582 



Apple Culture. 



[Jan., 



Soil and its Preparation. 



Land that will grow good wheat will grow good apples. 

 Very light sandy soil should be avoided, as should also heavy 

 clays. It is most important that the land should be free from 

 weeds previous to planting the trees, as it is impossible to clean 

 it after they are planted. If necessary it should be drained, 

 but this point can be decided by digging trial holes 3 ft. deep 

 in various places. After a good rain the holes should be 

 inspected. If water is in them the land must be drained, 

 but if they are practically dry draining will not be necesary. 

 If draining is to be done, 2-in. drains should be laid, making 

 them about 2 ft. deep. Very deep drains are not so effectual in 

 carrying the surface water from heavy land. The lateral drains 

 should be formed across the slope, if possible, terminating in a 

 main drain of 3-in. pipes for an area of not more than four acres. 

 If a larger area is to be drained, the main towards the lower part 

 should be of pipes proportionately larger. The distance between 

 the lateral drains should vary according to the texture of the land, 

 but two lineal rods is a very convenient distance, and is generally 

 effectual. The drains should, if possible, be so arranged that 

 they are between the rows of the trees, and they should all be 

 perfectly straight. The lines of the main should be determined 

 by slight angles if necessary. Curves must be avoided. 



Having drained the land, the next step is to manure and 

 cultivate it. It is a mistake to make the land too rich for 

 young trees. They are not capable of taking up large quantities 

 of plant food, and, moreover, if the land is too heavily manured, 

 they develop soft and coarse wood which ripens imperfectly. 

 Soil that will produce good crops of cereals will grow apples well 

 if a moderate dressing of manure is applied for the young trees, 

 followed by additional supplies when they are carrying heavy 

 crops of fruit. The land should be cultivated to a depth of at least 

 18 in., either by trenching or by steam scarifying. The latter 

 is by far the cheaper method for large areas. 



Protecting the Trees. 



Hedges of damsons may be planted around the area to 

 protect the trees from the wind, but if the land is of a heavy 

 nature, black Italian poplars may be substituted for the damsons. 



