STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 63 



APPLE AND PEAR CULTURE. 

 By O. B. Hadwex, Worcester, Mass. 



Our starting point in pomology is directly traced to the early 

 settlers and although for nearly two centuries progress and advance- 

 ment were comparatively slow it was none the less firmly rooted. 

 The science, practice, and the art of pomology had barely dawned 

 in the beginning of the present century. During the last fifty years 

 its advance has been truly marvelous. 



At present no owner of lands seems to regard himself as a true 

 American of the higher type who neglects to plant fruit trees. 



But I do not propose to occupy your time with theories in fruit 

 culture for the scope is so broad I can eml)race but few of its 

 phases of a more practical nature. 



Fruit trees serve a three fold purpose of supplying food, orna- 

 ment and shade, either of these would repay their cultivation and 

 care. In their variety fruits succeed fruits week after week, month 

 after month, and with proper facilities for preserving and keeping 

 we may have fruit the year round. 



It rarely happens that one person can successfully cultivate many 

 kinds of fruit ; specialties are found more condusive, and better 

 suited to the conditions and taste of each individual. 



The orchardist who succeeds well with his trees in grass land of 

 great depth and fertility, should not recommend or prescribe grass 

 for orchards in thin and impoverished soil. The man who has a 

 shallow soil and has injured the roots of his trees with the plough, 

 because they are near the surface of the earth, should not object to 

 the thorough manipulation of deep soils. Therefore it is absolutely 

 necessary for each and every grower of fruit, to diligently and 

 patiently search out and study his situation and surroundings, if 

 he desires the best results to reward his labor. 



Let me call your attention to a few of the essential conditions 

 necessary for producing good orchards and fruit, where both cli- 

 mate and soil are favorable. In selecting trees we would choose 

 those from two to four years from the bud with straight stems and 

 shapely tops with good fibrous roots, they should be carefully 

 planted out in deep soil in generous holes dug for the purpose, and 

 receive liberal treatment for the first ten years. The orchard 

 should be so situated that the trees may receive the full benefit of 



