STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 65 



Other crops should be taken from the groiiad unless enriched. 

 But if the soil is deep and retentive of manure and moisture and 

 trees are planted at least forty feet apart, other crops may be taken 

 from the land without apparent injury to the apples, but the soil 

 should by no means be allowed to become poor and should annually 

 receive a dressing of suitable manure. 



Experience teaches that for extensive orchards, trees planted 

 forty feet apart is a desirable distance, the trees having space to 

 grow shapely and affording room for other crops. It must also 

 be remembered that the roots of trees occupy and are nourished 

 by the lower strata of soil to a considerable extent and the tops 

 derive sustenance from the ocean of atmosphere that surrounded 

 them. While we would cultivate the orchard during the early 

 growth we are satisfied that continued ploughing is not essential 

 for the best results ; in fact the keeping qualities of fruit are found 

 to be better where fruit is grown on soil, not often ploughed, but 

 enriched. We are unable to satisfactorily account for this, but 

 from continued observation we are confirmed in this opinion. 



In the earlier history of Pomology, in this country, the fruit 

 grower had but few insects to contend with, but later experience 

 proves and it is fouud that just in proportion as you increase the 

 cultivation of fruit insect enemies increase. 



The difficulty thus far, it would seem, is to bring the mind of the 

 fruit grower to realize the fact that insects must be destroyed to 

 render the business profitable. We are constantly expecting that 

 nature will come to our aid, and with some of her forces, will all 

 at once destroy the insects that are destructive to fruit 



But too often the grower continues to be negligent, and the in- 

 sects to increase, and, with few exceptions, have it all their own 

 way. The orchardist cannot find time to contend with so small an 

 enemy ; in fact too often does not realize that his fruit is nearly 

 worthless until he is ready to gather and sell it. Can we complain 

 if the insects avenge our neglect? 



We have strong encouragement to make great efforts to prevent 

 the depredation of insects, as the demand for fair fruit is always 

 good and prices, both producer and consumer agree, should be 

 higher for choice and well grown. 



A large portion of your State lying as it does within the great 

 fruit growing belt, is, both in climate and soil, especially favorable 

 to the growth of the apple. Many varieties of apples have here 



