Homer N. Chase & Co., Geneva, New York 
Picking the "King of Fruits" in a western New York orchard. Most of the fruit can be reached from the ground 
APPLES 
Apples are unquestionably the leader of all the fruits grown in the United States. The 
trees are equally as productive in the South as in the North, providing the proper varieties are 
selected. The standard sorts will begin bearing when from six to ten years old, and continue in 
profitable fruiting condition for forty years or more. 
THE SOIL. While the Apple is a tree that can be successfully grown in almost any soil 
when proper attention is given to cultivation and fertilizing, the most gratifying results are 
obtained on a deep, gravelly or clay loam. Sandy loam will likewise produce profitable bearing 
trees, and some very stony fields furnish ideal conditions for orchards. Practically any soil that 
will produce a good crop of grain, corn or wheat, will be entirely suited to growing Apples. 
Too much attention cannot be given to the initial preparation of the land. If the soil is 
a stiff clay or clay loam, it should be deeply plowed and well harrowed. Care should be taken to 
provide good drainage, as the trees are impatient of a wet soil; this can be done by selecting a 
location with a slight natural slope, or by underdraining with field-tile. At the time of plowing 
the ground should be liberally fertilized, either with barnyard manure, or commercial fertilizers 
that contain the elements needed by your particular soil, a matter very easily determined through 
your state agricultural experiment stations. 
THE TREES. The first essential point in successful fruit-growing is the selection of the 
varieties adapted to your location. As before stated, we shall be pleased to assist you in selecting 
such varieties of Apples as are best for your plantings; just tell us what the soil is, where the 
orchard is to be located, the height above the sea-level, and we know we can give you valuable 
advice. 
Two- and three-year-old trees are used almost exclusively in the East, and we believe these 
arc best. The trees have had more time in the nursery row, with careful cultivation and training, 
and are from 5 to 7 feet high. 
It is customary with some nurserymen to allow a tree to grow two or three years from bud 
