62 



THE APPLE. 



and the Seek-no-fnrfcher, of Connecticut ; and thongli these apples are 

 cultivated with greater or less success in other parts of the country, yet 

 nowhere is their flavor and productiveness so perfect as in the best soils 

 of their native districts — excepting in such other districts where a soil 

 containing the same elements and a corresponding climate are also to be 

 found. 



PREPARING, PLANTING, AND CULTIVATION OF ORCHARDS. 



"With the exception of a few early and very choice sorts in the fruits 

 garden, the orchard is the place for this tree, and indeed, when w^e con- 

 sider the great value and usefulness of apples to the farmer, it is easy to 

 see that no farm is complete without a large and well-selected apple 

 orchard. 



The distance at which the trees should be planted in an orchard, de- 

 pends upon the mode in which they are to be treated. When it is de- 

 sired finally to cover and devote the whole ground to the trees, thirty feet 

 apart is the proper interval ; but where the farmer wishes to keep the 

 land between the trees in grain and grass, fifty feet is not too great a 

 distance in strong soils. Forty feet apart, however, is the usual distance 

 at which the trees are planted in orchards. 



Before transplanting, the ground should be well prepared for the trees 

 by ploughing deeply and subsoiling the whole field one year or more pre- 

 vious to planting. Poor soils require manure ; and turning under green 

 crops, such as clover, peas, etc., serves to lighten and make porous, open, 

 and enrich the soil. Where the subsoil is a heavy clay, it is best to 

 thoroughly underdrain the whole by means of tile drains, at distances of 

 two or three rods, and at the same time the surface drains should always 

 be kept open, to prevent any water standing about the roots of the trees. 



Vigorous, healthy young trees should be selected from the nurseries. 

 As there is a great difi'erence in the natural growth, shape, and size of the 

 various sorts of apple-trees, those of the same kind should be planted in 

 the rows together or near each other ; this will not only facilitate cul- 

 ture and gathering the fruit, but will add to the neatness and orderly 

 appearance of the orchard. 



It is an indispensable requisite in all young orchards to keep the 

 ground mellow and loose hy cultivation ^' at least for the first few years, 

 until the trees are well established. Indeed, of two adjoining orchards, 

 one planted and kept in grass, and the other ploughed for the first five 

 years, there will be an incredible difi'erence in favor of the latter. Not 

 only will these trees show rich, dark, luxuriant foliage, and clean smooth 

 stems, while those neglected will have a starved and sickly look, but the 

 size of the trees in the cultivated orchard will be treble that of the 

 others at the end of this time, and a tree in one will be ready to bear an 

 abundant crop before the other has commenced yielding a peck of good 

 fruit. Fallow crops are the best for orchards — potatoes, beets, carrots, 

 bush beans, and the like ; w^hile grains, such as rye, wheat, oats, etc., are 

 very injurious ; but whatever crops may be grown, it should constantly be 

 borne in mind that the roots of the tree require the sole occupancy of 

 the ground, so far as they extend, and therefore that an area of more than 

 the diameter of the head of the tree should be kept clean of crops, weeds, 

 and grass. 



When the least symptom of failure or decay in a bearing orchard is 



