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HARRISONS' NURSERIES, BERLIN, MD., U. S. A. 



Acres of Land in Cultivation Millions of Apples and Peach Trees. 



Succeeding with Orchards of 

 Apples and Peaches 



FIRST of all, let me make it perfectly clear that any man 

 with '"horse-sense" can succeed with a commercial orchard. 

 There are no tricks in growing fruit ; just simply follow the 

 rules of the game. 



Selecting the varieties is the greatest problem to be solved. 

 If you are planting for home use, you want sorts that are hardy 

 and good bearers. If you are planning a commercial orchard, 

 you must insist on these two points and another of equal impor- 

 tance — ability to stand packing and shipping. 



Experience and close observation have shown that among the 

 hundreds of varieties of apples and peaches only a few are worth 

 growing for market. Possibly a dozen varieties of apples, and 

 not more than six kinds of peaches, make up the list. 



Some of these v^arieties will be adapted to your section, and 

 these should form the main orchard. In the apple section of this 

 catalogue you will find a table showing the territory where the 

 desirable apples succeed ; you can safely depend on this informa- 

 tion. Then, too, you should note the varieties that your neigh- 

 bors are growing, and find out whether the crops are regular and 

 profitable. 



In the peach section we put special emphasis on the varieties 

 that ai'e used in the great peach-growing sections of the United 

 States. You can depend on these for the main planting ; then use 

 other varieties to suit local markets, as your fancy may dictate. 



Planting seems to be next in importance after selecting the 

 varieties. It is not necessary to speak of this at length right here, 

 for the subject has been fully covered in the preceding pages: 

 however, it is of the greatest importance that the land be well 

 drained. The land may be put in good condition by plowmg and 

 harrowing in advance of setting the trees, or same can be don • 

 immediately after planting ; at least that part of the land adja- 

 cent to the trees should be so treated. 



At the time of planting trees, it is a good plan to fill the hole 

 about three-fourths full of earth and then apply a pound of 

 ground raw bone, well distributed, before completing the filling of 

 the hole. Stable manure is one of the best fertilizers. A liberal 

 application of this on top of the ground about the trees will be 

 very beneficial in promoting quick growth. It should be remem- 

 bered, however, that in applying coarse manure aboiit trees it 

 should be kept a few inches from the trunk, so that mice will not 

 nest in the manure and possibly girdle the trees. A piece of land 

 where cowpeas have been grown previous to planting is an excel- 

 lent location for a young orchard. 



Cultivation. Of course, the orchardist will run the harrow 

 and drag between the little trees — "horse-sense" will teach this. 

 But why not plant an intercrop between the rows, and thus make 

 the land bear a part of the expenses for the first four or five 

 years? When you cultivate the crop in the early part of the sea- 

 son you are giving the trees just what they need. Cultivation 

 may cease in time to sow a cover-crop of cowpeas and permit the 

 wood to ripen before cold weather comes. 



