64 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the sun's rays, therefore thick or crowded planting is not desirable. 

 A sheltered situation should also be selected, 



Orchards exposed to bleak, and especially to drying winds, at 

 the time they are in blossom, are very liable to be injured, the 

 winds drying and destroying the adhesive qualities of the pollen of 

 the flower, and wafting it from and beyond the uses which nature 

 intended it to serve. 



Thus shelter is important in the early stages of fruit growth, as 

 it is later ; at maturity, it is as important to the orchard as is good 

 cultivation, and without shelter, crops of fruit are more uncertain, 

 and many orchards failures. 



Shelter from winds is however easily obtained ; by planting belts 

 of trees upon land surrounding the orchard, and perhaps no better 

 tree can be found for that pui'pose than the European larch, in 

 this portion of the country. 



If set at the same time of the orchard complete shelter even 

 before the trees come in bearing ; and even if neglected at that 

 time, they can be planted out afterward, and in six or eight years 

 will be sufficiently grown to afford protection. 



There are other trees, which also are desirable for protection to 

 the orchard. The white pine, the Norway spruce, the hemlock, 

 these trees are of more spreading habit than the larch requiring 

 more room ; but it is always desirable and commendable to add to 

 the beauty of the landscape ; a variety of trees, if judiciously 

 planted, having a regard for appearances, will be both ornamental 

 and useful. 



But many farmers and especially those of the older school, have 

 strong objections to trees, and cherish the dogma that they injure 

 grass and grain crops, more than do the winds, at the same time 

 forgetting all about the shelter and advantage they afford all other 

 crops. 



But there are those that love to believe that true economy and 

 true taste are accordant, and that the graces as well as the profits 

 of life may be kept alive and in view by the practical aims of all 

 farmers when well directed. 



In considering the cultivation of the apple we have therefore 

 concluded that due economy requires the orchard, and trees grow- 

 ing out of the orchard, as far as may be possible, should be well 

 sheltered from fierce winds from any quarter, and especially from 

 the drying winds blowing from the north or southwest, to insure 

 good crops. If large annual crops of fair fruit are wanted no 



