STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 87 



MATERIALIZING THE MODEL GARDEN. 



Mr. Norris said he had no doubt but enough had been lost in 

 Piscataquis county in trees badly bought, badly selected and badly 

 cared for to have secured, if rightly managed, a good fruit garden 

 on every farm. 



Don't buy of an agent. He is likely to give you, for an enor- 

 mous price, poor stock, in bad condition, untrue to name. Go 

 yourself to the grower and see that the stock is vigorous, well-sort- 

 ed and shapely. This one can do for the small fruits. 



If you must get your tree from abroad send directly to a good 

 nurseryman or get a friend to do this for you. If several club 

 their orders bottom prices can be obtained. 



Have the garden convenient to the house. Cultivate as much as 

 possible with horse and proper tools. If the site has elevation 

 enough for good water and air drainage there will be but little 

 trouble from winter-killing. If the site is low, confine yourself to 

 iron-clad apple and pears and give winter protection to everything 

 else. If the soil is unduly moist, underdrain. 



Most of the upland soils of the Piscataquis valley are favorable 

 for a good garden. I get, however, my best strawberries and other 

 small fruits on clay loam, naturally wet but thoroughly under- 

 drained, and stirred every two or three years with a subsoil plow. 

 Such soils are preferable for plums and pears, but cherries and 

 grapes do better on dryer soils. 



SETTING TREES AND PLANTS. 



Have the soil mellow enough and rich enough for heaviest crops 

 of sweet corn. Have the land harrowed fine and smooth. Run a 

 marker the longest way marking rows seven and one-half feet apart, 

 perfectly straight ; in these marks run the furrowing plow. Set 

 the marker teeth three feet nine inches apart and mark across the 

 furrows. Set up stakes (laths) in the apple and pear rows, not 

 setting them where the trees are to go in, then as you put in your 

 trees you can get them in perfectly straight line by sighting past 

 the stakes. 



Trees should not be exposed to the sun or wind neither bruised 

 nor dried. 



Make the holes large enough to take in the roots without cramp- 

 ing, deep enough to set stems three or more inches under ground. 



