1905.] Apple Growing in New York State. 561 



distance apart at which the trees are planted. The varieties 

 chiefly grown are Baldwins and Greenings, and it is considered 

 that mature trees of these varieties should be 40 by 40 (t* 

 apart. As indicating the injurious effect of close planting, the 

 average returns over four years from a large number of orchards 

 were collected, which showed a yield of 186 bushels at a 

 distance of 30 by 30 ft. ; of 222 bushels at a distance of 35 

 by 35 ft, and of 229 bushels over that distance. Trees that 

 are too close together, it is remarked, furnish favourable con- 

 ditions for insect and fungoid attacks, are more difficult to 

 spray, the apples are more difficult to pick and are of poorer 

 quality and colour, and, finally, the lower limbs of the tree suffer 

 from want of light. 



In addition to the points which have been summarised above, 

 the Report contains information respecting pruning, age of 

 trees, soils, elevation, drainage, varieties, insect pssts and fungi, 

 yields and prices, together with a separate section dealing with 

 the geology of the district. A similar survey has also been 

 carried out of the orchards in Orleans County, in New York 

 State, where the conditions are somewhat different. The later 

 enquiry, however, entirely supports the points which have been 

 referred to above as regards the value of tillage, spraying, 

 manuring, distance of trees apart, &c. 



An interesting account is given of the "renovation " of an old 

 apple orchard, undertaken in 1896. This orchard consisted of 

 eleven acres, forming part of a small farm which had been 

 neglected and was bought at a cheap rate. On two acres of 

 the orchard the trees had been killed by standing water, owing 

 to defective drainage, but on the remaining nine acres the trees 

 were thirty-two years old, and should have been just entering 

 their prime. They had been greatly neglected, but the work of 

 renovation was vigorously undertaken. The water was drained 

 off, the land ploughed, the trees freed from dead wood, the worst 

 cankered limbs removed, and the whole liberally sprayed with 

 Bordeaux mixture and arsenic. The method of cultivation was 

 as follows : — 



1896. — Orchard in grass ; mown. 



1897. — Orchard ploughed and beans grown. 



1898. — Orchard manured ; beans grown, followed by crimson clover. 



1899. — Orchard manured and crimson clover ploughed in. 

 1900- 1 904. — Orchard manured every year and buckwheat grown. 



Y Y 



