— 3- 



growing of one kind of fruit— the apple for instance. 

 Not all orchard fruits require the same treatment, but if 

 one has learned just what an apple tree needs from its 

 baby days to old age, it will not be difficult to understand 

 the care of other trees. So for this lesson we will talk 

 only of the apple tree's needs. 



WHEEE TO PUT THE TEEES. 



In planting an orchard, .or even a single tree, it is 

 very necessary that a good place be selected for it. By 

 this we mean one which is higher than the surrounding 

 land if possible, and naturally well drained — ^or tile- 

 drained. It too often happens that the poorest place on 

 the farm is given to the fruit trees. Select a rich soil or 

 one that can be made reasonably so, and if the orchard 

 slopes to the north or northeast much will be gained. 

 Indeed in many sections such a slope is almost a neces- 

 sity in apple growing. This is because the trees on such 

 a slope will not bloom as early as they would if on a warm 

 and sunny southern slope. Sometimes a late spring frost 

 catches these early- blooming orchards and nips ofif an 

 entire crop. So a delay of even a day or two may mean 

 all the difference between no fruit and an abundant 

 harvest. 



WOEKING THE SOIL. 



When the farmer sows his corn in the spring time 

 he is careful to prepare a good seed bed— for the seed 

 would not germinate w^ell nor would the young plants 

 thrive unless the soil were lightened up and warmed by 

 thorough stirring. Now the young apple or other fruit 

 tree must have as carefully prepared soil in which to be 

 set out after being received from the nursery, for while 

 there may be plenty of food in the soil the plants may 



