CARE OF APPLE TREES 
29 
orchard, which must be thoroughly cultivated. Edible varieties of beans 
and peas are good crops, because they not only pay a profit, but improve 
the soil. It is evident that, where any crops are used, the ground should 
have some fertilizer. Always put back into the soil as much or more than 
you take out of it. 
This shows a well-trained Baldwin apple tree In the late Mr. J. H. Hale's 
orchards at South Glastonbury, Conn. Note the low, open, spreading top. All 
of the Irult Is perfect and highly colored. Plenty of room for sunshine and 
circulation of air In the center of the tree. A great deal of the fruit can be 
reached from the ground. Also note the large granite rocks In the fore- 
ground. This orchard Is on top of the hills overlooking the Connecticut 
River Valley, where there Is good air. drainage and freedom from late spring 
frosts. A great deal of work and expense were necessary to remove the largest 
boulders and fit this ground lor planting, but It paid to make the soil right, 
because the location was Ideal In every other respect. 
Apple Trees 
Special Directions for Pruning and Care. 
The cultivated varieties of apples, like all our other fruits, came orig- 
inally from trees which grew wild in the forests. They have been im- 
proved by centuries of selection and cultivation, but they still retain a 
great many characteristics of the wild trees. Pruning is necessary in 
order to train them to grow just the way we want them. They do not 
have the thorns like the wild trees, but if left to themselves, they will 
grow dense, bushy tops, and produce small apples. We change their 
habits for the convenience of the grower in picking, to give the tree 
greater strength, to make the branches stronger so they will bear heavier 
loads, to produce larger fruit, and to bear regular crops. 
A definite plan of pruning should be decided on when the trees are 
set out. Prune them at planting-time to conform to the shape decided 
upon. During the next three years prune them to develop that shape. 
After this it will not be necessary to do a great deal of pruning if they 
have been started right. 
