Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 461 
TOO RICH SOILS. 
The time was when we thought no soil too good for an apple 
tree, and that a little manure did help the wilderness of the new 
land. But we learned by dear experience that a tree could be 
over-fed, and that the effect was to induce a late autumn growth; 
wood unripened and unfit for the winter. We are also well satis¬ 
fied that the much dreaded l ['fire-blight 11 is the result of an excessive 
flow of sap beyond the capacity of elaborations. The tissues are 
ruptured, stagnation and death ensue. The farmer should exercise 
as good judgment in feeding his trees as his horse. 
ORCHARD SITE AND CULTURE. 
Choose for an orchard site, a soil of medium native richness, or 
what would be considered rather lean soil, if it be a firm clay, or 
calcareous clay, all the better. The western soil is all rich in ele¬ 
ments of tree growth, except it be the clean sand and gravel drift. 
The yellow or red clay, or the oak soils are best suited, and of them 
the rolling lands are best. These medium soils are generally of 
natural drainage, with porous subsoil and under good culture will 
grow the apple to perfection. If there is no choice but a very rich 
soil, then set on dry ridges, either natural or artificial drainage and 
with clover and timothy sod hold the trees to a moderate growth. 
In the brief review I have only referred to the subject of varieties 
in their adaptation to the soil and climate. Have given the best and 
only choice of these natural conditions, and we must know what 
varieties are adapted to them. This is learned only by long experi¬ 
ence and careful observation. The planting of varieties not adapt¬ 
ed, not hardy, has been one of the most apparent and fruitful 
sources of loss to the orchard in the fertile soils of the west. Since 
the winter of 1855-56 I have carefully examined thousands of or¬ 
chards with reference to this matter, and have found a remarkable 
uniformity in the list of those found successful. The observations 
of many of our practical fruit growers confirm this, and result in 
the list which our state society recommend. Any planter that 
ignores this list and these united recommendations, practically starts 
out twenty years behind the times. Yet they who purchase of irre¬ 
sponsible dealers, especially from eastern or southern nurseries, are 
liable to start right here. I do not say this to the discredit of the 
few eastern nurser} r men who are growing stock for the western 
