurring 

 an obligation of $13,000 in the purchase, older heads predicting breakers ahead 

 in connection with the investment. That same year, and for the three following 

 years, he has sold his crop for about $3 000 annually, and as the orchard bore 

 a record crop during 1911, the remaining obligations will no doubt be cleared 

 off from its proceeds, and the entire farm paid for in four years by the returns 

 from the orchard alone. 



